75 Most Recent Stories From Lib Dem Women in Parliament

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

Avoid holiday mobile bill blues this summer (Jo Swinson).

With more and more people using mobile phones and mobile modems while on holiday abroad, Jo Swinson has warned East Dunbartonshire holidaymakers to watch out for hidden charges that they may not be aware of.

Fri 4th Jul 2008:

MPs and money (Lynne Featherstone).

I wasn't at the vote on MPs' expenses and salaries as I had to be somewhere else. But, as I have said before publicly, I will not vote on my own salary or expenses. I will vote for such things to be decided by an independent body - in just the same way as I have supported the independent pay review for nurses and teachers etc. And when the Government fails to deliver - I stick by what the independent pay board has recommended.I think the MPs' system of pay and expenses is absurd. So - our pay should be set by an independent body. Our expenses - in terms of staff and office - should be set by independent body and administered by House Authorities. And no one should be able to make money out of public money by buying a house on public funds. Of course MPs have to work in both their constituency and in London, and those live too far to commute should have London accommodation - but any capital gain on a property accrued during years of service should return to the state.

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

ANNETTE BROOKE BACKS END CHILD POVERTY CAMPAIGN (Annette Brooke).

Annette Brooke MP demanded that the Government ends child poverty as they signed up to the "Keep the promise" campaign". She called on people to back the campaign and demand a better future for children in Mid Dorset and North Poole.

Podcast 3rd July 2008 (Jo Swinson).

Jo's latest podcast is now online, where Jo talks about appearing on Question Time, her visit to Kosovo, the Royal visit to East Dunbartonshire and her views on MPs expenses.

Jo welcomes Queen to Katrine Water Project opening (Jo Swinson).

Jo Swinson has welcomed today's opening of the Katrine Water Project by HM Queen Elizabeth.

MP CONTINUES FIGHT TO GET EAST SHEEN POST OFFICE REOPENED (Susan Kramer).

Local MP Susan Kramer is continuing the fight to get East Sheen Post Office re-opened.

KRAMER CONGRATULATES "BIKE ACROSS CULTURES (Susan Kramer).

Susan Kramer MP recently attended the Bike Across Cultures event, organised by EMAG and KREC, held in Richmond Park on Saturday. She said "It was a wonderful celebration of both local diversity and the commitment to healthy exercise. Children from many of the cultures which make up the area led the cyclists."

PLANNING BILL CHALLENGE (Susan Kramer).

Local MP Susan Kramer, together with other MPs opposed to Heathrow expansion, will challenge clauses in the Planning Bill related to Heathrow in a debate in Parliament on Wednesday, 25 June.

Vote of MPs' salary and expenses: Jo's view (Jo Swinson).

"Today MPs will vote on reports relating to salary and expenses, but a clash with the Royal visit to East Dunbartonshire today means I am not in Westminster to vote.

MINISTERS TURN BLIND EYE TO COSTLY MISTAKES (Jenny Willott).

New figures released today show that the Department for Work and Pensions has been forced to spend £52m compensating people for mistakes made over the last 6 years.

Jo joins flappers in call for more women MPs (Jo Swinson).

On the 80th anniversary of men and women receiving equality at the ballot box, Jo Swinson has joined with activists calling for more women in parliament.

Wed 2nd Jul 2008:

What teachers are writing to me about (Lynne Featherstone).

Have been receiving letters from worried teachers about Big Brother! No - not the one on the television - but the fact that from September 2008, each child living in the UK will be issued with a unique number at birth which will be required to access services (schools, health visitors, housing, benefits etc).If a family moves, the number remains “attached” to the child, so - the plan goes - children can no longer slip through the net, as in the case of Victoria Climbie.A laudable intention, and whilst understanding the need to protect children and for agencies to have a robust mechanism whereby they can work together - not sure this isn't baby identity cards. Anyway - needless to say - am tabling a raft of questions about this new database identifier to follow up on the letters I've been sent.

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

DECLINE IN PENSION SCHEMES A WORRING TREND (Jenny Willott).

Commenting on new figures from the Office of National Statistics, which show that the number of private sector workers that are members of occupational pension schemes has fallen by 400,000 since last year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Jenny Willott said:

WILLOTT: SLUMP IN WORKERS' PENSIONS SAVINGS A SIGN OF ASW EFFECT? (Jenny Willott).

Commenting on new figures from the Office of National Statistics, which show that the number of private sector workers that are members of occupational pension schemes has fallen by 400,000 since last year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary and MP for Cardiff Central, Jenny Willott, said:

WALES DENIED OLYMPIC GOLD! (Jenny Willott).

New research by the Liberal Democrats, and raised in parliament today by Jenny Willott MP, has found that Wales is losing out to other parts of the UK, in particular London and the South East, when it comes to securing contracts for the 2012 Olympics.

MP HONOURS LOCAL HEROES IN PARLIAMENT (Sandra Gidley).

Test Valley MP Sandra Gidley has honoured two well known local heroes, Keith and Hazel Henser, at a reception in Parliament for their enormous voluntary contribution in the Baddesley area.

Dr Vince Cable MP visits Lytchett Matravers, Saturday 28th June 2008 (Annette Brooke).

Over 100 people attended a meeting at the Village Hall at 10am on Saturday 28th June, to meet Dr Vince Cable MP, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor. The meeting was specifically about the proposed extra 2750 houses in the green belt in the vicinity of Lytchett Minster/ Lytchett Matravers.

LORELY SENDS BURNING MESSAGE TO SOLIHULL YOUNGSTERS (Lorely Burt).

Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt today warned of the dangers of skin cancer, and urged local youngsters to learn more about sun safety, after figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats revealed skin cancer diagnoses have risen by 26% since 2001, while the government has slashed funding for skin cancer awareness by a third. In addition, the figures show hospital admissions for sunburn,heatstroke and dehydration have also risen sharply.

Tue 1st Jul 2008:

Ten most popular blog postings (2nd quarter, 2008) (Lynne Featherstone).

In traditional reverse order, here are the ten postings which have proved the most popular over the last three months:10. The morning after the night before: the moment when it looked like Paxman might punch Johnson - one of the (few) TV highlights of the London Mayor election: Boris Johnson flounders over his bus policy.9. The real lesson of the 10p tax rate fiasco - it wasn't just the tax policy that was wrong, it was the whole way we do budgets.8. What will Boris Johnson be like as Mayor of London? - no prizes for guessing the topic of that piece!7. The London results - yes, Boris is Mayor.6. Olympics protest - I joined the protests as the Olympic torch passed through London.5. Crewe & Nantwich by-election: are the rules wrong? - should election campaigns really be rushed through at the convenience of the incumbent party rather than giving the public time to find out about the candidates and their policies?4. Iris Robinson - homophobia is certainly still alive in Northern Irish politics.3. Nine years in a squalid and infested flat - a tale of failure that should make Haringey Council ashamed.2. David Davis and his resignation to fight a by-election.1. What did you think of the BBC TV local elections results program on Thursday night? Not a lot by the looks of it, though given the amount of traffic to this post long after the poll has closed it's clearly an issue still on some people's minds!No surprise to see the London elections features so heavily in the list - but interesting to see that several of these posts are very brief and basically just me saying what my view is on an issue of the moment. I guess people have read them either because they've been very timely - or perhaps because they do want to know my views on issues!

