Lynne's Parliament and Haringey diary

Main event today after surgery is the European Committee on exchange of data between law enforcement agencies in the EU. What this is about is letting any country in the EU access the information on databases in any other country in the pursuit of crime. Whilst in principle this sounds a great way to catch criminals, the reality is - we can't even make our own databases secure - let alone open them up to other countries. Huge problems can follow from widespread access to insecure data. Let's get our own house in order first.

Find myself in the Members’ Dining Room in Parliament in the evening with Chris Huhne and a couple of others from Team Huhne. It's all over bar the shouting - and none of us have a real clue as to who has won. Roll on Thursday!

Labels: chris huhne

Having come back from Holland last night - swing straight into action with visit to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). First impressions are important - and wow they have nice offices. So when John Wadham tells me that there was a deliberate policy to distance this new organisation from the police and the sort of police atmosphere in order to establish that they are totally independent - I would say they have succeeded. This was more like an ad agency than those rabbit warren, linoleum floored, old institutional fortresses that we so associate with law and order.

And they have had a tall order. More usually famous for their headline inquiries (de Menezes etc) than the bread and butter work of investigating and monitoring complaints, the task to gain public confidence is all. Plagued by high profile leaks from their ranks which caused distress to employees and all, they brought in an independent investigator to sort out their leaks and security. This whole system needs safeguards - but it also needs trust. The public faith in the police and in the complaints procedure has to be paramount - and so security and independence is vital.

When I was first serving on the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) one of my roles was go round to different police complaints departments and look through case files. Needle in a haystack work - but the point was that you could pick out stuff; you could get a pretty good feel for what went on between police person and complainant and you could understand the frustrations on both sides. I don't suppose unless every exchange was taped you would ever really know the absolute truth - but the audit trails must be capable of picking up trends in a particular station or from a particular officer.

Anyway - all of this transferred to the new IPCC who seem to have a pretty thorough grip on the work - albeit the workload is substantive. Outside of the headline investigations into murders and deaths in custody, they also supervise numerous other investigations as well as having a general remit on police complaints and appeals against decisions. Add to this the new roles of investigating complaints against officers in the immigration and asylum departments which is coming down the line in legislation - next week second reading in Parliament - and they have a monumental task on their hands.

I then dash off to do the Simon Mayo Program on blogging and pod-casting - only to find that the content has changed consequent on the publication of the Power Commission report. Basically the report finds that democracy is stuffed and we need a new electoral system and power to the people. ‘Scuse me - but it really cheeses me off as Lib Dems have advocated this for decades - but the media have taken no notice. Now it is Labour on Labour - they are sitting up and begging. Oh well................ Helena Kennedy, Shahid Malik and me are in one studio with Mayo and others in another studio. We all have a short say on the Power Commission findings. I point out that people are just sick of the spin and falseness of politicians and are crying out for anyone who actually believes in anything and isn't prepared to drop principles for the mere mention of a vote.

Then a quick lobby by BAA to try and persuade me of their sense of conscience and how they try to be sustainable - and to be fair they are trying. However, if attitude to airplane traffic is just to predict and provide - we will get nowhere in saving the planet.

That having been said - I went for three days to Holland last weekend. I decided to take the train both ways to be sustainable - and see the countryside. Of course, travelling all of Friday and Sunday for a Saturday there perhaps I hadn't got it quite right and a longer stay is needed to justify the four trains each way and the length of travel time. But my conscience felt good!

Labels: mpa

It's out today - the "pubcast" by Guido and the Monkey, featuring me! Listen for yourself and see what you make of it...

A grizzly surgery today. Four people cried. I sometimes despair of the misery that bedevils lives - from illness, to mental illness, to bullying by neighbours, to impossible housing situations, to being unable to leave the country to visit a daughter having a baby in a dangerous country from which you have fled for asylum.

I rush afterwards to have a quick lunch with a local journalist from The Muswell Hill and Crouch End Times in Crouch End - which is very pleasant. It is good to put a face and humanity to people you speak with often but haven't met. I like the paper - as it reports news intelligently and is well-balanced. I don't know how these reporters manage to get the paper out at all really. They always operate on the energy and ambition of young journalists hungry to get somewhere who will work incredibly hard on their path to future careers. Well - we all do that in those areas where working for little means that one day you get a chance to work at what you love.

Make a home visit to a disabled lady who has had an upsetting experience at the Whittington Hospital I will write to the Chief Exec to find out their side of the story and raise the issue. The bit I really find astonishing - without going into detail - is that traffic wardens (not sure yet if employed by council or hospital) actually burst in on a consultation when the woman was with the doctor. That seems slightly OTT whatever the dispute was about. We will see.

