Net migration in last year fell from 242,000 to 183,000

This is the largest drop for four years. Sir Andrew Green of Migration Watch UK said
“At last we can see some light at the end of the tunnel. We can now see the first effects of the government’s measures to reduce immigration. There is a distance to go but they are on the right track.”

Policy Exchange Book Launch at breakfast today

Oscar Wilde said that "Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast". Normally I would have to agree with him being a notoriously slow starter, unless I am outdoors on the gallops on a 3 mile chaser. But today I am having the first in a series of book launches with a breakfast discussion forum with the think tank Policy Exchange at their premises in Storey Street in Westminstera from 8.15 to 9.30. Assorted journalists and clever people are coming along to grill me on the book "Doing Time" and my thoughts on literacy in prisons, how we stop drugs in and out of prisons, and the need to address a different type of community prison. Had a good meeting yesterday with the amazing Howard League, who have long been the leaders of prison reform and am sure we will work together in the future. Obviously if you are footloose in Westminster and want to come and listen to me talk and being grilled then the added bonus is that you do get given breakfast.
I am having a separate book launch at the Beaumont Hotel, during the Hexham Christmas Market day on Saturday 8th of December at 11

Mining and green belt debate today

Hope to speak this afternoon in the debate in Westminster hall at 2.30 on the issue of open cast mining, the activities of various mining and property companies in Northumberland, the failure of Northumberland County Council to finish their minerals or local development plan and the need for a clear energy policy going forward. All that in 6-8 minutes, taking in the impact of Whittonstall, Halton Lea Gate and Shotton will not be easy. However, it is the first chance I have had to raise this issue since the August meeting with Halton Lea Gate residents following the surprising decision of the inspector on the planning application to build an open cast 57 metres from their back door. It is also very relevant given the forthcoming determination of the Whittonstall application in the spring by the County Council. Finally, I will be raising the issue as to why a decent company like Banks is electing to bulldoze across Ponteland green belt in a move that destroys their reputation locally. Sadly it is a shoddy attempt to cash in on the last piece of green belt, in circumstances where local peoples views and wants are being ignored. All this in circumstances where there is no housing need, and plenty of brown field and empty home sites locally to satisfy demand.

Youth Parliament - great speech by Callum Crozier from Prudhoe

And a great introduction from Speaker John Bercow! You can watch Callum's speech on Public Transport in the House of Commons last Friday - massive congratulations to Callum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4YFwhk49Ok&feature=plcp

Pleased the PM said "Non" to the EU Budget

Good effort by the PM in Brussels - in this country we are cutting our debts and spending to try and cope with deficits and a global recession.
Good report of the meetings and Cameron's approach here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9699264/EU-summit-budget-talks-collapse-as-David-Cameron-says-non-to-Brussels.html

Super Saturday Surgery

Tomorrow is a 12 hour marathon surgery day beginning in the Hexham Office with 4 of the biggest surgeries of the winter:

At 10 I am seeing the Whittonstall Action Group, who I am helping to campaign against the proposed open cast mine by UK Coal. Their campaign website has a plethora of information about what they are doing. I last sat down with Kay Fitzgibbon, John Renwick and Will Smith on the 27th April and they have been busy since. Check out their website HERE

Then at 11 I am meeting with Colin Cessford and the campaign group set up to protect the Hexham Greenbelt, to see how we can help stop building on our green belt west of Hexham.

Before and after lunch I am then meeting governors and campaigners for the Allendale First and Middle Schools, to discuss the ongoing situation around the possible closure of Allendale Middle. I am particularly keen to ensure that we do everything we can to stop the loss of the 3 tier system of education.
I have then other constituency surgery meetings before I head off to the Forum Cinema to support Margaret Rumney, and her children, who along with others have organised a screening of the film, "Voices from the Shadows", which aims to raise awareness about M.E. Tickets are still available and Dr Nigel Speight, who features in the film, will also be there for a Q+A afterwards

Finally I drive to Ponteland where we are meeting the team behind the campaign to protect Ponteland's Greenbelt. Alma and her team are doing a great job, and once again there is much you can do to help stop the building by Banks or Lugano on the green belt around Ponteland. These developers are looking at the possibility of developing on Greenbelt designated land at Clickemin Farm and Birney Hill Farm, in total up to 800 houses. For reports on what we have been doing on the greenbelt campaigns see the various reports in the courant HERE

Check out the Ponteland Greenbelt website for full details as to how you can get involved HERE

I suspect that after this surgery saturday I will be found in the pub!

Youth Parliament today

Huge good luck to all our young parliamentarians in the Commons today - very proud of every one of you - particularly Callum Crozier representing Northumberland.

