When Cameron first became leader of the Tories he reached out for the green vote, here was a Tory who actually believed in global warming- he even travelled out to the arctic. We then had re-branding of the Tory logo with a dash of green and some sort of childs drawing of a tree thrown in.
Seems time now for a further re-brand – throw away the green bit, the tree and just have a St George’s flag and the drawbridge being drawn up with the slogan ‘I’m alright Jack’.
Since May we have had the scrapping of the ‘Green deal’ – we know it was not working but replace the scheme do not just scrap it. We have also seen the Tories state it should be easier for residents to refuse wind turbines but with a large dose of hypocrisy, Cameron informs us residents should not let their views get in the way of fracking- which will be the saviour of our nation!
This Tory dumping has hit Ipswich, making it more difficult for us to place solar panels on council roofs, we are going ahead with placing more panels on roofs but this should have been done over 2 years ago and every time we start we are always left worried that Osborne and the Tories will change the rules at any time.
As the East of England has a number of businesses involves in the off-shore wind farm industry this state of uncertainty over the industry does not help.
This ditching of any sort of green policy has now reached the Tories in Suffolk, with their latest proposal (remember the Tory slogan – the ‘Greenest’ County) to charge residents £50 for their brown bins – and they think this will help recycling!
What it will lead to is more waste in the black bins, more anti-social bonfires – remember this is on top of green waste no longer being taken in at the Foxhall waste site and big queues at Portman’s Walk after the Tories shut other waste sites including the one on the way to Shotley.
Good news for Ipswich residents is that Labour run Ipswich are not willing to charge residents £50 for their brown bin and we may also be joined in this action by Tory run Suffolk Coastal. The strange thing is that some of the Tory Cabinet who are for charging £50 for the bin may vote in their own District Council to not charge residents £50! The reason for this strange decision? It seems to me all they are interested in is moving some of the costs that the County has to pay to District Councils, making it easier for them in 2017 to come out with their one and only policy- no council tax rises for the next 5 years ( they will also fail to mention you will also have no schools, no bin collection and no care homes!)
What it does show both nationally and locally that the Tories only care about now and those who ‘have’. They have no concerns for the future of our planet- for our children or grandchildren – it is just self, self and more self.
What can you do? Write to Ben Gummer and Dan Poulter, your local Tory Councillors – ask them do they support the £50 charge on brown bins? And if they do not are they going to lobby the Tory run County not to implement this badly thought out plan!
Good news for at least one advertising agency- they will get to design a new Tory logo , no tree or any green needed this time.
Thursday, 30 July 2015
Sunday, 26 July 2015
My week ahead, 27 July - 1 August 2015
Monday 27 July, 6pm – Labour Group meeting
Saturday 1 August, 10am – Labour campaigning, North Ipswich
Back into full time campaigning again after a very short Summer break, we have also had a number old new members join the party and it has great to see many get involved with the local party so soon after joining.
A number may join just to vote in the leadership election but i have found that all the new members I have met who have joined since May have become Labour members to help campaign for a better country. We had over 70 members turn up to hear Tom Watson, one of our Deputy Leader candidates speak at the Kingfisher pub in Ipswich.
When it comes to the leadership contest I have still not decided who I am going to vote for, the right wing press are having a field day in the support that Jeremy Corbyn seems to be gaining from Labour members, I understand his appeal to many members in particular his anti-austerity stance but I will not be voting for him because of his non-committal stance over Europe and because I am still not sure that his views have changed much from when he voiced opinions over the future of Northern Ireland.
But I am not surprised that many members may support him, but it does make me laugh when local Tories mention it and indicate it is sort of display of weakness within the Labour Party, imagine if we asked Tory activists to vote for a new leader? I am sure anyone who said get out of the EU now and bring back hanging would gain plenty of support from Tory activists but that does not mean that person could lead them to power.
The leadership election will continue to get the right wing press into a state of hysteria but we will just ignore their partisan views and I am sure Labour members and supporters will make the right choice.
Saturday 1 August, 10am – Labour campaigning, North Ipswich
Back into full time campaigning again after a very short Summer break, we have also had a number old new members join the party and it has great to see many get involved with the local party so soon after joining.
A number may join just to vote in the leadership election but i have found that all the new members I have met who have joined since May have become Labour members to help campaign for a better country. We had over 70 members turn up to hear Tom Watson, one of our Deputy Leader candidates speak at the Kingfisher pub in Ipswich.
