This blog has now closed.
To contact Simon Kirby:
Tel: 01273 589178 or 0207 219 7024
E-Mail: simon.kirby.mp@parliament.co.uk
Write to: Simon Kirby MP, House of Commons, London SW1A OAA
Regular surgeries are held across the constituency in Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queens Park, East Brighton, Woodingdean, Rottingdean, Saltdean, Telscombe Cliffs and Peacehaven. Please telephone for an appointment.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
MY HEARTFELT THANKS
Thank you to the electors of Brighton Kemptown constituency for placing your trust in me by electing me as your Member of Parliament.
I will serve ALL the electorate, whether you voted for me or not.
I very much hope that David Cameron can put together a stable government in the national interest.
As I have said throughout the campaign – we need change in our country to put right the enormous problems left by Gordon Brown. It would be a travesty if Labour were allowed to remain in power, having suffered such a devastating defeat at the hands of the British people.
My work as your MP begins now!
I will serve ALL the electorate, whether you voted for me or not.
I very much hope that David Cameron can put together a stable government in the national interest.
As I have said throughout the campaign – we need change in our country to put right the enormous problems left by Gordon Brown. It would be a travesty if Labour were allowed to remain in power, having suffered such a devastating defeat at the hands of the British people.
My work as your MP begins now!
Monday, May 3, 2010
STONEWALL EQUALITY WALK
Like so many other brave people, Simon Kirby took part in the Stonewall Equality Walk this wet bank holiday Sunday.
In spite of rain and wind, many people turned out for the walk, which raised awareness and funds to tackle homophobic bullying in schools.
Simon, earlier this year, attended the premier of FIT at the Sallis Benney Theatre – a film made to tackle the terrible problem of homophobic bullying – and aimed at young people.
Simon said ‘bullying of any sort should be tackled in schools, and to bully someone because of their sexuality is just wrong’.
It is believed that yesterdays walk has so far raised over £50,000.
http://www.justgiving.com/simon-kirby1
Saturday, May 1, 2010
WE WILL CHANGE POLITICS
David Cameron has set set out our ‘Contract with the Electorate’ by which we can be judged if we win on May 6.
It follows below:
If you elect a Conservative government on 6 May, we will:
1. Give you the right to sack your MP, so you don’t have to wait for an election to get rid of politicians who are guilty of misconduct.
2. Cut the number of MPs by ten per cent, and cut the subsidies and perks for politicians.
3. Cut ministers’ pay by five per cent, and freeze it for five years.
4. Give local communities the power to take charge of the local planning system and vote on excessive council tax rises.
5. Make government transparent, publishing every item of government spending over £25,000, all government contracts, and all local council spending over £500.
We will change the economy
If you elect a Conservative government on 6 May, we will:
1. Cut wasteful government spending so we can stop Labour’s jobs tax, which would kill the recovery.
2. Act now on the national debt, so we can keep mortgage rates lower for longer.
3. Reduce emissions and build a greener economy, with thousands of new jobs in green industries and advanced manufacturing.
4. Get Britain working by giving unemployed people support to get work, creating 400,000 new apprenticeships and training places over two years, and cutting benefits for those who refuse work.
5. Control immigration, reducing it to the levels of the 1990s – meaning tens of thousands a year, instead of the hundreds of thousands a year under Labour.
We will change society
If you elect a Conservative government on 6 May, we will:
1. Increase spending on health every year, while cutting waste in the NHS, so that more goes to nurses and doctors on the frontline, and make sure you get access to the cancer drugs you need.
2. Support families, by giving married couples and civil partners a tax break, giving more people the right to request flexible working and helping young families with extra Sure Start health visitors.
3. Raise standards in schools, by giving teachers the power to restore discipline and by giving parents, charities and voluntary groups the power to start new smaller schools.
4. Increase the basic state pension, by relinking it to earnings, and protect the winter fuel allowance, free TV licences, free bus travel and other key benefits for older people.
