DRY JANUARY almost over! 6 Nations tomorrow: Allendale beer to help watching of defeat of the French

Feeling much better for the alcohol break. Lost around 10 pounds. Plenty of gym visits. Would do it again. But first the rugby tomorrow at 5, and a few beers in the evening... 

Immigration Bill Today

I shall be in the Commons all day helping to guide the Immigration Bill through the Commons: this Bill will deal with health tourism, stop the abuse of public services by illegal immigrants, make landlords check their tenants status, reduces the number of possible appeals from over a dozen down to 4, addresses Article 8 and the extent of a right to family life, and reduces pressure on our public services.
We are starting, as I understand it at around 11.00 with changes to the law to stop Sham Marriages, and illegal immigration by the fake marriage route [up to 10,000 bogus applications are made to stay here on the basis of sham marriages], followed by consideration of fees and visa changes, that gives the system greater flexibility, speeds it up, and ensures we attract the brightest and best speedily and easily. The rest of the Bill is in consideration throughout the day

Scottish Referendum campaign is not in the bag, but the economic argument is won

Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England, spelt out some truths yesterday on his visit to Scotland. If Scotland wants to become independent then bizarrely it will need to come cap in hand to the rest of the UK on so many things:
- will the rest of the UK continue to act as a bank of last resort?
- will the rest of the UK continue to subsidise Scotland?
And so on...
- The SNP need to recognise that you cannot spend 30 years saying England and the rest of the UK are terrible, parsimonious and do not let Scotland have its own way... and then want the rest of the UK to bail them out after they have won independence.
The economic argument against independence is won. That may well not be enough to win the Referendum, but Salmond and his crew are devoid of the economic facts of life. For more details of Carney's visit and speech see here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25930075
and Robert Peston here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25945688

Dry January - 3 nights to go....Saturday will definitely be a "pint of bitter day!"

I confess this has been a lot easier than I thought ...and I feel a lot better for it.

Foreign Investment in France falls by 77% - compare French socialism with Germany, UK, Spain or even Ireland?

The economic numbers coming out of France are horrific. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that new investments by foreign businesses in France fell sharply in 2013 by 77%. A collapse of international confidence in France.
By contrast, foreign investment in Angela Merkel’s Germany almost quadrupled, and even in Spain, Italy and Ireland foreign investment rose. The explanation is that France has a left-wing socialist government. Hollande’s great admirer Ed Miliband is likewise promising to bring back socialism to Britain:
As Ed recently said:
“What President Hollande is seeking to do in France and what he is seeking to do in leading the debate in Europe is find that different way forward. We are in agreement in seeking that new way that needs to be found and I think can be found.”

Growth, cutting taxes for the low paid, and a great deal for small businesses

What is the Coalition's offer? On the back of great growth figures in the last quarter of 2013 it is fair to set out what the government is doing:
- cutting taxes for the low paid
- reducing small companies’ tax level,
- freezing fuel duty,
- taking the smallest firms out of business rates,
- introducing an employment allowance of £2,000,
- abolishing National Insurance for half a million small employers,
- removing NI for employees under 21
- increasing minimum wage
- doubling apprenticeships
- help to buy for first time buyers
As growth and jobs continue to improve


More details of the future cuts in tax for the low paid here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/10602842/George-Osborne-Low-paid-first-in-line-for-tax-cuts.html

What happened to One Nation Labour? That's gone now has it?

Dan Hodges quietly explains where Labour are going: as he puts it very eloquently
"At the moment Ed and Labour are coming over as the party of social vengeance. Does Ed Miliband want to move Britain beyond the financial crisis of 2008, or does he want retribution for it? Is it about moving the country forward, or seeking payback?

If it’s the latter, it will rebound on him."

Also we should remember Andrew Neil's dicing and slicing of the Labour tax proposals. Clearly we all want more tax revenue for the country, and the jobs the big, and small, businesses create:
These stats are unarguable:

HMRC Revenues from Top Taxpayers:
2011/12: £41.3 Billion [50% rate]
2012/13: £41.6 Billion [50% rate]
2013/14: 49.36 Billion [45% rate]
The truth is that high taxes destroy jobs and the economy. Just ask the French
Full story here:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100256801/labour-have-dropped-one-nation-and-gone-for-bitterness-and-spite/

With the Everest Excelsior pupils for fundraising and a Question Time event

I  donated £80 for hats for these plucky adventurers when I met them last Thursday. Then on Friday, myself, North East Conservative MEP Martin Callanan and North West Tory MEP Sajjad Karim fielded questions from the pupils and fellow students from Newcastle College at an event in Newcastle’s Beacon Centre.

Among the issues debated were racial discrimination, religious intolerance, youth unemployment, the Scottish independence vote, an EU referendum, dyslexia in education, affordable housing and car insurance for young drivers.
We encouraged all those there to use their vote at elections, whoever it was to be for, to make a difference to their lives.
It was great to meet the eight Excelsior students bound for Mount Everest base camp in October - their enthusiasm was genuinely wonderful to see. It will clearly change their lives

Westminster this Week

Monday is packed: I have meetings with the HS2 Team, Home Office Questions at 2.30, a Rural Fair Share campaign meeting and a discussion with the Green Advisory Group. It is also Holocaust Memorial Day. Having been to Yad Vashem, during a very moving trip to Israel in 2012, that experience will stay with me forever. Monday is a late night finish in the House at 10.
Tuesday we have Tresury Questions and yet more evidence that Ed Balls is unfit to run our economy.
Despite many opportunities he still refuses to say Sorry or explain why he wrecked our economy. I have the Consumer Rights Bill in the House of Commons. The diary for the rest of the week is up in the air at the moment but I have several Home Office matters.

