Lynne's Parliament and Haringey diary

Local community groups came together to discuss and work out a way forward for a sustainable agenda for Haringey. Well, given that the Labour Council and the Labour government between them have not done the necessary - this is probably a move in the right campaigning direction.

The problem is that whilst the presentations were very good - from Friends of the Earth, Haringey Residents Associations and an energy consultant - it is in the end to a great extent about political will. We really do have to work towards a sustainable future and (excuse the number of clichés) there really is no time to lose. But whilst there is a lot of emphasis put – rightly - on individual action, there is much more that need to be done by the different parts of the state, especially giving us not merely an aspirational target for reducing carbon emissions by 2050 in the forthcoming Climate Change Bill but annual targets instead.

And a bit more is required of businesses – such as why not get the FTS100 companies to publish their carbon footprint? And why does Labour Haringey show no interest or desire to take up the local Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment to get businesses to recycle? Lots of individuals recycling their glass bottles is one thing, but imagine the impact of providing more pubs with a glass recycling service – or shops a cardboard box recycling service – and the list of examples goes on.

And one of the biggest carbon emitters of all - our homes - could be so much more energy efficient: not just lagging and cavity walls, but real improvements like in some northern European countries where emissions from peoples' houses is almost down to nothing. It can be done - and the costs can be covered by savings on fuel bills.

Nevertheless - congratulations to the organisers of the sustainable communities conference, as we sure do need pressure - continual pressure - on both Haringey Council and the Government, particularly as the Climate Change Bill proceeds.

Labels: climate change

Next visit of the day was to the Wood Green Animal Shelter. Dennis Baker (OBE) - the Chief Executive - and Harry Eckman - the Shelter Manager - greeted me as I arrived. Here were really dedicated souls giving virtually free vet services to those who need it for their pets - as well as operating a sanctuary for animals that come their way and a re-homing service for cats.

And all this despite the facility being unbelievably cramped. The X-ray facilities, the operating room, the pre-op room and the waiting rooms are all tiny. I don't know how they manage - but I do know that this is a vital service to our local community.

Private vets fees costs an arm and a leg - and I should know 'cos I have a dog (black and tan mutt) who I got as a pup from Crisis at Christmas. Now 9 years old - and because I get to take her almost always out of hours - it truly costs a fortune, but what are you going to do if your pet is ill? So for those who cannot pay much - this service is a godsend.

Just while I am on the subject of vets fees - I would be happy to hear from anyone who has views and stories about vets fees and insurance cover.

Back to the shelter itself: whilst it started here in Wood Green, there is also a bigger facility near Huntingdon - where they have superb facilities and where I once went to look for a dog when I wanted to get one for us. The centre is a charity but forbidden to apply for lottery grant funding to help them expand their premises as those funds are only applicable to humans.

So they manage on legacies and donations - and if you want to help financially, I am sure they would be grateful. Extending the shelter would allow for greater care for poorly animals, and also help the shelter’s expansion into re-homing services. They will be having a Christmas Fare open day. If you don't know the shelter and want to know more you can visit their website for more information: www.woodgreen.org.uk

After meeting residents in the morning to talk through individual cases, I went off to the Cypriot Community Centre. It is a model for how community centres can really not only support a particular community but also help perform the functions of the local authority to a group of residents who might not access them through other channels so easily or so happily. I’ve visited previously, but this was my first visit as MP for the area.

Susie Constantinides and Chris Stylianou showed me around and what struck me most was the warmth of the atmosphere and the intermingling of the different groups. The general area was full of older gentleman (I don't know how to put that more politely) who clearly enjoy coming for a right old natter. And they were all very sweet and welcoming to m. At other times of day women come or young people come. In the same large space, but over to one side, were older disabled people who had a large TV to watch - but were still part of the general community. In other rooms there were older people with various challenges - be that age, mental health or physical – and all cared for. The centre is really several centres rolled into one - providing meals, physio, care, socialisation, occupation, classes, meeting rooms, performance space, advisory services and so on. I can't go into the details of all that they do here - but suffice to say - that they really do perform a vital function for the community – largely Cypriot although open to all.

