Parliamentary interventions in October and November
November 30, 2009
The report of parliamentary interventions for October and November includes details of EDM on the Whittington Hospital, written parliamentary questions (WPQs) and interventions in the debates on Nuclear Non Proliferation, Arms Export Control and Sri Lanka. The WPQs are on Iraqi asylum seekers, Ehud Barak’s visit to the UK, the Freedom Pass, the Channel project and the Prevent agenda, aid to Syria, Sri Lankan Tamils, tenants’ rights, housing in Islington, the Office of the Public Guardian, rail transport, postal workers and Iran’s Nuclear Programme.
Report for September-October
November 1, 2009
You can now download my latest activity report. It covers: Transition Highbury, a sustainability project; transport; housing; the war in Afghanistan; Western Sahara and what I’ve been doing in Parliament.
Report June-July
July 31, 2009
The activity report for June-July covers the Parliamentary Standards Bill, the recession, housing, transport (Barking to Gospel Oak line), Afghanistan, Iran, Trident replacement, health and hospitals, local schools, and my diary of events attended.
Report May-June
June 30, 2009
The activity report for May-June covers the Iraq Inquiry, housing, transport, MP’s expenses, London Metropolitan University, the School Of Oriental and African Studies cleaners’ Living Wage Campaign, Amnesty International’s ‘Still Human Still Here’ campaign and updates of many of the organisations Jeremy is involved in.
Our rights and Guantanamo
June 8, 2009
Under the direction of Nicholas Kent, the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn has been a home for many radical productions in London for many years; a tradition of presenting factual accounts of inquiries following British military adventures. This tradition is followed with an excellent production: Guantanamo; Honor bound to defend freedom by Gillian Slovo and Victoria Britain.
I saw this production last week and it has been well reviewed elsewhere and is playing to full houses. I hope it goes on to a wider audience who will, I hope, be equally disturbed by it, and be motivated to do something.
The concept of political theatre has never been dead, but is booming in a more skeptical and better informed age. Perhaps history will see the Iraq war as the turning point of opposition to the arrogance of western power. The assumption that the US led western alliance has a “right” to go anywhere in the world is being challenged as never before, even during the Vietnam War.
Guantanamo shows the effects on the liberties of all of us of allowing Bush to declare a world war against a concept (i.e. in this case “terror”) and we are expected to roll up all the legal rights we have gained over hundreds of years, (habeas corpus, jury trial, defence, information to defendants).
The illegal nature of the prison and judicial process in Guantanamo starts from an illegal occupation. The US leased the base at Guantanamo from Cuba long before the 1959 revolution. In 1903 Cuba agreed to lease 45 square miles for a coaling station and continues to occupy it. Last weekend’s annual meeting of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign passed a resolution opposing the continued occupation of this part of sovereign Cuba by the USA.
However, the power of the production comes from a static set of metal cages, almost comatose prisoners in orange and a series of people recounting verbatim evidence offered, or experiences endures. This is not theatre in the escapist sense, but an indictment of the loss of liberties of many wholly innocent young men.
The Geneva Conventions are designed to enable anyone caught in a conflict to enjoy some basic rights. The four conventions cover wounded and sick soldiers, sailors, prisoners of war and civilians. Every person in enemy hands “must have some status in international law”. They do not allow for anyone to be outside the scope of the convention. The United States signed and ratified all these conventions.
In November 2003 Lord Steyn, an appeal court judge, delivered a lecture on the legal black hole of Guantanamo. He outlined the way in which, at a time of enormous problems, Britain detained 27,000 people during World War ll and how, post war, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was designed to protect liberties in the future.
The fundamental point Steyn makes is that the detentions in Guantanamo of prisoners has been done by a series of Presidential Orders. The prisoners have no right of habeas corpus, no right to an informed defence, no access to juries. The commander in Chief of the US forces, President Bush, is thus jailer, defender, prosecution, judge and executioner. Bush has already said he thinks they are all “killers”. Conveniently, US courts have ruled that they have no jurisdiction over Guantanamo as the detainees are aliens and captured and held outside the United States. This whole strange concept is open to challenge, but it seems that the Governments of the detainees are so in thrall to the power of the USA that little serious pressure is being placed.
Five British detainees have been released after a great deal of pressure on the UK Government.
