Open Primary 8th Feb for Conservative Berwick Upon Tweed candidate selection

On Friday 8th February the local people of North Northumberland will select the Conservative candidate for the Berwick upon Tweed parliamentary seat. The key point is that it is by way of open primary - which means that any one of the 60,000+ voters can attend the open primary, which will take place at 7pm on February 8, at the Northumberland Hall in Alnwick. There are 3 finalists - all living in the North East: Anne Marie Trevelyan, who stood against Sir Alan Beith in 2010, and reduced his majority significantly, Chris Galley from Otterburn, and Lucille Nicholson from County Durham. I will be attending as a neutral non voting helper, but the fact that it is an open primary allows any local registered voter to attend.
The Journal Profiles all 3 candidates as follows:
1. Mr Galley lives by the Otterburn Ranges in Northumberland where he runs a sheep farm. He has worked for Shell for 29 years and is currently the company’s scheduling manager. Mr Galley plays rugby for Border Park and is also the club chairman. He is also deputy chairman of Hexham Conservative Association.
2. Mrs Nicholson is a farmer and businesswoman. She is currently chairman of North Durham Conservative Association and former chairman of Conservative Business Relations (North East), a body which organises networking and policy events for businesses. Mrs Nicholson has contested general elections twice, in 1997 for the Referendum Party and 2005 for the Tories. She was educated at London University.
3. Mrs Trevelyan, a chartered accountant, lives and works in Northumberland. She is a governor of Berwick Academy and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and campaign director for the Dual The A1 and Broadband4Northumberland campaigns. Mrs Trevelyan fought Sir Alan at the 2010 election and was defeated, but achieved an 8.3% swing in favour of the Tories.

The chairman of the Berwick Conservative Association, said: “Local residents have shown great enthusiasm for the open primary by booking their places early in large numbers. The huge appetite we are seeing for our selection meeting is a welcome sign that many people want to engage with politics and with the local Conservative party.
To register to attend, phone 01665 602106 or email primary@conservativesnorth.com

UCAS Figures Expose Labour Scaremongering

All evidence published today shows increases in UCAS applications generally; and the UCAS application rate from disadvantaged backgrounds has also risen to the highest ever on record at 19.5%. Students were smart enough to understand that no up front fees for university education was a great deal. The NUS and Labour scaremongering has turned out to be just that…

Nursery ratios raised 'to improve standards'

Good developments on child care as Education Minister announces proposals that would make more childcare places available and reduce costs for parents in the long term. Full details here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21232270

Boundary Constituency Vote today in House of Commons

Interesting day in the House - will the Liberals support the proposal to change parliamentary boundaries?

Update:Boundary reform defeated by 334 to 292 so present parliamentary boundaries will be the same at 2015 as at 2010.

The defeat of boundary reform this afternoon, is not a good day for democracy.
We would have cut the cost of politics, and made the key point that constituencies should have equal number of votes so that votes have equal value.
The arrangement where the Conservatives or other parties have to secure a 7% lead over the Labour Party in votes to have an equal number of seats is unfair. If the Labour Party get more MPs but fewer votes than the Conservatives at the next election which party would the Lib Dems regard as having greater democracy legitimacy?
The Coalition Agreement said:
We will bring forward a Referendum Bill on electoral reform, which includes provision for the introduction of the Alternative Vote in the event of a positive result in the referendum, as well as for the creation of fewer and more equal sized constituencies. We will whip both Parliamentary parties in both Houses to support a simple majority referendum on the Alternative Vote, without prejudice to the positions parties will take during such a referendum.

If the Conservatives had failed to deliver an AV referendum then the Lib Dems would have had a point. As it is there was nothing in the Coalition Agreement which the Conservatives have broken. There was a pledge to set up a committee on Lords Reform - not to approve whatever it might propose. As it was the Lords reform Bill passed by a massive majority at second reading. The only defeat was on a timetable motion.
The Coalition will go on - of that I am sure - but ....

HS2 heads northwards

As the Cabinet meets up North, there is good news that HS2 is being extended
Full details here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21221828

Canvassing in Hexham this afternoon

Less than 100 days to go to local elections so will be out supporting Colin Cessford this afternoon as the sun comes out, and the thaw looks likely to be in motion.