Leveson report published next Thursday at 1.30

Media issues will feature strongly next week: Lord Justice Leveson publishes the first part of the Leveson Inquiry into press standards next Thursday. David Cameron set up the inquiry in July last year in response to revelations that the News of the World commissioned a private detective to hack murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone after she disappeared in 2002. The inquiry, which started in September last year, looked at the culture, practices and ethics of the press in general, and the report will be published on Thursday November 29, at 1.30pm, followed by an "on-camera statement" by the independent Judge. It is expected to include recommendations for the future regulation of the British press. I suspect we will all be doing a lot of reading of this report over the weekend of the 30th November / 1st December. Parliament will debate it soon after I am sure.

In seperate news the BBC have appointed a new DG in Tony Hall.

ITV Tyne Tees Around the House this evening

Myself and John Stevenson MP for Carlisle are guests of Gerry Foley at 11.30pm this evening. In my section I am debating with the Labour Prisons Minister, Jenny Chapman. I hope she accepts that there is evidence that we need to address literacy and drug abuse in prisons, and that the government plan to have mentors working with released prisoners is a good idea. It seems madness that for years we have literally discharged prisoners at the end of their sentence with little or no support - my view is that mentors are a good thing. There is copious evidence in my book, and in the book of former Prison Governor, John Podmore, which is called Out of Sight Out of Mind, and in the Centre for Social Justice Report:
http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/client/downloads/CSJLockedUpPotentialFULLrEPORT.pdf

Beware French models

French government ministers have reacted angrily to the front cover of the latest issue of the Economist magazine's latest front cover [see left] - which features a bundle of French baguettes with a lighted fuse, under the headline, "The time-bomb at the heart of Europe". The special report warned that the dire state of the French economy – with its high unemployment, lack of competitiveness, dying industry and high public spending – could be the next biggest threat to the eurozone, dwarfing the problems of Greece or Spain. And now Moody’s, the ratings agency, has downgraded France's creditworthiness. With François Hollande’s poll ratings disintegrating, and his economic strategy in pieces, Ed Miliband’s boast that the Left’s victory over Nicolas Sarkozy represented a brave new dawn for the forces of anti-austerity looks more foolish by the day. It is worth analysing unemployment rates:

In France the economy is sliding with unemployment rising, and now running at 10.2 per cent
In the UK jobs are increasing, as unemployment is coming down - we are presently at 7.8 per cent.
It is far from perfect here but if we do not curb our spending, and boost our economy, we will gradually slide into ever deeper debt and decline. I have no problem with an alternative strategy but the French way of ignoring the problem, and failing to take tough decisions, is not the answer. I will leave the last comment to todays papers, where the journalist Iain Martin, makes the following point:
"After their first meeting following the election, Labour's leader, Ed Miliband, said: "The points of agreement we have were around the fact that the tide is turning against an austerity approach, that there needs to be a different way forward found. What President Hollande is seeking to do in France and what he is seeking to do in leading the debate in Europe is find that different way forward."

Hollande certainly seems to have found a "different way forward", just not quite in the way Miliband anticipated."

BBC Radio Newcastle today on "Doing Time"

My interview and Q+A are here, 9 mins in: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p010fqrt

Women Bishops are a good thing and they will happen soon

On Tuesday 324 members of the synod voted for women bishops - but its voting rules meant the 122 votes who voted against were enough to block it. However, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has insisted there would be women bishops during his lifetime. Bishop Justin Welby agreed, as do I.
The issue was raised at PMQs today: the PM is a supporter of women bishops, and said: "I'm very sad about the way the vote went yesterday." He then added: "What I would say, though, is the Church has its own processes and own elections, hard for some of us to understand, and we have to respect individual institutions and the decisions they make."
I also accept that point and agree with the PM that we have to respect individual organisations voting rules.


To be fair the minority within the Church who opposed the measure and gathered enough votes to block it in the House of Laity see this situation differently. That is always the case with difficult decisions. Some synod members on both sides of the debate have called for urgent talks between the two sides to see if the measure can be improved and brought back to the synod. I am sure a way forward can be found.

The wisest words were probably spoken by Dr John Sentamu, who said: "The principle [of women bishops] has already been accepted by the general synod. It has already been accepted by all the dioceses. Bishop Justin Welby added: "The Church has voted overwhelmingly in favour of the principle. It is a question of finding a way that there is a real consensus that this is the right way forward. That is going to take some time, some care, and some prudence."

As voters in Northumberland have put it to me: if it is acceptable to have female clergy, [which we all now regard as obvious], why do we have a problem with female Bishops?

Progress on Prison rehabilitation revolution today

Really pleased with Chris Grayling's speech today on prison reform. I would like to think that he has read the copy of "Doing Time", that I gave him 2 weeks ago. His speech, and tonights article in the evening standard, did repeat the first line of my book, which is a quote from Einstein:
"the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."
This applies to prison reform. Successive governments have passed tougher and tougher sentences yet reoffending has gone up not down. Reoffending is roughly 70percent. The present system is not working and needs changing. Chris is doing that. His ideas deserve all of our support.
The BBC report of the speech is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20399401

I have agreed to be on BBC Radio Newcastle with Jonathan Miles at 10 am tomorrow, live by phone from the BBC studio in Millbank. We will be discussing the ideas in my book Doing Time.

