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Mary Temple

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Everything posted by Mary Temple

  1. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GoAxseQ2Q7TCpff70TBEb6DkpTl9oDKYtTubiDDZpD8/edit?usp=sharing
  2. Mr Deputy Speaker, As the Chancellor of the Exchequer so kindly offered his reflection on the state of the nation, I too would like to reflect on Britain today and how we have gotten here. For seven years this country has been beholden to the free market economics of the Prime Minister’s predecessor, an ideology focused solely on the dismantling of the state and the safety net put in place after the War, which has left Britain with eye-watering unemployment of over 11% and 3 million out of work. 3 million forced out of work by this Tory Government. With homelessness skyrocketing the Conservative party has left the country divided and scarred as Britain’s nations and regions have been allowed to fall behind When I look at the economic forecasts from the Treasury I see a country that is struggling to afford the Conservatives. Economic growth falling, unemployment sky-high, wage growth falling, house prices soaring, the balance of trade against us. All the while the social security net that protects us all is ignored widening the gap between the richest and the poorest again. This budget does nothing for anyone on benefits. That is not an economy that is working for the working man and woman. This is an economy that benefits the richest and expects the working class to continue to struggle. I have no doubt Tory donors are thrilled with his budget, it keeps them sweet and the money rolling in for the Tory election fund. Mr Deputy Speaker, in the run up to this budget the Government was incredibly tight-lipped, not wanting to leak anything to press – which is a definite change from their predecessors – with the only information gleaned from them was their willingness to follow Labour’s leadership when we called for the cut in Employer’s national insurance contributions. At first, I thought this new found silence from the Chancellor and the Treasury was a signal of a change of leadership and practice, but unfortunately I was mistaken. The absence of leaks was purely to cover up the fact that the Prime Minister intended to call the General Election. A cynical move some would say - a cynical move that exposes his weakness as a leader, his inability to tackle the challenges Britain faces as a country and his desire to not act in the national interest but the political interest of the Conservative party. All in all, Mr Deputy Speaker, this budget is a damp squib. With one hand the Chancellor attempts to give but with the other he snatches it away. Let’s start with taxation. The income tax allowance cut is completely swept away by the hike in VAT. A 2.5% increase in VAT will disproportionately hit working families harder than it does the wealthiest, meaning British households will pay on average around £200 more for voluntary purchases per annum. So when a family wishes to take their holiday abroad for the first time in years, they will be paying more. When a family wishes to replace their television set they’ve been saving for, they will be paying more. When a working man or woman finally gets a new job after suffering years of unemployment and they want to buy themselves a new suit, they will be paying more. I don’t expect the Chancellor to understand the pressure increasing VAT will have on families, I doubt he’s never had to worry about paying a bill in his life. VAT hikes don’t just hurt the consumer, they hurt business across the entire economy. When VAT goes up, costs go up. Products, services, output all will cost more thanks to the Chancellor’s regressive tax hike. This cost will have to be accounted for somewhere, and for many businesses struggling to survive they will either force it onto their customers or reduce their already shrinking profits. This Government is standing in the way of the aspirations of the British people. Mr Deputy Speaker, I’ve been told that the Chancellor believes there is a universal and collective version of the personal unconsciousness that binds us together. He’ll be in for a shock when he realises it’s a universal disdain for his unfair tax rise. And this tax they’re levying on hardworking people is not even being put to good use. Investment announced in training and unemployment schemes are woeful, social security has barely been acknowledged by this Chancellor, and departmental budgets are generally rising by inflation only. This VAT hike is set to bring in 4 billion pounds in revenue and I cannot for the life of me see what he hopes to achieve with it. The British public are lucky the election has been called, because they desperately need someone in the Treasury that has a plan to turn this country around. Mr Deputy Speaker, I guess that is slightly good news that after seven years of cuts and lack of investment by this Conservative party they have finally listened to the Labour party’s calls for action. But like all things from the Conservatives, if it doesn’t present the opportunity to be sold off to their mates in the city, then the investment you do get is pitiful. I think what is emblematic of this lack of vision is the health service in this budget. I don’t even know where to begin. No new hospitals, large or small, a pittance in the budget for procurement of new equipment, no real investment into the health of our nation bar a hundred new clinics - and only hiring 100 new doctors. So each of these clinics are to be staffed by a single doctor, and that’s a generous assessment. Not only will you not be getting a new hospital, probably no new GPs or practice nurses once these few hires get used to fill existing gaps in staff levels, you will be saddled with the extra cost to your medicine. After taxing working people once with VAT the Chancellor is doing it again with prescription charges. It’s no wonder British people can barely afford to live, they can hardly afford the Government they’re saddled with. It seems, now