Three depressing news stories this week

Prison Spaces

"Justice" Minister Jack Straw announces that judges are to jail fewer convicts because prisons are too full. I'm not sure what is more depressing, record amounts of prisoners, or not enough space to hold them.

The good news is that record prisoner levels means we're catching more criminals. The bad news is that after 10 continuous years of economic growth, where overall crime is falling nationwide, record levels of people are committing custodial offences. This, sadly, says something about our 21st century society.

As for prison space - how is it that the most bureaucratic, statistical and target setting obsessed party in Britain managed to bodge this up so badly? Aren't socialists supposed to be expert planners?

US Arrogance

The UK/US "special relationship" seems to have had the extraordinary effect of making us an international joke this week.

Despite telling us differently, the US has been using UK territory to transport terrorist suspects for a roughing up in some God-forbidden hell hole.

Severely embarrassing for the government, which seems to have been caught with its pants down. Miliband seems to have handled it well so far, going into "full apology mode" at Parliament and convincing the Tories he only knew when Condoleezza admitted to him the "administrative error" this week.

This raises some pretty serious questions over why we're being taken for granted by our greatest ally. Perhaps this relationship has turned sour? Time for further integration in the EU Mr Brown!

Police fail to protect couple on the run

The Nottinghamshire Police's complete failure to protect a hunted couple. This is the most distressing piece of news. The IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) reported that a couple on the run from a gang who wanted to kill them were offered full police protection provided that the mother give evidence against her son. She declined and they attempted to hide on their own.

Worse still was the police response when the mother called in about a prowler, only to have to wait 10 hours for an officer (who was told it was "nothing urgent") to turn up and discover their bullet ridden bodies.

The worst was the police telling us that if they had acted quicker they doubt they would have been able to protect the couple anyway. This is a classic example of our State's inability to fulfil its highest duty - the protection of its citizens from harm.

Surely it's wrong to only offer conditional police protection? Surely it was the duty of the police to insist on some form of protection for this couple? It sounds as if the couple really didn't realise how much danger they were in - and nor did the police! But even if they did, would the police spend the time convincing the couple take it more seriously?

Analysis

It seems to me that the government is losing its authority on the world stage and its ability to function for the rapidly changing needs of the people who elect it into power. As Blair would often say in his final years - it's delivering the change that's the hardest part.

I suspect that part of the problem is the electoral system itself. MPs in marginal seats and parliamentary candidates in target seats are required to be hardwired into a campaigning reflex to address problems and issues. This can lead to a large and powerful group of MPs who know no other than "government by press release", who govern by tomorrow's headlines and short term gains. Perhaps why we got into the mess with prison spaces.

However, I think that most of the problem lies in the institutions themselves. Designed in the 19th century, renewed mid 20th century, but unable to adapt to free flowing change and the increasing demands of a stressed population in the 21st century.

I think Clegg is right - we need a limited, pluralistic and decentralised structure of government. Further integration into the EU to challenge world dominance of the US, proportional representation to create pluralistic governance in partnership, a bill of rights and a written constitution to protect citizens and structures from tomorrows headlines, and finally, radical localism and decentralisation to limit and rebuild our power structures - enabling all communities to take a functioning part in the change they want.

This is the change we need to make Britain not just a functioning society again, but a world leader in progressive advancement.

The Chorlton Park Posse in Northenden

Lib-Dems from across the Mersey. Pictured from left to right: Cllr Norman Lewis and Bernie, both from Chorlton Park. Mary Di Mauro from Northenden, John Leech MP of Manchester Withington (also Councillor from Chorlton Park) and Martin Eakins from Northenden.

Lib-Dems were out in force at the weekend delivering our latest Focus leaflet and the 2008 calendar in Northenden Village.

Our good friends from Chorlton Park came along and gave us a hand on Sunday, meaning we got most of the Village delivered in one weekend.

Good to see Norman, Bernie and John again. They frequently give us good advice on serving our community, who to contact over casework and helpful tips on campaigning.

Thanks guys - much appreciated!

Looking down the barrel of a gun in Northenden

On Monday I had noticed an article in the MEN that three locations in Wythenshawe and Northenden had suffered an armed robbery, Tescos being the location of the Northenden site.

On Tuesday night I went along to Northenden Civic Society, as I usually do, and asked the PCSO there what was being done to combat gun crime. His response was surprising as it was disappointing. He told us that Gun Crime in Northenden "isn't too bad".

