It is that time of the year again when the clocks go back and once again I feel obliged to warn people about taking preventative measures to make sure you dont get poisoned by carbon monoxide poisoning when you start heating your home again.
Most people believe that carbon monoxide poisoning is only caused by faulty gas fires or boilers, and indeed they are often at fault. But any kind of fossil fuel that burns can cause this terrible poison if it does not have a clear and open passage to the open air. Now that people are firing up their boilers, turning on their gas fires and lighting the first open fire of winter, they need to be absolutely sure that they have followed all the safety guidelines.
You must have your chimney swept at least once a year before you light up that fire. If you live in a smokeless zone and the fuel you are burning does not give off smoke, you will have no idea what danger you might be in.Unfortunately carbon monoxide cannot be seen, tasted or smelt, it is a totally invisible deadly gas. The symptoms are not dissimilar to flu; however vital clues may lie in a sense of disorientation and dizziness as well as sickness. If you or someone close to you is becoming sick and confused then it is probably a very good idea to turn off the fire, open the windows, leave the house and have a GP check you out.
Sadly of course many people cuddle up on the sofa with a blanket when they feel ill. You couldn't do a worse thing with carbon monoxide. Be safe this winter, dont light the fire or turn on the boiler until you have had an annual check.
I have a monitor at home, it is plugged into the mains and does a check of the air quality every so many seconds. Having lost my fiance to this poisonous gas in 1999 I could not rest without this reassurance, get one, they are not expensive and they might just save your life.
Friday, October 27, 2006
A week in the life of a councillor....
It's been a really busy week and I thought it would be useful for local residents as well as for people interested in being a councillor, to see what sorts of things I have been getting up to.
On Monday, after work, I went to my Heritage Scrutiny Panel meeting, where I am the only Labour member. We are currently looking at the programme of events for next year when Liverpool will celebrate its 800th birthday. In particular this week we looked at the creation of a new musuem dedicated to slavery (past and present) and how we would celebrate the 200th anniversary next year of the abolition of slavery. We also looked at plans for another new musuem, which is about Liverpool's 800 years of history.
I had to get my skates on to be at the GEARS residents association meeting for 6pm. Wendy Simon came with me, she is going to be the Labour candidate in next May's election in the ward and has already started campaigning and picking up casework for local people. Residents talked about a special event to unveil the new mosaic heritage bench in Birchfield Park in early December. There was also good news from the youth branch of the residents association - EAGERS, who have secured funding for a whole host of days out for young people in the area.
At 7.45pm Wendy and I went to meet the local Sergeant and talk to him about some particular hotspots for Anti Social Behaviour and he promised to put some special efforts into those areas. I dont want to say too much about that at the moment in case it scuppers the plans.
On Tuesday I spent the morning at the Planning Committee, it was my first time attending as an objector and I got up on behalf of local residents and made a short speech objecting to plans to turn 1-3 Beech Street into a B&B. It is an attractive grade II listed building that used to be a care home. It has now closed and the owners want to attract what they call "tradespeople" to work there. I pointed out that in my experience workmen travel about in vans, and there were 30 bedrooms envisaged for this place, but only 8 car parking spaces. We cannot have large amounts of vans parking up and down Beech Street, right next to our new flagship neighbourhood centre.
I spent the afternoon at a special Health and Adult Care select committee where we were fighting to save an old people's home from closure. Venmore care home has had £2.8million spent on it in the last 8 years, it is a lovely facility where the residents are very happy and the staff care well for them. The council want to close it down because essentially there are better things they would like to do with the site and because the money they would save would plug a gap in their domicillary care budget (looking after people staying in their own homes). Several people spoke who will be affected by any closure, including one old chap who was crying as he explained how happy he was living there and how devastated he would be to leave. I seconded an amendment to reconsider the closure consultation plans, but the LibDems voted en masse to press on.
On Wednesday I went to the Neighbourhood Services Task Group which is part of the accountable process for the management of the Kensington New Deal for Communities. It is multi-agency with lots of residents representatives and we talked about various issues around the area. I find it a very good forum for examining local priorities - cleaning up certain streets for instance. We are going to have a Christmas Party on 20th December where we dont have to talk about rat baiting for once, I am really looking forward to it already.
This was followed by a Labour Party branch meeting where we selected our local government candidates for the last three remaining wards in Liverpool Wavertree. I think we have done well, all our candidates are strong and credible and will give the LibDems a run for their money even if some fights will be more challenging than others.
Yesterday I had the night off from my council work (although I had spent a couple of hours in the morning doing casework at home while I was waiting for the man to come from Telewest and install my new phone, cable TV and broadband....)
Today I will use my special leave to visit the National Children's Home Regional Director for the North West to talk about what they do for children in Liverpool. Then I have my weekly surgery at 5.30pm, followed by our Constituency Labour Party meeting at 7.30 where we are going to talk about building strong communities as our contribution to the national policy debate and then at about 9.30pm Wendy and I are popping along to an Irish Night to help raise funds for Fairfield Area Residents Association and their bid to create a community garden at St Sebastians.
I am hoping to spend the weekend doing things for myself...!
On Monday, after work, I went to my Heritage Scrutiny Panel meeting, where I am the only Labour member. We are currently looking at the programme of events for next year when Liverpool will celebrate its 800th birthday. In particular this week we looked at the creation of a new musuem dedicated to slavery (past and present) and how we would celebrate the 200th anniversary next year of the abolition of slavery. We also looked at plans for another new musuem, which is about Liverpool's 800 years of history.
I had to get my skates on to be at the GEARS residents association meeting for 6pm. Wendy Simon came with me, she is going to be the Labour candidate in next May's election in the ward and has already started campaigning and picking up casework for local people. Residents talked about a special event to unveil the new mosaic heritage bench in Birchfield Park in early December. There was also good news from the youth branch of the residents association - EAGERS, who have secured funding for a whole host of days out for young people in the area.
At 7.45pm Wendy and I went to meet the local Sergeant and talk to him about some particular hotspots for Anti Social Behaviour and he promised to put some special efforts into those areas. I dont want to say too much about that at the moment in case it scuppers the plans.
On Tuesday I spent the morning at the Planning Committee, it was my first time attending as an objector and I got up on behalf of local residents and made a short speech objecting to plans to turn 1-3 Beech Street into a B&B. It is an attractive grade II listed building that used to be a care home. It has now closed and the owners want to attract what they call "tradespeople" to work there. I pointed out that in my experience workmen travel about in vans, and there were 30 bedrooms envisaged for this place, but only 8 car parking spaces. We cannot have large amounts of vans parking up and down Beech Street, right next to our new flagship neighbourhood centre.
I spent the afternoon at a special Health and Adult Care select committee where we were fighting to save an old people's home from closure. Venmore care home has had £2.8million spent on it in the last 8 years, it is a lovely facility where the residents are very happy and the staff care well for them. The council want to close it down because essentially there are better things they would like to do with the site and because the money they would save would plug a gap in their domicillary care budget (looking after people staying in their own homes). Several people spoke who will be affected by any closure, including one old chap who was crying as he explained how happy he was living there and how devastated he would be to leave. I seconded an amendment to reconsider the closure consultation plans, but the LibDems voted en masse to press on.
On Wednesday I went to the Neighbourhood Services Task Group which is part of the accountable process for the management of the Kensington New Deal for Communities. It is multi-agency with lots of residents representatives and we talked about various issues around the area. I find it a very good forum for examining local priorities - cleaning up certain streets for instance. We are going to have a Christmas Party on 20th December where we dont have to talk about rat baiting for once, I am really looking forward to it already.
This was followed by a Labour Party branch meeting where we selected our local government candidates for the last three remaining wards in Liverpool Wavertree. I think we have done well, all our candidates are strong and credible and will give the LibDems a run for their money even if some fights will be more challenging than others.
Yesterday I had the night off from my council work (although I had spent a couple of hours in the morning doing casework at home while I was waiting for the man to come from Telewest and install my new phone, cable TV and broadband....)
