4 Big Historical anniversaries in 2015

2015 is the
- 200th anniversary of Waterloo [Sunday June 18 1815], more details here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Waterloo

- 800th of Magna Carta, [June 19 1215] more details here:http://magnacarta800th.com/

- and the 100th of the WW1 battle of Ypres, where so many Northumberland soldiers lost their lives. The battle was fought between late April and May 1915 over many weeks: it featured many terrible things including the first use of gas in an attack: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Ypres

Later in the year we will celebrate the 600th Anniversary of the battle of Agincourt on St Crispin's Day - Friday 25th of October 1415- when the English Longbow changed the course of military history in the pas de Calais led by Henry V. But for me the memories during the April / May 2015 months will be of the First World War.

On the 3rd May 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres, Major John McCrae MD penned "In Flanders Fields", after “Sixteen Days of Hell” tending the wounded at the Essex Farm dressing station near Ypres in the so called “Ypres Salient”, Belgium.
It is now the key WW1 poem. http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/john-mccrae-in-flanders-fields.htm

2015 Nightmare: Ed Miliband as PM, Balls as Chancellor, Alex Salmond as Deputy PM & Farage as Foreign Secretary

Politics:
- Nightmare: Ed Miliband as PM, Balls as Chancellor, Alex Salmond as Deputy PM and Nigel Farage as Foreign Secretary
- 2015 Reality: Farage will not, in my view based upon my recent visit to South Thanet, win his seat, I will be doing everything to stop the 2 Eds as PM / Chancellor, but we may be stuck with Alex Salmond in Westminster post May I fear, unless someone can stop him in the Gordon seat.

Local Politics:
Anne Marie Trevelyan should win Berwick upon Tweed at the Election. I also think we will have further successes in Scotland at the election, notwithstanding the Nationalist resurgence.

Sport:
Spring Heeled and Ma Filleulle would be my two Grand National tips, but as with the election these events are a long way off!

Scottish Independence campaign dominated 2014 - my review of 2014 national / Scottish highlighs

Scottish Independence dominated this year as I made repeated trips north of the Border to speak, campaign, cajole, request and argue the case for the Union. My thanks to the many Scottish locals who accommodated me, and came to events in Argyll, Aberdeenshire, Fife, Edinburgh and all across the Borders. I got to know our neighbours very well in many ways north of the Border and in this review of 2014 a few awards must follow:

1. Best voters on both side of the independence debate were found in Hawick, in the Borders, where we argued forcefully but with great politeness with many people with barely 3 weeks to go to polling day.  The same day we also knocked on the door of Alex Salmonds sister high up in the hills surrounding the town of Hawick. They were not in favour of the union! I love the photo of us on the campaign trail - a motley crew of conservatives, and non conservatives, coming together to try and save the Union.http://www.thejournal.co.uk/north-east-analysis/analysis-news/hexham-mp-guy-opperman-heads-7713615

2. Best tea shop award goes to Main Street Books, the amazing bookshop, cook shop and top tea shop in St Boswells, just outside Kelso, in the Borders -http://www.mainstreetbooks.co.uk
It is worth the journey itself and has won countless awards. Amazing cooks, cakes and people. Perfect pit stop for the North bound traveller.

3. Parliamentary highlight of the year for me was our success on the Air Ambulance campaign  - a change that allow more missions and will save lives.http://guyopperman.blogspot.com/2014/12/air-ambulances-including-gnaa-benefit.html

4. Political Visit of the year was my recent visit to South Thanet to campaign against Nigel Farage. Having campaigned there in November and met the candidate and the support team for the conservatives I do not believe Farage will win there in May 2015- and opinion polls agree: http://guyopperman.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/South%20Thanet

5. Best visit as an MP: without a doubt the Syrian refugee camp in Nizip, on the Turkish Syrian Border in early January 2014: it moved me hugely. http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/hexham-mp-guy-opperman-calls-6521153
Our campaign to continue to support people there continues.
In April I hosted a debate in the commons on this issue.
http://centrallobby.politicshome.com/latestnews/article-detail/newsarticle/guy-opperman-mp-ensuring-proper-humanitarian-support-and-aid-for-syrian-refugees/

Alex Salmond now only 6-1 to serve as a Minister under Ed Miliband - be afraid, as bookmakers are rarely wrong

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/12/alex-salmond-now-61-to-serve-as-a-minister-under-ed-miliband/

Local High Schools get share of extra £12m as part of our Fairer Funding Campaign - local High School specifics explained

In 2014 my campaign to change the rules on schools funding scored a £12 Million success. The new agreement secured from the Government gives a fairer funding deal for our schools.

For many decades our county has had one of the worst funded education authorities. The changes I have been able to help secure will deliver an extra £12 million for Northumberland's schools.
The breakdown locally will mean that next April 2015:
- Haydon Bridge High School will see its funding increase by £170,000,
- while Prudhoe High School will receive an extra £205,000, and a rebuild starting in the spring.
- QEHS in Hexham will get an extra £256,000 and
- Ponteland High School will get an extra £252,000.

At the height of this long campaign I was able to bring Schools Minister, David Laws, MP, to Tynedale to hear the case for fairer schools funding, and let specific teachers make the case to him. He also had a tour of Hexham QEHS, which is next on the list for our attempts to get substantial capital improvements to the aged school infrastructure.

It is great that we have been able to secure a £12m victory for our campaign. I will be continuing my fight for long term fairer funding for our local schools.

Pleased that we are making progress on cycling in Northumberland

I am a keen cyclist and know only too well that Northumberland is a great tourist destination for cyclists. Hadrian's Cycleway and the Reivers Cycle Route are great long distance cycling routes, but cycle networks for residents in our towns and villages are poor to non existent. I have previously  spoken about this in the House of Commons and urged the Northumberland County Council to do more – as Newcastle has successfully applied for millions of pounds of central government cycling funding.

See here: http://guyopperman.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/speech-in-cycling-debate.html

Currently just 2% of all journeys in Northumberland are by bike and it is easy to see why. Northumberland needs to get ambitious when it comes to cycling. Newcastle’s cycling vision sets out a plan to achieve 12% of all journeys under 5 miles by bike in the next 10 years. I want Northumberland County Council to set a specific target for short commuting journeys in the County taken by bike, and to draw up a plan for investment in cycling infrastructure within Northumberland's towns.

