I am having a series of surgeries across the Southampton Test constituency.
This is an opportunity for me and the Conservative candidates for the city council elections to meet people and answer questions about politics or help with their concerns.
In January I met with Newtown residents at the Argyle Centre and in February I met residents at St Denys Community Centre. Today I held a surgery at Highfield Church. Amongst the issues we discussed were Houses of Multiple Occupation and Conservative Party policies on schools and higher education.
Next Saturday I am holding a surgery at the MP3 Mansel Park Pavilion in Evenlode Road, Millbrook. I will be there with local councillor Paul Holmes and Chris Webb the Conservative candidate for Redbridge Ward. Tea and coffee will be served!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
My Contract With Southampton Test
I really believe we need to change the way we do politics. I am committed to fighting a positive and honest election campaign, and that’s the way I will conduct myself if elected as a Member of Parliament. I have set out 10 pledges as part of my contract with Southampton Test.
If elected as a Member of Parliament for Southampton Test, I Jeremy Moulton will:
1. Continue to live in Southampton.
2. Represent local people with regular surgeries around the constituency.
3. Publish online details of any personal expenses incurred as your Member of Parliament.
4. Publish online details of any office expenses incurred as your Member of Parliament.
5. Open up my unedited expenses claims to local newspapers at the end of every financial year.
6. Never claim for food.
7. Never claim for furniture or household goods.
8. Meet my own tax liabilities - such as stamp duty - without claiming them from the taxpayer.
9. Not claim the £10,400pa Communications Allowance to produce MP leaflets.
10. Fight for a fairer deal for Southampton.
If elected as a Member of Parliament for Southampton Test, I Jeremy Moulton will:
1. Continue to live in Southampton.
2. Represent local people with regular surgeries around the constituency.
3. Publish online details of any personal expenses incurred as your Member of Parliament.
4. Publish online details of any office expenses incurred as your Member of Parliament.
5. Open up my unedited expenses claims to local newspapers at the end of every financial year.
6. Never claim for food.
7. Never claim for furniture or household goods.
8. Meet my own tax liabilities - such as stamp duty - without claiming them from the taxpayer.
9. Not claim the £10,400pa Communications Allowance to produce MP leaflets.
10. Fight for a fairer deal for Southampton.
Closing the Student Visa Security Loophole
The student visa system has been the biggest hole in our border controls for a decade under this Government. Conservatives would make it a priority to crack down on bogus colleges and illegal working. I recently spoke to Solent University Student, Adam Worthington about the issue.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Southampton Special Constables to be exempt from Council Tax
I am pleased that last week the City Council approved a new scheme to help the Police recruit more Special Constables in the city. From April residents who live in Southampton and who volunteer as Specials to help police the local streets will be exempt from playing council tax.
I am delighted that after a three year long campaign the scheme will be up and running in a few months time.
When I knock on doors and meet people, time and time again I am told that we need more police on the streets. The numbers of Special Constables has halved since 1997 and it is hoped that this new initiative will double number in Southampton.
I am delighted that after a three year long campaign the scheme will be up and running in a few months time.
When I knock on doors and meet people, time and time again I am told that we need more police on the streets. The numbers of Special Constables has halved since 1997 and it is hoped that this new initiative will double number in Southampton.
Low Council Tax and Better Roads and Pavements
That’s what local people tell me they want the City Council to Focus on.
- Local Conservatives have achieved a below inflation council tax increase at 2.5% - the lowest in the city’s history.
- Local Conservatives have achieved a below inflation council tax increase at 2.5% - the lowest in the city’s history.
- The roads budget inherited from the Lib Dems has been doubled and a further £700,000 has been allocated to tackle the damage from the winter weather.
- £6m of efficiency savings have been indentified, including saving hundreds of thousands of pounds in council communications.
The impact of the recession and chronic under funding of the city by government makes it very difficult for the council to make ends meet. However many people are struggling at the moment and we need to ensure that we keep taxes down while still protecting services.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Southampton Needs More Powers to Manage Houses in Multiple Occupation
For a long time I have been campaigning for local councils like Southampton to have more powers to manage houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
Over the past 10 years we have had numerous government ministers, visits and promises but very little action.
As university numbers have increased, local residents, particularly those in the Portswood & the Polygon areas of Southampton, have sought to limit the further development of HMOs in the city, particularly to protect family homes which we know are essential for strong communities.
I am pleased that, after years of lobbying by local people, the city council and local councillors, the government has now signalled that it will act, with changes coming into force in April to require new HMOs to have planning permission.
