Dom Raab's Blog

A Center Right Voice for Women

2012-01-28T17:51:00.003Z

On Friday, I spoke at the new Esher & Walton branch of the Conservative Women's Organisation, the first branch set up in the South of England - organised by Councillor Elise Saunders. One of the issues I raised was the lack of distinctive center-right voices representing women and talking more broadly about equality.

In fairness, there are new groups like Women On. And some of the most dynamic female MPs I know - Andrea Leadsom, Liz Truss, Priti Patel to name three - prefer to let their actions do the talking, rather than dwelling on gender per se.

That said, it was refreshing to read the impressive Ruth Porter (at the Institute for Economic Affairs) fire off a salvo at the terms of trade of the whole equality debate. I won't try to summarise - but I recommend reading Ruth's article here.

Reforming Human Rights

2012-01-24T23:15:00.003Z

David Cameron came under fire from the President of the Strasbourg Court in today's Independent, here, in advance of a speech the PM is giving tomorrow setting out UK plans to reform the Strasbourg Court.

I have made the case for Strasbourg reform in the Daily Telegraph tomorrow - you can read the article here.

Defending Trial by Jury

2012-01-16T21:28:00.003Z

Today, The Times splashed on its front page the plans backed by the Magistrates Association to get rid of trial by jury in 'either-way' cases that can be tried in the magistrates or Crown court.

I have written for The Times tomorrow, accessible here, defending Britain's ancient right to elect jury trial - which dates back to Magna Carta - and setting out its modern relevance as a bulwark against the arbitrary abuse of state power.

The Scottish Dilemma

2012-01-12T21:37:00.002Z

With increasing debate about the referendum on Scottish independence, it will be important not to neglect the impact on the rest of the United Kingdom.

In tomorrow's Daily Telegraph, I make the case for a new constitutional Contract for Britain - one that is generous to the Scots, and fair to the rest of the UK. You can read it here.

Glimmers of Hope on the Economy?

2012-01-06T09:03:00.003Z

I remain deeply concerned about the impact of the Eurozone crisis on the UK economy. But, there are also a number of positive signs in global and UK conditions.

Allister Heath sets them out in City AM today, here.

Letter to The Economist on the EU

2012-01-05T16:13:00.002Z

I am a big fan of - and a subscriber to - The Economist. Whatever your perspective, it offers weekly food for thought.

So, I was surprised to learn in their Christmas edition that I support withdrawal from the EU (read the article here). The quote comes from a Sunday Times piece, where I spelt out the case for renegotiation of the UK's EU membership - not withdrawal.

This week, in fairness, they published my letter correcting the error, and setting out why the context of the debate on Europe has changed since the 1990s. You can read it here.

Ticket to Mars

2012-01-03T10:53:00.003Z

Shortly before Christmas, I joined the Wood family (from Esher), as Andrew (currently at Tiffins Boys) won a national competition to produce a space science magazine, to be circulated in all UK schools.

You can read Andrew's winning entry here - the headline is Ticket To Mars. It is a fantastic accolade, and a great magazine - technically impressive, creative, well presented and easy to read. Very many congratulations to Andrew!

The competition was organised by Queen Mary University with Venture Thinking. We were joined (see below) by Heather Wood from Venture Thinking and British-born astronaut, Dr Richard Garriott de Cayeux. It is a great project, and I hope it continues to run in the future.

Happy New Year in 2012

2011-12-31T09:08:00.002Z

No rest for the wicked, Erika and I have been painting the house between Christmas and New Year to work off the festive calories. 2011 has been a fascinating year - both locally and up at Westminster - and 2012 looks set to pose similarly daunting challenges for Britain.

I am not one for predictions, but we'll need all the stubborn optimism we can muster to navigate a stable course on the economy (given the precarious international position) and deliver on our social reforms (from controlled immigration and welfare reform to elected police commissioners). A bit like decorating, sometimes the task seems overwhelming, but you have to get on with it, do your level best and see it through.

There will be some rays of sunshine next year: the Queen's jubilee and the Olympics. We'll need to take on board some of the stoicism and tenacity that both events symbolise in order to weather the storms of 2012. If we do, I have no doubt that Britain is up to the challenges that lie ahead. I wish you a very happy new year!

Women in Sport

2011-12-15T14:01:00.006Z

On Thursday I joined the Us Girls project sponsored by Sport England. It was an opportunity to showcase the world class female sportswomen Britain has.

It was a great turnout, with a staggering array of British team captains turning up in support, including: Charlotte Edwards MBE, (Cricket), Faye White MBE (Football), Maggie Alphonsi, (Rugby RFU), Nicolla Weekes (Rounders), Jade Clark, (Netball). The event also launched the first-ever Women’s Sporting Calendar, which highlights the outstanding role models we have amongst Britain’s leading sportswomen.

I saw England Rugby Team led by Maggie Alphonsi beat the Kiwis at Esher Rugby club earlier this month, and was struck by the stellar quality of the rugby. With the Olympics coming up, we should be proud of the tremendous strides being made in women's sport - and make sure they get the recognition they deserve.

The event was organised and promoted by local dynamo, Paul Reynolds, who lives in Cobham and has done an enormous amount to promote sport in state schools amongst boys and girls. It was a great event - and I recommend the calendar as a stocking filler for Christmas!

(Dom congratulates Charlotte Edwards, England Cricket Captain, Ashes winners, and Sarah Winckless Chair of British Athletes Association at the Us Girls event in Parliament)

Amnesty at 50

2011-12-12T08:37:00.002Z

On Saturday morning, I joined Oscar Prince and the Esher Branch of Amnesty International, to celebrate the organisation's 50th anniversary. We planted a tree at the recreation ground in West End.

I spoke briefly about the foundation of Amnesty - to campaign for the first prisoners of conscience in Portugal - and its historic campaigns against apartheid and Soviet oppression, through to present day challenges to human rights including in Russia and China, as well as the glimmers of hope from the Arab Spring and in Burma. The Esher Branch of Amnesty was founded in 1986, and I paid tribute to the local group for helping to keep the flame burning bright in the campaign for basic freedoms across the world.

Weston Green Choral Concert

2011-12-12T08:31:00.002Z

On Saturday, I attended All Saints Church, in Weston Green, where VOCE - a group of choral scholars founded in Cambridge - sang before a packed congregation. It was a breath-taking performance, and one of the singers (Nicholas Yates) kindly invited me to say a few words about the Esher Neighbourhood Fund. The collection taken was donated to the fund. The evening was a brilliant combination of wonderful music performed in aid of a good local cause.

Parliament to Vote on Extradition Reform

2011-11-30T09:18:00.004Z

Last week, I opened a Westminster Hall debate making the case for extradition reform. You can watch it here.

Following the groundswell of support at that debate, I have secured a debate and vote on the issue on Monday afternoon - a vital opportunity for Parliament to stand up for safeguards to protect our citizens from rough justice under the European Arrest Warrant and UK-US treaty.

The motion has strong cross-party support, including from Sir Ming Campbell and two Labour Chairs of Select Committees.

UPDATE: On 5 December, the House of Commons overwhelmingly backed the motion calling on the government to reform our extradition regime. The motion passed without opposition.

Local School Pioneers Local Sustainability

2011-11-29T11:03:00.004Z

On Friday, I joined Ashley School for the opening of a new Surrey-species apple orchard. It is part of an environmental educational project to teach children about the food cycle and sustainable local environments. The school is the only place in the UK to have all 28 native Surrey apple varieties!

There will be a structured educational programme for the pupils, which will become part of their educational curriculum and will cover everything from the planting and nurturing the trees to harvesting, cooking and composting. The project has been backed by Fourfront Group, which has also helped the school plant soft fruit bushes and the purchase of 10,000 bees at the school.

Ashley School is a real pioneer in this area. I was amazed by what they are striving to achieve, and impressed with the curiousity and energy the project has infused in the children.

(Dom opens the new orchard pioneered by Ashley School and three local Dads Matthew, Darryl and Lee - with support from Ben Murray from Fourfront Group, Chris Collins from Blue Peter and Jackey Chave from RHS)

The Capitalist Case against Exorbitant Executive Pay

2011-11-27T07:36:00.002Z

In today's Sunday Times, I have co-authored a piece with Matt Hancock MP on executive pay. Just because so many on the looney left bash the banks and other business bosses for the sake of it, it doesn't mean there isn't an issue about exorbitant executive pay.

In the article, we look at some of the evidence that top pay has become dislocated from performance, the incentives for management to scrutinise junior executive - but not senior executive - pay. Above all, we draw on ideas from the US and Australia for encouraging shareholders to get a firmer grip on the issue - for business reasons.

You can access the article (via the pay wall) here.

Visiting Parkside School

2011-11-21T09:34:00.002Z

On Friday, I visited Parkside School in Stoke d'Abernon. I met with some of the sixth form pupils, along with Headmaster, David Aylward, and Graham West, Chairman of Governors (pictured below).

It was a great opportunity to hear from the teachers and children first hand, and have a proper tour of the school. I was thoroughly impressed with the atmosphere at the school, the positive attitude and curiosity of the children and the dedication of the teachers and governors.

Reform Red-Tape, Create Jobs

2011-11-16T13:07:00.003Z

With unemployment figures out today, showing 1 in 5 sixteen to twenty-four year olds out of work, I have published a pamphlet with the Center for Policy Studies (CPS), Escaping the Strait Jacket - Ten Regulatory Reforms to Create Jobs.

You can download the paper here, read my blogpost for Con Home here, access my piece for The Times here, or watch my video clip with the CPS here.