We particularly need cycle lanes in towns such a Hexham and Ponteland, which allow amateur cyclists to make short journeys within our towns. We need to encourage more commuting by bike which will help reduce traffic and improve health for local people. Places like Ponteland strike me as ideally suited to a network of cycle lanes towards the town centre.

The Council's recently published draft Cycling Plan says: "Linking rural villages to market towns on traffic free routes while desirable is not always economically viable. Some remote and inaccessible communities can only be accessed by car. Resources need to be focused where greatest benefit can be derived. Resources will be targeted on the large towns, market towns, the Tyne valley corridor and links to the Tyneside conurbation."

I welcome the creation of the Northumberland Cycling Board by Northumberland County Council - it is a good step forward. Hopefully it will allow ideas and resources to be shared so that new projects and bids for funding can be put together.

The Consultation is here: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1426

Congratulations to The Brain Tumour Charity, Angie's Fund and Gina Tillotson for their fundraising efforts at the Lord Crewe Arms

Having suffered a brain tumour I am a big supporter of the various charities raising money for research and better diagnosis of such hard to treat conditions as brain tumours; many of my ward died whilst I was in my NHS hospital, the National Neurological and Neurosurgical Hospital in Queens Square, London. I have previously raised money by walking Hadrian's Wall, and all proceeds of my book, Doing Time, are given to brain tumour research.
The event that took place last month in Blanchland raised over £10,000, and whilst I could not go I am pleased to say that the book, and a few add ons, went for over £200. This was part of a packed programme of donations, commitments and offers available on the night and full credit to Gina Tillotson, and all the team behind the event. I was pleased, in a very small way, to help.
Full details of the charity and what it is trying to do here: http://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/supporter-groups/angies-fund

World War One Christmas Truce Football game for the Army Benevolent Fund - All Party MP group lose 6-1 to the Army

http://www.londonlive.co.uk/news/2014-12-10/it-may-not-have-been-england-vs-germany-but-it-was-almost-as-competitive
Football [and the Army Team] was the winner when a group of MPs played an Army Benevolent Fund match a couple of weeks back early one sunny morning to celebrate the 1914 Christmas Truce. There is no doubt which was the fitter side! Jim Murphy, MP, the new Scottish Labour Leader, captained the side and made the point that with 3 political parties all playing together, and losing 6-1, we spent a lot of the time shouting at each other ...and not a lot of time passing accurately to each other. Jims interview is good fun and the 1 minute highlight above is humbling and well worth a watch.
The match was for a very good cause, and the army lads were a great bunch:
http://www.soldierscharity.org/

Merry Christmas

My 2014 Christmas Card of Hadrians Wall at Sewingshields, courtesy of the fantastic Hexham Rotary.

Supporting Hexham QEHS Students charity trip and buying Christmas presents at the great Hexham Abbey Christmas Fair

It was a pleasure to meet Amy, one of the QEHS students selling at the Hexham Abbey Christmas Fair and support her 2015 trip, and buy some of her Christmas presents [a very pretty candle in a traditional tea cup and saucer], which she is using to fundraise for the trip. This present is now safely wrapped under the tree. Thanks Amy, and good luck!

Great news that The Interview is going to be shown - Sony show some grit at last

The Interview will be shown in some independent US cinemas on Thursday.

Sony Chairman Michael Lynton said he was "excited" that the comedy, about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, would now be seen.

Two cinemas in Atlanta and Austin have already revealed screenings.

They said via social media that Sony Pictures had authorised them to show the film, which has been at the centre of escalating tensions between the US and North Korea.

"Breaking news," tweeted Tim League, founder of the Alamo Drafthouse cinema in Austin.

"Sony has authorized screenings of THE INTERVIEW on Christmas Day. We are making shows available within the hour." The White House welcomed the development, with a spokesman saying that President Barack Obama applauded Sony's decision and that the US was a country that "believes in free speech".

Seth Rogen, who directed and starred in the film, tweeted: "The people have spoken! Freedom has prevailed! Sony didn't give up!"

Sony had previously announced that the film's release would be pulled completely, following a hacking attack on the company and threats against cinema chains that planned to screen the film.

That decision drew criticism in Hollywood, with some calling it an attack on the freedom of expression.

Mr Obama had also called Sony's initial decision to pull the film "a mistake".

North Korea says the film hurts the "dignity of its supreme leadership"

Major movie chains in the US are thought unlikely to take part in the release at this stage.

Mr Lynton said: "We are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theatres so this movie can reach the largest possible audience." He also said he "hoped it would be the first step of the film's release".

Cheaper Oil and Petrol is great for Northumberland - bad news for SNP / Scottish Independence / Salmond / Sturgeon etc

The crash in pump prices is giving the UK economy — already Europe’s strongest — a shot in the arm which will benefit every household in the land. … All this will give the Coalition Government, and the hard pressed taxpayer, a happy New Year as businesses take a boost, tax revenues flow and the deficit finally starts tumbling.

Yet the very basis for Mr Salmond’s reputation as a political prophet has been shattered by the crash in oil prices, which is literally tumbling by the day:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/11308952/Opec-Oil-plummets-after-Saudis-says-20-crude-is-possible.html

Tough to argue with this commentary. And remember Scotland's independence was meant to be secured on permanently high oil prices. The honest truth is that Alex Salmond has zero economic credibility.

Pleased that Forestry Commission have agreed to 77 acres conifer planting north of Haltwhistle - building on Roots to Prosperity Report

http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/farmer-gets-go-ahead-for-woodland-1.1182882
We need to plant more trees in this country, and that must include commercial timber. That is the strong message coming from businesses like Egger, our antique and wood panel businesses, and many more, or there will be no such businesses here in the UK in the near future. Kielder, for example, is fundamentally a commercial conifer forest.
It is wonderful.

I have strongly backed the Roots to Prosperity campaign [pictured at Egger with many of the business and local leaders], and support the farmer who sought to make his farm more viable, by planting a woodland of 77 acres of conifers, and 29 of broad leaf timber.

Northumberland National Park objected to the application. I have great respect for the Park officials, and their management team, but on this occasion I am against their approach and right behind the Forestry Commission. The simple lesson is that the Park cannot exist in isolation to its surrounding community. The UK, and in particular Northumberland, needs more Forestry - something wholeheartedly backed by the public.

For my part I would support the planting of a small forest the size of Wark or Slaley, and am right behind applications for further planting both locally, and with the pressure I am putting on government agencies and quangos.