One of the services they offer is to provide a Cypriot food version of meals on wheels. They brought up the issue of the price people have to pay for the meals on wheels service if they are not part of a total care package but rather getting just the meals. I promised to take up this point with Haringey Council.

This Sunday I'll be on The Westminster Hour again: Radio 4, 10pm.

Labels: the westminster hour

First visit of the day was to the new Sixth Form Centre in Haringey - which will open for business in September. It is a fantastic building and will deliver top class facilities for students. The Minister Jim Knight was coming to see the building. The new Head seems fantastic - and she will be inspirational for the new students; I wish her well.

Whilst most of the probable feeder schools are on the Tottenham side of the borough, Woodside High School - which is in Hornsey & Wood Green - is a feeder school too. It will also be open to all children in the borough to apply and - for those who don't want to go onto their own school's sixth form if they have one - this will be a really vibrant alternative.

After PMQs I dashed over to College Green to shoot for Spotlight - a Northern Ireland news program with a good reputation. They were tracking DNA (so to speak) and in particular Low Copy Number (LCN) DNA.

They had picked up on my track record of challenging some of the issues around this super-detection tool and apparently there is a big case in Northern Ireland concerning DNA. The thing about LCN DNA in particular is that it can use something as small or infinitesimal as a single cell found at a crime scene – which sounds great at first because you think, “that means it’s much easier to track down criminals as you don’t need as much evidence to identify them.”

But - my argument is that I shake hands with people all day long and therefore my LCN DNA will be in their clothes, houses, offices etc. It will end up all over the place, on people and in places I haven’t had anything to do with. So LCN DNA should only be used cautiously – and only with corroborating evidence.

I also met up with World Development Movement who are busy lobbying ahead of the introduction of the Climate Change Bill. We are on the same page apparently (hate that expression!) in the key issues around how climate change will hit the ultra poor countries of the developing world much, much harder than us in the Northern hemisphere – so it is both a development and an environmental issue.

So we talked over how to challenge some of the issues in the current proposals and how to get them amended to include things like annual targets for carbon emissions and a development expert on the panels etc.

Labels: dna

International Development Questions and I have a go at Hilary Benn over water supply in the developing world.

Norway has withdrawn its funding to the Private Partnership International Advisory Facility because its water projects (which involve introducing private companies into the supply of water) keep failing and it is widely criticised - not surprisingly.

Given that the UK also funds the PPIAF I asked Hilary if we would be following Norway's lead? Professing no preference for private, state or voluntary providers so long as stuff gets delivered, Hilary did then offer to look into the issue I had raised. Well I hope he does - as the point was exactly that - what is getting delivered for our public money? We wouldn't want it to be water down the drain - or actually - no water down the drain.

Labels: hilary benn

A history lesson on Angola and plea for help to raise the issue of the alleged EU, US and British complicity in supporting an undemocratic government - which takes lands and rights and wealth from natural resources from the people to line its own pockets and create elite areas. I will do some independent research and make some enquires, as they say, but if what was presented is true - then only too happy to pursue, raise issues and turn a spotlight.

Followed by a SaferWorld and Amnesty briefing for a group of relevant Liberal Democrats on the forthcoming review of the Export Control License. Basically Government policy talks a good talk - but reality falls way short. There are a number of areas where arms trading is clearly taking place through back door or circuitous routes and the Government does not seem over-keen to find and shut loopholes. So the review will run from May to September - and given Labour's stopping of the investigation into BAE - one has to wonder why the policy is good but the practise falls so short.

Went to the launch of Haringey Somali Forum. Greeted by Mohamed Dirshe. There are seventeen different Somali groups in Haringey supporting the community in various ways - but this is a coming together of those voices, often marginalised and often virtually invisible. It was clear that everyone had worked hard to make this happen.

To be part of a diaspora torn from your homeland is tough enough. But the Somali community have to struggle to get decent housing, to access social and health services. They have often been demonised in the media and in neighbourhoods and had issues with other communities - and if we are honest - there have been inter-clan clashes within the Somali community. And that is why today is so important as this forum brings all sides together in unity to raise the Somali voice.

