Southall Black Sisters and the unmasking of the real Tory Party

My pal Yasmin Whittaker Khan has an important article in today's Mail on Sunday about Tory Ealing's decision to cut funding for Southall Black Sisters. The article speaks for itself, but it certainly raised for me the specter of the reality of a possible future Tory Government and its presumed priorities. The warm and cuddly sheep's clothing that David Cameron is trying to wrap himself in is doing a reasonable job of hiding the wolf that is the reality of his party's values and priorities. Whilst the plaintiff cry of Neil Kinnock in 1983 anticipating a further Tory term - I warn you not to be ordinary, I warn you not to be young, I warn you not to fall ill and I warn you not to grow old, may equally be an epitaph for New Labour, were there a future Tory Government perhaps we should add - I warn you not to be black - I warn you not to be an asylum seeker - I warn you not to be disabled.........and if the experience of some of my friends is anything to go by, I warn you not to be gay.

True equality is never about "anyone can come here" it is about an honest recognition of the impact of discrimination and an appreciation that whilst we may all be equal, we are all also different, with vastly differing needs. To try to pretend anything else is a bit like pretending all disabled people use wheelchairs and all you need is a ramp and you have met your obligations under the DDA.

Brian Paddick on Any Qs

Brian Paddick has officially launched his campaign and has also done a stirling job on Any Questions today. He is particularly convincing when talking about dealing with some of the most disturbing elements of youth crime. But Brian, please stop saying you are not a politician. By virtue of your current role you are. Very few are born politicians (OK, maybe William Hague) some even do proper jobs before sliding into their safe seats..........but all, when they take on the mantle, take on the role.

Is Terrorism diverting us from addressing other threats to our society?

Terrorism is and will be for many years to come, a valid concern for our law makers. But I have heard a story this evening of someone who endured (and thankfully survived) a terrible and terrifying attack, someone who had foolishly got involved with a drug dealer.

This has really made me question whether we have got things arse-backwards when it comes to identifying the real threats to our society. The impact of terrorism is enormous. As a commuter I know only too well the shock waves that reverberated from 7/7, intensified by 21/7. No one travelling on public transport in London around that time can have failed to consider whether the same thing may happen again. The fear that terrorism breeds is precisely because it is so random. Despite the minuscule chances of any of us being caught up in a terrorist attack, the perception is that we are all at risk.

But that very fear of an unknown risk clouds our collective judgement when it comes to the known risks in all our communities. Probably because such risks largely impact upon a small sector of our community, we tend to ignore them. Yet, as we are seeing on a weekly basis, the scourge of the drugs trade and its link with the gang, gun and knife culture, is destroying lives every day of the week. Deaths from drug abuse, unless the victim is very young or very famous, go by largely unreported. Deaths of predominantly young black men from guns and knives attract attention and the resulting moral panic, yet very little changes. Is this because it rarely if ever really touches us?

We are blessed (or cursed) with a government that elevates perception above reality. It is demonstrated in so many of their policies and blind faith in focus groups. Maybe the electorate are more concerned about terrorism than drugs, but the threat from the drugs industry/culture surely is far more of a threat? Whether that is in the destroyed lives, or the clear link between drugs and crime, stealing to score, dealing, violence.......the sum total of the problem costs us all dear. Yet where is the investment? In rehab, for those in and outside of the criminal justice system? In prevention, providing real and sustained diversionary activities for young people? In pursuance and prosecution of those who are destroying so many of our children's futures?

Would that we had even a fraction of the sums set aside for fighting illegal wars, renewing useless and dangerous nuclear weapons, propping up irresponsible banks.......to really say enough is enough and begin to tackle this problem. But, alas, whilst the "perception" is that this is somebody else's problem, more of our children will become hopelessly enslaved, or worse, have their lives destroyed or lost completely.

Shout out for new bloggers?

