Lynne's Parliament and Haringey diary

As Liberal Democrat Voice has pointed out, readers of Iain Dale's blog have voted this the third best Liberal Democrat blog. Details over at LDV; thanks to those who voted for me - and congratulations to the LDV team and to Nich Starling for grabbing the two places above me.

Labels: iain dale

Well - so far so good. I just love this moment, when I've got through all the preparation. I have done my shopping, bought my presents and the Christmas fare.

(Digression: can never understand why food is called 'fare' at Christmas. A bit like on the radio some host was saying why do we say 'merry'? We don't say Merry Birthday or Merry New Year.)

I've been watching all my Christmas movies (if anyone has a real feel-good, tear jerker of a Christmas movie that I might not know about - let me know). I have: both Miracle on 34th Streets, It's a Wonderful Life, Scrooge (Alistair Sim), Scrooged, The Muppets Christmas, Nightmare Before Christmas, Love Actually and Prancer. So - new suggestions welcome. (I have seen the Elf and Santa Clause movies - but not so keen).

My favourite Christmas song is Fairytale of New York. My favourite Christmas movie is Love Actually. I absolutely love it all. I stay home with my two daughters and close the door on the outside world. My sister and her family come round for a drink on Christmas Day - but that's it for socialising. It is a very precious time.

Even blog postings will inevitably diminish now until the New Year. So enjoy the rest. Be happy. Peace on earth and goodwill to all - still works for me! Merry Christmas.

It's a while since I've written about Low Copy Number (LCN) DNA testing, but the news today that - as a result of the Omagh bomb trial - the use of this technique is to be reviewed (see BBC story for details) is welcome.

As I wrote previously, "LCN DNA should only be used cautiously – and only with corroborating evidence", and as I put it in an article on the dangers of DNA databases and the like, it is highly risky to place your faith in technology always working flawlessly: "As investment goes in, a commercial imperative is involved and as DNA increases its aura of infallibility – will the police (or the public, when the information is ‘conveniently’ leaked?) believe those who say they weren’t at the crime scene even though their DNA was? And how long before corroborative evidence becomes less necessary?" (read the rest of the article here).

Labels: dna

I do a monthly column for the Ham & High newspaper through the year. After all the serious pieces, the Christmas one is my little bit of fun: my annual Christmas Fairy Tale.

Of course some people think this is terribly out of order and MPs should be terribly dour and serious all the time (hello diary columnists!), to which I say - as every year - bah humbug!

I'm enjoying my birthday today! So - in place of a proper blog entry, here's the news release about my new Shadow Cabinet job:

Hornsey & Wood Green MP, Lynne Featherstone, has today been appointed as Lib Dem Youth and Equalities Spokesperson in Nick Clegg’s Shadow Cabinet.

The newly upgraded Shadow Cabinet post is part of the new leader’s drive to move away from the ‘broken politics of Westminster’ and to reconnect the party with issues of genuine concern to ordinary people.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Now more than ever do young people and those who face discrimination need a strong champion. I look forward to fighting for their corner on the national stage using the skills I have learnt in sticking up for the people of Hornsey & Wood Green.

“Young people are all too often forgotten in this government’s priorities and sadly we have seen the results locally with gang violence on the streets of Haringey and cuts in youth services.

“More alarmingly, in spite of decades of legislation on equalities, there are still areas of our society that are deeply unequal. Men still earn more than women, a black man is still more likely to go to prison than to university and there are still countless obstacles for many who just want to be treated like anyone else.

“I can’t wait to get stuck into these issues in the New Year.”

Nick Clegg, newly elected leader of the Liberal Democrats added:

“Lynne is a fantastic campaigner and I am pleased to have her on board my team to fight for these important issues where Labour has seriously failed to deliver for so long.

“I have no doubt she will use the formidable skills she has gained standing up for the people of Hornsey & Wood Green to be a real champion for young people and those who face discrimination in our society.”

(You can read about the rest of the Shadow Cabinet changes on the party website and on Liberal Democrat Voice.)

Labels: nick clegg

(Note: the first version of this post was based on what Haringey Council said on the phone. Turns out they got it wrong, so here's the correct information. Apologies to anyone bemused by the first version.)

