Duckhouses, Power and pullouts

Last night, together with thousands of Lambeth and Southwark residents, I celebrated November 5th by attending one of the three fireworks displays provided by Lambeth Council in Brockwell Park. It was more difficult than ever to enter the park because of the new traffic intersection being built at the front gates which meant that people were funneled through a narrow entrace in the middle of the road works, but we got there just as the fireworks were starting. Luckily the rain held off and the display was well worth seeing as usual.

However, it is worth considering the history of the Guy Fawkes event and its modern relevance. Clearly as every school child knows, it was an attempt to blow up James I and his parliament by a group of conspirators deeply worried about the persecution of Roman Catholics in England and the succession of a new king who was seen as even more extreme in this regard than his predecessor, Elizabeth I. This history has been used very effectively in recent years in the film V where the hero, a latter day Guy Fawkes, is battling against a totalitarian state and a parliament which has become a rubber stamp. Which brings us back to today.

Dissatisfaction with our electoral system is at boiling point. The MPs expenses row has brought things to a halt but it has also brought to the fore the issue of our broken electoral system, which the Green Party has been arguing about for years. More and more people are coming around to the view that the fall in turnout for elections and many of the problems emanating from our legislature is due to the fact that most MPs have merely become lobby fodder and that the current electoral system ensures that all the major parties need only address a handful of voters in some key marginals. while leaving the concerns of much of the electorate unaddressed. This is proving to be truly corrosive and there is a growing movement for change spearheaded by Make My Vote Count. Yesterday to mark Guy Fawkes Day they held a publicity stunt on the Thames outside parliament where they floated a raft disguised as a duck house down the river. The duck house, of course, having featured in the recent expenses expose carried out by the Daily Telegraph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDhC9zUh6AI

There is real and crying need for change. Just how far removed the politicians and some of their civil servants are from reality was revealed last week when the Justice Dept put forward proposals for cutting the costs of the general election by limiting the number of polling stations and also possibly increasing the cost of a candidate's deposit, thus ensuring that less smaller parties would be eligible to stand. And this at a time when turnout is at an all time low. The story was carried in the The Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6897013.ece where it was reported that Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, was distancing himself from his own officials findings. However, who knows what this government has up its sleeve next?

In the meantime there is an appeal below from Make My Vote Count and I hope that as many people as possible will sign up to it. Unfortunately time is running out before the next general election and the Labour Party and the government need as much pressure as possible brought to bear on them from the public.

Remember, Remember the 5th of November ... duckhouses, Power and pullouts.

http://VoteForAChange.co.uk/10000

This afternoon the Vote for a Change campaign have floated a model of a duck house down the River Thames to Westminster. For those inside Parliament, the message is simple: 'you can't duck change'. There is no possibility of effective self regulation at Westminster. The fundamental questions - like how we hire and fire our MPs - can't be left to politicians. But it can be left to the voters on Election Day with a referendum on the voting system.

Today's action is one of a series of campaign activities piling up the pressure on MPs in the run up to the Queen's Speech on 18 November. Our activities range right the way from a meeting next week with Gordon Brown and one-to-one lobbying of Labour MPs; to supporter emails to a "rogue's gallery" of high profile electoral reform opponents; taking the Gravy Train to MPs of all parties who are roadblocks to reform; and getting 60 young people together outside Parliament dressed as zombie politicians for a Halloween stunt.

http://www.voteforachange.co.uk/blog

Adding another notch to our lobbying of Labour MPs and decision-makers, this coming week's edition of the New Statesman magazine contains a 32-page pullout section on electoral reform. You can pick up a copy of the New Statesman from your local news stand.

We've also set an ambitious goal: 10,000 letters to those MPs who are resisting reform and propping up our rotten political system for their own benefit. Can you help us reach 10,000 today by sending a letter now?

http://VoteForAChange.co.uk/10000

We want voters to be in the driving seat of shaping a new politics. We are excited that a new campaign - POWER2010 - is offering people exactly that chance.

POWER2010 are seeking your ideas for changing the way we run our country. Those ideas with most support will become the POWER2010 Pledge - and form the basis of major campaign activity both immediately before and during the General Election.

