The mystery of March to May

It was a disappointing end to the season for Spurs last Sunday - despite the sunny weather (as you can see from the photo).

A 2-0 defeat, another insipid performance and the season was over. Well, the season was pretty much over after our brilliant Carling Cup win in February. That was evident in the season highlights compilation they showed on the big screen - didn't include anything after February. The players and the fans have pretty much just been waiting for next season to start since them, it seems.

So it has been a disappointing season, despite the cup win, finishing 11th after two consecutive years in a very encouraging 5th. Now all we have for the summer to keep us busy is transfer news and the delight of shelling out an extra £66 for next year's season ticket, up to £865.

Been a busy week again, a few meetings but last night was the Charlatans gig and they were brilliant as always. This weekend have a couple of birthday parties to fit in - one of them being my niece's 3rd birthday.

10 year anniversary party

Okay, mixing politics and parties might not sound like everyone's idea of fun, but... For all Lib Dem members, activists and supporters out there, you're invited to join us on May 24th as we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Liberal Democracy in Haringey.

Yes, it's 10 years now since Lynne Featherstone, along with colleagues Julia Glenn and June Anderson, was elected to represent Muswell Hill ward on Haringey Council - the first 3 Lib Dems. Of course, in 2002 we won a bunch more wards (including my own of Fortis Green) and now in 2008 have 26 councillors in Haringey and Lynne is our MP in Hornsey & Wood Green.

Lynne will be at the party - a buffet lunch on Saturday May 24th from 12.30 to 3pm at St Andrews Centre on Alexandra Park Road - and I think June and Julia will both be able to make it too. Our former leader Ross Laird is coming down from Scotland and my former ward colleague Stephen Gilbert is coming over from Cornwall - plus there will be many more people who have played a key role in getting Haringey Lib Dems into the strong position we are in today.

Tickets are £12.50 in advance (email me for details or call Cllr Susan Oatway on 07794 218596) or £15.00 on the door, raising funds to help contribute to more local success as we continue to campaign to take control of the Council in 2010.

New Lib Dem leader to take on Haringey Labour

At our AGM last night, Haringey Liberal Democrats elected Cllr Robert Gorrie as the new Leader of the Opposition. He's pictured in the tie here with our retiring leader Cllr Neil Williams (although, of course, Neil will continue to be a Highgate ward councillor).

Robert will be a great asset to the group and to the people of Haringey - with a forensic mind and a strong track record of getting things done.

Some more info on Robert from the official press release:

Robert Gorrie was elected in Hornsey on a massive swing in 2006, taking the previously safe seat from Labour. He has been Lib Dem Finance Spokesperson, masterminding the Lib Dem alternative budget and has repeatedly challenged the Labour Council's waste and mismanagement. Robert's business experience makes him well equipped for the task of leading the Lib Dem group. Most recently he spent five years as one of the directors that built the Ocado online grocery delivery retailer from scratch to a business with a turnover equivalent to Haringey Council's annual budget. He remains on the board and still advises the award winning company on staff consulting and communication.

Robert Gorrie has Liberal Democrat politics in his blood. His father, Donald Gorrie has been a Lib Dem MP, MSP and was a local councillor for 35 years. Robert follows this tradition as a campaigning councillor. He has fought locally for residents' rights to be involved in the development of the Hornsey Depot site, challenged the lack of community facilities in the Campsbourne Estate and pushed for long-term solutions to issues of anti-social behaviour and economic disadvantage faced by many residents.

Unfortunately, after nearly six years on Overview & Scrutiny, I wasn't re-elected last night. Although I did get the second highest number of 1st preference votes, I was one vote short of being elected outright and after other preferences were allocated I didn't finish in the top three. What we do have now though is two councillors who haven't been on Overview & Scrutiny before to bring a fresh, new perspective to our scrutiny team of three - which is great.

The full Haringey Lib Dem team after last night's AGM is:

Leader
Cllr Robert Gorrie
Deputy Leader
Cllr Richard Wilson

Chair
Cllr Laura Edge

Deputy Chair
Cllr David Beacham

Chief Whip
Cllr Monica Whyte

Deputy Whip
Cllr Matt Davies

Overview and Scrutiny Committee members
Cllr Karen Alexander (Lead), Cllr Ron Aitken, Cllr David Winskill

Muswell Hill Assembly Chair
Cllr Gail Engert
Crouch End Assembly Chair
Cllr Lyn Weber

Audit and Finance Spokesperson
Cllr Robert Gorrie
Children, Schools and Families Spokesperson
Cllr Gail Engert
Community Involvement Spokesperson
Cllr John Oakes

Crime, Policing and Community Safety Spokesperson

Cllr Ron Aitken
Enterprise and Regeneration Spokesperson
Cllr Rachel Allison
Environment (green issues) Spokesperson
Cllr Ed Butcher
Environment (traffic, rubbish, street cleaning) Spokesperson
Cllr Martin Newton
Adult Social Services Spokesperson
Cllr Richard Wilson
Housing Spokesperson
Cllr Carolyn Baker
Culture, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Spokesperson
Cllr David Winskill

Escape from Boris

Fortunately I was already well out of London on Friday night when the mayoral results came through, so I was able to try and ignore the fact that Boris Johnson has been elected to run our capital. Back in London now, I see from the constituency results that he at least didn't win the most votes in Enfield & Haringey. The Tories also failed to win the Enfield & Haringey GLA seat, so they are still without an election win of any sort in Haringey (for over 10 years now).