Award for Thames Ditton Community Centre

2011-11-16T12:44:00.004Z

Yesterday, the Thames Ditton Centre for the Community won the prize as the 'Center for all Ages', at the Awards for All Ages presented in the House of Lords. The centre was recognised for having a range of activities for all ages on one shared site, from children to pensioners. There's dance, Tai Chi, ballet and yoga all on offer. The Center is run by Elmbridge borough council and Surrey county council in partnership with local groups and volunteers. I joined Melanie Busicott and Kim Chadwick from Elmbridge borough council to celebrate their winning the award (see below).

Talking to Students at Esher College

2011-11-14T09:11:00.002Z

On Friday, I talked to students at Esher college, and took questions on my first 18months as an MP. As always, there were some excellent questions and a really vibrant debate - from local issues, to the Eurozone crisis and human rights abuses in Syria.

Student Grilling

2011-11-07T10:19:00.004Z

On Friday, I visited Feltonfleet School in Cobham, and was grilled by the School Council on life as an MP and my local and national priorities (pictured below). I was really impressed by their background knowledge, interest and curiosity - and look forward to seeing them at Westminster when they come up on a school tour.

Why is the West in Decline?

2011-11-05T07:12:00.002Z

To hear the brilliant historian Niall Ferguson explain why the West has lost its 'historical mojo' ... click here.

Standing up for British Justice

2011-11-01T15:12:00.005Z

Today, I applied to the Backbench committee for Parliamentary time for MPs to debate and have their say on the 'rough justice' being meted out to a rising number of UK citizens under our current extradition arrangements.

It was a cross-party application, backed by former Lib Dem leader Sir Ming Campbell and two Labour Chairs of the Home Affairs Committee and Joint Committee on Human Rights (Keith Vaz and Hywell Francis).

We'll have to wait and see what the committee decides. I made the case for reform on the Daily Politics show today here.

Update: We have been granted a 3 hour debate in Westminster Hall on 24 November. It's not the ideal result - we can't vote on a specific motion - but a good first-step to building momentum for proper reform.

Part of History

2011-10-29T11:21:00.003+01:00

Today, I opened the stamp fair at Claygate village hall, hosted by Kingston and District Philatelic Society (pictured below). Brian Sole and his team organised a magnificent display - with dealers and enthusiasts from the local area and further afield bringing together collections covering topics as diverse as the Olympics and hyperinflation in Weimar Germany.

The Society was set up in 1927, the same year as the first transatlantic telephone service was established. Eighty-four years on, it is marvellous to see that they are still going strong.

Care in the Community

2011-10-24T23:22:00.001+01:00

On Friday, I visited Sherwood House in Walton, one of our local care homes supported by Walton Charity. I joined the residents in the middle of a sing song amidst glorious sunshine. The staff are dedicated and work hard to ensure a vibrant and happy atmosphere.

One of the major social issues of our time is how we can ensure we have a sustainable financial model for provision of proper care given our ageing population. Visiting homes like Sherwood House, and talking to managers and Walton Charity, provides invaluable frontline insight and feedback as we debate this difficult issue up at Westminster.

(Talking to managers Yan and Delores along with residents at Sherwood House)

EU Vote

2011-10-24T22:41:00.001+01:00

Having sat in for a large part of the debate, I abstained on the EU referendum vote last night. I support a referendum in favour of re-negotiation of UK membership of the EU, based on the common market.

However, I believe the proposed motion was flawed. Putting a 3-question referendum to the public splits the overwhelming majority of support for repatriation of powers (between the largest group who want renegotiation and those who want wholesale withdrawal). It creates a procedure that risks 'no change' with as few as 34% voting for the status quo. On that basis, I abstained.

I have consistently argued for a referendum on re-negotiation. For more detail, two recent articles I wrote for The Times and Sunday Times can be accessed here.

Protect the Greenbelt, Defend Local Democracy

2011-10-22T13:18:00.002+01:00

There has been a lot of controversy in the papers about the government's proposed draft National Planning Policy Framework. I have made a formal submission to the consultation and took part in the debate on Thursday.

You can read my contribution here.

Local Business Feedback

2011-10-21T06:03:00.003+01:00

On Tuesday, I joined Howell Jones for a local business breakfast at Zio's in Walton. It was well attended by local businesses, a great opportunity for me to meet - and hear from - a broader range of local business people. Alan Roper hosted a terrific event - my thanks to Howell Jones and all those who came a long.

(Dom with hosts Alan Roper, Chloe Newton and Clare Joyson)

The Case for Extradition Reform

2011-10-19T07:07:00.002+01:00

Sir Scott Baker (a senior judge) has just published a long report reviewing UK extradition arrangements - essentially concluding that little needs to change, either with the European Arrest Warrant or the UK-US treaty.

I have written a piece for the Daily Mail, joining calls for the government to ignore the report and institute a radical overhaul to safeguard innocent British citizens currently subject to an abusive and arbitrary system. You can read the piece here.

Debating Human Rights with Shami Chakrabati

2011-10-07T22:28:00.002+01:00

In tomorrow's The Guardian, you can read my debate with Shami Chakrabati of Liberty on the Human Rights Act ... here.

Walton Charity - 800 Years Old !!!

2011-10-05T19:35:00.005+01:00

This year, the fantastic Walton Charity celebrates its 800th anniversary. I joined them this evening for their first event to mark the anniversary, an exhibition celebrating the history of the charity.

The exhibition told the story of Walton Charity dating back through - and well beyond - the era of the Elizabethan Poor Law. The charity originated from a royal grant of land offered to tenants on condition that they administered bread and ale to the poor.

The exhibition takes you through the history with an excellent mix of information and illustration - as pictured below, in front of a replica of one of the old ale barrels with exhibition designer Simon Dray. The exhibition is running at the Riverhouse on Manor Road in Walton. For more information on the charity's history, click here.

Conservative Party Conference - Round Up

2011-10-05T18:18:00.004+01:00

After four days in Manchester, the Conservatives have thoroughly debated the party's policies - from deficit reduction and business growth to law enforcement and welfare reform. The Prime Minister struck a workman-like note with his speech today, leading the audience with his theme of stubborn optimism in challenging economic times.

Aside from the main policies and themes that have been well publicised in the media, a number of aspects stood out for me. I was genuinely moved by the video presentation made by Burmese dissident, Aung San Suu Kyi, this afternoon. After four days in the bubble of a political conference - and the wearying media scepticism that accompanies it - she reminded us all that we are lucky to have the democratic opportunity to debate what we stand for so freely.

On the domestic front, Justice Minister Nick Herbert talked about modernising our magistrates courts. Given the spending review, many magistrates courts are being closed because their throughput is low. I have been worried about the impact on the local dispensation of justice, bearing in mind that our Justices of the Peace (JPs) work for nothing and therefore represent good value for money. Nick talked about plans to modernise their role, by allowing them to sit in less formal (and expensive) and more flexible settings - like town halls - in order to maintain their vital functions. I am a big fan of the magistrates courts. We need local judicial oversight over the wide array of powers that local police and councils now have, as a safeguard to protect our liberty as citizens. They also proved their worth in firmly but fairly dispensing criminal penalties in the wake of the riots. So, I was delighted to see Ministers are thinking creatively about their future role.

On a personal note, I participated in a range of debates - seven in total - from taxation to extradition, and launched two books which I co-authored on the future of the Conservatives. The Observer included me in a profile of the new intake here.

However, the real lesson for me was that, as a backbencher, you can influence policy development. Two major policy announcements addressed personal campaigns I have spear-headed over the last year. First, the Home Secretary's announcement of a change to the rules governing deportation orders, to curtail their frustration by spurious claims to family and social ties (as reported here), was the result of a long campaign arising from a tragic local case in Esher (as I blogged previously here).

Second, Ministers announced they were scaling back the scope for full time civil servants paid out of taxpayers' money to work on union business (as reported here), responding to my research highlighting the extent of the problem (as explained here in an article for the Daily Telegraph). It shows, that even as a humble backbench MP, you can make a contribution to policy-making.

Conservative Party Conference

2011-09-27T12:28:00.002+01:00

For those heading up to the Conservative Party conference, next week, my itinerary is set out below - including drinks on Monday evening with anyone coming up from the constituency:

Sunday 2 October

1. 1645 - 1745: Big Brother Watch Fringe on Extradition Reform

Freedom Zone, Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley, Manchester M2 3WS

The European Arrest Warrant: Time for Urgent Reform

Chair: Nick Pickles, Director of BBW

Panel: Martin Callanan MEP (Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament), Nick de Bois MP, Andrew Symeou, Dominic Raab MP

2. 1800 - 1900: People's Pledge Fringe

Freedom Zone, Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley, Manchester M2 3WS

The Eurozone Crisis and the case for a referendum

Chair: Mark Seddon, Director of People's Pledge

Panel: Graham Stringer MP (Lab), Ruth Lea (Economist) and Dominic Raab MP

Monday 3 October

1. 1230 - 1400: Conservative Way Forward Fringe on Tax Policy

The Midland Hotel, The French Rm, Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS

The Tax Cutting Agenda

Chair: Dominic Raab MP

Panel: Conor Burns MP, Matthew Elliot, CEO Taxpayer's Alliance

2. 1415 - 1515: Policy Exchange - the 2010 Intake

Novotel Centre, 21 Dickinson Street, Manchester, M1 4LX

Chair: James Forsyth, The Spectator

Panel: Dominic Raab MP, Rory Stewart MP, and Claire Perry MP

3. 1900 - 2030: Drinks with Local Association attendees
Bar Epernay, Unit 1a, Great Northern Towers, Watson Street, Manchester M3 4EE

Tuesday 4 October

1. 1245 - 1345: Policy Exchange Fringe on Human Rights

Rylands Room, Novotel Centre, 21 Dickinson Street, Manchester, M1 4LX

Is it time for a new human rights settlement?