unsatisfied with the managed decline of Britain’s communities, the Chancellor has decided he wants to preside over the managed decline of the health service. Whether you live in Fulham or Croydon, Edinburgh or The Wrekin, the Chancellor has made it clear he is unwilling to invest the funds necessary to cut rising waiting times or to build a hospital in your area. Mr Deputy Speaker, the budget also fails to grasp the nettle we are facing in our education system. Like most of this budget the Chancellor is attempting to spin this as turning the tide after years of spending restraint, but with minimal increases to match inflation they completely ignore the fact that for years our public sector has been underfunded and under-resourced. The increases the Chancellor has provided for do not go far enough to reverse the damage that has been caused. Our nation’s children are languishing in schools that are crumbling around. Schools should be institutions of learning where every child can achieve a good education to set them up for their adult life as productive members of society, but this Chancellor has decided that he would rather spend millions on the assisted places scheme that subsidises already wealthy families rather than deliver real investment for all families. It is the same with unemployment. When coming to power the Prime Minister set a target of reducing unemployment by 10% yet he completely ignores the easy win that Labour has set out. By investing into our public sector, with more money for roads, utilities and capital projects we could revolutionise the economy for hundreds of thousands of workers with new, well paid jobs. Alas, the Chancellor just settles for matching inflation. Is that the best this Chancellor can come up with? Through increased investment we would take those workers off the dole and into meaningful work, and when they are earning they are paying tax, they are also off benefits. It is a programme that would reap incredible benefits of bringing our nation’s infrastructure up to date and also cutting our deficit through more tax receipts coming into the Treasury. He can’t see that, and it is a shame he is so blinkered. The claims that the provisions in this budget will exceed the 10% target will be highly scrutinised by this Opposition, and if we win this election we will be far bolder in our approach to tackling the scourge of unemployment. To have 3 million unemployed is a national scandal and the Conservatives should be utterly ashamed, but that is their record and that will be the record they will be judged on by the British people in the election. It seems, from the Chancellor’s adherence to this Government’s ideology that he can’t see a good thing when it is staring him in the face. His adherence to privatisation will leave this country’s industrial heritage decimated, but that has been the order of business since his party came to power. Today we learn that three more British Industries are to be sold off. Now these industries are not unproductive, in fact they have been making continued profits for the British taxpayer and the Chancellor thinks that robbing the treasury of that income is a prudent course of action. He covers it by saying he is reducing the liability of the taxpayer, but that is a smokescreen because what this will be is a massive sell-off for his investment banker friends and party donors to carve them up for a profit. Instead of that profit being to the benefit of the entire country they will only benefit shareholders. A real shame, Mr Deputy Speaker, that the Chancellor is cutting off his nose to spite his face. Tories often criticise Labour by saying that eventually socialists run out of other people's money to spend, but I think this Government has taken it to a new level. With their radical selling off the family silver they soon will run out of profitable industries to sell off. And right now, they can sell off national industries to fill the gap of the falling price of north sea oil. But soon the oil revenue will dry up and Britain will be left with nothing to its name but the bad debts of a tory government Public Sector pay is failing to keep up with the private sector. They disrespect public sector workers by not giving them a pay raise matching the increase in the private sector 5%. Under a Labour Government we would recognise the intrinsic value that public sector workers play within our economy and give them a fair wage, and a wage that is attractive to ensure we attract the very best into our health service, our schools and other public sectors. On foreign affairs, defence and national security the Government fails once again. The cut in aid spending is ridiculous. One of Britain’s greatest strengths in foreign relations is our commitment to tackling global poverty and providing aid to country’s suffering from horrendous humanitarian problems. Not only is overseas aid a moral good, it is also an economic good, because the investments we provide through aid deliver increased returns to the British economy through increased exports and friendlier relations. And after our nation’s most horrific terrorist attack in history the tiny increase to our intelligence agencies, whom we all owe a debt to for the foiling of the attack on this Chamber, is shameful. Tackling terrorism is a key task of the intelligence and security services, yet there is no real extra funding for them, but just enough to keep the lights on. Mr Deputy Speaker, this budget is the Conservative’s attempt at turning back seven years of cuts and pain, and unemployment and managed decline of our public sector. But in reality, it is not good enough. The budget can be summarised for many areas with a few simple words “rising with inflation”. Our economy is in desperate need for investment, investment that will bring about a revitalised economy that tackles unemployment head on with precision targeting. We do not have that with the Conservatives, what we have is a Government hoping this will all go away. And with any luck, after this election, it will. It’s time for change, and Labour will deliver that change.
