It is a tragedy and failure of the worlds governments that so little support is being given to the people of Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi. She should be freed now and allowed to put her case to the people of Burma. The generals should be forced to allow a free vote and respect the outcome of that vote.
I am sure it would be a landslide for Aung San Suu Kyi.
Lots of Youtube support – but a wall of silence from Gordon Brown and the Labour Government who seem to be more interested in protecting the Speaker of the House.
Check out this You Tube – one of many – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8Yi-YikGbY
Our Conservative administration is finally getting round to introducing same day waste collection. Two years too late really and they campaigned hard during the last administration to oppose same place collection. This could have been done (and was planned for introduction) in 2007. Still better late than never.
Same day collection apart from meeting the first criteria of making it easier for residents has the added bonus of increasing recycling rates by 6%. In addition it will allow flexibility in getting other streams sorted and introduced.
The collection will start on June 8 and residents can find out their new day by typing their post code into www.bathnes.gov.uk/myhouse to find out more.
Our motion to full Council to try and restrict the growth of this airport was defeated last night by the combined forces of Conservative, Labour and Independent Councillors.
The Liberal Democrats called for a halt to growth and challenged the claimed economic benefits and pointed out that unrestrained growth in flying was damaging to our environment. Not to mention the chaos that is already being caused in our small villages in NE Somerset by the passengers driving to the airport.
However this all fell on deaf ears and the Conservatives – lead by Whitchurch Councillor Peter Edwards – amended our motion to turn it into a peon of praise for airport growth and economic benefit without a care in the world for the environment.
Airport expansion is an emotive issue at present. Locally Bristol International Airport are also seeking massive expansion. There seems to be lots of false claims made about airports. One thing for sure though is that they export jobs from an area like ours through the airport with cheap package holidays and encouraging people to buy second homes in remote locations.
I have just signed up to join in with Greenpeace’s beneficial plot of land and have also written to our Prime Minister on the issue:-
Dear Prime Minister
I would like to urge you to change your mind on the third runway and expansion of Heathrow
Airport.
I have joined with thousands of others as a benefial owner of a plot of land in the way of the third
runway.
Air travel cannot be environmentally friendly and should in no way be subsidised. People who fly
should pay the true cost of the flight and that step alone would reduce demand and hence
expansion need.
Emission caps and offsetting schmes simply miss the point – we should not be expanding airtravel
or subsidising it at taxpayer expense.
Please halt your plans on the third runway for Heathrow. There is no shame in listening to
arguement and changing a position based on evidence and demand.
Sincerely,
Paul Crossley
cc: Mr Don Foster, MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A0AA
This Labour government is obsessed with pushing nuclear power onto us. It is not environmentally sustainable, it is not economically viable and it won’t solve global warming. It is pure and simple big business and a Labour lack of will and vision.
Not only have this Labour Government corrupted the planning process to force its nightmare onto us it is also now destroying good clean energy production.
A successful wind farm close to the Lake District national park is one of the sites recently approved by the Government for a new generation of nuclear power plants. The site at Kirksanton in Cumbria – home to the Haverigg turbines – was one of Britain’s first wind farms and is also one of the most efficient.
The site’s owners, local environmental groups and the British Wind Energy Association have spoken out at the lack of early consultation and the speed at which nuclear plants are moving through the planning process. You can read the full story in the Guardian: http://tr.im/jUbp
What a great vote for decency in parliament. Gordon Brown was shown up for his lack of leadership and Phil Woolas for his inability to understand justice. Shame on all the labour MPs who voted against this motion and against Gurkhas who have served our country so well with pride and valour. Surely now the Government will change its rules. For more information the Politics.co.uk website and here and here on the party website.
I signed up to this campaign a long time ago and it is great to see the support from so many members of the public. Joanna Lumley has been great. The decision by the Labour Government this last week is simply shameful. Lets hope MPs of all parties support Nick Clegg’s motion in Parliament.
Thank you so much for your support of the Gurkha Justice campaign. We are overwhelmed by the support the campaign is receiving.
As you may know, on Friday, the Government badly let down the Gurkhas. The new rules they have announced will exclude the huge majority of ex-Gurkhas who retired before 1997 from claiming citizenship in this country. They’ve given five bullet points that virtually cannot be met by the ordinary Gurkha soldier.