Chair: John Rentoul, Chief Political Commentator, The Independent

Panel: Rt Hon Dominic Grieve MP, Blair Gibbs, Head of Crime & Justice, Policy Exchange and Dominic Raab MP

2. 1830 - 1930: The Observer Fringe - the 2010 Intake

Exchange Auditorium, Manchester Central

Interviewer: Andrew Rawnsley

Panel: Priti Patel MP, Charlotte Leslie MP, Damian Hinds MP, Dominic Raab MP

3. 1945 - 2100: Institute of Economic Affairs Book Launch of After the Coalition

Exchange Room 10, Manchester Central

Chair: Kevn Bell (IEA Trustee)

Panel: Elizabeth Truss MP, Chris Skidmore MP, Dominic Raab MP, Mark Littlewood, Director General of IEA and Iain Martin

Crime Detection Rates in Surrey

2011-09-26T14:38:00.004+01:00

According to the official Home Office figures, detection rates for crime in Surrey fell this year, 2010/11, to an average of 20%. They have fallen year on year since 2006/7, and are now the (joint) lowest in England and Wales.

Some of this reflects previous cuts in police funding (by around 40% in real terms under Labour), although - even in the South East, similarly hit by Labour's arbitrary funding formula - Surrey has gone from having the highest to the lowest detection rates.

This strengthens the case for the government's police agenda - cutting red-tape, bureaucracy and getting more officers onto the frontline. It also highlights the case for local accountability through elected police commissioners, who will be held to account locally for tackling neighbourhood crime.

Responding to this data, Surrey Police pointed to surveys which show high public satisfaction with the job the police are doing, as reported in the Surrey Comet here. According to a senior officer: 'It is the public’s view of our service that matters to us'.

I have heard this viewpoint a number of times before, and it is worth considering it. Should a police force be benchmarked against the objective level of crime and law enforcement? Or is it more important that the public think they are doing a good job (irrespective of the crime statistics)? In my view, public confidence over the long-term is based on knowing the police are doing everything they can to keep crime as low as possible. Cutting crime should come first, the PR second. However, I think there has been a cultural shift in recent years, given the treatment of public services as customer services, to gauging performance through public satisfaction surveys.

In fairness, we should probably measure police performance using both benchmarks. However, with the forthcoming introduction of elected police commissioners, it is unlikely that any force would be quite so casual about declining detection rates in the future.

Palestine: the UN Vote

2011-09-25T10:19:00.003+01:00

I have written an article today for the Sunday Times, arguing that the current tub-thumping at the UN is a distraction from serious and credible efforts to make peace, which require political leadership not legal wrangling.

You can access the article here.

Taking on the Neo-Cons ...

2011-09-15T07:02:00.003+01:00

I have written an article for the Daily Telegraph, based on the foreign policy chapter in After the Coalition, criticising the irrational exuberance of the Blairite era, and arguing for a more rugged internationalism - which takes Britain's responsibilities as a global good citizen seriously, but does not lose sight of the UK national interest.

You can read it here.

After the Coalition

2011-09-11T21:40:00.003+01:00

I have co-authored a new book, After the Coalition, setting out a Conservative vision for Britain beyond the end of the current coalition in 2015.

I wrote the book with Kwasi Kwarteng, Liz Truss, Priti Patel and Chris Skidmore - MPs from the 2010 intake - and it will be serialised in the Daily Telegraph next week.

Meritocracy -v- Gender Quotas

2011-09-07T11:29:00.001+01:00

Today, I teamed up with Priti Patel (MP for Witham) to write a piece for the Daily Telegraph, making the case for meritocracy not gender quotas.

You can read the article here.

Out with the Angels

2011-09-02T23:41:00.004+01:00

Tonight, I went out with Walton Street Angels, a new group that patrol the various night spots in Walton, offering moral and practical support to those who are vulnerable on a Friday night. Whether its a kind word, a lollipop to break the ice or flip-flops for young girls taking off their high heels (so they don't step on glass), the Angels offer a non-judgemental helping hand. To learn more, visit their website here.

We met up at 9.30pm for a briefing (as pictured below). I then spent an hour or so with them, touring the town centre. Easily identified in their blue and yellow fleeces and jackets, the very first greeting we received was from an enthusiastic (sober) couple, whose friend the Angels helped a few weeks earlier. As we walked from pub to bar, a look of bemusement on the faces of many revellers soon turned to curiosity and then gratitude. Trained and working in coordination with the police, the Angels basically look out for those who might otherwise get into some sort of trouble. The bouncers greet them fondly, as do the burger and kebab vendors, and I was struck by how welcome they were everywhere.

Of course, one or two may sneer, but I am full of admiration for the volunteers who are prepared to give up a Friday might to keep any eye out for people who just might fall into some type of distress. I left them at 11pm. They keep at it until around 3am. So, if you see them walking around with their distinctive logo, show them your support - they're selfless community spirit is rather special, and ought to be a great source of pride in Walton.

Guardian Debate on Europe

2011-09-02T17:12:00.000+01:00

I joined a debate hosted online by The Guardian on Europe, featuring a range of political opinion.

You can listen here.

Victors' versus International Justice

2011-08-30T21:23:00.006+01:00

I have written an article for The Times tomorrow on the endgame for Gaddafi. If he is captured alive, I argue he should be sent to The Hague for trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC), rather than face victors' justice at the hands of the rebels.

You can access the article here, and my interview with The Times online here.

Open Public Meetings

2011-08-26T13:28:00.001+01:00

Over the next couple of months, I will again be holding a series of open meetings throughout the constituency.

These meetings are an opportunity for me to hear direct from local residents, and for them to ask me questions on any issue - local or national.

They all begin at 7.30pm and will last for up to 2 hours - subject to demand !!!

The details are as follows:-

Wednesday 31 August, Thames Ditton Centre, Mercer Close, Thames Ditton, KT7 0BS
Friday 9 September, St Mary's Church Hall, St Mary's Road, East Molesey, KT8 0ST
Monday 26 September, Stoke d'Abernon Village Hall, Station Road, Stoke d'Abernon, KT11 3BN
Wednesday 28 September, Civic Centre, High Street, Esher, KT10 9ZW
There will be a further meeting in Claygate in October - details to follow in due course.

I look forward to seeing as many people there as possible!

Stamping Out Boredom

2011-08-25T21:52:00.003+01:00

This morning, I joined Elmbridge Housing Trust (EHT) for the presentation of their awards to the youngsters who took part in this year's Stamping Out Boredom Project (as pictured, below). The scheme gathers children from across the borough and gets them involved in a range of activities over 3 weeks - including drumming, football, archery, radio broadcasting and a visit to the House of Commons. This year's scheme was supported by Elmbridge Borough Council, Surrey Youth Services, Chelsea FC, Brooklands FM and Giraffe restaurants. It's a cracking local project, popular with parents as well as children, so hats off to EHT for organising it.

Europe - a 3rd Choice?

2011-08-21T00:17:00.003+01:00

I have written an article tomorrow for the Sunday Times, setting making the case for a third choice - between integration and withdrawal - in Britain's relationship with the EU. You can access it here.

There is further coverage in the Sunday Telegraph, here and here, on new work being done on the EU in light of the crossroads presented by the Euro crisis.

Helping People Help Themselves

2011-08-11T13:55:00.002+01:00

Yesterday, I joined Walton housing charity - formerly Surrey Development Community Trust, now Transform - to celebrate their re-launch. The charity helps 1,100 people every year, by providing accommodation and support to homeless and vulnerable people across Surrey, Sutton and Wokingham. Transform staff work alongside clients on a one-to-one basis, helping them build up their skills and confidence so they prepare to support themselves.

I have got to know their Chair, Elizabeth Kennedy, Chief Executive, Paul Kennedy, the Transorm team and some of their clients over the last year or so (see below). Transform does an impressive job, helping those who are vulnerable or who have hit rock bottom, and getting them back on their feet and living independent lives.

Oxshott Rail Crash - Review

2011-08-04T11:02:00.007+01:00

Today, the Rail Accident Investigation Bureau (RAIB) published their report into the Oxshott rail crash which occurred at Warren Lane, on 5 November 2010. In a freak accident, a cement mixer came off the Oxshott bridge hitting a passing train. Two people were seriously injured, and five more suffered less serious injuries. It was extraordinary that the accident happened at all. Even more so, that the cement mixer hit a passing train - only two passd by per hour at that time. Yet, given the incident, we were relatively lucky that the scale of injuries were not worse. The response of the emergency services was first rate, and Network Rail/ South West Trains ensured that the rail service was back up and running by Monday morning.

The driver pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention and tachograh offences (tachographs are devices that record the speed of lorries). I understand from the police that he was fined and received five points on his licence. However, broader questions were being asked back in November about the safety on the bridge.

The RAIB report finds that the principal causal factors for the crash were the conduct of the driver, but that the lack of visibility of the parapet end of the bridge (the first point the driver would see as he approached the bridge wall) was possibly also a causal factor. The RAIB also notes that Network Rail's review system does not require the visibility of parapet ends to be checked.

The report also examined the resilience of the bridge parapet itself. The bridge at Oxshott is a 'medium containment' bridge. Whilst it is now policy that new bridges over railways will be built with 'high containment' parapets, the report notes that the existing bridge met existing regulatory requirements.

