Lynne's Parliament and Haringey diary

Meetings scheduled at last minute and requiring attendance meant that I was prevented from a number of meetings - including one in Leeds with the Association of Police Authorities and the Holocaust Educational Trust (being re-organised).

I did manage to meet with the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC). I have the same concerns I had when I was on the London Assembly about the Thames Gateway. A city the population size of Leeds is being plonked in the Thames Gateway without proper master-planning (in my view).

This is just the hugest opportunity to do things right, but the fear is - that this won't happen. However, the LTGDC is making a fist of trying to put some organisation and rigour onto the development. They need a huge hit of Government funding - and it won't be clear for a couple of years whether the Government will be putting their money where their housing targets are.

If the Thames Gateway delivers sustainable housing (around 100,000), jobs and sustainable transport links - then it could be a really good thing. One of my concerns - as ever - from my interest and belief in the importance of the built environment, is the quality of design. Such a lot of shoddy third-rate stuff gets built - and then authorities wonder why there is crime, unemployment, anti-social behaviour and so on. Treat people like dirt and they behave that way.

Early morning out filming for Sunday's Politics Show. They will have David Davis in the studio - and the bit they wanted me for was to ruminate on any potential threat from the Tories now they hug hoodies. Not sure that Davis is all love and sunshine; however - you'll have to wait for the program if you're interested.

I then watched John Prescott in horror. I don't know him really, as our political paths haven’t really crossed and he has only stepped into take the PM's role at Prime Minister’s Questions a couple of times since I became an MP - but it seemed cruel sport.

I don't rate PMQs as an exemplar way to conduct politics anyway. It is a blood sport and as such is quite compelling but actually pretty nasty stuff. However, just as with hunting, when the prey doesn't even have a chance it is sheer cruelty. Whilst T Blair can take care of himself - Prescott clearly can't. I don't suppose they will let him go before the Blair Switch project is complete - but it would be kinder to leave him with a last vestige of pride.

Labels: david davis, john prescott, pmqs, politics show, tony blair

I was speaking yesterday in a break out group at the CRE Race Convention. My session was about race discrimination in the criminal justice system. It was a pretty lively debate. A core problem – on which there was widespread agreement – is that of “disproportionality” running through every part of the criminal justice system. This means that people from ethnic minority communities are far more likely to be stop and searched, have DNA records taken and a host of other things than they should be given their proportion of the population or of the criminal population. And - despite a great deal of talking the talk - the issue appears very resistant to fixing.

My own view is that it comes down to leadership. If everyone understood that any discrimination would be monitored and recorded and SUPERVISED - and that jobs would be lost as a result - then we would see a shift. But despite the very genuine efforts - that level of priority and commitment is not yet truly there.

Take the police and the borough commander level. If the crime targets were down - top brass would be on the phone to the local commander wanting to know the reason why! The same cannot be said around issues of disproportionality. So perhaps the next step is, as one man suggested, disproportionality targets. Only the police are already drowning in targets - and unless the top brass take this as seriously as the crime stats - then the results won't change.

And in case anyone has forgotten - the stats in London (for example) on DNA retention are that against a background of 28% BME population in London, there is a disproportionate arrest rate of 48% and a rate of 60% of DNA records are from the BME population. Translated - that means that not only are the police disproportionately arresting black and ethnic minority people - they are getting it humungously wrong! And time spent wrongly arresting innocent people is time lost on catching criminals.

I have a meeting coming up with a senior Met Officer to discuss the arrest policy. For it seems clear to me that disproportionality starts with stop and search and the continues through the criminal justice system from arrest to sentencing. Another chap very wisely suggested that there be an independent study of disproportionality across the whole criminal justice system - and I think that would be an excellent thing to do.

As for Ken Livingstone's purile attack on the Race Convention - typical brattish behaviour from a spoilt child! As usual.

Labels: dna

Get a text from the Whip's Office that there will be an Urgent Question in Parliament from the Conservatives. The Urgent Question is to ask the Home Secretary, John Reid, to make a statement on the death of Alexander Litvinenko.

Basically he just runs through the timetable of events - not really adding anything new. I manage to get called to pose a follow-up question on the lines of:

Mr Litvinenko was my constituent. He was a British Citizen. Can the Home Secretary give me assurances that his death will be investigated without fear nor favour regardless of the diplomatic sensitivities of Russia and that the findings of that investigation will be full, fair and frank?

John Reid was pretty straight in his reply - and basically said that the police would do their job without interference.