Prisoner Voting - what are the options?

Giving prisoners the right to vote is such a visceral issue I am going to try and set out the position that presently exists, the pressures from Europe, and the genuine argument that speaks of the need to integrate former prisoners back into society.
It is understood that parliament will be asked to review this situation shortly, with a future vote.
The present system effectively denies prisoners the right to vote, save for two minor but key exceptions, which are those persons imprisoned for contempt of court and those on remand.
However, in 2004 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that a general disenfranchisement of all serving prisoners was wrong. True to form the Labour government did nothing on this issue, so it passed to us to deal with it. In February 2011 Parliament held a general debate on this issue and rebuffed the European argument, and favoured a motion whereby there should be no votes for prisoners, save those on remand or in prison for a civil contempt of court.
The options for the way ahead are keeping the present situation, or an extension to voting rights for those who are serving low terms for lesser offences eg a sentence of less than 6 months, or the vote for everyone.
There are additional complications as to where the prisoners vote counts - where he lived before prison or where he currently resides ie the location of the prison? Given that Durham prison has over a thousand residents that is a big prison, with a big vote base.
As always we will need to read the evidence and hear the arguments, but I have made the point in my book "Doing Time" that we do need to do everything possible to integrate people back into society as they exit prison - for example the need and ability to have a bank account is one aspect that has long been denied them. Bank accounts are now an aspect of post release that is changing for the better. The point being that if you do not equip former prisoners for the outside world they are less likely to be able to fit into that outside world and slip back into their old life of crime.
One argument is that having voting rights reminds short term prisoners that they are ultimately still a part of society, and if they behave they can integrate back into that society. But the opposing argument is that by committing a crime you are sentenced to prison and therefore you must surrender some of your civil rights in that society such as voting. I will be looking at the evidence, and the effects on short sentence prisoners in detail, before voting on this issue.
I do not look at this issue as a European Court matter, I look at it very much in terms of civil society and rehabilitation of offenders. There is little prospect of long sentence prisoners getting the vote from parliament in my view, but the short term sentences are going to be where, I suspect, the heat of the argument is fought over. The PM has made his view clear, which is that giving all prisoners the vote would make him "physically sick."

Minimum pricing for alcohol proposals likely to be announced on Monday

I am a big supporter of minimum pricing of alcohol. I have long been persuaded by the hospital staff, doctors, policemen and ambulance drivers  that we need a revised approach to alcohol and it's availability. I am most definitely not against drinking, and love a pint as much as anyone. 
But there are three points I would like to see addressed.
We need a minimum price - the evidence from the medical profession on the number of lives this would save is overwhelming, and absolutely beyond doubt.
Secondly the approach of the supermarkets is not acceptable. The way in which drink is marketed and discounted and displayed in stores is frankly wrong. I regret to say that Tescos are one of the worst at this - including my own store in Hexham. It is not right to have cases of alcohol literally as you walk into the shop. 
Finally it is clear that without some help the British Pub will die: stopping the discounting will clearly help the pub and give responsible licensed drinking in pubs a better chance to thrive. 
I am absolutely behind the government on this measure. You will also not find a single policemen, doctor or ambulance driver who is satisfied with the status quo. This is the right thing to be doing.

Children In Need 2012

Just finishing in Westminster. Please do not forget to give generously to Children In Need tonight. The BBC has come in for some criticism lately but it does this evening wonderfully well for a great cause.
Full details here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008dk4b

Trouble in Gaza

I went to Ashdod, Tel Aviv and Sderot last month as part of 4 day trip to Israel. All 3 towns are now under attack from rockets fired from Gaza, which is fundamentally controlled by Hamas. The picture of me is taken in the Israeli town of Sderot. The border is a couple of miles behind me and the Palestinian town of Gaza can be seen in the distance barely 5 miles away. At that time they were receiving dozens of rocket attacks on Sderot, in particular, every month. Clearly matters are far worse than when I was there a month ago. I met the Mayor of Ashdod, saw the remains of rockets in Sderot, and walked in Tel Aviv by the seafront where now rockets are being aimed. The repercussions across the region will be huge and are very significant.
The Times newspaper has said today that "there was an awful inevitability to Israeli actions in Gaza, both in their origins and their consequences." No democratically elected country can be expected to put up with dozens of rockets fired at its people on its land on a perpetual basis. Noone wants to see bloodshed and I regret the action of the Israeli forces in attacking Gaza. It will not solve what is an unwinnable war, on both sides.  But I also have great sympathy for what the Israelis have done - if we in the UK were being attacked repeatedly by another force - then eventually I am sure we would fight back.
The tragedy is that the hardliners in Hamas do not fundamentally represent the normal peacable Palestinians. If Hamas is a terrorist group then it will be fought as one. If it is a political party seeking a peacable resolution of its differences on a path to peace then it has to behave in a civilised way. The Arab spring has brought democracy slowly to the region and it is hoped that this could even extend to Gaza. Palestinians must ask themselves whether the way ahead is through Hamas constant barrage of attacks, that inevitably then result in reprisals. Similarly Israel has made life very difficult for those in Gaza and is not without some blame. But peace will never come unless both sides resolve their differences.
Can this be done? I believe it can. My godfather fought in the Ulster Defence Regiment in Armagh during the Northern Ireland Troubles and I lived in the North for many months as a jockey in my twenties. That land is now totally changed after a generation of efforts at peacekeeping. It is now fundamentally peaceful, despite some rare ongoing incidents. I hope and pray that similar solutions to peaceful coexistence can be found in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza strip.

