Hello again,

 

This week is going to be a busy one culminating in “The Big Delivery” over the weekend. The aim is to deliver a leaflet to every home in the constituency – if you can help I would be very grateful. Our “HQ” is the Stapleford Conservative Club on Derby Road, where bundles of leaflets (with a map) can be collected from 1pm till 5pm on Friday and 9am till 4pm on Saturday & Sunday. The Stapleford Conservative Club is known for its friendliness as various Lib Dem Councillors, including Broxtowe’s Mayor will testify as they are keen members (to be honest it’s the snooker tables not the politics that attracts them). If you can spare an hour or so then please send me an e-mail.

I’ve some positive news on the Ikea/ Retail Park plus my views on some current political topics. Whether you agree with me or not it would be good to hear from you. Last weeks e-mail newsletter sparked a response from the Leader of the Labour Group on Broxtowe Borough Council; whether your friend or foe I enjoy your responses. So keep them coming.

IKEA / Retail Park

 

My comments last week about the traffic congestion resulted in a rather irate response form the leader of the Labour Group on Broxtowe Borough Council.

The state of the roads around this part of the constituency should not be a party political issue. I’ve been driving to Giltbrook since I worked at the original Central TV studios (25 years ago) behind what was then a sweet factory and over more recent years have taken many a trip to Ikea. The traffic congestion is intolerable; when the Borough Council gave permission for the retail park they should have used the opportunity to sort out the road situation once and for all. If Milan takes that as a criticism of his party then so be it. I didn’t mention this in last weeks blog ( because I wasn’t being partisan) but as it happens Greasley’s Conservative Councillors (who work hard and don’t court publicity) have been standing up and speaking out against the increasing traffic congestion for many years now. And now for the partisan bit – it’s a great pity their objections weren’t taken on board by Labour and the Lib Dems who retain control of the Borough Council.

Anyway, some potentially good news. I’ve now learnt that there may be an application to construct an additional lane at the roundabout nearest to the Retail Park. This may bring some relief but I still believe a radical re-design of the roads in the area is what is really needed.

 

A taxing weekend

 

Government tax changes came into force at the weekend hitting not the rich – but low paid working families. One in five households – around 5.3 million families – will be worse off. This is because Labour have doubled tax on the lowest earners, by abolishing the 10p rate of income tax.

 

The Conservatives voted against this measure; your Labour MP voted in favour.

 

Taxes for all families are up. In the last financial year families paid on average £5,400 more in tax than they did in 1996-97.

The Olympic Games, China and Tibet

 

I am writing this having watched the protests during the Olympic Torch relay in London. We have the right in Britain to protest about Chinas repression of the people of Tibet. It’s a right denied to the people of both Tibet and China. Many years ago when I was a student I went on a two week political exchange to China. In those days almost every citizen wore the standard blue “Mao” suit; the only cars were owned by the state; I well remember a trip to Shanghais’ biggest department store with its small selection of goods displayed in glass cases rather like exhibits in a museum. China has certainly changed dramatically in the last thirty years – but only economically. It is still a one party state where the Communist party do not tolerate dissent and refuse the people the freedoms we take for granted.

 

The Olympic Games were awarded to China on the premise that it would improve its human rights record. I hope China will honour this commitment – a point David Cameron made to the Chinese leaders during his visit to Beijing last year.

 

The Government must show leadership in engaging China on the issues of human rights and Tibet.

 

I don’t believe sport should be used as a diplomatic or political weapon however, the Olympics provide an opportunity for the international community to scrutinise China and its activities.

 

Sir Steve Redgrave began the Olympic torch relay through London and later on the radio, I heard him make this point. If we really want to bring about change in China then everyone of us could stop buying anything “made in China”. I’m not saying I agree with Sir Steve but it has certainly made me think.

 

Send me your views please. 

 

Cannabis

 

I’ve said it before “I do a lot of drugs” – in my work that is.

 

In the past I have been sympathetic towards many of the arguments for legalisation of cannabis, I now however firmly believe that it should be reclassified as a class B drug.  On many occasions I have called for an honest and serious debate about drugs. I do not believe our drugs education policy has been successful; if it had we wouldn’t have a rise in  Class A users, and more drug offences (total recorded drugs offences have increased from 135,945 in 1998-99 to 194,502 in 2006-07, an increase of 43 per cent -Home Office, Crime in England and Wales 2006/07, July 2007). I believe we should review the classification of all drugs and for what it’s worth I would make ecstasy a Class B drug and I think there is a good argument that all amphetamine should be a Class A drug (at the moment liquid amphetamine is a Class A drug.

 

Anyway, the Government’s cannabis policy has descended into chaos.  This shambles has been caused by Gordon Brown’s complete inability to make a decision.  Rather than take action, he took the soft option of ordering a review. He has allowed the expectation that he will reclassify to gather momentum and now he must act.

 

I know from talking to my daughters’ teenage friends and to clients that making cannabis a Class C drug caused not just confusion but most importantly created ignorance. In my experience many young people now think cannabis is legal and have no idea that in sharing a spliff/joint with friends or pooling money for a shared stash they are committing the offence of supplying drugs and face a prison sentence.
Most cannabis on the streets is skunk – it’s powerful stuff and I have too many clients who have used it and exacerbated or in some cases triggered, mental conditions requiring hospitalisation. I also have too many clients who started with a bit of “blow” or “weed” and were then offered “something a bit stronger” and ended up addicted to heroin and/or crack.

 

Gordon Brown should stop dithering and restore cannabis to its Class B status.

 

As ever

Anna