Update from Linda Gilroy MP 10/09/09
Posted by Linda Gilroy, MP for Plymouth, Sutton, at 14:47, Thu 10 September 2009:
Update Thursday 10 September 2009 Hopefully the overview below will give you a flavour of some of the work I have been undertaking while Parliament is in recess. You can also keep up to date at www.lindagilroy.org.uk/news
Ham By-Election
September 3rd saw a by-election in Plymouth's Ham ward. This involved a lot of campaigning by hard working local volunteers- knocking on doors, stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, speaking to voters - not very glamorous or easy, but the kind of the bread and butter tasks that make elections - and our system of democracy - happen. Tina Tuohy, an excellent local candidate who recently won a national volunteers award, increased the Labour majority from 49 to 568, and did so by campaigning on issues of importance to the community including a very strong message opposing the Council plans to sell off CityBus. I wish her every success. I know that she will make a valuable addition to the team and I look forward to working with her. As this demonstrated, politics is a two way process and we need experienced and motivated local people to get involved at all levels - do let me know if you think this could be for you!
Post Offices
Over the summer I ran a large survey of some of those affected by recent closures. I am very concerned about the impact of the closure of the branch at Derrys, but I have secured a number of fruitful conversations and meetings with Post Office Limited who are now actively working to both replace Derrys and hopefully either Pennycomequick or Mount Gould Post Offices too. I'm keeping a very careful eye on progress and remain very grateful to the hundreds of constituents who took part in the survey.
Navy Days
I had a great time at Navy Days this past weekend. The fact that so many people went underlined just how important the defence and the dockyard remains to the people of Plymouth - and how Devonport remains at the heart of what the Navy does. I particularly enjoyed speaking to the crew of HMS Bulwark, the Devonport-based assault ship that has just returned from deployment in the Far East.
Water Charges
I have now submitted my initial response to the Walker Review of Water Metering & Charging, in which I call for help for those on low incomes and for a reduction in bills generally in the South West. This first submission was based on views from constituents who attended a special meeting or wrote in with comments (if you were one of them, then thank you!). Anna Walker has also agreed to accept a further submission particularly on the environmental beach cleaning costs and our contention that the South West customers should not pick up the whole tab. Work is underway through Plymouth University to provide good back up to the argument and this will also be submitted in next few weeks. Anyone wanting to know more on my long running campaign can visit www.lindagilroy.org.uk/water
Devonport Strategy Group
This past Wednesday I led a delegation of dockyard & naval base trade union representatives, together with local councillors, to meet with the new Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell. As he is new in the post I wanted to ensure that he is fully familiar with the importance of surface ship work and submarine support to Plymouth - and he had an excellent grasp of our need for clarity and our desire to work with the MOD so that we are ahead of the curve in looking out for both pitfalls and opportunities on the horizon. You can keep up to date with my work in this area at www.lindagilroy.org.uk/defence
Regional Grand Committee
Last Thursday MPs from across the South West and from all political parties descended upon Devon County Hall in Exeter for the first ever meeting of the South West Regional Grand Committee. This is about taking the Parliamentary process much closer to the people by discussing issues specific to our region in a venue closer to home. It consisted of a question time session with the South West Minister, Jim Knight MP (I raised an issue a lot of constituents have emailed me about their (completely unfounded I am pleased to say) worries that AA and DLA benefits are to be handed over to local authorities to administer on their behalf! I also asked to meet Jim Knight about driving home our campaign on water charges which he agreed to do. Questions were followed by a debate on the region's economy. Some 50 people came to watch proceedings. I think this was a useful first step in helping get what we do as MP's to hold government to account closer to people!
10:10 Climate Change Campaign
This week I signed up to the 10:10 climate campaign. 10:10 is an ambitious project to unite every sector of British society behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010. The campaign has a range of environmentally friendly ideas for individuals, businesses, schools and organizations. For more information and sign up to the campaign yourself please visit http://www.1010uk.org/
Digital Switchover
The process of Digital TV Switchover in Plymouth is now well underway (see here). I'm interested to know how it is going so do let me know if you are having problems (or if it went smoothly!).
and PS................yes I did take some holiday - I had a week in Suffolk on the coast at Orford - and another week with family in Vilamoura, Portugal - but even on holiday an MP's work is never done! I popped in to meet the agent who deals in Princess Yachts on the marina there, and had an interesting chat with him about how sales are going in Portugal - and the potential in Brazil!
I wish I had a pound for every time someone has asked me how I am enjoying that mythical 83 day holiday we are supposed to be in the middle of................
Best wishes
Linda Gilroy MP
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