The reasons why this is so necessary are well set out in this report: its conclusions are unanswerable if we wish forestry, timber products and businesses like Egger, and the smaller producers, to thrive and survive in this country: http://www.confor.org.uk/NewsAndEvents/News.aspx?pid=23&id=2641

Great to meet the triumphant team from Excelsior Academy - to Everest and on to much much more

Last week I popped in to the Excelsior Academy in West Newcastle, to meet hundreds of the students, do a Q and A on life as an MP, and also meet the specific students [pictured] who I helped sponsor in their trip to the Everest Base Camp. They are a great bunch and their trip was a huge success. At 17,500 feet they certainly needed the woolly hats I bought them! If you have not been to Excelsior, and if you have any doubts about Academies, I urge you to go - it is an outstanding school, with a turnaround story that needs to be seen to be believed. This school is local proof that Academies really work.

In Westminster today and contact details over Christmas

In early to a very quiet House of Commons, trying to make sure all outstanding inquiries, requests for assistance and loose ends are tidied up, both in the Westminster office, in the Home Office, and in Hexham. I will also be in Westminster on most of Christmas Eve; our number here in London is 0207 219 7113; but both offices will be shut between Christmas and New Year, as we give all the staff a break. However, there is an emergency number = 07745 208 609
which will be checked daily if there is any problems that I or the team can help with over Christmas. Simply call either office and you will get the emergency number on the voicemail.
As I always say if there is any issue I have not got back to you on following on from a letter or email then please contact me again and I will double check it has not got lost in the system somehow. We are a tiny office receiving over 30,000 emails and letters a year. Everyone gets answered, but even with the best efforts, and a great but very small team to assist, things get missed or not followed up on from time to time.

Kielder Christmas tree in parliament

Great work by the team from the Forestry Commission in Northumberland. Full story here:
http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/update/2014-12-02/kielder-tree-positioned-at-base-of-big-ben

English Votes for English Laws - and a greater slice of the cake for the North East

Full details here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30484453
My Q and A with William Hague here:
Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con):

The injustice is particularly felt by my constituents 1 mile south of the Scottish border, who wish to see powers, votes and spending devolved to them in England. Does my right hon. Friend agree that after five reports over 17 years of consideration of this process, and the Labour party now opting out of the process, we should simply press on and get the resolved settlement that we all so need?

Mr Hague:

We absolutely should press on, and this Command Paper provides the foundation for doing so. This will be essential in all political parties, as all candidates will find in the coming general election that they need to address this issue, because the voters will want to know where they stand on it. Therefore, we should proceed with considerable speed in identifying the preferred option in our parties and in this House, and I look forward to doing so over the next few weeks.

Be careful what you wish for - Russia on the brink

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11297770/Russia-risks-Soviet-style-collapse-as-rouble-defence-fails.html

Visit to Richard Coates School - selfies, and the future of democracy

Great visit to Richard Coates School in Ponteland: the students are coming to London and going round the House of Commons in Spring 2015 so I popped in last week and we did a very serious Q and A on everything from the role of an MP, to the future of Ponteland.
We did a serious picture of the meeting with the headteacher present but there is no doubt that the kids loved the idea of doing a selfie.
The evidence is to my left. A great bunch of kids and a great school. Looking forward to welcoming them in the House of Commons in the spring

The Journal on devolution, injustice and powers for the North East

http://www.thejournal.co.uk/north-east-analysis/analysis-news/government-must-press-english-votes-8300027
The serious question is why is the Labour Party refusing to get involved?
Turkey's not voting for Christmas comes to mind.

BBC Radio Newcastle interview today on small businesses in Hexham and beyond - 1 hour 22 minutes in

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02ctc7w

In Northumberland Heating Oil / petrol and diesel prices continue to fall

This is very good news for car drivers, businesses, farmers and homeowners in Northumberland as a car or oil fired heating are necessities for so many here - not luxuries. I continue to apply pressure on the oil companies to pass on the reduction in cost to the consumer at the pumps, but there is no doubt heating oil, and petrol for the car are much cheaper than they were a year, 2 or particularly 3 years ago. A slump in prices to levels around $40 per barrel of oil would be a boost for the UK economy and could see petrol prices drop close to £1 per litre providing relief to motorists. I recently met with many of the heating oil buying clubs and I am pleased to see that the minimum delivery price has dropped below £300.

The interesting question is why does the price keep falling? The key change is the impact of shale gas: it has made the USA energy independent and not an importer of foreign oil. At the same time there is the impact of sanctions on Russia, and the decisions of the OPEC Sheikhs. However, this will impact on the North East and Scotland as North Sea Oil and Gas will be affected in its margins and profitability. In that context I am pleased that the Infrastructure Bill is progressing as this will implement much of the Wood Review to assist our Oil and Gas producers and suppliers.

The papers examine this story in detail here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/11292837/Opec-willing-to-push-oil-price-to-40-says-Gulf-oil-minister.html

BBC Radio Newcastle Interview tomorrow at 8.20am on the importance of entrepreneurs and new SMEs

Will be live on BBC Radio Newcastle tomorrow morning celebrating our young, and not so young, entrepreneurs in the North East: much to celebrate notably:
SME and Business growth:
We in the North East are the region with the:
I) most tech start-ups outside London [over300]

II) the fastest rate of growth in private sector businesses over the last quarter,

III) and the highest rise in the value of exports, plus the only region with a positive balance of payments

Fuel Costs: throughout the parliament we have frozen fuel duty, and the oil price is coming down as well [Labour wanted to put the fuel duty up].

Child care costs: I am a big fan of the free childcare up to 15 hours paid for the by the government to parents of a 2 year old - this is really popular with parents I spoke to recently in Prudhoe, allowing them to go back to work.

Apprenticeships: doubled in the North East and 2 million nationwide since 2010

 

Small Business Saturday and the packed shops of Hexham last weekend have shown that our retail sector is thriving with new shops opening up in Hexham like Mr Wolf, the toyshop, and The Vintage Emporium in Hexham both packed on Saturday when I popped in.

Also there are businesses which are really using the internet cleverly like Dillies which has a high street presence and makes significant internet sales. 