Today I will use my special leave to visit the National Children's Home Regional Director for the North West to talk about what they do for children in Liverpool. Then I have my weekly surgery at 5.30pm, followed by our Constituency Labour Party meeting at 7.30 where we are going to talk about building strong communities as our contribution to the national policy debate and then at about 9.30pm Wendy and I are popping along to an Irish Night to help raise funds for Fairfield Area Residents Association and their bid to create a community garden at St Sebastians.
I am hoping to spend the weekend doing things for myself...!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Top Tory blogger Iain Dale's top 100 Labour bloggers
A bit of a strange concept really - a Tory having a list of top 100 Labour bloggers, but there you go, he has got one.
If you click on the title of this piece it will take you to his site where you can download the PDF with the full list and have a look at lots of other Labour blogs, do come back though!
If you click on the title of this piece it will take you to his site where you can download the PDF with the full list and have a look at lots of other Labour blogs, do come back though!
Friday, October 20, 2006
Needham Triangle anti-social behaviour problems
I am really worried about the kids up to mischief in Needham Triangle in Kensington
On Saturday several climbed on to the very top of the roof ridge of a house on Needham Road, hugging the chimney stack and waving to their pals down below. One little boy slipped and fell right down the roof, only being saved from going over the edge by one of his pals who managed to grab him.
They have been throwing stones to break windows of empty houses for sale on Chiswell Street, clambering into backyards of boarded up houses on nearby Adderley and setting fires and running along the tops of alley walls.
Obviously it is making local people angry but it is also frightening to think about how close they are to hurting themselves in these dangerous games.
One practical solution that has been suggested to me is that we could consider installing some special rollers which fit onto the tops of the alley walls and so prevent you climbing on to them. I suppose they were designed as a further step to combat burglaries, always assuming they had already managed to get over the alleygate. But there is no reason why they could not be used to stop children from going where they shouldn't.
I put it to Council officers at a meeting yesterday, they seemed interested in the idea, it is a question of money as with everything else but they promised to look into it.
Watch this space.
On Saturday several climbed on to the very top of the roof ridge of a house on Needham Road, hugging the chimney stack and waving to their pals down below. One little boy slipped and fell right down the roof, only being saved from going over the edge by one of his pals who managed to grab him.
They have been throwing stones to break windows of empty houses for sale on Chiswell Street, clambering into backyards of boarded up houses on nearby Adderley and setting fires and running along the tops of alley walls.
Obviously it is making local people angry but it is also frightening to think about how close they are to hurting themselves in these dangerous games.
One practical solution that has been suggested to me is that we could consider installing some special rollers which fit onto the tops of the alley walls and so prevent you climbing on to them. I suppose they were designed as a further step to combat burglaries, always assuming they had already managed to get over the alleygate. But there is no reason why they could not be used to stop children from going where they shouldn't.
I put it to Council officers at a meeting yesterday, they seemed interested in the idea, it is a question of money as with everything else but they promised to look into it.
Watch this space.
Cracking down on prostitution in Kensington and Fairfield
I have just found this entry on the Mersey Police website showing some of the hard work we are doing together, as part of Operation Rose, to stop prostitution in Kensington and in Fairfield.
I am quoted at the end of the article praising the police for tackling the priorities of local people.
I am quoted at the end of the article praising the police for tackling the priorities of local people.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Amazing Mrs Pritchard
This is a wonderful programme that I can definitely recommend.
There are some miserable sods out there who have criticised it for being too far-fetched, that is something we can debate because I can see how it might happen, given the public's penchant for falling in and out of love with celebrities.
However, far-fetched or not, it is funny, interesting, clever, full of women politicians which is a very refreshing change and I love it.
I particularly love the presence of "real" newsreaders, journalists and presenters so that Mrs Pritchard appears on Newsnight or the Today programme for instance, being interviewed by Kirsty and John.
It is great fun.
If you have not seen it, can I please recommend it to you, if you dont know what it is about, let me quickly summarise.
Roz Pritchard, a supermarket manager decides, at the last minute, to stand as an Independent candidate in her local constituency in the General Election, following her witnessing fisticuffs between the white middle-aged male candidates from Labour and Conservative parties. She wants to stand as a candidate who will always tell the truth and be trustworthy and offer something new and fresh to people who have stopped engaging with politics.
Within 24 hours other like-minded women have asked to stand with her, in their own constituencies, and the supermarket owner offers her £10million for a national campaign because she is so impressed with Roz.
By the time of the election itself, the huge media interest in Roz has helped create a situation where a female candidate is standing in more or less every constituency in the country, under the banner of the Purple Alliance (purple being a blend of red and blue). Several key Labour and Tory MPs and candidates have also defected to her.
And on polling day there is a huge turnout amongst the disaffected and Roz is elected as the Prime Minister.
Subsequent episodes have described her progress and some of the challenges she has had to face.
And now she wants to move Parliament to Bradford, to be closer to the people.
Imagine, a common sense party full of good strong women who want to put people first, to tell the truth and do their best.....I would vote for that myself, I might even join them!
Do have a look at their website - click on the title of the link, you can vote on the Bradford question this week.
There are some miserable sods out there who have criticised it for being too far-fetched, that is something we can debate because I can see how it might happen, given the public's penchant for falling in and out of love with celebrities.
However, far-fetched or not, it is funny, interesting, clever, full of women politicians which is a very refreshing change and I love it.
I particularly love the presence of "real" newsreaders, journalists and presenters so that Mrs Pritchard appears on Newsnight or the Today programme for instance, being interviewed by Kirsty and John.
It is great fun.
If you have not seen it, can I please recommend it to you, if you dont know what it is about, let me quickly summarise.
Roz Pritchard, a supermarket manager decides, at the last minute, to stand as an Independent candidate in her local constituency in the General Election, following her witnessing fisticuffs between the white middle-aged male candidates from Labour and Conservative parties. She wants to stand as a candidate who will always tell the truth and be trustworthy and offer something new and fresh to people who have stopped engaging with politics.
Within 24 hours other like-minded women have asked to stand with her, in their own constituencies, and the supermarket owner offers her £10million for a national campaign because she is so impressed with Roz.
By the time of the election itself, the huge media interest in Roz has helped create a situation where a female candidate is standing in more or less every constituency in the country, under the banner of the Purple Alliance (purple being a blend of red and blue). Several key Labour and Tory MPs and candidates have also defected to her.
And on polling day there is a huge turnout amongst the disaffected and Roz is elected as the Prime Minister.
Subsequent episodes have described her progress and some of the challenges she has had to face.
And now she wants to move Parliament to Bradford, to be closer to the people.
Imagine, a common sense party full of good strong women who want to put people first, to tell the truth and do their best.....I would vote for that myself, I might even join them!
Do have a look at their website - click on the title of the link, you can vote on the Bradford question this week.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Labour Party conference in Manchester
Conference in Manchester was really great.
Definitely the best venue of the four I have been to - the others being Blackpool, Brighton and Bournemouth. There are several reasons for that; It is all on the flat, aside from a few steps up to the GMEX building, this makes a considerable difference when you are on your feet all day every day for a week! It is architecturally very pleasing within the secure area, attractive hotels (the Radisson and the Midland), the GMEX building itself, the skyline - I had a view from my hotel bedroom of the town hall clock. There is lots of space within the GMEX so that we could have the exhibition space within the conference venue itself, which is particularly helpful and should make it much easier to persuade potential exhibitors to rent some space.
I wont go into lots of detail about the NEC meetings and what went on, Ann Black gives a pretty good account to anyone who wants to know chapter and verse so it is silly for me to repeat it all here.
So I will give you the gossip and the low-down instead.
I spent quite a bit of time having to organise a prayer room for our Muslim delegates, it being Ramadan and there being a tight timetable of prayers. We had agreed to provide one but the Ts had not been crossed, nor the Is dotted, so it was not ready. The GMEX staff were incredibly helpful in finding somewhere and the delegates who had approached me for help were pleased with the facility. The only slight problem was that the room contained paintings of the Queen and Prince Phillip which had to come down off the wall because you cannot have images of people in a prayer room, but I thought they would have put anybody off their stroke in any case. I thought all that kind of thing, Windsor worship, went out with the ark but obviously not.