The Tipton Three having endured two years of abuse and innuendo against them, then on arriving back in the UK they were promptly released even under the draconian Anti terrorist legislation of this country. So much for American respect for any kind of international law.
However, six more British nationals are being held in custody, and suffering all the privations and humiliations that the US military can throw at them. Two of these, Bishar al-Rawi and Jamil El-Banna, have had no representation from the UK Government and were arrested in Gambia. Their account of their arrest in the Gambia and the way they were treated is almost tragicomedy on stage, but what an indictment of the irrational and illegal activities of the USA.
Moazzam Begg and Feroz Abassi are to be subject to a military commission, although the death penalty will not be invoked after special pleading from the British Government. It does not say much for the “special relationship”, that the best our Ministers can achieve is no execution but no rights either.
The tragedy of Guantanamo is at one level the personal ordeals of those held under searing lights and isolation, subject to constant interrogation and lack of justice. Confessions would be easy to obtain under those circumstances, and would be inadmissible in any court in Europe.
However, the wider tragedy is the way in which all our legal rights are under threat. From the passage of the Prevention of Terrorism Act in 1974 through to the latest Anti Terror Legislation, there is a continuum of executive power and limiting rights of defence.
Whilst many round the world quite rightly protest at Guantanamo, there is a place in Britain where prisoners are held under executive order.
Belmarsh is much smaller, and the numbers held are much fewer but similar principles apply. Foreign nationals can be held indefinitely without access to open courts and full defence over the signature of the Home Secretary. It seems a perversion of justice to assume that because someone is not a UK citizen they do not need the same rights as those who carry that passport. Or is it a preparation for an extension to include UK citizens at a later date?
Last weekend the media carried enormous coverage of the 60th anniversary of D Day, and accounts of the extraordinary courage of those who waded ashore in Normandy to open the second front against the Nazis. Bush proclaimed that the Second World War was about liberty, and tried to invoke the same spirit over the occupation of Iraq and his war on “terror”. His real war is the Project for a New American Century, which is nothing to do with liberty and justice; it is everything to do with corporate power and greed for other peoples resources.
The epitaph to Bush is more likely to be the apposite comment of Sidney Blumenthal, a former adviser to President Clinton. He observed that Bush had created “what is in effect a gulag. It stretches from prisons in Afghanistan to Iraq, from Guantanamo to secret CIA prisons around the world.”
Report April-May
June 8, 2009
My report on - among other things, the second homes allowance scandal, London Metropolitan University, the local CAB, Islington Pensioners Forum, Islington Disability Network, Highbury Community Association AGM, Friends of the Earth photo call for MPs (including riding a bucking bronco!), the Junction Road Inquiry, the Gospel Oak to Barking line, Circle Anglia’s Junction Road development, Islington People’s Rights, and Transition Highbury.
Parliamentary interventions mid-April to mid-May 09
June 8, 2009
Questions on the refugees from the Western Sahara in refugee camps in Algeria; the funding and student demographics of London Metropolitan University; export licences, whether for the export to the US of components for F-16 aircraft and Apache helicopters for possible onward export to Israel; rail transport; housing benefit; widening access to further and higher education; and the UK Border Agency.
October/November activities
November 30, 2008
The report detailing all my activities in Parliament and for my Islington north constituents is now available.
Parliamentary activities 2004-08
February 28, 2008
Comments Jeremy Corbyn made in the House of Commons between December 2004 and February 2008. (Reports after February 2008 will be blogged individually.) Please click on the links to download the full reports. If you not have Adobe Acrobat to read the PDF files, please download it from the Adobe site.
