Just returned home and have had time to reflect on David Cameron's speech this afternoon.
Yet again David managed to produce a full speech without need for notes.
For anyone watching this flawless speech at home then make no mistake that the atmosphere in the hall was electric.
The Conservative Party is ready for the fight ahead, and David Cameron is the right person to lead us to victory not just for party but for the whole of the country.
He spoke as to how the Conservatives have changed under his leadership - and that there is no going back!
He said that the fight ahead will not be easy but that it is the patriotic duty of the Conservatives to win for Britain!
When I contrast this articulate performance from our leader with the shambolic failings of Gordon Brown then I have great optimism for Britain - because with David Cameron as Prime Minister we will have a leader who will go out and sell for Britain, and win for Britain!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
VOTE FOR CHANGE!
Six clear messages came out of our Spring Conference in Brighton:
1. ACT NOW ON DEBT TO GET THE ECONOMY MOVING
2. GET BRITAIN WORKING BY BOOSTING ENTERPRISE
3. MAKE BRITAIN THE MOST FAMILY-FRIENDLY COUNTRY IN EUROPE
4. BACK THE NHS
5. RAISE STANDARDS IN SCHOOLS
6. CHANGE POLITICS
I will be taking these clear messages out on the doorsteps between now and polling day, and explaining our policies in full. The message is clear - that the Conservatives have the policies to win!
1. ACT NOW ON DEBT TO GET THE ECONOMY MOVING
2. GET BRITAIN WORKING BY BOOSTING ENTERPRISE
3. MAKE BRITAIN THE MOST FAMILY-FRIENDLY COUNTRY IN EUROPE
4. BACK THE NHS
5. RAISE STANDARDS IN SCHOOLS
6. CHANGE POLITICS
I will be taking these clear messages out on the doorsteps between now and polling day, and explaining our policies in full. The message is clear - that the Conservatives have the policies to win!
AT OUR SPRING CONFERENCE!
Have had a great time this weekend at our Spring Conference held here in Brighton.
I will report on David Cameron's speech later.
I have been to many meetings, among which was the LGBTory meeting last night, attended by shadow cabinet member Nick Herbert, MP Greg Barker, famous tory blogger Iain Dale, and well known Christopher Biggins.
I was pleased to go along with my local activists who support this group.
Friday, February 26, 2010
CONSERVATIVES TAKE A HOLD OF TAX
The news that Brighton and Hove City Council’s Conservative-led Administration has just passed a Council Tax rise of just 2.5% (the lowest in the City Council’s history) means that if a Conservative Government is elected, then tax rises for local people will actually be zero from 2011/12.
The Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, has recently confirmed that any Council which keeps its Council Tax rise to 2.5% will receive an additional subsidy from Central Government which will allow Councils to freeze Council Tax and no rises will be allowed.
The Council Tax in Brighton and Hove rose 124% in the ten years Labour ran the Council and since 2007, when the Conservative have led the Administration tax rises have been reducing with a lower figure each financial year.
Keeping Council Tax under control is a key part of Conservative philosophy in that government, at whatever level, should only take in taxes the amount needed to fund the public services. Our plans at national level to cut back the deficit will keep taxes under control in the future and locally Conservative-run Councils are showing that they can keep taxes within reason while delivering real improvements in services for local residents. Brighton and Hove Council is now rated a 4 star ‘excellent’ Council, for example.
The Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, has recently confirmed that any Council which keeps its Council Tax rise to 2.5% will receive an additional subsidy from Central Government which will allow Councils to freeze Council Tax and no rises will be allowed.
The Council Tax in Brighton and Hove rose 124% in the ten years Labour ran the Council and since 2007, when the Conservative have led the Administration tax rises have been reducing with a lower figure each financial year.
Keeping Council Tax under control is a key part of Conservative philosophy in that government, at whatever level, should only take in taxes the amount needed to fund the public services. Our plans at national level to cut back the deficit will keep taxes under control in the future and locally Conservative-run Councils are showing that they can keep taxes within reason while delivering real improvements in services for local residents. Brighton and Hove Council is now rated a 4 star ‘excellent’ Council, for example.
POLICIES FOR WOMEN'S EQUALITY
I have written elsewhere on this blog about the importance to the Conservative Party of equality as it affects the LGBT community. The Conservatives have also published policies to improve women's opportunities. Several policies have been announced and these include:
• Measures to tackle the gender pay gap, including stronger legislation to prevent employers discriminating and better careers guidance for young women.
• The extension of the right to request flexible working to all parents with children under the age of 18.
• The introduction of a new system of flexible parental leave, so parents can decide how to divide paid maternity leave between them and are able to make use of it simultaneously.
• A new strategy to tackle violence against women, including a greater focus on preventative work in schools, better training for police and front-line professionals and new rape crisis centres.
•
A Conservative government will follow a joined-up, common sense approach to women’s issues and make our society fairer for everybody. If you would like to see the two published policy documents relating to women's opportunities and the importance of tackling domestic violence, then follow this web address and the documents are there to be downloaded as pdf documents:
http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Women.aspx
• Measures to tackle the gender pay gap, including stronger legislation to prevent employers discriminating and better careers guidance for young women.
• The extension of the right to request flexible working to all parents with children under the age of 18.
• The introduction of a new system of flexible parental leave, so parents can decide how to divide paid maternity leave between them and are able to make use of it simultaneously.
• A new strategy to tackle violence against women, including a greater focus on preventative work in schools, better training for police and front-line professionals and new rape crisis centres.
•
A Conservative government will follow a joined-up, common sense approach to women’s issues and make our society fairer for everybody. If you would like to see the two published policy documents relating to women's opportunities and the importance of tackling domestic violence, then follow this web address and the documents are there to be downloaded as pdf documents:
http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Women.aspx
Thursday, February 25, 2010
TACKLING THE DEBT!
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne yesterday set out the Conservative vision for a new economic model.
He argued that the debt-fuelled model of growth that the Government pursued over the last decade was fundamentally unsustainable, and that we need to move from an economy built on debt to an economy where we save and invest for the future. We have to deal with our debts to get the economy back on its feet.
He argued that the existing policy framework failed to prevent the crisis, is unable to deal with the current weakness of the economy, and won’t be able to stop it happening again. He set out a new economic model for growth based on saving and investment, and a new policy framework that can ensure that private and public debt are sustainable in the future. including:
He also explained why the Government’s argument that we can afford to wait until 2011 before dealing with the deficit is complacent and puts the recovery at risk, and explained why we need to start dealing with the deficit in 2010.
Tackling the huge debt will be a priority of the next Conservative Government. As George Osborne says, we need to start dealing with this problem in 2010.
He argued that the debt-fuelled model of growth that the Government pursued over the last decade was fundamentally unsustainable, and that we need to move from an economy built on debt to an economy where we save and invest for the future. We have to deal with our debts to get the economy back on its feet.