The Weekend Read: Community banks

I had a meeting on Thursday with the Northumberland Credit Union where I talked to them about my hopes for local banking and the transformation of savings and lending in Tynedale. Last week I gave a speech in the House on Local banking:
Guy Opperman (Hexham, Conservative)

"Greater competition, the desire for local banks and the Labour policy to close regional branches are the issues of this debate. I have held two local banking conferences over the past six months—one in Gateshead on 6 June and the other in London in December—and they were attended by in excess of 350 people from various organisations, banks, accountancy firms and start-ups. It was very striking that, contrary to what Mr Meacher has recounted, there was a tremendous desire for a large number of new banks, and that is in fact the reality.

I have met the likes of Metro, Aldermore, Handelsbanken, obviously Virgin, Cambridge and Counties—it was set up out of a local authority pension fund—and the Hampshire bank. A fantastic bank has been put forward by the Unite union, on behalf of Labour, in Salford, and it is doing wonderful work. I have met Alex, who is the linchpin of that. He is a fantastic lad, who is doing great stuff to try to transform how that local community bank provides services to the local community of Salford.

I therefore disagree with the doom and gloom approach about there being no competition or new entrants. Certainly, when I meet those from the Financial Services Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, including Sam Woods and all the individuals involved with the regulators, they tell me that they have had in excess of 25 separate pre-applications that they are now considering.

On 23 April 2012, when we debated local banks and the need for greater competition—this is my seventh speech on local banking in the House in the past three and a half years—the Labour party chose to vote to delete clause 5 of the Financial Services Bill, which was designed to create greater ease for new entrants to enter the market and related to how far competition can encourage innovation. I welcome the fact that the Opposition seem to have changed their policy and would now like more competition, but the proof of the pudding is always in the eating, is it not?

An announcement has been briefed to Nick Robinson of the BBC that the Labour party, if it gets into government, will ultimately close regional and local branches. As my hon. Friend Steve Brine made clear when he questioned the shadow chief Secretary, Chris Leslie, that would have a massive impact on our local communities.

I am certainly trying to have more bank branches opened in my area. I am negotiating with my credit union to see how far it can do that. Similarly, I am trying to create new banks in the north-east. As my hon. Friend Ian Swales has made clear, there is great scope for new entrants to do so. The very fact that the big five are so complacent and have had so many problems, gives new entrants an opportunity, which is certainly being exploited by all those we have spoken about today.

In that context, I want briefly to touch on two matters—credit unions and the Church, neither of which have been discussed. It would be a failure of this debate if it did not deal with both of them. All of us should support our credit unions. I am certainly wholeheartedly behind the Northumberland credit union. We must acknowledge that even though this Government have done more to give credit unions greater clout, power and ability to lend, credit unions are still incapable of filling the banking void and overcoming the current difficulties.

The only way forward is the creation of local community banks built on a credit union. I can give the House at least three examples. I have already mentioned the bank in Salford, which is the former Salford credit union. The Glasgow credit union is probably the biggest and most successful in the country: it is effectively a bank in all but name. Finally, I have the Prince Bishops community bank in Durham, which is the former Stanley credit union. All are very successful and have great potential. We need to follow such examples.

To touch briefly on the Church, I welcome the fact that Justin Welby is the new Archbishop of Canterbury. It is savage irony that 500 years have had to pass for us to have the new type of God’s banker, who is encouraging the Church to become involved in banking. It can only be good if the clergy move from being reactive to poverty and social deprivation—to their great credit, they are amazingly good at reacting in that way—to being proactive.

I suggest that the Church has a role, acting with their credit unions and local community banks, effectively to become the offshoots and outlets of those community banks. After all, all the vicars that we, as constituency MPs, know and deal with know which people are in great social deprivation, going to the food bank or having problems with high-cost credit and need debt advice. There is massive scope for the Church to take a greater role by dovetailing churches with credit unions and community banks. I welcome the fact that the Church has chosen to buy branches of Williams and Glyn’s bank, and is setting something up so that we can go forward. If we can do that and become more proactive in our local communities, a huge amount can be done.
In seven days’ time, I will meet my Northumberland credit union in Hexham to discuss how we can promote the idea of taking the credit union, building it up and creating a larger bank to make the situation so much better. If we do that, we will have in our regions and communities a bank that we can trust, with a proper brand name and identity, and one that is part of the community, rather than something based in London or Frankfurt and completely divorced from that community. That is the problem that we all face and have identified and, to their great credit, that is the problem that the Government have made great efforts to address.
In the interests of brevity, I will draw to a close, but I very much urge all parties to make sure that they get behind local community banks. We have not always done so, but we should do so in the future."

Excelsior Academy, Mount Everest and the Asian Business Connection

Excelsior Academy is an outstanding school; it is proof that education can transform lives. On Thursday I was asked to attend the presentation on behalf of the 8 students chosen to go to Nepal for a Mount Everest trip this autumn. In addition, there were awards in favour of young and not so young entrepreneurs, who have been encouraged and supported in their efforts to start or grow businesses or local community projects. It was an inspiring evening. The event was sponsored and supported by the Asian Business Connection [ABC]. This is a group who do so much for their local community. There was also food afterwards in the form of a delicious Curry Night. You will not eat better food in restaurants.

I have paid £80 to buy each of the 8 kids a special woolly hat to combat the cold. They are going to need it. I was really impressed by the school - this was my second visit. There is no doubt that Academy Schools with everything that they do, the freedoms they have, and the educational transformation, are transforming lives. It was a wonderful evening.    

