Caroline Lucas, Green Party leader and MP for Brighton Pavilion, has tabled an Early Day Motion to express her disquiet at how the death and inquiry of Ian Tomlinson was handled.

Lucas has called on City of London coroner Professor Paul Matthews to step aside because of his decision to appoint Dr Freddy Patel to conduct the post mortem examination.

Lucas said: "Ian Tomlinson's family has already suffered for 16 months and public confidence in the police and the investigation processes has been severely affected by this case. It is therefore crucial that an early date is set for the Inquest and to remove serious questions about conflict of interest, the coroner should step aside."

Lucas also called upon the Home Secretary, Theresa May, to appoint a judge to oversee a "prompt and effective" inquest into the "far-ranging issues" raised by the case, and that the Tomlinson family should receive public funds to support their legal challenge.

--

The full text of the Early Day Motion tabled tonight:

INQUEST INTO THE DEATH OF IAN TOMLINSON

That this House notes the public interest and disquiet over the case of Ian Tomlinson and the threat to public trust and confidence in the Police that this case poses; further notes that the Independent Police Complaints Commission failed to investigate this death for seven days and how this failure has undermined public trust and confidence in the police complaints system; further notes the controversy over the appointment of the pathologist, Dr Freddie Patel, and notes the possibility of a conflict of interest in the inquest as currently constituted; therefore, calls upon the Secretary of State for Justice to appoint a judge as coroner to conduct a prompt and effective inquest into the far ranging issues this case raises; and calls upon the Legal Services Commission to provide public funding for Ian Tomlinson's family to be legally represented.

 

13 October 2010 - 7:30pm - 10:00pm Theatre Royal Winchester

   

The Academies Bill, allowing schools to opt out of local council control as early as September, was approved by Parliament tonight.

The vote was 317 in favour, 225 against. The legislation is expected to receive royal assent on Tuesday before the summer parliamentary recess.

The National Union of Teachers have described the bill as an "attack on the very existence of democratically accountable, free state comprehensive education."

Caroline Lucas, Green Party leader and MP for Brighton Pavilion, after the bill was passed by the Commons, said: "Today, with this bill's passage, is a bad day for democracy and for education. This was legislation that was rushed through Parliament, without proper consultation. We should be improving the quality of every local school for all children, rather than accelerating Labour's programme of academies to deepen divisions between schools."

Amendments were proposed during debate on the bill by Caroline Lucas, none of which were adopted, in an attempt to make the process of establishing them more open, democratic and fair.

Her amendments, if passed, would have:

- made it mandatory for all Academies to follow the national curriculum

- ensured that Academies can revert to maintained status

- ensured that Academy schools should have no charitable status

- allowed parents and the wider community to make representations for any funding arrangements for Academies, and,

- placed a limit of 25% of voting rights for Academy sponsors on Academy boards, to ensure proper democratic and community representation.

 

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP today welcomed a court's decision to heavily fine Trafigura, the company which was this year at the centre of a major controversy in the UK concerning an alleged cover-up of a toxic waste scandal in Africa (1).

Now, in a separate case brought in the Netherlands over toxic waste dumping in Ivory Coast, an Amsterdam court has ruled that Trafigura must pay a fine of 1 million euros.

In her maiden speech to parliament this year, Caroline Lucas spoke out against the way British courts had then been used to silence criticisms in the UK of Trafigura's dumping of toxic waste in other countries. Today, the Green MP expressed her satisfaction that Trafigura was being held to account.

"Thousands were made ill and at least 15 people killed by this toxic waste"

In the latest case, the ship, the Probo Koala, chartered by Trafigura, attempted to offload caustic soda and petroleum waste in Amsterdam. Port officials refused to treat the waste, as it turned out to be far more toxic than had been assumed. The ship then sailed to the Ivory Coast, where the waste was dumped on tips in and around the city of Abidjan. Thousands fell ill, and a UN report ruled that the death of at least 15 Ivorians has been attributed to chemical poisoning by the waste.

Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, commented today: "We must continue to hold companies to account when they dump toxic products in developing countries. We must deal with our own waste, not export it."

Notes

1) In October 2009, a "super-injunction" from Carter-Ruck, Trafigura's legal firm, tried to prevent the Guardian from reporting on a parliamentary question from Paul Farrelly MP. Farrelly's question was on the publication of the Minton report on the alleged dumping of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast, commissioned by Trafigura. The ban on reporting parliamentary proceedings on legal grounds appeared to call into question privileges guaranteeing free speech established under the 1688 Bill of Rights.