Anyway - I'm off now for a week! I may comment on what takes my fancy - but am not 'doing' for once.

Labels: whittington hospital

Early email from colleague to let me know that I appear sixth on Adam Boulton of Sky TV's list of the ten most fanciable MPs. Flattered - I log onto the website and see who the others are in the list. It is a mixed gender list. How Adam reached his conclusions is a mystery. The comment by my photo brings me down to earth pretty swiftly! I just assume Adam has made a mathematical error! (I wished). Better to be talked about than not talked about - I guess!

I go to Millbank to film a package for a two minute intro to the Politics Show to air on Sunday as a pre-cursor to an interview they are doing with Chris Huhne re LibDem leadership. Dirt has been (attempted to be) dished recently with Michael Crick trying to find fault with Chris's expenses when he was an MEP (report on Newsnight). It's interesting that the diggers can come up with so little. The man must be a saint. I heard information too that Labour were looking at his expenses during the leadership election to see whether they could pin anything on him. I guess you know you're doing a good job when your enemies are so desperate to do you down. You go boy! I knew I was getting there in Hornsey & Wood Green by the number of personal attacks on me by opponents.

I meet with Securicor Group 4 at 11.30am. There’s an interesting conundrum. Their proposition, which they are putting to the Minister (Hazel Blears), myself and the Tory police spokesperson. is to reclassify attacks on Securicor vans. The current situation is that if is when you attack a Securicor van carrying cash it is rated as a business crime - and therefore the attention and response of the police is not as high as for a public crime. Their argument is that they perform a public service - carrying cash to ATMs etc so that we, the public, can get our cash out whenever and virtually wherever we want. They are not allowed to be armed (quite rightly). However, covering the pavement between the highly fortified vehicle and the bank is a hazardous task.

In fact, 72% of all attacks on 'cash in transit' in Europe occur in Britain. Other countries have a range of defences, from armed guards to police coverage - and useful planning like the back of vehicles being able to dock directly into the building being delivered to. Coverage of more delivery points by CCTV would be good too.

So they presented their case to Hazel Blears - who I understand is sympathetic. I am sympathetic to a point - but would want partnership working as I don't think police can be diverted to protect every delivery (for what is still a profit-making - and good luck to them - company). It’s an interesting question as to what the right balance is between them making reasonable efforts to look after themselves and them getting extra help from the police. Think about your own home. We think it’s reasonable for people to take some steps to protect their own property (locking doors, having decent locks etc) but also for the police to respond quickly when needed.

So - certainly worth thinking about reclassifying their status in terms of police response - but first need to know what relationship is to other businesses who might feel they too have this requirement, like banks. Very interested in more CCTV coverage of delivery points - as this might act as powerful deterrent. Though that depends on the CCTV working - unlike most of the CCTV coverage in my own high streets of Muswell Hill and Crouch End. I gather resources (or lack of them) mean that only 1 in 5 of the cameras is in operation. Absolutely bloody useless if they are not in operation and not monitored. That's the challenge there. Anyway - food for thought.

Parliament is winding down today - as we go into recess tomorrow for a week - and I am having a week's holiday. I know - shock horror!

Labels: adam boulton, chris huhne, crime, hazel blears, michael crick, politics show

PMQs saw the return of Hague. Still great at this - but it never carried out to the country or upped the Tory vote. Blair was fizzing over the coming debate in the afternoon - a debate on the Terror Laws coming back from the Lords – who had amended the original Bill to take out the offence of 'glorification' and several others.

Tony was in a right strop - and posturing - and over-doing it. He always seems to believe that if he appears to be passionate enough - body and soul Blair stake your life on it - somehow it makes it right.

I was leading for the Lib Dems on the second string of amendments - where I was trying to persuade the Government to take out the bit about 'in the opinion of a constable'. The Government want to leave it to a constable to decide whether material is 'unlawfully terrorist related' and should therefore be taken off the net by the Internet Service Provider'.

Scuse - me! We wanted judicial oversight to that decision. Police constables are not trained to make such judgements - and a police officer's opinion should not be the arbiter of the terror laws. Anyway - we lost the lot. Depressing once again.

The only light-hearted moment was more on yesterday’s comment about 'gnawing on vitals' - Stephen Pound came over and sat next to us and the story had got back to him. He took it in good humour!

I must watch what I say under my breath. I must watch what I say under my breath. I must watch what I say under my breath. I must watch what I say under my breath. I must watch what I say under my breath. I must watch what I say under my breath.