The RAIB made a number of recommendations, including:

Surrey CC, Network Rail and the Department of Transport should require and implement regular checks of the visibility of parapet ends on bridges.
Surrey CC in consultation with Network Rail should determine and apply the optimum means of highlighting the parapet ends at the Oxshott bridge on Warren Lane.

This is only my summary of the report which has been published on the RAIB website here. I hope it provides some reassurance to local residents, like me, who regularly use the bridge. I will write to Network Rail and the Department for Transport, requesting them to consider whether - in light of the collision and RAIB report - we now need a 'high containment' parapet at Oxshott.

Visiting Molesey Lock

2011-08-03T19:45:00.004+01:00

Last Friday, I visited Molesey lock. It serves a dual role, as an active waterway and a part of the wider system of flood management in the area. I toured the lock and was briefed by Andrew Pearce, Regional Manager and Matt Carter, Waterways Manager, Steve Bowlam, Molesey lock-keeper, and local volunteer, John Graham.

With increasingly varied weather conditions and the risk of local flooding, the lock serves a vital role. The team will also soon be sharing premises with local police officers, which will help make the location even more of a community hub.

Dom tours the lock led by lock-keeper Steve Bowlam and Andrew Pearce from the Environmental Agency

Should migrants learn English?

2011-07-29T13:06:00.003+01:00

The government has introduced new measures - in non-asylum cases - requiring those seeking long-term visas to work or settle to have a basic standard of English on arrival. I debated the issue on the Today program yesterday, here, defending the government's new rules.

Team-Building with Walton Cadets

2011-07-27T16:34:00.002+01:00

Last Thursday, I visited Walton Army Cadets, a detachment led by Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Charlie Cooper. I am a big fan of the army and sea cadets, and was thoroughly impressed by the Walton detachment. The cadets is a great - positive - way to engage youngsters in learning practical life skills, team-building and having fun.

The cadets take girls and boys from the age of 12. They take part in various activities (including working towards Duke of Edinburgh awards), go on weekend camps, and undertake fundraising events and collections for charities – including the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes. You can find out more about them on their website here.

As you can see, below, no-one gets off lightly. I enjoyed taking part in a team-building exercise, getting logs, cones and team-mates across a series of barrels. A big thanks to all the cadets for a great evening - and their patience with me getting across that log!

Economic Woes, Deportation Developments

2011-07-21T09:25:00.005+01:00

Amidst all the scaremongering about cuts to public spending, Allister Heath at City AM points out that public spending is still over half of UK GDP - for the third year running - and that this is what is keeping growth so sluggish. His editorial here is well worth a read.

I have written a piece for Con Home today, following up on the report in the Sunday Telegraph, about how we can amend the UK Border Act 2007 to strengthen our ability to deporrt foreign criminals. You can read it here.

Cancer Research in Cobham

2011-07-18T11:40:00.002+01:00

On Friday, I visited Cancer Research in Cobham. I met assistant manager Sophia, and Justin and Joan who work in the shop (pictured below). Having had two parents go through different forms of cancer, I appreciate how important research is. Our local stores make a big difference, and - as in Cobham - often form something of a local hub, with surprisingly strong support from the local community. The shop was buzzing when I visited, a credit to all those working there.

Hackgate - the Big Picture

2011-07-18T11:03:00.001+01:00

I wrote a contribution for the Huffington Post on the hacking scandal. You can read it here.

Mixing it Up!

2011-07-08T11:48:00.007+01:00

This week, Richard Garrett at Reeds School organised a fantastic day of sports. Reeds hosted several primary schools from Surrey and Inner London at their first 'Primary Forum Fun Olympiad'. This Olympiad was the culmination of the annual programme of activities which Reed's organises to help raise the aspirations and performance of children within its established Primary Schools Forum - many of which are sited in some of our most challenged communities. Together with the Secondary Forum, the Primary Forum currently benefits from initiatives in: Engineering, Physics, Golf and the Fun Olympiad Day.

I was roped into playing football, cricket, tennis and golf - and you may notice the head of St Andrews School in Cobham trying to catch me out behind the stumps (below). It was a lot of fun, a great credit to Reeds, but also Chelsea FC, Surrey County Crick Club and the golf pros who came down to give the children some professional tips.

The Aftermath of the NOTW Scandal

2011-07-08T10:08:00.005+01:00

In the wake of the dramatic closure of the News of the World, and amidst the appalling allegations of phone-hacking and police corruption, David Cameron has announced a public inquiry into the range of allegations (at the NOTWS and beyond), in addition to the criminal investigations, and a further - wider - inquiry into press standards and self regulation.

His announcement this morning can be read here.

After a game-changing week, my personal reflections are threefold. First, the criminal law must be applied with full force against anyone who hacked or paid bribes, or otherwise broke the law. The issue is law enforcement - we have more than enough offences on the statute book. We need to exercise care that the media debate and inquiries do not inadvertently prejudice the criminal prosecutions.

Second, there is something rotten in the system. The allegations swirling around Westminster go well beyond the NOTW, and indeed beyond the tabloid press. If and when they are substantiated, the humiliation will not be limited to a single newspaper. That is why an independent - in my view judicial - inquiry is necessary, so that no stone is left unturned.

Third, in the urge to restore some integrity to the British media, we need to be careful not to erode free speech - and that necessitates a vibrant, even rambunctious media.

Scrutinising Equality Regulations

2011-07-08T09:44:00.001+01:00

I have written a piece for Con Home today about the lack of proper Parliamentary scrutiny of new Equality and Diversity Regulations that will shortly come into force ... ironically aimed at greater transparency!

You can read the article here.

Hearing from Local Business

2011-07-07T12:01:00.003+01:00

On Tuesday, I addressed Walton Business Group (see below) at an event organised by their dynamic Director, Sarah-Jane Shellard. These kinds of forum are invaluable - an opportunity to explain government policy, but more importantly hear from small and medium sized businesses, and make sure their day to day concerns are conveyed back to policy-makers in Westminster.

Parliament Debates the Hacking Scandal

2011-07-07T12:00:00.002+01:00

Yesterday, the House of Commons had a three hour emergency debate on the hacking scandal. You can read my contribution here.

Milbourne Lodge School - IT gurus

2011-07-01T16:36:00.006+01:00

This week, Milbourne Lodge School in Esher won the South East prize and came third nationally in the Make IT Happy awards. It is the 5th year the competition has been running.

The theme for 2011 was “Pass it On”. The organisers asked entrants to illustrate how they had used technology to connect with others around them – locally or nationally, in their community or in other schools. Milbourne Lodge School chose as their project “Tobias and the Angel”. The students created materials for those who are visually impaired and shared them with St Stephen’s School Visual Impairment Unit.

The awards were presented at the House of Commons, so I had the chance to congratulate the winning students in person (see below) - from Milbourne Lodge Jay Atherton, Imraan Janmohamed, Alex O’Callaghan-Brown, Casper Webb and Alex Roach from the St. Stephen’s School in Godstone.

Should the Taxpayer Fund the Unions?

2011-06-28T12:27:00.003+01:00

Today, I wrote an article questioning whether the taxpayer should be forking out tens of millions to fund union officials and activities. You can read the article in the Daily Telegraph here.

It comes as the Taxpayers Alliance disclose the salaries of top union bosses, here, with the head of one earning over £180k per year.

Letter to the FT on Euro Bailouts

2011-06-23T08:16:00.003+01:00

I joined with a number of colleagues from the 2010 intake to write a letter to the Financial Times to express our concerns about the price to the UK taxpayer of bailouts for the Euro area countries.

You can read the letter here.

Debating Strike Laws

2011-06-23T08:07:00.002+01:00

I participated in a new radio show hosted by Nick Robinson, aired last night, called Decision Time. The debate was on strike law reform and included John Edmonds, the former General Secretary of the GMB union, Lord Tebbit, former Employment Secretary under Margraret Thatcher, Helen Leiser, a former senior civil servant responsible for employment relations, and Sam Coates, Deputy Political Editor of The Times.

You can listen here.

Reform our Extradition laws

2011-06-21T21:46:00.003+01:00

I have written an article for The Times tomorrow, making the case for extradition reform to safeguard innocent British citizens. It coincides with the publication of the report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), recommending an overhaul of UK extradition arrangements. (I am a member of the JCHR and proposed the extradition inquiry).

You can access the piece here.

There is further reporting on the JCHR report in the Telegraph , and Guardian.

Three Cheers for CHEER

2011-06-17T14:54:00.002+01:00

Last week, I visited CHEER a local charity covering East Elmbridge. CHEER (Concern and Help for East Elmbridge Retired) is a small local charity. Their befriending service offers regular company for elderly people. The volunteers help reduce loneliness and isolation that some experience in later life. They arrange occasional get-togethers for volunteers and their clients so that they can meet up, talk and laugh over a cup of tea and cake.

For more info, you can visit: http://www.cheer-elmbridge.org.uk/5.html

Attending afternoon tea with CHEER'S clients and volunteers at Squires Garden Center in Long Ditton

Positive Discrimination

2011-06-17T14:25:00.005+01:00

Last night, I debated the following motion at the Cambridge Union: "This house believes that no discrimination can be positive." I was supported by outgoing President Francesca Hill and Julie Meyer (from Dragon's Den). On the other side, Gordon Brown's former PPS (Baroness Angela Smith), Baroness Haleh Ashfar (a prominent Muslim feminist) and a PHD student (called Jan - apologies I missed the surname).