I am always pleased to see new women entering the blogosphere and happened upon Helen Duffett's new blog this afternoon. But it is also really good to see others (for example Paul Walter's mini me Alasdair Wood - heavens how can you manage 86 posts in one month and no leadership election?!) dipping their toes in the water, well in Alasdair's case jumping in at the deep end!

The only problem is keeping up with all the newcomers, so I wondered Stephen Tall et al, whether it would be possible to have a little shout out for all the new bloggers at the end of the Golden Dozen each week?

Just a thought.

Oh and by the way as I have already been told he was unrecognisable.........the blurry pic was a guy called Trev, good pal of Ken, dancing with me so he didn't have to dance with a certain Tory shadow famous for her shoes!

He was dancing with me, that's why he looks so happy.....honest!

Our own Presidential Race - Ros or Lembit?

Autumn conference will be abuzz with yet another Lib Dem contest. This time the race to find a new President of the party when Simon Hughes stands down. Ros Scott has been the quickest of the mark, but Lembit Opek has also made clear his intention to stand. This, I have to confess, gives me a big problem. I had always intended to support Lembit, but that was before I knew Ros was standing, or even knew a lot about her. Since then what has most impressed me about her was the inspiration she was to my daughter when she spoke at a Gender Balance day in Cambridge a couple of months ago. If she can inspire one young woman like that she can inspire many and we need inspirational leadership in our party. Of course, I also have the added dilemma, as a woman who bangs on about representation at almost every opportunity, it would be great to see a woman as President.


Then there is Lembit! He is another inspirational character and incredibly supportive of greater equality and diversity in our party. There is no doubt that as President of the party he would attract publicity, although of course it may on occasions be a bit of a roller coaster ride!

Maybe it's time to start promoting job shares?

So, I have a dilemma about who I should support, a dilemma deepened by my concern that neither particularly have a reputation for being from the radical wing of the party. Regardless of my vociferous support for Nick Clegg, it has always been tempered (as he well knows) by a fear that we drift into orange waters. If we are to build this great party we need to increase the membership and if we are to do that we need a distinctive voice and a distinctive story. Nick brings this.........until the point when we start sounding like the other two Tory parties. There are many of us who are nervous about the elevation of the notion of choice above quality and an apparent love in with the private sector and a blind faith in their ability to deliver where pubic services can't - perfectly illustrated by David Laws' approach to education.


We have a natural connection with so many unaffiliated or disaffected political activists in the country. We need a President who can reach out to these people and show them they have a home with us. Those who care about preserving our liberal traditions, who support a more liberal approach to criminal justice, who care about ending child poverty, who care about creating a future for all our children that is sustainable and peaceful, who would prefer to spend the money from Trident on these objectives. But who worry about our perceived Tory tendencies. Democracy is not just undermined by unfair voting systems, it is also undermined by the power of unelected bodies, be they quangos, the media, or the boards of private companies.


So, given my dilemma, I have been taking soundings over the last few days........and on the basis that I could attract at least .001% of the vote, am considering standing myself, not because I could win of course, (I know, Paul Walter et al.......who is she?!) but because I want to ensure the debate includes the full spectrum of views from within the party as well as maybe spice things up a wee bit? To get a commitment from the front runners to be radical, to make diversity in the party their number one issue, to be prepared to be brave and bold. And dare I say it, a serious examination of discipline (or lack of it) in the party. I got into a little debate the other day with someone who shall remain nameless. This person did not want to stand for an office because they did not want to be bothered with a fight they knew they couldn't win, my response was "It's never stopped me!" And frankly democracy at whatever level is completely meaningless if it doesn't include a choice, otherwise why would most of us ever stand anywhere?!


Anyway, I have six months to pontificate.......and listen to my detractors and supporters alike..........watch this space!

Jack Dromey.....Government Stooge?

Jack Dromey, husband of Harriet, treasurer (I know nothing) of the Labour Party, Deputy General Secretary of Unite..........champion of the masses, scourge of Gordon Brown...........er.....don't think so!

