Monday, November 28, 2005
In addition to my usual Parliamentary commitments the last few days have also involved me meeting with senior representatives of Network Rail to discuss my campaign to improve Earlsfield and Wandsworth Common stations. As a result of my lobbying, South West Trains have now made improvements at Earlsfield station a ‘high priority’. More details of my campaign are available here. The EDM that I tabled regarding disabled access at railways stations has now attracted nearly 90 signatories. The text is here. The conditions at Earlsfield have been appalling for too long now, and I am delighted that we are finally making progress over this.
I have also been meeting with local church leaders including Rev. Colin Roberts from St John the Divine Church in Earlsfield and Rev. Christopher Davis and Robert Thomson from St Nicholas Church in Graveney. The first of these meetings focussed on problems with anti social behaviour on the Henry Prince Estate, and the work that the church is doing to run summer schemes for children. The schemes can be difficult to fund, and we discussed ways in which the project could be taken forward. At the second meeting, the focus was how churches in Tooting could help to build bridges with the minority communities following on from the London bombings and the Religious Hatred Bill. Both meetings were thought provoking and very productive.
On 17th November, I attended an event organised by the Nazia Hassan Foundation in Parliament. Nazia Hassan was a Pakistani pop star in the 1980s and 1990s who died of cancer in her 30s. She pioneered a unique fusion of Eastern and Western rhythm and melody nearly two decades ago. She also worked for the UN and did a huge amount of social and charity work. The Nazia Hassan foundation has been set up by her family who continue the legacy of her charitable work. More details are available on the Foundation's website here. The event turned about to be an awards ceremony and much to my surprise I received an award in the politics category.
I also had the opportunity at the event to announce that the Labour Government had just announced a further £70m for South Asian earthquake. The UK’s total support for the earthquake relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation in Pakistan now stands at £128 million. Part of the additional funding will pay for helicopters for the UN that will be able to deliver relief to any location in the affected areas throughout the winter. Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for International Development, has also announced that the Ministry of Defence will be sending a Royal Engineers team who are specially trained for mountain conditions to help build shelters in remote areas.
Earlier in the Autumn my office began a Christmas card competition. We invited all primary schools in the constituency to take part in a competition – the winning design will be printed as my House of Commons Christmas Card for 2005. Over 300 pupils entered, and last week, Carron Taylor (Reporter from the Wandsworth Borough News), Rev. Hugh Grear (Holy Trinity Church) and Kieran Power (Section Inspector from Tooting Police Station) judged the entries. I am just finalising the prizes and will be ready to announce the results soon!
My weekend was mainly spent talking left of centre politics, policy and electioneering techniques as part of Ditchley ix, British - German Parliamentarians dialogue. More details here. Germany’s leading political parties have backed the coalition government led by Angela Merkel (Christian Democrats). One of the subjects for discussion was the targets and topics for this grand coalition over the coming years. We also discussed the future of the European Union in light of the French and Dutch ‘No’ vote earlier this year. The discussions were intense but very stimulating, and it was good to compare experiences.
In the House on 21st November I took part in the Equalities Bill Second Reading. You can read my speech here. I am excited about the possibilities of the new Commission - its role in promoting human rights will ensure that the Commission for Equality and Human Rights can address standards of fairness and equal treatment for everyone rooted in a culture of respect for the dignity of each individual.
I also took part in a debate organised by the Young Fabians (website) and the Bow Group, a centre right think tank (website). The motion was ‘There was no alternative to Thatcherism’. John Redwood was the main speaker for the Bow Group. It was an easy motion to counter from our side, especially as someone who grew up under the Thatcher Government with the memory of mass unemployment, the winding down of the manufacturing industry, civil unrest, and the spiralling gap between the rich and the poor still clear in my mind. It was a lively debate with good contributions from both side – I think the Fabians won it on the audience vote!