  3. As Shadow Leader of the House I pray time be allocated to this motion, as an opposition day motion.
  4. Mr Speaker, I agree with the Leader of the Liberal Party that it is regrettable that the Prime Minister and his Foreign Secretary have torn up the Anglo-Irish agreement, ruined our international reputation as a nation that keeps its word on international agreements, and has done so without a plan in place to replace the document they have abandoned nor a plan on what their re-negotiation stance will be. I am certain that all members of this House agree that the Anglo-Irish was not a perfect agreement, it had its weaknesses but it was a step forward towards peace in Northern Ireland. It was a step forward because it recognised sovereignty of the United Kingdom with Ireland accepting that it had no territorial claim on Ulster. It enhanced the working relationship between the British Government and the Irish Government to deliver greater security for the people of Northern Ireland. That is what I believe the Prime Minister and his Government has completely forgotten in the rush to renege on an international treaty. If this agreement had come to the House I firmly believe that it would have been supported by a wide majority of members, and I commend the Right Honourable Lady the Member for Finchley in negotiating this agreement. I can only imagine how it must feel to see her successor commit the ultimate betrayal of disloyalty and to see members of her Government now vociferously abandon her legacy. She and I rarely agree, but her work on securing this agreement should be commended. Mr Speaker, what the Prime Minister has done in abandoning this agreement is to leave us weaker and national security at greater risk. The movements taken towards peace have now been forced backwards, and the Government will be starting a renegotiation in a weakened position, no matter who wins the Irish General Election. What is clear, and I think there is wide consensus on this point, is that the Anglo-Irish agreement was not perfect, but as the Right Honourable member we must not let perfect be the enemy of the good. And this agreement was a good first step. The agreement itself had provisions for re-negotiation and further evolution of the plan, and that is the process that the Prime Minister should have engaged in to seek the outcomes that he wants. But no, he wanted to score a quick political win to impress the member for South Down rather than secure the long-term security and peace of Northern Ireland. The Government has plan, no idea and no clue as to what they want achieve. If they did they would have answered the scrutiny placed upon them, but instead they duck and they weave hoping that nobody notices they made a massive mistake. Bad luck, Prime Minster, we all noticed.
  5. Mr Speaker, Before I begin my remarks I want to pay tribute to the 56 innocent lives taken in the callous and cruel attack. 56 families now grieving and mourning the loss of a loved one, and many more families praying that their loved ones recovers from this attack. I also want to pay tribute to our colleagues, David, Anthony and Rebecca who lost their lives. They will be missed from Parliament. I also want to commend the security services, police and all emergency services who so bravely defended our capital and way of life. They are heroes who too often find themselves running towards danger to protect us all. Mr Speaker, I want thank the Deputy Prime Minister for his statement, and thank him for the timeline that he has set out. It is clear that this attack was carefully planned not just by some rogue actors or fringe group within the IRA, but it has come directly from the senior command of the terrorist group. And we must respond to degrade and eliminate that leadership from ever being able to attack our country in this way ever again. I will be clear, that the Government has the Opposition in protecting this nation and bringing those responsible to justice. That is paramount. Mr Speaker, I am glad that the Deputy Prime Minister has highlighted that a peace deal is need. I quite agree, as do we all in opposition, the only people who have disagreed with that statement recently are the members opposite on the Treasury frontbench. It is the Prime Minister that tore up the Anglo-Irish agreement with no replacement. If it was the intention of the Government to renegotiate the agreement then there we mechanisms in place to do so. What is regrettable, is that the very agreement enabled greater cross-border intelligence gathering and sharing between the UK and Irish Governments, and has put into question aid funding into Northern Ireland that is used to combat sectarian violence. Yes, the Anglo-Irish agreement was not perfect but it was a step forward towards peace that could have been built upon. It was good that a number of terrorists were captured, they presented a unique opportunity to gain valuable intelligence into future IRA attacks, but that opportunity has now been lost to us due to their deaths in the Wakefield riots. Will the Deputy Prime Minister support my call for an inquiry into the riot to ascertain why these five men were placed in general population together, how the situation unravelled so quickly and what exactly took place during those hours? However, I repeat my earlier comment that this attack was not the actions of a few low level terrorists. This was a co-ordinated attack by the senior leaders of the IRA and we must ruthlessly pursue them and bring them to justice. We cannot fail on this, we must not fail on this.
