Post Office boss stamps PM’s card

Interesting comments from the Managing Director of Post Office Ltd over yet more threatened closures.

Alan Cook has told the Commons Business and Enterprise Select Committee he would oppose any Government proposals “to further shrink the size of the network.”

Already Labour Ministers have decided to force more than 2,500 branches to shut nationwide including, of course, four in Keighley and Ilkley

It is clear that Mr Cook has had enough of being Gordon Brown’s fall guy.

The closures we have already seen have caused great stress and anxiety across the community in Keighley and Ilkley, particularly amongst elderly and disabled residents.

Last week I wrote to Gordon Brown to demand that the closure programme is brought to an immediate end.

It would be very helpful if his Labour Party colleagues in Keighley and Ilkley – including the MP - would have the courage and integrity to join me in this fight.

At the moment, their silence is deafening.

Government under friendly fire

"We will do everything in our power” to help members of the Armed Forces, said Gordon Brown in response to comments from General Sir Richard Dannatt – head of the Army – in this morning’s press.

In an unprecedented move for someone still in post, Sir Richard had complained that many of his soldiers were paid less than traffic wardens. Although obviously meaning no disrespect to traffic wardens for the often difficult job they do, few of them can realistically claim to be in any mortal danger. This, unfortunately, is not the situation our soldiers generally find themselves these days.

The Government argues that servicemen and women currently benefit from, for example, improvements to healthcare. However, surely this should go without saying considering the injuries and worse so many of them have had to endure – and continue to endure - in war zones over recent years.

Indeed, the recurring allegation that the Government is in constant breach of the Military Covenant is very well-founded.

Following the highly-publicised snub of the Police when their independent pay recommendations were rejected by the Home Secretary on the instruction of Gordon Brown, Labour’s disregard for our men and women in uniform has again been exposed.

And once again, this Government has been found to be out of step with the people they supposedly serve.

Turning in the road

Despite Downing Street denials, yesterday’s interventions by Jack Straw and John Hutton in the debate on Labour’s so-called “poll tax on wheels” have left most informed political commentators simply arguing over not if but when Gordon Brown will perform yet another U-turn.

As it stands, Vehicle Excise Duty is set to increase retrospectively on all cars bought before 2001.

Such a change would impact on 70 per cent of drivers in this country, each of whom would have to pay up to £245 extra a year to licence their cars.

The policy has been dressed up by Ministers as a “green tax.” But, amusingly, Greenpeace issued a statement describing it as “the kind of measure that gives green taxes a bad name.” You couldn’t make it up.

The U-turn, when it comes (and the smart money is on this autumn when the Chancellor delivers his Pre-Budget Report) will of course by driven (pardon the pun) by backbench Labour MPs in state of panic at the prospect of losing their seats.

It also seems likely that Alistair Darling will not now proceed with a 2p rise in fuel duty planned for October.

Prior to becoming Prime Minster, Gordon Brown was frequently described by his Labour Party admirers as an unrivalled political strategist.

But the last disastrous few weeks have seen any pretence at a Brown strategy for the future direction of this country – and, in particular, its finances – fly straight out the window.

As a result, the aforementioned political commentators are also agreed it is now a question of when not if Gordon Brown will be thrown out of Number Ten – and by whom.

Home Secretary takes a beating

You will probably be aware of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s uncomfortable ride at yesterday’s Police Federation annual conference.

Ms Smith was accused of a breach of faith for refusing to honour the police pay deal – something that would’ve cost the Government £30 million, a significant amount less than the £2.7 billion it committed itself to last week in an attempt to buy its way out of the 10p tax row.

However, what must’ve shocked the Home Secretary most was the sheer lack of respect shown to her in a room filled with 1,000 police officers. Police Federation Chair Jan Berry taunted her over her admission that she’d taken cannabis at university. “Your recent crimes have been more serious for the serious fraud office than the drug squad,” said Ms Berry.

And, whilst praising Jacqui Smith for having the guts to attend the conference, she added: “I am sure ... you [feel] like reaching for a stab proof vest and perhaps slipping into old habits and lighting up to calm your nerves.”

