Antoinette Sandbach

Last chance to respond to National Grid Undergrounding consultation

2011-07-03T02:55:00.000-07:00

You will be aware that I have not been updating my blog recently. This is because on 24th May I posted a copy of my response to the National Grid Undergrounding consultation. I have had many emails which have stated how useful this has been. Grid having previously said that they would wait for the KEMA report, are now closing the consultation EARLY. The closing date is the 4th July. Please read 24th May blogpost for an example of a submission made to Grid. After 4th July I will start posting regularly again.

Infrastructure, North Wales Power Lines

2011-05-24T00:31:00.000-07:00

Today will see a large demonstration at the Assembly concerning the current Tan 8 Windfarm areas, and the associated infrastructure to support those windfarms. This is going to be an issue in North Wales with additional electricity grid lines proposed which will cross Ynys Mon, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire. The Undergrounding Consultation is running at the moment and North Wales residents concerned about a third supergrid line crossing North Wales should respond to that consultation.

I am posting a copy of my response to the consultation here:

Response to National Grid Undergrounding Consultation

This is a response to the National Grid Undergrounding Consultation.

Under Section 38 of the Electricity Act 1989, National Grid has a duty in formulating proposals for new development to:

“have regard to the desirability of preserving natural beauty, of conserving flora, fauna and geological or physiographical features of special interest and of protecting sites, buildings and objects of architectural, historic or archaeological interest; and shall do what [it] reasonably can to mitigate any effect which the proposals would have on the natural beauty of the countryside or on any such flora, fauna, features, sites, buildings or objects.”

It would appear that in many areas, including Snowdonia National Park, the considerations of providing a supply under Section 9 of the Electricity Act - to provide an “efficient co ordinated and economical” supply - are not considered appropriately. Too much weight is being given to Section 9, and insufficient weight is given to the consequences on local communities of the impact of overhead lines by National Grid as well as wider Section 38/Schedule 9 requirements. This can be seen in the recent Beauly Denny Inquiry where only short sections of line were required to be placed underground. This means that the absolute minimum weight was given to the impact on local communities despite over 17,000 people writing in to object to National Grid’s proposals.

In North Wales Tourism is the key industry. It accounts for 8.6% of the Welsh Economy and is the most significant industry from Anglesey in the West and all along the North Wales constituencies to Clwyd South in the East.

The preconditions set by National Grid under its Schedule 9 statement are such that too little regard is given to the wishes of local people in rural areas as well as the wider environmental and business impact at a local level to those affected and whose environment is ruined in order to export electricity to cities within the UK. This is amply demonstrated by the recent submissions from Somerset County Council in respect of proposed connections at Hinkley Point. Complaint is made in these submissions, and indeed those to the Beauly Denny Inquiry, that disclosure by National Grid to local stakeholders of both its reasoning and the detail of its proposal was insufficient. Whilst there may have been disclosure at a late stage, or indeed rectification caused by Stakeholders having to undertake detailed and further enquiries, National Grid’s actions go against the current policy National Grid purports to have.

This is of particular concern to North Wales, which has low density permanent population areas, but high visitor numbers.

There is also the issue of “equality of arms”. National Grid is a monopoly provider with access to huge resources both financial and technical, which local populations have no possibility of being able to match, whatever fundraising takes place. This, together with the fact that affected areas will cover a number of districts, makes it difficult for local people to travel and to deal with the large distances covering the diverse areas that any proposed route will affect.

It is my submission that a far greater balance needs to be given to the section 38/Schedule 9 obligations under the Electricity Act.

The current approach to existing overhead lines extracted from National Grid’s documentation is inserted for ease of reference:

1. Where it can be clearly demonstrated by the promoter that such proposals will

_ directly facilitate a major development or infrastructure project of national importance which has been identified as such by central government; and provide a beneficial step change in the environmental character and quality of the associated area; whilst at the same time not resulting in any unreasonable detriment to the environmental character and quality of the area to which the overhead line is relocated or undergrounded;

and

2. Where National Grid is satisfied that such proposals for relocation or undergrounding will

_ not compromise the security of supply, the reliability and the maximum capability of the high voltage transmission system now or in the foreseeable future; and be technically feasible, fully compliant with National Grid’s current design specifications and achievable in terms of system outages and resources within a timescale that does not adversely affect National Grid’s wider investment programme; and be fully funded by the promoter, who will also be responsible for securing all agreements in principle to allow National Grid to site its equipment on land and acquire any necessary land without the need to resort to compulsory powers.

Undergrounding policy:

Approach to existing overhead lines

* These comprehensive site layout, design and landscaping guidelines provide advice and pragmatic solutions to demonstrate how a creative design approach can minimise the impact of overhead lines. They promote design initiatives which help to retain land values; ensure that new good quality environments are built; that residential densities can be retained; and that the environmental impacts of overhead lines are minimised. They demonstrate that for many developments, overhead lines can be retained in situ without adversely affecting sites’ development potential. For further information visit the Sense of Place website at:

http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/senseofplace

The above conditions are “and” conditions, namely that they all need to be satisfied before further changes will be considered, rather than “or” conditions, where if some conditions are met, consideration will be given to undergrounding cables. I would urge OFGEM in particular to monitor closely the way in which these conditions have been met, if ever. These are unduly onerous on local communities. It is clear that these stringent conditions will rarely, if ever, be met, and it is submitted that the current requirements as imposed again undermine National Grid’s obligations under Section 38/Schedule 9 of the Electricity Act 1989.

The Councils for the Protection of Rural England and Rural Wales have highlighted in particular the disregard that National Grid have had relative to their obligations in Snowdonia National Park, and indeed other Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty both in Wales and in England. Over 10% of National Grid’s “overhead” lines are in National Parks or AONBs. I have no doubt that the CPRE and CPRW will raise their own submissions, and to the extent that their submissions relate to the natural environment in general, and North Wales in particular, I adopt their submissions.

Nuclear Safety

It is of considerable concern that in the 20 years from 1972 to 1992 the two high voltage power lines traversing Snowdonia National Park failed simultaneously on at least 6 occasions, cutting off Wylfa Nuclear Power Station from an external power supply. Consequently, a nuclear safety issue arises in relation to both the current Wylfa A and the proposed Wylfa B. The significance of this nuclear safety issue is now clear to see given what is happening to Fukushima after it was cut off from its external power supply.

No doubt National Grid are also aware that Wylfa is situated close to Wales’ most seismically active area, the Menai Straits.

In addition, North Wales is subject to extreme weather events, and it has already been noted that there have been simultaneous double trips on at least 6 occasions in the recent past. These weather events have happened, and no doubt will happen again, particularly as climate change is expected to result in more extreme weather events.

This poses a level of unacceptable risk to the local population. Consequently, the grid connection between Wylfa and the rest of the UK (via either Deeside or Pembrokeshire) should not run on over head wires. Rather, a subsea or underground cable should be a requirement, and not an option, for the entire length of the route.

In this regard, it is notable that a sub-sea cable has been proposed to run from the west of Scotland into Deeside. On Nuclear Safety grounds alone, space at Deeside should be reserved for a subsea cable running from Wylfa, and should be considered an absolute priority.

In summary it is my submission that insufficient regard is given by National Grid to both safety issues, in particular in North Wales, and its environmental obligations under the Electricity Act 1989. It is therefore my submission that the obligations under Section 9 of the Act need to be more appropriately balanced with National Grid’s obligations under Section 38/Schedule 9 to preserve amenity value. Finally, urgent consideration should be given to an underground or subsea cable from Anglesey to Deeside or Pembrokeshire in respect of Wylfa B and new Irish Sea windfarm development.

The Welsh Conservative Manifesto

2011-04-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about being a regional candidate is that I go all over North Wales, from Anglesey in the West to Clwyd South and Wrexham in the East. Each area has strengths and weaknesses, however all the constituencies have some things in common. Since the creation of the Assembly in Cardiff it has been run by Labour, and let down by Labour. Plaid has described their Labour counterparts as having a "culture of excuses" I would go further and say that there has been a culture of failure.

Wales has more children living in severe poverty, its share of manufacturing has fallen by over 11% under Labour, our educational standards have slipped, and there is a funding gap of over £600 per pupil on average in each school, our farmers have "modulation" basically money taken out of their single farm payment, which no other european country does. Small businesses have been hit by huge rate rises, and council tax has increased as a form of indirect tax because of poor settlements from Labour/Plaids WAG. Most of all North Wales has been left out of many of the projects and funding, which has been allocated mainly in the South.

The Welsh Conservatives will have a Minister for North Wales, to make sure that crackpot schemes such as that suggested by Edwina Hart for North Wales patients having to travel for over 6 hours for neurosurgery to South Wales. The North has been taken for granted by Labour for too long.

