Friday 23 February 2007

Fight the enemy, not each other

A previous blog of mine indicated my support for Hilary Clinton to be the Democrat candidate in the 2008 Presidential Election.

That remains my view now and has been for many years. So I get sad that now that the Democrtas control the House of Representatives and (just) the Senate for some of the bickering between potential candidates, one of whom may end up the V-P candidate.

You'd think being in the wilderness that Democrats would want to win in 2008. Personal attacks may win someone the candidature, but could hand the GOP a further four years in the White House.

Labour learnt this in the 1990s. Divided Parties and Governments do not win elections, they lose them!

Tuesday 20 February 2007

Setting a Budget and Liberals all over the place

Last night Haringey Councillors set the Council Budget for 2007-08.

We agreed by 30 votes to 24 to increase the council tax by 3.5%. It was interesting that despite the Liberal opposition saying at the last meeting what they would like to do with the budget, when the crunch came they just could not put forward an alternative budget to the vote.

The Lib Dems have been the largest opposition in Haringey since 1998, but just can't get it right. I pointed out that the only Liberal to actually move an alternative budget at full council was Alex L' Estrange for the old Coleraine ward in the late 1980s.

At least when the Tories were on the council and even when down to two members they put up an alternative budget, if they can, why can't the Lib Dems? Dear oh dear.

And then, to show how much the Libs seem to be all over the place, they put forward a motion on businesses in Haringey and when it came to voting on the Labour amendment, they abstained. Yep, didn't even try and save their own motion. Some Lib Dem councillors were putting up their hands to vote against and were told not to, and then some didn't even want to vote.

What a shambles of an opposition.

Still, had a nice curry afterwards with some of fellow Labour councillors but got a tad wet going home because of the rain.

Not had that for ages!!

I was doing some shopping the other day and lo and behold what do I see but strawberry sherberts?

Needless to say I did buy a packet. Reminds me of happy childhood memories with some good old sweets, however they don't seem to taste as good, nor are they as cheap.

What do you remember from your childhood?

Saturday 17 February 2007

Let them rest!!

It's a week free from the Six Nations Rugby this week, a chance for players to rest and recover, so what happens to the Englang players, some of their clubs are making them play today.

What happened to national pride? Let the players rest if needbe, we need them if England are to do well.

And talking of sport, good luck to Spurs who play Fulham tomorrow in the FA Cup 5th Round. Not often, I will speak highly of political opponents, but one thing that Lib Dem councillor, Matt Davies, has going for him is that he is a Spurs supporter and season-ticket holder. Matt, I always knew you had something going for you. Wrong party though.

A late start

Woke up late this morning, around 10ish.

Quite nice actually cos there are no meetings today, so was up late on the computer and printer last night and didn't get to bed till around three. I wouldn't mind if I'd been out clubbing. I would probably have slept longer but the Council have been round doing the clean sweep in Wood Green, so a good chance to get rid of bits 'n' bobs which have been hanging round gathering dust.

The clean sweeps are really popular for people getting rid of old stuff and also, I have to say for people walking the streets in the hope of finding something useful. I threw out an old bike (yep, I used to ride them, though not of late looking at my not so slim-like figure!!) and a couple of hours later it had been taken. So, to whoever took my bike, no problems with that, but it had gathered a touch of rust and the back tire was as flat as a boring pancake.

Doing some Councillor calling tomorrow with some other party members who will be out helping me (thanks to them). As I mentioned previously in my blogs, these are really useful exercises in terms of being out and about, though the only downside does mean no late Saturday nights with a hangover in the morning - not of course that such things would happen!!

Tottenham Carnival Launch and gay stuff

I popped along to the launch of the Tottenham Community Festival last Thursday (Tottenham Carnival) and over 300 people were in attendance at the CONEL (College of North East London) to look at what will be happening at Bruce Castle on 23rd June.

David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, did a good speech about being proud of Tottenham, our Borough's Mayor, Cllr Gina Adamou (Lab, Harringay ward) said a few words of support as did Eric Monk, from Haringey Police. My old mate, Cllr Sheila Peacock (Lab, Northumberland Park ward) was wearing a touch of fancy-dress head gear and is said, I'm told, to be buzzing from the event. Alas had to leave early for my residents' association meeting, but was good to be there and see loads of young people really looking forward to the event.

Talking about the carnival, HarinGAY, the borough's LGBT social group will have a stall at the carnival in what will become a week of gay-politics for me, starting with the carnival, with the TUC LGBT Conference later in the week where I will be part of the Amicus (my trade union) delegation and then London Pride on Saturday 30th June.

Wednesday 14 February 2007

Whose the Master?

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!


According to the Independent on Sunday, actor, John Simm is to appear in the new series of Doctor Who.

