Thoughts From North Durham - David Skelton's Blog

Yesterday Showed New Labour's Detachment From Ordinary Working People

2010-04-29T02:19:00.000-07:00

Gordon Brown's actions yesterday were reprehensible. His attack on a lifelong Labour supporter as a "bigoted woman" showed the difference between public and private actions for the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister's actions showed quite how detached New 'Labour' has become from lifelong Labour voters and ordinary hard working people. It is no wonder that thousands of lifelong Labour voters are set to desert Labour in seven days time.

The truth is that New 'Labour' has comprehensively ignored the people who have formed the electoral base of the Labour Party since its formation. All too often, New 'Labour' has taken its core vote for granted and watched as the national economy grew more unbalanced, inequality grew wider and bankers in the city of London grew richer. All too often, New 'Labour' has turned a blind eye to the feelings of ordinary, working class voters in Labour heartlands - leading to a high level of political disenchantment and disengagement in working class areas.

Yesterday illustrated starkly and utterly the gap between New 'Labour' and working class people. It showed how far the Labour Party has been driven away from its roots and values by Gordon Brown, so it now represents something that barely resembles the values based party of 1945. It shows how far Brown and Blair moved the party away from the proud roots of Hardie, Bevin, Bevan and Morrison. Whereas the Labour Party used to stand for and listen to ordinary, working class voters, the new beast of New 'Labour' treats their views with contempt.

The issue of immigration is a massive issue on the doorstep. It needs a proper response and real action - notably Conservative proposals for a clear annual limit and a Border Police Force. What it doesn't need is people like Gordon Brown looking down their nose at ordinary, hard working people.

The Second Debate Should Be On Terrestrial TV

2010-04-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

TV debates have already become part of the furniture of British elections. I have often said that it is quite right that a democracy such as ours has televised debates between party leaders. They are a crucial part of engaging the electorate in the political arena.

Plenty of people I'm speaking to on the doorstep are telling me that they will be watching the final two debates as they decide who to vote for. People in the shops of Sacriston and Chester-le-Street, where I was canvassing today, were talking about the debate to come on Thursday with a fair degree of anticipation (a good example of how debates are crucial to the process of re-engaging the public in politics).

What quite a few people don't realise is that the second televised debate isn't actually going to be on terrestrial television. As the scandal of test match cricket being shown only on Sky has shown, events not being televised on terrestrial TV gain far smaller audiences.

It surely isn't too late for BBC or ITV to reschedule some programmes and put the second debate on terrestrial TV. It is only right that such an important event is broadcast to as wide an udience as possible.

Campaign Day 10 - A Conservative Surge In The North East

2010-04-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

Only three weeks to go and there remains a strong desire for change in North Durham. Our canvass returns continue to show that well over 50% of respondents will either vote Conservative or strongly consider voting Conservative on May 6th.

And what we are finding on the ground is backed up by a recent You Gov poll, discussed by Lord Bates today. The poll shows that Labour support has fallen by more in the North East than in any other region of the country. It also shows that Conservative support has surged in the North East and that Liberal Democrat support has plummeted in our region since 2005.

This confirms what we are finding when we are canvassing on the doorsteps of North Durham. Firstly, there is a real sense of betrayal at a 'Labour' Government that so many people placed so much faith in thirteen years ago. This Government has ignored the North East and done nothing for ordinary, hard working people. Under this Government decisions are made by distant bureaucrats in London and Whitehall, who have no knowledge or understanding of our region. Secondly, the poll confirms that the Liberal Democrat is falling flat on the doorstep. People realise that the election is a choice between real change and four more years of Gordon Brown.

Please feel free to add comments. You can donate to my campaign for change in North Durham via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

Campaign Day 9 - Brown's Apology Over Banks Doesn't Go Far Enough

2010-04-14T14:32:00.000-07:00

Yet another gloriously sunny day in North Durham today. Very positive canvassing, interrupted only by some top class food in Ashley Tea Rooms at lunchtime and some very competitive games of pool later on in the afternoon. People remain very eager for change.

Today's admission by Gordon Brown that he has made mistakes over the regulation of bankers is welcome but all too late. Brown's mistakes and lack of banking regulation meant that reckless bankers brought the economy to its knees. Under Brown, nationalised and part-nationalised banks have continued paying outrageous bonuses and have failed to meet their obligation to lend to small and medium sized businesses.

Words from Gordon Brown are not enough. Gordon Brown spent 13 years cosying up to the banks and allowing our economy to become terribly unbalanced in favour of financial services. His lack of regulation created the conditions for the banking crisis. In the same time, we have seen over 95,000 manufacturing jobs lost in our region alone and the economic gap between the North East and other regions has grown.

We need a levy on the banks and international agreement on a global levy on the banks. We need bold leadership over financial regulation and bold leadership to get the back for taxpayers every penny we put in to rescue the banking sector.

Please feel free to leave comments. If you would like to donate to my campaign, you can do so here: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

Campaign Day 8 - A Radical Decentralisation Of Power From London And Whitehall To Our Communities

2010-04-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

Another very positive day of campaigning across North Durham – with plenty of lifelong Labour voters saying that they are ready to vote for change and a strong local voice come May 6th.

I popped down to the North Eastern launch of the manifesto at Cullercoats, where there was a real buzz in the air – a real sense of enthusiasm and excitement. The manifesto contains a very central idea – trusting the people.

It is based on the idea that power should be redistributed from London and Whitehall to local communities and local people. In the North East, politicians in London have ignored our region for too long. We need passionate North Eastern representatives in Parliament to stand up for our region and our area. And we also urgently need to kind of radical decentralisation of power from Whitehall to local people set out by the Conservatives today.

Please feel free to add comments. You can donate to my campaign for change via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

Campaign Day 7 - Tackling Anti Social Behaviour In North Durham

2010-04-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

The first week of the campaign is almost over and the sun is still shining in North Durham. If the weather continues at this rate, I might end up getting a tan by the end of the campaign.

As well as canvassing and leafleting today, I spent some time talking to Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling MP, on a visit to the North East today, about the problems of anti social behaviour in North Durham.

North Durham has one of the highest rates of anti social behaviour in the country and the highest ASBO breach rate in the country. People from across the constituency have told me how their life has been badly affected by the menace of anti social behaviour.

That is why, as Chris Grayling, set out to me today, Conservatives will take tough measures to crack down on the anti social behaviour that affects ordinary, hard working people the most. . This includes giving the Police the power to take instant action against troublemakers and louts, including the power to confiscate items. He also outlined measures to ensure that the Police spend more time on the beat and less time filling in forms.

We need to take real action to fight back against anti social behaviour and reclaim our streets from louts. We need to stop the anti-social minority making life a misery for the hard working majority.

Why Should We Believe Brown's Promises After Years Of Failure To Deliver?

2010-04-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

I’m reading an excellent book at the moment by Giles Radice, the former MP for North Durham, about Clement Attlee’s Government, called ‘The Tortoise and The Hares’. Clearly, Gordon Brown was trying to take a bit of the magic of that great reforming 1945 Government, with the front cover of the Labour Manifesto harking back to the imagery of 1945 and some pre-war Labour posters. Well, Gordon, it takes more than a picture. One of the worst post war Governments has a bit of cheek in trying to compare itself with one of the best.

Where Attlee, Bevin, Cripps and Bevan presided over lasting and necessary social reform, Brown, Balls and Harman have presided over economic collapse and widening inequality. Under Gordon Brown’s stewardship, manufacturing industry has shed almost a million jobs while the highly paid gamblers in the City of London were given total licence to carry on with irresponsible folly and bring the economy to its knees. At the same time, the North-South divide has worsened, social mobility has stalled and unemployment has increased.

Brown may have promised radical reform today, but why should we believe it any more than the promises made in 1997 (anybody remember the promise of a referendum on PR in 1997 - repeated this year or the promise of House of Lords reform) or the promise of full employment made in the 2005 manifesto. Why should we trust Gordon Brown to be a reformer of public services when he constantly blocked Tony Blair's attempts at reform?

To put it another way, why should we trust Labour to undertake radical reforms when Gordon Brown has failed to deliver that reform in the past 13 years?

Day 6 - We Must Do All That We Can To Tackle Youth Unemployment

2010-04-11T09:59:00.001-07:00

It has been a glorious day today in North Durham. Hopefully this sunny weather will continue all the way through to May 6th.

One of the biggest tragedies of Gordon Brown's recession is the impact it has had on young people. We now have the highest level of youth unemployment in Europe. Over a million young people are not in education, employment or training. This is a national disgrace. The Conservatives have made it clear that a key priority in Government will be tackling youth unemployment.

200,000 new apprenticeships will be created over two years, as well as 100,000 extra work pairings and 100,000 additional Further Education places. Young people will also be given expert careers advice and quickly assigned to relevant training courses.

We need to ensure that the young people who are out of work because of the recession do not become a 'lost generation'. We must do all that we can to make sure that out of work young people are given every opportunity to fulfil their potential. Anything less would be a betrayal of our nation's future.

Please feel free to add comments. If you would like to donate to my campaign, you cn do so via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

Day Four - Time To Make A Move Towards Genuine Fairness

2010-04-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

Yet another great day of canvassing in North Durham. The weather has behaved itself so far in the campaign and there has been very sunny response on the doorstep.

People across North Durham tell me that the Labour Party that has governed for the past 13 years isn't the Labour Party that they grew up with. Since 1997, the economic gap between the North East and other regions has grown. In the past 2 and a half years, unemployment has increased by 140% in North Durham. In the same time, the gap between rich and poor has widened and social mobility has stalled. Manufacturing industry has been weakened, while the Labour Government was busy unbalancing the economy in favour of super rich bankers in the City.

I have already written about the obscene reward packages in the banking sector. This is particularly obscene given that bankers still owe the taxpayer money for rescuing the banks from their folly.

There are also other elements of unfairness and inequality in society that a Government must address. One of these is the discrepancy in public sector pay, with the people at the top of public sector organisations being paid a ludicrous amount out of the public purse and a multiple considerably higher than the lowest paid people in that organisation. This kind of unfairness and inequality needs to change.

That is why the pay of public sector chiefs should be linked to the lowest paid person within their organisation. That is why David Cameron announced today that a Fair Pay Review will be established to consider pay inequality in the public sector. The Fair Pay Review will be asked to introduce a pay multiple so that no public sector boss can earn over twenty times more than the lowest paid person in their organisation.

The country has become less fair and less equal under a Labour Government. It is time to take some steps to create a society that is fairer and more equal.

Please feel free to leave comments. If you want to donate to the campaign for change in North Durham, you can do so via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

The Best Sporting Weekend Of The Year?

2010-04-08T07:34:00.001-07:00

The first weekend of the election campaign also happens to be one of the vintage sporting weekends of the season. Timing of door knocking has to be fairly carefully watched this weekend.

The US Masters at Augusta has been even more keenly anticipated than usual this year, with the might Tiger Woods making his long awaited comeback to golf following his much publicised personal problems. I have always said that Tiger should be judged by his golf alone and I have no doubt that he will let his golf do the talking this weekend. The Masters always creates sensational drama and excitement and I have little doubt that will also be the case this weekend. Tiger winning would be quite a story.

If that isn't enough, it is also the FA Cup Semi Finals this weekend. Sadly, there is no North Eastern representation (on the subject of which, congratulations to Newcastle for their promotion back to the Premiership) but some top notch sporting excitement is promised. Surely, Portsmouth making the final is this terrible year for them would be quite something...

If all that isn't enough, the Grand National takes place at Aintree this weekend. A tremendous spectacle and , although lacking the quality of the Gold Cup, certainly makes up for it in terms of excitement. Watch out for the number of horse racing analogies used by political reporters on Grand National day. Also, watch out for a politically themed winner doing what 'Party Politics' did in 1992!

Day 3: Protecting And Creating Jobs Must Be Our Priority

2010-04-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

A great day of campaigning so far today in North Durham. An excellent response on the doorsteps, with plenty of lifelong Labour voters telling me that they were ready to vote for change and vote for a progressive Tory candidate, with a real passion for the North East and the area.

So many people mention the major problems that unemployment is causing in the area. Since late 2007, unemployment in the constituency has increased by about 140%. Almost every family in the constituency has been directly or indirectly affected by the unemployment caused by Gordon Brown's recession.

We need to do all that we can to protect jobs and create jobs in the area. That most certainly does not mean increasing the costs on business at a time like this, which is what the Government's proposed National Insurance increase will do. I have spoken to small business owners who are very concerned about the potential effect that the National Insurance increase will have on their business and their worries about the effect it will have on jobs.

That is why we need to ensure that Gordon Brown's proposed National Insurance rise must not happen in full. The potential impact on jobs will be devastating. And job creation must be a major priority in North Durham, so badly hit by unemployment in the past few years.

Feel free to add comments. If you would like to donate to my campaign for change, you can do so via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

Empowering The People

2010-04-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

Day Two of the campaign and a great day of canvassing and leafletting, along with a visit to a Working Men's Club for refreshment and a really good discussion with local small business owners. People have had enough of being taken for granted by a local establishment and are ready for an MP who puts the North East and local people first.

This election is all about empowering and trusting the people, as part of the wholesale reform that our politics needs. That is why I'm enthusiastic about the idea that local people will be given the power to recall and MP they don't feel is performing or they are not happy with. This will keep all MP's on their toes and ensure that they always focus upon serving the constituents who sent them to Westminster.

This is only part of a wholesale political and constitutional reform package that we need in this country. Empowering the people needs to be the hallmark of this political reform.

With four weeks to go, there is a real desire for change on the doorstep in North Durham. Please feel free to add comments. If you want to donate to my campaign for change, you can do so via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

As The Campaign Launches - This Is What I'm Fighting For

2010-04-06T02:36:00.000-07:00

At long last, the campaign is under way. The chance to deliver radical, progressive change to North Durham is here. I have spoken to thousands of people over the past few months in North Durham - all hungry for change and I look forward to speaking to thousands more over the next few weeks.