Our manifesto was described by David Melding as a "mature programme for government". You can read it here http://www.welshconservatives.com/. It offers people in Wales clear choices, and a well thought out and sincere approach to how to tackle the key areas of concern here in North Wales. All the proposals in the manifesto have been fully costed, and therefore can and could be delivered. This is what we want to do.

Protect the health budget for the next 4 years against Labour's cuts in Wales, and free Doctors and Nurses to prioritise patient care

Directly fund schools so that head teachers and teachers are able to set their own priorities for right for their own school, in their area.

Encourage the potential of small businesses by taking them out of business rates so that they can take on new staff, or invest in new products.

Protect free bus passes and free prescriptions for older people.

Introduce an Armed Forces card to give benefits such as free bus travel and priority care on the NHS

Promote the use of the Welsh Language with a new charter mark for businesses that encourage its use.

Eliminate child poverty by 2020.

The details are in the manifesto, and reading it will show you that there is a real choice for voters in Wales. People are rightly concerned and worried about the cuts caused by Labours mishandling of the economy and huge debts meaning that we are paying £120 million a day in interest payments. The longer Labour rules in Wales, the worse the outcomes for Wales will get. Whatever Labour claims, the bald facts speak for themselves after over a decade of Labour rule in Wales. It is time for llais newydd dros Gymru, a New Voice for Wales.

Could Fukushima happen at Wylfa?

2011-03-17T05:08:00.000-07:00

The events at Fukushima in Japan have been devastating, and on top of the damage and death caused by the tsunami, is the very real prospect of nuclear meltdown at Fukushima. Chris Huhne has already ordered a review of Nuclear Power stations in Britain, it will be interesting to see what his conclusions concerning Wylfa A will be. What caused the failure of the systems at Fukushima was loss of Grid connection and power, together with failure of the backup systems. Loss of power has happened on the 400kw supergrid line which crosses Anglesey via Pentir and Snowdonia National Park 6 times between 1972 and 1992 together with the second 400KW circuit, the loss of Grid power meant that Wylfa had to shut down or reduce its output to local area demand, without Anglesey Aluminium this demand is tiny. Is there a possibility that a double trip could happen with an adverse weather event and/or earthquake in North Wales?

This is an extract from the Museum of Wales website

"Where do earthquakes occur in Wales?

There are several long-active fault systems in Wales. Once faults form, they create weak zones in the crust that can be reactivated time and time again. For example, the fault system running parallel to the Menai Strait between Anglesey and Bangor in north Wales are known to have been active over 500 million years ago and have also been the sites of more recent earthquakes.

The Menai Strait area is the most seismically active area in Wales and one of the most active in the UK. The last major earthquake occurred here in 1984, but many others are known from historical records (including 1827, 1842, 1852, 1874, 1879, 1903). Although many events have been recorded in south Wales, from Pembroke to Newport, only the Swansea area shows consistent activity, with significant earthquakes occurring in 1727, 1775, 1832, 1868 and 1906.

Largest earthquake in Wales for 100 years

The 1984, magnitude 5.4, Menai Strait earthquake was the largest onshore UK event for over 100 years. The epicentre was located in northern Llyn, north Wales and the quake originated at a depth of approximately 22 km in the Earth's crust"

The above extract shows that seismic activity in Wales is a real and present concern, the 1984 quake being similar in size to the recent earthquake in New Zealand. All of this means that there is a very urgent need to consider the risks in the current position at Wylfa, where the double trip of the 400KW Supergrid lines, as has happened 6 times already, could if combined with an earthquake have devastating consequences here in North Wales. The exposure relates to the double trip on the Grid combined with an event that could knock out the electrical back up systems, with a reactor fault transient. At present National Grid and Horizon do not seem to be considering a subsea or undergrounding cable from Anglesey into Deeside, with the 2009 ENSG report indicating that they propose to run overhead lines, susceptible to the very real dangers of a double trip which has already happened as the past records show. This poses an unacceptable risk to the local population in North Wales, who have very real experience of the consequences of Nuclear fallout as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. It is now that the lessons from Fukushima should be learnt here in the UK, particularly on Anglesey which has known fault line. DECC needs to look with care at the proposals from both Horizon and National Grid to ensure that those risk factors are urgently addressed and consideration given to subsea cable to Deeside, as a matter of nuclear safety.

National Grid Underground Cable Consultation

2011-02-21T08:29:00.000-08:00

National Grid are currently running a consultation on their policies relative to running cables underground. I hope that you will take the time to look at the consultation paper and respond. The link to the consultation can be found here http://www.nationalgridundergrounding.com/.

Given that North Wales has been selected as a site for a new Nuclear Power Station on Anglesey it is vital that North Wales residents write and give their views on underground cables, particularly given the importance of the tourism and agricultural sector here in North Wales.

Strengthening families, the future of child maintenance

2011-02-17T02:02:00.000-08:00

Any MP will know that a large part of their constituency mailbox will be problems associated with the CSA. This organisation has been failing children and families for a long time. Currently there are extensive problems with the IT system which upgrades have not solved. The current consultation by the DWP provides an opportunity for single parents to have a say in shaping the future of the CSA. The consultation paper can be found here
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/strengthening-families.pdf.

Whilst I am broadly in agreement with the aims of the Green Paper which wishes to strengthen the ability of families to make their own arrangements. I am concerned that there appears to be little legal redress proposed to "back up" the arrangements made between parents. One of the many failures of the last Labour Government was its failure to act upon the Law Commission report number 307 which outlined the problems caused by failing to give legal protection to those who are cohabiting. For the full report see http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/docs/lc307.pdf.

If real meaningful action is to be taken, then it is vital that the gaps identified by the Law Commission are acted upon. To fail to do so will have the consequence that many families and children will continue to suffer from inequality causing a rise in dependence on the state.

At present Gingerbread the lone parent charity are looking for the views of single parents who are dealing with the CSA to join their campaign and have your say click here http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/content.aspx?CategoryID=574. In particular there is a proposal to charge for collecting child maintenance. This has the capacity to hit those who can least afford it the hardest, and I shall be working together with Gingerbread and other lone parent organisations to oppose charges for parents with care of their children.

My own experience of the CSA can be described as a "nightmare". Slow and unaccountable, lengthy failures to take enforcement, rewards those who lie, lacking the appropriate powers for the self employed and those owning their own businesses, with gaping holes in its remit. I shall be responding to the consultation personally and I would encourage others to do so by the 7th April.

Sex Offenders Register

2011-02-16T05:19:00.000-08:00

Today Theresa May the Home Secretary gave a statement to Parliament on a Supreme Court ruling that those sentenced to 30 months or more, and who are listed on the Sex Offenders Register for life should be allowed to appeal that decision. May said that "Public Protection must come first" and that the Government were "appalled" at the decision of the Supreme Court and the Government would do the absolute minimum to comply.

On Monday I was at a meeting with Police officers, Forensic Medical Examiners, Paediatricians, Counsellors, Crown Prosecution Service, and Judge Michael Farmer QC to discuss serious sexual offending in North Wales and the impact the SARC Amethyst Centre has made for victims in North Wales. Once of the concerns expressed by HHJ Farmer QC was the ridiculously low sentences given to sex offenders and in particular those in possession of pornographic images of children. Many victims of sex offenders are affected for the rest of their lives by the actions of their abusers. This is a life sentence imposed by an abuser without any appeal for the victim of abuse.

As the SARC conference made clear, although there is an arrest rate of approx 96% by North Wales police, the conviction rate is 46%. Also highlighted was the fact that only 11% of sexual assaults are actually reported according to information from the British Crime Survey. I am delighted that the Government is going to tighten 4 loopholes in the Sex Offenders Register to ensure that public protection is a key priority. The impact in the Court system is likely to be that offenders at risk of a sentence of 30 months or more, are likely to fight their cases. The CPS has come a long way in ensuring that victims do not have to go into Court and face their abusers with video link and screens available to victims, and changes in evidence rules which permit previous allegations to rebut defences of "consent" have gone a long way to improve the conviction rate......but there is alot further to go and the steps announced by the Home Secretary today in closing the current loopholes will help protect the public from predatory sex offenders.

High Voltage Power lines.

2011-02-11T03:08:00.000-08:00

It would appear that finally Albert Owen MP has raised the question of submarine cables to be considered an option for Wylfa B and the new offshore windfarms that will form part of the Irish Sea development. This issue has been raised on Anglesey with both me and Paul Williams since November last year. I contacted National Grid on that point in November. Where has Albert Owen MP been over the last few months? Interestingly he has not picked up on the failure of Grid to consider that the Environmental Information Regulations apply to their projects.