As I said in an interview with BBC 24 afterwards, the main points as I see them are: a straight police investigation without interference; that there are questions that still need to be answered as to whether Mr Litvinenko brought his fears to the police before the 1st November; whether other Russian dissidents are concerned and whether they have been contacted in regard to this; have others contacted the police at any time about being followed by secret services and of course - from the public point of view - until the few people who have been asked to take more medical tests get the all clear - there is a residue of concern about contamination around the places where the radioactive material was found.

As Ming Campbell has said, we must not rush to judgement. However, as Ming also pointed out, if it should end up with Russia's fingerprints on this - then a country which wants a seat at the top table cannot be associated with state terrorism.

Labels: alexander litvinenko, ming campbell

Watching the evolving events surrounding the death of Alexander Litvinenko over this weekend - including TV cameras camped outside his house in Osier Crescent, which is in my constituency.

I had previously texted Richard Sumray, who is Chair of Haringey Primary Care Trust and also the person charged with the health brief in our local emergency planning team. I just wanted to be sure whether there was any action that had needed to be taken on the health front. It didn't seem as though there was any danger of radioactive contamination - but with such dangerous and toxic substances and clearly with local neighbours being concerned, just wanted to be sure.

Also noticed that the Journal carried the story about a local phone mast controversy. It is outside Neil Morrissey's house. It always helps to have a 'name' involved in a campaign. The problem goes on and on however, and I think it’s a matter of better safe than sorry!

Labels: alexander litvinenko, richard sumray

When Labour talk about security these days, it's all about fighting criminals and battling terrorists. But there is more to security than that ... as I wrote about in my latest newspaper column, which came out this week:

Amid all the pomp and circumstance (of which there is a lot when Her Majesty pays us a visit in Parliament) the airways were overwhelmed with the Queen’s Speech and the pending Blair Switch Project, but the latest unemployment statistics were published with relatively little comment. The rise in unemployment itself was statically relatively small, but the headline gave me reason to pause: unemployment at seven-year high.

You can read the column in full on my website.

Labels: crime

Following surgery on Friday (which, for new readers, means people coming to me to raise their problems or issues individually face-to-face – rather than me turning doctor and operating on people!), I go to Hornsey Town Hall.

Here David Lammy - who is not just my neighbouring MP from the other half of Haringey, but also Minister for Heritage - has come to be nagged about the future of Hornsey Town Hall. Labour Haringey Council leader George Meehan was there too, as were members of the Community Partnership Board - who are trying to steer the Town Hall through to becoming a truly new community facility and restoring it to former glory.

The plans are for this to happen in three phases, and the first is the bit that caused such controversy - which is selling off bits to be developed for housing to finance the next phase of the project. Then comes restoring the Town Hall and opening that up for various community activities and then the last phase delivers the hall and the chamber.

David Lammy was helpful in terms of recommending capital funding possibilities and people who might be able to help advise on how to move from where we are to where it needs to go to put in for the big capital bids needed. So - another move forward hopefully.

Labels: george meehan

I discovered today that the poor, poor Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko who died last night from poisoning is one of my constituents. It is the most dreadful story - and I hope that those responsible are caught and brought to justice. This is the side of the James Bond spy movies that doesn't really get covered. There are spooks and spies and state murderers out there - we just don't usually get to know about it.

Labels: alexander litvinenko

I go to a very cold church hall in Muswell Hill after my attendance at Parliament for a debate on Trident. It was very well attended. The event was organised by Pax Christi - a Catholic Church grouping who, not surprisingly, believe that nuclear weapons are evil and immoral and that Britain should not replace Trident.

Trident is a submarine based nuclear system that is (supposedly) coming near to the end of its life – though there could be options for extending its life, making unnecessary any decision at this point in time.

T Blair is gung-ho to replace the system fully. Gordon Brown has already stated that Trident must be maintained. We (Lib Dems) have all been jumping up and down asking for a Parliamentary debate and vote – i.e. proper decision made by Parliament rather than secret stitch up between Blair & co.

The Liberal Democrats are currently debating the details of our policy on Trident – expect a motion to come to our spring conference in Harrogate. Lib Dem MPs had our first run around the subject on Monday with a presentation from our Defence Spokesperson, Nick Harvey. And it's not an easy decision - unless you follow the purist moral route of pacifism.

What I would say at the outset of this debate is that the real issue for us all is - how do we best achieve peace? There appear to be basically two views. One is with nuclear weapons - so that no-one would dare take us on, and to give us a seat at the table to influence the reduction of such weapons throughout the world. And the other is that we should renounce our nuclear capability and set a lead in the world to influence others to give up their weapons and so on.

I have a relatively open mind at this moment in time, but some of my thoughts are:

I tend to believe that it is the extreme hideousness of the effect of nuclear weapons - with images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - burned into my brain as a post war baby - that has meant that no-one in their sane minds would ever use such a weapon again.