Then, after praising Children’s Secretary Ed Balls for accepting the independent recommendation on teachers’ pay (and praise is not something Ed Balls receives too often), Ms Berry continued: “So it suited Mr Balls to defend the teachers’ pay deal but it didn’t suit you to do the same for us. Home Secretary, what is it Mr Balls has but you do not?”

Ouch!

Senior Cabinet Ministers are traditionally treated with respect at conferences such as this, no matter who the post holder is. Delegates may not always agree with what is being said, but it’s rare for them to bite back so openly.

The incident is further proof, not that it’s needed, that the so-called “tipping point” in the life of this Labour Government has been reached.

It would be a surprise if this balance is not tilted significantly further against Ministers in general and Gordon Brown in particular by events in Crewe and Nantwich this evening.

The party's coming to an end

I tend not to follow Scottish politics too closely.

However, the public spat between Scottish Labour Leader Wendy Alexander and Prime Minister Gordon Brown is yet another example of the disarray that party is now in.

She has called for an immediate referendum on Scotland’s future place in the Union. He says she hasn’t.

She says he agrees with her “position.” But he says her position and his position – that everyone waits until a devolution review reports - are the same, which they clearly aren’t. (Apologies if I've lost you).

Even if a referendum was called - and this is now almost certain by 2010 at the latest – it is likely to be lost heavily by the nationalists.

But the current situation underlines yet again how much Gordon Brown’s power and authority have waned within his own ranks.

Wendy Alexander has long been regarded as one of the Prime Minister’s closest confidants - she has written many of his speeches on constitutional matters. And with closeness comes respect. Or, in their case, it did.

But, as with many of his Labour colleagues in Westminster, respect now seems to be draining away in his own former stronghold of Scotland. Otherwise, why would she have spoken out without proper consultation in the way she did?

It’s hard to imagine how political life can get much worse for the man.

Government right on cannabis

One of the most important aspects of being a “constructive Opposition” is having the confidence to say when the Government is right.

The decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class B drug - to be confirmed in the Commons later today – is such an instance.

The drug was downgraded to Class C when Tony Blair was Prime Minister. This was a foolish move and Gordon Brown is, for once, quite correct in performing a U-turn on behalf of the Labour Government.

The argument put forward is that he is worried about the use of “skunk,” a more lethal form of cannabis.

However, to my mind, the use of any illegal drugs is wrong and kids deserve as much protection as possible from them as the state can provide.

Opponents of the reclassification argue that the move will do little to deter people from smoking cannabis.

That’s as maybe, but surely it’s worth a try.

A humbling experience

Any politician standing for election who does not feel nervous before the count and humbled by a successful outcome is in the wrong business.

I can therefore confirm that I felt very nervous before the ballot boxes for my local council ward of Worth Valley were opened on Friday morning and both humbled and elated to find I’d gained 60% of the vote.

To those 2,475 residents who decided to place an X beside my name, I would like to say a huge thank you.

For those who didn’t, be assured I remain as committed as ever to providing everyone who lives in the most picturesque ward in the country with the best possible representation in the years ahead.

They're at it again

Yet again, Labour Ministers have been caught being less than honest over increased taxes.

This morning it emerged that owners of cars up to seven years old will be hit by an extra road tax demand as a result of the 2008 Budget.

The Government was forced to admit it was quietly abolishing the exemption for older cars from the highest rates of vehicle excise duty. This means that owners of larger cars bought since March 2001 will find that their road tax will rise steeply from next April.

"It's not as clear in the Budget as it could be,” said a Treasury spokesman. “It's not explicitly spelt out." No doubt as a result of an instruction from his political masters.

As with the abolition of the 10p tax rate – which could yet be the defining moment of Gordon Brown’s rapidly declining premiership – it is obvious that the characteristic Labour tactic of keeping its metaphoric head down in the hope that no-one notices their pockets have been picked was never going to work.

The British people simply aren’t that stupid and it is the sign of this Government’s arrogance that Ministers think we are.