I was interested to hear this evening that he is being touted as a potential chair of the planned Government's Agency Worker's Commission. Hmmmmm the body opposed by the Trade Union movement for the very simple reason, why do you need a commission into something that is blatantly wrong? It's a bit like having a commission to decide whether we should approve child labour, or slavery. The implication being that it might be alright to discriminate in the workplace. And, one wonders, how much will this Commission cost to tell us what the government want us to hear?

I trust this rumour is just that, a rumour, but, I'm not holding my breath!

Patricia Hewitt - a nice little earner

At a time when the credibility and the integrity of politicians is under enormous scrutiny in relation to feathering their own nests, I personally abhor anyone of any party who behaves in a way which further undermines that credibility and integrity. So the news this morning that Patricia Hewitt has taken on a role as a non exec director of BT, pocketing herself an additional £60,000 in the process wound me up a tad. It is not just the cosy relationship between senior politicians and big business and the suspicion that they may be feathering their future nest by being "helpful" as ministers, it is also the notion that the role of an MP is one that can be combined with another job, particularly one in a major private company.

So, I wonder what Patricia will stop doing that she is doing now in order to make herself available to BT? I wonder how available she will be to her constituents? I wonder when, if she has to choose between the interests of BT and her constituents where her loyalties will lie? I note that her website has a section "Working Hard for You" I trust that will soon have an entry explaining how her paid position for BT is working hard for her constituents. If she has time to spare I would suggest she would be better employed joining the board of a local charity and offering her experience and expertise to them.

In Defence of Faith

That rascal Millenium has been having a bit of an Easter rant, which prompted me to throw my tenpenneth in. There are many of faith and none who wind us all up endlessly. However, I just received a truly moving missive from someone I regard as a real spiritual mentor.

Elias (Abuna) Chacour is Archbishop of the Melkite Church in Israel. He is a man who is a refugee in his own country. As a dispossessed Palestinian he took the view that he had a choice, to become a terrorist, to become passive.......or to try to find a middle way. I have never in my life heard anyone speak so eloquently about the situation in Israel Palestine. He is a man, who throughout his house has one recurring biblical text "thou shalt not kill". This belief he has instilled in the children in his multi faith multi ethnic school in Galilee. The most moving story I heard from him about this was of when he was in Jerusalem for the inquest into the brutal killing of one of his pupils Asil Asleh during the last Intafada. (Asil, one of the brightest pupils in the school, was watching a protest, wearing his "Seeds of Peace" T Shirt, from behind an olive tree when he was shot in the neck). He was in the court and saw one of his ex pupils, a young man from the Druze community, shackled and handcuffed. He asked why he was there, the young man replied that he had refused to serve in the army and so had been imprisoned, he said "Abuna (Arabic for Father), I remembered what you said, that we should not kill".

Elias has been in poor health and is dealing with a difficult situation as an advocate for the Palestinian citizens of Israel. He does not have the luxury to worry about "straining the gnats" as do some of our fellow Christians in this country. He worries about what he can do to advance the cause of peace. Most moving for me in his Easter message were his words "For a very long time I have given up worrying about how long I shall live. Rather I am worried about what do I live for." Whether we are of faith or of none, I trust that this is a sentiment that would strike a chord with all of us.

So?

Is it time to "Sex up" the blog?

I have had a very weird kind of day. Not one for public consumption, but pals are welcome to call me for the lowdown! So now I am recovering by trying my hand at updating me blog. Many have complained about it, not least the esteemed Paul Walter. So being as I have a night in and am not much of a TV addict I am trying to be clever and add "widgets"......but not quite sure what I am doing...........Duncan...........HELP!!!!I am also considering changing the template. All assistance gratefully received, but be warned if it all goes pearshaped.