January-February 2008
British Overseas Territories (Chagos, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory)
Gaza (humanitarian crisis, Palestine)
Global security & Middle East
Housing standards (democracy, housing associations)
December 2007-January 2008
Asylum seekers (lack of legal representation)
Bangladesh (cyclone, political situation)
Housing & regeneration (housing associations, council tenancies)
Pakistan & Kenya (inequality)
Sri Lanka (aid, Tamil community)
July 2007
Carter Review (Legal Aid)
Draft Legislative Programme
Occupied Palestinian Territories
June 2007
BAE Systems (”revolving doors”)
Communities and Local Government (council housing)
Darfur (legal immunity of heads of state, return of refugees)
Defence Export Services questions (public appointments)
Foreign and Commonwealth Office questions (nuclear non-proliferation treaty, Iran)
G8 Summit
Gaza (majority Palestinian representation)
Iraq Inquiry (legality of war, “humanitarian intervention”, civil liberties)
Mental health (inequality of provision)
Migrant workers (contract compliance)
Sustainable communities
February-March 2007
Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade
Democratic Republic of the Congo (conflict, democratic process, development, civil rights, role of women)
Iran (nuclear non-proliferation treaty, Israel, India)
Questions to the Prime Minister (death toll in Iraq, depleted uranium)
Trident (nuclear non-proliferation treaty, international humanitarian law)
January 2007
Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland, homosexuality, equality)
Legal Aid (immigration, asylum, law centres, vulnerable groups)
Queen’s Speech debate (Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Israel, nuclear non-proliferation treaty)
Somalia (peace process)
Trident (nuclear non-proliferation treaty)
June 2006
Middle East (Israel, nuclear non-proliferation treaty, Gaza, United Nations Human Rights Council, civil society, extraordinary rendition, Council of Europe, Guantánamo, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory)
March 2005
BAE Systems
Deportation of prisoners in UK jails
Asylum seeker numbers
Trident (nuclear non-proliferation treaty, warheads)
Iraq (costs)
UN Human Rights Commission
Commission for Africa (development, International Monetary Fund, trade, unemployment)
Sinn Fein (support allowances)
Nepal (Royal Nepal Army, Maoists, conflict resolution)
Withdrawal of funding for the Woodcraft Folk
Bangladesh (security, British nationals, civil society, aid)
Prevention of terrorism
February 2005
Asylum and immigration strategy
Belmarsh (human rights, detention without trial)
Children (child protection, families in need, voluntary sector)
Chile (Pinochet, military relations)
Council housing (overcrowding)
Free speech in Trafalgar Square
HMP Holloway (prisoner numbers)
Iran (policy of engagement)
Iraq (elections)
Islington (children’s centres, pre-school children)
Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference
Transport (Tube Line, London Underground, TfL, profits)
United Nations (UN Human Rights Commission, Liberation, EU, NGOs
Western Sahara (UN referendum)
December 2004-January 2005
Angola (International Monetary Fund, monitoring, aid programmes, debt write-off)
Anti-terrorist legislation
Bahrain (human rights)
Belmarsh (detention without trial)
British Indian Ocean Territories (benefits, Chagos)
Caribbean (trade, Cuba, Grenada)
Columbia (trade unions, human rights, opposition, universities)
Film industry (black film-makers)
HMP Holloway (women prisoners, suicide)
Identity Card Bill
Islington (health expenditure, Whitington Hospital, PFI, education expenditure, pre-school, primary school, secondary school, social housing, home ownership)
Northern Ireland (restraint of children, physical punishment, sexual offences)
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference
Palestine (elections)
Railways Bill
July report
July 1, 2003
The July report always covers a very busy month and this July was no exception. Unfortunately, Alan Clinton did not succeed in winning the Hillrise bye-election. I congratulate him for his efforts, and indeed all those who worked hard.
The main themes of the last month have been: the American/British occupation of Iraq and the growing opposition to it, particularly within Iraq; and the government’s obfuscation of the weapons of mass destruction. I will continue to raise these matters in parliament, and I want to see a 21st century of peace and justice, not one of George Bush and the project for the New American Century.
Peace Activities/International
Iraq
01/07: The Stop the war steering committee met at Friends House (Euston Rd) and was well attended. It was agreed to organise another ‘people’s assembly’, starting at 10.30 on 30 August at Friends House.
The next national demonstration is on Saturday 27 September, and will call for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq, and will comprise a march followed by a rally in Hyde Park.
At the HOC (23/06), an event: “Refugees and Kurds after the War” was well attended and included among their speakers: Karm Yildiz, Nick Hildyard, Fazil Kavani, Sarah Parker, George Binet.
Press activities
20/06: London Tonight (Parl’ Sq) - on the right to demonstrate in Parliament Square
20/06: Japanese Broadcasting – a long interview on the run up to war in Iraq, and the mood of British politicians concerning this.
25/06: ITN - Iraq
25/06: French Television - Iraq and the role of Alistair Campbell.
24/06: BBC World Service: The Chilean Ship - The Esmerelda and its proposed visit. This ship was the scene of torture of British priest Father Woodward, and many others in 1973, and I called for the visit to be cancelled because of the insensitivity to the family and other victims. I was delighted to learn that it has been cancelled.
