*By Editor Alhagie Mbye, Our **London** Bureau Chief*
 The new British Deputy Prime Minister, Harriet Harman QC, who is also
Member of Parliament for Camberwell and Peckham in South London, is a good
friend of Africa and Africans and this bond that existed over the years
according to observers is mainly influenced by the number of Africans living
in her constituency. Many of those who are living and working in her
constituency are from Africa. It is estimated that 30 per cent of the
constituent are infact African.

 It is important to note that there are some wards in her constituency made
up of almost 50 per cent Africans. The Deputy Prime Minister who has been in
Parliament for over 22 years consisting of about 659 members is well know
for her vast knowledge in law.

Over the years, she created very strong links with such communities as well
as the newly arrived African constituents and had visited their countries of
origin. As a result many of the Africans are proud of her promotion as
Deputy Prime Minister and wish her well.

 Abul Fofana, a West African businessman in the city said 'I wish her the
very best because she accepted us for who we are. She never looks down on us
and has been very instrumental in supporting us'.

 In an Annual Report sent to this correspondent from the MPs office, she
acknowledges that many of her constituents are from Nigeria, Sierra Leone,
Ghana, Somalia, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Tanzania and other African countries.
As a result, she is liaising closely with African community organizations
including other groups such as churches. She had visited Sierra Leone in
2004 and had worked very hard with former Prime Minister Tony Blair on the
Commission for Africa which was launched last May.

Harriet Harman QC always noted in her well read report that the Commission
task is to take a fresh look at the challenges Africa faces and that she was
proud to be part of it. She is also helping in Foreign Policy in favour of
Africa and had advised the Labour government on foreign and development
policy towards Africa.

In one of her progress report she gave priority to getting a children's
centre in Peckham and setting up an after-school club in Oliver Goldsmiths
School including more police in the streets of Southwark. During one of such
projects, she invited Peckham born and England football star Rio Ferdinand
at the Southwark Community Games.

 Following concerns about the difficulty of getting GPs, the Deputy Prime
Minister has been tackling the shortage of GPs and also strengthening links
with African constituents and the African countries. She was hailed for her
efforts.

According to reports 33% of the population and 37% of women agree that the
new Deputy Prime Minister is 'in touch with family life' more than twice the
score of her nearest rival during the election that brought her to the new
position.

The new Deputy Prime Minister is also seen as 'most in touch' by both more
middle class ABC1 voters and Labour's heartland C2DE voters. To her credit
she was rated 'most trustworthy'. Therefore she topped the poll with 23% of
people rating her as trustworthy, compared to 20% for Hilary Benn, 13% for
Peter Hain, 12% for Alan Johnson and Hazel Blears and 9% for John Cruddas.

END

Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2007 (Archive on Tuesday, August 14, 2007)
Posted by PNMBAI  Contributed by PNMBAI
Return <http://freedomnewspaper.com/Homepage/tabid/36/Default.aspx>

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