London's Riots - My Statement in the House of Lords 11th August 2011

Public Disorder

Statement

1pm

Baroness Hussein-Ece: My Lords, I, too, would like to associate myself and these Benches with the sentiments that have been expressed and to extend our condolences to those people who have lost so much in the terrible events from Saturday onwards. I thank my noble friend the Leader of the House for repeating the Prime Minster’s Statement today.

There is absolutely no excuse for the terrible scenes that we have witnessed on the streets of London and beyond in our cities over the past few days. Our deepest sympathies must go to those families who have lost their loved ones, their homes and their livelihoods. As we have heard, we must work to restore hope and confidence in our cities.

I have lived in Hackney and Islington all my life. I served as a councillor in those areas, which were among those where we have seen terrible unrest. I worked in Tottenham for almost a decade from the mid-1990s; in fact, I was there earlier on Saturday before all this happened. I know the area and the people well. I know that the vast majority are law-abiding, decent people who care deeply about their community. They are absolutely traumatised by what has happened to their neighbourhood. They did not have very much to begin with; all they had was their high street and that is now destroyed.

Whether we like it or not, the young people who rioted, looted and trashed their streets are part of our society. As the Prime Minister’s Statement acknowledged, there is a deep-rooted problem with gangs in many inner-city areas. We know that in London, for example, there are more than 250 active gangs. The police know who they are and who the leaders are. These gangs have been allowed to grow and to take a hold for more than a decade—for 10 or 15 years. They draw in young people who are out on the streets and they spread criminality. When I was a councillor, mothers would come to my surgery begging me to get them transferred because they were so terrified of living on these estates and because of the way in which their families and their children were intimidated if they tried to resist joining these gangs.

These social problems did not happen overnight in our inner cities, where there are huge inequalities and a big social divide. We have to acknowledge that. We have a disconnection in a section of our society—an underclass of young people who have poor education and no skills and who come from dysfunctional families. They feel that they have nothing to lose. They have no fear of authority. Who are their role models? Millionaire footballers and rock stars. They want the latest gadgets, trainers or mobiles. This is what they aspire to.

The solutions for these riots must come from within our diverse communities. Please can we ensure that we do not demonise all young people? We certainly should not demonise all black young people. In future proposals to rebuild these communities—I am pleased that my noble friend the Leader of the House announced in the Statement that funds will be made available—can we ensure that these young people play a role in the rebuilding so that they feel a sense of ownership and pride in those communities? Let them have some work to do to rebuild their own communities.

It was clear that the police were often overwhelmed and could not protect property or stop the looting. On Monday night, in Dalston in Hackney near where I live, a large group of Turkish and Kurdish shopkeepers came together and successfully protected their businesses from rioters. They told me that they had no option. They prevented their high street from being trashed. I pay tribute to such people. I pay tribute to the Sikhs of Southall and the Turks and Kurds of Dalston. When strength was needed and they needed to stand up in their communities against this thuggery, they spontaneously demonstrated what was very good in our community. They did this in a good and peaceful way and nobody was harmed. We have seen what is very bad in our communities and society but we have also seen what is very good. We need to recognise that and pay tribute to it. We should not focus just on the bad.

I ask my noble friend the Minister how we can restore confidence in the police, because a lot of people feel that they cannot rely on them now. Vigilante groups are being formed up and down the country, which we must feel are not welcome. How can we restore confidence in the police and prevent the need for the rise of these groups of vigilantes around the country?

On a final note, I think that a lot of us were very moved during the break by the words of the Norwegian Prime Minister, who said that at times like this we need more democracy and more humanity. We need to be guided by that and to reflect on it before we make any knee-jerk reactions in response to what we have seen.

Debate on Turkey, EU and Middle East, in the House of Lords

Last Thursday for the first time, I opened a debate on a motion I put down on 'The Economic and Strategic role of Turkey in Europe and the Middle East'
You can read the complete debate here.
It was an extremely positive and comprehensive debate, with around 20 Peers from across the House taking part. To me it highlighted the level of expertise and knowledge in the Lords, that all too often is not available in the Commons. Instead of the often narrow ill informed rhetoric of some MPs, we heard from people with decades of experience, many who have lived, worked and done business in Turkey, and seen the transformation of a nation that was once the 'sick man of Europe', and now overtaken many EU nations in terms of growth, prosperity, and reforms.
There were also excellent contributions from Lib Dem Peers, including Lord Sharkey who gave a superb maiden speech highlighting his 40 year association with Turkey, and Lords Clement-Jones, Chidgey, and Baronesses Ros Scott, and Emma Nicholson.
The Foreign Office Minister, Lord Howell concluded his remarks by saying:
"..We need to embrace all that Turkey has to offer and to intensify engagement with Turkish counterparts in all fields of interest. This will serve to boost the prosperity and security of our own UK in the long term.."

