(This is an open response to Cllr Reggie Jones, a Labour Councillor for Blacon in Chester)

Oh what a delight it must be to live in Labour Land, where the Government should interfere, spy on, and be treated to jubilation and praise by its ever thankful population.

Or so Cllr Reggie Jones would have you believe.

Allow me to go through his latest claims one-by-one:

1) Low income households will lose the most out of the budget.

£2.13 per week. I’m not disputing that for some it can represent difficult decisions, but this is the same Labour Party who scoffed at the £2.83 per week marriage allowance in the Conservative manifesto. If £2.83 is an insult, then in Labour Land £2.13 must be nothing? Moving on to…

1a) Using the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) report as a critique of the Coalition’s budget.

Labour criticised the IFS report in their April budget, saying it couldn’t factor everything in. In Labour Land they are right, everyone else is wrong and there’s no room for disagreement.

2) Claiming that David Cameron is stepping away from free bus travel, television licences, and winter fuel payments.

Bus travel is being increased to 65 for all – like the pension age for all. Similarly winter fuel payments, and there’s no change to the TV licence being free for over 75′s. I’m afraid Cllr Reggie Jones is scaremongering. Scaremongering is rife in Labour Land, what with Labour sending out targeted cancer leaflets saying people would die if they voted Conservative.

3) The Coalition is abandoning those in need with fixed term social housing.

Social housing should be in place for those who need it most. Is Cllr Reggie Jones suggesting that those reliant on benefits should play second fiddle to a couple who have, through their own success, worked their way up the ranks at work and earn over £60,000 a year? That’s what the Coalition’s policy is to prevent – along with a married couple having a 4 bedroomed house whilst a family of 5 squeeze into a two bed. In Labour Land this is fine, as each bedroom is the size of a small bungalow.

Reality bites, and it would do the Labour Party a great deal of benefit to wise up to the fact that people don’t live in cloud cuckoo land, they live in reality. A debt-ridden reality where people are grown up enough to understand and accept the difficult truth. Britain has no money left (don’t take my word for it, the former Labour Treasury Minister Liam Byrne MP said it!).

The state is a safety net – not a wheelchair. The nanny state is dead – long live freedom and society.

Firstly, thank you for allowing me to speak Mr Chairman. The application on its own merits has flaws – it is a retrospective application, but not labelled as such; indeed, at least one student is already in occupation. Work began on this property after April began, as the former occupier did not leave until March 31st. There was the initial plan to have 5 bedrooms. This then changed to 4 after it was realised a tenant would be trapped in event of a fire. One defence of this application is that it’s not guaranteed to be just students. Where is the corresponding guarantee that it won’t just be non-students?

This call-in is about so much more than this single, solitary HMO – this is evidenced in the report. It’s about the wider impact on the Garden Quarter. 40% of all properties are student-led HMOs, with unknown figures for young professionals. 40%. Imagine your communities having a 60% occupancy rate for half a year. 6 months of neglect. That is the reason I have called this application in – the straw that broke the camels’ back was applied years ago – we now seek to squash this poor animal out of existence, despite the opportunity to follow HO 16 and limit the number of HMO’s in Chester.

The blame does not lay entirely with students, who seek an education – nor does it with private landlords who seek to run a business, and often in cases such as these provide retirement funds. The problem is that the studentification of Chester has gone on for so long. Chester ought to be a City with a University; not a University City where we are dependent on one organisation for the financial wellbeing of our City.

The report recommends approval because on its own it is harmless. As Cheshire West and Chester we are 4 Councils as 1 – we look at the wider picture. As a City Ward Councillor I want Ellesmere Port, Northwich and Winsford to succeed – it makes for a stronger Borough. The wider implications of this application being approved is that we continue to look at things on a case by case basis; not the greater impact. Do you really want 40% of a community empty for half a year – every year?

That is how residential amenity is affected and I urge members to reject this application.

Thank you.

Unfortunately the planning permission was granted, by a 5-1 majority, with 2 abstentions.