Meanwhile, many larger families on moderate incomes will now be clobbered by another bill for £245.

Mood swings

Yesterday’s News of the World poll made interesting reading – and not just because it predicted my own victory in Keighley and Ilkley at the forthcoming General Election.

The survey was conducted in the 145 most marginal seats at the 2005 Election where Labour came first and the Conservatives second.

If translated into real votes, the predicted 9% swing would give Prime Minister David Cameron a 64-seat majority in the new Parliament.

Clearly much can and no doubt will happen between now and polling day in 2009 or 2010.

However, it’s reassuring to know that real people on the ground clearly like what we’ve been saying on the big issues in recent months.

But for now, it’s on with the hard work.

They think it’s all over?

Gordon Brown’s U-turn on compensating some of those affected by the abolition of the 10p tax rate is already well on the way to unravelling.

Last night Treasury Chief Secretary Yvette Cooper was characteristically patronising and woolly on Newsnight, refusing to be specific on who would benefit from the U-turn, by how much and when it would happen.

Then, speaking in the Commons this morning, Chancellor Alistair Darling said it would “take time” to finalise the compensation package, adding that the tax system could be “quite complex.”

Already several Labour MPs have spoken out to say they believe chief rebel Frank Field was too hasty in withdrawing his amendment guaranteeing compensation for those affected.

Should one of Mr Field's 45 rebel Labour colleagues re-table this or a similar amendment in time for Monday evening's debate, Gordon might well find himself back in the Brown stuff yet again.

Good Lord

Just a day after Alistair Darling admitted that Labour needed to "sharpen up," the party's crazy-haired peer Lord Desai today claimed the combination of an economic downturn and the Prime Minister's presentational weaknesses now made it "very difficult" for Labour to win the next General Election.

He also confirmed that many senior figures in the party were turning their minds to who would succeed Brown as leader.

Lord Desai told the London Evening Standard: "Gordon Brown was put on Earth to remind people how good Tony Blair was.”

Could things get much worse for the Great Leader?

Labour Government wrong on tax change

It was interesting to watch Treasury Select Committee Chairman and Labour MP John McFall come out last night and join the increasingly widening attack on the Government’s decision to scrap the 10p income tax band.

The normally loyal former Minister is usually very happy to defend his party colleagues at moments of crisis. But not this time.

His comments, coupled with ex-Sports Minister Kate Hoey’s description of the last Parliamentary Labour Party meeting as “sulphurous” over the issue is an indication of the increasing panic and paranoia rumbling through the ranks of the Brown administration – and it’s hardly surprising.

Over the last two months, 73 Labour MPs have signed at least one Commons Motion opposing the change.

Conservative Leader David Cameron is entirely correct when he says that this tax grab on some of the country’s poorest people must be stopped.

And, rather than simply talk about it, David has backed moves to block the measure when the Finance Bill returns to the House.

The next phase of this battle for what is right should be very interesting and I hope, for the sake of those in greatest need in our society, it is a battle the Labour Government loses.

There should be an Iraq war inquiry

It is hugely disappointing yet also sadly predictable that Labour MPs have blocked Conservative efforts to establish an inquiry into the war in Iraq.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said an inquiry could not take place whilst British troops remained on Iraqi soil. This is a ridiculous position to take given the ongoing uncertainty over how long they are likely to remain.

As William Hague said during the Commons debate, now is undoubtedly the right time to hold an inquiry – when memories are still fresh and all the relevant documentation is available.

Unlike the majority of my Party, I was against the war from the outset. But making political capital is not what an inquiry is or should be about.

It is about learning lessons so the same terrible mistakes cannot be repeated in the future.

175 British service personnel have lost their lives since the Iraq conflict began.

Their families deserve to know why and they deserve to know it now.

Surprise, surprise...

...she didn't bother to vote!

This is the second time in the last three weeks she has failed to take part in votes of real importance to residents in Keighley and Ilkley.

