Erdington and Shrewsbury MPs under-fire for non-attendance
by jontandy on February 14, 2010
in Election, General, Labour Party, Parliamentary
Apr 9 2009 by Edward Chadwick, Birmingham Post
Two Midland MPs have been named as among the worst elected representatives in the country who have failed to show up for large numbers of Commons committees.
Sion Simon, the Labour MP for Erdington, managed to get to just 29.7 per cent of meetings of the treasury committee.
Although he became the Government’s Further Education Minister in October, figures released by Parliament show he attended only 11 of 37 meetings in the 12 months to November 2008.
Shrewsbury’s Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski is listed as present at just 12.5 per cent of the justice committee and 31.3 per cent of the international development committee.
He has claimed the figures are wrong.
At least 60 of 220 members on the most powerful committees examining public spending and services have missed at least half of all meetings in the last year.
The figure has sparked concern among select committee chairmen that MPs are shirking responsibilities and failing to properly hold government to account.
Phil Willis, chairman of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee, said: “I think it is the job of members to attend.”
Commons committees are cross-party groups responsible for scrutinising public expenditure and policies. They are made up of mainly back-bench MPs.
Mr Simon said: ‘‘It is a ridiculous non-story. It’s like saying every MP should be in the Chamber for every debate. Select committees do not work like that. They are just one of a range of tools MPs can use. There is no reason whatsoever to priorities select committee meetings above the other work of an MP.
“I pick my meetings and was an active and effective member of the committee. I work for the people of Erdington and the Labour Government; not the Treasury Select Committee.’’
Mr Kawczynski did not respond to calls to his office but told The Times the figure for his attendance at the international development committee was wrong and that he had not attended the justice committee because the two clashed.
Meanwhile, Birmingham MP Gisela Stuart defended foreign trips by Commons committee members to sunny climes which have cost taxpayers £1.3 million in the last year alone.
Committee members have jetted off to California, Bali, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands on overseas “fact-finding” trips.
One MP went on 11 foreign visits last year. The Taxpayer’s Alliance has said the amount of money lavished on foreign trips seemed “excessive and frivolous”.
Edgbaston MP Mrs Stuart’s foreign affairs committee spent £231,023 last year on foreign trips, including the Caribbean holiday island of Bermuda.
But the back-bench Labour MP said her visit to the Falkland Islands as part of the committee’s work last May was modest and involved little luxury.
“We flew most of the way by military plane and stayed in fairly basic bed and breakfast accommodation,” she said. “It was far from lavish or excessive.
“The trip to Bermuda led to the suspension of the government in the Turks and Caicos Islands because of corruption.
“These trips cost a lot of money but if you were to ask me whether the trips provided good value, then the answer would be yes.”
Other trips included a £48,000 junket to South Africa by the justice committee to look at the role of the prison officer abroad.
Matthew Elliott, of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “Every parliamentary trip should be scrutinised to see if it is really worthwhile.”
Meet the Voters 13th+14th Feb 2010
by jontandy on February 12, 2010
in Election, Labour Party, Parliamentary, Personal
Liz, Steve and I will be out campaigning this weekend and hope that you might be able to join us!
We will be meeting this Saturday 13th at 11am at frankwell carpark by the suspension bridge.
On Sunday 14th we will be out meeting the lovely voters campaigning from 11am meeting at the Onslow pub car park gains park.
We would be delighted if you were able to spare an hour or two. Please do text Jon on 07800 589 074 if you can make it!
Thanks
- Jon Tandy
School Places Solution Vital
by jontandy on February 4, 2010
in Community, General, Labour Party, Local Council, Parliamentary
The problem of surplus school places in Shropshire is back on the front page (Shropshire Star 2nd Feb). Now the spotlight has moved on to our secondary schools, which are reported to be facing large reductions in pupil numbers over the next 5-6 years. This issue has been central to school funding in our County in recent years. To be fair to the controlling Tory group on the former County Council, they did recently attempt to tackle surplus numbers in the primary sector. Sadly, rank and file Tory Councillors when faced with the inevitable angry protests buckled under the pressure, and appeared more concerned with the approaching unitary elections than with making progress on the matter.
Well, the problem has not gone away. I fully appreciate, and sympathise, with village residents concerned about the risk of closure to their school. On top of the loss of the local shop, pub and bus service this can seem like the last straw. But we must all accept small rural schools cannot be considered in isolation. Surplus places kept open mean less funding for the rest of our schools, including those in both village and town.
In my opinion what is required is an approach that considers the whole of our school system, and whilst listening fully to the people, is not then derailed by narrow local electoral considerations. The issue is very emotive and inevitably supporters of some schools will be disappointed. The ruling Conservatives on Shropshire Council face some very tough decisions on the matter, but to do nothing is no longer an option.
What was not acceptable was the stance of certain prominent local Tories, who sought to blame the Labour Government for Shropshire’s surplus place problem. Spouting misleading and inaccurate claims will not solve the problem, and does nothing to foster the informed debate we all need to have on the subject. The funding figures per pupil are largely a product of past failures to tackle the surplus place problem. No Government, of whatever party, is going to pay us to maintain significant numbers of empty desks.
If the same people repeat these claims now, they will truly have exposed themselves to be unable to understand simple mathematics, or worse, to be total cynics.
Fighters and Believers (Video)
by jontandy on January 21, 2010
in Election, General, Labour Party
Tories are going soft on crime
by jontandy on January 21, 2010
in Community, County Council, Election, General, Labour Party, Parliamentary
“Tories are going soft on crime” says Jon Tandy as crime in West Mercia falls by 6% “These figures show that Labour’s tough action is working in YOUR area.”
Figures released today (Thursday Jan 21st) show that crime across the West Mercia Police area, covering Shrewsbury, has fallen by 6%. Across the country, crime has fallen by 8%, with burglary, robbery and violence all down this quarter.
This welcome drop, which will be welcomed by people across West Mercia, is the latest indication that Labour’s tough line and investment in frontline services is making our communities safer.
Labour’s Jon Tandy PPC said: “Today’s crime figures chime with the unemployment figures earlier this week. Just
as Labour’s investment has helped keep people in work through the recession, investment in policing and communities is helping make people safer in their homes and on the streets of Shrewsbury.
“Though every crime committed is terrible for the victim, and every job lost a personal tragedy, the evidence clearly shows that Labour investment is working, both on crime and the economy.
“It’s also clearer than ever that the Tories would be a disaster for both, choking off recovery with their irresponsible economic plans and opposing tough action on crime and anti-social behaviour.”
I know from recent debates in Shropshire Council that local Tories are fixated on future cuts in services no matter what the consequences for local residents in terms of our local quality of life.
“Today’s figures show that the crimes the public care most about are falling across the county with burglary, robbery and violence all down this quarter and overall police recorded crime reduced by six per cent.
“I’m very pleased to see that confidence in the police is increasing and the number of people worried about high levels of antisocial behaviour has fallen to 15 per cent – the lowest on record. The British Crime Survey also shows and the risk of being a victim is at its lowest point ever.
“The fall in crime across the West Midlands region shows the difference that can be made when we work together to tackle crime and is a testament to the effort and commitment shown by police and crime reduction partners around the region.”
Instead of the local Tories regularly knocking the Police, they should thank them for their part in these real concrete improvements, and support them as we seek to drive local crime down still further.
