Andrew Percy - Latest News

Andrew Speaks Up for Local Jobs

andrew — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:03:10 +0100

Prospective MP Andrew Percy took the fight to protect local jobs to the Conservative Party Conference in recently where Andrew raised the issue of recent Government changes to the way businesses operating on the docks in Goole are taxed.

Andrew reports, "As a result of the Labour Government changing the way businesses operating on the docks are taxed, businesses have been left with massive tax bills backdated for three years. I have met with some of the affected businesses who told me that these changes could cause businesses to stop their plans for expansion or, even worse, put some of them out of business.

"This would mean local jobs would be lost and I therefore put my name down to speak at the Conservative Party Conference and was delighted to be called to speak. I explained what impact the changes could have locally and how important it was that local jobs were protected.

"I am therefore delighted that David Cameron has taken this issue up and we must all hope that the Government will see sense and change their minds. We need a Government that supports local jobs, not one that puts them at risk."

Port Health Authority Saved

andrew — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:34:26 +0100

Prospective Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy has played an instrumental role in stopping the abolition of the 120 year old Hull and Goole Port Health Authority which is charged with protecting public, animal and environmental health at the Humber Ports. The future of the Authority was under threat following a Best Value Review which considered abolishing the Authority altogether.

Prospective MP Andrew Percy, who is also Deputy Chairman of the Port Health Authority comments, "I was determined that this 120 year old institution should not simply be swept away because of a Government required review. The Port Health Authority has protected local people living near to the ports and wharves of Goole, Hull and North Lincolnshire for decades from the risks of disease and the environmental hazards which accompany international trade.

I was therefore delighted to be able to move against the proposal to abolish the body and I am especially pleased to have won the support of other parties represented on the board. Goole Labour Councillor Keith Moore deserves special mention for the way he spoke in defence of the Port Health Authority too and it was great to be able to work with Keith on this important issue.

There are other threats to the Port Health Authority's continued existence but I hope that these can also be resolved and that this 120 year old body will be allowed to continue working to protect the public health of those people who live near the Humber ports."

Business Rates U-turn Needed

andrew — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:23:01 +0100

Prospective Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy has welcomed the recent involvement of local Labour MPs in the campaign to force a re-think of Government changes to the way businesses operating on the docks in Goole are rated. The reassesments of the way in which non-domestic business rates are applied will leave businesses operating on port land with massive bills back-dated for three years! Local jobs will be put at risk.

Andrew Percy explains: "Both David Davis MP and I have been involved in this issue for some time and have been working closely with the Lib Dem Leader of Hull City Council where businesses operating on the ports have already been revalued, leaving many of them with back-dated bills running into millions. The bills for Goole will be sent out shortly and we are extremely concerned at the impact this could have on local jobs.

"On September 5^th I met with David Cameron MP whilst he was visiting the Brigg and Goole constituency and raised this matter with him too. I also arranged for David to meet with two representatives of the businesses affected and as a result they were able to question him on the matter. David agreed to take up this matter and to help apply as much pressure to the Government as possible in the hope that they will stop the retrospective collection of the rates.

"That is why I now welcome the involvement of local Labour MPs who have now agreed to get involved on this issue too. We all need to work together to encourage the Government to stop this harmful revaluation which could put local businesses and jobs at risk.

"It is really positive that Labour MPs have now woken up to this issue and joined the campaign against this unfairness. They are after all the ones who have a direct line to Government Ministers and so we expect them to deliver a u-turn from the Government."

David Davis MP added: "This announcement could not have come at a worse time for the affected local businesses. Many businesses are already struggling to cope with the economic downturn, increased energy and business costs and they will now be hit with a massive tax bill, back dated for three years. If the Government is so determined to bring these changes in they should have made their intentions clear to businesses well in advance so that they could include them in their future business planning."

Photo: Andrew on a previous visit to the Goole Docks with the Shadow Environment Secretary.

MP Supports New Traveller Sites

andrew — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:55:33 +0100

Residents in Brigg have been left shocked after learning that the current Labour MP for Brigg and Goole voted in Parliament to support a new law which forces Councils to provide new sites for travellers. As a result of this new legislation, North Lincolnshire's Labour Council has proposed three new traveller sites on Station Road, Brigg.

Prospective MP Andrew Percy has slammed the proposals saying, "This location is totally unacceptable and I am working hard to fight Labour's proposals for three new sites in Brigg. Cllr Nigel Sherwood, myself and Cllr Carl Sherwood (pictured in Brigg) decided that we could not just let Labour slide these proposals through and as such we have started to deliver a leaflet to every house in Brigg informing local people of how they can object to these proposals. As usual, it has been left to the local Conservatives to get out there and tell local people what is going on.

