Monday, April 26, 2010

Weekly Political Roundup

Monday 19th April
- Interview with Radio Solent about Sheltered Housing Wardens
- Knocking doors in Millbrook

Tuesday 20th April
- Knocking doors in Regents Park

Wednesday 21st April
- Knocking doors in Regents Park

Thursday 22nd April
- Council meetings at the Civic Centre
- Constituency correspondence
- Politics Q+A session with Girl Guides at Freemantle United Reform Church

Friday 23rd April
- Taking part in year 8 democracy classes at Redbridge Community School
- Southampton Students Union Election debate
- Meeting wih University students
- Door knocking in Shirley

Saturday 24th April
- Door knocking in Shirley

Sunday 25th April
- Interview with Highfield Church
- Meeting with Inner Avnue Residents at the Avenue Pub Sunday Breakfast

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Five Of My Local Priorities As Your Member Of Parliament

1. A Better Deal for Southampton
I want a better deal for Southampton from government and I will be the city’s champion in Westminster. Labour has neglected the city for years, instead favouring areas in the North. I want to end the scandal whereby every year our tenants hand over millions of pounds of rent money to government for them to spend in the North of England.

2. Improvements to Local Schools
I am passionate about improving our local schools. I will fight to secure the rebuilding of 7 secondary schools in the city. I want to see parents put in the driving seat and to have a choice of good local schools.

3. Planning Reforms
I want to see Conservative reforms to planning laws, so that local people are protected against bad developments. I welcome our plans to restrict retrospective planning permission, to put decision making in the hands of local councils and to stop appeals to unelected planning inspectors. I back the rules that will limit excessive numbers of multiple occupation homes being concentrated in one area.

4. Fluoride Vote
Local people should have a say on fluoridation of water. I will fight for a local referendum and to stop the Labour government forcing fluoridation on the city’s residents without their consent.

5. Port and Jobs
I will do everything I can to protect and create local jobs. The port in particular is a huge direct and indirect employer and is a vital part of the city’s economy. I will fight to scrap Labour’s extra port taxes which threaten the port’s competitiveness.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Tory petrol plans might see fuel cut by 10p a litre.

Petrol prices have now reached ridiculous levels, hitting families when times are tough anyway and making us all even more conscious of the amount of tax we have to pay every time we fill up at the pump.

Two years ago the Conservatives proposed a 'fuel stabiliser' policy. Effectively tax on fuel would fall when prices are high and rise again when they fall, thus avoiding huge spikes in fuel costs. Local Labour MPs poured scorn on it at the time but with petrol now a staggering £1.20 a litre, this policy would be a welcome relieve for families, perhaps saving as much as 10p a litre.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

I Will Fight For Local Schools and Colleges

As your Member of Parliament I will fight hard to improve our local schools and colleges.

I am pleased that I have been able to secure millions of pounds of funds for our primary schools. I am also delighted that we are pushing ahead with the rebuilding of two city academies. As a local councillor I helped secure £35m for these schools – money that Southampton Labour Councillors and MPs would have turned down.

We have 5 new secondary school building projects in the pipeline. The only thing holding back approval for these new schools is government sign off. As soon as the government gives the go ahead the city council will enter procurement to build the new schools. My concern is that our local Labour MPs are delaying the projects for political reasons, during the election campaign.

Our Labour MPs have already let the city’s young people down once, by refusing millions of pounds of promised funds to rebuild Taunton’s and Itchen college. It would be shameful for them to put our new secondary schools at risk too.