February 2011
Crime on your street revealed -- Home Office
From today, a quick post code search on a new website allows you to find out what crime or anti-social behaviour has happened near you. http://blogm.in/FWn6j
January 2011
Petition presented: Reform of health services...
Before Christmas, I directly presented to the Health Secretary a petition calling for fair funding, local control and freedom for clinical professionals in pursuit of improving health services in Wycombe. This evening, I presented a further petition to Parliament, registering our continuing concern and making the same call for reform. I am extremely grateful to http://blogm.in/FWB9d
31 January 2011: day of shame -- Michael Meacher...
We were told by an airbrushed David Cameron in a Tory election poster just 8 months ago: “I’ll cut the deficit, not the NHS”. We now know there will be £15-20bn cuts within 4 years. He also pledged repeatedly “to stop the top-down reorganisation of the NHS”. Just 2 months after the election we were presented with by far the biggest, most risky and destructinve reorganisation in the NHS’...
Double Standards – from Equality to Extradition --...
I wrote an article for the Sunday Times - highlighting the risk that double standards will undermine public confidence in our equality and human rights laws.You can read the article here. http://blogm.in/FVqBT
Government confirms progressive settlement and...
Final arrangements for a fair and progressive funding settlement for councils that protect front-line services and shield the most vulnerable have been published today by Local Government Minister Bob Neill. (continues…) http://blogm.in/FVq9R
Tory answer to NHS waiting list problem -- Paul...
You have got to give in the Tories. They have solved the tricky problem of NHS waiting lists that have long been a headache to Governments. Waiting lists are not an efficient way to measure the quality of the service, but they have great effect on public perception. Many patients have been driven to unwisely impoverish themselves by going private rather than demanding better NHS treatment for...
A double whammy of cuts for London’s police...
As if the Tory/LibDem’s cuts weren’t enough, we now have London Mayor Boris Johnson’s to contend with as well. Joanne McCartney, the London Assembly Member for Enfield and Haringey, has brought a number of very alarming figures to my attention. The Coalition has already agreed to cut police funding by more than 20% over the next four years and that, combined with Boris...
‘Suspension of search and rescue privatisation...
South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called on the government to look again at plans, drawn up by the previous Labour government, to privatise the RAF Search and Rescue service following their suspension last week. In order to replace the aging RAF Sea King helicopters, the Labour government insisted that the service be privatised in a move that would lead to the base closest to the Lake District - RAF…...
Death Penalty Expert Group meets for first time --...
Minister of State Jeremy Browne today opened the first meeting of the Foreign Office’s Death Penalty Expert Group. http://blogm.in/FVYc3
Lord Ahmed and cousin-to-cousin marriages --...
A few weeks after Jack Straw’s “easy meat” comments, we are told by the Mail on Sunday that Asian gangs are indeed grooming young girls and that the men responsible for this are locked into unhappy arranged marriages to cousins.And who tells us this?None other than Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, pitched into Parliament for life in 1998.Ahmed tells us the men are: ”… forced into marriages and…...
MP honours the ‘Untold Stories’ of the Holocaust...
Local MP Tim Farron pledged his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day by signing a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons to honour those who perished in the Holocaust. With, Friday, the 27th January, marking the 66th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Holocaust Educational Trust placed a Book of Commitment in the House of...
EU Foreign Ministers discuss situation in Egypt --...
The EU Foreign Ministers urge the Egyptian authorities to seek a peaceful and constructive way forward based on a serious and open dialogue with all political forces. http://blogm.in/FVYZh
CAA Surveys Passengers About Snow Disruption...
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today begun a two-week online survey to gather information from the travelling public about their experiences during the disruption to flying caused by snow in November and December 2010. http://blogm.in/FVWB9
Helicopter Force joins 3 Cdo Brigade to prepare...
Salisbury Plain will be buzzing with activity for the next few weeks as Joint Helicopter Command plays its part supporting 3 Commando (Cdo) Brigade’s preparations for Afghanistan ahead of their deployment on Operation HERRICK 14 in April 2011. http://blogm.in/FVSXv
Jo joins local opposition to 118 bus changes -- Jo...
Jo met Bearsden residents angered by timetable changes to the 118 bus service. Local residents shared their concerns with Jo at Bearsden Cross bus stop, where the 118 bus service no longer stops after 7pm, Monday to Saturday. The service’s Saturday frequency has decreased to once an hour, and it has been completely withdrawn on Sundays. Following vocal opposition to the revised timetable...
