THE stereotypical image of an MP is probably someone in a grey suit talking about the economy or other important issues.
But I don’t mind admitting I was bouncing around like a child on a trampoline as Derby County thrashed Nottingham Forest at Pride Park.
What a result. I always felt we would have enough in the locker, even with our injuries, to get the better of Forest.
But I thought it would be close and tense. Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine we would send them packing on the back of such a heavy defeat.
On a footballing front, it shows what the Rams are capable of. We can build on the result and hopefully clinch an automatic promotion spot, but at the very least it sets us up for a confident finish in the play-offs.
And what might it mean psychologically if we face Forest again in the play-offs, which is easily possible? What advantage does that give us going into such an encounter?
Beyond the pitch, success like this also has the potential to do good things on a wider front.
Let’s be honest, society hasn’t been its happiest in the last four years.
We are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, energy bills are rising while wages have dropped under this Government.
The impact of the Government cuts have been felt locally too. The city council, police and fire authorities have had their budgets savaged by the current incumbents of 10 Downing Street.
That leads to very tough choices being made and, inevitably, services being cut.
So what’s the link to thrashing Forest 5-0?
Quite simply, a result like that can unite us. It can put the feelgood factor back in the city, not only in the short-term but possibly in the longer term too if the Rams can build on this success.
I don’t deny there will be some people out there saying: “It’s only a game”.
And if you don’t feel the joy of a Derby County success then that may be true.
But I think that most people in Derby do, whether they’re season ticket holders or even if they’ve never been to Pride Park.
We are a people who are proud of our city, something we’ve shown time and again when we have united on issues like Bombardier losing the Thameslink contract, or when the Fair Deal for Derby campaign showed that we were receiving unfair funding from the Government.
And we’ve got every reason to be proud of our city, and our magnificent football club, today.
Saturday 22 March 2014
Monday 17 March 2014
HELP TO BUILD GETS THUMBS UP
THE Labour Party’s proposal for a ‘Help to Build’ guarantee scheme to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized house builders has been given the thumbs up from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
The FMB says it would provide a welcome boost to help increase the supply of new housing, and they are right. This needs to sit alongside a major investment in a new generation council housing.
The obscene expenditure subsidising private landlords through housing benefit each year should be used to build houses instead. Currently £9.5 billion of the total £24 billion annual housing benefit bill goes to private landlords.
We need a mixed approach to housing provision that would generate much needed skilled jobs and give a boost to the construction supply chain. If we are going to tackle the nation’s housing crisis we need the public and private sectors working in harmony to provide good quality affordable homes to rent and buy.
This government’s obsession with ‘selling off the family silver’ through the heavily discounted right to buy will only make the housing crisis worse. I agree with the FMB’s Chief Executive, Brian Berry, who said: “To provide the number of new homes we need in this country, both builders and buyers need access to finance.” The problem is the present government’s ‘Help to Buy’ scheme is increasing accessing to finance but is doing little to increase supply, which is creating another house price bubble.
The SME house building sector used to deliver around two thirds of all new homes but it now only delivers less than one third. Furthermore, the number of firms in the market has plummeted over the past five years, further reducing the industry’s capacity. As Brian Berry points out: “Without access to finance on reasonable terms, SME house builders will remain hamstrung in their ability to increase the supply of new homes.”
The chancellor could use the budget to boost the supply of affordable housing and assist SME house builders. I just hope he’s listening.
The FMB says it would provide a welcome boost to help increase the supply of new housing, and they are right. This needs to sit alongside a major investment in a new generation council housing.
The obscene expenditure subsidising private landlords through housing benefit each year should be used to build houses instead. Currently £9.5 billion of the total £24 billion annual housing benefit bill goes to private landlords.
We need a mixed approach to housing provision that would generate much needed skilled jobs and give a boost to the construction supply chain. If we are going to tackle the nation’s housing crisis we need the public and private sectors working in harmony to provide good quality affordable homes to rent and buy.
This government’s obsession with ‘selling off the family silver’ through the heavily discounted right to buy will only make the housing crisis worse. I agree with the FMB’s Chief Executive, Brian Berry, who said: “To provide the number of new homes we need in this country, both builders and buyers need access to finance.” The problem is the present government’s ‘Help to Buy’ scheme is increasing accessing to finance but is doing little to increase supply, which is creating another house price bubble.
The SME house building sector used to deliver around two thirds of all new homes but it now only delivers less than one third. Furthermore, the number of firms in the market has plummeted over the past five years, further reducing the industry’s capacity. As Brian Berry points out: “Without access to finance on reasonable terms, SME house builders will remain hamstrung in their ability to increase the supply of new homes.”
The chancellor could use the budget to boost the supply of affordable housing and assist SME house builders. I just hope he’s listening.
Tuesday 11 March 2014
BOB CROW DIES – A TRUE WORKING CLASS HERO
I HAVE known Bob Crow for almost four years now. I first met him when I joined the RMT Group of MPs when I was first elected in 2010.