Bargain haircut at Northumberland College new centre in Hexham

Got a bargain haircut for £3! On thursday I returned to the wonderful Northumberland College building in the centre of Hexham. I met once more with the students and their tutor who is guiding them through their hairdressing course. Having promised to return for a cut I duly returned on thursday afternoon & received a cut from the students, who are all loving their course. Had really good chats with the girls from Whitfield, Crawcrook and Prudhoe who are on the course.
If this college did not exist they would have to try and get in to Newcastle to study.
This is a great example of the government trying to do its bit to bring proper courses to the rural community, not just the big city centres. My experience was with the hairderssers but the college also does everything from accounting to business administration to social care and tourism courses, and so much more. It is doing very well and full praise to everyone involved. It was also a really good value for money haircut at £3!

Snow coming down in Northumberland

Breakfast canvassing in Haltwhistle with Ian Hutchinson in the snow - lots of people in and a really good response, then Potholes for elevenses with ITV, Surgeries all afternoon in Hexham and Humshaugh, and 5 a side footie for afters for 90 long minutes this evening. Long day, and only just made it home sliding around on the back roads to Stamfordham.
Got in to a scrap with the Lib Dem Council in the paper today because they are not prioritising the repair of the road that leads to the Bywell County Showground, above Stocksfield Station. The Journal made the point that the County Show is the number one celebration of Northumberland / a huge economic and tourist event, and our showpiece. The show organisers would like the Council to make this repair happen, and action work that the Council presently schedule to finish sometime around July [2 months after the show]. Their article is here:
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news//2013/01/25/northumberland-county-show-organisers-in-road-closure-fears-61634-32674830/?campaign=Newcastle_email_journalliveemail%3A20130125
For me it is about priorities. Many people are working to get this matter resolved, and alleviate the impact on the key affected local businesses. Clearly there are many road projects in Northumberland. Do not get me started on the failure to repair the potholes. But the access and success of the Northumberland Show must surely be our number one tourist / economic regeneration priority?

A tale of two leaders

How did Miliband and Merkel react to DC's speech? It is worth examining:

Mrs Merkel, the German Chancellor, said she wants to see a deal after David Cameron called for radical EU reforms and promised a public vote on Britain's membership. "Germany, and I personally, want Britain to be an important part and an active member of the European Union," she said today.
"We are prepared to talk about British wishes .. We will talk intensively with Britain about its individual ideas but that has some time over the months ahead."
I would call this a very positive reaction.

However, Ed Miliband, at PMQs, said he does "not want an in-out referendum" on Britain's membership.
My neighbour in room 101 of the House of Commons offices is the veteran Labour MP Keith Vaz. In my view he put the situation well:
"I’m in favour of us staying within Europe but I think this is a big issue that needs to be put to the British people so they can decide in the end," he said.


What is clear is that on this issue there is now a straight choice. I am not going to repeat the PMs speech or waste time repeating Miliband's refusal to countenance a vote. The facts speak for themselves.

Well done to the PM - we will have a referendum on EU

I support David Cameron's approach: he has delivered his long-awaited speech on the EU. Here are some of the key quotes from todays speech:
Security
"What Churchill described as the twin marauders of war and tyranny have been almost entirely banished from our continent. Today, hundreds of millions dwell in freedom, from the Baltic to the Adriatic, from the Western Approaches to the Aegean. And while we must never take this for granted, the first purpose of the European Union - to secure peace - has been achieved and we should pay tribute to all those in the EU, alongside NATO, who made that happen. But today the main, over-riding purpose of the European Union is different: not to win peace, but to secure prosperity."
Isolationism
"I never want us to pull up the drawbridge and retreat from the world. I am not a British isolationist.
I don't just want a better deal for Britain. I want a better deal for Europe too. So I speak as British prime minister with a positive vision for the future of the European Union. A future in which Britain wants, and should want, to play a committed and active part."

Exit
"There are always voices saying: "Don't ask the difficult questions." But it's essential for Europe - and for Britain - that we do because there are three major challenges confronting us today.
First, the problems in the eurozone are driving fundamental change in Europe. Second, there is a crisis of European competitiveness, as other nations across the world soar ahead. And third, there is a gap between the EU and its citizens which has grown dramatically in recent years. And which represents a lack of democratic accountability and consent that is - yes - felt particularly acutely in Britain.
If we don't address these challenges, the danger is that Europe will fail and the British people will drift towards the exit. I do not want that to happen."

Frustration
"There is a growing frustration that the EU is seen as something that is done to people rather than acting on their behalf. And this is being intensified by the very solutions required to resolve the economic problems.
"People are increasingly frustrated that decisions taken further and further away from them mean their living standards are slashed through enforced austerity or their taxes are used to bail out governments on the other side of the continent. "We are starting to see this in the demonstrations on the streets of Athens, Madrid and Rome. We are seeing it in the parliaments of Berlin, Helsinki and the Hague.
"And yes, of course, we are seeing this frustration with the EU very dramatically in Britain."