Hexham Market is on today - make sure you buy local and support your local producers

Day 24 in dry January - even turned down a drink offered by the Deputy Chief Whip!

Weight loss: 9 pounds
Gym visits: 12
Days until pint of bitter: 7

Events in Tynedale this weekend

The Sill has a public drop in day from 11-6 at the Once Brewed YHA and tomorrow there is the first in the new series of the Hexham Debates at 11am in St Mary's Centre in Hexham.
If you are at a loose end on Saturday you could
- take in the Book Fair at Wylam's St Oswins Church Hall from 10-noon.
- Churches Together in Stocksfield have a bring and buy sale on behalf of the Philippines Disaster Appeal from 10-noon, at the community centre.
- Greenhead Tea Room reopens today - it is a warm welcome back to the team, who provide great teas and support to many of our hikers and tourists.

Nuisance calls very late at night - we are trying to change the rules in parliament

I debated this matter in the House of Commons on Thursday; some constituents have been receiving many unwanted phone calls a day, often in the very early hours of the morning - this is even happening at "1, 2, or 3 o’clock in the morning”. I urged the Government and regulators to take action. You can read the full debate here:http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2014-01-16a.1057.0&s=speaker%3A24962#g1058.0
- but amongst the points I made was that:

"The Government need to do more to give the regulator and others teeth, so that we can stop them”.

My particular concern is phone calls during the middle of the night: “calls between 9 o’clock at night and 6 o’clock in the morning are happening, and it isn’t even very economical for the companies making the calls, as everyone gives them short shrift. However, the last thing a mother or father wants to hear at 1 in the morning is the phone going; too often fear that such a call is bad news about their children or families; this persistent calling is also very upsetting, and makes people reluctant to answer the phones at night. As a result, I think the least the Government could do is stop these night-time calls, and I made this very point to the Minister this week. In addition I would recommend the choose to refuse service that is available with all phone companies:
“Choose to Refuse lets you put a stop to nuisance or unwanted calls by stopping them from getting through to you. You can block up to ten numbers. To do this, customers dial 14258**, and the number is added to a database."
Speaking in the debate, the Government Minister Ed Vaizey MP said that he will bring forward legislation later in the year to deal with the issue; speaking for myself I am delighted that the Government will be taking action against this practice, and I hope that we can change things for the better. In the meantime, I urge any constituents receiving these phone calls to contact the regulator OFCOM, or contact my office, and together we will deter these companies.

Tynedale diary and plans this weekend

Today I am visiting the Ponteland Medical Group, followed by meetings at the Hexham Fire Station, both to meet the local fire fighters and to discuss the possible move of the Fire Station to the Hospital with Alex Bennett, the Chief Fire Officer. I then have a meeting with Northumberland Credit Union, followed by a working dinner at the Excelsior Academy in Newcastle, in aid of Everest Expedition the school are coordinating.

Friday I am visiting the Tynedale Business Network to discuss the March Budget and what Local Businesses want the chancellor to do more to help us continue to grown  the Northumberland economy.
Then I have meetings with the Asian Business Connections and the MEP Martin Callanan, followed by lunch at the Beacon with Excelsior, Newcastle College and Newcastle University Students. In the Evening I have a meeting with the CCF locally in Stocksfield.

Saturday I am in Prudhoe for several meetings, and then will be knocking on doors, before further surgeries and meetings later in the afternoon.

Job numbers improve again: great news for the British economy

Even with a growing economy, these figures from the labour market exceeded all expectations. A fall of 167,000 in the unemployment level over three months hasn't been seen in 17 years. An unemployment rate of 7.1% has not been registered since early 2009. It is clear that the British economy is creating jobs at a much faster rate than most analysts had predicted.

The Bank of England is among those who are junking their earlier forecasts. Last August the Bank expected the jobless rate to stay above 7% till at least 2016. But now five months later it has already fallen to within a whisker of that 7% benchmark, set by the Bank as the time when they would start considering interest rate rises.
In the North East there are now 22,000 more people in work that there were 3 months ago.
In Hexham on either level - namely the number of people in work or the number of people seeking work the figures have improved significantly - for example compared to this time last year there is a 24% decrease in unemployment.

Nissan Qashqai starts production today in Sunderland

The Qashqai is the Nissan flagship model in Europe, sustaining the jobs of thousands of people in design, engineering, manufacturing and sales in the UK.

UN ‘Geneva II’ Syria peace summit opens today - what will it achieve?

Any chance to get the many sides talkking is a good thing. From my recent trip to the Turkish / Syria border I am strongly of the view that we must have a transitional government that accomodates all sides. This will probably require UN monitoring as until the UN agrees to enforce a peace there will be no peace with Russia continuing to back, and providing weapons, to Assad. I met many of the moderate Syrian Opposition leaders 10 days ago and I wish them well.