On July 9th 2009, the Labour Department of Health planned the following:

Subject to a consultation launched on 9 July 2009 by Ofcom, a number of strategic health authority areas will pilot the use of 111 from spring 2010, with the intention of extending coverage to all of England if the pilots are successful. The Scottish Government has said it may follow suit, depending on the English pilots.

The service will not replace 999 for emergencies, but in the long term it is set to become the gateway to the NHS Direct nurse led phone service. For the time being NHS Direct will continue with its own telephone number, 0845 4647.

The move to a three figure number for NHS Direct was suggested in 2007 in the DoH’s Our NHS, Our Future report, and by the consumer organisation Which? In 2006. The latter’s research suggested that three quarters of people in England did not know the NHS Direct number.

Ofcom’s consultation notes that the memorability of the 999 emergency number, also available through the European-wide number 112, “often results in consumers calling 999/112 or going to accident and emergency departments, which may be unnecessary, inappropriate and inefficient”. It says emergency call volumes increased annually by an average of 6.5% between 1997-8 and 2006-7.

“Patients have told us that they need clear, easy advice on how to find healthcare when they don’t need to go to A&E and we have asked Ofcom to consult on making a new national 111 number available for them,” said health minister Mike O’Brien.

“The NHS already provides a range of urgent care services. The memorable 111 number will support these services and provide more choice for patients to find the care they need. This will be particularly useful outside of GP surgery hours and for people who are away from home.”

The department estimates that an England-wide 111 service could receive 14.4m to 30m calls annually, combining the volume of calls to NHS Direct and GP out of hours services.

The Conservative – Lib Dem Coalition has proposed the same (and plans to put it into action). Labour now say:

The plan has provoked an angry reaction from Labour, with shadow health secretary Andy Burnham using it as evidence of what he claims is the government’s intention to “dismantle” the NHS.

He said: “The health secretary’s statement will stun people across the NHS.

“It is yet more evidence that Andrew Lansley is on a vindictive mission to break up the NHS, ruthlessly dismantling services before alternatives are in place.”

Mr Burnham told the BBC that the government had shown “arrogance” and acted in a “cavalier” way by choosing to scrap NHS Direct without consulting the public.

He said the service saved the NHS £200m a year and played a key role in taking pressure off the health service.

He said: “It’s been a proven success for a decade and simply to scrap it is no way to run the NHS.”

Andy Burnham became the Secretary of State for Health on 5 June 2009.

UPDATE:

On December 19th 2009 The Labour Government announced plans so that:

Trained call takers will be able to give medical advice over the phone, direct more serious cases to the ambulance service and give details of the nearest walk-in centre or health centre for less urgent problems.

Ed Balls says that as a result of the IFS’ report into the emergency budget that:

“The government’s ideological assault on our welfare state and public services is not simply economic vandalism, I fear it will damage the very fabric of our society too.”

Right, so Labour don’t ideologically believe in spending more and taxing more, like, you know, the abolition of the 10p tax rate?

Getting people dependent on the state, rather than cutting taxes so that they can have more responsibility and control over their own life? Yes, they did that too.

Also, Labour attacked the Conservatives for having the audacity to offer £2.83 per week as tax relief for married couples, calling it an insult. They have also attacked the Coalition for taking a maximum of £2.13 per week away from families.

As for damaging the fabric of our society, why, under 13 years of a ‘progressive’ party, did the gap between rich and poor widen – and by so much?

Labour vandalised the economy – The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are fixing it.

Members of the public got the chance to quiz their Councillors, find out what’s going on in the City and win a pair of tickets to Chester Zoo last weekend.

The Councillors took a stand at the Groves last weekend.

Councillor Richard Lowe said, “The event has proven to be a fantastic success. We now plan to hold more of these events in the hope the public will react positively to the non-formal setting of meeting room.”

“We spoke to dozens of residents over the two hours, and dealt with many queries from planning issues to pot holes to overgrown trees.”