Westminster this week

The Counter Terrorism Bill again dominates the week as we spend Monday and Tuesday in committee on the floor of the House of Commons with this Bill. I have plenty of other Home Office business this week as well, but am presently on the train south and will be in the Commons until around 10.30pm tonight.
In addition I have meetings with Women2Win candidates, Hexham constituents coming to PMQs, and Justice Questions on tuesday, which I am keen to get in on.

Boris on the Cereal Killer Cafe story: do you admire their entrepreneurship? I do

Full story here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/11293491/Dont-murder-the-Cereal-Killers-we-need-people-just-like-them.html
It’s about a new café in Shoreditch, in East London, called the Cereal Killer Cafe – a place where they are selling any kind of cereal you want, 120 varieties and 13 types of milk.
As Boris puts it:
"Channel Four recently sent a reporter to cover the story of the Cereal Killer Café in Shoreditch – and he generally monstered the poor entrepreneurs. He was scathing about charging £2.50 minimum for a bowl of cereal; he mocked the proprietors – a gentle pair of bearded hipsters – for their pretensions to gentrify the area, and suggested that local people would not be able to eat there. He put the boot in, and I am not at all sure he was right to do so.

We should be hailing anyone who starts a business in this country; we should acclaim them for overcoming all the obstacles. It is a great thing to want to open a place of work in one of the poorest boroughs in Britain. We don’t need taxpayer-funded journalists endlessly bashing the wealth-creators of this country, and sometimes we need to be a little less cynical and a bit more encouraging."

Busy morning in Tynedale

I am visiting several schools in the Prudhoe area this morning: much looking forward to it, particularly in light of the greater funding they will receive in April as part of the Fairer Funding Settlement for Northumberland that the Department has authorised. I start first thing at Mickley and will end at Prudhoe High School where I am having a cup of coffee and catch up with the Headteacher. Prudhoe is going from strength to strength and the High School rebuild begins very shortly:

Christmas continues in Hexham today - shops open, carols in the Sele and at Cogito books

I shall be buying presents this Sunday afternoon at Cogito books, who are amongst many of the Hexham traders who have chosen wisely to open on this second last Sunday before Christmas. They are Hexham's only independent bookseller, and I am a big fan. They have carol singers coming into their shop today at 2. Come along!

Jim Murphy's win in Scotland is good news if like me you want to keep the Union

I am a Conservative, but I have friends and colleagues in different parties in the House of Commons.  There are also opposition politicians who you respect. Self evidently noone respects Ed Miliband, although as an individual he is ok. It is just that he is hopelessly out of his depth, deeply misguided in his views, and would bring disaster to this country, if he were PM, particularly with Ed Balls as Chancellor.

One of Eds mistakes as Labour leader is to demote the intelligent and pragmatic Labour politicians: the sacking of John Healey MP, and the demotion of Jim Murphy MP were serious errors. It only further undermines Labour credibility - not least amongst their despairing MPs. In the Coalition we look in amazemement at the demotion of such people and the promotion of "Yes Men and Women" by Miliband. In the North East Phil Wilson is probably the best Labour MP, yet he is not promoted, and then several genuinely average performers are. My Labour MP mates all can see it. Yet nothing is done.

What really undermines Labour is the idea that business is the enemy, not the creator of jobs. The Miliband attitude to entrepreneurs dismays me. 

This last 18 months I have been to Scotland repeatedly to battle for the Union with the SNP. We succeeded and, although you would not know it to hear the SNP, they lost by 10% points. There is no doubt that Jim Murphy made a real difference in that battle. He is likeable and articulate. On Wednesday morning we played together in the midfield against the Soldiers Charities team in the same House of Commons football team. He is now the Scottish labour leader.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30461687

For my part I am torn: I know that if the SNP take lots of Labour seats in Scotland it lessens the awful prospect of Miliband becoming Prime Minister, but it will also enhance the likelihood of Scottish separation and the breakup of the UK. I am confident that the Scottish Conservative Party will win more seats in Scotland at the General Eelection in May, but I recognise that to stop the SNP you need a strong Labour party in Scotland. And the win for Jim Murphy is a good thing. I wish him well. His biggest problem is his own leader Ed Miliband, who is a complete liability, whether here in England or in Scotland.

Hexham Christmas Market today and tomorrow - shop local and do not miss out

Literally dozens of stalls and opportunities to do all your Christmas Shopping

Catch a Salmond once, throw it back, then catch it again

So Alex Salmond wants to return to Westminster. Despite having lost the Referendum by a significant margin he is putting himself forward for the Gordon seat. This is no shoe in for the ageing former SNP leader, as many of the papers have made clear: 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/scottish-politics/11278658/Watch-out-Westminster-Alex-Salmond-wants-back-in.html
However, if he wins, the House of Commons will, I am sure welcome him back.

Busy Thursday ahead: business visits, surgeries, school Q&A and more

Sprinting for the 8 pm train tonight as Thursday is a packed 14 hour day
- starting with a business breakfast with Onboard Pro, which is based in Newburn, but run by a constituent, and employs lots of locals. Will be meeting the team there before ...
- I then have a Q and A with the Excelsior Academy, and a chance to meet the pupils I sponsored on their recent Everest trip.
- then off to Prudhoe for surgeries and the relaunching of the Falcon Pub
- then Ponteland where I have school visits, and a Q and A with the Richard Coates School Council
- then back to Hexham for meetings and more surgeries
- and then a dash to Newcastle for a Christmas Party.

PM trip to Auschwitz

I well remember my trip to Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, and the few days I spent in Tel Aviv, Ashdod and learning about the Holocaust. I have not had a chance to visit Auschwitz myself but I will do so at some stage in the future. Very pleased that the PM has shown his support, and a really good article describing the trip:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/11283868/David-Cameron-remembers-victims-of-Holocaust-in-first-ever-visit-to-Auschwitz.html

A trip to Kielder school and knocking on doors

I was recently able to head up to Kielder to spend time with the School, meet the teachers, and knock on a lot of doors locally. I also popped in to the Village Store and chatted to many of the locals who were out and about, including parish councillors. We discussed many things from the County Councils failure to upgrade the local lights, as promised, to the success of the fuel station and the lack of bus services, and the opportunities of the oil buying clubs locally.

As to the school there is no doubt it is a very good school, well led and with unique local facilities. The library co-exists in the same building in a good use of shared facilities by NCC. The sadness is the Youth Hostel which is presently not being used but I am hopeful that a solution will be forthcoming soon.  

