Lynne's Parliament and Haringey diary

My latest newspaper column (for the Ham & High) is about the Olympics and China's behaviour:

I can’t help but observe the contrast between how Britain and China deals with protestors. In Britain – the police’s response to protests during the passage of the Olympic Torch through London was to pop the torch on a bus for a bit. How very English! And then in China we have the dark side of the contrast – the violence, gunshots and even deaths that are the frequent response to protests.

Standing in Bloomsbury Square last Sunday chanting ‘China Out’ in reply to a young Tibetan shouting out through a megaphone ‘Free Tibet’ reminded me not only of the issue in question but also of the feeling you get when you go out onto the streets to claim your democratic right to peaceful protest. It is active. And it makes you feel that you are not taking it lying down; not abjectly rolling over, tut-tutting at the pictures on the news whilst saying there is nothing I can do.

Indeed, in a world of global, near-instant media, protests in one part of the world can garner coverage all over the globe – including, directly or indirectly, in China itself. (I know how well the internet reaches all sorts in China from when I was on the London Assembly – and got a three page marriage proposal from a fisherman in a remote part of China!)

As you may have guessed – I don’t buy the argument that Olympics = sports = you mustn’t say anything about anything other than sport. The Chinese Government has been repeatedly and politicising the Olympics for its own ends – so simply mouthing that formula means conceding it is ok to politicise the Olympics to promote thuggish authoritarianism but not ok to speak out against such behaviour. Where is the morality in that approach of self-censorship and unnecessary deference?

Read the rest of the piece here.

Photo credit: Flickr user http2007

Labels: olympics

I visited Amir Laksari today to find out more about the Sparrows. Mr Laksari came over from Iran as a political refugee in 1986 and soon after he joined a wheelchair basketball team, becoming very heavily involved.

Traditionally the Sparrows Wheelchair Basketball Club has been mainly a refugees / ethnic minorities team. Something like 30% of the people in the team and half the people on the Management Committee are from Haringey - albeit Haringey wouldn't negotiate a reasonable price for them to use Tottenham Leisure Centre to practise and play so instead they had to go to Hackney.

The club is extremely successful and has won tournaments in a host of different countries. In a particularly memorable example Mr. Laksari described when they only had enough money to send five members of their team, but won games against other teams who had the full quota of 12 players! The famous Ade Adepitan used to play for their club.

They used to play in Haringey but are currently in Hackney. Mr. Laksari wishes that Haringey Council would be more supportive, both in terms of championing the achievements of the team and also possibly providing some financial support.

Competitive wheelchairs for basketball can cost £2,500. The organisation was given £8,000 lottery funding - but that is not enough for them to repair or provide the special wheelchairs -nor pay for practise facilities - nor help with their expenses in competing abroad.

We say we want integration and participation for those with disabilities - but we don't seem to do that much to help.

I am writing to the Leader of Haringey Council to seek support for the team and to try and link up the schools and the Sparrows so that there is a pathway into the team from our local schools. I will also write to the Olympic Committee for the Paralympics to see if they can try to make sure the Sparrows Club benefits from the investment for the London Paralympics. Surely any such team that is inspiring and achieving ought to reap some benefits from the zillions it is costing London to host the event.

Labels: olympics

Joined the protests earlier today - with Hornsey councillor Monica Whyte - over China's record on Tibet and human rights as the Olympic Torch passed through London.

Free speech - and speaking out against that which we oppose - is a key part of our society, and it was great to see so many people exercising that right to speak out today - a right, of course, that China doesn't extend to people in Tibet or China.

The Chinese Government has been repeatedly politicising the Olympics for its own ends - and yet Gordon Brown seems too timid to show any real displeasure at China's repeated abuse of basic human rights.

Numerous other government heads have spoken and acted - but not our own. What is the point of having the privilege of holding a post such as Prime Minister if you're not willing to use it to speak out when needed?

Labels: gordon brown, monica whyte, olympics

Impressed to see in the news today that Steven Spielberg has pulled out from his role in the Beijing Olympics because of the Chinese Government's failure to do enough to influence the Sudanese Government, which is continuing to oversee horrific atrocities in Darfur.

His willingness to speak out stands in stark contrast with Gordon Brown - who, as on so many other issues, seems afraid of taking a clear stance and leading the way - and hence the failure to put serious extra pressure on China in his recent visit there. As it's dear old Gordon, perhaps the best we can hope for is for him to set up yet another of his reviews to go away, ponder for a long time and then come back to tell him what to do!