24/06: Sky TV: Iraq and the role of Alistair Campbell.
25/06: Al Jazeera’s main evening news - Iraq and British political attitudes towards it and once again, Alistair Campbell’s declaration of war on the BBC.
07/07: ITN interview
20/06: I attended the Stop the War Coalition Conference at Hammersmith Town Hall and addressed a plenary session on the Project for the New American Century. About 600 delegates attended (from all over the country).
07/07: Stop the War Press Conference at the HOC (House of Commons), prompted by the continued frustration of so many of us regarding the Weapons of Mass Destruction issue, and yet again, Alistair Campbell.
I continue to receive requests, and oblige them, regarding speaking at anti-war meetings and demonstrations. So many people remain so disillusioned with our government’s route here.
What you can do: Donate or affiliate to Stop the War. Join Amnesty International or another relevant organisation.
Go to:
* the ‘people’s assembly’: 10.30am, 30 August, Friends House
* national demonstration: Saturday 27 September - a march followed by a rally in Hyde Park
Colombia
23/06: I attended a Colombia briefing at the HOC organised by the ABC group. I continue working with the two most active Colombian groups: Justice for Colombia and Colombia Solidarity, and have tabled many questions including some relating to the British troops involved there (see attachments toward the end of this report). I met a miner’s leader who is visiting the UK for a second time, and I also took part in a demonstration in their support whilst President Uribe was attending a conference in London.
30/06: I attended a book hosted by Dr Ian Gibson MP: ‘Inside Colombia: Drugs, Democracy and War’ by Grace Livingstone - about the current situation in Colombia, and prospects for peace.
The following excerpt is taken from the book but I thought it worth including here:
“The conflict in Colombia is at least 40 years old - the longest war in the hemisphere - yet only recently has it become the focus of international attention. Colombia has become the third largest recipient of military aid from the US, but while this money is largely used to fund the war, there seems little chance for peace. International concern and monitoring is needed to support the weakened state in Colombia, but in ways which improve chances for peace rather than escalating violence.”
“Grace Livingstone’s book details the human rights and internal refugee crisis in the country, describing how drugs fuel the economy, the politics of conflict, and provides an historical overview of the last 40 years. She shows how the United States’ discourse on Colombia, with its focus on a ‘war on drugs’ and ‘war on terrorism’, reveals more about US aims than about the problems faced by Colombia.”
Democratic Republic of Congo
As I reported last month I have had a petition locally from the congregation of St Mellitus church on the need for an appropriate international peace-keeping and monitoring force, to encourage a peace process in the DRC. I invited the local Congolese community from St Mellitus, and the Zaire Refugee Action Group to a public meeting at St Mellitis, and special thanks to Father David Ardagh-Walter who was particularly helpful in organizing the event.
It was an interesting meeting with many people telling me horrific stories of what happens, and continues to happen there, including the interference of neighboring nations and international mining companies. The problem of child soldiers is a big one. We agreed on a number of matters I would take up with the Foreign Office concerning British policy toward DRC, and that we would meet again in September.
Chagos Islands
A group of Chagossians are currently camped at Gatwick Airport in an effort to pressurise the authorities into allowing them the benefits they so rightly deserve for having been thrown of their homeland in the first place.
The matter of the Habitual Residence Test is the current obstacle in their predicament, and the solicitor is currently looking into this unfair discrimination with a view to judicially a judicial review. Meanwhile, the court decision in their case is still awaited. The local Chagossian community are helping out for the moment.
Palestine
A lobby of Parliament was organised by Palestine Solidarity (PSC), Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), and JustPeaceUK and gave some of us the opportunity to be kept updated and involved in this ongoing and neglected conflict. I tabled an EDM concerning the shooting of Tom Hurndall (enclosed) and I attended the demonstration organised by PSC outside Downing St, to coincide with Arial Sharon’s visit.
What you can do:
Join Palestine Solidarity Campaign
www.palestinecampaign.org
T: 020 7700 6192
F: 020 7609 7779
info@palestinecampaign.org
Jews for Justice
PO Box 37402, N3 2XG
jfjusticefp@yahoo.co.uk
CAABU: 020 7832 1310
Indonesia
02/07: The All Party Parliamentary Group on Indonesia organised a very well informed speaker from LSE, Kirsten Schutze alongside a representative from the Foreign Office, the latter insisting that British military equipment is not involved in any offensive attacks!