Finally a word on the fuel station, which has been transformative since I opened it a few years back [see photo below]. With the oil price coming down I hope that the cost of fuel will drop even more, as a car in Kielder is a necessity not a luxury. As always, I was not able to speak to everyone in the village but if you need to get in contact email me or call the Hexham or Westminster offices.  

Counter Terrorism Bill today in House of Commons - see the attached for an explanation of what we are trying to do

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/counter-terrorism-and-security-bill-factsheets

Westminster this week - Women2Win, Infrastructure Bill and Treasury Questions

Working on the Counter Terrorism Bill a lot this week and Home office business features a lot. Monday we are debating the Infrastructure Bill until ten, although I am not going to be in the debate in the evening as I am helping to host a Women2Win session with many of our female candidates for the 2015 election, along with Sarah Newton MP, Charlotte Leslie MP, Anne Jenkin and others.

Treasury Questions starts the day on Tuesday. It will be an interesting morning. CT Bill will follow in Committee on the floor of the House of Commons all day Tuesday. Finally I am trying to go to the Centre for Social Justice event on drugs, addiction and prisons early on Tuesday morning.

BBC is not biased, but it's not always right either

Lots of press this last weekend about BBC bias. I don't really buy that. I have been interviewed repeatedly by BBC journalists on radio (at 6.50am last week, in the pitch dark outside Westminster) and on TV last week, from Look North, and the Sunday Politics, to Newsnight last week.

Journalists are human beings and the BBC is in a ratings war with commercial papers, radio and TV. Sometimes they overstate the case. So it was last week. The fight with journalist Norman Smith over his use of the "Road to Wigan Pier" comparison with future governments reductions in public sector is a storm in a teacup. We all know that living within our means is not bad, indeed that is the only way we can protect our vital public services in the long term. Living on borrowed money and paying millions in interest payments is not a sustainable future.

I also believe the BBC goes to great lengths to get balance in reporting. Occasionally reporters search for a hook, angle or key line to grab the public's interest; that is what happened here.

The BBC is not a private sector business, and sometimes that is indeed evidenced in its outlook and attitude, but all the same we are very lucky to have it.

Air ambulances, including GNAA, benefit with VAT changes in Autumn Statement

 

All our Air Ambulances benefited from the Chancellor George Osborne Autumn Statement - as he announced that charities who work as part of the Emergency Response Services would receive VAT relief.

At the same time he also announced there would be a further £7.5 million pot of money in support of Air Ambulance charities across the UK.

I am chair of the All Party Support Group for Air Ambulances in the Houses of Parliament and I know that this will really make a difference to all Air Ambulance charities in the UK. It will mean that every penny donated by supporters will go that bit further which is a win win for all concerned.

Our work with the Association of Air Ambulances and cross party members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Air Ambulances we have been lobbying hard to bring in VAT reductions for charity funded Air Ambulances.

The first success was securing VAT back on fuel used by our services.

This is a second success for the Air Ambulances as a whole.

George Osborne also announced a further allocation of £7.5 million extra support for air ambulance charities across the UK, using LIBOR fines.

Stamp Duty savings will mean locals in Northumberland save several thousand pounds, and the rich pay more tax

If you’re buying a house, or thinking about it, there’s only one fact you need to know about the Autumn Statement: stamp duty is changing. Gone is the old system of thresholds, and instead it will be a percentage chunk of the value. 

So no tax will be paid on the first £125,000 of a property. Then it’s a lesser portion of tax up to £937,500 before increases in tax compared to the old system. The new regime is above. And you’ll note that this is also George Osborne’s answer to mansion tax – he’ll tax the purchase of multi-million pound properties a lot more.
And the distortion created by the old regime is shown in the graph below.

My thanks  to the Spectator for the graphs.

Supporting Small Businesses in the Autumn Statement

The doubling of Small Business Rate Relief is very welcome.
As is the continuing the cap on the inflation-linked increase in business rates at 2%.
The £1,000 discount for shops and cafes on the high street will increase to £1,500
And there will be a full review of the structure of business rates to report before Budget 2016.

We will strengthen Entrepreneurs’ Relief by aligning it with Enterprise Investment Schemes

Increase in the R+ D tax credit for SME firms to 230%,
and extend the Funding for Lending scheme by another year – focusing it entirely on small businesses. 

 

72,000 properties in the North East will benefit from these business rates measures.

2,000 properties will benefit from the cap on business rates, with savings worth £4m.

28,000 small businesses will benefit from the extension to Small Business Rate Relief, with savings worth £19m. 21,000 of these businesses will pay no business rates at all.

10,000 properties will benefit from the £1,500 discount for retail properties.

Bully Banks debate and FCA Redress scheme under fire - full transcript

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm141204/debtext/141204-0002.htm#14120439000001
I will be taking forward the few remaining cases we have not been able to solve and sort, including, in particular, one local B and B; but I would make the point that if anyone still has any problems with Interest rate swap agreements or the FCA redress scheme then please get in touch by email or phone. This is a very sorry legacy of the past and we are trying everything possible to resolve the problems that are ongoing.

At The Races "King for a Day" - my Interview with ATR on how to make horse racing better

http://www.todayshorseracingresults.com/en/at-the-races-king-for-a-day-guy-opperman/
Have to add that I am delighted for my good friend, and old trainer, Oliver Sherwood for his Hennessy success last Saturday. Nice guys who work hard can still compete!

Haltwhistle Football - an update

The long drawn out process to provide, improve and safeguard football pitches for the children and adults in Haltwhistle is something that Councillor Ian Hutchinson and I have been attempting to get a resolution upon for some considerable time. I have responded to locals concerns on the Haltwhistle Matters Facebook site but thought it would be right to set out what we have been doing about this issue on the blog, as that has a wider readership.

1. The Northumberland County Council own the Tyne River land next to the A69, and this land is earmarked for future business development. I and my team have met on several occasions with the organisers of the Junior teams who play there, and we have done everything possible to enhance and improve the number of pitches available. I have met many of the coaches, players and parents who give up their time and went to the 2013 awards ceremony: http://guyopperman.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/haltwhistle-united-football-club-awards.html
However, given that the land is owned by NCC, and earmarked for future business development / jobs it is not a long term site, whereby stands and facilities can be added, unless and until NCC changes its views.

2. Most of our present efforts are devoted to the School pitch and its improvement and usage for the wider public, young and old.