Evening drinks with journos for Chris Huhne's campaign. Chris himself had gone to Cambridge for a hustings. But lots of journos turned up and the vibes are pretty good - but no idea what the 'armchair' members are likely to do. Find I am being interviewed by Recess Monkey and Guido Fawkes (not their real names!!) - cannot imagine what will be up on their website. It's called a pub-cast (as opposed to podcast I assume). Lively duo - but left a recorder running for a very long time in a pub!

Labels: pmqs, tony blair

Fight my way through stack of Valentine cards on mat - and into work and into the (House of Commons) chamber for the smoking debate. It's a free vote - and we have all come to whatever conclusion we have come to. I listened to part of the debate and it was interesting – especially the question of liberty to smoke versus liberty to not be damaged by other people’s smoke. And on and on. One impassioned and incredibly witty speech came from Stephen Pound, Labour MP for Ealing. He gave a robust and humorous defence of a human being's right to go to hell in their own way. At one point he referred to one of his colleague’s request to intervene thus: 'I feel him gnawing on my vitals'.

Sitting across the chamber on the LibDem benches I muttered under my breath 'what an awful thought'. The debate went on - and then the votes. I voted for a complete ban as I just think an individual should have the right to do whatever they wish - so long as they don't harm anyone. In this case - people are being harmed - so that's that. There was a huge vote in favour of a complete ban.

Later that evening, another Labour member who had been sitting in the chamber came up to me and said, 'I liked your comment'. 'What comment?' I said, 'I didn't speak in the smoking debate'. 'No - not a speech - your comment about Pound's vitals'. Blush - I did. You wouldn't have thought it would have carried that far!

Today is ID day! It is also the day when our newest Lib Dem MP, Willie Rennie, fresh from our stunning Dunfermline by-election, is introduced to Parliament. There is a wee ceremony - where the new MP is accompanied on each side by colleagues and then walks to the Speaker, bowing heads at particular spots. The new Member is 'sworn' in and then shakes hands with Mr Speaker (Michael Martin).

All good stuff.

A little later I went out into the Lib Dem Whips office - and Willie was standing there. So I shook his hand, congratulated him, and he leaned forward for a kiss (peck on both cheeks type). Then I went back into the chamber for the beginning of the ID card debate where I am on the front bench with Alistair Carmichael - our Shadow Home Secretary. However, I see Willie in there.

Trying to explain this to Alistair - half way through the story - I pass him a note saying 'well - who the hell did I kiss then'? The note came back! 'Nichol Stephen, Deputy First Minister of Scotland'. That’s what happens if you help an election by making phone calls rather than delivering leaflets with the candidate’s photo all over them ...!

Anyway - more to the point - we failed to defeat the government on ID cards. I'm truly sorry - as I believe the scheme is flawed and dangerous and moves us ever nearer to a police state - but without the promised 'benefits' of the card. The idea that a database of this size and complexity won't go wrong is naïve in the extreme. In the end I suspect the costs will mean it becomes untenable. The only danger, as pointed out by one MP, is that if they have already invested billions - even if useless and unworkable - there will be a momentum to continue because of the money down the drain to date.

The key issue - and where Labour broke their manifesto promise - was that in the manifesto it was to be a voluntary scheme. Of course, now they are linking it to passports (and despite a Minister saying you didn't have to have a passport - I wouldn't fancy trying to explain to a border guard that I didn't have one because it was 'voluntary'). And of course, as 80% of us have passports - that means it will effectively be compulsory for that 80%.

I haven't the heart to go through the numbers of flaws and dangers ahead if this scheme does go ahead. The usual Labour rebels still voted with us and the Tories, but the swing rebels - the ones that can deliver the final defeat - appeared to have been driven back into their corner by the Labour whips, probably scared rigid after Dunfermline that they had better not rattle Labour's position any further or their seats could be on the line.

Depressed - I run into Chris Huhne (our future leader I hope) and David Howarth MP and Martin Horwood MP - we are all of us on Team Huhne. So we adjourn to a bar - and Chris and I have a diet coke. The fun never stops!

Labels: chris huhne, id cards

Surgery all morning. The last case was quite challenging. Obviously no details - but in overview - a woman came because her son, 13 years old and black, had been stopped by the police and asked to account for what he was doing. He and some friends were described as hiding in the grounds of public building playing hide and seek. Nothing came of it and the police had written to the mother following her complaints to say that they accepted her son's explanation. End of story. Except - that although there is no police record or criminality etc - the boy's details will remain on the database as having been stopped and asked to account.