Helen backs GSK expansion -- Helen Goodman (Lab)
Helen visited the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plant in Barnard Castle on Friday, and gave her full backing to a bid that could create a significant number of jobs at the site. Helen met with GSK staff and management about the proposed expansion of the Barnard Castle plant, which would see new investment and a large range […] http://blogm.in/FVPcl
Helen joins fight to save local fire stations --...
Helen has criticised the Coalition Government for cutting funding for a new fire station in Barnard Castle. Funding for a new fire station covering Teesdale was due to be delivered under the Labour Government’s private finance initiative (PFI), but the Coalition Government have announced that funding is no longer available. The County Durham and Darlington […] http://blogm.in/FVPcB
Police forces are being heavily hit by the 20 per...
Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, said: http://blogm.in/FVM7l
Local Govt Finance Settlement is neither fair or...
Caroline Flint MP, Labour’s Shadow Local Government Secretary, responding to the publication of the Government’s final Local Government Finance Settlement, said: http://blogm.in/FVM7V
Localism Bill impact assessments published -- CLG
Evidence underpinning the measures in the Localism Bill to aid analysis and discussion was published today. (continues…) http://blogm.in/FVM7C
Andrew Meets Environment Agency to Discuss Flood...
Local MP, Andrew Percy, met with representatives of the Environment Agency last Friday to discuss the River Aire Flood Catchment Plan and the Isle of Axholme Flood Strategy. The River Aire Catchment Plan is very relevant to Gowdall and Snaith whereas the Isle of Axholme Plan covers the whole of the Isle as well as the Marshland villages in the East Riding. Andrew reports, “I had a good…...
Honouring the ‘Untold Stories’ -- Andy Love (Lab)
Last Thursday was the tenth official Holocaust Memorial Day in the UK and the 66th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp. I marked the occasion by signing the Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, adding my name to a commemorative EDM, and attending Enfield Council’s memorial event at the Dugdale Centre.Long term readers of this...
BBC WM -- Margot James (Con)
Margot calls in to join a debate on Stourbridge town centre on BBC WM’s ‘Mornings with Joanne Malin’. Joanne had been talking to Dudley Council’s lead cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Les Jones and Cllr Nic Barlow. BBC WM » (1:38:00) http://blogm.in/FVJlv
HS2 – Letters – 31-01-11 -- David Lidington (Con)
Please find below the recent letters that I have written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Mr Hammond MP, and Ms Louise Ellman MP, Chair of the Transport Select Committee (TSC), regarding HS2. The letters cover HS2’s revised benefit cost ratio, a request for an inquiry into HS2 by the TSC, the issue of why route 3 was chosen for public consultation, concerns about the consultation itself,...
Taliban flee without a shot as 2 SCOTS and Afghan...
2 SCOTS and Afghan troops have cleared and secured a town with no resistance, a sign seen by many to show the increasingly-weakened state of the Taliban insurgency in Helmand province, Afghanistan. http://blogm.in/FVG3F
Foreign Office Minister updates Parliament on the...
Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt has updated Parliament on the consular and political situation in Egypt. http://blogm.in/FVG2h
Foreign Secretary updates on situation in Egypt --...
Foreign Secretary William Hague has travelled to Brussels where he will discuss the situation in Egypt with EU Foreign Ministers. http://blogm.in/FVG2D
1 RGR receive Afghanistan medals from Prince...
On Friday 28 January Prince Charles presented campaign medals to members of 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles (1 RGR) who have recently returned from six months in Helmand province, Afghanistan. http://blogm.in/FVG2R
Joe Harley CBE appointed Chief Information Officer...
Cabinet Office news release announcing the appointment of Joe Harley CBE as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the UK Government. http://blogm.in/FVBgD
Join us for an exciting Spring Forum -- The Blue...
It’s been a busy start to the year for the Conservative Party and in the next few months it’s going to get even busier. We’ve got local elections, the AV referendum, Welsh Assembly elections and Scottish Parliament elections all coming up. But before that, we’ve got our annual Spring Forum to look forward to – and I’m thrilled that this year we’re going to be holding it in Wales. So…...
School Visits -- Andrew Percy (Con)
I was in school twice on Friday with visits to Baysgarth School, Barton and St Mary’s Primary in Brigg. My first meeting was with Martin Vickers MP to Baysgarth where we met with representatives of the School Sports Partnership to discuss their future. The Government has provided money for school sports but it isn’t yet clear how this will affect the future of the partnerships. I left with some…...
PM’s brother-in-law is one of doctors who disagree...
John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, speaking following David Cameron admitting that his brother-in-law – a cardiologist at Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Trust – disagrees with his reorganisation of the NHS, said: http://blogm.in/FV59L
Douglas Alexander’s response to the situation in...