In June, my office contacted the youth team organisers to see where I could help. We arranged a
meeting between my office, Councillor Hutchinson, the relevant senior officer at the County Council, the head teacher of Haltwhistle Campus and two reps from the youth football teams. This meeting went ahead at the school on 24th June.

It was agreed that the school and the County Council would speak with a representative of the football team (who were unfortunately unable to attend the meeting due to unforeseen personal reasons) so that they could come to an agreement whereby the school would let the teams play on their pitches and use their changing facilities. A formal agreement would need to be signed by all parties, and this would be sought at the earliest opportunity. This would then be approved by the school Governors. Once this agreement was signed, the County Council and the school could then look at what would need to be done to the pitches to make them playable/improve them.

The next contact I received about this issue was from the school in July, who stated that they were going ahead and discussing an agreement. I agreed that this was a good idea and offered my support.
I requested and received an update from a senior manager at the Council in August which confirmed that talks were proceeding.

The next communication my office received was in September, to confirm that the school’s facilities manager and the football pitch would be meeting up to discuss further. I agreed that this should happen and again offered my support if there was anything further I could do. I have received no communication from any person involved in the discussions since, and so have no reason to believe that things are not progressing as out been outlined in our previous discussions. I have always said to everyone involved in these discussions, both publicly and privately, that my door is open if they need to me to help, and that remains my position. I, and the caseworker who has helped with the day to day negotiations, can be contacted on 01434 601 420.

3. I am not going to go over the disputes concerning the village green status of the pitch north of the town, as that is a whole different story for now, but more details can be found here: http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/haltwhistle-conservatives-manager-embarrassed-clubs-7230856

If constituents have any specific concerns, or are aware of any problems in the process, then please feel free to contact me. I am acutely conscious of the desire of many to get better football facilities in Halty. There are genuine reasons why this has not been simple or speedy; however, I do believe we are beginning to see real progress.

International Aid makes a difference and I support it

In January of this year I travelled to the Nizip 2 Camp on the River Euphrates, on the Syrian Turkish border; it should be a place of peace, calm and holiness. Instead, at the Nizip Syrian Refugee Camp, which lies on its banks, the consequences of the Syrian civil war are all around. On a visit there I saw thousands of men, women, and particularly children, existing in giant compounds, waiting for the conflict to end so that they could go home.

The refugees in the Nizip camps, helped as they are by the UK government, multiple charities and a supportive host country, are lucky compared to the problems of those caught up in the conflict within Syria – literally caught in a crossfire – and with the UN virtually unable to provide them with aid outside of the Damascus area. The refugees I met in Nizip all want to go home eventually. They do not want to leave their homeland. Our job is to make the camps habitable, whilst doing everything possible to end the conflict.

While there I made sure I met representatives of Unicef, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Syrian opposition leaders and military commanders, as well as dozens of refugees who are being helped with winter clothing and a social action project. I also wanted to be sure that our taxpayers money - over £600m is properly spent and allocated. This is the UK’s largest ever response to any humanitarian crisis, and we are making a difference. I have also been briefed on the efforts of the UK by way of international aid to end the Ebola crisis. We continue to take several thousand Syrians by way of  Syrian asylum seekers and refugees and this process continues.

So this Friday I will be able to stay in London for the debate on the International Aid Bill which I support wholeheartedly. There is no guarantee it will pass, as Fridays Private Members Bill days are very tricky from a parliamentary and procedural point of view. but I will be there.

More details on my trip and my views here: http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/hexham-mp-guy-opperman-calls-6521153

A69 Good News - Chancellor backs feasibility study into dualling A69

http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/chancellor-back-feasibility-study-into-a69-upgrade-1.1178246

Chrismas Market in Hexham December 12-13 - put it in your diary

Friday December 12 - 2-8pm: 85 festive stalls, roller rink, pony rides, punch and judy, charity stalls, carols and so much more
Saturday December 13: 9-3pm sees Hexham Farmers Market, around 100 stalls, reindeer, music and fun for all the family
Sunday December 14: 5pm Carols in the Park
Really looking forward to it. I shall be doing my Christmas shopping in Hexham on Saturday afternoon for sure in between surgeries and events.

RIP Phillip Hughes

Great bat. Clearly a top bloke. A life very cruelly cut short. Great tribute by Allendale CC. Good send off by the Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/dec/02/the-joy-of-six-phillip-hughes

Dementia Funding announcement is very good news

My campaigning has been going for some time - and we are particularly active in helping the Dementia Friends campaign in Corbridge
http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/mp-joins-assisted-walk-corbridge-7621737

 

Today the Prime Minister is announcing a multi-million pound fund to tackle dementia – money we can only afford to spend because of careful management of the nation’s finances. Britain has led the global battle against dementia – a disease that steals lives and tears at the heart of families. 

This week sees the next stage of that battle as today we announce new funding to help drive forward the search for drugs to beat dementia. The government will commit £15 million to help kick-start a fund and attract the private sector investment needed for this crucial work. You can only fund something as important as healthcare if you have a strong economy to underpin it.  

Breakfast with BBC Radio Newcastle live in Westminster

Got up at 6 to cycle in to be interviewed by Charlie Charlton this morning as dawn came up over the House of Commons. The eagle eyed will spot Big Ben in the background, and that Charlie is wearing her Children in Need blue coat, that was saved from a gunging in Hexham last year. I am in my cycling gear obviously! We discussed help for businesses, child care and the aspirations for the North East.
On child care the entitlement to free childcare for three and four year olds has increased to 15 hours a week. This equates to a saving of £2,200 per year.  For the first time, two year olds also get 15 hours of free childcare. Parents on tax credits can also claim back against additional childcare hours, saving them almost £6,370 per year. It is really popular locally in Northumberland. Now back in the Commons and will be helping guide the Counter Terrorism Bill through the Commons today.

Would Ukip send Paddington Bear back to Peru? Great article by Iain Martin

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11264930/Would-Ukip-send-Paddington-Bear-back-to-Darkest-Peru.html

Coalition government action on fuel, help for businesses and childcare

Radio this morning at 7.05 is live, and I am not aware of what I am going to be asked, but I know there is a pre recorded clip of locals in the North East asking about 3 issues - SME growth, fuel and childcare: these are my quick thoughts before the interview in 45 minutes.