I am clear that any talk of battlefield nuclear weapons is unacceptable. The idea that such weapons could be scaled to be useable is in itself disgusting.

I am unhappy about how independent such a weapon is of the USA - although the alternative argument is that at least with our own nuclear deterrent we have some answer to the might of the USA. Specious that one.

I am not sure how minimum ‘minimum’ can be.

I don't believe that unilateral disarmament is the answer.

I do believe that there are evil people in the world who don't march to the same drum as we do – and that human nature means that there will always be those who seek to do us harm.

I believe the threat has changed in the world since the cold war and that nuclear weapons can do nothing in terms of attacking Al Queda.

Are nuclear weapons because of their awesome power quite different to normal military weaponry? Is not the real answer to seeking a situation where nations feel they no longer need a nuclear capability? Would that not be better achieved if all the energy of the powers that be were put into sorting out the Middle East region - and yes, that means talking to Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinians.

But what about rogue states like North Korea?

And what about the £76 billion (nuclear deterrent cost) that could be spent on so many other much worthier causes?

So, all in all - I am not yet sure which way is the best to achieve peace. I look forward to learning more and understanding more - although I hope that the debate becomes not just about the technical - the costings of the various levels of nuclear arms we might have - but focuses only on achieving peace.

Home Affairs debate day on the Queen’s Speech! Nick Clegg (numero uno in the Home Affairs team) gave a bravura performance which clearly rattled John Reid as he stood up to intervene on Nick. He wished to make clear that the leadership question for the Labour Party had nothing, nothing whatsoever, to do with his statements on home affairs. He and Gordon Brown were not trying to out -tough each other and it was absolutely wrong of Nick to suggest any such thing. Of course, the plethora of stories to back this up in the previous week's papers from 'sources close to' etc. were all mythological!

As for me - what I am needed for in reality on occasions like this is to cover the front bench for the hours of the debate when back bencher MPs speak. I quite enjoy listening to the debate - but it was very cold in the chamber. I get relieved for half an hour to go and do a pre-record for Beeb on the escalating cost of the Olympics. Knock around with Sadiq Khan - who gamely tried to defend the indefensible – and with Steve Richards as referee. I am no party pooper - having supported the Olympic bid and been over the moon when we won. But a blank cheque - I don't think so.

Labels: nick clegg, olympics, steve richards

Am concerned over an email exchange copied to me because of my recent blog entries (such as this one) about the sale of Alexandra Palace to the Firoka Group. The exchange is between a newspaper journalist and someone involved in the Antiques Fair which takes place annually at the Pally. Apparently, the Antiques Fair is not going to be here next year because the contract has been changed (I don't know in what way yet) to make it impossible for them to sign for next year. Whether this is conditions or price hike or whatever - I don't know yet and am writing to Keith Holder (who runs the Palace) to enquire.

I spoke to the journalist who informed me that it isn't only the Antiques Fair who are having to leave - but also the Classic Car show - and the Motorcycle event is being cut from nine to three days. Anyway - I will pursue to find out the real situation.

I think it is important that the Palace Board makes it clear as to why exhibitors who have come to the Ally Pally year after year after year are now not renewing their contracts.

And as an avid annual visitor to Knit and Stitch and the Christmas Crafts Fair - I declare an interest!

UPDATE: As has been pointed out to me, I should have made clear the distinction between Alexandra Palace Trading Limited (who are responsible for the events at Alexandra Palace itself) and the Trust, which is the overall body for the whole site and is the owner of the limited company – but does not control its day-to-day activities.

Re. the Antiques Fair – Alexandra Palace Trading Limited has been in touch to say they’re writing to explain they’re side of the story. However the email to me also said that the information in the letter (which I’ve not yet received) is confidential, so even when I do know it, I won’t be able to say what I know by the looks of it.

Re the Motorcycle Show – the London Motorcycle show has moved to a new (bigger) venue – and it is its replacement which is the shorter, three-day event.

But one bit of good news that I can tell you – the annual fireworks display is protected in the lease. Good news! (At least for humans...!) And there will be a classic car show in February.

Breast cancer is the subject of my latest newspaper column (for Asian Voice):

There are two groups that in particular do not take advantage of the screening programs now available throughout the country – one as I say is women from ethnic minorities and the other is women over 70 of all ethnic groups.

You can read the full article on my website.

Dash up to do live Sky interview for 8.30am. But due to breaking news - Tony Blair in Afghanistan, with a live feed - they say can I stay for 9.00 live, and then after that I do a pre-record on 90 days detention without charge, why prisoners shouldn't be able to claim working tax credits and the billions spent on the Iraq war.

