Karen Jennings

After a few days of rest and some much needed time with my family, it now feels well overdue to be posting my heartfelt thanks for the amazing help, support and hard work of the Hornsey and Wood Green Labour team over the last few months.

Election night was one of mixed emotion.  I was really sorry not to have delivered the Labour win for Hornsey and Wood Green Parliamentary seat, but delighted that the people of Haringey chose Labour – against the odds and in increased numbers Рto lead their council.   Huge congratulations are due to the Haringey Labour Council Candidates for their tremendous campaign and tireless effort.  I truly believe that the residents of Haringey will need the protection and values of a Labour Council in the face of our new Tory and Lib Dem Government.

So we have seen the Labour campaign message ‘flirt with Clegg wake up married to Cameron’ become a reality.  This can only mean that our work as Labour Рnow we are the only progressive choice in the country Рis more vital than ever.

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In the middle of a hugely busy day, here’s another message from a voter (Ian in Highgate) who didn’t vote Labour in 2005, but is now ‘coming home’.¬† Please take a moment to read Ian’s message – particularly the last line.

I didn’t vote for Labour in 2005.  In fact, I left the Labour Party completely and cancelled my membership.  This was a really difficult decision; I’d been a member for over 20 years and had always voted Labour.  Whatever the election, it had always been a cross in the Labour box.  I voted this way because I believed in Labour values:  fairness, equality, justice.  Today I’m a successful businessman, but I’m also the product of a state education.  I believe that everyone has the right to a decent school and hospital.

But I stopped voting Labour for one simple reason РI didn’t agree with the Iraq war.   The Labour Government had done great things – the minimum wage, re-building public services, investing in jobs – but I disagreed, passionately, with the decision to go to war.

For me, one thing hasn’t changed.   I still think the war was wrong and I doubt I’ll ever change my mind.  But, this year I’ll be voting Labour again and I’m re-joining the party.   The decision to come back to Labour is a decision I’m comfortable with – I think the time is right.  I look now at the choices we face – not just in Hornsey and Wood Green, but across the country – and my mind was easily made up.

I firmly believe that Cameron’s Conservatives haven’t changed.  They would take us back into recession.  As a businessman, I don’t trust Osborne to make the right calls.  He lacks experience and judgement.  He would walk away from people when the going gets tough.  He’s wrong to think we can cut our way to economic growth.  He’s wrong on national insurance. I want my vote to help keep the Conservatives out of Government and it worries me that the Liberal Democrats have said they might back them up.

But I have also been persuaded by Gordon Brown and his team.  They are steady and steadfast.  It has been an incredibly volatile period for the economy and Labour has taken firm, decisive action.  They also have a plan for the recovery Рgrowth, investment in jobs, a vision for the future, but not abandoning Labour values and joining the Tories in a charge to cut where cuts aren’t needed.

We can’t afford the luxury of not voting Labour in 2010.

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As we enter the final straight before Thursday’s election, there is still all to play for – nationally and here in Hornsey and Wood Green.¬† I know there are still many people who are undecided and we will be working tirelessly to persuade them that Labour is the right choice if you believe in progressive politics (a quick look at Gordon Brown’s speech to Citizens UK is enough to persuade anyone:¬† http://bit.ly/dBRZBJ).¬†¬†¬† But there are also lots of ‘decideds’:¬† in Hornsey and Wood Green there are¬† former Labour voters, who supported a different party in 2005, deciding now is the time to come back to Labour.¬†¬† This is one message I received from a voter -¬† I’ve posted it here in full.¬†¬† This message strikes a chord with what I’m hearing on the doorstep:¬† lots of people don’t want a Tory Government, strongly dislike Clegg’s flirtation with Cameron and are coming back to Labour in 2010.

I will be coming back to Labour in 2010. Five years ago I left Labour, the party I represented for eight years as a Haringey councillor, because I felt it had lost its way over issues such as Iraq and PFI. But this election is critical to the challenges that lie ahead – in our economy and our political system. This is no time to stand aside. The stakes are too high.

