I am delighted that Conservative controlled North Lincolnshire Council has launched a consultation exercise to ask local people how they feel about Labour's proposed Post Office closure programme.
Council Leader Cllr Liz Redfern has launched the initiative which is being run with the co-operation of the Scunthorpe Telegraph. You can read more about this excellent initiative HERE.
Along with our campaign to reduce or remove tolls on the Humber Bridge, this project is yet more proof of how a Conservative Council works to protect local services and local residents.
Archive - Jan 2007
Council Launches Post Office Consultation
Submitted by andrew on Mon, 29/01/2007 - 20:59.SCHOOL UNDER-FUNDING CONTINUES
Submitted by andrew on Mon, 29/01/2007 - 20:40.
Figures revealed this week show that East Riding schools have once again received the fourth worst education funding in the whole of the country. Our pupils are so badly funded by this Labour Government that many schools are now struggling with massive deficits.
An average East Riding pupil will receive £464 less in the 2007/08 school year than a pupil in a school in Hull.
We need fair funding for our local schools, East Riding pupils receive much less than even the national average and yet our schools perform in the top 10% of schools nationally.
When re-elected in May 2005 the so-called 'local' Labour MP promised to make education one of his top priorities. Clearly, he has failed to deliver to such an extent that he hasn't bothered to raise this under-funding in Parliament, having not spoken in the House of Commons for 2 years!!
As a teacher in East Riding schools I know how hard our teachers work to ensure pupil's learning is not impacted upon by this shameful lack of funding by Labour.
If I become our truly local MP I will not just sit idly by and allow this situation to continue, I will join the fight been led by local Conservative MPs for fairer funding and ensure that our local schools have a voice in Parliament.
An average East Riding pupil will receive £464 less in the 2007/08 school year than a pupil in a school in Hull.
We need fair funding for our local schools, East Riding pupils receive much less than even the national average and yet our schools perform in the top 10% of schools nationally.
When re-elected in May 2005 the so-called 'local' Labour MP promised to make education one of his top priorities. Clearly, he has failed to deliver to such an extent that he hasn't bothered to raise this under-funding in Parliament, having not spoken in the House of Commons for 2 years!!
As a teacher in East Riding schools I know how hard our teachers work to ensure pupil's learning is not impacted upon by this shameful lack of funding by Labour.
If I become our truly local MP I will not just sit idly by and allow this situation to continue, I will join the fight been led by local Conservative MPs for fairer funding and ensure that our local schools have a voice in Parliament.
GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF EAST RIDING SCHOOLS - ONE OF THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY AGAIN!
Submitted by andrew on Thu, 25/01/2007 - 12:00.GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF EAST RIDING SCHOOLS – ONE OF THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY AGAIN!
According to latest Government figures, East Riding schools will receive £3,534 per pupil for the 2007/8 school year which is the fourth lowest amount per pupil nationally. If East Riding schools were to receive the same as Hull schools, which will get £3,998 per pupil, an additional £21million would be available to share between the East Riding schools. The East Riding has consistently received one of the worst grants in the country.
Andrew Percy says, “This continuing trend of under funding East Riding schools by hundreds of pounds below the national average means that many schools may now have to look at making savings which will mean spending less on teaching and learning and could force schools into looking at making teachers redundant to balance their books.
Despite low funding great strides have been made forward by many East Riding schools recently but this Government's continued under funding is making it almost impossible for schools to raise their standards further and instead they are now having to look at cost cutting measures which is totally unacceptable. I know as a teacher in East Riding schools just how hard our teachers, governors and pupils are working to offset this appalling funding by the Government.
How can the government claim to be funding our schools fairly when there are such huge differences across the country? Additionally, East Riding Council this year will receive £2.6 million pound less from the Labour Government to spend on local services than they were first promised. This huge sum of money has been diverted away from East Riding to failing Councils meaning that the East Riding Council is being penalised for doing a good job!”
Labour should be ashamed of the way they are under-funding our local pupils and our local Council. Even more appalling is the fact that it is very often Labour Councils who receive the funding that should be going to the East Riding.”
According to latest Government figures, East Riding schools will receive £3,534 per pupil for the 2007/8 school year which is the fourth lowest amount per pupil nationally. If East Riding schools were to receive the same as Hull schools, which will get £3,998 per pupil, an additional £21million would be available to share between the East Riding schools. The East Riding has consistently received one of the worst grants in the country.
Andrew Percy says, “This continuing trend of under funding East Riding schools by hundreds of pounds below the national average means that many schools may now have to look at making savings which will mean spending less on teaching and learning and could force schools into looking at making teachers redundant to balance their books.
Despite low funding great strides have been made forward by many East Riding schools recently but this Government's continued under funding is making it almost impossible for schools to raise their standards further and instead they are now having to look at cost cutting measures which is totally unacceptable. I know as a teacher in East Riding schools just how hard our teachers, governors and pupils are working to offset this appalling funding by the Government.