If we had the odd raid every other year or so, perhaps we could say we're not suffering from a gun crime wave, but to have two armed robberies in as many months, on top of all the other armed robberies throughout the year, is too bad.

It is unacceptable and intolerable - in the truest sense of the words.

After the meeting, a few of us went for a couple of drinks at the Lounge About where we all caught up properly. At about 11pm most of the customers had left, leaving only four of us and two bar staff. We were just finishing our drinks when three masked lads wielding hand guns and a sword burst in!

Events moved quickly, but two of the lads quickly secured the bar area and starting taking cash, the third rounded up us customers and moved us into the gents.

Once in the gents he told us all to hand over our mobile phones, and then pointing the gun at my head said "You - pick up the phones and give them to me". It was a very weird situation, looking down the barrel of a gun in my home town, after just having been told by the police that gun crime "isn't too bad".

He said to us that he wasn't stealing the phones, just making sure we couldn't use them until they had left. He was lying of course, but I claimed my phone wasn't with me and I actually lost nothing.

He was such a young guy - maybe 17 or 18. He was very calm, and dressed like a ninja with a scarf across his face. I remember him having a good look at us - as if he was registering our features.

We all remained calm, and soon he left the gents telling us to lock the door and they then escaped through the front door.

We emerged when it was obvious he had gone, and I immediately saw one of the bar staff in tears in the corridor. I gave her a hug and comforted her, then ran out to the front to see if I could see where they went. They had already left the scene and I dialled 999 and asked for the police to get here as soon as.

So that was it - more or less. We gave all our details to the police (who arrived rapidly and in force) and I walked my friend home and had a stiff drink.

I have written to my local inspector asking her to assure us that she doesn't share the same view as the PCSO. Gun crime is a real menace across south Manchester, open a local newspaper and you're bound to see several examples of armed robberies. Northenden is particularly suffering at present - it's as if we've turned into the Wild West!

If you think you can help the police with their enquires, click through here.

Update: The local Inspector has been in touch and she has described the PCSO response as "not appropriate" - which is assuring.

Nick Clegg's first PMQs

Nick Clegg pressed the Prime Minister to act over Fuel Poverty that will claim an estimated 25,000 lives this winter

Nick Clegg performed well for his first Prime Minister Questions today as party leader.

Unlike his predecessors, he's now sat further away from the speaker, so no longer perched on the end of a bench, but surrounded by his colleagues. I think this looks like he's speaking "from the crowd" rather than picked up from a lonely perch, and does look more like he's part of a bigger team.

He also strides out, almost to the middle of the aisle, turns to the Prime Minister and asks his question. A confident move which shows just how at ease he is in the chamber.

The questions he used were about relief for the poor who pay the most for their energy on pre-payment cards. Energy prices are rising and a predicted 25'000 people, mostly elderly and poor, will die this winter from the cold.

He pressed for a commitment that the government would "take action to stop the energy companies from hitting the poorest families with higher bills on pre-paid meters, so we can end the scandal of the poorest families paying the most for their energy needs?"

Brown gave a typically weak answer that the government has "asked" fuel companies to "look" at pre-payment meters. Hardly the action that would prevent so many poor families having to default on payments, or worse, turn off the heating during these cold, dark winter months!

The shocking state of decay under Labour

Just before Christmas I noticed that Labour had sent out a leaflet in Benchill announcing a new Skate Park to be sited inside Hollyhedge Park, in neighbouring Sharston.

Curiosity got the better of me and I went over to check out how Hollyhedge Park is doing these days.

I must say, that I when I turned a path and laid eyes on Sharston Youth Centre, I was totally shocked! I just hope that the Skate Park doesn't share the same fate as the Youth Centre!

(click to zoom in)

I am totally disgusted by these sights, and totally frustrated at how lazy, complacent and totally ineffectual this pitiful Labour administration is at governing.

Christmas across the world

Merry Christmas everyone!

BBC News Website has some great photos of today across the world.

Here's a few of the ones I like the look of:

Palestinian Christians attend mass in Gaza city.










Christmas at the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow.










Christmas on Bondi beach in Sydney. Nice santa hats girls!

And our new leader is...

NICK

CLEGG

MP

Age: 40
Represents: Sheffield Hallam since 2005
Previous roles: Former MEP, and Trade Negotiator with European Commission
In his own words: I want a new politics: a people’s politics. I want to live in a country where rights, freedoms and privacy are not the playthings of politicians, but safeguarded for everyone. Where political life is not a Westminster village freak show, but open, accessible, and helpful in people’s everyday lives.

