Dear Letter's editor,
I was pleased to hear that proposals to build 6400 houses, and a new bypass south of Truro may be scrapped (West Briton 8.4.2010). This was a great birthday present for me last Thursday, as well as pleasing news to all of us who do not want to see the environment of Cornwall ruined by excessive development. Let us hope that the council and the new national government cannot find any reasons for implementing the plan. Any development, where possible, must be carried out on ‘brown field sites’, and new housing is built primarily for the local population i.e. affordable, and preferably for rent for the thousands on the housing waiting list.
I was shocked, as indeed many other readers were, by the cost of the plan. It would be quite funny at how public servants get taken for a ride by various
con sultants (sic) if it not so gravely concerning that the bill is paid by us as taxpayers.
While we read that St Julia’s Hospice has to go out shaking tins to find £1 million to provide services for terminally ill people, the tax payer has to fork out over £400,000 for a bunch of con sultants to draw up the Threemilestone Area Action Plan. A straw poll of West Briton readers could easily have told the council that actually local people did not want this development, and subsequently we could have given the money, and similar wasteful expenditure, to Cornwall Hospice Care, other worthwhile causes, and/or at the very least built some affordable homes in our villages and towns.
The misuse of con sultants is well documented in Private Eye and other worthy journals. I am not sure if the excessive use of con sultants has been primarily a New Labour phenomenon (although the financial crunch has forced them to pledge to cut back on this habit–well we’ll see!) or purely a trend of modern management theory (i.e. pass the buck to avoid the blame when it all goes pear shaped). Whichever, or whether it is a mixture of the two, let us hope the council is now shamed into not using consultants anymore, and using its (often highly paid) officers and elected councillors to use their skills, knowledge and experience to make decisions (i.e. what they are paid and/or elected for). We can then use the decreasing amount of public money available to fund useful and sustainable projects which benefit ordinary local people. Anyway…. as your Green MP-that would be what I would tell them they should do!
Friday 16 April 2010
Letter to Western Morning News and West Briton regarding public expenditure and the 'National Insurance' Debate
As a parliamentary candidate I really looked forward to the actual start of the campaign. However, despite a keen interest in current affairs I find the tone of the campaign to date a fundamentally depressing experience.
To illustrate this I will provide the example of the debate over the deficit and national insurance.
The three main parties only seem to vie to be the champion of who can cut public expenditure the most. ‘When’ and ‘How quickly’ are the only questions. No consideration is given to the impact of cuts on ordinary people. Similarly no consideration is given regarding apportioning the blame to those responsible.
What happened is deeply irresponsible. Successive Labour and Tory governments both must share responsibility for the current problems. The Tories failed to support our manufacturing sector in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Its subsequent contraction helped cause the widening gap between tax receipts and money to fund public services. The Tories then sold the ‘family silver’ through privatisation of our assets. The political diaries of politicians on both sides demonstrate it was politically unpalatable to cut public expenditure to pay off the deficit that then accrued. Therefore-despite some efforts by the incoming Labour government in 1997-government metaphorically chose not only to sell the roof over our head through privatisation, but then ‘max out’ on a walletful of credit cards, then carry out expensive balance transfers to keep things ticking over. They allowed the banks and big business to not pay their share of tax through various loopholes and lax regulation. Despite ordinary people paying what tax they could, there is now a gaping hole in the accounts.
There is now a ridiculous debate over National Insurance. As a way of collecting revenue NI contributions, unlike corporation tax, leave big business less ‘wriggle room.’ It is difficult for business leaders to use various creative accounting practices and off shore tax havens to minimise their payments of this tax. No wonder they all are now complaining. Ok for you and me to pay via cuts in public services, as long as they can continue to keep their profits off shore, pay themselves as much as possible and pay as little tax as than can be got away with. The Tories and big business are disingenuous to say this is about jobs. Like the fears spread about the introduction of the minimum wage-they time will show they can absorb the cost.
James Caan- the dragon from the den (or should it be the lair?) stated that the Labour plan would only add £4 to the cost of each employee-hardly enough to cause mass layoffs. The cost to Marks and Spencer of the change(whom Sir Stuart Rose was won of the signatories of the recent much publicised letter against the national insurance rise) would be £10m pa- when they have just paid £15 million as a 'golden hello' to their new boss. The Tory signatories are therefore hardly being honest about their real reasons for their oppostion to the national insurance rise.