After the good results of the local elections, which mostly came through on Thursday night, the GLA results on Friday were not good for us. While our vote held up very well and indeed increased, we were screwed by the turnout increase. Although I had thought that the interest in the Ken-Boris Punch & Judy Show would increase turnout and could leave Brian Paddick struggling to make a big impact, I had hoped that some of those extra voters would choose to vote Lib Dem for the constituency and list votes - but seems not to have been the case. So we have lost Geoff Pope from the GLA, who was a hard-working and effective representative.

But let's not dwell on that. Have just had a great weekend in Cornwall, visiting my old Fortis Green ward colleague Stephen Gilbert - now Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for his home constituency of St.Austell & Newquay.

One of the new places I went to have a look at was the China Clay Country Park in his constituency. I haven't picked the most picturesque photo to stick up, it shows the working pit you get a good view across when you get to the top of the trail in the Park. But it's a good attraction, with a nice mix of activities for everyone: museum and old china clay works for everyone; interactive stuff and playground for the kids; nice paths to wander around and good viewpoints for the adults.

Although I didn't see Steve's Mum (and County Councillor) this time, as she was away, I did see her photo in the China Clay Country Park Museum. She used to work in the china clay industry locally, as did Steve when he was younger too - in fact, Steve has a long family history connected to china clay and to St.Austell & Newquay in general. The term 'local candidate' is often over used, but candidates don't get much more local than Steve!

Anyway, had brilliant weather for the weekend and enjoyed catching up with Steve, including going to some of his favourite places around his home area, like Polkerris Beach and Fowey, where he went to school. Also paid a return trip to the Eden Project - as you can see from the bottom photo, which unfortunately doesn't show how sunny and nice it was.

Bad news for the Conservatives across the country

Waking up this morning to some of the local election results as Monica heads to the GLA count at Alexandra Palace, there's no time for me to think through all the implications properly - although if we have overtaken Labour in national share of the vote, as being forecast, then that would be pretty impressive.

The fun thing about local elections is that there are always good and bad results for each party if you dig down. We have taken control of some councils like St.Alban's and Kingston-upon-Hull, but lost others - although in councils we have controlled for some time we seem generally to have done well. We've gained council seats across the country, but with some areas bringing much happier news than others.

Anyway, to prove my point about good and bad news for everyone - and because I like to be contrary - as the main story seems to be the Tory revival (and an admittedly high vote share), I though I'd just do a quick scan and pick out some places where they have rather less to smile about:

The Tories used to control Colchester (where Bob Russell is the inimitable Lib Dem MP) but lost 5 seats yesterday (4 to us and 1 to Labour). In Coventry, Labour took the one seat off the Tories they needed to deprive them of overall control.

In Eastleigh, despite already having 37 of the 44 seats (and having controlled the Council since 1994), the Lib Dems gained yet another seat from the Conservatives. Good news for Chris Huhne MP, not so for Tory hopes there.

In Derby, the Lib Dems gained 5 seats (including from the Conservatives) to push them into third place and become the largest party. The Conservatives lost 2 seats to Labour in Ipswich, making Labour the largest party again instead of them. They lost both their seats on Oxford Council, wiping them out there.

There's plenty more that could be picked out, with lots of results still to come as well. They lost seats to us on councils they control, like Southend and Straford-upon-Avon, and remain unrepresented in key places like Liverpool, Sheffield and Manchester (save, in the latter, a defector).

Of course, a big test for Cameron and Brown will be who wins the London Mayoral contest, counting today. Whatever happens here in London and despite what I have written above, it clearly has been a decent set of results for the Conservatives and a disaster for Labour. Ours have seem so far to be holding up well against a threatened Tory steamroller and there has been some good progress, with inevitable setbacks too.

Of course, it *could* all change as more results come in today. Right, off to work.

Please remember to vote

There are important local elections around the UK tomorrow of course, but for us locally it's the GLA and Mayoral votes.

My colleague and flatmate Cllr Monica Whyte is our Lib Dem GLA candidate for Enfield & Haringey, Brian Paddick would make an excellent Mayor (head and shoulders above the comedy show that is Boris and Ken) and our Lib Dem GLA team can grow even stronger with a big vote for us on the list. So, if you're asking, I would recommend Londoners - and especially fellow Enfield & Haringey residents - to use all three votes for your Lib Dem candidates. That's a surprise to you all, I'm sure.

But, if you have elections tomorrow, then please go and vote - whoever you're voting for (well, with one or two obvious exceptions).

