Lynne's Parliament and Haringey diary

As you may have already heard, the Government’s Religious Hatred Bill suffered two defeats this week in the Commons.

After it passed from the Commons - despite Liberal Democrats and others voting against it - my Liberal Democrat colleagues in the Lords introduced an amendment to the Bill guaranteeing freedom of speech. Without getting too technical, when the Bill returned this week to the Commons – the Government wanted to negate the Lords’ amendments and re-introduce two dangerous elements. One was that you would be caught by the proposed legislation if you used ‘insulting or abusive’ language against a person of some faith or none. This was defeated and you will only be caught if the language is actually ‘threatening’.

The other element was that you will now have to ‘intend’ to incite religious hatred – i.e. inciting religious hatred is the purpose of what you say and the reason for you saying it. Basically, if you criticise someone for their religion – which is a legitimate function of free speech in a democracy – you will now no longer be caught by this legislation.

Had we not defeated the Government, we would have seen legislation not only chill free speech – but we would also have seen the unintended consequences of the Bill deliver the opposite of its avowed intention – more religious hatred and not less.

This was democracy in action – where the opposition parties across both Houses, and joined by the Labour rebels in the Commons, worked together to defeat a seriously flawed Bill.

The strength and depth of opposition registering in my post bag shows just how unpopular this Bill was. Such strong protest from the public definitely helped convince Labour rebels that the Bill could not be passed as it was.

In the evening host an event at Parliament - with a number of pretty high power speakers - about human rights issues for Kurdish women in Turkey. The event was titled "Ongoing Violence Against Kurdish Women in Turkey; What the EU-Turkey Accession Talks Offer Women".

Estelle from the Peace in Kurdistan campaign had approached me to host the event - and the speakers included: Sehnaz Turan - a Kurdish human rights lawyer based in Istanbul; Baroness Helena Kennedy; Margret Owen a barrister and adviser to KHRP; Monireh Moftizadeh - founder member of Kurdish Women's Project who worked om the Kurdish women's charter and MEPs Jean Lambert and Sarah Ludford - and me!

Kurdish women in Turkey are fighting on two fronts for their freedoms and rights – both rights for women and for Kurds.

Labels: sarah ludford

Do a Saturday surgery today at Muswell Hill library. Don't use this venue too often as there is no disabled access. Lots of heart rending situations this morning. I sometimes despair of the Home Office and its decisions – such as when I have to sit with a woman who has been raped and tortured - and yet has had her final notice that her appeal to stay is rejected.

I will write to the Minister and beg on compassionate grounds - but Tony McNulty's ears are usually hardened to such pleas. A statistic is one thing - a woman in absolute despair and fear is another.

After surgery I go to Guildford to address a Lib Dem regional conference on 'How we won Hornsey & Wood Green'. As well as the motivational story - which Hornsey & Wood Green is - I refer to our difficulties. I talk about 'recent sticky moments'. Yes - as a gale of laughter shook the room - I realised my choice of words was not (or was!) well chosen.

Laughter being the best medicine it was a very jolly rally and I have no doubt when our leadership contest is done and dusted - we will be just fine. Particularly if Chris Huhne wins. I think he will bring that fresh feel to the Lib Dems - and now we need that more than ever.

Labels: chris huhne, muswell hill library

See my old sparring partner Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, has a pop at the LibDems on the Assembly and at me in particular in his new column in the Ham & High today! I love it when Ken gets his knickers in a twist about me. Reading the politics of this - for Ken is always about votes - he is bigging up the Greens on the Assembly (who sold out to him long ago) and worried about the success of the LibDems in London coming up to the local elections. I will be in his sights as we have a fair chance of taking over Haringey Council from Labour. So the man's a complete dirty street fighter - and this is his way of reaching out to my neck of the woods.

I used to be rather more of a fan of his in the early days of London government where, as Chair of Transport in London, I stood shoulder to shoulder with him supporting the first Congestion Charge and against Labour’s PPP for the Tube. But wow he's Labour's man at City Hall - not a peep about the Tube and particularly us poor Northern Line sufferers.

It's no good Mayor Livingstone trying to have a go at me just 'cos I didn't like or support his West London Tram plans. He did a consultation and the people didn't like it. As for residents in Haringey – don’t forget that Ken supports the concrete factory against local residents wishes. He also supports having tower blocks plonked in Wood Green without infrastructure – again against local wishes.

As for the Labour government's commitment to the environment - the Government just moves the targets every time it sees it is going to fail miserably. Charity starts at home Ken. Have a go at your mates in Whitehall rather than trying to dabble in the politics of Haringey!

Later on, film crew arrive from the Dimbleby Show to film a little intro to the live interview they will be doing with Chris Huhne tomorrow. I hope it came across that he is a human with a hinterland. I think Chris is a modern man and understands the pressures of real life. He has a proper hinterland. And he has had the balls (although I think I used the word guts) to rise to this challenge. He can take on Gordon (I still don't think Cameron has it in the longer term). He is tough, decisive - but also warm and friendly - and clear about direction. So - hope they edit kindly and big him up!

Labels: chris huhne, ken livingstone

Simon Hughes is indeed in the tabloids today - as being gay or bi-sexual. Now, it is hardly news to anyone I know - but Simon has always protected his right to keep his private life private - and I support him on that. But the attack is because a week ago to three newspapers he denied he was gay. I guess he was cornered and the question was never going to go away - and he just made an error of judgement. The media say he lied. I think he just defended himself badly. So another roller coaster for the party to bear as this latest news works its way through the rounds of the media.

It is the first question Steve Richards asks myself, Ed Davey and Phil WIllis who are having a pre-recorded panel session which will go out Saturday at 11am - the Week in Westminster. This is a panel of the key supporters for the leadership - me for Chris Huhne, Phil Willis for Simon Hughes and Ed Davey for Menzies Campbell. So - whilst none of us would go on any media to discuss Simon - once they've got you there anyway, there's no stopping the question. We all basically defended Simon's right to privacy and right to be whatever sexual orientation he wanted. Then, thank goodness, we get on to policy areas and have a right good ding dong. Great fun!