This is not a grassroots delivery agency - but a campaigning, voice raising, issue raising forum so that the Somali Community can take its place at the democratic and campaigning table!

Joined a protest against a new mobile phone mast on Crouch End Reservoir, which is on Mount View Road. Once more the Goliath of the mobile phone mast people (this time Hutchison 3G) is crushing the David of local residents and campaigners against its siting.

And the siting is wrong. It is within 20 metres of bedroom windows, within 200 metres of nursery school and its ugly and 30 metre being is to be placed ruining a lovely view out across London (currently unobstructed). Oh and it is in a conservation area.

Now yes, we (nearly) all use mobiles. But this is about both the location – in appropriate – and about the precautionary principle. This mast would both ruin a lovely view and site and also would be very close to young children at school.

So - Haringey Council did turn it down. But the big boys appealed and won - as they do. And this application will beget other applications. The local campaign group led by Robin Derham and with huge local support - including Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey - has done everything they can. But one last ditch attempt to get Hutchison to see reason (or the law) is the submission of an appeal for a judicial review. The case has been filed and put together - and they await (legal) Counsel's opinion as to chance of winning. It will cost the earth - and it isn't right that local residents should have to fight these Goliaths, whose pockets are so deep and who act like steamrollers over local people's wishes.

The planning system isn't right. It has a presumption in favour of the developer and even if the developer loses then the developer can appeal. But if the developer wins, then the objectors don’t get to appeal (except in extreme and expensive cases of judicial review). (I’ve written in more detail about this topic before).

So - I am also going to try and get the Chief Executive of Hutchisons to meet with me and the key campaigners to see if persuasion (even compassion) might beat in the chest of the mighty mobile magnate.

Labels: mobile phone masts

Visited the coffee morning at Abbeyfield. Abbeyfield is a sheltered housing complex - but really tries and succeeds to feel like home. It has a lovely atmosphere and many of the residents have their family living very nearby.

The thing that strikes me always, when I visit older residents, is that boredom is the real enemy. Here they have a beautiful lounge area looking out on beautiful gardens from a warm conservatory - and that is a communal area. Many of them go to a Monday club for bingo at a nearby location and Age Concern collects some residents to take them to lunch and activities - and of course families visit often.

So - it brings it home how vital these services are and why we kicked up such a furore when Haringey were considering closing luncheon clubs. Getting out and socialising makes it a proper life.

I talked to lots of the helpers and residents and some ladies who come into the weekly mobility class. In the picture you can see Dorothy K Scales who was born in 1907 - yes she will be 100 on September 18th and she was completely on the ball - beautifully turned out - and very charming (as you can see). Her son kindly invited me to her birthday party!

Tonight was the Haringey Police Community Amateur Boxing Dinner. The club does phenomenal work taking young people off the street and out of trouble and giving them a real avenue to achieve. Shock horror - two of the bouts were girls! And they really, really fight. Tonight's matches were between Haringey Select and Norway Select. The evening - which comprises a black tie dinner, auction of special items like Mohammed Ali's boxing shorts signed by Ali and of course the boxing itself - raises a lot of money to support the club.

A great event, started by Haringey's local police commander (the one before the one before this one - Stephen James). Tonight's host was the current Commander, Simon O'Brien - and hats off to Haringey Police for the good work they do.

Nearly all the morning was surgery (i.e. meeting succession of constituents who have individual cases they want to raise with me face-to-face). This is the time of year when a trail of virtually suicidal parents come to see me because their children have not got not only their first or second choice schools - but as of today - not even their sixth choice.

It is a woeful process and totally baffling at times. Whilst not every child can get in exactly where their parents want, there are some examples that are quite extraordinary when several children from different families all living close to each other get into a school – but another child also living right next to them all doesn’t (and none of them have siblings at the school, so it’s not the siblings rule at work). So how can parents believe it is fair? Perhaps it is time that Haringey was forced to publish who gets in from where and why!