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

MP SEARCHES FOR 'SHIPWRECKED' VOLUNTEER (Lorely Burt).

Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt is looking for a constituent with an interest in politics who would like to be 'shipwrecked' on the idyllic Cook Islands.

Westminster Salute to Canford Heath Hero (Annette Brooke).

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole recently nominated John Friberg, from Canford Heath, for a Heroes Award in respect of his voluntary work in her constituency. John and his wife Peggy travelled up to the House of Commons on Tuesday 24th June 2008, to collect the award at an MP Heroes Tea Party Event.

WELSH HOUSE PRICES FALL BELOW SCOTLAND (Jenny Willott).

Commenting on house price figures released today by Nationwide, Jenny Willott, Lib Dem Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary and MP for Cardiff Central, said:

SHARP INCREASE IN STAB WOUNDS ACROSS HAMPSHIRE (Sandra Gidley).

The number of people admitted to hospital with stab wounds in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has soared by 40% in the last five years, figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats have revealed.

Mon 30th Jun 2008:

Visiting St Ann's (Lynne Featherstone).

Go to St Ann’s Hospital to celebrate its Lordship Ward becoming the 300th ward of the national ‘Star Wards’ project. David Lammy (MP for Tottenham) is on the visit too.We start by meeting Marion Janner. Marion is a service user from Haringey and is a vocal campaigner and mover on the Star Wards project. This is a national project started to begin to address one of the great challenges of mental health care – that on an inpatient ward the boredom is enough to drive you to madness. It is totally counterproductive to a therapeutic outcome – and so Star Wards begins to address some of those challenges.St Ann’s is only at the beginning of its program to generate and implement Star Wards – but judging by the enthusiasm of both staff and patients that I met this will deliver real improvement. I also visited the ‘healthy living’ part of the equation and met patient and trainer in the gym.St Ann’s has had a difficult recent history in terms of administration at higher echelons – but as they move towards their application for ‘foundation status’ with their new Chair, Michael Fox (who I met later in the day at Parliament – coincidentally) they have hopefully moved onward and upward. And there certainly was a very positive attitude around the wards and the patients and the potential.Two notes of discord did surface. The first was a desperate plea for me to tell the Government that they don’t want, and can’t cope with, endless new initiatives. They feel that they are barely given time to get a new directive in place and begin to embed it – before it is changed and the next headline initiative rolls in – and it's all change, thereby never reaching a point of proper implementation and smooth running.The second was about the service provided by the crisis centre – which deals with emergencies. The problems ranged from being answered by an answerphone (not great if you are suicidal) to being told to ‘pull yourself together’.As I said, later in the day, I met with the new Chair of the Mental Health Trust who seems very determined to turn St Ann’s into a modern and exemplar service deliverer. There will be a need to sell around half the site to fund the new building etc. My criteria – as I told him – was about what would be provided post development, how real and thorough the consultation would be (we are sick of faux consultations) and so on. St Ann’s is not a great layout for a hospital – but it is friendly and human scale. So – we will see how all this develops over the next period.

Campaigning with Helen Duffett (Lynne Featherstone).

Big event of the day Sunday was - no not the footie - the Centenary of Hornsey Bowling Club. To celebrate one hundred years there was a tea and a match with the Francis Drake Bowling Club.What a great institution this is. But as the members said - they need some new and younger blood. It is such a lovely sport - with the pure, manicured bowling green. Thank heavens I wore wedge shoes - as heels are a no no!I only had to go on the green for the 'spider'. This is where they place a spider on a white bowl - and then everyone stands around the edge of the green and rolls their wood to try and knock the spider off the white bowl. I didn't get mine anywhere near - so thank goodness it's the taking part that matters.I talked to lots of the members who were there - and it is quite clear - that for many folk (particularly those who at this stage of their life find they are on their own) that this fulfils a really important social function. Sadly - no photos - as my batteries had run out.Later I went over to Ilford and Cranbook ward to help Lib Dem Helen Duffett campaign in a council by-election.Given that this is virgin territory for Liberal Democrats - it was very positive on the doorstep.And as you can see from the damaged street name sign - lots of work for to take up and run with!

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

JULIA DEFENDS POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNTS AS FOUR LANES COMES UNDER THREAT (Julia Goldsworthy).

Julia has warned Ministers that pensioners in Four Lanes could be left high and dry if Post Offices lose the Post Office Card Account (POCA) in the current tendering process.

Mon 30th Jun 2008:

Tory boys throw toys out of pram (Lynne Featherstone).

So - Harriet Harman has launched her Equalities Bill into the political process and it's really only one issue in it that has caught the media and public eye so far - the proposal to allow a limited degree of positive action in some circumstances when choosing who to employ.If you believe some of the sensationalist coverage, the world is about to end for white men with discrimination against them about to be legalised left, right and centre. Conservative MP Philip Davies said, for example,How on earth can [Harriet Harman] justify in an equalities Bill a provision that allows people to be selected solely on the basis of their skin colour or their gender? That is completely and utterly outrageous.Well, what's really completely and utterly outrageous is the way Philip Davies has got what is proposed completely wrong. Nowhere do the proposals say that employment purely on the basis of skin colour or gender should be allowed. Nowhere. For all that the proposals actually say are that:The Bill will extend positive action so that employers can take under-representation into account when selecting between two equally qualified candidates.That "two equally qualified candidates" is crucial and makes a nonsense of the distorted fear tactics from (some) Conservatives claiming that suddenly white men will get dumped for worse women / ethnic minorities.When you've got two equally qualified people for a job, you have to choose somehow between them. We shouldn't be naïve about what happens at the moment - such as how who know who, who went to school with who, and so on often is using to pull favours in such situations. All these proposals would do is to make it legal to use a rather more appropriate criteria. Take a primary school with an overwhelming number of female teachers. If you have two equally qualified applicants for a vacancy, why not let the school - if it wishes (and note, these proposals in the bill are only permissive - they don't force people to use them) it could decide to prefer a man, so that the young children get a better mix of male and female role models.I think it's right that the school should be able to decide whether or not to do this, making the decision based on its own circumstances and needs - and I'm damn sure it's a better way of doing things than letting personal links and favouritism make the judgement in such situations but saying the question of mix of male and female role models is banned from consideration.