Lord Goldsmith's pronouncement that the Government should not go back to Parliament to ask for 90 days extension to detention without charge without compelling evidence is very welcome. And whilst the media term this a split within government ranks - I welcome it as a breath of fresh air. The Government has being playing politics with the terrorist issue - and it is far too serious an issue for them so to do.

No politician, whatever their persuasion, would deny that in extremis our usual patterns of life and rights would warrant abeyance and disruption for the duration. What is not acceptable is a Government who seeks to rattle sabres without sound basis - and then criticise opposition politicians for questioning their demand.

10 out of 10 to Lord Goldsmith.

Meanwhile - someone emails me that I have made it to the top of the weekly round up of blog postings collated by Tim Worstall. I go and check it out and am really pleased as (a) the piece he picked is quite long – and it shows that people actually are willing to read quite long pieces of text in this sound-bite world, (b) that the piece is being read as intended and (c) Tim says some nice words about me! So - thank you Tim.

Labels: tony blair

I'm on YouTube now! The Liberal Democrats have started putting various films up on YouTube, and they include some of the ones I've done about climate change, Al Gore etc plus one of me presenting the Lib Dem blog of the year awards.

You can see them at www.youtube.com/profile?user=LibDem

Labels: al gore, youtube

Given my recent experience of having a man the Government claims is a terrorist threat come to my surgery to ask for my help, it was perhaps obvious that - speaking today at the London Liberal Democrats' conference - I picked terrorism as the main topic of my speech:

The alternative to Labour’s approach also means recognising that simply saying “terrorists are evil, their acts are inexcusable” doesn’t help understand where their support comes from – and without that understanding, the sources of its support cannot be tacked.

You can read the speech in full on my website.

Howard Dean (former would-be Democrat candidate for US president) has rather surprised me this week - for the news came out that he will be helping the Labour party here in the UK.

But for most people he's know for two things: (a) being against the Iraq war, and (b) crashing to dramatic defeat. (a) isn't exactly the Labour party, and (b) isn't exactly what the Labour party wants I'm sure!

So - what's going on? Dean seemed to me to make great play of sticking to his principles on Iraq and speaking up against the war - yet now he wants to help Tony Blair's party, the great international cheerleader for George W Bush?

All very rum...

Labels: iraq

Next up in my diary was a visit to Maxitech - a local social enterprise firm who had won an award for the best training for staff.

They are an excellent example of what you can do if you have the ambition and perseverance.

They take old electronic equipment and either refurbish it or use the still usable bits for others. Reconditioned and working - they sell very cheaply to companies that need equipment but can't afford the sort of equipment they want AND they give free computers to the elderly. That's real inclusion.

They seem to have got it right - they are expanding and now employ 40 people, they do good work and they are solvent and make a small profit. They are recycling and reusing. Go Maxitech!

Followed by pitching up at the Alzheimer Society's Haringey lobby / protest against the Government's (NICE) refusal to give the new dementia drug (cost £2.50 per day) to those who would benefit. They hand over a petition and I will present that to Patricia Hewitt in due course. I have already written countless letters on this issue. Sometimes it is impossible to understand this Government. Aside from the humane benefits - this would save them money, as the longer someone can manage the more care savings the Government would make.

Followed by a two-hour journey to Surrey Heath to address the local Lib Dems and inspire them to greater efforts in their May elections!

Surgery followed by visits to both Bounds Green Infant and Junior schools - in both cases to 'launch' their new libraries. They have both saved for new books, and done up the room with lovely displays and got the children involved.

When I arrived at the Infant School, I was immediately surrounded by pirates and princesses - and feeling somewhat like a sore thumb, one of the teachers gave me her Bo Beep hat and apron so I could join in the fun.

I cut the ribbon and read books with the children. Books were a great friend during my childhood - and my window on a world far beyond the confines of my home and my parents’ relatively small world. So this was a real pleasure. The Junior School library followed pretty much the same lines - but with the whole school coming into Assembly for the event and me having removed my cap and pinnie!

The 125 year lease on Alexandra Palace to Firoka Group was signed today.

You can still contact the Charity Commission to ask that the historic TV studios are saved.

Labels: alexandra palace, firoz kassam

Collect Peter Hendy - yes he who is Commissioner for Transport in London - from Highgate tube station and drag him to look at the infamous fence which blights that patch of road but which some residents believe cuts noise. Peter agrees to go away and have a think about what might be a solution to this twin problem.

Then I drag him up to Highgate Village to regard in person the proposed changes to the bus station which would see buses standing outside the two restaurants (which both have outdoor seating and are part of cafe society in the village). Not surprisingly, those proposals have caused huge upset. He seems unlikely to find the extra £200,000 per year to move the bus stand down North Hill, but he does see the problem.