To add your idea - for instance on electoral reform - go onto the POWER2010 site:

http://www.power2010.org.uk/page/s/yourideas

Like I've just done, you can also sign this letter from Power2010 to the three main Party leaders telling them that the Kelly review (on expenses) was not enough ... it's now time for the people to be given a genuine say in how our democracy is run.

http://www.power2010.org.uk/notenough

Together we will change politics. For good.

Thank you,

Malcolm

Director, Make Votes Count

6 Chancel Street
London SE1 0UU
(t) 020 7928 2076
(f) 020 7401 7789
(m) 07733322148
http://www.makemyvotecount.org.uk/activismhub
http://www.voteforachange.co.uk/

False promises

So now we know. David Cameron's promise to run a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty was not worth the piece of paper it was written on. Almost as good a promise as Tony Blair's to give the people of the UK a referendum on the treaty (err Constitution actually). This will further deeply corrode people's trust in the promises of politicians. But it also brings to the fore the question of what the Tories are actually concerned about regarding the Lisbon Treaty. The defence provisions which require states to continually upgrade their military hardware? No. The provisions on the privatisation of public services and the neo-liberal economic agenda? No.

No the Tories main concerns are about workers rights, more holidays and giving paternity leave. With the longest hours in Europe and the least holidays the 'mine's a duck pond' Tories want us to work longer and have less time off, with the resulting increase in stress and impact on family life, children left alone etc. Seamus Milne puts the point well in today's Guardian:

"The truth is that dogma is, if anything, clung to even more tightly in London than in Brussels, and its grip has to be broken in both. Criticism of the European Union has for too long been dominated by a phoney chauvinistic Euroscepticism that ignores the real interests that have driven its development. Cameron's posturing yesterday about "referendum locks" and a bill to prevent the transfer of further powers to the EU does nothing to challenge that. Like New Labour, the Tories positively embrace loss of democratic or national sovereignty when it comes to corporate, or US, power."

I share concerns about the increasing loss of power to the EU elite but the Tories would just like us to be more like the good ol USA. And David Cameron has also promised that the NHS will be safe from spending cuts under a Tory government. Well I think we all know what will happen with that promise as well.

A jab in time saves...

Last week I attended the Clinical Governance Committee of the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust in my capacity as Vice Chair of the Patients Forum. I was quite surprised to hear the Medical Director, Dr Fiona Moore, tell the meeting that she had not yet recommended LAS staff to avail of the swine flu vaccine. I questioned her on this and asked her was it not NHS and Dept of Health policy for all frontline health staff to take the vaccine. She confirmed that it was but that she had not yet received sufficient assurances regarding its safety. Rather disconcerted by this reply, as I was aware that my local GP was having a swine flu vaccination clinic on Saturday, I contacted the Chair of the Forum, the nationally known health activist and National Association of LINks Members Chair, Malcolm Alexander. Malcolm wrote to Dr Moore and surprisingly within days she had reversed her decision, stating that she was recommending vaccination of all LAS staff. This rather surprised me but is indicative of the confusion surrounding this issue.

The voluntary sector organisation where I work, which deals with many vulnerable older and disabled people, many of whom are in poor health, was contacted regarding vaccination by Lambeth Council last week. As many of our staff are frontline staff visiting people in their homes, Lambeth Council offered to provide vaccination sessions for the voluntary sector in the borough. This, I thought, was a responsible and correct step. Imagine my surprise and disappointment then when the Director told me that almost nobody had taken up the offer and that two members of staff had stated that under no circumstances would they take the vaccine. He pointed out that vaccination was voluntary and that he could not do anything more. The ironic thing about this is that one member of staff is currently very ill with swine flu and I would have thought that this would have spurred people on. Unfortunately many people have been taken in by hysteria and disinformation about vaccination and I fear that the consequences may be serious for both workers and patients in the health and social care fields. One need only see what is happening in Ukraine at present to be worried.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8338835.stm

I was vaccinated on Saturday, together with my partner. We have had no problems whatsoever other than some swelling in the area which was injected. As someone who has been active in anti-flu campaigns and has been pushing hard on the issue in the NHS over the last few years, I am very disconcerted by the anti-science and frankly absurd position adopted by some people, many of whom should know better. My great grandfather and grand uncle were both carried away by the 1918 pandemic within the course of 24 hours and I have always taken this illness very seriously. It only right that frontline health and social care staff be vaccinated now, along with all those in the high risk groups. I fear that a busy winter lies ahead for our hospitals and GPs and they need all the help they can get.