During this campaign, I will be fighting on behalf of:

The thousands of people across North Durham who have become unemployed because of Gordon Brown's recession. Unemployment is up by 140% over the past few years. If elected, I will take real action to tackle the jobs crisis, create new jobs and make North Durham and the North East the centre of the green industrial revolution.
The hard working people across North Durham who are the victims of anti social behaviour, which affects our area so badly. The old lady I spoke to who is scared to leave her house after dark. The single mother who is terrified of the anti social behaviour in her neighbourhood. The local angling club who cannot go to their traditional 'spot' because of anti social behaviour.
The proud North Easterners, such as myself, who feel taken for granted and ignored. I have made quite clear that, if elected, I will ALWAYS put the North East and North Durham first.
The local people who, quite rightly, want and expect first rate public services for all. That is why I'm supporting year on year spending increases on the NHS. That is why I want to protect local GPs' surgeries against Labour cuts. That is why I'm supporting the strengthening and protection of local Sure Start centres.
The pensioners who have seen their savings and pensions decimated by the Government. I will be fighting to ensure that pensioners get a fair deal and that, at last, the link between pensions and earnings is re-established.
The local people who have seen the Labour Party they were brought up in betray their interests. They have seen a Labour Government support super rich bankers at the expense of manufacturing industry. They have seen a Labour Government preside over mass unemployment and widening inequality. I was brought up with the strong values and instincts of our area. I'm proud of those values. I will be the candidate fighting for progressive, radical values in North Durham in this election.

This campaign is not about old style party politics. I am standing up for the thousands of people ready to vote for change and vote for a Conservative candidate for the first time in their lives.

I will be updating this blog on a daily basis. Please feel free to add comments.

If you want to donate to the campaign for change in North Durham, you can do so via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

Helping Hard Working People and Reversing Labour's Tax On Jobs

2010-03-29T09:37:00.001-07:00

Gordon Brown's National Insurance rise is a tax rise that hit ordinary working people the hardest. It is a tax rise that hits companies and risks jobs at the same time as the recovery is so fragile. That is why the CBI described the rise as a "serious mistake [that] will hold back job creation and growth". The Small Business Federation described it as an "attack on jobs" that "will cause deeper unemployment."

When we need to be doing all we can to encourage job creation, throwing a tax rise on ordinary, hard working people and their jobs is both economically ridiculous and morally wrong.

That is why a Conservative Government will stop the planned National insurance increases for anybody earning less than £35,000. This means that 7 out of 10 working people will be week better off, with the poorest benefiting the most. Nobody will be worse off.

Reversing Labour's tax on jobs will be crucial to helping hard working people and encouraging job creation.

The Banks Must Pay Back To The Taxpayer Every Penny From The Bailout

2010-03-26T03:31:00.000-07:00

The behaviour of the banking sector brought immense damage to the British and global economy. The taxpayer had to bail out the banks for their folly as they came close to collapse. Indeed, the Treasury estimated in April 2009 that there may be a loss to the taxpayer of between £20 billion and £50 billion because of the banking bailout.

Now, less than two years after highly paid bankers paid a large part in bringing the global economy to the verge of collapse, multi million bonuses are being paid again and the banks are failing to meet their obligations to provide loans to business to help get the economy moving again. I have made clear before that this is simply not good enough. It is also time to make clear that the banks need to pay back to the taxpayer every penny used to rescue them in the bailout package.

Gordon Brown spent 13 years cosying up to the banks and allowing our economy to become terribly unbalanced in favour of financial services. His lack of regulation created the conditions for the banking crisis. In the same time, we have seen over 95,000 manufacturing jobs lost in our region alone and the economic gap between the North East and other regions has grown.

We need bold leadership over financial regulation and bold leadership to get the back for taxpayers every penny we put in to rescue the banking sector. We need to tackle the vested interests in the banking sector. That is why we need to introduce a new bank levy to get our money back from the banks and to protect taxpayers in the future. It is why we must also seek international agreement on an international banking levy.

More Must be Done To Tackle Unemployment As The North-South Divide Widens

2010-03-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

Unemployment has affected so many people in North Durham. So many people I speak to have either been made unemployed themselves or have had friends or members of their family who have been made unemployed over the past few years. It is clear that we must do more to create jobs and tackle unemployment.

The unemployment figures announced last week show that, in North Durham, unemployment is over 140% higher than it was in September 2007. The North East has the highest rate of unemployment in the country and there is a growing North-South divide.

We need bold action to tackle the jobs crisis caused by Gordon Brown's recession. That is why Conservatives are proposing an additional 400,000 apprenticeships, training places and placements, as well as an additional 50,000 Further Education places and 10,000 Higher Education places. We also need to do more to incentivise business to create jobs and create a world class all age careers service. This would be the decisive action we need to tackle unemployment.

Now Even Barnett Says The Barnett Formula Should Be Reformed

2010-03-12T13:47:00.000-08:00

The Barnett Formula is thoroughly unfair on the North East and needs to be reformed. It is yet another example of how the North East has been let down by this Government. We know that the North East receives £8,156 per head and has a lower GDP per capita than Scotland, which receives £9,032 per head from the formula.

The North East has not had a fair deal from the Barnett Formula and neither former North Eastern MP, Tony Blair, or Gordon Brown have lifted a finger to help the hard working of the North East who placed so much faith in their Government.

And now even Barnett himself has come out against his own Barnett Formula. Lord Barnett has said that reform was "vital" for the future of the country. He has told a Select Committee that we must "do something about it soon."

He is, of course, right. We should have a needs based formula that is fair on the North East. People in the North East have had quite enough of being taken for granted and are ready to elect proud North Easterners, such as myself, who will stand up for our region.

North Eastern Manufacturing Jobs Have Been Slashed Under Labour

2010-03-11T14:25:00.000-08:00

Manufacturing should be an integral part of our regional and our national economy. As I blogged the other day, the North East should play a leading role in the development of an export led economy, with our region being a trailblazer in terms of green industry and high tech manufacturing.

This makes it even more troubling that manufacturing has been hit so badly in the past 13 years. Since Labour were elected in 1997, almost 95,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in our region. It is extremely worrying that, in the same time period, the number of advanced manufacturing jobs (in the medium to high tech sectors) has fallen by 56 per cent. Our area has a proud manufacturing tradition and an enormous potential to be a world leading manufacturing region. Sadly, Labour have not shown the vision, the ideas or the actions to ensure that our region meets its potential. It should also be noted that our balance of trade has nose dived in January, as the chart below (originally produced by Left Foot Forward and taken from the latest ONS figures) illustrates:

We need bold ideas, real vision and real leadership to ensure that the North East fulfills its potential to be a world leading manufacturing area. That has not come over the past 13 years. It is time that the Labour establishment in the North East steps aside to make way for proud North Easterners who bring vision and determination to ensure our region fulfills its economic potential.

The North East Must Be At The Forefront Of High Tech Manufacturing

2010-03-09T09:35:00.000-08:00

Here in the North East, we have a fantastic tradition of engineering and manufacturing. I believe that we can build on this proud tradition to be at the forefront of a new wave of high tech manufacturing and green industry jobs. That will happen if we have the imagination and if we have the vision to ensure that the North Eastern economy becomes a trailblazer for the next generation of new industries.

Yesterday, James Dyson set out his report aimed at making Britain Europe's leading generator of new technology and Europe's leading creator of high tech jobs. It made clear that we should do much more to encourage high tech businesses, as well as ensuring that we take the best new ideas from the universities into the marketplace.

In the North East, we have a peerless heritage of innovation and engineering. We have the natural resources, the people, the skills and the universities to be major players in a new, high-tech manufacturing economy. Sadly, in recent years we have seen the economic gap between us and other regions increase. We need dedication, vision and leadership to become trailblazers in high tech and green industries and regain our rightful place as an economic and manufacturing collosus.

6 Music Should Be Saved For The Sake Of Alternative Music

2010-03-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

I’m a huge supporter of public service broadcasting. I think that the BBC is one of the great British institutions and one of our greatest cultural exports. It is true that the BBC should not be paying multi million salaries to entertainment presenters. Sadly, the decision to axe 6 Music and the Asian Network represents a complete derogation of the BBC’s duty as a public service broadcaster.

6 Music should not be judged on listener figures alone. It provides a platform for alternative music that would not gain a platform in the commercial sector. 6 Music performs a crucial role in providing a platform for new or unsigned bands that they would not gain in the commercial sector. Providing an opening for new and unsigned bands and providing a stage for alternative music that would not otherwise gain exposure is surely the very essence of public service broadcasting.

Indie music, alternative music and alt country are all well served by 6 Music in a way that they are not well served and would not be well served by the commercial sector. They have every right to be regarded as culturally and socially important as other forms of music that might be played on Radio 3. Indeed, rock n’ roll and indie music continues to be a great British cultural success story and the likes of 6 Music are crucial to ensuring that this British creative industry continues to thrive.

Without a radio station set up to encourage and nourish alternative music, the commercial sector is more likely to play popular, 'middle of the road' music than music that genuinely pushes boundaries. 6 Music encourages musical creativity and innovation.

The BBC should re-consider the decision, for the sake of public service broadcasting and for the sake of British music.

Lifelong Labour Voters Back The Conservatives Over The NHS

2010-02-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

I have blogged before about how lifelong Labour voters will be voting for a radical and progressive Tory Party at the next election. One of the issues I care about most is protecting and strengthening the NHS. And this week, lifelong Labour voters who work in the NHS have said that they will be supporting the progressive Conservatives at the next election.

The first was Dr Anwari Ali. Dr Ali is GP and, until this week, was a Labour Councillor. In a past poster campaign, Dr Ali has been chosen as one of the faces of the NHS. She said:

“I have been a lifelong Labour supporter, but I believe the country cannot afford five more years of Gordon Brown. As a GP working on the frontline in the largest practice in the East End, I have become increasingly disillusioned with Labour's failure to reform the NHS. The past decade has seen this Government waste millions of pounds on bureaucracy in hospitals. Gordon Brown's obsession with top down targets and a tick box culture has ruined the morale and goodwill of the national health staff. Ill health and early death in the East End is a direct result of Labour's failure to bring real reform to the NHS.”

The second was Professor David Kerr, a lifelong Labour voter who campaigned with Tony Blair in 2001. Professor Kerr was the winner of the Nye Bevan 'award for innovation'. He argues:

“To say that we have run out of steam, I would say definitely, definitely yes... We have got lost in the blizzard of increasingly irrelevant targets. The position now is disenfranchising, dull and disconnected. That is the clinical reality.”

Professor Kerr suggests:

“[The Tories] are more committed to the NHS that we love and understand as free at the point of access and offering universal care. Only that degree of certainty would convince me to go and work for them.”

The NHS is a great British institution. I'm enormously proud of the NHS and enormously proud of the fact that healthcare in Britain is free at the point of delivery. Dr Ali and Professor Kerr have this week confirmed that we are now the party of the NHS.

Publicly Owned Banks Should Not Be Paying Obscene Bonuses

2010-02-25T03:01:00.001-08:00

People are quite right to be angry about the action of the bankers that helped create the longest and deepest recession since the Great Depression. People are right to be angry that the irresponsible actions and speculative excesses of bankers has had a devastating effect on the economy of 'main street'.

People are right to be angry that billions of pounds worth of taxpayers money had to be used to bail out the bankers and that, since then, the bankers do not seem to have changed their behaviour. People are angry that taxpayers money is being used to fund the ridiculous levels of bankers pay. Bonuses are up 40% at a time when everybody else is having to tighten their belts. Huge bonuses are being paid for on the back of taxpayer funded financial support. The banking sector has been quick to forget that without taking billions from the public purse they would have collapsed as institutions.

This morning, 85% taxpayer owned RBS announced a staggering £3.6 billion loss. Astonishingly, they also announced that they had paid out a shocking £1.3 billion in bonuses.

At the same time, it is becoming clear that banks like RBS are not fulfilling their obligations to provide finance to business.

People are quite right to demand action on this. Pay in the banking sector has become entirely out of kilter with the rest of society. It is frankly unjustifiable that banks who have relied upon the taxpayer for their very survival are effectively using taxpayers money to pay ridiculous bonuses while, at the same time, making a massive loss. That is why I support co-ordinated action to deal with excessive pay in the banking sector. I also strongly support the need for international agreement for a tax or levy on speculative financial transactions.

And the British people are right to suggest that the banks should probably think about paying the taxpayer back for keeping them in business before giving outrageous bonuses to their bankers.

Where Is The Fairness In Durham County Council's Closure Of Care Homes?

2010-02-23T01:54:00.000-08:00

We have heard a lot about 'fairness' from Gordon Brown in the past few days. However, I don't think the residents of seven residential care homes for the elderly in County Durham have seen a great deal of fairness from Gordon Brown's Labour Party. The elderly and frail residents have been told that Labour controlled Durham County Council is 'consulting' on its plans to close seven care homes in County Durham.

Two of the care homes marked down for closure, Manor House in Annfield Plain and Stanfield House in Stanley. Local residents are very angry about the proposed closure and local residents have every right to be angry. The residents of the care homes are distressed by the news and the families and friends of the residents are very much opposed to the moves to close the care homes. The highly skilled staff who work in the care homes are understandably upset by the news.

Indeed, this morning's Journal carries the news that a local Labour activist in Lanchester has hit out at his own party's plans to close the care homes and has threatened to quit the Labour Party over the plan.

As a society, we should be judged on how we treat the elderly, as we should be judged on how we treat the weakest and most vulnerable members of society. There is no fairness in this closure of care homes. It impacts some of the most vulnerable people in society and the Labour Party and Durham County Council should hang their heads in shame for treating the elderly in this way.

David Cameron's Love Of Darts

2010-02-18T13:01:00.000-08:00

I have blogged a few times about my love of darts. Indeed I'm typing this while watching a cracking Premier League match between Phil 'The Power' Taylor and Ronnie 'The Rocket' Baxter. It is a sport with supreme skills, working class roots and one that provides gripping, enthralling entertainment.