Labels: haringey council, haringey schools

Finishing off my thoughts from my visit - cut short by the Trident vote - to the Middle East - it was pretty clear that the Road Map was now becoming a virtually impossible route to follow.

The good news, I guess, was that all the parties we met in Israel were now in favour of the two-state solution - as apparently are around 70% of the population. Ten years ago that wasn't the case - so that's progress.

How to get there without the Road Map? Well, there were a couple of theses around. There was one idea which was for a trusteeship for the area to be held by the EU - much like in Bosnia, the EU could provide a political incubator to Palestine preparing it for full independence. That theory being based on the need for a central authority in Palestine that would make it possible for Israel to withdraw without prejudice to its security and that Europe would be far better a trustee than America.

Then there was the Geneva Accord. Without going into long explanations - a group of Israeli and Palestinian politicians agreed a set of aims, principles and methodology for moving forward to a two-state solution. Not given huge credit at the time - now perhaps back in play as another possibility. The Accord: reaffirms the determination of both sides to put an end to decades of confrontation and conflict, and to live in peaceful coexistence, mutual dignity and security based on a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace and achieving historic reconciliation; recognizes that peace requires the transition from the logic of war and confrontation to the logic of peace and cooperation, and that acts and words characteristic of the state of war are neither appropriate nor acceptable in the era of peace; affirms their deep belief that the logic of peace requires compromise, and that the only viable solution is a two-state solution based on United National Security Council Resolution 242 and 338.

The problem with moving forward on the two-state solution (amongst others) is the seemingly relentless increase in settlements in and around Jerusalem and the West Bank on the 'Israeli' side of the wall. The Palestinian areas are now to an extent isolated and to be connected by a different road system. Palestinians now worry that they would end up with no viable state. So, whilst Israelis seem to be shifting to a two-state position (at least verbally) the Palestinians seemed less convinced. Whilst they verbally often referred to a two-state solution, there were also voices raised to say that this would never be viable and therefore they should be going for a one-state solution. I don't believe that would or could ever happen - but the continual building on the Israeli side of the wall removes their ability to believe that they will ever get a viable state.

And then there are the residual views - polarised on each side. If we talked about the wall (or fence for most its length) - the Israelis say since its erection suicide bombings have virtually stopped. The Palestinians say that the suicide bombings have stopped because Hamas declared a ceasefire - and that it would be simple to tunnel under the wall or fence - i.e. the fence is no defence.

The Israeli who took us out to the fence near Qalkila (right wing by his own admission and a settler moved from Gaza when Israel unilaterally left) explained the positioning of the barrier. For most of us (including me) it is hard to argue against Israel defending itself from suicide bombers by erecting a barrier. The argument is why they did so on what was Palestinian side of the Green Line. Palestinians regard this as a land grab. Israel says it is for security.

Whilst I can see that it might not be the best line to follow and there should and could be variance to the Green Line - it isn't right at the moment. I don't see why you can't have an independent United Nations special judge and court and experts to adjudicate on the line that would be respected by both sides as a judgement. Security for Israel and as near to the '67 borders as the Court judged viable.

As for the retention of taxes (and to my surprise I found out that the Palestinian Authority wanted the Israelis to collect the tax - although not obviously hold on to it) but that they did not want it put through the Temporary International Mechanism. Their argument was that when it was released it was needed to pay the debts on wages etc and therefore if it was put through the TIM it would not be there to pay those debts. Many different tales of money coming into the PA in suitcases and used for nefarious purposes. Meanwhile, as I said before, it is the ordinary people who are suffering most.

And lastly - the Quartet Principles. These say basically that the world won't deal with the elected government as long as it is Hamas - unless they recognise Israel, renounce violence and agree to previous peace deals. This is a high bar - but perhaps with the coming of a unity government they will under the radar work out a triple-lock process where by the end of x period, a number of significant steps will have been taken that will allow the Quartet Principles to be agreed to - so that then publicly the process can move forward.

So - whilst I have only skimmed the surface of what I heard and saw - I hope that gives a flavour of my three days in the Middle East.

