Local Conservatives Join Local Efforts to Aid Haiti
Posted by Richard | Filed under International Development
Local Conservatives Raised Over £200 for Haiti Appeal
Last Friday, Bedford Conservatives raised over £200 to help the Red Cross work to relieve the suffering in Haiti.
Many local groups and local people are doing their bit to help out the people of Haiti and I am delighted we could join with these efforts.
The politics of division are the politics of despair
Posted by Richard | Filed under Democracy
Substance in politics is what really matters but sometimes the tone matters too. Contrast the opening efforts in the General Election campaign between Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
Gordon Brown and the Labour Party have launched divisive attacks – based on class, on bankers, on those with support hunting. The tone is one that seeks to deflect blame from the Government’s own failings but also one which seeks to divide the country in to “them” and “us”.
The Conservatives put healthcare first
Posted by Richard | Filed under Health
Yesterday, David Cameron launched the Conservative Party’s draft health manifesto, which you can read here, Conservative Party Draft Health Manifesto.
The draft manifesto has lots of sensible initiatives that will focus money on the provision of healthcare rather than management and process initiatives.
The draft manifesto also points the way forward to give each of us more power to choose our public health providers, and it does it in a very sensible way, seeing the GP as our guide rather than relying on us as isolated – and, sometimes, ill-informed – “consumers”.
Local Health Services – Your Opinions
Posted by Richard | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Health
Richard and Lucy with some of the replies to the Family Health Survey
Last year, over 1000 residents in Bedford and Kempston participated in my survey of local health services and issues – a huge response rate and one that indicates how important the NHS is to us all.
A summary of some of the findings from the survey is available here, 2009 Health Survey Feedback.
On the Decision to Move to Two Tier
Posted by Richard | Filed under Education
So the Mayor, Executive and now the Council have made the decision to move, now, to a two-tier education system. We will embark on an expensive overhaul of our soon to be “Upper” schools and an expansion of the size of our Primary schools.
Putting on one-side the educational merits of two-tier vs three-tier – and on balance, I believe the arguments were in favour of two tier – the decision for a change is a very risky one at this time. The current government has so severely undermined the economy that there is very little faith that it has the money needed to meet its public funding promises. When the current period of artificial stimulus is over, and whichever party is in government, there will be a strain on the public finances more severe than any in living memory. Yet, despite this backdrop, the Mayor has led the decision to ask the Government for more money and foolishly taken them at their word that they have the wherewithal to pay. I have my doubts.
Our Bypass Bid – Getting Vital Support
Posted by Richard | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Transport
Handing over 500 bypass petition signatures to Jan Steel of Bedford Borough Council
While others talked, I collected over 500 signatures in support of the Borough Council’s petition for Government funding to complete the bypass. Thank you to all of you who signed and joined the effort for this long overdue improvement. I believe that we need to put pressure on this Government to get them to help finish the job otherwise congestion will get even worse across town.
More Local Jobs: Attracting Business to Bedford
Posted by Richard | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Business, Economy
Jim Lawrence, Chief Financial Officer of Unilever PLC, was my guest at the inaugural meeting of Bedford Futures Business Club. Unilever is a major local employer and I toured their Colworth facility learning about Unilever’s new conference centre and their advances in ice cream technology!
Welcoming Jim Lawrence, Chief Financial Officer, Unilever PLC at the Embankment Hotel, Bedford
Jim spoke about Unilever’s recession beating strategies and expressed support for my campaigns to strengthen Bedford as a business location.
Sure Start – Working Well for Bedford & Kempston
Posted by Richard | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Family
I toured local Sure Start centres in Kempston, Cauldwell, Kingsbrook and Bedford town centre with Lynne Summerfield, Programme Manager. For families with kids under 5, Lynne and her dedicated teams provide a range of helpful advice, run self-help groups and offer childcare at their day nurseries. Local charity, Spurgeons, provides additional support for the services. I was very impressed with the commitment of staff and happy to confirm Mr Cameron’s commitment to continue support for Sure Start under the next Conservative Government.
See Parvez make a powerful case for why he should be our Mayor
Posted by Richard | Filed under Democracy
Beds on Sunday have a video of Parvez where he outlines his priorities for serving the people of the Borough of Bedford. Parvez’s key themes are: keeping Council tax down – reducing waste and cutting costs; striking a fairer balance between the rural and urban parts of our Borough; and, being a listening Mayor responding to the needs and requirements of local residents. Well worth a look
http://www.bedsonsunday.com/bedsonsunday-mayoralelection/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=451555
If you want to see the efforts of the other candidates, they are also available on the BoS site.
Parvez Akhtar – The People’s Choice For Mayor
Posted by Richard | Filed under Uncategorized
Parvez supported by Richard and local MP, Alistair Burt
The people of Bedford Borough have, in Parvez Akhtar, the chance to elect one of our own to provide the new leadership that our Borough needs after the untimely passing of Frank Branston.
Parvez Akhtar, is the person for the moment, and I am delighted to endorse him wholeheartedly and it is an honour to be campaigning hard for him to win the Mayoralty.