The only information that Southampton City Council has received so far about this is a government press release. We are awaiting further details. I hope that the government is not rushing this initiative through and is clear about the detail. This is a very important problem for the city and, so long as the detail is right I will be welcoming this change as I feel that councils should have powers to tackle the issue in areas where it is an acute problem, such as in Southampton.
We need to ensure that we get the balance right between controlling problem HMOs and ensuring that housing needs are properly met for all groups in the city.
Over the past 10 years we have had numerous government ministers, visits and promises but very little action.
As university numbers have increased, local residents, particularly those in the Portswood & the Polygon areas of Southampton, have sought to limit the further development of HMOs in the city, particularly to protect family homes which we know are essential for strong communities.
I am pleased that, after years of lobbying by local people, the city council and local councillors, the government has now signalled that it will act, with changes coming into force in April to require new HMOs to have planning permission.
The only information that Southampton City Council has received so far about this is a government press release. We are awaiting further details. I hope that the government is not rushing this initiative through and is clear about the detail. This is a very important problem for the city and, so long as the detail is right I will be welcoming this change as I feel that councils should have powers to tackle the issue in areas where it is an acute problem, such as in Southampton.
We need to ensure that we get the balance right between controlling problem HMOs and ensuring that housing needs are properly met for all groups in the city.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
How Localism Could Save Us Billions
It is possible to strengthen local democracy, save billions of pounds of public money, and still invest in front line services. Our local councils, police, schools and hospitals are all burdened by a costly regime of box ticking, form filling and inspections that has been imposed by this government.
Southampton City Council has just had its annual audit at a cost of £334,000. It is a useful report (and is broadly complimentary) but largely tells us what we already know and certainly doesn't represent value for money. That is only part of the cost though, as considerable resources in terms of staff time are spent preparing for these over zealous audits. The annual audit is just one example of a whole myriad of disproportionate and costly inspections imposed by government on councils up and down the country.
Huge amounts of time and money is spent by local authorities and other public bodies bidding for pots of government funding. Only a few are ever successful on each occasion, and money is wasted by those that do not succeed. Probably the best example is the debacle over college funding. Locally our colleges in Southampton and Hampshire spent millions bidding and preparing for promised rebuilds. In the end not a penny came to Hampshire. Across the country an estimated £200m was wasted on this alone.
Finally we have the large number of unelected, quasi-autonomous non governmental organisations or ‘quangos’. These extra layers of bureaucracy with their big budgets, shuffle bits of paper, produce endless reports, distort local priorities and have little or no accountability. Decisions should be taken by our schools, hospitals and elected local councils, not by faceless bureaucrats.
This regime of inspections, quangos and ring fenced pots of money with expensive bidding processes, costs the taxpayer billions of pounds every year. Surely now, when the public finances are tight, it is time to admit that Labour's top down, centrist approach has failed, and instead better to adopt a localist approach which empowers public services and saves us all a great deal of money.
Southampton City Council has just had its annual audit at a cost of £334,000. It is a useful report (and is broadly complimentary) but largely tells us what we already know and certainly doesn't represent value for money. That is only part of the cost though, as considerable resources in terms of staff time are spent preparing for these over zealous audits. The annual audit is just one example of a whole myriad of disproportionate and costly inspections imposed by government on councils up and down the country.
Huge amounts of time and money is spent by local authorities and other public bodies bidding for pots of government funding. Only a few are ever successful on each occasion, and money is wasted by those that do not succeed. Probably the best example is the debacle over college funding. Locally our colleges in Southampton and Hampshire spent millions bidding and preparing for promised rebuilds. In the end not a penny came to Hampshire. Across the country an estimated £200m was wasted on this alone.
Finally we have the large number of unelected, quasi-autonomous non governmental organisations or ‘quangos’. These extra layers of bureaucracy with their big budgets, shuffle bits of paper, produce endless reports, distort local priorities and have little or no accountability. Decisions should be taken by our schools, hospitals and elected local councils, not by faceless bureaucrats.
This regime of inspections, quangos and ring fenced pots of money with expensive bidding processes, costs the taxpayer billions of pounds every year. Surely now, when the public finances are tight, it is time to admit that Labour's top down, centrist approach has failed, and instead better to adopt a localist approach which empowers public services and saves us all a great deal of money.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
David Cameron Launches NHS Manifesto and Conservatives Launch the Election Campaign in Southampton Test
Yesterday Southampton Test Conservatives held an action day to coincide with the launch of the NHS chapter of the Conservative Manifesto.