This is the speech I gave (check against delivery):

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen.
Forty-five years ago today, Nelson Mandela was shipped out to Robben Island to begin a life sentence.
He told the court he was ‘prepared to die’ for the ideal of a society based on equal opportunity.
Last November, University of Cape Town Professor, Neville Alexander, who spent a decade with Mandela on Robben Island, railed against plans for racial benchmarks in university admissions.

He said “The government under apartheid did the same and we told them to go to hell.”
If ever there was a historic case for positive discrimination quotas it is South Africa.
But wherever it has been tried, it has proved bitterly divisive.

My father came to Britain as a refugee, a Czech Jew.
He married my mother, an English Protestant.
I married a Brazilian Catholic.
When we have children, I’ve got no idea which box they should tick on the diversity questionnaires. I hope they've been scrapped by then.
Because I want my children to grow up in a metocratic society, where they are judged as individuals – blind to race, religion, gender and sexuality.
And if we prize equality as a value, not a political bandwagon, we must apply it consistently.
There’s not two types of discrimination - good and bad, negative and positive.
They’re both wrong, on principle - and counter-productive in practice.

As a new MP, I’m surprised at the creeping Westminster consensus in the direction of positive discrimination.
Let me give you three examples, hangover provisions from the last government’s Equality Act.

First, the draft Regulations that would require 27,000 schools, police forces, councils and other public bodies to audit their staff on grounds of ethnicity, gender, sexuality, gender-reassignment, disability, religion, even political beliefs - so they can be judged on how well they are promoting minority groups.
Frankly, it’s pretty Orwellian for an employer to ask for that kind of personal information.
And I think the council has better things to be doing than counting the number of Protestants, Presbyterians, Pentecostals - let alone pagans, and post-Marxist progressives.
My constituents just want the bins collected on time.

But, for the sake of argument, let’s think this through.
Once you’ve conducted your staff diversity audit, what do you do with it?
How do you know the optimum social mix of a council in Cornwall, or a police force in Yorkshire?
Should there be benchmarks or social quotas that mirror the national population, the local area or the profession as a whole?
Do we really want our society carved up according to such artificial social categories?
The second example is the debate about gender quotas.

I have to say I am fed up with the militant agenda that belittles the enormous progress Britain has made in becoming a more tolerant and open society.
Of course, there are still social creases in modern Britain.
But, the gender pay gap has halved since the 1970s.
A man working full time earns on average 10% more than a women.
But, that looks less like endemic discrimination - and more like the challenge many women face of combining career and having a family.
If it was the result of latent prejudice, why do women in their twenties earn 2 percent more than men (on the latest ONS figures)?
Why do single, separated or divorced women earn 1% more than their male counterparts?

Sure, the number of women on FTSE 100 Boards is far too low -but it’s doubled in 10 years.
The number of female MPs in my party almost trebled at the last election.
And half the top posts in the civil service are now held by women.

Sure, we need more progress.
But, the answer is not the quick fix of anti-meritocratic quotas.
Countless women have told me they find quotas insulting and stigmatising.
And they don’t deal with the problem.

We need less of the 1970s gender warfare that pits the couples against each other in an outdated battle of the sexes.
We need more family friendly policies, like transferable parental leave, so couples can choose how to share the responsibilities of being breadwinners and child-carers between them - a common challenge most couples go through together.

And, by the way, we need to stop devaluing women - or men - who want to stay home because family is more important to them than their career.

The third, and worst, example is the gradual introduction of positive discrimination in recruitment.
One of my constituents, a young graduate, wanted to apply for one of the three work placement schemes at the Foreign Office.
He wrote to me in bitter disappointment when he was barred from even applying for the three FCO schemes, because he is white, male and middle class.
Similar bars exist on schemes are running in the Metropolitan Police and wider civil service.
They’re morally wrong, socially divisive and a political gift to the BNP.

The Equality Act goes further, allowing firms interviewing several more or less equally qualified candidates, to make diversity the decisive factor in the recruitment process.
How many here today knew that law quietly entered into force in April?
So when you leave university.
After all that hard work.
When you are interviewed for the job of your dreams.
It may be decided, not on the basis of your talent, but on social quotas.

Like, TV presenter Kat Akingbade who recently won a top Channel 4 role.
Later her boss told her she was picked because she was black.
Totally crushed, she told the Independent on Sunday: ‘Positive discrimination robs an individual of drive and self-motivation - it completely undermines the achievements of the hard-working and truly gifted.’
Is that the kind of society we want?

It gets worse.
Ludicrously, the list of favoured minority groups includes those holding, not just religious, but also political beliefs.
So, presumably, multinationals, like McKinsey, have to hire their fair share of Trotskyites and anarchists?
And The Guardian has to fill their quota of Thatcherites?
I’m not sure who I pity more.

Again, in practical terms, if firms engage in positive discrimination, how do they know when they have the right social mix?
Well, the bureaucrats produced some guidelines.
Employers don’t need any statistical data on under-represented groups. No empirical research.
The boss can just get together existing staff and ask which minority groups they feel are under-represented.
I have a picture in my mind of David Brent gathering his team at Wernham Hogg, and asking which minorities they are excluding.

But, ladies and gentlemen, this isn’t just daft political correctness.
It’s divisive.
Not the kind of society I want for my children.
And not the kind of society I want for you.

I want a society where you’re treated as an individual.
I want a society where the only thing you are discriminated on is talent and hard-work.
I want a society where in the words of the great Martin Luther King, you’re judged on the content of your character.
No more, no less - and I commend this motion to the House.

School Sports

2011-06-14T10:48:00.003+01:00

I am a big fan of sport in schools. So, it was a great pleasure to join Rosalita Edwards' Nursery for their sports day in East Molesey last Friday. It was great fun, with various races (including all against the MP at the end!), a magician, a cake competition and tremendous support from local parents.

Frustrating Deportation

2011-06-12T12:40:00.005+01:00

The front page of the Sunday Telegraph runs with a report based on data I received (via Freedom of Information), showing that in 68% of deportation orders blocked on human rights grounds, the applicant relies on Article 8 (the right to family life). The Court Service data is likely to be an under-estimate, because figures from the UK Border Agency show the number of deportation orders frustrated by human rights claims now running at around 400 per year (well over double the total estimate by the courts).

The cases include a man convicted of killing one of my constituents (in a gang attack), who claimed his right to family life to stay in the UK, despite being an adult with no dependants. Then there is the convicted robber allowed to stay because he has a girlfriend (the court described the relationship as 'casual courting'). And one of the latest cases is a drug offender - convicted of beating his girlfriend (they subsequently split up), and who doesn't pay maintenance for his daughter - but, again, claimed his right to family life to avoid deportation to Trinidad.

The data is interesting for three reasons. First, the increasing number of deportation orders blocked on human rights grounds. Second, the rising tide of cases where the applicant relies on the right to family life. The debate used to be about whether we could deport criminals or terrorist suspects where there was a risk of torture - remember the notorious Chahal case from the 1990s? In fact, I am not aware of any case prior the the Human Rights Act, where the UK or Strasbourg courts blocked deportation of a convicted criminal under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The Law Lords have themselves acknowledged that the shifting goal posts have moved as a result of judicial rulings in our own domestic courts. So, this is a very clear example of the Human Rights Act giving judges licence to expand human rights - without proper democratic accountability by Parliament's elected lawmakers. (Strasbourg now appears to be following the lead of the UK courts in blocking deportations using Article 8.)

Third, the courts are not just expanding the rights in the ECHR. They are re-writing them. After all, paragraph 2 of Article 8 expressly permits substantial qualifications on the right to family life for the purposes of law enforcement and public protection:

"There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. "

I have written about this problem - and made recommendations for tackling it - here. Within the current coalition, I doubt we will be able to achieve a Bill of Rights to replace the Human Rights Act, or at least one that will remedy its flaws. For that reason, I have made more modest proposals to amend the Human Rights Act - and the UK Borders Act 2007 - proposals which are more likely to gather cross-party consensus in the short term. My worry is that if we leave this issue for another 5 years, the goal posts will have shifted even further - making the deportation of serious criminals and terrorist suspects even more difficult. That is tantamount to importing risk, which will further undermine public confidence in our border controls and human rights laws.

Debating Control Orders

2011-06-08T09:55:00.003+01:00

I spoke in yesterday's debate on the replacement of Control Orders, setting out an alternative strategy for fighting terror whilst defending our historic freedoms.

You can read my contribution to the debate here, and access my recent pamphlet on the subject with Big Brother Watch here.

Redwood in Shock Tax Hike Plea

2011-05-30T08:40:00.001+01:00

In a shocking move, John Redwood has today called for an increase in taxes paid by the rich. You can read the article here.

The Arrest of Ratko Mladic

2011-05-29T15:36:00.002+01:00

I have written a piece on the arrest of General Mladic for the Sunday Times, based on my time at the FCO working on war crimes - you can access the article here.

Developing Local Schools

2011-05-27T10:57:00.002+01:00

Today, I visited Walton Oak School, in Walton, which has just had funding approved for a new Breakfast and After School Club and Nurture room, which will provide a range of opportunities for local pupils and parents. I toured the school with the headteacher and governors, and had a look at the site for the new development (pictured below). The school has a really positive atomsphere, and I was thoroughly impressed with the ambition for, and dedication to, the school - from the headteacher (Seb Sales) to the governors.

