Lynne Featherstone

Nevres Kemal was a whistle blower who warned that Haringey Social Services were failing in their child protection practises. In fact, she had come to me about her concerns at one point, and I had taken her case together with two others (privately to avoid publicity or politics) to the then Leader of Haringey Council, George Meehan and the then Chief Executive, Ita O’Donovan.

The point all three cases demonstrated was that when someone, in this case Nevres as a social worker, another the Governor parent in a school and the other parents of a young boy with health problems, took their concerns to Haringey – the Council turned on them rather than address the real problem.

Haringey Council preferred always to shoot the messenger. In Nevres case she lost her job. In the parent Governor’s case – her son was expelled and she was thrown off the Board of Governors and in the parents case – the Council turned round and accused them of sexual abuse. Haringey Council was forced to apologise – but it took several years and much grief for the family.

When I brought these three cases to the Labour leader and Chief Exe – what did they do – sweet nothing other than close ranks even further and tell me that everything was fine. And it is that closing of ranks, refusal to investigate problems and turn on the messenger, the secrecy, the cover-ups and the lack of transparency that not that long after was exposed by the tragedy that came to light over Baby Peter. In fact, when I went to them, Baby Peter had already died – but they kept that secret.

Anyway – the point of this post is that I am delighted that Nevres Kemal, that whistle blower who tried against the odds to get Haringey Council to address its deep, deep problems is going to contest the Noel Park ward to become a local councillor for the Liberal Democrats.

I can think of no one better to hold Haringey to account over its bad ways and secrecy – good luck to Nevres on May 6!

Comments

1. Frank H Little says:

   30 March 2010 at 11:52 am

   Please pass on my best wishes for success.