Previously, she failed to participate in the House of Commons vote on allowing the new EU Reform Treaty to be put to a referendum of the people – something which was included in the Labour manifesto on which she stood for re-election in 2005.

Joking aside, both episodes amount to a very serious dereliction of duty.

Ann Cryer has been elected to represent the voters of Keighley and Ilkley in our nation's Parliament.

She is failing to do her job.

Post Office fight goes to Parliament

Shadow Business Secretary Alan Duncan will today table a Commons Motion calling on the Government to suspend its plans to close more than 2,500 Post Offices across the country.

Unfortunately this very welcome move from my Conservative colleague will have come too late to save those four Post Offices in Keighley and Ilkley - at Bradford Road in Stockbridge, East Morton, Highfield in Keighley and Leeds Road in Ilkley - that have already been served with closure notices.

As I have said repeatly since becoming Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Keighley and Ilkley, the loss of our local Post Offices will have an extremely detrimental impact on our community and, in particular, on elderly and disabled residents.

Local Labour MP Ann Cryer did nothing to defend the four condemned branches until it was too late.

It will be interesting in today's vote to see whether she now seeks to defend those Post Offices at risk in other MPs' constituencies despite doing nothing to save those in Keighley and Ilkley.

Alternatively she may decide to keep her line consistent and continue to support the Labour Government's organised destruction of our national Post Office network.

Either way, she'll be rightly labelled as a hypocrite.

Brown can’t hold a candle to Cameron

There is currently a storm of claim and counter-claim in the media over whether Madame Tussauds is planning to commission a waxwork of Gordon Brown prior to the next General Election.

Downing Street has apparently produced a letter saying the Great Leader has been invited to model for them sometime within the next six months.

Meanwhile, Tussauds say there is not yet sufficient demand for such an exhibit and that he hasn’t yet proven himself as PM in any case.

They add, somewhat cuttingly, that their model of Tony Blair is still a big draw with visitors.

Hopefully a David Cameron victory at the polls will allow the hollow arguments in favour of a Gordon Brown waxwork to quickly melt away.

Government caught out over plastic bags

Gordon Brown’s praise for Marks & Spencer’s decision to charge customers for plastic bags is justified.

What he didn’t mention was the official figures, just released, which show that over the last two years Government Departments and agencies have bought more than 1.2 million plastic bags branded with their logos.

The election of David Cameron as Conservative Leader saw the issue of climate change being dragged to the centre stage of British politics for the very first time.

Ever since, Labour Ministers have been struggling to practice what David has been rightly preaching.

This revelation proves that they still have some way to go.

A criminal exercise in spin

In the midst of the media storm surrounding the Government's decision to nationalise Northern Rock, it may have escaped your notice on Monday that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced plans to "reduce serious violent crime by 2011."

This, I remind you, is a Labour Government that's been in power for almost 11 years.

Why has it taken so long to come up with such a plan and why will it take another three years before we are likely to see any positive results?

Might it be anything to do with the fact that Labour Ministers, embarrassed by the continuing surge in violent offences, are trying to desperately to kick the issue into the long grass until after the next General Election?

You would not have to be much of a cynic to reach that view.

We’ve been quango’d

New research published today reveals Yorkshire is massively under-represented on the boards of non-elected quangos.

The New Local Government Network report found that more than half of 1,000 quango board members live in London and the South East.

However, whilst this situation is both disturbing and wrong, the real scandal is the continued rise in the number and powers of these bodies across the country.

As the report confirms, quangos now have a combined annual budget of £123 billion of public money and yet a great many of them have next to no proper scrutiny for the decisions they take.

This situation must change and I know it is an issue high on the priority list for the next Conservative Government.

In the meantime, it is obvious that the membership of quango boards must become more representative of the country as a whole including the involvement of greater numbers of people from Keighley and Ilkley.

Troop welfare being neglected

I was very concerned though hardly surprised to read this morning’s Daily Telegraph report on troop over-stretch in the British Army.

According to Ministry of Defence figures, one in 14 soldiers is currently unfit to deploy because of illness or injury.

