Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP recently met with Post Office officials to discuss the Post Office modernisation programme. The Senior Stakeholder Manager and a local Branch Manager met the MP at her office in Hornsey and Wood Green.

In 2010, the Coalition Government announced a £1.34 billion investment in Post Office modernisation over the next four years. A more recent announcement confirmed that existing Post Offices now have until early 2015 to opt in to the modernisation programme. Modernised branches will be refitted with modern features, have longer opening hours and offer a greater range of services to their customers.

The Liberal Democrat MP took the opportunity to discuss whether offices in Hornsey and Wood Green would be modernising. The MP also represented the view of many of her constituents – who would like to see at least one Post Office reopened in the constituency.

Following the meeting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“The previous Labour Government pursued a reckless and shameful policy of Post Office closures, in which five post offices in Hornsey and Wood Green were lost.

“I’m proud to say that putting an end to this was one of the first things the Liberal Democrats did in Government. There will now be no more involuntary closures.

“It was good to hear about modernisation in the constituency, but I still want to see some of our lost Post Offices reopened. The Post Office representatives gave little away about this – but rest assured that if there’s a chance to campaign to get a new Post Office in the constituency – then I will take it!”

Lynne Featherstone MP today welcomed a Government announcement, which encourages local councils to freeze Council Tax next year. Local authorities who freeze their Council tax will be given an extra £450million in Government funding.

Last year, Haringey Council’s financial reports revealed that Labour was considering a tax rise of 2.5%, despite being offered funding from Government to halt a rise. Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone and the Haringey Liberal Democrats called on Labour-run Haringey to freeze Council Tax, and were successful in preventing a rise.

This is the third year in a row that the Coalition Government has enabled councils to freeze their Council Tax by offering them enough money to cover the cost.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“All Liberal Democrat-run councils decided to freeze or reduce council tax this year, helping families keep bills low in difficult times. Neither Labour nor the Conservatives can say the same.

“Following the Government announcement, I am taking the opportunity to renew my call for a Council Tax freeze in Haringey.”

Twelve hundred two-year-old Haringey children will receive free early years’ education from next year.

This is in addition to three and four-year-old children in Haringey who are already eligible to receive 15 hours of free early years’ education per week.

Phase one will take effect from September 2013 with the second phase starting in September 2014.

The new support for children from the least well off families comes as part of a shake-up of early years’ education announced by Liberal Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg.

The changes will provide greater flexibility for parents – the hours in which parents can bring in their children for their free place will be extended by two hours. Currently, parents are restricted by having to drop their children off no earlier than 8am and picking them up no later than 6pm. This will be extended to 7am – 7pm.  It will also give parents the option to spread their free nursery place over two days rather than three, making the system work better for working parents.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green, commented:

“This is great news for a large number of local families. Early years’ education gives a real boost to young children and really prepares them for school.

“Giving a fair chance to all children is a top priority for Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government. Every child deserves an equal chance to fulfil their own potential.”