To pray or not to pray

It is amazing that an unelected Judge has interpreted the law in such a way and banned prayers at Bideford Town Council - despite the wishes of the vast majority of elected Councillors.

I doubt this decision would have come about if there had been no prayers and just one Councillor had wanted to have them - and had then gone to the High Court.  The Councillor who objected to the prayers was under no obligation to attend, and - with the help of the Judge - has now imposed his world view on the wishes of the elected majority.

This judgement shows that there is an anti-religious bias infecting some of our establishment.  Faith individuals and faith groups are often discriminated against in favour of a 'secular' world-view.  This decision against faith at Bideford, could potentially represent an avalanche of claim after claim against faith activities in our institutions up and down the land - including Parliament.

What is needed is a Bill of Rights, which guarantees the rights of faith communities.

Above all we should respect local democracy and stop 'the establishment'  making decisions that are quite contrary to the will of the people.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Intervention in Syria

There is an important article by Jonathan Freedland in The Guardian today.  In essence, his article makes the argument that (i); Syria is not Iraq and (ii); intervention doesn't have to mean sending armies or planes.

Just because the Iraq intervention has always been controversial, it does not mean that there should never be any intervention anywhere.  Without intervention in Libya, Gadaffi would still be ruling and many thousands of Libyans would have been massacred.  Whilst pro-active military intervention in Syria may be difficult, it doesn't follow that Nato et al, could not supply the opposition movement with logistical support, weaponry, intelligence and humanitarian aid.  We should also not hesitate to expel the Syrian Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

The Assad regime is most probably nearing the end of its reign in terms of brutality - to avoid further suffering and genocide - and to help a stable post-Assad Syria, the West has a moral duty to intervene.

This was the Question I asked William Hague, earlier in the week (6 February), during the short Statement on Syria:

Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): I welcome what my right hon. Friend has done thus far, but, just as we were right to intervene in Libya and to support with weapons and logistics those opposition movements that faced massacre, can he do more to work with other countries to give logistics, weapons and humanitarian aid to the opposition groups in Syria? Further, when will the stage be reached at which we need to expel the Syrian ambassador from the United Kingdom?

Mr Hague: I hope that I have covered those points. We are not engaged, and are not planning to engage, in arming the opposition forces in Syria, although we will help with advice and some logistics and practical support in order to ensure their ability to operate. It would not be in their interests in any case to be seen as an arm of western Governments, so there is a limit to what we can do in that regard.

On the question of the embassy, we will work with our partners throughout the world on that, but there are advantages in keeping an embassy, as well as in making the strong diplomatic statement of withdrawing an embassy. It improves our understanding of the situation on the ground to have an embassy there.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

The European Court of Human Rights is to blame for the Abu Qatada Debacle - not the founding principles of the European Convention of Human Rights

It is a myth to suggest that the European Convention of Human Rights is responsible for the UK's inability to send Mr Qatada back to Jordan.

The actual Convention was framed by mainly British Judges after the Second World War, with the intention of avoiding any repeat of the horrors of Nazi Germany. The actual principles of the Convention are very noble and clear in their intention.

In fact, Articles 16 and 17 (Section One) clearly would permit the Hone Secretary to deport Mr Qatada.

The problem is not with the ECHR, but with the European Court. The judges of the court, some of whom come from countries, with their own questionable human rights record, seem to be wilfully subverting the original principles of the Convention. The Court has extended its remit to areas which were never intended and clearly needs reform.

My own view is that the UK should temporarily withdraw from the ECHR, and work with other countries to reform the Court.

This was the question I asked yesterday to the Home Secretary:

Robert Halfon (Harlow, Conservative): Does my right hon. Friend accept that article 17 of the European convention says explicitly that human rights law should never be used to defend those aiming "at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms…in the Convention" such as the activities of Abu Qatada? Article 16 makes it clear that Governments can restrict the political activity of foreign nationals in self-defence, and the Jordanian hate-preacher Abu Qatada is a clear case of that. Does she agree that it was never the intention of the framers of the European convention, which was founded to avoid a repeat of the horrors of Nazi Germany, to let the poison of Islamist terrorists go free?

Theresa May (Home Secretary; Maidenhead, Conservative): I agree with my hon. Friend that the way in which the European Court operates is not how it was originally intended to operate. That is precisely why we are looking at possible reform and, as I have said, discussing with the other countries involved whether that reform would be possible in a way that enables us to be in a better position in future to deport those who are a danger to us.

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You can see the founding Principles of the European Convention of Human Rights if you click HERE.

BREAKING NEWS: Apprenticeships in Harlow up 78%

Some fantastic news for Harlow, given that this is National Apprenticeships Week.

New figures show that our town saw a 78% increase in the number of people starting an apprenticeship last year - this is even higher than previously thought.

With apprentices and staff at Harlow College.

Funding for new apprenticeships is rocketing - with record-breaking numbers of new apprentices across the country. On top of this, the Government has announced that from this week:

1) Businesses and training providers from Harlow can bid for a share of £6 million from the Higher Apprenticeship Fund. This will support the development of thousands of new Higher Apprenticeships in sectors including aerospace, energy and renewable technologies.

2) Small and medium-sized businesses from Harlow without any young apprentices, who hire one, are eligible for a £1,500 bonus, with up to 40,000 payments available.

3) Harlow businesses can bid for a share of a £250 million fund to boost skills in their workplace, giving employers rather than training providers direct access to funding for training.

National Apprenticeship Week is a great opportunity to congratulate apprentices across Harlow – they are helping to get our economy moving, and bringing jobs back to our town.

The Government estimates that every £1 spent on an apprenticeship returns an estimated benefit of £18 to the economy. But apprenticeships are not just about economic efficiency - they are about social justice as well.  

That’s why it is such great news that 800 people in Harlow started an apprenticeship last year, thanks to the Conservative-led Government – a 78% increase. 

As regular-readers of my blog will know, I employ a Harlow apprentice myself in my office, and am working hard with Anglia Ruskin and Harlow College to bring a new high-tech Apprentice School to our town.

I would urge Harlow people of all ages to consider becoming an apprentice and seize the opportunities that this government has opened up.

Harlow Baseball Open Day - Sunday 04 March

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

The Year of the Dragon

Harlow has one of the largest Chinese Community Centres outside any major City in the UK. It is not just a meeting place, but a school, a centre of adult learning and also a club for the local Chinese.
On Sunday, I was invited to celebrate Chinese New Year of the Dragon - a very special occasion. Food and special ceremonies abounded.
The pictures give a flavour of what was a very special event.

Crooked Mile speed limit reduction is good news - but more needs to be done

A move by Essex County Council to reduce the speed limit on a notorious stretch of Crooked Mile is to be welcomed. It has been the scene of numerous accidents in recent years.

However more needs to be done.

Last week, three people were taken to hospital following a collision on the road which runs between Nazeing and Waltham Abbey.

This week I have launched a petition - SEE HERE - calling for road safety measures on the Crooked Mile. The county council issued a public notice proposing to reduce the speed limit on nearly 5,000 metres of the road to 50mph.

This is something that I have urged them to do for almost a year.

Last October, for example, I met with a constituent whose grandson and his girlfriend were unfortunately killed on the road in February 2011. I subsequently contacted the highways authority to join the efforts of local councillors on this issue.

Incidents, including the one last week, have only reinforced my view that the current unrestricted speed limit is wholly inappropriate.

That is why I have started a petition for road safety measures on the Crooked Mile. I would urge residents and motorists to sign it, to show Essex County Council the strength of feeling about this.

I very much hope that a speed limit reduction will improve road safety.