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

WALES AT SHARP END OF HOUSING MARKET COLLAPSE (Jenny Willott).

As the Bank of England released figures showing that the number of mortgage approvals UK wide had fallen to its lowest level since the Bank of England started publishing such figures in 1993, Jenny Willott, Lib Dem Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary and MP for Cardiff Central, warned that the Welsh housing market was heading to trouble earlier and more severely than most other regions of the UK.

CITY'S NHS IS 'LIVING ON THE EDGE' - GIDLEY (Sandra Gidley).

City MP, Sandra Gidley has obtained figures from the Southampton University Hospitals Trust, which show that Southampton General Hospital has been regularly placed on its highest levels of alert - black* and red* - since mid 2006.

SANDRA SENDS BURNING MESSAGE TO HAMPSHIRE YOUNGSTERS (Sandra Gidley).

City and County MP Sandra Gidley today warned of the dangers of skin cancer, and urged local youngsters to learn more about sun safety, after figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats revealed skin cancer diagnoses have risen by 26% since 2001, while the Labour Government has slashed funding for skin cancer awareness by a third. In addition, the figures show hospital admissions for sunburn, heatstroke and dehydration have also risen sharply.

Sat 28th Jun 2008:

Muswell Hill and District Horticultural Society Summer Show (Lynne Featherstone).

Muswell Hill and District Horticultural Society Summer Show - to give out the prizes.Shock I know - but I am wearing a summer dress! The flowers are absolutely beautiful - but not enough entries to make the competition as fierce as usual. So come on Muswell Hill green fingers!In the first picture I am with Pam Defries and her winning flower arrangement. In the second picture I am with Marion Wilton who is giving me an arrangement she made for me. It is so lovely to receive such a lovely gift - and the sweet peas smell heavenly. The third photo is my next stop of the day - late because of giving out the prizes at the horticulture show - just pop into Abbeyfield. Abbeyfield's Strawberry Tea is an absolute summer fixture - and today (unlike last year) the sun is shining. In the picture you can see me with resident Ivy Smith (97).

Heinz and homophobia (Lynne Featherstone).

So - 200 complaints about two men kissing and Heinz - whimps that they are - withdraw the advertisement.Just when you think that we have moved beyond the bigotry and homophobic hatreds of the past - something like this (or Iris Robinson) pops into the limelight and reminds us that we still have a long way to go to eradicate homophobia. We may have been able to make homophobic behaviour subject to the law - but it is clearly still there in the people - and in corporate cowards.Would Heinz have pulled an advert if 200 people had objected to it containing a woman? Or a black person? I certainly hope not! But if such blatant sexism or racism isn't acceptable, why treat homophobia as ok to give in to?Andrew (a former employee of mine!) has blogged on the subject at http://andrewrunning.blogspot.com/2008/06/boycott-heinz.html - and gives details of how to lobby Heinz. It's very easy - just an email or a call to their free phone number.I have signed an Early Day Motion condemning Heinz for their action - and I hope this whole episode does them the damage they deserve.(If you aren't a constituent of mine, do pop over to http://www.writetothem.com/ and email your own MP asking them to sign EDM 1913. Don't worry if you don't know who your MP is - the site will look it up for you and sort out sending the message.)[Cross-posted at http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/06/28/taking-action-against-heinz/]

Spurs Foundation (Lynne Featherstone).

Visited Spurs Foundation yesterday with Lib Dem colleagues: councillors Robert Gorrie, David Winskill and Rachel Alison, plus David Schmitz who is our prospective parliamentary candidate for Tottenham.We were looking at the work the foundation is doing in terms of encouraging learning, sports opportunities for children with disabilities, and generally discussing how and what needed doing in terms of integration between the west and east of Haringey.Spurs have moved a long, long way since the days when they were totally resistant to putting back anything into the local community and over the last several years have come on in leaps and bounds with 65 projects now running in Haringey and Enfield (and a couple in Waltham Forrest).So - nice to establish closer relationship between Spurs and the Lib Dem council group so that we can work together to ensure that Spurs doesn't only hear Labour voices in future.

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

Retirement Can Be The Time Of Your Life - Teather (Sarah Teather).

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather has supported Dame Betty's Mission Dine Club fundraising lunch.

Fri 27th Jun 2008:

Fighting 42 days online (Lynne Featherstone).

I've always felt that we bloggers have a little bit of viral campaigning power - but to date - have not really used what we have. There are some honorable and fantastic exceptions - Dan Hardie's Iraqi interpreters campaign comes immediately to mind - but not enough.So - yesterday I invited Sunny Hundal of Liberal Conspiracy and a couple of others to meet and discuss what we bloggers who oppose Labour's plans for 42 days detention without trial could do to stop this hideous legislation. Sunny in turn suggested some other people, and meet together we did.As I said, we need to stop this legislation - and for that there are three main targets: the Lords, those Labour MPs in the Commons who were reluctant converts to the Government's line or are wavering, and the wider public - to undermine the faux argument that the public supports 42 days.On the last - we know that the poll that Gordon Brown prays in aid of put the question pejoratively. Supposing you were asked if 42 days detention without charge was too long a time to hold terrorists without charge. Most would say - of course not. But if you said is 42 days detention without charge too long to hold innocent people - you might get a very different answer! Sunny is going to lead the charge - as I pointed out best not to have a politician leading as it then stops like-minded people from other parties joining whole-heartedly. This campaign is for anyone from anywhere who wants to fight against the 42 days! He's written more about it over on Liberal Conspiracy.

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

Gordon Brown anniversary: not a vintage year for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson).

Jo Swinson has criticised Gordon Brown's leadership, as the Prime Minister marks his first year in the job.

Thu 26th Jun 2008:

First round in Parliament on the Equalities Bill (Lynne Featherstone).