The Start of Spring, Blue Monday and UKIP Weather

These snowdrops were photographed on the weekend and show that even up north in Northumberland spring is on its way! Great news! Are you planning your trip north soon? Have you decided that the time has come to take a crack at Hadrians Wall?
Apparently Monday 20th January is our most miserable day of the year, (known as Blue Monday) so I found time to smile at the new spoof website which is UKIP Weather, which was set up in response to some bizarre comments by one of their councillors about the flooding problems: if you have not listened to it I urge you to do so; it is genuinely very funny; you will never listen to the Shipping Forecast in the same way again.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/19/ukip-shipping-forecast-gay_n_4628625.html

Law changed to help our armed service men and women

I am proud to have been part of the change in the law last Friday in the House of Commons: the Armed Forces Citizenship Bill will make it easier for Commonwealth-born members of the armed forces to claim British citizenship. Existing rules state overseas applicants for British citizenship must have lived in the UK for five years. But applicants only start working towards that five-year threshold from the first day they arrive in the UK. As Commonwealth-born soldiers, sailors and airmen are often immediately posted overseas after they sign up, they may have to wait for longer than other applicants before they can claim British citizenship.
The new Citizenship (Armed Forces) Bill, would allow immigration officials to waive the minimum five-year threshold for citizenship applications from Commonwealth-born servicemen and women, as well as veterans. The legislation would affect around 200 members or former members of the armed forces, many of whom are likely to come from countries such as Fiji, Jamaica, South Africa and Ghana, as well as Nepal.

In my view: this is certainly not going to impact on our immigration or nationalisation numbers to any great extent. But, there is an injustice in the current rules and regulations and that needs to be changed.
I do believe it is wrong for our armed services personnel and former armed services personnel, who fit in to this category, to be discriminated against in this way. It is anomalous and it is something that the Commons and the Lords can, and should, rectify. Every day that members of our armed forces have spent in the service of our country abroad should have the same value in the eyes of the immigration authorities as a day spent in the UK.
This Bill is backed very strongly by Veterans Aid, Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and all other Armed Forces Charities.
My speech on the issue and the short debate is found here 19.50 seconds in: http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/house-of-commons-25776483

Westminster this week

Monday sees a key meeting on Off Grid energy at 2.30 at Department for Work and Pensions, followed by a discussion both at DWP, and in Westminster separately, concerning credit unions and local banking; later that evening I am invited to Number 10 Downing Street, with the PM. We have multiple debates this coming week on many issues but the key debate will be on the Lobbying Bill on Wednesday. I am pleased to say that this Bill has dramatically improved by reason of the detailed legislative scrutiny and the negotiations in the House of Lords.
I also have further Westminster based constituency meetings notably with Jon Lawler, of the independent NHS England North East; we will discuss CCG allocations and healthcare generally in the North East. We will be welcoming Sam Armstrong, who is 18 years old & from Hexham, who is coming to the Westminster office for 3 days of work experience.
On Thursday I head north at crack of dawn for 4 days in the constituency. I have surgeries, community visits, and so much more.

My speech on Gender Equality, Syria and International Development

A good debate, and my speech 24 minutes in: http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/house-of-commons-25776488
It is a speech I am really proud of. The background to the Bill is as follows.
The Gender Equality (International Development) Bill completed its final stages in the House of Commons after receiving cross-party support on 17 January 2014. This private member's bill, introduced by Conservative MP Bill Cash, would require the International Development Secretary to consider whether proposed assistance will reduce poverty in a way that is also likely to contribute to reducing inequality, before providing aid to developing countries.
Mr Cash said that his bill was inspired by his experiences in India and Africa where he witnessed women carrying out most of the work to help improve their societies. According to government statistics women do an estimated 60% of the world's work but on average earn only 10% of the world's income and only own 2% of the world's land.

Opening the debate Mr Cash said "this bill will help enormously a social revolution" helping women in developing countries. This bill achieves as much as the British people and Government can achieve in terms of putting women's rights at the heart of the international development agenda" Mr Cash continued.

Brick in the wall: During the debate Mr Cash read a letter of support he had received from the prime minster out to the chamber. Mr Cash told the house that David Cameron had called his bill "another brick in the wall of the whole argument that this should be a year that we really deliver a massive joined up agenda on women's empowerment and equality all around the world."
In the letter Mr Cameron also wrote that "the bill will make Britain have a leading role in examining gender equality before we deploy aid and other resources."
The debate is worth following in full.

Queens Hall, Hexham has a packed programme for everyone this spring

Do not forget to pencil in the Literary Festival, which takes place between the 28th April and May 8th. It is great event for the Tyne Valley and I was delighted to be a part of it last year.
For more details of the spring programme see the Journal report here: http://www.thejournal.co.uk/culture/arts-culture-news/dramatic-start-year-queens-hall-6512792

The Weekend Read: Syria, and the difference UK Aid can make

 Last weekend I travelled to the Syria Border to see for myself how British help is making a difference to the lives of thousands of Syrian Refugees. I went to the Nizip refugee camp. There are 17,000 refugees there. This is just a fraction of the 600,000 Syrians sheltering in Southern Turkey, who have fled the brutality of Assad. They are only able to survive with the support of the Turkish government, and the international aid that is given by many countries, not least Britain.


My trip lasted 4 days. My primary reason to go was to take part in a social action project, distribute warm weather clothing to the refugees for the winter snows that are coming to the region and also see what happens to the money that British people spend on international aid. It was one of the most humbling and disturbing visits I have ever experienced.

Nizip is on a famous site in Turkey, right on the bank of the River Euphrates; the camp has around 11,000 Syrians in tents, and just under 6,000 in containers. The camps have been in existence for around a year, and cater to Syrians fleeing Aleppo, Homs, and all of Northern Syria. Half of the 17,000 people there are children. I was able to see for myself the difference the British food aid was making in the shops that exist on the camp.

Indeed, Britain has provided over £500 million of aid to the Syrian Refugee crisis – the second biggest in the world after the USA. It is money well spent and it is getting to the right people. Life does go on even in the camp: I went round many of the classrooms that exist on the camp, as the Syrians try to provide education for their children. I met Suleiman, a former engineer in Homs, who was now a teacher of Year 6 and 7 children in the camp. He spoke movingly of the family members he had lost, his desire to return one day to his homeland, and the difficulties of teaching in the camp. I sat in on a primary school class and distributed presents from Playdo to sports equipment.