And don't forget that if you've forgotten to send in your postal vote, you can still take it in to a polling station tomorrow.

Giant balloons, bongos & hash

Sitting in Mumbai airport departure lounge, after 5 days here in India for my university friend Vivek's wedding. This is just about the first moment I've had to stop and think in the last couple of weeks.

The campaigning carried on until the day I left and picks up again in the morning, with the usual ridiculously early start to deliver leaflets. In fact, as the main events for the wedding were yesterday, I am actually missing the second day of celebrations to fly back to London in time for polling day.

A very short trip for my first visit to India, but has given me a good flavour of Mumbai at least. Had a couple of days in the Colaba area first. Some great buildings, some great food and plenty to catch the eye. I probably wouldn't have predicted the three things people tried to sell us the most often:

1. Giant balloons
2. Bongos
3. Hash

Wel, I might have guessed the last one, but the others were unexpected. One of my friends did suggest that you would need the hash before you were likely to buy the balloons or bongos - maybe that was the business thinking behind it.

The wedding was great fun - I'll try and post a couple of photos when I get home. That took place in Thane, around an hour and a half south of Colaba. Everyone was very friendly, everyone had lots of fun and the wedding celebration was really interesting for us.

Anyway, after another hair raising taxi ride (back to the airport), my short time here is nearly over. Some of the others have gone off to spend more time exploring, up to the North or to Goa, but for me polling day awaits...

Congrats Lembit

When I worked in Parliament, we shared an office with Lembit Opik, Lib Dem MP for Montgomeryshire. Lembit is a top guy & the news tonight is that he has got engaged to his girlfriend Gabriela.

I met her briefly a while back and she seemed lovely. Congratulations to them both and we'll look forward to the wedding photos.

A night off campaigning completely today - was at the Long Blondes gig at the Forum in Kentish Town.

Was a great gig, Kate Jackson looked and sounded great and I like the venue. Unfortunately hadn't been able to listen to their new album, though I've had it for a couple of weeks, as my CD player's broken and wasn't able to get it loaded on to my ipod. So not recognising some of the songs detracted from it a bit.

But with Weekend Without Makeup, Giddy Stratospheres, Once And Never Again - well, pretty much everything from the Someone To Drive You Home album - it was an awesome gig anyway.

Back to leafleting though - tomorrow morning before work. Also have my own ballot papers to post... don't forget to complete and post yours, if you've got them lying around your house now!

Good Morning Vietnam - sorry, I mean Good Morning Postal Voters

It's been a fun-packed weekend so far - Friday evening delivering leaflets, with the help of my uni friend Alastair, then up at 4.30am this morning to head out and... deliver leaflets.

Just got home from delivering 'good morning' leaflets to postal voters, which means covering as much of the borough as possible, but with just a handful of houses to deliver in each street. My ward of Fortis Green has a very high number of postal voters and is also one of the largest wards geographically, but we did a pretty good job of getting around it.

Delivering what amounts to around 10-12% of the voters does mean that you zip down streets much more quickly than normal. But you can absolutely guarantee that if you have a single postal voter in a block of flats, their flat will be on the top floor. Never just the ground floor.

On the way back through the centre of Muswell Hill there were a few Ken Livingstone supporters (maybe Labour?) handing out flyers - a slightly more scattergun approach than how our morning's task was organised. One of the Labour councillors who lost his seat to us at the last local elections was shouting the slogan 'Vote for Ken, man of the people, not the racist Tory toff' - but then he was never known for being the shy, retiring type when he was on the Council either. I had a quick chat with him as I headed home from nearly 7 hours of leaflet delivery.

The reason for getting these leaflets out as early as possible is today's arrival of postal ballots for the GLA and mayoral elections, of course. So it was a relief to see my own ballot paper was waiting for me when I got home - hopefully that means residents across Haringey have woken up to find our leaflet alongside their ballot papers.

It won't surprise you to hear that I will be using my three ballot papers to vote for Monica Whyte as our Enfield & Haringey candidate, Brian Paddick for Mayor and the Liberal Democrats on the GLA list.

12 days to go!

Gwyneth Dunwoody

Sad news this morning that Gwyneth Dunwoody, long-serving Labour MP for Crewe and Nantwich, has passed away.

Well respected for her independence and persistence, there is no doubt that she will be a great loss for Parliament - both as a personality and as a legislator.

With friends like these...

Another evening of leaflet delivery and campaigning ahead. Still, it could be worse - at least I don't have any colleagues who attack me as I campaign. The weekend too is going to be mostly campaigning, though will hopefully get Saturday evening off and have a resident to go and visit on Sunday inbetween leaflets as well.

That will be my last weekend helping out the GLA and mayoral campaign though, as for the final weekend of campaigning I will be in India for a university friend's wedding. Just for a few days and I am missing the second formal wedding dinner - so I can get back in time to help out on polling day, May 1st for anyone who doesn't know yet.

Non-traditional engagement gemstone

Now, I've heard of some novel ways of making a marriage proposal special before, but this takes the biscuit. What if she had never got a high enough score?