He will get back to me on both issues as soon as poss!

Labels: peter hendy

On Wednesday evening I went to co-present with Iain Dale his Queen's Speech special on 18 Doughty Street TV.

Having never presented anything and being far more used to being asked my opinion it seemed gamekeeper turned poacher. Keeping quiet and listening to the guests speak without interrupting all the time was a challenge - and I probably was more restrained than necessary. But it was hugely enjoyable and although two hours long (unheard of normally for political TV!), the time flew by. The guests were Labour MP Graham Allen, Lib Dem Jeremy Browne and two Conservatives, Greg Clark and James Duddridge - the two conservatives doing an hour each.

This was my first return to Doughty Street since its inaugural evening - when despite the chaos around Iain calmly (or at least seemingly calmly) delivered a good show. Now he is a master of the art.

There was a great deal of consensus (shock horror) around the near-impossibility in the current climate around Home Affairs and terror to have serious and proper debate. The political knock about has developed to the absurd point when the Home Affairs legislation is virtually trailed as a “get David Cameron for being soft on crime” measure. It was very refreshing to have a discussion where reason and debate held sway instead of political slanging match. If only Parliament was like 18 Doughty Street!

As to being a presenter - it was fun!

Labels: 18 doughty street, iain dale, jeremy browne

After an impossible journey to Parliament (too long a story to go into) I found that the courtyard I needed to get across to get into the central part of the Commons was blocked off and guarded. The police seeing my despair moved the barrier and said 'run'. So as I made for the far side of the courtyard as best I could in high heels - and glanced to my left through the arch - I saw the horses and state carriage bearing our monarch coming through towards the courtyard. I made it across just in time.

It is a kafuffle of the first order. The men in black who order our lives in the Commons and who know all the unwritten rules were at their smartest. The program for the day gave the timings of all events to the minute. Members of the Commons are meant to be in their seats waiting for Black Rod and under instructions not to hang around in Members' lobby as that is cheating cos you can get in behind the procession as the Commons is summoned to the Lords.

Goody two shoes me - did hang out in the lobby - 'cos last year by the time I got to the Lords to see Her Majesty deliver her speech - all I could see was the top of her Crown - about one centimetre to be precise. This year - vast improvement - all of her above the waist.

Whatever your view on the monarchy - and I in my older years accept that the order is unlikely to change (although I still plan to campaign to change the laws of accession - but somehow that never seems to be the most important thing to spend time on) – you cannot help but be fascinated by the pageant. I don't know what it means or why there is some sort of comfort in traditions - but I guess that is why they have lasted so long. Maybe it just makes it seem like an ordered world under control - whereas the reality is what was in the Queen's Speech was a mess of desperation.

The Government appears as a hamster on a wheel, with same old, same old tougher, action-man recycled policies that won't deliver a safe world - same as the last lot didn't.

Just for a bit of fun, I've added a little quiz about Haringey and myself to my website - have a go at www.lynnefeatherstone.org/quiz.htm and see how you do!

Local Haringey Police Chief, Simon O'Brien, came up to Parliament for one of our regular meetings. I usually go to him at Tottenham Police Station - so it was a nice change. Issues of discussion included the changing police estate (i.e. police stations and other land and buildings) in Haringey, the re-offending rate, youth courts, knife crime and anti-social behaviour.

Zoom back to Haringey to go to the new wing (long time coming) of the Whittington Hospital. Some real design thought and talent has gone into creating state of the art facilities at this much loved, but somewhat run down, hospital.

A wow factor entrance - with double height spaces, huge and voluminous, where outpatients will wait for imaging (x-ray) or other. High tech - the patients will be given a pager which allows them to go to the new restaurants or shops whilst waiting - and they will be paged just when they are next but one to be called.

The critical care area (intensive care in old jargon) is large and spacious - which will cut down on infection. The equipment should always be right up to date as the contract contracts the supplier to keep it up to date - no more purchasing and having to keep beyond sell by date stuff. And perhaps most of all - it has all been thought through so that form follows function - and the needs of the patient are at the forefront.

There have been huge problems getting to this stage – and all sorts of things wrong and should have been done differently with the Jarvis contract, the timings and costs etc – but finally we're there.

Excuse the not fantastic picture - the girl who kindly agreed to take the photo sadly seems to have missed the splendid surroundings and just got me and the escalators!

Back to Westminster for briefing on tomorrow's Queen's Speech and a phone call to say that Iain Dale has invited me to co-present tomorrow's (Wednesday's) show on 18 Doughty Street. I phone Iain to say willing to give it a go!