Foxes and Hedgehogs

2011-05-26T09:00:00.005+01:00

In her column today, The Guardian's Allegra Stratton borrows from Isaiah Berlin's brilliant book 'The Hedgehog and the Fox', to compare pragmatists and ideologues in the coalition Cabinet. According to Berlin, the hedgehog believes in one big thing, whereas the fox pursues many - sometimes competing - ends. Berlin used the paradigm as a warning. He analysed Tolstoy's internal ambivalence, his inability to reconcile his own rationalist and realist instincts - leading to a miserable, self-hating and self-blinding twilight isolation. It reads as a plea for human humility. Principles are precious, but the world is too complex to be perfectly sliced and diced into man-made philosophical blueprints.

Today, Berlin's distinction might be deployed to compare socialists and progressives (hedgehogs) with liberals and conservatives (foxes). The hedgehog is more committed to ideological vision, whereas the fox is a pluralist who recognises the irreconcilability of rigid principles in the real world. It is tempting to suggest that politicians campaign as hedgehogs, but govern as foxes (remember New York mayor, Mario Cuomo's maxim that politicians campaign in poetry, but govern in prose?).

Yet, many Conservatives are natural foxes - refusing to succumb to dogmatic strait-jackets: libertarian, but pro-family; defenders of personal freedom, but tough on law enforcement; internationalist, but anti-supranationalism; more social justice, but less nanny state. Coalition may tend to accentuate the need for fox-like compromises, although that should be less evident around the Conservatives' core mission written into the coalition deal: deficit reduction, jobs growth, welfare reform, immigration control and reform of schools, NHS and policing.

As for the Prime Minister, I have no doubt that he will resist Ms Stratton's tantalising suggestion to 'attempt the biologically impossible – to cross-breed the two types, presumably ending up with something like a porcupine'. The PM is not looking for ideological purity or intellectual nirvana. He wants to deliver results, and politics is the art of the possible. Or, as Berlin quipped - pinched without a hint of irony from the uber-dogmatist, Immanuel Kant - 'from the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing was ever made'. And certainly not in coalition.

The Guardian plugs Esher Neighbourhood Fund

2011-05-18T10:48:00.004+01:00

The Guardian carry a thoughtful piece today on the Big Society, Community Foundations and the work of Dr Helen Bowcock in Surrey.

The article, available here, highlights the long ignored local diversity of incomes and need in areas with high 'average' wealth (like Surrey) and points to the Esher Neighbourhood Fund as an example of the need to galvanise volunteers as well as raise money.

Talent Spotting

2011-05-13T18:07:00.006+01:00

Today, I visited Saville Consulting, another great example of an innovative business on our doorstep. Set up by Professor Peter Saville, the business is based in Claygate and pioneers innovative ways to recruit staff - including devising pyschometric and competence based tests. His techniques are used to recruit talent, from commercial leaders to specialist roles, in business and government, in the UK and around the world.

I am also interested in the development of these recruitment techniques from a social perspective. If they help recruiters spot talent and potential, in addition to relying on paper qualifications and professional experience, they can promote social mobility and strengthen meritocracy.

Peter's personal story is fascinating - you can read a bit about him here. And you can watch him talk about his approach on BBC Breakfast here.

Meeting Professor Peter Saville in Claygate

Standards in Schools

2011-05-13T18:03:00.002+01:00

On Thursday, we had a debate on educational performance in Parliament. I raised a number of local issues - pressure on school places, the funding formula - with Schools Minister, Nick Gibb.

We also had an interesting wider debate about teaching standards and core learning. I argued that ' the recipe for success is not complicated and bureaucratic. We must trust teachers and parents more, demand academic rigour, and free up schools to innovate.'

You can access the debate here.

Election Results

2011-05-07T06:12:00.003+01:00

The Conservatives had a good result at the local elections. Bearing in mind the tough economic climate and the difficult spending decisions that have been made, we gained two seats - including Geoff Herbert's nail-biting victoty in Claygate, with a majority of 3 votes (it was just 1 after the first count)! Congratulations to all those who won election, and the Association for its tenacious campaign - we had higher turnout than was expected.

I was particularly delighted to see so many new faces getting involved, including candidates who didn't quite make it this time, but put in a tremendous amount of hard-work - like Steve Bax, PJ Warren, Lewis Brown and Jake Delaney. Well done - you did us proud.

At the same time, Elmbridge joined the country in delivering a resounding NO to AV. In fact, Elmbridge voted 'no' by 73%, higher than the 68% nationwide average.

Thank you to everyone fowho supported us during these important elections. Now, back to the serious business of driving economic growth, and delivering on the coalition's reform agenda.

Telegraph and Boris back Strike Law Reform

2011-05-05T15:51:00.006+01:00

In today's editorial, the Daily Telegraph have backed my proposal to reform strike laws to prevent militant union bosses like Bob Crow holding the country to ransom, as did London Mayor Boris Johnson.

I wrote a piece for Con Home on the tube strikes facing London here.

UPDATE: The Telegraph reports that the government is considering taking up my proposals.

Election Week

2011-05-02T08:20:00.005+01:00

This week, we have local elections and the referendum on AV. On Sunday, I debated local elections on the Politics Show with Tom Brake MP (Lib Dem) and Kelvin Hopkins MP (Lab). You can watch the show here (from around 30mins). One of the interesting points often overlooked in the South East is the comparison between coalition cuts as a result of the debt crisis we inherited and the cuts that went before - just because Labour taxed us more and more, and in return gave back less and less investment for local services. Under Labour, we had a real term cut of police funding in Surrey of around 40%. The current Whitehall 'funding formula' means the average council taxpayer in Elmbridge pays double that of the average resident in Birmingham or Manchester - but we get back around a quarter of funding for local services. Against that backdrop, Elmbridge borough council deserve great credit for freezing council tax for 4 of the last 5 years. As posted previously, I am campaigning hard for a change to the Whitehall funding formula to make it more transparent and fair.

On AV, I have written two pieces for the Surrey Herald here and here, setting out the main reasons why I will vote No. Over the last fortnight, the Yes Campaign have complained bitterly about the claims made about AV. The campaign has been rather ill-tempered. But, both sides can share some responsibility for that - not least given some of the ludicrous Lib Dem claims for AV. Take Lib Dem President, Tim Farron, claiming that First Past the Post (FPTP) had prolonged slavery. At first blush this is just daft. But, on reflection, the reverse is true. As one commentator pointed out (here), Abraham Lincoln would have lost the Presidential election under AV to the consensus 'pro-slavery' candidates. It is quite a good illustration of how FPTP delivers decisive government and leadership. Just imagine how the course of history might have been different without Abe Lincoln in the White House?

Strike Law Reform

2011-04-26T12:23:00.006+01:00

Today, I am introducing a proposed Bill in Parliament that would require strikes in the emergency services and transport sectors to carry a majority of support amongst their union members before taking place.

We have seen a range of recent strikes passed on small minorities as low as 20% support. When that happens, the majority of workers are corralled and often intimidated or bullied into supporting strike action, losing pay and undermining their freedom to work. In addition, it inflicts massive disruption on the wider public and economy. The scope for hardline union bosses to wreak chaos is particularly high in the emergency services and transport sectors. My proposals are designed to prevent such abuse and stand up for the hard-working majority.

You can read my article in the Times today here, or listen to my discussion with Bob Crow on the Today program this morning here.

UPDATE: My proposal was forced to a vote by Labour and defeated by 171 votes to 121. Because it is backbench business, government ministers abstain by convention. Normally, the opposition frontbench would do the same on a 'ten minute rule bill' (which is a proposal to allow a proper debate on the issue - today we just had twenty minutes). The bill would have been unlikely to become law unless taken up by the government. Nevertheless, Labour whipped their rank and file through the lobby - the first time it has been done under Ed Miliband on a ten minute rule bill and virtually unprecedented. Never let it be said that Ed Miliband's Labour are in hock to the unions !

Strasbourg in the Dock

2011-04-21T07:51:00.003+01:00

Today I launched a new pamphlet with the think tank CIVITAS, Strasbourg in the Dock - Prisoner Voting, Human Rights & the Case for Democracy. The report assesses what Britain should do to change its human rights laws - at domestic and European level - in the aftermath of the prisoner voting ruling from Strasbourg.

Lib Dem peer and former statutory reviewer of counter-terrorism, Lord Carlile, kindly wrote the foreword. You can read the pamphlet here, and some of the reporting here and here.

This issue will not go away, and the report sets out some of the practical changes we can make within the parameters of coalition.

Fire and Rescue

2011-04-19T15:28:00.004+01:00

Today, I was given a tour of Walton Fire and Rescue Depot. Les Dodd and Paul Kenny explained how the station operates, including the mix of fire response and water-based incidents they have to deal with, coupled with the preventative side of their work in the community. I met with local officers (pictured below), and we discussed a range of matters - from the implications of the Surrey Fire and Rescue review, to the practical impact of health and safety regulation. I was thoroughly impressed with their dedication and professionalism, and very grateful for the tour and feedback.

Prisoner Voting: Democracy v Strasbourg

2011-04-17T06:18:00.003+01:00

I have written an article in the Sunday Times today, accessible here, setting out how Britain should respond to the latest blunt riposte from the Strasbourg Court on prisoner voting and why we need to change the Human Rights Act.

Fact-Checking Channel 4

2011-04-16T17:32:00.009+01:00

I am a big fan of Channel 4 News. It offers a different take on things, with its self-styled 'edgy' analysis. Channel 4 run a FactCheck report that goes 'behind the spin' to 'dig out the truth'. So, it was disappointing to see their stilted analysis of the application of the new Homes Bonus on Friday's 7pm news show (accessible here).

