Friday 24 April 2015

Jean Lambert: Ongoing EU-funded search & rescue programme needed in the Mediterranean

A ten-point action plan has been revealed by the European Union in the wake of large-scale loss of life in The Mediterranean, promising to both increase control as well as rescue operations. The European Commission said the plan, approved by EU Foreign and Interior ministers at an emergency meeting in Luxembourg, will be presented at a summit today, Thursday the 23rd. Commenting, Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London said:
It could not be clearer that immediate action is needed to prevent further loss of life. We need an ongoing EU-funded programme for search and rescue of refugees because individual governments can no longer cry crocodile tears while at the same time refusing to support rescue missions. We must of course work to combat despicable smugglers, but acknowledge that desperate people take desperate measures. What worries me about this plan is the focus on smugglers and on return programmes. It looks as if we are just pandering to fears instead of really getting to the root of the problem.

No-one should be fooled, FRONTEX is border control, not a rescue operation. Unless Libya and Syria can experience prolonged stability people will continue to do what they have always done throughout history: try and reach safety. While the EU is not above criticism, it is our own Government that decides the level of support for the Italian Government.
The European Parliament will have a co-decision role on any proposal to adapt the EU budget, and Greens call on all political groups to consider this in the ongoing negotiations on the 2016 EU budget and put pressure on the European Commission and EU governments.

Next week the plenary agenda of Parliament in Strasbourg will include a formal  Oral Question ( for which Jean was a co-signatory) with Council and Commission statements on the situation, Jean concluded:
We need a common European approach based on solidarity and humanity. The overwhelming majority of refugees are not in the EU: if Germany had the same proportion of refugees as Lebanon, there would be more than 20 million to support. The real crisis here is for those seeking sanctuary, not for the EU.

UPDATE: Brent Council finds 'deferred payment' solution to Robbie Clark care costs

Brent Council posted the following press release yesterday:

A former Second World War prisoner of war who campaigned to stay in his own home and receive social care from a specialist live-in carer, has had his wishes granted.

Robbie Clark, 96, who survived the Nazi death march across Europe in 1945, needs 24 hour a day social care, and has fought to receive a more expensive care package than the one normally offered.
Around 187,000 people signed a petition calling for Mr Clark to be allowed to stay in his house.

We worked with his family to offer a solution which means Mr Clark can stay in his home while receiving the care he wants and not pay a penny in his lifetime.

Phil Porter, Director of Adult Social Care, said: “Our offer means Mr Clark can stay in his own home and receive the care which he wants, through a live in carer. He won’t have to worry about the cost, but neither will tax-payers have to foot all the bill.”

The ‘deferred payment’ is a new option available to councils, which only came into effect at the start of April 2015, enabling them to help meet the cost of care for older people in this way.

Under the proposal, the cost of the additional care will eventually be reimbursed to the council from the proceeds of the sale of the property.
UPDATE Saturday April 25th

Today the Daily Mirror publishes a story following up Brent Council's statement that includes an on-line poll on the issue. LINK

These are key quotes from the story from Mike Clark. Robbie Clark's son and Phil Porter, Brent Director of Adult Social Care. This story arouses strong emotions but can I ask readers to be restrained in how they frame their comments so as not to hurt people personally. Thank you.

Mike Clarke


Angry son Mike Clark, 58, said: "We handed the signatures in to the council on Thursday and we scheduled a meeting about them increasing their funding for my father's care, not deferred payment options, next week.

"Now they're claiming he's 'had his wishes granted', which is absolutely ridiculous.

"He has had no such thing. From what I understand, the deferred payment scheme will mean that they can get away without paying any more for his care, and when my father passes away, they will take the difference, plus a percentage and other fees, from the sale of his house.

"The issue isn't that he doesn't want to pay for his care at all - the issue is that Brent Council are trying to get away without actually spending any more money on a national hero."


Phil Porter
 
However, Phil Porter, Brent Council's Director for Adult Social Care, said: “Robbie Clark, supported by 187,000 petitioners, asked the council to find a way for him to stay in his home, receive his care by a live-in carer and not to have the worry over how it will be paid for.

“We have listened to Robbie and his supporters. 

"We have made an offer of a deferred payment that gives Robbie exactly what he asked for. 

"The council has offered to meet some of the costs of his care with the remaining costs set against the equity in his house. 

"Although there will be less equity for Robbie’s heirs when the property is eventually sold, Robbie himself will have all his wishes granted in a way taxpayers can afford."

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Parents, staff and pupils unite against forced academisation as teachers strike again

Press release from Brent ATL and NUT


Today teachers and support staff again reluctantly too strike action at St Andrew and St Francis CofE Primary in Belton Rd, Willesden, Brent against the school being forced to become an academy. They were joined on the picket line by parents and children. Two ‘Fat Cats’ informed the crowd that they were hoping to makes ‘loadsa money’ from schools like this when education was privatised. They were resoundingly booed. Union speakers made the point that if as the Interim Executive Board was saying that nothing was going to change what other reason could there be for converting. Messages of support were read out from around the country.

Irene Scorer, parent, thanked staff and parents for supporting the action. She announced that parents had organised another open meeting for next Thursday 30th at 7.00 pm at St Andrew’s Church and urged them to spread the word among other parents. .  

The parents are demanding an independently overseen ballot with full information of the arguments for and against an academy.  Hank Roberts on behalf of the unions said that action planned for next week could still be called off if the IEB only agreed to this ballot.