The Electricity Networks Strategy Group (which includes National Grid) published a document in 2009 which shows that they are seeking to upgrade the Pentir 275kw line to a 400kw line apparently without any consultation with the local people that it will affect. (see pages 72-80 of the ENSG report. For a more detailed discussion of Grid issues in Wales see the blogpost from Syniadau.
http://syniadau--buildinganindependentwales.blogspot.com/2011/02/linking-north-and-south.html

Syniadau also highlights Welsh residents pay between 4 to 10 % HIGHER electricity costs as Wales is considered a net importer of electricity, despite the opposite being true. How Labour's Welsh Assembly Government has allowed this to happen at a time of spiralling energy costs is beyond me. Political pressure to force Grid and the Electricity Companies to accept that Wales is a net exporter of electricity could have meant money in the pockets of pensioners, families and businesses accross Wales.

I find it surprising that Grid are now positioning themselves on the basis of cost. bearing in mind the paragraph above. They are running undersea cable from Scotland to Deeside at a cost of £780 million as the post from Syniadau shows. It is vitally important that North Wales does not accept a second best option. Why then are Grid not also considering running cable the 64 or so miles from Anglesey to Deeside. Surely this would be a cheaper option than running cables down to Pembrokshire.

Avoiding disclosure? National Grid and Wylfa B

2011-02-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

Recently the Government has indicated that they are reviewing a decision made by the Information Commissioner and the Tribunal about whether or not water companies need to disclose pollution information to members of the public under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. These regulations allow the public to access vital environmental information on projects which are likely to affect local people, and which may cause environmental damage in a particular area. This is of particular interest to North Wales which is going to host the new Wylfa B Nuclear Power station.

National Grid are relying upon the recent Tribunal decision, saying that they have no requirement to provide information under the EIR. This is rather a surprising decision by them, particularly as they exercise powers of compulsory purchase, and are responsible for providing electricity grid infrastructure. National Grid are going to have to provide new grid connections to Anglesey which will either mean submarine cables, or huge electricity pylons marching across swathes of North Wales. There is supposed to be a "public consultation" on the grid connections required for Wylfa B and the proposed Irish Sea windpower developments. This was due to happen in Spring of 2011, yet trying to get information about the proposed routes, is proving difficult. What are National Grid trying to hide, and why are they refusing to comply with the EIR? Time I think for the Government in its review of the EIR and the Water Companies, to extend their review to National Grid. If the protections the EU wanted to give EU citizens are to have any meaning then private companies exercising powers which come from the state of "compulsory purchase" and indeed nuclear electricity transmission need to comply with the EIR. I can not see why citizens of France would be able to access the information - and those in Wales can't. Tourism is one of the biggest industry sectors in North Wales and it is vital that the public in North Wales have access to proper information prior to and about the environmental impact of decisions by companies such as National Grid who should not seek to avoid their duty to disclose information to any members of the public who request it. This is particularly important where possible routes include routes through a number of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and indeed Snowdonia National Park.

Lack of Scrutiny in NHS,

2011-02-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

It would appear that the Welsh Assembly Government has stopped collecting NHS data in order to avoid answering difficult questions on the NHS in Wales. This prevents members of the public asking questions under the Freedom of Information Act of those responsible for Health in Wales. The Labour/Plaid Government would appear to want to limit the ability of the public in Wales to access key information on performance and delivery of services. This begs the question if Labour/Plaid's Government does not have access to the data, how are they able to make sure that services are being delivered properly to people in Wales? Are they able to see if services are being delivered in a way that provides good patient care? It also shows that they are not prepared to look at the clinical impact of their political decisions.

Nick Bourne AM has tabled a number of questions, over 50, which have gone unanswered. Some of these questions have remained unanswered for over 6 months. More seriously data has shown massive increases in waiting times is now not being collected. Waiting times for outpatient treatment has increased by 24,758%, yes that is over twenty four thousand percent, and inpatient treatment waiting times have increased by 4958%. Now the data is "not available" as it is not being collected centrally. This needs explanation, not an attempt to brush it under the carpet and hope that noone notices......

This lack of scrutiny is particularly worrying for the public, who should have the ability to know what the actual position is, rather than the Spin that Labour and Plaid would like to put on their health reforms in Wales.

NHS cuts in Wales

2011-01-31T12:10:00.000-08:00

The NHS in Wales is under attack from Labour cuts, £435 million each year for the next three years. Labour's performance on the NHS in North Wales is dismal, with proposals for neurosurgery patients having to travel to South Wales (an ambulance journey of over 6 hours) rather than be able to receive treatment at the Walton Hospital in Liverpool, this daft plan from Edwina Hart was only pulled after howls of protest. Why Ms Hart ever thought the idea was a good one was a mystery to me, but might have had something to do with the fact that she didnt want to have to decide between neurosurgery provision at both Cardiff and Swansea.

There is no children's hospital in North Wales, just over the border in England is world class Alder Hay, yet no proper provisions have been made by WAG for cross border health services. The record of Labour on health is dismal there has been an increase in Managers in the NHS in Wales of 20% in the last 5 years. Depressingly there has been a decline in the number of nurses, midwives and health Visitors of 24% in the same period. For those living in England who want to know what a Labour Government would do for the Health Service, you can see it here in Wales: cuts of up to £1 billion over the next three years, underfunded stroke services, hospices with far lower funding than their English counterparts, and an explosion of money being moved from frontline services to management and bureacracy. Here in North Wales maternity services are under threat at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Glan Clwyd and the Maelor. Recently bed cuts have been announced at Glan Clwyd under the guise of "refurbishment". Ambulance targets have been missed so many times it is a joke.

The Welsh Conservatives are committed to retaining funding for the NHS in Wales, and would increase funding for stroke services and hospices, by introducing prescription charges for those that can afford to pay for them. Anyone who previously did not have to pay prescription charges, such as pensioners, children, those on benefits, or those with chronic conditions would not have to pay for their prescriptions.

One thing is clear Labour's record on the NHS in Wales has been dreadful for those living in Wales. There is now an opportunity for change with the upcoming Welsh Assembly elections. Perhaps this is why Ed Balls wont be drawn on his cuts agenda, Labours approach is there for all to see in Wales. Even Labour's Shadow Health Minister in England, John Healy MP agrees in a template press release saying "patients in North Wales will start to see local health services go backwards".

Health and Safety Corner

2010-02-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

This gem from the political betting site. Today has seen a new poll, which is heavily commented on which includes the following comment by antifrank "Off topic, I’ve just been told by a train steward that he had to put my cup of tea into a paper bag: “health & safety, sorry sir”. I had three yards to walk with it.".

I attach no blame to the train steward who presumably faces some form of disciplinary action if he doesn't comply but....................

What happened to common sense and personal responsibility?

UK economy cries out for credible rescue plan

2010-02-14T03:18:00.000-08:00

The following letter has appeared in the Times today which undermines Labour's plans to tackle the growing debt - which will have to be paid back. The signatories include leading economists,. a Labour Peer and former members of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.

"It is now clear that the UK economy entered the recession with a large structural budget deficit. As a result the UK's budget deficit is now the largest in our peacetime history and among the largest in the developed world.

In these cirucmstances a credible medium-term fiscal consolidation plan would make a sustainable recovery more likely.

In the absence of a credible plan, there is a risk that a loss of confidence in the UK's economic policy framework will contribute to higher long-term interest rates and/or currency instability, which could undermine the recovery. In order to minimise this risk and support a sustainable recover the next government should set out a detailed plan to reduce the structural budget deficit more quickly than set out in the 2009 pre budget report............

The letter can be read in full here http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article7026234.ece.

The real cost of Labour's failure will be shown in the huge interest payments which this country is already paying and will continue to have to pay. The problems facing the UK economy are severe, this is not talking down the UK economy, but being honest about the real extent of the problems we are facing. The average family is already paying £1400 more per year in tax, thanks to Gordon Brown's stealth taxes. Once again Labour have taken the country to the brink of disaster, now leading UK economists agree - there will be difficult times ahead.

Choose the most worthy eco-project. Entry two - Bumblebee Conservation Trust

2010-01-27T05:28:00.000-08:00

Choose the most worthy eco-project. Entry two - Bumblebee Conservation Trust

For some great environmental projects clink on the link above. The Bumble Bee Conservation Trust and the Woodland Trust both have projects on this site. I support both organisations who do invaluable work. The winning project will receive the equivalent of £30,000.