5. Fight back against crime, cut paperwork to get police officers on the street, and make sure criminals serve the sentence given to them in court.
6. Create National Citizen Service for every 16 year old, to help bring the country together.
In addition to this here is my ‘Contract with Kemptown’:
If elected on May 6th then I promise to serve for all the electorate in our constituency – from the Pier to Peacehaven, and from the Marina to Moulsecoomb – not just for those who vote for me.
I also promise to be open and honest about any expense claims, and will publish those claims online for you the electorate to judge.
It has been a privilege to meet so many people in our constituency over the past 4 years as a parliamentary candidate, and with your support on Thursday I hope to be able to serve you all in the new parliament.
It follows below:
If you elect a Conservative government on 6 May, we will:
1. Give you the right to sack your MP, so you don’t have to wait for an election to get rid of politicians who are guilty of misconduct.
2. Cut the number of MPs by ten per cent, and cut the subsidies and perks for politicians.
3. Cut ministers’ pay by five per cent, and freeze it for five years.
4. Give local communities the power to take charge of the local planning system and vote on excessive council tax rises.
5. Make government transparent, publishing every item of government spending over £25,000, all government contracts, and all local council spending over £500.
We will change the economy
If you elect a Conservative government on 6 May, we will:
1. Cut wasteful government spending so we can stop Labour’s jobs tax, which would kill the recovery.
2. Act now on the national debt, so we can keep mortgage rates lower for longer.
3. Reduce emissions and build a greener economy, with thousands of new jobs in green industries and advanced manufacturing.
4. Get Britain working by giving unemployed people support to get work, creating 400,000 new apprenticeships and training places over two years, and cutting benefits for those who refuse work.
5. Control immigration, reducing it to the levels of the 1990s – meaning tens of thousands a year, instead of the hundreds of thousands a year under Labour.
We will change society
If you elect a Conservative government on 6 May, we will:
1. Increase spending on health every year, while cutting waste in the NHS, so that more goes to nurses and doctors on the frontline, and make sure you get access to the cancer drugs you need.
2. Support families, by giving married couples and civil partners a tax break, giving more people the right to request flexible working and helping young families with extra Sure Start health visitors.
3. Raise standards in schools, by giving teachers the power to restore discipline and by giving parents, charities and voluntary groups the power to start new smaller schools.
4. Increase the basic state pension, by relinking it to earnings, and protect the winter fuel allowance, free TV licences, free bus travel and other key benefits for older people.
5. Fight back against crime, cut paperwork to get police officers on the street, and make sure criminals serve the sentence given to them in court.
6. Create National Citizen Service for every 16 year old, to help bring the country together.
In addition to this here is my ‘Contract with Kemptown’:
If elected on May 6th then I promise to serve for all the electorate in our constituency – from the Pier to Peacehaven, and from the Marina to Moulsecoomb – not just for those who vote for me.
I also promise to be open and honest about any expense claims, and will publish those claims online for you the electorate to judge.
It has been a privilege to meet so many people in our constituency over the past 4 years as a parliamentary candidate, and with your support on Thursday I hope to be able to serve you all in the new parliament.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
MENDING OUR BROKEN SOCIETY
David Cameron has spoken about the need to mend the broken society.
Speaking alongside anti-knife crime campaigner Brooke Kinsella, Cameron particularly addressed the issues of crime and violence that have so far largely been ignored by the other parties in this election campaign.
Cameron spoke about the tragic murders of people like Ben Kinsella, Rhys Jones, Gary Newlove, Sukhwinder Singh, Damilola Taylor and Jimmy Mizen.
"There is something about the frequency of these crimes, the depravity of these crimes, that betrays a deep and fundamental problem in Britain today", he said.
"As I have argued for many years now, these acts of murder and abuse are just the most violent and horrific expressions of what I have called the broken society."
Cameron went on to set out the progressive conservative approach to tackling these problems in our society. Criticising the Big Government approach, he said we need to "move from big government to the Big Society – a society with personal and collective responsibility right at its heart".