• Where parents, pupils and patients are in charge of our schools and hospitals.
• Where fine words on the environment are translated into real action.
• Where social mobility becomes a reality once again, so that no-one is condemned by the circumstances of their birth.
  

Why have we stopped imagining a better society? Look at what we’ve got. The Conservatives and New Labour have governed in the same way - Top-down and centralising. I refuse to believe that the only alternative to a clapped out Labour Government is a Conservative party which has no answers to the big issues - environmentalism without substance, social justice without money, internationalism without Europe.

The challenge for my party is clear and simple: to define a liberal alternative to the discredited politics of Big Government. I want to open up my party, open up Westminster, and open up politics for good. To lead well, a leader needs to listen.

• That’s why I will hold regular and public Town Hall Meetings.
• That’s why I want to open up the Liberal Democrats to give people who support us, but aren’t members, a say on the big issues.
• That’s why I will spend at least one day every week listening and campaigning outside Westminster
• That’s why I will set up a network of real families, who have nothing to do with party politics, in every region of this country to advise me on what they think should be my priorities.

If you once voted Lib Dem but think we’ve spent too much time focusing on ourselves.

If you once voted Conservative but don’t know what they stand for any more.

If you once voted Labour but feel let down after ten years of disappointment.

If you’ve given up voting altogether, but still care about the world we live in:

Then a newly united, energetic, optimistic Liberal Democrat party is here for you.

Benchill Library Campaign

Martin Eakins is campaigning for a Community Library in Benchill - perhaps at or near Benchill Primary School

Your Lib-Dem team have launched a campaign to build a Community Library in Benchill.

Whilst Northern Moor has one, as does Northenden, Benchill is the only part of our ward to be a Library free zone.

Hundreds of Families would benefit from a library close by, as the nearest one at present is at the Forum in the Centre of Wythenshawe.

The Military Covenant

I'm pleased to hear that our team in Westminster have forced a debate on the Military Covenant on Wednesday.

The Covenant is an unwritten agreement between our military forces and the nation - a pact that means our service personnel agree to lose certain rights, even make the ultimate sacrifice for the defence of Britain.

In return Britain must take care of our military, and their dependants, ensuring their welfare is taken care of.

The Royal British Legion have declared the Covenant broken, by this Labour Government, and are campaigning for it to be Honoured. Our top Military Chief, Sir Richard Dannatt, has described it as "out of kilter", about as critical (and probably more) any serving Chief of Defence can be about their government.

As Chancellor, Gordon Brown cut the accommodation budget for our military, and it was the previous Conservative administration that are to blame for the inadequate medical care.

The Liberal Democrats believe the time has come for us to have a new military covenant that ensures politicians honour their debt to the armed forces, the plan includes:

• A new Strategic Defence Review that takes account of the new international situation
• An assurance from politicians that the armed forces will not intervene without providing necessary resources, manpower and equipment that ensures our personnel are secure in the commitment
• A parliamentary committee to conduct an annual review of the state of the covenant
• A ring-fenced budget for welfare and accommodation within the Defence Budget
• Improved medical care and counselling for troops returning from service
• Further funding to allow all armed forces accommodation to be assessed at the highest standard

If you want to support the Royal British Legion's campaign, then check out what you can do here.

Direct Action on Palatine Road

Lib-Dems - working hard for you all year round, not just at election time.







Last Saturday was Farmers Market day for the Village, and it was - as always - superb!

However I was shocked to see piles of rubbish left on the parade when the traders had left. I went out to have a look, and one pile had spilled onto the slip road and was rapidly disintegrating when cars were forced to drive over it!

I moved all the bulky items onto the pavement, but it was still unsightly due to the polystyrene scattered everywhere.

I managed to borrow a broom from Bargain Booze (thanks guys!) and quickly swept it up. I was told that the council normally do this after the Farmers Market had closed, but were running late this day.

I've written to the council asking them to be a bit quicker and to ask the traders to leave waste on the pavement, rather than the slip road.

Before and after.

Getting the roads fixed in Northern Moor

New parking bays for Lawton Moor Road have
been applied for by your local Lib-Dem team

I was out delivering leaflets at the weekend when I noticed how shabby the verges are and how congested the road is on one part of Lawton Moor Road.