Dr Who is set to return on BBC One around Saturday 24th March for a new 13-part series with the fab David Tennant. But IoS is indicating that John Simm, who plays the detective guy in 'Life on Mars' (don't ask me what it's about, I fell asleep half through the first episode last night) is to play the Doctor's arch enemy The Master in the final episodes.

Now for all Dr Who fans and saddos like me, there will be a slight problem with continuity as the Doctor is meant to be the only Time Lord in the Universe, the Master (last seen as a snake turning into Eric Roberts in the 1996 film) has run out of his regenerations and is meant to be dead. Unless of course he exists in the parallel world with Rose and the very nice Mickey.

We'll have to wait and see.

By the way, when Dr Who does return, my phones are turned off for those 45-minutes and I cannot be contacted.

Yep, that sad.....

Policing matters

This may appear as a dig at the Police, some may think that I've gone all lefty again, but two moans about policing in Haringey.

First off, is it just me, but why do the Police suddenly have to use their sirens all the time? OK, fair enough in busy traffic, I don't know where they're going, but on roads with no traffic, come on Officer, is it really necessary?

Most people will support sirens being used, but surely only as a last resort and if they're going to where a crime is being committed, don't warn the criminal.

Second, there are proposals to close the counter at Wood Green Police Station in the evenings. Whether one person or one hundred people use it, the perception will be that Wood Green Police station is closed and the criminal can do what they like. It's a daft idea and should be booted out of the ground like a cricket player scoring a six. I will be at a meeting about this next week and will report back. Wood Green, being the Borough's town centre needs an active 24-hour Police station. If this proposal goes ahead, what next? Total closure. We need to continue combatting crime and not helping it.

I will be interested in what other people think on these two subjects.

That said, I think our Police do a fantastic job and Britain has one of the best Police forces in the world and long may that continue. Let's be honest, would we want to do their job?

Doesn't red mean stop?

On Monday evening gone, it took almost two hours to get home from work.

Any how, waiting for either a 144 or W3 bus at the Great Cambridge Road/White Hart Lane in the pouring rain during a half-hour period (I know I could have walked) I must have seen around 15 cars speeding through the red lights, with around half of the drivers on their mobile phones as well, yep one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the phone.

Now forgive me, but I thought that the red light at traffic lights meant stop? Suddenly, some of my fellow citizens want to save themselves a minute or so by going through the red light. How many people need to be seriously injured or killed before people realise it just ain't worth it?

That is why I support speed cameras and CCtv at traffic lights.

Saturday 10 February 2007

Talk about voting - I'm backing Hilary!

OK, so we don't have a vote in the US Presidential Elections or the Primaries.

However, as the so-called 51st State of the USA, you'd think we would have a vote - and if we did I would cast my vote for Hilary Clinton to be the Democrat candidate for the next elections.

I am convinced that Hilary will make an excellent President. Whether America is ready for a woman or black President we wait to see!

Councillor Calling

Next Sunday I'll be doing Councillor calling in Noel Park, the ward that I represent on the Council. Tomorrow before my parks meeting with residents I'll be dropping off the letters to residents to let them know I'll be around.

A number of Councillors do this, it's very popular and saves people having to come to the surgeries. More work for us, however it's means that we are out and about in the community rather than being stuck in the Town Hall for endless meetings.

I voted yes

The Union that I belong to is currently a Ballot of it's members to determine whether we, that is Amicus, should merge with the TGWU (Transport and General Workers Union).

Ballot papers have been sent to well over a million Amicus and TGWU members and during the week I cast my 'YES' vote for a stronger Union between the two. Voting yes for a strong industrial and equality union.

Friday 9 February 2007

The weekend ahead

Well, what a week it's been!!

Snow fell and the innocence of children came to the fore as Snowmen cropped up everywhere. At work outside my window was a father and his daugher building a snowman in a past time that cost no money but was sheer enjoyment for them and me to watch. Part of it still exists today despite snow melting and the rain coming down. Reminds me a bit of 'The Snowman'.

Spurs are into the last 16 of the UEFA Cup without kicking a ball or scoring a goal thanks to the fans from Feyenoord and crowd trouble in a group match. Spurs will play Parma or Braga on 8th and 15th March.

The meetings I've attended with local residents have been really useful and informative in more ways than one. Last night at one Residents' Association meeting over 20 people attended despite the bad weather. Despite what the media say, I do believe that people are interested in local politics and where they live.

There was the East Barnet council by-election yesterday. I found it interesting that the Lib Dems were calling it a two-horse race between them and the Tories - talk about flogging a dead horse, it was indeed a two-horse race, but between Labour and the Tories, but why let the little matter of fact get in the way of fiction. The Tories won with 1666 votes to 1025 for Labour, 552 for the Liberals and 147 for the Greens. Given the weather a good turnout!