I get a call last thing because we (Lib Dems) need to put out a statement on Sir Ian Blair's attack on the media for being biased towards coverage of white murders. For bizarre reasons he chooses Soham as an example of their bias. I remember the coverage at the time - because first the poor girls were missing and we all went on that journey of anxiety as we moved toward the eventual horrific reality. It would have been the same what ever colour the girls were. It was a huge story and the press were bound to follow that one.

However, Ian Blair is right to highlight the issue of bias in coverage. But when I think back I can remember examples both ways - when two murders occur when sometimes the black murder will be covered and sometimes the white. So methinks we need proper examination of this issue - as it is a very important one. We need to look at the way information about a murder gets to the press. Which stories originate from the police forces themselves. What are their policies in terms of media liaison over murders. Let's have an analysis of all murders and their coverage over the last few years and see what led to what. I am not happy about statements that are not backed up by factual analysis on this. So I welcome the opening up of this as an area for concern - but let's get it right and based on factual information.

Get home late - just in time for Question Time and Simon Hughes is on tonight. I don't know if it's good or bad to have such a media opportunity at this point when there is a feeding frenzy around him. It did give Simon the chance to put his case - which he did as well as he could under the circumstances.

Labels: chris huhne, ed davey, ian blair, ming campbell, phil willis, simon hughes, steve richards

There is a lobby of parliament today by the Association of Police Authorities (APA). The Government wants to merge the current police forces into fewer but larger police forces. Almost everyone is against this.

Labour state that it is to plug a gap that appeared during the Soham murders where a local force did not have the specialist capability to deal with the investigation – and argue that a larger police force would have the capacity. But a smaller force can always bring in such specialist skills when needed. And what we know is that Safer Neighbourhood Teams and local policing work - work in terms of intelligence, in terms of public visibility and so on. In other words – local services, delivered close to the people they are meant to serve, work best. Labour’s proposals centralise the controls of forces - just going the wrong way. And as ever - this nonsense will cost millions and millions and millions.

So the APA have come to see me to put their case against the Government proposals. I am with them on this. There will be an opposition day debate on this next week in Parliament.

The Lib Dem leadership contest rolls on - an my boy Huhne is definitely coming up on the rails - overtaking even Simon Hughes now in the betting. Having taken an hour's questions from Stroud Green Residents' Association I get home just in time to listen to the special Any Questions being held in Richmond. They all did pretty well I thought. What is very striking is that following the first hustings, where Chris laid out some key themes around eco-taxes, taking the low-paid out of tax, localism and so on - the others are now singing the same song. I guess this is how it goes. I remember the Mayoral contest in London last time - where Ken and Steve (Norris - in case you've forgotten) apart from a couple of issues largely took our ideas.

In fact, it made me laugh today when I heard that Ken is going to allow an extra day to pay on the congestion charge. I first floated that one even before the Mayoral contest - and Ken pooh-poohed it publicly at many an Assembly. But now it will happen! So - look out for Oxford Street to be humanised and for GPS to come to bus management instead of CountDown and AVL!

Simon sounded a bit lacklustre - probably explained later by a text around 10pm saying Simon would be in the tabloids next day. Who says Liberal Democrats are dull?

Labels: simon hughes

The latest edition of Liberal Democrat News has an article from me summarising the Lib Dem position on Labour's Violent Crime Reduction Bill.

Labels: crime, violent crime reduction bill

Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony in Haringey tonight at Bruce Castle Museum. I give a five minute speech (as do whole series of others) on the theme of what difference once person can make. I mention Schindler, Luther-King and Gandhi - but the real point is that each of us has to take responsibility for stopping any evil, discrimination or unfairness we counter in our own lives.

More important was the witness statement by a holocaust survivor - Eva Schloss. Every time I listen to a survivor tell their tale - I weep. No need to reiterate the particular story she told - all the stories from the holocaust break your heart. What I do know though is the importance of this day of remembrance for that Holocaust - and for all holocausts and genocides. As the stories are told – there is a small space in my life to remember and think about what happened and how that happened.

That is why this year's theme is so important - because each of us is responsible for what happens in this world. And if we see evil and do nothing - then we are as guilty as those who do the act itself.

Labels: holocaust memorial day

There's been a bit of chatter over the fact that the party's leadership election rules mean the candidates don’t get given copies of the party's membership lists - this was a decision made by the party's conference when it voted on the rules a few years ago. Ah democracy ... !

All the leadership candidates are understandably wary about talking about the rules - as it can so easily sound like special pleading. But there is clearly widespread unhappiness with this rule. In public elections, candidates get to know who the electors are and their contact details (from the electoral register) - so why shouldn't the same apply to Lib Dem internal elections? In fact - it does apply to many of our internal elections, such as for Parliamentary candidates, but not for leader. Giving the candidates the list of members would also mean we skip all the worries (and sometimes down right silliness) over what records different people can or can't use. What's a personal record that is ok to use and what is an official party record this is not ok to use? Is my address book on my computer at home ok to use, but not the one in the party's office? Etc.

So - just a quick suggestion to anyone who thinks the rules don't make sense. Doubtless there will be a review as ever afterwards as to how the rules went - so don't forget to let the Acting Returning Officer (Chris Rennard) know your views, so they can feature in any review. In fact - why not tell him your views now, so you don't forget afterwards? You can write to him at 4 Cowley St, London, SW1P 3NB or use the Lib Dem feedback form.

I'm sure Chris is very busy with both the leadership election and the very winnable Dunfermline by-election campaign - but sending in comments which don't require an immediate reply but can instead be complied after the election is over would be a good move I think.

PS You can get details of all the leadership candidates - including websites etc - on the main Lib Dem website.

Well - no surprise what the gossip at the Palace of Varieties is today. Members of the other parties and the media keep asking - did you know? I think the answer is that no-one knew - except apparently the News of the World. And I guess, after Mark had withdrawn from the leadership they had to get their story out before their hook for it with the leadership contest wasn't headline news any more.

I am kicking myself because the odds are shortening on Chris - and when I first urged him to run he was on at 300-1 and fourth in line for the throne - and I haven't had time to put a bet on. Now the odds have shortened faster than any other political odds in history and he is in second place.

