GOVT OUT OF TOUCH ON LIVING STANDARDS

IN an important debate on Britain’s cost of living crisis this week, Labour MPs attacked the Tories and Liberal Democrats for being out of touch, and failing to turn things around for Britain’s hard working families.

Messrs Cameron, Osborne and Clegg say the economy is fixed but for ordinary people things are getting harder, not easier, with prices rising faster than wages.  Wages are down an average of £1,500 a year since David Cameron became Prime Minister.  That is equivalent to a reduction of 6.5 per cent across the East Midlands.

Meanwhile, prices have risen faster in the UK than any other major economy and under the Tories we have had the slowest recovery for 100 years, with almost one million young people now out of work.

Messrs Cameron, Osborne and Clegg along with the rest of the Tory and Lib Dem parties are utterly out of touch with the difficulties faced by ordinary families who can see they  only stands up for the wealthiest.  By making ordinary people pay more than their share to bring down the deficit, while cutting taxes for an elite few at the top, these Tories and Lib Dems are showing whose side they’re really on.

Most people are crying out for real change.  Of course I welcome the recent upturn in growth, as any growth, after three years of stagnation, is good news.   

But Britain needs a strong recovery and a plan for a more balanced economy which boosts the living standards of everyone not just the few at the top.

 

THIS DITHERING ON BIG PROJECTS IS CRIPPLING BRITAIN

This articleby the Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls was published in the Evening Standard on 5 September 2013

A YEAR on, we can be proud of the success of London 2012. The Olympics showed that Britain can decide on, and then deliver major building projects when there is cross-party consensus and a sense of national purpose. But that isn’t always the case when it comes to big infrastructure projects.

For decades, successive governments have all too often ducked and delayed the vital decisions we need to take for the long term. That’s why last autumn I asked the man who led the successful delivery of the Olympic venues and infrastructure to come up with a plan to help end this dither and drift.
Sir John Armitt’s report today sets out a clear blueprint for how we can better identify, plan and deliver infrastructure for future generations. Because there can be no doubt that we need to act.
Only yesterday Britain fell from 24th to 28th in the world for the quality of its infrastructure in a global league table. And official figures show that only seven out of 576 projects in the Government’s infrastructure pipeline have been completed — 80 per cent haven’t even started construction. 
This isn’t good enough. After three damaging years of flatlining we need to act to secure the economic recovery: investing in our future transport, energy and housing needs can create jobs now and strengthen our economy for the long term. That’s why I have backed the IMF’s call for a £10 billion infrastructure boost this year, which could build 400,000 affordable homes.
But governments also need to grasp the nettle when it comes to making difficult long-term decisions. As Mayor, Ken Livingstone did finally convince the last Labour government of the case for building Crossrail, which we secured funding for.

On the other hand, what we do about airport capacity in London and the South-East is a classic example of a decision that has been ducked and delayed for far too long. I welcome the review by Sir Howard Davies, which is trying to find an evidence-based way forward. But the Government has kicked the can down the road and said the final report should not be published until after the election. Labour is clear this delay is regrettable, because the longer we postpone these decisions, the more damage will be done to our economy.

So Sir John Armitt says today that we need an independent National Infrastructure Commission — appointed on a cross-party basis — to identify our long-term infrastructure needs and monitor plans developed by governments to meet them. Parliament would, of course, have the final say, but the commission will help ensure decisions cannot be kicked into the long grass.

And as the Armitt review says, value for money is vital when it comes to big infrastructure projects. That’s why I have said that, while Labour supports a new north-south rail line, the soaring costs of High Speed 2 under this government are concerning: there can be no blank cheque from a Labour Treasury.

Armitt has set out an excellent report. Now the Government should help end decades of drift and delay by working with us to make it a reality. The Olympics showed Britain can deliver. We need the same drive and spirit for the next 30 years. That way we won’t let future generations down.

ROYAL MAIL PRIVATISATION MAKES NO SENSE

WE all rely on the Royal Mail – from receiving that parcel we’ve ordered online to knowing that birthday card we’ve sent is going to arrive in time.