I spent quite a lot of time on International issues this conference, I was personally invited to meet the High Commissioner of Pakistan who was a fabulously dressed woman who spoke very well when she addressed the meeting. Someone said later that in Europe she is considered to be the best High Commissioner there is, from any country. I was extremely impressed. She talked about the relief efforts following the earthquake and also about the close relationship between our two countries, it was fascinating. Someone took a photo of us together, but I have not seen it yet.
Along with a few other NEC members I also met outside of the conference with a group of men from Kashmir, from different political backgrounds, who are trying to secure independence for their country. Labour has long since promised to help but they felt that it was all taking too long. I suggested that they consider setting up a Labour Friends of Kashmir group, which I would join, where we could push for this. I know that the Bradford MPs have been particularly supportive of this issue for a long time and there is a large APPG in Westminster too. There were dozens of photos taken on this occasion too but I dont have copies of them either!
I also went to the Labour Friends of Israel reception where my MP, Jane Kennedy is the chair. Tony Blair addressed the meeting and pledged to spend the remainder of his term in office striving towards a two state solution, for Palestine and Israel. It was rather moving and somewhat emotional really, I think it was the same day as the Leader's speech and we knew it would be the last time he would be there, at conference and at the reception. I think lots of people came into to hear him speak one last time who were not themselves interested particularly in Israel. Love him or hate him, there is always something stirring about endings.
I spent quite a lot of time with my Liverpool comrades, in particular one of our young agents, Daniel Hughes who I tried to introduce to lots of campaigners so that they could share ideas. I got Judy Richard's name wrong (from the SouthWest) when I introduced her, I dredged up Susan from somewhere, but I dont know if she noticed, apologies if you did and you are reading this! I was also thrilled to see Sheffield Councillors, Gill and Harry again and we spent some happy hours together in various events. I always love seeing Suzanne and we managed to get a few hours together here and there as I did with my old friend Gina and her team on the CFL stand.
Conference is as much about the Labour family meeting together en masse as it is about policy making, it is the place where you feel warm and inspired and where you just know you are in the right party.
I chaired two sessions which was wonderful.
The first session was Trade and Industry (it was probably called something else but that was the general idea), where I started off a bit nervous but soon settled in to my comfy leather swivel chair and got used to the idea that my face was being displayed behind me on a screen fifteen feet wide! There is something rather fun about sitting up there on the platform and being in charge, choosing speakers, taking votes. I dont think there is much power involved but you do quite fancy yourself while you are sitting there. I tried to call up to speak a balanced section of people, concentrating on making sure I had the gender balance right, that black contributors were chosen, that young people were chosen. Ironically it was the white middle aged men who missed out a bit, for a change.
The second session on the Thursday morning was Crime and Justice and I introduced John Reid, the Home Secretary to conference. I also took 9 votes, including a card vote and was cheered for announcing that a controversial vote on corporate liability was carried.
The best part about chairing though came afterwards when people stopped me in the bar to thank me for calling them to speak or commented on my dry manner or calmness in adversity.
I shall miss all that high profile stuff now that I am not on the NEC any more, but it was great fun while it lasted. (I know you are not supposed to admit to that sort of thing, but who cares.) I was delighted that my colleagues gave me the honour of chairing conference as their parting gift (they also gave me a nice certificate which Tony presented to me, there were photos taken of that too, but as with all the others, I dont have any!)
I closed my final session by thanking conference for their support, and saying that I was going back to Liverpool to help the fight to take the city back for Labour. There were big cheers for that as you can imagine.
And I meant it, look out LibDems, we are coming after you, our people deserve better.
Definitely the best venue of the four I have been to - the others being Blackpool, Brighton and Bournemouth. There are several reasons for that; It is all on the flat, aside from a few steps up to the GMEX building, this makes a considerable difference when you are on your feet all day every day for a week! It is architecturally very pleasing within the secure area, attractive hotels (the Radisson and the Midland), the GMEX building itself, the skyline - I had a view from my hotel bedroom of the town hall clock. There is lots of space within the GMEX so that we could have the exhibition space within the conference venue itself, which is particularly helpful and should make it much easier to persuade potential exhibitors to rent some space.
I wont go into lots of detail about the NEC meetings and what went on, Ann Black gives a pretty good account to anyone who wants to know chapter and verse so it is silly for me to repeat it all here.
So I will give you the gossip and the low-down instead.
I spent quite a bit of time having to organise a prayer room for our Muslim delegates, it being Ramadan and there being a tight timetable of prayers. We had agreed to provide one but the Ts had not been crossed, nor the Is dotted, so it was not ready. The GMEX staff were incredibly helpful in finding somewhere and the delegates who had approached me for help were pleased with the facility. The only slight problem was that the room contained paintings of the Queen and Prince Phillip which had to come down off the wall because you cannot have images of people in a prayer room, but I thought they would have put anybody off their stroke in any case. I thought all that kind of thing, Windsor worship, went out with the ark but obviously not.
I spent quite a lot of time on International issues this conference, I was personally invited to meet the High Commissioner of Pakistan who was a fabulously dressed woman who spoke very well when she addressed the meeting. Someone said later that in Europe she is considered to be the best High Commissioner there is, from any country. I was extremely impressed. She talked about the relief efforts following the earthquake and also about the close relationship between our two countries, it was fascinating. Someone took a photo of us together, but I have not seen it yet.
Along with a few other NEC members I also met outside of the conference with a group of men from Kashmir, from different political backgrounds, who are trying to secure independence for their country. Labour has long since promised to help but they felt that it was all taking too long. I suggested that they consider setting up a Labour Friends of Kashmir group, which I would join, where we could push for this. I know that the Bradford MPs have been particularly supportive of this issue for a long time and there is a large APPG in Westminster too. There were dozens of photos taken on this occasion too but I dont have copies of them either!
I also went to the Labour Friends of Israel reception where my MP, Jane Kennedy is the chair. Tony Blair addressed the meeting and pledged to spend the remainder of his term in office striving towards a two state solution, for Palestine and Israel. It was rather moving and somewhat emotional really, I think it was the same day as the Leader's speech and we knew it would be the last time he would be there, at conference and at the reception. I think lots of people came into to hear him speak one last time who were not themselves interested particularly in Israel. Love him or hate him, there is always something stirring about endings.
I spent quite a lot of time with my Liverpool comrades, in particular one of our young agents, Daniel Hughes who I tried to introduce to lots of campaigners so that they could share ideas. I got Judy Richard's name wrong (from the SouthWest) when I introduced her, I dredged up Susan from somewhere, but I dont know if she noticed, apologies if you did and you are reading this! I was also thrilled to see Sheffield Councillors, Gill and Harry again and we spent some happy hours together in various events. I always love seeing Suzanne and we managed to get a few hours together here and there as I did with my old friend Gina and her team on the CFL stand.
Conference is as much about the Labour family meeting together en masse as it is about policy making, it is the place where you feel warm and inspired and where you just know you are in the right party.
I chaired two sessions which was wonderful.
The first session was Trade and Industry (it was probably called something else but that was the general idea), where I started off a bit nervous but soon settled in to my comfy leather swivel chair and got used to the idea that my face was being displayed behind me on a screen fifteen feet wide! There is something rather fun about sitting up there on the platform and being in charge, choosing speakers, taking votes. I dont think there is much power involved but you do quite fancy yourself while you are sitting there. I tried to call up to speak a balanced section of people, concentrating on making sure I had the gender balance right, that black contributors were chosen, that young people were chosen. Ironically it was the white middle aged men who missed out a bit, for a change.
The second session on the Thursday morning was Crime and Justice and I introduced John Reid, the Home Secretary to conference. I also took 9 votes, including a card vote and was cheered for announcing that a controversial vote on corporate liability was carried.