He was absolutely solid in his support of Derby’s Bombardier workers when this Government awarded the Thameslink contract to Siemens. I remember marching proudly with him at the front of the 10,000 column of people in Derby in protest at the Government’s crass decision.
John McDonnell, Convenor of the RMT Group of MPs, said: “The RMT Parliamentary Group is absolutely devastated by the tragic loss of Bob Crow, and send out deepest condolences to his family and friends and the members of his union, the RMT.
“Bob was one of the finest trade unionists we have ever seen. He was simply loved by his members and re-elected time and again.
“He was an outstanding socialist and a tireless campaigner for a better transport system not just for his members but for all the public. He was a political giant and will be sorely missed.”
Bob was a true working class hero and I will miss him. RIP comrade.
He was absolutely solid in his support of Derby’s Bombardier workers when this Government awarded the Thameslink contract to Siemens. I remember marching proudly with him at the front of the 10,000 column of people in Derby in protest at the Government’s crass decision.
John McDonnell, Convenor of the RMT Group of MPs, said: “The RMT Parliamentary Group is absolutely devastated by the tragic loss of Bob Crow, and send out deepest condolences to his family and friends and the members of his union, the RMT.
“Bob was one of the finest trade unionists we have ever seen. He was simply loved by his members and re-elected time and again.
“He was an outstanding socialist and a tireless campaigner for a better transport system not just for his members but for all the public. He was a political giant and will be sorely missed.”
Bob was a true working class hero and I will miss him. RIP comrade.
Thursday 6 March 2014
BADGER CULL IN IRELAND DID NOT REDUCE bTB
BBC accepts it was wrong to state that badger culling in Republic Ireland reduced TB in cattle. In a ground-breaking decision the BBC today accepted it was wrong to state that badger culling in the Republic of Ireland had reduced incidences of TB in cattle.
The statement was following a complaint from a member of the public concerning an article published on the BBC Website on the 31st May 2013 “How did the Irish badger cull play out?”
The BBC accepted that the language used in the article had not been sufficiently precise, as it suggested that the badger cull might be a factor in helping control the disease, when this was scientifically unproven.
Although data did show a decline in the number of cattle infected with TB in Ireland, the BBC accepted there was no conclusive evidence to show that the badger cull had been categorically responsible for any of this decline and so it was inaccurate to say that, along with other measures, it can help control the disease.
This conclusion has huge implications, simply because the Government has sought on numerous occasions to justify its own badger cull on the apparent ‘success’ of killing badgers in Ireland. In one such example in the Independent on Sunday, the DEFRA Secretary of State, Owen Paterson stated:
“Go to the Republic of Ireland where you had a spectacular increase in TB until they started to cull badgers, they’ve gone down from 40,000 to 18,000 cases and its dropping fast.”
Those campaigning against the cull say that this is yet another deliberate attempt to deceive the public and the media. Responding to the BBC decision, Dominic Dyer, CEO of the Badger Trust and Policy Advisor to Care for the Wild, said:
“This decision raises serious concerns over statements made by the Government to MPs and the public that the large scale culling of badgers in the Republic of Ireland is an effective example of TB reduction in cattle that should be followed in the UK.
“Under the BBC Editorial ruling Owen Paterson and others would no longer be able to make statements claiming that culling played a role in reducing TB in Ireland, as they would be considered misleading and not based on scientific evidence. The question is, will Owen Paterson now withdraw the statements he has made about culling in Ireland following the BBC ruling? And will the Government avoid any further statements of this kind?
“The shocking thing is, the government has been aware from the beginning that the scientific evidence does not underpin the claim that culling badgers reduces bovine TB, but they have continued to make this claim because they’ve been allowed to get away with it. The badger cull is a deeply unpopular policy and we believe that even more people would oppose it than already do, if the truth was told consistently. So it’s very important the government bases all its statements on peer reviewed evidence and not spin the story to suit its own political agenda.”
The BBC ruling could further damage the Government’s stance on the badger cull, within a week of a leaked report from the Government’s Independent Expert Panel (IEP), which showed that in addition to dramatically failing to reach kill targets during the cull, the pilot cull also failed to reach their own humaneness criteria. Next Thursday anti-cull campaigners will hold a large protest in Old Palace Yard to coincide with a back bench debate in the Houses of Parliament to discuss the failure of the culls in light of the report.
The statement was following a complaint from a member of the public concerning an article published on the BBC Website on the 31st May 2013 “How did the Irish badger cull play out?”
The BBC accepted that the language used in the article had not been sufficiently precise, as it suggested that the badger cull might be a factor in helping control the disease, when this was scientifically unproven.
Although data did show a decline in the number of cattle infected with TB in Ireland, the BBC accepted there was no conclusive evidence to show that the badger cull had been categorically responsible for any of this decline and so it was inaccurate to say that, along with other measures, it can help control the disease.
This conclusion has huge implications, simply because the Government has sought on numerous occasions to justify its own badger cull on the apparent ‘success’ of killing badgers in Ireland. In one such example in the Independent on Sunday, the DEFRA Secretary of State, Owen Paterson stated:
“Go to the Republic of Ireland where you had a spectacular increase in TB until they started to cull badgers, they’ve gone down from 40,000 to 18,000 cases and its dropping fast.”