It is so obvious that the treatment of the Gurkhas has been a great injustice. To treat them like this is despicable.
The strong reaction by the public and press should show the Government that they simply cannot get away with this outrage.
I’m ashamed of our adminstration. We will be challenging this decision in the courts and in Parliament. We will not stop now.
This is not a party political campaign: it’s simply one for justice. I am so grateful though for immediate support from MPs from all Parties, including amongst others Conservative leader David Cameron and Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg.
Nick Clegg has agreed to put a vote to Parliament this Wednesday calling for a fair deal for Gurkhas. This vote on its own won’t change the Government’s ruling, but would be an overwhelming signal to the Government that they need to think again.
We need all MPs that support the Gurkha justice cause to turn up and vote for a proper deal for Gurkhas on Wednesday. Can I ask that you take a couple of minutes right now to ask your MP to do so?
You can send a message to your MP directly at www.theyworkforyou.com – please ask them to support the Gurkha Justice motion on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, there will also be a Gurkha Justice rally and protest against the Government’s decision, starting at noon in Old Palace Yard, Westminster. Many MPs have already committed to support the vote and join me and others at the rally. I know it’s awfully short notice, but if you can, please do come along as well to add your support.
If you can pass on this message to others as well that would be fabulous – and if they sign up to www.gurkhajustice.org.uk we can keep in touch with them directly in future.
Lastly, again, thank you so much for your support. It means so much to us. I spoke today to Lt Madan Kumar Gurung, who has been at the forefront of the campaign since it began. He said to me that he has no fear for the Gurkhas any more, as he knows the loving hearts of the British people will not let them down. With your support we won’t.
Locally the Conservatives look as though they are building up to another smear campaign. No surprise there then. This time by insinuating that our hardworking MP Don Foster has not been influential in amending and creating law in Parliament.
This follows claims in 2007 election that we were planning fortnightly waste collection – we were not and more recently that we are planning bin taxes – we are not and anyway its the Conservatives in charge. And talking of waste the facts are that since the Tories have been in charge they took away a cardboard collection for the city centre traders, delayed the implementation of same day waste collection by two years and have kicked food waste collection into the long grass.
Dons reply
Dear Mr xxxx,
Thank you for your letter of 6th April.
I can assure you that I have not misled voters by the claims that I have written and amended hundreds of laws during my time as an MP since 1992.
You mention the “Road Traffic reduction Act” but to that can be added the work I did, for example, to make the iTrip legal in this country. (“However, OFCOM agreed to change the “ridiculous” law after a lobbying campaign led by the Liberal Democrat MP, Don Foster which should end the black market.” Evening Standard, 7th December 2006).
Equally, you can add my success in changing the law in respect of civil weddings. (“Moves to relax the rules followed pressure from the LibDem culture Spokesman, Don Foster.” Guardian 21st June 2005)
The majority of successes, however, have come through amendments to Bills.
As you will appreciate, during the passage of a Bill through parliament there are opportunities for proposed amendments to be debated and voted upon during both the “Committee” and “Report” stages. A surprising number of amendments come from the government and these are drafted by officials and their legal advisers. Other MPs are required to draft their own amendments, although they frequently obtain advice on wording from a variety of lobby groups and from the committee clerks.
During my time in parliament I have proposed numerous amendments to the Bill Committees on which I have served. The majority, of course, did not get the support of the government of the day either were lost on a vote or were withdrawn by me after I received assurances in respect of the points raised.
However, many were successful. In some such cases the amendments were accepted as written such as ones that allowed local authority data to be used in identifying people who will benefit from the “Targeted Help Scheme” for digital switchover.
In respect of particular benefits to Bath, you may be aware of the amendments I made to Transport Act 2000 which have allowed us, eventually, to take more active steps to control open top tour buses in the city.
More frequently, Ministers have agreed to the points I have made but asked me to withdraw the amendment so that they can have the wording checked by lawyers and then re-presented at a later stage or for action to be taken along the lines I have proposed.