In moving to the Big Society, he went on to explain how a Conservative government would emphasise the principles of responsibility, common sense and people power.
I endorse David Cameron’s remarks. It is in the interests of us all that we make society more inclusive.
Speaking alongside anti-knife crime campaigner Brooke Kinsella, Cameron particularly addressed the issues of crime and violence that have so far largely been ignored by the other parties in this election campaign.
Cameron spoke about the tragic murders of people like Ben Kinsella, Rhys Jones, Gary Newlove, Sukhwinder Singh, Damilola Taylor and Jimmy Mizen.
"There is something about the frequency of these crimes, the depravity of these crimes, that betrays a deep and fundamental problem in Britain today", he said.
"As I have argued for many years now, these acts of murder and abuse are just the most violent and horrific expressions of what I have called the broken society."
Cameron went on to set out the progressive conservative approach to tackling these problems in our society. Criticising the Big Government approach, he said we need to "move from big government to the Big Society – a society with personal and collective responsibility right at its heart".
In moving to the Big Society, he went on to explain how a Conservative government would emphasise the principles of responsibility, common sense and people power.
I endorse David Cameron’s remarks. It is in the interests of us all that we make society more inclusive.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A NEW GENERATION OF STATE SCHOOLS
David Cameron and Michael Gove have reaffirmed the Conservatives' commitment to create a new generation of state schools with small class sizes and strong discipline.
They were speaking at a rally held by a group of parents in Yorkshire.
Cameron spoke to them about their shared ideas of what makes a good school.
"It’s a smaller school where the head teacher knows your child’s name. It’s a school where there are good standards of discipline, a school where they teach the basics so we open children’s minds to all the best things that have been written and said".
"It’s a school where there’s really high aspiration, we don’t accept second best we say that everyone can go all the way. It’s a school where we have common sense and we recognise that you’ve got to stretch the brightest pupils, you’ve got to help those falling behind. We all know what a good school looks like and it’s that good school that you want."
He promised that a Conservative government "will help make your dreams come true; a new school, a good school, a school that’s there for your community because you’re prepared to put your effort in to it and your Government should get behind you and help you rather than stand in your way".
I have continually said that a good education is the basis of Conservative policy, and is essential in providing the adults of the future with the skill sets they will need in today's world. I welcome these proposals.
They were speaking at a rally held by a group of parents in Yorkshire.
Cameron spoke to them about their shared ideas of what makes a good school.
"It’s a smaller school where the head teacher knows your child’s name. It’s a school where there are good standards of discipline, a school where they teach the basics so we open children’s minds to all the best things that have been written and said".
"It’s a school where there’s really high aspiration, we don’t accept second best we say that everyone can go all the way. It’s a school where we have common sense and we recognise that you’ve got to stretch the brightest pupils, you’ve got to help those falling behind. We all know what a good school looks like and it’s that good school that you want."
He promised that a Conservative government "will help make your dreams come true; a new school, a good school, a school that’s there for your community because you’re prepared to put your effort in to it and your Government should get behind you and help you rather than stand in your way".
I have continually said that a good education is the basis of Conservative policy, and is essential in providing the adults of the future with the skill sets they will need in today's world. I welcome these proposals.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
PLANS FOR REAL CHANGE IN POLITICS
David Cameron has outlined new Conservative plans for real change in politics.
Speaking today, he said that following the expenses scandal "people are so downhearted, so disparaged, so cynical, so apathetic about our politics".
"They want to be back in control and they want change in our politics", he said.
He presented nine big ideas for real change in politics:
1. No more unelected Prime Ministers
2. Opening up democracy: More postal primaries
3. Expanding the Freedom of Information Act
4. Neighbourhood budgets: giving neighbourhoods direct funding
5. Public drafting: "Crowdsourcing" the drafting of government legislation
6. Opening up parliament: a Public Reading Day
7. Protecting whistleblowers: Strengthening protection on government waste and misuses of public money
8. A new right to data: Right to Data Act
9. Strengthening Select Committees
These ideas will give more people a real say in how their politics are run. I am please to support these proposals.