I was at the sorting office on Midland Road last Christmas and speaking to local posties, I know they are the beating heart of so many Derby’s neighbourhoods.

In many areas the local post office acts as a focal point for communities and there are thousands of pensioners in Derby who are reassured by seeing their regular postie every morning.  There are also the small businesses that use the Royal Mail for ensuring customers get their goods and services on time, efficiently, reliably and at a reasonable price.

Which is why the Tory-led Government’s plans for privatising Royal Mail are so dangerous. David Cameron’s plans reveal once again how he stands up for the wrong people. His Government wants to sell off Royal Mail on the cheap in order to plug a financial hole in the British economy caused by George Osborne’s failed policies as Chancellor.

We all rely on a daily delivery service but places where it is expensive or complicated to deliver the post every day – in rural areas, like much of Derbyshire, or blocks of flats in urban areas – could be vulnerable.  Many of us might also find ourselves having to travel miles to pick up our large parcels as a privatised Royal Mail could choose to sell off its assets such as nearby delivery offices.  And local post offices, that rely on the Royal Mail for much of their business, could be under threat as they look to cut costs. 

David Cameron doesn’t need to do this. The Royal Mail made a £400m profit last year.  But while we could all pay more for the cost of postage, there’s a real risk this extra money will just line the pockets of private investors and not be invested back into the service.  The taxpayer has already taken on the Royal Mail pension losses and the Government want the taxpayer to also give away the profit.

I’m writing to the Royal Mail Minister Michael Fallon MP telling him to save the daily delivery.  Readers can add their names to my letter by emailing me at save-daily-delivery@derbylabourparty.co.uk  and show that the British public don’t support selling off the Royal Mail.

We all take our daily delivery for granted but for the sake those of us who rely upon it, I hope local people will back this campaign with the same enthusiasm as they did to save Bombardier.

GOVT'S GREEN DEAL FLOPS

GOVERNMENT statistics reveal only 1% of the 58,124 households who have had a Green Deal assessment have opted to take out a Green Deal plan.

Labour’s Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Luciana Berger MP, has said: “The Green Deal was billed as the biggest home improvements programme since the Second World War.  But these figures show the scheme is still struggling to get off the ground.

 “Just one Green Deal plan has gone live and only 132 people have signed on the dotted line for a package so far.  The fact that over 99% of people who had a Green Deal assessment didn’t want to take out a package should be a wake-up call for the Government.

 “It is not good enough for Ministers to shrug their shoulders and dismiss this as a slow start – not when thousands of workers in the insulation industry have lost their jobs.

 “Labour has been warning for months that sky high interest rates, penalty payments and hidden charges would put people off. These figures show that the Government must sit up and listen and ensure the Green Deal is a good deal for the public.”

LABOUR WILL TAKE ACTION ON ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS

Labour’s Shadow BIS Secretary, Chuka Umunna, has criticised David Cameron for claiming he's fixed the economy, when the reality for families and individuals is that things are getting harder not easier.

Unemployment persists above 2.5million, with long term unemployment rising.  For those in work, out of touch ministers ignore the fact that the number of people working part-time because they cannot find a full-time job is at record levels.  And, for those in work, they are earning nearly £1,500 less a year on average than they were in 2010.

But, to cap it off, the reality of Cameron’s country is a more insecure Britain.  People feel less secure in their jobs and more pressured at work than at any time in the past 20 years according to the most recent UK Skills & Employment Survey. The ballooning of the use of zero-hours contracts under Cameron is emblematic of this.

Zero-hours contracts do not oblige employers to offer guaranteed hours of work to their workers.  Some like these arrangements but for many it leaves them subject to the whim and demands of their employer to work at short notice.  The CIPD estimates up to a million are on such contracts: this is insecurity writ large.

Ministers in the Tory-led Government are taking away the rights of people at work, making it easier to fire, not easier to hire.  By demanding that our labour market – which is already the third most liberal labour market in the OECD – be more “flexible”, the effect of their policies is to heap further insecurity on middle and lower income households who are already facing the biggest cost of living crisis in a generation.