Trade
"At the core of the European Union must be, as it is now, the single market. Britain is at the heart of that single market, and must remain so. "But when the single market remains incomplete in services, energy and digital - the very sectors that are the engines of a modern economy - it is only half the success it could be.
"It is nonsense that people shopping online in some parts of Europe are unable to access the best deals because of where they live. I want completing the single market to be our driving mission."

Institutions
"Can we really justify the huge number of expensive peripheral European institutions? Can we justify a Commission that gets ever larger? "Can we carry on with an organisation that has a multi-billion pound budget but not enough focus on controlling spending and shutting down programmes that haven't worked?
"And I would ask: when the competitiveness of the single market is so important, why is there an environment council, a transport council, an education council but not a single market council? "

National interests
"The members of the eurozone should accept that we, and indeed all member states, will have changes that we need to safeguard our interests and strengthen democratic legitimacy. And we should be able to make these changes too.
"Some say this will unravel the principle of the EU - and that you can't pick and choose on the basis of what your nation needs. "But far from unravelling the EU, this will in fact bind its Members more closely because such flexible, willing cooperation is a much stronger glue than compulsion from the centre."

Powers
"Power must be able to flow back to Member States, not just away from them... Countries are different. They make different choices. We cannot harmonise everything. For example, it is neither right nor necessary to claim that the integrity of the single market, or full membership of the European Union requires the working hours of British hospital doctors to be set in Brussels irrespective of the views of British parliamentarians and practitioners. "In the same way we need to examine whether the balance is right in so many areas where the European Union has legislated including on the environment, social affairs and crime.
"Nothing should be off the table."

Democracy
"There is not, in my view, a single European demos.
"It is national parliaments, which are, and will remain, the true source of real democratic legitimacy and accountability in the EU."

Referendum
"Democratic consent for the EU in Britain is now wafer thin.
"Some people say that to point this out is irresponsible, creates uncertainty for business and puts a question mark over Britain's place in the European Union. "But the question mark is already there and ignoring it won't make it go away. "In fact, quite the reverse. Those who refuse to contemplate consulting the British people, would in my view make more likely our eventual exit. "Simply asking the British people to carry on accepting a European settlement over which they have had little choice is a path to ensuring that when the question is finally put - and at some stage it will have to be - it is much more likely that the British people will reject the EU. "That is why I am in favour of a referendum. I believe in confronting this issue - shaping it, leading the debate. Not simply hoping a difficult situation will go away."

Timing
"The next Conservative Manifesto in 2015 will ask for a mandate from the British people for a Conservative government to negotiate a new settlement with our European partners in the next Parliament.
"It will be a relationship with the single market at its heart. "And when we have negotiated that new settlement, we will give the British people a referendum with a very simple in or out choice. To stay in the EU on these new terms; or come out altogether. "It will be an in/out referendum."

Potential pitfalls
"Hundreds of thousands of British people now take for granted their right to work, live or retire in any other EU country. "Even if we pulled out completely, decisions made in the EU would continue to have a profound effect on our country. But we would have lost all our remaining vetoes and our voice in those decisions...
"While Norway is part of the single market - and pays for the principle - it has no say at all in setting its rules: it just has to implement its directives."

Diplomacy
"I say to our European partners, frustrated as some of them no doubt are by Britain's attitude: work with us on this. "Consider the extraordinary steps which the eurozone members are taking to keep the Euro together, steps which a year ago would have seemed impossible."It does not seem to me that the steps which would be needed to make Britain - and others - more comfortable in their relationship in the European Union are inherently so outlandish or unreasonable...
"It is hard to argue that the EU would not be greatly diminished by Britain's departure."

Pledge
"With courage and conviction I believe we can achieve a new settlement in which Britain can be comfortable and all our countries can thrive."And when the referendum comes let me say now that if we can negotiate such an arrangement, I will campaign for it with all my heart and soul
"Because I believe something very deeply. That Britain's national interest is best served in a flexible, adaptable and open European Union and that such a European Union is best with Britain in it.
"Over the coming weeks, months and years, I will not rest until this debate is won. For the future of my country. For the success of the European Union. And for the prosperity of our peoples for generations to come."

What is the new role for the American President?