Labels: darfur, gordon brown, olympics

Back in November I wrote about the importance of allowing protests around the Olympics:

Glad to see that Chris Huhne has made it quite clear in a news release that when the show comes to town in the form of the Olympics, the right to peaceful protest must be upheld:

The Olympics are a chance to put our values in the global showcase which is why the organisers should plan for and allow the right of peaceful protest, which is such an important part of our political tradition. It will not be on display at the Beijing Olympics.

Diversity and freedom of expression is what has always made our society strong, and we should not be afraid to show it.

And I suspect given the number of countries competing whose human rights record may not be quite what we would wish - there will be quite a number of protesters wishing to protest. A good thing too. As a country - we should be proud that peaceful protest is one of our guarantees of freedom of expression.

So - it was good to read that Nick Clegg's taking this line too:

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has accused British Olympic chiefs of a "real abdication of our moral responsibility" over moves to restrict athletes from speaking out about China's human rights record.

A new clause in the contract Olympians must sign before competing in Beijing this year forbids them from making political comments about the host country.

Clegg told BBC1's Politics Show: "It's extremely disappointing. It's part of a pattern of us kow-towing to the Chinese communist authorities.

"We have to be very clear with the Chinese: They now play a significant role in the world economy and international affairs.

"That brings certain domestic responsibilities with it and I think for us to sort of gag ourselves is a real abdication of our moral responsibility to push for human rights wherever they are being abused."

Referring to the prime minister's recent visit to China, Clegg said: "Unlike Tony Blair and certainly unlike President Sarkozy from France, Chancellor Merkel from Germany and even President Bush from the United States, he said nothing publicly on China's appalling human rights record."

Labels: chris huhne, nick clegg, olympics

Glad to see that Chris Huhne has made it quite clear in a news release that when the show comes to town in the form of the Olympics, the right to peaceful protest must be upheld:

The Olympics are a chance to put our values in the global showcase which is why the organisers should plan for and allow the right of peaceful protest, which is such an important part of our political tradition. It will not be on display at the Beijing Olympics.
Diversity and freedom of expression is what has always made our society strong, and we should not be afraid to show it.

And I suspect given the number of countries competing whose human rights record may not be quite what we would wish - there will be quite a number of protesters wishing to protest. A good thing too. As a country - we should be proud that peaceful protest is one of our guarantees of freedom of expression.

That's something that won't be the case in Beijing and it might not be the case here judging from the Labour Government's desire to stop all forms of freedom of expression and protest - even when it is just reading out the names of the war dead!

Still - now Chris has thrown down the gauntlet on it - will Nick follow suit? There was a pattern last time round of Chris leading the way on issues - troops out of Iraq, the environment, etc - where he proposed a radical policy, others weren't so keen - but in the end, it was Chris's radical position that won the day.

That's why I like about leadership contests - they push each candidate on and as a party we end up with a better set of policies as a result. Hurrah!

This time round hopefully the issue of the right to protest will become a key point for our party. And then we can also shame the Government into doing the right thing.

Labels: chris huhne, lib dem leadership contest, olympics

Whist the by-elections play out on the political stage, long before they were called - I had arranged the inaugural meeting of my Haringey Local Darfur Action Group (HLDAG) today. (Read here for my earlier posting on why such a local group is needed).

I had been amazed by the response to my initial email - and to the number of people who wanted to join me in this pressure group. My idea is to set up an organising group to lobby and put pressure on the sensitive political spots that might prompt the Government of Sudan to stop the genocide and let the African Union / United Nations troops be deployed before 2008 - the current best estimate following President Bashir's promise to finally allow them in.

But there are many other things that need doing – including the extension of the UN arms embargo across the whole of Sudan as weapons are coming into Darfur from there. The difficulty of getting the UN resolution through is I guess because China and Russia have a veto and they both earned well over £20 million each on arms sales to Sudan in 2005. So - an example of what I hope the group will do (and the group will grow in size) is to all send emails to the Chinese Ambassador asking him not to use the veto, for example - as it would be a shame if the Olympics in Beijing were to become a political football, etc etc.

I invited a Darfuri refugee to come and speak to the Group, and Ishmail Jarbo, whose parents were murdered and he himself injured before fleeing to this country, told us his tale. This was very powerful and brought home the reality of the genocide. My Lib Dem councillor colleague, Errol Reid (Hornsey ward), then spoke. Errol has long been involved with Sudan and is also the secretary for the International African Lawyers, fighting on human rights and anti-slavery.