Standing up for LGBT rights against hate crime

Went on Friday night to the inspirational and moving event held in Trafalgar Square against homophobic hate crime hosted by Sandy Toksvig. Images here on You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2je-T-4vHVM

Speakers included Chris Bryan MP and Maria Eagle MP from the Labour Party, Richard Barnes the Deputy Mayor of London for the Tories and our own Darren Johnson, Chair of the London Assembly for the Greens. Letters were also read out from Gordon Brown and David Cameron. LGBT choir and orchestra were in attendance. I was present with members of the Green Party LGBTIQ Group and Green Left. We held candles in the darkness and listened to some very moving speeches and pieces of music. St Martin in the Fields church flew the rainbow flag.

I was very proud to see thousands of LGBT people and their straight friends demonstrating against hatred and intolerance. Appropriate also that a message from Harvey Milk's gay nephew was also read out. Inspiring also that last night on my way home from a meeting of the London Ambulance Service Patients Forum I spotted two gay men holding hands near Waterloo station. We will not be terrorised or driven from the streets of London.

Breakthrough in Honduras

After months of repression and the attempts of the constitutionally elected president of Honduras, President Zelaya, to return to power following a coup, it appears that a breakthrough has happened.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8333210.stm

This is only due to the persistence of Zelaya, who has been holed up in the Brazilian embassy, while the coup leaders have arrested and beaten up his supporters outside. However, it appears that external pressure and the constant support of the people and trade unions have forced the hand of the coup leaders. President Zelaya may shortly be returned to office.

Apart from its implications for Honduras, this coup was also vitally important in Latin America, as it was a test case to see whether old style coups by the military and oligarchy were still acceptable in the region. This has been proved not to be the case and is a victory for the forces of democracy throughout the continent as well as those clamouring for social justice and human rights. Although the US and Hilary Clinton have given support to Zelaya, it is primarily the Latin American states, particularly Brazil and Venezuela, which have been most supportive. The US has been lukewarm in its support and tried to discourage Zelaya from returning to Honduras. Only his steadfast belief in the people of Honduras and in his own democratic legitimacy have sustained Zelaya and it looks as if he will return to power as a victor in Honduras.

This is also a grim warning however, that the forces of the vested interests and the oligarchy will oppose radical politicians who threaten their power base and wealth. This is what happened in Venezuela and elsewhere and demonstrates that reactionary forces are still at work, and are encouraged by some in the US administration and the Republicans. Hopefully Zelaya can now take office peacefully and implement his social and economic reforms.

No to Hate Crime Vigil in Trafalgar Square Tonight

NEWS FROM LGBTGreens In the GREEN PARTY of England and Waleshttp://www.lgbtgreens.org.uk/

Remember Ian Baynham and all victims of LGBT hate crimes LGBTGreens: Now is the time to stand up to the Bigots together!

Phelim Mac Cafferty, National Spokesperson for LGBT Greens: “Talk of an era of acceptance must surely be open to challenge. Sadly there is overwhelming proof once again that deep-rooted homo, bi and trans phobia is alive and on our streets. In the last month alone, Londoner Ian Baynham and Brightonian Andrea Waddell have both been murdered while Liverpudlian James Parkes has been hospitalised- all of them for either their sexuality or gender identity. “Now is the time to make an urgent stance. When stats from police authorities show increases in violent crimes on our communities, we need to unite to show the maximum opposition to those who attack us. We call on everyone to get to Trafalgar Square at 8PM tomorrow evening (Friday) to stand firm against hatred.[1] To those who can’t make it, please note the 2 minute silence at 9PM in memory of those who have died.”