He argued that the existing policy framework failed to prevent the crisis, is unable to deal with the current weakness of the economy, and won’t be able to stop it happening again. He set out a new economic model for growth based on saving and investment, and a new policy framework that can ensure that private and public debt are sustainable in the future. including:
He also explained why the Government’s argument that we can afford to wait until 2011 before dealing with the deficit is complacent and puts the recovery at risk, and explained why we need to start dealing with the deficit in 2010.
Tackling the huge debt will be a priority of the next Conservative Government. As George Osborne says, we need to start dealing with this problem in 2010.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
AGRICULTURE & THE ENVIRONMENT
I have often wondered why we are so reliant on agricultural imports, when it is not so long ago that Britain was self sufficient in so many items.
Our new agricultural policies address both this issue, and at the same time set out how to save the environment. Our agenda is set out today by shadow cabinet member Nick Herbert.
Our new policy paper has five key aims: to enable increased production whilst protecting the environment, to promote fair competition, to reduce the burden of regulation, to further reform the Common Agricultural Policy, and to take action on animal disease.
‘Our Agenda for British Farming' sets out two major new proposals:
• The introduction of rules into the new national planning framework to prevent the development of the most fertile farmland, in all but exceptional circumstances.
• Fundamental reform of the Rural Payments Agency, appointing the Minister for Farming as Chairman of its Management Board, to improve accountability, reduce costs and drive up performance.
Key Conservative pledges are set out to:
• Commission within the first three months of taking office an industry-led review of all existing regulations with a view to reducing burdens without compromising standards.
• Introduce legislation on country of origin labelling if a comprehensive voluntary agreement cannot be reached.
• Ensure that all food served in Government departments meets British standards of production, wherever this can be delivered without increasing overall costs.
Nick Herbert has said "Labour has persistently under-valued British agriculture, failing to understand that we all depend on the production of food, while the countryside relies on farmers' stewardship of the environment. Despite its importance to our food security, the protection of our best farmland has been downgraded and the Government has over-ridden councils who have sought to keep in place local protection of this valuable asset. In this new age of agriculture, we need to strengthen the protection of our most fertile farmland and recognise its importance as a national resource for future generations."
Our Shadow Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister, added:
"Our Agenda for British Farming sets out practical proposals to foster a more productive, sustainable and competitive farming industry. British farmers safeguard our food security, maintain the countryside and provide the raw materials for the UK's largest manufacturing sector. This represents an enormous contribution to our national well-being and resilience. It is about time this was reflected by a government which understands the realities of farming and creates the conditions in which the industry can thrive."
Our new agricultural policies address both this issue, and at the same time set out how to save the environment. Our agenda is set out today by shadow cabinet member Nick Herbert.
Our new policy paper has five key aims: to enable increased production whilst protecting the environment, to promote fair competition, to reduce the burden of regulation, to further reform the Common Agricultural Policy, and to take action on animal disease.
‘Our Agenda for British Farming' sets out two major new proposals:
• The introduction of rules into the new national planning framework to prevent the development of the most fertile farmland, in all but exceptional circumstances.
• Fundamental reform of the Rural Payments Agency, appointing the Minister for Farming as Chairman of its Management Board, to improve accountability, reduce costs and drive up performance.
Key Conservative pledges are set out to:
• Commission within the first three months of taking office an industry-led review of all existing regulations with a view to reducing burdens without compromising standards.
• Introduce legislation on country of origin labelling if a comprehensive voluntary agreement cannot be reached.
• Ensure that all food served in Government departments meets British standards of production, wherever this can be delivered without increasing overall costs.
Nick Herbert has said "Labour has persistently under-valued British agriculture, failing to understand that we all depend on the production of food, while the countryside relies on farmers' stewardship of the environment. Despite its importance to our food security, the protection of our best farmland has been downgraded and the Government has over-ridden councils who have sought to keep in place local protection of this valuable asset. In this new age of agriculture, we need to strengthen the protection of our most fertile farmland and recognise its importance as a national resource for future generations."
Our Shadow Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister, added:
"Our Agenda for British Farming sets out practical proposals to foster a more productive, sustainable and competitive farming industry. British farmers safeguard our food security, maintain the countryside and provide the raw materials for the UK's largest manufacturing sector. This represents an enormous contribution to our national well-being and resilience. It is about time this was reflected by a government which understands the realities of farming and creates the conditions in which the industry can thrive."
Monday, February 22, 2010
R.I.P OFF
The Conservative Party estimates that Gordon Brown’s plans for a £20,000 death tax will rob 4.3 million of inheritance.
After thirteen years of taxing every aspect of our lives, Gordon Brown now wants to tax death. For people with modest savings, this will represent a 100 per cent inheritance tax. Recently, Gordon Brown was given three opportunities to deny he is planning a death tax to fill the black hole in his National Care Service plans – and each time he failed to do so. Interestingly, Andy Burnham, his Health Minister, has confirmed that it remains on the table. People can only assume that a vote for Labour is a vote for a £20,000 death tax.
After thirteen years of taxing every aspect of our lives, Gordon Brown now wants to tax death. For people with modest savings, this will represent a 100 per cent inheritance tax. Recently, Gordon Brown was given three opportunities to deny he is planning a death tax to fill the black hole in his National Care Service plans – and each time he failed to do so. Interestingly, Andy Burnham, his Health Minister, has confirmed that it remains on the table. People can only assume that a vote for Labour is a vote for a £20,000 death tax.
A FRESH START - NOT A SECOND LOOK
Gordon Brown is asking people to give his Party a second look but the reality is people have seen the Labour Party and its works for the past 13 years.
David Cameron recently spoke to the Scottish Conservatives and outlined his fresh start for the country by a reformed Conservative Party.
He said that country’s problems were so intense that the country needed not just a modern Conservative Party, but a radical Conservative Party too.
David Cameron said: ‘After thirteen years of a Labour Government that has spent too much, centralised too much, bureaucratised too much, legislated too much, regulated too much and bossed everyone around too much, turning things around will require radical change. If we win the election, we will start attacking the great challenges this country faces with a radical zeal from day one.’
Over the weeks I have set out in this blog the big changes the Conservatives are proposing in a host of areas on areas such as housing, local government, the health service and crime.
A Conservative Government will stop pretending that only the government and the public sector have the answers. Centralised bureaucracy that wastes money, saps morale and crushes innovation will be reduced. State monopoly on public services will be opened up to new providers with new ideas.
David Cameron added in his speech: ‘We will let those providers, new or old, state, private or voluntary get on with the job of giving people a great service. And we will pay them by the results they achieve. Some people will say: ‘you can’t do things like that. You can’t afford to take those risks.’ But the reality is that, with so little money and so much failure, we can’t afford not to.’
Brighton will benefit from this fresh approach where people will be given real control of their lives and resources. A new Conservative Government will do what works and not let outdated thinking hamper the people’s progress.