We all then contributed a great range of ideas and a number of those attending stepped forward to take this campaign forward.

I know, I know - how can what we do in Haringey affect Darfur? Well – I totally believe in people power. I also believe, that at this particular juncture, China will be sensitive to world opinion and as China is the most influential foreign power in terms of Sudan - pressure on China is one way forward. And there is divestment - as we pressure groups not to invest in companies who are supporting the genocide. And, this is my pilot, and I will be trying to extend this nationwide in due course.

Being impotent and doing nothing is why dreadful things continue for decades in this world. This is a complex situation and in the end, only a negotiated peace will bring real peace to the area - and both Arabs and Black Darfuris will have to come around the table with all the groups and militias and rebel bands. But that cannot happen until the killing is stopped. So first deployment and stopping arms.

The communication for this group will be primarily by email - and if you live in Haringey and you want to join in what will be a relatively simple exercise in targeted lobbying - then let me know. You can also join the Facebook group.

The group will hopefully have its first organisational meeting to decide the action program in the next two weeks and then we will email out the first proposed action; after all - this is an action group!

Labels: darfur, olympics

Street Party season is in full swing - and I go to as many of those that I am invited to as I possibly can. Today first off was the Woodland Fun Day organised by the Friends of Queens Wood. Yes - of course it was a shame about the weather - but they had a really good turn out anyway because the activities for children were a big draw. And children need entertaining whatever the weather - and it is fantastic for parents to have such organised fun - story-telling and face-painting and a giant chess board, a band and much more.

Congratulations to the Committee for organising such a lovely day for local families. Huge amounts of work go into these events - and there is no better way for children to come into one of the most beautiful natural environments in our area.

Second off was the Hillfield Park 'Olympic Games' street party. Peter Thompson (my local hero for the work he does in the community) and his team organise a really fantastic bash every year. During the afternoon there are organised competitions for everyone - from Grow your Own (a plant growing competition where we all got to vote); dog agility course (my personal favourite - see me pictured with the winner 'Vegas') and three-legged races, and much more – including in the evening the banquet and the bands. Well done Hillfield.

In fact, it is these events that I have put in my chapter in a book on social liberalism to be published this autumn. Without going into detail - I am suggesting that communities provide structures that we need to nurture. Did you know that crime falls in proportion to the number of people who know each other within a fifteen-minute walk from their house? I rest my case!

Labels: olympics

International Questions today before PMQs - and I go in on Darfur:

Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey and Wood Green) (LD): The Secretary of State has just said that pressure was important. Bashir’s agreement for the deployment of the force does not come into effect until 2008, so has the Secretary of State considered using the international spotlight on China, owing to the Olympics, as leverage to encourage China to use its influence with Khartoum to end the genocide and stop Darfuris being killed between now and when Bashir may or may not allow troops to be deployed in 2008?

Hilary Benn: We certainly have encouraged China and all members of the Security Council and other nations to play their part in encouraging the Government of Sudan to do the right thing. I welcome the fact that the Chinese have now appointed a special envoy, Liu Guijin. That, plus the effort made by China in November when we had the meeting in Addis Ababa, chaired by Kofi Annan, which came up with the proposals for the hybrid force that have now been agreed by the Government of Sudan, demonstrates that China has taken a greater interest in trying to play a part. But the truth is that every single country has a responsibility to do more and to use all the influence that it has, including, if required, the threat of sanctions, to ensure that fine words are turned into action, because action is what is needed.

So - he didn't really answer the key point - whether the Government has the guts to apply the screws to get China to help focus Bashir's mind on delivering on his promises - and earlier than he wants.

Labels: darfur, hilary benn, olympics, pmqs

Water, water everywhere - but not where it's needed. Speaking for the Liberal Democrats in the Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries debate in Parliament yesterday, I went on two main themes: firstly that at some point in the future there will be a major war (or wars) over water. Water wars will dominate the next decades as scarce supply send millions into migratory patterns in the developing world.

There are 263 rivers that cross borders - and as the supply shortens the temptation for countries to divert a river their way and cut off the river from another country will become greater and greater.