Normal Collection Day / Holiday Collection Arrangements
Monday 24 December / Normal collection
Tuesday 25 December / Saturday 29 December 2007
Wednesday 26 December / No collection this week
Thursday 27 December / No collection this week
Friday 28 December / Normal collection
Monday 31 December /Normal collection
Tuesday 1 January / No collection this week
Wednesday 2 January / Normal collection
Thursday 3 January / Normal collection
Friday 4 January / Normal collection

Not my week! First Leon, then Matt and now Nick! Seriously though – well done to Nick. Commiserations to my brave candidate Chris – who fought a phenomenal campaign. And before I turn to Nick, let me first give credit to Chris for his superb campaigning. When the going got tough – as it did – Chris did not lose his cool or hit out in the way so many do. The measure of this man is his hunger, his energy, his temperament and his determination. At the start I said Chris has the cojones. Not half he has!

However, he lost and Nick won – and the quality of Chris’s campaign means that Nick’s victory over that reflects well on Nick. I suspect that Nick found winning much harder than he expected at the start of the campaign – but if he has come out of the campaign a tougher and more seasoned campaigner (and I know I did each time I ran in party selections for rather less high profile posts) – then that is all to the good for the party and our future.

Nick’s direction, verve, energy and messages are what will now be key to driving the party forward to success. This contest has been about our future – and the point of wanting the crown is not just to wear it – but what Nick does with it. He has got to deliver on the promises he made – to be anti-establishment and to deliver principled radicalism and to challenge the cosy consensus of the stagnant, old-fashioned, two-party politics further and faster.

Those are shared aims across both leadership campaigns – so I have no doubt that the whole party will be wishing Nick luck, and working hard to help him deliver those aims.

Today begins a new era for Liberal Democracy. This is a break with the past and a mandate to change the way politics is done. We are at a critical point in our trajectory in British politics. We need more seats to deliver more Liberal Democrat policies with a bigger and louder voice!

Of course, the real problem is that in the next election we will be focused on by the media probably solely on who we will get into bed with if there is a hung Parliament. I say ignore all that crap and fight to win. If the maths delivers such a verdict – then we should respect that outcome and deal with it when it arise, always doing that which will see the maximum number of our policies and beliefs enacted.

But we should also remember (and remind the media!) that a hung Parliament would raise questions for both Brown and Cameron on how they would act: so each time a journalist asks about a hung Parliament, we should perhaps politely promise to give them an answer – after they have run their stories about Brown and Cameron’s answers first!

Meanwhile, we must raise our membership; make sure that we will have a more diverse representation in the elected positions at every level of office; champion the key issues of fairness and greenness; and stand up for and fight for freedom against an over-weaning, authoritarian centralist proposition of New Labour and expose the vacuous poverty of Cameron and his Conservatives.

All of this is underpinned by our belief in a liberal society: tolerant people living in peace freely; caring about those who cannot take care of themselves; looking after our planet and the future; being honourable in our international responsibilities and eschewing the corrosive seduction of the ‘it’s business – that’s how the world works’ school.

So – congratulations to Nick, commiserations to Chris – and now let’s work together to win more power for that which we all believe in!

Labels: chris huhne, lib dem leadership contest, nick clegg

It’s not really the done thing is it, saying “oh, politics should be about personalities”? Well – I’m certainly a fan of substance and policies in my politics (and that’s one reason why I’m not a fan of a certain Mr D Cameron!) but I think someone should speak up occasionally for the role of personality ... which is what I do in my latest piece in Liberal Democrat News. You can read the full piece here.

Something that brings good news on all three would be a pretty good Christmas present for us all, wouldn't it?

Well – in my speech on international development to party conference in September, I briefly touched on the question of using solar power from Africa's deserts:

Let’s us be both ambitious and optimistic, particularly for sub-Saharan Africa. An area of great poverty and so often little progress. It is an area of huge potential for solar power. We have seen what wealth the oil era has brought many formerly poor areas of the world. Let’s aim for the era of green energy to spread those benefits more widely – and support the development of green energy.

At the moment, the sun beats down on these areas, and nearly all of the sun’s rays go to waste electricity-generation wise. Yet they hold a huge potential as a source of electricity to those countries and neighbours. It could be a case of win-win-win.

First, really large scale solar electricity production is not just renewable – no fears about the sun running out any time soon! – but brings benefits in the battle against global warming and the climate chaos that follows.