Labels: middle east

Following up on my earlier blog posting on my Teachers Without Borders policy consultation, you can now read my newspaper column on the subject on my website.

As I wrote:

Focusing on education in a conflict zone is vital in order to establish a future for that region. War only teaches war. Children need not only the therapeutic medicine of learning itself but also - as they emerge from the carnage - children need to be given the skills and capacity to become anything from farmers to pharmacists.

Moreover, the relationship between education and community and political participation is well established. Participation in education contributes to community action and national political life. Teachers can also help children to develop new skills and knowledge necessary for survival and coping in a post-conflict environment, including landmine awareness and safety, negotiation and problem solving, and information about HIV/AIDS and other health issues.

You can read the full newspaper column on my website.

Labels: teachers without borders

This Sunday I'll be appearing again on The Westminster Hour: Radio 4, 10pm.

If you want to get advanced notice of my media appearances like this one, you can use the RSS feed from Flock Together.

Party members can also register and login at login.libdems.org.uk - and you get automatic information on the right about forthcoming media appearances by all the Liberal Democrat MPs.

Labels: the westminster hour

Managed on Thursday to get called (after an hour of bobbing up and down) in Business Questions and asked the Leader of the House (Jack Straw) to give time for a debate - a proper debate - on gang culture, the problems of which have recently been highlighted in Haringey with 60 - 80 youths rampaging down Lordship Lane. Jack Straw agreed - but that doesn't mean we will get the debate.

In the afternoon I led for the Liberal Democrats in a three hour debate on the sixth report from the International Development Select Committee which is on 'Conflict and Development: Peacebuilding and Post-conflict Reconstruction'. The Select Committee was and is chaired by my Liberal Democrat colleague Malcolm Bruce who presented the Committee's report. It is a substantive piece of work on an area - conflict resolution - that is tough to address.

The key issues I raised were around the abuse and rape of the natural resources which conflict states are often so blessed and therefore cursed with - and trying to ensure that our UK companies are behaving properly. I also raised education in conflict states and the issue of the Department for International Development right hand not knowing what the Department for Trade and Industry left one is doing. Cross-departmental goals might be helpful and selling sophisticated and very expensive radar air control units to countries that don't need them but to whom we are giving aid is just stupid and counter-productive.

Labels: jack straw

And I know - I haven't mentioned the budget - but there is much coverage in the news today. I always find it interesting the day after when we have all had time to read the small print. In short though - nothing to narrow the widening equality gap between rich and poor and little on climate change action - the two great challenges we face. Perhaps that heralds the Brown style of leadership - too little and too late!

Labels: gordon brown, the budget

Since I posted the piece on meeting three representatives from Haringey's Youth Council and Youth Parliament and said how knife and gun crime was a key issue that worried them - we have had a major gang fight between gangs from Wood Green and Tottenham yesterday afternoon with four stabbings. I will try and get this raised in Parliament – as for all the Government’s knife or gun summits, the problem and the causes of the problem stumble on untouched. The police work hard - but it is clear that what is needed is a massive effort and resource - a continuing focus not just when the headlines hit if we are to impact this at all. So many issues involved - and they all need addressing!

Labels: crime, knife crime

Early start with the Freedom Breakfast - organised by Pastor Nims Obunge of the Peace Alliance. These are uplifiting occasions when Nims forces us (the Haringey community) to raise our eyes above our daily grind and brings out our better selves as we wrestle with really trying to make the world a better place. This year the 'breakfast' is focused on celebrating the abolition of slavery 200 years ago. A variety of speakers take the podium and each table also is posed three questions to discuss and then feedback to an invited panel - politicians, police chief, a representative from Amnesty and myself.

My speech (read in full here) was really focused on the continuation of slavery in modern terms – i.e. human trafficking, which is increasing and endemic and is alive and sick in Haringey as elsewhere. In fact the police busted a big trafficking gang locally who were charging people between £3,000 and £5,000 to come here and were then sold into mainly prostitution.

So whilst we have come a long way since the slave trade per se - but clearly still have a long way to go.