I was delighted that David Cameron said in an interview with 'ShortList' magazine that he is a huge fan of the game and of Sid Waddell's brilliant commentaries. Apparently, he also has a board on his office wall. Indeed, during the interview he cam face to face with some legends of the game couple of years ago:

'I was switching on the Christmas lights in Witney and they always quite rightly think that a member of parliament isn't important enough to do this alone, so they often get other people to help. One year it was John Lowe, Eric Bristow and Keith Deller - I was a bit starstruck.'

The Cabinet Visits The North East. Where Have They Been For The Last 13 Years?

2010-02-18T12:36:00.001-08:00

The Cabinet arrived en masse in the North East today -holding their meeting in the comprehensive school where I went to sixth form.

Of course, it is always good to see our region getting some national media attention. But the question I would ask to the New Labour Ministers who descended on the North East this morning is 'where on earth have you been for the past 13 years?' It is all well and good Ministers visiting the region with a couple of months until an election, but that doesn't justify them ignoring our area when it isn't election time.

Over the past 13 years, the economic gap between the North East and the rest of the country has grown wider. We have one of the highest rates of unemployment in the country; the lowest average gross weekly pay in the country; and the lowest GDP per head in the country. After 13 years that began with so much promise but ended in disappointment, a 'Labour' Government has ignored the North East over the Barnett Formula, high speed rail, the widening of the A1 and dozens of other areas.

It is time that they focused on the North East all of the time, not just when they are panicking about the North Eastern vote in the pre-election period. That is why, if elected, I will always put the North East and our area first. It is time that we had strong voices for the North East 365 days a year, 7 days a week.

Unemployment In North Durham Up 6% In One Month

2010-02-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

Unemployment in North Durham has gone up by some 6% in just one month as the North East continues to be the region hit the hardest by the recession. Indeed, unemployment in North Durham has increased by a shocking 125% since December 2007.

That is over 1,500 more families suffering from the devastation of unemployment over the past two years. I have spoken to so many people in North Durham over the past few months who have been terribly affected by unemployment and are, rightly, demanding that the Government should do more to create jobs in the area.

That is why I'm calling for the creation of 100,000 new apprenticeships and training places; 50,000 new Further Education places and 10,000 more Higher Education places. I'm calling for more to be done to incentivise job creation and to encourage business to create jobs. I'm calling for action to put our area at the forefront of green industry and I'm calling for a personalised careers advice service for everybody looking for work.

We need urgent action to deal with our area's jobs crisis. This Government is not proviing the action we need.

Lifelong Labour Voters Are Ready To Vote For Change In North Durham

2010-02-15T03:49:00.000-08:00

I have blogged before about how lifelong Labour voters will be voting for my campaign for change at the last election. People who have voted Labour all of their lives are tired of being taken for granted and are annoyed that the Party they placed so much faith in has actually delivered mass unemployment, widening inequality and declining social mobility.

In the North East, lifelong Labour voters are sick of our region being forgotten and ignored by a Government that has 27 out of our 29 MPs. Since 1997, we have been represented by the likes of Blair, Mandelson, Byers and Milburn but the North East has still fallen further behind every other UK region and has the highest unemployment in the UK.

That is why lifelong Labour voters are ready to vote for change in North Durham. And lifelong Labour voters are ready to make the switch across the country, as this video shows:

People across North Durham and across the North East are ready to vote for a progressive alternative. They are sick of the traditional values of the Labour Party being ignored and are set to support a candidate who will stand for fairness, action to create jobs and will be a strong voice for the North East.

Saddened, But Not Surprised, By Kraft's Betrayal Of Trust

2010-02-10T14:07:00.000-08:00

Despite promises made by Kraft in the process of their hostile takeover of Cadburys, yesterday they announced that they would be shedding 500 manufacturing jobs in the UK. It is clear that their promises stood for nothing. The promises of the Labour Government have counted for nothing and it is British workers who are suffering.

I made my misgivings about this takeover clear a few weeks ago. The deal was called a “bad deal” by Warren Buffett, criticised across the political spectrum and resulted in falls in the share price of both Kraft and Cadbury. My main misgivings were based around the fact that:

Kraft are heavily in debt to the tune of £18.6 billion, more than double the level of debt in 2006. To fund the takeover, Kraft have had to increase their debt still further, with Kraft’s debt to earnings ratio increasing to nearly four times. This level of debt is not sustainable and it is likely that Cadburys UK production will bear the brunt of Kraft’s attempts to reduce their debt;
Cadburys was a lean, well run, profitable company, with a long history of respecting workers’ rights. Kraft is a global conglomerate with a massive pool of debt and a long history of asset stripping. It does concern me that lean, well run companies are so often the targets of global conglomerates;
The UK economy has, for too long been unbalanced in favour – with too much focus being placed on the financial sector in the South East of England and not enough being placed on manufacturing. We need to rebalance the economy. The sale of one of Britain’s great manufacturing names is hardly a statement of intent;
The power of short term hedge funds and institutional shareholders in the takeover process, who have a vote but no real interest in the long term health of the company. Long term manufacturing vitality should not be decided by short term interests in the City;
The takeover was funded by a loan provided by a bank owned by the British taxpayer

Despite the protestations of free market fundamentalists, I’m cannot see how the Cadburys takeover has been at all positive for Cadburys workers or the long term health and vitality of the British economy. All of Lord Mandelson’s assurances have counted for nothing.

It is surely time that we re-thought our ethos around takeovers and the power of corporate finance. There is a strong case for ‘public interest’ tests when it comes to corporate takeovers, along with the need to seek proper assurances in terms of jobs and social impact. Kraft’s sudden about turn was sadly predictable. Cadburys workers have been badly let down by a toothless Government. It is about time we made sure that the same is not allowed to happen again.

New Research: Labour's Legacy - The North East Has The Highest Rate Of Unemployment In The Country

2010-02-10T09:35:00.000-08:00

Look North has been running a series of reports this week about the health of the North Eastern economy after 13 years of Labour Government. The findings have been fascinating and more than a little worrying.

The report pointed out that we have the highest rate of unemployment in the country in the North East. According to the report:

Over the period May 1997 to December 2009 the North East has consistently been
one of the worst performing regions in terms of unemployment... unemployment has risen steadily in the North East to stand at 85,625 or 5.4% in December 2009 – the highest rate of all the regions of the UK and significantly higher than the UK average of 4.1%.

According to the report, the unemployment problem in County Durham is even worse than in the rest of the region:

County Durham experienced the most marked increase in claimant unemployment between May 2008 and the latest figures for December 2009 with a 105% increase in the number of people of working age claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) with the unemployment rate more than doubling to 4.5% from 2.2%.

I have spoken to so many people who have been suffering from the devastation of unemployment. And the Government hasn't been doing nearly enough to help create jobs in our area. We need to incentive business to create jobs; provide personalised careers advice to people looking for work; create 200,000 new apprenticeships over two years; and get credit flowing to business again.

Yet Another Over The Odds Council Tax Increase For The People Of North Durham

2010-02-09T08:47:00.000-08:00

The Labour Council in Durham are engaging in a bout of self congratulation about the fact that they have managed to restrict the Council Tax rise this year to 1.9%. This comes after years of big Council Tax increases for people in County Durham. Indeed, the Council is only able to 'boast' of a 1.9% increase because it looks low in relation to the scale of their Council Tax hikes in recent years.

Why they are congratulating themselves about this little fact when so many people in North Durham are having to tighten their belts is absolutely beyond me. For this to happen at the same time as the Council is closing Care Homes and cutting back other facilities is shocking. For Council Tax payers to be hit at the same time as Labour Councillors vote for a 20% allowance increase in unforgivable.

That's why I'm calling on the Council to freeze Council Tax for this year. A Conservative Government would work with local authorities to freeze Council Tax for two years. The Council Tax payers of North Durham deserve better than yet another Council Tax hike.

I'm Backing National Apprenticeships Week

2010-02-05T05:13:00.000-08:00

I'm a great believer in the importance of apprenticeships, which is why I'm backing National Apprenticeships Week this week. Apprenticeships are a hugely valuable form of work-based training and vocational education and they will play a major part in helping our economy compete in a global economy that places a premium on skills.

There are plenty of excellent examples of apprenticeships being run by businesses throughout North Durham and throughout the North East. And we need to go even further to promote apprenticeships.

That's why, as part of the Get Britain Working programme, we have pledged to create an additional 200,000 apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship training places over two years. Contrast that ambition to Labour's failure in this area - with a fall in new apprenticeships of more than 20,000 between October 2008 and October 2009.

Time For The North East To Get A Fair Deal Over The Barnett Formula

2010-02-04T04:18:00.001-08:00

Gordon Brown has shown time and time again that he is prepared to ignore the North East and take our votes for granted. Nowhere is this more obvious than his continuing support for the unfair, outmoded Barnett formula. It has been shown time and time again that the North East gets a very bad deal out of the formula. As has become typical of his Government, Mr Brown is utterly unable or unwilling to lift a finger to help the North East and to put right a proven wrong.

It is only right that any such formula must be needs based. The Barnett Formula blatantly isn't. Although information about funding has been clouded by the Government, we know that the North East receives £8,156 per head and has a lower GDP per capita than Scotland, which receives £9,032 per head from the formula.

The fact that the Government refuses to act, according to yesterday's Northern Echo, for fear of a "backlash from Scotland" is shameful. It is yet another example of the Labour government ignoring the North East and taking our votes for granted. North Eastern Labour MPs have utterly failed to stand up for the North East and to make sure that the North East gets a fair deal.

That is why I will be putting the North East first. If elected, I will fight for the interests of our area after years of Labour complacency.

The Groundswell For Change In North Durham

2010-02-01T18:30:00.000-08:00

We just had a very good action weekend in our campaign to bring about change in North Durham. We had almost twenty people spreading the message of real change to the people of North Durham. And the response was overwhelmingly positive. Local people are sick of the North East being ignored and taken for granted by this Government.

They are highly supportive of a local candidate who cares passionately about our area and our region and will stand up for the North East and North Durham. People tell me about the concerns they face about unemployment and their belief, which I share, that much more needs to be done to tackle unemployment and create jobs in our area. People told us about their concerns regarding anti-social behaviour and their support for tougher action to be taken against the anti social minority.

So many people in North Durham have had enough of a Labour Party that has taken us all for granted. That is why lifelong Labour voters will be voting for change in North Durham. There is a real groundswell for change in 2010.

Transfer Deadline Day. Agony, Ecstasy... and Anti-climax

2010-02-01T17:30:00.000-08:00

Today was transfer deadline day. A day that could have been invented by (and for) rolling sports news channels. It is incredible how much outlandish speculation is spread on transfer deadline day and how it so often arrives, and departs with little more than a damp squib (unless you were a Man City fan a couple of seasons ago!)

Speculation had linked my team, Sunderland, to virtually every player in the country. In the end, we managed to sign one player - in a loan move! A feeling of anti climax that quite a few fans around the country might be sharing now.

At the same time, the message boards; special sections from the BBC, Sky and Sporting Life were going into speculation overdrive. Sky Sports News treat today as a mammoth news event.

I'm not convinced that there is any need for the transfer window. But it certainly adds some excitement, speculation and intrigue to the first day of February. Now the rumour mill gets working again in preparation for the Summer...

Former Daily Mirror Editor: I Will Vote Conservative For The First Time In My Life

2010-01-27T08:31:00.000-08:00

I have spoken to so many people in the past few months who have said that they are lifelong Labour voters but will be voting for my campaign for change at the next election. They have grown tired of a Labour Party that has lost touch with its roots; taken local people for granted; allowed the gap between rich and poor to grow; and has done nothing for the people of the North East and our economy.

There is a fascinating article in one of today's papers about a lifelong Labour voter and a former editor of the Daily Mirror, who has decided that, at the next election, he will be voting Conservative for the first time in his life. In the article, he reflects on what the Labour Party used to stand for:

I was brought up to believe the Labour Party was the best hope for ordinary people to make a better life.
The men I was taught to revere - Clem Attlee, Stafford Cripps, Ernie Bevin and Herbert Morrison - were people of the finest moral values who put their crusade for a fairer society before personal advancement.

He then points out that the present Labour Party is not part of this crusade for a fairer society:

Today, the hierarchy of New Labour has no such scruples; they shift and slide like desert sands depending on how the wind blows. So I can only hope that my ancestors would understand when I vote Conservative at the next election. It was the hardest decision I have ever made.

He the goes on to say quite how much he has been disappointed by New Labour:

The truth is that Old Labour principles of fairness and equality and support for the working classes seem to have evaporated under this Government. Also, personal integrity among its senior politicians no longer seems to exist... the experiment with New Labour has ended in catastrophe and that this Government has wasted money like no other in history. So I shall vote Conservative for the first time in my life.

He is just one of many people who placed so much faith in New Labour only to be met with crushing disappointment. There will be so many people who have voted Labour all of their lives turning their back on a party that has, for too long, turned its back on them, and voting for change at the general election.

Labour Should Be Ashamed Of Their Record On Child Poverty

2010-01-26T10:44:00.000-08:00

This morning's Journal carried the shameful news that there are 73,000 children in the North East classed as being in severe poverty. That is 14% of the children in the North East, compared to a national average of 13%. Nationwide, 1.7 million children are regarded as being in severe poverty - this number actually increased by 260,000 before the recession.

The is something about which the Government should be quite ashamed. I was brought up to believe that a Labour Government would simply not allow 1.7 million children to live under poverty. That the Government has allowed this to happen really is a damning indictment.

As Fergus Drake, from Save The Children, has suggested:

"It’s shocking that at a time when the country was experiencing unprecedented levels of wealth, the number of children living in severe poverty – we’re talking about children going without a winter coat, a bed and other day-to-day essentials – actually increased."