Stop and Search powers ruled illegal

2010-01-13T01:31:00.000-08:00

The Judgement yesterday in the European Court of Human Rights held that the random stop and search powers introduced by sections 44-47 of the Terrorism Act 2000 breached UK Citizens human rights now throws the Labour Governments anti terror laws into disarray. There were three key planks to the ruling, firstly the fact that since 2001 the whole of the metropolitan area of London was a "designated area" for the purpose of random searches, this power has to be renewed every 28 days. Secondly a high number of UK citizens had been searched by police, the power requires no element of suspicion, so you could in theory be searched just because the police did not like what you were wearing, or for any other arbitrary reason. Between 2001 and 2004 over 205,000 searches were carried out, with just over 1% leading to any kind of charge. This meant for the remaining 99% innocent people were stopped for no reason. The third being that there was no requirement that the person stopped was under suspicion. It is the last that is the most serious, as there was therefore no requirement that there be any justification for conducting the search. This has led to climate change protestors being searched under anti terror laws.

Lord Carlile the independent Law Lord in charge of reviewing the Government's anti terror legislation said on Radio 4 "As and independent reviewer of terrorism legislation I have reported repeatedly that it should be used much less. I have said year on year that its use could be reduced by 50% without damaging national security, and I remain of that view." What is of concern is that Ministers have ignored Lord Carlile's year on year reports.

We have fought two world wars for hard won freedoms, one of which is to be able to go about our ordinary day to day business without being detained, whether it is temporary or for a longer period, where there is no suspicion that we are doing anything unlawful. What the police need are effective stop and search powers where there is a suspicion that someone is engaging in terrorism.

PC Madness

2009-12-07T01:06:00.000-08:00

I notice that Justice Secretary Brigit Prentice is calling for a boycott of shops that sell pink things for girls as being "sexist". My daughter has grown up on a farm and was given trains, tractors and "boys things" to play with as a child. Yet still her favorite colour is pink, she is not a child that plays particularly with dolls that is her choice, but she loves all things pink and I am not willing to impose my views on a small girl that has decided what she likes. I view this as a phase and one day she is likely to grow out it. The aim apparently of this campaign is to "challenge girls to fulfill their full potential". How boycotting pink is going to achieve this I am not entirely clear. I view the fact that as a single mother she sees me working hard, she knows the basics of what is right and wrong, and that she has clear boundaries as being far more important in helping her to fulfill her full potential. Parents choose what boundaries to give their children, but banning pink strikes me as a childish and arbitrary decision - why shouldnt a child be able to enjoy pink fairy wings.

Health and Safety Corner

2009-12-07T01:02:00.000-08:00

In the radio I heard a story about a passanger on a train that was delayed. He went to the buffet car to ask for an egg roll. He was told that he was not allowed one for "health and safety reasons". When asked what those reasons were he was told that he couldnt have his egg roll because there might have to be an emergency evacuation and he might choke on it! A sign of the times that we live in. What this story shows is not only a complete lack of customer service, presumably by someone for whom that is part of the requirements of their job - but the fact that Health and Safety has become a by word for ridiculous decisions.

Remeberance Sunday

2009-11-08T14:30:00.000-08:00

The sacrifice given by so many, so that our values and beliefs can endure and survive was so clear today in the Service I attended in Holywell. It is always with a sense of shock that I listen to the sheer numbers of those that sacrified their lives in both the first and second world wars, for our freedoms. Those sacrifices go on today, and I remember and salute both the injured and those who have laid down their lives for us.

Supporting jobs

2009-11-06T15:13:00.000-08:00

Today it was great to see David Cameron in Holywell, there was real excitement that he was coming to talk to local businesses about how they could support jobs in Flintshire and how the Welsh Conservatives would support them. This is the third time that David Cameron has been in Flintshire and the second time this year. In May he spoke to 40 students from the Mold Alun school, today it was local businesses which spanned all sectors from manufacturing to tourism, construction to accountancy. David Cameron had visited Airbus in Broughton, but went on to talk to local businesses from Holywell, Mold, Flint and Deeside. What was so important about this visit was the fact that as well as visiting Airbus, he also took the time to meet people from all sectors of the economy, and to see how we can keep Flintshire working.

Afghanistan

2009-11-05T14:41:00.001-08:00

The huge sacrifice made by Soldiers in Afghanistan continues, I heard the following passage on the Radio yesterday, it stopped me in my tracks. Having heard the email earlier in the week written by the Welsh Guardsman Rupert Thorneloe talking about the shortage of helicopters in Afghanistan the words of Siegfried Sasson seemed particularly relevant. The £121 million refurbishment of the Ministry of Defence's offices shows just how wrong this Government's priorities have been.

By SIEGFRIED SASSOON

I am making this statement as an act of willful defiance of military authority, because I believe that the war is being deliberately prolonged by those who have the power to end it.

I am a soldier, convinced that I am acting on behalf of soldiers. I believe that this war, upon which I entered as a war of defense and liberation, has now become a war of aggression and conquest. I believe that the purposes for which I and my fellow-soldiers entered upon this war should have been so clearly stated as to have made it impossible to change them, and that, had this been done, the objects which actuated us would now be attainable by negotiation.

I have seen and endured the sufferings of the troops, and I can no longer be a party to prolong these sufferings for ends which I believe to be evil and unjust.

I am not protesting against the conduct of the war, but against the political errors and insincerities for which the fighting men are being sacrificed.

On behalf of those who are suffering now I make this protest against the deception which is being practiced on them; also I believe that I may help to destroy the callous complacence with which the majority of those at home regard the continuance of agonies which they do not share, and which they have not sufficient imagination to realize.

Siegfried L. Sassoon, July 1917

The Leader - Political row brewing over Airbus Broughton

2009-10-28T04:13:00.000-07:00

The Leader - Political row brewing over Airbus Broughton

Following the leader article today over the Broughton plant, about which so many lies have been told there have been some instructive comments on the Evening Leader's website. Some of the comments are as follows. "Mr Tami knows well that he is part of a totally discredited Labour Party...so anything goes...all of a sudden we have claims made that can only lead to the undermining of confidence in Airbus and worse causing worry to the workers and families...and he accuses the Tories of using spin!!"

That quote and others in the thread show that Labour's scare tactics are not washing with the voters in Flintshire.

This quote also was on the website "Seems like New Labour will try anything apart from the truth to gain votes...I honestly hope on a single Labour MP gets elected....".

The tide is turning against Labour in Flintshire. Voters are not willing to accept dirty tactics from Labour anymore, and will want to see some honest debate. Labour's record isnt good. 400,000 more children in child poverty. Mass immgration that Britain was not prepared for, when all our european neighbours took steps to limit the impact of a bigger European Union. The 10 pence tax increase. Motorists being hit every day in the pocket, and talking down the manufacturing business we have here in Flintshire.

Welsh You Gov Poll

2009-10-27T09:59:00.001-07:00

Todays You Gov Poll is good news for Conservatives in Wales, but shows that there is no room for complacency. Manufacturing here in North East Wales has been hard hit by the downturn and Labour's immigration policy is blamed by the voter. It is clear that the open door policy of the Labour Government over more than a decade has caused a crisis of confidence in local communities. In her appearance on Question Time Sayeeda Warsi rightly pointed out that not enough resources have been targeted at communities where immigration has had very real impact. There can be no doubt that a cap on the numbers coming into the UK and tackling illegal immigration must be a priority. However this needs to go hand in hand with policies to ensure our children have the best education and become the next generation of engineers, and scientists with the vision and skills to grow the UK economy.

PMQs and Constitutional reform

2009-06-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

PMQs today

Observations of Gary Gibson political commentator and blogger for Channel 4 News "The Prime Minister temporarily forgot himself and attacked David Cameron for talking about namby pamby (my phrase) constitutional stuff when the voters were really interested in public services and the economy....shortly before launching into an hour long statement on the Constitution." Hmmm

It is interesting that following a complete drubbing in the elections GB has suddenly found his passion for Constitutional reform. GB said the Govt was dealing with issues like "housing". In Wales Labour's record on social housing is totally dismal with less council housing being built in the years of devolution than under Mrs Thatcher.

European Elections Frank Field's Views

2009-06-08T07:01:00.000-07:00

The following extract was posted by Frank Field today

"Labour supporters claiming that the European results were not a catastrophe for the party can only do so by inventing a new meaning for the word catastrophe. Whether one looks at them on a national, regional or local level the picture is pitiful.

The results reflect the collapse of support for the Government in the country. They also ring a clear verdict on the EU......

Don't let anyone kid themselves that this was an unimportant election where voters felt they could make a clear protest vote. Unless something changes significantly on a national level these results would be reproduced at a general election.

