Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
The Lib Dem team for Harringay Ward: Why we’re standing and a bit about ourselves.
The Lib Dem team for Harringay Ward: Why we’re standing and a bit about ourselves.
The next Council elections
On the 3rd May there is an election for all 57 seats on Haringey Council.
The present Council
The present Council is made up of 49 Labour Councillors and 8 Liberal Democrats. There are no Conservative or Green Party members. It is only the Lib Dems who have prevented Haringey from being a one-party state.
Harringay Ward
Harringay Ward consists of the whole of the Ladder plus Denmark Road, the eastern side of Green Lanes from Alfoxton Avenue to St Ann’s road and the turnings off (Alfoxton, St. Margaret’s, Harringay Gardens, Park Road, Colina Mews, Colina Road), as well as the Mountview Court estate. It is a marginal between Labour and the Lib Dems.
Some History
The balance for Harringay Ward was 2 Lib Dems and 1 Labour in 2006 and 2010, and in 2014 three Labour candidates were elected. The Conservatives and the Green Party have never been in contention, even when Matt Cuthbert got their best ever result in 2014, before becoming a Lib Dem himself.
Two of our candidates, Karen Alexander and David Schmitz, have served on the Council before: Karen from 2006 to 2014 and David from 2010 to 2014.
Why we’re standing
There are two main reasons.
Effective opposition
If, as many assume, Labour elects a majority of the Councillors, there really will need to be a larger opposition group to keep an eye on what they’re doing, to expose the mistakes and waste which happen on their watch and to campaign against disastrous excesses like the Haringey Development Vehicle. Remember, elections are often unpredictable, and a matter of less than 100 votes can often decide a race. So a stronger opposition is both desirable and very much achievable.
The personal touch
Faceless bureaucracy needs a human face. We see our main job as giving people someone to turn to should the system fail them. Whether it’s a flood in Wightman Road on Christmas Day, a family with small children that has been evicted, or an enforcement action that shouldn’t happen, someone has to be prepared to drop what they’re doing and call out the highways department, go with the family to the housing office, or get an explanation from someone higher up the chain of command than the call centre.
We’ve done all this in the past, and we want to do it again, but we need to be in office in order to be fully effective in doing this for you.
Why the Council needs a strong Lib Dem group
The BBC has recently observed, “Haringey Labour Party has recently been in the news for all the wrong reasons - de-selections, division, denunciations.”
If Labour form the next administration in the Council, no-one will have any idea as to what that administration would look like, or even how cohesive it would be.
What we know is that there will be plenty of people who, like the outgoing leader Claire Kober, still want to bring in the Haringey Development Vehicle. Remember that for all the chaos caused by this in Labour’s ranks, they still voted unanimously against stopping it only last month, although they had the chance to do so at an Extraordinary Full Council Meeting called by the Opposition Lib Dems. Even more worryingly, they (again unanimously) voted money for it at the recent council budget meeting.
We have long attacked this idea as oppressive because it would throw people out of their homes, and as unwise because it involves gambling £2 billion worth of Council property in a deal with one developer.
There will also be plenty of new people who are quick to talk up grand schemes without any idea as to how they can be implemented or paid for. As one former Labour opponent of ours has said, "Momentum activists at some point are going to come in to contact with reality.”
In the middle of this civil war, who will do the un-glamourous jobs of seeing to it that services are provided, and that the Council’s limited money is used to best effect, rather than squandered on failed fried chicken shops, new logos, and trips to the French Riviera?
And who will address the problems with their children’s services, highlighted yet again
• By a joint inspection by Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, and the police and probation inspectorates, which found that when children are assessed they are too often either not offered appropriate support or their cases are closed too early. https://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/2004846/inspectors-warn-of-ineffe...
• By the Council’s own website which points out how children in care are failed when it comes to preparation for life outside of care http://www.haringey.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/joint-stra...
That’s where we come in. We know that Councillors can make a difference, but it isn’t by grandstanding against “the system”, or by getting too close to property developers. It is by patient and probing questioning of council officers and by listening to the people we represent.
We know that the only way to avoid bad decisions is to listen to people BEFORE we make up our minds. Our manifesto is about to be published and we’ll present it here. We believe that our plan will re-assure you that someone is looking after the interests of this wonderful borough.