Labour is clear: we aspire to full employment and decent, secure jobs which pay a wage people can live off.  Nothing less will do in the One Nation country we seek to build. That is why, unlike the Government - which has failed to carry out a proper consultation and call for evidence on the zero-hours contracts issue - we are acting.

Shadow Employment Relations Minister Ian Murray has been looking at this issue for several months as part of Labour’s policy review.  Today, we are bringing together over 20 different organisations representing employers, employees, legal experts and workers currently on zero hours contracts to consider what action should be taken.  We will then hold a debate in the Commons in the first week back after recess and will table a motion on the measures to be taken.

Why?  Because there should be no block on people pursing their dreams and aspirations. We are ambitious for Britain and for the British people - we won’t stand idly by whilst life for ordinary people becomes more insecure under this Government.

 

 

MORE FOXHUNTING HOOLIGANS BROUGHT TO BOOK

EARLIER today four members of the Middleton Foxhounds, based at Malton in North Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to illegal foxhunting in December last year.

The case was brought thanks to video footage obtained by the League Against Cruel Sports during a hunt meet at Full Sutton, East Yorkshire.  Huntsman Tom Holt, Whipper-in Shaun Marles, Terrierman Lee Martin, and Amateur Terrierman Brian Cuthbertson all pleaded guilty in respect of Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004.  This is the offence of Hunting a Wild Mammal with a Dog.

The League’s Investigations Team saw a fox take refuge from the hunt in a stack of hay bales.  The animal was trapped in the bales for over 25 minutes, with hunt staff using terriers, sticks and hounds to force the fox to flee into the open.  Eventually it did attempt to escape, and was brought down and torn apart by the waiting pack of hounds.

The huntsman could then clearly be seen, and was filmed, using his hunting horn to blow the traditional call for a kill (used when hunting was legal).  He then picks up the fox carcass and holds it over the hounds so that they could better attack and ‘rag’ it.

These rural hooligans think they are above the law, but this is yet another case that proves they are not.  Holt was fined £200 + £20 surcharge + £85 costs = £305 total; Marles was fined £100 + £20 surcharge + £85 costs = £205 total;  Martin was fined £100 + £20 surcharge + £85 costs = £205 total and Cuthbertson was given a 12 months Conditional Discharge, £15 victim surcharge + £85 costs = £100 total.

Meanwhile, David Cameron and most Tory MPs want to legalise this criminal behaviour by repealing the Hunting Act. 

To find out more about the work of the League Against Cruel Sport  visit www.league.org.uk 

DEMANDS FOR PRINCE CHARLES TO APPEAR BEFORE MPS INQUIRY FOLLOWING LOBBYING REVELATIONS

Campaign group Republic has accused Prince Charles of dishonesty and today demanded MPs call him as a witness in their 'royal veto' inquiry.

The call follows further revelations over his persistent lobbying of government ministers, lobbying that has real clout and leverage thanks to the royal veto.

MPs are legally required to seek Charles's consent on a whole raft of new laws thanks to the "Queen's and Prince's consent" rule.  The effective veto is conducted in secret and allows Charles to insist on changes to laws that affect his private interests.

Revelations in today's Daily Mail that Charles continues to meet ministers in secret have added concern given that he has real leverage over elected politicians.

Speaking earlier today, Republic's chief executive officer Graham Smith said: "We welcome the Commons inquiry into the royal veto and will be giving evidence ourselves in due course.  If Charles believes he has a right to secretly lobby ministers and exercise a veto over new laws then he should be called to the Commons to give evidence himself."

He aded:  "It's no good Charles sending his PR men to give evidence, he needs to turn up and explain himself in public.  He seems keen to meet MPs in private, now is the time to hear what he has to say out in the open.

"Charles's claim that his meetings with ministers are part of his preparation for being king are simply untrue. Charles is abusing his position to promote his own interests and his pet issues.  Such dishonesty needs to be directly challenged by MPs and in public."

 

Charles is well known for his support of bloodsports and was a regular at the local Meynell and Quorn Hunts.  It would be interesting to discover whether Charles has been lobbying for the repeal of the Hunting Act that banned hunting with dogs.