Back in 1997 the UK sponsored a UN Convention on the Non-Navigational Waterways - which basically put rules around this tinderbox issue to prevent the looming disasters that would arise as countries fought for access to scarce supply. Ten years on - the UK has not ratified the Convention. I asked Hilary Benn when it would be done. He failed to answer - albeit he said that I raised a truly important point. One has to wonder if it was that important - why has Labour failed to see this through?

Second issue I pursued was on the funding we give to the PPIAF (a public private group that is supposed to deliver infrastructure projects in the developing world). I had previously question Benn in Parliament as to why we were funding this organisation as Norway had withdrawn because its projects kept failing. Benn had answered that some projects fail and some succeed - and he would take a look at it. Clearly - no progress had been made by the debate today as he once again simply re-iterated that some projects succeed some fail.

Personally, given the level of funding with tax from our hard-earned wages you would think he would be a little more careful and caring about the effectiveness of that spend. Italy too has now withdrawn.

Later same day - we had a debate on Darfur. For the most part all speakers wrung our hands and demanded instant deployment of the AU / UN troops, a no-fly zone, targeted sanctions, travel bans, asset freezes and some suggestions that China is being pretty damn brave - propping up and supporting the Sudanese Government (thereby perpetuating and paying for the killing fields) when the Beijing Olympics are coming down the track!

We will see what action is taken at the G8 as we are all fed up with fine words as genocide continues unabated.

Labels: darfur, hilary benn, olympics

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

On Wednesday several pensioners from Hornsey & Wood Green came to see me and lobby me as part of the Pensioners' Lobby. Their very passionate argument is that the Government's promise to link pensions with earnings which is promised for 2012 will see many of them dead – i.e. it doesn't help those who are in poverty right now. So I will be tabling some questions to Gordon Brown. Moreover - the one-off payment of £200 to pensioners by him just before the last General Election has not been forthcoming again (surprise) and yet pensioners are expected on their tiny fixed incomes to cope with the rises that will come in April on Council Tax and the Mayor's precept for the Olympics.

Then I had to accompany Ming to a meeting with Sir Ian Blair (Met Police Commissioner). The meeting was private - so sadly can't reveal all - but I myself did raise the issues (which are not confidential) over the future of police properties in London - there is a big review of their use of property, the location of police stations etc. Our local Commander, Simon O'Brien, has promised he will consult - but in his most recent email to me said he need to get so far (including identifying the actual premises) so that he had something to consult on.

The other issue was my question to Sir Ian a while back off of one of my written parliamentary questions about the disproportionately high numbers of black and ethnic minority people being arrested by the police. Amongst those arrested but not then charged or cautioned, people from the black and ethnic minority communities make up 60% of the total – hugely more than their share of the population. 28% of London’s population are from those communities, but they make up 60% of people arrested but not cautioned or charged. In other words – an innocent black man is much more likely to be arrested than an innocent white man. Sir Ian will get back to me.

Labels: ian blair, ming campbell, olympics

Yesterday was Nick Clegg's big moment with his set piece speech (he’s my boss as our Shadow Home Secretary).

Targeting Labour's favourite tendency - legislation - Nick went for the 3,000 new criminal offences created by Labour (1,300 under Blunkett alone) with the message 'do less, but do it better'. I guess that's something Labour just don't understand. Less is more! Wave after wave of new laws that have broken the Home Office down into a gibbering form of incompetence as they fail to cope. John Reid blaming the civil service for what has been an intolerable torrent of ineffective law.

Far too often Labour goes for brining in another law that does the same thing as an existing law which hasn’t actually been properly used – which is so often the case.

Nick also reeled off the list of illiberal laws that Labour has brought in taking away our freedoms and indeed, our British values. The right to protest, control orders, curfews, etc etc etc - the list is long, long, long. There is even a law against selling or buying grey squirrels.

So Nick's big idea is the Great Repeal Act - an Act that will take away unnecessary laws and roll back all the illiberal infringements of our civil liberties. And he wants the public to send in the laws they believe should form part of this - so you can contact www.greatrepealact.com with your ideas.

The basic message is that 'tough' and 'soft' - the language of Labour and Tories on crime is yesterdays world. For LibDems it's what is effective that matters.

In the afternoon it was Ming being interviewed by the Guardian's Michael White (who was quite fabulous I thought). It was Ming in his best setting. He is comfortable and at home in this milieu and came over as relaxed and confident. He did make a mix up with Arctic Monkeys but suffice to say that even Olympic sprinters can occasional encounter a hurdle! But the over-riding impression I got - and indeed always get - is that Ming is a truly decent human being. And in this day and age of political volatility and shallowness - is a welcome change.