Therefore let us have an honest debate not the current misleading tabloid arguments that dominate the discussion. Cutting the deficit should be the responsibility of those who got us into this mess. Banks, the financial sector and big business must pay their share. Those who earn more, have to pay more. There is some room to cut waste in the public sector, but we must protect public services. As the candidate for the Green Party I believe the Green’s are alone in stating this is the real answer to the current situation. Let us be honest about the way forward.
To illustrate this I will provide the example of the debate over the deficit and national insurance.
The three main parties only seem to vie to be the champion of who can cut public expenditure the most. ‘When’ and ‘How quickly’ are the only questions. No consideration is given to the impact of cuts on ordinary people. Similarly no consideration is given regarding apportioning the blame to those responsible.
What happened is deeply irresponsible. Successive Labour and Tory governments both must share responsibility for the current problems. The Tories failed to support our manufacturing sector in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Its subsequent contraction helped cause the widening gap between tax receipts and money to fund public services. The Tories then sold the ‘family silver’ through privatisation of our assets. The political diaries of politicians on both sides demonstrate it was politically unpalatable to cut public expenditure to pay off the deficit that then accrued. Therefore-despite some efforts by the incoming Labour government in 1997-government metaphorically chose not only to sell the roof over our head through privatisation, but then ‘max out’ on a walletful of credit cards, then carry out expensive balance transfers to keep things ticking over. They allowed the banks and big business to not pay their share of tax through various loopholes and lax regulation. Despite ordinary people paying what tax they could, there is now a gaping hole in the accounts.
There is now a ridiculous debate over National Insurance. As a way of collecting revenue NI contributions, unlike corporation tax, leave big business less ‘wriggle room.’ It is difficult for business leaders to use various creative accounting practices and off shore tax havens to minimise their payments of this tax. No wonder they all are now complaining. Ok for you and me to pay via cuts in public services, as long as they can continue to keep their profits off shore, pay themselves as much as possible and pay as little tax as than can be got away with. The Tories and big business are disingenuous to say this is about jobs. Like the fears spread about the introduction of the minimum wage-they time will show they can absorb the cost.
James Caan- the dragon from the den (or should it be the lair?) stated that the Labour plan would only add £4 to the cost of each employee-hardly enough to cause mass layoffs. The cost to Marks and Spencer of the change(whom Sir Stuart Rose was won of the signatories of the recent much publicised letter against the national insurance rise) would be £10m pa- when they have just paid £15 million as a 'golden hello' to their new boss. The Tory signatories are therefore hardly being honest about their real reasons for their oppostion to the national insurance rise.
Therefore let us have an honest debate not the current misleading tabloid arguments that dominate the discussion. Cutting the deficit should be the responsibility of those who got us into this mess. Banks, the financial sector and big business must pay their share. Those who earn more, have to pay more. There is some room to cut waste in the public sector, but we must protect public services. As the candidate for the Green Party I believe the Green’s are alone in stating this is the real answer to the current situation. Let us be honest about the way forward.
Saturday 3 April 2010
Truro and Falmouth Campaign Update (3.4.10)
The fashion seems these days to 'big' up everything. Everyone is doing well, all is on target, the 'positive' is accentuated and the 'negative' is eliminated. So much so it is hard to ever find out the truth.
I do not wish to speak too soon, but we are doing really well here. Our campaign is run on a shoe string budget, and there are a handful of people active in doing things. I do not have any money from Lord Ashcroft or Lord or Lady anyone else for that matter, but so far I can assure supporters the £120 we have invested in leaflets, and the £27 we have raised via selling second hand books on our street stall, has been used to the optimum.
The campaign thus far as consisted of our weekly street stall in either Truro or Falmouth, participating in every hustings event with the other candidates, and writing to the press and participating in the occasional radio interview.
When I got out of bed this morning, and looked outside I really did not feel like driving to Falmouth to stand in the rain and give out leaflets. Yet I summoned up the energy and somehow made it. I keep waiting for the enthusiasm to die down, but people happily take our leaflet, smile, and wish us good luck. When we have the hustings event, there is always a round of applause for at least one response to a question answered. That is often one more than the other candidates-And I do not load the audience with my supporters or Green Party members (We should be so lucky!).It is all very inspiring, and I really hope the message is getting through.