Second, just as the oil boom brought prosperity to millions in newly oil producing countries, a similar boom in green electricity production could bring prosperity to large parts of Africa, a continent so often blighted by poverty.

Third, bringing greater prosperity to parts of Africa and the Middle East will help undercut some of the forces driving armed conflict there. Reducing armed conflict, cutting the number of deaths and injuries, having fewer people flee their homes, cutting the number of refuges seeking refuge in grimy refugee camps or unwelcoming other countries: it’s all very much to be welcomed.

The possibility of securing this triple win is in the news at the moment thanks to the Desertec proposal recently presented to the European Parliament. It would see solar power stations being built in or near the southern shore of the Mediterranean. Power cables could then transport the electricity under the sea into electricity hungry Europe.

Current estimates are that this power would cost double electricity from other sources. At that price differential – there’s a problem, but given how technology can march on and drive down prices over time, I’m quite cheered by it ‘only’ being double at the moment.

You can find more details on the particular Desertec proposal on their website. Lots of food for thought – and optimism! – there.

Labels: international development

It completely buggered up my going to Pond Square carols on Thursday - which is one of my fav of the year events - but having been trying to get a meeting with Minister Kim Howells about the Iraqi interpreters issue for some time - then when only the day before I was told that a 5.30pm meeting was arranged, that took precedence.

I think it was the powers of persuasion of Chris Bryant (MP for Rhondda, Labour) rather than my that achieved this - but also Ed Vaizey Conservative MP and Dan Hardie - my local constituent who first brought the issue to me and who is at the forefront of this campaign.

The Minister would only see MPs and Ed was unable to come - so myself and Chris put the issues to him. I have abbreviated substantially and just give the essential gist below. The answers are those given in the meeting by Kim Howells - rather than my own view of what the answers should be!

Q. Why had the Government decided that only those Iraqis who had worked for more than 12 months for the British armed forces could qualify for the asylum or resettlement grants?
A. Difficult to draw the line - but must be drawn somewhere otherwise Britain would be open to thousands coming here; 12 months seemed to accommodate most of those at risk.

Q. But why not make a decision based on a risk assessment of an individual's circumstances rather than impose an arbitrary cut-off date?
A. Too difficult a process in the situation.

Q. Why can't people who worked for the British armed forces before 1 January 2005 qualify for asylum or resettlement grants?
A. It wasn't dangerous before then.

Q. Why is the process of helping those who have worked for our armed forces so slow? Time is of the essence when people are in fear of their lives.
A. Because it takes time to do checks before a person is got out of the country, and when they are got out to a third party country there is another delay there whilst their status etc. is sorted.

Q. How long is it between contact by an Iraqi in danger and getting him/her out of the country
A. Three months.

At this point the Minister had to attend the Commons Chamber and the meeting terminated. Kim Howells seemed genuinely committed to trying to get those at risk to safety - but in erring on the side of caution so much it did seem to me that he was getting it wrong.

There would be people whose cases did not neatly fit the guidlines, and the whole process can be terribly slow. When people's lives are at risk, it is better - far, far better - to err on the side of of saving someone's life. We live in a world that at times seems obsessed with avoiding any risk - hence all the warnings that packets of nuts may contain nuts, that hot drinks might be hot, and on and on. And yet then when we have lives at risk in this case - suddenly erring on the side of safety doesn't apply. A mad, mad world!

To be continued...

But in the meantime, there are two things you can do:

1. There's an EDM (a sort of Parliamentary petition) you can ask your MP to sign. It's EDM 401 and you can read it here and see who has signed it.
2. You can sign the petition at ourcampaign.org.uk/interpreters

(If you'd like some more background on the issue, you can read my recent article on the subject).

Labels: dan hardie, iraq

I've written before about Labour's plans to axe the Parks Police here in Haringey. Well - the latest figures for crime in our parks show exactly why they should be kept!

Also in sobering local news this week was the estimate that up to 50 people will die of fuel poverty this winter in Hornsey and Wood Green - another good reminder, if one were needed, of the need to publicise the Warm Front Scheme to people who could benefit from it. In the scheme's own words:

If you need help paying for heating and insulation improvements in your privately owned or rented home, you, your partner or civil partner may be able to get money from the government's Warm Front grants scheme if, for example, you're receiving income or disability-related benefits.