While in Nizip I also met representatives of the host Turkish Aid organisations, UNICEF, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and separately spoke to the Syrian opposition leaders and military commanders. The background to this visit is the upcoming Geneva II peace negotiations, beginning in Switzerland on 22 January, where the international community will be doing all it can to bring about a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Syria. The objective is a transitional government, which will allow the Syrian people to cross the border 20 miles south of the Nizip camp and go home.

Last year, most commentators believed that the Assad regime was finished, and that the fighting would soon be over. No one thinks so now. The refugee crisis in Syria has seen over 2 million people displaced: what I saw in Southern Turkey is a fraction of the consequences of the Assad conflict. The sheer number of displaced Syrians is impossible to compute: TV can show us families huddling in the snows; it can transmit pictures of injured children; it can broadcast footage of rubble. But it can’t convey the sheer vastness of what is going on.

So this week in the House of Commons I have raised with the Foreign Secretary the urgent need to take all steps necessary to enable Syrian refugees to return to their homeland, both diplomatically through the Geneva II peace negotiations, and ultimately through the provision of safe havens. In the meantime, we have to do all that we can to ensure the safe passage of aid to the Syrians both in, and outside, their homeland.

One final thing was clear to me, by reason of this weekend: British people are saving lives, making a difference, and allowing the Syrians a chance to live. We should be very proud of our action and our humanitarian support. This is giving the world the chance to develop a diplomatic solution which will ultimately allow the Syrians to go back to their homeland.

The Journal today on my recent trip to help Syrian Refugees

http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/hexham-mp-guy-opperman-calls-6521153

This is getting too French! Has Miliband bank speech thrown away the election?

Ed's latest economic speech, featuring his idea of shutting rural bank branches is the worst in a long line of policy disasters, that are beginning to become almost Francois Hollande in their ineptitude. Here are the words of some of the commentators, who have piled in this afternoon:

Dan Hodges, son of Glenda Jackson, and seasoned Westminster reporter, said:
"What was most depressing about Miliband's speech was his dismissal of deficit reduction. Labour has just given up on the macro-economy."


Nick Robinson of the BBC drops a bomb - "Ed, how are you going to tell your party they can't have what they want - massive spending?"

BBC comments: Miliband is "like an arsonist who burns your house down and then criticises your choice of fire engine".
Institute of Directors boss Simon Walker has his say:

“The state has a very poor history of creating competition in banking. The last time the Government told a bank what to do, Lloyds was ordered to sell branches to Rev. Flowers, and we all know how that ended.”

Again not my words - but here is the summation of the car crash from the papers: 
http://www.theweek.co.uk/uk-news/56905/miliband-bank-debacle-has-he-just-thrown-away-election

Humanitarian support for Syria will need safe passage

I spent last weekend on the Turkish / Syria border where I went to the Nizip refugee camp; the experience moved me in many ways, and I was pleased to be able to help provide warm weather clothing and equipment for the schoolkids there; I have since then called for humanitarian organisations to be able to access the worst hit parts of the war torn country. I believe it is now absolutely vital that the EU and the UN ensure the safe passage for humanitarian organisations to reach people in Syria who are in desperate need and find it impossible to get access to aid. I have seen for myself the challenges they are facing in this most desperate part of the world.

The Government has already rightly committed £500 million to help those affected by the conflict. This is the UK’s largest ever response to any humanitarian crisis. It will provide support including food, medical care and relief items for over a million people including those affected by the fighting in Syria and to refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. I am particularly concerned by the plight of the many children caught up in this monstrous conflict. Over 50% of the refugees are under 18, that is almost unimaginable. I went as part of an EU-wide delegation and have raised questions in the House of Commons on how the Government is ensuring aid gets to those refugees who need it most. The fundamental mission now must be to secure a deal on the safe transit of aid to those who need it most, that is what I believe will make the biggest difference to the many innocent people caught up in this horrendous conflict.

I spoke on Monday, in the House of Commons:
"Last night, I returned from a four-day trip with the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists to the Nizip 2 refugee camp, just inside the Turkish border. Turkey’s amazing humanitarian action and our aid programme—its provision of food, in particular—should be complimented. While I was there, I met representatives of UNICEF, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, AFAD and, separately, Syrian opposition leaders and military commanders, as well as dozens of refugees, whom we are helping with winter clothing and a social action project. All the Syrians I met want their country back and are desperate to return home. I urge the Foreign Secretary to take all steps necessary to enable Syrian refugees to return to their homeland, both diplomatically through Geneva II, and ultimately through the provision of safe havens."

Responding the Foreign Secretary, William Hague MP, said: "I applaud what my hon. Friend and other colleagues have done in going to assist the people in that region, and I do not doubt at all the sincerity of the message that he brings back, which is that people want to be able to go to their homes in peace. That again underlines the urgency of the political process that we are beginning next week. It is a formidably difficult process, but it is right to start and to try a political process; that is the only sustainable hope of peace. He can be assured that we will give every effort to that."

Great News - Archbishop Justin Welby announces Credit Union expansion plans

http://www.abcul.coop/media-and-research/news/view/410

Minimum Wage set to rise!