I go over to Alexandra Park School later morning for a photo op with two of the sixth formers who have gained Oxbridge places - one at each Oxford and Cambridge. The head, Ros Hudson, rang me last week to tell me the good news – so this is to celebrate to have two kids in the first year of the new sixth form attain such places. We have a cup of tea and a chat about the interviews they have both been through to get their places - terrifying. The newspapers turn up to take the photo - and hopefully this 'good news' story will encourage others to reach for the stars too.

When I get to the Commons, I discover it is Questions to the Minister of the Defence Department - and decide I want to put a question to him. In order to get called (if you are not one of the MPs selected in the ballot for Questions on the Order Paper) you have to stand up each time anyone finishes speaking during this session. I sit quiet until Question 5 which is on Iraq - as the question I want to ask is on this subject.

This time I am lucky and I get called to ask my question - which is: 'Has the Minster had any discussions about gradually replacing British troops in Iraq with troops from Muslim Countries?' John Reid, I think, looked pretty pleased to get an opportunity to say who he had been speaking to and push this up the agenda as he had had a number of meetings on the issue. So that was good all round - as I do think the sooner we are replaced by troops better trusted than ourselves the better for all.

I have a short meeting with the man who has been the subject of the police trawl for Operation Minstead and who was asked to give a 'voluntary' DNA sample and refused. The deadline for Met to respond to the CRE call for extra information is 30 January - as is mine for a response from Met Commissioner Ian Blair to my enquiries on this matter.

In fact DNA is in the news for all sorts of reasons at the moment. I have had a bee in my bonnet about it for some time and my various Parliamentary Questions (written) have elicited some startling statistics including the disproportionate amount of DNA taken from black men and the fact that the DNA of around 134,000 innocent people who were never charged or cautioned is now on the record books.

This weekend the coverage is about the 24,000 of those who are juveniles. This is shaping up for a real battle at some point - as there is a national database being built by stealth. If the Government want this - then they should have the balls to put forward legislation and have the public debate. My simple question to those who defend what is happening is this: 'if it's so great and without any problems, why not be upfront and have an explicit debate and agreement (or not) to set-up such a database?'

I think it would be dreadful - but at least there would be a logic to it if the whole country was held. Randomly keeping the DNA records of people the police erroneously arrest is ludicrous. Doing it by default also means we don’t get the same safeguards in place as we would if there was a proper debate and decision.

Personally, and this is not necessarily the party view we will come to when we discuss it further, I think it will lead to all sorts of mischief. For instance - once DNA is the main arbiter of guilt or innocence - how easy it will be to set someone up! I can foresee absolute nightmare scenarios - and what is a phenomenal detection tool and confirmation of guilt - will be misused ultimately. And a million other issues - but the temptations will probably be too much for old authoritarians to resist. Let alone if we have a malign government who might misuse such a system.

This issue comes up at the emergency Home Affairs Team Meeting which Alistair Carmichael has called as he has stepped up to take Mark's place until the leadership contest is decided and the new leader reshuffles us. It would be fair to say that there are a variety of views on the issue - and so we need a paper that brings us up to date on facts around DNA before we can make our judgements. Alistair seems to have it all under control.

We sit talking into the late night between and after votes - about the leadership contest. We may all have differing views on who should be crowned - but the spirit is good between our different camps - thank goodness!

Labels: alexandra park school, dna

Reading through emails over weekend - catch up with what my colleagues are doing on Haringey Council and there is a huge financial scandal unfolding - one that Labour seem to have been trying to cover up.

Basically - the Audit Commission has produced a damning report on the mishandling by Haringey Labour Council of an IT project called 'Tech Refresh'. It was meant to have cost £9 million, but already is projected to cost around £20 million - an overspend of nearly £11 million

Local Council Tax payers are going to foot the bill for 'slippage and overruns' to the tune of 11% of the total amount charged by Haringey in Council Tax this year. And - Labour have been covering it up. Local residents will be apoplectic - as this sort of mess just totally confirms local residents' worst fears about how Labour use and abuse them! Roll on the local elections...

Watch the rolling news as it turns into Sunday's political programs. Anxiously watching as to the media handling of Mark Oaten's fall from grace. My boy Chris is on Andrew Marr and does really well - and inevitably the Mark Oaten issue is first on the list of questions. What can you say? Except what Chris said - that the guy has apologised to his wife, apologised to his constituents and to the party.

I don't know why he took such terrible risks. An affair - with a man or a woman - is no longer the end of the political road. But the three-in-a-bed with a rent boy combined with the shots of his leadership campaign launch showing him, his wife and their two children was a truly bad move. I just hope he gets the time and privacy he needs to put it back together for the sake of his family. The party will survive fine - but his home life is what matters now.

I phoned round some more key people in London for Chris Huhne's leadership campaign. Everyone was wondering what next? Hopefully - policy ideas. Still finding a real hunger from people to know about Chris. My own view is that playing safe as a third party is a hiding to nothing and that with Chris we will have the best chance to move on to the next stage. Well - I would say that - wouldn't I?

Labels: andrew marr, mark oaten

You just never know what's around the corner.

The day started normally - emails and paperwork and writing a speech for my lunchtime engagement at an Eid celebratory lunch at a local mosque.

The event at the mosque was really well done. First there was a series of speeches, poems and songs from children and prayers and translations. All the faiths were invited to take part - alongside the Mayor, Council leader and myself and David Lammy - as the two local MPs.

It was a model example of how active faith communities can cross the barriers of suspicion of the unknown and work the good that religion was intended for rather than the evil perversions practised by the very few.

I spoke about how London (and Haringey) is actually a real example of where the commonality of us all overrides our differences. I truly believe that what we have in common is far stronger than what divides us.

As this celebration is to mark the sacrifice that the Prophet Ibrahim was prepared to make to Allah of his son Ishmail (which is as far as I can see the same story as that in the Old Testament which is celebrated by Jewish faith) - and then God spares them the human sacrifice and a lamb is used instead. This was God's test to see how strong Ibrahim's faith was. When he demonstrated his faith - God spared them.

Struck as ever by the similarities between Muslim and Jew - we then were given a really delicious lunch. Food in both those religions is very, very important.