You've got to Hand it to him........the Tories in Turmoil

On Tuesday evening I was sat in Portcullis having a quick cuppa with Bedford MP Patrick Hall to lobby him on behalf of a local charity, when I received a phone call from Toryboy Cllr Peter Hand to ask if I had seen the Beds on Sunday website. I hadn't, but he informed me that he had decided to stand against his group leader on the County Council, Madeline Russell, which was now big news in Bedford! I had no sooner put the phone down than it rang again. This time it was my other Toryboy, Cllr Andrew McConnell - had I seen the Beds on Sunday website. No...........but clearly there was great excitement in the anti-establishment Tory ranks! There is clearly disquiet about Madeline's decision to go on wasting local tax payers money pursuing a judicial review with regard to the unitary decision. Sure, if Beds CC was a high performing authority there may be an argument, but they have sadly failed the people of Bedfordshire miserably for years.

I have to confess, I did not personally have that good a relationship with Madeline when I worked for Beds CC. It may have had something to do with the fact that she tried to get me disciplined twice. Firstly for writing a critical letter to the Beds on Sunday, clearly stating I was doing so as a Lib Dem councillor. All my previous letters (written as Branch Secretary of Unison) she had ignored, but as soon as I wrote as a councillor the knives were out. Secondly was when she demanded to see my line-manager and the Director of Education at 7.30am because of an email I had sent regarding the Stop the War campaign. This included advice to school students on school protests against the war and was sent to a colleague who then sent it on to a pupil in a local school. The allegation was that I was inciting students to walk out, despite the fact that the email had not been sent to a single young person. Of course the fact that my daughter then lead her school out later that week didn't really help! So I have to say I saw her as someone who was a tad vindictive and submerged in the same sort of ideological dogma as her predecessors, a mantra of private good, public bad that really did so much damage.

Anyway, if I had a vote, I know who I would be voting for, good on you Peter, never any harm in stirrin' the pot!

Spring Conference............................Highlights and Lowlights

OK, two weeks late, what do they say about old news being only fit for chip paper? Well, I'll take a risk and say my piece for what it may or may not be worth.

It was the first conference I have attended with my children (and grandchild - heavens I didn't think I'd have to wait that long!) - but it was worth the wait as both came back really enthused and wanting to book for autumn. But it has to be said, I did miss the freedom of coming and going as I pleased - and missed some debates in the process. However, highlights were:

• Nick's speech - an excellent, inspiring and confident performance. He reminded me of why I supported him, I may not always agree with him on his methodology but I absolutely agree with his objectives. Just a little niggle about tax which I have already said a bit about, but otherwise a performance that left my children reflecting that if everyone had the opportunity to hear that speech they would have to vote for him.
• The debate on Gaza. This was a difficult issue where there are well known differences of opinion within the party. There was a slight revision, but I was totally supportive of calling for a review of the EU Israel Association Agreement. Ed Davey was not and spoke against. But, conference clearly supported the move and the motion was passed intact. Given Ed had pledged to be guided by party policy on Middle East issues I did corner him afterwards to ensure he did so in this case as well. He pointed out that having lost his amendment he had then supported the main motion - so I look forward to him taking up this important issue.
• Health - I did have a card in and have to confess to torturing my children by forcing them to sit through the whole thing in the expectation that their mum may be called............but she wasn't. But amended it looks like a good motion we can move forward on.
• Gender Balance Bloggers Award - this was just too exciting, having never been nominated for anything in my life - the taking part was nail - biting. I have to say, I have actually only won one contest in my life. That was the sack race when I was 12. Oh, unless you count political contests of course! There was a great atmosphere and I have to say that I absolutely agree with judges in awarding the prize to Alix. She is a fabulous writer who writes with humour, intelligence and finesse, me....je comprende......I just SHOUT! But it was great fun and I enjoyed being interviewed by Ros Scott, though it highlighted for me my dilemma in deciding who to back in the Presidential race.
• Simon Hughes singing in the Glee Club...........awesome!
• Lembit (just for being Lembit!)
• Ed Fordham for his incredible sense of humour, when he is elected he will be SUCH an asset to our parliamentary party.......making politics real, popping pomposity and capturing the imagination of the electorate............are we ready for him? Oh yes!!!!