Jubilee Debt Campaign Petition comes to westminster and to Number 10 Downing Street

Last week I welcomed to parliament Canon Graham Usher and Pat Griffiths from Hexham Abbey, along with Tim Jones from the Jubilee Debt Campaign and Dr David Golding, CBE, from North-East Call to Action Against Poverty. They brought with them a giant paper chain, signed by 1,300 people in Hexham Abbey. The paper chain is part of a nationwide petition to the Government organised by the Jubilee Debt Campaign. The chain measures over 130 metres long, and will now be joined with other chains from across the country. They are also seen presenting a letter to the PM outside Number 10 Downing Street.
Afterwards, Canon Graham Usher, Rector of Hexham Abbey, said: “Even in the midst of our own recession it is important that we recognise that many of our neighbours around the world are suffering far more. This can be changed. As followers of a God who in the Bible is a God of justice it’s of the utmost importance that we press for change so that others might flourish and live life in all its fullness. I’m proud that so many people have said that this is important by adding a link to this chain that grew at Hexham Abbey.”
For my part I felt that this was all part of successive government's commitment to aid, and recognising in particular that Britain has a role to play in ensuring that others less fortunate than ourselves are looked after. My full comment to the press was as follows:
"I applaud the efforts of the Jubilee campaign to raise awareness of the important issues in the third world. Taking responsibility for the third world is an important recognition that we as a country, and as human beings, are more than a sum of our parts. In Parliament I am proud to have supported an aid budget which has vaccinated more children against disease than there are people in England, that has saved the lives of 50,000 women in childbirth, and has prevented the deaths of 250,000 newborn babies through improved sanitation. I will continue to be a proud supporter of all of those working hard both here and around the world, to support those less fortune than ourselves."

The Journal has today run a piece on this which you can see here: http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2012/11/15/hexham-s-huge-chain-reaction-to-world-debt-61634-32234957/
A huge effort by everyone involved, and my thanks to the famous four who came to Westminster, and who I tried to navigate through the highways and byways of Westminster, in order that they got the pictures and presentation they wanted. I can assure everyone that the chain is genuinely enormous, and far too big for us all to hold up on college green!

Unemployment coming down again - as it did last month, the previous month before that, and the month before that. Good news

Nationally, there are now over half-a-million more people in work than a year ago, and 100,000 more than the preceding three-month period. Additionally, youth unemployment has declined by 49,000 on the three months from June. Regionally in the North East employment is also up 19,000. This is really good news and a further indication that slowly the economy is turning around.
The full stats from the Independent ONS are here: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-222521

My first book: "Doing Time"

"Doing Time", has just been published. It's all about reforming our prison system so we can tackle reoffending.

Prison does work. It locks people up so that the prisoner cannot then commit a crime: yet prison for years has failed to change the prisoner’s behaviour. It is a disappointing fact of our prison system that, under the last government, released prisoners had a reoffending rate of approximately 70%. Prisons are a short term fix, not a long term solution. Reoffending doesn't just damage the lives of those caught up in the cycle but it hurts the public too, making ever larger numbers who are victims of crime.
The public, rightly, does not want us to be soft on prisoners. They are there to be punished and our Justice system needs to command the respect and confidence of the public. However, repeated polling also shows that the public wants prison to be more effective at changing prisoners’ behaviour. Put simply, it wants government to knuckle down, make prisons work and tackle reoffending rates. I have written a book that analyses past problems, makes suggestions for future changes, and assesses how things are changing under the new government.

My view is that simply locking people, and then releasing them, illiterate, with no basic skills, still often addicted to drugs, and with little work experience, we have created a recipe for disaster. 

My book is being launched formally in Hexham with a talk at the Beaumont Hotel on the morning of Saturday December 8th. There is also a launch event in London organised by the think tank Policy Exchange on November 28th. If you would like to attend either event please email me at guy.opperman.mp@parliament.uk.

The books is also available on Amazon and all good bookshops, including the wonderful Cogito Books, just round the corner from the office in Hexham. I should add that I am not being paid to produce the book, and that all profits go to the National Brain Appeal, which is the charity that supports the hospital that saved my life last year.

A debt to our troops

 Remembrance Sunday is always the most important day of the year for me as an MP.