And today as I write (Tuesday) is a biggie. Usually they say only two things are certain in life - death and taxes. At the LibDem conference it's Charlie and taxes!

Labels: ming campbell, olympics

Morning went to the start of an all day event / seminar by Friendship Global - titled 'Peace, Friendship and the 2012 Olympics'. This is a group started in Haringey by the suggestion of two little girls who after 9/11 wanted to do something to stop such terrible things happening again. So their father started this peace group - where the basic idea is that through friendship we can stop wars.

From there I went straight to make a speech and give out awards at the Haringey African and Afro-Caribbean Awards for excellence. A huge hall full of children and their proud families thronging the Alexandra Palace. Now, as much as they all obviously loved me - I can't help thinking that myself and George Meehan (Labour councillor) were not the main attractions. Kwame and Lemar (spelling of both iffy) were the main event. After my speech - Kwame and myself gave out the first batch of around 30 awards. I felt the kids would feel cheated if they came up on stage for their award and they just got it from me rather than him - so made sure they all got to shake hands and have a quick word with him.

I had to leave before Lemar did his bit - but the screams and clapping when he came in were pretty impressive. I thought the whole event was fantastic. So much negative stuff about black under-achievement - and so great to have an occasion celebrating the positive. I am absolutely committed to aspiration and inspiration. If you are treated like a failure - you will fail. It isn't rocket science - and this was positivism in action.

The evening took me to Holborn & St Pancras where I was a panel guest on a Question Time format for the University of London with students from London's universities come to grill us. Slightly to my surprise, they didn't ask about ID cards or civil liberties. They did ask about taxation. They did ask about cannabis. They didn't ask that much about the environment. They did ask about the Lid Dem leadership. They did ask about smoking bans. They did laugh when I told them that I once went barefoot and wore flowers in my hair! What's so funny?! Anyway - I had good fun as I took a bit of license and went way off message. Well - a bit of blue skies thinking is always good for the soul.

Labels: george meehan, olympics

Digital Conference on Thursday. I am not sure how I got to be keynote speaker at this breakfast at the RSA - but here I am. The company that invited me - Panlogic - turns out to have come across me through one of their directors living in the constituency, reading my blog and visiting my website. As the research they are launching today is basically about e-marketing and demonstrates that the age group between 50 and 65 (us ex-hippies with conscience, peace and love man) are still desperately caring people who want to engage in issues and change things for the better. I think their research is spot on.

Day of two speeches really. In the evening I go to one of those wonderful old city halls as keynote speaker at the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers' Dinner. To you and me - a black cab evening. I am hand-clapped in with the 'Master' and other honoured guests in time honoured tradition. I get a quick briefing on how I will address the company. Dinner is enjoyable and I am lucky in that the guest to my right, the Master and the Master Clock Maker (a woman on the other side of the Master) are all absolutely delightful company. In fact, Diana, turns out to have been a constituent but has moved away now. She is a wonderful example of the changing face of the city in that she is the first-ever female Master Clock Maker - and that spans about four centuries.

Anyway, I am there to give a speech after dinner. I have crafted it quite carefully as the LTDA (one of the representative groups for drivers) has previously attacked me for saying there are not enough cabs around due to a driver shortage. They counter-claimed saying that you never have to wait longer than 19 seconds to hail a taxi in central London. Tell that to poor Susan Kramer who waited 25 minutes outside Parliament only this last week! It was rubbish - but there is a kind of jobs for the boys section of the trade who do not actually want to reach the targets set by Transport for London. Last year when I annoyed them evidence had gone to the Transport for London Board showing that there was a shortage of 1,200 black cabs and 4,500 private hire cabs. The concern has to be that if there are not legitimate cabs to hand - people will use the touts with all the dangers that entails.

I wafted across the need to crack down on touts, the Olympics and told my David Blunkett joke. And then home. Or so I thought. Having come by Tube, I got on the Tube home. But - hey ho - it's the Northern Line and the Barnet branch was suspended. So I got off at Camden and after half an hour waiting for my 19-second taxi I got back on the Tube and went to Golders Green. No 210 and no taxi. Dying of cold and now about quarter to one in the morning, I phoned a private hire company and eventually a mini-cab came for me.