When it comes to the leadership contest I have still not decided who I am going to vote for, the right wing press are having a field day in the support that Jeremy Corbyn seems to be gaining from Labour members, I understand his appeal to many members in particular his anti-austerity stance but I will not be voting for him because of his non-committal stance over Europe and because I am still not sure that his views have changed much from when he voiced opinions over the future of Northern Ireland.
But I am not surprised that many members may support him, but it does make me laugh when local Tories mention it and indicate it is sort of display of weakness within the Labour Party, imagine if we asked Tory activists to vote for a new leader? I am sure anyone who said get out of the EU now and bring back hanging would gain plenty of support from Tory activists but that does not mean that person could lead them to power.
The leadership election will continue to get the right wing press into a state of hysteria but we will just ignore their partisan views and I am sure Labour members and supporters will make the right choice.
Monday, 20 July 2015
My week ahead - 19 - 25 July 2015
Monday 20 July, 4pm – Culture Portfolio meeting
6pm – Labour Group campaigning
Thursday 23 July, 6pm – North East Ipswich Partnership group meeting
7pm – North East Ipswich Area Committee – St John’s Church, Cauldwell Hall Rd
Saturday 25 July, 10am – Labour campaigning, East Ipswich
Another week of traffic chaos in East Ipswich and both councillors and residents being kept in the dark by the Tory run County Council. The Tories have little political representation in Ipswich but at least the new Tory leader, Colin Noble has appointed a cabinet member with responsibility for Ipswich. Maybe he should attend a round of area committee meetings, he then might find out what Ipswich residents think – our meeting this Thursday would be a good opportunity to speak to Ipswich residents about the unacceptable service being provided by Keir, the contractor employed by the County to look after our roads.
6pm – Labour Group campaigning
Thursday 23 July, 6pm – North East Ipswich Partnership group meeting
7pm – North East Ipswich Area Committee – St John’s Church, Cauldwell Hall Rd
Saturday 25 July, 10am – Labour campaigning, East Ipswich
Another week of traffic chaos in East Ipswich and both councillors and residents being kept in the dark by the Tory run County Council. The Tories have little political representation in Ipswich but at least the new Tory leader, Colin Noble has appointed a cabinet member with responsibility for Ipswich. Maybe he should attend a round of area committee meetings, he then might find out what Ipswich residents think – our meeting this Thursday would be a good opportunity to speak to Ipswich residents about the unacceptable service being provided by Keir, the contractor employed by the County to look after our roads.
Thursday, 16 July 2015
No road problems in East Ipswich???
When our local Labour County Councillor, Sandra Gage asked Suffolk County Council why local Councillors did not receive a weekly update on traffic issues in Ipswich (like we used to when Labour run Ipswich was in charge of the highways) she was informed there was no need for updates as there was little going on currently in East Ipswich until work starts on the Argyle Street/Woodbridge Rd junction.
What a load of rubbish!
I drove home from town yesterday evening at 8pm and in the two miles to my house I witnessed:
Christchurch Street - closed - major roadworks
Duke of York Pub - Woodbridge Rd down to one lane with 3 way temporary lights
Rushmere Rd/Woodbridge Rd/ Cauldwell Hall Rd roundabout - gone! Road dug up, part of Woodbridge Rd closed
Cauldwell Hall Rd- down to one lane, 3 way traffic lights
Whitby Road - part of it down to one lane on a busy junction.
So plenty of work going on but the Tory County Council do not feel they need to inform local Councillors. Also many residents would have noted that many roads in Ipswich have black pipes at the end of them, these are used to count traffic - an important collection of data - but why are the County collecting this data? To help plan a northern road that is much needed so we can get on with building homes on the Northern Fringe? No it seems the County have been given a very short time frame to come up with a plan to gain more funding from the Government for the Gummer proposed wet dock crossing!
Gummer and local Tories accused Ipswich Labour that our plan of building council homes was a vanity project, well building a wet dock crossing when a northern road is needed is the biggest vanity project I ever heard of in this town.
I am sure Mr Noble the Tory County leader would not be happy if he had not been informed of local roadwork schemes in his own leafy village then why is it acceptable for Ipswich Councillors to be kept in the dark about roadworks in our town?
Going back to the Argyle Street junction - what is the plan? The first one wa saw over 2 years ago, seemed to have been designed by map only as there was no mention of the pedestrian crossing 30 metres further up the road outside St Helen's School!
What a load of rubbish!