Great news announced today by the Chancellor; he has said he wants to see an above-inflation increase in the minimum wage. He told the BBC the "economy can now afford" to raise the rate, currently set at £6.31 an hour for people over the age of 21. This is the next step in a long campaign led by Renewal, David Skelton, Rob Halfon MP, Matt Hancock MP,myself, Chris White MP, Paul Maynard MP and others. Full story here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25766558

Why does Labour want to close rural branches of banks? We should be opening branches not forcing them to close

The latest plan from the two Ed's is bizarre. They accept that their plan would result in the closure of bank branches - this would be bad news for Tynedale. The independent Governor of the Bank of England has a critique of the plan yesterday in the Commons on being questioned by the all party Treasury Select Committee
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/10575245/Mark-Carney-rejects-Ed-Milibands-bank-shake-up-plan.html

Day 16 of Dry January .... and it is going well!

Weight loss - 7 pounds
Visits to the gym - 10
Days to go until pint of bitter - 15

Francois Hollande - is he still Ed Miliband's "Bon Ami"?

"This new leadership is sorely needed as Europe seeks to escape from austerity … He has shown that the centre-Left can offer hope and win elections with a vision of a better, more equal and just world." Ed Miliband's words on President Hollande's election victory in 2012


France now sees negative growth in Q3, unemployment at 11 per cent and rising, 75% taxes, public spending as a percentage of GDP second-highest in the eurozone, unions kidnapping business leaders [I kid you not – see the Goodyear story], and I have totally ignored the President’s private life. Yesterday at PMQs things went from bad to worse for Ed with the last question of the day:

Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con):
"The Leader of the Opposition has said, “What Hollande is doing in France I want to do in Britain.” Given recent events across the channel, does my right hon. Friend agree that that is completely at odds with our long-term economic plan?"

The Prime Minister:
"I did not catch all of President Hollande’s press conference yesterday, because I was appearing in front of the Liaison Committee, but one thing that I did notice is that the French proposals now are to cut spending in order to cut taxes in order to make the economy more competitive. Perhaps the shadow Chancellor, in his new silent form, will want to consider some of those ideas and recognise that this revolution of making business more competitive and trying to win in the global race is a proper plan for the economy."

Good news on Minimum Wage as we toughen up the laws

Since 2010 the Government have increased the Minimum Wage despite inheriting the worst recession in a century. We have also created over a million new jobs and cut the income tax and tax threshholds of low paid workers. I could go on about the doubling of apprenticeships and the focus on skills for young workers but I want to applaud the decision to address minimum wage avoidance.
Anyone entitled to the national minimum wage should receive it. Paying anything less than this is unacceptable, illegal and will be punished by law. So we are bringing in tougher financial penalties to crackdown on those who do not play by the rules. Subject to Parliamentary approval, by February 2014 employers who do not pay their workers the national minimum wage will face an increased penalty of up to £20,000.
The national minimum wage plays an important role in supporting low-paid hardworking people. Enforcing it is a key to ensuring those who play by the rules and do the right thing are treated fairly.
If I am able to I will be speaking on the issue later today in the House, and our campaign to get North East employers to pay a North East Living Wage continues.

I agree with the Sun! We need to change the law on Assisted Suicide

I have long campaigned for a change in the law - see the Journal article: http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/hexham-mp-guy-opperman-backs-4413760
and the speech I gave to the House two years ago: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2012-03-27a.1373.0&s=guy+opperman+assisted+suicide+segment%3A21942142#g1432.1

The Sun today has covered the Coronation Street assisted dying storyline on their front pages. The Sun’s headline focuses on recent polling of their readership, showing that 73% of the public agrees that assisted dying should be legalised. There is then a double-page spread on pages 4 and 5 regarding the arguments. Perhaps most encouragingly, the editorial comment strongly states The Sun’s support for Lord Falconer’s Bill:

“MOST Britons believe the terminally ill should have the right to an assisted suicide. It is also where The Sun stands… The issue cannot be ignored… Lord Falconer’s Bill would ensure terminally-ill patients prove they are mentally capable of choosing death, that they have ‘settled’ on their decision and that they have not been influenced by others. These are sound safeguards. The risks of legalisation seem tiny to us compared with the suffering it would ease.”

Westminster this week

Today I am meeting Ed Twiddy, head of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, and discussing how we can bring more jobs, a University Technical College and even more apprenticeships to the North Eastand then there is the usual Monday Home Office Ministers Meeting, followed by various meetings in the  House; on Tuesday I have a meeting with the Dementia Friends team to understand better the work that they are doing, and how we can do more in Northumberland. I also will be welcoming Graham Usher to the House of Commons and introducing him to the many new MPs he has to look after in his new role as Bishop of Dudley. Finally on Tuesday I and other colleagues are seeing the Prime Minister. On Wednesday we have an Opposition day debate in the House of Commons. Thursday I have a busy day catching up on loads of correspondence and answering constituents queries. I am in the House this Friday once again with Home Office and Private Members Bills from 9.30 on Friday morning. In particular I am looking forward to helping to guide the Armed Forces Citizenship Bill through its last stage in the Commons. It will be a key part in fulfilling the military covenant.

The Weekend Read: Hospitals, A&E and the NHS

I was granted just 4 minutes by the Speaker to address this important topic, shortly before Christmas; I set out my thoughts on local hospital healthcare provision in short form:

Meeting the wonderful Elsie at Hexham Hospital

As a jockey, I spent far too much time in A and E departments after coming off race horses.

Once, I wandered into hospital with a broken collarbone and four bones sticking out of my shoulder. On another occasion, I spent a long time with a cut kidney and lost a spleen at Warwick hospital—I thank Dr Mike Stellakis, and his team, for saving my life that night. Also, two years ago, I collapsed in the House and spent a night in St Thomas’ with a young but capable bunch of A and E doctors. I thank them all and put on the record this Christmas the huge effort made by all our public sector staff, particularly in the NHS.