It has also been confirmed that the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, currently in Afghanistan, recently had to leave 50 long-term sick troops behind and many other battalions are in exactly the same position.

The simple fact is that out troops are over-committed, under resourced and, as these figures prove, massively under-rested.

The Military Covenant is not being kept and, for that, Gordon Brown, Des Browne and every Labour Minister should hang their heads in shame.

Let's Talk Business Roadshow Rolls Into Keighley

I was delighted to play my part in ensuring that Keighley was the first post-launch destination for an excellent new venture set up to showcase the spirit of black and ethnic minority enterprise across the country and to find out more about the current barriers to business success for black and ethnic minority women.

Hosted by the Asian Women’s Centre on Marlborough Street in Keighley and jointly promoted by the Conservative Party and the National Black Women’s Network, the main speakers included Shadow Cohesion Minister Baroness Warsi, Conservative Party Women's Officer Liz St Clair, National Black Women's Network Director Sonia Brown and my colleague Cllr Andrew Mallinson who holds the Economy Portfolio on Bradford Council’s Executive.

A number of highly successful black and ethnic minority female entrepreneurs were also present to take part in the roundtable discussion together a number of young women who have attended the Asian Women Centre's Business OCN Level 2 course.

An excellent day for everyone involved and a great day for Keighley.

Labour finally admits defeat on ID cards

I have spoken out on many occasions over the last 18 months on why the Labour Government was wrong in its belief that compulsory national identity cards were good for this country.

The fact is that very little evidence exists to suggest they would assist in the fight against terrorism and illegal working.

And then, of course, there were the cost implications. Towards the end of last year, the Home Office was forced to admit that the cost of the ID card scheme had risen to more than £5.6 billion – a quite staggering sum.

The London School of Economics had already predicted that the eventual bill would be an even more mind-boggling £20 billion.

It is with all of this in mind that I am pleased to learn that the Government has finally seen the error of its ways although, New Labour being what it is, we have only discovered this through a Home Office leak.

When he became Prime Minister last summer, Gordon Brown had the opportunity to draw a line under the fiasco and say he would not proceed with the scheme. But, as has become his trademark since he entered Number Ten, he dithered. And, as he dithered, more taxpayers’ money was wasted.

Ever since the steam of data loss fiascos began a few months ago with HM Customs and Revenue CDs disappearing in the post and, most recently, Ministry of Defence laptops going AWOL, we have heard arguments that ID cards should not be introduced as the Government could not be trusted with our personal data.

This is a very fair point. But the fact remains – the scheme should have been cancelled long before now.

NHS patients continue to be kicked in the teeth by Labour

A report out today reveals that more than seven million patients have been unable to see an NHS dentist for almost two years.

Most of those denied access have paid for private care instead, says Citizens Advice, but almost three million have gone without treatment altogether.

The figure includes thousands of children and is much higher than Government estimates.

"Improving access to NHS dentistry is now a national priority for the health service,” is the response from Health Minister Ann Keen – but what has the Labour Government been doing for the last 11 years?

Speaking at his party’s annual Conference in Bournemouth in September 1999, then Prime Minister Tony Blair promised that everyone in the country would have easy access to an NHS dentist within two years.

Today’s report proves that this pledge was, like so many before and since, just another example of Labour spin.

And in the meantime, millions of patients – mostly from the poorest households in the country – have been left to suffer pain and indignity.

An Opposition politician this morning described the ongoing crisis in NHS dentistry as “this Government's hidden legacy.”

I couldn’t agree more.

The future's bright for BIGK 10K

I was delighted to be involved this week in the public launch of the inaugural BIGK 10K charity run which will take place around the streets of the town on Sunday 16 March in aid of the Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope.

A team of us have been working on the venture for some weeks now and, with little more than two months to go, I am now very confident we will produce an event for local people to be proud of.

It is an excellent chance for people to get fit, raise money for a very worthy cause and help strengthen Keighley’s increasingly strong reputation for sporting endeavour.

Entry forms will be available shortly from a variety of outlets including the Keighley News and I will also keep everyone up to date via this blog.