SME and Business growth:

We in the North East are the region with the:
I) most tech start-ups outside London,

II) the fastest rate of growth in private sector businesses over the last quarter,

III) and the highest rise in the value of exports

 

Fuel Costs: throughout the parliament we have frozen fuel duty, and the oil price is coming down as well [Labour wanted to put the fuel duty up]. We continue to make the case to the Chancellor on this issue - a car is a necessity not a luxury in Northumberland. 

 

Child care costs: I am a big fan of the free childcare up to 15 hours paid for the by the government to parents of a 2 year old - this is really popular with parents I spoke to recently in Prudhoe.

Up v early tomorrow for Live BBC Radio Newcastle Interview tomorrow at 7.05am

Radio star Charlie Charlton, of BBC Radio Newcastle, and I, will be broadcasting from College Green in Westminster just in front of the Houses of Parliament, very early tomorrow morning.  
Thank God it is radio as the House of Commons sits until 11pm tonight and I will have a "bad face for radio", given the late night and early start. I shall be answering Charlie and viewers questions on the Autumn Statement and more. May cycle in or run in to try and wake up enough for a 7am interview!

PM in Northumberland today announcing dualling plans for A1 with Anne Marie Trevelyan

Really pleased that Anne Marie's dual the A1 campaign has born fruit. A lot of work and lobbying made this happen. Credit to the NECC for getting behind the plan.

Westminster this Week

The Counter Terrorism Bill dominates this week, with briefings today and the second reading debate tomorrow. I will then be in committee on the bill a lot of over the next two weeks.
Education questions opens the business today and we then consider for a final time the criminal justice and courts bill till 10pm tonight.
Wednesday is the autumn statement, whilst Thursday sees the backbench business debate on interest rate swap mis selling. Friday sees the last stages of the 0.7% International aid bill, starting at 9.30. I support the bill, and am trying to juggle my diary to be there. This weekend I am also doing an audit of all emails and correspondence over the last few months so if you feel you have not had a reply now is a good time to get in contact. The process takes half a day but is required because we get over 100 emails or letters a day and inevitably some get missed once in a while, despite the best efforts of the casework team.

It's Winston Churchill's birthday - a good time to remember the great man

Born in 1874, on the 30 November, Churchill had a parliamentary career spanning sixty-four years. He was a soldier, writer and countryman who excelled at so much. In a political career of highs and massive lows he represented several constituencies and served under thirteen Prime Ministers, including himself. 
Churchill represented Oldham in 1900-06, briefly in Manchester, and then was MP for Dundee for over fourteen years, before losing both his seat, and his appendix, in the bitter fought election of 1922. He was out of the House of Commons and written off but returned in 1924; he was adopted as the "Independent Constitutionalist anti-Socialist" candidate for Epping, which effectively remained his constituency for the rest of his political career.
The wartime quotes are well known but I prefer some of the wiser assessments of life and the difficulties he overcome.

"All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope."
And this on business: "Some people regard private enterprise as a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look on it as a cow they can milk. Not enough people see it as a healthy horse, pulling a sturdy wagon."
A biography of Churchill is a great Christmas present. Make sure you buy it at an independent bookshop, not on Amazon!
Fuller details here: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill

The Weekend Read: Hexham Hospital Car Parking -good news as the NHS Trust change their policy and halve the cost

Parking charges will be reduced by half at Hexham General Hospital from next week. This is extremely welcome news that we have been able to find this compromise with the NHS Trust.

I have long campaigned for a reduction in car parking charges and Hexham being the pilot for the halving of the daily parking rate is a fantastic step in the right direction. Over many years we have campaigned for reduction in parking charges in Hexham and when the town went free I then called on the Trust to reduce their parking charges; and I am pleased they have listened.

Visiting friends and family in hospital can be a deeply worrying time. The last thing people need at such times is to worry about parking. Northumbria NHS Trust is an outstanding Trust with exemplary staff and quality service, and this change in parking policy is one I very much welcome. I hope they also consider their approach to parking charges to their staff as part of this review.

The details of the change are that:

- The new pilot scheme will see the maximum daily charge for parking reduce from £4 to £2. In addition, patients and visitors paying to park for an hour (£1.20) or a day (£2) will receive a free regular hot drink available at either the hospital’s café or restaurant.

- For patients and visitors to claim this, the trust is introducing a split ticket – where one part is left in the vehicle and the other part detached to present in the café/restaurant.
- The daily charge will apply for 24 hours from the time of payment so someone visiting in the evening will also be covered should they need to return the next day. 
- Patients and visitors who only need to stay for short periods can still make use of the free 20-minute period in place to assist pick-ups and drop-offs.
- Payment machines and signage are to be changed for the new system, which comes into effect on Monday 1 December.

Off to Kent today to support Conservative candidate Craig Mackinlay who will beat Nigel Farage by 5% according to yesterdays poll

 

Craig is an active local candidate who is going to win in South Thanet. His website is here: http://www.craigmackinlay.com/

I am campaigning with Craig this afternoon in Ramsgate and then speaking at a Dinner for him in North Foreland tonight. I am much looking forward to it. I do around 40 speaking engagements a year, mostly in Northumberland but as far afield as Aberdeen to Argyll, London this week, before Kent today and Newcastle in 2 weeks.

It is Not a good time for South Thanet Ukippers at the moment:
1. A poll in the last 24 hours of South Thanet show Farage losing the general election: he is 5% points behind Craig our Conservative candidate: "Ukip are five points behind the Tories in Thanet South (34-29), where Farage is standing, with Labour just three behind." More details here:
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/11/farage-struggling-and-clegg-danger-losing-seat-ashcroft-poll-shows

2. Yesterday the South Thanet Ukippy team wrongly identified Westminster Catholic Cathedral as a Mosque, allowing the BBC and the nation to point out the error of their ways: the story is genuinely worth a read: everyone makes mistakes but the timing is bad.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11257761/Ukip-mercilessly-mocked-over-Westminster-Cathedral-mosque-Twitter-gaffe.html

Craig is the real deal: have a read here and you will see why:
http://www.souththanetconservatives.org.uk/craig-mackinlay-prospective-parliamentary-candidate-ppc

Christmas Markets galore over the next couple of weeks in Hexham - come along and shop local!