Jean Lambert MEP, London’s Green MEP said: “The Met reported a significant increase in homophobic crime across London this year, even though it is estimated that three quarters of homophobic hate crimes still go unreported. Two thirds of those who did report incidents found they were not referred to advice or support services. It is essential to support victims of crime and change our culture so that everyone can feel safe on the streets.”

Phelim Mac Cafferty continued: “While leading Police sources rightly talk of an increase in reporting as an indication of engagement with the LGBT community, the latest violent hate crimes[2] speak of a renewed hatred, which has been sparked in part by the prominence of the violent, fascist BNP.” “The savage murder of Ian Baynham in Trafalgar Square- a glance away from Soho- at only 10:30pm is a sad indication of how emboldened homophobes have become in the last period.[3] What unites the attacks on Ian Baynham and James Parkes, sadly, is the young age of their attackers.”

Chair of the London Assembly, Darren Johnson stated: "Homophobic bullying is still rife and far too many schools have failed to put clear policies in place to confront it. If we want to eliminate gay hate crimes we must begin that work in our schools."

Phelim Mac Cafferty concluded: “We achieved assurances from the Home Office in 2007 that Criminal Justice legislation would now come down heavily on those who perpetrate hate crimes against lgb people. Now LGBT Greens will push for: (1) target incitement of hatred on the grounds of gender identity through re-writing the law. We believe that often some of the worst discrimination and violence is felt by trans people; (2) lobby for sufficient investment (with the police and other crime-prevention agencies) in specific research into the prevalence of hate crime and perceptions of safety within the LGBT community so that hate crime trends reduce;(3) harmonise hate crimes legislation so that homophobic and transphobic crimes are dealt with on a par with racist crimes;(4) outlaw the performance, sale, promotion and broadcasting of music and other arts which incite hatred and violence towards lgbt people. (5) police forces throughout the country which have yet to adopt and implement action plans on homophobic and transphobic hate crimes to be compelled to do so in the next 6 months.”

ENDS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=152586453159&index=1
[2] Met Police annual increase +16% to April 2009 http://www.met.police.uk/crimefigures/index.php; Greater Manchester Police report +63% increase http://www.gmp.police.uk/
[3]

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/uk/are+gay+hate+crimes+taken+seriously/3397262

Against Homophobic Violence

As a gay man and an officer of the national Green Party LGBTIQ Group I am growing deeply concerned about the increase in homophobic violence across this country. I will be going tomorrow night (Friday) to the vigil in Trafalgar Square from 8pm to 10pm against homophobic violence, together with both straight and LGBTIQ friends, calling on Londoners to unite against this scourge following a recent homophobic murder there. There is a similar vigil happening in Liverpool, where another young gay man is seriously ill in hospital following an attack.

It is also incredible that at this time, the Met Police in London are backtracking on the number of officers responsible for dealing with the LGBT community in London and this particularly affects areas such as Vauxhall, with a large LGBTIQ population and many venues. I would appeal to the Metropolitan Police Authority to address this issue urgently and also for Lambeth Council not to consider any moves to backtrack on the provision of these officers. It is also something which I will bring to the Police Consultative Committee in Lambeth. The report is below.

On Channel 4 News this week we saw horrific figures about the dramatic increase in homophobic attacks, mainly due to negative stereotyping of the LGBT community by young people in schools and this is now leading to attacks by many young people. As Brian Paddick pointed out, a whole new generation is being infected with homophobia. I would also urge LGBT venues to support the vigil tomorrow and for as many people as possible in the community to support it. The candlelit vigil will go from Soho Square to Trafalgar Square at 7.30pm.

MET POLICE ACCUSED OF WATERING DOWN LGBT LIAISON OFFICERS

QX Magazine, No. 764, 29th October 2009, p.40

THE METROPOLITAN POLICE SERVICE has been accused of watering down LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) Liaison Officers in London at a time of increased reports of homophobic hate crime. Latest Met figures show the number of reported crimes has risen by 18% since last October and there have been a number of murders of gay men in the last year. This month, 62-year-old Ian Baynham died after being beaten by teenagers in a homophobic attack in Trafalgar Square. PinkNews.co.uk can report that one London borough, Southwark, no longer has a full-time LGBT Liaison Officer. Jenny Jones, a member of the Greater London Authority and the Metropolitan Police Association, told PinkNews.co.uk she did not think the changes in Southwark would work and added that she would raise the issue with the MPA’s committee. “I spoke to the Borough Commander. Instead of having one officer trained [in LGBT policing], she said one officer for each ward – that’s 33 wards in the borough – would be trained. I don’t know whether that’s going to work. That’s a high level of expertise and that’s considering the high level of homophobic hate crimes.”