It is shocking that one of the richest countries in the world still has such a large number of children living in extreme poverty. That is why we need action to tackle both poverty and the causes of poverty. To quote Lloyd George, one of the greatest Prime Ministers our country has ever had:

"I cannot help hoping and believing that before this generation has passed away, we shall have advanced a great step towards that good time, when poverty, and the wretchedness and human degradation which always follows in its camp, will be as remote to the people of this country as the wolves which once infested its forests."

The Gap between The North East And Other Regions Has Grown Under Labour

2010-01-25T09:55:00.000-08:00

Labour take the North East of England for granted. They regard us as their natural heartland and are happy to ignore us when it comes to major decisions about infrastructure and public spending. We have been worst hit by Gordon Brown's recession and, only last week, unemployment continued to rise both in the North East and in North Durham.

An organisation called the Centre for Cities has produced what it calls a 'Cities Outlook' . One of the stark findings from the report was that the gap between the North East and other parts of the country has grown over the past 13 years. This is illustrated by the chart above, taken from Page 18 of the Cities Outlook. It shows that, in the past 13 years the gap between the North East and the rest of the country has grown. As the report points out, between 1997 and 2008, real GVA in London increased by 61%, compared with only 32% in the North East.

Despite having 27 of the North East's 29 MPs, Labour have done nothing to help the North East economy. We need urgent action in our region to close the gap with other regions and overtake them. The vision and leadership that is needed is, quite simply, not being provided by a Labour elite that has lost touch with its roots and isn't doing enough for our region.

Labour's Betrayal Of The North East Over Unemployment

2010-01-22T05:57:00.000-08:00

The unemployment figures dealt yet another blow to Labour's reputation in our region. Families across North Durham and across the North East are suffering from the devastating impact of unemployment and the Government is doing next to nothing about it.

Unemployment increased again in the North East last month. We have the highest rate of unemployment in the country. We have the highest rate of young people not in education, employment or training. That is the sad legacy of thirteen years of 'Labour' Government.

Labour have 27 out of the 29 North Eastern MPs. On their watch, we have fallen further behind other regions using almost every economic metric. Labour's policies have left the North East with the highest rate of unemployment in the country and have left the UK with the highest level of youth unemployment in Europe.

The Labour Party have taken us for granted for long enough. It is time that they made way for those of us who really care about our area, have ambition for our region and are ready to fight for the North East every step of the way.

Unemployment Up Again In North Durham. We Need Action To Create Jobs.

2010-01-20T05:15:00.000-08:00

Unemployment has increased again in North Durham. The number of people claiming Job Seeker's Allowance now stands at 2,540, up from 2,515 a month ago. That is 27% higher than it was a year ago and a massive 112% higher than it was two years ago.

So many people I speak to in North Durham have been directly affected by unemployment. So many people I speak to feel that nowhere near enough is being done to tackle our jobs crisis.

We need to do more to tackle unemployment. We need to incentivise job creation and to more to help businesses create jobs. We need to create 100,000 new apprenticeships and training places; 50,000 more Further Education places and 10,000 more Higher Education places. We need to create a personalised careers advice system that genuinely helps people get back into work.

We need action to create jobs. It is clear that the Government's lack of action is impacting our area.

Keeping Cadburys British Should Be The First Step In A British Manufacturing Renaissance

2010-01-19T12:55:00.000-08:00

I was greatly saddened to see that Cadburys, that iconic British owned manufacturer of chocolate, had agreed to a hostile takeover by American conglomerate Kraft. It is bad news for British manufacturing and, I fear, bad news for workers at Cadburys.

Lets take a look at the facts behind the takeover.

Cadburys is a great symbol of British manufacturing. It is an iconic, well run British firm, which has recorded very strong profits in recent years. From the beginnings of the 'model village', through to the fact that Cadburys is renowned for providing highly skilled manufacturing jobs, with good terms and conditions, Cadburys has always been a good employer and a very well managed firm. In the past four years, organic growth has averaged 6%. It is a real British manufacturing success story.

Kraft, on the other hand, is an American conglomerate struggling under a huge amount of debt. Long-term debt at Kraft has increased from 7.08 billion in 2006 to 18.58 billion in 2009. The suggested takeover of Cadbury is also to be debt financed. By any standards, Kraft is a less well run and less vibrant company than Cadburys. A takeover will shift control and direction of the firm from the UK to Illinois and will, alomst inevitably, have a detrimental impact upon Cadburys and British jobs. When Kraft has taken over American companies in recent years, it has re-located jobs to Mexico. I fear that this takeover will result in Cadburys workers in the UK losing their jobs.

The power of institutional shareholders is also reflected in this takeover bid. Having a great British manufacturing name fall victim to a hostile takeover is symbolic of an unbalanced economy in which institutional interests in the city can weaken a great manufacturing name.

That is why, in the words of Churchill, we need to make "finance less content, and industry more proud." Other major manufacturing nations would be fighting tooth and nail to save their major, iconic manufacturing companies. We should be fighting tooth and nail to keep Cadburys under British and independent control. We should not just stand meekly aside and let another British manufacturing giant fall into foreign hands. This should be done for the sake of British manufacturing, our long term economic health and viability, and jobs in the Cadburys plants in the UK.

Chester-le-Street Deserves Better Train Services

2010-01-17T14:36:00.000-08:00

One of the big areas of controversy amongst people I talk to in the Chester-le-Street area is the quality of the train services for the town - particularly between Chester-le-Street and Newcastle.

As well as being a major economic base in its own right, Chester-le-Street is also home to thousands of commuters to Newcastle, Durham and other local cities. Why is it, then, that our local station is often so badly served?

All too often, the rush hour trains are so jam packed when they arrive at Chester-le-Street that it can be literally impossible for commuters to even board the train. Is it beyond the wit of the train companies to add even one extra carriage to trains that are jam packed on a daily basis? Services to and from Chester-le-Street are not as frequent as they could and should be.

Quite simply, Chester-le-Street deserves better train services.

Delighted About Suede's Reunion

2010-01-17T14:24:00.000-08:00

Suede are reuniting for a one-off gig for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

It has been a good few months for Britpop reunions. I was there when Blur got back together at Glastonbury, which was quite an occasion.

I would argue that Suede were one of the most important bands of the nineties. The debut album kicked down the door and allowed Britpop to happen. Dog Man Star was an album of end to end, pure magnificence and Coming Up has nuggets of pure gold that reverberated around indie dancefloors. True the final two albums were disappointing but live, until the very end, they still packed one hell of a punch.

It's great news they are getting back together. Let's hope that Bernard Butler can get back involved somewhere along the line. And let's hope that it is more than a one off reunion. Hopefully Glastonbury in June awaits.

The People of North Durham Are Ready To Turn Their Back On Gordon Brown's Labour Party

2010-01-17T14:02:00.000-08:00

As election day draws nearer, the anger of the people of North Durham about Gordon Brown’s Government shows no sign of abating.

People are, quite rightly, angry and frustrated at the way in which the North East has been consistently ignored by a Government that has 27 of the region's 29 MPs. People are angry and frustrated about the fact that a 'Labour' Government has presided over mass unemployment and widening inequality and has done next to nothing about either of them. People are angry and frustrated about the anti social behaviour that blights their day to day lives.

That is why the people of North Durham are ready to vote for change at the next election. Across North Durham, from Annfield Plain to Sacriston, from Ouston to Stanley, people who have voted Labour all of their lives are telling me that they will not be voting for Gordon Brown next time round. They are ready to vote for a local candidate, prepared to stand up for our area.

Please Do What You Can To Help In Haiti

2010-01-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

The situation in Haiti is utterly horrifying. Estimates now have the number of dead at between 50,000 and 100,000.

Please, if you can, help the DEC earthquake appeal to help with the relief effort.

Details of the appeal are below.

DEC HAITI EARTHQUAKE APPEAL

Your donation can save a life

Please donate any time day or night

0370 60 60 900
www.dec.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1062638
On behalf of DEC members: ActionAid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Save the Children, Oxfam, Tearfund, World Vision UK.

Gordon Brown Must Appear Before The Iraq Inquiry - Before The Election

2010-01-15T01:30:00.000-08:00

The Iraq War was the biggest foreign policy decision made by a British Prime Minister since Suez. Its botched execution and a disastrous failure to 'win the peace' also made it was also one of the biggest foreign policy catastrophes since Suez.

I am in awe of the bravery and brilliance of our brave troops who have served us in Iraq and Afganistan. I am deeply saddened by the fact that our brave troops have been let down by poor leadership and poor planning from the Government.

It is now clear that Gordon Brown was intimately involved both in the decision to go to war and in the failure to ensure that post war plans were even close to adequate.

Evidence to the Iraq War Inquiry so far has made Brown's role quite clear. He was not the semi detached observer of events that he likes to portray himself as. Instead, he was a key player in the decisions around Iraq.

It is right that all of the key players in the decision to go to war are being called before the Iraq inquiry. As one of these key players, Gordon Brown must also be called to give evidence before the inquiry. And this should happen before the General Election. Gordon Brown should not be able to let political expediency and electoral timing prevent him appearing before the inquiry.

Please Do What You Can To Help In Haiti

2010-01-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

The situation in Haiti is truly awful. Many thousands of people have died and tens of thousands more have been left without homes, shelter or security.

The Disasters Emergency Committee, composed of 13 British NGOs, have set up an appeal to provide humanitarian aid.

Donations to the appeal can be made by calling 0370 60 60 900 or visiting www.dec.org.uk

Ricky Hatton Has Nothing Left To Prove

2010-01-14T08:26:00.000-08:00

Ricky Hatton has just announced that he is making a comeback to the ring.

Ricky Hatton has nothing left to prove. He has been one of the greatest British sportsmen of the past decade. I have been lucky enough to have watched quite a few of his fights at the MEN arena in Manchester. I followed his World championship triumphs and him being soundly beaten by Floyd Mayweather Jnr. He also had a good chat to a few of us at the World Darts Championships a few years ago.

But there is often a golden rule in boxing that old fighters should go out at the top and shouldn't try to come back.

I hope Hatton's comeback is a triumph. I also hope that he remembers that he has nothing left to prove to the British sporting nation.

Time To Say Enough Is Enough On Anti Social Behaviour

2010-01-13T09:23:00.000-08:00

I have consistently said that not enough is being done by the Government about anti-social behaviour.

According to the Durham Constabulary web site:

"several residents and retailers [have] contacted Durham County Council and the police about ongoing problems with anti-social behaviour. "

This, of course, begs the question of why the local Police have had to be prompted to act about a problem that has been clear and prevalent locally for months. Indeed, no subject is mentioned more to me on the doorsteps than anti social behaviour.

Like most of this Government's failures, the problem with anti-social behaviour affects ordinary hard working people the most. I have spoken to hundreds of people who have had their routine disturbed by the menace of anti social behaviour.

It is time to say that enough is enough.

It is time to adopt a zero tolerance approach to the anti social behaviour that blights the lives of so many people. We need to give the Police real powers to tackle anti social behaviour.

We need to stop anti social behaviour making life a misery for the hard working majority.

The Labour Party Has Betrayed The North East's Young People

2010-01-12T08:52:00.000-08:00

It is testament to the Government's complacency and lack of action that the UK has the highest rate of youth unemployment in Europe. There are over a million 16-24 year olds not in education, employment or training. This is a betrayal of a generation of young people. The Government should be quite ashamed of these figures.

Young people in the North East has suffered particularly badly. 9.8% of 16-18 year olds in the North East are not in education, employment or training. This is far higher than in any other region and 70% higher than in London and the South East.

Frankly, this is not good enough. Once again, our region has been let down by a complacent Labour Party and a local Labour elite who aren't doing enough to create jobs and training opportunities for young people.

That is why I'm campaigning for the creation of 100,000 more apprenticeships and training places; 50,000 more Further Education places and 10,000 additional university places. That is why I'm campaigning for more to be done to create jobs and for better careers advice for everybody. Frankly, the young people of North Durham deserve so much better than an out of touch Labour party.

The British People Feel Badly Let Down By Brown

2010-01-11T09:24:00.000-08:00

It is quite clear that the people of North Durham and people across the country are feeling badly let down by Labour. I have lost count of the number of lifelong Labour voters I have met who feel badly let down and will be voting for change this year.

A poll in this morning's Sun summed up quite how badly let down people feel. It showed that 44% of voters believe that Labour have done a good job in the past thirteen years and only 17% believe it has done a good job. It also found that:

44% of people say they are worse off than when Labour came to power, compared to 28% who feel better off;
67% of people blame the Government for the rise in unemployment, compared to only 29% who do not;
44% have either been unemployed or had a member of their immediate family who has been unemployed in the past two years;
34% feel that the state education system has got worse since Labour came to power, compared to 26% who think that it has got better;
53% are worried that immigration will cause problems for them;
49% believe that crime has gone up, whereas only 15% feel that it has gone down

We all remember the hope that existed in May of 1997. Labour haven't delivered on their promise. They have delivered an economy with higher unemployment, a society with greater inequality and higher anti social behaviour and a country where the North East is increasingly ignored by Government and let down by the MPs who are supposed to represent us.

This needs to change.

The Last Thing The North East Needs Is Five More Years Of Gordon Brown

2010-01-10T13:16:00.000-08:00

Gordon Brown has promised to serve a 'full term' in the unlikely event that he wins the next election.

Can the country really put up with another five years of this? I think not.

Does the country really want a Prime Minister in Gordon Brown whose party have lost faith in him. Do they really want a Prime Minister whose director of election strategy and Cabinet Minister said about him before the bottled election in 2007:

"We have spent 10 years working with this guy, and we don’t actually like him. 'We have always thought that the longer the British public had to get to know him, the less they would like him as well."

He was of course right with that prediction.

Another five years of Brown would be catastrophic for the country and catastrophic for the North East.

Indeed, his vow to serve a "full term" sounds more like a threat than a promise.