In Northumberland, we feel that we are leading the way in health care provision. Begun under the previous Government, that has continued under this one. Haltwhistle is a small cottage hospital that in the olden days would have been shut, but which now is being rebuilt as an integrated NHS and local authority facility. It is the first of its kind in the country; it is utterly transformative and it is exactly what the NHS and the local authority should be doing with old buildings, although I urge the trust to resolve the contracts that are not yet resolved. When I visited it last week, however, I saw that it was a truly innovative building and that it would be a great addition.

Hexham A and E is also a fantastic building. This November, I worked there as a hospital porter, and I thank Barry, the head porter, who has worked there 31 years, for keeping me in line and ensuring I did not put anything in the wrong place. Then there is Cramlington, an innovative, pre-Keogh assessment health care centre being built for the north-east. It is a perfect example of where we should be going: a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, consultant-led facility. As an A and E specialist care facility, it is exactly what Keogh is talking about. Interestingly, it was planned under the previous Government and is being brought forward under this one. It is exactly the direction we should be heading in.

I shall deal briefly with another issue. Northumbria has outstanding health care, but sadly North Cumbria is having some difficulties, and I urge the Secretary of State to expedite the merger of Northumbria and North Cumbria NHS trusts as soon as possible.

I turn now to ways we can keep our constituents and patients out of A and E. I have no spleen—it was kicked out of me by a three-mile chaser at Stratford—so every year I need the flu jab. Consequently, like pensioners, some young children and vulnerable adults, I went to get my flu jab last month at Haltwhistle GP centre. I thank Sarah Speed—it was not painful and took only five minutes. Tragically, however, at least 10% to 20% of the population do not take up the flu jab and are therefore likely to end up in A and E over the winter or possibly die. As constituency MPs, we must ram home their failure to take up the opportunity to deal with their own health care.

Finally, I turn to the hospice and dementia care systems in Northumberland. In the Charlotte Straker hospice and Tynedale Hospice at Home, we have two outstanding hospices, both of which I have assisted and one of which I have fundraised for. Both do a great job keeping people out of hospital. I should also mention the Age UK programme dealing with elderly people in my constituency. It is making a huge difference and ensuring that everyone becomes a dementia friend. Only through such actions will we bring about real change in our health care system.

Review of the economy shows surge in investment, orders and jobs

Great evidence of the revival of the British economy this week:

Car sales are up 11%, and the British Chamber of Commerce has this week released its Q4 survey showing a startling surge in investment, orders and employment. You can read it HERE

Good news for our plan for a ‘balanced’ recovery: manufacturers’ capacity use, and confidence are at the highest since the survey began in 1988. The upshot, as Citibank have commented, is that the UK economy will likely grow far faster this year than Osborne’s cautious official expectation. He will most likely have another healthy upgrade to announce in his next budget; growth of more than 3 per cent this year is expected with massive consequences for jobs.

Momentum building on our campaign to raise the minimum wage

Regular readers will know that I have long campaigned for a voluntary living wage and an enhanced minimum wage.

I am pleased that as the economy recovers the ability to address the minimum wage becomes ever more likely. Yesterday my colleague at Treasury, the minister Sajid Javid said there is a ‘strong case to look at’ raising the minimum wage, joining Matt Hancock's long campaign support on this issue; this is an issue that even right wingers have changed upon. For example, on Newsnight Mark Reckless, the right-wing Tory MP told the programme that he had been wrong to oppose it previously and that it would be a good thing:

‘I would 10 years ago have said no to [an increase in the minimum wage] for the same reason I opposed it, which is because I was concerned it was going to cost jobs. I think the evidence has not borne that out as much as was fit and I think two very important things have changed, and that is one it would actually save the taxpayers’ money because of the extent to which the taxpayer is topping up low wages through tax credits.’

I will continue to make the case to the Chancellor that this is something he is now able to do in the next Budget, as the economy recovers, and in harmony with the ever increasing voluntary sign up to the Living Wage.

France's failed socialist experiment is turning into tragedy

Yesterday, more evidence emerged of the disastrous decline of France, which has followed a strong left wing socialist agenda under President Hollande. 

I have blogged before of the growing economic mess of this country - whose fortunes can be compared with the likes of Ireland, or even Spain, both of which have cut their debts and public spending, and not taxed business and job creation into the ground. The Irish in particular have cut taxes to boost growth. The French have raised taxes to 75%. 

The impact has been to kill any chance of a French recovery stone dead. The perils for us in Britain are clear: it would be economic suicide to follow the Hollande policies in the UK. This is what Miliband / Balls propose.

Again, don't take my word for it - read below the comments and then full article of Allister Heath of City AM, who said: "France’s economic sickness is primarily due to its overbearing state, horrendously high tax levels, insane regulations, absurd levels of inefficient public spending and generalised hatred of commerce, capitalism, success and hard work." Full article here:

http://www.cityam.com/article/1389059090/france-s-failed-socialist-experiment-turning-tragedy

Westminster this week

Today there are questions to the Attorney General and the Deputy Prime Minister - I plan to try and be called at both, albeit I do not have a named question.
Most important meeting this week is with the Payments Council CEO to discuss the new Current Account Switch Service in more detail, together with other Payments Council projects central to delivering competition in the banking sector. As usual, for most Wednesdays, there is an Opposition day debate, following after PMQs.

