Thursday, August 30, 2007
--looks like a fun day out !
Deputy Mayor Cllr.Sheila Smith-Pryor (seated on the right of the photo) with local residents at this year's summer fete on the Aldriche Way estate, Highams Park.
The Iraq issue
PRIME MINISTER’S LETTER COULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY PREDECESSOR, SAYS CAMPBELL
Responding to a letter written by Lib Dem leader Menzies Campbell on the current situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, Gordon Brown stressed that British troops would fulfil the “obligations to the government and people of Iraq and the United Nations” and stay in Iraq until Iraqi Security Forces are capable of delivering security across the South. The Prime Minister reiterated his rejection of a pre-determined exit timetable. Commenting on British troop presence in Afghanistan, Gordon Brown wrote: “I do not seek to hide the tough, dangerous and difficult tasks and terrain involved there, but as in Iraq I will strongly defend the integrity, bravery and intelligence with which UK commanders and forces are taking forward the strategy they have developed. […] There is much to do, but progress will be measured across a wide range of activity - covering governance, reconstruction, economic development and the building up of local security forces.” [BBC]
Lib Dem Leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP commented: "The Prime Minister's letter simply rehearses the government line and could have been written by his predecessor. But the reality on the ground and the views of senior military figures undermine Mr Brown's analysis. The debate on this issue will not go away, particularly as the American presidential elections will put Iraq at the centre of American politics. It should now be put to the top of Britain's agenda."
Responding to a letter written by Lib Dem leader Menzies Campbell on the current situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, Gordon Brown stressed that British troops would fulfil the “obligations to the government and people of Iraq and the United Nations” and stay in Iraq until Iraqi Security Forces are capable of delivering security across the South. The Prime Minister reiterated his rejection of a pre-determined exit timetable. Commenting on British troop presence in Afghanistan, Gordon Brown wrote: “I do not seek to hide the tough, dangerous and difficult tasks and terrain involved there, but as in Iraq I will strongly defend the integrity, bravery and intelligence with which UK commanders and forces are taking forward the strategy they have developed. […] There is much to do, but progress will be measured across a wide range of activity - covering governance, reconstruction, economic development and the building up of local security forces.” [BBC]
Lib Dem Leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP commented: "The Prime Minister's letter simply rehearses the government line and could have been written by his predecessor. But the reality on the ground and the views of senior military figures undermine Mr Brown's analysis. The debate on this issue will not go away, particularly as the American presidential elections will put Iraq at the centre of American politics. It should now be put to the top of Britain's agenda."
Friday, August 24, 2007
Decline in numbers for Modern Languages
Around 600,000 pupils have just received their GCSE results. According to the Times, the number of 16-year-old pupils taking French and German has plunged below 300,000. The figures will renew debate over the Government’s decision to stop making languages compulsory for children aged 14 to 16. [Times] [Guardian] [BBC]
Cllr.John Beanse - who is a Modern linguist - commented:
"We never seem to get it right in this country. Forcing recalcitrant teenagers to continue with a foreign language until the age of 16 can of course bring problems for teachers and can put at risk the success of class teaching. However, the situation now is that we have tilted the balance too far the other way and many pupils who would really benefit from and could succeed in carrying on with languages do not do so because of the pressure to get very good results. Languages - despite their usefulness and importance - are too often dismissed as a harder option.
Other countries do things so much better and it is often embarrassing to observe how well many foreigners speak English, whereas a "little Englander" mentality still prevails in this country where sometimes people arrogantly just expect everyone else to speak English. We really do need to have a more positive and enlightened approach in these matters."
Cllr.John Beanse - who is a Modern linguist - commented:
"We never seem to get it right in this country. Forcing recalcitrant teenagers to continue with a foreign language until the age of 16 can of course bring problems for teachers and can put at risk the success of class teaching. However, the situation now is that we have tilted the balance too far the other way and many pupils who would really benefit from and could succeed in carrying on with languages do not do so because of the pressure to get very good results. Languages - despite their usefulness and importance - are too often dismissed as a harder option.
Other countries do things so much better and it is often embarrassing to observe how well many foreigners speak English, whereas a "little Englander" mentality still prevails in this country where sometimes people arrogantly just expect everyone else to speak English. We really do need to have a more positive and enlightened approach in these matters."