A bit about ourselves
David, Karen and Matt all live in Harringay ward and are raising families here, so we are here in the ward day in, day out, and we’re always on the lookout for problems that need fixing. If we’re elected no-one will have trouble getting us to help if they find themselves bogged down in the call centre or “customer services”.
Karen Alexander was a Lib Dem Councillor for Harringay Ward from 2006 to 2014. During her terms she served on the Council’s Scrutiny Committee, which brings the Council’s workings into the cold light of day, and calls in questionable decisions – like the sale of the Hornsey Town Hall to a Cayman Islands-based property developer, and the notorious Haringey Development Vehicle – for a second, independent look. Even out of office, she hasn’t let up. She continues to attend meetings of residents’ groups and the police panel, and she works tirelessly on issues of traffic and road safety.
“As far as I am concerned, the 20mph limit on Wightman Rd has [Karen’s] name on it.”
David Schmitz was a Lib Dem Councillor for Harringay Ward from 2010 to 2014 and served on the planning committee. He quickly became known for his effective and tireless work for residents.
“From the moment I first contacted David about the problem, he was on hand with lots of good advice and useful pointers in directions that had never occurred to me. He also kept in close contact at all times.”
“He seems to be everywhere on that side of the borough boundary. Everywhere.
When he’s not working for the community, he practises as a barrister.
Matt Cuthbert is keenly involved in early-years education and the improvement of our local streets. He is an education volunteer at the nature reserve at Railway Fields (by Umfreville Road) and has taught cricket at North Harringay Primary School as well as under 9s cricket at a local club. He has salvaged and maintained many of the planters which brighten up Harringay Passage. The many groups he has contributed to have included the parents’ forum and the Friends of Harringay Passage.
In 2014, he stood for the Council as a candidate for the Green Party here in Harringay Ward, and was rewarded by the voters with the best result outside of the Lib Dems and Labour. After more strongly identifying with the ideals and proposals of the Liberal Democrats, he joined the party, and brings a keen eye to local environmental issues and a welcome take on ways to address them.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Philip on
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It's been great to see the revival of the left in the Labour Party. The HGV has been kicked into touch and Kober is history. I have fond memories of the Lib Dems sharing power with the Tories in the coalition government. Thanks for increased tuition fees and Austerity. Only Labour can save this country from a devastating brexit and continuing austerity which is breaking the back of our Society.
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Permalink Reply by David Schmitz on
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Hi Philip,
I see this will be a spirited campaign, and no bad thing.
Are you sure, though, that the HDV has been kicked into touch?
It could have been, when the special meeting of the Council which my colleagues convened had a vote on the matter; but unfortunately, as Karen points out above, the Labour group unanimously voted to put it off the until after the election, and they then voted money for it in the budget meeting.
Remember that it was the Lib Dem group that hauled the HDV before the Scrutiny committee and campaigned against it long before the splits in the Labour party became apparent.
I note of course what you are saying about the national political scene, but I think that's for another day - a day which I hope is not too far off though, because I agree that the current government, without our civilising influence, is really pretty awful.
Best,
David
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Labour councillors were under an obligation not to oppose the whip. This is why they voted for delay. Why else? Yes i believe the HDV is dead in the water and hopefully all similar schemes will be faced down. A Corbyn led government will invest massively in social housing which is the only real solution to our housing crisis.
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Permalink Reply by PeterPiper on
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Obligation don't make me laugh. Opportunists more like.
Why not take a cue from their leader who voted against the Labour Whips time & again in HoC- probably followed his own mind when he was a Haringey councillor too. Craven is a word that springs to mind.
Anyway when are they going to deign to make a public announcement, about why they marched up the hill and straight down again, rather than offer a quiet word one to one from the end of a phone? Autocracy is the name of their game.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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I think your idea of not likely and the CBI's idea of not likely are different somehow.
You are so wrong saying that neither side of the HDV debate spoke to residents. One of them was more selective than the other with who they spoke to and what they said is all.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Please let's stick to the house rules. This thread is supposed to be about the LibDems. Not about a mythical Party which isn't putting up candidates.
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Permalink Reply by matthew cuthbert on
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I wouldn’t rain ☔️ on your parade, but we don’t need a 3 line whip on Harringay Online, or Momentum or Progress to stack a meeting in any favour.