I drove home from town yesterday evening at 8pm and in the two miles to my house I witnessed:
Christchurch Street - closed - major roadworks
Duke of York Pub - Woodbridge Rd down to one lane with 3 way temporary lights
Rushmere Rd/Woodbridge Rd/ Cauldwell Hall Rd roundabout - gone! Road dug up, part of Woodbridge Rd closed
Cauldwell Hall Rd- down to one lane, 3 way traffic lights
Whitby Road - part of it down to one lane on a busy junction.
So plenty of work going on but the Tory County Council do not feel they need to inform local Councillors. Also many residents would have noted that many roads in Ipswich have black pipes at the end of them, these are used to count traffic - an important collection of data - but why are the County collecting this data? To help plan a northern road that is much needed so we can get on with building homes on the Northern Fringe? No it seems the County have been given a very short time frame to come up with a plan to gain more funding from the Government for the Gummer proposed wet dock crossing!
Gummer and local Tories accused Ipswich Labour that our plan of building council homes was a vanity project, well building a wet dock crossing when a northern road is needed is the biggest vanity project I ever heard of in this town.
I am sure Mr Noble the Tory County leader would not be happy if he had not been informed of local roadwork schemes in his own leafy village then why is it acceptable for Ipswich Councillors to be kept in the dark about roadworks in our town?
Going back to the Argyle Street junction - what is the plan? The first one wa saw over 2 years ago, seemed to have been designed by map only as there was no mention of the pedestrian crossing 30 metres further up the road outside St Helen's School!
Sunday, 21 June 2015
My week ahead, 22 - 27 June 2015
Monday 22 June, 4pm – Culture Portfolio meeting
6pm – Labour Group campaigning
Tuesday 23 June, 5pm – Ipswich Borough Council Early Warning Group
Wednesday 24 June, 9am – Start of the Aviva Women’s Tour from Bury St Edmunds
7pm – North East Ipswich Labour members, friends and supporters meeting, Lattice Barn pub.
This week we are meeting a number of our new members, to discuss not only the General Election result but the Labour leadership race. We will also be looking at how we campaign in the future.
I also have a number of meting arranged with community groups within the North East of Ipswich as we look to continue with the good work that has already been undertaken by the Area Committee.
After a number of meetings this week I am then on the 'road' with a Duke of Edinburgh expedition to South Wales and then my annual week with the Army, this year it is Catterick in North Yorkshire.
6pm – Labour Group campaigning
Tuesday 23 June, 5pm – Ipswich Borough Council Early Warning Group
Wednesday 24 June, 9am – Start of the Aviva Women’s Tour from Bury St Edmunds
7pm – North East Ipswich Labour members, friends and supporters meeting, Lattice Barn pub.
This week we are meeting a number of our new members, to discuss not only the General Election result but the Labour leadership race. We will also be looking at how we campaign in the future.
I also have a number of meting arranged with community groups within the North East of Ipswich as we look to continue with the good work that has already been undertaken by the Area Committee.
After a number of meetings this week I am then on the 'road' with a Duke of Edinburgh expedition to South Wales and then my annual week with the Army, this year it is Catterick in North Yorkshire.
Sunday, 14 June 2015
My week ahead, 15 - 21 June 2015
Monday 15 June, 6pm – Labour Group campaigning
Tuesday 16 June, 5pm – Presentation of teams from the Aviva Women’s Cycling Tour at Bury St Edmunds
Wednesday 17 June, 9am – Start of the Aviva Women’s Tour from Bury St Edmunds
7pm – Televised Labour Leadership Hustings at the Station Hotel
Thursday 18 June, 6pm – Councillor training- safeguarding
I am using this blog post as a reminder to local Rushmere residents about the consultation on the possible move of the Brunswick Road Post Office. Cllr Sandra Gage and myself have passed on to the Post Office a number of concerns of local residents. These concerns include the removal of the cash point machine, the layout of the new shop and the ability to use cheques. Residents are also concerned about what will happen to the current post office bickering and more importantly building when or if it is vacated.
This week I also attended the Central Area Committee meeting, again it showed the lack of regard the Tory run County Council have for Ipswich and its residents. They declined an invite to the meeting to talk about air pollution and also seem intent on going for the cheapest option on a traffic calming method when the junction that requires the measures is an accident hot spot and those accidents have resulted in at least one fatality.
This week we see the televised leadership hustings for the Labour Party, so far the leadership race has seen little bickering between the candidates and in fact what the leadership race has helped with, is a desire to debate the future direction of the Labour Party. Of course the candidates do not agree on everything but they have not resorted to ‘cheap shots’ or stupid arguments, unlike the Tory Party, who may not have a leadership race but are certainly tearing each other apart over Europe. Trouble is when they do that it is the people of Britain who suffer the consequences.