Britain's most influential Muslim: Timothy Winter

This piece in the Indy about Timothy Winter, aka Sheikh Abdul-Hakim Murad, named as Britain's most influential Muslim, is fascinating and struck me today. His reflective approach to his faith and life in the UK are set out including the moment in his life when he converted: (A peach eaten by a young Jewish girl!)

This is his take on radicalisation of young Muslims:

"The principle reason, which Whitehall cannot admit, is that people are incensed by foreign policy. Iraq is a smoking ruin in the Iranian orbit. Those who are from a Muslim background are disgusted by the hypocrisy. It was never about WMD. It was about oil, about Israel and evangelical Christianity in the White House. That makes people incandescent with anger. What is required first of all is an act of public contrition. Tony Blair must go down on his knees and admit he has been responsible for almost unimaginable human suffering and despair."

The second is one of the world order, from a Muslim perspective:

"The West must realise it must stop being the world's police. Why is there no Islamic representation on the UN Security Council? Why does the so-called Quartet [on the Middle East] not have a Muslim representative? The American GI in his goggles driving his landrover through Kabul pointing his gun at everything that moves, that is the image that enrages people."

He reflects that the Mosque on Lower Manhatten in New York: "..should be seen as a symbol of reconciliation not antagonism"

Personal attacks on Lib Dems reaching saturation point

When the Liberal Democrats went into coalition with the Conservatives back in May, after Labour had made it clear they were not interested, who would've predicted the so-called 'left wing' media's onslaught and Labour's vitriol? I for one didn't. Like many others, I would have been far more comfortable with a Lib-Lab arrangement. As a member of the Federal Executive at the time, I wasn't alone. But as we know from a wide range of sources, Labour didn't want to know. Like any partnership, it takes two to tango.
Now we have Labour supporting commentators harping on about how the 'Liberal Democrats jumped into bed with the Tories' (as opposed to?) Progressive writers and thinkers like John Kampfner, have articulated what is wrong with Labour's only strategy of simply heaping abuse, Prescott-style on the coalition government (Labour will have to grow up)
One of the most vocal Labour loyalist 'journalists', Mehdi Hasan, wrote a piece lambasting Simon Hughes and taking him to task for saying: "We should have no preference at the next election between the Tories and Labour and other parties … There will be no deals, there will be no pacts."
Mr Hasan goes on to invoke his extraordinary debut on BBC's Question Time, where he put in an excitable performance, to Simon's more dignified responses, memorable only to him because: "Charlie Falconer, Labour's former lord chancellor, whispered to me: "Look at how much poor Simon is sweating."
All this is very curious, given that back in May, Mr Hasan wrote a piece blaming 'John Prescott, and Labour tribalists' for scuppering a 'progressive alliance with the Liberal Democrats'

Interviewing Nick Clegg on Channel 4 News last night, Krishnan Guru-Murthy asked Nick Clegg if he'd: '....become a Tory'.
This is in my view lazy journalism. Why not interview European politicians, from countries like Austria, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Turkey, Israel, New Zealand etc., where coalition governments are the norm? Get some insight and perspective into how political parties have learnt to work together, while retaining their identities.
We know that the majority of the public support the coalition government's policy on the economy. People know that we have to live within our means, and like the idea of politicians working together.
This week, as Nick Clegg talked about the coalition government's first 100 days, it seems that this government is going to be judged more harshly, scrutinised like no other preceding government, simply because its different, and we are not used to this type of politics.
Of course there have been some difficult and unpalatable decisions taken, and ideas floated. But how many of us were told repeatedly by Labour members over the last 13 years that they did not agree with their governments policies? (Iraq being the biggie!)
I do 'agree with Nick', that this government will be judged on its achievements over the next 5 years, not on the first few months. The biggest challenge in my view, is to
bring about a more equal and fairer society, with greater opportunity for the forgotten and neglected socially disadvantaged. If they can pull this off, then it will have been worth it, and a success. Time will tell.