The best part about chairing though came afterwards when people stopped me in the bar to thank me for calling them to speak or commented on my dry manner or calmness in adversity.
I shall miss all that high profile stuff now that I am not on the NEC any more, but it was great fun while it lasted. (I know you are not supposed to admit to that sort of thing, but who cares.) I was delighted that my colleagues gave me the honour of chairing conference as their parting gift (they also gave me a nice certificate which Tony presented to me, there were photos taken of that too, but as with all the others, I dont have any!)
I closed my final session by thanking conference for their support, and saying that I was going back to Liverpool to help the fight to take the city back for Labour. There were big cheers for that as you can imagine.
And I meant it, look out LibDems, we are coming after you, our people deserve better.
Summaries
This is probably one for my mate Tim Swift
How do I sort my blog out so that only the first paragraph/number of words is shown and people have to click on the thread to read more?
Otherwise, I go off on a long tangent about a subject and it uses up loads of my front page.
How do I get round that?
How do I sort my blog out so that only the first paragraph/number of words is shown and people have to click on the thread to read more?
Otherwise, I go off on a long tangent about a subject and it uses up loads of my front page.
How do I get round that?
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
A belated postcard from Jersey
Colin and I had a wonderful holiday in Jersey at the end of August.
I was telling my friend Claire all about it last night and she asked me whether I had mentioned it in my blog, and of course I hadn't so I shall do so now.
What you need to know is that Jersey's tourist figures are in free-fall. A few years ago a million and a half visitors were recorded, last year only half a million and this year, as late as the end of August, the Parliament was refusing to say how few people had visited in 2006.
The newspapers were full of woe and wailing and questions about why people have stopped going.
If they only paid me a modest commission I could sort it all out for them in a flash.
Jersey is a wonderful place and if no-one goes it is because no-one knows anything about it
Have you been to Cornwall? Well Jersey is similar, only smaller and much less busy of course now that no-one goes any more.
It has beautiful coast lines, possibly the best beaches I have ever stepped foot on, lovely little fishing villages, lots of interesting tourist attractions, friendly people, the same currency as us(albeit with different pictures on the notes), the same shops (although with some extra designer stores thrown in), they drive on the same side of the road, everyone speaks English and you can be there in less than an hour from most English airports (which makes it a lot nearer than Cornwall too in travelling time.)
It is abroad without being disconcerting, the street names are in both English and French so there is a sense of being overseas, as of course you will be, but also England abroad for those occasions when that is exactly what you want.
It is fabulous for those who like walking or cycling, it is family friendly and most places are easily accessible to those with physical disabilities.
What else is in Jersey's favour?
There are great buses if you want a day pass or a week's pass - we spent our first full day on the Island having a full tour so that we could identify where we might want to spend longer in the week to follow. It gave us a great itinerary.
For example we spent time in a wonderful church where the widow of Jesse Boot (founder of Boots the Chemist) had paid Lalique (the world famous French glass designer) to recreate the altar, font and side chapels in glass as a memorial to her husband.
For a short while Colin sat on a bench outside the police station in St Aubyn where apparently Bergerac, that famous Jersey policeman, operated from. (He has since bought me a video of the series where I can become very excited while recognising the background....)
Our most moving and emotional day came at the caves of the German Invasion. Thousands of prisoners of war from across Europe spent years building tunnels under the island to house various facilities the Nazis thought they might want if the islands were to be recaptured by the British. The occupation had terrible effects on the local population, to begin with the Germans thought they had the best billet in Europe, by the end they were eating seagulls to stay alive. It is very important story we all need to hear.
For at least 25 years I have ensured that my birthday is celebrated by a boat trip and this year was no exception. I have long wanted to visit Sark because I knew that there were no cars allowed and no planes could fly overhead or land. What manner of island was this?
I can tell you that on the day we visited it was first and foremost a feudal state, I doubt if there are any others now left. There was a Lord of the Manor and about 40 tenants, everyone else was a serf or a villein, in the pay of and the living of the Lord. There are three main modes of transport on Sark, bicycle, horse and trap or tractor, and that is it.
I read today in the newspaper that the island inhabitats have, by a small margin, now voted to become a democracy.
I have spent time wondering about why people dont go to Jersey, I have also surveyed my friends and neighbours about why that is, and the conclusion I have come to is this; too many people do not know what Jersey is, why you should go there or why you would want to. According to my mother it became, in the 1960s, a destination for honeymooners. And then they stopped advertising. So the only people who go there now are people who are on their 40th wedding anniversaries.
When I told people where we were going on holiday, they did not know it, or know anyone who went there, "Why are you going there?" they asked.
So I have to say that poor advertising, particularly on British TV, would appear to be the main problem.
So if I can end where I left off, Jersey is a fabulous holiday destination. It is true that most visitors seemed to be pensioners and occasionally with their grandchildren but the people in the service industries were young. There is no reason why anyone should not consider Jersey for their holidays, I am certainly convinced and at 41 I am not yet past it!
I was telling my friend Claire all about it last night and she asked me whether I had mentioned it in my blog, and of course I hadn't so I shall do so now.
What you need to know is that Jersey's tourist figures are in free-fall. A few years ago a million and a half visitors were recorded, last year only half a million and this year, as late as the end of August, the Parliament was refusing to say how few people had visited in 2006.
The newspapers were full of woe and wailing and questions about why people have stopped going.
If they only paid me a modest commission I could sort it all out for them in a flash.
Jersey is a wonderful place and if no-one goes it is because no-one knows anything about it
Have you been to Cornwall? Well Jersey is similar, only smaller and much less busy of course now that no-one goes any more.
It has beautiful coast lines, possibly the best beaches I have ever stepped foot on, lovely little fishing villages, lots of interesting tourist attractions, friendly people, the same currency as us(albeit with different pictures on the notes), the same shops (although with some extra designer stores thrown in), they drive on the same side of the road, everyone speaks English and you can be there in less than an hour from most English airports (which makes it a lot nearer than Cornwall too in travelling time.)
It is abroad without being disconcerting, the street names are in both English and French so there is a sense of being overseas, as of course you will be, but also England abroad for those occasions when that is exactly what you want.
It is fabulous for those who like walking or cycling, it is family friendly and most places are easily accessible to those with physical disabilities.
What else is in Jersey's favour?
There are great buses if you want a day pass or a week's pass - we spent our first full day on the Island having a full tour so that we could identify where we might want to spend longer in the week to follow. It gave us a great itinerary.
For example we spent time in a wonderful church where the widow of Jesse Boot (founder of Boots the Chemist) had paid Lalique (the world famous French glass designer) to recreate the altar, font and side chapels in glass as a memorial to her husband.
For a short while Colin sat on a bench outside the police station in St Aubyn where apparently Bergerac, that famous Jersey policeman, operated from. (He has since bought me a video of the series where I can become very excited while recognising the background....)
Our most moving and emotional day came at the caves of the German Invasion. Thousands of prisoners of war from across Europe spent years building tunnels under the island to house various facilities the Nazis thought they might want if the islands were to be recaptured by the British. The occupation had terrible effects on the local population, to begin with the Germans thought they had the best billet in Europe, by the end they were eating seagulls to stay alive. It is very important story we all need to hear.
For at least 25 years I have ensured that my birthday is celebrated by a boat trip and this year was no exception. I have long wanted to visit Sark because I knew that there were no cars allowed and no planes could fly overhead or land. What manner of island was this?
I can tell you that on the day we visited it was first and foremost a feudal state, I doubt if there are any others now left. There was a Lord of the Manor and about 40 tenants, everyone else was a serf or a villein, in the pay of and the living of the Lord. There are three main modes of transport on Sark, bicycle, horse and trap or tractor, and that is it.
I read today in the newspaper that the island inhabitats have, by a small margin, now voted to become a democracy.