Responding to the situation in Egypt, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, Douglas Alexander MP, said: http://blogm.in/FV58y
Joe Harley CBE appointed Chief Information Officer...
Cabinet Office news release announcing the appointment of Joe Harley CBE as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the UK Government. http://blogm.in/FTxbn
Local Development Framework -- Jason McCartney...
Kirklees Council are looking to impose thousands of new homes on our green spaces. They have launched a consultation which runs until 13th February 2011. I oppose these top down house building targets in areas where the infrastructure is already creaking at the seams with clogged roads and full schools. I believe local communities should have a real say in what development goes on their area which...
New frameworks will open up construction...
The MOD has announced that it will develop six regional capital works frameworks for construction projects valued below £12m and one national framework for higher value projects, more complex projects and cross-region programmes up to a value of £50m, under its Next Generation Estate Contracts (NGEC) programme. http://blogm.in/FTxbJ
PM welcomes Cisco’s $500 million goal for UK...
Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed Cisco’s goal of making significant long-term investments of money, technology and manpower that will help support the East London Tech City, through an initiative called the British Innovation Gateway (BIG). The East London Tech City is an ambitious project launched by the Prime Minister to build on the existing cluster of technology companies in East...
Hundreds protest unfair government cuts -- Luciana...
Luciana speakin at the Rally at St Georges Hall against the cuts On Saturday I spoke at a rally organised by the Joint Trades Unions of the City Council (JTUCC) at St Georges Hall in protest against the Tory-led Government’s funding cuts to Liverpool City Council and public services across the city. Hundreds marched through the city centre and heard speeches from union leaders. Liverpool, like the...
Mark Prisk announces reappointments to Industrial...
Business Minister Mark Prisk today endorsed the reappointment of Professor Chris Higson and Charles Lochrane to the Industrial Development Advisory Board (IDAB). http://blogm.in/FTtfp
Jobs boost starts finance fortnight for SNP --...
The SNP today revealed the SNP Government has supported the creation and safeguarding of 3,635 jobs in January as the party kicked off a fortnight of focus on jobs and family finances.read more http://blogm.in/FTtg0
Moves to avoid compulsory redundancies -- Party...
North East SNP MSPs have welcomed the announcement by the SNP Group in Aberdeen that instead of 900 compulsory redundancies, 600 voluntary redundancies be pursued by the council.read more http://blogm.in/FTtfc
Snow Disruption Passenger Survey -- CAA
The CAA is conducting a survey of air travellers who were affected by the recent disruption casued by snow http://blogm.in/FTtfB
George Dixon Pupils Lobby MP -- Gisela Stuart...
Students from George Dixons International School aired their views on tuition fees and asked questions about the current political situation, during Gisela Stuart’s recent visit to the school. “The students fired well thought out questions in a debate on issues that are on the political agenda. A stimulating and enjoyable event.” http://blogm.in/FTpsb
Greater local powers to boost community-led...
Local Government Minister Grant Shapps and Communities Minister Andrew Stunell have today outlined how the Coalition Government is untying the hands of communities to find innovative ways to regenerate their area. (continues…) http://blogm.in/FTpsG
MPs to question preferred candidate for Chair of...
Justice Committee holds pre-appointment hearing with Mr Christopher Stevens http://blogm.in/FTlqB
Mental Health and the ChoosingWell? Campagin --...
See my ePolitix article here. http://blogm.in/FThdP
Support for non-violent protest in Egypt -- Party...
The Green Party has called for the UK government to support non-violent protest in Egypt.Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party, and Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: “I have been shocked by the brutal response by the Mubarak government to the pro-democracy protests, including police violence that has used tear gas bombs, rubber and plastic bullets, and diluted mustard gas.”The...
PRESS RELEASE – 31 JANUARY 2011 – NICKY MORGAN MP...
NICKY MORGAN MP TO SPEAK AT LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE FOR NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEKNext week Monday 7th to Friday 11th February is National Apprenticeship Week. As part of a host of scheduled events, Loughborough College will be holding a series of coaching and mentoring workshops to be held on site on Friday 11th.The free seminar delivered by Loughborough College will include ways to motivate an...
Gulf Stage project creates first global audience...
An innovative collaboration spearheaded by the British Council breaks new ground today by bringing Arabic performances to a global audience online and for free. http://blogm.in/FThcm
Gang injunctions launched -- Home Office
Court orders which restrict the movements of people accused of being in gangs can be used by police and local authorities from today. http://blogm.in/FTdCp