  6. Name: Mary Temple Avatar: Diane Fletcher Age: 60 (b. 12/3/1926) Sex: Female Ethnicity: White Marital Status: Married to Andrew Temple (b. 1920, m. 1948). Two children: Sarah (b. 1955) and Stuart (b.1957) Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual Party: Labour Faction/Subgroup: Solidarity Political Outlook: Cross-faction approach, Wilsonite, cautious on Europe (opposed entry in 1975) Constituency: Vauxhall Year Elected: 1964 Education: Guildford High School for Girls; BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics, Somerville College, Oxford (1944-1948); MA International Relations, LSE (1948-1949) Career: Journalist and Academic Political Career: MP for Vauxhall (1964-Present); Minister for Schools (1969-1970); Opposition Spokeswoman for Education (1970-1972); Shadow Minister of State for the Arts (1972-1974); Minister of State for the Arts (1974-1976); Secretary of State for Social Services (1976-1978); Minister for Overseas Development (1978-1979); Shadow Minister for Overseas Development (1979-1981); Shadow Secretary of State for Transport (1984-1986) Bio to follow
  7. Name: Joshua Tanner Avatar: Dan Jarvis MP Age: 48 (b. 12/04/1969) Sex: Male Ethnicity: White British Marital Status: Married with children Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual Party: Labour Faction/Subgroup: Labour to Win, Brownite Political Outlook: Pro-EU, remainer, social democrat, vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, council housing proponent, anti-grammar schools Constituency: Bermondsey and Old Southwark Year Elected: 2015 Education: BA History, Balliol College, Oxford (1987-1990); MA Public Policy, London School of Economics (1990-1991) Career: Parliamentary Assistant, Harriet Harman MP (1991-1993); Policy Officer, Shelter (1993-1994), Policy Manager, Shelter (1994-1996); Campaigns Manager, National Union of Teachers (1994-1997); Special Adviser, Rt Hon Dorothy Dean MP, Secretary of State for Education (1997-2000); Education Policy Adviser, Number 10 Policy Unit (2000-2002); Head of Communications, Welsh Labour (2002-2005); Managing Director, Regus Communications (2005-2015). Political Career: Candidate, Cities of London and Westminster (2001); Candidate, Monmouth (2005) Councillor, London Borough of Southwark (2006-2015); Candidate, Bermondsey and Old Southwark (2010); Deputy Leader, London Borough of Southwark (2010-2013); MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (2015-Present)
  8. Wright Frontbench Team (2017-) Leader of the Liberal Democrats: Martin Wright MP Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats: Jo Swinson MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury and First Secretary of State: Sir Vince Cable MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs: Sir Ed Davey MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Home Office: Jo Swinson MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Exiting the EU: Tom Brake MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Public Services: Norman Lamb MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Government and Communities: Christine Jardine MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: Sarah Olney MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Chief Secretary to the Treasury: Baroness Kramer Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Defence: Nick Harvey MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland: The Lord Paddick Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education: Layla Moran MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Housing: Stephen Lloyd MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Green New Deal: Martin Horwood MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Northern Ireland: Alistair Carmichael MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Wales: Mark Williams MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Young People: Elizabeth Riches MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Women and Equalities: Jean Davis MP Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General: Jamie Stone MP Liberal Democrat Leader of the House of Commons: Andrew George MP Liberal Democrat Chief Whip of the House of Commons: Alistair Carmichael MP Liberal Democrat Leader of the House of Lords: The Lord Newby Liberal Democrat Chief Whip of the House of Lords: Baroness Thornhill
  9. Name: Martin Wright Age: 40 (Born 11th March 1977, Bath) Gender: Male Ethnicity: White British Sexuality: Homosexual Avatar: Jason Kander Discord Username: Morgan Education: King Edward’s School, Bath (1988-1995) BSc Politics, Philosophy and Economics; London School of Economics (1995-1998) Career: Senior Investment Officer, Barclays de Zoete Wedd (1998-1999) Vice President and Head of European Investment, Barclays de Zoete Wedd (1999-2002) Managing Director, Wright Investments (2002-2009) Campaign Manager and Agent, Don Foster for Bath (2005) Financial Policy Consultant, Nick Clegg (2009-2010) Party: Liberal Democrat (Lib Dem) Constituency: Bath Political Career: Member, Bath and North East Somerset Council (2003-2010) Cabinet Member for Finance, Bath and North East Somerset Council (2005-2007) Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Bath and North East Somerset Council (2007-2010) Member of Parliament for Bath (2010-2015, 2017-Present) President, Liberal Democrats (2012-2014) Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister (2014-2015) Biography: Martin was born to Dr Harold and Patricia Wright (nee Adderton), a local GP and homemaker respectively. He grew up in a politically lively household, with his father a Labour voter and mother a Conservative voter he always joked that he was a Liberal Democrat by birth. Martin was Harold and Patricia’s third child, and he came relatively late - with a ten year age gap between him and his nearest sibling. A quiet child, Martin excelled at school. His parents encouraged extra-curricular activities and he found his two passions, tennis and debating. He joined both teams and was found to be a skilled speaker and debater, eventually becoming captain of the school’s debating team and winning the national Observer Schools Mace Debating Championship in 1993. At 18 Martin attended the London School of Economics to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics and like his time at school he excelled in his studies, at times eschewing the usual student night life opting for greater study. He did however join the Debating Society and joined the Liberal Democrats and became an active campaigner across London and in the Young Liberals. In his final year