I have spent time wondering about why people dont go to Jersey, I have also surveyed my friends and neighbours about why that is, and the conclusion I have come to is this; too many people do not know what Jersey is, why you should go there or why you would want to. According to my mother it became, in the 1960s, a destination for honeymooners. And then they stopped advertising. So the only people who go there now are people who are on their 40th wedding anniversaries.
When I told people where we were going on holiday, they did not know it, or know anyone who went there, "Why are you going there?" they asked.
So I have to say that poor advertising, particularly on British TV, would appear to be the main problem.
So if I can end where I left off, Jersey is a fabulous holiday destination. It is true that most visitors seemed to be pensioners and occasionally with their grandchildren but the people in the service industries were young. There is no reason why anyone should not consider Jersey for their holidays, I am certainly convinced and at 41 I am not yet past it!
Monday, September 18, 2006
Certificate of Personnel Practice
I have just received my certificate in the post. I am now an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, so there!
I am of course quite chuffed.
When I went off to college, in September last year, I was nervous really, I could not remember how long it was since I last wrote an essay or submitted a project, probably nearly 20 years. But I needn't have worried, they were a great group of people in my class (at Liverpool Community College) and we supported each other through every step.
Although the course ended in June, five of us have stayed friends and are continuing to support each other through finding new jobs, writing CVs, moving house, beginning new relationships, the dramas of football and all sort of other things.
Even at the grand old age of 41 I can recommend studying, you make new friends and you enhance your cv and your promotion prospects and best of all you feel good about yourself.
But if I were you I would try to avoid standing as a candidate and running a full campaign for a key council election during the same period, I was practically on my knees at times!
A smug woman signing off.....
I am of course quite chuffed.
When I went off to college, in September last year, I was nervous really, I could not remember how long it was since I last wrote an essay or submitted a project, probably nearly 20 years. But I needn't have worried, they were a great group of people in my class (at Liverpool Community College) and we supported each other through every step.
Although the course ended in June, five of us have stayed friends and are continuing to support each other through finding new jobs, writing CVs, moving house, beginning new relationships, the dramas of football and all sort of other things.
Even at the grand old age of 41 I can recommend studying, you make new friends and you enhance your cv and your promotion prospects and best of all you feel good about yourself.
But if I were you I would try to avoid standing as a candidate and running a full campaign for a key council election during the same period, I was practically on my knees at times!
A smug woman signing off.....
Thursday, September 14, 2006
2007 - Liverpool's 800th birthday
As the only Labour Council member of the Heritage Scrutiny Panel, I have been examining the City's proposals for the celebration of its 800th birthday next year.
There are some great ideas coming forward but there are always room for more
So if you have thoughts about how we might celebrate and champion the city together then do please get in touch and I will feed those ideas through
There are some great ideas coming forward but there are always room for more
So if you have thoughts about how we might celebrate and champion the city together then do please get in touch and I will feed those ideas through
Anti-social behaviour in Fairfield
I am enjoying working with the police, neighbourhood wardens and local Community 7 (local housing association) Officers in reducing the incidence of anti-social behaviour in Liverpool 7.
We all work so well together, meeting regularly to go over individual cases and agree action we can each take as part of a greater whole.
I am really impressed by their dedication and their understanding of the pain and misery caused to local people who have to put up with selfish, thoughtless, disruptive behaviour. They all take it extremely seriously.
I only wish the same service was available to their neighbours in Liverpool 6 who have to jump through so many more hoops to achieve the same results.
Something else for me to work on...
We all work so well together, meeting regularly to go over individual cases and agree action we can each take as part of a greater whole.
I am really impressed by their dedication and their understanding of the pain and misery caused to local people who have to put up with selfish, thoughtless, disruptive behaviour. They all take it extremely seriously.
I only wish the same service was available to their neighbours in Liverpool 6 who have to jump through so many more hoops to achieve the same results.
Something else for me to work on...
Kensington and Fairfield Neighbourhood Committee, September 2006
I suppose part of me is glad really that few residents turned up on Monday night.
The hysterical, inaccurate rantings by the two LibDem councillors that I am forced to serve with were disturbing and the fewer people that heard them, the better.
For instance two NHS professionals from Liverpool Primary Care Trusts turned up to talk to us about a debate into health services provided in local clinics, dentists etc (NOT hospitals)
Councillor Marbrow gave us a long rant about hospitals which was totally irrelevant and embarassed all those of us there by slagging off the GP who addressed us just because he came from Garston and somehow that did not entitle him to talk to us about Liverpool services. Go figure
Councillor Doran gave us a raft of rants, the most worrying of all was that Councillors are not responsible for and can do nothing about
1. speeding cars
2. anti-social behaviour
3. tenants of private landlords
I did point out all the options available to the Council for addressing traffic calming and traffic management through speed bumps, lighting, road design etc
I talked about the terrific work of the anti-social behaviour units based within the council
and I spoke at some length about my campaign to introduce the selective licensing of private landlords into K&F through new legislation introduced in the Labour Government's Housing Act. Sadly both chose this time to barrack and speak loudly to each other, rather than listen, nothing new there then!
There were excruciating moments when the representative of 2020 tried to explain plans for the development of Edge Lane - you didnt have to care for the scheme to give the man some room to at least explain without being subjected to personal attacks.
When we started to talk about the vitally important subject of tackling prostitution in Sheil Road, the pair subjected the police and the people who work with prostitutes to tackle their drug problems and try to rehabilitate them, to dreadful loud and systematic abuse. The police and the support workers were visibly angered by the sloppy, rude and ill-informed contributions of the two LibDem councillors
How do they expect to work with the police, with officers (staff) of the council, with agencies designed to solve societies problems, if they cannot even manage a bit of common civility in their dealings? If I was a local police officer for instance, I would not rush to work with people who addressed me publicly with such contempt.
There is a golden rule within the code of conduct for Councillors that says you should never publicly criticise officers because they are not free to respond. It is an offence which could be reported to the powers that be, the Standards Board, nationally.
These two trample all over that code, Cllr Doran at one point told officers they "would be toast" if they did not do things his way, not exactly professional is it?
How can these people expect to represent 10000 people if they alienate all those they should be working with for a common good?
They should resign, but dont hold your breath
The hysterical, inaccurate rantings by the two LibDem councillors that I am forced to serve with were disturbing and the fewer people that heard them, the better.
For instance two NHS professionals from Liverpool Primary Care Trusts turned up to talk to us about a debate into health services provided in local clinics, dentists etc (NOT hospitals)
Councillor Marbrow gave us a long rant about hospitals which was totally irrelevant and embarassed all those of us there by slagging off the GP who addressed us just because he came from Garston and somehow that did not entitle him to talk to us about Liverpool services. Go figure
Councillor Doran gave us a raft of rants, the most worrying of all was that Councillors are not responsible for and can do nothing about
1. speeding cars
2. anti-social behaviour
3. tenants of private landlords
I did point out all the options available to the Council for addressing traffic calming and traffic management through speed bumps, lighting, road design etc
I talked about the terrific work of the anti-social behaviour units based within the council
and I spoke at some length about my campaign to introduce the selective licensing of private landlords into K&F through new legislation introduced in the Labour Government's Housing Act. Sadly both chose this time to barrack and speak loudly to each other, rather than listen, nothing new there then!
There were excruciating moments when the representative of 2020 tried to explain plans for the development of Edge Lane - you didnt have to care for the scheme to give the man some room to at least explain without being subjected to personal attacks.
When we started to talk about the vitally important subject of tackling prostitution in Sheil Road, the pair subjected the police and the people who work with prostitutes to tackle their drug problems and try to rehabilitate them, to dreadful loud and systematic abuse. The police and the support workers were visibly angered by the sloppy, rude and ill-informed contributions of the two LibDem councillors
How do they expect to work with the police, with officers (staff) of the council, with agencies designed to solve societies problems, if they cannot even manage a bit of common civility in their dealings? If I was a local police officer for instance, I would not rush to work with people who addressed me publicly with such contempt.