I am delighted Barack Obama was relected. He is a great man, and a game changing politician. But questions remain for the role of the most powerful man on earth. His is by far the most difficult role I can think of  for a modern politician. He faces a country that is increasingly polarised, an economy that is no longer the powerhouse of yesteryear, and a foreign policy decision of huge importance. As America and the UK thankfully gradually step back from Afghanistan the question still remains: is America the world's policeman?
And to a lesser extent - are we in the UK?

The context could not be more apposite.
Osama Bin Laden is dead, yet Al Qaeda continues in force in Pakistan, and increasingly in Africa, as we have recently seen in Mali and Algeria. The Arab Spring is not just all about democracy and apple pie. It is also about a series of tribal struggles, and increasingly bitter civil wars, best exemplified by the turmoil in Syria. And all the while the nuclear threat of Iran looms. This is not a promising in tray for the new President.
Some have said that whilst David Cameron speaks the right language, and has the best global intent, it is Obama who has the weapons, men and muscle; and yet how does he see his role? His speech primarily talked of the problems of injustice at home, not injustice abroad. 
Yet we need to face up to a disturbing reality. Proclaiming our values, our right to justice, a fair trial and a belief in democracy, and so much more, is not in an way in the short term going to stop terrorists bent on extinguishing us by any means necessary. Sadly what we are now engaged in on multiple fronts is an exercise in our human safety. How we best deal with that is the serious question. The issue of whether we are in such a fight is not, in my view, in doubt. To that end the American President is absolutely vital to this country, and all the western world countries.

Snowdrift stops car. Farmers help MP!

Got stuck in drifts twice last night. It was not a pretty sight. I was stuck on a slippery hill, with the snow drifting, and contemplating a long walk of 3 miles, and an abandoned car, to where I was stopping on the Military Road. I got out to survey the scene - which featured a tasty blizzard from the east, and a single house in the distance.
After a while a 4 wheel landrover drove up.
This being Northumberland the driver of the landrover stopped and immediately jumped out to help, even though it later transpired he was in a bit of a hurry.
Then the farmer in the nearby house came out into the snow, surveyed the scene, and got out his tractor, and started to clear the road and try and put some salt on the hill. All of us by now were pretty wet, cold and these two wonderful men had dry warm houses to go to.
Then my host turned up, and from the nearby house two girls from Shafto Young Farmers came out and surveyed the scene. With no towbar on the front of my car [not my fault I hasten to add] only one option remained: a very big shove. So 3 men and 2 girls pushed a car, driven by allegedly the lightest man, up a long big slope, all of us slipping on the icy road. There was a lot of grunting ... and a serious realisation that we may not be as fit as we thought we were. But after several minutes sustained pushing the top was made, my saviours were able to go back to their dry homes. The whole process took at least 30 minutes in constant snow and a stiff wind. For my part, pretty soon I was tucked up in a warm farmhouse at Moss Kennels, being served a large medicinal whisky.

Reasons to be Cheerful:
- not a day goes past when I do not thank my lucky stars that the good people of Hexham and West Northumberland chose me as their MP. There is a generosity of spirit in this place that is both uplifting and humbling. People help each other.
- I was a bit mad to do a surgery call at 6 pm in an outlying area on a night featuring a drifting whiteout. The cynic would say I was getting the Good Lords comeuppance for venturing out on such a night in a normal vehicle without snowtyres, but I was keen to help.
- I accept that this story will be repeated back to me in many a local pub, many times!, for a long time to come....and that I owe 5 very kind people a large drink.


Lessons learnt: do not venture out unless you have the right vehicle. Its forecast for -4 overnight so watch out for ice in the morning.

Gordon came, he spoke, he left

Will it be another year before we see Gordon Brown in the House of Commons again? I was gutted that I missed the chance to see a beast rarer than the Loch Ness Monster - Brown in the House. His 15 minute speech on Tuesday was on a legitimate local matter to be fair, but I still firmly believe you are elected by your voters to represent them primarily in Westminster.
The Papers pointed out the irony of Gordon getting upset about closing Remploy factories when he was responsible for closing 28 of them! See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2261813/Gordon-Browns--hes-doing-U-turn.html

What kind of Europe do you want?

As the PM gears up for his postponed big speech on Britains future relationship with Europe I am keen to ask the thousands of regular blog followers what kind of Europe they would like to see?
Europe is changing and we need to decide in this country what role we wish to take in the new Europe.
Most of those who want to keep the status quo are Liberal Democrat or possibly Labour. I do not want to leave Europe, but I do want a new relationship.
The old phrase "In Europe, just not run by Europe" rings true.
Certainly if the EU heads to ever greater union and ever greater soveriengty loss for Britain then I fear we would be left with little choice.