Today's the day! Or should have been. The Equalities Bill ''statement' today in the House of Common chamber came after loads of leaks and media on the subject. I can only assume that Ms Harman wanted the news agenda to herself - avoiding opposition criticism. Which is a shame - as the media have made great hay with the bit which will allow an employer who at interview has several equally qualified applicants - give the job to the one they feel fills a gap in the make up of their workforce. So - for example - if there was under-representation of male teachers in a primary school - and a woman and man both were equally qualified to get the job - the employer could decide to give the job to the man to improve the under-represented groups representation - without being sued. That's the point. Previously it was against the law.This is the bit that (in garbled and misleading form) grabbed the media attention, but the media have pretty much ignored the really good bit - that at the eleventh hour the Government included tackling age discrimination both in extending the equality duty on the public sector but also applying it to the provision of goods and services. Hurrah!This is something that should have happened years and years ago - and you might ask - what changed the Government's mind at the last moment? My current theory is - given that Labour may not be the Government when the costs of implementation come in - they decided to get it right as a sort of legacy - a farewell gift to equality and fairness. Well - I don't know really - but hurrah! Older people have had the worst of treatment in the equality agenda - so three cheers!However, the hawks in the cabinet have clearly won when it comes to tackling the private sector over their equality practises. The Government has baulked at any mandatory pay audits - and Harriet did not answer me when I asked at what point in the voluntary, softly softly approach to asking companies to publish their wages for employees so we can see the truth, the measures would become compulsory.And there was lots more - but over the next seven months - we will be pushing the agenda as hard as we can. And I expect the Government to include many of our 'asks'!

Today's news round up (Lynne Featherstone).

A few stories out in the newspapers today in which I feature:Equalities Bill - the Guardian has coverage today, including:The Liberal Democrat equality spokeswoman, Lynne Featherstone, said: "If the government genuinely wants to tackle equality, it must do more to end the growing discrepancy between the rules on pay for the public and private sector."Without compulsory pay audits for the private sector, these proposals will represent a very real victory for the hawks in the cabinet. Public sector equality rights are fast becoming an ivory tower that private sector employees can only dream of. A few tick-box questionnaires for government suppliers on their equality policy are going to do little to change the day-to-day opportunities for the 20 million people who work in the private sector." The future of the FAITH centre has been covered by the Hornsey Journal (blogged about here):THE FIGHT to save a centre that supports disabled people in Wood Green has reached the 11th hour, campaigners fear.Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone joined a protest over the planned closure of the FAITH (Further Advancement In Training in Haringey) Plant Centre, in Wolves Lane, last Friday.She said: "The notification has come late. This is almost the 11th hour. Everyone has got to get a shifty on to make sure it doesn't close before a rescue plan can be put into operation."The Journal's also covered the case of a local resident and her parking fine:A DISABLED resident is up in arms after a no parking sign pointing the wrong way left her £600 out of pocket.Elizabeth Bennett, of Highgate, could not see the sign when she parked in Southwood Avenue at 8.10am on Sunday, May 18, and was left with the hefty fine.Lynne Featherstone, Hornsey and Wood Green, MP is fighting her corner demanding transport bosses review the fine and repair the sign.Transport for London (TfL) has refunded the ticket and vowed that cars displaying blue disabled badges will never be removed.Lynne Featherstone said: "Parking restrictions are a necessity but when they are applied without compassion there is something wrong."I understand how Mrs Bennett believed she was parking legally. And £600 is way off the scale of what is fair. TfL must act."

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

FAMILY CAR DRIVERS ON ROAD TO RUIN WITH CHANCELLOR'S TAX GRAB - GIDLEY (Sandra Gidley).

City and County MP Sandra Gidley today hit out at Alistair Darling after figures revealed by the Liberal Democrats showed that drivers of family saloons like the Ford Mondeo, that were registered between March 1st 2001 and 23rd March 2006, will have to pay over double the current rate of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) by 2010. This would rake in around £20million from Hampshire drivers, and another £1.6 million from Southampton drivers on current figures, hitting local families already feeling the pinch of the credit crunch.

'FIGHT TO SAVE LOCAL POST OFFICES NOW ON' - BURT (Lorely Burt).

Local residents have been shocked to learn that three post offices in Solihull are facing closure.

'SOLIHULL HAS NOT BENEFITED FROM BROWN'S FIRST YEAR AS PRIME MINISTER' - BURT (Lorely Burt).

Solihull has not benefited from Gordon Brown's leadership, according to Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt.

Wed 25th Jun 2008:

Equality Bill coverage today (Lynne Featherstone).

More news on what the bill is likely to say over on politics.co.uk

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

MP VOWS TO FIGHT PREJUDICE (Sandra Gidley).

Local MP, Sandra Gidley has pledged to fight against prejudice and hatred as she joined MPs from all parties to sign the Anne Frank Declaration in the Houses of Parliament.

Tue 24th Jun 2008:

Single Equalities Bill about to be published (Lynne Featherstone).

Well - the much trailed Single Equalities Bill will be announced Wednesday or Thursday.We know that dealing with discrimination based on age is in (hurrah) and there will be a public sector equality duty. Equality in provision of goods and services for the elderly will be staged - exact timing not sure.Equal pay will be a biggee too - as there is still an unacceptable gap. We know the Government has baulked at mandatory pay audits in the private sector - so the hawks in the Cabinet won that one. Hope at the very least the Government does away with the requirement for a real comparator.I am sure Gordon Brown promised that this type of stuff would be announced first to parliament - not leaked to the press. Wonder if he told Harriet that?I suspect much of the Bill will be consensual - and we will all be glad when this magnum opus is completed. Much of it is tidying up and our discrimination law on the whole is pretty good. It's making it stand up in the real world and changing culture that is the barrier. Still - it's important to have the law to hang the behaviour around...

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

JULIA GETS HEALTHCHECK AT FALMOUTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (Julia Goldsworthy).

Julia and Terrye Teverson, Parliamentary Campaigner for Truro and Falmouth, joined staff and a wide variety of local community groups at Falmouth Community Hospital on Friday to celebrate the completion of its extensive refurbishments.

MPs CONGRATULATE HOSPITAL AND URGE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE FAIRER FUNDING DECISION (Julia Goldsworthy).

Cornwall's five Liberal Democrat MPs have tabled a special parliamentary motion welcoming the publishing of a report praising the staff of the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust in Truro, but have warned that their hard work is at risk of going to waste if Government fails to address the unfair funding formula that sees Cornwall's low local wages linked to poor NHS funding.

YOUNG COUNCILLOR SHADOWS JULIA (Julia Goldsworthy).

Julia Goldsworthy, MP for Falmouth and Camborne, was shadowed last Friday, by Joanna Tisdale, who is one of the youngest councillors in the country, having joined Stithians Parish Council at just 18 years and 23 days old.

Tue 24th Jun 2008:

Intergenerational mobility (Lynne Featherstone).

Intergerational mobility - or lack of it. I am speaking on a panel at the end of a day's conference for specialists, academics and the like about the fact that social mobility is less now than 30 years ago. If you're born poor you will die poor - is the basic message.For me the big issue is the widening equality gap and how bad that is for everyone. Countries with less of a gap between rich and poor do better, are happier and so on. Conclusions (mine) that we are still relatively class ridden society who look down their noses at vocational education (not me!) and we would do well to take a leaf out of the Netherland's school structures. And yes - 0 - 5 years is crucial - but so are second chances. Damn the government for taking away funding for a second degree later in life. That removed so many second chances - and hey ho - hits women (often single mothers) returning to work and advancing themselves.