David Cameron recently spoke to the Scottish Conservatives and outlined his fresh start for the country by a reformed Conservative Party.
He said that country’s problems were so intense that the country needed not just a modern Conservative Party, but a radical Conservative Party too.
David Cameron said: ‘After thirteen years of a Labour Government that has spent too much, centralised too much, bureaucratised too much, legislated too much, regulated too much and bossed everyone around too much, turning things around will require radical change. If we win the election, we will start attacking the great challenges this country faces with a radical zeal from day one.’
Over the weeks I have set out in this blog the big changes the Conservatives are proposing in a host of areas on areas such as housing, local government, the health service and crime.
A Conservative Government will stop pretending that only the government and the public sector have the answers. Centralised bureaucracy that wastes money, saps morale and crushes innovation will be reduced. State monopoly on public services will be opened up to new providers with new ideas.
David Cameron added in his speech: ‘We will let those providers, new or old, state, private or voluntary get on with the job of giving people a great service. And we will pay them by the results they achieve. Some people will say: ‘you can’t do things like that. You can’t afford to take those risks.’ But the reality is that, with so little money and so much failure, we can’t afford not to.’
Brighton will benefit from this fresh approach where people will be given real control of their lives and resources. A new Conservative Government will do what works and not let outdated thinking hamper the people’s progress.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
ONLY THE BRAVE!
Over 8000 brave souls faced rain, wind, hail and freezing conditions this morning for the Charity Half Marathon Beacon Run.
In spite of everything the weather through at them, these brave runners turned out in force to raise money for various charities.
I salute all those who took part.
I was able to help in a very small capacity as a Marshall at the event, right along at the Black Rock end of the run.
I was so impressed at the numbers who took part, and at the excellent organisation of the event.
It is times like these, with the voluntary help of so many people, that you realise what it is that makes Britain great!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM COMMERCIALISATION
David Cameron has announced plans to help families protect children from premature sexualisation and excessive commercialisation.
The measures are designed to crack down on irresponsible marketing practices and products targeted at children.
David Cameron said today "I want to make Britain the most family-friendly country in the world”. "A key part of helping families and mending our broken society is making sure that business is responsible in how it markets and advertises products to children".
The proposals launched today include:
• Banning the most manipulative marketing techniques aimed at young people
• Strengthening the regulatory framework
• Giving people the power to make complaints
• Banning irresponsible companies from winning future government contracts.
David emphasised that "social pressure" is the best way to combat irresponsible behaviour and encourage responsibility, saying that the Conservatives would "make it easier for parents to mobilise against campaigns and products that they think are inappropriate".
He also added that the Government still has an important role. "A Conservative Government would take the tough action needed to help families and build a society in which we stop treating children as adults", he said.
The measures are designed to crack down on irresponsible marketing practices and products targeted at children.
David Cameron said today "I want to make Britain the most family-friendly country in the world”. "A key part of helping families and mending our broken society is making sure that business is responsible in how it markets and advertises products to children".
The proposals launched today include:
• Banning the most manipulative marketing techniques aimed at young people
• Strengthening the regulatory framework
• Giving people the power to make complaints
• Banning irresponsible companies from winning future government contracts.
David emphasised that "social pressure" is the best way to combat irresponsible behaviour and encourage responsibility, saying that the Conservatives would "make it easier for parents to mobilise against campaigns and products that they think are inappropriate".
He also added that the Government still has an important role. "A Conservative Government would take the tough action needed to help families and build a society in which we stop treating children as adults", he said.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
CONSERVATIVES CHAMPION GAY EQUALITY
Shadow Cabinet member Nick Herbert, has today spoken about the Conservative Party's promotion of gay equality.
Nick said "For the modern Conservative Party, embracing gay equality is neither a temporary phenomenon, nor an agenda which can be reversed".
In the UK, all three major political parties are now assuring gay people that it's safe to vote for them. Typically, far from taking pleasure in this new consensus, the Left has greeted it with dismay. For over a decade they have sought to build a client state, where groups are beholden to their generosity. And now they want to open up 'clear pink water' between themselves and the Conservative Party.
There's an election coming, and it suits our opponents to argue that we haven't changed. But we self-evidently have changed. The truth is that there are millions of people who we drove away but who share our values and want to join us.
Gay people are not the property of the Left, or of any party.
They are not an interest group or a political commodity to be traded.
They are not vessels for votes.
Gay people are motivated by the same issues as any other voter.
They will vote for the political party which best sits with their views - so long as that party does not make itself taboo.
He went on to say that the Conservative Party advocating Civil Partnerships and gay equality to other countries may come as a surprise to some, but it is in tune with our beliefs, thinking and aspirations.
Under the leadership of David Cameron, the British Conservative Party has gone further in supporting gay equality than other centre-right parties in similar countries and the Party is now taking the case for greater equality to America, in particular highlighting the benefits of civil partnerships.
Nick Herbert discussed the issue on the Today programme this morning and is due to give a speech in Washington D.C. later today on the subject.
I am in full agreement with Nick. Brighton has a vibrant gay community who play an important part in the life and work of our City.
Nick said "For the modern Conservative Party, embracing gay equality is neither a temporary phenomenon, nor an agenda which can be reversed".
In the UK, all three major political parties are now assuring gay people that it's safe to vote for them. Typically, far from taking pleasure in this new consensus, the Left has greeted it with dismay. For over a decade they have sought to build a client state, where groups are beholden to their generosity. And now they want to open up 'clear pink water' between themselves and the Conservative Party.
There's an election coming, and it suits our opponents to argue that we haven't changed. But we self-evidently have changed. The truth is that there are millions of people who we drove away but who share our values and want to join us.
Gay people are not the property of the Left, or of any party.
They are not an interest group or a political commodity to be traded.
They are not vessels for votes.
Gay people are motivated by the same issues as any other voter.
They will vote for the political party which best sits with their views - so long as that party does not make itself taboo.
He went on to say that the Conservative Party advocating Civil Partnerships and gay equality to other countries may come as a surprise to some, but it is in tune with our beliefs, thinking and aspirations.
Under the leadership of David Cameron, the British Conservative Party has gone further in supporting gay equality than other centre-right parties in similar countries and the Party is now taking the case for greater equality to America, in particular highlighting the benefits of civil partnerships.
Nick Herbert discussed the issue on the Today programme this morning and is due to give a speech in Washington D.C. later today on the subject.
I am in full agreement with Nick. Brighton has a vibrant gay community who play an important part in the life and work of our City.
Monday, February 15, 2010
POWER FOR PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS
Our Shadow Chancellor George Osborne, has today announced plans to give public sector workers the right to form employee owned co-operatives to take over the services they deliver.
This will empower millions of public sector workers to become their own boss and help them to deliver better services.
"Today we are setting out our plans to give power to public sector workers who are fed up with Gordon Brown's top-down control of their working lives", he said. "This is the biggest shift of power from government to people since the right to buy your council house in the 1980s".