Labels: pastor nims obunge, peace alliance

Met with three members of Haringey's Youth Council and Youth Parliament. Bright as buttons and keen to engage with their MPs (me and David Lammy - being the Haringey MPs). We talk through some ideas such as tours of Parliament and perhaps setting up a 'Question Time' where the young people from all the schools can come and put questions to me and other invited politicians.

A real pleasure to meet them - and they were soooooooo on the button. Bullying, how to get young people enthused about politics and gun and knife crime were the key issues.

In the picture you can see left to right: Shayan Moftizadeh (16), Member of Yourth Parliament, Adam Jogee (15), co-chair of Haringey Youth Council, and Uniqer Redguard (15), Member of Youth Parliament.

Labels: haringey youth council

Did the first session of the Stop the War Coalition's Peoples' Assembly marking four years since the day we visited the illegal war on Iraq.

Many speakers in first session and chaired by Tony Benn. We are all on the same side here today.

My speech was really about how we need to build, or rather help Iraqis rebuild, the infrastructure of Iraq. And of course, to mention, that Tony Blair's war to save Iraq from Saddam has precipitated a humanitarian disaster.

Labels: iraq, tony benn

Visited St Pancras to see how the new Eurostar terminal is progressing.

LCR showed us the works. The opening is on November 14 - and I have to say, it is a very exciting new station. I love that they are using the high level standard and model of New York's Grand Central.

So we will see a station the like of which we haven't really seen before in this country. Proper boutique shops (like in airports), farmers' market with fresh produce, eateries and the longest champagne bar. And trains!

Catching up on some of the media coverage from whilst I was away, I’ve been reading the claims that some of the cash for peerages accusations being thrown at Labour’s fundraiser Lord Levy have been tinged by anti-Semitism.

Now – there’s a whole heap of evidence that there is something very rotten at the heart of Labour over money and peerages, so I approached this story with a fair degree of scepticism.

But there is one point that has struck me as valid - why do we keep on being told Lord Levy’s middle name? It’s Abraham – and so telling us his middle name in a news report emphasises, deliberately or not, that he’s Jewish.

By comparison, we don’t get told Ruth Turner’s middle name. Actually – strictly speaking this isn’t true, we do – because Ruth is her middle name. But her first name is Caitriona and – just as Abraham = likely to be Jewish, so Caitriona = likely to be Irish.

But whilst "Michael Abraham Levy" is a commonly used phrase, "Caitriona Ruth Turner" is only rarely used. (Try doing a Google search on the two – I just did and whilst "Michael Abraham Levy" gets 884 hits, "Caitriona Ruth Turner" gets just 5. Levy gets more coverage in general, so that explains some of the difference – but not the 884 to 5 margin).

The BBC website is a good example of this lopsided behaviour. Ruth Turner’s profile doesn’t tell us anything about her family background and doesn’t use Caitriona, whilst Lord Levy’s profile uses "Abraham" and "Jewish". So - why does being Jewish matter to the BBC whilst being Irish doesn’t?

And it’s not just the BBC – Michael White in the Guardian uses Abraham too but Ruth Turner is just Ruth Turner.

All a bit rum. I’m very loathe to leap to the assumption that people in the BBC and elsewhere in the media are being deliberately anti-Semitic, and I’d like to think that even a charge of inadvertent anti-Semitism can be explained away, but I’m stumped for a decent explanation for the repeated use of "Abraham".

To be fair to both Michael and the BBC, they’re by no means the only people I could have highlighted, but they’re the ones with examples most easy to find when sat at a computer with an internet connection. Perils of having big popular websites!

But anyway, I’ll email a copy of this blog posting off to Michael White and Mark Thompson at the BBC and let’s see what they say.

Labels: lord levy, michael white, ruth turner

Labour's national DNA database-by-stealth has been in the news again, though there is also good news that some decent ethical oversight of the whole exercise might be put in place. Typical however of Big Brother New Labour - do the database first and worry about whether it's the right thing to do or not afterwards!