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

JULIA CELEBRATES SLEEPER SERVICE REVAMP (Julia Goldsworthy).

Falmouth and Camborne MP Julia Goldsworthy celebrated the re-launch of the sleeper service between London Paddington to Penzance, following a multi-million pound upgrade to the service by First Great Western.

JULIA WELCOMES TRANSPORT FUNDING SUCCESS (Julia Goldsworthy).

Commenting on the news that CPR Regeneration has secured £34m of Government funding for road and transport improvements in Camborne-Redruth-Pool, Julia Goldsworthy MP said:

Mon 23rd Jun 2008:

If I could commission one government IT project (Lynne Featherstone).

That's the topic of my (first!) posting today over at Liberal Conspiracy: I’ve been pretty critical of two massive government IT projects – the existing plans to introduce mandatory identity cards with a huge database behind them and also the Home Office talk of a database of all phone calls and emails made anywhere in the country.My criticisms in both cases are three-fold: the money involved could be better spent on other projects (such as giving us more police rather than keeping huge databases of the activities of innocent people), they involve a huge infringement of our liberties and privacy, and – thirdly - big IT projects like this are likely to go wrong and to be vulnerable to misuse.But I’m not a Luddite. Over time I’ve found embracing IT innovations has made my life easier and made me more efficient - whether it was years ago buying a laser printer to speed up production of casework letters or more recently starting to use the text-messaging based blogging service Twitter to help keep residents informed of what I’m up to as an MP.Indeed, the idea of organising information in an efficient way so that it helps people make decisions and find out what’s going on is fundamentally a very liberal approach – getting computer code to do the heavy lifting so that individuals can find out and act.So this has got me thinking - if I could commission just one IT project from government, what would it be?You can read the rest of the piece here and there's an interesting response over at Puffbox.

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

Notice of surgery for deaf and hard of hearing residents (Jo Swinson).

Jo Swinson will hold an advice surgery specifically for deaf and hard of hearing constituents on Friday 27th June.

Sun 22nd Jun 2008:

Hillfield Park 2008 Olympics (Lynne Featherstone).

Well - it's the Hillfield Park 2008 Olympics! Hillfield Park's annual street party is the daddy of street parties. I've been going there for - I don't even know how many years. Such a lot of organisation goes into this event with three teams (red, white and blue) representing the three streets or part streets involved.Loads and loads of events - from skipping, to a dog obstacle course, to a bike race up Hillfield (and that's one hell of a hill) to a major tug of war. The children adore it and everyone gets to know their neighbours. In the evening - although I left at around 5.30 they go on to party 'til late. Congrats again to the A team from Hillfield Park.I am pictured firstly with Harry. Harry lives at No 43 and did not win the dog obstacle course.But I have seen Harry (not the youngest of dogs) take part every year and in the spirit of the taking part being the important bit (as opposed to winning) I asked to have my photo with him!Then I met up with Peter Thompson - one of the key organisers and local saint for all he does in Muswell Hill and elsewhere.I had to unveil a plaque. In reality the wind unveiled it - but it was to remember Viv Stanshall, late of Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.Musician, broadcaster, wit and raconteur and troubled genius, Viv was the main singer in the band. The hit most people would remember (if they are my age) is I'm the Urban Spaceman. He lived at No. 21 - but I never knew that until today. Nice to have him remembered!

Why I cried yesterday (Lynne Featherstone).

Yesterday went to launch the sports day for the Hornsey Trust for Children with Cerebral Palsy. This is one of the only places in the whole of London where from the age of six months parents can take their child to a conductive education school. This is the method that started in the Petto Institute - at the time highly controversial, but which delivers results.And you know - can you imagine what it is like? You give birth - with all the hope in your heart that nothing is wrong - and then you are told that your child has cerebral palsy. A new world that you never wanted to take part in lies in front of you. What does it mean? Where can I get help? What will my child be capable of? So many questions and so many battles ahead.When you become the parent of a child with disabilities - you will spend so much of your time researching and fighting to get what your child needs. Of course - it should be there - but it it often isn't.Many parents come to me because they cannot get Haringey (or whatever local authority) to fund their child's education or care. And when the policy is mainstreaming - there is a great resistance to special facilities.That is now beginning to change - as the consequences of the policy have become clear - that in some cases mainstreaming is appropriate; in some cases it isn't and in some cases half the week in each is the best solution.Anyway - back to sports day. Three groups of children up to the age of seven with about six or seven children in each group were doing races. The first group were mobile with a variety of help - of walking frames or without - and they went around a simple obstacle course. The conductive method seems to work off intense one to one encouragement and help to urge the child to take the next move. It is a kind of patterning - but I am no expert. At the finish lines, siblings, parents and relatives rejoice - and the little ones faces full of beams. The point is that they have achieved!The next group less mobile - but in a short distance to a finishing tape - they crawled using their elbows or whatever - each with a helper urging them on each and every step. And the last group even less mobile - literally encouraged to roll to the finish line.It is intense and it must be exhausting for the trainers - but the children from all the groups absolutely loved it. And the effort and the love in that room meant that tears rolled down my face continually. Don't get me wrong - no-one else cried - they were all happy. But I cried because the achievement was huge and the road so hard and the bravery and the love so strong.And I spoke to quite a few of the parents - and the struggle they have had to get the funding to have their child here rather than where their local authority wanted the child to go. For parents here - they have seen what this method can achieve. The normal method puts them in a wheelchair and the parents feel condemns them to a very limited life. I met one parent of a girl who had not been able to walk - now she walks. For some the improvements are small by 'normal' standards - but they are all about improving quality of life and maximising what each child can do - and as a parent that is what you want.It isn't just cerebral palsy. Readers of my blog will see only a week or so ago I visited the mother of a young girl who couldn't get a power wheelchair from Haringey who seem to operate a one chair fits all policy.And there are many others - but I don't want to post here as they are private matters brought to me - but they are on the same line. The parent fights and the authorities (whether medical, council or other) all seem to make the already horrendously difficult road more difficult, more bleak and more hopeless.Three cheers for all the parents at Hornsey Trust and all the children - and the wonderful staff!Then it was Highgate Fair - happily the horrible rain and drizzle of the morning has dried up for this Highgate celebration. Lots of stalls and people and children all milling around and seeing what's to eat, what's to buy and what's to join. My Lib Dem councillor colleagues - Neil Williams, Rachel Alison and Bob Hare have a stall too. The big event for me here is the launch of the Highgate Shopping Bag! I purchase one immediately. My only problem now is that I have the Crouch End Shopping Bag and the Highgate Shopping bag (and I have a designer given to me by my daughter last Christmas) and Marks bags that you buy to shop there. So two things - is it de trop to use the wrong bag in the wrong area? (Jokes!) And come on Muswell Hill - you can't be left behind! Join in and soon!