Labels: 18 doughty street, iain dale, whittington hospital

Latest in my door-knocking sessions on Sunday evening – Highgate this time. Every Sunday of the month, bar one, I am going out with the local ward councillors and Focus editors knocking on doors. With the turning back of the clocks, it is now pitch black - but I have chosen this time of the day and day of the week because most people are in. Usually when you door knock - the outs win the day.

Like any normal person, going out whatever the weather on a Sunday in the dark might not be first on my list of things to do - but as always with door knocking, my faith in human nature is restored.

We picked up seven new deliverers – very important as our leaflets and newspapers are very popular and a main source of communication, but they take an army of volunteers to deliver. (Don't hesitate to contact me if you would like to deliver your street!)

But the best thing about it is that you come back reassured that the vast mass of humanity is decent, reasonable (whatever their political persuasion) and just trying to get on with their lives best they can. And that goes across all areas! From the media coverage of life in the UK, you would think that people will be unhappy with their lot, discontented, mean and cross with whoever comes across their path. That just isn't the case - the vast majority of people are very nice and decent. And before anyone says that Highgate is a nice comfy area - the same holds true in all areas across my very diverse constituency, regardless of class, culture or income.

My latest surgery brought the debates over what legal measures are acceptable in the fight against terrorism right to my doorstep. For one of the people who came to see me was Mouloud Sihali. He was tried – and acquitted - in relation to the Wood Green ricin plot of 2003, but it is clear that the authorities still very much suspect him.

A bit of background first, as I've always been a bit uneasy about some events around the ricin plot. First, news of the incident was not promptly reported to key leaders in Haringey's local emergency planning due to - a senior source told me - "news management by Number 10". I can understand keeping information from the public for a short time to avoid undue panic etc, but to have Number 10 directly intervene to stop local emergency planning officials know smacks of something wrong - particularly as this was potentially an evacuation scenario.

Second, when news did become public it was all about a ricin plot being thwarted and the story basically was "ricin found, terrorists stopped, all now ok" - except that it then turned out there was no ricin. (And if the absence of ricin was the reason for not telling emergency planning officials initially, then how come its absence didn't make it to the media? Was someone wanting the threat to sound worse to the public than it really was?).

Third, the Government has tried to use the ricin plot as justification for extending the period people can be detained without trial. It is true that one of the people skipped to Algeria - but he was actually released after only two days, so even under current laws, the police could have kept him in detention for much longer if they'd wanted to. And anyway he could have been charged with acts preparatory to terrorism. If this was a major terrorist whose existence would justify allowing people to be detained without trial for 90 days - why did the police let him go after just two?

All of which adds up to good grounds for being sceptical of how the ricin case has been handled, but that doesn't mean everyone accused is all sweetness and light. Indeed, Mouloud Sihali himself was convicted of a passport offence. However, as quite a few people were caught up in it all, it doesn't follow from the final conviction of Kamel Bourgass that everyone else charged at some point was necessarily involved in the plot.

Mr Sihali had come to see me (and was happy for me to talk publicly about his visit) because he is under a virtual control order. Without actually being under a control order - and despite being cleared of the ricin plot and freed (completely free) for five months - he is now tagged, under curfew, not allowed to have a mobile phone or use the internet, or to have visitors to his room, and he has to report each day to the police. Free for five months - again there's this nagging doubt that enters my mind about quite what the authorities are really up to. If they are convinced he is a terrorist - well why was he let wander round completely free for five months? Is it that they've changed their minds back and forth as to whether he really is a terrorist - and if they've been changing their minds, how good then is the evidence?

He's now facing deportation as a threat to the security of our country, but the evidence will be judged in secret and the evidence will never be seen by either the normal court system nor Mr Sihali.

And so this is the problem. As he's been convicted of a passport offence and was in this country illegally, I don't have a problem with deportation action being taken against him and being judged in an open, public process. But he's facing deportation on the grounds of being a threat to national security – i.e. if deported this way he'll have the stigma of being thought a terrorist hanging over him for the rest of his life. That is an awful burden to carry ... unless he really is a terrorist. Yet he doesn't get the chance to argue his own innocence – and his argument is that he should be given a chance to clear his name against the secret evidence. (You can read some of his case in his statement on this website).

So here sitting in front of me I had the whole problem in a nutshell around the issue and the legality of control orders and secret evidence, the terrorist threat and civil liberties. Getting it wrong either way brings huge consequences - letting a terrorist go free or tarring an innocent man for life.

He is one of my constituents – should I be fighting to help an innocent man, or would I be aiding a terrorist? I have no idea, without knowing what the secret evidence is. My only route is to try and get a meeting with Home Secretary John Reid to find out more about what evidence does exist, seek advice and find out what routes are actually open to Mr Sihali to pursue.