I have continued to ask questions on the British government’s contribution to the arms which the Indonesians are using to quash the Acehnese. I have amended Anne Clwyd’s EDM on this subject (see enclosed).
I had a useful meeting with Mike O’Brien (15/07) to discuss the issue of the conditions under which British arms were sold to Indonesia, and the monitoring of their use, as well as the possibilities or otherwise of an international peace keeping force in the area.
What you can do, contact:
Paul Barber at TAPOL the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
25 Plovers Way
Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
T/F: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Somalia
15/06 You will know that I have been working closely with the Somali community and I had a very useful discussion with the Somali Welfare group in Durham Rd, organising another of the larger meetings at the House of Commons which was attended by 200 people, and a committee has now been elected. They will organise a conference on the role of the Somali community in Britain which will be held later this year. An interesting report on the social situation in Islington is available and many thanks to Ruth Clarke who has worked very hard on this and should be congratulated.
Immigration and Asylum
To coincide with Refugee Week, a number of events were organised, including Asylum Voices (19/06) in the Atlee Suite, at the HOC which was attended by representatives of different asylum-seeking communities who spoke movingly about their experiences in the UK. On the same day there was a very poignant vigil outside the Home Office, at which a letter was handed to the Home Secretary.
Many of these events linked up with events throughout the EU, and take place against a background of continuing hostility towards asylum seekers in the media and elsewhere, with the truth often being distorted. International principles of protection and the right to asylum in accordance with the 1951 Geneva Convention seem to be obscured by the current popular debate, and so we must keep working toward this end and in the meantime ensure that the causes of people fleeing their countries are addressed. Existing proposals will focus on keeping asylum seekers out, and tragically, the world’s poorest countries are those most affected.
Most significantly, transit camps just outside the EU borders raise serious concerns about human rights abuses and adequate protection.
These events were organised by groups such as Speak Out Against Racism - the Defend Asylum Seekers Campaign, Asylum Rights Campaign, and Student Action for Refugees, and supported by UNISON, NUS (National Union of Students), the Afghan Refugees Support Committee, International Federation of Iraqi Refugees, International Federation of Iranian Refugees and many others.
I have tabled parliamentary question on the poverty among asylum seeking communities and I am continuing to press the government on this.
By way of background, the 1986 Social Security Bill included a clause which meant asylum seekers would only be paid 90% of income support, and since then the policy has continued in this vein; either by ensuring that the allocation of money, be it through the voucher system or through direct payments, equals just 70% of the value of income support overall. The European decency threshold below which people are deemed to be living in poverty is the equivalent of income support, and this means that we are deliberately forcing asylum seekers into poverty, which has an unacceptable impact on their lives, and their chances of recovery from their past and often traumatic experiences. Then there are those who are denied all benefits because of the very strict rule insisting that they apply for asylum immediately on arrival, and their inability to have adhered to it. Thank goodness for the excellent work done by local churches and charities who see to it that these people do not starve or end up on the street. It is a disgrace in any civilised society.
For further information contact any of the organisations mentioned here, and/or Speak Out Against Racism - Defend Asylum Seekers campaign c/o NAAR, 28 Commercial St, London E1 6LS. Tel/Fax: 020 7247 9907 www.naar.org.uk.
Education/Schools
24/06: The Hungerford-Bridge-Holloway School Inclusion Project had a very impressive launch at Holloway School. This is the creation of a new special school which will be built alongside Holloway School and will incorporate the special needs schools including Harborough School. The chair of the governors is former Labour Councillor Chris King. The London Schools Commissioner, Professor Tim Brighouse was there, and gave an excellent talk on the values of education, to a large gathering of teachers and parents from Holloway and from the proposed Bridge school. I am very pleased that this project has come about, having several years ago persuaded the Conservative government to put more money into the school (which looks after children suffering from autistic related conditions from all over London).
Hargrave Park School (10/07) marked its 125th anniversary and I had the pleasure of being there to meet some of their near-original pupils, from as far back as the 1930s and 40s. There was a school fair and the current pupils interviewed some of the former pupils, some of who had brought fascinating photos of themselves and the school at the time. Many of the former pupils seem to think I was a former pupil as well!