Sat 21st Jun 2008:

The Westminster Hour: Sunday 10pm (Lynne Featherstone).

I'm back on The Westminster Hour this Sunday: Radio 4, 10pm.If you miss the show you'll be able to listen again on their website.If you want to get advanced notice of my media appearances like this one, you can use the media events service at Flock Together. You've got three choices:Using this feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/LiberalDemocratsMediaAppearances, or By email: register at FlockTogether and pick “Media appearances” as one of the categories of events you want to be emailed about. (If you are an existing Flock Together user you can also change your preferences - login and then click “Edit your preferences” in the left-hand menu; you need to tick “Media Appearances” under “Email options”), orOn the web: take a look at the dedicated Flock Together page.

What does an MP do when they are not in Parliament? (Lynne Featherstone).

Sometimes people think that being in Parliament was the only part of being an MP. I wish - the job would be much easier if that was all there is to it!So as an example - this is what Friday was like for me. Started with a few hours of surgery (residents coming to meet me face-to-face to raise issues) - with at least four people bursting into tears. No - not 'cos I am mean to them - but because I am sympathetic - and so many of those who come to me at surgery have been through so much with nobody listening. And when someone sits you down and says now what's wrong and how can I help - it is obviously a release. I may not always be able to solve the problem - but I do listen properly. It's pretty dreadful when the first person who will listen non-judgementally is your MP! And it is very, very emotionally draining.Next port of call - to see the finished works at Bounds Green station. Cllr John Oakes, my local Lib Dem colleague and councillor for the ward was also in attendance. I went to see the works in progress some while back - hundreds of fluorescent orange jackets deep underground, dozens of different trades busying away at 2am. They have very limited time to work - so literally an anthill of activity.Today I am met by Mike Challis, who is the General Manager of the Piccadilly line. The station really does look marvellous. And the very beautiful lights at the bottom of the escalators now look splendid in their setting. So much better!The only flaw was the backing to the posters you stare at inanely whilst you are going up and down the escalators. This area wasn't renewed (they can't do everything - too much money) but it was a shame as they detracted a bit from the rest of the work that made the station look so much better.Then back to Wood Green to support the Alzheimer's Society day of protest about the appalling way those with dementia or caring for those with the dementia are treated compared to other illnesses. It is that they are charged for help with washing, eating and using the toilet. One in three people over 65 are affected. And it could be you!The cost is heavy. The quality of care often poor. Dementia sufferers are hardest hit by such costs as they need so much care over so many years. And the means test for what help there is penalises those who have saved a little bit for their old age with the threshold at £21,000.The Government is to launch a consultation in 2009 and what the Alzheimer's Society is saying is that for dementia they need a funding system that is fair, sustainable, transparent, simple to understand and will deliver good quality care. The solution the Government eventually puts forward must meet the needs of people with dementia - not just the convenience of the Government.Then on to the FAITH Plant Centre which is in Wolves Lane right on the edge of my constituency boundary with Tottenham. Cllr Richard Wilson, my Lib Dem colleague and spokesperson for Social Services and Health in Haringey, was there too.Here they have the most remarkable jungle area, desert area and rain forest area - as well as a garden centre - and also training and work for volunteers with a variety of disabilities.About 50 volunteers come here to train and work in horticulture. This perfectly fits the bill of helping people to find routes to occupations for those who simply cannot work in the normal way. Additionally - local children come here to experience the different climate areas, to learn about some of the creatures that live in them too.The problems are thus. This wonderful scheme has been funded through a national charity, Livability, to the tune of roughly £300,000 a year. It will end its funding at the end of August, because they say they can't afford to continue this any more without support from Haringey Council and others.This would end all the educational work with primary schools, all the work with adults with learning disabilities and force the place to close unless Haringey Council steps in to find other sources of funding.The site is owned by Haringey Parks (it's their old nursery) who give it rent free to the organisation that run it. The (only) funding Haringey Council gives is for the three staff who run the cafe (a council funded project that was moved to the centre when it had to leave its previous location), and they pay for the plants that are grown there for the parks. But Haringey Council do not pay towards the maintenance of the site. In addition to the funding needed to keep the service open, it is in need of investment - it needs £300,000 to replace the electrics very soon.A lot of volunteers, their families and local users of the centre turned up to tell me how much the centre means to them. To most of the volunteers closure will result in the end of their outside independence. Many of the volunteers will simply be left to vegetate at home if the scheme closes - so it's battle stations for a really worthwhile cause. Watch this space!Whoosh back to get to Greig City Academy to meet with the students and staff who tell me what they plan to do as part of the B & Q @One Planet Living Award scheme. Greig has been awarded £2,400 based on a natural pond they have created. They will use it to establish plants and to purchase special tools to construct and maintain the area. Two B & Q staff came for the photo op - and together with four students there are now photos in existence of me and them in wellies in the middle of the pond. It's not dull - being the MP! Well done Greig and B & Q for the scheme itself.Then off to to Highgate School for two very good reasons. Meet the science teachers and the four boys who have won the 2008 Top of the Bench competition. Twice before they have got close - but this time they have done it. It is a wonderful tribute to the science teaching at Highgate and to celebrate I have tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament to congratulate them!But the main event I am at Highgate School for is to launch the Chrysallis Partnership. Basically Highgate School is using its very best skills to advantage all the bright children from other schools in Haringey and Camden. This part is about offering subject-specific teaching to bright pupils and about offering specialist advice and assistance in applying to top universities.I think this is fantastic. For far too long Highgate School has been regarded as separate from the community of schools in Haringey. What I saw was the beginning of a reaching out and bringing all our schools together to develop and use skills to help all our children. I think there is a passion and a hunger there which will spread benefits widely.And - as the Head himself said - the ultra bright pupils who are coming from other schools are teaching the Highgate pupils a thing or two themselves. Adam hopes in years to come to extend the scheme so all the schools can offer any specialist skill they may have to pupils from the other schools - not just Highgate. Anyway - too much to put in a blog posting!

Campaigning in Henley (Lynne Featherstone).

Was campaigning in Henley with Stephen Kearney this week.Well impressed with our candidate - a wow on the doorstep!Love by-elections - especially seeing very different constituencies are from each other.Polling day is Thursday (June 26th), so if you're thinking of going to help Stephen's campaign (again) - time to get a move on!

