Chuka Umunna MP

My colleague, Cabinet minister Harriet Harman MP, Minister for Women and Equality (and Member of Parliament for nearby Camberwell & Peckham) has just published the government’s White Paper on the Equality Bill. A “White Paper” is a document produced by the government setting out details of future policy on a particular subject and usually forms the basis for a Bill to be put before Parliament.

From the first Race Relations, Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts introduced by the 1974-79 Labour government – outlawing discrimination on the grounds of race and sex – to the legislation introduced by this Labour government – outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexuality, religion or belief – since 1997, the Labour Party has always been at the forefront of moves to make Britain a fairer, more decent and equal place to live. I know this because, as a specialist employment law solicitor, I use all of this legislation every working week to ensure that employees are treated fairly and not discriminated against by their employers.

The new Equality Bill will build on this fantastic legacy and go further to tackle inequalities which still remain. For example, the pay gap between men and women, though down from 17.4% in 1997, still means that a woman’s full time pay is on average 12.6% less per hour than a man’s; the employment rate of disabled people has risen by 10% in the last decade, but if you are disabled you are still two and a half times more likely to be out of work; and, if you are from an ethnic minority, in 1997 you were 17.9% less likely to find work than if you are white, but the difference is still 15.5% in 2008.

So how, when it passes into law, would the Equality Bill make a practical difference to people living in this area? This list is not exhaustive and the detail of the Bill is still to be finalised before it becomes law (i.e. an Act of Parliament) but here are some details of what is intended:

• Ending age discrimination: Many pensioners in this constituency will have been refused insurance cover because some insurance companies have upper age limits for life insurance or holiday cover. According to the pressure group, Age Concern, 95% of insurers will decline your business if you are over the age of 85. Existing legislation which outlaws age discrimination principally applies in the field of employment – the Bill will extend the scope of the legislation to apply to those providing goods, facilities and services, bringing an end these types of unjustifiable practices, so people are not discriminated on the basis of their age when being provided with goods, facilities and services.
• The new Equality Duty: There are three existing equality duties to promote equality and reduce discrimination for race, gender and disability in the public sector. These duties will be replaced by a new, single Equality Duty on public bodies and will extend to cover gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, and age. This could lead, for example, to extra park benches being provided in local parks by local councils (such as Lambeth or Wandsworth), so that older people can benefit from public spaces as well as younger people; or local police developing an emergency mobile phone text service, and incorporating sign language video clips on its web site to meet the needs of deaf people.
• Requiring transparency: We cannot tackle inequality if it is hidden – increasing transparency is essential to tackling discrimination. In addition to requiring public authorities to publish clear information on their progress on important equalities issues, the Bill will, amongst other things, outlaw secrecy clauses in contracts of employment which ban employees discussing their pay. This does not mean you would be forced to disclose your pay to others but, in situations where you work closely with colleagues doing the same work and you and your colleagues receive variable rates of pay, you would be able to compare what you receive with those colleagues if you want to.
• Extending the scope of positive action: The Bill will allow employers to take into account under representation of disadvantaged groups, for example women and ethnic minorities, when selecting between two equally qualified candidates. Employers will have greater freedom to “fast-track” or select recruits from under-represented groups, as long as they are equally suitable and there is no fixed rule that this must be done in all cases – this is not about employment quotas and will not allow people to promote one candidate above another if that person is less suitable.

The Equality Bill is due to be introduced in Parliament in the forthcoming 2008-09 session. If you want to know more about it, comprehensive details can be found at the Government Equalities Office website here.

The Cabinet minister responsible for the Third Sector, Ed Miliband MP, and Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, Chuka Umunna, today met with local community groups in Streatham as part of the government’s drive to consult with and support the Third Sector.

The government’s £30m Community Assets programme, launched in September 2007, aims to empower communities by encouraging the transfer of underused local authority assets to local organisations. In April 2008, the Streatham Darby and Joan Club (the “Club”) celebrated the news that its bid for a grant of £1m from the programme was successful.

The £1m grant will enable the Club’s existing premises on Leigham Court Road, Streatham, which are currently owned by Lambeth Council, to be refurbished to a high standard. These changes will form the heart of new and improved community spaces and services that will be known as the “Streatham Communities Hub” and will involve the Council devolving ownership of the building to the local community to manage.

The bid for the grant was the result of partnership work between the Club, those who use its premises – Age Concern Lambeth, the Make A Difference Club, the Lambeth Asian Centre – and the Council.

Further to the award of the grant, Ed Miliband MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office (pictured above), and Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, visited the building and met with the community and voluntary groups who use the Club premises to find out what further support can be given to Third sector ogranisations locally.

Commenting on the visit Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, said:

“Funding has always been an issue for the community and voluntary sector which is why I am delighted that the central government is injecting this large slice of funding into the area – it will make a real difference to the lives of people here.”

Ed Miliband MP the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, said:

“From speaking to people active in their communities like Chuka, it is clear to me that we, as a government, must listen to and ensure that community and voluntary organisations, such as the users of this building, are given the conditions and support to make a difference in their local areas.”

