Back to Downs School

Many readers of this blog will know that I have visited Downs School in Harlow on a number of occasions. I was pleased to be invited again today to present some healthy eating awards.

The school was given these awards by the NHS, for all its activities in relation to healthy eating. All the pupils participated and it was an award well deserved.

I was also there to present some playground champion certificates. These are given individually to children who act as monitors during break time - looking after children who may be vulnerable and ensuring that every child has an enjoyable and peaceful break.

Downs School is a really impressive school. The Head Teacher, Mr David Yeld, has put the school on the map, winning a range of other symbols of recognition, including an eco-award from Essex Council (I was even given an eco badge!!). He has also brought some traditional values back into the school - as I walked into the entrance, I was greeted by two pupils in very smart blue blazers. Downs is also now divided up into 'houses'. There is also a school council and plaques around the school which highlight individual recognition of various pupils.

Mr Yeld has a strong philosophy for the school and has a great vision for the future. He believes that standards can be improved by building individual self esteem - not just by recognising pupils through awards but though excellence and achievement through additional activities like music. I am sure he is right and I look forward to see how the school develops over coming months.

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Victory in Lower Sheering

It has been a long Thursday. After many weeks of campaigning, it was the final day of the By-Election in Lower Sheering.Harlow and Epping Conservative activists were in Lower Sheering from 0700, campaigning for Charlotte Edwards, who was our candidate.

What was astonishing was that Labour did not even put up a Candidate to stand in this election - a symbol of how their grassroots infrastructure is falling apart. The Liberals, also, almost gave up the ghost. Despite putting up a Candidate (who, unlike Charlotte lived miles away from Sheering), did no real campaigning, not even bothering to put a leaflet around the ward.

I was really pleased to see that Charlotte romped home. She will make an excellent candidate. Part of Charlotte's victory was due to former Cllr Heather Harding who worked so hard in Lower Sheering - and did so much to lay the foundations for tonight's success.

The response we got on the doorstep was great - and a good sign for the General Election next year.

P.S. The Lower Sheering results were as follows:

Conservatives 302
Liberals 93

Charlotte's majority was 209


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Alan Sugar - your fired

Despite enjoying The Apprentice, I have never understood why Gordon Brown appointed Alan Sugar to spearhead the Government's task force for business. Only last week, Mr Sugar thought it apt to lay in to struggling small businesses stating:

"I can honestly say a lot of problems you hear from people who are moaning are from companies I wouldn't lend a penny to. They are bust. The moaners are bust. They are bust and they don't need the bank - they need an insolvency practitioner." (Daily Mail, 4 November 2009)

The arrogance of this comment is breathtaking, particularly, when many small businesses are struggling to keep to keep afloat - because of Gordon Brown's mishandling of the economy.

I am sometimes asked, so what would Conservatives do differently to help small businesses in this difficult climate. I thought it might be useful to set out Tory policies below (incidentally, the Conservative Spokesman for small businesses is Mark Prisk (neighbouring MP for Hertford and Stortford):

Conservative action for small business

Simpler, fairer taxes

We will reverse Labour's planned increase in small company corporation tax, from 22p in the coming year back to 20p.

We will simplify the tax system, to reduce complexity for small businesses.

Securing finance

We believe Labour's loan guarantee schemes are too complex, narrow and bureaucratic. We believe that, during the recession, there should be a single national loan guarantee scheme, to guarantee billions of pounds of loans for all business sectors and for viable firms whatever their size.

Cutting the burden of regulation

We will create a one in-one out requirement where any new regulation must include cuts in old laws which, together, produce a net 5% reduction in the total regulatory burden.

We will apply a 'sunset clause' to all regulators. During the first term of a Conservative Government all regulators will be re-assessed and their duties, size and functions reviewed. Our aim is fewer, smaller and cheaper regulators.

Many small businesses complain of unfair treatment in employment and discrimination tribunals. We will consult carefully on reforming these tribunals so that the system is fair to all sides.

The powers of government inspectors will be curbed, by letting businesses arrange their own, externally audited inspections and, providing they pass, to refuse entry to official inspectors thereafter.

Helping people start and grow new businesses

We will introduce a Work for Yourself programme to help people become self employed. Working with proven specialist organisations like the Prince's Trust and the Bright Ideas Trust we will enable the building of a network of business mentors and appropriate business support and loans to help the next generation of entrepreneurs.

These policies at least give some impetus to business and are far removed from Alan Sugar's approach of harsh criticism. There is a big difference between a reality TV programme and the real business world.

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Local residents have a right to know the true level of public spending

Don't' you agree that all of us have the right to know the true level of public spending in Harlow in Epping? Is there not a greater need for open Government?

That is why I have urged that Gordon Brown stops dragging his feet over a new law which requires the Government to tell us how much taxpayers' money is spent in Harlow and Epping Forest, and in every other part of the country.

What is really astonishing, is that in Parliament on 28 October, Labour MPs actually voted against a motion calling for more openness on public spending.(Bill Rammell abstained - or wasn't in the Commons to vote).

The new law, The Sustainable Communities Act 2007, was introduced by a Conservative MP and passed by Parliament with wide cross-community support from local and national organisations.