So, low lights?

• The distance between the conference hotel and conference centre, this was particularly difficult for my daughter given that the creche was at the hotel.
• Not enough time, catching people so briefly, especially my dear pal Colin Ross, who I spoke to for at least..........5 minutes!
• The cost of accommodation, way over the top. In Harrogate I normally pay £30 a night. OK, I had extras with my family but I ended up paying £350. We cannot begin to think about being an inclusive party if the only members who can afford to attend are those who can afford those kind of prices.
• Getting totally lost in the middle of Liverpool when my TomTom went completely loopy!

So, a great time was had by all I trust.

Now off out with pal Yas, who always seems to forget I am a granny and not quite up to partying all night.........the scary thing is that son Ravi is out in town too, I am sure he wouldn't appreciate bumping into mummy!

Looz Snooze

Oh dear another manic week and no chance to put my 10penneth or even 100penneth in on all that is going on. Someone has asked if I have fallen asleep, no just been charging round the country, yesterday turning up in Stoke for an event that had happened the day before!

Suffice to say, it is all stored on the memory chip in my brain........

Have I left it toooo late to start chatting about Spring Conference?!

When £24,000,000 just ain't enough

There are days when the divide between rich and poor are highlighted rather as in the biblical story of Lazarus (a poor beggar) and the rich man (who ignored him). Today is one such day. Heather Mills, bleating about only getting £24 million in her divorce settlement, clearly distraught at how she will manage. What planet does she inhabit? I am sorry, but frankly if the most important thing in her life is her finances I feel really sorry for her. There are many many single mothers in this country who would consider themselves lucky if they had 1% of that kind of money to support their children. Heather dear, get a life, grow up and perhaps redeem yourself somewhat by giving maybe 1% of what you have been awarded to a charity like Gingerbread/One Parent Families. Or would that leave you a bit short?

Protestors............a threat to the state?

Yesterday, with pals Sharon, Jim, Kerry and Jane, I joined the thousands in Trafalgar Square for the Stop the War march. We were reflecting that we didn't think we would still be here 5 years later, reminiscing about our local protests at the time the war started and our planned protest in the Commons that didn't quite go to plan and ended with Sharon being arrested. What really wound us up was being filmed by the police. We got a right cock and bull story from the officer we quizzed. He insisted they were filming the people behind us, who were there to cause trouble. First of all he said the reason they filmed was to put people off causing trouble. Then he said it was because later on, very late when we had all gone home, these naughty souls would be out with masks on and they needed the videos to be able to identify them by their clothes. He also said that he wouldn't get home much before 2am since these troublemakers would be running him ragged. After we had left him we wondered why we didn't ask why he didn't just arrest these people when they started causing trouble?

On the way home, around 6.30 we detoured past Parliament Square, just to see where these troublemakers were............no sign of them or the police! We chatted to Brian Haw, who confirmed our view that what we had been told was a load of nonsense. He told us of when he was assaulted by the police earlier this year, pushing his video camera into his face as he filmed a demo he wasn't involved in. But apparently, we can ask to have copies of the films we are on. We think the best thing is for everyone who has ever been at any demo that has been filmed by the FIT teams should write in and ask for a copy of the film.

We are happy for you to fight our wars, but don't expect us to look after you when you get home.

I received an email today bemoaning the fact that the "useless excuses politicians" were doing so little for wounded servicemen and women. So please show them that some politicians and political activists do care about the scandalous way our forces personnel continue to be treated and sign the petition - details below.