Went home to try and clear backlog of emails etc and to begin to phone around key London Lib Dems for Chris Huhne's leadership campaign. As ever - most people were out! However, spoke to people in Ealing, Islington, Redbridge, Barnet and Westminster. What I picked up was a surprisingly strong amount of support for Chris and where people knew him they seemed to be voting for him.

It was also quite clear that there was a desire to vote for him - but a hesitation because people don't know him as well as Ming or Simon. Ming did not seem to have that much support from those I spoke to except in one place and Simon was popular in London and well-liked - but activists had some nervousness about how well the party would fare under his guidance.

Our challenge is to get Chris known. It's like the Sky debate - once you've seen him perform and heard what he has to say - he can convert very easily. But how do we get him 'known' in such a short contest – especially as the party’s rules don’t give us access to the membership list?

We will just do our best. He is certainly gaining on the others as far as I can tell - but it was London I was speaking to - so don't know if replicated across the country. Will find out Tuesday.

As for the end of the day - well all hell broke loose! For a party that struggles to get even one column inch - recent events have put us wall to wall across the media.

A pager message - followed two seconds later by breaking news on Sky - announced that Mark Oaten had resigned as Shadow Home Secretary over allegations about himself and a rent-boy about to be broken in the News of the World. The paper had showed him the evidence and he immediately stepped down.

And then what happens is that everyone texts everyone else to check if they have seen the news and there is shock. This wasn't something that had even had a whisper as far as I know. There had been a vague rumour about an affair the weekend Mark was sick with food poisoning (and I had had to front the meeting with Charles Clark) - but I am convinced it was food poisoning, and it was a very, very vague whisper. However, nothing at all along these lines. I just felt extremely sorry for both Mark and his wife. You wonder how someone can risk going for the spotlight that a leadership bid puts on you - but human beings are human. That's our fault line.

Alistair Carmichael - who was number two in the Home Affairs team - will step up until the leadership contest is finished, and then the new leader will decide what is what and who is where. Alistair is absolutely wonderful - so I am relieved that an experienced and talented (and really, really, nice) person will be at the helm. I love Home Affairs - and as number three in the team it is a great place to learn how to handle legislation and the issues that interest me so much.

I spoke to Alistair - and he seems very calm about taking over - which is good. Sarah Teather texted me - and we are both on the sorry for Mark and his family side of this. I texted Mark just to say that was thinking of him and to keep strong - his text came back 'so sorry'. Sandra Gidley - my co-chair on Chris's campaign - shocked because this came as a 'bolt out of the blue'. And many other texts and messages flying around our Lib Dem world as we try and assess what this will mean.

I also get emotional - along with everyone I guess - at the death of the Thames River whale. You see - that's the real good in mankind. In the middle of everything that goes on in our lives - we stop, completely gripped with emotion to hope that this one whale can be saved. I am reaffirmed in my view that human beings are basically good - but life is just a hard, old road.

Labels: chris huhne, mark oaten, ming campbell

Surgery all morning dealing with constituents’ problems followed by a home visit to a disabled gentleman who wanted me to pop round. I stayed about three quarters of an hour. Last appointment was to go over to the offices of the Howard League for Penal Reform.

As prison spokesperson - this was really interesting. There is a natural alliance between our position and the work they do. The Director said something really interesting during our long discussion. She said that we need to tolerate as a society. What she was referring to was the sort of zero-tolerance environment that was being created by the political battle between Labour and Tory as to who could be tougher on young people and the causes of young people. I think what she was saying was that we need to learn to tolerate a bit of noise, a bit of dirt - a bit of life. And that the pendulum was swinging (swingeing even) too far towards the punitive.

A lot of sense there. However, I said to her, that the other side of that coin was that in my view care in the community wasn't working. And it's the police and the prisons who bear the brunt of that.

So - I am thinking about tolerance levels. What should we tolerate? Weighty stuff for a Friday afternoon!

Finish day rounding up the info from the Huhne leadership campaign. All seems to be going incredibly well. Momentum is with us. More and more councillors, peers and supporters are climbing on board;. The funding limit of £35,000 for the campaign is already promised. We expect more MPs to come on board. And of course, Mark Oaten withdrew from the race yesterday - and the betting odds have now shortened on Chris to 5-1. So - all to play for!

Labels: mark oaten

Morning went to the start of an all day event / seminar by Friendship Global - titled 'Peace, Friendship and the 2012 Olympics'. This is a group started in Haringey by the suggestion of two little girls who after 9/11 wanted to do something to stop such terrible things happening again. So their father started this peace group - where the basic idea is that through friendship we can stop wars.

From there I went straight to make a speech and give out awards at the Haringey African and Afro-Caribbean Awards for excellence. A huge hall full of children and their proud families thronging the Alexandra Palace. Now, as much as they all obviously loved me - I can't help thinking that myself and George Meehan (Labour councillor) were not the main attractions. Kwame and Lemar (spelling of both iffy) were the main event. After my speech - Kwame and myself gave out the first batch of around 30 awards. I felt the kids would feel cheated if they came up on stage for their award and they just got it from me rather than him - so made sure they all got to shake hands and have a quick word with him.

I had to leave before Lemar did his bit - but the screams and clapping when he came in were pretty impressive. I thought the whole event was fantastic. So much negative stuff about black under-achievement - and so great to have an occasion celebrating the positive. I am absolutely committed to aspiration and inspiration. If you are treated like a failure - you will fail. It isn't rocket science - and this was positivism in action.

The evening took me to Holborn & St Pancras where I was a panel guest on a Question Time format for the University of London with students from London's universities come to grill us. Slightly to my surprise, they didn't ask about ID cards or civil liberties. They did ask about taxation. They did ask about cannabis. They didn't ask that much about the environment. They did ask about the Lid Dem leadership. They did ask about smoking bans. They did laugh when I told them that I once went barefoot and wore flowers in my hair! What's so funny?! Anyway - I had good fun as I took a bit of license and went way off message. Well - a bit of blue skies thinking is always good for the soul.