 

In a ceremony at the Brighton Dome, today at 330pm, Peter Tatchell will receive an Hon D.Litt (Sussex), for his services to human rights, from the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.

Green Party Leader and MP for Brighton Pavilion, Caroline Lucas commented:

"We are incredibly proud of the work which Peter continues to bring in human rights and that he is a member of the Green Party. Whether it is his advocacy on behalf of LGBT asylum seekers or his ongoing campaign for gay marriage, we are thrilled that the staff and students of the University of Sussex have decided to thank him in this way. Peter is truly one of our greatest LGBT heroes."

Councillor Amy Kennedy, Alumna of Sussex University, and a Green Party councillor in Brighton added:

"Peter brings invaluable work to often overlooked areas of human rights: the citizens of our city, our country and our world are indebted to him for his work. We celebrate with him for an award which I am proud to say has come from my alma mater."

Phelim Mac Cafferty, National Chair of LGBT Greens concluded:

"This honorary doctorate recognises Peter's ongoing, tireless work of over 4 decades. It is only apt in the same year in which we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Gay Liberation Front that Peter receives this award- whether it his staunch defence of the rights of LGBT people abroad or his ongoing investigative work to deliver fairness on our own shores- his work continues to inspire all of us to fight for a better world."

Commenting on his Honorary Doctorate, Mr Tatchell said:

"I was hesitant about accepting this honour. After all, my contribution to human rights is very modest. I am a long way from being a brave and effective campaigner. Many others are much more deserving than me. I would never agree to a royal honour but this award is different.

"My decision to accept was partly because the initiative for this honorary doctorate was a grassroots one, from the staff and students. I am honoured by their recognition of my human rights work.

"I accept this award in solidarity with the many heroic, inspirational activists who I support in countries like Uganda, Somaliland, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Baluchistan, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Western Sahara, Iraq, Palestine and West Papua.

"The message which I will deliver in my acceptance speech is this: Be sceptical, question authority, be a rebel. All human progress is the result of far-sighted people challenging orthodoxy, tradition and powerful, vested interests. Don't accept the world as it is. Dream about what the world could be - then help make it happen. In whatever field of endeavour you work, be a change-maker for the upliftment of humanity.

"I do my bit for social justice, but so do many others. Together, through our collective efforts, we are helping make a better world - a world more just and free.

"I began campaigning in my home town of Melbourne, Australia , in 1967, aged 15, with my first campaign being against the death penalty, followed by campaigns in support of Aboriginal rights and in opposition to conscription and the Australian and US war against the people of Vietnam.

"My key political inspirations are Mohandas Gandhi, Sylvia Pankhurst, Martin Luther King and, to some extent, Malcolm X. I've adapted many of their ideas and methods to the contemporary struggle for human rights - and invented a few of my own.

Notes

Peter will have his Honorary Doctorate conferred on him on Friday 23rd July, at a ceremony at Brighton Dome 3:30PM

 

Reacting to the Crown Prosecution Service deciding that the police officer involved in the death of Ian Tomlinson will not face criminal charges, Jenny Jones, Green member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said:

"This decision by the MPS won't please anyone. It won't satisfy the family, who don't have justice. It won't satisfy the officer, as he hasn't been officially cleared, just not prosecuted. And it won't satisfy the police as their reputation will be damaged yet again. "

"Time and again, the police appear to get away with serious assault or even manslaughter. From Blair Peach to Jean Charles de Menezes, they aren't being held to account for their crimes, and it's damaging to their public image."

"A trial for the officer would have tested the reputations of the medical experts involved. I am confident that a judge would come down on the right side of justice."

Notes

Ian Tomlinson, a newspaper seller, died following demonstrations around the G20 summit, on 1 April 2009 in central London. Video footage obtained by the Guardian showed a riot officer striking the 47-year-old with a police baton, and pushing him to the ground, shortly before he collapsed and died. The CPS today cited conflicting medical evidence from two post-mortems. The first post-mortem ruled that Tomlinson died from a heart attack, whilst a second, conducted on behalf of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, found Tomlinson died from internal bleeding.

 

 

 

27 July 2010 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm Hyde Tavern, Hyde St, Winchester SO23 7DY

"GinACC", WinACC informal drinks and chat for anyone interested, on 27 July at the Hyde Tavern, Winchester SO23 7DY from 6.30pm. Probably the last we'll organise, so your last chance if you've been meaning to come.