Today I was at Haydon Bridge, at the beautiful St Cuthberts Church. Last year I attended the church service in Prudhoe; the year before that I was at the Abbey in Hexham. The day has a powerful hold on our community, and the events in towns or villages are always well attended all across the County.
After the church service at St Cuthberts we then went outside to the war memorial where we laid our wreaths. Then the names of those local people who lost their lives in the 1st and 2nd World Wars were read out in a very moving ceremony. Then I stopped by the Methodist Church and had coffee with and spoke to locals who had been at the Haydon Bridge ceremony, before driving to Hexham. After the Parade, 2 minute silence,and the church service in Hexham's Abbey, every year the Town Council organises a lunch for many members of the community, and representatives of the local regiment, 39 RA. Their CO gave an excellent speech, which was notable for two comments in particular: first, he credited Derek Tiffin, and the organisers of the Hexham parade / service, when he said: "I have been in the army 22 years, and have never been to such a well organised parade." I am sure he was right - the Hexham Parade is run like a military operation. Then he asked us to remember 51 Battery of the 39RA, who are the troops presently serving in Afghanistan from the regiment. That particularly brought it home to all of us. During the lunch I also got a chance to chat in detail with some of the serving officers, the RSM, and their wives.
As always, I left the Rememberance Day Service, and the Lunch afterwards, in a sombre mood. The work of our forces, and the families who support them, is hard to describe, but recognised by all as being a credit to the nation. It is always a humbling day.

Remembrance Sunday

Today I am in Haydon Bridge at church, and then at the memorial at 11am. Last year I was in Prudhoe. After the ceremony I am heading back to Hexham for lunch with members of the local council and soldiers from 39 RA.

Sunday Politics

This Sunday I am on the northern edition of the Sunday Politics at 12.30, along with the Labour MEP Stephen Hughes. It is a pre-record done this weekend, but it goes out at 12.30 tomorrow on BBC1. We are discussing the TA announcement, ash dieback disease, Justin Welby's appointment and how to stop offenders reoffending. It is an interesting discussion.

Waiting for Leveson

"Don't buy a dog and bark yourself" is the old adage that surely applies for those who are seeking to prejudge both the content of Lord Justice Leveson's report, and the House of Commons approach to press regulation. All parties agreed to the commissioning of a detailed report into press regulation. I want to see the content of the report before I come to any conclusion. I have always believed that you should look at the evidence before coming to a decision. Otherwise you have trial and judgment by hunch or supposition. So for my part I will await the report, study it and then come to a view. 

A few other points are worth making:

- I was asked if I wanted to sign a letter to the Guardian this week and declined, for reasons that I expand upon above - namely a desire not to pre judge an independent judge.

- It is clear that the house of commons is divided prior to the publication of the report as to what should be done. 

- Some argue that self regulation has clearly not worked and that light touch statutory regulation by an independent body is the way ahead. 

- Others argue that statutory regulation of the press is an impingement on free speech, and a bad step towards limited control of the media by the state through parliament.

- Clearly the press want as little regulation as is possible.

For my part I would like to think I have seen the good and bad of all sides: I have worked for newspapers and magazines, albeit on a very amateur basis as a young man, but I know that the vast majority of journalists are law abiding, straight and decent people. I wrote well over 100 articles for a variety of papers and magazines in my youth. 

We owe the discovery of so many stories and scandals to the work of the press. No one should want that ability to shine a light on misdeeds and misdeanours to be dimmed in any way. But there have been multiple wrongdoings by a minority - predominantly at the tabloids, as they effectively acted above the law. Yet the law has caught up with some of them, and some will go to jail. Yet this process has taken time, some innocent careers and lives have been wrecked in the meantime, and I know that most people fear the wrath of the papers who can make or break you in a moment, regardless of what you have done.

But in all this I return to the fundamental. Let us see what Leveson says, then evaluate his reasoning and approach and then decide. I am presuming a free vote on this issue. 

Packed Saturday awaits in chilly Northumberland

Clear, crisp, morning. Packed day followed by the annual task that sees hundreds of Christmas cards written, stuffed, labelled and stamped. We send out nearly 800, all hand signed by yours truly.

Congratulations to Justin Welby, our new Archbishop of Canterbury

Gave a 30 second interview today on the wonderful news that the Bishop of Durham has got the job as Archbishop: the church have chosen well. He is a rounded man, with great faith, and a true concern for the poor. All I have seen of him, and the times I have listened to him, I have been extremely impressed. I wish him well, although he has a tough in tray. Last but not least he has an understanding of the North, and more recently the North East. 