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
We need to leave Iraq
CAMPBELL BACKS MILITARY DEMANDS FOR ARMY TO LEAVE IRAQ
The Independent on Sunday has reported that senior military commanders have advised the government to withdraw troops from south-east Iraq without further delay. Commanders have said that Britain can achieve "nothing more" in Basra, which has seen a sharp rise in insurgent attacks over the past year. [Independent]
Lib Dem Leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP said: "Gordon Brown must listen to his generals in Iraq and set a target date for withdrawal. The number of British deaths and casualties is unacceptable. We have a moral obligation to the brave young men and women fighting in Iraq and to the British people to reappraise our strategy and start the drawdown of troops. "
The Independent on Sunday has reported that senior military commanders have advised the government to withdraw troops from south-east Iraq without further delay. Commanders have said that Britain can achieve "nothing more" in Basra, which has seen a sharp rise in insurgent attacks over the past year. [Independent]
Lib Dem Leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP said: "Gordon Brown must listen to his generals in Iraq and set a target date for withdrawal. The number of British deaths and casualties is unacceptable. We have a moral obligation to the brave young men and women fighting in Iraq and to the British people to reappraise our strategy and start the drawdown of troops. "
Monday, August 20, 2007
NHS - local update
The cross- borough group of councillors, set up to scrutinise possible changes in our local NHS services, has already had many meetings. Currently, the focus is on proposed developments within NELMHT (North East London Mental Health Trust), including their plans to move to Foundation Trust status.
There has also been an important preliminary meeting of the group with Professor Sir George Alberti, who has the important task of leading a clinical review of the "Fit for the Future" proposals which have caused so much local concern - not least because of the possible downgrading of local hospitals, involving fewer wards and departments and the closure of one of the three A & E departmwents in the 4 boroughs involved (Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Havering, Barking & Dagenham).
Cllr. John Beanse (Vice-Chair of Health Scrutiny in Waltham Forest) and Cllr.Ralph Scott (Redbridge), another Lib Dem councillor, were among those raising particular concerns about the direction we seem to be heading.
There has also been an important preliminary meeting of the group with Professor Sir George Alberti, who has the important task of leading a clinical review of the "Fit for the Future" proposals which have caused so much local concern - not least because of the possible downgrading of local hospitals, involving fewer wards and departments and the closure of one of the three A & E departmwents in the 4 boroughs involved (Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Havering, Barking & Dagenham).
Cllr. John Beanse (Vice-Chair of Health Scrutiny in Waltham Forest) and Cllr.Ralph Scott (Redbridge), another Lib Dem councillor, were among those raising particular concerns about the direction we seem to be heading.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Musings on a bus!
Cllr.John Beanse, Chairman of Chingford & Woodford Green Liberal Democrats & Waltham Forest Councillor for Hale End & Highams Park ward, writes:
"After a speaking engagement recently in West London, I decided to do most of the return journey across London overground and travelled by bus to Liverpool Street. An interesting journey, but particularly slow in some parts. I remember that in the past, the Conservatives have called for the scrapping of the congestion charge in Central London and could not help wondering therefore just how much longer this journey would have taken without it. It will therefore be interesting to see if it will still be Conservative policy in next year’s GLA and London Mayor elections to abolish the charge and if so, just how they would propose to manage London’s traffic problems."
"After a speaking engagement recently in West London, I decided to do most of the return journey across London overground and travelled by bus to Liverpool Street. An interesting journey, but particularly slow in some parts. I remember that in the past, the Conservatives have called for the scrapping of the congestion charge in Central London and could not help wondering therefore just how much longer this journey would have taken without it. It will therefore be interesting to see if it will still be Conservative policy in next year’s GLA and London Mayor elections to abolish the charge and if so, just how they would propose to manage London’s traffic problems."
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Fighting to Save Whipps Cross
FLASHBACK TO THE "SAVE WHIPPS CROSS" MARCH & RALLY
Pictured holding the banner: on the right Cllr.Sheila Smith-Pryor and on the left Cllr. John Beanse.
Both Lib Dem councillors are members of the council's Health Scrutiny sub-committee.
Speaking at the last full Council meeting, Cllr.John Beanse said it was vital that we must not take our eye off the ball just because the long-awaited consultation has now been delayed until October at the earliest. See also "NHS: ANSWER CAME THERE NONE" (click in the left column on archive files for July 2007 and scroll down to view this). For more information type "Whipps Cross" into the box top left - click on SEARCH BLOG, then scroll down to see the items.
Pictured holding the banner: on the right Cllr.Sheila Smith-Pryor and on the left Cllr. John Beanse.
Both Lib Dem councillors are members of the council's Health Scrutiny sub-committee.
Speaking at the last full Council meeting, Cllr.John Beanse said it was vital that we must not take our eye off the ball just because the long-awaited consultation has now been delayed until October at the earliest. See also "NHS: ANSWER CAME THERE NONE" (click in the left column on archive files for July 2007 and scroll down to view this). For more information type "Whipps Cross" into the box top left - click on SEARCH BLOG, then scroll down to see the items.