Local activists and many MPs including Shadow Minister Nick Herbert joined me in talking to residents around the General Hospital.
I'd like to thank everyone who braved the freezing cold to come out throughout the day to help. It was a great day despite the weather and together we managed to speak to hundreds of local residents.
David Cameron has quite rightly made the NHS the centre piece of the Conservative General Election campaign and has made the following pledges:
1. Scrap hospital targets.
2. Give patients detailed information about the performance of doctors, hospitals and GPs.
3. People allowed to choose where they are treated.
4. More private and voluntary providers in NHS
5. GPs’ pay linked to their performance and results.
6. Cut cost of NHS administration by a third.
7. Independent NHS board to manage the health service.
8. Hospitals will lose money if patients contract MRSA.
9. End mixed-sex accommodation.
10. Drug companies paid according to effectiveness of treatments.
11. New hotline for urgent care to run alongside 999.
12. New maternity system giving mothers more choice.
13. Every five-year old given a dental check-up as part of overhaul of NHS dental service.
14. Fines for those missing dentist appointments.
15. New drive to help the mentally-ill.
16. Department of Health turned into Department of Public Health.
17. More funding for poorest areas to tackle health inequalities.
18. £10 million a year to support hospices caring for children.
19. Single budget for each person suffering from chronic illnesses to cover their health and social care.
20. Everyone can protect their homes from being sold to fund residential care by paying a one-off insurance premium of £8,000 when they retire.
2. Give patients detailed information about the performance of doctors, hospitals and GPs.
3. People allowed to choose where they are treated.
4. More private and voluntary providers in NHS
5. GPs’ pay linked to their performance and results.
6. Cut cost of NHS administration by a third.
7. Independent NHS board to manage the health service.
8. Hospitals will lose money if patients contract MRSA.
9. End mixed-sex accommodation.
10. Drug companies paid according to effectiveness of treatments.
11. New hotline for urgent care to run alongside 999.
12. New maternity system giving mothers more choice.
13. Every five-year old given a dental check-up as part of overhaul of NHS dental service.
14. Fines for those missing dentist appointments.
15. New drive to help the mentally-ill.
16. Department of Health turned into Department of Public Health.
17. More funding for poorest areas to tackle health inequalities.
18. £10 million a year to support hospices caring for children.
19. Single budget for each person suffering from chronic illnesses to cover their health and social care.
20. Everyone can protect their homes from being sold to fund residential care by paying a one-off insurance premium of £8,000 when they retire.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I was selected as your Conservative Parliamentary Candidate 2 years ago and have been working hard to represent local residents.
Southampton
I know 2009 has been a very difficult year for many families. As a city councillor I see on a day to day basis the impact that the recession is having locally.
As a councillor I have been dedicated to strengthening our front line local services. This has involved improving our schools, regenerating our housing estates, investing more in the roads and streetlights and providing more support to our vulnerable, young people and the elderly. I have also been focussed on keeping local taxes down; limiting council tax, introducing a discount for pensioner households and cutting city centre car parking charges.
As a candidate for Parliament I have been battling for a better deal for
2010 will be election year. It is clear that only the Conservatives can change the government and can beat Labour in
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
I Won't Claim Leaflets on MPs Expenses
I have made no secret of the fact that I think that the MPs' Communications Allowance is wrong. Sitting MPs get to spend £10,000 of public money a year on leaflets promoting themselves and their activities.
I think that candidates for election and political parties should fund their own campaigns and not use our taxes for this purpose. I have made the clear commitment not to claim this allowance if elected to Parliament and David Cameron has made it clear that if he becomes Prime Minister this allowance will be scrapped for all MPs.
With a General Election being held next year the deadline for spending this Communications Allowance is the 31st December. It would appear that my opponent, Labour MP Alan Whitehead is hell bent on milking the taxpayer for every last penny before the deadline kicks in. Today I discovered that he has had another glossy leaflet printed at taxpayer's expense, which he uses to attack the city council, and by proxy the Conservatives and to spread mischief.
Mr Whitehead has made a great play of trying to say he is not like all the MPs who have behaved disgracefully with their expense claims. Yet he has shown that he is the same as the rest, taking as much as he can from the public purse for this own benefit. I find this behaviour even more disgusting in the current climate, a week after the Chancellor's Pre Budget Report when we found out the country is even more bankrupt than we first thought and in a week that the Labour Government is announcing billions of pounds of defence cuts at time when we are fighting a bitter war in Afghanistan.
When I go out knocking doors I hear time and time again from people how disgusted they are with politicians in this country. Today I can only agree with them.