The following exchange, also from the Transport Act 2000, illustrates such a move;
Keith Hill; “Speaking of cheerfulness brings me to the hon. Member for Bath. He has played a prominent and notable role in our proceedings and never more so than on the issue of tourist buses. I suspect that when he dies, which I hope will not be for many years to come, the phrase “tourist buses” will be found engraved on his heart. He has worked extremely hard to ensure that the topic is brought to our attention.
There is also the question of the fuel duty rebate, a matter of considerable concern to the hon. Gentleman. As he knows—quite possibly better than I do—fuel duty rebate is paid only on certain conditions. He also knows that my officials have recently been making checks in Bath to see whether those conditions are being met by tourist buses. We are looking at the results with our lawyers and if we conclude, as we suspect we may, that not all the conditions are being met, we will take action. I undertake to keep the hon. Member in touch with developments.
I go further than that. I also undertake to review the fuel duty rebate conditions to see whether they meet today’s circumstances, as they should. We may want to make changes. I make no promises as a review must be approached with an open mind, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that it is as a result of his representations in this Committee that I have felt prompted to carry out this review. I hope that, in that knowledge and with that assurance, he will feel able to withdraw the amendment.”
A further example relates to legislation on the Olympics and Paralympics 2012 when I proposed that there even be a change to the title of the Bill to reflect the importance of the Paralympics.
The Minister’s reply shows, again, the process of withdrawal and re-introduction.
The Minister for Sport and Tourism (Mr. Richard Caborn):
On amendment No. 64 and the sentiments expressed by the hon. Gentleman, one of the things that we put very forcefully in our bid was that the Paralympics were coming home, because 1948, when the Olympics took place in London, was, many say, the origin of the Paralympics. I therefore agree in principle with what the hon. Gentleman said. If he withdraws the amendment, I will ensure that it comes back on Report. The lawyers want to look at it, as always, but I am sure that we will not deviate from the words in the amendment. With that assurance, I hope that the hon. Gentleman will withdraw it. We will bring it back on Report.
The Act that subsequently followed does have the wording I proposed.
1.London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006 Added ‘and Paralympic’ to short title
During the debate on this particular Bill I was also able to ensure a number of other changes most notably in respect of the way in which people who were deemed to have made inappropriate use of the Olympic words and symbols were to be treated. In brief, the proposed law would have made such people guilty unless they could prove they were innocent. I persuaded the government to change it to retain the normal approach of innocent until proved guilty.
Yet another example comes from the National Lottery Act 2006 where the exchange from Hansard illustrates the point.
Mr. Foster:In view of those clear assurances, will the Minister explain why in relation to another member being appointed to the commission, there is specific reference in the Bill to
“on the recommendation of the Commission”,
but in relation to the chief executive being appointed, there is no reference to that recommendation? Will the Minister, for example, be willing to table his own amendment to make matters clear?
Mr. Caborn: Yes, I shall consider the point that the hon. Gentleman has raised so there is no misinterpretation of the provision. I have given him a clear assurance, and I shall ask my officials to revisit the provision.
The change was made.
Finally, I will add that there are a number of issues that I have raised which may, or may not, lead to changes in the future. One example relates to the issue of gambling websites that are allowed to advertise within the UK because they are regulated in jurisdictions outside the UK but which the UK “recognises”. Such jurisdictions are called “white-listed” countries. The following extract from a letter dated 7th April this year shows how concerns I have raised are being looked at and may (I am confident will) lead to changes.
“I also note your concerns in respect of recouping the costs of assessing “whitelist” applications. As I said during the debate, I accept that there may be more that we can do through the white listing process, and beyond, to realise greater benefits for the UK from overseas operators. I undertook during the debate to reflect on the issues that the committee raised and I will ensure that we consider these fully before initiating a further “white listing” process. I will report back to parliament before adding any further jurisdictions to the “white list”. (signed Gerry Sutcliffe MP)
I hope that this gives you a flavour of what I have been able to do. However, I hope that you will appreciate that my time is better spent trying to help people rather than researching the archives to compile a detailed list of all of my achievements.
I support the Axe the Beer Tax campaign to save our pubs. The problems with alcohol misuse do not lie at the door of the pub but with the proliferation of supermarket discount schemes making a night out at the pub costly compared to a night in. It is just another example where the Labour Government is not understanding the impact of its policies. A sense of community is worth preserving and local pubs are part of that community.