"The site in question is totally inappropriate for this sort of development and we do question why Brigg has been chosen to house three new sites. Although the proposals come from the Labour Council, it is important to remember that they really have very little choice in this matter. Changes introduced by the Government in 2004, supported by our MP, actually require Councils to identify new sites.

"Instead of explaining his decision to support this new legislation, our current Labour MP apparently claims to oppose the proposed sites in Brigg! This is an insult to the intelligence of the residents of Brigg and, just like on Post Office closures, proves that our MP says one thing locally, but does something very differently when at Westminster. This sort of hypocrisy explains why so many people are cynical of politicians.

"Our Labour MP should apologise to the people of Brigg for supporting the very legislation that could result in three new traveller sites in the town at what is a totally inappropriate location.

"Residents at least know that the Conservatives will be honest on this issue and we will continue to oppose the proposal."

Andrew Demands Assurances on Hospital Infestations

andrew — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:37:53 +0100

Prospective Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy is demanding assurances from our local Hospital Trusts following the release of figures showing that local hospitals have some of the highest call-out rates in the country for pest control.

Figures unearthed by the Conservatives have shown that between January 2006 and April 2008 -

The Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital Trust had to call in pest control on 272 occasions, the 15th highest rate in the coutry.
The Hull and East Yorkshire Hospital Trust had an even worse record with 898 call-outs, the second highest in England.

Andrew Percy comments. "Labour promised cleaner hospitals but have once again failed to provide the leadership needed to deliver this. Vermin and insects carry disease and spread infection and so we should all be very concerned about these figures.

Whilst I accept that not every infestation can be prevented, the huge disparity nationally clearly shows that some Trusts have a better handle on this than others. Some of the examples found nationally are truly shocking including, maggots in a patients slippers, fleas in a neo-natal unit and store for sterile materials infested with mice!

Hospital Trusts are so burdened with targets that you have to wonder whether they have the time to actually sit down and get the basics right."

Fire Cuts Decision

andrew — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:40:40 +0100

Prospective MP Andrew Percy has condemned the decision by Councillors on the Humberside Fire Authority to downgrade Goole Fire Station from 2 full-time to 1 full-time and 1 retained pump.

Andrew Percy says, "Despite the best efforts of an alliance of Conservative and Labour Councillors from North and North East Lincolnshire, Councillors from the East Riding decided to vote en bloc to support the downgrading of Goole.

We have been stabbed in the back by the very Councillors who should have been looking out for our interests. Although these proposals were driven by Labour Government change, there was no reason for the Fire Authority to let this downgrading go through. I condemn the Councillors of varying parties from the East Riding who have supported these cuts and I hope the electorate will hold them accountable for their decision in due course.

Brigg and Goole Conservative Councillor John Briggs opposed the downgrading of Goole and successfully moved a motion to save Kirton Lindsey Fire Station from closure. Whilst I am delighted that Kirton has been saved we must continue the battle for Goole.

The cuts to Goole can only go ahead if the Fire Brigade can recruit enough retained firefighters to crew the retained pump. Let us hope that that does not happen and that the Fire Authority is forced to look again at Goole.

I will be continuing to work with the FBU and politicians of all parties locally to carry on the fight for Goole."

Photo: Andrew addressing the 'No Fire Cuts' rally earlier this year

Petition Launched Against Hike In Car Taxes

andrew — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:36:41 +0100

Prospective Brigg & Goole MP Andrew Percy has launched a petition against Government proposals to raise vehicle excise duty on cars yet further. The petition has been available to sign at the Winterton Show and at the Howden Show (see photo), where Andrew and David Davis MP shared a stall.

Andrew explains, “This Government has raised taxes related to driving by 50% since coming to power in 1997. They are now proposing to increase Vehicle Excise Duty at a time when drivers are already paying through the nose by way of increase fuel prices. We now know that 9.4 million drivers will be worse off as a result of the car tax increase, including some of the poorest families in the country who will now be anything up to £245 worse off per year. An average family will be £80 per year worse off, at a time when the price of food is also rising.

The VED tax will be retrospective – so any car bought after 2002 will be hit by the higher tax rates. This will lead in turn to a plummeting re-sale price for second-hand cars.

The situation with fuel duty is even worse which is why the Conservatives have proposed a ‘Fair Fuel Stabiliser’ which would reduce fuel duty when oil prices go up and raise duty when prices go down. At the moment the Government is creaming in much more in fuel duty than it expected to due to the higher oil prices. If a Fair Fuel Stabiliser had been introduced at the 2008 Budget, fuel would now be 5p per litre cheaper, shaving £3.50 off a tank of fuel for a Ford Mondeo.

We need to send a strong message to the Government that we can’t take anymore increases in taxes. Families are already struggling and so these increases should be scrapped.”