I strongly believe that it could help fix Britain's broken politics - by giving local people the power to decide how their cash is spent in their area, and requiring a regular breakdown of spending by central government departments and quangos in new 'Local Spending Reports'.

The reality is that more and more taxpayers' money is being spent by unelected quangos. A new report published on 26 October by the Taxpayers' Alliance has revealed that quangos now spend an astonishing £90 billion a year - equivalent to £3,640 a year for every household across Harlow and Epping Forest.

Amazingly, Labour Ministers have been trying to water down the new law. They initially only wanted to publish spending by councils and NHS Primary Care Trusts - facts already in the public domain. Further information will only be "developed over time".

But this is not good enough. Conservative plans callfor greater openness and accountability, and pledge to:

* Use the Sustainable Communities Act to publish detailed Local Spending Reports including central government and quangos, and devolve more power to local communities.

* Require Harlow and Epping Forest district councils to publish online figures for all expenditure on goods and services over £500, as is already being piloted by Windsor and Maidenhead Council.

It's time for the Government to show us the money - and tell Harlow, Hastingwoode, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering residents how much of their money is actually spent in our area.

Gordon Brown wants to stop local people finding out that they get a raw deal from his Government, and conceal that his unelected quangocrats spend almost £4,000 a year per household in our area with little or no say for local people.

Local communities deserve a far greater say on how their money is spent. It's time for change. We need a Conservative Government that believes in openness and transparency. Its time give power back to local people.

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A busy time in Harlow: From Lloyds Bank to Moat Housing to Firework Night

I have mentioned in other postings, that the life of a Parliamentary Candidate can be a very varied one and the last few days have been no exception. Its been quite a busy few days! I thought you might be interested to see what I have been up to:



Lloyds Bank

Last Friday, I met with staff at Lloyds Bank in Broadwalk, who gave me a tour of the branch and also set out to me how the bank and customers were faring, given the recession.

Lloyds is a community based bank, and It was noticeable that its staff are actively involved in the regeneration of Harlow Town Centre, working closely with groups like Harlow Renaissance, Although Lloyds Bank - (a few hundred yards away in Eastgate) is closing (the old TSB Branch), I was pleased that the main Lloyd is expanding onto two floors, so that customers will continue to have a proper service. They also told me that Lloyds in Bush Fair (Tye Green Branch), is one of its strongest branches in the area, and had a good future - there were no plans to close this branch whatsoever.

I left feeling quite impressed with Lloyds in Harlow. Although City Bankers are getting a rough ride at present, it is important to make a distinction between what goes on in the City, and what happens in a local Community such as Harlow. Most of the staff I met in Lloyds were not only dedicated and enthusiastic about their roles, but very much Harlow focused - and local residents.

Moat Housing

After I went to Moat Housing Trust, and was taken on a tour of Moat Housing across Harlow by their representative Claire Lomax. Cllr. Lee Dangerfield also accompanied me to places as far afield as the Briars and NewHall. Although some Housing Trusts get a lot of stick, my overall impression is that Moat does a good job and has taken great care. Claire is born and bred in Harlow and knows everything there is to know about local housing issues, so it was quite a good education for me. The Moat Houses at New Hall are simply stunning - we were taken to an open courtyard with apartments around that has won a gold standard award. The place had a care for beautiful design and attention to detail. A real example of the very best that housing can offer.

Education, Education, Education

Later in the afternoon, I had a campaign meeting and then I had to attend a local dinner in Epping, in which Michael Gove MP was the guest speaker. He highlighted Conservative plans to let parents and charities set up their own schools, so that parents and children could have more choice. He also said there would be more rigour in the national curriculum, with real emphasis on Maths and English.

To Soham

On Saturday, I had to attend a conference of Eastern Region Conservatives alongside members from across the East of England. It was a good day, although driving through Soham, I could not help think of that terrible tragedy that befell those poor children a few years ago. It is sad that a town will always be known more for this episode, than for its many other attributes.

But, it was important to be amongst fellow Conservatives and discuss plans for the forthcoming election - there is much work to be done over the coming weeks and months. I was pleased to get back on Saturday night and watch the X Factor - something which you will know from my tweets and blog postings that I am a great fan of!

Its fireworks

Sunday was such a lovely day. Although the morning was spent answering constituency correspondence and email, I was really pleased to go the Firework Show. It was a brilliant evening and the fireworks were the best ever. The music was great too. I have to say it was very cold, and I was glad to be warmed up with some hot donuts from the food vans - even if I did have to break my diet. It seemed that there were thousands of people who came to enjoy themselves.

It was impressive to see Harlow Council Chairman Cllr. Edna Stephens, out in the cold, collecting money for her Chairman's Charity, Harlow Carers, working with some other Council volunteers. Even more heartwarming was the presence of Harlow St John's Ambulance, who are always there at every event to offer a helping hand to anyone who falls sick.

It is not often remembered that the St John's Ambulance rely on its volunteers and it is quite amazing, that so many are willing to give up their time in this way - in a voluntary capacity, to help those most in need. I was glad to attend a recent St John's Ambulance event in an Old Harlow in which they held a special ceremony in honour of two new ambulance vehicles that they had raised funds for. All in all a wonderful way to spend a Sunday evening.

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