The new Homes Bonus gives local authorities back a share of revenue linked to council tax on the sale of new homes. Coupled with the abolition of the Regional Housing Targets (replaced with community housing plans), the policy gives local people greater control over the pace of development, but provides a carrot (in place of the previous stick) to incentivise the provision of new homes. Channel 4 worked out the blindingly obvious - this will give back more to areas with high house prices. In one small step, it was presented as a policy designed to make the poor subsidise the rich.

Of course, there is a massive shortage of housing - especially affordable housing - in the South East, because of the last government's poor track record. But, the charge that 'leafy Surrey' is being subsidised by inner cities requires a factcheck all of its own.

First, despite paying £5.5bn in revenue to the Treasury, by 2009 Surrey received a third of the national average level of funding for local services, and a quarter of that received by Manchester. (See page 7 of the Hidden Surrey Report ). That left us with some of the worst roads in the country and acute pressure on school places . As reported in the Daily Telegraph, the latest figures from the Department of Communities and Local Government show that Elmbridge residents pay the fourth highest council tax, but get back the third lowest amount of investment measured by central government grant per head (in Surrey). So, Kathy Newman's charge that inner city Salford is 'subsidising' executive homes in Surrey with wisteria running up the walls is factually wrong. The subsidy is overwhelmingly the other way.

Second, the new Homes Bonus just gives residents in Elmbridge a bit more back of the council tax they pay in the first place - whereas Channel 4 infer it comes from general taxation or, worse still, directly from the pockets of the poor. The bonus is linked to council tax on the sale of new homes. But one of the main reasons council tax is so high in Surrey is that local authorities are forced to charge residents more, because so much of the revenue raised here is re-distributed out of the county via Whitehall's funding formula.

I made these basic points half a dozen times on Esher Green, but - surprise, surprise - it was edited out of the clip. Edgy it may have been, but the reporting was selective, inaccurate and partisan. On this one, I'm afraid, Channel 4's Factcheck gets 3/10.

Sport in State Schools

2011-04-06T18:34:00.006+01:00

Last Saturday I went along to support Paul Reynold's pioneering efforts to get more young people involved in sport across the community. He organised a POP Lacrosse day at Claremont Fan School, bringing in a whole range of local schools and youngsters, from those playing for the first time to England internationals. Claremont Fan School hosted a fantastic day - and I got a full briefing from the girls on the tactical intricacies and rules of POP Lacrosse (below).

Burying the Competition

2011-04-06T14:20:00.004+01:00

Yesterday, I raised the issue of anti-competitive practices by Google in the House of Commons. Google have been referred to the European Commission for various practices, including trying to bury rivals, whilst presenting itself as a neutral and impartial search engine. I was joined by Dr Philip Lee, MP for Bracknell. Bracknell is home to Foundem, a small IT firm that has complained that Google is - in the legal jargon - engaged in 'abuse of a dominant position'. You can read the debate here.

Positive Discrimination is "Toxic"

2011-04-04T15:46:00.005+01:00

I have been campaigning against the introduction of positive discrimnination in the workplace. I believe it is wrong in principle, and counter-productive in practice.

For anyone who is interested in this debate, I would urge them to read the Independent on Sunday interview with TV presenter Kat Akingbade, which highlights the debilitating and divisive effect the policy has. As Ms Akingbade says (after realising she was awarded a top tv job on the basis of her ethnicity): "Positive discrimination robs an individual of drive and self-motivation; it completely undermines the achievements and abilities of the hard-working and truly gifted".

You can read the article here.

Roads and Parking

2011-04-01T07:43:00.002+01:00

There has been progress on a couple of bread and butter local issues. Surrey County Council have agreed that the default position for smaller villages and parades, in their parking charges review, will be half an hour free on street parking. They will look at the evidence for each locality - and consider the case for exemptions. Meanwhile, Elmbridge Borough Council have announced they are halving the all day charge for 'off street' parking charges - a valuable boost to local trade. At the same time, the government has announced a further £4million to repair roads in Surrey - essential for residents, business and hosting the Olympic cycling in 2012!

Is it legal to target Gaddafi?

2011-03-23T21:12:00.022Z

On Monday night, I voted to support military intervention in Libya. It is far from straightforward, and I have my reservations – from the lack of definition of the mission, to the cost to the British taxpayer. But, since we are already involved, I want to see the swiftest victory possible. Can that include targeting Gaddafi under international law, the most decisive way of delivering coalition objectives? As James Kirkup reports at the Daily Telegraph, the British government says yes, while the US suggests no (echoed unhelpfully by some in the UK military).

There are many reasons why it may be unwise to spell out publicly what - or who - your military targets are. It tips them off. It can make for bad diplomacy, or aggravate risks to your own forces. But I am baffled by the US suggestion that it is legally controversial. It isn’t. As the head of war crimes at the British Embassy in The Hague between 2003 and 2006, I watched the various war crimes tribunals churn through the legal implications of conflicts from the Balkans to Sierra Leone. The rules are reasonably clear.

First, military operations need to be lawful under the jus ad bellum – you need a legitimate reason to resort to military force. The UK asserts three principal grounds for going to war: self-defence, a mandate from the UN Security Council or exceptionally - as in Kosovo – a right to intervene to avert an overwhelming humanitarian catastrophe. Second, military intervention must be ‘necessary and proportionate’ to achieving the stated objective. Third, the intervening forces must comply with the jus in bello – the rules governing the conduct of military operations, which are codified in the Geneva Conventions various other treaties.

The current operations are clearly covered by UN Security Council resolution 2011/1973. The current focus of bombing is designed to neutralise the threat by the Gaddafi regime to civilians – so it is necessary and proportionate – and Britain has strict rules to ensure specific military strikes are checked to comply with law of armed conflict (I helped review the Joint Services Manual back in 2003). So, does that permit targeting Gaddafi?

Operational paragraph 9 of resolution 1973 authorises:

‘[A]ll necessary measures …to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack.’

If the removal of Gaddafi is necessary to stop the attacks on civilians, it falls within the scope of the resolution. That seems a reasonable working assumption, in the circumstances. The preamble to the resolution condemns gross and systematic human rights abuses by the Libyan government, whilst warning the regime its attacks on civilians may amount to crimes against humanity (an earlier resolution referred Libya to the International Criminal Court (ICC)). Chapter 5 of the UK Joint Services Manual sets out the general definition of legitimate military targets according to the jus in bello:

‘[T]hose objects which by their nature, location, purpose or use make an effective contribution to military action and whose total or partial destruction, capture or neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage.’

Unsurprisingly, the definition further includes ‘combatant members of the enemy armed forces’. So, the key remaining question is: is Gaddafi actually making military decisions with operational consequences? Does anyone doubt it? Isn’t that precisely why the regime has been referred to the ICC? The US and UK authorities have repeatedly stated that they will hold Gaddafi personally to account – based on the information demonstrating that the dictator remains in control of his forces. The golden rule of international humanitarian law is: don’t target, and make every reasonable effort to minimise collateral harm to, civilians. Indiscriminate bombing would be illegal. By definition, discriminating in favour of senior commanders is not only permissible – it is desirable to minimise civilian (and coalition) casualties. Why should the top brass be immune from the military risks that foot soldiers face, especially in a dictatorship?

I remember the doubts about whether Milosevic was really in charge of Bosnian Serb forces during the Yugoslav conflict – and suggestions by some that Karadzic and Mladic were operating autonomously. But, no-one seriously suggests Gaddafi is not in overall charge of those forces that remain loyal. The US made no bones about the legality of killing Uday and Qusay Hussein, when they did not come quietly in July 2003 (whether they were specifically targeted remains unclear).

If Gaddafi chooses to surrender, he should be detained with due process. But, as long as he retains ‘command responsibility’, he is a legitimate military target. Whatever the question marks over this mission, once the decision has been made to intervene, we should be pursuing the swiftest successful outcome possible. President Obama dithered over the No-Fly Zone, and now Secretary Gates appears to be tying the hands of coalition forces. I suspect it reflects nervousness about mission creep, not the law. But, whatever the military and political calculations in Washington, and mindful of the risks of articulating it publicly, we can target Gaddafi – and we should.

Esher Neighbourhood Fund

2011-03-23T20:42:00.005Z

I have regularly commented on this blog about the neglect of areas of lower income and relative need across the county, identified in Dr Helen Bowcock's excellent Hidden Surrey report. Tomorrow sees the launch of a project to help address the issue. I have been sitting on a steering group with members of the Community Foundation for Surrey (CFS) and Lower Green Community Association (LGCA), with a view to launching a Fund to focus some community-generated support for those neighbourhoods in the Esher area that have too often been overlooked because of the arbitrary formula used to determine local funding.

We are now in a position to set up the fund. Having secured financial support from NESTA (a lottery grant), we are launching the Esher Neighbourhood Fund with a donors' event at Sandown Park tomorrow night. The idea is to support areas like Lower Green, which have a vibrant and energetic community, but are often neglected because of the poor deal we get from central government in terms of funding for local services. The community will decide its priorities, using surveys to find out what people really want. Rather than depend on state-funding, the objective is to raise money locally that can be 'matched' against the NESTA funding, generating a sustainable and locally-driven fund.

If you are interested in supporting or want to find out more, please have a look at the website. The project is important in its own right. But, I hope it can also serve as a model for other areas in Elmbridge and beyond in the future.

(The steering group meets at Lower Green, including from left to right: Wendy Varcoe, Patrick Shine, Dave Short, Jenny French, myself and Dr Helen Bowcock)

A Victory for Common Sense

2011-03-18T09:10:00.003Z

I have been making the case for scrapping the public sector diversity audits, under Labour's Equality Act. You can read my earlier post on this, and access my article for the Sunday Times here.