Scrap Metal Dealers Bill passes in parliament

My local churches will delighted. Many congratulations to Conservative MP Richard Ottaway’s whose Private Member’s Bill was voted through today in the House of Commons.  The new Bill will now go to the House of Lords and now stands a very good chance of becoming law.
Most pleased will be the church but anyone who has been delayed by metal theft to railways or the like should be equally delighted.
Many industry groups including Alchemy Metals, ATOC, British Metals Recycling Association, BT, Calor Gas, Electrical Safety Council, Energy Networks Association, E-On, Network Rail, Rail Freight Group, SITA UK and UK Power Networks praised the fact that the Bill passed through its third reading.
This has been a long campaign to close one of the key loopholes and it should act as a major deterrent to scrap metal theft as the offence is now traceable, whereas before it clearly was not. This wicked offence has seen churches and war memorials targetted in particular.
Private Members Bills only go through if noone objects in the House. A compromise was reached with a few parliamentarians, who had been concerned as to the drafting, so that the Bill will be reviewed in three years time, with a sunset clause for five years. This gives time to evaluate the Bill in action and revise it if necessary.

Police and Crime Commissioner elections are a week away

I return home first thing tomorrow for a big push to help Phil Butler become Northumbria's PCC.
As a former senior police inspector running a multi million pound policing budget and a large team he is exactly what we need. He is also now both a businessman and a part time lecturer.
I was disappointed that on Look North on BBC1 on 6 Nov 2012 the Labour candidate for Police Commissioner described how Phil, “was only an inspector. He was only two ranks above a constable, seven below the chief constable. Heaven knows how she’d [The Chief Constable] cope with being told what to do by someone of that level.”

It's worth bearing mind that Ms Baird was booted out as an MP in Redcar in 2010, with the biggest swing against any Labour MP in the country. It's a comment I am sure she now regrets.
Having worked with the police for 20 years as a criminal prosecutor, and done 9 murder trials and a host of criminal crown court trials, I have nothing but respect for the police. I also genuinely think that Phil would make be a great man for the job. I like the fact that he has only recently put his hand up and volunteered to get involved in his local community now that he is able to - having left the force.
Like all candidates he is unpaid. If it were a choice between John Prescott's best mate and Phil Butler to be  advising and working with our wonderful Chief Constable I would take Phil every day. But that's democracy - its down to you the voters to decide. If you do not cast your vote on Thursday of next week you will not get the Police Commissioner you deserve. 

Get Your Flu Jab!

Because of a racing fall at Stratford, when my left side was kicked in by a horse as we both fell at the second last, I have no spleen, and am immuno - compromised. As I result I need the flu jab. The seasonal flu vaccination is important to help protect those people who are more susceptible to serious complications or even death from flu. I would encourage all those that are over the age of 65 or are in one of the ‘at risk’ groups to visit their surgeries and get vaccinated.
Last year, 76% of people over 65 years and 57% in the at risk groups were vaccinated against flu in the Hexham area - that is a lot of people who remain 'at risk’. This is me getting the jab last week in Westminster. It worries me a little that the very sweet nurse is smiling so much - but the jab was effectively painless and takes 30 seconds. With a rough winter on the cards it is vital that pensioners in particular obtain the protection they need.

Christmas Shopping in Hexham

Christmas shopping begins in earnest this weekend in Northumberland. This Thursday 8th November through to the weekend Brocksbushes Christmas Fayre takes place next to the Corbridge roundabout.
Hexham Christmas market is on December 8th with 70 stalls, carol singing a farmers market, the abbey fayre and so much more. See: http://www.hexhamcommunity.net/pages/visit-hexham/christmas-market.php
In between these 2 dates is the Red Cross Hexham Christmas Fair on the 28-29th November at Hexham Racecourse. I know many of the stall holders at all three events and all are very good and highly recommended. As always shop local as you use it or lose it!
Finally several wonderful women in Northumberland have decided to bare "nearly all" in support of the Great North Air Ambulance. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2227016/Foxy-hunting-ladies-bareback-naked-calendar-riding-tack-save-modesty.html
Their calendar features heavily in this weeks Courant. I won the Tynedale point to point in 2009 and know many of the women who are featured. They are certainly very impressive in their ideas for raising money for the GNAA. I walked the pennine way. Something tells me they may raise more cash!
I wish them well with their fundraising and am certain that the calendars will be selling well both at the Xmas markets in Northumberland but also country wide.

Busy day in Westminster

Trying to get in to the Afghanistan debate first thing, then raising the issue of the integration of emergency services at cabinet office questions at 11.30. Then PMQs with Nick Clegg as the PM is in the gulf on a trade trip. Then looking forward to welcoming Graham Usher, Canon of Hexham Abbey, and several parishioners, who are bringing a petition to 10 Downing Street this afternoon followed by a long paperwork session in the office.

Congratulations to President Obama!