On a happier note, this week I visited Royal Mail staff in Hornsey to thank them for their efforts with the Christmas post, whilst in international news - the news about new funding for the World Bank reinforces the point that changes in policy are needed too.

Labels: crime, international development

That's the title of the latest blog posting from Dan Hardie, the indefatigable blogger on the shameful way in which the British government is turning its back on those Iraqis who work as interpreters for our armed forces over there. As Dan writes:

This comes down to one simple principle: the Iraqis whom our Government should help first are those who are at risk of being murdered for having worked for the British. It is still not too late for the Government to implement this principle. It is administratively possible. It is morally imperative.

And from the Government’s viewpoint, it is now politically advisable: a continued policy of literally niggling people to death, putting bureaucratic obstacles in the way of men and women in fear of their lives for having worked for British troops, will attract nothing but contempt, from the press and the public.

There's an Early Day Motion in Parliament on this topic; please do ask your MP to sign. It's EDM 401 and you can read it here and see who has signed it. To contact your MP, just visit www.writetothem.com and pop in your postcode.

Labels: dan hardie, iraq

The Times today really says it all:

More than half the Iraqi interpreters who applied to come to live in Britain have had their applications rejected, drawing accusations that the Government is “wriggling out” of its promise to help former Iraqi employees.

The Times has learnt that 125 of the 200 interpreters who took up the offer to resettle in Britain have failed to meet the strict criteria laid down for eligibility...

In three cases seen by The Times, former Iraqi employees were told that they were ineligible because of “absenteeism”.

The interpreters claim that they risked their lives to serve the British and are living in constant danger of reprisal from Shia militias. If they did not show up for work, it was because they were fleeing for their lives. They said that they now felt betrayed by the Government...

Lynne Featherstone, a Liberal Democrat MP who has championed the cause of the Iraqi interpreters, said that the Government needed to use its imagination in a difficult case.

“If those Iraqis who have helped us are now being told that they can't come here because their absence was regarded as a resignation, this is the world gone mad,” she said.

If you're as angry about this as I am - there are two things you can do:

1. There's an EDM (a sort of Parliamentary petition) you can ask your MP to sign. It's EDM 401 and you can read it here and see who has signed it.
2. You can sign the petition at ourcampaign.org.uk/interpreters

(If you'd like some more background on the issue, you can read my recent article on the subject).

Labels: iraq

Following on from the launch of the Crouch End Shopping Bag (non-plastic, non-temporary), my latest article for a local publication is about plastic shopping bags:

You may have heard about the village of Modbury where the use of plastic bags has been eradicated. This village’s 43 traders, spurred by the need to tackle the environmental mess we have got ourselves into, all decided to do away with a real scourge of the environment – plastic bags. They have converted to corn starch paper, cotton or cloth – all sorts – but not plastic.

Now, Crouch End - with Budgens leading the charge – is on its way to doing a Modbury. Budgens has got a group of traders together to first cut use of plastic bags and is campaigning and on the path to then one day eradicate plastic bags. As well as encouraging shoppers to purchase a 'bag for life' (which is a special non-plastic bag) Budgens launched a Pennies for Plastic Appeal earlier this year in a bid to change customers' shopping habits and cut the use of plastic bags. For every bag a customer reuses, the shop donates one penny towards building a theatre stage for a local school.

You can read the rest of the article on my website.

Did some phoning of members yesterday to see how the voting was going in the Liberal Democrat leadership campaign . Still around half hadn't voted; I expect there to be a flurry of voting as we near the deadline (next Saturday).

The late voters were pretty much all going for Huhne and a couple of early voters for Clegg saying that they now thought they had made a mistake. So - still going in the right direction. As Chair of Chris's campaign - to sum up I would say I am cautiously optimistic!

And here's a quick plug for some reasons to vote for Chris:

• Telegraph interview, including their verdict on Chris: "increasingly the favourite among the grassroots"
• Chris's three point plan to stave off recession - taking the political fight to Brown, which is just what we need!
• Chris's views on how to raise the party's profile: watch here

PS If you are a party member and haven't yet received your ballot paper - email returning.officer@libdems.org.uk ASAP.