As we went through what had happened, the woman became extremely agitated and before long completely hysterical, sobbing and shouting and weeping and wailing. What was at cause of this was a mixture of indignation that her boy had been stopped at all and that the police shouldn't be allowed to stop a 13 year old and ask for details (she said they intimidated her son to get them), that the details filled in on the Stop and Search form were inaccurate and that he would be down in police records and this would count against him throughout his life as black boys have the odds stacked against them.

It is one of those situations where I just use enough authority to try and bring calm. I know theoretically people used to say you are meant to slap someone who is hysterical around the face and the shock is supposed to bring them back to their senses. However, I hardly think that a viable or acceptable solution in this day and age! I can just see the headlines. What was the most difficult was that she couldn't hear anything I was saying. And in fact I thought she had a good point.

It sort of relates to my work on DNA where I am fighting to bring some rationality and fairness to what gets retained by the police when someone is innocent. Likewise, her boy was innocent. She has the letter from the police saying so. But because the police stopped him, his details will remain forever on the database and this may well somehow count against him at a later date and in another context.

So I will pursue this. Because if there is any risk that retained details on an innocent black boy might one day mean that he is prevented from something - a job or a place at university because somehow that information is available - then it should not be retained on record. I will be writing to the police chief to find out what happens to such records, why they keep them and whether there is a particular reason for this boy's details to be kept. We will see.

There is a whole surveillance society being created at the moment - and we have to be sure that the balance between our civil liberties and catching criminals is not only a fair one - but an agreed one!

From surgery make my way to Highgate Primary School where I am talking to about 30 children from the school council and school newspaper about climate change and recycling - and how lovely it was to be surrounded by enthusiastic youngsters who peppered me with lots of questions and who clearly understood already the need to care about what we use and how we use it and the dangers that faced us.

More fascinating for them - was the fact that this was my old primary school! Neither the head nor the teachers had realised that this was indeed my own Alma Mater! And what memories it sparked. I was describing to Anthony - the teacher in charge of this project - and we didn't use first names when I was there- that we had had a boys' playground and a girls' playground. And he laughed at the idea of gender playgrounds - but that's how it was. And I remembered all my old teachers' names. Also, the head was called Mrs Ruby Jobson (I think) and I remember her calling my mother in for a chat because my mother was not a fan of education and thought you should get out into the world and work as soon as possible. She herself had left school at 13 to train under a milliner - which she hated. Anyway - Mrs Johnson called her in and told her that her little girl was quite clever and advised that I sit for a scholarship. My mother reluctantly agreed. But the interesting thing is that we hadn't done any algebra and apparently you needed to be able to do algebra to sit the exam. So the Headmistress sat me in her own office for six weeks and tutored me personally. I sat the exam. I got the scholarship. And the rest is history. So - an unexpected walk down memory lane!

Then I get a call from a reporter from Radio 4’s Today programme who wants to come and interview me post the fabulous Dunfermline by-election result - as Haringey is one of those councils that is mooted may fall to the Lib Dems. It's a program to do with what is happening and why in Labour's heartlands. So he comes to the Three Compasses pub (where my office is upstairs) and I am sitting downstairs having a coffee with my 3 o'clock appointment - Ian Grant - from Open Door.

Open Door is voluntary organisation part funded by state and the rest by raising funds and it has a team of councillors that work with 13 to 24 year olds with mental health problems. One of the projects they are doing, and which they want to promote more widely, is support for parents of teenagers with mental health problems as there is nothing available. The other gap is care for 18 - 21 year olds who often seem to fall between two stools. I am particularly cross about the lack of resource or interest in mental health.

Firstly, neighbour disputes are often mental health based issues and often crime in the community is because care in the community doesn't work. The police and the prison system end up dealing with what are mental health issues - and of all the under-funding - talking therapies are the lowest in the food chain!! We did actually have an opposition debate this week in Parliament for the first time on mental health for over eight years. And Charles Clarke in his statement yesterday on offenders doing community sentences did mention in passing that the government will be bringing forth legislation in the mental health area. Anyway - the reporter put his tape recorder on and taped a bit of that meeting too.

Then I did the interview - and yes - Labour heartlands will fall (I hope) and he was particularly interested to know how and why I had managed to overturn a Labour lead of 26,000 in two elections. It's not hard to understand. Haringey Labour ran a one party state where residents were ignored and treated as voting fodder who would vote Labour whatever. Someone like me comes along and says I will listen and care and do things about your everyday life - yes it matters - clean streets, lighting, paving stones and so on. I have always argued that if you can't keep a street clean how can you run the country? Of course, over the years the Lib Dems have been working in Haringey - we have succeeded in pushing through improvements - on cleaner streets, recycling, school places - all of which Labour ignored until we became a threat, campaigned on these issues and put them in our leaflets. So - there is every chance that we will take the Council in May. Fingers crossed!

