Harlow voters: Probably the Best First Past the Post'rs in the world

Harlow voters have decisively rejected the Alternative Vote in the referendum, with possibly the highest no vote in the country.  Close to 74% of  those who voted rejected AV - 16,226 against and just 5,823 in favour of change.

For some weeks now, Conservatives have been campaigning hard in Harlow to persuade residents that Labour leader Ed Milliband and the Liberal Democrats were wrong about electoral reform: that the Alternative Vote was costly, complicated and a con.  Harlow residents sensibly decided that AV was an expensive irrelevance - especially given the urgent need to sort out the economic problems we face.

The AV argument is now dead.  The Coalition can get back to governing the country.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Vote no to AV today. It is costly, complicated and a con

Today there is a areferendum on changing our voting system. Below, I set out why you should vote no, to keep our tried and tested First Past the Post:

Imagine a Greyhound race in which the dog that crosses the finishing line first loses against the dog who most people have placed bets on!

Unthinkable! Of course. Yet that is exactly what is being proposed by
those who want to change our democratic voting system to what is known as 'The Alternative Vote', in the referendum today.

Crazy? You bet. The Alternative Vote is costly, complicated and a con.

It will cost taxpayers up to £250 million to implement (not forgetting the additional £80+ million cost of holding the referendum). This is money that could be spent on vital public services.

AV is also fiendishly complicated as instead of placing an x by your preference, you have to rank candidates in order of your preference, as each vote is shuffled and counted between your choices. That's why AV has only been used in three other countries.

It is also a con - because AV is less democratic because it often means that the person who wins is often not the one who got the most votes, but the one who gets the most second, third or even fourth and fifth preferences.

That is why support for keeping First Past the Post (FPTP) goes across
political boundaries. In Harlow, former prominent Liberals, Colleen Morrisson and Linda Pailing, Les Coben (Chair of the Pensioners Action Group) and Murray Sackwild, the local NUT representative are opposed to AV. Nationally, many senior Labour MPs also want to keep FPTP.

Our First Past the Post (FPTP) voting system is democratic, fair - is least costly to the taxpayer - and has stood the test of time.

I am certain that Harlow - and the rest of the country will vote to keep our democratic First Past the Post voting method.

P.S. The pictures show me with Les Coben, Chairman of Harlow Pensioners Action Group and also with Two former Liberals, Colleen Morrison and Linda Pailing - all against AV

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Harlow Council Costs you Less and protects frontline services

It is election day today for Harlow Council. When making your decision, consider this: despite taking over an almost bankrupt council three years ago, with a ten million pound deficit, Conservative Councillors have restored Harlow's finances. It has been hard work with some difficult decisions made.

For two years, Council Tax has been frozen, and vital frontline services protected. If you want better services for lower cost from the taxpayer, vote Conservative today. Harlow Council costs you less, and provides essential local services for value for money.
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The problem of childhood obesity

Yesterday, there was a thoughtful and wide-ranging debate in the Commons about Childhood obesity, in which I spoke about Harlow and the some of the problems we face.
In many ways, Harlow is a tale of two towns. 

As I wrote last week, our town is ambitious and enterprising, with a culture of hard work. We have more than 2,500 private businesses here, which makes us one of the most entrepreneurial towns in Essex.  But at the same time, according to the latest study in 2007, Harlow also has estates with pockets of some of the worst deprivation and poverty - not just in Essex, but in England as a whole. This impacts on everything: homelessness, jobs, literacy and numeracy, family breakdown, and of course health.

One particular problem is childhood obesity. 

I have called on the Government to make much more money available to local sports organisations and grassroots charities, such as Harlow Athletics Club, Harlow Gymnastics Club and the Kickz football club. They are very much part of the Big Society, but sometimes they struggle to get funding, as they are not part of a grand Government scheme. 

We have one of the finest Leisure zones in the country, as well as hopefuls for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games, such as James Huckle and Anne Wafula-Strike. But despite all this, by the time Harlow children finish primary school, on average one in three is overweight; and one in five has the most challenging weight problems and is considered obese. This is a serious problem. It must be confronted, rather than swept under the carpet. 

Clearly some of this is down to education, but it is also due to the McDonald’s culture that we all live in. We do not even have to get out of the car these days, stopping off for fast food is so much easier than going to the supermarket, and having to cook ingredients from scratch.  I happen to love McDonald’s. It is a real treat, providing value for money and affordable meals, and it has made progress with the preparation of chicken salads and so on. But the problem is sometimes McDonalds and KFC become an extension of our kitchen.

Harlow schools have made much progress also with their meals in recent years, following various media campaigns and the involvement of the likes of Jamie Oliver.

I believe we must find more money for grassroots charities, to support groups like Harlow Gymnastics Club and others. It has many members, the cost of joining is very small, and it has changed the lives of countless young people and those with significant health problems.

That is exactly what the Big Society is all about: solutions coming from the communities and neighbourhoods we live in. We have some remarkable sporting groups in Harlow, which are run by volunteers and social entrepreneurs who know how to stretch a few hundred pounds to have the greatest impact with as little bureaucracy as possible.  
For example, if we diverted just one per cent of the sin taxes on cigarettes - around £209 million a year - and if the same were applied to alcopops, excessively fatty foods and high-sugar products aimed at children, and that money was then funneled into groups like Harlow Athletics Club, think about the difference that would make. It would transform childhood obesity.