Labour Has No Vision and No Ambition For The North East's Economy

2010-01-08T05:49:00.001-08:00

I have a piece in today's Northern Echo talking about the need for a vision for a prosperous North Eastern economy. Labour have completely failed to articulate or achieve a vision for the North Eastern economy after 13 years in power. Indeed, these 13 years have seen our region fall further behind other English regions using almost every economic metric. We need to set out a vision for our area to be an economic trailblazer again - so that we have an economic future to match our glorious past. Labour seem happy to talk about the past but have nothing to add when it comes to the future.

The text of my letter can be found via the following link:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/letters/4840635.Regional_progress/

I have reproduced it in full below:

THE response by Grahame Morris (Northern Echo, Jan 1) to my previous letter (Northern Echo, Dec 28) about the need to do more to create jobs sums up the lack of vision of an out-of-touch Labour Party.

I was born and brought up in the North-East and am proud of our industrial past. However, what we need now is a vision and ambition to build a regional economy with a golden future to match our glorious past.

On virtually every economic measure we have fallen further behind every other English region since 1997. We lag behind all other regions in terms of GDP per head and gross weekly pay, as well as having the highest unemployment rate. This is the legacy of 13 years of Labour government.

We have the industrial legacy, skills, natural resources and people to be an economic powerhouse.

We can, and should, be global leaders in clean technology, green industry and high-tech, niche manufacturing. The only thing holding us back is lack of vision and leadership from a complacent Labour elite.

Labour may not be capable of articulating a vision and ambition for our region, but I am. I’m standing as a proud North-Easterner. I believe in our region and in our potential to be an economic colossus again.

Snow Causing School Closures and Traffic Disruption in County Durham - Useful Links For Up To Date Information

2010-01-08T00:46:00.001-08:00

The snow is continuing to cause havoc in County Durham, with 88 schools in the county being closed.

The Journal has a list of all the schools closed in the county, as well as updated traffic news, here:

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2010/01/07/school-closures-61634-25528474/

The Northern Echo have a similar list here:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/4840274.Latest_school_closures__Friday/

GO North East are updating information about their buses in the area here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gateshead/Go-North-East/215880875709

As Durham Runs Short Of Salt and Grit - Government Ignored A Report Suggesting Action For Five Months

2010-01-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

Durham County Council has announced that it is going to restrict the use of salt on the roads "due to the current under-supply and future uncertainty regarding the supply of salt." Across the North East and across the country, local councils are running desparately short of salt as the very cold snap continues.

It seems that the Government has been sitting on a report that was published in August 2009, about how local authorities should respond to cold weather. Government Ministers didn't bother to respond to the report until 15th December - when it became clear that bad weather was on the way.

The report contained 19 recommendations, which could have meant that the shortages and chaos across the country could have been alleviated. It is a shame that the Government sat on its hands for five months and didn't do anything that could have helped with the supply of salt.

If Gordon Brown's Party Has No Confidence In His Ability To Be Prime Minister, Why Should The People Of North Durham?

2010-01-06T08:42:00.001-08:00

The Labour Party really is in an unholy mess.

Once again, senior figures in the Party have made clear that they have absolutely no confidence in Gordon Brown as Prime Minister. Once again, Cabinet Members have made clear in private (according to multiple sources) that they have no confidence in Gordon Brown as Prime Minister. Once again, Cabinet Ministers have shown that they do not have guts to 'resolve' the issue of the Labour leadership.

So we have a Prime Minister without the confidence of his party and we have a Cabinet who have been shown, time and time again, to be devoid of guts - all 'off the record' talk and no action.

The people of North Durham will be right to ask one very straightforward question after todays events - 'If his own Party don't even have confidence in Gordon Brown's ability as Prime Minister, then why on earth should we?'

Heavy Snow In North East For Weeks. National Media Panics As 'Snow Showers Head South'

2010-01-05T01:03:00.000-08:00

We all know that the national media has an inherent South Eastern bias. I have blogged about it before here. Nowhere does this become clearer than the hysterical panic that grips the media when London has more than a flake of snow.

The North East has had heavy snow, on and off, for over two weeks now. The snow in the past few days has closed roads, closed schools and affected transport links. Durham Tees Valley Airport was closed yesterday due to an icy runway. Amidst all of this, the national, London based media didn't feel fit to give the story any more than a passing mention.

All seemed to change this morning though. The main media outlets had as their headline story the fact that 'snow showers are heading South'. Doubtless, if snow does hit London and the Home Counties, elements of the national, Southern based media will be on the the verge of calling for a state of emergency. Perhaps, one of these days, the national media might rebalance itself from its Southern bias. That will, of course, only happen when the North East is represented by MPs willing to stand up for the region and assert their North Eastern pride.

Strengthening The NHS and Improving Health Outcomes For The Poorest

2010-01-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

I think the NHS is a great British institution. I'm forever in its debt for all of the care it has given to me my family. I'm perpetually humbled by the skill and dedication of everybody who works within the NHS. I believe in an NHS free at the point of delivery and an NHS that delivers the best health outcomes in the world. Today's speech by David Cameron made clear that a Conservative Government will be strongly committed to making the NHS even better.

That is why the Conservatives are ring-fencing health spending. It is why we are dedicated to genuinely creating a patient centred NHS - providing detailed information to patients so patients can be clear about the standard of services provided and can make more informed decisions than ever about their treatment. It is why we will free professionals in the NHS from process driven targets.

We will also ensure that the health inequalities that have grown worse under Labour are remedied. Under Labour, the difference in life expectancy between the richest and poorest in society has grown. The gap is now larger than it has been since the 19th Century. Public health funding will be weighted so that extra resources go to the poorest areas with the worst health outcomes. This equals real and decisive action to tackle the health inequalities that Labour have allowed to widen

Polly Toynbee Pinpoints Labour's Failure To Help The Less Well Off

2010-01-03T02:59:00.000-08:00

I don't always agree with what Polly Toynbee writes. Although I do share her political priorities of improving social mobility and reducing poverty. Her column in yesterday's Guardian was spot on about Labour's failure and the failure of Gordon Brown. Of particular importance is her analysis of how Labour's record affects the less well off in society:

Growth in his [Gordon Brown's] time was profoundly unfairly shared – over half the population saw virtually no growth at all; GDP per capita is a fraudulent measure that disguises how almost all growth went to the top 10%, and most to the top 1%... Middle Britain did badly however hard they worked and "played by the rules". Whose rules?... Brown cannot admit the monumental error he and Ed Balls made in their economic policies because there are some mistakes just too big to apologise for.

This comes only a few months after she damned Labour's record on social mobility:

"on Labour's watch, class has become more rigid, destiny for most babies is decided at birth, and the incomes of rich and poor families have drawn further apart."

Polly Toynbee was one of Gordon Brown's biggest cheerleaders. That she now notes the level of Labour's failure to help those people who had the highest hopes of a Labour Government says so much.

Labour have betrayed ordinary, working class people. They have betrayed anybody who dares to aspire. That is why so many people in North Durham, who have put their faith in the Labour Party for so long, are ready to vote for real change at the next election.

If elected, I will work unstintingly to ensure that priority is given to policies aimed at improving social mobility, helping people fulfil their aspirations and fighting poverty. I will work to ensure that the advantages of birth play an ever diminishing role in British life. The Government have had thirteen years to turn the situation round and have failed utterly. It is now time for the failed Labour establishment in the North East to step aside for those of us with the ideas and determination to create a new wave of social mobility and aspiration.

2010 - The Year Of Change In North Durham

2010-01-01T07:33:00.000-08:00

A very Happy New Year to everybody in North Durham and across the North East.

This will be a massive year for North Durham. This a year in which the people of North Durham and the North East will be able to bring about real change. so many people I speak to in Chester-le-Street, Stanley, Sacriston, Annfield Plain and across the constituency have had enough of being taken for granted by an out of touch Labour Party. Local people are sick of our area and our region being ignored.

That is why I'm standing on a platform of real change for the better in North Durham. Unlike local Labour politicians, I will stand up for North Durham and stand up for the North East. I will be speaking up about the issues that really matter to local people.

I'm looking forward to 2010. It will be a year of real change for the better in North Durham.

As New Year’s Eve Approaches -we need action to help local pubs

2009-12-31T07:25:00.000-08:00

As people in North Durham prepare to celebrate New Year’s Eve, the number of local pubs continues to decline as publicans are hit by Government policies. In recent year’s many people have found that the pub in which they traditionally celebrate New Year’s Eve has closed.

North Durham has lost seven pubs in four years. Across the North East as a whole, over 100 pubs closed between 2005 and 2009. This is part of an accelerating nationwide trend that is seeing six pubs closing every week.

The pub is the beating heart of the community. Local pubs act as social hubs, allowing people to come together in a warm, social environment. The closure of local pubs is keenly felt in communities all year round but it really hits home at this time of year.

We should be doing all that we can to save our local pubs before it is too late. That means cutting taxes on low alcohol drinks such as beer and increasing tax on high alcohol problem drinks, like super strength cider. It means supporting our pubs as vital parts of the community and important providers of local jobs.

The Greatest Albums of the Noughties

2009-12-31T07:15:00.000-08:00

I heartily accept that this blog has nothing whatsoever to do with politics. However, with the noughties drawing to a close – now seems as good a time as any to run through what I think are the best five albums of the decade. This subject has been the topic of disagreement and discussion with quite a few friends ever since NME and the Times published their lists about a month ago. Let me know if you agree or disagree!

1. The Strokes – ‘Is This It’

This album changed everything in the noughties and it came right at the start of the decade. Before The Strokes came along, music had become a fairly sludgy, middle of the road mess – all Stereophonics and Travis. New York’s finest kicked the door down and hundreds came following in their wake. Music had an edge again. Music had meaning again. Indisputably the best album of the decade – retains its magnificence with every listen.

2. Johnny Cash – American III: Solitary Man

The ‘American’ series of recording put together by Johnny Cash, with the able assistance of Rick Rubin is probably the most consistently brilliant series of albums since the Stones wrote ever musical rule in the book in the late 60s and early 70s. This album is dark, stark and magnificent – mighty beginnings with a great Won't Back Down cover and dominated by an awesome centrepiece of I See A Darkness and a cover of Nick Cave’s oddly topical death row ballad, ‘The Mercy Seat’. American III broods on life, death, love and everything in between.

3. Jay Z – The Blueprint

Jay Z had completely missed my radar until I saw his show stealing performance at Glasto in 2008. I saw a man at the top of his game and this album is the album of a man at the top of his game. From the swaggering grudge song ‘Takeover’ to the dancefloor classics such as ‘Izzo’ to the staggeringly bleak but tremendous Renegade, this album oozes lyrical brilliance. A must even for people who don’t know hip hop at all.

4. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever You Say I Am

Amongst other things, this album was a tremendous example of how the power of the internet had changed music. It was also an example of how the power of sonic noise and ultra clever lyrics can make a mighty album. A fine modern masterpiece, set against the background of a Northern working class upbringing that I can more than relate to. Brilliant.

5. Primal Scream – XTRMNTR

When they are with it (and even sometimes when they are not), Primal Scream can be one of the most exhilarating of all live bands. With this album, they put that tremendous exhilaration on record. A thrilling listen.

Congratulations To Everybody In North Durham Honoured In The New Year's Honours

2009-12-31T07:05:00.000-08:00

The New Year's Honours list is often dominated by talk of celebrities who have been honoured. But there are a large number of people in North Durham who have been similarly honoured today. I have listed them all below. COngratulations to each and every one of you -richly deserved for services to North Durham and the North East. Apologies to anybody I have inadvertently missed off the list.

OBE

Dr Linda Ebbatson, Chester-le-Street District Council leader. For services to local government. (Durham)

MBE

John Cunningham, for charitable services. (Stanley)

Ronald Dodd, chairman, Training and Development Resource, Tyneside. For services to skills. (Chester-le-Street)

Atma Singh Gill, for services to the community. (Chester-le-Street)

Alan John Godfrey, publisher of historic maps. For services to heritage. (Edmondsley)

Lady Alderman Edna Hunter, for services to the community. (Stanley)

New Video: Talking About The Campaign For Change In North Durham

2009-12-29T05:05:00.000-08:00

Below is a video in which I talk about the campaign for real change in North Durham. I am hoping to do plenty of these videos over the next few months as the election comes closer.

For those who are interested, the video was filmed in the beautiful village of Tanfield. Tantobie and Sleepy Valley are in the background.

Please bear with me when it comes to picture quality.

More Violent Robberies Highlight The Need For Action Against Crime

2009-12-29T04:52:00.000-08:00

I have blogged a few times about the worrying upsurge in crime in North Durham. In the past few months there have been armed robberies in both Ouston and Stanley. Just before Christmas, another violent robbery happened in our area - this time in a Tantobie off licence. The shop assistant acted heroically by grabbing the gun of the violent robbers and standing them off until they left the shop. She should be saluted for her bravery.

With such frightening local incidents, the people of North Durham need no reminding that there has been a surge in violent crime in recent years.

SInce Labour came to power, violent crime has risen by 70 per cent in the UK. The latest British Crime Survey showed that there were over a million violent crimes committed on strangers in 2008/09. These are truly shocking statistics. And one of the really shocking things is that so little is being done about it. Indeed, a recent report showed that a number of violent crimes are being routinely ignored by the Police.

We need to get more Police Officers on to the streets and give them real powers to deal with violent crime. If there is one consistent theme from the people of North Durham when I speak to them on the doorstep, it is that they want more Police on the streets to tackle crime and make them feel safer.

Writing In Today's Northern Echo - Labour's Failure To Create North Eastern Jobs

2009-12-28T06:20:00.001-08:00

I have a piece in today's Northern Echo talking about Labour's failure to create jobsin the North East of England.

I have reproduced the piece in full below:

THIS year has been yet another of Labour failure to help the economy in our region.

The recession has hit the North-East particularly badly.

Unemployment in North Durham alone is 94 per cent higher than it was in January 2008, with thousands of families left to face a difficult Christmas period because of unemployment.

Labour’s policies have failed to help create jobs. We are the only major economy still in recession, with the highest rate of youth unemployment in Europe.

