The Weekend Read: Boris on Churchill - a great interview, genuinely worth reading

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/11/boris-johnson-ten-things-about-winston-churchill/

Proud to support Living Wage in Debate in the House of Commons today - My speech and full debate

Today in the Commons I hosted the All Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty, along with the Living Wage Foundation, Citizens UK, and partners such as KPMG, the Reverend Angus Ritchie and many MPs from 4 different parties including a thoughtful contribution of Mark Durkan MP for Foyle in Northern Ireland. We also heard from Nana-Ben one of the cleaners in the DFT who explained how it would make a difference to him if he was paid the living wage. It was a very positive and helpful morning. Then it was a mad rush to the Commons - I was involved in the Iran debate first - but at around 3pm we started the Living Wage debate

My full speech today is here: 3.35 pm

Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con):

I wholeheartedly congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Chris White) on securing the debate and I thank the Backbench Business Committee. Some would say that Parliament does not often have important debates, but with the debate on Iran and now this debate on the living wage, I cannot think of a more important day to be in Parliament. I am delighted to be here to support my hon. Friend.

I was delighted, too, to have been part of a briefing that took place with the all-party group on poverty this morning with the good people from the Living Wage Foundation and Citizens UK, who came to the House of Commons and met several hon. Members, from many different political parties, to brief them on the living wage and to hear some of their experiences. I thank Emma Kosmin and Stefan Baskerville for coming in, along with the Rev. Angus Ritchie, Mike Kelly and Nana-Ben, who is the cleaner I mentioned earlier from the Department for Transport.

 

This is not just a debate on the living wage but a debate on tax thresholds and tax credits, but one must start with the wonderful news that the living wage has risen again this week. I was pleased to see the Mayor of London going to Kaffeine, a coffee shop in Great Titchfield street, to celebrate and support it. The Evening Standard pictured him with a large cake, which I am not sure is quite the message we are trying to get across, but the point is that he has been an enthusiastic and vocal supporter of the living wage, and quite right too.

I am sure the Minister will make the point that it is fantastic that it is this Government—acting as a coalition, to be perfectly fair—who have raised the tax threshold, which makes a massive difference to the pennies and pounds in the pockets of people earning a living wage or a minimum wage. That is the first direct impact. Clearly, there is a legitimate and correct debate on tax credits and how one takes them forward. I will leave others to discuss that in more detail, although I did set out my views on that in fairly lengthy detail in an article for the New Statesman in July 2013.

 

Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab):

I enjoyed reading that article, in which I think the hon. Gentleman described himself as an old-fashioned left winger. I think he would acknowledge that the advantages of an increase in the tax thresholds he describes are significantly undermined for people on the lowest incomes by the fact that tax credits are withdrawn to such a large extent.

 

Guy Opperman:

I am delighted that the right hon. Gentleman, who sits on the Opposition Front Bench, is taking advice and instruction from me, a humble Back Bencher in this House since only 2010, but I take his point. The Government clearly need to address how taxing the individual is dealt with to avoid the problems he identifies so eloquently. I do not think it is quite as simple as he sets out. I accept and endorse the approach of the Chancellor: I think the fundamental is the tax threshold and then how we deal with tax credits. The harsh reality, as the right hon. Gentleman will know from the article he read, is that we have the bizarre situation where the Government step in and provide tax credits to the tune of approximately £4 billion for a variety of individuals when they should be encouraging an increase in wages and taking away tax. I will, however, leave that debate for another day.

We can provide local leadership. I am proud to wear the badge of the Living Wage Foundation, and I am a living wage employer in the House of Commons. I would like the foundation to accredit MPs who pay the living wage in order to incentivise us not only to talk the talk but to walk the walk. In addition, particularly in living wage week, I would urge all Members, if they have not done so already, to visit the living wage employers in their constituencies. I have met several of mine.