You can take part in the Lib Dem campaign on this issue on our DNA database website.

Labels: dna

I've been thinking - dangerous for a politician! Out of all the briefings I've had since becoming the Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for International Development about all the injustices and challenges of the developing world, the one that jumped out at me was the plight of children - orphaned, displaced and traumatized, sometimes for generations.

When war wrecks a child's life - be it the murder of their families, loss of their home, displacement or injury - they are left vulnerable and fragile. Where natural disaster, war or protracted conflict rages the world rushes in with medicine, food, water and shelter - obviously. But there is something more that is needed - even at that first point. It is education.

So instead education often stops - and this stores up huge problems for the future. So I've just launched a new website www.teacherswithoutborders.info to consult on some ideas around this problem. Do take a look and send in your views - thanks!

Labels: teachers without borders

This Sunday I'll be appearing again on The Westminster Hour: Radio 4, 10pm.

Labels: the westminster hour

So - without going into the detail of every briefing and every person we met - my overarching and enduring feeling on the Middle East was that it was the ordinary people - both the Palestinians and Israelis - who were being let down by the lack of resolution and by leaders who could not move forward.

Yes - the Palestinians are being squeezed by the choking off of funding and the brutality of the wall up against their windows - but it is equally in Israel's long-term interests to find a solution. The paranoia of living armed to the teeth does them no good either - albeit their discomfort is more emotional than physical when compared to the poverty of the Palestinians.

With complex and teetering political situations for politicians on both sides of the Middle East divide, it needs brave men and women to take this forward and the United States and the world community to hold both sides safe whilst forging the two-state solution.

Looking at the increasing settlements and the 'wall' it seems a forlorn hope. But it cannot be beyond the wit of humankind to create a step-by-step process towards a viable state for Palestine and a secure state for Israel. I remember growing up with the Berlin War, the Cold War, apartheid and the IRA - all of which seemed insoluble and intractable – and all of which are now changed states.

And there is a window of opportunity as the regional powers shift and vie for their communal interests. This is a period when the moderates in the region need each other - and the hardliners of Syria and Iran with the help of Russia and China can perhaps be persuaded to work with the world community rather than against it.

A couple of other interesting bits and pieces from the three days: seeing a group of Darfurian refugees visiting Yad Vashem (the memorial museum to the Holocaust) - refugees from one genocide learning about another genocide. Very moving. And then coming out of breakfast at the hotel on the third day and bumping into - Paddy Ashdown. It's a small world - as they say. He was making a film about Jerusalem with Channel 4!

Labels: middle east, paddy ashdown

This morning I held my surgery - with a break in the middle to attend the awarding of a certificate to a local business in Woodside. Quench Direct is a small local company that was receiving the award. I was delighted to go to celebrate with them and see the certificate presented – especially as this small company employs some local people - and I am a great fan of small business enterprise. Very impressed with Denise and Denver who are absolutely lovely, enthusiastic and clearly going to make a huge success. The company supplies water stands and water - and is looking for more customers. If you are interested in learning more about them then you can contact them on info@quench-direct.co.uk

Then in the evening I zoomed off to the Civic Centre to celebrate Newroz - the Kurdish 'new day' which is a lovely annual event. Well - I say event in the singular – but there are in fact many celebrations with Mayor Ken holding one next Tuesday, and on April 1st a huge one which I hope to go to. I spend a fair amount of the time trying to persuade members of the community to get involved in the political process - whatever their politics. I am always keen to inveigle people from communities - especially women - into politics.

Busy week so only just catching up on blog now – first there was a visit to the Middle East and then it was the Trident vote. So here goes with my retro-blog, part one…

I am not going to do a blow by blow account of my two days in Israel and one day in the West Bank. So instead here is an over-arching view of the impressions and information gleaned from the trip.

I was travelling with my Liberal Democrat colleague, Michael Moore, Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. We were going under our own party's steam as we wanted to avoid any possibility of pressure from either side.

We had briefing after briefing after briefing - from military intelligence, to politicians, to journalists. On both sides, almost everyone we met had a different view of the situation.