Denzil Connick, secretary of the South Atlantic Medal Association, has organised a petition to the prime minister for better care for wounded soldiers. The link is here. Denzil, was seriously wounded while serving with The Third Battalion of The Parachute Regiment in the Falklands and is still being treated for his injuries. He is due to go into hospital in the next week or two for yet another major operation. Many of the youngsters serving today in places like Iraq and Afghanistan - along with those already wounded - will, like Denzil, face years of pain and treatment. This is your chance to do something to try to help them and it will only take a couple of minutes of your time. One of Denzil's sons has already served in Iraq twice and is on yet another tour of duty in Afghanistan. His other son is a submariner. Denzil has asked for this message to be passed to as many people as possible and urges you to sign - and to get others to sign as well. So please sign and then pass on the link to those you feel should know.

When your feet don't touch the ground!

Well, it has been that kind of a week for me, the frustration that it came after a fascinating Spring Conference with me as you may imagine having quite a lot to say, not least about Gaza, Nick's speech and David Law's question time.

It was the first time my children (Ravi 19 and Lara 21) and grandchild (Sumaiyah 1) had attended conference. Lara had her appetite whetted after she attended the Nick/Chris hustings in Cambridge last year, followed by a Gender Balance inspiration day.........which clearly did what it said on the tin! She managed to persuade her brother to come too and both thoroughly enjoyed themselves, the highlight for both of them being Nick's speech. Although, it has to be said, Lara thought he should have slagged off the other parties a little less!

So, having got home Sunday evening I then headed off to Edinburgh the following day. I did write a couple of posts on my Blackberry, but sadly someone assassinated it on Tuesday evening..........it died a terrible death, taking my posts with it! So, when I eventually get home I may get round to shouting the odds about a few things.......watch this space!

Twisted Knickers, Nick Clegg and the Blogosphere

For a change, some may say, I have been doing a bit of reflecting today. I happen to believe abstention yesterday was a mistake, so I have pontificated on the alternatives. Unpalatable as it may be, I would have had to support the Tory amendment, for reasons I have elaborated on elsewhere. So. Let's look at the position Nick found himself in. Mr Ming had already done the deal with Mr Gordo. He had done a public about turn, but come up with the in/out wheeze. What was Nick to do? Pour scorn on the memory of the great Ming by reverting back to our previous policy?

Let's face it, Nick had four alternatives.
*1 - vote for
*2 - vote against
*3 - abstain
*4 - allow a free vote

Option *1 - vote for. My preferred option. But, not everyone in the parliamentary party's preferred option. Many of them argue that the Lisbon Treaty is not the same as the Constitution, so there would have been a rebellion.
Option *2 - vote against. Can't understand why anyone would vote against, however...........not everyone in the parliamentary party's preferred option. Many of them argue that the Lisbon Treaty is the same as the Constitution, so there would have been a rebellion.
Option *3 - abstain. Open to lots of criticisms of sitting on the fence. However, not everyone in the parliamentary party's preferred option, many of them argue that the Lisbon Treaty is the same as the Constitution..............so there would have been a rebellion.
Option *4 - free vote. Hey............this is where it gets really interesting! This, given all of the above, seemed to me the most sensible option. However, consequence? A potential 3 way split!

There is no doubt Nick was in a catch 22 whatever he did. So did he choose the least worst option? Maybe we will never know. The fact is that we are where we are. My personal opinion is that how ever Europhiliac we are as a party, our party is about far far more than Europe. There are urgent issues facing our country which will be there regardless of Lisbon or Maastricht or any other blinkin treaty!!!!! I for one believe Nick has been highlighting some enormously important issues, whether they be Mental Health, the Criminal Justice System, ID cards, Social Mobility or Education. All of which will continue to be issues whether or not we sign the Lisbon Treaty.

So, my advice to Nick is...........hold your nerve, don't be deflected, focus on your goals. When you are breaking new ground you are bound to hit a few bumps in the road - the test of your leadership will be whether you allow them to deflect you, or whether you get right back on track.

And, my advice to some of my fellow blogonistas is............get over it.