On top of this, the Government has decided to punish hard-working people and place a “tax on jobs” by increasing National Insurance.

We need real action to create jobs. This means a £50bn National Loan Guarantee Scheme to get credit flowing to business again. It means creating 100,000 new apprenticeships. It means ensuring that Labour’s proposed tax on jobs is reversed.

The Labour Party has grown out of touch with local people. It is no longer offering solutions to our region’s problems and has no vision or ambition for the future.

It must make way for passionate North-Easterners, like myself, who are determined to take action to create jobs and move the region’s economy forward to a more prosperous future.

The link to the piece is here:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/letters/4822121.Labour_failure/

The Top Political Speeches of the Noughties

2009-12-28T04:50:00.000-08:00

Lists seem to be the modus operandi of plenty of political blogs. With the noughties screeching to a halt, I thought that today would be a good day to do a top five political speeches of the decade (I'm minded to to a top 5 albums tomorrow if anybody cares). A word of warning - the below will probably not please narrow political tribalists of either the right or the left. A good speech is a good speech, whether you agree with it or not. Let me know your thoughts.

1. Barack Obama - South Carolina Primary Victory Speech - "Yes We Can"

Obama made political oratory matter again. His soaring oratory took him from outsider to front runner in a race that the 'experts' said that Hilary couldn't lose. He inspired Americans and those outside of America who love the US but hated what Bush had done to it and achieved the highest share of the vote for any Democrat since LBJ. The spontaneous and near universal surge of joy that greeted his election (I helped campaign for him and was in a jubilant New York on election night) was proof that his oratory and message had reached millions.

Obama could probably have filled every spot of a top ten speeches of the decade. The 2004 convention speech; the Iowa caucus acceptance speech; the Philadelphia speech on race; the convention address; the election night acceptance speech; and the speech defending healthcare reform from hysterical right wing attacks would all be worthy contenders. But the acceptance speech in South Carolina was possibly the most soaring of the campaign. He had survived all that the Clinton camp could throw at him (including a red faced Bill) and emerged triumphed. As political oratory it is masterful.

2. David Cameron - Speech to Conservative Party Conference, 2007 - "We Will Fight, Britain Will Win"

They said that speeches didn't matter any more. This one certainly mattered. The media had made their mind up - Gordon Brown was ready to call an early election. That was until this speech. This speech in 2007 turned round the media narrative and forced Gordon Brown to bottle the election. A thoroughly progressive Conservative speech and very much one of the most important British political speeches of the decade.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7024919.stm

3. Robin Cook - Resignation Speech

We may not have seen many speakers of the greatness of Bevan or Foot in the noughties, but this resignation speech was very much in that oratorical tradition. Whether you agreed with him or not, Robin Cook displayed enormous courage in resigning from Cabinet over the Iraq War and he captivated the House of Commons in a way that very few people can with this address. His intellect and oratory are sadly missed.

4. Tony Blair - 2001

Tribal Tories might baulk at the inclusion of this in the list, but Tony Blair was the supreme political communicator of his generation. He was the master of the art of the setpiece speech - particularly in the annual showdown with Gordon Brown, where Blair regularly outshone the then Chancellor. He simply cannot be left off a list of the top speeches of the decade. This speech was the moment when Blair was probably at the peak of his powers. He had won a second landslide and he was, for so many people, speaking for them about the reaction to September 11th.

5. Howard Dean - 'The Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party'

The Democrats had acted like rabbits in headlights since the 2002 mid-term elections. They didn't know how to react to the damaging policies being introduced by the Bush administration. This speech shook the Democrats from their collective tupor and made them realise that they could win again. It wasn't Howard Dean who was to depose the hard right Republicans but his campaign made a lot of what happened in 2008 possible.

We Must Support Local Shops and Reinvigorate Our High Streets

2009-12-27T01:50:00.000-08:00

As the people of the North East head off to the post Christmas sales, they will be shopping on High Streets that have been decimated by the recession. The high streets of Stanley, Chester-le-Street and Sacriston are scarred with empty shops and this is the case across the North East.

Our region has the highest business property vacancy rate in the country - of 9.7%. We also have, by far, the largest number of vacant former Woolworths in the country. Recent research by the Local Data Company showed that, in July, 90% of the former Woolworths stores in the North East are vacant - compared to a national average of 70% and only 50% in the London area.

This is yet another example of a complacent Labour Party letting our region down. They have taken us all for granted for much too long. The local high street should be the hub of the community. I fondly remember the vibrant high streets of Chester-le-Street, Stanley and Sacriston when I was growing up in the area. It saddens me now to see the number of boarded up shops in our area. We need to do all that we can to reinvigorate our high streets.

That means working with local shopkeepers to reduce the bureaucracy that makes their life so difficult and fighting back against the anti social behaviour that local shops have to deal with on a daily basis. We need to take action to restore our high streets to their former glory.

Kauto Star - One Of The All Time Greats

2009-12-27T01:36:00.000-08:00

There are moments in sport when one competitor is so far superior to his or her rivals that he spends most of the event basically laughing at his opponents. Look at Usain Bolt's Olympic 100m triumph. Remember Botham or Viv Richards swaggering to a mighty innings. Think about those old pictures of Cruyff, Maradona, Charlton or Pele. Well - another of those fabulous moments in sport happened on Boxing Day, when Kauto Star confirmed himself as one of the all time greats of jump racing, with a victory as facile as it was astonishing.

To win the second biggest race in the calendar (after the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which Kauto, of course also won) without drawing sweat really is an amazing achievement. To put top class steeplechasers to the sword is surely the sign of true equine greatness.

There is little doubt that we witnessed one of the all time greats on Boxing Day. It is getting to the point where (and whisper this) comparisons with the mighty Arkle will be in no way overblown. Roll on March and the quest for equine immortality and the clash with Denman.

Merry Christmas To Everybody In North Durham

2009-12-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to everybody. I hope that you all have a fantastic few days and make the most of these very festive scenes we are having in the North East at the moment.

Particular thoughts to all the servicemen from North Durham who are in a war zone this Christmas.

I will blog again after Christmas but, in the mean time, eat, drink and be merry.

Labour's Cavalier Approach To Higher Education

2009-12-23T14:06:00.000-08:00

This wasn't the kind of news that students and universities had been hoping for. Today, Lord Mandelson announced that the Government was cutting funding to universities by some £390 million. This comes only weeks after the Government cut back the Further Education budget. The Government should have remembered that we need a highly skilled workforce to compete in a global marketplace. We are also in the absurd position where universities are being fined for trying to meet Government targets.

As I have blogged previously, the Government has completely failed to widen participation in Higher Education. From 2000 to 2007, we slipped from 3rd to 14th in the OECD league table for university graduation. Now these cuts mean that the Labour Party effectively wants to narrow participation in Higher Education and diminish opportunities for people from working class backgrounds. I couldn't disagree more with their approach.

Higher education courses must be available to all those who are qualified by ability and attainment to pursue them and who wish to do so. That is why, as set out in the Conservative 'Get Britain Working' document, we need to create more university places, rather than reduce opportunity as the Labour Party seems determined to do. We also need to expand Further Education, vocational education and training to properly invest in our future as a nation and as a region.

The Genius of Sid Waddell

2009-12-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

The World Darts Championship is always a great highlight of the sporting year. As well as top class, exciting sport, the event also provides a golden opportunity to listen to the razor sharp Geordie wit of Sid Waddell. Sid probably has more memorable moments in one session than the average commentator has in a lifetime. My personal favourite is this one:

“When Alexander of Macedonia was 33, he cried salt tears because there were no more kingdoms left to conquer… Bristow is only 27.”

And there are plenty more where that came from. Enjoy:

“If we’d had Phil Taylor at Hastings against the Normans, they’d have gone home.”
“Bristow reasons . . . Bristow quickens … Aaahhhhh, Bristow.”
“He’s about as predictable as a Wasp on speed”
“Look at the man go, its like trying to stop a water buffalo with a pea-shooter”
“The atmosphere is so tense, if Elvis walked in, with a portion of chips… you could hear the vinegar sizzle on them”
“Big Cliff Lazarenko’s idea of exercise is sitting in a room with the windows open taking the lid off something cool and fizzy.”
“His eyes are bulging like the belly of a hungry chaffinch”
“That’s the greatest comeback since Lazarus.”
“Under that heart of stone beat muscles of pure flint.”
“He looks about as happy as a penguin in a microwave.”
“The pendulum swinging back and forth like a metronome”
“His face is sagging with tension.”
“He’s been burning the midnight oil at both ends.”
“That’s like giving Dracula the keys to the blood bank”
“The players are under so much duress, it’s like duressic park out there!”
“John Lowe is striding out like Alexander the Great conquering the Persians”
“By the time of the final on Sunday he should be fit to burst!”
“There’s only one word for that – magic darts!”
“I don’t know what he’s had for breakfast but Taylor knocked the Snap, Crackle and Pop outta Bristow”
“Even Hypotenuse would have trouble working out these angles”
“Steve Beaton – The adonis of darts, what poise, what elegance – a true roman gladiator with plenty of hair wax.”
“Eat your heart out Harold Pinter, we’ve got drama with a capital D in Essex.”
“He’s playing out of his pie crust.”
“They won’t just have to play outta their skin to beat Phil Taylor. They’ll have to play outta their essence!”
“Darts players are probably a lot fitter than most footballers in overall body strength.”
“There’s no one quicker than these two tungsten tossers…”
“Phil Taylor’s got the consistency of a planet… and he’s in a darts orbit!”
“The atmosphere is a cross between the Munich Beer Festival and the Coliseum when the Christians were on the menu.”
“Steve Beaton, he’s not Adonis, he’s THE donis”
“One hundred and eighty, divided by three, is one dart at a time”

Great News About TV Debates. Time For Local Debates As Well

2009-12-21T09:39:00.000-08:00

I'm delighted that it looks like we are going to have leader's debates before the next election. It was absurd that we are the only major democracy that doesn't have major televised debates before an election. If we are serious about re-engaging the people with those who aspire to represent them, televised debates are an absolute must.

As well as televised national debates - we need proper, town hall debates in every constituency in the country. We need to go to local people to discuss the issues that matter to local people.

With that in mind, I'm challenging my Labour and Liberal opponents to agree to a series of local, town-hall style debates across North Durham before the next election. Those of us seeking the trust of local people must go out of our way to explain to electors why we deserve their vote.

Labour Are Playing Politics When They Should Be Focusing On Job Creation

2009-12-20T13:04:00.000-08:00

It’s extraordinary that Labour politicians seem entirely oblivious to the fact that we need to take concrete steps to tackle the unemployment crisis and help create jobs. Their decision to increase National Insurance at a time when businesses are already suffering badly suggests that they are completely out of touch with the problems affecting hard working people and businesses in our area.

So many small businesses I have spoken to have suggested that the rise in National Insurance is effectively a “tax on jobs”. And it is a tax on jobs coming at the worst possible time for job creation. We need action to create jobs in our area. What we absolutely do not need is measures such as this that makes it even more difficult for businesses to create jobs.

We need to create more apprenticeships, more training places, more FE places. We need to get credit flowing to business again and create a dynamic environment for job creation. By playing politics rather than helping to create jobs, the Government have shown that they know little and care even less about the problems affecting hard-working people in the North East. The complacent, out of touch local Labour Party must make way for proud North Easterners, such as me, willing to take the measures our region needs to create more jobs.

Delighted That Our Region's Grounds Have Been Included In The 2018 World Cup Bid

2009-12-16T08:42:00.000-08:00

There was a great result for the North East today as both the Stadium of Light and St James' Park were named among the FA's proposed grounds for the 2018 WOrld Cup - if it is held in England.

Any other result would, of course, have been ridiculous. It's all well and good trying to choose a good "geographical spread" of grounds, but you cannot ignore the fact that the North East is the footballing heartland of the country. It is right that this has been recognised in the allocation of the grounds for 2018.

We have football under the skin in the North East. I'm a passionate Sunderland fan but I think it is quite right that both of our area's big teams have been recognised by the FA. Now let's hope that the bid team can push things forward so the North East can welcome the World Cup in 2018.

Rumours Of An Early Election... Bring It On

2009-12-15T08:41:00.000-08:00

The press is full of rumours of an early election being held in March.

To that, all I can say is... Bring It On... The sooner the better. The people of North Durham are sick and tired of being taken for granted and are genuinely thirsty for change.

If Gordon Brown decides to call an early election, then the campaign for change in North Durham is ready and waiting. The people of North Durham have had to suffer from the complacency of a local Labour elite for much too long. We are counting down the days to real change in North Durham. And the sooner that real change can be acheived, the better.

The Absurd Shortlist For Sports Personality Of The Year

2009-12-13T09:42:00.000-08:00

It is Sports Personality of the Year night tonight. I always remember this night was one of the highlights of the sporting year, but it does seem to have diminished in importance and value in recent years. Personally, I think that it lost a bit of credibility when the BBC tugged their forelock and gave the award to Zara Phillips a few years ago.

Nevertheless, it’s still an important showpiece for the best in sport of the year. This year, of the shortlist, surely it has to be between Andrew Strauss and Jenson Button. Strauss would surely be long odds-on if the English Cricket establishment hadn’t sold their soul to Sky and dramatically reduced the number of viewers for the Ashes this year. Of course, Ryan Giggs will get plenty of votes from glory seekers in the Home Counties, but I’m far from convinced that he would be a worthy winner.

What has astonished me is the names that are missing from the short list. Phil Taylor has taken darts to a new level this year. Winning EVERY major tournament and sweeping aside all in front of him. It seems odd that he doesn’t make the shortlist, while Andy Murray who failed to make the final of a single Grand Slam does. Maybe darts is a little too popular, a little too Northern and a little too working class for a toffee nosed Southern establishment. But Phil Taylor would be towards the top of my list. And what about the genius that is Tony McCoy? He has dominated his sport in an incredible way for over a decade but still no proper recognition from the Beeb.