Update: Alistair Darling has now annouced that the 2p increase in duty scheduled for the Autumn will not now go ahead. Andrew comments, "It's a shame it took the Government so long to make their mind up on this issue despite warnings for months that motorists could not take another hit. Whilst I welcome the move, the fact still remains that the high price of oil means that the Government is still taking much more off us in fuel duty than predicted."

Sign the petition here

MP Fails to Vote to Scrap 'John Lewis' List

andrew — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:18:38 +0100

Brigg and Goole MP Ian Cawsey refused to vote in the House of Commons this week to scrap the infamous John Lewis list and to introduce a more rigorous audit of expenses. The following recommendations were rejected by MPs -

Recommendation 1 was for a "robust new system of practice assurance involving regular financial health checks on records kept and processes used in Members' offices with outside professional teams covering about 25% of Members each year". This was substituted by a "rigorous internal system of audit".

Recommendation 2 would have extended "the scope of the audit engagement so that it is the same as for other public bodies."

Recommendation 3 would have reduced the receipt threshold from £25 to zero so that all claims, however small, would have had to be backed by receipts.

Recommendation 4 was for the Green Book (setting out the rules on allowances for Members) to be revised to specify more detailed rules.

Recommendation 6 was for MPs to no longer be able to claim reimbursement for furniture and household goods or for capital improvements.

Recommendation 13 was for the Additional Costs Allowance to comprise of a £19,600 maximum budget for accommodation (excluding furniture, household goods and capital improvements) but operating on the basis of itemised reimbursement and a flat rate of £30 for daily subsistence.

Andrew Percy comments, "Last year our Labour MP claimed over £144,000 in expenses, including £19,000 from the 'additional costs allowance' which pays for MP's second homes. Clearly, he did not think the recommendations above were important enough to turn up and vote for. As a result MPs can carry on billing you and I for their furniture!

We are out on the doorstep pretty much everyday in Brigg and Goole and the one thing residents say time and time again is that they are sick of MPs using our money to feather their own nests. I have no truck with any MP of any party who plays the system, as some clearly have.

It's a shame that our local Labour MPs decided to ignore what local residents are saying and carry on letting taxpayers pick up their bills!"

Andrew Informs Residents of Phone Box Closures

andrew — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:58:02 +0100

Prospective Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy has been out and about informing local residents about proposals to close several village phone boxes across North Lincolnshire.

Andrew explains, "There are currently proposals to shut down phone boxes in the following villages - South Ferriby, Horkstow (see picture), Bonby, Elsham, Melton Ross, Belton, Gunness, Dragonby, Wressle, Roxby, Coleby, Whitton, West Halton & Low Burnham.

We have been out and informed residents in many of the affected areas about how they can take part in the consultation process on these proposed closures. Whilst I know many of us now rely on our mobiles, there are good reasons for saving village phone boxes. Indeed, they are an important part of the village street scene.

It is important that anyone with a strong opinion on the proposals makes their views known by July 9th. Please get in contact if you would like to know how you can make your views known."

Brigg Ambulance - Andrew Meets Trust to Discuss Concerns

andrew — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:14:53 +0100

Prospective Brigg MP Andrew Percy and Brigg Councillor Nigel Sherwood met with representatives of the East Midlands Ambulance Trust to discuss local residents’ concerns over the recent changes to the Brigg Ambulance and to present their petition which has attracted over 1000 signatures locally.

Prospective MP Andrew Percy says, “Nigel and I were very pleased to be able to meet with the Trust and to hold what we felt was a very constructive meeting. We explained to the Trust that the concern of local people was not so much the introduction of the fast response vehicles, but rather the replacement of the Ambulance at Health Place which has resulted from those changes. In particular, we explained that local residents were concerned that they could now be waiting much longer for an ambulance to attend.

"The Trust assured us that the changes were happening as a result of national changes and that they very much wanted to work with local residents in bringing forward these changes. They were therefore able to assure us that the changes will be monitored closely for the next year and then reviewed next April.

"I explained to the Trust that one of the biggest concerns locally was that patients needing an ambulance may have to wait for one of the fast response vehicles to attend before an ambulance was dispatched. The Trust explained that the likelihood of that happening was very slim as in specific cases an ambulance will automatically be dispatched along with one of the fast response vehicles.

"Nigel and I are grateful to the Trust for allowing us to meet with them to explain the concerns of local residents. We found them very open to our concerns and we welcome their pledge to monitor the impact these changes have locally.

"Our ambulance crews do a first class job and deserve our support. The decision has now been taken and so all we can do is monitor the changes. That is certainly what we shall be doing and if we feel that local people are receiving a substandard service we shall be the first to speak out."