What is virtually indescribable is the intensity with which each person we met gave us their briefing - as if a desperate plea for us to see it from their perspective. And the emotional intensity of such onslaughts was draining as for those three days I was caught up in the Middle East's cauldron of troubles.

I learned a huge amount. This is my first trip as International Development spokesperson, and whilst I will constrain my travel to those areas where I believe it is important to visit personally - it was clear to me on this trip that for situations like this one, there is very little to compare with seeing for yourself and hearing for yourself - from both sides.

My key request for the trip had been to add in a visit to a school to see what aid was doing in terms of education in conflict zones - which I have made my priority for campaigning for the Lib Dems. Save the Children therefore arranged for me to visit the Kalandia School which serves the Kalandia Refugee Camp in Ramallah. They had arranged one of a series of workshops being carried out with a local partner - Pyalara (Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation).

The class I met was a group of around thirty 15 year old girls. The idea was to empower young people to get their voices and issues heard. Two women from Pyalara were trying to get the girls to understand how to use the media to raise their voices about their problems. In an earlier workshop they had identified their biggest problem as early marriage. It stopped their opportunities and their futures - but culturally it was very difficult to speak up on the issue. Three of the girls in the class were married already. The workshop went through how to identify the key story, how to raise it in the media and how to campaign to get the issues around early marriage into the media etc.

It was such an eye opener in terms of how bad things can be, how much needs doing and how vital work is being done through aid agencies to build the capacity for the future.

More to follow soon … but in the meantime you can see some photos from the trip on my Flickr account.

Labels: middle east

Met with Labour Council Leader George Meehan first thing. George says there shouldn't be a problem for the 200 children without secondary school places as they will start to diminish as the choices get made and the places get filled. But only one in five children in Haringey got their first or second choice - and I remain concerned that not getting those choices mean that the Government's 'choice' agenda is meaningless. Instead of getting the schools they have chosen, children and parents end up with schools that are far away across multiple bus journeys and which were put at or near the bottom of their list of choices. That’s not choice.

I remember one particular woman who came to see me at my surgery whose daughter had gone to a local primary school in Highgate. All the other kids from her block of flats had been accepted to one particular secondary school - and only this child had not. The girl instead had to go to a school that was near the bottom of the list of her choices and a difficult journey away; the girl was then (as the mother had feared) bullied and was now at home refusing to go to school through fear.

Perhaps if the schools published a map with dots on showing where all the children who get in come from (with an asterisk for special needs as they come from outside catchments) then we could all see for ourselves how 'fair' the system is and how far children are having to go if they don't get their first or second choices. At the moment, there remains the suspicion that despite efforts to get it right, miscarriages of justice occur. The system needs to be fair and seen to be fair. Transparency and publication might help our confidence in the system.

Other topics I covered with George were on the use of the voluntary sector, the 'restructuring' of the library service; what Haringey Council is proposing to do following my discovery that both HIV infection and alcohol-related deaths in the borough are up substantially and also why my surgery poster is not allowed in schools!

Labels: george meehan, haringey council, haringey schools

Shocking new figures from Haringey - one in five children are not getting their first or second choice school. So much for Labour's mantra of "choice, choice, choice"!

And what's Labour-run Haringey Council doing? Coming up with a new logo in secret!

Labels: haringey council, haringey schools

Yesterday's Channel 4 programme - Great Global Warming Swindle - supposedly debunking global warming has got it all wrong. Now - I'm all for scepticism and testing out arguments properly. So just because nearly every reputable scientist in the field believes global warming is real and a major problem isn't a reason to close our minds on the subject. But if you are going to question it, you really need to do better than recycle old arguments that have long since been debunked.

What did the show have then? New evidence? No. New arguments? No. Rather just the same old sensation-seeking half-stories that have been rolled out and debunked many times before. There's a good summary of the details of all this at In The Green.

So sorry Channel 4 - you get an F for fail for that programme.

Labels: climate change

Shocking figures for Haringey were publised in the answer to my recent Parliamentary Question.

They're the subject of my latest column:

In the