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.

Second homes and public spending in Cornwall

Some mixed messages from Cornwall's Liberal Democrat MPs about second homes and public spending in Cornwall.

Their latest press release claims they "successfully campaigned to reverse the Conservative policy of allowing second homeowners to pay half the council tax that full-time residents pay." In fact, the Labour Government decision to make second home owners pay 90 per cent of full council tax has frequently been cited as a complaint by local Liberal Democrats when arguing that second homes should need change of use planning permission.

The reality is that second home owners can switch their properties to business rates - which are lower than council tax - by identifying them as holiday lets, and these switches have multiplied since second home council tax increased.

Other tax breaks associated with letting second homes have already been ended by Labour in Government from April 2010. So it is laughable that Dan Rogerson MP and Julia Goldsworthy MP's political press releases say they are only now lobbying for this change, which was announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling in the 2009 pre budget report.

What needs to be understood - as no doubt it is by local MPs - is that the business rates which are collected locally - like the tax breaks second home owners will now lose - are central government revenue. That is one reason why I do not support requiring change of use planning permission for second homes. There is a danger that it would reverse the positive impact of the 90 per cent council tax received from some second home owners.

The one exception to this is the local business rates which support Business Improvement Districts - including those in Falmouth and Truro. These support local events and other improvements which benefit the local community and Cornwall's economy.

And as someone who consistently supported the Sustainable Communities Act, I look forward to more detailed reports on public spending in Cornwall.

Who do you trust on Cornwall's economy?

On Saturday, Truro was busy with shoppers. It reminded me that almost a year ago Woolworths closed - the shop now occupying the former Woolworths store in Truro seemed to be doing a brisk trade. However, in Falmouth the former Woolworths store has not yet re-let. The recession is affecting people, places, and businesses in different ways, even within Cornwall. Some places may turnaround more quickly than others, but the latest data suggests Labour's active measures to stop the economy nose-diving into depression are working, and that Labour's real help for people is making a difference.

The local evidence to support this?

1. The new constituency of Truro and Falmouth covers the former Carrick District Council area except for Mount Hawke ward. To enable comparisons over time, the Office of National Statistics still publishes some data for 'Carrick'. The latest unemployment data shows that in October 1,492 people locally were claiming Job Seekers Allowance. This is 2.7% of local people of working age, compared to 4.1% nationally. Three quarters of people who are known to be seeking work are claiming JSA. This is similar to numbers in January 2009 - the number of people out of work fell during the summer season. For every one of the people seeking work, it's an exceptionally difficult time. Despite the recession, long-term unemployment (more than 12 months) is around one quarter what it was in October 1996 before Labour defeated the last Tory government.

It is Labour's investment in Falmouth and Truro which has helped to make that difference. That investment needs to continue through convergence and other funding to maximise new jobs in renewable, digital, and creative industries.

2. Housing. For those waiting for social housing in Cornwall - 3,400 households in Truro and Falmouth - much hangs on the success of Cornwall's bid for new council housing, and other positive future action by the Council. Tucked away at the end of this newspaper article is the news that - thanks to Government action to keep people in their own homes during the recession - the repossessions forecast for this year is now 48,000 rather than 75,000 - and that at 1990s repossession rates, that would have been 91,000. I hope the Treasury will invest more in new council housing as Housing Minister John Healey MP is asking - construction also helps to keep people working. The repossession numbers show how important it is that people facing mortgage difficulties and the frightening prospect of being made homeless find out what help is available - you may be able to keep your home.

Most people will welcome the new legislation to stop fat cat bonuses and ensure that the mistakes and excessive risk-taking of the financial sector are not repeated. Many people would also accept or welcome a new tax on financial transactions such as buying and selling shares - sometimes called the 'Tobin tax'.

There is a need to pay down debt, and Labour's commitment to halve the UK's deficit during the next four years demonstrates seriousness of purpose. I am not going to second guess what will be in the coming pre-budget report. What I want to see for people in Cornwall is continuing investment in jobs and homes, and protection for the lower paid and those like pensioners who are on fixed incomes.

Digital Cornwall, digital economy

Most important of all for Cornwall's digital economy is keeping our infrastructure up to speed with latest developments. Act Now - which was supported by EU Objective One funding - provided almost universal geographical access to broadband in Cornwall, and helped many businesses understand and access the commercial potential of the internet. The legacy of this funding is optimism and confidence among Cornwall's business community - and has helped provide increased resilience through the recession.

As the only UK region to receive EU convergence funding, Cornwall has an opportunity to step ahead of the game with next generation broadband access, and Digital Cornwall is the project that is leading the search for investors to unleash that potential. In Cornwall, and for everyone who wants the UK to accelerate our exit from recession, the Tory shadow spokesperson for the digital industry sounds quaintly twentieth century in his 'urban first' perspective on priorities for investment in next generation infrastructure. Hopefully, commercial investors have more vision.

Cornwall's University - built with Labour's investment - has raised awareness that digital industries across the spectrum from electronics to film and other creative industries have a vigorous contribution to make to Cornwall's new economy. Locally, premises for digital industries relying on next generation infrastructure are already being built into strategic investment frameworks and other plans. This vision is now part of everyday dialogue about planning our economic future in local organisations such as Falmouth Town Forum.

The digital economy Bill included in the Queen's speech will shape the way in which digital industries and communication will be regulated, and covers issues such as protecting copyright on the internet, digital radio, and ensuring the future of regional news. It will provide for regional news consortia to be established and guarantee a plurality of news providers.

In Cornwall, the long-anticipated switchover to digital TV has now been completed. However, ITV's decision to close it's Plymouth studio reduced local TV news coverage in Cornwall. So I welcome steps to provide a new framework within which a plurality of local news providers can flourish, and I hope we will see independent TV / digital channel news in Cornwall.

Cornwall has vibrant local newspapers and other media, which are trusted news sources off and online. We are fortunate too that the University teaches professional broadcasting and journalism. Community radio stations in Cornwall are already taking advantage of the opportunity to broadcast on the internet.

A growing number of elected representatives, candidates, and other opinionated individuals express their views through websites, blogs, and social media. As a politician, I welcome and utilise these relatively openly accessible media. If other candidates agree, the first parliamentary candidate hustings on Twitter will take place in Truro and Falmouth. Another first for Cornwall.