How can the government claim to be funding our schools fairly when there are such huge differences across the country? Additionally, East Riding Council this year will receive £2.6 million pound less from the Labour Government to spend on local services than they were first promised. This huge sum of money has been diverted away from East Riding to failing Councils meaning that the East Riding Council is being penalised for doing a good job!”
Labour should be ashamed of the way they are under-funding our local pupils and our local Council. Even more appalling is the fact that it is very often Labour Councils who receive the funding that should be going to the East Riding.”
4 Pupils Mugged Every Week in East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire
Submitted by andrew on Sun, 14/01/2007 - 16:18.The above figure is an absolute disgrace and probably sums up better than most other statistics the state of Britain following 10 years of Tony Bliar and Labour.
I know as a teacher here in Brigg and Goole just how much of an issue poor discipline is in many schools and how unsupported teachers are in dealing with violent incidents in schools. The figures for the Humberside Police Area speak for themselves -
I know as a teacher here in Brigg and Goole just how much of an issue poor discipline is in many schools and how unsupported teachers are in dealing with violent incidents in schools. The figures for the Humberside Police Area speak for themselves -
- 22% of personal robberies in the Humberside Police area are committed on children aged between 11 and 16.
- In total almost 228 muggings on 11-16 yr olds were recorded by the police in Humberside last year - equivalent to over 4 school children recorded as mugged every week. Nationally the figure is about 122 children mugged every day.
- Actual muggings on 11-16 yr olds last year could be as high as 1087 in Humberside if normal under reporting estimates apply. The overwhelming majority of this has not been picked up by the British Crime Survey which only interviews adults aged 16 and over.
Most appalling of all is the fact that nationally, 40% of muggings are also committed by 11-16 year olds and over half of all muggings are committed on the under 30s.
The Home Office under Labour is clearly not competent enough to be able to deal with this serious problem. We have far too many young people in this country either growing up the victims of crime or the perpetrators of crime.
We need action, that is why I support tougher action to deal with poor discipline in our schools, legislation to make parents more responsible for out of control youths and elected Police Chiefs to ensure that local people can hold the police to account.
Labour MP's bizarre outburst confuses local people
Submitted by andrew on Sun, 14/01/2007 - 15:57.The following bizarre letter appeared in the Scunthorpe Telegraph yesterday. I shall not be responding as I think Mr Cawsey has taken the level of debate to a level I could not stoop to.
TORY MPS NOT SAFE
09:45 - 13 January 2007
Two Tories seeking office in our area have had letters published attacking a letter from my PA, Rita Patterson.
It is clear both think Rita has written in on my request.Both myself and her husband Bas would like to point out Rita has never done what we have asked her and these Tory candidates ought to hope they don't bump into her in the near future.I fear for their safety!
Ian Cawsey MP Park Street, Winterton.
.
Yes Ian, we should fear for our safety, not because of your PA, rather more because of the appalling mess your Government is making of our criminal justice system. Foreign criminals on the run, murderers walking out of prisons and the Home Office unable to record the details of British citizens convicted abroad!
Anyway, back to the letter! Mr Cawsey was responding to letters sent by myself and Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes PPC) to The Telegraph after several letters crafted by Labour supporters, including Mr Cawsey's PA, attacking Martin and I for trying to protect local Post Offices in the light of the Government's announcement that they plan to close thousands of Post Offices.
What was Mr Cawsey's response? Well, the letter above is all he has had to say, apart from blaming local people for causing Post Office closures. Personal abuse by Mr Cawsey wont stop me trying to protect our Post Offices.
Still, we should probably be grateful that Ian Cawsey has said anything at all. He hasn't bothered to make a speech in Parliament since 2004 after all.
Shocking levels of muggings on and by youths
Submitted by andrew on Sat, 13/01/2007 - 12:00.Shocking levels of muggings on and by youths
New statistics reveal shocking and previously unknown levels of muggings on and by youths
Conservatives have revealed previously unknown statistics showing the true extent of Youth on Youth crime across the Humberside Police area. These statistics compiled from Freedom of Information requests about robbery are revealed by Brigg and Goole Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman Andrew Percy.
Andrew explains, “The figures are quite appalling, but unfortunately unsurprising to someone such as my self who teaches in local schools. I am afraid that all too often both the victim and the perpetrator of personal robberies is a young person aged between 11 and 16. The figures for the Humberside area show that -
·22% of personal robberies in the Humberside area are committed on children aged between 11 and 16.
·In total almost 228 muggings on 11-16 yr olds were recorded by the police in Humberside last year - equivalent to over 4 school children recorded as mugged every week. Nationally the figure is about 122 children mugged every day.
·Actual muggings on 11-16 yr olds last year could be as high as 1087 in Humberside if normal under reporting estimates apply. The overwhelming majority of this has not been picked up by the British Crime Survey which only interviews adults aged 16 and over.
·Forty per cent of alleged offenders nationally were in the 11-16 yrs age group
Well over half of all muggings last year in our area were on people under the age of 30, proving just how serious a problem youth crime is.
A whole generation of young people are growing up under a cloud of crime, with too many falling victim to serious personal robberies at an age when they should be concerned about much simpler matters.