But whereas I trust our judicial system to be fair and just – my confidence in this Government's dealings with truth and trust has been fundamentally eroded - especially when you add in the issues about how they have already behaved over the ricin plot to their abuse of the public trust with the exaggeration and manipulation of evidence over WMDs in Iraq.

And even if all the evidence stacks up, and the man is a terrorist – is deporting him really the answer? Does shuffling a terrorist to another country really help when the accusation is that he's part of an international terrorist organisation and there is an international war on terror?

Underneath all the veneer of Labour's tough talk on terrorism, here I am left facing a case where there's a risk an innocent man in unjustly tarred as a terrorist without a chance to clear his name, but if he's really a terrorist – then simply deporting him ain't much of a punishment or deterrence either.

Today is Remembrance Sunday and the official ceremony at which the Haringey dignitaries and leaders lay memorial wreaths. The ceremony is very well done with the scouts and the venture scouts raising standards or laying wreaths for those too frail to do so themselves. The sun shone brightly down, the traffic was stopped and those who died that we might live were honoured and remembered.

A very, very special memorial service at the war memorial chapel at Hornsey Central Hospital (which will be preserved whatever happens on that site)! I think this is the first time the memorial has been opened for years for the memorial ceremony and, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month - with so many of the names of those who fell there - it was truly moving.

I talked to one of the veterans who had served in the Navy. It was just extraordinary to think of what this one man saw and witnessed. I won't reveal what he said about sailor's reputations in regard to each port of call - still cheeky at 80-odd! But alongside the humour, he also told me that he and one other colleague were the only survivors out of eight men attacked in a gun turret. It is impossible to understand what that generation saw and survived. And every time I write the message to go on the wreath I lay - and I thank those who died that we might live - I am moved to tears.

Afterwards I was chatting to lots of the people who had come - and the last chap to nab me was very agitated. Basically he wanted to express his anger - as a serving member of the RAF – as regards how he didn't think it was fair for lads to fight for their country but when they were in need of state support (housing) they couldn't get anywhere because immigrants got all the houses. And did I think he was racist, and political correctness was ignoring blokes like him, and he would have to vote for the BNP - there was no alternative.

Now whilst I said to him that I didn't think we were likely to see eye to eye - I don't think it is racist to bring this sort of grievance to light. The BNP made huge inroads in the east of London because Labour ignored the 'already heres'. I don't think it is just white working class - which was his argument. I think it is a real battle between the entitlement people who have worked and paid into the system for years feel they should have against the needs of the newly arrived.

I wrote about this clash of the already heres versus newcomers. I wrote extensively on in my chapter in Britain after Blair because I think there is a real and unaddressed issue here. And that issue, above and beyond this hopeless unfit for purpose Home Office, is about the allocation of a limited pot of public resource.

So - this young man was very, very angry with a country that he fights for but which he believes no longer cares or listens to people like him. I didn't agree with his more prejudiced remarks - but I do agree that these are the issues we need to resolve if we are to avoid the BNP finding any favour for its hideous bile. Breeding grounds for discontent - particularly when they have some validity - are easily swung to extreme views.

Anyway - at that point I had to go on somewhere else and so made my excuses, though as I left the young chap then said I was quite good looking for an MP – and would I like to go out for a drink! For me though it was off to the Lib Dem Council Group's Away Day (they didn't get very far as the venue is next door my constituency office in High Street Hornsey). I took a break out session on crime and policing and then giving a general talk on how to take the issues that matter to their ward constituents and turn them into action.

Labels: hornsey central hospital

I met with Open Door yesterday - which literally opens its doors to young people in trouble. It is a charity and has to scrabble for funding grants and pots and donations - but delivers the most incredible service to young people who need talking therapies to hold them safe as life's challenges destabilise them on their passage to adulthood.

This is a centre of excellence in terms of the quality of the staff and a truly professional organisation in an area where there is a need for real professionalism. With so many quasi-professionals offering a variety of counselling in a variety of circumstances with very little oversight or supervision, there has to be a concern about standards, training and outcome.

So when you have an excellent local organisation working in a key area, you would have thought that Haringey Council would welcome Open Door with open arms. And yet, my understanding is that they won't even agree to meet with them to see how Open Door can be involved and engaged in this area.

Lord knows, I get so much traffic on issues around young people and behaviour - I can only assume that the Council is so big that it doesn't truly understand how to involve and engage organisations like Open Door. I will write to Sharon Shoesmith - Director of Childrens' Services - to try and orchestrate a meeting between the Council and Open Door. I have no doubt that this could be a very beneficial engagement - particularly if they can be involved with schools and the well-being of young people. Early intervention in terms of support for those who without such support may go on to a lifetime of troubles seems like a good idea to me!