of University he was elected President of LSE Young Liberals. It was also during this time that he met Locryn Chenoweth and they instantly hit it off. To Martin, relatively boring and straight laced, the artistic and creative Cornishman was very exciting. They became an official couple in January 1997 but kept it a secret from their families. After his graduation the pair moved in together. After finishing LSE he was employed by Barclays in their investment banking division as a Financial Analyst. He demonstrated an aptitude for economics and investment and quickly moved upwards in the industry moving to JP Morgan and later returning to Barclays as Managing Director and Head of European Investment in 1997. During his time at Barclays he remained active within the London Liberal Democrats, albeit from a quieter perspective due to his employment. In the early 2000s he was approached by Bath Liberal Democrats to run for council. In 2001 he came out to his parents and introduced Locryn as his partner. Thankfully, Martin’s parents were incredibly welcoming and accepting. In 2002 Martin and Locryn moved to Bath, where Martin had decided to establish his own small investment firm focused on green industries and technologies. During his time in the city he had amassed a tidy fortune that he put into his new business and was able to support himself and Locryn. Their relationship however began to fray, with Martin fully out of the closet and Locryn still not out to his parents; they were leading a double life and it caused significant arguments. The relationship hit its end after Locryn came out to his parents, they thought that it would ease the tension but it did not. The rifts that had formed between the two of them worsened and during Martin's election campaign to Bath and North East Somerset council they split. The break up between the two of them hit Martin hard. For the majority of their relationship it was a very happy time. And the bittersweetness of the time hit Martin hard for he won his seat on BNES council at the same time. As his political career began to take off he set his sights further than his local council and began to aim for Parliament. His investment company began to shift to favourable investments that he could use to build his green credentials. On BNES council he quickly was promoted to Cabinet Member for Finance. He served in that role until 2007. After the 2007 Local Elections and the Liberal Democrats went into opposition on BNES council Martin was elected Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Bath and served in that role up until his election to Parliament in Bath. Seen as a sensible councillor, he sought to build consensus where possible in order to continue to push a Liberal Democrat agenda. During his time as a councillor he set his sights on Bath as a seat he wanted. He quickly became a confidante of Don Foster, the sitting MP, and served as his Campaign Manager in the 2005 General Election. It was during this election that Don confided in Martin that he was considering standing down before the next election. Martin knew that he had to strike while the iron was hot, and after the 2005 General Election he cultivated relationships with senior members of the party. Many of whom he had worked with and campaigned with during his student days and while living in London. In 2009, Martin sold his investment company for a reported profit of £3.5 million, and then took up a role as a Financial Policy advisor to Nick Clegg. In 2009, Don Foster announced he was standing down at the next election. The contest for selection was fierce. As one of the safest Lib Dem seats and Lib Dem held for many years it attracted candidates from far and wide. Martin was selected and was elected at the 2010 election. As a new MP finding himself on the Government benches he had to find his feet fast. He remained on the backbenches and was appointed to the Treasury Select Committee. A loyal MP throughout his first term. In 2012 Martin was elected President of the Liberal Democrats. During the debate on same sex marriage he gave a passionate defence of its introduction, sharing his personal story and reflecting on a failed relationship because of their fear of coming out and how if society’s attitudes had been different in the early 2000s their relationship might have endured. In 2014 Martin was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and remained in post until the 2015 General Election. In the Liberal Democrat wipe out of 2015 Martin was a casualty like so many of his colleagues. After taking an extended break with his husband to the South of France he began to consider his next career move, and with unfinished business in politics he resolved to fight for Bath again. During 2015 and 2017 he published a book on his first term in Parliament. In 2016 he was re-selected as the candidate for Bath and began campaigning across the constituency. In 2017 he was returned to Parliament.
  10. Name: Andrew Wright Avatar: Jeremy Wright MP Age: 49 (12/11/1975) Sex: Male Ethnicity: White British Marital Status: Married, with children Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual Party: Conservative and Unionist Party Political Outlook: One Nation Conservative, Wet, Loyalist. Closely linked with the Cameron reforms of the late 2000s and early 2010s. A vocal proponent of the coalition at the time and actively campaigned for Remain. Supportive of Brexit since the referendum. Andrew is ruthlessly pragmatic. Constituency: Bracknell Year Elected: 2010 Education: RGS Guildford (prep-sixth form); BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics, Balliol College, Oxford (1993-1996) Career: Adviser, Conservative Research Department (1996-1998), Press Officer, William Hague MP (1998-2001), Director of Communications, Hyland Communications (2001-2005); Managing Director, Wright & Co. (2005-2010) Political Career: Member for Bracknell (2010 – Present); Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DCMS (2013-2014); Minister of State for Schools (2014-2016); Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (2016-2019)