Arts Inform (Francis Morrell) invited me to attend the exhibition at the Royal Institute of British Architects (26/06). This consisted of local school contributions to a design project for schools, on possibilities for the new Arsenal stadium site. It was an imaginative contribution put forward by three schools including St Aloysius and the Sixth form centre.
The building itself is quite a venue though I particularly enjoyed the perceptions of architecture from local schools, including six other schools from Derbyshire and Birmingham – it was a very impressive event for the students to go to.
I met with Dawn Ferdinand, the excellent head teacher at St Marks School Primary School (25/06), Sussex Way, accompanied by Cllr Catherine West. We discussed the difficulties they have had with crime in the vicinity. We have raised the matter with the police who have subsequently met with Ms Ferdinand and are clearly taking the matter seriously.
Islington Arts and Media Year 11 (26/06) marked their Record of Achievement Awards and as usual I was invited to join in this event. I was very pleased to present the year 11 awards. The school is developing very well and is over subscribed for September’s intake. This was the last generation of George Orwell pupils to go through the school and it was a spirited evening. I congratulated the school on the wonderful achievements over the past year.
03/07: I joined in the Education Achievement Day for Islington children at London Metropolitan University, 166 Holloway Rd (organised by CEA). The event was attended by a number of councillors including Cllr Mary Creagh, and the Mayor. It was an excellent initiative and I have written to thank Thanos Morphitis for his hard work here.
27/06: Arachne launched their contribution to UK online, a government sponsored project to enhance computer knowledge and Cllr Catherine West and I were both there. It was unveiled by the Greek Orthodox Bishop and I was invited to give a contribution to the meeting, so I reminisced on the founding of Arachne in 1984, making it clear that it does a wonderful job in supporting the Greek Cypriot community. It survived the cuts by the Lib’ Dem’ Council due to effective fund raising and central government support and I commend it for this.
08/07: Duncombe School Leavers Assembly: I presented leaving certificates and dictionaries and watched a great performance of “gel” which was a fantastic musical event in which all sixty of the leaving year took part.
Acland Burghley School had their Arts Exhibition (11/07) and I was pleased to attend.
Kokayi School Students Awards was a success (12/07). This is a black supplementary school based in Woodville Rd at which I received an extremely warm welcome.
St Aloysius College (Year 10 Prize Giving, 14/07). Every year I am invited to present year 10 awards and prizes to the students at the college and I did so again this year. I gave a strong message of support to the school which has had an unfortunate time in failing its Ofsted, only to later appeal and have the failure rescinded! Many staff left at the end of that academic year and the school has been recovering, with some unfortunate and very negative press coverage. I gave particular support to the teachers, and the head teacher Michael Pittendreigh, for the work and effort they put into bringing the best out in the boys. The end of year assembly was very impressive, as were the visits and other activities they have had during the year.
Trade
27/06: Mildred Neville organised a gathering at Highbury Park Church/St Joan of Arc and I spoke to a group of constituents on the subject. I have elaborated on this subject in the enclosed article for the Hi & Is.
Liberation
(The Anti-Imperialist/Anti Racist Organisation) held its AGM (12/07) and next year will be its 50th anniversary. Its great founder was Fenner Brockway, revered as a great internationalist for the labour party, who campaigned against colonialism in all its forms. I was re-elected chair and this has been the inspiration behind the Somali meetings.
H3>Housing
The housing situation in Islington has just been made dramatically worse by the fact that Packington Square Estate is to be demolished because it does not meet the safety standards for gas, in slab constructed buildings. Chris Smith and I were briefed about this and the reality is that over 500 families will have to be rehoused elsewhere in the borough throughout reconstruction! This will put huge strain on the already overstretched housing resources. This is a disaster for local housing, compounding the lack of investment in new building of houses for affordable rent, either by the council or ourselves.
A meeting organised by Islington Unison with FITA on ALMOs (07/03) at Highbury Grove School focussed on estate transfers and the proposed establishment of an ALMO in Islington. At our invitation, the Minister for London, Keith Hill visited the Tollington Estate (10/07) to be briefed about the proposed transfer and the enormous financial problem of a funding gap of around £30million, as well as the small amount of money Islington is putting into the refurbishment, and the money that North British will put in from the construction of new houses for sale on this already densely populated and over crowded estate.