Labels: george meehan, olympics

Ring Peter Hendy to congratulate him. He has been chosen as the one (out of the two applying) for the job as Transport Commissioner for London, taking over from wiley Kiley. Peter was bus supremo - and we have argued across the transport spectrum for years now. And I still want a full time service on the hard fought for 603! What I always really like about Peter is his hands-on approach.

Whenever I put out a press release that he didn't like - be it about the 'free' bendy buses or the 'bursting into flames' bendy buses - or whatever - he would phone me on my mobile and give me hell. Despite our opposite positions - we always got on well and I think he will be a great Commissioner. Look forward to seeing his negotiating style with the government. And - on the occasions when he was wrong - eventually he would admit I was right.

My favourite was over AVL - the system of countdown which tells passenger when the bus will be along and is plotted on a computer. Terrible system - never worked properly. I always told Peter that it was pointless finishing implementing an outmoded useless system across the rest of London (it was half in). Have to say - gave me great pleasure the day he told me I had been right all along. Anyway - he is a good thing and I hope to see London improve under his stewardship.

Sonia from the LSE is shadowing me today as part of 'LSE Women in Westminster'. She and Mette, my researcher, come to Home Affairs Team meeting. We always run through all the Home Affairs Bills with each of the team responsible for that Bill - both Lords and Commons. Mark Oaten (Shadow Home Secretary) heads the team. Updates on Religious Hatred Bill - coming back for another row I think to the Commons soon; ID cards in trouble for the Government - as may be the Terror Laws soon. The Government seem to be having a go at getting back to 60 days on detention without charge. I trust the Lords will stick to the 28 we conceded in the Commons.

Rush off to Prime Ministers' Questions (PMQs) next. Will Ming pass the test? Well - his question was on the Soham murders - so the House fell silent. And he was absolutely fine - not that in my view PMQs should have any sway. It's just a blood sport. I do wonder why jeering, leering and making rude gestures is rated so highly by the boys and the media!

I race to City Hall for a London Day event with my old sparring partner - Ken Livingstone. He gives me a double peck on the cheek and I observe that he is clearly missing me since I left. He denies this assertion and tells me what a terrible thing we have done to that nice Charles. And what's wrong with a drink anyway? Well - this from the man who claims to get bored at parties and only drank three glasses of chardonnay! Hey, Ho.

The lunch was fine - and then Ken orated. He is a good speaker - something to do with nasal tones and trying to shock. I learned a lot from Ken during my five years as an Assembly Member (only the good bits) so have a lot to thank him for in as much as I learned to keep in mind when I speak the audience outside the room as well as those present. And to be direct!

Ken wittered on for some time about water and desalination - but his surprise announcement was his endorsement of Simon Hughes as LibDem leader. Not sure if that’s the kiss of death for Simon!

Labels: 603 bus, ken livingstone, mark oaten, mette kahlin, ming campbell, peter hendy, pmqs, simon hughes

Meeting in the morning at Jacksons Lane Community Centre followed by Parliament. Had long interview for Liberal Democrat News followed by one for Hansard Society - who are following a few MPs and interviewing them three times over their first year. Little huddles from the various leadership camps can be seen in every corner. Guess and hope it will all revert to normal after the competition finishes.

I'm handling prostitution today - so to speak. The Government announces its policy - no surprises there. They will crackdown on kerb crawlers (for crackdown read displace). They will allow two prostitutes to work together from premises - but not regulate or license saunas or brothels. They will educate girls that it's not a good idea to become a sex worker. As usual with Labour - all sound-bite and no solution.

Firstly - the bit about two working girls being able to operate from a flat or whatever does nothing to separate out the prostitutes from the residents. And it's the residents who don't want the business on their doorstep for the nuisance, the intimidation and because if they have children it's not nice - not to put too fine a point on it.

Secondly, their big idea is to take driving licenses away from kerb-crawling men. Hardly a convincing measure. And the insult to injury I think is whilst they talk about educating girls not to go into the business - not a dickie bird about the dicks – i.e. educating boys to behave responsibly and to respect women.

Moreover - it's a lost opportunity. Lots of good pilots in other cities with 'managed' zones where away from residential areas prostitutes can ply their trade between certain hours. Keep girls safe and supervised care for the health side of the business too. That's being tried in Liverpool. In Edinburgh - although not an official zone - for some time the 'area' was out at the docks. Same principle - deal with the issue, the health and safety and the nuisance to others - and regulate the saunas etc where currently the police de facto ignore well-behaved saunas and establishments.

It's our Opposition Day today in Parliament – which means the Liberal Democrats get to chose what is debated. Our two motions are the Child Support Agency (CSA) followed by nuclear energy - both explosive! Alone in the lobbies - our motions were defeated. Still it's good to be on the side of the angels.

Monday night was the live Sky TV hustings for the Lib Dem leadership contest. So I went up to Martin Horwood and David Howarth's office to watch. I was somewhat surprised to see myself doing a sort of Big Brother walk on, sit down, speak to camera and off as one of three little pieces preceding the main event. I had simply forgotten that I had run into Sky the week before and done it - not realising it was for the live hustings.

Anyway - irrelevant! Chris Huhne did good. I have to say - he came over really well: determined, passionate, eloquent and convincing. And I really enjoyed seeing the other three already adopting the issues and ideas he had raised on the first hustings on green taxes, commitment to black and ethnic minority MPs, localism and so on. Imitation being the best form of flattery etc

Afterwards they went to a random grouping they had set up in a pub in Carshalton to see how the four candidates had gone down. The one I really liked was a floating voter who had thought that she would like Ming or Simon - but said that although she had not heard of him previously - Chris came over the best. Way to go!

Labels: chris huhne, ming campbell

Surgery all morning. So many people just sort of on the edge of society with such tremendous battles on their hands to even get through the day. Obviously the details are confidential - but today was full of people who have truly fallen by the wayside with no one to pick them up. What do you do when you are so ill and receiving severe medical treatment that you are too ill to deal with letters which you receive? That leads to unpaid bills or unattended issues - which leads to family breakdown, utilities cutting you off and then ultimately homelessness. All because for some the right intervention just isn't available at the right time.