Cllr Richard Lowe and ward colleagues Tom Parry and Max Drury have secured a number of bicycle bells to give away to City based cyclists. If you would like one please email Richard Lowe on richard.lowe@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

If the first person climbed Mount Everest in 1953, and subsequently there have been over 4,000 successful ascents, has Everest got easier and more adaptable over time? Unlikely; better equipment, planning & health are more viable answers.

So why then, on A-Level & GCSE results day do we always find criticism that exams are easier, rather than praise students and teachers for the increase in grades?

Good luck and congratulations to all those who are receiving their AS, A Level and GCSE results!

On Twitter last night, Iain Lindley, Rob Chilton and myself were discussing a 20 year old becoming an Australian MP. Rob felt he would lack experience, whilst Iain and I believed that if you’re old enough to vote, you’re old enough to stand.

To expand on this, the people of Longman, Queensland, voted for Wyatt Roy because they believed him to be the best candidate – if they felt that at 20 he was too inexperienced, they would have voted for someone else. Similarly, and Rob didn’t say this, if you say someone is too young to represent their area after being elected, you are doing a disservice to the electorate. Democracy enables people to vote for whomever they want – to restrict this on age limits is an affront to democracy.

Similar to Wyatt Roy, voters in Rice Lake, Wisconsin elected a 19 year old Mayor in April of this year – story below:

A young man wearing a Hollister T-shirt, shorts and sandals picked up election signs Wednesday in Rice Lake, Wis. The 19-year-old wasn’t a campaign volunteer. Romaine Quinn is the new mayor.

Quinn, who served one year on the Rice Lake City Council before being elected mayor on Tuesday, said, “Age, I don’t think, necessarily makes a difference, I mean, it’s about the issues.”

Judging by the talk at Maxine’s restaurant, he might be right.

“Apparently, a lot of people wanted change,” said 78-year-old Del Hanson, who voted for Quinn.

A couple seats down the counter, Richard Cerminar wished he could have cast a ballot for the young candidate.

“From what I understand, an extremely nice young man,” said Cerminar, who lives just outside Rice Lake proper.

Cerminar thinks Romaine’s big win had a lot to do with what happened on Manwaring Avenue and other roads around town.

“They cut down trees that were 40 and 50 years old and put in sidewalks nobody needed or wanted,” he said.

“They just didn’t listen,” said George Erickson. “Basically everybody on this street didn’t want a sidewalk.”

The “improvements” being made by the city are effectively taking away half of Erickson’s front yard.

It doesn’t help that the project got started late last fall and is still ongoing.

JoAnn Erickson said her front yard has been a muddy mess much of the past several months.

The Ericksons and their neighbors filled the council chambers to protest plans to put in sidewalks.

“The council wouldn’t listen, but Romaine was one that said, ‘I think we should listen to the people,’ and no, they wouldn’t,” Joann recalled.

“People want someone who’s proud to serve as mayor, but still humble enough to realize he’s no better than anyone else in town,” said Quinn, who takes political science classes at the University of Wisconsin-Barron County.

He cites Ron Paul, the libertarian-leaning Republican congressman from Texas, as his political role model.

The Ericksons voted for a young mayor once before. JoAnn said that was a “disaster.”

She’s not worried about Quinn’s fitness for the job or his age.

“Doesn’t matter. He’s got a head on his shoulders,” said JoAnn. “He’ll do fine. I’m sure he’ll do fine. It’ll surprise me if he doesn’t.”

During his campaign, Quinn told voters he wants to hold the line on taxes, replace the city administrator and, of course, reconsider plans to put sidewalks all over Rice Lake.

He beat incumbent mayor Dan Fitzgerald with 53 percent of the vote.

“Age, I don’t think, necessarily makes a difference, I mean, it’s about the issues.” – Thoughts? How much does life experience matter?

Chester’s Inner Neighbourhood Policing Team have moved back in to the Town Hall after the installation of a lift has been completed.