Glyn Kyle, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Streatham Darby and Joan Club, said:

“The Community Assets programme is very important in helping local third sector organisations to work effectively in partnership with local councils to deliver very important outcomes for local people”.

The Health Secretary today opened Gracefield Gardens health and social care centre.

Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Health, today (25 June 2008) formally opened Gracefield Gardens health and social care centre situated just off Streatham High Road.

The £8.9m landmark building opened its doors in the New Year and provides NHS primary care services, including GPs, and a Lambeth Council customer centre providing advice and information to local people on council services.

The funding for the scheme was part of a £30m construction and refurbishment programme across Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham under the national NHS local improvement finance trust (LIFT) initiative announced in August 2002 by the then Health Minister, John Hutton MP.

The opening of the centre comes on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the NHS on 5 July 2008. Despite opposition from the Conservative Party at the time, who voted against its creation, the NHS was launched in 1948 by the post war Labour government led by Clement Attlee and has treated millions of people since its creation.

Commenting on the opening of the centre, Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Streatham, said:

“What better way to mark the 60th anniversary of the NHS which Labour created than with the opening of this fantastic new centre.

“We have trebled investment into the NHS to £100bn since 1997 but big numbers mean little to the every day person on the street – it is tangible things like this which people can see and use which demonstrate the return on that investment and the positive difference made locally.”

I was delighted to welcome Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Health, to Streatham today with Keith Hill MP, for the opening of Gracefield Gardens health and social care centre.

The £8.9m landmark building, situated just off Streatham High Road, opened its doors in the New Year and provides NHS primary care services, including GPs, and a Lambeth Council customer centre providing advice and information to local people on council services.

The funding for the scheme was part of a £30m construction and refurbishment programme across Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham under the NHS local improvement finance trust (LIFT) initiative announced in August 2002.

One of the reasons I chose to join the Labour Party was because it was the post war Labour government (1945-51) which set up the NHS to ensure equality of health service provision and a truly national service for all (instead of a piecemeal provision, which had existed across the country up to that point). It is worth remembering that that Labour government led by Clement Attlee set up this national treasure in the face of opposition from other parties.

The NHS celebrates its 60th anniversary on 5 July 2008 and what better way to mark this than with the opening of this fantastic new centre. Labour has trebled investment into the NHS to £100bn since 1997 but big numbers mean little to the every day person on the street in my view – it is tangible things like this centre which people can see and use which demonstrate the return on that investment and the positive difference that can be made locally. (The Prime Minister’s wife, Sarah Brown, is pictured, right, at the centre earlier this year)

Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham addresses Ruach Ministries with Harriet Harman MP and Jennette Arnold AM.

Chuka Umunna, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, addressed the congregation of Ruach Ministries, Britain’s second biggest Black majority church, on Sunday 15 June 2008, with cabinet minister Harriet Harman MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, to mark Bishop John Francis’ 25 years in ministry and 10 years in the office of bishop.  They were joined by Jennette Arnold AM, Chair of the London Assembly. 

Ruach Ministries, situated on Brixton Hill in the Streatham parliamentary constituency, attracts a congregation of more than 5,000 through its doors every Sunday. Ruach carries out extensive outreach work, through street pastors and community surgeries amongst other things, to tackle social problems in the area, such as prostitution, guns, gangs and knives.

The church was founded by Bishop John Francis, one of Britain’s most influential black church leaders, who has an extensive international ministry including in the US, where he is one of the best known British church leaders. This month Bishop Francis is celebrating 25 years in ministry, 10 years in the Bishopric.

Commenting on the visit, Umunna said:
“We are extremely proud to have Ruach Ministries, Britain’s second biggest Black church, in our area.
“Faith communities are often given a bad name in the national press but in Streatham we know that they are doing so much positive work.
“I congratulate Bishop Francis on his 25 years of ministry and thank him and Ruach Ministries for all the positive social work they do in this area.”

END

Whilst Mayor of London, Labour’s Ken Livingstone ensured money was devoted to allow Safer Neighbourhood police teams (SNTs) to be introduced into every ward in London (he did so in the face of opposition from the Conservative group on the London Assembly).  Each team is normally made up of six police and Police Community Support Officers. As the Met’s website says:
“Their aim is to listen and talk to you, and find out what affects your daily life and feelings of security. These might be issues such as anti-social behaviour, graffiti, noisy neighbourhoods, yobs or vandalism.”

