Jeremy Browne MP’s Monthly Update - March 2008
Posted by Jeremy Browne, MP for Taunton, at 14:51, Mon 7 April 2008:
Jeremy Browne MP’s Monthly Update
This month, Jeremy called for commonsense in tackling drink driving. He said;
“Let me be clear: I support hard-hitting campaigns and rigorous enforcement of the law. But I am dubious about claims that cutting the limit will improve road safety. It could even distract attention away from catching the drivers who drink far more than the existing limit.”
Read Jeremy’s parliamentary motion at; http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=35517&SESSION=891
RHIANNA HARDIE
This month Jeremy arranged for the parents of Rhianna Hardie, the baby girl who died in Taunton when scalding water cascaded over her, to meet with the Government Minister responsible for building regulations. He commented;
"The death of Rhianna Hardie was an appalling tragedy and it was very worthwhile for the Minster to have a face-to-face discussion with her parents.
“I want to make sure that the Government always remember the lessons to be learned from Rhianna's death when they are considering new housing regulations. The meeting did not solve all of the issues that arose from this tragedy but it was a good step in the right direction."
SAVE TAUNTON DEANE'S POST OFFICES
In March, Jeremy urged Taunton Deane residents to act against the seven proposed post office closures in our region. After participating in local demonstrations, he said;
"There is widespread public dismay about what is happening to our post office network. The service is relied upon by many vulnerable people and appreciated by a large number of residents from all backgrounds.
"I have also visited Kingston St Mary post office, which has been ear-marked for closure. Many residents of the village are deeply unhappy about losing a valued community service and realise how inconvenient it will be to travel to alternative post offices.”
IN THE COMMUNITY
Jeremy’s activities in Taunton this month included;
- visiting Stawley primary school, Trinity Church of England primary school, St Augustine of Canterbury school, and Court Fields school in Wellington.
- promoting Somerset produce at Taunton Brewing Company and Pyrland Farm.
- attending the launch of Somerset Colorectal Cancer Support Group, the LSC Learning Awards Dinner, the Market photo exhibition at the Brewhouse, the Children’s Parliament at Shire Hall, and the Little Euros Minors.
- opening the new Comeytrowe community centre, and Chelston Motorhomes outdoor leisure superstore near Wellington.
- fundraising for Sports Relief in the Old Market Centre, and chairing the panel at the English Speaking Union public speaking competition at Taunton school.
- speaking to the local Amnesty International branch, local stall holders at Taunton Market, politics students at Richard Huish College, and Connexions staff at Taunton Rugby Club.
SPOKESPERSON'S NEWS
Jeremy is the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, focusing on issues such as accountability in public spending, personal debt and taxation.
THE BUDGET 2008
This month, Jeremy led the Liberal Democrat reaction to Alistair Darling's Budget, criticising it for lacking in imagination and failing to tackle the big challenges facing Britain. During his speech in the House of Commons, he commented;
“The central feature [of this Budget] - the doubling of the 10p rate and the reduction in the basic rate—is a hugely regressive measure that will impact adversely on more than 5 million households across the United Kingdom. They will be worse off as a result of the proposals, announced by the then Chancellor last year, that will come into effect next month. It is simply unbelievable that a Labour Government should choose to alter the income tax structure in a way that is most disadvantageous to people on low and middle incomes. “No one in my constituency or elsewhere recognises the rosy picture of the economy that the Government are painting. The measure of inflation, for example, is totally detached from reality. Pensioners in my constituency see rising fuel costs and soaring shopping bills, and their biggest outlay of all, the council tax bill—about which the Chancellor had nothing at all to say in his Budget statement—has virtually doubled since Labour came to power. Replacing the council tax could have been the great centrepiece of a Budget dedicated to a fairer and greener Britain, but there was no urgency and no big-picture analysis.
Read Jeremy’s full speech at; http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080318/debtext/80318-0008.htm
PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESSES
Jeremy has been talking to local businesses about the impact of beer duty rises in the recent Budget on small brewers and rural pubs.
"Small beer and cider brewers are part of the heritage of Somerset. They produce fantastic drinks which are appreciated by local residents and visitors.
"The price of the raw materials for beer has risen sharply which is making life difficult for brewers. In that context, the extra duty on beer and cider announced in the Budget is not going to make it any easier for small brewers to operate profitably.
"There are widespread concerns about binge drinking but I am sceptical about how much difference the above-inflation increases in beer duty will make to the problem. The danger is that it will have the unintended consequence of putting small brewers and rural pubs out of business."
NORTHERN ROCK
After the nationalisation of Northern Rock, Jeremy spoke on the parliamentary committee that discussed the compensation scheme for shareholders. He warned that compensation should be fair, and that small shareholders would be hit the hardest.
“There is widespread sympathy, particularly for some of the smaller shareholders…They perhaps felt that they were in a position where they could rely, and have a degree of financial dependency, on their shareholding in Northern Rock.
“Of course, that security has now been taken away from them. I think that people make a distinction—perhaps a moral, rather than legal distinction—between the plight of people in the position that he outlined and that of the more speculative, larger institutional shareholders.”
Read Jeremy’s full speech at; http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmgeneral/deleg3/080311/80311s01.htm
Contact Jeremy at office@tauntonlibdems.org.uk , or write to him at: Masons House, Magdalene Street, Taunton, TA1 1SG
Comments
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Posted by Alastair Terry, 15:10, Mon 7 April 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Dear Mr Browne. I am surprised at your blatant campaigning against local Post Office closures. These closures are bascially down to EU rules, regulations and dictats against the Government's continued financial support of The Royal Mail - and you and your party are blatant supporters of the EU and further political integration with it. A bit hypocritical I thought.
Alastair Terry
Posted by Alan Debenham, 12:46, Wed 9 April 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Increasing the 10p income tax to 20p on the first eligible £1000 after personal allowance of about £5500 only gives a maximum increase of £100 per annum or £2 per week on annual income of between £5500 and £6500, then as soon as this is exceeded a saving of 2% in tax with a break even point at £11500 - still a pretty lowly income these days. The rationalisation argument could be worth this minor change. Yes, reduce the unfair Council tax but don't abolish it since some property tax is essential ( easy to collect and can be easy to vary re the occupancy and NHER levels and thus act in a 'save the planet' role )- best to have local income tax and local sales tax as well, to spread the load effectively and gradually make local government a good 80-85% self-funding and no longer under Whitehall dictat.