Those campaigning against the cull say that this is yet another deliberate attempt to deceive the public and the media. Responding to the BBC decision, Dominic Dyer, CEO of the Badger Trust and Policy Advisor to Care for the Wild, said:
“This decision raises serious concerns over statements made by the Government to MPs and the public that the large scale culling of badgers in the Republic of Ireland is an effective example of TB reduction in cattle that should be followed in the UK.
“Under the BBC Editorial ruling Owen Paterson and others would no longer be able to make statements claiming that culling played a role in reducing TB in Ireland, as they would be considered misleading and not based on scientific evidence. The question is, will Owen Paterson now withdraw the statements he has made about culling in Ireland following the BBC ruling? And will the Government avoid any further statements of this kind?
“The shocking thing is, the government has been aware from the beginning that the scientific evidence does not underpin the claim that culling badgers reduces bovine TB, but they have continued to make this claim because they’ve been allowed to get away with it. The badger cull is a deeply unpopular policy and we believe that even more people would oppose it than already do, if the truth was told consistently. So it’s very important the government bases all its statements on peer reviewed evidence and not spin the story to suit its own political agenda.”
The BBC ruling could further damage the Government’s stance on the badger cull, within a week of a leaked report from the Government’s Independent Expert Panel (IEP), which showed that in addition to dramatically failing to reach kill targets during the cull, the pilot cull also failed to reach their own humaneness criteria. Next Thursday anti-cull campaigners will hold a large protest in Old Palace Yard to coincide with a back bench debate in the Houses of Parliament to discuss the failure of the culls in light of the report.
Sunday 2 March 2014
NEW FIGURES SHOW INCREASE IN TUBE TICKET OFFICE TRANSACTIONS
NEW figures obtained by the Labour Group on the GLA and released today show a net increase in total transactions at tube ticket offices from 7.418 million in 2012 to 7.577 million in 2013 – making a nonsense of claims that the booking offices are in decline and some sort of relic from the past.
The latest figures come hot on the tail of other research which has exposed the fact that David Cameron’s claim in Parliament that “only 3% of transactions now involve ticket offices” is totally misleading and disingenuous.
Independent research by fullfactl.org shows that the truth is that one in five journeys, 20%, originate at a ticket office.
The latest figures come hot on the tail of other research which has exposed the fact that David Cameron’s claim in Parliament that “only 3% of transactions now involve ticket offices” is totally misleading and disingenuous.
Independent research by fullfactl.org shows that the truth is that one in five journeys, 20%, originate at a ticket office.
COLD HOMES WEEK IS GRIM REALITY 52 WEEKS A YEAR FOR MANY
COLD homes week was a series of events and activities designed to focus attention on the shocking state of many of the UK’s homes - and the terrible effect on the people left shivering inside them.
The event was organised by Energy Bill Revolution, which revealed new fuel poverty figures showing seven million people in England are in fuel poverty – meaning they cannot keep their homes warm at a reasonable price.
The figures includes 2.2 million children growing up in cold homes.
The shocking figure is based on a new Government definition of fuel poverty for England which, when introduced, classified far less people as fuel poor than the previous definition.
The Energy Bill Revolution campaign brought together almost 180 organisations, charities and companies to call on the Government to do much more to help those in cold homes by providing far more support to insulation and energy efficiency schemes.
The campaigners point to other countries, such as Sweden, where incomes and fuel prices are broadly similar to the UK, but better housing means more people can afford to heat their homes.
Billions of pounds in “carbon taxes” currently disappear into the Treasury, and the campaign called on the Government to recycle this money into help for households to become more efficient.
I welcome this initiative and was more than happy to give it my backing in Westminster.I tabled a series of amendments to the Energy Bill last year to establish clear targets for the eradication of fuel poverty – but they were voted down by the Government.
The work of organisations like Energy Bill Revolution is clear evidence that this growing issue needs addressing - and quickly.
The event was organised by Energy Bill Revolution, which revealed new fuel poverty figures showing seven million people in England are in fuel poverty – meaning they cannot keep their homes warm at a reasonable price.
The figures includes 2.2 million children growing up in cold homes.
The shocking figure is based on a new Government definition of fuel poverty for England which, when introduced, classified far less people as fuel poor than the previous definition.
The Energy Bill Revolution campaign brought together almost 180 organisations, charities and companies to call on the Government to do much more to help those in cold homes by providing far more support to insulation and energy efficiency schemes.
The campaigners point to other countries, such as Sweden, where incomes and fuel prices are broadly similar to the UK, but better housing means more people can afford to heat their homes.
Billions of pounds in “carbon taxes” currently disappear into the Treasury, and the campaign called on the Government to recycle this money into help for households to become more efficient.
I welcome this initiative and was more than happy to give it my backing in Westminster.I tabled a series of amendments to the Energy Bill last year to establish clear targets for the eradication of fuel poverty – but they were voted down by the Government.
The work of organisations like Energy Bill Revolution is clear evidence that this growing issue needs addressing - and quickly.
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