Tuesday 16 June, 5pm – Presentation of teams from the Aviva Women’s Cycling Tour at Bury St Edmunds
Wednesday 17 June, 9am – Start of the Aviva Women’s Tour from Bury St Edmunds
7pm – Televised Labour Leadership Hustings at the Station Hotel
Thursday 18 June, 6pm – Councillor training- safeguarding
I am using this blog post as a reminder to local Rushmere residents about the consultation on the possible move of the Brunswick Road Post Office. Cllr Sandra Gage and myself have passed on to the Post Office a number of concerns of local residents. These concerns include the removal of the cash point machine, the layout of the new shop and the ability to use cheques. Residents are also concerned about what will happen to the current post office bickering and more importantly building when or if it is vacated.
This week I also attended the Central Area Committee meeting, again it showed the lack of regard the Tory run County Council have for Ipswich and its residents. They declined an invite to the meeting to talk about air pollution and also seem intent on going for the cheapest option on a traffic calming method when the junction that requires the measures is an accident hot spot and those accidents have resulted in at least one fatality.
This week we see the televised leadership hustings for the Labour Party, so far the leadership race has seen little bickering between the candidates and in fact what the leadership race has helped with, is a desire to debate the future direction of the Labour Party. Of course the candidates do not agree on everything but they have not resorted to ‘cheap shots’ or stupid arguments, unlike the Tory Party, who may not have a leadership race but are certainly tearing each other apart over Europe. Trouble is when they do that it is the people of Britain who suffer the consequences.
Sunday, 7 June 2015
My week ahead, 8 - 14 June 2015
Monday 8 June, 5pm – Labour Group campaigning
Thursday 13 June, 10am – campaigning in East Ipswich
This week we had the first North East Area Committee of the civic year and I was honoured to be elected to chair the committee for a further year.
We have had a number of major successes in the North East, but there is plenty still to do. One of our success stories has been the Active Lives project that we helped fund. They have been providing fitness sessions for some of our more senior residents. The sessions have been held at Dundee House but they have become so popular that this week they are starting a second session at the Rushmere St Andrew village hall.
At the meeting last week we agreed to fund an excellent project that will see two local primary schools work with Copleston School and the charity Eastfeast to help them set up their own gardens and I hope we can do even more work with all our local schools over the next 12 months.
We are often accused by local Tories that all we do is moan when it comes to discussing the state of education in the town, but what they can’t argue with is the fact that the Tory County Council have let our children down badly with the way they have let education standards slip so badly. The Tory Government have also not helped, free schools under the coalition and now the forced academisation proposed by the new Tory Government, to be honest with that latest policy all they are doing is making public what has been going on in places like Ipswich anyway. But how this latest policy will help Ipswich schools I do not know as three of our failing schools are already academies.
I am sure Mr Gummer will put some spin on it! But we are not just going to moan what we will be doing is supporting our schools and great projects like the garden project through funding from the North East Area Committee. Let us just hope the Tory County Council, the Tory Government and Ben Gummer also start to support our young pupils rather than just try and impose plans that are just about saving money.
Thursday 13 June, 10am – campaigning in East Ipswich
This week we had the first North East Area Committee of the civic year and I was honoured to be elected to chair the committee for a further year.
We have had a number of major successes in the North East, but there is plenty still to do. One of our success stories has been the Active Lives project that we helped fund. They have been providing fitness sessions for some of our more senior residents. The sessions have been held at Dundee House but they have become so popular that this week they are starting a second session at the Rushmere St Andrew village hall.
At the meeting last week we agreed to fund an excellent project that will see two local primary schools work with Copleston School and the charity Eastfeast to help them set up their own gardens and I hope we can do even more work with all our local schools over the next 12 months.
We are often accused by local Tories that all we do is moan when it comes to discussing the state of education in the town, but what they can’t argue with is the fact that the Tory County Council have let our children down badly with the way they have let education standards slip so badly. The Tory Government have also not helped, free schools under the coalition and now the forced academisation proposed by the new Tory Government, to be honest with that latest policy all they are doing is making public what has been going on in places like Ipswich anyway. But how this latest policy will help Ipswich schools I do not know as three of our failing schools are already academies.
I am sure Mr Gummer will put some spin on it! But we are not just going to moan what we will be doing is supporting our schools and great projects like the garden project through funding from the North East Area Committee. Let us just hope the Tory County Council, the Tory Government and Ben Gummer also start to support our young pupils rather than just try and impose plans that are just about saving money.
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