There is a golden rule within the code of conduct for Councillors that says you should never publicly criticise officers because they are not free to respond. It is an offence which could be reported to the powers that be, the Standards Board, nationally.
These two trample all over that code, Cllr Doran at one point told officers they "would be toast" if they did not do things his way, not exactly professional is it?
How can these people expect to represent 10000 people if they alienate all those they should be working with for a common good?
They should resign, but dont hold your breath
Clare Short
I always admired Clare Short and for years I treasured a photo of the two of us together in a rose garden behind York City Labour Party office.
I did not lose faith with her when she opposed the Iraq war, or when she resigned.
But when she began her very personal attacks on the elected leader of the Party I was extremely unsettled.
Today's announcement, if it is true, that she has asked people not to vote Labour in the next election (even given that she does not know who the next leader and Prime Minister will be) is a step far too far.
I have spent years sadly expelling members who have stood against the party in local elections or advocated voting for another party. It is not something you do with any ease or happiness, but it is something you know is the right thing to do, for the Party, if for no other reason than that is the constitution we as members have signed up to and which I am pledged to support.
How can I be faithful to those actions and to our Party constitution and not condemn her now? The Labour Party is an organisation that you volunteer to join with a set of rules you agree to abide by. No-one is bigger than the Party and if you really dont agree with it you should resign. Tear your card up, send it back in an envelope with a rude note if you like, but dont expect to trash the whole system and still be welcomed.
I did not lose faith with her when she opposed the Iraq war, or when she resigned.
But when she began her very personal attacks on the elected leader of the Party I was extremely unsettled.
Today's announcement, if it is true, that she has asked people not to vote Labour in the next election (even given that she does not know who the next leader and Prime Minister will be) is a step far too far.
I have spent years sadly expelling members who have stood against the party in local elections or advocated voting for another party. It is not something you do with any ease or happiness, but it is something you know is the right thing to do, for the Party, if for no other reason than that is the constitution we as members have signed up to and which I am pledged to support.
How can I be faithful to those actions and to our Party constitution and not condemn her now? The Labour Party is an organisation that you volunteer to join with a set of rules you agree to abide by. No-one is bigger than the Party and if you really dont agree with it you should resign. Tear your card up, send it back in an envelope with a rude note if you like, but dont expect to trash the whole system and still be welcomed.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Buying a house - not for the faint hearted
I hate them all
Estate agents of course - that goes almost without saying.
They are very happy to take their 1.5 or 2.0% of the selling price - that is at least £1900 approximately for a house worth say £125000
So you would think you would get a whole lot of customer service for your cash, right?
Wrong!
They dont record your calls or pass on your messages, they are rubbish!
Two months ago I was in the pub, early doors, watching the world cup on the big screen, when a young woman approached me and said hello. I didnt quite recognise her so I asked her if she worked in my dentists (my second home) or the library or the off-licence (my third and fourth homes).
She told me she was from the estate agents from whom I was trying to buy a house and went on to harangue me for daring to argue with her earlier over various purchasing related issues. It later all fell through, due in no part to her appalling customer service manners, the pub approach being only the last in a long line of crap service. Yes of course I complained to her bosses the next day.
I am fed up with surveys that cost a fortune £450 a time, which tell me nothing or are muddled up, talking about extensions that dont exist or gardens the property doesnt have.
How do these people stay in business?
When I give up public representation I am going to become an ethical estate agent - now that really WOULD be a refreshing change!
In my next life I am going to listen and act upon the interests of my buyers and my sellers and try to match them up, and you can be sure I wont be lying about known anti-social behaviour etc
Estate agents of course - that goes almost without saying.
They are very happy to take their 1.5 or 2.0% of the selling price - that is at least £1900 approximately for a house worth say £125000
So you would think you would get a whole lot of customer service for your cash, right?
Wrong!
They dont record your calls or pass on your messages, they are rubbish!
Two months ago I was in the pub, early doors, watching the world cup on the big screen, when a young woman approached me and said hello. I didnt quite recognise her so I asked her if she worked in my dentists (my second home) or the library or the off-licence (my third and fourth homes).
She told me she was from the estate agents from whom I was trying to buy a house and went on to harangue me for daring to argue with her earlier over various purchasing related issues. It later all fell through, due in no part to her appalling customer service manners, the pub approach being only the last in a long line of crap service. Yes of course I complained to her bosses the next day.
I am fed up with surveys that cost a fortune £450 a time, which tell me nothing or are muddled up, talking about extensions that dont exist or gardens the property doesnt have.
How do these people stay in business?
When I give up public representation I am going to become an ethical estate agent - now that really WOULD be a refreshing change!
In my next life I am going to listen and act upon the interests of my buyers and my sellers and try to match them up, and you can be sure I wont be lying about known anti-social behaviour etc
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Kensington Market appeal
Copy of press release sent 3rd August 2006
Owners of Kensington Market have appealed nationally against the Council's decision to refuse permission for the use of 61 steel containers on site.
Now local people have been given until 28th August to contact the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol and stress their opposition to the market's plans.
Hundreds of local people joined Labour's campaign against the market when the original plans for the containers were proposed and Councillor Louise Baldock hopes that they will join her again in telling the Inspectorate how strongly they feel.
Comments can be made online at www.planningportal.gov.uk/pcs or in writing (but you must send 3 copies) to The Planning Inspectorate, Registry/Scanning Team, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN, quoting reference number APPZ4310/A/06/2019122/NWF.
Liverpool City Council have now told the market to remove the containers, which were put on the site without permission, saying they cause a "unsightly and cluttered appearance" and strengthen "an image of decline and neglect within the local centre."
The market owners are appealing against this too.
Labour's Louise Baldock said "I am absolutely determined to see the market knocked down, it is a terrible eyesore. This may be yet another step we have to go through, but if local people make their views known, it will take us nearer to that day."
Owners of Kensington Market have appealed nationally against the Council's decision to refuse permission for the use of 61 steel containers on site.
Now local people have been given until 28th August to contact the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol and stress their opposition to the market's plans.
Hundreds of local people joined Labour's campaign against the market when the original plans for the containers were proposed and Councillor Louise Baldock hopes that they will join her again in telling the Inspectorate how strongly they feel.
Comments can be made online at www.planningportal.gov.uk/pcs or in writing (but you must send 3 copies) to The Planning Inspectorate, Registry/Scanning Team, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN, quoting reference number APPZ4310/A/06/2019122/NWF.
Liverpool City Council have now told the market to remove the containers, which were put on the site without permission, saying they cause a "unsightly and cluttered appearance" and strengthen "an image of decline and neglect within the local centre."
The market owners are appealing against this too.
Labour's Louise Baldock said "I am absolutely determined to see the market knocked down, it is a terrible eyesore. This may be yet another step we have to go through, but if local people make their views known, it will take us nearer to that day."
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Thanks for the messages of support
I am reminded of John Major on the night of the 1997 General Election.
He gathered his staff and his supporters round him at the foot of the stairs in number 10, and looking into the TV screen he said "Okay, well, we lost."
There were groans and moans and even cheers and laughter amongst the Tories as it sunk in.
I feel a bit like that myself after the NEC results.
Nobody likes it when they dont win a ballot, although I did get over 11000 votes and a 30% share, which isnt bad.
I stood for the NEC two years ago principally so that I could help with the campaigning and organisation and electioneering for the 2005, vital, third-term election. Ironically I only got on to the committee three weeks after it was all over. But I did make the best of the last 12 months in terms of going and talking to Labour Parties and Labour Groups all over the country about beating the LibDems, campaigning in communities, engaging more members in campaign activity and so on.
I dont imagine that will stop. Only last week I was in Rochdale talking to them about how, despite a national backlash against the Party, I beat a LibDem Councillor with 19 years service this May. We all enjoyed the session and I expect I will see them again.
It is good to know I can have my annual leave back next year - I will have taken 18 days annual leave just for NEC duties this year, not even counting time off at election time in the local ward. And I only get 25!! So I am looking forward to spending more time in my ward next year, and maybe even, dare I say it, going on holiday!