Commenting on revelations in today's Observer newspaper (1) regarding violent practices used against inmates of Britain's young offender institutions, Dr Caroline Lucas MP, leader of the Green Party, said:

"You might have expected behaviour like this in the Soviet Union at its most brutal. But in twenty-first century Britain, this is a national disgrace.

"The manual approved by the Labour government in 2005 describes the gaining of compliance through inflicting pain. This amounts to torture. That this could be happening in Britain, involving children as young as twelve, is truly sickening."

PM must give "urgent assurances" of immediate end to "mediaeval treatment of offenders" - and officials must face court

The MP for Brighton Pavilion continued:

"The prime minister must give urgent assurances that practices like these will immediately be ended.

"But we must go further. There must be a full public inquiry into these barbaric practices. And ultimately, anyone who has broken the law and infringed human rights must be brought to justice.

"We cannot allow practices like this to continue and call ourselves a civilised nation.

"It's a disgrace that the Ministry of Justice has fought for so long to keep this savagery secret. Now the public must be told the full story of what has been done in their name - and Britain must leave this kind of mediaeval treatment of offenders behind once and for all."

HMP manual amounts to "institutionalised child abuse" and "clear breach of human rights", say children's organisations

Today's Observer article by Mark Townsend cites Carolyne Willow, national coordinator of the Children's Rights Alliance for England (CRAE), which forced the Ministry of Justice to publish its manual Physical Control in Care, which prescribes a range of violent techniques for handling young offenders in institutions.

Ms Willow says: "The manual is deeply disturbing and stands as state authorisation of institutionalised child abuse. What made former ministers believe that children as young as 12 could get so out of control so often that staff should be taught how to ram their knuckles into their rib cages? Would we allow paediatricians, teachers or children's home staff to be trained in how to deliberately hurt and humiliate children?"

And Phillip Noyes of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) comments: "These shocking revelations graphically illustrate the cruel and degrading violence inflicted at times on children in custody. On occasions these restraint techniques have resulted in children suffering broken arms, noses, wrists and fingers. Painful restraint is a clear breach of children's human rights against some of the most vulnerable youngsters in society and does not have a place in decent society."

The techniques in the manual are so violent that the manual itself warns of fractured skulls, "temporary or permanent blindness caused by rupture to eyeball or detached retina" - and even asphyxiation.

The manual authorises measures such as:

- Driving straight fingers into the child's face and groin.

- Raking shoes down the child's shins.

- Forcing knuckles into the child's sternum, and,

- Making a child kneel, with his forehead held on the floor, while handcuffs are applied behind his back.

The Observer article also describes how the court of appeal has recently declared illegal the "distraction technique" of repeated sharp blows to a child's nose, used in young offender institutions.

Notes

1. The Observer, 18th July 2010, "Revealed: brutal guide to punishing jailed youths"

 

A report of a survey by a WinACC Transport Group member of car parking in central Winchester shows that the car parks were far from full on all three days.

read more

Kelsie Learney, Leader of Winchester City Council, spoke at the WinACC open meeting on Saturday 3 July. She set out what the new Cabinet plans to do to cut Winchester's carbon footprint. WinACC members and supporters were encouraged by her clear commitment to creating a low carbon Winchester where we want to live, and appreciated her honesty about the hard decisions that the Council's Cabinet will have to take to manage the cut  in Council finances. A detailed account follows:-

read more

Caroline Lucas, with other Green Party leaders in the Commonwealth, is urging action after the killing of the deputy leader of the Rwandan Green Party, Andre Kagwa Rwisereka.

In the lead-up to Rwanda's presidential vote on the 9th August, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda has been subject to harassment, intimidation, and death threats. Police have broken up party meetings, and the party has been barred from registering or putting up candidates for the election. (1)

A letter was sent yesterday to the Commonwealth's Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, co-signed by Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, Sen. Bob Brown (leader of the Australian Greens) and Russel Norman (leader, New Zealand Greens).

It calls on Sharma to take urgent steps to enforce the Commonwealth's standards of human rights and democracy in Rwanda. (2)

In part, the joint-letter from Lucas, Brown and Norman reads:

"The death of Green Party Vice President, Mr. Andre Kagwa Rwisereka, who was found dead on 14th July 2010, is a tragic event and we are extremely concerned for the other members of the Rwandan Green Party.