The two officers currently filling the role in Westminster will shortly take on other responsibilities and it is not clear how they will be replaced. Lambeth has also been suggested as a borough that is considering changing the role, although PinkNews.co.uk understands that all full and part-time LGBT Liaison Officers will continue in their roles. All three boroughs have a high proportion of lesbians and gays, due to popular gay areas such as Vauxhall and Soho. In Westminster, gay groups are concerned that LGBT Liaison Officers may be replaced with Equality Officers, who would address policing issues relating to race and religion, along with sexual orientation. Policing boroughs are free to chose how to police their individual areas according to the needs of local communities. Currently, there are around 215 LGBT Liaison Officers. Not all are full-time. Previously, Westminster had two full-time officers, while Southwark had one.

Nick Maxwell of Age Concern told PinkNews.co.uk he feared that losing some LGBT Liaison Officers would lead to older gay people becoming too scared to report gay hate crimes. He said: “It’s a water-down of the LGBT service. Equality Officers would focus on race and religion and LGBTs would be left out in the cold. It’s also about building trust. From our perspective, when we work with LGBT Liaison Officers, reporting [of crime] increases. Older people often used to experience homophobia from police. Many of those in my group say they have even been blackmailed by police. So a lot of reports aren’t happening. But LGBT Liaison Officers do increase reporting.”

Bob Hodgson, co-chair of the MPS LGBT Advisory Group, said he had been assured that this was not a Met-wide strategy. “One or two London borough have removed full-time Liaison Officers and replaced them with part time roles, or roles that aren’t so clear,” he said. “We have been working robustly with the Met this week and I have been assured it is not a policy to replace LGBT Liaison Officers with Equality Officers in Westminster. They are changing personnel but we have been assured that LGBT Liaison Officers will stay in place and will not be called Equality officers. We don’t think it is a costcutting thing, it seems to be more about redeploying resources. Any reduction in LGBT Liaison Officers is not acceptable to us.” Superintendent Steve Deehan of Southwark police, said that although full-time LGBT Liaison Officers were no longer working in the borough, he was looking to “enhance” the role and part-time officers were still working. He admitted that there were “constraints” on where officers could be deployed. He said: “All organisations are looking at their financial position right now. I came to this new post knowing that we weren’t deploying our full range of staff to deal with homophobic hate crime. We have four teams across the borough, dealing with north and south. There are a lot of gay staff in this borough – I’m from the LGBT community, my chief inspector is from the LGBT community, and one of those teams is one-third gay staff. Are we deploying them properly? Our staff have grown up with gay people, with positive gay role models – they are capable of dealing with the gay community.”

Ben Summerskill, the chief executive of Stonewall, accused the Met of complacency this week after the rise in reported homophobic hate crime was revealed. He told PinkNews.co.uk: “We want a Metropolitan Police Service where all 140,000 staff are gay friendly, not just two in each London borough. And the issue is working out how we get to that position. We have had concerns that too often having just one LGBT Liaison Officer in a borough that might have 150,000 LGBT people simply lets other officers off the hook. There has been huge progress in the Met but there is still an element of complacency when providing for its LGBT taxpayers as well as the general public.” A Met spokesman emphasised the service’s commitment to the LGBT Liaison Officer role and the “unique combination of professional and life skills”. He said: “The deputy commissioner is going to write to all boroughs to state our position of LGBT Liaison Officers and that they should be kept in place. There is no plan to lose the role in Westminster – the borough will continue to have two full-time LGBT Liaison Officers.” The Metropolitan Police Association, which acts as a watchdog to the Met, said it could not comment until the issue had been raised at its committee.