(By way of information for those who may have missed this: ALMOs are ‘Arms Length Management Organisations’ - they require the council to transfer the housing department to a non-profit company which operates semi-independently from the council. The council retains ownership of the housing stock and tenants retain security of tenure, and the right to manage, right to repair and right to buy.)
I feel very unhappy at the proposals that have been put forward and the way in which every housing development opportunity seems to give very little benefit for houses in need and provide affordable housing for those so badly in need.
The Minister Keith Hill (10/07) visited Tollington Estate and left with a much better understanding of local housing needs.
14/07: I met with Chris Smith, Helen Bailey, and Steve Hitchens at the latter’s office at the Town Hall. This meeting was about council finance and housing, and I raised my oft repeated protests about the sale of assets such as the Irish centre and the Ormond Rd workshops, both of which received small grants from the council. These buildings are now facing potential dereliction and/or sale. It is a crying shame and a waste of public resources that these buildings which use to do so much good, are now locked and barred to any community use.
What you can do: Defend Council Housing speakers are sometimes available to speak at ward meetings, following which the branch might consider affiliating to the group. They are not a wealthy organisation and if you so choose, a minimum affiliation fee will keep you well-informed: www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk.
30/06: I met the Revd Canon Stephen Oliver (new Bishop of Stepney) and was also delighted to meet him again when he visited the Muslim Welfare centre at the same time as I was there doing an advice surgery (11/07). I look forward to working with him.
Health
08/07: The Health and Social Care Bill caused a stir in the House of Commons understandably, and 60 Labour MPs voted against foundation hospitals – one crucial bit of the bill. I was one of them.
The Whips had been so worried about this vote that one of them was on every door of the chamber when the division was called, such was their determination to get people to vote with them. It had little effect since only a government majority of 35 members in total made the difference and allowed the bill to go through. There were also many abstentions.
Senior Citizens
The Greater London Forum for the Elderly (23/06) held their quarterly meeting of the parliamentary group at the HOC and agreed on a number of parliamentary questions which would be raised on the take up of minimum income guarantee (see attachments).
Other events / issues: Parliamentary
I attended the Bangladesh Hindu Baudha Christian Unity Council at the HOC (19/06) where I joined in a discussion on human rights issues in Bangladesh, and the Chittagong hill tracts.
The Anti Social Behavior Bill has now passed all its stages in the House of Commons, and whilst much of it is very welcome, there is one section in particular that causes me great concern. That is the powers given to the police to impose a curfew on anyone under 15 years old who is found outside their home after 9pm at night!
The debate on whether this section of the bill should be removed or not revealed some rather unfortunate attitudes to young people, part of which was illustrative of a complete failure to comprehend youth culture. It demonstrated the way in which the voices of young people are not heard in the political process. All MPs attend tenants and residents group meetings frequently, and often hear complaints about young people. Clearly, very few of them understand them.
I voted to delete this particular clause from the bill but unfortunately I did not get my way. It may be deleted in the House of Lords. I very much hope so.
The Save Our Party Conference (organised by Simeon Andrews for the Socialist Campaign Group: 06/07) was a huge success, warranting a full page of criticism from David Aaronovitch (always a good sign) in the Guardian. I saw at least 18 members from Islington North which is terrific representation, and I spoke at the final session, as well as chairing the International workshop. My Morning Star column (see attachments) says a bit more about this.
Hunting: 09/07: yet again I voted against hunting and will continue to do so as long as the possibility arises. I don’t believe in any variations on the theme and will always vote for a total and outright ban on bloodsports of any kind.
Dalit Solidarity had its AGM (14/07) in Central Hall, Westminster, W1, and although I was not free to be there, I was part of a delegation who met with Mike O’Brien the Minister at the Department of Trade and Industry, as was Geeta Bandi-Phillips, Rev’ David Haslam, and Rodney Bickerstaff. We discussed the attitudes towards the discrimination of Dalit people, and the role that British sponsored Aid projects play in India.
I have been asked to become a trustee of the Dalit Solidarity Network to which I’ve agreed, and hopefully we can continue to do good work regarding the need for better interdepartmental working by the British government on this very serious human rights issue.
What you can do: Dalit Solidarity Network UK is contactable at: dalistsnuk@yahoo.co.uk or Tel 7501 8323.