I think that candidates for election and political parties should fund their own campaigns and not use our taxes for this purpose. I have made the clear commitment not to claim this allowance if elected to Parliament and David Cameron has made it clear that if he becomes Prime Minister this allowance will be scrapped for all MPs.
With a General Election being held next year the deadline for spending this Communications Allowance is the 31st December. It would appear that my opponent, Labour MP Alan Whitehead is hell bent on milking the taxpayer for every last penny before the deadline kicks in. Today I discovered that he has had another glossy leaflet printed at taxpayer's expense, which he uses to attack the city council, and by proxy the Conservatives and to spread mischief.
Mr Whitehead has made a great play of trying to say he is not like all the MPs who have behaved disgracefully with their expense claims. Yet he has shown that he is the same as the rest, taking as much as he can from the public purse for this own benefit. I find this behaviour even more disgusting in the current climate, a week after the Chancellor's Pre Budget Report when we found out the country is even more bankrupt than we first thought and in a week that the Labour Government is announcing billions of pounds of defence cuts at time when we are fighting a bitter war in Afghanistan.
When I go out knocking doors I hear time and time again from people how disgusted they are with politicians in this country. Today I can only agree with them.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Meeting Students At Totton College
Yesterday I had the chance to meet with teachers and students at Totton College. I talked to second year General Studies students and answered their questions on a range of subjects, such as the environment and the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, public transport and freedom of speech.
Totton College is one of many colleges in Hampshire which has been badly let down by the government. Like Southampton colleges it was promised a multi million pound rebuild and then had the plug pulled on the funds. Although not in the Southampton Test constituency Totton College attracts a considerable number of students from the city.
Totton College is one of many colleges in Hampshire which has been badly let down by the government. Like Southampton colleges it was promised a multi million pound rebuild and then had the plug pulled on the funds. Although not in the Southampton Test constituency Totton College attracts a considerable number of students from the city.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Labour has its policies on the economy all wrong
Labour has its policies on the economy all wrong. More taxes on jobs and allowing Britain's debts to continue to mount unchecked is not going to help the country out of recession. Instead Labour’s policies risk more unemployment and higher interest rates. Labour has failed to take the tough decisions on spending before the election and so there will be even higher taxes if they win the election.
The central measure in the Chancellor’s Pre Budget Report was a tax on jobs that hits everyone earning over £20,000. Labour’s hike in National Insurance is also a back door cut to the NHS. With £446 million coming from the NHS budget, Labour plan a real cut in health spending.
A Conservative government will protect health spending - because there are huge challenges facing the NHS in the years ahead - and we will try to avoid Labour's National Insurance rise. Of all Labour's tax rises, it is our priority to avoid their tax on jobs.
The Conservatives understand that people are struggling to find jobs because very few businesses are taking on new staff. To get companies hiring again we should have tax breaks for companies that create new jobs with cuts in National Insurance and Corporation Tax for small companies.
We need a government that will be straight with people on the economy. Last year the Chancellor told us he planned to borrow £38 billion and that the economy would grow 2.5% this year. He now tells us that he plans to borrow £178 billion and that the economy will in fact shrink by 4.75%.
Labour also needs to be honest about the state of the public finances. They are borrowing £1 for every £4 the government spends. Government debt is now over £800 billion and will exceed £1 trillion in the next year. The more debt the government builds up the longer it will take to pay back and the more taxes will have to rise. Unchecked borrowing will also push up interest rates, hitting businesses and homeowners.
By contrast Conservatives have bold plans to deal with the big problems the country faces. Labour are now the party of unemployment - we are the party of new jobs and new opportunities. To deal with Labour's Debt Crisis we have been honest with the British people about the tough decisions we need to take. Unlike Gordon Brown, we won't duck them and treat the British people like fools.
Friday, December 11, 2009
The Week Ahead
Here is a diary of my political activities for the week ahead:
Monday 14th December
- Visit to Totton College - discussion with students about environmental issues
- Council meetings
Tuesday 15th December
- Visit to St Marks Junior School in Shirley
- Meeting with residents in Shirley
Wednesday 16th December
- Council meetings
Thursday 17th December
- Nuffield Theatre meeting in Highfield
- Princes Trust awards at the Ordnance Survey in Maybush
- Student Celebrations Evening at Taunton's College
Saturday 19th December
- Meeting residents in Shirley
- Supporting the demonstration in the city centre by local Tamils, against actions by the Sri Lankan Government
Monday 14th December
- Visit to Totton College - discussion with students about environmental issues
- Council meetings
Tuesday 15th December
- Visit to St Marks Junior School in Shirley
- Meeting with residents in Shirley
Wednesday 16th December
- Council meetings
Thursday 17th December
- Nuffield Theatre meeting in Highfield
- Princes Trust awards at the Ordnance Survey in Maybush
- Student Celebrations Evening at Taunton's College
Saturday 19th December
- Meeting residents in Shirley
- Supporting the demonstration in the city centre by local Tamils, against actions by the Sri Lankan Government
Weekly Political Round Up
Here is a round up of what I have been up to this week:
Friday 11th December- Visit to St Denys Primary. Handing out the Civic Award to Key Stage 1 pupils.