Turkey post Gaza

When I wrote this last month, I was aware that it would be controversial, but I can't believe anyone would've predicted it would result in the tragic death of nine Turkish people.
These events have now taken centre stage in Turkish domestic politics, and the fall-out between Turkey - Israeli relations will resonate for years.
Here in London, which has the largest Turkish community in the UK, there has been much anger at the Gaza flotilla incident, in particular, in the way most of the dead seem to have been shot in the head at close range. But what has caught my attention has been the confidence and feeling that Turkey is on the 'right side' on this issue, whereas in the past it has been pilloried and often attacked by those on the centre-left. Turkish people are traditionally proud and patriotic of their homeland, but also its biggest critic. Particularly those who came to the UK as political refugees in the '80's. For the first time, Turkey's strong stance and criticism of Israel's doomed raid on the aid flotilla, has brought universal support from Turkish people from across the political spectrum.
Turkey has changed and grown over the last decade, with economic growth expected to be 6.3% this year - a rate that we in the UK can only dream about. There is also a sense that Turkey has shown leadership in the Middle East. As someone put it to me: 'Turkey has stood up the the regional bully'
For generations, Turkey has been heavily reliant on the US and faced criticism from the left for being too pro-US in foreign policy. As a child in the '60's, I spent the Summer holidays in Turkey and can remember relatives talking of the aid and parcels they received from the US during the difficult years of shortages.
This came to an abrupt end during the Bush years with their refusal to join the Iraq war, and then its refusal to send combat troops to Afghanistan.
In hindsight, Turkey's foreign policy decisions have proved to be sounder than those of the UK.
Of course Turkey needs to progress with more reforms within its civil society, but countries in the Middle East and beyond, want to be partners and friends with the new Turkey, and it is now the most popular holiday desitination for the British.

Many countries in the Middle East are now looking to Turkey as a growing power and a natural leader in the region.
As a Turkish friend recently said to me: 'I no longer feel I have to apologise for Turkey, but am proud of the huge progress that has been made'

Humanitarian aid flotilla makes its way to Gaza

The Turkish ferry Mavi Marmara (The Blue Marmara) is one of the eight boats, -three cargo ships and five passenger vessels, making their way to Gaza over the next few days, in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade, and deliver vital aid. One of the organisers is a humanitarian aid group, supported by Ankara. On board the ships are 10,000 tonnes of cargo and about 700-800 activists and politicians from more than 40 countries. Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has called on the Israelis to allow the boats through.
"We're trying to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip and tell the world that Israel has no right to starve 1.5 million Palestinians," said Greta Berlin, of the Free Gaza Movement, another organiser of the flotilla. "We are bringing in vitally needed supplies so the people of Gaza can rebuild their infrastructure."
The boats are from:
Turkey, Greece, Ireland

On board there are:
• 700 to 800 peace activists and MPs from more than 40 countries
• 10,000 tonnes of supplies, including:
• Cement
• Generators
• Water purification equipment
• 20 tonnes of paper for schools
• Prefabricated homes
• $1m (£700,000) of medical equipment, including: CAT scanners' wheelchairs, crutches
• A complete dental surgery, including drills and a chair
• Sports equipment, including footballs and basketballs
• Crayons and pens
• Chocolate
I'm very proud that people from Turkey and other countries are coming together in this important mission. I wish them every success.
You can watch the progress of the flotilla on WitnessGAZA

Lib Dems: no scrutiny then, just random smears

Nick Clegg couldn't have anticipated the effect his 90 minutes TV exposure would have on the general election, and on our wider politics. When sage commentators said the 'honeymoon would be short', they weren't kidding. All hell has been unleashed against the Liberal Democrats, and Nick is accused of just about everything in the Tory media, including a 'Nazi slur against Britain'- which Peter Black blogs about. The Sun's veteran Trevor Kavavangh, on R4's Today this morning accused the Liberal Democrats of using 'smear tactics', and that we were now getting a dose of our own medicine. This from The Sun!
Something fundamental is happening. The dominant Murdoch media is for the first time being challenged. Not by the government of the day, under which it has flourished, but the small third party, that they spent years ignoring or sneering. David Yelland wrote an important piece in the Guardian: saying with Nick Clegg's rise, the 'Murdoch and the media elite could locked out of British politics' The cosy Cameron press are being challenged. Their anointed one is not going to be a shoe-in.
We are in uncharted waters in British politics. The Old establishment, as well as the Old politics is being challenged, and they are fighting back the only way they know how - dirty and throwing as much mud as they can, hoping some will stick.
I have faith in the British public, and its sense of fair play, and that they will see this for what it is and support the Party that will clearly be able to make a big difference.