For now, I’m off to do a bit more training in my spanking new luminous Manorlands Hospice Running Club tee-shirt which I had the privilege to wear at the launch alongside Manorlands Fundraiser Andrew Wood. Not sure it’s quite my colour but at least you’ll see me coming!

David Cameron volunteers his support for Airedale Hospital

Only three days into the New Year and, if anyone was in any doubt, they should now be assured about a future Conservative Government’s iron resolve to put the NHS at the top of its priority list.

Following his trip to Trafford General Hospital in Greater Manchester only yesterday, I had the opportunity to accompany David Cameron during a much longer visit to Airedale General Hospital in Keighley earlier today.

The two of us had the privilege of talking to the excellent staff about the challenges the hospital faces, what they're doing and the issues that worry them.

As anyone who knows Airedale Hospital would expect, David was extremely impressed by what he saw and heard. In particular, he singled out the incredible spirit that surrounded the place and the clearly important role played by the hospital in the community at large.

As the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Keighley and Ilkley, my job is to continue to work very hard to convince local people that our goal of becoming the party of the NHS is based on the firmest of foundations – namely that Conservatives wish to improve the NHS for the benefit of all.

Rather than continue the Labour Government’s high-handed, remote and target-obsessed approach, we must ensure that the key decisions are taken at the right level by the right people including patients.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It’s now twelve months since I was selected as the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Keighley and Ilkley.

Just over two months ago it looked very likely that a General Election was imminent – before Gordon Brown famously bottled it. Since then I have been preparing myself for the long haul with polling day no longer likely until 2009 at the earliest.

There is much work to do between now and then if my campaign is to be successful and, after a short break over the festive period, I cannot wait to get back on with the task.

For now, I would like to pass on my thanks and very best Christmas and New Year wishes to my campaign team and, of course, to you for taking the time out to read my thoughts.

See you in 2008.

Foreign criminals return to our communities

"Let me be clear: any newcomer to Britain who is caught selling drugs or using guns will be thrown out.

"No-one who sells drugs to our children or uses guns has the right to stay in our country."

These were the words of Gordon Brown just a few months ago at Labour Party Conference.

However, now we learn that immigration officials have “no interest” in deporting the more than 4,000 foreign prisoners who have served less than twelve months in jail.

These individuals include thieves, fraudsters and drug dealers – all being released back into local communities across the country.

It is another scandal under Gordon Brown’s watch and it has the potential to be the most dangerous one of the lot.

Will ID cards disappear like the discs?

The loss by HM Revenue and Customs of personal information belonging to every family and child in Keighley and Ilkley is still the cause of much concern for local residents.

The last census, carried out in 2001, revealed that there were 25,986 families and 21,520 dependent children living in the Keighley Parliamentary constituency and this number will have risen significantly since then.

Every one of these families and their children has had their security compromised by the loss of this data and many will understandably not rest easy until it is recovered.

Surely this catastrophe – since followed by several others including the loss of the details of three million learner drivers - will finally spell the end of the Government’s ill-advised national identity card scheme.

Won’t it?!

The Great Leader goes AWOL – yet again

It was at first glance quite an amusing sight to see Gordon Brown absent from today’s EU Reform Treaty signing ceremony in Lisbon. But in reality, it was a national disgrace and an international embarrassment.

Leaving the rights and wrongs of the Treaty itself to one side, one cannot help but conclude that today’s no-show was yet another example of the Prime Minister’s natural instinct to “get offside” when the going gets tough.

His ten years as Chancellor were littered with such examples. When Blair was in a hole, Brown was generally nowhere to be seen.

So much for the Great Leader we were promised just a few months ago when he entered Number 10.

Chief Constable right to speak out on cannabis

Full credit to West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison for having the courage to speak out against the Labour Government’s decision to declassify cannabis.

Speaking in a weekend newspaper interview, Sir Norman said the Government's move was “a mistake” which had led to confusion in the community about whether it was still an offence to use the substance.