After surgery rush to meet parents at Coleridge School gates. Despite the rain - quite a large turn out. This is just a dreadful situation. Coleridge two form entry school with fab reputation is lined up for expansion to four form - making it the biggest primary school in the country. Local would-be parents are desperate for their children to go to Coleridge because over the last few years there has been a vast shortage of local places for local children. However, existing parents fear the expansion will ruin the family atmosphere of the school; that the disruption of building works will be detrimental over quite a long period for their children; that the dangerous road that divides the proposed second site from the first will mean injured or worse to their children at some point; that the need for places is in a different part of the local area.

This all heads towards decision at the Schools Organisation Committee on Wednesday. The really awful part is that the parents I met simply hadn't had a real opportunity to talk to the necessary people. Their input has been limited and their concerns not addressed directly with them. Moreover, this is an occasion when the committee really should make a site visit before deciding.

No doubt this is a difficult judgement. However, it has to be made on real facts and proper proposals. Concerns have to be addressed satisfactorily. The issues around the road have to have safe solutions before proceeding. The planning of school places and their locations must be sound and based on proper research. All avenues need to have been explored so that the resultant recommendations deliver the best possible solution for both existing and future parents.

Labels: coleridge school

The Liberal Democrats have a conference titled 'Meeting the Challenge' which was always scheduled for today. It was to find the party's 'narrative' following a general election where we did really well - but perhaps didn't reach the hoped for heights. One of the reasons seemed to be that while our individual policies, such as free care for the elderly, our stance on Iraq, scrapping Council Tax in favour of local income tax and ending top up fees were very popular, overall people didn't automatically know what Lib Dem meant.

Of course, events of the last few weeks meant that the environment in which this conference found itself was somewhat changed and the 'challenge' has become all the more pointed.

So - four candidates in the ring so far. The man who many people initially thought would almost certainly take over and who started as favourite - Sir Menzies Campbell; Simon Hughes (Party President), who has replaced Ming as the bookies’ favourite; Mark Oaten, Lib Dem Shadow Home Secretary (and my boss in the Home Affairs Team); and my boy - Chris Huhne, who started as a rank outsider at 300-1 with odds now closing at 7-1.

I am supporting Chris because it's not the office of leader he is interested in for its own sake. He wants to get the Lib Dems into power. And he knows what he wants to do with that power and where he wants to take the party. For me - I am looking at who can take the fight to Gordon Brown and beat him on his own territory. Chris can do it. I want to know that the man (and sadly there are no women standing) who wins this contest could handle running the country and the fight to get to that position.

And, he answered the big questions for me. One of them is the question the media keep on putting to us (and so we have to have an answer to) about whether the party should go left or right. The stock answer we give in our party to this - is 'neither left nor right but straight on' - or equivalent such phrases. Chris answered the question as how a party of conscience and reform progresses into the next era. It's really about using taxation to discourage behaviour which damages our environment, whilst using the money raised that way to take those who are poorest out of taxation all together. So – overall, no increase in taxation, but a fairer society and a better environment for all. Redistribution and responsible consumption in one - that's the combination that is both liberal and effective. That's the unique combination that Liberal Democrats need now.

So the hustings began. Ming had the misfortune of a ropey microphone for the first few minutes - but overcame the technical difficulties and delivered a really excellent speech - particularly the second half and the parts on our internationalist commitment. Simon Hughes gave a really good speech too. He rings the buzzers for the party faithful with his challenge to inequalities in society. At the same time, Simon ditched the party's commitment to a 50p rate on earnings over £100,000. Mark Oaten gave a really vigorous and energetic speech about moving us into the 21st century.

And of course Chris. I thought the boy did brilliant. He was confident, competent and credible. What I really liked (as did others judging from the vox pops afterwards where activists who hadn't really known much about him were so impressed – plus the verdict on Radio 4's PM program that it was Chris who made converts) was that he started with the real challenges we face in the world - globalisation and global warming - and quite frankly, unless we 'meet the challenge' of the world as it is - we won't be addressing the real issues facing us. And he delivered ideas. The others all said that we need new ideas - Chris actually gave some. The most radical and challenging is the beginning of the switch away from personal taxation to eco-taxes - a tax system that really is based on responsible consumption and the use of this tax to redistribute to those at the bottom of the income scale to take them out of tax.

You can see his speech in full on the Chris Huhne campaign website (or watch it on the BBC's website - RealPlayer or Windows Media Player required) but two other key issues he raised for me were firstly - a head-on personal commitment from him as leader to use his personal influence to ensure that we ethnic minority MPs elected at the next General Election. And whilst he is pleased that we have such a talented influx of new women MPs (I blush) we need more. No one else put this at the top of their agenda.

The other key issue he raised was the organisation of the party machine. Chris showed understanding that we need to have a fearsome campaigning machine - which means tools and money for the Campaigns Department - to compete in this ferocious world of political contest.

So - needless to say - he ticked my boxes!

Labels: chris huhne, mark oaten, ming campbell, simon hughes

Virtually no sleep last night. Worked very late to finish everything for Chris Huhne's launch today. At the launch a barrage of cameras greeted us as we came down the stairs in pre-arranged grouping. I introduced Chris - but forgot a bit (a Friday 13th moment)! C'est la vie.

Chris was damned impressive. Absolutely spot on, authoritative and driving. Obvious lines of attack in questions like - 'as a new MP you don't have the experience'. Chris blew that one out of the water with 'six years in parliament in Europe – making two more in total than the new Tory Leader'. Personally I think it is a plus if someone hasn’t been completely immersed in the customs and practises of Westminster. Time the real world entered the doors. And there is plenty of experience around him - the launch was liberally sprinkled with members of the other place.

So hopefully we are off to a flying start - with Chris's betting odds dropping from an original 300-1 to around 7-1 at close of play today.

After stopping for a breather with my co-chair of the Campaign, Sandra Gidley MP, I zoomed back to Haringey Civic Centre for the second of two scrutiny meetings on mobile phone masts. God knows how many hours residents, parents, councillors, officers, government staff and the mobile phone company public relations officers have spent in the last few years running round in circles.