Speaking today, he said that following the expenses scandal "people are so downhearted, so disparaged, so cynical, so apathetic about our politics".
"They want to be back in control and they want change in our politics", he said.
He presented nine big ideas for real change in politics:
1. No more unelected Prime Ministers
2. Opening up democracy: More postal primaries
3. Expanding the Freedom of Information Act
4. Neighbourhood budgets: giving neighbourhoods direct funding
5. Public drafting: "Crowdsourcing" the drafting of government legislation
6. Opening up parliament: a Public Reading Day
7. Protecting whistleblowers: Strengthening protection on government waste and misuses of public money
8. A new right to data: Right to Data Act
9. Strengthening Select Committees
These ideas will give more people a real say in how their politics are run. I am please to support these proposals.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
WE WILL TACKLE WELFARE DEPENDENCY
We have launched our new welfare contract. It is based on our belief that the old way – the big government way – has failed and we need to tackle welfare dependency in a new way
So in our new welfare contract our message is simple. Do the right thing and we will back you all the way but fail to take responsibility and the free ride is over.
For those who are looking for work there will be unprecedented support through our single, comprehensive Work Programme, which will be up and running by the end of 2010. By tapping into private and voluntary sector expertise, we will offer specialist and tailored support to individuals. We will make sure help is available when it is needed; straightaway for those really struggling to find work and after six months for under 25s.
But we know that to tackle unemployment we must also broaden opportunities. So we will offer substantial loans and access to business mentors to support self-employment as a route out of unemployment. For young people, we will offer 400,000 extra apprenticeship, training and college places over two years. Additionally, we will create a range of business led training places, including up to 50,000 in the hospitality and leisure industry, to ensure people are trained with the skills businesses need.
The other side of the contract is a new tough sanctions regime for those who don’t take responsibility. We will cut the benefits of anyone on Jobseeker’s Allowance who refuses to join the Work Programme; and if you refuse to take up a reasonable job offer your benefit will also be cut, for up to three years if you refuse three reasonable job offers. There will also be a tough new three strikes policy for people who commit benefit fraud, with up to three years loss of benefit for anyone committing fraud three times.
So the message is clear, government has a responsibility to help people find work but we’re all in this together and individuals have a responsibility to make use of the support that we will provide. Play your part and we will back you. If you don’t the free ride will be over.
The provision to offer 400,000 extra apprenticeships will be welcome in Brighton Kemptown. It is most important that we reduce youth unemployment in our constituency.
So in our new welfare contract our message is simple. Do the right thing and we will back you all the way but fail to take responsibility and the free ride is over.
For those who are looking for work there will be unprecedented support through our single, comprehensive Work Programme, which will be up and running by the end of 2010. By tapping into private and voluntary sector expertise, we will offer specialist and tailored support to individuals. We will make sure help is available when it is needed; straightaway for those really struggling to find work and after six months for under 25s.
But we know that to tackle unemployment we must also broaden opportunities. So we will offer substantial loans and access to business mentors to support self-employment as a route out of unemployment. For young people, we will offer 400,000 extra apprenticeship, training and college places over two years. Additionally, we will create a range of business led training places, including up to 50,000 in the hospitality and leisure industry, to ensure people are trained with the skills businesses need.
The other side of the contract is a new tough sanctions regime for those who don’t take responsibility. We will cut the benefits of anyone on Jobseeker’s Allowance who refuses to join the Work Programme; and if you refuse to take up a reasonable job offer your benefit will also be cut, for up to three years if you refuse three reasonable job offers. There will also be a tough new three strikes policy for people who commit benefit fraud, with up to three years loss of benefit for anyone committing fraud three times.
So the message is clear, government has a responsibility to help people find work but we’re all in this together and individuals have a responsibility to make use of the support that we will provide. Play your part and we will back you. If you don’t the free ride will be over.