Labour cannot win with the present Prime Minister. I was one of the seven who would not support his coronation after Tony Blair was shoehorned out of Number 10. But even I didn't think a Brown administration would be as inept as this one.

The Brownites are attempting to terrorise Labour MPs into inaction. If they succeed then we deserve our fate."

In Delyn Labour got 18.7% of the Votes with the Conservatives on 27.2% share it would appear that voters in Delyn agree with Frank Fields assessment that the Brown Administration is totally inept

Historic vote in the European Elections in Wales

2009-06-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight was a historic night for Conservatives in Wales. At the counting centre in the Pavilion in Flint it was clear that the Conservatives and UKIP had polled well, however for the Conservatives in Delyn it was also the first time that we have polled more votes that Labour since boundary changes moved Prestatyn, a Conservative area into neighbouring Vale of Clwyd.

Not only that but the Flintshire result overall saw voters turning to the positive policies put forward by the Conservatives with Conservatives topping the poll in both Delyn and Alun and Deeside. A Plaid Cmyru MP described the results in Wales as "earth shattering and we are seeing Labour imploding". Were these results to be replicated across the board in an election in Wales in the same proportions it would mean that the Conservatives would gain 17 seats in Wales. I am delighted as I know Dr Kay Swinburn as our MEP will fight hard for the interests of Delyn, she has already been here a number of times and is aware of the issues facing Flintshire.

I believe that I have alot of hard work still to do to earn the respect and trust of every voter in Delyn, but this is a great result for the Conservatives and a miserable night for Labour. So miserable that the Labour agent at the count refused to stay and listen to the result being announced.

D-Day, ID cards, freedom of speech

2009-06-06T15:29:00.000-07:00

Today I salute the veterans and their fallen friends for the great sacrifice they made. I remember talking to my Welsh grandmother as a teenager when a friend of mine tragically died. She calmly and with great sadness told me of the great number of her friends that never came back from the War. I have particular reason to be grateful for the sacrifices made by those who so bravely fought and died in the Second World War, my mother's family were living under occupation by the Nazi's. I have grown up hearing from her some of what that meant, her description of watching people starving and having to eat flower bulbs as food, the constant fear, the inability as a young child to play freely or say what one thought, for fear of doing the wrong thing. The hope brought by occasional snatches of broadcasts from the BBC, passed on by those who had been able to hear them. I also know her relief and joy when the city she lived in was liberated by the British and Americans from Nazi rule, something for which she remains eternally grateful.

I have therefore grown up with a deep distrust of State "controls" which may account for why I am so against ID cards, why political correctness is such a corrosive thing - freedom of speech is vital and yet now many fear that they can not say what they think out of fear of being branded an "ist" racist, sexist etc. The attempted introduction of 42 day detention without trial, a DNA database even for children, and the threat of the compulsory administration of medicines (vaccines) being discussed as a serious idea by a Labour AM here in Wales in the last week. The increasing surveillance society where cctv cameras on streets and roads track our every movement, and with the Government seeking to monitor emails and telephone calls on a huge scale. Local councils using anti terror legislation to monitor benefit claimants and parents sending their children to a particular school. Complicity in "extraordinary rendition" and collusion in the use of torture.

Our freedoms were fought for at great cost.

I want to thank those who gave their lives, I thank those who watched their friends die and have lived with that for so many years, those who came (and to continue to come home) maimed and injured. I also thank those who continue to fight to bring those values to other countries. You have fought for our freedoms at such great cost, and we owe you a duty to preserve the values that you fought for.

The dying embers?

2009-06-03T15:32:00.001-07:00

The events of the last few weeks have been monumental. I have been out and about in Mold market talking to people in Delyn to find out what they really think, that has involved stopping people in the street and talking to them. The great thing about Mold Market is that it attracts people not just from Flintshire but from all over the country, and the views have been pretty forthright. There is a feeling of being let down by all politicians, from all parties. The events of the last few weeks leave many people thinking why arent we talking about immigration, why arent we talking about recession and the lack of help available, and why are politicians lining their own pockets at the expense of all of us who work hard and pay our taxes. They have let us down.. When canvassing in March this year on an estate in Delyn I was struck by the number of houses which had no lights on. Although I knocked on the door and expected no answer those doors were opened. Whether you can pay the next bill is the real question and that is why "it was within the rules" just doesnt wash.

Alun School students

2009-05-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

I have been questioned by Alun Students several times in the past, and always found their questions to be searching and well thought out. During the Welsh Assembly campaign in 2007 questions from those studying politics in Delyn were some of the hardest that I came across. David Cameron's visit to Mold today was great to see. He too faced those students, and I was delighted by both the quality of the questions, and of the answers to them. It really was wonderful to see the enthusiam in the Daniel Owen Centre. After the meeting there was a real feeling of excitement and interest in what had happened in that meeting. Having been out on the doorstep and in Mold market during the last few weeks there is also a similar engagement and feeling of involvement from some, with complete antipathy to politics from others, nearly all of those I have spoken to feeling totally and utterly let down. The expenses issue has undoubtably damaged politicians from every party, but here in Delyn there is a real interest in the issues, which is encouraging to see. It promises to be an interesting run up to the election, whenever that might be.

Sam

2009-03-27T04:09:00.000-07:00

Following on from the death of my son I would like to thank everyone for the support that so many people have shown to me. It has been a devastating time and my daughter and I have a huge hole in our lives.

There are two fantastic organisations who can provide help and support to those who have been through the loss of a child. Both www.uk-sands.ord and www.fsid.org provide help lines, sources of information and support for families and children.

Oppression and UK policy over Tibet

2008-11-26T01:12:00.000-08:00

This is an extract from the New York Times article headed "Did Britain just sell Tibet"

"Last month, for example, Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, asked China to give money to the International Monetary Fund, in return for which Beijing would expect an increase in its voting share.

Now there is speculation that a trade-off for this arrangement involved a major shift in the British position on Tibet, whose leading representatives in exile this weekend called on their leader, the Dalai Lama, to stop sending envoys to Beijing — bringing the faltering talks between China and the exiles to a standstill.

The exiles’ decision followed an announcement on Oct. 29 by David Miliband, the British foreign secretary, that after almost a century of recognizing Tibet as an autonomous entity, Britain had changed its mind. Mr. Miliband said that Britain had decided to recognize Tibet as part of the People’s Republic of China. He even apologized that Britain had not done so earlier.

Until that day, the British had described Tibet as autonomous, with China having a “special position” there. This formula did not endorse the Tibetan claim to independence. But it meant that in the British view China’s control over Tibet was limited to a condition once known as suzerainty, somewhat similar to administering a protectorate. Britain, alone among major powers, had exchanged official agreements with the Tibetan government before the Chinese takeover in 1951, so it could scarcely have said otherwise unless it was to vitiate those agreements.

After the People’s Republic of China joined the United Nations in 1971, British politicians refrained from referring to their country’s recognition of Tibet’s autonomy to avoid embarrassing Beijing. But that didn’t make it less significant. It remained the silent but enduring legal basis for 30 years of talks between the Dalai Lama and Beijing, in which the Tibetans have called only for autonomy and not independence — a position that a conference of Tibetan exiles in India reaffirmed on Saturday.

Mr. Miliband described the British position as an anachronism and a colonial legacy. It certainly emerged out of a shabby episode in colonial history, Francis Younghusband’s cavalier invasion of Tibet in 1903. But the British description of Tibet’s status in the era before the modern nation-state was more finely tuned than the versions claimed by Beijing or many exiles, and it was close to the findings of most historians.

To read the full article click here http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/opinion/25barnett.html?_r=2&scp=2&sq=tibet&st=cse

I have blogged before on Labour's failure to implement ethical foreign policy.

There are a number of organisations that help those in Tibet. If you want to take a stand then you can donate to any of the following

- http://www.tibet.com/Action/index.html

- http://www.freetibet.org/

- http://www.tibetnetwork.org/

- http://www.tibetanchildrenseducation.org/

Hidden Costs

2008-11-26T00:51:00.000-08:00

Still reeling from the Pre Budget report, I opened my email last night to find a copy of this enclosed from an official Treasury briefing note.

"VAT is a tax on the final consumption of goods and services, collected at every stage of
production and distribution. It is charged on the majority of goods and services at the
standard rate of 17.5%. The proposed changes will reduce this to 15% from 1 December
2008 until the end of 2009. The standard rate will then return to 17.5% from 1 January
2010, and subsequently increase to 18.5% in 2011-12."