Labels: chris huhne, lib dem leadership contest

Labour Cabinet minister Ed Balls has been in the media today (e.g. see the Sunday Telegraph) talking about the possible effects of advertising on children. Some of this talk is oh so terribly New Labour (10 year plans, setting up new reviews, etc) but at heart there's something to welcome here.

So many parents mention the impact that advertising on TV has on their children - shaping their attitudes, setting their tastes, increasing their demands for material goods. It's an area we have to address. As I wrote in September, on the subject of the pressures that so many young girls feel over the images of what they "should" be liked hurled at them day after day:

The pressure to become mini-clones and mini-consumers is immense...

The answer is to seek balance – to value forms of status other than simply appearance. So, friends, activities, sport, study – and just being a nice person – kindness, humour, gentleness – need to become valued virtues.

Part of the solution lies with the media – and what a fantastic service it is that the BBC provides with its CBeebies channel, allowing children to enjoy the best of what TV can bring – the fun, the entertainment, the education – without being subjected to a commercial barrage of advertisements. That is public broadcasting at its very best.

So, let's hope this is one government initiative that brings good news.

Labels: ed balls

Completely uplifted!

Went to the Advent Anthems and Christmas Carols in St Michael's Church in Highgate Village. This was the Highgate Choral Society's Christmas concert. It was just lovely as the voices swelled to such strength and volume; the beginning of Christmas for me really!

There are 230 members of the Highgate Choral Society - and about 130 of them were singing for us tonight. We are lucky to have such a local group with a national reputation.

I became a patron of the Choral Society earlier this year, and tonight I got talking to one of the other patrons, Lord Jenkins of Roding - who told me in the interval (mulled wine and mince pies) that he had been a councillor on Hornsey before it became part of Haringey Council. I never knew that! Anyway - well done to everyone involved - as it takes a huge amount of work to stage such an event so successfully.

Labels: highgate choral society

Off to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary for Action for Kids. This is a national charity based in Hornsey which does remarkable work with disabled children and young people.

At Action For Kids they help disabled children, young people, their parents and carers in three main ways. They provide mobility aids, work related learning and family support services. In fact they try never to say no and will help in any way we can to enable disabled children and young people lead full and independent lives.

And you can tell that they have a crack team who are all totally committed to what they are doing - and who do it to the highest of standards.

I met Lorna (see photo) - who has a mobility unit which is engineered to do just about anything and everything. Lorna has now completed a teaching degree in dance and is working. We should be very proud to have such a fine organisation in on our doorstep.

Went to Mr Oswald Smith's home in Wood Green to see the Warm Homes Campaign 2007 for real.

And the house was certainly as warm as toast when I called around. So Oswald (78) and his 82 year old wife will be quite sure of being warm through the cold months ahead.

This was all done through the Warm Front Scheme - which Mr Smith was eligible for as he is in receipt of a state penison credit. So - pass it on to anyone you know who might be eligible and who needs to be sure to keep warm!

Sadly my nice photo of Andrew Thornton (Budgens, Crouch End) and myself is blurred beyond use - so I can't show you me proudly clutching my Crouch End Shopping Bag at its launch.

The lights were turned on and children from three local schools walking together down Crouch End Broadway to the Town Hall Square to sing carols - but the star of the night is really what Crouch End traders are doing by their drive to cut out plastic bag use in the area and encourage people to use reusable bags instead.

I have also written to all the supermarkets in Hornsey & Wood Green, urging them to supply a recycling bin in store near their checkouts so that people can discard the dreadfully overdone packaging at site.

Just to give you an idea of what can be achieved if a store is willing to commit to this, here are Budgen's most recent statistics:

• They have cut the average weekly usage from 35,000 to 16,000
• They estimate that more than half of their customers now bring their own bags with them
• They have saved over 220,000 carrier bags so far

Not bad for just five months work! They are now planning to ban free carrier bags totally from March. And they are putting the large multiple chains to shame - who are aiming for a measly 25% cut over two years. If Budgens can do so much more so much quicker, why are they dragging their feet? Perish the thought that they aren't just as well run as Budgens!

Bumped into Carolyn Quinn of Westminster Hour fame - and she told me the brilliant news. At a ceremony in London held by the Political Studies Association, The Westminster Hour won an award for being Political Programme of the Year. The Political Studies Association is the professional body for the nation's political scientists.