I am afraid that far too many of the perpetrators are also under the age of 16 which is why we need to restore discipline to our schools and ensure that those who disrupt the education of the vast majority of decent hard working pupils are adequately dealt with.
Labour seem more interested in protecting the rights of criminals than they do in dealing with those who blight our communities. These figures show that unless we do something quickly more and more of our young people will find themselves victims of this appalling crime.”
Shadow Home Secretary and Howden MP David Davis ads, “How can we expect young people to feel part of a community and country when the first time they need help, it lets them down by simply ignoring the problem. Similarly, if the Government does not get a grip, what kinds of even more serious crimes will offenders aged between 11 and 16 go on to commit?”
New statistics reveal shocking and previously unknown levels of muggings on and by youths
Conservatives have revealed previously unknown statistics showing the true extent of Youth on Youth crime across the Humberside Police area. These statistics compiled from Freedom of Information requests about robbery are revealed by Brigg and Goole Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman Andrew Percy.
Andrew explains, “The figures are quite appalling, but unfortunately unsurprising to someone such as my self who teaches in local schools. I am afraid that all too often both the victim and the perpetrator of personal robberies is a young person aged between 11 and 16. The figures for the Humberside area show that -
·22% of personal robberies in the Humberside area are committed on children aged between 11 and 16.
·In total almost 228 muggings on 11-16 yr olds were recorded by the police in Humberside last year - equivalent to over 4 school children recorded as mugged every week. Nationally the figure is about 122 children mugged every day.
·Actual muggings on 11-16 yr olds last year could be as high as 1087 in Humberside if normal under reporting estimates apply. The overwhelming majority of this has not been picked up by the British Crime Survey which only interviews adults aged 16 and over.
·Forty per cent of alleged offenders nationally were in the 11-16 yrs age group
Well over half of all muggings last year in our area were on people under the age of 30, proving just how serious a problem youth crime is.
A whole generation of young people are growing up under a cloud of crime, with too many falling victim to serious personal robberies at an age when they should be concerned about much simpler matters.
I am afraid that far too many of the perpetrators are also under the age of 16 which is why we need to restore discipline to our schools and ensure that those who disrupt the education of the vast majority of decent hard working pupils are adequately dealt with.
Labour seem more interested in protecting the rights of criminals than they do in dealing with those who blight our communities. These figures show that unless we do something quickly more and more of our young people will find themselves victims of this appalling crime.”
Shadow Home Secretary and Howden MP David Davis ads, “How can we expect young people to feel part of a community and country when the first time they need help, it lets them down by simply ignoring the problem. Similarly, if the Government does not get a grip, what kinds of even more serious crimes will offenders aged between 11 and 16 go on to commit?”
Assistance on Dealing with Personal Debt
Submitted by andrew on Fri, 12/01/2007 - 12:00.Assistance on Dealing with Personal Debt
Brigg and Goole’s Prospective Conservative MP Andrew Percy is urging local people to make use of the www.sort-it.co.uk website, recently launched by the Conservative Party to help people to tackle issues which affect peoples everyday lives, starting with personal debt.
Andrew continues, “We know this isn’t what you would expect from a political party but we felt that rather than do what political parties have always done – criticise each other and make promises for what they would like to do – we would like to start to make a difference now.
The idea behind sort-it.co.uk is to create an online home for a whole host of issues and highlight practical things people can do to make a difference. Personal debt is a vital matter that must be addressed and one I know only too well.
My parents were unable to fund me through University and so, as well as a part-time job, I had to take out student loans to pay for my education. Years later and I have only just completed paying off these loans so I know the long time impact debt can have on people’s lives.
The website is a really innovative way of trying to reach young people who are particularly prone to rising debt, especially since this Labour government introduced student top-up fees. There are some fantastic organisations locally, such as the Citizen Advice Bureau, who offer valuable support but I hope that the light hearted approach to be found on sort-it.co.uk will encourage more people to think seriously about the problem of debt.”
Brigg and Goole’s Prospective Conservative MP Andrew Percy is urging local people to make use of the www.sort-it.co.uk website, recently launched by the Conservative Party to help people to tackle issues which affect peoples everyday lives, starting with personal debt.
Andrew continues, “We know this isn’t what you would expect from a political party but we felt that rather than do what political parties have always done – criticise each other and make promises for what they would like to do – we would like to start to make a difference now.
The idea behind sort-it.co.uk is to create an online home for a whole host of issues and highlight practical things people can do to make a difference. Personal debt is a vital matter that must be addressed and one I know only too well.
My parents were unable to fund me through University and so, as well as a part-time job, I had to take out student loans to pay for my education. Years later and I have only just completed paying off these loans so I know the long time impact debt can have on people’s lives.
The website is a really innovative way of trying to reach young people who are particularly prone to rising debt, especially since this Labour government introduced student top-up fees. There are some fantastic organisations locally, such as the Citizen Advice Bureau, who offer valuable support but I hope that the light hearted approach to be found on sort-it.co.uk will encourage more people to think seriously about the problem of debt.”
