Jeremy Browne MP’s Monthly Update - December 2009
Posted by Jeremy Browne, MP for Taunton, at 16:29, Tue 5 January 2010:
Jeremy is urging local residents to sign his petition opposing County Council cuts to the PCSO policing budget. He argued;
“In a recession, money is always tight, but cutting frontline policing while increasing luxury spending at County Hall must be the wrong priority. I hope Somerset County Council leaders will be big enough to admit their error and halt their £129,000 police budget cut.”
ON THE AIRWAVES
In December, Jeremy took to the airwaves with Ladymead School students. He said;
“Radio Ladymead is an ideal way for young people to learn about the technical aspects of broadcasting, as well as absorbing other skills such as the importance of teamwork and preparation.
"I enjoyed participating in the 'Question Time' discussion, which covered a wide range of relevant subjects including facilities for young people and the suitability of the current school exam system."
THE FESTIVE SEASON
Amelia Webster, aged 4, from Stoke St Gregory primary school, was the winner of Jeremy’s 2009 Christmas card design competition. Jeremy commented;
"I was delighted to meet Amelia and present her with a prize for winning my Christmas card competition.
"She is easily the youngest-ever winner of my competition. It is remarkable that she painted such a striking picture at the age of just four.
"Amelia's prize is a teddy bear from the House of Commons and an invitation for her whole family to visit Parliament. It was great that Amelia's mother and older sister were there to see the surprise announcement that she was the winner of my competition. "The card with Amelia's winning design is being sent to hundreds of community leaders in Taunton Deane as well as otable public figures in London.
“I am grateful to Stoke St Gregory primary school for entering the competition and for all of the other schools that also participated.”
IN THE COMMUNITY
Elsewhere in Taunton, Jeremy;
- presented awards at SCAT, and Autism Solutions.
- met with Taunton Chamber of Commerce, Somerset Sight, and Taunton Rotary Club.
- visited North Curry School, Beech Grove School, Stoke St Gregory School, Milverton School, Conquest Riding Centre, the United Reform Church, St James’ Church, and the Albemarle Centre.
TOUR OF THE MONTH
This month’s special mention is to Creech St Michael Primary School, who visited Parliament on 8 December. To book in your own group, contact Jeremy’s Taunton office on 01823 337874.
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, taxation and affordable housing.
TAUNTON DEANE'S ECONOMY
Jeremy is calling for Taunton High Street to be given a facelift to attract shoppers into the town centre. He commented;
“Taunton High Street has become pretty shoddy and it is not a great advertisement for the town. It really needs a facelift in 2010 to attract more retailers and shoppers.
“Pedestrianisation can work well, and the High Street is a good location for the Farmers’ Market and the Continental Market. I am not calling for traffic to be allowed back on the High Street, but we do need to be careful with the latest Somerset County Council proposals for North Street, Hammet Street and The Bridge.
“Some limitations on cars may help to increase the safety of pedestrians and make it more enjoyable to shop in Taunton. But I am concerned that excessive restrictions can seem like a good idea during peak shopping hours but are often unsuccessful in the evenings. I do not want to see a deserted town centre which has an intimidating atmosphere and increases the fear of crime.
“Taunton sufferers from terrible traffic congestion, and I support the building of the Third Way road. This should alleviate some of the pressure on the town centre from cars that are passing through due to a lack of alternative routes.
“But Somerset County Council must avoid taking one step forward and two steps backwards. It would be madness to spend millions of pounds on a new project to alleviate traffic congestion but then introduce other changes which end up making the situation even worse.”
PROTECTING THE UK ECONOMY
In a major speech on reform of the EU financial monitoring system, Jeremy has warned against rushing through unscrutinised regulations that could undermine the UK’s ability to protect its financial services. He argued;
“Because we have the most advanced financial services sector in Europe and are the dominant players in the market, the proposals before us today could have some benefits for the UK. A market whose general regulation applies the same rules to all European countries could present opportunities for us to achieve greater profitability and wider expansion, as long as there is no improper restriction of our financial services sector. That is important, because regulation must not restrict legitimate competition.
“I believe that people sometimes reach for regulation - in financial services or any other sector - as a way to try and bring about a lowest-common-denominator uniformity. There should be robust competition between institutions, as that will ensure that they are profitable and successful and offer value for money to their customers. There need to be safeguards, and we have to learn the lessons of the massive failure that has taken place, but we must not restrict financial services institutions to the extent that they are unable to compete and develop in a meaningful and beneficial way.
“The system being proposed has been advanced with great haste. Of course, that is also the view of the Treasury Committee... [UK taxpayers] not French and German taxpayers, have financed the bail-out of the banks in the United Kingdom. We therefore have to be confident that the taxpayers whom we represent will not be left to pick up the tab without our having the ability to regulate the institutions that they ultimately have to protect. It is right and sensible that fiscal policy is the preserve of member states, and that should be a settled matter.”
Read Jeremy’s speech at; http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm091201/debtext/91201-0011.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 D Quartly, 10:26, Wed 6 January 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
I was amazed to receive 6 messages on 05/01/10, only to discover that they were the last 6 months going back to July - which I had not received monthly. Difficult to respond to comments several months later!