I congratulated her effusively - and she kindly pointed out that I was part of the program. I guess - in a ten minute panel way - that's true. Anyway - I am jolly pleased for them!

PS And I'm on the show again this Sunday: from 10pm, Radio 4. Or if you miss the show you can listen again on their website.

Labels: carolyn quinn, the westminster hour

Just got notification that our own, our very own Treehouse Trust in Muswell Hill has won their TV contest with funding for landscaping at their Muswell Hill site. This comes from the People’s Millions programme, a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund and ITV in which viewers vote for the community project they want to receive funding. The Treehouse Trust was chosen by the public to receive funding.

As the email said: 'Their Treehouse Landscape for Learning Project will transform the land around the National Centre for Autism Education into a wildlife area providing a habitat for birds, insects and wildlife. The group will plant trees and shrubs which, when matured, will provide a woodland walk to the boundaries of the site. The project will provide a safe, creative, sensory environment for the children at Treehouse. The group will work with local schools, other autism providers and community groups to extend opportunities and access to the facility. The 1,700 beneficiaries, mainly those with autism, will benefit from a range of new learning opportunities both practical and creative, whilst contributing to the sustainment of the eco-system. The one year grant of £80,000 will pay for landscaping work, trees and shrubbery, spoil movement and plant irrigation'.

Hurrah!

Labels: treehouse trust

Interesting poll by Iain Dale on his website of how his readers think MPs of all parties have been performing in the last month. 1,256 blog watchers voted and they rated the performance of a selection of MPs over the last month.

Both our Liberal Democrat leadership candidates are in the top quarter, Chris at 10 and Nick at 21! Not bad for a Conservative originated contest on a website with a heavily Conservative readership!

However, both might like to look at the methodology of the occupier of the No. 1 spot for guidance when our new leader is declared and take a leaf out of the Cable book of stealing the limelight - for it is indeed Vince Cable who comes out as the top rated MP over the last month. Well done all three.

Labels: chris huhne, iain dale, nick clegg, vince cable

I have retabled my EDM calling on the British Government to move further and faster in its help for the Iraqi interpreters - those who helped us and are helping us in Iraq but for whom the consequence of doing so is to be hunted by death squads in Basra.

All EDMs fall at the end of a parliamentary session - which is why I have retabled it for the new session and it is now open for MPs to sign it (whether or not they signed the previous one). Encourage your MP to sign!

It's EDM 401 and you can read it here and see who has signed it.

If you are not familiar with this issue - here's what I wrote recently:

Many Iraqis employed by the British are tortured when found by the Iraqi death-squads. Like Haidr al-Mtury, a translator for the British, who had holes drilled into his hands and knees before both legs were broken and acid was poured over his face. Only then did a bullet to the head put an end to his suffering.

You can read the full article here.

Meanwhile - Dan Hardie has a harrowing account of the day-to-day fears for their safety of Iraqis who worked for Britain.

Labels: dan hardie, iraq

One particular piece of bad news from Russia's Parliamentary elections: Andrei Lugovi, the man suspected of murdering ex-KGB agent (and constituent of mine) Alexander Litvinenko - was elected, and so now has Parliamentary immunity.

Not good news for those of us who want to see the case come to court and him either convicted or cleared depending on the evidence - either way, a court case would give the chance for justice to be done.

Labels: alexander litvinenko, andrew lugovoi

Haringey Lib Dem council group leader Neil Williams tells me that he is increasingly worried about council tax payers being taken to the cleaners by the current goings on at Alexandra Palace.

As ever with Ally Pally, it's a complicated story – and one to which neither Haringey Council, nor the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (also, alas, a Labour councillor) will give full and frank answers, but it goes like this.

When the Trust (and for this we must sadly read Haringey Labour in practice) thought they had a 'done deal' with their chosen developer (Firoz Kassam and Firoka), they (the developer that is) were allowed to start trading in the building, to get their feet under the carpet, as it were. It's a bit like thinking you had sold your house, and then giving the potential future owners the keys before the deal was signed.

However, the deal on the lease was thrown out by the High Court - as the Charity Commission was found to have failed to consult the public properly on their plans for the Palace. The whole process now has to be done again. This could take months, if it happens at all.

