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Burnham-On-Sea
MP's Official Blog
 Budget
statements used to be occasions of high political drama with a
packed House of Commons listening to every word. Now they are
rather boring, partly because some of the decisions are leaked
beforehand, and partly because the government has run out of money.
The
only interest is in just how many taxes are going up again. This
time it was particularly bad for rural Britain (or England, as
Scotland seems to escape). We are losing many of our facilities,
like post offices, and this encourages people to use their cars.
Now the price of motoring goes up with a steep rise in car tax.
These taxes now come with green camouflage, but it’s your
money that the Treasury want.
The
extra tax on alcohol will hit the village pub. This is supposed
to deter binge drinking by young people, but I would have preferred
a targeted approach on certain high alcohol drinks rather than
putting the price up for everyone. It’s also madness to create
an even bigger business in Calais supplying British day visitors
and enriching the French exchequer.
Last
week also saw the conclusion of the debates on the EU Treaty.
I intervened or spoke in each of the twelve days of debate on
the bill to ratify it. It will transfer more powers from parliament
to the EU, which will now pass laws on sensitive matters such
as immigration, criminal justice and policing. And our power to
block such EU laws will almost disappear.
Whether
or not this is a bad thing, I am certain the public must have
the final say. I kept my promise to vote for a national referendum
on the subject but it was narrowly lost. Now the House of Lords
will debate the matter. I hope they force all political parties
to keep their manifesto promises to hold a referendum on how we
are governed.
I
am shortly to write to the government opposing the planned closure
of the local post offices. After four public meetings, and hundreds
of petition signatures and letters, I have plenty of ammunition.
If any readers would like to add anything, please write to me
soon.
The
economic picture is darkening, and the Government is running out
of money. Despite all those extra taxes, the Government is borrowing
hard. And the Northern Rock collapse means that all taxpayers
have in effect lent that company £1300 each, whether they
like it or not.
One
consequence of this is the very tight financial settlement forced
on District Councils this year (although Somerset County Council
seems to have escaped, with a generous 9% increase).
A
very unhappy group are the police who came up to Westminster last
week for a rare demonstration. They were awarded a 2.5% increase
by the independent pay body and the government has cut this back
to 1.9%. No government in my memory has done this before.
Next,
we had to vote on our own pay - always a somewhat embarrassing
event. We eventually agreed a 1.9% increase for MPs; but I had
a more radical idea. I believe that if the new EU treaty is ratified
we should have a pay cut. The Treaty transfers more powers away
from parliament to the EU. So if our powers and responsibilities
are reduced, we should be paid less. The same applies to ministers'
salaries.
I
suggested this in the House of Commons, and was backed by two
other Conservative MPs. But not surprisingly the idea didn't catch
on. Even if the House of Commons is reduced to the status of a
local council it seems that MPs would want to be paid as though
they still legislate in a sovereign chamber.
Energy
policy was debated again last week. I was pleased that the proposed
wind farm near Brent Knoll was turned down on appeal. Wind power
is expensive and unreliable.
A
much more interesting idea is to extract energy from the strong
tidal flows of the Bristol Channel. The government has announced
a study into the possibility of a huge Severn Tidal Barrage. This
would probably start from Brean, in this constituency, with major
implications for people living nearby and for the Mendip Hills
which would provide much of the material.
The
minister responsible has agreed to keep me closely informed, and
I would welcome ideas, both for and against, as the project unfolds.
As
we near the end of 2007, I have been reflecting on events that
have had an influence on my life over the last year both professionally
and personally. Some of the most enjoyable moments have occurred
when I have been in Somerset meeting my constituents either on
a personal or professional basis.
I
am spending Christmas with my family in Pilton, as I never cease
to be aware how fortunate we are to be able to call this wonderful
county of ours home.
Parliament
will reconvene in early January.
I
would like to take this opportunity to wish all my constituents
a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous and Peaceful New Year.
So
there is to be no general election after all, at least not until
2009. Having ordered all the posters and pamphlets, Gordon Brown
called it off. It was the opinion polls that did it of course,
but I think he also had visions of dark evenings, November gales,
and people asking, 'why are we having an unnecessary election?'
So it's business as usual in parliament, with the difference that
the two main parties are now very evenly balanced. I have returned
to the new session with some pressing local issues to raise.
For instance, I remain very worried about the flood risk in Somerset.
We face two dangers: from the sea and from river flooding. We
need to review our sea defences and also make sure that the river
and drainage network can cope at times of very high rainfall.
If the July rainstorms had hit Somerset instead of Gloucestershire
we would have been in serious trouble. Having examined our rivers
and pumping stations last month, and having discussed the matter
with the Environment Agency, I believe that more should be done
to reduce the flooding risk.
A select committee of the House is doing a report on this and
I am in touch with them to make sure Somerset's voice is heard
and that the Environment Agency gives more attention to its flood
prevention duties. Yrs David.
Two
very disrupting events last week: first the Glastonbury festival,
which actually takes place in my village of Pilton; second the
change of Prime Minister.
Glastonbury
was of course a mud bath, and a week later the site is still a
sea of abandoned tents. The idea was to send the tents to Africa
as part of an aid programme but no one will want them in this
state and I believe most of them will be dumped. Still, a lot
of good bands played at the festival and the organisers have a
four year licence, so let's hope the long range forecast is better
for next year.
Meanwhile
back at Westminster, Gordon Brown takes over and promises lots
of 'change'. It's not clear yet what this means. Does it mean
an end to higher taxes? Or getting out of Iraq? Or stopping the
English subsidy to Scotland? I doubt it.
There
are rumours of an early election. But I will make one prediction:
there won't be one. Gordon Brown says there will be no referendum
on the European constitutional treaty, despite the promise in
Labour's last election manifesto. If there is an early election,
the Conservative party (and maybe the Lib Dems) will promise to
hold a referendum on Europe. This would wrong-foot Brown; he won't
risk it.'
Last
week, as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I visited
Moscow where we had discussions in the Kremlin with Russian ministers.
Russia has huge reserves of oil and gas and is using this as a
powerful weapon of foreign policy. They assured us that they wished
to be a reliable supplier but I believe we need to become more
self sufficient in energy if we are to avoid the possible threat
of blackmail in the future.
Our
committee then went on to Vienna where we met the International
Atomic Energy Agency. They monitor the Non Proliferation Treaty
and try to ensure that the rules governing the peaceful use of
nuclear power are not broken. They are deeply worried by Iran
which seems to be developing a nuclear weapons programme and is
so far refusing to back down.
Then
back to the UK and down to Burnham for an advice surgery. Mostly
about local issues, but they are often connected somehow to the
international questions we are grappling with on the Foreign Affairs
Committee.
Welcome
to the official blog for Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge's MP, David
Heathcoat-Amory.
Also
see:
David's Website
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