Clearly this was no "mistake" by the Treasury. The hidden tax bomb - well that is something that you will have to decide for yourself. The Government has to repay the enormous and irresponsible debt it is going to mortgage the nation for. It is also clear that the burden will fall on taxpayers who will have to pay it back. I suspect this is one of a number of hidden tax increases. All the previous estimates as to how much the Government has to borrrow have proved wrong, so why should any of us trust them when they say they "dismissed" this as an option. Hmmn well just how are they going to pay the unaccounted for £100 billion black hole in their current estimates? Needless to say I forwarded the entire document to the Chester Chronicle and the Flintshire Evening Leader last night, probably the only time that they have got a National front page story from me before the news had broken. As with so many policies coming from this Government this potential change will hit those on lowest incomes the hardest, and will make Flintshire businesses less able to compete in the world economy - apparently when we will be emerging from this devastating recession.

Data loss and ID cards

2008-09-27T01:55:00.001-07:00

This week the new look "ID card" was unveiled. It is being trialed on foreign nationals, but make no mistake we are next. The Government persists in stating that ID cards will make us "safer". I have always been puzzled by this argument, as European Countries have problems with terrorism, crime and illegal immigration, as well as ID fraud. ID cards have not proved to be a satisfactory solution to those problems in Europe, so why is this going to be a miracle cure for Britain? The police in this country have the powers to arrest someone if they think they are being misled about their identity. They have to remain in custody until they can satisfactorily prove their ID. If you can whip out a soon to be faked ID card that is hardly likely to make us more safe.

An LSE study has estimated that ID cards are going to cost the taxpayers £20 billion. In these times it is a monumental waste of money. There is then the issue of the ability of the Government to stop others accessing our personal data. It has been confirmed today that the personal records of thousands of RAF personnel have been stolen from MOD premises this week. The MOD is likely to have a far higher level of security than your average government department, and this theft was from within a "high-security" area on the MOD site. I dont trust any Government department to keep my data safe, indeed with the child tax credit fiasco, they have lost it once already. It is time to stop this foolish waste of taxpayers money, and pull the plug on the ID card project.

Rising Fuel costs

2008-09-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

My electricity bill arrived this week. Like thousands of others I have looked around to fix my prices, but have discovered a neat little "change" made by the electricity companies. My standard tariff has 225 KW at a higher price, any electricity usage over that is charged at the lower rate. On all the options offered by switching all the tariffs I looked at had increased their "standard" charge to the first 900 kw of energy at a higher rate. Even with discounts for direct debits etc this would automatically lead to a huge increase in my bills, so I am staying put. Electricity does not heat my home, that is done by oil, and again prices are double what they were this time last year. So, the wood is stacked and the chimneys swept, I am not looking forward to this winter.

The Olympic Ideal?

2008-04-09T15:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I found myself wishing that I was in London, so that I could stand on the streets and protest against the violent oppression in relation to the so called "Olympic Ideal". The real story is what is happening and has been happening over many years in Tibet. I remember a Labour Government saying that it would have a so called "ethical" foreign policy, it has been in tatters for many years, but the events of this weekend made me wonder to what extent we are able to voice our concerns about oppression. Why were Chinese security forces allowed to play the role they did in "protecting the Olympic ideal" on the streets of Britain.? Ironically shortly before I was able to see that the Flintshire Conservative Website is being monitored from China - no doubt after my post in relation to Burma on this blog. In all societies "rights" come with "responsibility" for me this is defined as peaceful protest. If you want to support peaceful protest in Tibet then follow this link http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/70.php/?cl=66915543

Local Post Offices

2008-03-19T01:44:00.001-07:00

Local Post Offices are a vital link for communities to access services this is particularly true in Delyn which has a large rural community. Around 65% of rural communities have a Post Office, whereas only 10% have a bank branch. The large majority of rural branches are loss-making and it costs £3 million a week to sustain the rural network however, this does not take into account the additional cost of making sure that services are accessible to the vulnerable, elderly or those with young children who will have to get on a bus or into a car in order to access these services in the future. 85% of the rural population live within 2 kilometres of a Post Office - in urban areas this is 99%. Yet rural post offices are likely to be hardest hit.

The closure programe will not just affect rural communities, with the current price of petrol is it right that in order to access these services car use in rural communities will have to increase, at cost to those who tend to earn lower incomes? This is a clear example of the lack of joined up thinking across Government Departments and shows that delivery of local services and joined up thinking on the environment are not priorities for this Government.

Free Parking?

2008-03-04T01:08:00.000-08:00

The decision to scrap hospital parking charges announced today has exposed a rift between Labour in the Assembly and the Labour Health Minister in London Ben Bradshaw.

Speaking on the BBC radio programme PM he said "We don't think it makes sense to spend money that's currently being spent on patient care, getting people treated faster and better on subsidising car parks - if that's what Scotland and Wales want to do, that's one of the joys of devolution.

"We're spending the money on improving patient care - in Wales, you have to wait much longer for your operation, you have to wait much longer in A+E, you're not going to enjoy the extended GP opening hours that patients in England are soon going to be enjoying. Those are the priorities that we think the English patients are more interested in, rather than subsidising anyone who wants to park in a hospital car park for free."

At Welsh Questions in Parliament this week - we were given the figures namely that 82 patients in England are waiting longer than 13 weeks for their first outpatient appointment. In Wales the figure is 47, 698. The adage there is no such thing as a free lunch comes to mind. What is certain is that the way this has been announced will ensure that hospital trusts face an increase in their deficits and where will this funding shortfall be felt.....I suspect in frontline services.

Bugs

2008-02-05T00:38:00.001-08:00

The fact that the Secretary of State for Justice was unaware for so long whom had authorised the bugging of an MP should be a cause for concern. This country has always been proud of its history of free speech, the question is to what extent that freedom should be limited? The war in Iraq has had a huge cost in human lives, both civilian and military, and is apparently being fought in the name of "democracy" and "freedom". One of the devastating consequences of that war has been the erosion of the rule of law under the banner of "a war on terror". Guantanemo was a shameful example of this and has given dictators the world over the ability to imprison without trial those they suspect of perceived crimes but without wanting to test that evidence in a proper court, with due process. There are always opponents of the State, who may have a different perspective from the Government of the day. When the line is crossed and there is a serious threat to National Security then there is a case for tapping. However the concern over the "Wilson Doctrine" is that control lies in the hands of the Secretary of State. What is to stop a decision that opposition to the policies of the Government of the day are a threat to "National Security". Apparently we have not yet reached the stage that as a former member of Liberty standing in a constituency with a Labour MP who is a Minister in the Justice Department is that going to provide the justification for my phone being tapped. The fact that Jack Straw was unaware of the current bugging incident because the Wilson Doctrine only covers telephone taps is of great concern, where does this leave the home or office of an MP, apparently within the remit of the police. The concern about constituents is one which is properly expressed by MPs. They should be free to tell their Member of Parliament confidential personal information with the expectation of confidentiality in the same way that they could talk to their doctor or lawyer.

The consequences of immigration

2008-01-30T00:34:00.000-08:00

In 2005 we fought the general election on immigration. Conservatives warned of the impact of uncontrolled immigration particularly from the enlarged EU. Every other country imposed restrictions on the numbers of new EU entrants who could enter their countries - but the Labour government in their wisdom estimated that only 14500 immigrants would want to come to the UK. We are now paying the price for that incompetent decision. The estimate is far off the mark with over 500,000 entrants at a guess and we are now paying the price in service provision. Local Councils have warned for years that their ability to provide services is being affected. The lack of Government planning for this influx is also having a dramatic impact on hospital services. This as so many other things highlights not only Labour's inability to get it right, but their lack of strategic ability to plan. It is the ordinary British citizen who is now paying the price. Where is the apology Gordon? It is no use having a "vision for the future" if it is based on a fairytale.

Free to teach?

2008-01-27T15:27:00.000-08:00

I got the call from one of my University friends for a "girls night in" kitchen table supper with friends I hadn't seen for two years. I spent part of the evening chatting to a teacher, who has been teaching 7-10 year olds for the last 13 years. It was fantastic to hear in her voice her enthusiasm and obvious love for her work, but she also told me of the straight jacketing that she finds in her classroom. Kate told me that "it seems we have to turn out identical children, but I cant. What suits one child doesn't suit another. I want the freedom to be able to teach in a way which I know will allow me to bring the best out of all of them, and I know that I would achieve more with the children than the targets I currently have to hit" What was depressing for me was the way in which she said she was "lucky" because her head teacher gave her as much leeway as he could to allow her to go outside the box ticking imposed on other teachers she knew. It was clear that the one size fits all approach did not get her support. Kate was genuinely delighted when I started talking about our education policies and it was clear that having been totally switched off politics before we started talking, suddenly the interest and sparkle was there. What a lovely evening and it has set me up for the week ahead.

Inflation 2%???