  11. Mr Speaker, I never thought I would find myself in this position, but after that statement by the Prime Minister I find myself in agreement with his predecessor in our opposition to fracking. I do wonder if the Prime Minister considers his former boss to have lost his mind when the manifesto he put forward at the last election placed a moratorium on all fracking. There’s not much I agree with this Conservative Government but the moratorium on fracking was the right decision to protect our environment and countryside, but like any sensible idea from a Conservative – it never lasts long. It is rather interesting to hear this new Prime Minister stand at that despatch box and decry the manifesto that he was elected on as something that is rooted baseless fear and climate paranoia. Is that what he told his constituents? I wonder if the Prime Minister will welcome hydraulic fracturing to his constituency, although it matters what his constituents think of course. Will the Prime Minister be a vocal proponent for drilling in Rugby, or will the Prime Minister’s seat be spared that fate? Well, we all know what Conservative Associations can be like. If he doesn’t, I’m certain his backbenchers will soon find out what it is like to really upset their constituents. Returning back to the Prime Minister’s broken promise, well his broken manifesto, which clearly states that no new fracking would be approved unless the science shows categorically that it can be done safely. No science has been presented, no new evidence, no new statistics that demonstrates the categoric safety of fracking beyond a shadow of a doubt. That is because there is none, Mr Speaker. He and I both know that the science is not there and this is a decision the Prime Minister is taking to suit his political ideology over the needs and safety of all of our constituents. Fracking does not bring down the costs of energy prices, because it is unstable and based on British Geological Society own reports show that the levels of shale gas could be much lower than expected. And even Cuadrilla admits that the average production of a well would require the UK to have over 20,000 wells to deliver what they claim. That’s a lot of community buy in the Prime Minister is going to need. Fracking will be harmful to our natural environment and will not deliver the energy security that the Government believes it will. Nor will this new fast tracking of oil and gas exploration licenses. Because, Mr Speaker, there is no oil field that will instantly start producing oil tomorrow for use, quite the opposite actually. It will take years for new exploration to start producing oil, so what are we supposed to do until then? Continue to depend on foreign energy because the Government has spectacularly failed to act in their 12 years of governing. And even when this new, fast tracked licenses start to deliver oil there will be no real benefit for Britain because the moment that license is issued the oil they discover belongs to them to sell as they wish. And sell to the foreign market they will. These license-holders are multinational, private equity firms or state-backed oil firms owned by other governments – well atleast the Tories are happy for some governments to profit of our oil, it just won’t be the British government. There is no legal requirement for these firms to sell to the domestic UK market, and the oil predominantly found in the North Sea oil fields is not even oil that we use in UK refineries. In October 2021, when this country was entering the energy crisis there was extraordinarily high levels of oil and gas exports – in fact in October 2021 exports were the highest for a decade. So, claims that unleashing UK oil and gas will deliver energy security for the UK is a redherring at best – what this Government will be ensuring is that Oil and Gas giants will continue to make record profits after giving them a £7 billion loan. Even if the government were to suddenly change their tune and start a state-backed oil firm there would be no long term results. Let’s look at one example, Abigail Gas field. Thai gas field is located to the East of Scotland - it will cost millions to develop and to access the gas but will only produce enough gas to mett UK demand for 36 hours. That’s 36 hours total. Let’s look at another example, Rosenbank oil field to the west of Shetland, it is believed that this oil field has over 300 barrels of oil - that sounds great - but the license holder for this oil field is Equinor. The Norweigan oil and gas giant which is back by the Noreweigan government. So it is Norway that will profit from this oil not the UK. Mr Speaker, these are just two examples of existing licenses and the reserves of oil and gas in the North Sea is dwindling with every new license issued. And new drilling will not lead to greater prosperity or energy security for the UK - just more profit for oil and gas giants. That’s who the Government is supporting with this plan, not the British people. What I am also surprised with is this Government’s flagrant disregard of the international commitments it made at COP26 which is clear in the need to transition away from fossil fuels and to move towards greater renewable energy sources. COP26 was not something that was forced onto this Conservative Government but it was something they actually negotiated and led. It seems the Conservative tendency of reneging on international agreements hasn’t ended with the change of leadership, however I did expect a little more time to have passed before they completely forgot they were ones who brokered it. And it is quite galling to see the Government weaken the emission trading scheme, watering it down so polluters can pollute even more and pollute even cheaper. This plan from the Government is the Prime Minister standing with his arms wide open ready for polluters and oil and gas companies to jump right on in. And why should we be surprised? That is exactly what they bought with their 3 month decision to not increase fuel prices. Britain is addicted to gas and like any addict we can’t see that our supply is running out and it is killing us. And the Government is acting like a dealer forcing more and more oil and gas into our country that we are nowhere near kicking the habit. It is time that this country take serious steps to ensure our energy security for the long term, energy that is produced in the UK for the benefit of the UK. Green, renewable energy that lasts, nuclear, wind, solar, wave - we have the expertise and technology ready to go but this Government will not invest in it. They would rather ingratiate themselves to oil barons instead of delivering for British people with the energy that they want and need. Our country needs a government that will deliver energy security and independence that is sustainable and credible, frankly Mr Speaker this Government is neither of those things. Labour will make those right calls, Labour will invest in our country’s real energy security, Labour will protect our natural resources from wanton destruction. It’s time for this tired, tory government to go.