As Liam Fox MP put it on Sunday on TV: "I don’t want to be part of ever-closer union, I don’t want to be European first and British second.”

The diplomatic background to this speech is that:
i). Our American cousins are a little anxious:  the Obama administration decided to give the British public an ill-judged, meddlesome lecture on the EU, warning David Cameron against holding a referendum on loosening this country’s ties with Europe. Philip Gordon, America’s assistant secretary for European affairs, was acting out of pure Washington self-interest when he said Britain needed ‘a strong voice in the EU’.
ii). The Germans had a visiting delegation of MPs here recently and they declared that a UK referendum was a high-risk option that might paralyse Europe and end in economic disaster for Britain.
iii). Meanwhile Mr Barrosso, the renowned opponent of referendums, chose the day after Eurozone unemployment hit a record high of 19million to state that "the worst is over".

For my part I accept that we must monitor where the integrated Euro based EU is going before deciding our own direction. I am strongly in favour of the single market, but reform of regional spending, and the working time directive, are two early candidates for repatriation. Other key issues will be limiting residency rights to those with a job or other means of support.
One thing is clear: we need terms of membership very different from Britain’s current situation.

Its Snowmageddon!

Big chunky flakes, proper drifts, + visibility 15 yards was my fun drive home to Stamfordham. Please be careful on the roads if you are going out tonight / tomorrow.
For my part I have surgery calls in the morning - I may end up walking to Prudhoe - and then we have an Action Day, when we are knocking on doors in Hexham West, with around 10 people due to come out and help Colin Cessford. I have a feeling the pub may call quite early tomorrow afternoon, but we will still be there to help Colin, and will be super focused on the job in hand ... the only possible distraction could be a combination of a snowball and a Lib Dem!

Lokking forward to welcoming Greg Clark MP to Newcastle again

The Cities Minister Greg Clark MP is in town today, provided everyone makes it through the snow - including me! We have a variety of meetings this morning / lunchtime.
I have a series of surgeries in Hexham later, including a meeting with the Police Federation, and then am speaking to the Hexham Business Forum at 6. If you are travelling on the roads take extreme care.

Open Cast Meeting last night

Hundreds packed in to the Snods Edge village hall last night to question County Council officials and directors of UK Coal as to the proposed open cast mine next to Whittonstall School. The Courant were there and will report it. Dozens asked questions or made their views clear and the meeting ran for over 2 and half hours. Whilst the feelings were high, and the opposition to this plan is clear, the meeting was well conducted, albeit so many people came that they were literally queueing in the street to get in.
The large majority spoke against the scheme. Some people made what would be classed as representations as to the scheme. I spoke briefly near the end, briefly making the points that
- of the more than 100 people who had made representations at public meetings in the Anchor or at surgeries, to me as their MP, at least 95% were against and barely 5 people were broadly in favour,
- the committee need to take on board the cumulative impact of this and other energy projects that are already up and running.
- there are massive similarities between this proposal and the Bradley decision just over the border in county durham
- the Energy Bill 2012 and other documents make it clear that coal use in this country must reduce not expand in the years to come.
There remain for me significant possible environmental impacts and the transport proposal will see a massive increase in HGV traffic on the roads - both these issues need to be addressed going forward.

PM absolutely right to stay in Uk + delay Euro speech

As the day has unfolded I have received ever worsening reports of what has gone on in Algeria. It is likely that there is worse news on the way and my thoughts go out to the families of all the hostages at this time. Now is the time for the PM to be behind the desk in Number 10 coordinating our response, trying to track down the hostages and their families and doing all he and our specialist teams can do to assist a very fluid situation.

Whittonstall Open Cast Mine Meeting is tonight!

6pm in Snods Edge will see the public meeting on UK Coal's proposed application for open cast coal mining. I have received a slip from the House of Commons to ensure I can be there. I would urge anyone interested in green belt development, open cast mining and the cumulative impact of energy policy on this area to attend. I have written at length on this application before on this blog, and spoken about it in the House of Commons, most recently on the 20/12/12 in respect of the lack of a County Council minerals plan. I have met repeatedly with the local community from 2009 onwards in local surgeries, in a long meeting in the local pub and in people's houses.
Whilst I will go with an open mind to the meeting, and listen to what is said tomorrow night by all parties - and it is clear that there are some people in the community in favour of the application, and campaigning for the application - everything I have seen and heard, thus far, indicates that the vast majority of the population locally are against this application.
For my part I am satisfied that there are potential legitimate objections based upon planning grounds, concerns as to the viability and intentions of the applicant, further concerns as to the impact on the green belt, and a real issue as to whether this is sustainable and appropriate development, given the two contrasting decisions by inspectors in relation to the Bradley decision [planning refused] and the Halton Lea Gate decision [planning granted].