It is also very liberating to be entirely free for the first time in many years of any restrictions over what I say and when.
From 1995 - 2001 I could never speak my mind because I was staff, from 2001 - 2004 I worked as a Press Officer for various MPs who didnt need me to cut across the publicity I was supposed to be generating for them, and then I have had this period on the NEC where we do our best to keep our discussions in camera.
Ironically the only time I really said what I felt, about ex-Ministers creating new careers out of decrying the Party and the Government, it was used as a stick to beat me with.
But no matter.
For the avoidance of doubt, I am on the left of the Party, have always been on the left of the Party, was chosen to work with mainly left-wing local parties so that we would all be able to get on and concentrate on campaigning.
However, like many of the colleagues and comrades I have worked with, I dont wish to go into the national press decrying any of our policies, I will save my criticisms for branch meetings, GCs, policy forums etc, not in the pages of the newspaper or on Newsnight.
We owe it the voters of this country to stay in power for as long as possible to implement all the important changes they want to see in their lives and in their world. We wont achieve that with public spats, we will achieve it with hard-work in local communities, addressing the issues that they want sorting out and we will achieve it by winning elections.
That is the area I have put my heart into in the last 15 years of membership, and I dont see anything changing any time soon
Thanks very much for those who have sent warm comments of support, both before, during and after the NEC election.
He gathered his staff and his supporters round him at the foot of the stairs in number 10, and looking into the TV screen he said "Okay, well, we lost."
There were groans and moans and even cheers and laughter amongst the Tories as it sunk in.
I feel a bit like that myself after the NEC results.
Nobody likes it when they dont win a ballot, although I did get over 11000 votes and a 30% share, which isnt bad.
I stood for the NEC two years ago principally so that I could help with the campaigning and organisation and electioneering for the 2005, vital, third-term election. Ironically I only got on to the committee three weeks after it was all over. But I did make the best of the last 12 months in terms of going and talking to Labour Parties and Labour Groups all over the country about beating the LibDems, campaigning in communities, engaging more members in campaign activity and so on.
I dont imagine that will stop. Only last week I was in Rochdale talking to them about how, despite a national backlash against the Party, I beat a LibDem Councillor with 19 years service this May. We all enjoyed the session and I expect I will see them again.
It is good to know I can have my annual leave back next year - I will have taken 18 days annual leave just for NEC duties this year, not even counting time off at election time in the local ward. And I only get 25!! So I am looking forward to spending more time in my ward next year, and maybe even, dare I say it, going on holiday!
It is also very liberating to be entirely free for the first time in many years of any restrictions over what I say and when.
From 1995 - 2001 I could never speak my mind because I was staff, from 2001 - 2004 I worked as a Press Officer for various MPs who didnt need me to cut across the publicity I was supposed to be generating for them, and then I have had this period on the NEC where we do our best to keep our discussions in camera.
Ironically the only time I really said what I felt, about ex-Ministers creating new careers out of decrying the Party and the Government, it was used as a stick to beat me with.
But no matter.
For the avoidance of doubt, I am on the left of the Party, have always been on the left of the Party, was chosen to work with mainly left-wing local parties so that we would all be able to get on and concentrate on campaigning.
However, like many of the colleagues and comrades I have worked with, I dont wish to go into the national press decrying any of our policies, I will save my criticisms for branch meetings, GCs, policy forums etc, not in the pages of the newspaper or on Newsnight.
We owe it the voters of this country to stay in power for as long as possible to implement all the important changes they want to see in their lives and in their world. We wont achieve that with public spats, we will achieve it with hard-work in local communities, addressing the issues that they want sorting out and we will achieve it by winning elections.
That is the area I have put my heart into in the last 15 years of membership, and I dont see anything changing any time soon
Thanks very much for those who have sent warm comments of support, both before, during and after the NEC election.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Fighting for a free cashpoint machine
Labour Councillor Louise Baldock is calling on the Kensington community to make suggestions for the best location for a new charge-free cash dispensing machine in the area.
It has been announced today that the Royal Bank of Scotland is going to install 300 free-to-use cash machines in some of Britain's poorest locations after a report said many of those areas were becoming free ATM "deserts".
Louise said "I have been campaigning for a long time for a free-to-use cash machine in Kensington so this is great news. I am confident that if we find a good location, Royal Bank of Scotland will choose it as one of its 300. I want local people, businesses and community groups to come up with suggestions that I can propose to the bank."
Currently Kensington and Fairfield residents are typically having to pay £1.50 every time they need to withdraw money or face a trip to the city centre or Old Swan.
Although L6 and L7 are not on the list RBS have currently identified as likely sites for their machines, the scheme says it will consider applications from communities which are in the top 10% most deprived area and 1km away from the nearest free machine.
Louise holds an advice surgery every Friday evening where people can come and see her, July 28th, August 11th and 25th at 108 Prescot Road or August 4th and 18th at the Fairfield Community Centre on Sheil Road from 5.30pm - 7.00pm.
It has been announced today that the Royal Bank of Scotland is going to install 300 free-to-use cash machines in some of Britain's poorest locations after a report said many of those areas were becoming free ATM "deserts".
Louise said "I have been campaigning for a long time for a free-to-use cash machine in Kensington so this is great news. I am confident that if we find a good location, Royal Bank of Scotland will choose it as one of its 300. I want local people, businesses and community groups to come up with suggestions that I can propose to the bank."
Currently Kensington and Fairfield residents are typically having to pay £1.50 every time they need to withdraw money or face a trip to the city centre or Old Swan.
Although L6 and L7 are not on the list RBS have currently identified as likely sites for their machines, the scheme says it will consider applications from communities which are in the top 10% most deprived area and 1km away from the nearest free machine.
Louise holds an advice surgery every Friday evening where people can come and see her, July 28th, August 11th and 25th at 108 Prescot Road or August 4th and 18th at the Fairfield Community Centre on Sheil Road from 5.30pm - 7.00pm.
Monday, July 24, 2006
National Labour Women's Forum
The first meeting of the new National Labour Women's Forum took place on Saturday in Derby.
There must have been about a hundred women there, although I did not count them.
We were addressed by some top women politicians, Margaret Beckett our first female Foreign Secretary (and local Derby MP) updated us on the situation in the middle-East and talked too about global warming. There was a full and frank discussion on the Lebanon and all views were openly given.
I wont go into a lot of detail but Margaret did explain how Hezbolah (forgive my spelling, I don't think I have ever written it down before) were very aggressive in their unprompted interference in the Israel/Palestine troubles. She talked about a comparison with Northern Ireland and how there are always dissident groups who want to destabilise peace-talks and plans for peace. She did not defend the Israel government and explained what moves the UK was taking to help the situation, talking about the number of diplomatic missions that we were facilitating as a country, for all sides. Safely taking people in for talks on all sides and safely bringing them out again.
I cannot pretend to be an expert in foreign policy, I am all on just dealing with the local wars in my own ward, we have murderers, dealers, gangs, prostitutes and all sorts, enough to keep several peace-keepers in full-time employment, but I think most of us were reassured that as both a woman and an ethical politician she is neither blind to the pressure points nor blinkered in her views. It was one of those sessions that you wish could be shared with the entire population during a TV blackout, so that they would all have to listen.
My old boss Meg Munn MP, Deputy Minister for Women and Harriet Harman QC MP both gave useful contributions on the ongoing work to sort out things like equal pay and improved child-care and financial support for families. Several good points were made from the floor about neighbourhood childcare centres for instance, and threats over funding and the importance of recognising women's particular difficulties in those areas where they are in the minority at work, like train drivers for instance. The ASLEF representative certainly opened a few eyes!
Hazel Blears, the Chair of the Labour Party made some good general points about reaching out to communities and to women in particular in our need to become a bigger party with tentacles reaching out into every neighbourhood.
We were joined by women Councillors, MPs, MEPs, Ministers, NEC members, Union representatives, Consituency representatives, black and ethnic minorities, young women, you name it, we were all there, it was quite powerful, despite the smallish numbers.
