Steven Lambert

This was a really thought provoking book about identity and a personal journey of a teenager from East Germany to a united Germany. The reflections Jana Hensel on her life as a child and teenager and how it was all swept away when communist regime collapsed in 1989.

We all celebrated the fall of the wall and the opportunity that was now available to the people of East Germany. Yet those that were going through this change saw their lives, roles, culture and memories disappear without understanding what comes next and how to relate their life experiences to other German citizens.

It’s clear from the book that the West German government did not go culturally far enough to recognise the relief and sense of joy that shared personal experience can be felt. The East Germans embraced the new Germany, but little national reference is made to what went before. But sadly Jana explained how she was unable to share memories of her childhood with others in a comfortable way as, she would be stared at or that there was such a lack of comprehension – even over TV programmes or sports stars, that she learned not speak of them.

Jana’s experience was touching and thought provoking and provides a clear lesson in understanding what needs to happen in Iraq, Afghanistan and Gaza when the armed forces leave and the new national Governments grapple with nation building, national unity and common goals to succeed as a nation.

The ‘victor’ has a responsibility not just to help rebuild a nation, but to also promote national pride and care for shared memories and experience. There is then a risk that if the question of what happens next and how people reconcile their past with their hopes for the future, is not properly addressed, then it loses the personal citizen credibility it needs to have to survive as a 21st century nation.

You can by the book ‘After the wall’ by Jana Hensel by clicking the Amazon link in the bottom left menu bar.

The Fuel Poverty Bill was ‘talked out’ by the Government last Friday because not enough MPs turned up to support it. It needed 100 MPs but it only got 89.

This is a crying shame. With millions of people across Britain struggling to afford to heat their homes, this Bill is desperately needed. With such a narrow margin of failure it is really disappointing that our local Tory MPs John Bercow and David Liddington were not in Parliament to support this important Bill.

The Bill, which was proposed by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath, would deliver a massive home insulation programme which would halve the energy needed to heat the average home. And it would end the scandal of those who use pre-pay meters – generally the least well-off – paying higher rates for their gas and electricity.

I am appalled that this bid for a warmer future for the most vulnerable failed and that the Aylesbury Vale MPs helped it fail by not attending the debate. This would have made a big difference to so many people in Aylesbury and this chance has been thrown away. Just how much do our two MPs care about the most vulnerable of society?

Our best hope now is to put as much pressure as possible on the Government to change their minds and support the Bill. Without government support I am afraid it looks doomed. Campaign groups such as Consumer Focus and Age Concern have also condemned the Government for blocking the Bill’s progress. Help the Aged have said that, “Millions of older people… will be devastated and dismayed by this result.”

Those present to support the Bill (89 who voted for closure plus two tellers) were -
45 Lib Dems (71% of all Lib Dem MPs)
25 Labour (7% of total)
20 Tories (10% of total)
1 Independent
0 SNP or Plaid Cymru

On Monday night I spent three and half hours in the AVDC environment scrutiny committee challenging the evidence put forward on where the 9000 new houses should go. But crucially we were missing the environmental impact evidence covering wildlife and flooding matters. We also had no evidence on the North and North Eastern options. How right is it that the Environment committee does not have the environmental impact evidence for such an important matter?

This fact, it seems didn’t matter to the when the Lib Dems tried to get the decision delayed until we had all the evidence. The Tories used their in built majority to over rule us. So now our comments and challenges will go forward to the cabinet, where no doubt after their last effort will endorse it once again with virtually no questioning or debate.

Because of the Tory Cabinet decision, the only option put forward to us was for Eastern Arc. This covers the East of the town down to the south. From Bierton and Watermead to Broughton Crossing and Western Turville. In effect swallowing up any green space on the east of the town.

What didn’t surprise me and everyone in the room was the lack of detailed questioning from the Tories on the evidence we were looking at. Again it was the Liberal Democrats who went through hundreds of pages of evidence compiled by AVDC officers.

We did though hear from Cllr Richards (Tory Wendover) who was substituted onto the committee; say that he thought the Eastern Arc was the best option. But as he then admitted that he had not read all the evidence nor seen what the Environment committee has seen over the last two years.

As he then argued that Wendover be protected as it is part of the green belt. I wonder it can be possible that at such an important meeting a self confessed ill informed NIMBY councillor could be allowed to substitute at such a meeting?

By saying not in my back yard but its ok to build on the ecologically fragile green space in the East, where the planning inspector had thrown out the previous plans, was a perfect example of how the Tories are approaching this issue. Is this why the South was discounted and the North excluded?

The Tory administration are really messing this up and we risk exactly what they fear – losing our planning powers and a Labour Quango. I say lets delay and meet the wolf at the door and get the evidence for the North and North East as well and carry out a proper consultation in all areas. At least then we can all see just how ‘viable’ and ‘deliverable’ all areas are.

“I’m a liberal - I’m against this sort of thing.” That’s what Harry Wilcox, a dry cleaner from

North London, said when asked to produce his ID card in the 1950s. He drew the line.It’s time we drew that line again. The actions of two repressive parties - first the Conservatives, now Labour - have robbed us of too many of our fundamental rights and freedoms. The actions of two repressive parties - first the Conservatives, now Labour - have robbed us of too many of our fundamental rights and freedoms.  

The Liberal Democrats have published their Freedom Bill, detailing how the party plans to roll back the authoritarian laws passed by both Labour and Conservative governments which have undermined civil liberties.

Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords protest the restrictions on demonstrating outside Parliament during the passage of the Serious and Organised Crime Act.

The legislation is the first time a major political party has collated all of the laws which have undermined civil liberties into one Bill, so that they can be easily repealed. By axing expensive and ineffective measures that hinder and keep tabs on innocent people, the Bill will help switch efforts to catching the guilty instead.

The 20 measures contained in the draft legislation will:
- Abolish the veto in the Freedom of Information Act that allows ministers to keep information secret
- Scrap the expensive mandatory ID card scheme
- Remove all innocent people from the DNA database, except for those tried for a violent or sexual offence
- Stop councils and others snooping by restricting the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) to serious and terrorist offences
- Regulate CCTV to protect privacy following a Royal Commission on the use of camerasYou can view the bill in detail, comment on the draft and sign up to back the campaign at http://freedom.libdems.org.uk

Today I got my letter of response from John Bercow MP regarding the end fuel poverty - attached here Response from John Bercow to end fuel poverty bill.

He regrets that he will not be in Parliament on Friday to support the Bill as he is already committed to two other Private Members Bills and one of his own, so he wants to spend more time in his constituency.

I am really disappointed in this response and lack of real support by John for such an important issue. Words of support are all very well and good, but actions are much better.

If we are one MP short of the required 100 MPs do not turn up I wonder how John will respond to the high number of mine and his constituents that are struggling more and more with the costs of heating and living expenses? Time will tell I suppose.

I have tday, written to our local MP, John Bercow, and asked that he is in Parliament on March 20th to give his support to a new parliamentary bill that will help cut energy bills for the poorest families and could help save the lives of up to 20,000 pensioners a year. The bill also calls for a massive programme to make homes more energy efficient – saving residents’ money and protecting the environment.

Energy bills have nearly doubled in recent years and many local families and pensioners are struggling to heat their homes. Twenty thousand pensioners are dying a year because the Labour Government refuses to tackle fuel poverty. It is horrific that in this day and age so many people are having to make the difficult choice between heating and eating. The energy efficiency proposals in the bill will also help save residents money and cut the emissions that cause climate change.

That’s why I and many of my Lib Dem colleagues have written to our local MPs urging them to be there on the 20th March. Labour and Conservative MPs have a moral duty to join this campaign and vote for this bill. We simply cannot let a situation continue where people are dying because they cannot afford to heat their homes.”The Fuel Poverty Bill being proposed by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath is being enthusiastically backed by leading charities including Age Concern, Friends of the Earth and the Child Poverty Action Group.

It would deliver a massive home insulation programme which would halve the energy needed to heat the average home. And it would end the scandal of those who use pre-pay meters – generally the least well-off – paying higher rates for their gas and electricity. The bill is scheduled for second reading debate in the House of Commons on Friday March 20th. It is vital that as many MPs as possible are in Parliament to support it.

If less than 100 MPs turn up, it could be blocked undemocratically. If this Bill is passed it will help many of the least well off people in our area as well as making a real difference to the battle against climate change. More information about the Bill can be found at http://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk.

Saving the environment and saving lives. The Bill is backed by groups including:

•  Age Concern
  Help the Aged
  Child Poverty Action Group
  Disability Alliance
  Friends of the Earth
  Centre for Sustainable Energy
  Sustainable Energy Partnership
  UNISON  

Worried parents in Fairford Leys recently found out whether their children got into St Mary’s C of E School after a massive 104 children applied to get in. 60 were lucky to get a place as it’s a two form entry school. But 14 children from within catchment did not get into our popular and highly successful village school. I have spoken to a number of these worries parents and most have put in appeal letters.

The community campaign for a bigger school has been running for over two years and looks set to continue. We told the County Council three years ago that they would have 17 children that would not get a place this year, and if it wasn’t for two Fairford Leys children withdrawing their place, we would have been almost on the forecast.   I have along with our County Councillors Freda Roberts and Steven Kennell attended our community meetings and joined the protest marches and hike to school. I have also met with Marion Clayton and Bucks County Council Officers to find out more about what can be done. So far we have been told “nothing can be or will be done”.  

But  following Freda and Steve’s last meeting  with Marion Clayton, the County Council bought out a consultation on primary school places in Aylesbury where Bucks CC recognised that St Mary’s was over subscribed and that something needs to be done. The whole community was urged to complete the consultation forms to make sure family voices were heard. Coldharbour Parish Council also submitted a response. My response is in an article below. 

As a governor of St Mary’s school I am angry that since the school places problem came to light, the County Council have tried to blame the school Governors, the developers and even parents for having more children than forecast rather than accept that they did not build a school big enough. It’s not as if they don’t have the money – they do, they are just choosing to ignore the plight of these young families.  

As soon as the numbers were revealed, the School Governors resolved to write to Marion Clayton to get her to act on the plans drawn up by officers and Governors last year to increase the size of the current school and improve the classrooms of the current school.

They also decided to further investigate going to Voluntary Aided status as a means of getting the funding to increase the size of the school. However, the Governors have learned that Bucks County Council will do nothing to help the Governors reach this status, which would see the school freed from County admissions criteria and the stranglehold on forward planning and finances.  

The campaign moves on

The campaign is still moving on with the focus being on making the current school site fit for purpose. So if you are one of the affected families, please get in touch with our County Councillors Freda Roberts or Steven Kennell (froberts@buckscc.gov.uk and skennell@buckscc.gov.uk) and the Fairford leys parents group (info@fairfordleysparents.co.uk) and help keep the community battle going for a school for all our children.