The law on self defence against burglars is changing

Amongst many things in the Crime and Courts Bill that we passed yesterday is the welcome news that the innocent householder will have greater protection from the law when confronted with a burglar. The old law was reasonable force but this led to several householders facing possible prosecution in circumstances where the vast majority of the population thought this was wrong.
We have also reformed community sentencing, created the National Crime Agency to target serious organised criminals, and amended Section 5 of the Public Order Act to remove the word insulting from it.
This is a good bill which will make a difference on so many levels.

The situation in Mali - why we are right to give some help:

The Uk has provided 2 C17 transport planes to help the French efforts to restore order in  Mali. France has sent around 550 troops to the central town of Mopti and the capital, Bamako. They are set to be joined by troops from the neighbouring African states of Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Togo, some of which are now expected to arrive in Mali within days.
Mali is a landlocked West African former colony of France, with a population of 14.5 million, half of whom live below the poverty line.
In March last year, a military coup toppled the democratically-elected leader, President Touré. The already weak central government lost control of the North of the country, which fell under the control of Ansar Dine, a radical Islamist group who have imposed Shari’ah law, and Tuareg rebels, who have long felt marginalised by the Malian government.
This is linked to Libya. After Gaddafi fell, the Tuareg armed fighters he had been using returned to Mali. This led to a separatist war and formation of the unrecognized separatist Islamist state of “Azawad”, occupying a third of Mali’s territory. While there is not (yet) evidence that Islamists there will use this base to plan foreign attacks, the West is nervy – especially at signs that the insurgents aim to sezie the whole country.
A number of atrocities so far have been reported so far, including the public stoning of a couple who were accused of having children outside marriage. Some 500,000 have reportedly fled the north since the Islamist takeover, 270,000 of them to neighboring countries. Ansar Dine has more recently begun to militarily move south, prompting UN concern and the French military intervention.
The UN authorises force
Last month the UN Security Council unanimously voted to give the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) an initial one-year mandate. The 3,300-troop force was tasked with helping recover the north of the country from “terrorist, extremist and armed groups.”
Last July, Hollande’s Foreign Minister, Lauren Fabius, said, ‘In the north, at one moment or another there will probably be the use of force.’
Yesterday, Hollande announced a surprise French military action. Hollande has said his military will stay “last as long as necessary” to help Mali’s government recover. “At stake is the very existence of the Malian state,” he said. He has stressed that France is working under the remit of a UN resolution authorising actionThere are effectively three objectives: 1) reorganise the Malian army; 2) secure the transitional government in Bamako; and 3) retake the north from Ansar Dine. This has been previously done in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The idea would be African troops on the ground, with Western air support.
I know there is little appetite for British boots on the ground, but this limited support with transport planes is perfectly legitimate, the right thing to do, and backed by UN Resolution. However, it is dismaying that there appears to be brewing another Islamist backed military uprising just as others are waning in the East.

Who views the Blog?

I have recently done some analysis of latest page views of the blog:
It makes for fascinating reading:
Pageviews by Countries:

United Kingdom - 88,390
United States - 25,789
Norway - 9630
Germany - 3288
Russia - 3605
France -2605
Netherlands - 864
Ukraine -814
Switzerland -657
Argentina - 608
As well as an increasing following in Asia, the Gulf and some in Ireland, Sweden and increasingly in India.
A big thank you to one and all and let me know if you want changes made.

Gordon's Alive!

Our former PM will make his first appearance in months in the House of Commons next Tuesday. I swear I have seen him less than 5 times since May 2010, and this is his first speech in almost a year! He should resign and let an MP run who wants to contribute to the House of Commons - which is where we are supposed to be most of the time.