I continue to attend ASLEF and RMT parliamentary meetings and the big issue for RMT is the Save Mail on Rail campaign which needs much support.
CND: I was a guest speaker at London regional CND (02/07) and I also chaired a Labour CND (14/07) meeting which focussed on an excellent discussion on North Korea.
I was on the Committee on Food Supplements (03/07) which is an extremely unpopular directive outlawing many of the products one is now able to buy in Health Stores without any sort of prescription. I have been heavily lobbied on this issue and anyone with a particular interest or personal concern, will be pleased to know that I voted against it.
I was also on the Standing Committee on the Retirement Income Reform Bill committee and I asked a great many questions about the bill.
Myself, Tony Benn and Nicolette Petersen met with Mr Fausto Bertolini, the General Secretary of Refundazione Communista and an Italian MP and MEP (05/07). This was a very productive meeting in which we exchanged similar views about the way in which international matters of importance were NOT progressing, and indeed how we might maintain closer links toward improving this.
07/07: World University Service continue to get my attention and credit for the good works they do in the field of education/refugees, and I met up with them as part of their human rights course. They have students from all over the world who provide a fascinating insight for anyone involved with them.
Last Tuesday (15/07) I hosted a meeting for The Roger Sylvester campaign at the HOC, with David Lammy MP to protest about the appalling delay in setting the date for the inquest into poor Roger’s death, and the need for continuing support for the family in their quest for justice, and how this young man died so tragically on a cold and bitter night in 1999. The inquest on September 8th is to be at St Pancras Coroner’s court, despite requests that we have it moved to a larger venue to enable Roger’s enormous extended family to attend and her justice being done.
Environment
01/07: LA 21 (I am chair) continues to gather momentum and environmental issues remain of enormous importance. I attended the review on sustainability policy chaired by Cllr Wally Burgess, and suggested that we try to establish some kind of environment forum in the borough, and in September we shall follow this up.
11/07: I gave awards out at the Factory Community Centre, whose freehold was sold by the Council, though it continues to do well as a centre, and I hope they get their funding for expansion since it is such a very effective and busy centre. Groundwork (11/07) and the Factory had jointly organised the event.
Groundwork is an environmental regeneration charity that works with residents, local businesses, the local authority and community groups in Camden and Islington to address issues like community safety and improving neglected land.
What you can do: Join Greenpeace and/or Friends of the Earth and get active.
Once again I was delighted to speak and present awards at the Migrant Training Centre awards ceremony (03/07) at 7 Millbank, along with John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington MP).
Other events/issues: Local
02/07: Centre 404 LVSC 356 Holloway Rd; I (briefly) attended this event for people with learning difficulties.
10/07: I attended the Mayor’s summer reception at the Ecology Centre.
12/07: The launch of the Holloway Arts Festival at Peter Pan Park went well. Rowan Art Project organised this wonderful initiative and 2 days of classical music and circus events. It included a magical performance by a red angel and a series of circus acts accompanied by commentary and poetry over a two day period. (www.therowanproject.com)
13/07: Finsbury Park Community Festival:
I went to this festival which had about 12,000 people from three boroughs and showed what Finsbury Park can be used for. I strongly support the campaign to make the park more secure and user-friendly, and Haringey seems to be responding to this. A great opportunity should have been taken at the abolition of the GLC to ensure this park was run for the benefit of the three boroughs. This campaign is being continued.
10/07: I met with the Borough Commander - Barry Norman to discuss the terrifying rise in violent crime, and gun crime in the borough, and its drug associated causes. I also brought to his attention a number of terrifying and tragic incidents surrounding fire arms.
The Islington North Annual Garden Party was a sunny success (13/07) and raised a significant amount of money. Thanks to Keith and others for doing the Nigella/Delia thing, and especially to Janet Burgess and Sally Temple for doing such an excellent job in bringing the event together.
Work Experience in my offices recently included Isaac Schling and Alison Sanchez.
Advice Surgeries on Fridays have recommenced and details are available from my constituency office, telephone 020 7226 5775.
11/07: An additional Advice Surgery was held at the Muslim Welfare Centre where I was given excellent translation facilities.
I don’t hold advice surgeries during August but will be conducting a Walkabout in the borough for part of the month of August. The Dave/Ruth/Nicolette/Val team will be taking holidays at different stages throughout the summer, and so both of my offices will be functioning should anyone need to contact me for anything.