My hon. Friend the Member for Aberconwy (Guto Bebb) asked about small employers, particularly in rural locations, but, as is well known, the Federation of Small Businesses supports payment of the living wage on a voluntary basis. I can give some local examples. Aquila Housing, in Gateshead, and several churches in my constituency have shown the benefits, and Mike Joslin, an employer in the north-east and across the country, would eloquently set out the benefit it has brought to his relatively small business. However, my best example is the fine coffee shop Tea and Tipple, in Corbridge, which has barely three or four members of staff. When the snows fell—they fall through to May in Northumberland—his staff fought through the snow to get to work and open the coffee shop. There was clearly a sense of camaraderie, loyalty and commitment to the business that he might not have seen had he not been a living wage employer. He went the extra mile for his staff, and they went the extra mile for him.

 

Of course, we should be pushing the large employers too. Today, I met Mike Kelly of KPMG, and the human resources directors of companies such as Barclays. We need to ask the large employers in our cities and regions why they are not living wage employers. When KPMG did the transfer in 2005-06, it found that approximately 700 members of staff were not being paid the living wage, but when it compared the turnover of non-living wage staff with that of living wage staff, it found that the turnover dropped from 47% to 24% in one year.

 

In my New Statesman article, I cited the example of Costco. Craig Jelinek, its chief executive, who pays the living wage in America, said:

“We know it’s a lot more profitable in the long term to minimise employee turnover and maximise employee productivity, commitment and loyalty.”

I think he is right. Last year, when I spoke to Dominic Johnson, Barclays’ HR director, he was clear that it made sense for business.

When I go to my local Barclays in Hexham or any other branch, I am told that when cleaning staff are paid the living wage—traditionally it is the cleaning staff who slip through the net—capitalism takes over and, market forces being what they are, everyone wants to be a cleaner for Barclays, staff turnover drops through the floor, everyone feels much more valued and the offices are cleaned faster. Bizarrely, therefore, paying people more ends up costing the business less, and the quality of the product—the cleanliness of the offices—is improved.

 

There are, then, examples from big businesses and small businesses, and I am pleased that the public sector and the various Government Departments are leading the way. Some are quick to criticise Departments for not moving quickly enough, but it is extraordinarily difficult for some—the NHS, for example, has a vast array of subcontractors and private finance initiative contracts—to change.

But if I can move on, in the limited time we have, to allow others to speak—

 

Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Dawn Primarolo):

Order. Perhaps I can give the hon. Gentleman some guidance about how limited the time is. We have to conclude the debate so that we can hear the wind-ups within 50 minutes. I currently have seven other speakers, so I am going to ask people to be disciplined, so that nobody is squeezed out. The hon. Gentleman might bear that in mind, given that he has already been speaking for 10 minutes.

 

Guy Opperman:

I will take barely a minute more, Madam Deputy Speaker.

The living wage is a campaign that unites all faiths. It unites Christians, Muslims, Jews and those of other faiths, and quite rightly so. When this was first looked at, it was decided that it was an idea whose time had come. I cannot endorse that more strongly.

You can read all the debate here: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-commons-debates/read/unknown/692/

Boris Johnson to return to Westminster - thoughts and assessment

Boris is a low tax, centre right, one nation politician who really understands people and how to beat Labour. I am delighted he is going to be involved in the 2015 election and will be happy to welcome him back to the House of Commons, if successful, in 2015.
To use the football analogy - "He is a top striker and you need your best players on the pitch."

I have met Boris many times and he is a complex character - very bright, very experienced, a very successful two times Mayor with a proven track record. He also has a with a wicked sense of humour and a great speaking style. He is also a full time cyclist, a strong advocate of the living wage, and one of the best MPs I have ever seen at talking to anyone. He genuinely likes people, which is the most important asset inan MP. And he cares. He will be a big asset.
Also he is very good at explaining why it would be lunacy to make Ed Miliband Prime Minister and Ed Balls Chancellor. And that is the prospect this country faces in 2015.