The Tories called it wrong on every key decision that faced this country in the recession – the worst since the Great Depression. The Labour Government’s action to nationalise Northern Rock and recapitalise the banks, to cut VAT and to introduce the scrappage scheme to help manufacturing and save jobs, were all opposed by the Tories. ¬†If elected, they would threaten the growing recovery by making immediate cuts in public spending and going ahead with uncosted tax cuts that will benefit the better off. ¬†Their so-called Big Society is nothing but a fig leaf to privatise and slash the welfare state. ¬†Public services like health and education, have been painfully rebuilt by Labour over the last 13 years. Just visit your local school or hospital or park. We can’t let the Tories run them down again.

Labour has already devolved government and established fairer voting systems in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London. The power of the hereditary Lords has been curtailed. It is now the only party Рdespite its failure in this parliament Рto offer fundamental democratic reform that will open up the political system and make it more representative.  The Tories only offer what is in effect the biggest gerrymander in history Рcutting the number of seats to boost the strength of the Tories in any future House of Commons.

The Lib Dems can’t win, and anyway Nick Clegg seems to be quite willing to support the Tories.¬† If you want change – to a more balanced economy less dependent on the City and political renewal – you have to vote Labour in every seat where Labour has a chance of winning. And that means here in Hornsey and Wood Green.

We are lucky to have a first-class candidate in Karen Jennings. As a former nurse she knows the problems of ordinary working people and as senior trade union negotiator she knows how to defend our vital public services. And as a Labour MP she will be able to fully support the party’s recovery programme.

That recovery can only be sustained and our politics renewed if Labour is able to form the next government. And that’s why I will be supporting Labour in Hornsey and Wood Green at this election.

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Ken Livingstone at the Labour Street Stall in Crouch End

Despite the rain, the Hornsey and Wood Green Labour team have been out delivering my latest direct mail letter.¬† This time it is a letter from Ken Livingstone asking voters to think very carefully before voting on Thursday and urges them to vote labour.¬† It is a powerful message.¬†¬† Take a look…..

I’ve been out campaigning in Hornsey and Wood Green for Karen Jennings, your Labour parliamentary candidate over the last couple of weeks. I chose to come here for two reasons.

Firstly, because I think Karen is a great candidate after my own heart – a strong, independent minded, Labour voice, with a background in the trade unions and the NHS; someone who I’ve campaigned with and marched alongside – real Labour.

Secondly, because I know this constituency, especially this ward, has a big progressive anti-Tory majority. Voters here turned out overwhelmingly to defeat the Tories in 1997. And in the 2008 Mayoral elections here in Hornsey and Wood Green you gave me one of my strongest first preference votes – 17,157 as against only 4,932 for the Lib Dems – and I thank you for that.

Voters in this part of London have been shown to be right, with bus fares up, police numbers being cut and tube ticket office opening hours under threat from a Conservative mayor. This is what we can expect from a Cameron-Osborne government – the economic recovery put at risk with frontline services cut.

Now I want to ask you to think really hard about your vote this time, and its effect.

Many progressive minded people agree that Labour has made a big difference –

• NHS spending massively up, hospitals built , waiting lists dramatically down;
• Education spending up, schools rebuilt, free nursery places for 3 year olds, Sure Start children centres opened, results dramatically improved;
• Working family tax credit, minimum wage, maternity and paternity rights;
• Constitutional reform ‚Äì Scottish and Welsh parliament, devolution for London, scrapped section 28 and introduced Civil Partnerships.

And most recently, Labour was right to take action to save the economy, which has prevented recession turning into depression, and stopped mass unemployment. The Tories opposed it then and want big cuts now when the recovery is fragile – while the Lib Dems proposed “Savage Cuts”.

I know many of you, like Karen and I, were angry about the war, have not always agreed with everything a Labour government does, or feel frustrated by lack of progress on other matters, but I believe we cannot put at risk all the gains that have been made. Many people locally voted for me two years ago – perhaps in part because you were rightly horrified at the thought of a Tory Mayor, in part because you valued my independence, and also maybe Labour’s London vision was more closely aligned with your values.

Now your choice in this election is crucial. Your vote really counts just as it did in the Mayoral election.

As recent press coverage shows the Liberal Democrats may well put the Tories into power. A hung parliament is looking a possibility. Clegg has made it clear that the Lib Dems will look for a coalition with the biggest Party, and he has almost ruled out a coalition with Gordon Brown. And we know that the Libdems in local government have formed coalitions with the Tories all over the country including in nearby Camden – usually followed by big cuts to public services.