Great win for the President. Sat here at 5am watching him win much better than expected - with wins in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and easily in Iowa. Will be on the BBC News 24 at 9.45am for interview on  consequences of election win for the UK. But a few thoughts to throw into the melting pot are:
- Romney failed to project a message that he was the choice for middle America. In doing so he lost a n election he clearly could have won.
- A big turnout, with many making the case that Hispanic, and female voters in particular determined the win.
- Ohio was won by Obama - proving once again it is the bellwether key swing state. Obama's democrats have a strong control on the mid west. Quite clear that Republicans will never win the US election unless they can make real inroads in the mid west, because their strength in the south is not enough.
- Huge issues remain in respect of how Obama will address the American debts, which are huge. Their big task in the next four years will be the fiscal deficit and the debt ceiling. Resolution needed to address the fact that America state spending is too high and their debts mounting.
- Romney did not win his home state of Massachusetts and Paul Ryan, Romney's vice presidential choice, failed to win Wisconsin. Two big losses.
- The Supreme Court of the USA will change a lot under a second Obama term - key issues in America are abortion law, and the Tea Party / Romney campaign to overturn Roe v Wade and address issues like contraception law were apparently rejected by female voters.
- Key final message is that elections are won from the middle ground, where the majority of voters live. Tea Party has taken Republicans way too far to the right.
The BBC Report of the result is here, including my live quote: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20234767

Air Passenger Duty Debate

On Thursday 1st November the Conservative MPs Priti Patel and Henry Smith brought forward a motion in the House of Commons seeking the Government to commission a comprehensive study into the full economic impact of APD in the UK and to report back on the effects. The motion was passed.
I managed to speak in the debate.
All tax has a punitive element, and 2 and half years into this job has taught me that everyone would like to pay less tax both personally and from a business point of view. But everyone also does recognise that tax taken by the government is then spent on the public services we all so value - from schools, hospitals, police and so many more things. APD is a significant tax on flying that has been used by this Government and the previous Government. The money raised is used to reduce the deficit and pay back this country’s debts, which we inherited, and which everyone knows are significant. The argument that is going on in parliament is essentially twofold:
- one, whether the reduction of this tax would actually produce greater tax revenue / growth in the economy.
- two, whether there is a way to make the APD fairer amongst the UK as a whole - whereby one possibility is that the regions get a lesser rate as compared to London and the South East. The point I made in the debate is that “a change to the regional APD would make a huge difference to regions such as the North East”.
I do not think this tax will change in the short term but it is one of the potential tax regimes that is open to reform in the medium term, particularly as the economy recovers.To see the full debate go to the following link: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121101/debtext/121101-0003.htm#12110129000004

Iran and Israel

Earlier this autumn I went on a 4 day trip during recess to Israel. I will try and address the findings of that trip in a series of blog posts. Regular readers will know that I try and travel to the Middle East once a year. Last year I went on my own to Beirut; previously I have travelled to Jordan and parts of Turkey. The aim is to get a better understanding of one of the most complex regions in the world. I am certain that peace in the Middle East is the ultimate safeguard to the world. However, whilst the Arab spring is fundamentally a good thing it is clear that there remain massive ongoing struggles and issues across the region. The state of Syria is descending ever more gruesomely into a multi party civil war, with various factions trying to bring down Assad. Some of this conflict is spilling over into Lebanon, and even Turkey.
The situation in Israel is complex, as ever. There is significant ongoing conflict in the south of the country near the Gaza Strip. Yet the push for a peace and land swap with the Palestinians is no longer the Israeli's chief concern. The search for some sort of coexistence with the Palestinians, in whatever shape or form such a thing is, has been the number one issue for many years. But this pales into insignificance when the issue of Iran and its plan for a nuclear weapon is discussed. The harsh reality is that the horror that the world has managed to avoid for so long - namely the detonation of a nuclear weapon - is no longer a remote possibility.
When in Israel I did many things ranging from a visit to the moving Holocaust Museum at Yad Vaschem in Jerusalem, to a trip to the border of the Gaza Strip at Sderot. But everywhere we went the fear of an Iranian attack was always in the conversation, always in the background. It pervades the entire way of life. Israel presently has an election, to be decided in around two months time. Their politicians clearly are hoping that the sanctions against Iran will work and that any nuclear build up in Teheran will not materialise. But if there is one issue that will face the UN, the G8, the future american president, whoever that may be, and whoever wins the Isreali election, it will be this simple issue: what do we do if Iran manages to build, or gets close to finishing a nuclear weapon?

4 huge jobs will be decided shortly

US President, Leader of China, head of the Bank of England and Archbishop of Canterbury all to be decided shortly.
First up is Tuesdays Presidential Election - my money is still on Obama to win more easily than people think. True, he appears to have lost Florida, but his hold on the mid west in Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Michigan will see him home.
On Thursday China holds its once in a decade leadership summit. The new Central Committee will decide the direction of the country, which is clearly going to take over from the USA as the global emphasis of superpower moves east.
Shortly thereafter we have two key appointments - the new head of the Bank of England is a key job for us as Sir Mervyn King stands down. My money is on Paul Tucker for the top job, but that is simple supposition not inside knowledge.
A tougher call is the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Many thought the job would go to the wonderful John Sentamu, the Ugandan born archbishop of york, who I occasionally see on the train and who is a wise church leader. But I have a sneaking suspicion he may be pipped by a northern outsider in the form of the Bishop of Durham, Justin Welby, who is well known in the north east.
A recent profile of him is here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/21/bishop-durham-justin-welby-interview
It should be a very interesting few weeks.