Sports Personality of the Year seems geared to the few sports that the Beeb still has broadcasting rights too. Having said that, hopefully next year England’s World Cup stars will be winners by acclamation after a successful tournament in South Africa!

UPDATE - Ryan Giggs is a truly silly winner. As I said above, "Of course, Ryan Giggs will get plenty of votes from glory seekers in the Home Counties, but I’m far from convinced that he would be a worthy winner. "

My Appearance On The Politics Show - The Need To Take Action To Create Jobs

2009-12-13T09:41:00.000-08:00

I was on the BBC Politics Show yesterday afternoon, talking about how the North Eastern economy can grow out of the recession. It was my TV debut and, all in all, an enjoyable experience. The i-player link is below. The interview starts on 39 minutes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pfscr/The_Politics_Show_North_East_and_Cumbria_13_12_2009/

What has struck me over the past few months is the level of complacency of the Labour Party in the North East. We have high and rising unemployment, which is 50% higher than the national average. On almost every metric, our region has fallen further behind other regions over the past twelve years. And we can all see the results of the recession in the High Streets across the North East.

This week, the Government could have used their pre budget report as a budget for job creation. Instead, they decided to play politics with people’ jobs. They increased National insurance – something that the CBI called a “tax on jobs” and the Federation of Small Businesses described as “devastating for employment in the UK.” Small businessmen I speak to in North Durham are extremely worried about the impact this is likely to have on jobs.

Instead of political gestures, we need real action to help create jobs. That means reversing the tax on jobs and getting credit flowing to business using a National Loan Guarantee Scheme. It means creating 200,000 new apprenticeships; 100,000 new Further Education places and more training places.

I have set out a vision elsewhere that the North East must be a trailblazing economy for new green industries. We can have a glorious future to match our glorious past. But the vision free and complacent Labour politicians in the North East need to leave the stage before that can happen.

Well Done To Joe. A Fantastic Win For The North East on the X Factor

2009-12-13T09:37:00.000-08:00

As an annual Glastonbury goer, who loves artists like The Strokes, The Stones, Glasvegas, Iggy Pop, The Clash, Johnny Cash and Neil Young, the manufactured pop of the X Factor isn’t always to my taste. But I was shouting the house down for proud North Easterner, Joe, to win the final this evening.

He clearly has fantastic musical talent, as well as that fierce North Eastern pride and determination, which only people from our region can fully understand. His story is proof positive that when somebody from the North East goes for something, they can achieve anything.

In what has been another difficult year for all of us in the North East, it was great to see Joe give us something to cheer about this evening. North Eastern success always makes me proud to be a North Easterner and reminds us all that we are the greatest region on the planet. Well done to Joe for carrying the North Eastern flag tonight.

Making The North East The Powerhouse Of The Green Industrial Revolution

2009-12-11T14:40:00.000-08:00

In the North East, we need a bold and ambitious vision for the future of our economy. We have the natural resources, we have the skills and, above all, we have the people to be a world leader in green industries and green technology. Sadly, at the moment, the complacent Labour MPs’ in our area are unable to provide vision or leadership to help our region become a world leader again.

I make the case, in this pamphlet published by the TRG, that, as a region we should be world leaders in green industry. You can read the pamphlet here:

The North East can, once again, be the region that other parts of the world look towards. Our potential as an area is limitless. But the time in which we have to take advantage of the opportunities and to be genuine trailblazers is limited.

Of course, local Labour politicians have shown no imagination and no vision at all about the future of our region. They have long grown, tired and out of touch – having taken us all for granted for much too long. That is why we urgently need to sweep them aside in favour of a new generation of North Easterners, like myself, who have a passion for our region and a real vision for the future of our economy.

Time To Say No To Public Money Funding Banker's Bonuses

2009-12-07T02:20:00.000-08:00

I'm sick of hearing bankers demanding grotesque, sky-high bonuses only a year after bringing the global economy to its knees. This is particularly grotesque for those bankers demanding bonuses using our money - only a year after taxpayer intervention saved banks like RBS from the consequences of their own folly.

We spent £850 billion of public money bailing out the banks after bankers made catstrophic mistakes. The banks high risk, irresponsible business model combined with lack of Government regulation and Gordon Brown's mismanagement to trigger the recession that is still having devastating consequences across the North East.

While the rest of us are having to tighten our belts, it is frankly disgusting that bankers are intent on rewarding themselves with sky high bonuses and continuing their champagne lifestyle, irrespective of the damage that their poor decisions caused to the economy.

Bonuses for bankers at the moment would not amount to bonuses to reward good performance. They would amount to bonuses using public money out of a sense of entitlement. Surely the bankers demanding grotesque bonuses will discover a sense of humility. When we are suffering from mass unemployment, it is frankly wrong that public money is being spent to pay banker's bonuses.

Labour's Shameful Neglect Of Manufacturing Industry

2009-12-04T06:32:00.000-08:00

Labour have betrayed their history and heritage in so many ways. They have betrayed the hopes of so many of those who placed so much faith in Tony Blair in 1997. But one of the biggest betrayals is New Labour's betrayal of British manufacturing industry. Figures released yesterday show that manufacturing as a share of the economy has collapsed from 20 per cent in 1997 to just under 13 per cent today. On top this comes today's devastating news that Corus are shedding 1,700 jobs on Teeside.

The fact is that Labour have ignored and betrayed manufacturaing industry. They were seduced by the City and the South East of England. This 'Labour' Government has been happy to let manufacturing decline at the same time as bankers ran amok - earning obscene bonuses and damaging the real economy.

In contrast, I believe that manufacturing MUST have a central role to play in our economy. We must become a country that makes things again. And the North East must lead this renaissance of British manufacturing. If elected as MP for North Durham, I will actively campaign for a vision of the North East that has a rejuvenated, competitive manufacturing sector at its very heart. I have had quite enough of New Labour's defeatism and neglect of our region and manufacturing industry as a whole.

Labour's Legacy of Educational Inequality

2009-12-01T10:44:00.001-08:00

Labour have done nothing about educational inequalities. In many years they have grown worse in the past twelve years. A report by the Universities and Colleges Union, called 'Location, Location, Location' illustrates the stark educational inequalities that exist in New Labour's Britain.

According to the report, "where you live will determine your chances of educational success and people living in traditionally underachieving areas are proportionately less likely to have a degree now than they were at the last election."

This is yet another area in which North Durham has been badly let down by the Labour Party. Some 9.92% of the working age population have no qualifications. 22.8% of the population are educated to degree/ NVQ Level 4, compared to a national average of 57%.

Labour were elected with great promises of a better education for all and widening participation in Higher Education. These figures show that they have failed to deliver, with people from working class areas still not getting sufficient opportunity for education. That is why we must widen participation as much as possible, rather than having universities as finishing schools for the middle class. It is why we must concentrate our attention on improving state education in working class areas. Labour's legacy of educational inequality is simply not good enough.

As Labour's North Eastern Vote Melts Away - The Scene Is Set For A Tory Surge

2009-11-28T08:26:00.000-08:00

A fascinating poll in this morning's Telegraph showed that the Conservatives are 6% ahead in marginal constituencies in the North of England - a huge swing since the last election that is well above the national average.

This new poll confirms what I am seeing in North Durham that voters are sick and tired of a complacent local Labour establishment. Local people are ready to turn to the Conservatives. Indeed, in many cases, this will be the first time they have voted Conservative.

Our canvass returns are excellent so far in North Durham. We have canvassed many thousand householdsand over 50% of people have told us that they will either certainly be voting Conservative or strongly consider it. They are all very angry at Labour's legacy of unemployment, anti-social behaviour and lack of vision. The people of North Durham are angry about being taken for granted by an out of touch Labour Party.

The people of the North East and North Durham have had enough of n arrogant Labour elite. The people of the North East are ready to give the Labour Party a bloody nose in 2010.

Consumers Are Right To Be Angry Over Unfair Banking Charges Verdict

2009-11-25T09:52:00.000-08:00

Consumers are right to be angry at the decision of the Supreme Court to overturn previous court rulings that the OFT should investigate whether bank charges were unfair. This stinks of wealthy judges backing wealthy banks against the man in the street and the ordinary consumer.

It is quite clear to me that banks charging up to £40 for a customer exceeding their overdraft limit is not only unfair. It is outrageous. Don't forget that the OFT described the charges as "difficult to understand, not transparent, and not subject to effective consumer control".

There needs to be a competition review of banks - particularly now that so many of them are kept afloat using our money. This must cover banking charges. The banks must be ready to compensate people who have been unfairly charged. It is not acceptable that banks have treated their customers so badly, whether it be over mis-selling of Payment Protection Insurance or these unfair banking charges.

Meeting The Rocket

2009-11-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled to meet one of the real sporting greats at an event last night. Ronnie 'The Rocket' O'Sullivan showed off his genius at the pool table, as well as being an absolute gent. An all too large part of my youth was spent in 'Supa Snooker' in Consett, never quite being able to understand how the guys who play the game on TV make it look quite so easy.

The Rocket is, without a shadow of doubt one of the greatest players ever to pick up a snooker cue. He probably has more natural talent than anybody (with the possible exceptions of Jimmy White and Alex Higgins) in the history of the game.

He was telling me how professional snooker players are spending a lot of time in China - where the sport is massive at the moment and growing all the time. Fingers crossed that the sport now goes from global strength to global strength.

Labour's Failure To Tackle Crime Hits The Poorest The Hardest

2009-11-23T07:53:00.001-08:00

I spoke to the Durham Union on Friday in favour of the motion that "Britain is too soft on crime." The Shadow Justice Secretary, Dominic Grieve MP, was also speaking The Durham Union is a great venue and there were some really classy contributions from both sides of the debate.

My argument was quite simple - it is working class areas who suffer most from crime and it is working class areas that suffer most from this Government being soft on crime. I made the point that if you suggested in any council estste in the country that we were not being too soft on crime, you would be laughed out of town. If you live in the 20% most deprived areas of the country you are twice as likely to be a victim of violent crime than if you live in the 20% least deprived areas.

In the UK, there were 4 million instances of anti social behaviour last year alone, as well as over a million violent crimes. For 50,000 of these violent crimes, including around 800 GBH offences, the offenders were issued with nothing more than a caution - a ticking off.

At the same time, the Government has completely failed to do anything to improve education and rehabilitation in prisons. It has presided over a society where poverty has increased and inequality has widened. It has so burdened the Police in red tape that Police officers spend more time filling in forms than they do on the beat.

We need to do more to tackle crime and tackle the causes of crime. This Government has blatantly failed on both counts and has let down the poorest in society.

The Durham Union clearly agreed - they voted at the end of the debate that Britain was, indeed, too soft on crime.

Labour Are No Longer The Champions Of The Poor

2009-11-17T01:38:00.000-08:00

Labour have comprehensively failed to help the most vulnerable. They have betrayed the great traditions of the Labour movement and presided over rising unemployment, declining social mobility, widening inequality and rising poverty. The Government has comprehensively let down those who placed most faith in it.

This Labour Party, which is a pale shadow of the moral crusade of the past, can no longer claim to be the party of the vulnerable in society. It is no surprise, then, to see a poll in The Guardian this morning, which shows that the Conservatives are now regarded as being the party "of the poor" by more voters than regard Labour as the same thing.

If elected as MP for North Durham, creating a fairer equal society will be one of my real priorities. I will be prepared, unlike lobby fodder Labour MPs, to act as a champion for the poor and the vulnerable.

Test Match Cricket Should Be On Free To Air TV

2009-11-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

Test match cricket should be on free to air TV. I strongly believe this and I'm delighted that the DCMS sponsored independent commission has reached the same conclusion as me. For the long term health of the game, as opposed to the financial health of already bloated county clubs, test match cricket must be exposed to the widest audience possible.

This year's Ashes series (shown on pay per view TV) had an average audience several million smaller than the last home Ashes series (shown on free to air Channel 4). Whereas 2005 was a great nationally unifying series, 2009 was a great sporting event that suffered too much from being tucked away on a satellite subscription channel.

As I previously blogged, "the last series was watched on TV by over 10 million people and these ratings could be achieved because the Ashes were on free to air TV. A wide range of viewers made up these massive viewing figures. The casual viewer who wouldn’t normally watch sport, and certainly wouldn’t subscribe to a sports channel. The poor and elderly who may not be able to afford the subscription to satellite TV. The schoolkids who chanced upon the TV coverage and found new sporting heroes to emulate.

Since the TV rights were sold to Sky, TV audiences have gone from over 10 million to under 1 million. Terrestrial coverage brings with it accidental viewers in a way that satellite coverage can not. It means that cricket can become the background to many a family summers day. Removing cricket from terrestrial television is depriving the game of the all important oxygen of exposure. Surely the loss of a massive stream of potential interest can only be detrimental to the future of the game."

The ECB's decision to sacrifice the future of the game for the Sky dollar was short termist and wrong and I am pleased that the DCMS commission has intervened to stand up for the long term health of the sport. Why would the ECB willingly tuck cricket away on Sky knowing that more than half of the under 18 year olds in the country have no access to Sky?

The governing body complain about potential lost TV revenue. But that shows a real loss of imagination and long term vision. Any loss in TV revenue could be made up for with increased advertising revenue with advertisers knowing that their product will be exposed to a much larger, free to air audience. Exposure to millions more aspiring youngsters, dreming of being the next Flintoff, Pietersen or Broad is worth a return to free to air TV in itself.

The ECB should be responsible about their sale of TV rights. Their present attitude is hugely detrimental to the future health of the game.

Real Labour People Are Deserting The Labour Party

2009-11-12T09:43:00.001-08:00

It has become clear to me, from talking to thousands of voters from across North Durham, that people who traditionally vote Labour have told me that they are sick and tired of the Labour Party and will be voting for a Progressive Conservative candidate in North Durham at the next election.

This week, three high profile Labour figures have also suggested that, to an extent they are tired of the Government and their failure to act to combat poverty and safeguard civil liberties.