As I finish the interview - the CND lobby arrives. I was expecting about 5 of them - but around 12 -15 turn up. We pass an interesting half-hour and each member (virtually) of the lobby presents their case. For the avoidance of confusion - I am against the replacement of Trident with an equivalent system. For the time being, I believe we need a minimum nuclear deterrent. What does that mean? Enough to make anyone think twice about attacking us. I would wish to move to disarmament - but I think that is unrealistic at this moment in time and am not in favour of unilateral disarmament. I want a debate in Parliament on this issue - and indeed a debate in my own party too. I believe the world has changed and is changing and the way war is waged is also changing. The threats of the past are replaced by different threats now. Our defence needs to adapt to these changes.

Labels: charles clarke, crime, dna, highgate primary school

Politics for activists doesn't get much better than Thursday night! Question Time with the three would be leaders and then the Dunfermline by-election.

All three performed well - enough - although the atmosphere was a bit subdued in the studio and the lighting was foul - not doing any of them any favours. Dimbleby was actually quite brilliant. He had done his homework and didn't let those who had been spinning negatively get away with it. I hadn't been aware of the stuff coming from Simon - but according to Dimbleby it was in his manifesto. Simon denied it - but then Dimbleby said that he was being told it was on Simon's website as they spoke. It was a killer.

There were some tetchy bits with Ming - who seemed in no mood to be slighted by Dimbleby or anyone in the audience. Twice, I think, he basically said that something had been raised (that he didn't like) and wanted the opportunity to come back on it - which Dimbleby gave him.

And my boy Huhne - did well - but was even better last week on Question Time. More humour and more human!

But the real joy was to come. The Dumfermline by-election super result. We stormed to victory and how sweet it is in the midst of all our troubles to shine through the mess with the heart and soul of Liberal Democracy triumphing. I don't know if this signifies that we are better off without a leader at all ... !

No - what it demonstrates is that the party and its values and beliefs are what matters and will survive all the slings and arrows that life throws at us.

Hurrah!

Labels: ming campbell

Two biggies today! Dunfermline by-election and the Lib Dem leadership Question Time. But work comes first - and I have had, unexpectedly, to go into Parliament to respond on behalf of the Lib Dems to Charles Clark statement on their new national offenders strategy.

So - my first statement!

On route in, get call to say YouGov poll puts Chris Huhne in the lead. Can't read too much into polls - but whoop with joy anyway. It's very, very exciting at this point - although there have been some negative swipes at Chris. Never mind. I also had an email from someone objecting to my supporting Chris so publicly and suggesting as an MP I ought to be more balanced. Well - of course - all three are wonderful. But I am completely biased and campaigning for Chris - that's the point. People want to know who I support. Anyway - tonight will be some night. I would be absolutely terrified if it was me. Happily, Chris is pretty good at handling tension and stress - thank goodness. I just wish I had bet on him.

Chris's press officer is desperate for me to go on TV as they need talking heads for breaking news on Chris in the race - but can't do it because of the statement. I think Steve Williams did it in the end.

Anyway - back to reality. Dash in - and the process is that the Whip's office gets notification of the statement from the Home Secretary in Parliament an hour before the Home Secretary makes it. So I have about 45 minutes to compose my response. I do have help - from an adviser. But it is a helter-skelter process.

In the event - it all went fine. So to the substance - the statement was the Government coming round to the Lib Dem position on non-violent, non-dangerous criminals doing community sentences rather than prison. For all sorts of reasons - this is just the best way forward - and finally the Government has cottoned on. Most importantly – it’s the most effective way of cutting crime rates. Sadly, their reason for seeing the light probably has more to do with running out of space in prisons than a real belief in restorative justice and community punishments.

The real test will come if they resource it properly. I was a bit concerned when Charles C banged on about partnership working etc. Can often mean that no one takes responsibility properly - and there was no declaration of resource levels that the Government is going to commit.

I welcomed the thrust of the statement - but had a go over the eight years in which the Government has done sweet FA to make inroads into this bubbling mess.

Labels: chris huhne

Busy day today. First off - accompany Alistair Carmichael (our Shadow Home Secretary) to the Home Office for a meeting with Minister Tony McNaulty. Basically it was to run through his thinking on immigration and asylum. He wasn't as bad close up as I had feared given to my knowledge he has never smiled. This is probably an exaggeration - and it may well be that he has simply never smiled at me!