Labels: david blunkett, olympics, susan kramer, tfl

Rush up to New Scotland Yard for meeting with Sir Ian Blair. I accompany our Shadow Home Secretary - Mark Oaten - as I am Police Spokesperson for the Lib Dems and worked with Sir Ian for 5 years on the Metropolitan Police Authority. The meeting was private, not unnaturally, but it wouldn't be talking out of school to say that it covered the ground you would expect in terms of the terror bill, Sir Ian's 'debate' with the people over the future of policing; the shooting of Mr de Menezes and the proposal to merge police forces. (My latest newspaper column has more on all this).

Then literally dash back to the constituency to go to the opening of the new facilities at the New River Sports Centre. Barclays have put in £600,000 as part of their program for sports spaces right across the country. Although they will undoubtedly get great advertising out of it - you have to be impressed with the re-invented tennis and football and track facilities. I hope we get at least one kid who comes from Haringey through this system and into the Olympics in 2012!

60 kids from Broadwater Primary School are joining us for the cameras and events etc - but their coach has broken down and they are late and having to come on public transport the rest of the way. Luckily the day is gloriously sunny (though cold) and they eventually arrive and the ceremonies begin. I am there, as is Charles Adje, Council Leader, and we obligingly do as we are told for the photo ops. Two Tottenham Hotspurs players (both Michaels) are there as is a chap from GMTV. Celebs or what!

A great day and great hopes for the future.

Then - dash, dash, dash, via my HQ to do signing and reading back up to Westminster for debate, meetings and discussions. We vote at 7 and 10pm on climate change and then home.

Labels: ian blair, mark oaten, olympics

First event of the day - meeting with parents from Campsbourne Infants and Junior schools.

Second event of the day - Highgate Summer Fair in Pond Square.

Third event of the day - over to St Martin de Porres primary school in Bounds Green for to their Summer Fete. Introduce myself to head and agree to come back and do something with the children.

And last event of the day - opening the Inderwick Road street party. On what was a baking hot day, the fire-fighters from Hornsey Fire Station had come with an engine and were shooting a hose high into the air - with a herd of children running in and out of the spray with squeals of absolute delight.

One of the organisers, Maggie, pulls me into her house to meet 10 Chinese policemen and women who are over here from Beijing to learn about crowd control and public order in time for the Beijing Olympics. I am unclear why they have come to Inderwick Road Street Party to learn about public order and crowd control - unless there's something about the denizens of Inderwick that the powers that be know and I don't!

At around 4.15pm I am given the microphone to open the party - which I do. I warn the gathering hordes of the Chinese Police presence vis a vis crowd control - to hoots of laughter. And it's on with the show - with fancy dress competitions, barbeques and bands until late in the evening.

I leave after about an hour and go home to enjoy a late bit of sunshine in my garden.

Labels: olympics

Mayor's Press Conference at City Hall, with his tirade at an Evening Standard journalist still fresh in everyone’s minds. This was a Ken masterclass in how to try and front down the massed ranks of the media and win the day. He didn't quite make it - not because it wasn't a masterclass in political dodging and weaving - but because his fundamental, stubborn refusal to at least 'regret any upset he had caused' just came over as a spoiled child.

What did astonish me was the depth of vituperative attacks on the media and particular individuals. Even if warranted (and Ken's version of history is not always correct) it was wrong for him to have let rip in such crass style. Ken said, in response to the almost astonished gasp at his outbursts, that that is why the public love him - 'cos he says what he thinks.

What a shame that someone who is in a way so talented is also so flawed.

The Olympics were rather shoved into the background and the only other 'announcement' was about the capping of Oyster Card. Hurrah! Let's be clear (because I have been lectured very soundly by Jay Walder - finance head for TfL) on promoting the wonders of Oyster card and not being a mean, nasty critical politician. So hats off to Oyster. I do believe it's the future - but capping has been a long time overdue.

Up until now people making lots of journeys have gone on being charged so that their daily tally could add up to lots more than the most expensive travel card. This 'capping' will now mean that you will never pay more than the cheapest way of making your journeys. So - at last - well done.

Labels: olympics

Haringey Full Council meeting. For me the big issue of the night was skateboarding. Children from the borough were in the gallery to hear a motion on skateboarding provision debated.

The motion had the support of both parties but there was a bit of friction in that it was a Labour motion about all they intended to do on skateboarding (for which facilities are currently poor) – lots of promises of jam tomorrow. But to date, Labour's much vaunted scheme had produced two days of a mobile skateboarding facility.