Fri 20th Jun 2008:

42 days, David Davis and Nick Clegg (Lynne Featherstone).

I am truly sick of the Westminster Village sneering attitude to David Davis. Quite frankly - I don't care if David Davis is doing this for truth, justice and liberty or because he was never going to get Home Secretary, is a loner, egomaniac or because he hates David Cameron - all doing the rounds as explanations.What I do care about is the issue - and if his actions help secure the same outcome that I want, then good for him - and I don't see why I should have to pretend that I don't really agree with him - or have to pretend that him helping to achieve what I want too isn't a good thing - just because we are in different parties or disagree about 1,001 other issues.Why does the issue of 42 days detention without trial matter so much? Quite simply - because locking an innocent person up for a month and a half is an awful, ghastly thing to do. Imagine it happening to yourself. How it can wreck jobs, pull apart relationship and leave a deep and abiding sense of anger and hostility.And we know that when the police and other authorities think they know that someone is guilty - they ain't always right. That's why people get acquitted. Even with the best will in the world, mistakes are made. And we know too - the best will often is missing. We've seen in the fight against Irish terrorism how some police were so convinced they knew who was guilty that evidence was forged - to frame people for crimes they didn't commit. We know we can't just assume that all involved in security matters follow the rules and do their job properly - look at the repeated incidents of secret documents being lost!So locking anyone up for any protracted period of time without a trial should only be a matter of very last resort. That's not the situation we're in. The government has left a whole host of other approaches untouched - such as changing the rules on what can happen pre and post charge. Or indeed taking the obvious step to deal with the extra complexities of terrorism investigations these days (involving many computers and many countries and so on) - that of giving extra resources to the police and security services.If the problem is investigations taking too long - put more resources in I say. Double win if that's done - not only are you able to keep to the current timescales - but if you're investigating an outrage or would-be outrage, the quicker you do it the more chance there is of stopping other outrages too through what you discover in the investigation. Let's not forget, Labour managed to whip up some extra billions just before a by-election polling day to attempt to deal with the political fallout from their 10p tax policies. So do we really think they've exhausted every avenue to fund quicker investigations into terrorism?Go back to imaging your life. If you've got a diary for the next month or two take a look at it. And then imagine being locked up for 42days without being told why you're being held. And think of the impact it would have on you. And then remember how very many of the people held at the moment end up being released without charge or being acquitted in court.That's why this issue cuts to the very core of the point of having elections and Parliament in the first place. If MPs aren't there to protect people from the almost inevitable demands for greater and greater powers over them from all parts of the state, what is the point of much of what we do?That's why I agree with David Davis on the issue, and why I have a sneaking admiration for the insight or bravery or zaniness or call it whatever you will that he showed in forcing the 42 days issue to stay at the centre of political debate by forcing a by-election.I don't envy Nick Clegg and others having to make the quick judgement about how to react to his resignation. I think Nick and they got it right - there really are some issues which are more important the inter-party disagreements. And events so far have shown his judgement to be much surer than that of many of the critics.No, Davis's resignation on the issue didn't hand Cameron a media bonanza - just look at all the coverage of splits in the Conservatives.No, it wasn't a pointless resignation - just look at the way those in the Conservative Party who wanted to back down over 42 days have instead themselves been backed into a corner.No - it wasn't a one-day wonder - just look at the continuing attention being given to the issue.And above all - yes, it has been possible for David Davis to keep this attention on the civil liberties grounds on which we agree with him. (Imagine if there were a Liberal Democrat candidate against him - by necessity they would be having to campaign on a whole range of other issues in order to give people a reason to vote for them rather than for Davis - and that would have taken the attention away from that very civil liberties issue).On each of these points, Nick and other's judgement so far has been proved right - and events are offering us the opportunity to make a major step forward in the fight for our civil liberties. Real protection for our civil liberties doesn't just come from electing Liberal Democrats - it comes from moving the terms of debate for all political parties. Civil liberties are part of the very Liberal Democrat DNA and to me helping make that happen matters far more than the usual instinct of"must fight every election, must fight every election, must fight every election."

Earlham Primary School visits Parliament (Lynne Featherstone).

The past two Mondays - I have taken young people from Earlham Primary School on a tour of the House of Commons - or rather Ed (my Head of Office) has been the tour guide and I have accompanied them.It's followed by an hour of questions to me by the kids. I love it when my schools come up. Usually they join an official tour - but this time they left it too late so they got the DIY version from me!

Polyclinics: panacea or plague? (Lynne Featherstone).

Polyclinics are turning out to be one of those slow-burning political issues which, although getting the occasional piece of news coverage, have really been bubbling away in the public’s mind and concerns for a long time before really grabbing the forefront of political attention.The possible introduction of polyclinics has been an issue in Haringey for some time now, and it’s a topic I’ve blogged about moderately regularly – but nearly each time I’ve been struck when going to research further information on the topic or to see what other people have been saying, how little attention overall the issue has been getting. Yes, there’s been the occasional news story and occasional reference in Parliament, but for an issue that could massively alter the way tens of millions of people get their health care via the NHS, it’s really been pretty low key.The recent news that over 1 million people have signed a petition on the issue – along with the major Kings Fund report into the topic - may well change that now!I certainly hope so, because the introduction of Polyclinics, or Neighbourhood Health Centres, or whatever the government has tried to re-brand them as this week is the biggest health issue facing my constituency – and many others – at the moment.The idea behind these centres has some attractions – bring different health services together on one site so that you can move quickly and easily between those services without the usual delays (go to one place, get referred to another, wait for appointment) or the extra travel.Haringey’s Primary Care Trust has chosen to be a trail blazer for Polyclinics and has enthusiastically adopted the idea. The current proposal is to close a number of local GP’s surgeries and consolidate them into four or five Polyclinics.And that’s where the concerns start. Will these become large impersonal services where we are no longer able to see our own local doctor? We need guarantees that the relationship with your doctor will continue. Any severing the doctor/patient relationship would be a travesty. Hardly anyone wants to explain a deeply personal medical problem to a complete stranger.Consolidation of GP’s will undoubtedly increase journey times for many people wishing to see their GP, and force them to take either public transport or their car. The heaviest users of primary care have low levels of car ownership (senior citizens 69% no car; lone parents 42%).It’s easy for those of us who have no trouble getting around to under-estimate just what a burden it can be to extend someone’s 10 minute journey into a 30 minute with two bus changes journey.The site of the old Hornsey Hospital is where one of the proposed polyclinics is to be built. This site is currently served by only one bus route and it takes Transport for London anything from two years to establish a bus route. This means that those with the most need would most likely have the least access to the service. I met with TfL and raised the issue of public transport provision to this site several years ago and recently raised it with Peter Hendy – the Transport Commissioner for London. But as yet – no firm plans.Sorting out adequate access to the services should be central to any polyclinics plan – not an afterthought to play around with after the service is in place and people are already suffering from poor transport links.The recent report by the Kings Fund concluded that there were "serious risks to access to care" posed by consolidation of primary health care and that "it is unlikely that the gains in access to some services currently provided in hospitals are worth the losses for primary care patients."Accessibility of service, both in terms of getting an appointment and getting to the appointment, is vital – especially as 90% of access to the NHS is via the primary care route.And then there is the question of whether polyclinics will really add to our services and facilities? Or will consolidation mean – as it has in so many other areas – cuts?That brings me to the problems over how the policy is being pushed through – without proper consultation or information. It’s a central imposition of Labour’s ideas on to local communities. Local health bodies have been instructed by central government that they must have polyclinics in every community. This is a classic top-down, Whitehall imposed centralising solution to local problems.As with our post offices, we were promised that local opinion would be taken account of through consultation. Yet so far we have not been told precisely which services will be provided by polyclinics. This renders the consultation process pretty meaningless as we cannot make an informed choice about what we will gain. And so we are marching on blind – not knowing and having to keep our fingers crossed.