First off was Tony Benn. I'm a massive fan of Tony Benn - I think 'Arguments for Democracy' and 'Arguments for Socialism' are first class texts. He has been one of the foremost figures warning about the deterioration in civil liberties over the past twelve years. He has consistently made the case that the anachronistic powers of the royal prerogative give the Executive way too much power against a weakened Parliament. His speech about the Maastricht Treaty, warning that "I cannot hand away powers lent to me" was a hugely powerful exposition of the democratic argument against a European superstate. I was, therefore, delighted to hear that in an interview with The Sunday times, he said that his "views on civil liberties and Europe were closer to the Conservatives than Labour." He said, "There are issues I find myself in agreement with some of the Tories on, particularly on civil liberties... As I grow older I have reached the conclusion that issues unite people, whereas ideologies divide them."

At the same time, Clare Short, the former Cabinet Minister under Tony Blair has said that, "the Conservatives have committed to keeping up the budget and keeping up the commitment on poverty and keeping a separate department, so I am pleased about that.”

Former Welfare Minister under Tony Blair, Frank Field has said that David Cameron's speech on poverty, "declares war on Labour's reason for existence... it is a wonderfully bold beginning."

In all these cases, Labour figures are realising that a Conservative Government is more likely to acheive progressive ends than a tired Labour Government. Their shift is being replicated throughout North Durahm and the North East by people who have voted Labour all of their lives who are set to vote Conservative at the next election.

We Must Do More To Tackle Unemployment

2009-11-11T04:22:00.001-08:00

Figures released today show that unemployment nationally now stands at 2.46 million. In North Durham, some 2,504 people are claiming Job Seekers allowance, compared to 1,286 in January last year. That is a shocking increase of 94%. That is 1,218 more families being affected by the davastation of unemployment.

Unemployment is the worst of all economic problems because of the impact it has on individuals, families and communities, as well as the impact it has on our economic productivity as a region and a nation. That is why I believe the Government could and should be doing more to tackle unemployment.

I am calling for a comprehensive programme to tackle unemployment. This means the creation of 200,000 new apprenticeships and training places over 2 years. It means creating a proper National Loan Guarantee Scheme to get credit moving again, as well as helping businesses to create new jobs. It means the provision of high quality careers advice and guidance to help people find work as quickly as possible.

We must marshall all the resources at our disposal to tackle unemployment. It will be my priority if elected as MP for North Durham.

Labour's Shameful Betrayal Of Young Britons

2009-11-08T11:09:00.000-08:00

The impact of Gordon Brown's recession has been devastating on young people. We just have to note a few of the key areas in which this Government have betrayed young people during the recession:

We have the highest youth unemployment rate in Europe.
We now have a record number of 16-24 year olds not in education, employment or training.
The number of unemployed graduates is nudging 100,000.
The number of apprenticeships has fallen by more than a third in one year.
Over 150,000 university applicants didn't get a university place and, because of Government reforms, over 175,000 students still hadn't received student finance by mid October.
The Government has placed caps on training funding, royally messed up the Further Education budget and forced many colleges to cut back on their course offerings.

Just when you thought that this Government could not worsen their betrayal of young people this morning, it has emerged this morning that they are secretly planning cuts in training of extreme severity. They are suggesting cutting £350 million off the training budget, affecting unemployed young people and also young people. Most of the advocated cuts actually affect front line services. It is shameful that the Government are considering such a move.

What we need is an expansion in training opportunities, so that this recession does not create a lost generation of young people. We need 100,000 new work based apprenticeships and training places. We need the creation of more Further Education places, to bolster the excellent work that FE already does. We need the creation of more university places to ensure that we can compete in a skills based global economy.

We must be investing in our future rather than, as Labour are doing, taken a scalpel to our potential.

Welcoming The Launch Of County Durham Monopoly

2009-11-03T13:52:00.000-08:00

Great to see that a County Durham version of Monopoly has been launched. Such North Durham landmarks as the Riverside Ground and Chester-le-Street railway station are captured in the board game, as well as other landmarks from across our breathtaking county.

Hard to disagree with the Dean of Durham, who suggested that "it’s great to welcome the new County Durham version.”

You can get the County Durham version of the game here.

Time To Tackle The Problem Of Violent Crime

2009-11-03T13:35:00.000-08:00

In the past few weeks, there have been violent robberies in both Stanley, where a man with a knife threatened a member of staff at a cheque centre, and Ouston, when a man with a handgun attempted to rob the local Post Office. With such frightening local incidents, the people of North Durham need no reminding that there has been a surge in violent crime in recent years.

SInce Labour came to power, violent crime has risen by 70 per cent in the UK. The latest British Crime Survey showed that there were over a million violent crimes committed on strangers in 2008/09. At the same time, burglary has gone up by 3 per cent in one year and personal theft has increased by 5 per cent. These are truly shocking statistics. And one of the really shocking things is that so little is being done about it. Indeed, a recent report showed that a number of violent crimes are being routinely ignored by the Police.

That is why we need to get more Police Officers on to the streets and give them real powers to deal with violent crime. If there is one consistent theme from the people of North DUrham when I speak to them on the doorstep, it is that they want more Police on the streets to tackle crime and make them feel safer.

We Must Create More Apprenticeships

2009-10-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

Our economy urgently needs the creation of more real apprenticeships. And by real apprenticeship, I don't mean (as this Government does) just renaming an existing College course an apprenticeship. What I mean is genuine, work-based training, with an apprentice spending most of their time in the workplace -developing experience in a day to day working environment. This is the kind of apprenticeship that was so effective for most of the post war years and gets a lot of support on the doorstep.

Using the Government's own figures, the number of apprentices have fallen by more than a third in one year. That is simply not good enough. Particularly when we need a highly skilled workforce to ensure that we can compete in a skills based global economy. It is absolutely not good enough when we have a record number of young people not in employment, education or training.

That is why I am calling for the creation of 100,000 new work-based apprenticeships and training places to help young people. We also need to make it much easier for businesses to run apprenticeship schemes. Having a highly skilled workforce is central to the future economic prosperity of our area.

Support Floods In For Durham As 'City Of Culture'

2009-10-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted to see that Durham's bid to be the UK's City of Culture is attracting so much support. Over 10,000 people have backed the bid so far. If you haven't already done so, I would encourage you to visit www.durhamcityofculture.co.uk

I blogged when the bid was first announced that I'm a massive supporter of the bid. As I said in July, Durham is one of the most culturally exciting places in the country, with art, theatre, poetry, comedy and photography all flourishing in our area.

Only this year, our area has played host to some outstanding cultural events and festivals. And there are even more to come next year. Our area's cultural vibrancy and stunning backdrop mean that we are perfectly placed to become the city of culture. Let's keep up the momentum and make sure that our area gets the recognition it deserves.

Celebrating Our Region's Beers... And Standing Up For The Local Pub

2009-10-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

After a good morning’s canvassing around Chester-le-Street, we headed for the welcoming environs of the Chester-le-Street Beer Festival in the Cricket Club, as the heavens began to open outside. It was a brilliantly organised event and an excellent showcase for beer brewed in North Durham (Beamish) and around the region (Consett and Wylam to name but two of the breweries represented. Hats off to the organisers – the room was packed with a wide variety of people (including somebody who seemed genuinely surprised that I had read and appreciated ‘In Place Of Fear’ by Nye Bevan). All in all, a great success and one that will hopefully be repeated next year.

However, there was a more serious sub-text to the occasion that needs to be addressed. Firstly, there was the shadow that one of the region’s most famous drinks is under threat of having its beer production moved from our region. I have said before, and I will say again, for the sake of jobs, the heritage of the drink, and the future credibility and success of the ‘dog’, Newcastle Brown Ale MUST continue to be brewed in the North East, where it belongs.

The second shadow hanging over the event was the continuing difficulties being faced by pubs in our area and nationwide. 40 pubs are closing every week, including all too many in the North Durham area, with hugely damaging consequences for the communities that they serve. Around a third of every pint we buy now goes to the Government in tax and the ‘beer tie’ continues to bind the hands of pubs and landlords around the area. The Government has repeatedly raised beer tax, punishing hard working people who enjoy a pint, and, only last Friday, turned down the idea even of an independent inquiry into the beer tie.

Sadly, the Government is driven by a stern faced Puritanism, which is damaging pubs and Working Men’s Clubs throughout the area. We need to fight to safeguard the future of our region’s brewing tradition, local pubs and Working Man’s Club movement. It is quite clear that Labour are not going to stand up for the working man who liked the odd tipple after work. I most certainly will be standing up for local pubs, local brewing, local Working Men’s Clubs and the continuance of Newcastle Brown Ale in the North East.

A New Report Says That Our Area has Been Hardest Hit By The Recession

2009-10-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

There are so many examples in North Durham of how we have been particularly badly hit by the recession created in Downing Street. I have spoken to many, many people who are out of work and not getting anywhere near enough help from this Government to get back to work. Indeed, unemployment is up by around 70% in the past year. The effect of the recession is painfully obvious on the streets of Chester-le-Street and Stanley. The number of shops that have closed on Chester-le-Street's high street in the last year alone is devastating.

Now we know that this recession is the longest since records began. A number of reports have shown that our area has been hit hardest by the recession - coming on top of the fact that since 1997, our area has trailed other regions using almost every economic metric. A report released today confirmed what many of us have feared - that the Chester-le-Street area is amongst the hardest hit in the country by the recession. Indeed, the report from Experian suggests that Chester-le-Street will suffer the most from the recession.

I have said so many times before that this Government is not doing anywhere near enough to deal with the recession. Local Labour politicians seem completely devoid of answers or solutions. Local people are rightly demanding action. All they are getting from the Labour party is hot air.

We need urgent action to create jobs; help people to find work; help business to recover; and provide apprenticeship and training places. It is time for the Labour Party, which has taken us for granted for too long and left our area exposed to the worst of the recession, to step aside and make way for people such as me who believe in our area and want to take urgent action to help create jobs. It is time for the Labour Party, which has let our area down for too long, make way for people like me who believe in our region, are prepared to stand up for our region and have a vision for a glorious economic future for our region.

Labour Should Be Ashamed About The Rise In Fuel Poverty

2009-10-22T11:49:00.001-07:00

Labour should be ashamed of their record on fuel poverty. A The Northern Echo reported today, the number of North Eastern households suffering from fuel poverty has increased from 73,100 to 177,021. In Chester-le-Street alone it has more than doubled in three years – from 1,500 to 3,360. In Derwentside, fuel poverty showed a shocking increase from 2,500 to 6,783. According to the Fuel Poverty Action Group, these figures understate the scale of the problem – with up to 5.5 million households nationwide suffering from fuel poverty.

When I was brought up in Consett, I was told that this was the kind of thing that a Labour Government would not allow to happen. But a Labour Government has allowed it to happen and it is a disgrace.

As Age Concern have said, “the human cost of fuel poverty is great, particularly among vulnerable older people.” Age Concern have called on the Government to “en the misery” over fuel poverty. They are quite right that urgent action needs to be taken about this distressing problem. Once again, the Government has not done nearly enough to help the most vulnerable in society.

That is why I am calling for a series of reforms to directly tackle the human tragedy of fuel poverty. I would like to see:

- Tough measures on the energy companies, including rules to ensure that energy and utility companies give customers a fair deal and, in particular, make it illegal for these companies to charge price premiums on repayment meters. Energy companies must make it clear to all customers what the cheapest available tariff is;
- Energy companies being forced to offer preferential tariffs and affordable payment plans to vulnerable households;
- Real action to refit the houses of people suffering from fuel poverty. Every home that requires should be refitted in an energy efficient way, to be repaid through fuel bills over a 25 year period. This would result in immediate reductions in the cost of energy;
- People without a bank account enabled to pay energy bills using direct debit style payments through their Post Office, cutting energy bills for millions of people without bank accounts in fuel poverty.

We need to ensure that this action is taken urgently – before so many households in our area suffer the devastation of a winter with limited access to heat. I’m sick and tired of this Government not standing up for or helping the people who need their help the most. Now is the time for action – not rhetoric. We must consign fuel poverty to history.

It Is About Time That we Had North Eastern MPs Who Are Prepared To Stand Up For The North East

2009-10-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

The Government kicked the North East in the guts twice in a day on Monday.

Firstly, Lord Adonis, the Transport Minister said that campaigners against the hike in Air Passenger Duty, which will disproportionately affect the North East, had no right to complain.

Secondly, a group of transport experts have made a first class case for a high speed rail link to include the North East. As I have said before, our area's future economic competitiveness depends on it. And where were the region's MPs as the case for jobs and business in the area was being made? Nowhere. It seems that the Government has already made the decision to ignore the North East yet again.

It is about time that we had a Government who didn't treat our region in this way. It is about time that we had MPs prepared to stand up for the North East. If elected as MP for North Durham, I will ensure that I am a proud North Eastern voice making the case for our area in Westminster.

Newcastle Brown Ale Must Not Be Brewed Outside Of The North East

2009-10-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

Newcastle Brown Ale is one of the great symbols of the North East. It is a great symbol of our region that is recognised worldwide. As somebody who enjoys a fairly regular drop of the brown stuff or 'the dog' as it is known, I'm particularly proud of the heritage and regional pride that comes with the Blue Star.

I was very sad to hear that Scottish and Newcastle have decided to shift production of that great North Eastern symbol to move production away from the North East. Clearly, this is devastating news for the workforce in the North East and our first thoughts must be with those whose jobs and livelihoods are at risk because of this decision. Up to 63 jobs could be at risk from this decision.

This decision shows that we must do more to support the pub trade, which has been hit by rise after rise in beer duty - so much so that one third of every pint now goes in tax and 6 pubs are closing every day of the week.

We must all appeal to Scottish and Newcastle to reverse this decision. Newcastle Brown Ale is special because it is brewed in the North East. It will lose its distinctiveness and, to some extent, lose its credibility as a brand if it is brewed away from our region. It is, frankly, an insult that a brand, which has made so much of the distinctiveness of our area to strengthen the beer's appeal, is considering dealing a blow to our area.