January 1852 saw the first journey between Paddington and Faringdon on the Metropolitan Railway. At the time newspapers were against the idea - not least because the Metropolitan Railway was steam operated, but 30,000 people tried it day one and it remains the oldest tube in the world. Indeed the tube worldwide is called the "Metro" after that first Metroploitan Line.
Within years the village of Hammersmith, full as it was of vegetable gardens, was becoming a suburban commuter home because it was connected to the tube. Bear in mind that for the next 50 years the Victorians endured constant digging, blockages and delays as the tubes were built all across London, coinciding with everyhting from the famous sewer rebuild and the creation of so many infrastructure projects. Northerners sometimes complain that the transport spend is too much upon London but take out Crossrail and there is almost no internal London transport infrastructure project.
I took the tube to work this morning [rain meant no biking] but we should be grateful that our forebears had the strength to push through such huge projects.
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Saturday, 5 January 2013
A Coalition approach to welfare
Ed Miliband and Ed Balls oppose our plans to cap future rises in benefits to 1%. It is a tough but fair decision the government is taking. Yet as with all the tough choices Labour oppose it. So how would Miliband fund higher benefits? By cutting schools and hospitals? This time Clegg asks tough questions of Labour on welfare:
How Labour can justify supporting our tough but necessary cap on public sector wages at 1% - yet believe those out of work should receive a higher increase is beyond me.
Friday, 4 January 2013
Back in Westminster
I have been back at work in Westminster since January 2nd catching up on the letters, emails and requests of constituents and preparing for the start of the new term on Monday.
Monday also features Home Office Questions and various Urgent Questions to Ministers on topical issues.
Once again I urge as many constituents as possible to come and visit Parliament - it is your Parliament afterall.
Tours are easy to arrange and well worth it - simply call the London office on 0207 219 7227, and Pete from Stocksfield will pick up the phone and sort things out for you.
Why is Westminster special? Do not take my word for it - although I constantly sing the House of Commons praises... but read this wonderful report from the BBC which explains some of its amazing history. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20858559
All of us who work here consider it a great privilege to be in the mother of parliaments, in an amazing set of buildings, where history stalks you with every step. We are all custodians of something far bigger than any government, or MP. Both governments and MPs come and go but democracy, the rule of law, and the representation of the people, by the people, goes on. That is something very special that we should all be proud of.
Monday also features Home Office Questions and various Urgent Questions to Ministers on topical issues.
Once again I urge as many constituents as possible to come and visit Parliament - it is your Parliament afterall.
Tours are easy to arrange and well worth it - simply call the London office on 0207 219 7227, and Pete from Stocksfield will pick up the phone and sort things out for you.
Why is Westminster special? Do not take my word for it - although I constantly sing the House of Commons praises... but read this wonderful report from the BBC which explains some of its amazing history. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20858559
All of us who work here consider it a great privilege to be in the mother of parliaments, in an amazing set of buildings, where history stalks you with every step. We are all custodians of something far bigger than any government, or MP. Both governments and MPs come and go but democracy, the rule of law, and the representation of the people, by the people, goes on. That is something very special that we should all be proud of.
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