Fuller details here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28673113

Fundraising exhibition for Great Ormond Street Hospital last night - amazing Andy Parsons pics

Last night I attended the fundraising exhibition of the incredible photojournalist Andy Parsons' pictures, to support the life changing work of Great Ormond Street Hospital. The photos are world class images of everything from the Royal Family to Political shots to the Afghan War. The money raised goes to GOSH. The pictures are at the Ellwood Attfield Gallery at 34 Smith Square in Westminster. Full details and further photographs are available online here: http://www.ellwoodatfieldgallery.com/ 
The tale of how he persuaded Boris to lean out of the helicopter above Hong Kong is one of my favourites.

I was lucky enough to meet and see Andy Parsons work in January this year, when we travelled to the Nizip Syrian refugee camp on the River Euphrates, next to the Syrian Turkish border. Andy took some incredible photographs whilst we were there. He is also a nice bloke. The Journal covered that trip with some of Andy's amazing photos here [if he can make me look vaguely good he is clearly a genius]: http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/hexham-mp-guy-opperman-calls-6521153
I strongly recommend the photographs, and very much support the work of GOSH. The exhibition and sale runs from 13 May until 5 September. It is rightly entitled Royalty, Politics and War; the art
of the photojournalist. Well worth a visit.

Boris is spot on - Miliband price freezes are economic madness

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/borisjohnson/10808153/The-economic-sunshine-has-left-Miligoblin-groping-in-the-dark.html

What is Labour's position on our Budget? I have debated two of their key people lately and I am still unclear

On Wednesday I listened to Ed Miliband MP in the Commons replying to the Budget. It was all class war, and a few short term fixes. That afternoon even Ed Balls MP criticised his boss's performance. And then on Friday I debated Catherine Mckinnell MP at a North East Chamber of Commerce Event. I went second after the key budget issues were outlined by James Ramsbotham, Chairman of the NECC. Then third up was Catherine.

I waited for what she would do differently. She is a very important woman - because she is number 3 in the Treasury team behind Ed Balls and Chris Leslie. I have my notes of her speech.
I know she would put up taxes.
I know she loves a short term energy price freeze that will not make a difference.
But on the issue of a Labour policy approach to business, Corporation Tax, Business Rates, NICS, in fact on any policies, I am still no clearer. I know business would be hit. And, as usual, there was criticism of what the Coalition did not do.

In short, on economic policy, I would love to be able to help the thousands of my readers that I could tell them what the Labour alternative is. The reality is that we are 46 months into this parliament and we are still unclear. Every financial, welfare, and budgetary reform has been opposed with no alternative provided.
We did discuss APD, Help to buy, local banks, new housing projects, regional development, LA7 and changes in energy policy. Again, I struggled for an a different approach, save criticism.  
Boris Johnson has done a good piece on Labours approach: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/10717846/Budget-2014-the-Lamborghini-ride-that-says-power-to-the-people.html  

There is no justification for the London Tube Strike - Bob Crow should be ashamed of himself

Tonight I will walk from Westminster to Kings Cross, to take the train home to Northumberland - for my part I like the exercise, albeit it is raining in London, and I have a bag to carry! Others are not so lucky, and this strike is clearly affecting jobs, peoples day to day lives, and the viability of the UK and London economy. Over the last day and a half I have seen how much this strike is damaging the London and UK economy.

Before I criticise the strike, Mr Crow, and this unions decision I should make a few things clear:
I wholeheartedly support trade unions. I have also spent a large amount of my working life as a lawyer representing employees, and I have seen the positive side of constructive trade union work. But, on any interpretation, I struggle to see the merit of the Tube Strike called by Bob Crow. Others have had a dig at Crow's decision to go on holiday. I do not mind that. Everyone is entitled to a holiday. Nor am I going to point out that he earns more than the Prime Minister, yet continues to live in a council house, as a reason why the strike action is wrong - such matters are an issue for his union members, and local authority. I am not even going to have a dig at the Labour party for not condemning this farce, albeit the braver Labour MPs have done so.

This strike is about the threat of redundancy from staff, who will lose their jobs because of ticket office closures and mechanisations. The reason is simple: at most tube stations now there is no need of personnel to dispense tickets. Machines and computers can do the job, and cost far far less - thereby reducing the cost of the fare / cost of living. The irony of the Labour campaign on this issue seems lost on Crow and the Labour party.