Rush back for Home Affairs team meeting followed by Prime Minister’s Questions where Tony Blair made absolute mincemeat of Cameron - and very enjoyable it was too. I am not partial to blood sports - but it would be disingenuous if I denied the pleasure I got from his mauling.

Firstly Blair was well on song - albeit Cameron handed him a real gift by saying that Labour had flip-flopped. Coming from the flippiest flopper in town - it was then open season. I am particularly incensed over Cameron's rubbish at the moment because of his latest conversion to getting rid of the Royal Prerogative - i.e. Tony Blair's ability to take this country to war - and wants parliament to have the authority in this. Only a few months ago Clare Short brought in a Private Members Bill for the armed forces which would have done exactly that. Friday morning when such Bills are debated is quite difficult to get MPs to stay for - however lots of Lib Dems and Labour did - because it was so important. But only 6 Tories were in evidence and voted - and guess what - David Cameron was nowhere to be seen! The rank hypocrisy is striking - so his come-uppance was richly deserved.

Then I dashed over to Methodist Central Hall for a lobby by the local Defend Council Housing group - who are up in arms about ALMOs. Their complaint is that the goalposts are moving on what was voted on by leaseholders and tenants. I raise it with my Council Group in the evening and our housing spokesperson, Dave Beacham is going to make sure that the motions they passed in their forum are discussed by the Board.

Then I rush (late) to Environmental Audit Committee where we take evidence on why the government is too lily livered to actually stick to its targets or deal with taxing consumption. Then I rush to a meeting to thrash our the line on DNA (more to come another day). which is one of my passions (a bit nerdy) and then rush back to Haringey to Council Group.

Labels: dna, tony blair

Imagine the scene. It's a few weeks before the next general election. Gordon Brown - now Prime Minister - is reeling off another of his lists of economic statistics. He is about to launch New Labour's general election campaign centred - as they have all been - on their economic record.

Who as Liberal Democrat leader could match him economic fact for economic fact in the debate in Parliament? Who will persuade leading journalists during the subsequent forensic media cross-examination as regards those key pocket-book issues?

For me, the clear answer is Chris Huhne.

Chris's record as an economist, successful businessman and senior economics journalist give him the skills and expertise to do just that.

Of course credibility is not the only thing.

Important to me too are the beliefs behind Chris's economic credibility.

A strong belief in the environment - to be protected and restored by taxing the activities that damage it while using the revenues to provide alternatives such as better public transport.

A commitment to social justice, most importantly by taking the poorest out of income tax all together.

Chris has the right priorities for our party, and decades of experience campaigning for them.

But Chris also showed his strength of character long before entering politics.

One of his first assignments as a journalist was reporting undercover from India during Mrs Ghandi's crisis.

Chris stood up to Robert Maxwell - continuing to report his wrongdoings despite having four libel writs outstanding.

This shows a certain bravery and principle that was sorely missing from many journalists who took the easy option and turned a blind eye to Maxwell's crimes.

There are only a few short weeks between the election of our new leader and the vital May local election campaigns (including in my own patch - Haringey - where we hope to take control of the council from Labour).

We need a leader who will be absolutely sure-footed in dealing with the media from day one, if not before. In just the few weeks of this leadership campaign Chris has shown his ability to win media coverage - coming from 200-1 outsider to within sight of the winning post.

What's more, Chris's campaigning experience of facing down one of the best-funded Tory campaigns in southern England and winning also means that with him as leader we can be sure to have someone who actively and productively supports our campaigning activity and leads by example in using the latest campaign techniques.

That's why so many of the MPs who were elected for the first time last May - like both myself (a huge swing from Labour) and Lorely Burt, winner of Solihull on a dramatic swing from the Tories - are backing Chris.

We've seen the benefits of fighting modern, cutting-edge campaigns in our own seats, winning from both Labour and the Tories - and want to see those ideas spread much, much further in the party.

The wealth of experience Chris would bring to being leader of our party is reflected in the breadth of support he has already built up - including such highly experienced participants in the political scene as Bill Rodgers (SDP founder and former leader in the House of Lords).

Bill has seen an awful lot of party leaders of all stripes come and go over the decades - far more than me! - and in his measure, Chris certainly has what it take to lead and to win.

With any leader, there's always a careful balance to be struck between wanting someone who will lead and give direction on the one hand, and on the other hands having someone who will respect and work with the party's - quite rightly democratic - policy-making process.

With Chris, we know what we're getting. He's already chaired the party's key public services policy commission under Charles Kennedy - working successfully with all parts of the party to produce a distinctive, effective and liberal set of policies to improve our services and radically cut down the power of central government and central bureaucrats.