Then it was straight on to meet the new Headmaster of Highgate Wood School. Patrick Cozier seems a very good thing to me and in the end, it is the enthusiasm and vision of the Head that plays such a large role in inspiring the staff and the pupils and the school. He seemed very clued up as to relations with the local community. Take the recent hoo-haa over flood-lighting for example - where the local papers describe it as a sort of war. In reality he and staff are meeting and working with local residents and local residents' associations. Schools always bring hazards for those living close by - but a Head who understands and wants to work with the community is half the battle. And the other half is his ambition to inspire the school to improving results in line with other schools in the borough. So - I hope to help wherever I can and look forward to working with Mr Cozier, the staff and the pupils.

And finally - I had an American shadow me the other day and she blogged me! You can read about here experience at http://myfairladybug.livejournal.com/51887.html.

Labels: highgate wood school

On Thursday it was the meeting with Cllr Charles Adje (Haringey Labour councillor and Chair of Alexandra Palace Board) and Mr Firoz Kassam (of Firoka Group – who are purchasing a 125 year lease on Ally Pally). Cllr Wayne Hoban (ex Ally Pally board, Lib Dem Deputy Leader of the Opposition and ward councillor for the Palace) came with me.

The meeting was not exactly a resounding success in terms of agreeing any changes ahead of the signing of the contracts on Tuesday to protect the historic TV studios. Being so close on the deadline for signing the contracts it was clear that the long delays over signing since last May had exasperated those involved in the process and so there was reluctance to make any more changes at the last moment.

In my view – in that case it should have been dealt with earlier and anyway it is important to get everything right if you are signing something over for 125 years! As to why it hadn’t been dealt with earlier – well, when the issue was originally raised and proposed by the two Liberal Democrat members on the Ally Pally board and minuted - it was voted down. So this was a last (and unsuccessful) pre-contract signing attempt to change things.

However, Mr Kassam recognises the importance of the history of the birthplace of television. The contract provides for a museum of television history and until the deal is signed and sealed this remains the state of play. As a businessman there is also no doubt that he recognises that the historic site is a unique selling point and that he will want to maximise that advantage.

Mr Kassam seemed open to discussions on the museum post-contract signing. One point made during the public kafuffle over the last couple of weeks was the issue around the BBC expecting the Firoka Group to put up the funds to preserve the artefacts and create the television museum and the BBC not being able to put money in itself. I am hopeful that given Mr Kassam's willingness to look at these issues with interested parties that the BBC and Mr Kassam will be able to talk the issues over.

So, we’re back to where we were a few days ago before this meeting was arranged – that is, the Charity Commission consultation that will run for one month – and remains tremendously important in terms of any issues anyone wishes to raise. Therefore, I would encourage everyone to put in their views during the consultation period by emailing the Charity Commission at enquiries@charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk

As always the emails that work best with this sort of lobbying are short, temperate but clear messages that include your full name and postal address. It would be handy if you could also copy your email to me at lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org

Labels: alexandra palace, firoz kassam, wayne hoban

Catching up on this week - on Wednesday Parliament was prorogued. A strange name for the ending of business - in this case ahead of the Queen's Speech next Wednesday. So we rushed through finishing off business from the last "Parliamentary year" so the decks are clear ahead of the Queen's Speech kicking off the new one next week.

So - the Commons (MPs) had to deal with all sorts of odds and sodds of Bills, deciding what to do with changes voted through in the Lords to them. The Commons either has to agree or reject them. Amongst all the completing / finishing off were a few of the unresolved clashes where Labour had lost to the other parties in the Lords but hadn't been willing to back down in the Commons. In the end either the Lords has to back down or the Commons has to make a concession (or in extreme cases the Commons over-rules the Lords with the Parliament Act).

The most notable being the row of our unequal and unfair of British citizens under the extradition arrangements with the USA. On that the Tory Lords caved in ultimately (and got heavily criticised in the media for their backdown).

I don't subscribe to caving in on issues that are of such importance as equal treatment of British citizens by foreign Governments. No doubt, we will have to bring the row over extradition back at the next legislative opportunity. Perhaps Labour will roll it up with other treaties on extradition and look to set renegotiating principles. The Government never likes to be seen to be acting on Opposition positions - preferring to bring things back under their own banner. That's fine - so long as they do.

One particular result in the US elections has caught my eye - the election of Keith Ellison in Minnesota - as he'll be the first Muslim member of the Congress. From what I've seen of his views (such as two state solution to the Middle East and an endorsement from American Jewish World) this will be very good news - both because of the extra prominence it will give to non-Muslims that Muslim doesn't equal extremist or terrorist and also because the more prominent moderate Muslims there are in leadership positions, the better for the Muslim community itself too.

I've written on