The new right to form employee owned co-operatives will apply throughout the vast majority of the public sector – including JobCentre Plus offices, community nursing teams and primary schools.
Employee owned co-operatives will continue to be funded by the state so long as they meet national standards, but will be freed from centralised bureaucracy and political micromanagement.
They will be not-for-profit organisations - any financial surpluses will be reinvested into the service and the staff who work there, rather than distributed to external shareholders.
"Just as we are winning the argument on the economy and how to deal with the country's debts, the Conservatives now offer the best hope for users of public services and the people who work in them", Osborne added.
This new innovative policy could help workers become their own boss, and is in line with our overall policy direction of moving power from central elites down to the individual and to local communities. The shift away from the ‘nanny state’ is something I very much welcome.
This will empower millions of public sector workers to become their own boss and help them to deliver better services.
"Today we are setting out our plans to give power to public sector workers who are fed up with Gordon Brown's top-down control of their working lives", he said. "This is the biggest shift of power from government to people since the right to buy your council house in the 1980s".
The new right to form employee owned co-operatives will apply throughout the vast majority of the public sector – including JobCentre Plus offices, community nursing teams and primary schools.
Employee owned co-operatives will continue to be funded by the state so long as they meet national standards, but will be freed from centralised bureaucracy and political micromanagement.
They will be not-for-profit organisations - any financial surpluses will be reinvested into the service and the staff who work there, rather than distributed to external shareholders.
"Just as we are winning the argument on the economy and how to deal with the country's debts, the Conservatives now offer the best hope for users of public services and the people who work in them", Osborne added.
This new innovative policy could help workers become their own boss, and is in line with our overall policy direction of moving power from central elites down to the individual and to local communities. The shift away from the ‘nanny state’ is something I very much welcome.
NEW PLANS ON TRANSPARENCY
David Cameron has launched the Transparency section of our Draft Manifesto.
There are radical new plans to publish government contracts in full – including all performance indicators, break clauses and penalty measures.
As part of the plan for Cutting the Democratic Deficit, Conservatives have already set out plans to publish national and local government spending online, create a new ‘right to government data’, require police forces to publish crime data on a monthly basis and publish the names and salaries of the most senior civil servants.
The announcement takes these plans even further by taking the radical step of publishing all government contracts worth over £25,000 for goods and services in full. This would enable the public to root out wasteful spending and poorly negotiated contracts, and open up the procurement system to more small businesses.
Speaking ahead of the speech, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said that the commitment to publish government contracts is the "most radical transparency announcement ever made by a British political party – and will enable the public to hold ministers and civil servants to account like never before".
"This policy will help us to cut government spending, root out waste and empower the public – and bring in a new age of transparency and accountability", Osborne added.
Many examples of government waste are given to me by local people. This is something which frustrates us all. I believe these proposals are a move in the right direction.
There are radical new plans to publish government contracts in full – including all performance indicators, break clauses and penalty measures.
As part of the plan for Cutting the Democratic Deficit, Conservatives have already set out plans to publish national and local government spending online, create a new ‘right to government data’, require police forces to publish crime data on a monthly basis and publish the names and salaries of the most senior civil servants.
The announcement takes these plans even further by taking the radical step of publishing all government contracts worth over £25,000 for goods and services in full. This would enable the public to root out wasteful spending and poorly negotiated contracts, and open up the procurement system to more small businesses.
Speaking ahead of the speech, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said that the commitment to publish government contracts is the "most radical transparency announcement ever made by a British political party – and will enable the public to hold ministers and civil servants to account like never before".
"This policy will help us to cut government spending, root out waste and empower the public – and bring in a new age of transparency and accountability", Osborne added.
Many examples of government waste are given to me by local people. This is something which frustrates us all. I believe these proposals are a move in the right direction.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROYAL SUSSEX
The next meeting showing revised architectural designs for the development of our hospital is taking place shortly.
Whilst wanting better facilities at our hospital, I share resident concerns about the hospital re-development.
Funding for the hospital has already been agreed, and planning permission will be sought from Brighton & Hove Council later on this year.
Local residents have expressed concern about traffic congestion, the disruption caused by the development, loss of views, and the ability of Victorian buildings locally coping with both the weight and volume of building traffic.
I am watching these proposals closely, and hope that the views of those who live in the area will be seriously considered.
Whilst wanting better facilities at our hospital, I share resident concerns about the hospital re-development.
Funding for the hospital has already been agreed, and planning permission will be sought from Brighton & Hove Council later on this year.
Local residents have expressed concern about traffic congestion, the disruption caused by the development, loss of views, and the ability of Victorian buildings locally coping with both the weight and volume of building traffic.
I am watching these proposals closely, and hope that the views of those who live in the area will be seriously considered.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
LIFE CHANGING EVENTS
There are a few moments in time, when history changes forever.
Friends who were adults at the time tell me that the assassination of JFK was one such moment, and I remember in my childhood as the world watched when a man first stepped on the moon.
The death of princess Diana was another such event.
It is hard to believe that it is only 20 years today that Nelson Mandela was freed from political imprisonment in South Africa.
South Africa has today been celebrating this event which changed and freed a nation.
Nelson Mandela demonstrates mankind at its best. Instead of bitterness he promoted reconciliation.
Today, 20 years on, I celebrate Nelson Mandela.
Friends who were adults at the time tell me that the assassination of JFK was one such moment, and I remember in my childhood as the world watched when a man first stepped on the moon.
The death of princess Diana was another such event.
It is hard to believe that it is only 20 years today that Nelson Mandela was freed from political imprisonment in South Africa.
South Africa has today been celebrating this event which changed and freed a nation.
Nelson Mandela demonstrates mankind at its best. Instead of bitterness he promoted reconciliation.
Today, 20 years on, I celebrate Nelson Mandela.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A QUESTION OF ECONOMY?
The Conservative Party is keen for as many people as possible to be involved in the process of creating the manifesto on which the Party will fight the next General Election.
Already David Cameron has taken questions, online, about this process and this process is continuing.
This Thursday (11th February), the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne will be taking part in a live question-and-answer session, to respond to questions voters have raised. To determine the most popular questions, the Google Moderator web tool is being used where people can submit questions and then vote for others they like or dislike.
Why not try this out and have your say? You just need a Google account to join in and instructions are given on the web page on how you can get one of those.
If you would like more details, the web address for the Draft Manifesto is below:
http://www.conservatives.com/Draft_Manifesto.aspx
Already David Cameron has taken questions, online, about this process and this process is continuing.
This Thursday (11th February), the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne will be taking part in a live question-and-answer session, to respond to questions voters have raised. To determine the most popular questions, the Google Moderator web tool is being used where people can submit questions and then vote for others they like or dislike.
Why not try this out and have your say? You just need a Google account to join in and instructions are given on the web page on how you can get one of those.