Another local example is Berecroft. Police community support officers on the Berecroft estate in Harlow have a regular Saturday football game with local children, and organise it with the Berecroft Residents Association. All they need is a few hundred pounds to connect their floodlights to mains electricity, so that they can run that they can run their games all-year round, through the long winter months.Small amounts of money can make a huge difference.

The Government have already ring fenced hundreds of millions of pounds for Big Society projects like these, and are relaxing the rules on Gift Aid and leaving money to charities in your will. It will take time, but there will soon by real finance available to fund the Big Society: I will be campaigning for Harlow to get its fair share. 

You can read my full Commons speech here. Scroll down to Col 221.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Fight of the Century: Keynes vs. Hayek

In these difficult times, I thought you might enjoy this!

Conservatives win a majority after a period in minority government

Yes, it can happen. In Canada, Tories have just won a stonking victory over the Liberal Party, who have been left with just 33 seats. The election was called after the Liberals called a vote of no-confidence.

Well done to Prime Minister Stephen Harper for his robust defence of good government not big government, compassionate conservatism, low taxation and strong support for Israel.

Stop the Conveyor Belt to Terrorism

Today the Prime Minister made a statement on the death of Osama Bin Laden. I asked him about the conveyor belt to terrorism, and what action he would take against it.

The full exchange was:

Robert Halfon (Harlow): Would the Prime Minister confirm that the Government will take strong action against any conveyor belt Islamist groups, or individuals, that use what has happened to Bin Laden to promote jihad or violence?

David Cameron: My Honourable Friend makes a good point, and as we've discussed today we must combat not just violent extremism but extremism itself. I think there has been in the past a sense of a conveyor belt from some extremist groups and organisations taking people into a career of jihadism. We'll never deal with that unless we deal with the conveyor belt itself.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Six Reactions to the capture and death of Osama Bin Laden

Some immediate reflections:

First, America has shown yet again how important she is for freedom and civilisation. We must be thankful that the US is the world's superpower.

Second, the death of Bin Laden is as much symbolic as practical.  This represents a huge defeat for extreme totalitarian Islamism.  To eliminate its Leader shows that the free world will not appease Islamists. Other mass murderers and terrorists will know that the West means business and freedom triumphs over evil.

Third, the apologists for extreme Islamism - including those who celebrated or justified 9/11, will be in a quandary: what do they do and say now?  It will be interesting to see how 'the conveyor belt' Islamist supporting organisations in the UK react in particular.

Fourth, Hamas has confirmed its status as a terrorist-supporting movement. It released this statement:

"We regard this as a continuation of the American policy based on oppression and the shedding of Muslim and Arab blood ... we condemn the assassination and the killing of an Arab holy warrior. We ask God to offer him mercy with the true believers and the martyrs."

Those wanting Israel to engage with Hamas should reflect again today on the true nature of this murderous organisation.

Fifth, in this moment of weakness for the Islamists, the West needs to redouble its efforts.  Bin Laden's death must not become a case of Hydra's head. There must never be a Bin Laden ll.

Finally, the Republicans in the USA need to wake up and smell the coffee. Bin Laden's demise represents a deserved boost for Obama.  If candidates such as Trump et al still go on about 'birthing issues' and the like, the Republicans will be massacred at the polls.  To have any chance at winning, they have to present a credible alternative to Obama's foreign policy, not all of which is as successful as the capture of Bin Laden.

This blog was also published on the Conservative Home website earlier.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Two Trees

Out canvassing yesterday. Some beautiful trees came into view. One in Sheering Mill Lane, the next - opposite the Railway Pub by Sawbridgeworth Station.

I thought you might like to see them - courtesy of my Blackberry. Wonderful.

Harlow: The most entrepreneurial Town in Essex

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One thing that I believe is truly great about Harlow, is that our town is full of entrepreneurs. We have a can-do hardwork culture. On top of this, we also have thousands of dynamic companies that take on apprentices, like Destiny Hairdressing in the Greenway, run by Danielle Field, plus many other local shops and cafes.

Many hundreds of these are mini-businesses: one or two people outfits, start-up companies, and entrepreneurs who run their business from home.

When I am out and about, people who work in these firms often tell me that they feel Government is getting in the way of jobs and growth. But I’m pleased to say that at last we have a Government that is making life easier for Harlow entrepreneurs.

First of all, residents will be allowed to start a business in their home, if they are a social tenant, for the first time in history.

Secondly, profits tax is being cut to 26p for large firms, and 20p for small firms.

Thirdly, we are extending the Small Business Rate-Relief Holiday for another year. This will save 900 small firms in Harlow at least £1,500 each.

Fourthly, we will fund an extra 250,000 apprenticeships over the next four years. Apprenticeships in Essex have already risen by 44% this year, including my own Harlow apprentice who works with me in Parliament.

Fifthly, we are bringing in lower taxes for lower earners, by raising the threshold of income tax nearly £7,500 this year, and again to £8,105 in 2012. This will make the average Harlow worker £326 better off than they are today.

Harlow’s entrepreneurial spirit is well-documented. We have 2,500 firms registered in the town, and new start-ups all the time. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that local unemployment is coming down?

Since the height of the recession, at least 500 people Harlow who were unemployed have come back into work. I am proud to say that Harlow is well and truly open for business. We are starting to make our mark as the most entrepreneurial town in Essex.

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