Thu 19th Jun 2008:

Bringing understanding between those of different faiths (Lynne Featherstone).

I haven’t blogged about being a "parliamentor" to three young women from the Three Faiths Forum. It was born to work at friendship and understanding between Jew, Christian and Muslim.For a year nine groups of three young people (one from each of those faiths) has been mentored by one of nine parliamentors as they developed a project – and at the same time learned about each other.Amina, Eva and Michele were assigned me as their mentor. Each month they have come to spend time with me at Parliament or in Hornsey & Wood Green. What a bright and talented trio my girls are!Yesterday was the end of the year presentations with each group presenting their project to the assembled guests at Parliament. My group, in the end, chose to make their project about asylum seekers.They gave wonderful examples of what people coming here have brought to our country (including Marks & Spencer) and went on to explore the work they had done with the Refugee Council and the difficulties of being without state support, without medical care, without anything – held in limbo (or worse) whilst the appalling Home Office fiddles for years before delivering an outcome.So well done! Daniella (a saint herself and responsible for running the whole caboodle) told me that my three had started barely being able to talk to each other – and now were inseparable friends. That’s the real value – that understanding that we all as humans have far more in common then we have in differences will stay with them all their lives and colour their understanding of the religious divides – and never let them be human divides.Just a word to say thank you to the Sternberg Foundation who part-funded this project. It is hugely worthwhile work – and none of it could happen without funding.

Sun 6th Jul 2008:

MP BACKS BILL TO REMOVE DNA RECORDS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF CRIME (Lorely Burt).

Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt is backing a Bill in parliament aiming to remove DNA records for individuals who are not charged or are acquitted of crimes.

MP BACKS CHARITY'S PIONEERING APPROACH TO STEM CELL RESEARCH (Lorely Burt).

Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt has recently added their name to a House of Commons Early Day Motion which draws attention to the work of The Anthony Nolan Trust, a charity dedicated to providing lifesaving donors for patients in need of a bone marrow transplant.

PARENTS' DELIGHT AT NEW SLIDE IN JUBILEE PARK (Lorely Burt).

Lyndon parents, Clare and Karl Chetwynd were "over the moon" when a new infants slide appeared in Jubilee Park just weeks after they contacted Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt for help.

GIDLEY BACKS BILL TO REMOVE DNA RECORDS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF CRIME (Sandra Gidley).

Local Liberal Democrat MP, Sandra Gidley is backing a Bill in parliament aiming to remove DNA records for individuals who are not charged or are acquitted of crimes.

ROYAL HANTS HOSPITAL ON RED ALERT OVER BED OCCUPANCY (Sandra Gidley).

Hampshire MP, Sandra Gidley has obtained figures from the Royal Hampshire County Hospital which show that it was placed on the highest level of crisis alert - 'red alert'* - for 63 of the 91 days (69% of the time) from the beginning of December last year to the beginning of March 2008.

WELSH PRIVATE SECTOR JOB LOSSES ARE ACCELERATING (Jenny Willott).

Commenting on today's Royal Bank of Scotland's Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) report for Wales showing that job losses in the Welsh private sector are accelerating, Jenny Willott, Lib Dem shadow Work and Pensions Secretary and MP for Cardiff Central, said:

Annette Brooke MP, signing the Anne Frank Declaration (Annette Brooke).

Annette Brooke MP, signing the Anne Frank Declaration on 10th June, a commitment to challenge prejudice and reduce hatred. The Declaration celebrated it's 10th anniversary this year and was established by the Anne Frank Trust UK.

HOMELESSNESS ON THE RISE IN SOUTHAMPTON (Sandra Gidley).

City MP, Sandra Gidley, has today called for action to help the growing numbers of homeless people in Southampton.

Question Time - Thu 19th June (Jo Swinson).

Jo Swinson will be a guest of David Dimbleby on this week's edition of Question Time. The show, which will be broadcast from Portsmouth, airs on Thursday 19th June at 10.35pm on BBC One.

KRAMER CONGRATULATES NEW MALDEN YOUTH (Susan Kramer).

Local MP Susan Kramer congratulated members of Theatre4All on a successful 2nd New Malden Arts Festival.

"HOMELINK" SHOULD BE A TEMPLATE FOR RESPITE FOR CARERS (Susan Kramer).

As part of Carers' week, local MP Susan Kramer visited Homelink, the Day Respite Care centre in Twickenham. Homelink offers a place one day a week to older people with long-term illnesses or disabilities so that their carers can have 5 hours off.

MP meets parents to discuss latest updates on Kingston primary school admissions (Susan Kramer).

Susan Kramer MP joined Edward Davey MP, local councillors and many local parents at Kingston Council's meeting on 12 June to hear the latest update on primary school admissions.

MUSSEL FARMING ON THE FAL - "Government needs a joined up appraoch to water quality" says Julia (Julia Goldsworthy).

Local MP Julia Goldsworthy will lead a debate in Parliament this Wednesday at 4.30pm, to raise local mussel farmers' concerns about declining water quality on the Fal River, which they fear is threatening their business.

WILLOTT RALLIES MPS TO FIGHT FOR VIOXX VICTIMS JUSTICE (Jenny Willott).

Today, Jenny Willott MP met with a group of cross party MPs, lawyers and individuals who suffered heart attacks or strokes after taking Vioxx - a pain relieving drug produced by the US pharmaceutical company 'Merck'.

Earlier Stories

Complete archive on the official site.

Lib Dem Women in Parliament.