There needs to be a major change in this country. Indeed on this earth if we are to survive. The current situation is unsustainable, the answers offered by the major parties will solve nothing-tinkering around the edges at the most, totally screwing everything up even more at worst. How can they all want to cut public services to death? Why have they all forgotten that the bankers have taken us all to the cleaners? (News today: Bob Diamond at Barclays denies getting £6m a year...it was only £250,000 pa he says)! Why is there still this urge to make the vast majority of us suffer for the financial collapse yet nobody is saying that tax loopholes for big business cost the revenue millions and millions a year in lost revenue?
I do however think the ordinary people walking through Falmouth this morning do realise it. I am ever grateful for the thanks I have received for my letters to the West Briton, and the strong belief that the messages of the main political parties are all the same and that people may..just may vote Green this time around. Let us hope that is the case.
Hustings events:
Truro Town Hall Boscawen Street 6pm 20/4/10 (If you show up say I invited you!)
Hall For Cornwall 7pm 22/4/2010 (contact West Briton for tickets)
All Saints Church, Higher Town Truro 25/4/2010
Any Questions Radio Cornwall 28?/4/2010
Possible date for Election 6/5/2010-please vote in your 1000's!
There are weekly articles by all the candidates in the West Briton.Please read and show your support.
I do not wish to speak too soon, but we are doing really well here. Our campaign is run on a shoe string budget, and there are a handful of people active in doing things. I do not have any money from Lord Ashcroft or Lord or Lady anyone else for that matter, but so far I can assure supporters the £120 we have invested in leaflets, and the £27 we have raised via selling second hand books on our street stall, has been used to the optimum.
The campaign thus far as consisted of our weekly street stall in either Truro or Falmouth, participating in every hustings event with the other candidates, and writing to the press and participating in the occasional radio interview.
When I got out of bed this morning, and looked outside I really did not feel like driving to Falmouth to stand in the rain and give out leaflets. Yet I summoned up the energy and somehow made it. I keep waiting for the enthusiasm to die down, but people happily take our leaflet, smile, and wish us good luck. When we have the hustings event, there is always a round of applause for at least one response to a question answered. That is often one more than the other candidates-And I do not load the audience with my supporters or Green Party members (We should be so lucky!).It is all very inspiring, and I really hope the message is getting through.
There needs to be a major change in this country. Indeed on this earth if we are to survive. The current situation is unsustainable, the answers offered by the major parties will solve nothing-tinkering around the edges at the most, totally screwing everything up even more at worst. How can they all want to cut public services to death? Why have they all forgotten that the bankers have taken us all to the cleaners? (News today: Bob Diamond at Barclays denies getting £6m a year...it was only £250,000 pa he says)! Why is there still this urge to make the vast majority of us suffer for the financial collapse yet nobody is saying that tax loopholes for big business cost the revenue millions and millions a year in lost revenue?
I do however think the ordinary people walking through Falmouth this morning do realise it. I am ever grateful for the thanks I have received for my letters to the West Briton, and the strong belief that the messages of the main political parties are all the same and that people may..just may vote Green this time around. Let us hope that is the case.
Hustings events:
Truro Town Hall Boscawen Street 6pm 20/4/10 (If you show up say I invited you!)
Hall For Cornwall 7pm 22/4/2010 (contact West Briton for tickets)
All Saints Church, Higher Town Truro 25/4/2010
Any Questions Radio Cornwall 28?/4/2010
Possible date for Election 6/5/2010-please vote in your 1000's!
There are weekly articles by all the candidates in the West Briton.Please read and show your support.
Discust at Cornwall Council and Diocese of Truro Decision to sell Devoran Old School to Private Developer
Letter to West Briton Re: Village Anger as old school sale proceeds
It is appalling that the Diocese of Truro and Cornwall Council have accepted a private bid to purchase Devoran Old School against the wishes of the people of Devoran. The authority’s decision is made even more disgraceful because the building was originally gifted to the village for educational purposes, and this is specifically noted in the property's deeds (West Briton 25.3.2010).