The police helpdesk will now be open from today at 9am, and the opening hours will be Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.45pm. To contact the City Policing Team call 0845 458 6375 or email chester.inner.npt@cheshire.pnn.police.uk

This is why I referred to him as my active political hero:

“The debate should have provided the conservative defenders of property rights with a perfect example of how the right to own property also protects the 1st Amendment rights of assembly and religion by supporting the building of the mosque.”

“Instead, we hear lip service given to the property rights position while demanding that the need to be “sensitive” requires an all-out assault on the building of a mosque, several blocks from “ground zero.”

“Just think of what might (not) have happened if the whole issue had been ignored and the national debate stuck with war, peace, and prosperity. There certainly would have been a lot less emotionalism on both sides. The fact that so much attention has been given the mosque debate, raises the question of just why and driven by whom?”

“In my opinion it has come from the neo-conservatives who demand continual war in the Middle East and Central Asia and are compelled to constantly justify it.”

Link to full statement: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Ron-Paul-Left-and-the-Right-bw-916167070.html?x=0

Over on ConservativeHome there’s a ‘Twenty Questions for the Class of 2010′ bit going on for new MPs. I’ve decided to introduce and adapt it here:

1. What is your earliest political memory? Margaret Thatcher leaving Downing Street. I was 6.

2. Complete the sentence: “I’m a Conservative because… I believe in liberty, ambition and competition”

3. Who is your political hero and why? Margaret Thatcher. She had a vision of what the future held for the UK, and went for it. Dr Ron Paul in active politics.

4. When did you decide you wanted to become an Councillor? I stood as a ‘paper’ candidate in Madeley, Newcastle Under Lyme in my last year at Keele in 2006, coming 29 votes short of the incumbent Labour Councillor (now a Tory!). When I moved to Chester 6 months later, I made a conscious decision then that I would eventually hope to be elected to serve my community.

5. What is your reading material of choice? Websites: Chester Chronicle, ConservativeHome, ESPN.com, Guido Fawkes, Charlotte Gore, Adam Smith Institute, WalesOnline. Print: Chester Standard, History Books & Sports Books.

6. Who is your favourite political interviewer/presenter on TV or radio? Jon Humphrys – THE Devil’s Advocate!

7. If you could run any council department, which would it be and why? Prosperity – My main work background has been in business support, and small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy. Anything a Local Authority can do to assist this can only be of benefit.

8. Which non-Conservative politician do you most admire? Dr Ron Paul. (UK-wise, David Laws.)

9. Who would you least want to get stuck with in a HQ lift? No-one really; I’d like to think party politics don’t affect how I interact with people – outside of the Council Chamber!

10. If you were in the US, would you be a Republican or a Democrat? Depends on the leader. In the 2008 election, Republican.

11. What do you enjoy doing to unwind and relax? Reading, play on the Xbox, watch tv.

12. What is your favourite book? I don’t really have one I keep going back to, so pass!

13. What is your favourite film? Back to the Future – all 3.

14. What is your favourite music? Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Elton John, Elvis Presley, KISS… and Girls Aloud!

15. What would be your ideal meal and where would you eat it? My own marinated chicken, over Jamaican-inspired rice, at home, with my wife.

16. What is your favourite holiday destination? New York City.

17. What do you hope to have achieved in your first term as a Councillor? To be a Councillor who listens and responds to the needs of the community I serve, who isn’t afraid to provide ideas for the success of the City, and who can be considered to have put the residents first.

18. Tell us one interesting, unusual or surprising fact about yourself. I’ve met David Hasslehoff, and have an autographed copy of his autobiography. Does that count as unusual??

19. Tell us one interesting, unusual or surprising fact about your constituency. Chester Racecourse is the oldest sporting venue in continual use in the UK, with the first race occurring in 1540 – 470 years ago.

20. Share with us your most amusing story or favourite anecdote from the campaign trail. Constantly being told I looked too young to be a Councillor, but it was always followed by “it’s a good thing!”.