2008-01-24T02:24:00.001-08:00

The Government keep telling us that inflation is at 2%. I wonder whether this is in the hope that if they keep saying it they will convince some people to believe it. At a meeting to discuss further increases in the Police Precept element of Council Tax in Flintshire a local man said clearly that in the engineering business that he worked in inflation was running at 7%. The police authority clearly stated to keep their budget at a "like for like" level this year it would need a 10% increase in funds, they have been offered 2.5%. I know that the price of bread from the local baker has gone from 92 pence to 104p, butter has gone from 71p to 85p, electricity and fuel prices continue to rise, as does the cost of heating oil. Watching Prime Minister's questions I was struck by the body language of those sitting behind the PM - their arms and hands crossed - no wonder they look defensive when the PM talks of inflation at 2%. Does the Government really think that the public believe them!!

Trust?

2008-01-23T00:26:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to a Police Authority meeting. A number of Flintshire police officers were there to hear the debate on the proposed rise in the police precept. This discussion comes on the back of the proposed 1.9% settlement on Officers pay. 250 officers from North Wales have taken a day of holiday time to go to London to protest at the breach of trust shown by the Home Secretary. What is now clear is that there was never an intention to stick to the arbitration recommendation. In that case why did the Government agree to go to arbitration? What makes is worse is that officers have had to sit back and watch "back office" staff receive an above 2% pay rise which has been backdated to September. We expect the Police to deal with difficult and dangerous situations every day, this breach of trust by the Government is a betrayal of those officers.

Burmese protesters

2007-09-28T12:44:00.000-07:00

Burma is a country ruled by one of the longest running and most brutal military dictatorships in the world; a dictatorship charged by the United Nations with a “crime against humanity” for its systematic abuses of human rights, and condemned internationally for refusing to transfer power to the legally elected Government of the country – the party led by Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.In response to calls from Burma’s democracy movement, the Burma Campaign UK and other campaign groups around the world have been pressuring companies to sever business ties with Burma.

The protesters in Burma are fighting for the right to live their lives free from oppression, to be able to gather and speak their minds freely. The mere fact of showing disapproval against their government is getting them killed. Stones against guns - they knew what was coming and yet still they gather, still they face their oppressors - knowing that someone's father, or cousin or brother or friend could die. William Hague urged the Government to act 12 months ago calling on the UN to tackle the problem in an article in the Indepedent in June 2006. For more information click onto www.burmacampaign.org.uk. Please contact the companies on their "dirty company" list who prop up and support this brutal regime.

Waste at Flintshire County Council

2007-03-10T05:22:00.000-08:00

Flintshire residents have been hanging their heads in dispair over years of mismanagement and waste by the Labour run Council. Over the last few years there have been damning reports on the lack of accountability by Price Waterhouse Coopers. We are waiting for the next report due out in a couple of weeks - but in the meantime it is clear that the Labour policitcal leadership of the Council appears to have not the slightest clue of how to punch its way out of a paper bag. The latest fiasco sees a further £585,000 being wasted - Flintshire having to pick up the vast majority the "tab" because of their failures. Whose heads have rolled over this?? Have we heard a word of protest from the local Labour AM or MP at the waste of funds - of course not. In the meantime Childsplay nursery a vital service to working families is being cut even though it could make a profit for the council. Despite many of the failings being highlighted by PWC in 2003 they have still not been addressed. Meanwhile rumours abound of further problems and large deficits to come - and once again it will be the ordinary council tax payer in Flintshire that will pay the price.

Labour playing catch up

2007-01-31T13:04:00.000-08:00

Oh dear oh dear, Labour's tired administration really are running out of ideas. Several months ago after our visit to St Kentigern's Hospice Brynford Cllr Matt Wright and I pushed hard for a hospice lobby day in Cardiff. That hospice lobby day took place, Mark Isherwood and a number of others working hard for hospice funding in recognition of the hard work they do. Under the Labour Welsh Assembly staff have faced funding squeezes from Labour's Assembly Government receiving 20% LESS than their English Counterparts for the last few years.

The Conservatives announced a spending commitment of £10 million for hospices in Wales.............seems that Sandy Mewies and Carl Sargeant having failed to recognise the funding hole faced by hospices over the last 3 years have finally caught up. Labour have clearly been reading Conservative policies I am delighted that they have finally recognised the shortfall facing hospices - pity that they have wasted so much on useless bureaucracy in the NHS rather than directing money where it could provide vital care to those who need it. Had Labour adopted the Welsh Conservative Budget there would have been far greater funding.

Prison overcrowding

2007-01-25T01:34:00.000-08:00

It is utterly ridiculous that the Home Office have yet again tried to interfere in the sentencing ability of Judges. It is the job of the Home Office to make sure that there are sufficient prison places for those whose offences mean that they should serve a prison sentence. There is no doubt that the constant interference of the Labour government in Criminal Law has made the current situation much worse. There have been over 3000 new criminal offences created by the Labour Government, combined with increasing interference in sentencing. The flood of sentencing provisions over the last 10 years has resulted in the Government chopping and changing its mind as it struggled to be seen to be doing something - without tackling the real causes of the problems. In order to seem tough on crime the Government has sought to underfund the "community options" available to Judges. This has led to the public, quite rightly being suspicious of a system that appears to fail to tackle criminal offending. The current overcrowding of prisons is a sign that the government failed plan for the consequences of their legislation, and also dramatically affects the possiblity of rehabilitating those who are in prison. The current situation is a disgrace - and the Labour government only has itself to blame.

Battle for Flint Community Hospital

2007-01-14T14:58:00.000-08:00

The battle to save Flint Community Hospital continues. Before Christmas I took Jonothan Morgan AM shadow health minister for the Conservatives in the Assembly to see the fantastic service provided by the hospital to residents in Flintshire. I spoke to local residents and patients at the hospital who pleaded with Jonothon to do something to stop Labour's Welsh Assembly Government policies from closing it. I am delighted Clwyd Community Health Council representatives held a meeting in Flint this week, I spoke to representatives from the Community Health Council many weeks ago. Meanwhile Labour continue to say one thing and do another, not a single Labour AM turned up to listen to local people protesting against the closure when we demonstrated in Cardiff........and of course they voted for this process in the Assembly which is resulting in yet another reorganisation and chaos for local services. Meanwhile Flintshire residents have just 10 days to get their written responses to the local health board make your voice heard....

Jobs Cuts and reduced spending in education

2006-12-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

FACT - Labour's Welsh Assembly Government has cut the funding for Northop Horticultural college by £334,000.

FACT - Despite the fact the budget details should have been given to the College in April 06 they were not informed of the cuts until October by the Assembly Minister

FACT - Redundancies will now follow with the possibility of upto 18 members of staff loosing their jobs.

FICTION - Brown's pre budget statement that he is going to increase capital investment in education. The IFS called his announcement "a highly misleading presentation device" because he overstated the amount he will actually spend.

FACT - The figures mean that the growth of education capital investment is set to fall from 11% to 4.1%.

FACT - there is no new money in Brown's pledge. He has simply added up the numbers in three previous announcements to give a total for investment in education.

FICTION - Sandy Mewies assertion Labour is delivering more jobs, look at staff cuts in Northop college, job losses in the health service and businesses leaving Wales in droves....................

Hospital Closures

2006-11-22T23:10:00.000-08:00

100s of people travelled from North, South ,East and West Wales to the Senedd at Cardiff yesterday in order to protest at the closures of their community hospitals - I joined them in their protest travelling from Flint to Cardiff. Flint hospital is one of many closures. Holywell Cottage hospital is closing on the 25th November. There has been NO consultation - unlike at Flint concerning the closure at Holywell. The Health Trust is indicating the closures will "pay for itself" - the costs of the move being put at £40,000. Is the truth that it will only pay for itself because of staff cuts? As the x ray facility is going to remain at the Cottage patients needing an x ray are going to have to be transported back to the old Cottage hospital site.....services will continue to be split between the two sites. People in Holywell are now aware that the Labour councillor sitting on the LHB did not represent their concerns that the Cottage should remain open until the new hospital was completed, and everyone in Holywell knows that Sandy Mewies may have listened to concerns about the closure of the inpatient facilities - but she has done absolutely nothing about it. Labour have sought to claim all the credit for the new hospital and ignored the fact this was a cross party effort, fought over many many years particularly by Dr Martin Parry.