Dementia Debate yesterday - best debate I have heard in HOC

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2013-01-10a.515.0&s=speaker%3A24962#g561.0
Yesterday the Backbench Business Committee debated the issue of dementia care: it was a wonderful occasion featuring outstanding speeches, great emotion - as several MPs broke down when reliving their personal experiences, and a collective will to address this terrible disease. There is no difference between heart disease, cancer and dementia. They are all killers. The link above is to my speech but if you are interested in the House of Commons then read the contributions of the Labour members Debbie Abrahams and Margaret Moon. They, amongst many, spoke beautifully.
I spoke as to Northumberlands dementia situation and the difficulties of rural healthcare, but the best news is the increased funding for dementia care and the greater focus that the DOH is now bringing to bear on this disease.

Gilsland Station Reopening plan gets 1 step closer

I try and write regularly on transport matters because they are genuinely very important. Whether it is Torchgate, road improvements, or rail franchising the fact is that transport really matters locally. And this is without taking into account the constant need to address the problems locally with gritting on winter roads, cleaning of gulleys, and so many more things that people write in to me in the House of Commons on transport issues. Virtually not a week goes by without us receiving a steady stream of transport issues concerning local problems.

We have long been trying to persuade Network Rail and Northern Rail to look at reopening Gilsland Station. It was the second key issue raised when we met with the Northern Rail team last autumn at the Valley, and it would clearly transform the tourist, travel, business and other prospects of the very western area of the County.  Rory Stewart, my neighbouring MP also supports the plan. I am a big supporter of the Tyne Valley Rail Users Group and welcome their lead, and will be contributing to the feasibility study. There is a case to be made not least because there have been persistent problems with buses in the area, and the tourism busineses which I know well would be very pleased. Anyone who walks the Hadrians Wall or Pennine Way would in particular be delighted.
The Courant has a fuller report on the developments: http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/news-at-a-glance/funding-revives-hope-of-re-opening-railway-station-1.1026128?referrerPath=home

I urge people to make their views known locally.

Labour accept that we are taxing the rich more – and taxing the poor less

The simple truth about this Government’s changes to taxation is that the rich are paying more now than they ever did under 13 years of Labour. Ed Miliband and his cronies had no answer to that fact in the welfare debate on Tuesday, and had no answer at PMQ’s yesterday. Even their friends in the press admit it.
Below is the Mirror’s political editor, Kevin Maguire, in discussion with Conservative Home’s Tim Montogomerie on twitter earlier this week:
Tim Montgomerie: "Are the rich paying more in tax than under Labour?"
Kevin Maguire: "Yes! Weakness for Mili unless he accepts Labour 13 Year cowardice and pledges to restore 50p on fairness grounds."
Locals will remember that Maguire came recently to Hexham Abbey to do Any Questions live on the BBC. I have met him many times in the House, and he is a very robust socialist, who is very connected to the Labour heirachy. The full exchange is here:
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/leftwatch/2013/01/mirrors-kevin_maguire-admits-top-earners-are-paying-more-tax-under-the-coalition-than-under-labour.html
It is also worth bearing in mind that for 13 years of the Labour government the top rate of tax was 40 pence. They raised it in the last 35 days of their term in April 2010. It is almost laughable when they criticise this government for only having a 45 pence top tax rate. My Liberal colleagues in the House [Sir Bob Russell, and Simon Hughes in particular] constantly chant to the labour benches "13 years - 40 p". As they make clear - Sir Bob is very robust - it is not an ineffective chant.
I believe that we need to concentrate on now is ensuring that we commit to our pledge to increase the tax threshold to £10,000. I am proud that this Government has taken two million of the lowest paid out of paying tax at all, and that those on the minimum wage have seen their income tax cut in half. Slowly but surely we are once again making work pay in this country.

Scotland Questions 11.45 today - will we need border controls?

I am live in parliament shortly before PMQs in Scotland Questions, at around 11.45, asking whether independence would lead to Border Controls at Carter Bar and all along the border. I have 2 questions and will be interested how the Scot Nationalists fancy a new Hadrians Wall at the border? I do not want it and I can find few locals who want to lose the union, but we need to make the reality of the case of Scottish Independence plain to one and all - not least the Scots themselves - as Salmond still refuses to say what the reality of independence will be for both countries.  

The Tube is 150 years old today

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. 

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.

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.