I am sure I am forgetting both women and contributions, but I know we were all impressed with the work that our National Women's Officer, Sue, has been putting in. She has created a new women's website on the national Labour Party website, which is terrific, and she was joined by Alicia, Melanie and several women Organisers who took part in all the workshops.
The workshop I chaired was about women campaigning with and for women and we came up with both interesting and challenging organisation questions as well as solutions.
The thing that struck me the most I think during the workshops, was the general level of ignorance amongst the women about what is and what is not "allowed" within the rulebook for our organising. It is clear to me that men are still scaring women with the rule book, when in actual fact the rule book allows for women's networks and support groups outside of formal structures. One woman asked whether she had to invite all 200 women in her Constituency Labour Party to every event a women's network might hold, even if they weren't a bit interested. I told her that there was nothing in the party rule book to preclude any of us from inviting our friends to our house for coffee and cake if we wanted to, members or not, and I stand by that.
Another woman expressed surprise that she could, if she wanted to, put herself forward as a Labour Party candidate for Parliament, and that the only thing stopping her from being the next candidate was her ability to attract local support.
I do hope we can get this message out there, you can be a parliamentary candidate providing you have the necessary membership, which is either one year or two, I cant remember which. Other than that, there is nothing stopping you. You dont have to be on a list (although if you are the chosen one and not on a list, then you will have to be assessed by the NEC, but as a rule we dont chuck people out), what you need is local support, errr, that is it.
The same woman then said she did not feel confident as a public speaker so daren't be a candidate for Parliament (or the council).
I hear this all the time, we can arrange masses of training, but in actual fact most politicians dont do an awful lot of public speeches so it should not be a barrier for a bright interested woman, and neither is your age.
I am desperate for women to start thinking about why they should stand instead of why they couldn't possibly! Men don't have those doubts, they really don't.
Anyway, we had a great day, spoilt only by our having to leave in a storm.
I am happy to take forward any questions from those who weren't there
There must have been about a hundred women there, although I did not count them.
We were addressed by some top women politicians, Margaret Beckett our first female Foreign Secretary (and local Derby MP) updated us on the situation in the middle-East and talked too about global warming. There was a full and frank discussion on the Lebanon and all views were openly given.
I wont go into a lot of detail but Margaret did explain how Hezbolah (forgive my spelling, I don't think I have ever written it down before) were very aggressive in their unprompted interference in the Israel/Palestine troubles. She talked about a comparison with Northern Ireland and how there are always dissident groups who want to destabilise peace-talks and plans for peace. She did not defend the Israel government and explained what moves the UK was taking to help the situation, talking about the number of diplomatic missions that we were facilitating as a country, for all sides. Safely taking people in for talks on all sides and safely bringing them out again.
I cannot pretend to be an expert in foreign policy, I am all on just dealing with the local wars in my own ward, we have murderers, dealers, gangs, prostitutes and all sorts, enough to keep several peace-keepers in full-time employment, but I think most of us were reassured that as both a woman and an ethical politician she is neither blind to the pressure points nor blinkered in her views. It was one of those sessions that you wish could be shared with the entire population during a TV blackout, so that they would all have to listen.
My old boss Meg Munn MP, Deputy Minister for Women and Harriet Harman QC MP both gave useful contributions on the ongoing work to sort out things like equal pay and improved child-care and financial support for families. Several good points were made from the floor about neighbourhood childcare centres for instance, and threats over funding and the importance of recognising women's particular difficulties in those areas where they are in the minority at work, like train drivers for instance. The ASLEF representative certainly opened a few eyes!
Hazel Blears, the Chair of the Labour Party made some good general points about reaching out to communities and to women in particular in our need to become a bigger party with tentacles reaching out into every neighbourhood.
We were joined by women Councillors, MPs, MEPs, Ministers, NEC members, Union representatives, Consituency representatives, black and ethnic minorities, young women, you name it, we were all there, it was quite powerful, despite the smallish numbers.
I am sure I am forgetting both women and contributions, but I know we were all impressed with the work that our National Women's Officer, Sue, has been putting in. She has created a new women's website on the national Labour Party website, which is terrific, and she was joined by Alicia, Melanie and several women Organisers who took part in all the workshops.
The workshop I chaired was about women campaigning with and for women and we came up with both interesting and challenging organisation questions as well as solutions.
The thing that struck me the most I think during the workshops, was the general level of ignorance amongst the women about what is and what is not "allowed" within the rulebook for our organising. It is clear to me that men are still scaring women with the rule book, when in actual fact the rule book allows for women's networks and support groups outside of formal structures. One woman asked whether she had to invite all 200 women in her Constituency Labour Party to every event a women's network might hold, even if they weren't a bit interested. I told her that there was nothing in the party rule book to preclude any of us from inviting our friends to our house for coffee and cake if we wanted to, members or not, and I stand by that.
Another woman expressed surprise that she could, if she wanted to, put herself forward as a Labour Party candidate for Parliament, and that the only thing stopping her from being the next candidate was her ability to attract local support.
I do hope we can get this message out there, you can be a parliamentary candidate providing you have the necessary membership, which is either one year or two, I cant remember which. Other than that, there is nothing stopping you. You dont have to be on a list (although if you are the chosen one and not on a list, then you will have to be assessed by the NEC, but as a rule we dont chuck people out), what you need is local support, errr, that is it.
The same woman then said she did not feel confident as a public speaker so daren't be a candidate for Parliament (or the council).
I hear this all the time, we can arrange masses of training, but in actual fact most politicians dont do an awful lot of public speeches so it should not be a barrier for a bright interested woman, and neither is your age.
I am desperate for women to start thinking about why they should stand instead of why they couldn't possibly! Men don't have those doubts, they really don't.
Anyway, we had a great day, spoilt only by our having to leave in a storm.
I am happy to take forward any questions from those who weren't there
Friday, July 21, 2006
Selective licensing - not the sexiest phrase in the book but the impact is huge
I took the opportunity of my maiden speech at my first proper full council meeting to call for "selective licensing" of landlords in Kensington and Fairfield.
Did you know that the 2004 Housing Act allows for licensing of landlords in areas of low housing demand and/or high anti-social behaviour? No, neither did I.
In a nutshell, local councils have the power, should they choose to take it, to agree to licence private landlords in a given area and oblige them to think about the impact of the behaviour of their tenants in the local community.
Now if you, like me, represent a ward with high levels of ASB and little demand for housing, your ears will be pricking up about now.
Imagine it, those bad landlords who dont give a monkeys who they let their properties to, let alone what happens after the rent is paid, being made to manage their tenants. It is fantastic. I am only sorry I did not hear about it before!
Equally wonderful is the idea that said landlords should provide safety checks on their white goods, a working smoke alarm and a safe environment for their tenants.
I am going to work as hard as I can to bring this "selective licensing of landlords" to Kensington and Fairfield, local people are crying out for a move like this, how great it is that our Labour government is ahead of us in putting the law in place. Now we have to bring it here and make it happen!
Did you know that the 2004 Housing Act allows for licensing of landlords in areas of low housing demand and/or high anti-social behaviour? No, neither did I.
In a nutshell, local councils have the power, should they choose to take it, to agree to licence private landlords in a given area and oblige them to think about the impact of the behaviour of their tenants in the local community.
Now if you, like me, represent a ward with high levels of ASB and little demand for housing, your ears will be pricking up about now.
Imagine it, those bad landlords who dont give a monkeys who they let their properties to, let alone what happens after the rent is paid, being made to manage their tenants. It is fantastic. I am only sorry I did not hear about it before!
Equally wonderful is the idea that said landlords should provide safety checks on their white goods, a working smoke alarm and a safe environment for their tenants.
I am going to work as hard as I can to bring this "selective licensing of landlords" to Kensington and Fairfield, local people are crying out for a move like this, how great it is that our Labour government is ahead of us in putting the law in place. Now we have to bring it here and make it happen!
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