"Mr. Rwisereka's death follows on from a series of events in the last few months that suggest that the Rwandan government is creating or allowing an extremely hostile environment for opposition political parties in the run up to Presidential elections on 9 August.

"Rwanda's membership of the Commonwealth requires that it honors and complies with the Commonwealth's fundamental political principles which include respect for civil society and human rights.

"We urge you to immediately send a team of Commonwealth representatives to Rwanda to ensure the Government is taking all steps possible to ensure respect for rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly of opposition parties."

Notes

1) 15th July 2010, The Independent

2) This week, Reporters Without Borders also called on the European Union and other donors to suspend financial support for the election because of "a series of grave press freedom violations."

 

Temperature exceeded 31°C last weekend with warning from the Met Office that hot evenings pose risks to people with underlying health problems. These temperatures extremes will be more likely with a changing climate. Local democracy think thank, the LGiU, is encouraging councillors to help communities and their councils to better prepare and adapt to these changes. Whether it is high temperatures or flooding, adapting to climate change is a local issue.

read more

Adrian Ramsay, deputy leader of the Green Party, has endorsed TalkTalk and BT's challenge of the recently ratified Digital Economy Act. The two Internet Service Provider (ISP) companies are seeking a judicial review of the legislation.

The Digital Economy Act places an obligations on ISPs to block sites accused of hosting copyrighted material. ISPs are also being asked to retain and manipulate data on its subscribers' internet activity.

Ramsay said:

"The Digital Economy Act contributes to a society of surveillance. The DEA threatens to severely infringe civil liberties, as well as presenting problems to businesses and the economy. It could result in many people having their internet connection cut off through no fault of their own and in restrictions to accessing open wifi networks.

"At the time of the bill's passage, the Green Party strongly argued that it was being aggressively pushed through, at the last-minute, in the run up to the general election. Proper debate and considerations were neglected.

"The EU demands a minimum three-month investigation period, and this was ignored outright, giving people very little chance to evaluate the implications and suitability of the DEA.

"The Liberal Democrats initially seemed to oppose the Digital Economy Act. Frustratingly, their coalition agreement with the Conservatives made no mention of the DEA. Repeal of the DEA is obviously not a priority for Nick Clegg, and this poses a problem for the thousands of people we know to be contacting their MPs with concerns about the Act."

Notes

1) 14 July, PC Pro Magazine - BT confident Digital Economy Act will be thrown out

 

Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, has co-sponsored a bill designed to increase support and quality of life for carers and young carers.

Caroline Lucas said: "Brighton and Hove, at the last census in 2001, had 21,800 people who self-identified as carers. With an aging population generally, that figure is likely to have increased. As well, in a city the size of Brighton and Hove, 8000 new people become carers each year. It's vital that we make sure that they are properly supported."

The 10 minute Rule Bill, Carers (Identification and Support), would ensure that doctors and other health bodies identify patients who are carers or who have a carer, and that they are referred to sources of help and support, as necessary. It also makes provisions for schools and local authorities to take into account the needs of young carers and their families.

Caroline Lucas continued:

"We need to improve the quality of life for carers and young carers. Six million people in the UK care for a relative or a friend. And research this year by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and the Children's Society found that young carers looking after a disabled or sick family member can often feel stressed, bullied, and misunderstood at school. This bill should be part of a wider effort in changing how we support carers who are shouldering heavy responsibilities." (1)(2)

The bill, introduced by Barbara Keeley MP, will receive its second reading in November.

Notes:

1) www.carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/Media/Factsaboutcaring

2) Sky News, 17 May 2010 - news.sky.com/skynews

 

11 November 2010 - 5:30pm - 9:30pm Central Winchester - exact location to be confirmed

This will be an opportunity for organisations in Winchester district to showcase their achievements in cutting their carbon footprint, and for organisations which want to do more to learn from each other. Exact times and programme still being planned. If you want to know more, or have ideas to offer or achievements to describe, email richard.boothman@winacc.org.uk. Sponsorship opportunities for this conference will be available.  If you are interested in helping WinACC to meet the costs of staging this flagship event and gaining some worthwhile publicity, please also email Richard.