Outside the party too, Chris is rated as the man who can do it:

"Brains and political acumen to match Labour ministers" (Guardian)
"Fluent and persuasive" (Daily Telegraph)
"No political novice ... he has long been one of the party's key thinkers" (BBC)
"Strong reputation" (ITN)
"A high profile among Lib Dem members" (The Times)
"Able" (The Independent)

If you're still not sure if you agree with me, or the Guardian, or the Daily Telegraph, or the BBC, or ITN, or The Times, or The Independent, or ... (!), you can find out more about Chris at his website, www.chris2win.org

Alternatively, if you would like to hear what others are saying about Chris, why not have a look at www.bloggers4chris.org.uk - as a featured blogger, I really recommend it!

Labels: charles kennedy, chris huhne, gordon brown

Visited the Burghley Road Under-5s Community Drop in Centre to celebrate turning on their new central heating system and their new floor. I arrive amongst herds of toddlers and parents to this absolutely wonderful community centre.

The Council had long ago let local parents have the building as a drop in for mothers with their under-5s. An absolute life-saver to have somewhere to go and meet other parents when you are stuck at home with young children. I haven't forgotten the sort of despair when the door first closed on me as my then husband went to work and I was left alone with my new baby. There wasn't anything like this where I was.

Here the mothers (and some fathers) all work and run it as volunteers. Someone opens up, others cook lunch, others tidy up and close up. It has a sweet little outdoors area with climbing frame. But it was run down - and had absolutely no central heating. One mother was telling me that she had had to stop coming in the worst winter months because it was too cold for the baby. Anyway - thanks to their perseverance and some new funding through a couple of sources they had now been able to install both central heating and a new floor! The management committee and all the volunteers deserve a big cheer for really giving to the community.

Leading on the Police Funding Report today in the House. This is the funding for Police Authorities for their forces. It doesn't include special payments for things like counter-terrorism or the security forces or other special payments - but is the main chunk of money that gives us police on our streets - or not!

The Association of Police Authorities (APA) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) are extremely concerned that the funding is inadequate - leaving a gap of £250 million which will either result in cuts or in increased council tax. Since 2001 the portion of police funding paid by us through our Council Tax precept has gone from 12% to 21%. So when you hear Labour Government boasting about the increase of police on our streets and the Safer Neighbourhood Scheme - which we all want - remember it is us who have paid to have them there through local taxes.

Latter, after I had made my speech, the Minister Paul Goggins, in his wind up of the debate, said that he disagreed with the Honourable Lady for Hornsey & Wood Green (me!). And that this funding allocation would benefit the poor and everyone would have local policing. However, what I had actually said, was that any rise in Council Tax would hit the poorest and most financially vulnerable because it is an unfair tax and older people have no means to increase their income to meet increases in Council Tax - and with the scandal of womens' pensions..........etc. So naughty Mr Goggins.

Naughty Mr Goggins too - I see in the local paper that he visited my constituency without letting me know (which is the convention) to visit the TreeHouse School for autistic children. This is a fantastic outfit which came recently to my constituency and does the most incredible work - so I forgive him!

Co-terminus with the debate - I was meant to be hosting an event on the terrace for the Met Police Authority (ironically), but they just had to manage without me. I did get in there for about 10 minutes - just as Sir Ian Blair was finishing his speech - so I don't know what he said. I just thanked everyone for coming and suggested they continued to enjoy themselves - and then rushed back to the chamber.

Labels: treehouse trust

Bumped off London Radio by the offensive cartoons! So many callers apparently that they want to take me later in the morning. However, I am otherwise engaged on a campaign team meeting. It's all go in Haringey for the local elections. Labour know we are in a position to take the council off of them - and for months have been plastering Haringey with posters saying how wonderful the council is! I think they might be able to fool some of the people some of the time, but...

Some of the activists there who had been supporting Ming Campbell originally - said how impressed they were with Chris Huhne on Question Time. Way to go. Ming and Chris had sent leaflets to the HQ for activists to pick up - but none from Simon. Haven't heard much about his campaign at all.

Spend a good part of the day reading the police grant report - I know - just lucky I guess. It is coming to the Commons tomorrow and I am leading for the Liberal Democrats, so want to be well-informed for the debate. Make some speech notes, do my emails (only about 8 left in inbox - it's a miracle) and pay bills.

The cartoon issue has gripped every paper and news outlet today - not surprisingly. There is clearly something stirring in the world beyond our shores. My sense is that there is a desire from some quarters for Jihad - and this is just grist to their mill. I sometimes think it is a bit like the days of communism. With communism – ordinary working people were exploited in the name of a wider cause that was supposedly in their interest, but in fact wasn’t – and sacrificed huge numbers of them in the name of the cause.