Safer Neighbourhood Panels (SNPs), made up of 10-12 local people who live or work in the area nominated by the community, shadow the work of SNTs and ensure they are responsive to local needs. The Safer Lambeth Partnership which includes the Lambeth Council, the Metropolitan Police, the probation service, Lambeth Primary Care Trust, HM Prison Service and others, recently released details of the Streatham constituency’s SNPs’ priorities:

Brixton Hill: prostitution; dog fighting; and, burglary;

Clapham Common: street crime; youth engagement; and, burglary;

Thornton: burglary; anti social behaviour and gangs on Poynders estate and Cotton and Angus House; and, robbery of the person, specifically along Emmanuel Road;

Tulse Hill: prostitution around Josephene Avenue; anti-social behaviour on Cressingham Gardens; and, drugs on the St.Mathews estate;

Streatham Wells: anti-social behaviour, in and surrounding Albert Carr Gardens, SW16; and, motor vehicle crime on Woodleigh Gardens, SW16;

Streatham South: burglary; robbery; motor vehicle crime; and, anti social youth and street drinkers;

St Leonard’s: burglary; motor vehicle crime; and, anti social behaviour around Streatham Green & St Leonard’s;

Streatham Hill: anti social behaviour on Palace Rd, Hillside, and Killieser Avenue; cycling on pavements; and, street robberies on Streatham Hill. 

Tackling these problems is an absolute priority for me. Nationally, police numbers have increased by 14,000 since Labour came to power and we have introduced initiatives such as the Respect Agenda which aims to empower individuals and communities to combat anti-social behaviour and take control of their own areas.

But we have a lot more to do, not least on early prevention and ensuring that those who fall foul of the law are properly rehabilitated and do not enter prison only to exit and re-offend again. I do not pretend to have all the answers, so I would be interested to know what you think the solutions are – please do drop me a line with your thoughts here.

I was delighted to address (below) Ruach Ministries church on Brixton Hill on Sunday with Harriet Harman MP (pictured centre), Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Secretary of State for Equalities.  I was also very pleased to joined by “London’s Chair”, the wonderful Jennette Arnold AM, Chair of the London Assembly (pictured second, left).

I am so very proud that Ruach is situated in our community. It is the second largest Black majority church in the UK led by Bishop John Francis (pictured third, left), attracting more than 5000 people through its doors every Sunday.  It does fantastic social work in and around the community helping to improve people’s lives, be it through Ruach’s street pastors or its outreach work with troubled people in the area.

Bishop Francis, who co-founded the London Community Gospel Choir in 1982, is considered to be one of Britain’s most influential Black church leaders and founded the church. He is an in-demand preacher, with an extensive international ministry, and in recent years has become one of the most well known Britain-based church leaders in the US.  Bishop Francis is celebrating 25 years of ministry – 10 as a Bishop – this month. Congratulations Bishop Francis!

I am a huge fan of the arts in general and made no secret of that fact during my campaign to become Labour’s parliamentary candidate in Streatham. Not only do I enjoy the arts myself but I also think they provide a fantastic outlet for the boundless energy of our young people in need of things to do outside of school time.

There are so many unsung heroes in the arts who have lived or still live in this parliamentary constituency. Our MP for Streatham, Keith Hill, even shared a flat here with the well known comedian and actor, Eddie Izzard a while back!  Another collection of unsung heroes in the arts are the organisers of Urban Art, led by Tim Sutton, which will be held on 19 and 20 July 2008 on Josephine Avenue, just off Brixton Hill, between 10am and 6pm.

As the residents of Josephine Avenue put it:
“For the seventh year running our sleepy, tree-lined, South London avenue will be transformed into a bustling art fair showcasing new and exciting work from over ninety UK artists. Exhibited pieces will include paintings, mixed-media, photographs and print-making with costs ranging from under £10 to over £1,000. It’s an art buyer’s dream.”
…and, unbelievably, the event is free!  It has my full support and I would highy recommend visiting it in just over a month’s time.

The Rev Lisa Wright, retired curate at St Leaonard’s Church, Streatham, is one of Streatham’s gems. Having taught for over 30 years, including at Tulse Hill school, in 1987 Lisa became one of the first women in the Church of England to be ordained as a deacon having campaigned for many years for the ordination of women in the Church of England. She had to wait another seven years before she became one of the first women to be ordained as a priest. She started her life as curate at St Margret’s Church in Streatham Hill, before moving to St Leonard’s Church in 1995. To read more about her colourful career and life, there is a great piece on Lisa here.

What are they? Credit Unions are financial co-operatives owned and controlled by their members. They offer savings and loans at affordable rates. They are local, ethical and, because they are owed by their members, know what their members want.

Above all, Credit Unions are run for the benefit of the community and not the loan sharks who prey on deprived communities offering unsecured loans at outrageous rates of interest, or for the shareholders of big commercial banks. That is why I am such a fan of them and visited Lambeth Savings and Credit Union on Brixton Hill (situated in the Streatham parliamentary constituency) to sign up myself to become a credit union member last weekend (I am pictured signing up at the LSCU).  I fully support what they do.

Lambeth Savings and Credit Union been serving Lambeth’s people since February 2006 and is supported by a broad alliance of voluntary organisations, community and faith groups and local government.

How do they work? Members of a credit unions pool their savings together. These savings then provide a pool of funds from which loans can be made at affordable rates. It is run by a volunteer Board of Directors, all of whom are members of the credit union, elected by the membership at an Annual General Meeting. All members of the credit union have one vote; regardless of the size of their savings. To find out more about Lambeth Savings and Credit Union, log on to their website – www.lscu.org.uk.