If you would like more details, the web address for the Draft Manifesto is below:
http://www.conservatives.com/Draft_Manifesto.aspx
A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD
Housing is one of the most fundamental needs anybody has, and yet, over the years how often have we seen house prices boom for a year or two and then bust shortly after, creating problems for families, those seeking to buy for the first time or people wanting to move for their job? Other people may want or need to rent but regulations and red tape create conditions that stifles markets and makes potential landlords nervous about letting a property.
We can't go on like this and we need to make some changes now so that people have the opportunity they need, the social mobility they desire and a home that is within their price range in the area of the country they need to live.
Conservatives have been working hard on these issues and have a number of solutions which will help solve problems now before they become full blown crises in the future.
The first task a new Conservative Government will undertake is to put more powers back into the hands of local communities. This will see local people, by law, having a real say at the pre-planning stage of an application for a large development of housing. Conservatives would allow local councils across the country to revise their local plans to protect the Green Belt and, as I've written elsewhere on this blog, reverse the classification of gardens as brownfield sites.
The Conservatives want to see more power with local people matched by incentives for housebuilding that make sense and work with the grain of communities. Rather than Labour's top-down housing targets, Conservatives will abolish these and introduce a system of incentives to allow local councils to retain the extra Council Tax a new home creates and create new local housing trusts which will be allowed to develop homes for local people so long as there is clear community backing.
Not everyone can afford to own a home though. Some people rent their homes from a social landlord. It is important to bring opportunity to everyone and the Conservatives have proposals here as well.
To improve mobility, a 'Right to Move' scheme will be introduced to allow social housing tenants to oblige their social landlord to sell their home and to use the proceeds, less costs, to buy a home in the private sector and so bring it into the social rented sector. A national mobility scheme would be re-introduced to allow people to move between existing social rented homes and that tenants who move within the social rented sector keep their 'Right to Buy' rights.
Some social tenats though want to move into ownership over time, perhaps as their incomes or circumstances change. Conservatives will work to bring in more flexible ownership schemes to make sure that for those who see home ownership as their dream, it can become a reality, step by step.
Previous Conservative Governments have pointed the way to a property owning democracy, created the phenomenon of the sale of Council homes, and reduced the red tape on landlords by creating new kinds of tenancy which work for both the landlord and tenant. The next Conservative Government will ben o different. It will take the housing stock as it is and give more power, choice and opportunity to owners and tenants alike. A Conservative Government will create sensible incentives to build new homes where they are needed. New freedoms will be created for homeowner and tenants alike. We need to make a change soon and we will.
We can't go on like this and we need to make some changes now so that people have the opportunity they need, the social mobility they desire and a home that is within their price range in the area of the country they need to live.
Conservatives have been working hard on these issues and have a number of solutions which will help solve problems now before they become full blown crises in the future.
The first task a new Conservative Government will undertake is to put more powers back into the hands of local communities. This will see local people, by law, having a real say at the pre-planning stage of an application for a large development of housing. Conservatives would allow local councils across the country to revise their local plans to protect the Green Belt and, as I've written elsewhere on this blog, reverse the classification of gardens as brownfield sites.
The Conservatives want to see more power with local people matched by incentives for housebuilding that make sense and work with the grain of communities. Rather than Labour's top-down housing targets, Conservatives will abolish these and introduce a system of incentives to allow local councils to retain the extra Council Tax a new home creates and create new local housing trusts which will be allowed to develop homes for local people so long as there is clear community backing.
Not everyone can afford to own a home though. Some people rent their homes from a social landlord. It is important to bring opportunity to everyone and the Conservatives have proposals here as well.
To improve mobility, a 'Right to Move' scheme will be introduced to allow social housing tenants to oblige their social landlord to sell their home and to use the proceeds, less costs, to buy a home in the private sector and so bring it into the social rented sector. A national mobility scheme would be re-introduced to allow people to move between existing social rented homes and that tenants who move within the social rented sector keep their 'Right to Buy' rights.
Some social tenats though want to move into ownership over time, perhaps as their incomes or circumstances change. Conservatives will work to bring in more flexible ownership schemes to make sure that for those who see home ownership as their dream, it can become a reality, step by step.
Previous Conservative Governments have pointed the way to a property owning democracy, created the phenomenon of the sale of Council homes, and reduced the red tape on landlords by creating new kinds of tenancy which work for both the landlord and tenant. The next Conservative Government will ben o different. It will take the housing stock as it is and give more power, choice and opportunity to owners and tenants alike. A Conservative Government will create sensible incentives to build new homes where they are needed. New freedoms will be created for homeowner and tenants alike. We need to make a change soon and we will.
CUTTING THE COST OF GOVERNMENT AND EMPOWERING PEOPLE
Labour Governments are notorious for leaving Britain with more bureaucracy and red tape than when they came to power. No more is that the case than with tiers of government. Many people in Britain, especially if you live in a county area, are governed by up to six layers of government - Parishes, District and County Councils, the Regional layer, our national Parliament, and the European Parliament. Many people have a feeling of kinship to their parish, district, county or city and our national Parliament.
The Conservatives have long believed though that the regional tier of government is not needed and that decisions should be taken by the people closest to them. The cost of government needs to be reduced as well and David Cameron has proposed reducing the number of MPs in Parliament to reduce expenditure. One other area of cost cutting will be eliminating the regional tier of government and making sure that the powers it has rest with local authorities.
Conservatives propose to:
• abolish all regional planning and housing powers exercised by regional government;
• strip the Regional Development Agencies of their powers over planning; and give local governments the power to establish their own local enterprise partnerships to take over development functions from RDAs;
• abandon plans to regionalise fire control (while providing new measures to enhance resilience in the case of a national emergency); and
• replace the Infrastructure Planning Commission with speeded up public enquiries for infrastructure development or private/hybrid legislation for major projects.
This should reduce cost and bureaucracy while allowing councils to form alliances and relationships around issues that need to be tackled across their borders.
The Conservatives believe that the best government is that which is closest to the people and allows maximum freedom under the law. Our proposals will rein in the power of the state, eliminate unnecessary tiers of government and lower the cost the taxpayer has to bear to run the country and their local community.
The Conservatives have long believed though that the regional tier of government is not needed and that decisions should be taken by the people closest to them. The cost of government needs to be reduced as well and David Cameron has proposed reducing the number of MPs in Parliament to reduce expenditure. One other area of cost cutting will be eliminating the regional tier of government and making sure that the powers it has rest with local authorities.
Conservatives propose to:
• abolish all regional planning and housing powers exercised by regional government;
• strip the Regional Development Agencies of their powers over planning; and give local governments the power to establish their own local enterprise partnerships to take over development functions from RDAs;
• abandon plans to regionalise fire control (while providing new measures to enhance resilience in the case of a national emergency); and
• replace the Infrastructure Planning Commission with speeded up public enquiries for infrastructure development or private/hybrid legislation for major projects.
This should reduce cost and bureaucracy while allowing councils to form alliances and relationships around issues that need to be tackled across their borders.