Labour activists are brilliant, but that hasn’t translated on the ground in terms of physical improvement, and evidently nearing neglect. It’s time for change in Harringay and a renewed determination for our residents. I’m tired of nothing happening and low involvement, it’s not even political.
I’ve lived in Harringay for over 24 years, arriving as a student, our vote has been taken for granted, enough to motivate my involvement over the last eight years, no more time wasting with internal wrangling, Harringay will loose opportunities yet again, when will we be a priority, and what commitment will we get to fullfill these aims.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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The candiates were voted for by members of the Labour Party. The turn out at the selection meetings was the biggest I’ve ever seen (after being in the Labour Party for almost 40 years).
Momentum is a campaigning organisation that you can join if you wish. I haven’t. There are lots of other campaigning organisation within the Labour Party, as there are in other political parties.
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Permalink Reply by Zena Brabazon on
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To follow on from Michael's post. The selection process was scrupulously run and adminstered. Every meeting was invigilated and supervised, and every member checked. Candidates were selected by party members- hundreds of them - who come from all wings of the Labour Party. They heard what people had to say, and made up their minds.
Zena Brabaazon
Cllr, Harringay ward
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Michael, am I sensing some tactical distancing of brand 'Momentum'? This reminds me of the Tumour Paint story, wherein scorpion venom is used to detect cancers. A very positive use of a painful and deadly and venom.
Momentum has certainly put paid to the unchecked ambitions of the current Labour run Council. But let's not ignore the deeply troubling nature and motivations of the Momentum movement.
The voting public of Haringey would do well to take advantage of the venom without becoming victim of it.
The easiest way to do this in an overwhelmingly Labour borough is to dilute the poison. In Harringay ward, select the proven Lib Dem candidates, and the equally proven Labour candidate. Karen, David, and Zena.
Unfortunately, the alternatives are not always as attractive in other wards. Just be careful please. A council full of inexperienced, Momentum-infected child politicians could potentially be even more damaging than the incestuously right-wing Labour Council we have just experienced.
If you think you've got a difficult choice, imagine how hard it must be for the Jewish communities who have been perennial supporters of Labour. Though I guess a significant percentage of the Haredi community are anti-zionist too.
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The notion that Momentum selected candidates has become common currency simply by being repeated over and over again The selection meeting I was at had newer members (and I’m grateful than new people want to join) but the majority were people who had been in the Labour Party for longer than the existence of Momentum - in my case and a fair number of other people at the selection meeting, decades longer.
The divide between the views of ordinary members and the small number of councillors who make up the Cabinet has become wider and wider. For years now, and again this predates the formation of Momentum, there has been a gulf between Labour Party members and “backbench” councillors in Haringey and those holding power, with the HDV being in a way the final straw. I think that has been the main motivation for many ordinary members who wanted change when selection came up; that the Cabinet did not listen and did not want to hear what the membership had to say.
As for the experience of the candidates selected across the borough, there are a mixture of new people, people who have previously been councillors and those who are already councillors - two of the three selected in Harringay Ward are existing councillors.
All councillors were at one time new. The electorate will be presented with the experience the candidates have and what they think they can bring to the job of elected member.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Setz on
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The democratic disconnect does seem clear but is it not simply a byproduct of the system we operate - i.e. not limited to Cllr Kober et al? What is to prevent the next Leadership in ours or any other Council behaving autocratically?
News reports across London seem to confirm that Councils of every stripe do things the majority would be dead against given voice but that's a matter of opinion that cannot be confirmed.
What the Leadership here have done is perfectly within their powers - they have suffered for it thank goodness but they did nothing that broke the rules.
Our adversarial system is to blame and if there was any justice we'd have proportional representation here (as most in Haringey voted for change when asked) but we don't. We have 'winner takes all'.
Promises by any new Leadership that they'll 'listen' are far from adequate. Local Cllrs have lost the trust of the voters and can't win it back by extended good behaviour - the new lot need to be constrained because of the abuse perpetrated by their predecessors.
It's at pre-election time that we can extract significant undertakings from candidates. So, if people really are concerned to bring about beneficial change then how about we specify precisely how we rein them in?
A commitment to local referenda, Michael, or won't that work either?
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