In the meantime, as the Trust had no 'plan B' to cope with this cock-up, Firoka is now running the trading business at the Pally – and pretty much pocketing the profits coming in, from events and exhibitions, and so on.

Previously, some pretty tidy contributions from trading have always been used to bring down the cost of the Palace to the Haringey taxpayer, possibly up to about £2 million a year – but this pot of money is now essentially in the hands of Firoka, who show no visible signs of passing it on.

Haringey Council describes this situation as "unfortunate" and blames the Save Ally Pally campaign as well as the Lib Dems - i.e. anyone other than themselves, even though it was they who came up with the flawed sell off and they who let Firoka in to start earning money before the deal was finalised. Indeed, they have employed blue-chip PR advisers, Lexington Communications, who are helping them say so – all being paid for by the Haringey taxpayer, just to rub salt into the financial wounds of this all.

Not good!

Labels: alexandra palace, firoz kassam, neil williams

Waterstone's seem to have got away with it in terms of the publicity for the event - but I think they should be deeply ashamed for the way they are helping a convicted criminal (and themselves) to make money, and dressing it all up in the language of "oooh, look at our clever new toy".

What am I on about? Well - last week disgraced and convicted Conservative peer Lord Black did a books signing at Waterstone's in Piccadilly. Only - he wasn't there because - following his conviction overseas - he's not allowed to travel to the UK.

Instead, Waterstone's reeled out a bit of video conferencing plus a remotely controlled robotic arm so that Conrad Black could get round his travel ban and still "sign" copies of his latest book (about, ironically enough, that other moral reprobate - Richard M. Nixon).

Now - I'm all for treating those convicted of crime in a sensible manner (and that includes using work as part of rehabilitation programmes) but this wasn't anything like that.

It was a distasteful mix of celebrity and technology to make money for all concerned - with the helping hand of PR courtesy of the robotic arm signing which was only needed because Black was convicted of a crime. Result: more royalties for Black, more profits for Waterstone's. And to hell with the morality of it all.

So as I said - shame on Waterstone's for this money grubbing approach to making money however it comes.

And here's a challenge for Waterstone's: if you weren't really just trying to make money out of someone being a criminal and so not able to come to the UK, why don't you donate all your profits from the event to one of the deserving charities that help victims of crime?

Labels: ed fordham

Two events today. First is to open the Polish and Eastern European Communities Open Day in Wood Green. What a wonderful community this is too. Less high profile than some - but full of children and families all absolutely delightful. Some of the older members sang carols and then there was a reception with fantastic Eastern European food. I'll be lucky to get to Christmas without putting on half a stone before!

The pounds piling on were then not helped by equally delicious food at the reception following the lighting of candles for World Aids Day outside Wood Green Library. The heavens opened just as the ceremony was starting - but we all stayed to show that this is an issue that we care passionately about and it needs attention.

At the reception at the Winkfield Resource Centre afterwards, I said a few words about the situation re AIDS and HIV. My visit to South Africa was one part but the other was about the appalling rate of new infections we are now experiencing in London - more than ever before. And awareness has clearly gone down.

When AIDS hit the UK, the campaigns that were run to get us all to be aware and have safe sex were headline news. Now people seem to have relaxed and be thinking it won't happen to them. But I can assure them it will - if they don't practise safe sex. Don't risk it!

Off to Leek in Staffordshire for Any Questions? yesterday. What a week to be on!

You have no notice of questions for these programs - but it ain't that hard to guess. I guessed right on Labour donors, Teddygate, Brown's decline, Oxford Union debate - but didn't see the question on the Diana trial.

Matthew Parris is always good value - witty and brief. Geoff Hoon (in unenviable position) defended the Labour government and Brown competently. In fact he turned the tables on Conservative MP Caroline Spelman very neatly by batting back the donor issue to asking her to defend the Midlands Industrial Council - it takes money from donors and then gives it to the Conservative Party - but by acting as a middleman, it means the donors are less open to public scrutiny than if they gave money direct to the Tories - sound familiar ?! Virtually pot and kettle.

And before any indulges in the usual nonesense about the Lib Dem donor Michael Brown - we are in the clear in terms of the Electoral Commission finding that we did all the necessary the checks correctly. And there's never been any suggestion of him getting any favours in return for having donated to us.

Anyway - good fun discussion all round and got home at 1am!

Labels: any questions, geoff hoon