The strike by Crow is his attempt at saying the world is not automating - its like Canute holding back the oncoming tide. The world and the economy changes - that is a fact of life. We have to adapt.

Also, the strike is costing in excess of £100 million a day, in lost work, production and output in the South East. In the North East, I can point out that the Metro ticket offices are effectively unmanned. There are job losses involved in the decision by Boris Johnson, but there are no compulsory redundancies. 

It was Barbara Castle, the former Labour minister, who asked:
“When the bus drivers go out on a wildcat strike, what about the woman waiting at the bus stop with her shopping and her children?”
Her point was that the sectional interests of one group of workers should not trump the general wellbeing – something for which Mr Crow has shown little consideration.

This strike is not progress, or a workers struggle. It also reflects badly on the good work trade unions do, and loses them sympathy for the real fights that really matter.

Living Wage Week - good news in London but more 2 be done in the north east

Today I was with Boris Johnson at Great Ormond Street Hospital when he announced the increase in the London Living Wage to £8.80. There are now 432 companies accredited as paying the living wage.
The "living wage" rate for London, which is calculated on the cost of living in the capital, has been increased to £8.80, a rise of 25p.
Since it was introduced in 2005, many employers have signed up - some of whom I have met like Aquila Way and Barclays. Today I sat next to the representative from Aviva, and with other big businesses like Linklaters, KPMG, and charities like Save the Children.
The highlight of yesterday was
- not the wonderful Rabbi, whose North London Synagogue is a living wage employer, albeit she spoke well
- nor the Mayor, who gave a great speech
- but young Lacey Green, a supervisor at the William Morris Pub in Colliers Wood. She spoke with passion and eloquence at the podium of the courage of her employers, Faucet Inns, who are a living wage employer, and the difference it had made to her and her childs life. She spoke really well.

I welcome that we are talking about pay - whether it is a discussion of the minimum wage, the raising of the income tax threshold, the need for better skills to empower more people into better paying jobs, and the ways in which we can address the problems with employer take up of the living wage. I do not think Ed Miliband's idea is much more than a short term gimmick, albeit the gem of an idea is there. The simple criticism is if the policy works, and is sustainable, then why is it for a short period of time, and how will it be paid for? As I say I do believe work needs to be done on tax reform and incentivisation, but I do not believe Ed has the right policy tweak. We need companies to be publishing numbers of people not earning the living wage, and I will be doing all I can to ensure more companies in the North East sign up.

The fact of the living wage should not be in doubt. As Boris said today - you can be a low tax, centre right capitalist, but totally support the living wage: it does not just address social justice but makes economic sense by producing -
- higher morale,
- better productivity
- better staff retention and motivation
- lower overheads
and thereby creates more jobs

Boris Johnson added: "Paying the London Living Wage ensures hard-working Londoners are helped to make ends meet, providing a boost not only for their personal quality of life but delivering indisputable economic dividends to employers too."
For last weeks debate on low pay, in which I spoke, as did the Minister, Matt Hancock, look here:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2013-10-30a.316.1&s=speaker%3A24962#g318.0

Cycling saves u money, tackles flab, and gives you thighs of steel!

I cycle most mornings to work in London. I am trying to get more cycle lanes, stands and cycleways for locals and tourists alike in Northumberland. Last week I put in a special plea to the Highways Department of the Northumberland County Council to make a particular effort to safeguard and patch up cycleways in Northumberland. They are doing their bit and are going to make a special effort to make good all our particular cycleways. Our Coast to Coast cycleway is rightly famous and should be tried by one and all, ideally stopping off in or around Allenheads on the way.
One great politician with great hair, and a certain style, described his Sunday 100 mile cycle ride in graphic and funny detail yesterday and his tale bears repeating. Enjoy Boris at his best:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/10222052/Even-Gollum-cant-spoil-the-day-as-cyclings-revolution-rolls-on.html