Now this dovetailed nicely with a presentation on the Olympic bid by Richard Sumray who is a man of many hats: Olympics, Met Police Authority, magistrate and Chair of Haringey Primary Care Trust (PCT). Busy man. He only had five minutes to present the bid - which must be the shortest presentation on the Olympics on record - in fact a world record in its own right. The general sentiment from across the chamber was ' what's in it for Haringey?' Yes - of course we all support the bid - but its a bit rough for the boroughs who will have the pain and no gain.

Who knows, perhaps we should make skateboarding an Olympic sport. Perhaps that's quicker than waiting for Labour to fund a skate park?

Labels: olympics, richard sumray

Committee Chairs meeting at the GLA. This is the first of this term of office and is an opportunity for the chairs of the various Assembly committees to meet to discuss budget items for scrutiny work and other matters. There is pretty consensual agreement that money spent on occasional consultants, polling on issues as they affect Londoners, London-wide expert seminars etc is money generally well spent, Actually, the Assembly spends a very small amount on anything. However, if you look at the Mayor's expenditure…!

I raise the issue of a looming constitutional crisis if the Parking Enforcement investigation falls as a consequence of pressure from the boroughs. I believe we will be able to come to agreement at the meeting later this afternoon - but want to raise the issue in the generic rather than the specific. ie If the boroughs don't like what the Assembly is doing and effectively veto it thus making the scrutiny work untenable - what is the legal position and more importantly, what is the constitutional position. I leave that hanging in the air as we all rush off for Assembly Plenary Session.

This session of the London Assembly is on the Olympics. Seb Coe is the star turn - but we get a message just before commencement that his father has been taken ill and he cannot therefore attend. We plough on with the Mayor and reps from the Olympic Bid committee. No news really. We all support the bid. The Tories then undermine their support by being over negative about the bid. Not the most scintillating of sessions.

Informal meeting of the Transport Committee to look at the first draft of our response to the consultation on the West London tram. My mission here is to try and get the five political parties to agree that this response should reflect the evidence we received rather than be just an opportunity for us all to restate our party positions on the tram. A consensual report raising the concerns we genuinely have will be far more useful and effective than a political rant. We can all do that in our separate party responses to the consultation.

Anyway - so far so good. The draft is well written - and when chapter 5 is concluded (at this point unwritten and about traffic displacement) we will meet again to see if we have enough common ground for a unified response. Otherwise it will have to be the majority think x and the minority think y - which is OK - but I think loses its punch.

High noon at the London Assembly. The three political party leaders (or their reps) came with officers to meet myself, and the Labour and Tory transport leads from the Transport Committee to see if there was a way forward on the parking scrutiny - with ALG/borough cooperation.

The main issues seemed to be that the ALG (the Association of London Government) felt that the Assembly should not examine areas where the boroughs had been democratically elected to operate in an area. Whilst I understand the sensitivities, the remit of the London Assembly is to raise issues of importance to Londoners as well as scrutinise the Mayor and TfL. This scrutiny had passed through all the appropriate and public stages to reach this stage and had been unanimously approved. And parking is unquestioningly of importance as an issue for London.

The second area where they were unhappy was because of remarks I had made in the media which to them seemed to indicate I might have made up my mind in advance of the scrutiny. All I can say about that is that the boroughs didn't like the bits about my suggesting if they didn't want to comply with the scrutiny they may have something to hide - but as I pointed out - equally, motorists who thought they had a hard deal might interpret the fact that I am on record as saying I support restriction, penalty and fine as biased against them. Both are wrong.

I believe I assuaged their concerns and both my Labour and Tory colleagues backed me up as being a fair and scrupulous chair.

We then moved onto business - and we were quite happy with the ALG's suggestions for amended terms of reference. All parties will now go back to their groups for agreement and hopefully that will go through the next Transport Committee and finally get the show on the road.

Day ends off with stuffing envelopes for our council by-election in Haringey. The fun never ends...

Labels: olympics

Leap out of bed at 4am and into strange clothing appropriate for delivering leaflets in Muswell Hill ward for polling day. "Good Morning" the leaflets say - bright and cheery on doormats for when people awake.

As dawn breaks over Muswell Hill, I race a milkman down Park Avenue North - he delivering milk, me Good Mornings. He wins. Back home at 7am to do a couple of hours of emails and then off to City Hall for the first of the Olympics Forum.