The Conservatives believe that the best government is that which is closest to the people and allows maximum freedom under the law. Our proposals will rein in the power of the state, eliminate unnecessary tiers of government and lower the cost the taxpayer has to bear to run the country and their local community.
Monday, February 8, 2010
REBUILDING TRUST IN POLITICS
David Cameron has made a powerful speech today about the rebuilding of trust so urgently need in British politics and politicians. Today he said out his vision.
He said the current system is “a system in which too much power is concentrated in the hands of the elite and denied to the man and woman on the street. We’ve been seeing the symptoms of that for years. Decisions made behind closed doors. The Houses of Parliament bypassed and undermined”.
He went on to say “We’re just weeks away from an election. This should be the highest point in our democratic life – but never has the reputation of politics sunk so low. We’ve got to fix our broken politics and we’ve got to start fixing it now”.
He also added that the Conservatives can lead the change needed “because as this scandal has unfolded we are the ones who have shown leadership at every stage. We led on transparency over expenses - and on getting MPS to payback the money. We voted for reform on a three line whip on an opposition motion - something that had not been done before on a House of Commons matter. And we put forward serious plans for reform - from Ken Clarke's Democracy Task Force in the first half of this parliament, to our plan for fixing broken politics in the second”.
David summed up his proposals saying “The plans I’ve set out today are not timid because they can’t be. Half measures cannot hope to fix what is wrong with our politics. So the reforms I’ve set out are born from radical ambitions – ambitions to restore pride in our Parliament, to return our democracy to full health, and to redistribute power as I’ve said.
But in the end it's not just about specific plans for political reform. It is about a whole new approach to politics.
We have had thirteen years of government by initiative, press release and media management and it is literally pointless. I would rather that we attempt big, serious change and fail than fiddle around with footling, meaningless promises that are never really meant, let alone delivered, limping through office and clinging to power for the sake of it.
You will not see endless relaunches, initiatives, summits - politics and government as some demented branch of the entertainment industry. You will see a government that understands that there are times it needs to shut up, leave people alone and gets on with the job it was elected to do.
Quiet effectiveness: that is the style of government to which I aspire. And I also know that because we believe in trusting people, sharing responsibility, redistributing power: things will go wrong. There will be failures.
But we will not turn that fact of life into the tragedy of Labour's risk-obsessed political culture where politicians never say or do anything that really matters, or really changes anything, for fear of getting some bad headlines.
This is why I really believe we are the people to fix broken politics”.
David Cameron is quite right to say that trust needs to be restored in politics. It needs to be done now, so that there is a framework laid down and agreed, which is in place for the parliament in which I hope to represent Brighton Kemptown.
He said the current system is “a system in which too much power is concentrated in the hands of the elite and denied to the man and woman on the street. We’ve been seeing the symptoms of that for years. Decisions made behind closed doors. The Houses of Parliament bypassed and undermined”.
He went on to say “We’re just weeks away from an election. This should be the highest point in our democratic life – but never has the reputation of politics sunk so low. We’ve got to fix our broken politics and we’ve got to start fixing it now”.
He also added that the Conservatives can lead the change needed “because as this scandal has unfolded we are the ones who have shown leadership at every stage. We led on transparency over expenses - and on getting MPS to payback the money. We voted for reform on a three line whip on an opposition motion - something that had not been done before on a House of Commons matter. And we put forward serious plans for reform - from Ken Clarke's Democracy Task Force in the first half of this parliament, to our plan for fixing broken politics in the second”.
David summed up his proposals saying “The plans I’ve set out today are not timid because they can’t be. Half measures cannot hope to fix what is wrong with our politics. So the reforms I’ve set out are born from radical ambitions – ambitions to restore pride in our Parliament, to return our democracy to full health, and to redistribute power as I’ve said.
But in the end it's not just about specific plans for political reform. It is about a whole new approach to politics.
We have had thirteen years of government by initiative, press release and media management and it is literally pointless. I would rather that we attempt big, serious change and fail than fiddle around with footling, meaningless promises that are never really meant, let alone delivered, limping through office and clinging to power for the sake of it.
You will not see endless relaunches, initiatives, summits - politics and government as some demented branch of the entertainment industry. You will see a government that understands that there are times it needs to shut up, leave people alone and gets on with the job it was elected to do.
Quiet effectiveness: that is the style of government to which I aspire. And I also know that because we believe in trusting people, sharing responsibility, redistributing power: things will go wrong. There will be failures.
But we will not turn that fact of life into the tragedy of Labour's risk-obsessed political culture where politicians never say or do anything that really matters, or really changes anything, for fear of getting some bad headlines.
This is why I really believe we are the people to fix broken politics”.
David Cameron is quite right to say that trust needs to be restored in politics. It needs to be done now, so that there is a framework laid down and agreed, which is in place for the parliament in which I hope to represent Brighton Kemptown.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
STOP GARDENS BEING CONCRETED OVER!
The practice of “garden grabbing”, where developers build homes or blocks of flats on back gardens, is dramatically changing the character of many suburban areas throughout the UK, leading to high levels of unsustainable development and increasing housing densities in areas previously characterised as leafy suburbs. Some figures suggest that over 180,000 buildings have been put on back gardens in the last five years.
Conservatives have been warning about such development, which often puts strain on local services and causes substantial environmental damage, for some time. We have pointed to two key factors driving “garden grabbing”, namely the fact that gardens are classified as brownfield land and the iniquitous government density targets that have the consequence of forcing the largest number of units onto the smallest space possible.
A new Conservative government would reverse the classification of gardens as brownfield and abolish density targets allowing local communities to protect the character of the area in which they live. This is in stark contrast to Labour who have turned a blind eye whilst thousands of back gardens have been concreted over and some communities changed forever.
This problem is of great concern to many people in Brighton Kemptown. I am delighted with this policy, and hope it will soon be enacted if we are elected!
Conservatives have been warning about such development, which often puts strain on local services and causes substantial environmental damage, for some time. We have pointed to two key factors driving “garden grabbing”, namely the fact that gardens are classified as brownfield land and the iniquitous government density targets that have the consequence of forcing the largest number of units onto the smallest space possible.
A new Conservative government would reverse the classification of gardens as brownfield and abolish density targets allowing local communities to protect the character of the area in which they live. This is in stark contrast to Labour who have turned a blind eye whilst thousands of back gardens have been concreted over and some communities changed forever.
This problem is of great concern to many people in Brighton Kemptown. I am delighted with this policy, and hope it will soon be enacted if we are elected!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
NATIONWIDE SUPERFAST BROADBAND!
New media and IT have been at the heart of the economic development in Brighton and Hove during the past decade.
So I very much welcome new proposals as part of our plans to Get Britain Growing, plans to help make the UK the first major European country that has superfast broadband in the majority of homes by 2017.