Lunch with Age UK in Corbridge

Just before Christmas I met with Age UK, and attended a lunch organised by them in Corbridge for local residents. This year, I have also spent time with NHS consultants, university experts in Ageing Well from Newcastle University, and various locals who are pretty robust in their views. The 5 basic rules for combatting old age are very clear:

- Don’t smoke
- Keep your weight down
- Exercise
- Eat healthily
- Don’t drink too much

Millions of pounds of government money is spent trying to persuade people to adopt these basic tenets of life – but the message does not seem to be getting through.

But almost as important is the need to keep your brain active. This was a message received loud and clear from the Dominos session I had before Age UK’s lunch. I got soundly thrashed at Dominos by all 3 of my teammates [particularly the wonderful Sybille in the picture to my right], who outwitted me with great smiles and a winning way with Dominos. All of those present were active, living healthily, eating well at an Age UK hot lunch; indeed, many had walked to the Village Hall. They were doing all they could to lead a healthy lifestyle, keeping the brain active and fighting old age. Full credit and thanks to Age UK for inviting me, organising a delicious lunch and being such a great presence in our community.

One final point: the harsh fact is that two-thirds of people with dementia live in the community but studies show that sometimes less than half say that they feel part of their community. People with dementia sometimes need a helping hand to go about their daily lives and feel included in their local community. Alzheimer’s Society wants one million people in England to have become a Dementia Friend by 2015. Dementia Friends gives people an understanding of dementia and the small things they can do that can make a difference to people living with dementia - from helping someone find the right bus to spreading the word about dementia.

So for 2014 make one of your resolutions this: make sure you reach out to those who are on their own or of advanced years and be a friend to them.

Update on the Council Tax Benefit Support Grant for Parish Councils

On the last Wednesday of the parliamentary term in the House of Commons I again raised the issue that is affecting many parish and town councils from Hexham and Ponteland downwards. Northumberland County Council are refusing to pass this government money on to the local councils, even though over 90% of other councils have done so. The question we have to ask is why? Other councils are doing this, including I might add plenty, of Labour councils.

Guy Opperman (Hexham):
"On 25 November, in the House, I raised the issue of the council tax benefit support grant, which is not being passed on to all the parish councils in Northumberland. On that occasion, my hon. Friend responded by saying that local authorities should be ensuring that that was done. Can he tell me whether he has made any further progress in forcing them to do so?"

Brandon Lewis MP, Minister Dept Communitioes and Local Government:
"It is true that a very small number of authorities are not yet passing on the grant, and we are telling them that they should. It is a matter for the authorities themselves, but we made it very clear in today’s written statement that they should be passing the money on to the parish councils."

The original question and answer is here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2013-11-25a.9.5&s=%28council+tax+benefit+support+grant%29+speaker%3A24962#g10.0
The debate again featured discussion between north and south Local Authorities: the Minister made the point in Wednesday's debate by pointing out the real facts:
"Newcastle receives £2,400 per dwelling, which is about £900 more than areas such as Windsor and Maidenhead."
I will post more as we continue to persaude Northumberland County Council to pay the government money that is due our parish councils.

Reducing income tax for the low paid

I raised this key point in the House of Commons recently in a written question:

Guy Opperman:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the lowest paid no longer pay income tax as a result of changes to taxation introduced since May 2010 in (a) the UK, (b) the North East

Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 4 December 2013, c671W)

David Gauke (The Exchequer Secretary):

The cumulative effect of the Government's increases in the personal allowance for those aged under 65 years (born after 5 April 1948 from 2013-14 tax year) since 2010-11 will take 2.7 million people out of the income tax system by April 2014. 110,000 of them are in the north-east region.

These estimates are based on the 2010-11 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2014-15 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2013 economic and fiscal outlook.

Women Bishops will happen in 2014

I rasied this issue recently with the Minister: I am fully supportive of women becoming Bishops. It will happen in 2014

Guy Opperman (Hexham, Conservative)
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she has taken to support the Church of England's General Synod on the subject of women bishops.

Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 18 December 2013, c672W)
Helen Grant (The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; Maidstone and The Weald, Conservative)
I strongly support the Synod in the progress that it has made this year towards enabling women to become bishops. It is widely acknowledged that women already do a tremendous job within the Church of England and the time has come to take the final step of enabling women to become bishops. I understand that the Synod hopes their legislative process to enable the appointment of women bishops will be completed by the end of 2014. It is important to note, that decisions about the Church of England's internal structure and organisation are matters for the Church itself and not Government.

Predictions for 2014

Locally I want to help be part of the team that creates a local community bank in Tynedale, building on the base of the credit union, but expanding its numbers, size and scope so that we have a real local bank to take on the big banks.

Two big elections occur: Scottish Referendum and European Elections
My view remains that we are Better Together and that the Scottish people will agree. I will be campaigning there on several occasions in 2014.
As to the Euro elections I will be fighting hard for us to have a strong voice in Europe, and Martin Callanan is that person.

Syria I fear will be an ongoing civil war, but I hope to get a better understanding of the situation if I get the chance to visit, or meet with certain key players. I will blog much more on this as there are options ahead.

Iran remains, however, the key to improvement in global peace. If the nuclear reprogramming continues then we will all be able to both breathe a sigh of relief, and continue to reduce the wider impact and extent of Middle East conflict. I have not been on a work trip to the region in 2013 - regular readers will know I travel to the region every year. In previous years I have taken myself to Beirut, Israel, Jordan and Turkey.

Sport: as a former jockey and racing journalist I always like each bets: my long term each way tip for the national is Monbeg Dude, owned by Mike Tindall and some rugby mates. Last years third Teaforthree will also run well.
I fancy Rose for the Masters and Woods for the Open, and Europe for the Ryder Cup. Murray to win Wimbledon again would be too amazing, but we have to dream!