Our MP Don Foster is a keen supporter of the campaign and was one of only 3 MPs at the campaign launch before Xmas. He is also on the official YouTube campaign video. Liberal Democrats fully support BUT have a range of additional issues that will support local pubs from tackling the pubcos who rip off tenants, minimum pricing to deal with super cheap prices in supermarkets and changes to stakes and prizes on category B3 and C machines.
Below is an email that was sent to many Councillors7
Dear Cllr ,
I am writing to make you aware of the ‘Axe the Beer Tax – Save the Pub’
campaign and to ask you to help.
The pub is a vital hub for many local communities, places where people come
together to socialise, raise money for charity or run sports clubs. Yet six are
closing every day and a record 2,000 pubs have closed in the last year,
resulting in 20,000 job lost.
The campaign has already gained considerable public support and is growing in
momentum. More than 40,000 members of the public have signed up as supporters
to the campaign and about 200 MPs have lent their support, including 95 Labour
and 59 Lib Dems with the Conservatives also launching their own Save the Pubs
Campaign.
The ‘Axe the Beer Tax – Save the Pub’ campaign was launched by the
British Beer & Pub Association and CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) and
has five key demands of Government:
1. Axe plans to increase beer tax by a third
2. Enforce existing laws, not create new ones, to
deal firmly with irresponsible drinkers and premises
3. End the irresponsible promotion of alcohol in
supermarkets, pubs and elsewhere
4. Trust responsible adults to make informed choices
about what they drink, not to punish them for the actions of an irresponsible
minority
5. Support the British pub as a vital part of social
life in local communities
The immediate focus of the campaign is to persuade the chancellor to scrap
plans to impose a 2% above inflation increase in beer tax – even though
already tax amounts to 33% of the price of a pint.
You can help to make the Government think again by:
1. Signing up in support at www.axethebeertax.com/support-us.aspx and urging your colleagues and constituents to sign up too;
2. Contacting your MP and urge him or her to sign
EDM 10 by using our online lobbying tool;
3. Link your blog or website to the Axe the Beer Tax
website and embed our beer taxometer;
4. Use the materials on the Axe the Beer Tax website
(www.axethebeertax.com/downloads.aspx)
to highlight the campaign including using our logos, posters and beer mats etc;
5. Contacting your local pubs to help produce a
petition to Save the British Pub.
If you need any further information, please do get in touch with the campaign
by emailing info@axethebeertax.com.
Many thanks for your support.
Dr David Long
Chief Executive, British Beer & Pub Association
2 years on, will Council finally join ‘Cycle To Work’ scheme?
Keen cyclists Councillor Roger Symonds and Councillor Paul Crossley have been trying for the last 2 years to persuade B&NES Council to sign up to ‘Cycle To Work’ – the Government initiative which offers employees VAT-free bikes, repaid by loans that are exempt from income tax and national insurance, through a salary sacrifice system. The Council does not pay towards the bike and acts only to enable the facility to process through its payroll. It is successfully operated by many local companies and many Councils across the country.
The proposal has also been backed by Bath MP Don Foster. Finally the Council leaders are said to be ‘considering’ the proposal through a feasibility study.
Councillor Crossley (Lib Dem, Southdown) said:
“All employers should be encouraging staff to cycle to work. The more people that cycle, the safer and less congested our roads will be. Cycling is also great for keeping fit!
“The Cabinet has made a big issue of congestion problems in Bath over the last six months, launching a website and advocating infrastructure schemes; however they are ignoring an opportunity to put in place a small-scale, cheap and popular idea which could make a real difference. The Government ‘Cycle To Work’ scheme is a great initiative and the Council is failing in its leadership role by not participating.”
Councillor Symonds (Lib Dem, Combe Down) added:
“The Conservative administration has been dragging its feet on this issue and putting up all sorts of problems that simply show they do not understand. Several employees and Councillors would like to take advantage of the Government initiative. We should be signing up now. At last it looks as though the Council will follow more enlightened employers such as the University of Bath and Bristol City Council where Cyclescheme has been running for years.”