  12. Name: Simon Godwin Avatar: Paul Rudd Age: 48 (13th February 1973) Sex: Male Ethnicity: British White Marital Status: Married Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual Party: Labour Political Outlook: Labour First tradition – he believes that the most important thing for Labour to focus on is to be in Government and is critical of those who seek ideological purity over the success of the party. Sits closest to a Brownite. Constituency: Hove Year Elected: 2005, and then 2015 Education: Westminster School (1984-1989); BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics, Selwyn College, Cambridge (1991-1993) Career: Parliamentary Assistant, Margaret Beckett MP (1993-1994); Policy Adviser, The Smith Institute (1994-1998); Special Adviser, Secretary of State for Social Security Alistair Darling (1998-2001); Head of Communications, Shelter (2001-2003); Director of Campaigns, Shelter (2003-2005); Director, The Smith Institute (2011-2015) Political Career: MP for Hove (2005-2010, 2015-Present); Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister (2007-2008); Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (2008-2009); Minister of State for Housing and Planning (2009-2010)*; Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning (2015-2016); Member, Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee (2017-2019); Chair, Labour Friends of Israel (2018-2019); Member, Public Accounts Committee (2019-2021). Bio: Simon Godwin was born to Jack and Lucy Godwin (nee Williams), two academics in the field of History and Philosophy. Simon was their second child of three and only son. Jack and Lucy Godwin were members of the Labour Party, and were prominent members in the Brighton Labour party, and Simon grew up around politics and political figures. One of his earliest memories was Barbara Castle sat at his parent’s dinner table, which was in 1978 in the run up to the general election. From a young age he showed an aptitude for the humanities, including history and geography. He attended Westminster School, where he was a member and later captain of the debate team and played midfield for the school’s hockey first team. In 1991 he attended Selwyn College where he read Politics, Philosophy and Economics. At Cambridge, Simon was what you would expect a future politician to be; ambitious, opinionated and smug. He was a member of the Cambridge Union and was elected President in his final year. Graduating Cambridge he immediately went to Parliament to serve as Parliamentary Assistant to Margaret Beckett. In 1994 the Smith Institute was established, and Simon took on the role of Policy Adviser focusing on Local Government policy. He remained with the Smith Institute for 4 years when he was hired by Alistair Darling as his Special Adviser. In 2001, he left Government to work in the third sector for Shelter, eventually rising to Director of Campaigns for the charity. It was during this time at Shelter that he experienced the horror that it is to be homeless and destitute, that governments of all colours must do more to tackle homelessness nationally. In 2003 he met his wife, Luciana, a political reporter for the Guardian. In 2006 they had a daughter, Jessica. Simon had been politically active since a teenager, and during his time at university and during his career his commitment to the Labour party only strengthened, and he actively pursued election to Parliament. In 1997, only four years out of University, he stood for Mid Sussex and despite that Labour landslide he was unsuccessful. In 2001 he stood again in Mid Sussex and was unsuccessful. In 2003 the sitting MP for Hove announced his retirement, and with thanks to his connections in the party and close familial links in the area he was successful in selection and was later elected in 2005. Hove had long been a bellwether seat, accurately predicting the national result, and upon taking his seat he made his maiden speech where he highlighted the impressive work the Labour government had on reducing poverty but delivered a call to action for the Government to do more on tackling homelessness and rough sleeping. Simon had long been a supporter of Gordon Brown and the Tribune wing of the party. He believed deeply in the ideals of Labour first and that the success of the Parliamentary Labour Party was paramount, and only through Labour holding Government could they truly deliver the change the country needed. For the first two years of being an MP he remained a loyal backbencher, and in 2007 was appointed PPS to the PM, and his ascent up the greasy pole began quickly being promoted to junior minister in DCLG and later Minister of Housing and Planning. The young MP was being noticed within the party and was a popular fixture on the Sunday news shows. He was seen as a rising star in the party. However, disaster struck in 2010. The bellwether nature of his Hove seat proved true and he lost to the Conservatives by a whisker - something he lays blame for at the Liberal Democrats - for the Conservative vote share barely moved but there was a direct correlation between the increase in the Lib Dem vote share to his decreased vote share. Ever since then, and the ensuing Lib Dem/Tory alliance he distrusts the liberals and lays more than enough blame at their feet for austerity. Now without a job he had to decide what his next steps were. Fortunately, with more than enough contacts within the party and a vacancy at the Smith Institute he was hired as its Director. A post he held up until his re-election in 2015. Keeping his feet fully submerged in the Labour party he was able to attract big names to the Institute and his time there was some of the happiest times of his life, it almost was enough to keep him from running for Parliament again. But in 2014, and the state of the country after years of the Coalition and their austerity politics he knew that he had to get back into the ring fully. He was re-selected for the Hove constituency and returned to Parliament on an increased majority to his 2005 election. The bellwether status of Hove seemed to be