Coopers Commons for 22nd July 2010 - 03:40 pm, Thu 22nd Jul 2010
Peter Mandelson’s memoirs were certainly the hot political story of the week. Everyone seemed to be talking about it with no escape as it was constantly splashed across the TV and newspapers.
Proposed changes to the National Health Service have been making the news this past week as well, as the Con Dem Government puts forward far-reaching changes which many regard as the beginning of the dismantling of the Health Service. As a member of the Health Select Committee it will be my job to scrutinise these new plans and see whether they are just yet another top down reorganisation or if whether they will deliver better healthcare. First up for the committee is the new Secretary of State for Health so we will see what he has got to say. Although, I am not encouraged by the plans to scrap the 18 week target or the two week cancer guarantee. We don't want a return to the 18 month waits we had in the 1980s and early 1990s.
In a perfect example of how Parliamentary Groups relate to the constituency work of MPs, I have become the Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Funerals and Bereavement. A strange group of which to become a member you may think. However, this group has been very helpful as I have fought for West Lancashire to have its own cemetery and crematorium thereby removing the need for local families to have to bury their loved ones outside the area and incur up to £1000 in extra burial costs. I continue to push for the new site in Pippin Street to open at the earliest opportunity.
I am deeply concerned by the proposal to allow people to pay their bills via the National Lottery machines. This week I met with lottery operators Camelot to fight the corner for the smaller rural post offices who are worried that they will be /have been refused a terminal which means that they will lose vital income and should this go ahead. Not a good meeting which is why I was delighted to hear that ‘provisionally’ the National Lottery Commission was minded to refuse to grant consent to Camelot’s application to undertake ancillary services on the basis of the EU/competition law risks it raises.
Road safety was the theme of the day in the constituency on Friday. With the increasing volume of traffic and vehicle speeds road safety is a real concern for us all. I met with parents and staff of Moorgate Nursery and Children’s Centre in Ormskirk and with parents and teachers at St Thomas the Martyr Primary School Up Holland to discuss their concerns and the possible action to make our roads safer, especially outside our schools.
Coopers Commons for 15th July 2010 - 03:37 pm, Thu 15th Jul 2010
With 227 newly elected MPs in this Parliament, the highest since 1945, there are a lot of people on a steep learning curve. Last week’s lesson was - late night sittings. On Tuesday evening and into Wednesday the House of Commons was still debating and voting on the Finance Bill which lasted until 2.30am.
It was interesting how so many of the newly elected MPs were astounded that they were required to remain in Parliament until this time, some openly expressing their annoyance at democracy in action. Unfortunately for them this is part and parcel of the democratic process, especially on legislation as important as the Finance Bill. I have no doubt that they are surprised at the hours MP’s actually work. In fact one MP from the last Parliament has just written that he misses Parliament, and friends but not the regular 80 plus hour working weeks.
A story you may have heard, or read about, over the weekend was the new MP from a Kent constituency who admitted to being in no fit state to vote having spent a little too much time in the bar. He described it as a lock in…I'm sure it will be a salutary lesson to him and others. I admit that I had nothing stronger than my favourite drink, a cup of tea and spent the evening in my office doing work.
Back in the constituency I visited St Francis of Assisi School, where I joined the school children in their support for the 'one goal - send my friend to school campaign'. The aim of the campaign is to support a pledge by world leaders that by 2015 all children across the world will receive free primary education. To show their support the children made a huge paper scarf and got people to add their signature to the scarf. I was delighted to be involved in this project. Congratulations to all the children and teachers for their work and support for such a fantastic campaign.
Coopers Commons for 8th July 2010 - 03:34 pm, Thu 8th Jul 2010
The emergency budget and the announcements that have followed have become a long running Parliamentary fiasco. Everyday there is a new announcement of more and more cuts that seem to go further and deeper than was even understood to have been announced in the budget.
It was interesting that one political columnist wrote that Janus, the two-faced Roman God, should be the logo for the new coalition government to represent their hypocrisy. The example he used was the issue of armed forces pay.
Only last month David Cameron was with the troops announcing a doubling of their active service bonus in recognition of the service the armed forces give to secure our freedom and safety.
However, as the reporter pointed out the Prime Minister neglected to tell the armed forces that he was also imposing a two-year pay freeze that would affect 75% of forces personnel. This means anyone earning over £21,000 faces an £800 a year real terms pay cut.
By 2012 we will also see the closure of the North West Development Agency, which has provided vital support to businesses across the region. Only this week I received an email that highlighted how programmes such as Investing in Business have made a real difference for local organisations. The organisation told me how the NWDA grant helped them to increase the number of people they employ, helped people with disabilities to improve their quality of life and to get on to the county council preferred provider list that will enable them to compete to deliver services.
Chief Executive Steve Broomhead (a great friend of West Lancs) should be very proud of his work and successful organisation and the difference it has made to the North West.
Back in the constituency I visited the children of St Francis of Assisi School on Friday. I joined the school children in their support for the one goal - send my friend to school campaign. The aim of the campaign is to support a pledge by world leaders that by 2015 all children across the world will receive free primary education. To show their support the children made a huge paper scarf and got people to add their signature to the scarf. I was delighted to involved in this project. Congratulations to all the children and teachers for their work and support for such a fantastic campaign.
Coopers Commons for 1st July 2010 - 03:31 pm, Thu 1st Jul 2010
I am delighted to be back writing this column for the Advertiser. It is a great a great honour and privilege to have been re-elected as your Member of Parliament. I would like to thank the people of West Lancashire for supporting me and the Labour Party. I will continue to work hard for the area and fight to secure the best deal for the people and place of West Lancashire.
Given the uncertain and unusual times we are currently in the Advertiser have asked me to give more insight to what is happening in Parliament. My experience as a returning MP is certainly very different to that of joining Parliament five years ago as a new MP. This time I already have an office and I know where I am going in the labyrinth of Parliament. I can remember how difficult it was without a phone, desk or office for about nine weeks, carrying with me all the constituent letters and trying to make my maiden speech quickly as you are not able to ask questions and generally take part in proceedings until you have done it.
What is also different this time round is the Queen’s Speech wasn’t the showcase event for the new Parliament and the new Government. Instead the new plans for legislation all appeared to get lost. Instead the Conservative-Liberal Coalition’s Emergency Budget took centre stage.
Every Government department, agency or organisation funded by Central Government was brought to a standstill. No decisions could be taken until they knew what money they would have or if they would continue to exist at all.
Everyone knew there would be cuts, it had been a key debate before and during the election. Despite assurances that there would not be ‘swingeing’ cuts I think this is exactly what we have got from the Conservative-Liberal Government. In the coming 12 months I believe we will all be able to judge for ourselves whether this budget is ‘fair’ or I as I believe it is regressive and will hit the poor and middle-income earners hardest.
There will be one thing that will not be changing, which is that I will continue to make West Lancashire’s voice heard in Westminster and fight to protect vital services and support the communities, people and organisations in West Lancashire need.
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Working hard for the people of West Lancashire.