Yesterday, the coalition announced they were thinking twice about the Regulations that would force 27,000 schools, councils, police forces and other public bodies to audit their staff for social criteria including: age, disability, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religion and other beliefs. The Regulations are a bureaucratic nightmare, a waste of money and socially divisive. So, this is a welcome victory for common sense - see the reporting in the Daily Telegraph today.

Horseracing with Esher High

2011-03-11T17:07:00.004Z

Today, I joined Esher CofE High pupils on a British Horse Racing, Education and Standards Trust (BHEST) program at Sandown Park, which engages children in practical applications of numeracy skills. Amongst the activities put on, the pupils were weighed on the scales used by jockeys and examined the dimensions of the fences. Later, the pupils quizzed me about life as an MP and politics. I didn't get one of those fetching jockey uniforms to try on, but it was a great event - hats off to BHEST and Sandown Park for organising it.

(At the winner's enclosure with pupils from Esher High,
David McKinnon from Sandown and Rhydian Morgan-Jones, Chairman of BHEST)

The Olympics come to Elmbridge

2011-03-09T10:58:00.004Z

Yesterday, I spoke at the launch of the Elmbridge Business Network 'Surrey 2012' event, chaired by Rachael Lake. The aim was to promote local commercial opportunities arising from the Olympics. Elmbridge will be hosting some of the cycling events. As well as a tremendous opportunity for the local community to enjoy and be part of the 2012 games, there are real business opportunities, especially for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises.

The event was attended by a wide range of local businesses, and featured a series of presentations and discussions on various topics, including:

The scale and scope of the local tourism industry.
Business opportunities - and advice about how to maximise them
Consideration of business risks.
Information on bidding for Olympic contracts.

There are real opportunities for local SMEs. For more information click here.

(Launching the EBN Event with Rachael Lake, Denise Saliagopoulos and members of the Surrey 2012 team)

Town Hall Meetings

2011-03-03T12:12:00.001Z

Tonight, I am starting the first in another series of open town hall meetings across the constituency, so I can hear directly from residents about their local and national priorities. I will kick off the first one in Walton.

The meetings will start at 7.30pm, and last up to 2 hours, at the following locations:-

* Thursday 3 March - Walton Oak School, Ambleside Avenue, Walton-On-Thames, KT12 2PB
* Thursday 10 March -St Mary's Junior School, Sugden Rd, Long Ditton, KT7 0AD
* Thursday 17 March - Holy Trinity Church Hall, Church Rd, Claygate, KT10 0JP
* Thursday 7 April - Hersham Youth Club, Arch Road, Hersham, KT12 4QT
* Tuesday 12 April - St. Peters Church Hall, 518 Walton Road, West Molesey, KT8 2QF

I hope to see as many people as possible.

GP Commissioning and Community Hospitals

2011-02-26T08:25:00.004Z

On Friday, I met with Ken Brown (Chairman, League of Friends of Molesey Hospital) and Dr Steve Brant (local GP and pioneer of MEDICS Gateway) at the Glenlynn Practice in East Molesey (see photo below). In the context of the forthcoming abolition of Primary Care Trusts (PCT) and their replacement with local GP commissioning, I wanted to hear first hand about the prospects for Molesey hospital. I blogged on this issue in August last year, following a tour of the hospital.

The further feedback I received from Steve and Ken - not to mention other councillors - is that Molesey hospital is well placed to serve as a hub for the provision of local healthcare services, once we move to GP commissioning. There are potential advantages for GP consortia in having such a local hub, as well cost-efficiencies to be derived from delivering services closer to local people and reducing the rising number of visits and referrals to acute services at larger hospitals including Kingston (which are under increasing pressure).

However, the PCT has a large budget deficit due to past mismanagement. There are concerns that in order to balance its books, before GP commissioning arrives in 2012, the PCT may look to make short-sighted savings at the expense of Molesey and other community hospitals. I will be writing to the Chief Executive of the PCT to add my own concerns in this regard, seeking reassurances concerning plans for our community hospitals at Molesey and across Elmbridge, and asking what alternative cost-efficiency measures have been considered, including cutting administrative costs at the PCT itself.

Investing In Our Roads

2011-02-23T15:50:00.004Z

Today, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond announced £100 million extra to fix pot holes in England. The local allocations will be made in March, but this should be good news for Surrey. The state of our roads adds to transport costs, which weigh down local economic growth, and remains a high priority issue for local residents as a quality of life issue.

The Case for Reform in China

2011-02-20T08:45:00.003Z

This week China became the second biggest economy in the world - yet hopes of democracy there have ebbed, despite the shifting tide we are witnessing in the Middle East. Today, I have written an article for Con Home on the risks for China if it doesn't reform its authoritarian political system.

You can read the piece here.

Saluting Our Troops

2011-02-18T14:01:00.006Z

Today, I joined the local throng saluting soldiers from 22 (Gibraltar 1779-83) Battery and 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, accompanied by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Royal Artillery Band. The troops were marking the end of a 6 month tour of Afghanistan, heading from Esher police station to Sandown Park for the Royal Artillery Gold Cup horse race.

It was a great occasion, cadets marching with veterans, attended by a range of our local councillors (see below). It is always good to see our brave armed forces get the respect and recognition they deserve, and remind ourselves of the sacrifices they make on our behalf. They remain a source of tremendous local and national pride.

There's a clip of the march on You Tube - you can access it here.

(It's not often you see a tank making its way down Esher High St.)

(Dom with just a few of the local councillors attending -

Mary Sheldon, John Sheldon, Ian Donaldson and David Archer.)

Parliament Votes on Prisoner Votes

2011-02-11T17:11:00.003Z

Yesterday, the House of Commons voted by 234 to 22 to retain the current ban on prisoner voting. You can find further details here.

I had the privilege of giving the 'wind up' speech at the end of the debate - you can read my contribution here.

The Nuclear Option

2011-02-07T15:03:00.021Z

I have long supported an expansion of nuclear power in the UK, as the most cost-efficient and environmentally sound way to cater for Britain's future energy needs. It is also an area where Britain can develop a high-tech niche, both to broaden our economic base and support the revival of our domestic industry.

On Friday, I visited Delta Controls Ltd, a Molesey-based firm that produces pressure gauges and switches to ensure security and safety in nuclear and oil and gas plants. It is a relatively small business - with around 50 staff - exporting 60% of its products, including to China and South East Asia.

We discussed the impact of the recession (particularly its effect on supply chains), the burden of EU regulation and employment law and the availability of Research and Development credit relief. Operations Manager Dr Chris Webborn gave me a tour of the assembly plant (see below).

I was thoroughly impressed to find yet another high-tech local business engaged in innovative manufacturing in an important sector. It is the kind of small and medium size enterprise that can help drive economic growth and create new jobs in the years ahead.

(Dom tours Delta Controls Ltd with Operations Manager Dr Chris Webborn)

NHS Reform

2011-02-05T06:56:00.004Z

Since August, I have been talking to local partners about the forthcoming NHS reforms. Over the last week I have had a series of useful meetings. First, I met with Surrey County Council to hear more about their plans to take on responsibility for 'public health' from the Primary Care Trust (PCT). This is a vital area of health policy, which involves disseminating information and promoting public awareness of important health issues - from leading healthier lifestyles, to preventing illness. In our consultations, I made it clear that this should not be a pretext for an extension of the 'nanny state'. Rather, policy will be subject to direct local democratic control, which means local health priorities set by those accountable to the community.

I have also been meeting with local GPs - from Molesey to Oxshott - to hear their views on 'GP commissioning', the plan to give consortia of local doctors the authority and responsibility to commission local health care priorities for their patients and local communities. Yesterday evening, I spoke to the Friends of Capelfield Surgery and listened to what local GPs and residents had to say.

The fundamental principle is that local GPs are better placed than the faceless and unaccountable bureaucracy of PCTs to set local health care priorities. There are a range of practical questions that the GPs have in relation to implementation - especially the responsibilities they will take on - but many were enthusiastic about the changes. The bottom line is that the PCT has been seriously mismanaged. But, not for lack of managers! In fact, there is far too much wasteful bureaucracy. In Surrey, the PCT has racked up an incredible £125million deficit.

Of course, the GPs may need bespoke support - from legal to business advice - but it ought to be more cost-effective for them to hire that in as they need it, rather than continuing with the current expensive and inefficient PCT structure. The new consortia won't be set up until April 2012. In the meantime, I look forward to continuing the dialogue with local doctors and residents, to help them facilitate the implementation of these plans.

Votes for Prisoners?

2011-02-03T09:27:00.003Z

Today, I wrote an article for the Daily Telegraph, setting out the case against giving prisoners the vote. Parliament will get a free vote on this debate next week, initiated pursuant to a new back-bench procedure introduced by the coalition.

You can read the article here ... along with comments by John Hirst, the original claimant before the Strasbourg Court.

Double Standards - from Equality to Extradition

2011-01-31T20:34:00.002Z

I wrote an article for the Sunday Times - highlighting the risk that double standards will undermine public confidence in our equality and human rights laws.

You can read the article here.

Support for People with Learning Disabilities

2011-01-24T17:32:00.004Z

On Friday, I opened a new sensory room, at Mencap Elmbridge, for people with learning disabilities. The money for the facility was raised through a mix of fund-raising, including a generous contribution from Glaxo Smith Kline. Jean Rigden and Veronica Collins are part of a fantastic team, doing inspirational work. It was great to see such a wide range of people with various disabilities making good use of the center and enjoying its facilities. The new room will help with rehabilitation and sensory stimulation for those with longer term conditions.