“Declassification meant the power of arrest was taken away from the police,” he said. “It took away the opportunity for the police to jump on it. I would encourage the Government, in its current review, to reclassify it as a class B drug.”

The strength of this argument is evidenced by the fact that more than £1.2 million of super-strength cannabis has been seized across Bradford district in recent weeks.

This operation also included the confiscation of more than 200 cannabis plants at a house in Keighley.

Instead of wasting more time waiting for the review to reach its inevitable conclusion, I believe the Government should move immediately to reverse its reckless decision to declassify and allow the police to get on with their job.

Limits must be placed on our growing migrant population

DWP figures just out have shown that 510 new foreign workers in the last financial year have received national insurance numbers after moving to Keighley and Ilkley.

To my mind, migrants play a very important role in complementing our domestic workforce, particularly in filling vacancies that might otherwise be left empty.

However, the fact is that the continuing high level of migrants into the UK – particularly those who are economically inactive and do not have national insurance numbers - is inevitably going to result in increased pressures on our public services including housing, schools and hospitals.

The last ten years have seen a Labour Government pursuing what can only be described as an ‘open door’ policy where no restrictions on numbers have been applied.

The horse has effectively bolted in relation to the new EU accession states whose residents have now gained the freedom to live and work wherever they wish in any member country. The British Government must ensure that residents of future member states do not gain such unrestricted rights, certainly in relation to the UK.

Of more pressing importance, though, is the need for the Government to move swiftly to impose a strict annual limit on the number of non-EU migrants allowed to enter and remain in this country. This would be a positive move and a law that could be implemented relatively swiftly.

Together with a much stronger border controls which Conservatives like me have been demanding for many years, I believe we would then have the basis for greater stability.

Government continues to ignore local views on Post Offices

In the midst of the seemingly endless series of Labour gaffes and worse that are dominating the headlines, it is been announced this morning that four local Post Offices - at Bradford Road in Stockbridge, East Morton, Highfield in Keighley and Leeds Road in Ilkley - will be forced to shut early next year.

Throughout this year, my Conservative colleagues and I have led a very strong campaign in Keighley and Ilkley against these closures and received very strong public support for our efforts. However, in a stroke of a pen, Labour Ministers have simply decided to ignore these views and proceed as planned.

I can assure local people that our campaign will not come to an end as a result of this announcement but be redoubled.

Please continue to visit my blog and website over the coming weeks to keep updated on our progress.

Learning the lessons of business - as Hague comes to town

Earlier today I took Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague with me on a visit to Wells Spiral Tubes, a renowned manufacturing firm based in Keighley.

Hosted by their larger than life and extremely wise Managing Director Philip Wells, it was an education in the problems facing SMEs and, in particular, manufacturers in today’s Britain.

What stuck most in my mind was Philip’s comment that he was not opposed to regulation – just unnecessary regulation. To illustrate, he explained that his forklift drivers must now undergo a training course every two years on how to operate their vehicles – despite some of them having been behind the wheel for more than three decades.

A very large proportion of these silly regulations come from Europe where our Government has gained a reputation for being a “soft touch.” Not only do Labour Ministers not seek to resist some of the most ridiculous laws from Brussels – they often make them even tougher for our businesses to comply with, a practice known as “gold-plating.”

This morning’s visit was one of a series to local firms I will be undertaking over the coming months to find out more about life at the sharp end of business in Keighley and Ilkley. I will keep you informed on my progress through this blog.

By the way, a quick word of thanks to William Hague who continues to be a very strong supporter of my campaign. He never fails to impress everyone he meets wherever he goes in the country, but particularly in Yorkshire. I look forward to welcoming him back to Keighley and Ilkley once again in the very near future.

Brown the bully?

Several of this morning’s newspapers carry claims that Gordon Brown has been bullying his Ministers and interfering with their work.

These reports come on the back of last night’s first instalment of The Blair Years on BBC1 which focussed on the former Prime Minister’s relationship with his then Chancellor.

This programme confirmed what many respected political observers have been saying for years: that Brown is a control freak who is not averse to using strong arm tactics to get his way.