The council installed a few parking bays on the western half of the road, and they do massively improve things, so we've applied for them to be installed on the eastern half also.

We'll keep you updated with any progress made.

Riverside Park clean up

The materials outside the Tatton have been reported to the owners

I was at the river Mersey in Northenden yesterday with a friend and noticed how untidy the place was looking around the Tatton Arms.

We took a few photos and reported everything to the authorities to get cleaned up.

It's a shame things get to such a state in such a beautiful area. It should be cleared up soon.

This Graffiti has been reported to the council

"From Stalin to Mr Bean"

Brown under fire - responding to the latest crisis in Labour party donations, acting Lib-Dem leader Vince Cable MP has said the Prime Minister has transformed from "Stalin to Mr Bean" in a matter of weeks.

The wheels of the Labour bus haven't just wobbled in recent weeks, but are smashing against the axles.

The Northern Rock crisis, 25 million records being lost, a military ambush by former chiefs of defence and now dodgy donations.

I sense there is added meaning to New Labour's mantra "things can only get better"; but after 10 years, will they?

The Labour Party have had an unbroken reign over Manchester City Council since 1973, but where are we now, 34 years later?

Have we a clean and safe public transport network that is the envy of the region? Do our buses, trains and trams run quickly and on time throughout the city, connecting up with every part of the city on a regular basis? Is it quicker to hop on a bus than get in your car?

Are our children well educated, inspired and aspirational; eager to shape the world in their own vision with a shared sense of purpose and ambition? Do our citizens have high life expectancy and high expectations of our future together?

Are our neighbourhoods safe and free from the terrible grip of criminal gangs? Have we a well funded police force that has time to properly engage with their communities and the space and resources for proper detective work?

Have we harnessed the technological innovations and expertise of our local scientists, city planners, architects and engineers to create a beautifully efficient, modern, advanced and splendid metropolis, flowing and cutting between green open spaces and urban public places?

If we cannot answer 'yes' to these questions, then what - quite frankly - is the point of Manchester Labour? And more so, what has it been up to these last 30 years?

"Magpie" Labour steal Lib-Dem ideas - again!

The Northenden Labour team - working hard for Manchester.

Found an interesting twist to the "Palatine Road Focus Group" story (see below) at the weekend.

The day after the Civic Society meeting, where our group was adopted as sub-committee, Labour were out delivering letters to the traders inviting them to a hastily put together rival meeting.

Looks like Gordon Brown isn't the only one nicking ideas - nice to know our local gang still following their leader's example!

Interestingly only traders have been invited - but why haven't residents?

Spot the difference - Lib-Dems invite both Residents and Traders, whilst Labour exclude the residents from talks about the future of their high street.

A Focus Group for Palatine Road

The Northenden Lib-Dems have started a "Palatine Road Focus Group" which aims to give our high street a wider variety of shops and services.

The Farmers Market has taught us all, even the traders, that if we get the shops right on Palatine road, we can have a thriving centre of shops, services and amenity.

Many residents have told us over the years that they are disappointed in the lack of certain shops - butchers, fishmongers, shoe shops etc. They complain that we have too many fast food takeaways and bars.

It was always difficult to respond - apart from reacting to planning applications or inviting other shops to set up business, it would be difficult to step in. How could we convince the existing traders to support a scheme to add other shops on the road, even if they weren't in direct competition?

Since the traders (even the new grocers) have had extra trade on Farmers Market day, they have now realised how beneficial it would be for them to have a wider variety of shops.

I spoke with the Chair of the Northenden Civic Society (NCS) about a joint tenants and traders meeting to discuss all the issues facing Palatine road. We didn't want it to be overtly political, indeed we thought the best way forward is to attract the Councillors and Council Officers to this meeting to make it more useful.

He suggested the NSC adopts it as a formal sub-committee, effectively "de-politicising it". I'm pleased to say that when he put it to the Civic Society on Tuesday, it was agreed that it would become a formal sub-committee.

We now have the extra clout and access the NCS can give this group which is a great start for a meeting yet to happen!

If you live or Trade in Northenden and would like to attend the meeting, please meet us at:

Northenden Methodist Hall

Victoria road (just off Palatine Road)
Northenden

8pm, Thursday 29th November

Remembrance day 2007

The plaque in St Wilfrids church bearing the names of those from Northenden who fell in World War I.