- Meeting with residents in Regents Park
Wednesday 9th December
- Council meetings
Tuesday 8th December
- Breakfast meeting with city businesses
- Meeting with staff at Lloyds Bank in Shirley
- Meeting with residents in Regents Park
Monday 7th December
- Council meetings
Saturday 5th December
- Meeting residents in Inner Avenue and Regents Park
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Reaction to the Pre Budget Report
Alastair Darling has lost all credibility. It is now becoming a familiar sight to see the Chancellor standing up and announcing that he has got his figures wrong; that the country is borrowing more than expected and that the recession is deeper than he predicted.
Despite Labour saying that Britain was best placed to weather the economic downturn, we were the first in and will be the last to come out of recession. The Government is now borrowing £1 for every £4 it spends, and we are the most indebted we have ever been in peacetime history. What is most worrying is that Labour have no plans to tackle the debt problem.
Today's announcement showed that Labour have decided to delay taking any tough decisions until after the General Election and have refused to be straight with people. The danger is that by taking no action to tackle the deficit, interest rates may have to rise, hitting householders and businesses and prolonging the recession.
Despite Labour saying that Britain was best placed to weather the economic downturn, we were the first in and will be the last to come out of recession. The Government is now borrowing £1 for every £4 it spends, and we are the most indebted we have ever been in peacetime history. What is most worrying is that Labour have no plans to tackle the debt problem.
Today's announcement showed that Labour have decided to delay taking any tough decisions until after the General Election and have refused to be straight with people. The danger is that by taking no action to tackle the deficit, interest rates may have to rise, hitting householders and businesses and prolonging the recession.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Conservative Team Breaks UK Poppadom Record!
The 450 Poppadom Tower at Oxford Street's Poppadom Express
Last night Royston Smith and I took on the Southampton Chamber of Commerce in a Poppadom Challenge to raise money for Oxfam and in celebration of national curry week.
With the help of chefs at Poppadom Express in Oxford Street we built a massive 4ft static tower of 450 poppadoms, beating the previous UK record of 282!
UPDATE 11th December:
I have just heard from the founders of National Curry Week that 450 poppadoms is in fact a new world record, beating the Bombay Bicycle Club!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
New Housing Scheme Given the Go Ahead
Conservative Party Chairman, Eric Pickles, meets with Thornhill Reisdents to discuss the new scheme.Conservatives on Southampton City Council are embarking on an ambitious programme to redevelop the city's council housing estates. We hope to create several thousand new homes this way by 2026. They will be mixed tenure, private, affordable for rent, shared ownership and social.
The pilot project is Hinkler Parade in Thornhill in the Southampton Itchen constituency and today this exciting new scheme was given the green line to proceed.
Hinkler Parade's existing 1950s blocks will be replaced by a new, larger, better quality, higher density development. Better design will aim to ensure that crime and disorder are designed out in the new development. A popular community facility, the ‘Natterbox’ will be retained.
The pilot scheme is funded by Southampton City Council, the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) and the Homes and Communities Agency.
The project was recently thrown into doubt when Southampton MP and Secretary of State, John Denham, cut growth point funding to the area. PUSH’s growth point funding was cut from £9.5m to £5m. Despite this we are still moving ahead with the Hinkler Parade project and today Conservative Party Chairman, Eric Pickles MP visited the site to meet with local Thornhill residents and to discuss the scheme.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Shadow Minister Backs Campaign for Council Tax Freeze
Shadow Local Government Minister, Bob Neil MP meets with local Conservatives
Shadow Minster Bob Neil MP paid a visit to Southampton today to meet with local councillors and council officers. Conservatives have pledged to freeze council tax for two years if we win the next election. Mr Neil explained how this would mean extra funding for Southampton from a Conservative Government to keep council tax down. Mr Neil explained that extra money would also be available for Southampton where new homes are built locally and where new businesses are created.
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