After the picket the crowd marched along Willesden High Rd to Dawn Butler’s campaign headquarters. She is the prospective Labour candidate in the general election. Though the office was closed a group of parents were aiming to show Dawn Butler their petition against the academy and urge her to publicly support the independent ballot.

Queens Parade Celebration April 23rd


Monday 20 April 2015

ELECTION QUIZ: Match Brent Central candidates to their hustings statements

The Kilburn Times held an on-line hustings for the Brent Central candidates this evening. Shahrar Ali (Green), John Boyle (TUSC), Dawn Butler (Labour), Lauren Keith (Lib Dem), Alan Mendoza (Conservative) and Stephen Priestly (UKIP) took part.

Below you will find 12 responses to some of the questions. Can you match answers to the appropriate candidate?
 

1. As a representative of one of the smaller political parties, I can state that I would do everything in my power if elected as your MP in Brent Central to defend against further cuts, and to protect vital services to all the community. I would campaign fiercely to represent the needs of my constituents - in this way, I would hope to mitigate against the wider effects of national forces, to protect those that I am seeking to represent. I would campaign in the House of Commons for further resources

In response to: ‘Nationalise the big developers. Build housing and communities for people rather than profit.’

2. I am inclined to agree with the above statement. Development in itself should be encouraged, providing there is an ethical dimension to it . I feel the NHS should also be protected from private profit too - and while we are at it, the rail network should be re-nationalized to make it more affordable for all!

3. Youth resources are absolutely vital for young people, in terms of providing hope, structure, educational and vocational opportunity, and I would be fighting to defend existing resources and also campaign for much needed new resources!

In response to: Black people in Brent are 2.6 x more likely to be stopped and searched than white people. What will you do to end police discrimination?

4. This needs concerted joint-working a training with the police: this statistic is totally unacceptable and must be challenged. The police should not be allowed to arrest anyone, of any ethnicity, unless they have clear grounds to do so!

5. Denying benefits to migrants as a 'wholesale strategy' is not a compassionate way to approach this matter. I believe that our society should always adopt a compassionate approach, and to take into account the fact that many migrants are fleeing desperate circumstances. The United Kingdom has a very long tradition of tolerance and of assisting people that are in difficult circumstances and it is important that this continues. It is the unscrupulous people traffickers, that should be tackled.

6. The UK has a longstanding tradition of helping people in distress, and this must continue. Huge efforts need to be made to tackle all those that seek to exploit migrants, e.g. people smugglers, those that sexually exploit migrants, and also those that seek to enslave migrants in very low paid work - all these things need to be addressed.

7. All institutions should have clear policies to deal with racism in whichever form this appears

On recall of MPs by the electorate: 

8. Absolutely! This is also our stated policy to make MPs more accountable. I am totally committed to this measure. All other professions are bound by strict codes of practice and MPs should be no different!

9. I feel that all the parties need to be honest with the electorate on the issue of any cuts that they propose to make. For nearly everyone that I have spoken to, the NHS appears to be one of the highest priorities, as many are worried that community and hospital services will seriously suffer should further cuts take place. Greater transparency is needed by all parties on the NHS.

10. I feel the British Pub is a national institution which needs to be robustly defended, as the pub is a place where so many people meet: it is an important part of every community. I have endorsed my support for the Campaign for Real Ale, and would be doing everything in my power to support pubs, brewers and also the customers.

11. Education is absolutely crucial for this economy. A diversity of educational opportunities is required, including academic and vocational training courses. Funding needs to be increased to develop education facilities, and teaching and university education needs to attract the best possible candidates.

In response to: Who is the politician, living or dead, you admire the most and why? please do not say your own party leader. 

12. I would have to say Mahatma Gandhi. He was able to overcome so many obstacles for India to gain its independence and self-governance, via his philosophy of 'non-violent non-cooperation' at great personal cost to himself. His ideas have shaped great thinkers across the globe!

Quiz answers HERE

Brent and Kilburn Times On-line hustings HERE







Brent Central Hustings Tuesday April 21st 7-9pm


There have been fewer hustings in Brent Central than in Hampstead and Kilburn constituency so this is a chance to meet and question your candidates before polling day. The church is near the corner of All Souls Avenue and Bathurst Gardens,


REGISTER TO VOTE BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT


REGISTER HERE BY MIDNIGHT MONDAY

Preston Community Library now operating temporarily from library site after 3 year closure



From the Preston Library Campaign

Last week Preston Community Library signed a licence to use the Preston Library building until the end of July, so after a gap of nearly four years there is again a public library in Carlton Avenue East. There are already books available to borrow. The creative writing and Scrabble groups which we've been running for some time will continue, and there will be an immediate expansion of our English classes. Other activities planned for the very near future include a film club and yoga and knitting classes.

For the moment we're opening from 12.30 - 7 on Mondays and from 11-5 on Saturdays. We hope to expand the opening hours very soon; to do that we need more volunteers to staff the building, so if you can spare some time please do get in touch. or.

We have a couple of events coming up very soon. This Thursday, 23 April is World Book Night 2015, and we will be giving away books in the library from 4 until 7; there will also be readings from Shakespeare, whose birthday it is. There are more details on the attached poster.

And on Monday week, 27 April, we have our next pub quiz at 7.30 in The Preston pub. We aim to start the quiz promptly at 8. This year's quizzes have been as enjoyable as ever and very well attended. Now that we're back in the library we need your support more than ever, so I hope to see as many of you as possible at both of these events.

Thanks for your continuing support.