broken. Despite being out of Parliament for five years he quickly slotted back into the PLP, with most of his friends still there but a radically different party. In the 2015 leadership contest he nominated and supported Andy Burnham. He was sceptical of Jeremy Corbyn and the movement he represented, one that did not seem serious about pursuing political power but as a loyal member of the party he accepted a position within his Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning. At first he relished being back in the cut and thrust of frontbench politics, but he became increasingly frustrated with the leadership, and at one point joked with a frontbench colleague “Who’s he going to say next? Doris from down the fucking road?” 2016. The fateful year of the referendum and the leadership challenge. Simon was pro-EU but had never really been pressed on the topic before. During the referendum he openly supported the Remain Campaign. He campaigned across the South of England, and actively supported cross-party campaigning with Simon joining Conservative, Green and Liberal Democrat (through gritted teeth) politicians and campaigners to bolster the national campaign. After the referendum campaign, and the accusations made of Jeremy Corbyn, which he agreed with, Simon joined the numerous resignations from the Shadow Cabinet, and supported Owen Smith in the 2016 leadership challenge. After leaving the frontbench, Simon became more vocal in his criticism of the Labour leadership and their failure to cut through against a robotic and uncaring Prime Minister. In the 2017 General Election, Simon was re-elected again with a massive majority. The 2017 election may have quietened the critics of Corbyn but it did not silence them, for despite all their gains they failed to remove the Conservatives from office. Since the election Simon has joined the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee and was elected Chair of Labour Friends of Israel in 2018. With the accusations of anti-Semitism levelled at the Labour leader Simon has called on Corbyn to resolutely condemn anti-Semitism, pursue an active campaign of expulsion of anti-Semites from the Labour Party and commit to immediate action to tackle anti-Semitism within the Labour party. Simon was an opponent to the deals brought back by the Prime Minister and has voted against the deals every step of the way. However, now that Britain has left the EU he has accepted that reality and has said publicly that he will “scrutinise the trade deal negotiated by this Government, but I am not holding my breath that they will succeed.” After the 2019 election Simon supported Jess Phillips initially, and then transferred his support to Lisa Nandy during the leadership contest and was reported saying “Thank God Corbyn has gone, the biggest embarrassment the Labour party has ever suffered through.” Simon has since been a loyal supporter of the Starmer/Rayner leadership. *Approved by Blakesley and did not attend Cabinet.
  13. Name: Helen Drake Avatar: Gillian Anderson Age: 53 (12//4/1955) Sex: Female Ethnicity: White Marital Status: Married Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual Party: Conservative and Unionist Party Political Outlook: Thatcherite, euro-sceptic, socially liberal, fiscally conservative Constituency: Surrey Heath Year Elected: 2001 Education: LLB Law, University of Surrey Career: Criminal Barrister Political Career: MP, Surrey Heath (2001-Present); Member, Public Accounts Committee (2003-2005); Shadow Local Government Minister (2005-2006); Shadow Justice Minister (2006-2007); Minister of State, Local Government and Communities (2007)
  14. Speaker of the House The Government has confirmed that they accept this amendment as friendly. Division! Clear the lobbies (again)
  15. Speaker of the House Is this amendment accepted as friendly?
  16. Leader of the Liberal Democrats: Meredith Hansen-Charles Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats: Simon Hughes Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer: Vince Cable Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Simon Hughes Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department: Lembit Opik Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families: David Laws Shadow Secretary of State for Communities: Lynne Featherstone Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare: Steve Webb Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Infrastructure, and the Environment: Ed Davey Shadow Secretary of State for Defence: Norman Baker Lib Dem Chief Whip: Alastair Carmichael Shadow Leader of the House of Commons: Nick Clegg Shadow Leader of the House of Lords: Baroness Williams of Crosby
  17. Name: Meredith Hansen-Charles Avatar: Kate Mulgrew Age: 60 (19/06/1947) Sex: Female Ethnicity: White Marital Status: Civil partnered Sexual Orientation: Lesbian Party: Liberal Democrats Political Outlook: Beveridge Group, former SDP, Social Liberal, Europhile, pro-devolution Constituency: Cardiff Central Year Elected: 2005 Education: BA Classics, Somerville College, Oxford (1965-1968); Pupilage, Inner Temple (1970) Career: Barrister, Wales and Chester Circuit (1970-1975); Director of Policy, United Nations Development Fund for Women (1976-1980); Queen’s Counsel (1980); Visiting Law Lecturer, Cardiff University (1980-1999); Executive Director, Welsh Women’s Aid (1983-1987); Board Member, Electoral Reform Society (1987-1993); Founder and Director, Lawyers for Devolution (1993-1997); Board Member, Yes for Wales!; Member, National Assembly Advisory Group (1997-1999). Political Career: Councillor, Cyncoed Ward, Cardiff Council (1987-2005); Assembly Member, Cardiff Central, National Assembly for Wales (1999-2005); Minster of Culture, Sport and Welsh Language, Welsh Assembly Government (2000-2003); Acting Deputy First Minister of Wales (2001-2002); Member of Parliament, Cardiff Central (2005-Present); Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Wales (2005-2006); Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs (2006-2007)
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