This approach did not always work with Tony Blair who, it appears, gave as good as he got and was not afraid to pull rank on Brown whenever the need arose.

The problem now, with Brown in the top job himself, is that the way the way is clear for the new PM to dictate policy to his Ministerial colleagues as much as he likes.

This is no way to run a country and it is hard not to feel that Mr Brown’s scowling approach will come back to haunt him - possibly sooner rather than later.

Are we facing a new form of internment?

A debate is currently raging on whether to extend police powers to detain terrorist suspects without charge for up to 58 days – 30 more than under the current arrangements. You may remember that Tony Blair suffered his first major Commons defeat as Prime Minister when he failed in an attempt to raise the limit to 90 days.

I think it is incumbent upon any reasonable Government – and Opposition for that matter – to listen to all the arguments before making decisions of this magnitude: decisions that may have a direct bearing on our national security.

As a former soldier who served in Northern Ireland, I feel the key danger in extending the limit beyond what is absolutely necessary is the perception that a new form of internment without trial is being introduced.

Such a measure was introduced in the Province in 1971 during one of the most difficult and bloody periods of the Troubles. Over the next four years, more than 1,900 people – almost all of them Republicans - were interned in prison camps. However, a large proportion of these arrests were backed up by very poor intelligence with many of those detained never having been involved in Republican activity. Internment subsequently proved to be the best recruiting sergeant the IRA could have wished for at that time. It also led to a massive increase in support for the Republican cause.

Returning to the present, any increase the limits on detention for modern day terrorist suspects must be supported with evidence that it will work and not lead to greater societal problems in the longer term. The consequences of making the wrong call could be disastrous.

Proud of the present as well as the past

Yesterday I was extremely honoured to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph as the nation stood in silence to commemorate those brave soldiers who lost their lives in two World Wars and countless other conflicts across the world.

As a former soldier, I am acutely aware of the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by our servicemen and women, particularly the several thousand who continue on active duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It is important at moments like this to remember that our country is just as proud of them as we are of those who made the ultimate sacrifice many years ago.

Why not spend ID card cash on local transport?

Earlier today the Government was forced to admit that the cost of its planned national identity card scheme had risen to more than £5.6 billion over the next ten years - up £71 million since May.

If the situation wasn’t bad enough, I might also remind you that last year no higher authority than the London School of Economics suggested the final set up figure could be closer to £20 billion.

All of this is despite the glaring lack of evidence to suggest ID cards will really do anything meaningful to assist in the fight against terrorism or illegal working.

In a period of increasingly scarce resources, might it not be a better idea to spend a significant proportion of this money on improving Yorkshire’s creaking transport system which is already hugely underfunded in comparison to London and the South East?

Our roads are approaching gridlock, our trains are massively overcrowded and still the Government remains unwilling to come forward with the levels of funding that we need to get this part of the country moving again.

Ignoring the problem is simply not an option – we need action and we need cash.

The alternative for commuters and businesses in this region is complete chaos, a situation we are already approaching rapidly.

An end of the culture of spin?

An interesting article in this morning’s Times.

According to the report, five local newspapers in various parts of the country were contacted by Downing Street last Tuesday evening with quotes from Gordon Brown which they were told would be used in his keynote education speech the following day.

The Telegraph and Argus, it is alleged, was informed that the Prime Minister would mention Victoria Primary School in Keighley as “an example of how strong involvement from parents can have a positive impact on a child’s learning process.”

In the event, the school – along with four more briefed to their respective local papers in other English regions – did not feature in Gordon Brown’s remarks.

Is this another shining example of our new Prime Minister bringing an end to the notorious New Labour “culture of spin?”

Welcome

Today marks the official launch of my new campaign website and blog.

One of the best things about living in the technological age is there are now more ways than ever before for politicians to communicate directly with people and to hear their views.

I do not pretend to have a monopoly on wisdom and therefore am always open to ideas, suggestions and, yes, criticisms of my stance on any issue that affects our lives.

Feel free to use my blog to tell me what you think - and I will do exactly the same!