Cutting the ribbon for the Harlow Gymnastics Club

I was really privileged to have been invited today to the opening of Harlow Gymnastics Club new premises and asked to cut the ribbon in the Sumners Leisure Centre, where their new home is. I first visited HGC some months ago, when the Club faced an uncertain future (it was based in the Sports Centre). I was pleased to meet Gordon and Peter who run the club, and some of the members - and was glad to help in a small way.

It really is a great place to be. The club has over 300 members and makes a dramatic difference to the physical fitness of a huge numbers of children - and adults -many of who have had their lives transformed for the better. The passion of the staff and volunteers who run HGC is infectious, and you can see that everyone lives and breathes the Club and do all they can to make it such a special place to be.

The great thing about the HGC being based at Sumners is that they now have a permanent home (under the auspices of the Great Parndon Community Association), and will be able to hugely expand their range of activities, no doubt attracting loads more members as well. The Open Day was very special, with the children doing a fantastic range of gymnastics, a barbecue and much fun everywhere. I wish the HGC every success.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

The best of times and the worst of times

How can one day be so good and bad for democracy at the same time? Well, this Saturday is like no other. First, the Prime Minister Gordon Brown, under relenting pressure (particularly from Sky News), finally agreed, that he would be willing to take part in General Election TV debates with David Cameron. This is great news and is something of a small earthquake in our political system. TV Debates, will accelerate the trends to a more 'Presidential' style of Government, as the performance of party leaders becomes ever more important. Above all, it gives the public a real chance to decide, who they will vote for. These TV election debates will be watched by millions, and will have the capacity to make or break party leaders. It is a great advance for our democratic evolution.

Now for the bad news. Sadly, Ireland voted yes for the EU Constitution - known as the Lisbon Treaty. This was a referendum that was all the more curious, as the Irish voted no in a Referendum, not so long ago. Yet in true EU Style, instead of accepting the result, the Irish were forced to have a second referendum, until the Eurocrats and big Corporate interests in Brussels got the answer they wanted. We now have to wait on the actions of the Czech Republic and Poland, who both have not yet ratified this Treaty - which, if it comes to pass, would in essence bring about European Government in all but name, and greatly weaken the power of Britain, to make its own decisions on a huge range of issues.

David Cameron, has pledged that Conservatives will hold a Referendum on the EU Constitution - something which Gordon Brown promised at the last election, but refused to honour. Mr Cameron has issued the following statement to party activists, (many of whom will be on their way tomorrow to Manchester, for the annual party conference):

"I want to make one thing clear: there will be no change in our policy on Europe and no new announcements at the Conference. There will be no change in Conservative policy as long as the Lisbon Treaty is still not in force. The Treaty has still not been ratified by the Czechs and the Poles. The Czech Prime Minister has said that the constitutional challenge before the Czech Constitutional Court could take 3-6 months to resolve

I have said repeatedly that I want us to have a referendum. If the Treaty is not ratified in all Member States and not in force when the election is held, and if we are elected, then we will hold a referendum on it, we will name the date of the referendum in the election campaign, we will lead the campaign for a 'No' vote.

If the Treaty is ratified and in force in all Member States, we have repeatedly said we would not let matters rest there. But we have one policy at a time, and we will set out how we would proceed in those circumstances if, and only if, they happen.

This is going to be a great Conference. I look forward to seeing many of you in Manchester".

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Mr Milliband's disgraceful behaviour - worthy of the gutter

I mentioned in my previous blog, how Labour was getting even more extreme and retreating into its core vote.

Well, I have to say, I never expected David Milliband, Foreign Secretary, to indulge in such behaviour. In his speech today, he made a naked appeal to Labour party activists by implying that William Hague was consorting with an Anti-Semite, because of the Conservative Alliance with Michel Kaminski MEP, leader of the European Conservative Reform Group in the European Parliament. Mr Kaminski is from Poland - and from the same party - as the President of that country. This is an outrageous slur. Far from being an anti-semite, Mr Kaminski is passionately pro-Israel and a great friend of the Jewish people.

I myself was in Jerusalem with him recently, where he made a passionate speech to Israeli Parliamentarians about the need for Israel to defend itself against terror. His speech was as supportive of the Israeli state as it is possible to be. I find it absolutely disgusting, that the Foreign Secretary, who is supposed to rise above politics, felt the need to descend into the gutter.

Yet again it represents another example of the Government having lost its way. Labour Ministers seem to consider that negative attacks and personal insults, are more important than debating important political issues of the day.

I am glad that Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague, has issued a strong reposte to the antics of Mr Milliband. Leading blogger Iain Dale, has more details HERE. You can read the truth about Mr Kaminski on THIS website. Stephen Pollard (a former Labour activist) and now editor of the Jewish Chronicle has also written an article condemning Mr Milliband's actions. Mr Pollard writes:

"None of the supposed evidence sticks. It is mudslinging of the most disgusting kind, using a serious and worrying contemporary issue – antisemitism – to further political ends.

I have no axe to grind on Mr Kaminski's behalf. But I do have an axe to grind against false labels of antisemitism. Far from being an antisemite, Mr Kaminski is about as pro-Israel an MEP as exists.

David Miliband owes him a grovelling apology".

P.S. The pictures show myself with Mr Kaminski MEP, and with some Conservative MPs and Parliamentary Candidates in Jerusalem, outside the King David Hotel, where Mr Kaminski delivered his speech.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com