I always thought Cornwall Council’s purpose was to serve the people of Cornwall. I also understood the Tory led administration made their intentions clear to improve our lives according to what people wanted, after four years of Liberal Democrat control? Seems this is an example of politics as usual.? I hope the people of Cornwall will remember this latest let down, when they are asked to vote shortly.
As for the Diocese they should be utterly ashamed of themselves. Has it forgotten what is written in the Bible? What would Jesus think of this decision? I seem to remember the Bible story of Jesus turning the traders and money lenders out of the temple. Here the church has clearly put profit before the needs of the local community, has totally ignored the wishes of the benefactors, and gone against what is legally outlined in the deeds of the property. If there is a God, may these decision makers be judged come their time.
This decision again highlights what we have seen time and time again. Our villages and towns are having their souls ripped out by those looking for a quick buck and there is a complete lack of planning controls to protect local communities. This is a clear case of the needs of the local population being ignored-even with the consequence that Devoran may become no more than a dormitory for the commuters to work in Truro.
It does not look like this latest ‘property deal’ is yet complete. This building should be used for the local people at least as a community space, and preferably according to the wishes of the family which originally donated it. We should all show our support to this community. All parishioners of the Church of England should write to the Bishop in protest, and if necessary boycott church services. I will personally be writing to the Bishop, and we should all do the same. The church must ensure this decision is reversed before it is too late. As electors we must remember the Tories have not changed despite the spin, image change and the public relations work Cameron is trained in. We all need to remember this as another example why not to vote for them in the general election. If I am elected as your MP I would do my utmost to protect our village and town communities from those who are only too keen to put profit before the needs of the community.
If you feel strongly about this issue please email your local councillor via Cornwall Council's website (cornwall.gov.uk) Also email the Bishop of Truro via (www.trurodiocese.org.uk). Information on the issues can also be found via the Devoran Village Website at http://www.devoran.org.uk/Devoran/index.htm
It is appalling that the Diocese of Truro and Cornwall Council have accepted a private bid to purchase Devoran Old School against the wishes of the people of Devoran. The authority’s decision is made even more disgraceful because the building was originally gifted to the village for educational purposes, and this is specifically noted in the property's deeds (West Briton 25.3.2010).
I always thought Cornwall Council’s purpose was to serve the people of Cornwall. I also understood the Tory led administration made their intentions clear to improve our lives according to what people wanted, after four years of Liberal Democrat control? Seems this is an example of politics as usual.? I hope the people of Cornwall will remember this latest let down, when they are asked to vote shortly.
As for the Diocese they should be utterly ashamed of themselves. Has it forgotten what is written in the Bible? What would Jesus think of this decision? I seem to remember the Bible story of Jesus turning the traders and money lenders out of the temple. Here the church has clearly put profit before the needs of the local community, has totally ignored the wishes of the benefactors, and gone against what is legally outlined in the deeds of the property. If there is a God, may these decision makers be judged come their time.
This decision again highlights what we have seen time and time again. Our villages and towns are having their souls ripped out by those looking for a quick buck and there is a complete lack of planning controls to protect local communities. This is a clear case of the needs of the local population being ignored-even with the consequence that Devoran may become no more than a dormitory for the commuters to work in Truro.
It does not look like this latest ‘property deal’ is yet complete. This building should be used for the local people at least as a community space, and preferably according to the wishes of the family which originally donated it. We should all show our support to this community. All parishioners of the Church of England should write to the Bishop in protest, and if necessary boycott church services. I will personally be writing to the Bishop, and we should all do the same. The church must ensure this decision is reversed before it is too late. As electors we must remember the Tories have not changed despite the spin, image change and the public relations work Cameron is trained in. We all need to remember this as another example why not to vote for them in the general election. If I am elected as your MP I would do my utmost to protect our village and town communities from those who are only too keen to put profit before the needs of the community.
If you feel strongly about this issue please email your local councillor via Cornwall Council's website (cornwall.gov.uk) Also email the Bishop of Truro via (www.trurodiocese.org.uk). Information on the issues can also be found via the Devoran Village Website at http://www.devoran.org.uk/Devoran/index.htm
Green research jobs for Cornwall is good news
I was pleased to read your article ‘Scientists will help to boost local economy’ (West Briton April 1 2010). The news that Cornwall is to become Europe’s first research hub to examine the relationship between human health and the environment is just what Cornwall needs. The new high skilled jobs, with hopefully a ‘knock on’ effect for local business, will help to stimulate our economy and hopefully ensure there are highly skilled jobs for local (and particularly our young) people.