This is the bid team, led by Barbara Cassani, trying to engage with the key stakeholders in London to build the support needed for a successful bid. Although a PR exercise - I am still very impressed with her and indeed the thinking behind our Olympics bid. Will have my full support and effort. It would be tremendous if we won.

Then back to Muswell Hill LibDem committee room to start the knocking up. Knocking up, for the uninitiated, is when poor activists like me hound local residents who have said when previously canvassed that they will vote for us. So I go round for seven hours or so knocking on their doors to drive them out to the polls and to do their democratic duty.

Polls close at 9pm and its off to Haringey Civic Centre for the count. I am up in the public gallery with the team, whilst our counting agents and candidate Gail Engert is downstairs in the count itself. Craning necks to see where the crosses are on the first ballot papers to emerge, my eyesight fails and I haven't a clue what is on them. But it doesn't take long to know that we have a landslide victory.

What a fabulous result for us. This is my ward where I am a sitting councillor too - so extra pleasure in a result that delivers Gail a 57% majority.

The result is:

Gail Engert (Lib Dem) 1,739 (70%, +8%)
Labour 321 (13%, -6%)
Tories 278 (11%, +2%)
Greens 164 (7%, -3%)

Majority: 1,418
Turnout: 32%
Swing: 7% Lab to Lib Dem

Then everyone back to my house for champagne! I clearly drank too much of it as I am sitting typing this with what must be a hangover. I don't drink very much and two glasses is usually more than enough - but on a night like this, I guess I must have let my hair down and had at least four.

Labels: gail engert, olympics

Big transport day for me. Apart from informal meeting of Transport Committee in the morning - at which I was trying to get my colleagues to sign off a variety of issues - I was chairing a tram seminar from 1pm to 7pm and then hosting a reception.

The transport community of London was invited (and came) and the speakers covered many of the issues around trying to fund, obtain patronage, obtain local consensus and deliver these major infrastructure projects in our capital city. Absolutely fascinating stuff.

This seminar is a way of really raising issues for debate. Trams or other modal choices like guided busways or trolley buses are causing absolute havoc where proposed - like the West London Tram. The Assembly Transport Committee holds these seminars to try and take the debate out of the political fire and look at the complexity of trying to get transport choices right and supported for major new projects.

At the end - rushed to the reception. Guess what? Matthew Pincent (of gold rowing fame) was wandering around. He was about a foot taller than anyone else in the room, and dressed in regulation sports blazer with well groomed hair. I went across to him:

"Matthew - welcome! But are you here for the Olympic Bid reception?"

"Yes - thank you - it's very nice."

"It's very nice - but this is the tram reception. Olympics is on the 9th floor."

He beat a graceful retreat. Shame - but there you are.

Labels: olympics

Barbara Cassani, who has been appointed to lead London's Olympics bid, came in to the full London Assembly meeting this morning to answer our questions. The Mayor, Tony Winterbottom from the LDA and Barry Broe from Transport for London accompanied her to aid her with any questions which she could not answer.

Very impressive woman. She set the background to her role in the bid very ably and the questioning, at least to her, was generally supportive. The bid being very important to London, no one wanted to particularly rock the Olympic boat.

But then, life happens. In the Transport for London brief for the Olympics, they state that London rail, tube, etc will have a single control and command structure . Now we have all been fighting for this since the establishment of London Government - but the Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) won't play ball. The TOCs are a law unto themselves and their interest lies only in their long haul profitable train journeys. Try and persuade them to stop and put some service into the London commuter end and they virtually tell all and sundry where they can stuff London.

I am hugely supportive of our Olympic bid. I think it will be a fantastic coup and a catalyst for all sorts of good things to happen in London. BUT - a tinge of reality has to make our package believable to the International Olympic Committee. So I asked if Barbara was aware that the 'single command and control policy' might be a 'pigs might fly policy'? I want Barbara to be armed with the facts so that she can make sure our bid is a winning bid - not a pie in the sky bid.

The current Mayor leapt in, and whilst admitting that the TOCs and the SRA were impossible to deal with - stated that if they couldn't reach an amicable agreement on this, the Government would step in and legislate to force compliance.

Well - I hope he is right. But just in case that is another one of his unsubstantiated claims, I am asking Simon Hughes to table a question for Prime Minister's Question Time asking the government to commit to guaranteeing that this is the case - and in writing!

Far be it from me to doubt Mayor Livingstone's word...

Labels: london development agency, olympics, simon hughes