The Government guidelines to councils are not worth the paper they are written on and the '10 commitments' by the phone companies deliver nothing as far as I can see but an industry of spin. I hope Haringey Council's scrutiny recommends proper legislative action from Government. Can't help but remember though that the Government did get a windfall payment of many billions from licensing. Still suspect they feel that makes it impossible to move into any serious restriction of masts or their sitting.

Grab post as fly past my constituency office as have to get home to a landline to do a 20 minute live radio show - Premier Radio - which is a Christian radio broadcaster. There was me, the show's host and the Chair of the LibDem Christian forum, Martin. We roamed across all four leadership candidates - and it was a very positive discussion.

Labels: chris huhne

Chris Huhne has launched his leadership campaign this morning – the campaign website is www.chris2win.org

Labels: chris huhne

Things move on at a staggering pace when politics is in full flow - and it is. Chris Huhne - who I am backing for the Lib Dem leadership - came in this morning and - having 'slept on it' - decided it is now all systems go. To me - this shows he has the balls for leadership - because that's what it takes

Of course, there is risk, but nothing ventured nothing gained - and this party needs a leader that will take it forward with radical thinking and exceptional skill.

All the candidates (including Chris) answered my seven questions that I posted up here for all the candidates. I will not publicise their answers, but on the one that the media so fastened on - the issue around what part was played by each in Kennedy's downfall and what had they done in the preceding five years to address the problem - what I will say is that I was satisfied that they all acted in what they thought was the best interest of a wounded colleague and the party.

Retrospectively, we can all say how could this have been allowed to drag on for so long - but good intentions were at the heart of the matter. And for me - the inquest is ended. As to who briefed the press before Christmas - I don't think we will ever know. The journalists involved know - but they will never reveal who done it. So - we will move on. Pick ourselves up - dust ourselves off - and concentrate on electing our new leader and making real gains at the local elections in May.

I'm backing Chris because he's the real deal and I think he has the big idea. He may have started out as the dark horse of this race - but hey - life's for living, and the bookies have already been slashing the odds on him. Some will say that he's cheeky (or worse) to run when he's only been an MP for 8 months. Personally I think that's a positive advantage - as he hasn't yet been seduced by the Westminster bubble and his memory still retains the imprint of the real world which is where it all matters. Chris will bring the outside world into parliament - and that's what it needs!

There is a lot of enthusiasm out there as word leaks out that Chris will run. Messages of support and financial pledges - and so much work to be done.

Meanwhile, life goes on and I meet with the makers of the taser gun. Tasers shoot darts on a wire into the victim - where they then deliver an electric charge less than those slimming toning things that are used as a beauty treatment (!). Given these guys seem to be cleaning up and already supply something like 9,000 police forces - and their shares have gone up 4,000% - they are clearly commercially successful. Ditto - they seem to be going down a storm with police forces. I voiced a concern that as it can be shot from 25 foot – meaning the police can avoid close contact – it might encourage police to be ‘trigger-happy’ if using it is seen as (for them) the easier option. The counter argument from the makers was that they are totally accountable as they record through camera, etc, all the data and evidence of each usage. Very impressive.

Labels: chris huhne

I saw Ming Monday night, Simon Tuesday morning and Mark too - and all answered my questions pretty well. Different candidates better on different questions. I am not intending to go public with any of the answers on the Charles's downfall question. I also put the questions to Chris Huhne who I had been encouraging to stand but who, as I write, is still considering it. If he does run - I will back him.

Chris is an economic expert - so he's the man to take the fight to Gordon Brown on the central issue that decides elections. An ambitious, successful party needs to win the national debate on economic policy.

We need to talk about not just what to do with this country's wealth but also about how to create more - to lift more people out of poverty, to improve our public services and to have the resources to protect and improve our communities and our environment.

Anyway - we must see today (Thursday as I write) whether he will. When I saw him last night after the Parliamentary meeting, he was going to 'sleep on it'.

Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday was not as uproarious as I had thought it would be. There was some jeering and shouting - but both Ming and Simon (who had questions) did pretty well. Tony Blair was on song - and I still think Cameron seems like an earnest schoolboy - but did ok too.

The Ruth Kelly issue is breaking all over the place today - and this is serious in my view. We have had some of these issues in Haringey before - when we have complained because someone on a list has been employed because Haringey has decided to use their discretion. My colleague who has dealt with this portfolio over some time now (Cllr Ron Aitken) has pursued and pursued these type of standards failures - but found the same approach as that seemingly taken by Ms Kelly.

Since the dreadful events surrounding Victoria Climbie in Haringey, Ron has courageously and stoically continued to pursue the council about its procedures around the protection of children. He texts me late, around midnight, to say he is already working on the local associated issues to the rumpus.

I hope this gives us an opportunity to put pressure on Haringey again.

In the midst of all this I meet the High Commissioner of Cyprs, Mr Petros Eftychiou. I was very impressed with him and felt he gave me an excellent history of why things around the Cyprus issue are the way they are. I will continue (but better informed) to raise issues on this whenever I get the opportunity. It is important to keep it high on the Government agenda - so that one day - both Greek and Turkish Cypriots can live in harmony and they all can benefit from a Cyprus that progresses and prospers.

Finish the very long day with a meeting of the MPs willing to support Chris's nomination. Hope he sleeps well!

Labels: chris huhne, tony blair

It was back to Parliament on Monday! Of course - the whole place is a tinderbox of gossip. My own colleagues taking comfort from being back together again - and Labour and Tory colleagues privately very sympathetic on the whole about the hideous situation that everyone has been dealing with. The House of Commons is surprisingly kind in many ways when there is real tragedy. Not replicated on the floor of the chamber, however, whenever a LibDem spoke at Work and Pensions questions. Cat calls and jeers - so much for the 'new' politics.

I do one radio interview, for the World at One. It doesn't air Monday for reasons I don't understand, though goes out Tuesday instead. Needless to say - out of the questions up on my blog to potential candidates - the one the World at One focuses in on - is the one about what part each candidate played in the Kennedy downfall and what they had done during the previous five years to tackle the problem? I thought I was pretty balanced - as there are two key angles: was it bungled plotting, or was Charles impossible to deal with?

