This is my reply sent to the 'Back the Pub' campaign in support of Cornwall's pubs:
"As Labour's prospective MP in an area with some excellent local breweries, and pubs which are at the heart of some of our local communities, I am supporting CAMRA's 'beer drinkers and pub goers charter'.
I warmly welcome Labour Minister for Pubs John Healey MP's recent announcements helping community pubs.
I also actively supported the move to ban smoking in public places because of the clear evidence related to the negative health impacts of passive smoking on industry workers and non-smokers in a smoke-filled environment, and I will continue to do so."
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Why I want the job of being your MP
As Parliament was dissolved yesterday, people paid tribute to Matthew Taylor, who was the MP for Truro and St Austell for 23 years. When Matthew Taylor announced in 2007 he was standing down at the end of this Parliament, he said that the biggest thing he had achieved as an MP was the A30 Goss Moor by pass.
If I can do one thing as your future MP, it will be to bring together the investment that is needed for the dredging and development of Falmouth docks to make Falmouth's economy more sustainable, lifting the town's economy to the same level as Truro. This is what I said when I was interviewed recently on the BBC Politics Show (11 April broadcast, last report); the editors cut it.
Achieving this for Falmouth has the support of Labour in Government and Cornwall Council are a partner in the proposals. It will help to support the development of wave power and renewable energy as a new local industry.
Everybody understands that an MP of the Party of Government is more likely to be pushing on an open door.
Falmouth can't afford to wait 20 years for the economic development we need. Labour can win Truro and Falmouth on a swing like that which made Julia Goldsworthy MP in 2005.
If I can do one thing as your future MP, it will be to bring together the investment that is needed for the dredging and development of Falmouth docks to make Falmouth's economy more sustainable, lifting the town's economy to the same level as Truro. This is what I said when I was interviewed recently on the BBC Politics Show (11 April broadcast, last report); the editors cut it.
Achieving this for Falmouth has the support of Labour in Government and Cornwall Council are a partner in the proposals. It will help to support the development of wave power and renewable energy as a new local industry.
Everybody understands that an MP of the Party of Government is more likely to be pushing on an open door.
Falmouth can't afford to wait 20 years for the economic development we need. Labour can win Truro and Falmouth on a swing like that which made Julia Goldsworthy MP in 2005.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Vote match - vote yellow, get blue
The Vote Match website is designed to help people work out which Party best reflects their individual policy priorities.
Those who, like me, are immersed in campaigning everyday for one Party may feel that the questions don't reflect all of the issues people raise most frequently with candidates. There are some policy gaps in the issues covered by the questions.
Even so, it is a useful ready reckoner. I worked through the questions and was unsurprised by my results.
The closest match for me, of course, is Labour. Nor was I surprised - as someone who feels strongly about the environment and local community empowerment - to find that a long way behind Labour the Green Party was my second closest match.
What the survey confirms is the widening policy gulf between Labour and the Liberal Democrats - who match just 40 per cent of my priorities as a Labour candidate, the same as the Conservatives.
For anyone wanting to keep the Tories out, and undecided between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, this quiz is a wake up call and reality check of just how close Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats in Cornwall really are to the Blues.
Those who, like me, are immersed in campaigning everyday for one Party may feel that the questions don't reflect all of the issues people raise most frequently with candidates. There are some policy gaps in the issues covered by the questions.
Even so, it is a useful ready reckoner. I worked through the questions and was unsurprised by my results.
The closest match for me, of course, is Labour. Nor was I surprised - as someone who feels strongly about the environment and local community empowerment - to find that a long way behind Labour the Green Party was my second closest match.
What the survey confirms is the widening policy gulf between Labour and the Liberal Democrats - who match just 40 per cent of my priorities as a Labour candidate, the same as the Conservatives.
For anyone wanting to keep the Tories out, and undecided between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, this quiz is a wake up call and reality check of just how close Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats in Cornwall really are to the Blues.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
The grand national
For months the Liberal Democrats have spouted the language of bookies at the grand national, shouting two or three horse odds.