Antartic Debate and the Future of the British Overseas Territories

Yesterday parliament debated the proposed Antartic Bill, which would provide enhanced environmental protection, and greater support for the British Antartic Territory. This comes at an important time for our British Overseas Territories:
- In June there was publication of the Overseas Territories White Paper, which the House of Commons hopes to debate quite soon. Its by line is "Security, Success and Sustainability."
- In the spring the Falkland Islands will be holding its referendum in line with the UN Resolution 1514 which holds that "All peoples have the right to self determination". I am certain that the Falkland Islands will overwhelmingly want to remain British.
For more details on yesterdays debate the full transcript is on the website democracy live or they work for you
For more details on the tragedy that was Scott's ill fated expedition 100 years ago then have a read here; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/antarctica/robert-falcon-scott/9018372/Scott-of-the-Antarctic-100-years-on.html

It is worth noting that the amazing work of the British Antartic Survey has continued the vital scientific work that was part of the Scott expedition. For my part I felt like captain Oates yesterday as the speakers in front of me went on "for a very long time".

Rotherham MP stands down:

I consider it the highest honour to be an elected representative in Her Majesty's Parliament. At a time when we are trying to rehabilitate parliament in the eyes of the population it is a disaster that this man has behaved as he has. I accept it will affect parliament's standing in the eyes of the people, and I am really saddended by that, irrespective of which political party this gentleman belongs to.
The facts are these: this morning the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (the MP’s “watchdog”) recommended that Denis MacShane, Labour MP for Rotherham, be suspended for 12 months for submitting expenses invoices which were, in the Commissioner’s words, “plainly intended to deceive” the Parliament’s expenses authority. They found that he submitted 19 false expenses invoices worth £12,900, over four financial years between 2004 and 2008, for "research and translation" work carried out by the European Policy Institute. Subsequently Mr MacShane resigned today as an MP.

The BBC has the full story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-20178332
Although many people would not believe me such abuses are very rare in the post 2010 parliament - please note these offences date from the time of expenses problems in 2004-2008, which is a different era in my view. I remain of the view that things have changed in the modern post 2010 Parliament, with half the MPs now being new MPs; but it is also right for rogue MPs to be booted out when we do wrong in this way.
In the longer term it will mean that there are to be 2 by elections in the North in the spring in Middlesbrough, and now Rotherham.

The EU Budget Debate

This week has seen the issue of the EU budget negotiations debated in the House of Commons.
For a long time the PM has been trying to cut the EU's attempt for a large budget increase. In this he has been making progress with other countries also seeking restraint in difficult times.

Labour’s record at the negotiating table seven years ago is worth analysing. Under Tony Blair, as advised by his then adviser Ed Milband, Labour were happy to increase the EU budget massively, at every single negotiation. Worse still, they threw away half the UK’s rebate. Don't get me started about Gordon Brown selling our gold - you get the picture.

Then this year the Labour group in the European Parliament called for an increase in the budget.
However, this week the Labour opposition in the House of Commons decided to cause mischief; although when asked they refused to answer if they would invoke the veto that Britain still holds over the EU Budget.

As the PM said at questions on Wednesday:
"At best we would like it cut, at worst a frozen budget, and I’m quite prepared to use the veto if we don’t get a deal that’s good for Britain"

Journalists love to find splits in government but the reality is that we are the ones trying to stop the budget get increased, as we have long argued. If the EU tries to increase the budget at the talks on the 22nd November, I hope that the PM will veto it.

By way of an update on this weeks debate I, and others of the 2010 generation of Conservative MP's, are featured in a recent article by the Mail on how the 2010 generation of new MPs are largely made up of people who have had real jobs and real life experiences. Its worth a read:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2226601/True-Brits-Meet-new-breed-Tory-MPs-defied-leader-EU-jobs-real-world.html#ixzz2B2grw9yW%20

The possibility of border controls with Scotland

Will we need immigration controls if Scotland leaves at a referendum? So says the conservative North East MEP Martin Callanan, who I spoke with at length a few days ago. He makes the point that if Scotland goes for independence it will almost certainly not receive automatic entitlement to join the European community. As such it will be an independent country outside the Schengen Agreement on border controls. They will also neither automatically have the euro nor the pound.
Scotland would have to apply to join the European community. This may well be objected to by the Spanish and the French. Why? Because the Spanish do not want to let Catalonia have independence and be part of a united europe. The French face similar problems with the Corsicans, who want independence from France. Both these very powerful European countries do not want small regions leaving their country, and are sure to object to Scotland getting access to the European Union.
I think that that PM is right to give the Scots a choice.  But with such a choice comes consequences. And at the end of this if there would be independence, then a future Scotland would have no Barnett formula, no subsidised military bases, NHS or RBS. It might make the north east a very attractive place to be for the scots. But we would probably have to have border controls.
I remain committed to the great union that has led to us standing shoulder to shoulder against all the world, from the days before the empire and napoleon, through two world wars and beyond. To cast it aside would be wrong. We are better off together.