The Green Party totally supports initiatives such as this, and the funding from the European Union shows how EU membership can be (sometimes) a force for the good. The Green Party’s ‘Green Party New Deal’ would provide investment and jobs in the ‘new economy’ such as these. Britain has the potential to become the leader in environmental research, research and development of renewable energy, and other ‘new’ industries. This would be a much better use of government investment and support rather than the UK’s current reliance on banking, the financial and service sectors- a reliance that has got us into our current financial troubles. Anyway well done Cornwall for getting this investment, and nice to read some good news for once!
The Green Party totally supports initiatives such as this, and the funding from the European Union shows how EU membership can be (sometimes) a force for the good. The Green Party’s ‘Green Party New Deal’ would provide investment and jobs in the ‘new economy’ such as these. Britain has the potential to become the leader in environmental research, research and development of renewable energy, and other ‘new’ industries. This would be a much better use of government investment and support rather than the UK’s current reliance on banking, the financial and service sectors- a reliance that has got us into our current financial troubles. Anyway well done Cornwall for getting this investment, and nice to read some good news for once!
Not even a Waitrose for Truro PLEASE!!
When I read your article ‘Duchy of Cornwall working with Waitrose to open Store’ (West Briton April 1) I thought I had finally spotted your April Fool’s joke on your readers. I am still not totally convinced it is not a joke, but thought to write just in case……..!
If the article is not a hoax, it looks like Waitrose and the Duchy’s PR departments have gone into overdrive since your article on March 4th. I know Waitrose is every middle class, liberal minded person’s favourite supermarket (including mine even though it is rather expensive). Their community minded, profit sharing ethos, sale of Fair Trade and organic goods etc. is all rather appealing . However all the right press release buzz words and phrases such as ‘sustainable’, ‘affordable homes’, ‘unique and innovative’, ‘recycling’ ‘unique and innovative scheme to boost Cornish Farmers and producers’ etcetera is not going to convince this Green minded person that this is A Good Idea. They can put a windmill on the roof, have charging points for electric cars, and even a system to recycle waste water and heat, and it still will not convince me and many others, although they are obviously doing their best to get a few minds wavering.
So let us remember the facts. New supermarkets whether they are Waitrose, Tesco or Asda tend to have the effect of killing local businesses and reducing consumer’s choices. Building on this site will cause significant ongoing traffic congestion. To build on green field land when we already have more than enough supermarkets in Truro is wrong, wrong, wrong.
So Prince Charles, if you are reading this, remember if you do have a green conscience tell the managers of your estate this decision is wrong and must not go ahead. Support local business rather than large corporations, plant some trees on the land and let nature get on with it. Truro is big enough and even a Waitrose does not convince many of us that this land should be developed.
If the article is not a hoax, it looks like Waitrose and the Duchy’s PR departments have gone into overdrive since your article on March 4th. I know Waitrose is every middle class, liberal minded person’s favourite supermarket (including mine even though it is rather expensive). Their community minded, profit sharing ethos, sale of Fair Trade and organic goods etc. is all rather appealing . However all the right press release buzz words and phrases such as ‘sustainable’, ‘affordable homes’, ‘unique and innovative’, ‘recycling’ ‘unique and innovative scheme to boost Cornish Farmers and producers’ etcetera is not going to convince this Green minded person that this is A Good Idea. They can put a windmill on the roof, have charging points for electric cars, and even a system to recycle waste water and heat, and it still will not convince me and many others, although they are obviously doing their best to get a few minds wavering.
So let us remember the facts. New supermarkets whether they are Waitrose, Tesco or Asda tend to have the effect of killing local businesses and reducing consumer’s choices. Building on this site will cause significant ongoing traffic congestion. To build on green field land when we already have more than enough supermarkets in Truro is wrong, wrong, wrong.
So Prince Charles, if you are reading this, remember if you do have a green conscience tell the managers of your estate this decision is wrong and must not go ahead. Support local business rather than large corporations, plant some trees on the land and let nature get on with it. Truro is big enough and even a Waitrose does not convince many of us that this land should be developed.
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