Jeremy Hunt, the Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has said "we are currently one of the slowest countries in the developed world for broadband", but with the Conservatives "we'll become one of the fastest".
He said Britain's digital and creative industries "must have a proper communications infrastructure" if we are to become "world beaters".
The Conservative approach to achieving this has three key components:
• Creating a regulatory framework to ensure the roll-out of superfast broadband at speeds of up to 100mbps to the majority of homes across the UK by 2017. Our objective is to make the UK the first major European country to achieve this aim, securing its place as a European and global hub for the creative industries.
• We will end BT’s local loop monopoly by allowing other operators to use their ducts and poles thereby encouraging competition in the superfast broadband market.
• We are committed to universal access to superfast broadband speeds. If the market does not deliver this in certain areas we will consider using the proportion of the licence fee dedicated to digital switchover to finance superfast broadband roll out under the new BBC licence fee settlement, Under these plans, Hunt said that "high speeds will be available not just in our cities but across the rural areas that have been left behind for too long".
Jeremy Hunt added "these regulatory changes will create the right conditions for sustainable growth and ensure that the digital sector plays a leading role in a competitive, balanced economy”
This is so important for the development of employment in Brighton. I am very excited about these proposals.
So I very much welcome new proposals as part of our plans to Get Britain Growing, plans to help make the UK the first major European country that has superfast broadband in the majority of homes by 2017.
Jeremy Hunt, the Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has said "we are currently one of the slowest countries in the developed world for broadband", but with the Conservatives "we'll become one of the fastest".
He said Britain's digital and creative industries "must have a proper communications infrastructure" if we are to become "world beaters".
The Conservative approach to achieving this has three key components:
• Creating a regulatory framework to ensure the roll-out of superfast broadband at speeds of up to 100mbps to the majority of homes across the UK by 2017. Our objective is to make the UK the first major European country to achieve this aim, securing its place as a European and global hub for the creative industries.
• We will end BT’s local loop monopoly by allowing other operators to use their ducts and poles thereby encouraging competition in the superfast broadband market.
• We are committed to universal access to superfast broadband speeds. If the market does not deliver this in certain areas we will consider using the proportion of the licence fee dedicated to digital switchover to finance superfast broadband roll out under the new BBC licence fee settlement, Under these plans, Hunt said that "high speeds will be available not just in our cities but across the rural areas that have been left behind for too long".
Jeremy Hunt added "these regulatory changes will create the right conditions for sustainable growth and ensure that the digital sector plays a leading role in a competitive, balanced economy”
This is so important for the development of employment in Brighton. I am very excited about these proposals.
Friday, February 5, 2010
ALTERNATIVE VOTE PLOY IS LABOUR'S LAST GASP!
Gordon Brown' sudden interest in electoral reform, just months before the General Election that has to be held by this June is raising eyebrows across the political specturm. The BBC, in a 'Question and Answer' section on its website states that Mr Brown cited contitutional reform as part of his beliefs when he became Prime Minister in 2007 but coming, as it does, so close to the election cynics might charge that the vote MPs will take next week is much more tightly bound up with the PM hoping to seek common ground with other parties in the event of a hung Parliament than any wish to see a change because of fairness or to purge the House of Commons of the expenses issue.
What is being proposed? If legislation is passed then a referendum would be held in 2011 to change the voting system for the House of Commons to what is called the 'Alternative Vote'. This works by voters ranking candidates in order of preference and anyone getting more than 50% in the first round is elected. If that doesn't happen, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their second choices allocated to the remaining candidates. This process continues until a winner emerges.
To me this smacks of Gordon Brown's last gasp! Although the Labour Government in its earlier years did make changes to the Constitution - often in a half-baked and confusing way - this Prime Minister has shown no real interest in the subject since he came to power. The case for changing something as fundamental as how we elect Members of Parliament has to have a very strong justification. First past the post, the system we use now, has served this country well for centuries. It has generally produced stable governments which are able to last the full length or four out of five years of a Parliament and the system usually gets the result right - the Party with the most votes wins a majority of seats and is able to put its policies into action for the electorate to judge.
An Alternative Vote is likely to lead to weaker governments with some candidates who did not receive the most votes in a constituency winning from behind once other preference votes are taken into account. Conservative Party Chairman Eric Pickles put it well when he said: "Gordon Brown avoided a leadership election, bottled a general election and now wants to fiddle the electoral system."
This initiative is typical of a Government locked into its dying days. Instead of focussing on reducing the country's debt, working to rebuild business confidence and encouraging new business and job creation, the Government announces it wants to debate the voting system!
We need to use the voting system to enact a change of Government to work on the issues that people know are important not change it for the convenience of Labour.
What is being proposed? If legislation is passed then a referendum would be held in 2011 to change the voting system for the House of Commons to what is called the 'Alternative Vote'. This works by voters ranking candidates in order of preference and anyone getting more than 50% in the first round is elected. If that doesn't happen, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their second choices allocated to the remaining candidates. This process continues until a winner emerges.
To me this smacks of Gordon Brown's last gasp! Although the Labour Government in its earlier years did make changes to the Constitution - often in a half-baked and confusing way - this Prime Minister has shown no real interest in the subject since he came to power. The case for changing something as fundamental as how we elect Members of Parliament has to have a very strong justification. First past the post, the system we use now, has served this country well for centuries. It has generally produced stable governments which are able to last the full length or four out of five years of a Parliament and the system usually gets the result right - the Party with the most votes wins a majority of seats and is able to put its policies into action for the electorate to judge.
An Alternative Vote is likely to lead to weaker governments with some candidates who did not receive the most votes in a constituency winning from behind once other preference votes are taken into account. Conservative Party Chairman Eric Pickles put it well when he said: "Gordon Brown avoided a leadership election, bottled a general election and now wants to fiddle the electoral system."
This initiative is typical of a Government locked into its dying days. Instead of focussing on reducing the country's debt, working to rebuild business confidence and encouraging new business and job creation, the Government announces it wants to debate the voting system!
We need to use the voting system to enact a change of Government to work on the issues that people know are important not change it for the convenience of Labour.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
NEW APPROACH TO ALCOHOL
People often express concern at the impact of binge drinking on our towns and cities. Recent reports have shown the widespread availability of alcohol and most new convenience stores that pop up seem to sell wines and spirits.
Labour’s irresponsible decision to roll out 24-hour drinking on our towns and communities while at the same time failing to deal with the problems caused by over drinking has caused great harm, particularly among younger people.
Clearly we cannot go on like this. We need a Government who will make tackling alcohol abuse a priority, otherwise the cost to society and the NHS is only going to increase further.
A Conservative Government would take action through targeted increases in duty on problem drinks like super-strength beers and stopping below-cost selling. We also want to introduce simpler and clearer information on labels so that people are more aware what they are drinking and a tough three strikes and you’re out policy for licensed premises found to be selling alcohol under-age.
Labour’s irresponsible decision to roll out 24-hour drinking on our towns and communities while at the same time failing to deal with the problems caused by over drinking has caused great harm, particularly among younger people.