The Public Accounts Committee this week was looking into government funding of the third sector. This term is used to describe the range of organisations which are neither state nor private sector - including registered charities, non charitable non profit organisations, community groups, co-operatives and social enterprises. Third sector organisations are involved in many areas of public service and the Labour Government has a declared commitment to increasing the role of the sector. I quite enjoyed making the point that ‘the third way had been good to the third sector’ in response to a point made by the Tory Chair, Edward Leigh MP.
I have also been meeting with local church leaders including Rev. Colin Roberts from St John the Divine Church in Earlsfield and Rev. Christopher Davis and Robert Thomson from St Nicholas Church in Graveney. The first of these meetings focussed on problems with anti social behaviour on the Henry Prince Estate, and the work that the church is doing to run summer schemes for children. The schemes can be difficult to fund, and we discussed ways in which the project could be taken forward. At the second meeting, the focus was how churches in Tooting could help to build bridges with the minority communities following on from the London bombings and the Religious Hatred Bill. Both meetings were thought provoking and very productive.
On 17th November, I attended an event organised by the Nazia Hassan Foundation in Parliament. Nazia Hassan was a Pakistani pop star in the 1980s and 1990s who died of cancer in her 30s. She pioneered a unique fusion of Eastern and Western rhythm and melody nearly two decades ago. She also worked for the UN and did a huge amount of social and charity work. The Nazia Hassan foundation has been set up by her family who continue the legacy of her charitable work. More details are available on the Foundation's website here. The event turned about to be an awards ceremony and much to my surprise I received an award in the politics category.
I also had the opportunity at the event to announce that the Labour Government had just announced a further £70m for South Asian earthquake. The UK’s total support for the earthquake relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation in Pakistan now stands at £128 million. Part of the additional funding will pay for helicopters for the UN that will be able to deliver relief to any location in the affected areas throughout the winter. Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for International Development, has also announced that the Ministry of Defence will be sending a Royal Engineers team who are specially trained for mountain conditions to help build shelters in remote areas.
Earlier in the Autumn my office began a Christmas card competition. We invited all primary schools in the constituency to take part in a competition – the winning design will be printed as my House of Commons Christmas Card for 2005. Over 300 pupils entered, and last week, Carron Taylor (Reporter from the Wandsworth Borough News), Rev. Hugh Grear (Holy Trinity Church) and Kieran Power (Section Inspector from Tooting Police Station) judged the entries. I am just finalising the prizes and will be ready to announce the results soon!
My weekend was mainly spent talking left of centre politics, policy and electioneering techniques as part of Ditchley ix, British - German Parliamentarians dialogue. More details here. Germany’s leading political parties have backed the coalition government led by Angela Merkel (Christian Democrats). One of the subjects for discussion was the targets and topics for this grand coalition over the coming years. We also discussed the future of the European Union in light of the French and Dutch ‘No’ vote earlier this year. The discussions were intense but very stimulating, and it was good to compare experiences.
In the House on 21st November I took part in the Equalities Bill Second Reading. You can read my speech here. I am excited about the possibilities of the new Commission - its role in promoting human rights will ensure that the Commission for Equality and Human Rights can address standards of fairness and equal treatment for everyone rooted in a culture of respect for the dignity of each individual.
I also took part in a debate organised by the Young Fabians (website) and the Bow Group, a centre right think tank (website). The motion was ‘There was no alternative to Thatcherism’. John Redwood was the main speaker for the Bow Group. It was an easy motion to counter from our side, especially as someone who grew up under the Thatcher Government with the memory of mass unemployment, the winding down of the manufacturing industry, civil unrest, and the spiralling gap between the rich and the poor still clear in my mind. It was a lively debate with good contributions from both side – I think the Fabians won it on the audience vote!
The Public Accounts Committee this week was looking into government funding of the third sector. This term is used to describe the range of organisations which are neither state nor private sector - including registered charities, non charitable non profit organisations, community groups, co-operatives and social enterprises. Third sector organisations are involved in many areas of public service and the Labour Government has a declared commitment to increasing the role of the sector. I quite enjoyed making the point that ‘the third way had been good to the third sector’ in response to a point made by the Tory Chair, Edward Leigh MP.
Sadiq