If, like me, you want to avoid the election of a Tory government, or a Tory led coalition you need to vote Labour in this constituency. Even if you are tempted by a Lib Dem/ Labour coalition, your vote can best achieve it by voting Labour.

Please think hard. Waking up to David Cameron on May 7^th is a nightmare that can be avoided – the best option for voters in Hornsey and Wood Green to keep the Tories out  is to vote for Karen Jennings, Labour, and stand up for the values so important to people in this community.

Yours sincerely,

Ken Livingstone

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I attended the rally at the Whittington today that was intended to be a protest against the plans to close the A&E. It was great that this became a celebration of the announcement that the Whittington’s excellent A&E and maternity services are no longer under threat. This is thanks to the many¬†local people who joined the campaign and made their voices heard so that the bureaucrats had to stand down. Thanks to the midwives who¬†supported my event and visited the Minister and also thanks to local campaigners including Sara Hall “Whittington Mum” and the “Defend the Whittington Coalition” who continued the pressure and brought managers and politicians to account. ¬†All have joined together to achieve this fantastic result for the people of Hornsey and Wood Green and¬†all over North London. I cannot say how truly delighted I am by this¬†news.

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Karen marching to save the Whittington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
After a campaign from Karen Jennings and David Lammy, Minister stops bureaucrats review of local health services
Local people are today celebrating the news that the Labour Health Secretary Andy Burnham has stepped in and ordered a complete halt to the review of the Whittington, after a passionate campaign from the local Labour Party.  Karen Jennings and David Lammy have spearheaded this campaign, and have taken local residents, mothers and Whittington midwives to Westminster to make the case for the Whittington Accident & Emergency and Maternity services with government ministers.

Karen Jennings, Labour Candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green and a former nurse, said:

“I am delighted that we’ve been able to get this result for local people in Hornsey and Wood Green and across North London. I know first hand from my experience in the NHS what these plans would have meant. There was simply no evidence to support the plans Рit’s fantastic that NHS London’s review has been stopped.”

Labour Candidate for Tottenham, David Lammy said:

‚ÄúThis is a victory for the people of Haringey over NHS bureaucrats. Working together with local people in Tottenham, and across North London, we have saved our hospital, protecting the local services we all rely on. “

Labour Group Leader in Haringey, Claire Kober said:
‚ÄúThese are vital services that the community relies on. As a Labour Party, we are absolutely committed to defending frontline services and are really pleased at this news. ”
ENDS

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Karen at the Ham and High hustings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Karen Jennings took part in hustings hosted by the Ham and High newspaper last night to a packed hall at Greig City Academy in Hornsey.  Candidates took questions from the floor across a broad range of topics that really disclosed the differences between the parties and put the candidates to test on many issues.

On the issue of a possible hung parliament, when pressed about what her own stance would be if she was asked to take the Tory whip, LibDem candidate Lynne Featherstone conceded that she would “rule nothing in, nothing out”, thus confirming Labour’s message that for voters in Hornsey and Wood Green who wish to keep David Cameron out of Downing Street, a vote for Labour is the only choice on 6th May.

After the hustings Karen Jennings said,

“The message is clear, simple and stark:  if you flirt with the Liberal Democrats, you will wake up married to the Conservatives.  A vote for a Lib Dem MP means a vote for Clegg and you get Cameron.  Nick Clegg, unlike his predecessors Charles Kennedy and Paddy Ashdown, has made clear his hostility to Labour and his preference to side with the Tories in a coalition.  I believe this would be disastrous and an appalling prospect for the people of Hornsey and Wood Green who have rejected the Tories for the last twenty years.  The Liberal Democrats are no longer a safe, risk-free option.  The stakes are too high to vote for a Party that would support a Conservative Government.”

She added:

“Lynne Featherstone was in a difficult position, having to defend the position of her leader whilst fighting for a seat that has sided with a progressive choice for nearly twenty years. For the sake of the residents in Hornsey and Wood Green she should do the honest thing and stand up against the Tory threat within her party.  My message is clear:  if elected on Thursday 6^th May and in the event of a hung parliament I would not support a Tory Government.”