This year remembrance day coincided with a Sunday, and so the 'proper' 2 minute silence was held at the Methodist Church service we attended this weekend.

The service was quite moving, and the Rev Bown
spoke of the cost of war and the society we live in today. He recalled a 15 year old boy he knew in south Manchester who was scared witless by a local gang that had threatened to shoot him unless he paid them £90.

"Was this the society our men made the ultimate sacrifice for?" he asked.

After the service we walked across the road to the memorial and I laid a wreath on behalf of the Northenden Lib-Dems. More Vets, the Rev Forster and his congregation, the councillors and about a hundreds residents joined us outside.

The veterans are getting quite frail and few now. Only about a dozen medal bearing veterans were to be found either in the service or at the war memorial afterwards.

After the short service at the memorial I was invited into the social club where one proud vet, Tommy, told me that his captain had recently given him a parade rod with his name inscribed upon, a small vial of whiskey hidden inside and a small compass in the also hidden in the head of the rod.

I was impressed with this exquisite gift and Tommy told me he was very proud of it. He showed me the George Cross he earned in the war for saving his captain's life. Amazingly at 92 he is still with us, thanks to Tommy!

I am so proud of the generation that saved our nation from fascism. They deserve all the respect and gratitude our nation can bestow upon them. We have so many young men and women now serving in other nations, fighting for their freedom. I only hope that their sacrifice is honoured with the same respect for generations to come

Amusing Cartoon

Very witty!

Courtesy of the Times.

Lord Mayor attends Farmers Market

Martin Eakins talking to a resident at the Farmers Market

The Lord Mayor attended the Farmers Market on Saturday, and despite the soggy start the parade was packed with shoppers again. Just goes to show how attractive Palatine road can be if we get the shops right!

We collected a few more dozen signatures for the Parish Council petition, meaning we're almost at the 10% threshold needed to submit the proposal to the Government.

So many residents are keen on the plan, which is very encouraging. I keep on thinking of all the different issues in the village the Parish Council could improve. Bins, street lights, open spaces, parking, roads, Christmas Lights, crime fighting, conservation areas and so on.

The scope of powers these small councils have is impressive, and I'm itching to see it set up. The council officers who work in improving our area are both hard working and talented, but often the link between the residents and the work of the council feels semi-detached, as if the council isn't really engaged with the mind set of the community.

Set Communities Free - say MPs

Manchester City Hall - MPs from all parties say Local Authorities should have greater autonomy over funding

I was most impressed to read that an influential committee of MPs have concluded a 2 year review of local governance by recommending devolution of funding to Local Authorities.

This is a most impressive report. It highlights the overwhelming need for power to be distributed from the centre to local communities.

We're attempting to do just this in Northenden by creating a Parish Council - the smallest unit of government. It would be a local council elected by only 5,000 voters just for the Northenden Village part of the ward. It would mean that decisions can be taken quicker, by people inside the community who are directly accountable to their neighbours.

At present planning decisions for Northenden are taken at Wythenshawe Area Committee, which is a collection of all the Northenden and Wythenshawe Councillors who meet almost every month at the Wythenshawe Forum. Unfortunately the Labour Councillors for Northenden are frequently absent (last year they only managed an attendance rate of 42% between them), and decisions affecting the ward have been taken in their absence.

This means that the rest of Wythenshawe is taking decisions over what happens in Northenden - which we think is a bit bonkers considering how different Northenden is to the rest of Wythenshawe.

We invited Labour to support the idea, but heard nothing from them for months until they rubbished the idea in the press- which is a bit odd as it was their legislation in 1997 that encourages communities to set up these sort of councils.

So much for putting differences aside for the good of the community!

A new month, a new blog and soon, a new leader.

Chris Huhne and Nick Clegg

- but which one will lead the party by Christmas?

November has arrived.

The clocks have gone back, frost now appears on lawns, the leaves have fallen and so has our leader, Sir Ming Cambell MP, the latest victim of ageism in press.

It was the ageist sentiments in the press that eventually hamstrung poor Ming, every time he made an important speech or announcement, savage cartoons and ageist comment would be published in our national papers, silencing the wise yet passionate words of a great and honourable man.

If Ming was black or disabled, this sort of nonsense wouldn't be tolerated, but ageism is one of the last great forms of prejudice that has yet to be conquered.

Who will replace Ming - Clegg or Huhne? I hope it's Clegg - he has the vision to lead us into Government.