- The Christmas Fair is at Hexham this weekend in the Wentworth Saturday and Sunday 10-4
- Corbridge Middle School has a Christmas Fair 1-3 this Saturday
- Henshaw School have a Christmas fair between 11-4 Sunday 30th in the Village Hall
- Kielder Castle has a Christmas Fair on Sunday December 6th between 11-4
I will blog more on the Hexham Christmas Market on December 12th / 13th, which is the biggest of them all, and which takes place both in the town and around the Abbey, next week.

Dual the A69 Campaign goes from strength to strength

http://www.thejournal.co.uk/north-east-analysis/analysis-news/mp-calls-funding-dual-a69-8171644

What does a White Van & England Flag mean to you? Stirring stuff from my friend Nadhim Zahawi - 19 minutes 30 seconds into PMQs yesterday

http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2014/november/prime-ministers-questions-26-november-2014/

Raising rural broadband / mobile coverage in Northumberland in parliament tomorrow at 9.30

I have Question 6 at 9.30 in the House of Commons on what more we can do to speed up broadband and mobile phone coverage to rural and other parts of Northumberland. I will be pressing the Broadband Minister, and the phone / broadband providers, and NCC to improve the service. I am acutely conscious that there are still several Not Spots and Go Slow areas.  

Theresa May outlines new Counter Terrorism measures today

My boss, the Home Secretary, has set out proposed new legislation to be assessed by parliament over the winter. It is sadly clear that we are facing serious and significant threats to national security, and that existing laws struggle to provide us with the tools to keep us safe. The new legislation includes:

• Counter-radicalisation measures - requirements that schools, colleges and probation providers help prevent people being radicalised
• Changes to TPIMs - Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures - to allow the authorities to force suspects to move to another part of the country
• Raising the burden of proof for imposing TPIMs from "reasonable belief" to "balance of probabilities"
• Greater powers to disrupt people heading abroad to fight - including cancelling passports at the border for up to 30 days
• Statutory temporary exclusion orders to control return to the UK of British citizens suspected of terrorist activity
• Tighter aviation security - requiring airlines to provide passenger data more quickly and effectively
• Banning insurance companies from covering ransoms
• Forcing firms to hand details to police identifying who was using a computer or mobile phone at a given time.

Fuller details here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30173238

I am Question 1 at Scottish Questions today at 11.30 in the Commons

If the Secretary of State will give guidance to the Smith Commission on ensuring that its proposals do not hamper cross border trade with the North of England.

Putin and the Ukraine - sanctions are beginning to work

Huge diplomatic efforts and punitive worldwide sanctions on Russia are being taken by the PM and other foreign leaders to get Putin to exit the Ukraine and return the Black Sea region to a greater sense of peace. There is targeting of banks, individuals, and organisations: this is clearly impacting on Russia. My hope is that Putin will change course and return to peaceful coexistence rather than continue to create division and divide locally on Russia's doorstep - effectively partitioning Ukraine in an illegal act of invasion. No one wants to return to the Cold War but Russia cannot act in this way. Good to see the World leaders acting as one - the G20 was particularly impressive on the Ukraine Problem. Those who want to read and know more the BBC has done a detailed appraisal:
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28400218

More details on the PMs approach found here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/vladimir-putin/11232832/David-Cameron-Putin-is-not-a-man-of-his-word.html

Haltwhistle Late Night Christmas Shopping this Friday 4-8: shop local!

This is a really great event, with outdoor stalls, carols and a host of participating local shops and charities, and a huge boost to the towns traders so go along if you can.

Pleased that Universal Credit is being extended and that a slow and steady roll out is taking place

Universal Credit is being extended – starting to take claims from families from this week, and making sure work always pays more than benefits.

The Coalition inherited system of welfare that disincentivised work and trapped people in poverty. The public, and more importantly the people on welfare, lost trust in the system because it did not reward work. There were often few incentives to escape a benefit trap.  

That’s why reforming the welfare system is a key part of our long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain. Universal Credit is restoring fairness to the system by making sure work always pays more than benefits. By spring next year, it will be in a third of job centres. Universal Credit claimants are now moving into work faster and staying in work longer, and the system is being road tested so that we are now bringing families on-board with extra childcare support and flexibility for employers.  

Universal Credit is already changing lives: we are seeing claimants spending more time looking for jobs and moving smoothly into employment safe in the knowledge that it will always pay more to be in work. This gives people security and hope for the future. People have criticised the Coalition for doing Universal Credit changes slowly. I disagree; I want this ground breaking and highly complex reform to be road tested before each new quantum leap.

Westminster this week

Busy week in Westminster with the Defence, Health, Scottish and Prime Minister questions the first 3 days this week. We are debating the remaining stages of the Recall Bill, and I am trying to attend the British Racing Parliamentary reception on Tuesday. I have multiple meetings his week on everything from Forestry and Housing in the North, plus discussion of the National Park consultation, where I shall be discussing affordable housing targets, and also the AGM on the All Party Group for Arch Cru victims, where we are getting an update on asset recovery for the victims.  

Battlesteads Hotel in Wark to be included in Great British Cookbook

Popped in for lunch to Wark's great hotel and restaurant last week and talked to Eddie the star chef over lunch. Delighted to see that the hotel is getting further recognition - this time in the Great British Cookbook: the book takes readers on a culinary journey around 10 regions, featuring recipes from some of the UK’s finest chefs en route - Rick Stein and Nigella Lawson among them - and 200 top pubs, guest houses, hotels, Michelin Star and AA Rosette restaurants.
Battlesteads, a stone-build former farmhouse in Wark on Tyne, near Hexham, has been signalled out for one of its signature dishes, braised beef cheeks, which has been included amongst the recipes.
http://www.thejournal.co.uk/north-east-analysis/analysis-news/hexhams-battlesteads-hotel-wins-place-8117061

Part of the Pension Bill Committee this week - scrutiny of the new flexibility to access pension savings at 55

The changes to the pension tax rules announced at Budget 2014 will give individuals greater flexibility to access their pension savings. They will not have to purchase an annuity. 
The Government announced in the Budget 2014 proposals to allow people aged 55 and above, from April 2015, to access to their money purchase pension savings as they wish during retirement. The Bill I am involved in will help effect this change.
The Committee has done line by line scrutiny last week, this Tuesday and today between 9.25-4.30 in Committee Room 12 of the House of Commons.
Full description of the Bill is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-legislation-the-taxation-of-pensions-bill
As one Ponteland pensioner put it to me - "it is my money that I have saved. I think I should decide how best to invest it."