Sunday breakfast with BBC Essex

Another Radio interview, in the early hours at BBC Essex. I was asked on their Breakfast programme to review the papers and answer some questions on a range of issues. It was a good discussion. With BBC presenter Ian Wyatt, we talked about community, the Cumbrian tragedy, the economy, events in Israel, faith schools and immigration.

You can listen HERE (at least for the next seven days). You need to fast forward to 2hrs and ten minutes.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Desert Island Disks with Harlow Hospital Radio

Apart from becoming an MP, my other secret dream has always been to appear on the Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs. Well, today, I got my opportunity - almost. The tremendous Harlow Hospital Radio was celebrating its 40th anniversary, with an exhibition. HHR were also showing off their brand new studio and equipment. We were also joined by Councillor Mike Garnett, Vice-Chairman of Harlow Council.

I was invited on Ian Jackson's show which became a special kind of Desert Island Discs for HHR. I had told Ian of my records beforehand, which being a music fanatic, he had copies of - even the old LP record versions! Ian's knowledge of music is encyclopaediac and he knew the detailed history of almost every song.

My favourite records were as follows (with links to YouTube et al):

• Come on Aileen by Dexys Midnight Runners;
• Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney;
• Sad eyed Lady of the Lowlands by Bob Dylan;
• Vespers by Rachmaninov;
• Oxygene by Jean Michelle Jarre;
• Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield;
• Lord of the Dance by Michael Flatley;
• Love Me Do by the Beatles;
• The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll by Bob Dylan.

My luxury was of course Vanda! My book, the Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy. Its a moving story about human strength and weakness, with a very sad ending.

I love going to HHR events - they are sometimes wacky, but always with great humour and passion. All the volunteers who make the station such a success are utterly dedicated to good radio and serving the patients of the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Czech Mates

A great evening at the Great Parndon Community Association. I had been invited by the GPCA for a lovely buffet dinner with Czech representatives from the Prague 15 District. I had met the Czechs on the previous night at the GPCA, where there had been a reception. I was pleased to say that I had studied East European politics at University and have indeed been to Prague.

Tonight, I met with Senator Jan Nadvornik, who was from the right of centre ODS Party in the Czech Republic. We had a long chat about the workings of Czech politics and the Czech president, Mr Vaclav Klaus - someone I had the good fortune to meet a long time ago. Jan expressed strong views that he was a Eurosceptic and wished that the European Union Lisbon Treaty (the EU Constitution), had not been signed. We both got along famously.

It was good to meet these Czechs, and even better to hear of the close relations with Prague 15 and Harlow - all down to the efforts made by the GPCA to build links between the two countries.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

In other news today, I had another very full Constituency Friday. During the morning, I opened the new Quit Smoking charity shop in Broadwalk. I also met with Harlow College Staff and Students, and walked across Velizy Avenue. The College have asked me to help them in their campaign to get the traffic lights changed, so as to make it safer for the students crossing the road. After lunch, I had meetings with Harlow Council senior Officers to discuss important local issues, and Mick Patrick from Defend Council Housing.

www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Busy Day in the Commons: Apprentices and Business Rates

I was fortunate to have two opportunities to ask questions in the Commons today. At Questions for Business, Innovation and Skills, I was able again to highlight the Essex Council Apprenticeship scheme as an example of best practice for the rest of the country. This was recognised by Business Secretary Vince Cable who set out the Government plan for Apprenticeships. You can read the full exchange here: (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmdebate/01.htm)

Later I was able to intervene during questions on Parliamentary Business. As you can see from the exchanges below my question concerned business rates. To incentivise local regeneration, it is vital that local business rates are spent locally and not salted away by the Treasury. My question to the Leader of the House of Commons yielded hints of a positive outcome:



Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Will the Leader of the House find time for a debate to follow up the important issue of business rates and major regeneration schemes? In the Gracious Speech, we saw our first glimpse of the excellent Bill for decentralisation and localism, which promises to give local communities a real share in local growth. In my constituency of Harlow, the regeneration of the town centre would be hugely supported if a greater share of the new business rates could be kept in the local community.

Sir George Young: My hon. Friend makes a forceful point. There will be CLG questions a week today, when he will be able to press the Ministers on that, but I agree that it is important that those who pay business rates should have access to the relief that they are entitled to automatically, and that there should be opportunities to recycle the business rates within the local community.


Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Robert's Maiden Speech : Online Video

You can now watch an online video link of my maiden speech.


You can read the text here, starting at the bottom of the page:

page 1 : http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100602/debtext/100602-0011.htm

page 2 : http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100602/debtext/100602-0012.htm


by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Maiden Speech

Just back home after a very long day in the House of Commons. I arrived at 07.10 in order to queue up outside the Chamber (which opens at 08.00) to put in my 'prayer card' in order to get a decent seat for the day's proceedings. I then went to my office to prepare for my Maiden Speech and also deal with correspondence.

I was glad to have the opportunity to make a short intervention during Foreign Secretary William Hague's Statement on the Israel -Gaza situation. Whilst I welcome an independent inquiry into what happened, I thought it important to acknowledge that one million tonnes of aid has gone to Gaza from Israel since January 2009. Moreover the blockade has existed because of Hamas acts of terrorism, their smuggling of arms from Iran and their attacks on aid convoys. Mr Hague noted the role of Hamas in its disruption of the peace process.

Later, during the Education Debate, I was called to give my Maiden Speech. As I said in the House, having taken ten years and three elections to get to the Commons, I felt a real sense of service and privilege. I spoke about the importance of the regeneration of Harlow and the need for an extra Bypass to the M11.

But, the main point of my speech was about Apprenticeships. Highlighting Apprenticeship schemes like that of Harlow College, I argued that we needed a cultural change in our country: to ensure that Apprenticeships are as highly regarded as Academic degrees.

I shall post my full speech tomorrow, once it appears in Hansard (the Parliamentary record).

Today was very fulfilling - I was pleased to be able to speak up for Harlow and the villages in the Commons in my Maiden Speech. It gave real meaning to my ten years campaigning as a candidate.



Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

For Peace Activists. . . - Rich Lowry - The Corner on National Review Online

For Peace Activists. . . - Rich Lowry - The Corner on National Review Online

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com