Clearly we cannot go on like this. We need a Government who will make tackling alcohol abuse a priority, otherwise the cost to society and the NHS is only going to increase further.
A Conservative Government would take action through targeted increases in duty on problem drinks like super-strength beers and stopping below-cost selling. We also want to introduce simpler and clearer information on labels so that people are more aware what they are drinking and a tough three strikes and you’re out policy for licensed premises found to be selling alcohol under-age.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
VISION FOR GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL IS CONSERVATIVE AIM
Another chapter has now become available of the Conservative Party's draft Manifesto. By publishing our proposals and asking the public to comment on them, it gives the Conservatives the chance to embed public opinion in a way never done before, in the policies on which we will be fighting the General Election.
The first chapter was about the Health Service and the more recent one has covered schools and mending the country's broken society. The chapter is available at the Conservative Party's website at Conservatives.com - click on the link at the top of the web page to read the draft chapters published so far.
You can also see the responses to the questions David Cameron was asked when he recently responded to people's queries about the Health Manifesto. This open process is engaging voters in new ways and by using internet technology people can join in and make their views known.
The latest chapter, on mending the broken society, sets out the Party's vision of using the powers of the State to empower people to tackle poverty, inequality and the lack of opportunity in Britain. Finding solutions in our local communities, boosting attainment for ALL pupils in local schools and ensuring the State does not crowd out local initiative, are all key ingredients in making sure that there is genuine opportunity for all regardless of whatever walk of life people come.
Creating a big society is the Conservative vision not creating an ever bigger State.
The first chapter was about the Health Service and the more recent one has covered schools and mending the country's broken society. The chapter is available at the Conservative Party's website at Conservatives.com - click on the link at the top of the web page to read the draft chapters published so far.
You can also see the responses to the questions David Cameron was asked when he recently responded to people's queries about the Health Manifesto. This open process is engaging voters in new ways and by using internet technology people can join in and make their views known.
The latest chapter, on mending the broken society, sets out the Party's vision of using the powers of the State to empower people to tackle poverty, inequality and the lack of opportunity in Britain. Finding solutions in our local communities, boosting attainment for ALL pupils in local schools and ensuring the State does not crowd out local initiative, are all key ingredients in making sure that there is genuine opportunity for all regardless of whatever walk of life people come.
Creating a big society is the Conservative vision not creating an ever bigger State.
VAN DWELLING IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Brighton and Hove City Council has agreed to form a cross-Party working group to look into the implications of people living in vans around the city.
The decision came about following a discussion at the Full Council meeting on the 28th January when Conservative City Council Leader, Councillor Mary Mears, proposed a Motion at the Council initially suggesting that a bye-law should be considered to give the Council powers to move on van dwellers from their parking places. Councillor Mears reported on the concerns that had been raised about the living conditions of van dwellers.
Following a discussion in the Council Chamber with other political parties it was agreed to withdraw the suggestion of a bye-law but the Council Leader proposed the establishment of a working group which would also involve outside organisations that work with the Council, such as the police, and this was accepted.
The debate focussed on the illegality of living on the highway, concerns about health and safety of the van dwellers and the welfare of children.
I will be watching the progress of the working group with interest.
The decision came about following a discussion at the Full Council meeting on the 28th January when Conservative City Council Leader, Councillor Mary Mears, proposed a Motion at the Council initially suggesting that a bye-law should be considered to give the Council powers to move on van dwellers from their parking places. Councillor Mears reported on the concerns that had been raised about the living conditions of van dwellers.
Following a discussion in the Council Chamber with other political parties it was agreed to withdraw the suggestion of a bye-law but the Council Leader proposed the establishment of a working group which would also involve outside organisations that work with the Council, such as the police, and this was accepted.
The debate focussed on the illegality of living on the highway, concerns about health and safety of the van dwellers and the welfare of children.
I will be watching the progress of the working group with interest.
Monday, February 1, 2010
CUTTING LABOUR'S DEFICIT
After nearly 13 years of Labour government, there is one point on which the main political parties agree. That is the need for cuts in public expenditure to curb our rising national debt.
The debate in the last few days has seemed to centre on ‘who will cut what’ and 'who will cut most’.
Let us be very clear about the contradictions in Labour policy.
Treasury Ministers say there will be "extremely painful" cuts under Labour, but Gordon Brown says spending will carry on rising.
Treasury figures already imply 17% cuts in non-protected departments under Labour, but Gordon Brown keeps adding new protected areas without saying where the money is coming from.
The National Audit Office say that Labour’s defence plans are already "unaffordable", and Bob Ainsworth has announced defence cuts, but today Gordon Brown is promising more spending on defence.
Ed Balls says education spending will carry on rising, but Alistair Darling claims he has only protected "front line" schools spending.
Peter Mandelson says you can't make cuts this year but is cutting more than £300 million from his own Department this year.
Conservative policy is clear. Start cutting the deficit in 2010 and aim to have a plan to get rid of most of the structural deficit by 2014.
Philip Hammond (Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury) has said that the Conservatives plan to “eliminate the great bulk of the structural deficit by 2014”. Mr Hammond said that it was “important to send signals to the markets [that we] have a credible plan, over the life time of a parliament, to get the deficit down.”
The state in which our country finds itself was not started in America (as Labour like to suggest) – it was started in 11 Downing Street and moved on to 10 Downing Street.
Only the Conservative Party has a credible policy. Britain and Brighton need the election soon, to provide the stability that we need to move forward.
The debate in the last few days has seemed to centre on ‘who will cut what’ and 'who will cut most’.
Let us be very clear about the contradictions in Labour policy.
Treasury Ministers say there will be "extremely painful" cuts under Labour, but Gordon Brown says spending will carry on rising.
Treasury figures already imply 17% cuts in non-protected departments under Labour, but Gordon Brown keeps adding new protected areas without saying where the money is coming from.
The National Audit Office say that Labour’s defence plans are already "unaffordable", and Bob Ainsworth has announced defence cuts, but today Gordon Brown is promising more spending on defence.
Ed Balls says education spending will carry on rising, but Alistair Darling claims he has only protected "front line" schools spending.
Peter Mandelson says you can't make cuts this year but is cutting more than £300 million from his own Department this year.
Conservative policy is clear. Start cutting the deficit in 2010 and aim to have a plan to get rid of most of the structural deficit by 2014.
Philip Hammond (Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury) has said that the Conservatives plan to “eliminate the great bulk of the structural deficit by 2014”. Mr Hammond said that it was “important to send signals to the markets [that we] have a credible plan, over the life time of a parliament, to get the deficit down.”
The state in which our country finds itself was not started in America (as Labour like to suggest) – it was started in 11 Downing Street and moved on to 10 Downing Street.
Only the Conservative Party has a credible policy. Britain and Brighton need the election soon, to provide the stability that we need to move forward.
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