Same with Muslim extremists – trying to claim that their own extreme beliefs are really on behalf of – and in the interests of – the much wider and larger Muslim community, when in fact – its nothing of the sort, and the extremists are instead trying to exploit the (very different) bulk of Muslim faithful. With communism it was a case of perverse ideology, in this case it's a case of perverse theology.

Labels: chris huhne, ming campbell

Fabulous piece on Chris Huhne in The Guardian. Just wish every member of the party will see it.

I am going to the launch of Chris's manifesto today at Greenworks - a fantastic social enterprise business near Hanger Lane where they get the old furniture off of big corporations like Barclays and then sell it really cheaply to deserving others (charities, schools, etc). They recycle everything and refashion it into new furniture. Moreover - they employ the deeply underprivileged and long-term unemployed - giving them new skill sets etc. And moreover - they make a profit, so this is a real long-term and sustainable operation.

It is so heartening to see a company like this as so often you get the feeling that companies that do good are worthy - but unprofitable. Greenworks proves that there are jobs and profit and right-on thinking all combined.

On route - get phone call from the press adviser to the campaign that Chris is fogbound at Aberystwyth where he had gone for Question Time. Now in car - but not likely to make the 11am start. Will arrive at around 1pm. The plan therefore is for me to do the tour of Greenworks and then David Howarth and I will conduct a 'seminar' on the manifesto until Chris comes. And thus it was. Actually we had a really interesting discussion about the manifesto issues and all really enjoyed it - despite the freezing temperature in a room with virtually no heating (saving energy)! I had to leave just before Chris arrived as I had surgery back in Wood Green Library - but I hear it went well.

Labels: chris huhne

Reading The Times this morning I would say that Chris Huhne must be doing really well in the Lib Dem leadership contest - given the number of attacks on him.

There seems to be briefings against him. The briefings say that he had agreed not to run. I believed passionately that we needed him to run for the party to have a real choice, and I wasn't the only one. Chris did the right thing – he went to Ming and said he had changed his mind and asked if Ming would release him from his earlier commitment. Ming is a gentleman - and basically let democracy flourish. And Chris has handled this really well I think – being open and honest and saying, yes – he changed his mind.

Whether Chris or Ming wins - they will at least know that they have a genuine mandate from the party for their leadership.

Evening - I go to a small stakeholder meeting on Hornsey Hospital - a long-running saga. Having met previously with Richard Sumray to demand a public meeting to update the situation - the public meeting is finally to be on 22 February. The plans are to deliver first rate local health services to the area - but there is a price to pay. Watch this space.

In the evening Chris (leadership) Huhne is on Question Time where he gives a storming performance - aided by an astoundingly bad one by the First Minister for Wales, Rhodri Morgan. The man is a liability. Chris was really good and seems to be growing stronger and better every performance.

Labels: chris huhne, ming campbell, richard sumray

Thirty plus children from Alexandra Park School came to Parliament today. They had the tour, sat in the chamber for Prime Minister’s Questions – PMQs - and then came to question me for half an hour in a room I booked in Portcullis House.

Straight in - no hesitation - what should the public think of politicians who lie? So I gave them a very long and very direct answer - on the whole sad story of why politicians fall from grace. They were very condemnatory of George Galloway - and much, much more. I like it when children are lively and engaged as these young people were.

The Parliamentary Education Unit has produced a new brochure for young visitors to the House - and I even star on one page!

The afternoon is taken up with the police mergers debate. Nothing new to add since it was debated before Christmas. Labour’s plans are still wrong - combining illogical areas to fit in with the government's regionalisation, hugely expensive and will not fix the real issues. Expensive nightmare! And ordinary you and me will have a double whammy. We will pay extra in taxes for the extra costs but also have less a less local and less accountable police force (except in London which remains unchanged).

I rush away at the end to go to Channel 4 Political Awards. Have been nominated for the Rising Star award - which is quite an accolade and only awarded once in every term of parliament. I am up against two Labour and one Tory. Given that it is one member of parliament one vote - I suspect I won't win. It is a star-studded (ish) affair and I am seated next to Tony Benn (great person to sit next to) and Michael Howard on the other side of him.

They have put together packages of each category's nominees with people, journalists or other MPs talking about them. I won't spoil it all by giving it away here - but it will be on Channel 4 on Monday at 8pm. There were copious jokes at George Galloway's expense - and the LibDems didn't get away scot-free from what passed for jokes.

Labels: alexandra park school, george galloway, pmqs