The provision to offer 400,000 extra apprenticeships will be welcome in Brighton Kemptown. It is most important that we reduce youth unemployment in our constituency.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
OLDER PEOPLE MANIFESTO
David Cameron has launched the Older People Manifesto.
The Manifesto unveils policies designed to appeal to the older community in Britain, placing them at the centre of the political narrative and continuing David Cameron's pledge to champion the great ignored.
"I want to bring older generations right into the mainstream of our national life", Cameron said in a speech today. "Yes, to treat them with respect and kindness, and to give them the dignity and security they deserve - but also to call on their wisdom and values".
1. Work and equality. Work to stop discrimination against older people and introduce better support for older workers who lose their jobs, by:
• Looking at how to end the retirement age to promote fairness in the workplace.
• Scrapping the effective obligation to buy an annuity by age 75, to give people greater control over their finances.
• Providing specialist back-to-work support for the over 50s.
2. Greater financial security. Protect pensioners’ benefits and create new forms of help to promote more independence and security, by:
• Protecting key benefits: the Winter Fuel Allowance, free bus passes, free TV licences and the pension credit. And unlike Labour, we will not scrap Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance for the over 65s.
• Providing a better basic state pension by linking it to earnings in 2012.
• Freezing council tax for two years in partnership with local councils, saving a typical Band D pensioner household over £200 a year.
• Giving more help to lower fuel bills through a ‘green deal’, helping to tackle fuel poverty.
3. Health and independence. Health and social care that is fairer and more flexible, reducing the increasing isolation and vulnerability of elderly people, by:
• Health and social care that is fairer and more flexible, reducing the increasing isolation and vulnerability of elderly people, by:
• Protecting NHS spending so it has the resources it needs to meet people’s rising expectations about the quality of care they should receive.
• Providing single budgets, combining social and health funding, to give older people direct control over the care they receive.
• Scrapping Labour’s jobs tax, and using the £200 million a year this will save the NHS to create a Cancer Drugs Fund – making sure that everyone has access to the cancer drugs their doctors think will help them.
• Devolving public health budgets, so communities can spend money to prevent older people getting ill in the first place.
• Making sure that no-one is forced to sell their own home to pay their care home fees.
• Delivering better palliative care to people at the end of their lives.
4. Family and community. Greater recognition of the important role that older people and grandparents play in their communities, and more opportunities for older people to take a more active part in building a stronger, more family-friendly society, by:
• Greater recognition of the important role that older people and grandparents play in their communities, and more opportunities for older people to take a more active part in building a stronger, more family-friendly society, by:
• Getting older people involved in new programmes of civic action and volunteering, at the vanguard of a new army of activists who will help build the Big Society.
• Creating new powers for local communities to save community assets, like post offices, that are of great value to older people.
• Giving greater rights to grandparents after parental break-up or in cases where a child needs to be taken into care.
I am very pleased about the emphasis placed upon the needs of older people in our manifesto. There are many older people in the Brighton Kemptown constituency who have suffered under 13 years of Labour government.
This manifesto puts older people and their needs at the heart of our platform for the future.
The Manifesto unveils policies designed to appeal to the older community in Britain, placing them at the centre of the political narrative and continuing David Cameron's pledge to champion the great ignored.
"I want to bring older generations right into the mainstream of our national life", Cameron said in a speech today. "Yes, to treat them with respect and kindness, and to give them the dignity and security they deserve - but also to call on their wisdom and values".
1. Work and equality. Work to stop discrimination against older people and introduce better support for older workers who lose their jobs, by:
• Looking at how to end the retirement age to promote fairness in the workplace.
• Scrapping the effective obligation to buy an annuity by age 75, to give people greater control over their finances.
• Providing specialist back-to-work support for the over 50s.
2. Greater financial security. Protect pensioners’ benefits and create new forms of help to promote more independence and security, by:
• Protecting key benefits: the Winter Fuel Allowance, free bus passes, free TV licences and the pension credit. And unlike Labour, we will not scrap Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance for the over 65s.