I have my Wood Green surgery tomorrow morning before going to Hackney for party business in the afternoon. Going for a meal with a girlfriend tomorrow night. When I say girlfriend, I don't mean that type of girlfriend. Well, you know I'm gay so you'll know what I mean..... Moving swiftly on to Sunday and I shall be joining residents at Noel Park (the park) for a walk around the park to see how we can improve the area. Then Sunday afternoon a social meeting of HarinGAY, the Borough's local LGBT social group meeting.

I hope that you have a good weekend!

Farewell, Ian

I was sorry to hear of the death of actor, Ian Richardson, earlier today.

For those into politics and good television drama, Ian will be best known as the scheming Chief Whip, Francis Urquhart, in the BBC triology series 'The House of Cards' (followed by 'To Play the King' and 'The Final Cut').

I got the DVDs of these dramas last year and they are excellent television. People may recall that the series first came out during the end of the Thatcher era. Ian Richardson won a BAFTA award in 1991 for 'House of Cards'

I quite like the idea of the Chief Whip becoming Prime Minister!

Wednesday 7 February 2007

Enjoyment of being a Councillor!

In a few minutes off to my surgery at the Sandbunker.

Tomorrow will be an interesting day, will be joining local residents and council officers for an estate walkabout at Vincent Square in Noel Park. These walkabouts give Councillors, Residents and Council Officers the opportunity to see what is good, not so good and poor and how we can improve them. These happen all over the Borough and allows us the chance to be there for residents at a time that suits them.

In the evening, I'll be attending a couple of meetings with local residents, being the Friends of Noel Park (the park) and then rushing over to the Parkside Malvern Residents Association - it means missing the Labour Group meeting, however I feel it important to be out in the community with the people that voted for us last May and that is one of the joys of being a community Councillor. OK, you may not get everything done that you would like, but you try your best.

It is about caring for the people where they live, because I live there too.

Have a good evening!

A school for our community please!

Last night over 100 people attended a meeting at Alexandra Primary School to look at proposals for a new secondary school in Haringey.

The Government has changed the goal-posts to insist on a choice of the type of schools. Now, I am all for choice, however I fear that the School Adjudicator may go with "big bucks" rather than the desire of democratic and locally accountable education - that is the school favored by the local education authority (LEA).

Haringey's bid, which I fully support, is for an 11-16 year old mixed, multi-faith community comprehensive school the Wood Green, Hornsey and Haringey Heartlands communities with an opportunity to become part of a hard federation of successful schools.

The school will specialise in the visual arts and media which will enable it to benefit from its unique location in the cultural quarter of Haringey (The Chocolate Factory and Mountview Theatre). It will also have an additional specialism in supporting students with autistic spectrum disorder. The school would work to Haringey's over subscription admissions criteria.

And that sounds good to me.....

But, in fairness there are three other options from the CfBT Education Trust, the Haberdasher's Aske's Hatchman College Trust and the United Learning Trust, a Christian faith organisation for the Church of England - yup, really representing the highly diverse multi and non-faith communuities of Noel Park and Haringey.

Tuesday 6 February 2007

Council stuff

Last night saw the Full Council of Haringey Councillors.

We started with tributes to the late Adelaide Tambo, who had died recently. Adelaide had been involved with the ANC and received the Freedom of the Borough back in 1990. Moving tributes were made by the Council leader, George Meehan, and former deputy leader, Harry Lister. This part of the Council meeting and the Minute's Silence was filmed by South African tv and I understand shown in South Africa.

We had our State of the Borough Debate and Budget, which the Liberals opposed and tried to present an alternative Budget, though making savings of £400,000 but wanting to spend more just does not add up, typical. I mean, one of their savings was to do away with the Mayor's Reception at Alexandra Palace - saving £4,000. In the bigger picture, this is peanuts and is geasture politics only!

By the end of the evening people were actually in a good mood.

Had a meal with Dilek and Sheila (fellow Councillors afterwards).

Anyway, off to a meeting shortly about the new proposed secondary school which will be in Noel Park.

I hope my blogs will work ok.

Monday 5 February 2007

Four Doctors

In mid-March I'll be going to a Doctor Who convention over in Barking (near to where my Mum lives) where over 200 people are expected to see four former Doctor Whos.

Peter Davison (1981-84), Colin Baker (1984-86), Sylvester McCoy (1987-89) and Paul McGann (1996 tv movie) will be in attendance.

I am huge fan of Colin having met him at a couple of conventions last year.

Hopefully there will be gossip of the new series.

For more information, www.tenthplanet.co.uk

Saturday 3 February 2007

It's here at last

It seems the latest craze, so I'm having a go!

Welcome to Alan's Blogs.

This is my blog site to say a bit more about me, etc. Over the coming days I'll be building up the site and adding little bits here and there, perhaps some gossip.

Interesting days lay ahead for Labour and Britain, so I'll be touching on some of that. Being a Spurs fan there'll be some comments and for those who know me, being a Doctor Who fan, there'll be news and gossip and comments.

So, hope you enjoy and if you have any comments, do pass on.

Have a nice day now!