The pattern of hpspital closures is taking place PRIOR to the new community services being in place. A team of Doctors from Powys Hospital had pushed a hospital bed for 52 miles to bring the point home to Dr Brian Gibbons that his healthcare reforms are badly thought out. The reforms promise to bring patient care closer to home - yet the policy of closing community hospitals runs directly counter to this argument. Was Dr Brian Gibbons there to face the protesters - no he suddenly found a reason to be away from the Assembly not even giving the protesters the courtesy of listening to what they had to say - typical Labour arrogance. And what of Sandy Mewies AM was she there to reflect the concerns of her constituents about the closure of Flint - NO - despite the fact this was a Wales wide protest......

Holywell Hospital

2006-11-16T15:30:00.000-08:00

The petition calling for Holywell Hospital to remain open until the new hospital is built was presented to North East Wales Health Trust. Meeting with chief executive Ms Hilary Kepler and Head of Planning Neil Bradshaw this week I was staggered to learn that prior to the launch of the petition the North East Wales Health Trust had not received any representations from Flintshire County Council officials or representatives calling for the inpatient facilities to remain opem until the new facilities were built. The chief executive Hilary Kepler told her that “Officials from Flintshire County Council were fully aware of the plans to move in patient facilities and the minor injuries unit to Lluesty. We have not received any objections”. Neil Bradshaw and Ms Kepler also confirmed at the meeting that no one had raised the lack of bus facilities to the Lluesty site and the problems this would cause Holywell residents, and those from further afield who did not have access to cars.

Holywell is loosing the inpatient facility at the heart of the community and easily accessible by locals – without anyone raising the concerns of the many people in Holywell who want to see the new site completed before the Cottage hospital in patients and minor injuries unit is closed and its facilities moved to Lluesty. It is a betrayal of the people of Holywell who have supported the Cottage Hospital for so many years that the closure of in patient facilities has been hidden from them. Local residents, who fear any delays in the building works may mean it is years before the new hospital is built

This is going to cause major disruption to staff and patients as well as costing £50,000 to prepare the ward in Lluesty. I am concerned that these plans have been pushed forward in order that the site can be sold. Labour policies appear to be designed to turn hospitals into residential building sites. Flint Cottage hospital is also threatend with closure. Labour policies are seeing bureaucrats rising at three times the rate of new doctors and nurses. Debts increasing and yet bed cuts. Whilst I welcome the new hospital for Holywell it is clear that if Flint Cottage hospital closes there will be a loss of beds overall in Flintshire a position which is being repeated the length and breadth of the UK.

Remembrance Day

2006-11-11T02:44:00.000-08:00

Today I reflect upon the horrors of war - and the great sacrifices made by so many people - not just those who have died, but the injured and the families of those who suffer because war has destroyed their lives.

Rising Debt in Flintshire - how to find help

2006-09-27T00:31:00.000-07:00

Personal debts are rising and this is causing misery to many families struggling to manage their finances. The Citizen's Advice Bureau in Mold has seen a 39% increase in debt enquiries and bankruptcies have nearly doubled in the past year. This has led to a significant increase in housing repossessions. One of the main problems behind these statistics is the lack of affordable housing available to a population in Flintshire that is growing at 3.6% above the Welsh average. There appears to be a lack of co ordinated policy between the planning department and the housing department, with no one being held accountable for the failings in the system. Labour controlled Flintshire Council's housing department is in crisis and has been for some time. Homelessness in the County is rising. The county is also seeing a rise in debt problems amongst pensioners managing credit card and loan debts. Revaluation of peoples housing in order to introduce council tax rises has hit pensioners and those on low incomes hard. A stealth tax that has implications for those struggling on the margins. Once someone is of pensionable age it is very difficult to raise income as pension income is largely fixed. Help is at hand for those struggling to manage debt and those needing help or advice should contact Chris Bailey at Mold CAB.

Andrew Lansley exposes Labour hospital tactics

2006-09-15T03:52:00.000-07:00

Labour's obssession with power over good government was again exposed today. It is disgusting that local residents of good hospitals are going to see their services suffer or close because of the Labour party's desire to hold onto marginal seats. Labour have caused this crisis in the NHS through their dotty policies and by creating armies of bureaucrats. Their mismanagement of the health service should make them hang their heads in shame. The local community hospital in Holywell has seen GPs pull out of the walk in minor injuries unit because Labour allowed GPs to pull out of 24 hour cover when they renegotiated the contracts, this has meant that nurses have had to take up even more responsibilities. It has also worsened the local health board budget because Labour forgot that GPs contracts funded beds in community hospitals - by failing to keep that requirement in the new GP budgets the LHBs now have to pay even more money to GPs. The deficit in Wales is running at £76 million and this years overspend for North East Wales Trust is £9 million. Yet the spend on bureaucrats is 20.2 million. ........................

Labour "the party the party the party"

2006-09-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

The recent actions of Mark Tami and the concern with its effect on "the party" show that what worries Labour is not the policies of governance but the effect on their own positions. I note that David Hanson MP (and Sandy Mewies AM) removed themselves today from the leadership crisis, by attending a photocall in Holywell "announcing" WAG funding for a new hospital at Holywell... coincidentally this funding was also announced before the 2003 Welsh elections by then Health minister in Wales Jane Hutt..........Oh and by coincidence new "funding" from Europe was announced in Blaenau Gwent after the defeat of Labour in their heartlands.....A divided party - no real interest in long term thinking - and concern about their own positions -daily job losses announced in Wales...........positive policies, looking at the long term, being concerned about those they were elected to represent? Long term thinking? I dont think so................

University top up fees

2006-09-05T23:07:00.000-07:00

LABOUR CAN'T CLAIM CREDIT FOR CONSERVATIVE POLICY

According to figures from the university admissions service UCAS more than half of first-year students in Welsh universities will be from Wales, while there has been a fall in the number of Welsh students going to English universities.

Welsh students studying at Welsh universities will not have to pay Labour's top-up fees thanks to a Welsh Conservative motion passed in the National Assembly in May 2005.
I welcome the 7.5% increase in the number of Welsh students attending Welsh universities and that for the first time for many years more than 50% of freshers in Wales will be Welsh. Student debt is a major consideration in determining the choice of university.

It is Conservative policy to provide the access to lifelong learning opportunities for everyone who is able to gain the relevant entry qualification to the higher or further education course of their choice, regardless of their financial circumstance.

Education Minister Jane Davidson must be held to account as to why she and all the other Labour Assembly Members voted against the motion not to introduce 'top-up' fees for students residing in Wales attending Welsh universities. Welsh Conservative policy allows parents to encourage and support their children to aspire to higher and further education. All Welsh students applying to study in Wales have the Welsh Conservatives to thank for being spared the full effects of Labour's tax on learning.

Domestic Violence organisation needs towels and toiletries

2006-08-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

Delyn's Women's Aid - an organisation helping the victims of domestic violence desperately needs towels and toiletries to help women and their children who arrive at the refuges with no personal possessions. If you can help please call 01352 712 150 or post to Delyn Women's Aid Halkyn Street Holywell Flintshire.

Delyn Women’s Aid in Holywell today received confirmation that they will receive 12 months funding from Children in Need for a refuge child worker. Workers at the centre were thrilled with the news that they will receive funding securing the future of Susie Skinner for a further 12 months.

Antoinette Sandbach visiting the centre today said “I am delighted with news of the award which reflects the hard work and dedication of those working at Delyn Women’s Aid in providing help and assistance to the victims of domestic violence. It is vital to remember that children are also victims of domestic violence.“

“it is extremely difficult for mothers to protect their children from ongoing abuse as a result of their obligation to comply with contact orders.

Research shows that the link between domestic violence and child physical abuse can be as high as 60%[1]. At least 750,000 children a year witness domestic violence. Nearly three quarters of children on the “at risk” register live in households where domestic violence occurs” (Dept of Health 2002)

1 in 4 women experience domestic violence in their lifetime with an estimated 12.9 million incidents of domestic violence against women in a year[2]. An average of over 2 women a week are killed by a current or former partner[3]

[1] Study: Humphreys and Thiara 2002
[2] Walby and Allen 2004
[3] Flood-Page 2003

Cuts in education spending in Flintshire

2006-07-27T03:46:00.000-07:00

I noticed that on Friday Sandy Mewies AM handed letters of congratulation to primary school leavers moving up to secondary education at various schools in Flintshire. I was shocked at this blatant attempt to target 11 year olds and ride on the back of their achievements. The real story of education in Flintshire is a cut in capital spending per pupil from £32 a head in 2003-4 to £18 a head in £2004-5. This means that Flintshire is bottom of the table for education spending in wales. This swinging cut is an outrage and a clear breach of Labour's pledge "your child achieving more". Mewies failure to highlight the cuts in the labour controlled Flintshire council education spending indicates that she is not prepared to tackle the issues facing her constituents and is more concerned in covering up the failures of her labour colleagues.