I have various phone calls and meetings with would-be candidates or potential but non-declared candidates and so on and then rush back to Hornsey & Wood Green for a meeting with the Chief Exec of Jacksons Lane Community Centre. The building needs major repairs and renovations due to nothing much being done on maintenance over the years (as I understand it Haringey Council are the landlord). So - in essence - it's about how to get the work done and funded.

Following that I rush to Haringey Civic Center for a full council meeting and then I rush back to Parliament for a vote at 10pm. Following close of play - talk to more MPs and then get home after midnight.

Which is unfortunate - as I have to be up around 5am to study my brief as the Prime Minister is launching his Respect Action Plan in the morning and I have to cover all the media bids because Mark Oaten is going to announce his candidacy.

So, this morning (Tuesday) it was up at crack of dawn. Media bids from BBC, News 24 and Sky – and various radio. So head straight for Millbank. Tony Blair always seems so enthusiastic when he launches new projects or initiatives - which is a real art when so much of what gets announced is just recycled and repackaged!

It is definitely right to tackle the falling standard of behaviour, but - as ever - Labour's good intentions boil down to more summary justice - a sort of 'move 'em out' attitude. The problem with ASBOs and Banning Orders and Dispersal Zones etc is they don’t do enough to actually change behaviour.

Just in the middle of all the interviews I get a call from Ed at my constituency office. He says I have to come home immediately because my next-door neighbour but one's builders have found two black binbags in the road outside my house filled with cannabis!

We've had a number of strange things left outside my little drive - but never anything this extraordinary. Funnily enough I had noticed the bags last night when I came home but assumed they were just dumped rubbish and this morning reversing out of my drive I had run over one of them.

Anyway - first, I ask my daughter (who is at home) and Ed to check this out as far as they can - and then ring the police. Ed rings me later to say that he went up to my house, rang the police who came (three cars apparently!) and who confirmed it was indeed cannabis leaves. Apparently the male part of the plant. (I confess to not knowing there were gender bits). And they took the bags away. End of episode!

Back to anti-social behaviour. I recently had to submit a piece to the HeadsUp ASBO Forum as I had not been able to attend in person which touches, albeit very briefly, on the issues around anti-social behaviour.

The only really new bit is the idea of a parenting academy. It's not a college for parents to attend - it's a college where social workers etc can get special training to work with parents who need support and skills. I am all for real support as societal breakdown is seemingly having a knock-on effect and creating an 'anything goes' and 'no one cares' society.

I remain convinced that the answer is sustained interest and attention on the child with lots of alternative occupations to keep them busy and aspirations and pathways to enable real behaviour change. Labour's problem is all headlines - but little follow through. For example, if a kid breaches an ASBO s/he can go to jail - where they will undoubtedly learn more handy criminal tricks to perpetrate on release. Hardly the sort of change of behaviour that is going to bring about respect!

So - I do my stuff and then hurry back to meet a few colleagues about the leadership. Then as I drift through Portcullis House - I am tackled by Mark Oaten's camp and then Ming goes by and says he will see me at 5pm to answer my questions. So at 5pm I go to his office. What passed between us is confidential - but what I will say is that Ming was very good and very forthright.

Read the day’s letters and sign them, make some more phone calls and then the Whip comes through as unlikely to be any vote tonight. So can head off. Message from Simon Hughes that he will see me to answer my questions tomorrow.

Labels: jacksons lane community centre, mark oaten, simon hughes, tony blair

The phone doesn't stop ringing at the moment.

At our campaign meeting in Haringey yesterday morning I was able to speak to about 25 key members of our local team. I had sent a position statement out by email on the Friday night so that everyone would know why I had done what I had done - but this was an opportunity to get feedback and to give time to those key local members to ask me questions.

From the time I got home at lunchtime to midnight - the phone rang off the hook. I did some phoning myself to find out what the situation was. Ming, Simon's camp and Mark phoned me - as did the media. And my answer at this point is the same to all: 'Boys - my vote's up for grabs - show me what you've got.'

My interests are in seeing how the candidates (and of course as I write there is still only Ming - but by the end of today I very much hope we have a contested election) will answer my key questions:

- how will you progress electorally in both Labour and Tory seats?
- what do you propose to do about the organisation of the party machine?
- what is your view on coalition?
- what will you do to demonstrate your commitment to equalities in terms of your own advisers, cabinet and candidates?
- what will distinguish you from Blair, Cameron and Brown?
- what part did you play in the briefings and so called plot to oust Kennedy and what did you do in the five years previous to that about the problems of his alcoholism that we now all are aware of?
- where do you intend to take the party in terms of what the media call left and right?

That's my current check list - let's see what the contenders - when they declare themselves - come back with!

PS Just had a phone call saying that I am listed as a Ming supporter in the Independent. Not true - yet. It may be if Ming answers the questions I have tabled above to my satisfaction. But the Independent has slipped up or someone is jumping the gun.

So that's what it's like! Political assassinations since Caesar have been ghastly affairs. I am only glad that Charles' exit speech was him at his best - that the last memory of him as leader will be such a good one.

Before I turn to what is to come - I have been reflecting on how it all came to be such a messy and brutal affair - in a party that is so nice.

When I arrived in Parliament as a new MP in May I have to say that I was shocked by the scale of the leadership problems. I was aware that Charles was brilliant at times - but then seemed to disappear and not truly have the hunger that is needed to drive a party forward. But as a fan of his, my view then – and for a long time after – was that the best option was support, help and encouragement for him to sort things out.

I remember one time I spoke to Charles. I said that I was glad that he had made a statement to the MPs about improving performance etc. - but that I wanted specifics. I wanted to know what would be different this time to others. And finally – that it would be disingenuous of me not to mention that I had concerns about his personal habits. He didn’t address the issue – just as on other occasions he didn’t. I’m not angry with him about that – for those with a drink problem, facing up to it is perhaps the hardest thing to do. But I am saddened that the previous unsuccessful attempts to put things back on track meant that, finally, in the last few weeks so many people (including myself in the end) felt that we were left with no alternative.

Had Charles’s announcement on Thursday been the start of the road, I have no doubt we would have all rallied around – but tragically, it wasn’t – things had gone on for so long already. In the end though, he resigned with dignity and I wish him and his family all the best at what must be a very testing time.