Nationally, as the general election started, Nick Clegg claimed lamely that it's a three horse race.
Reality message to Nick Clegg - here in Falmouth and Truro your vote is roughly divided between those who would rather have a Tory, and those who would rather have a Labour Government.
In this constituency, seven candidates have so far declared. Only one, like Ophelia, prays for remembrance, claiming that this time it's a two horse race - and, occasionally, crys in the wind that this must be a safe seat for the joke Party.
As Labour's candidate I make no apology for being in touch with reality. This is a three way seat. A swing to Labour of similar proportions to that which led to Julia Goldsworthy's election in 2005 will return a Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth.
Nationally, as the general election started, Nick Clegg claimed lamely that it's a three horse race.
Reality message to Nick Clegg - here in Falmouth and Truro your vote is roughly divided between those who would rather have a Tory, and those who would rather have a Labour Government.
In this constituency, seven candidates have so far declared. Only one, like Ophelia, prays for remembrance, claiming that this time it's a two horse race - and, occasionally, crys in the wind that this must be a safe seat for the joke Party.
As Labour's candidate I make no apology for being in touch with reality. This is a three way seat. A swing to Labour of similar proportions to that which led to Julia Goldsworthy's election in 2005 will return a Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Free theatre tickets for under-26s
Last year a consortium of venues in Cornwall participated in a Labour government scheme to make free theatre tickets available to people up to the age of 26. The scheme was launched through online videos featuring Eddie Izzard, photographed here at Labour's annual conference.
So I was delighted to see the Arts Council continue this approach in 2010, with some of Cornwall's arts venues taking part again.
It's easy to forget that many young people may never have seen a live performance in a theatre, even though TV and computers are part of their everyday life. Also, as people cut back on non-essential spending during the recession we are now edging out of, some theatres and arts venues saw audience numbers fall as a result. This scheme helps both.
Friday, April 02, 2010
The lobbyists' bombardment hopefully reaches it's crescendo
Why do lobbyists bombard parliamentary candidates with an avalanche of letters and e-mails as we get closer to the time when an election must be called?
This is a genuine question because the one thing that is certain is that any prospective MP who is actively seeking election will reply first to constituents' enquiries. We are too busy just now to sit with our feet up browsing through a paper mountain of glossy brochures.
I have a simple message for lobbyists. I am seeking election to represent people in Cornwall - or at least, people in the new three way Truro and Falmouth constituency. This includes the local business community.
As a candidate and if I am elected as MP I will not reply positively to lobbying requests to lend my support to any purely commercial interests.
I will always put my community first.
Where constituents approach me asking me to support causes, some of which are led by charities and voluntary associations, I am lending some of these causes my support.
Some contacts made through charities - for example, an excellent briefing I attended on dementia and carers after being contacted by the Alzheimers Society - improved my understanding of issues affecting many people in this constituency, and that is something I appreciate.
Overall, lobbyists might engage the attention of future MPs more readily if they contact prospective candidates - or newly elected MPs - at any other time.
This is a genuine question because the one thing that is certain is that any prospective MP who is actively seeking election will reply first to constituents' enquiries. We are too busy just now to sit with our feet up browsing through a paper mountain of glossy brochures.
I have a simple message for lobbyists. I am seeking election to represent people in Cornwall - or at least, people in the new three way Truro and Falmouth constituency. This includes the local business community.
As a candidate and if I am elected as MP I will not reply positively to lobbying requests to lend my support to any purely commercial interests.
I will always put my community first.
Where constituents approach me asking me to support causes, some of which are led by charities and voluntary associations, I am lending some of these causes my support.
Some contacts made through charities - for example, an excellent briefing I attended on dementia and carers after being contacted by the Alzheimers Society - improved my understanding of issues affecting many people in this constituency, and that is something I appreciate.
Overall, lobbyists might engage the attention of future MPs more readily if they contact prospective candidates - or newly elected MPs - at any other time.
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