End

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Karen and Cypriot friends

Karen Jennings visited the Cypriot Community Centre in Wood Green on Tuesday, which serves the important Cypriot community in the Hornsey and Wood Green Constituency and throughout Haringey.

After the visit Karen said,

“The Cypriot Community Centre is a shining example of what a particular community can do and bring to the wider community. This centre provides social care, luncheon clubs and space for people to drop in and enjoy each others company. This centre has been with us for over 30 years and began with support from Haringey Council to respond to the huge and growing community of Greek and Turkish Cypriots. It is one of Hornsey and Wood Green’s strongest and well established groups. Their influence is everywhere: in shops, restaurants, small businesses and in our public services.”

She added:

“The Cypriot Community Centre is unique:  it works , nationally and internationally, collaboratively and in harmony across the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot divide and is recognised as a leading advocate for the peaceful and progressive solution to the divided nation.  The Centre also opens its doors to the wider community. It was once a school building and rooms and has halls that are available for events.”

After being taken around the Centre and introduced to the users and also to every single member of staff, Karen had these words of praise:

“All were warm welcoming and rightly proud of what they have – a community centre, run by the people for the people on democratic lines.  I was also treated to a delicious military size meal, several courses and all healthy and tasty!”

A warm welcome at the Centre

Karen concluded by recognising the support given by the Cypriot community to the Labour Party and said:

“Cypriots are in their hearts and minds Labour supporters and I know we can count on them on 6^th May and they know that they can count on Labour to support their community centre and importantly to help to progress the cause in Cyprus.

I have supported many events at this centre and every time I go,  I leave thinking what an amazing centre it is and what warm, generous and hospitable people we are lucky to have as solid citizens within  Hornsey and Wood Green and across North London.”

End

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We already know the Liberal Democrats would cut Child Tax Credits and the Child Trust Fund, but it looks like child benefit could be the next on their hit list.  Vince Cable has floated this idea before, as has Nick Clegg.  Bizarrely, the last time the Liberal Democrat Chancellor suggested child benefit should be means-tested, he dismissed it as a ‘slip of the tongue’.  Well – look at the article below that includes an excerpt from the transcript of a Newsnight interview.  There’s no slip of the tongue there: Cable is quite clear that child benefit could be next up for a savage cut.

The point about child benefit is that it is universal – everybody gets it.  It says something about how we as a society value children and it means that the benefit helps every child.    Opening child benefit up to means-testing could be the thin end of the wedge. At what point would the test be applied?  Once the idea of it being universal has gone, what’s to stop it being pruned further and further?

This is worrying stuff Рeven the Tories wouldn’t go this far!  There’s no disagreement that the budget deficit needs to be reduced – Labour is committed to doing so by half in the next four years.  There will be cuts in the years to come.  But that really can’t mean everything is up for grabs – you have to protect the services that matter.    Yet Vince Cable is ‘ruling nothing out’ – including child benefit and the ‘sacred cow’ (his words!) of NHS funding.   What next?

Labour is committed to protect universal child benefit, as well as funding for schools, hospitals and frontline police.  Another good reason to vote Labour on Thursday 6^th May.

Take a look at the article by the Fabian Society:  http://bit.ly/dnqDZl

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Nick Clegg has been sending out some seriously mixed messages about what the Liberal Democrats would do if we have a hung Parliament.

A week or two ago he was saying it was up to the public to decide and it was not for him to say what his party would do until after the election.  Then, under pressure to reveal his hand, he began to resolutely list four Liberal Democrat priorities, offering them as bargaining chips for his support.  It seemed that if one of the other parties supported these measures, he’d consider a coalition with them.

He complicated matters by ruling out working with Gordon Brown.  So that would leave him and Cameron sitting round the table!   But then he confused things even further by suggesting he would work with Labour if we had a different leader.  Yesterday he indicated that constitutional reform is the non-negotiable that any partner of his would have to support.  Today he’s softening his criticism of Gordon Brown and going back to where we started, which was ‘let’s wait and see until after Thursday 6^th May’.

Do you get the sense he’s making this up as he goes along?   This doesn’t half make it confusing for anyone thinking of backing the Liberal Democrats.  The only clear choice, particularly if you want to avoid a Tory Government and see continued support for our police, hospitals and schools, is a vote for Labour.

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