Adrian Ramsay, deputy leader of the Green Party, in responding to today's "Manifesto for a Networked Nation" report from Martha Lane-Fox, said:

"David Cameron may say that 'promoting digital inclusion is essential for a dynamic modern economy' -- but he will need to put government funding towards Internet access in every Jobcentre Plus centre, and engagement projects to reach the 10 million not currently on the Internet, for that rhetoric to become a reality.

"We must ensure universal access to broadband. It is a matter of social equality. 47% of those people living in households who earn less than £11,500 do not use the Internet, and yet we have an economy where job adverts are increasingly placed online, and where 90% of new jobs require computer skills. Lack of access to fast broadband is an obstacle to many businesses and employees, especially in rural areas.

"BT should have an obligation to provide broadband capable infrastructure to every household. The principle of universal access at the same base price to the household should prevail as with post and telephone services. We agree with Martha Lane Fox's 'Manifesto for a Networked Nation' when it says that 'we should work towards ensuring that people have easy and affordable access to the Internet in the same way they can access water, electricity or gas.'

"BT is making massive profits from broadband connections in urban areas. It should be forced to use some of this money to ensure everyone has access to broadband."

 

17 July 2010 - 11:00am - 4:00pm Guildhall Square, Portsmouth PO1 2AB‎ and Victoria Park, Portsmouth

Environemtal and fun-filled fair with lots of stalls, workshops and entertainment. "Bundles of Free fun for all the family!" For more information visit the Portsmouth Climate Action Network website here.

Today (12th July), the coalition's health secretary, Andrew Lansley, will announce a major re-organisation of the NHS in a White Paper.

The NHS Confederation, which represents primary care trusts, has warned that the reforms could lead to the health service looking more like the "gas and telecom market" than the NHS, and that the proposed changes will create "a market dynamic." (1)

Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party, said today that:

"Increasing the role of the market in the NHS will not make it more efficient, nor make the NHS more responsive to patients needs.

"Instead, an increased role for the market will fragment care and increase the costs of provision.

"As any economist will tell you, markets need mechanisms to operate. For the NHS, that means increasing the number of managers and accountants, which will result in a cut in front line services, just the opposite of what Andrew Lansley announced he wanted a few weeks ago.

"By expanding the role of the market, handing powers to consortia of GPs, privatising hospitals, and scrapping important targets, Andrew Lansley is creating the perfect conditions for high costs, poor practice, unaccountability and long waiting lists.

"Andrew Lansley's plans will also ensure that there is even less health care to go round with our aging population."

Notes

1) The Guardian, 9th July; Radio 4 Today, 9th July

 

Jean Lambert, London's Green MEP, has welcomed the European Parliament's overwhelming support for a report calling for strong initiatives to promote youth access to the labour market.

The report, produced by Emilie Turunen MEP (Denmark, Socialist People's Party) for the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, and voted on last week, also calls for strengthening of traineeships, internships and apprenticeships.

Jean, who is a member of the Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, said: 

"Such strong support for the initiatives proposed in Emilie's report is enormously encouraging. Youth unemployment is where it should be, at the top of the political agenda. With 5.5 million young people under 25 unemployed across the EU, youth unemployment is one of most pressing problems facing Europe today.

"Just this week, figures released showed that the number of graduates chasing every job has surged to nearly 70, while the number of vacancies available is predicted to fall by 7 per cent. This has far-reaching social and economic consequences, from the increase in welfare costs to the erosion of the tax system, with young victims of the recession more at risk of long-term social exclusion and health problems.

"It is high time to act. Through the series of progressive and affirmative initiatives set out in this report, I believe we can begin to turn Generation Lost into Generation Hope."

Emilie Turunen added: "Youth unemployment is so critical. We risk losing a generation to social exclusion while gambling with the economic and social future of the EU. Through this vote, a large majority in the parliament have called for very concrete initiatives. It's now up to the European Commission to put it into practice. 5.5 million young people are waiting for action."

The report includes calls for:

- A European Youth Guarantee securing the right of every young person in the EU to be offered a job, an apprenticeship, additional training or combined work and training after a maximum period of 4 months' unemployment

- A European Quality Charter on Internships that sets out minimum standards for internships

- An expansion of the European Social Fund and an earmarking of a minimum of 10% for projects targeting young people, and,

- A permanent EU youth taskforce to monitor developments on youth employment, share best practice examples and initiate new policies

 

Interesting example of workplace blog, with interesting articles and good tips on ways to be more more green from recycling batteries to the vegetables to plant this time of year. To see the Bee Green website click here.