Arch Cru Scandal - the fight goes on

Last year's most depressing meetings for me were the times when I had to meet and advise local people who had suffered from the Arch Cru mis selling scandal. I have many constituents who are affected by this, although fortunately not as many as were affected by Equitable Life.
The scandal arises because normal people took their savings and invested in what they thought were "low risk" investments, when they were clearly anything but low risk. The funds have got into terrible difficulties and an administrator is trying to get back as much as is possible for the investors.
I am the secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Arch Cru, and have joined forces with Labour and other members of parliament to try and seek redress for the victims. The limited good news is that there will be some recovery, but the reality is that such a recovery is going to be a fraction of the original safe investment, and the recovery is taking a long time.
I met with some of the local victims in the autumn in Hexham. All felt understandably very hard done by, powerless, and some were clearly struggling to survive. In the House of Commons we are doing what we can to keep the pressure up on the FSA, the administrator, and the various other organisations involved to see that our constituents recover as much as is possible.
The Mial on Sunday has worked tirelessly to highlight this scandal and I pay tribute to the Money Section editor Jeff Prestridge, who has attended parliamentary debates, met victims and helped fight the inadequacy
of the present system of compensation. Jeff wrote the following 2 articles before christmas:
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/investing/article-2252191/Up-200-investors-abandoned-Arch-Cru-rescue-scheme.html
and
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/investing/article-2252221/JEFF-PRESTRIDGE-Blame-Financial-Services-Authority-Arch-Cru-almighty-fiasco.html
People talk about the glamour of life as an MP but most of it is helping people through life's unfairnesses: the sad reality is that people only tend to come to see me for my help when all else has failed them. Arch Cru and its effects is just such a case. 2013 will be a good year if we can get some redress for the victims both locally in Northumberland and nationally.     

Is Shale Gas the Future?

One of the topics I speak on most in the house is energy. From Britain's energy security to fuel poverty I believe it is a topic which will dominate over the next decade.

I could not make a speech in the recent Energy Bill debate as it was oversubscribed, and given that I speak so often in the House the Speaker fairly decided to call others to speak instead. The many questions and debates which the Bill has sparked are really interesting - and it is vital we get the right answers:

• Is there too much, or too little, focus on renewables?
• Is coal a thing of the past or a legitimate future option?
• Can carbon capture change the energy equation?
• Are we right to rely on gas in the short term?
• What is the future of newer renewables like tidal power?
• How much can and should we rely upon Nuclear power?
• Should the state continue to subsidise commercial biomass on domestic timber?
• What chance is there that the lights will go out by 2018?

The truth is, the answers to many of those questions are from easy. One of the biggest new developments in the energy market is Shale Gas. It is a new form of gas which some experts believe could be in abundance in the United Kingdom. Shale Gas has transformed the American energy market with many hailing it as the holy grail of new energy. Some however warn that the Shale gas revoultion of the States can not be repeated here. You can read of a short BBC article about Shale Gas for yourself HERE

Having looked at the evidence I myself am a big supporter of shale gas and have spoken repeatedly in support of it in the House of Commons. It has not just brought down domestic energy prices but it has genuinely changed the industrial prospects of the USA; this new cheaper energy is one of the biggest reason why the US has been able to remain competitive.

I believe the latest Energy Bill contains a good blend of short term resolution of our energy needs, with a correct desire to continue decarbonise over time. I am a committed environmentalist but this Energy Bill of Ed Davey's does, I believe, create a healthy balance. The Chancellor has also recently made it easier for business to put shale gas into that mix which I believe will help even further. 

My Predictions for 2013

International politics: As Syria descends into civil war, the focus will shift to Iran and its nuclear intentions. World leaders will have to make very tough decisions on the middle east generally and Iran in particular. My one strong prediction is that Assad will not be the leader of Syria by the end of 2013. The end game for him is nigh.

Big Local Issue 2013: I predict the issues around our green belt will dominate locally in 2013.

International Democratic Day of the Year: the Falklands Referendum on March 10th 2013 - when the local people finally are able to make their feelings clear. I happily predict the islanders will vote to remain British.

Local Democratic Day of the Year: May 2nd when Northumberland goes to the polls. I will put my neck on the block and make two predictions; 1) The Conservatives will have more seats that we have now 2) The Conservatives will win one or both of Hexham West and Haydon and Hadrian.

In the Arts: The Oscars are the only show in town in the spring so my strong prediction is Best Actor to Daniel Day Lewis in Lincoln, with Les Miserables as Best Picture.

A horse racing bet: Flemenstar is a good choice each way for the Gold Cup in Mid March but I particularly like Sea Bass each way to win the Grand National on April 6th

And finally...Sport: Not my finest predictions last year, but here it goes for 2013. Murray will win Wimbledon, England will win back to back Ashes series, Man United will win the League, and Rory McIlroy will win the Masters, only to be denied a grand slam by Ian Poulter who wins the Open.

Come back in 12 months time to see how I got on!