• Providing a better basic state pension by linking it to earnings in 2012.
• Freezing council tax for two years in partnership with local councils, saving a typical Band D pensioner household over £200 a year.
• Giving more help to lower fuel bills through a ‘green deal’, helping to tackle fuel poverty.
3. Health and independence. Health and social care that is fairer and more flexible, reducing the increasing isolation and vulnerability of elderly people, by:
• Health and social care that is fairer and more flexible, reducing the increasing isolation and vulnerability of elderly people, by:
• Protecting NHS spending so it has the resources it needs to meet people’s rising expectations about the quality of care they should receive.
• Providing single budgets, combining social and health funding, to give older people direct control over the care they receive.
• Scrapping Labour’s jobs tax, and using the £200 million a year this will save the NHS to create a Cancer Drugs Fund – making sure that everyone has access to the cancer drugs their doctors think will help them.
• Devolving public health budgets, so communities can spend money to prevent older people getting ill in the first place.
• Making sure that no-one is forced to sell their own home to pay their care home fees.
• Delivering better palliative care to people at the end of their lives.
4. Family and community. Greater recognition of the important role that older people and grandparents play in their communities, and more opportunities for older people to take a more active part in building a stronger, more family-friendly society, by:
• Greater recognition of the important role that older people and grandparents play in their communities, and more opportunities for older people to take a more active part in building a stronger, more family-friendly society, by:
• Getting older people involved in new programmes of civic action and volunteering, at the vanguard of a new army of activists who will help build the Big Society.
• Creating new powers for local communities to save community assets, like post offices, that are of great value to older people.
• Giving greater rights to grandparents after parental break-up or in cases where a child needs to be taken into care.
I am very pleased about the emphasis placed upon the needs of older people in our manifesto. There are many older people in the Brighton Kemptown constituency who have suffered under 13 years of Labour government.
This manifesto puts older people and their needs at the heart of our platform for the future.
Friday, April 16, 2010
CAMERON IS READY TO LEAD
The first ever TV election debate has taken place between the leaders of the main political parties.
David Cameron looked ready to lead, in contrast to a negative and desperate Brown.
"I think it has been a great opportunity to have this debate", Cameron said in his closing statement.
He criticised "repeated attempts to try to frighten" people about a Conservative government during the debate.
"I would say choose hope over fear because we have incredibly exciting and optimistic plans for the future of our country", he said.
"A great vision where we build a bigger society, where we get our economy moving, where we stop Labour's job tax which can destroy that economy".
Cameron talked directly to the public about the issues that really affect them. But whilst discussion focused on policy, Cameron said that values were as important.
"Let me tell you mine: If you work hard, I'll be behind you. If you want to raise a family, I will support you. If you are old and you become ill, we will always be there for you."
Concluding, he said Britain was "an amazing country" that has "done incredible things".
He added that it can do more incredible things under a government "with the right values and also an understanding that we're all in this together and real change comes when we come together and work together".
"That's the sort of change and that's the sort of leadership that I will bring to our great country."
David Cameron looked ready to lead, in contrast to a negative and desperate Brown.
"I think it has been a great opportunity to have this debate", Cameron said in his closing statement.
He criticised "repeated attempts to try to frighten" people about a Conservative government during the debate.
"I would say choose hope over fear because we have incredibly exciting and optimistic plans for the future of our country", he said.
"A great vision where we build a bigger society, where we get our economy moving, where we stop Labour's job tax which can destroy that economy".
Cameron talked directly to the public about the issues that really affect them. But whilst discussion focused on policy, Cameron said that values were as important.
"Let me tell you mine: If you work hard, I'll be behind you. If you want to raise a family, I will support you. If you are old and you become ill, we will always be there for you."
Concluding, he said Britain was "an amazing country" that has "done incredible things".
He added that it can do more incredible things under a government "with the right values and also an understanding that we're all in this together and real change comes when we come together and work together".
"That's the sort of change and that's the sort of leadership that I will bring to our great country."
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