News A45 Sucess

A45 Petition a great success

Following the tragic death of Sophie Bywaters on the A45 in October, many residents expressed their concern by signing a petition which was presented to Brian Binley Northampton South MP at one of his Saturday surgeries.

Following the presentation of the petition with over 2,000 signatures enclosed Brian Binley passed on the concerns of his constituents to the Highways Agency and called for changes to be made in order to ensure better pedestrian safety along the busy A45 route.

When receiving the petition from Gemma Whitlock, Brian Binley commended her efforts: "This is a tremendous effort. I think it is extraordinary that people are still trying to walk over this road, when clearly we know how dangerous that is. Cars travel along it at 70mph – it's like crossing a racetrack.

"Gemma is to be commended for her hard work in collecting all these signatures. It goes a long way in showing the strength of feeling.”

Brian Binley has now received a response from the Highways Agency which stated that they were proposing the installation of 1km in length of a 2m high steel fence along the central reserve of the A45 north from the Wooton Fields overbridge towards the Queen Eleanor junction and to improve the signing, lining and kerbing to facilitate the safe crossing of minor roads as well as encouraging the use of the existing footbridge.

The Highways Agency also stated that they would be meeting with Northamptonshire County Council to discuss proposals and is hopeful that we can deliver this scheme by spring 2010.

Brian Said: “I am delighted that the Highways Agency has responded so swiftly to my letter and addressed not only my concerns but also of all who signed the petition.”

“I am however, concerned that the residents will have to wait until the spring of 2010 considering that people are still crossing the road.”

“The road is especially dangerous due to the speed that the vehicles travel at which leaves very little time for pedestrians to react. It is important that the Highways Agency have an open mind in ways to improve the situation with the road and is committed to making this happen sooner rather than later”.

“It is tragic that this road has cost a young life before something has been done about this. I once again would like to thank all of those who signed the petition and this is a victory for them to ensure that the tragic death of Sophie Bywaters is not forgotten and ensuring that it does not happen again in the future.”

News - Weston Favell School

Weston Favell School looks set to become academy

The United Learning Trust (ULT) looks set to benefit again as a result of the expected decision to turn Weston Favell School into and academy.

The trust was founded in 2002 and has acquired 17 schools nation wide in some of the most deprived areas.

Staff and parents of pupils at the school are strongly against the decision to grant academy status and teachers recently took the drastic action of a short-term strike to voice their concerns.

Brian said: “Any businessman will tell you this is not a good way to start a new business when almost all of your customers and staff are against the proposal.”

It is also important to recognise that the United Learning Trust (ULT) have come in for criticism recently as well. A couple of the schools that ULT is responsible for have not seen a significant improvement and ULT have been told they need to up their game before taking on any new schools.

In a letter leaked from Ed Balls to the Guardian newspaper published on the 5^th November 2009, Ed Balls stated: “It is clear that ULT has been bold and courageous in taking on some of the most challenging predecessor schools in the country, although, equally as clear there is still some way to go before all ULT academies are making consistent progress.”

It is important to stress that Weston Favell should not becoming an academy. The ULT is already struggling to cope with the schools they have.

Brian said: “Ed Balls has pushed this favouring the words of Lord Adonis. Ed Balls has already questioned whether the ULT can cope with the academies they have.

It is clear that he believes they should not be taking on more projects before the academies they have show a collective improvement”

“It is also questionable whether this organisation made up of social professionals has already too many schools.”

“Schools should not be run as businesses; they are educational institutions vital to the future of Great Britain.”

News 9th December

Pre budget speech devoid of any real ways to solve economic woes

“Britain is facing the biggest pre budget deficit in our peacetime history. We are the last country in the G8 to emerge from recession and the European Union has already collectively started growing. Yet Britain is still in recession.

When Labour was first elected in 1997 they promised an end to boom and bust. As Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown created an artificial boom based on astronomical borrowing. He encouraged the outrageous casino banking culture and as a result has deepened the nation’s budget deficit. Mr Brown’s legacy has left nothing but a big bust for the UK economy.

His successor at The Treasury, Alistair Darling, has been left to clear-up the mess our current Prime Minister has left behind. He has no real policies in the short-term to solve Britain’s economic woes.

Mr Darling has got the timetable for recovery wrong. He admitted recently the recession was worse than feared and Britain has not started growing again and yet he continues to insist that Britain will experience growth by the beginning of next year! How can we believe any of his predictions?

The pre-budget speech has done nothing to improve the situation of the country. I welcome the attempts from Mr Darling to tackle the big bonus culture of the city. It is something that is vital to address in the long-term. Although, in the short-term we need to encourage banks to start lending to businesses again so they can create growth and the jobs necessary to end the current recession.

The pre-budget speech has done nothing to encourage banks to lend to business. It has done nothing to help families who are struggling as a result of the recession. With VAT returning to 17.5% confidence in the retail markets will surely fall? How does this help us to recover?

The public wants action now. It expects answers from a Government which has directly contributed to the country’s situation.

Once we have achieved an economic recovery and created stability within the job market we can then begin to tackle the issue of the budget deficit and what to do with the disgraceful bonus culture within the city.

The Government have not ended boom and bust. It has created the biggest peacetime budget deficit in our history and has inflicted a ridiculous number of stealth taxes on the people of Britain.”

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Brian continued: “Wind power is extremely costly, disliked by those living closest to onshore wind farms and some say that it simply panders too much to the extreme elements of the green lobby. Many experts also doubt if we can meet those targets by building the numbers required- especially offshore. There is also the second problem of required energy production back-up from conventional energy sources because of the uncertainties created by wind fluctuations. Energy experts state that we will need a 90% back-up capacity to cover the problem of wind fluctuations which is not only expensive but would be laughable if it was highlighted in a Monty python sketch.”

Brian strongly believes that we should not simply focus on expensive and non effective forms of renewable energy sources when there are other alternatives which are not being considered as they are not deemed fashionable or politically correct.

Brian said: “We should not shy away from fossil fuels but concentrate on making them carbon free. The technology is available, proven and working in plants now. We have 300 years worth of energy beneath our feet in coal resources. We should be exploiting coal in the medium term whilst working towards nuclear fusion in the long term. It is vital that we do everything we can to keep the lights on and ensure that British business as competitive as possible.”

News 26th November

Are we getting our energy policy right?

Brian Binley followed up on the message he delivered to the 4^th Energy Forum in Budapest when he spoke in the Queens Speech debate in the House of Commons this week on Energy and Climate Change. Brian questioned whether Britain was getting its energy strategy right?

Following the news this week that a serious body of evidence is growing suggesting that the computer models relied on by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is based on an assumption, raises serious concerns of Britain’s energy policy.

We also now know that although carbon dioxide levels have continued to increase, temperature has not been rising in the way the computer models say they should have done. In fact the overall trend shows a small fall in temperature and not a rise.

Brian said: “In light of the new evidence, isn’t it time we reviewed the whole issue of man-made global warming? What is more worrying is that a number of leaked e-mails from the internal computer system of the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia show how a small group of British and American scientists have been discussing ways in which they could manipulate their findings to make the threat of global warming sound much worse than it is. This is simply unacceptable when we consider how much money is at stake. We are committed to spending a proposed £18 billion a year until 2050 as a result of the findings of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It is the tax-payers and consumers who will of course foot the bill for their projections and we must ensure that their findings are based on scientific fact and not assumption.”

The Governments current energy strategy plans for 15% of our energy needs to be produced from alternative energy sources and wind power is at the heart of that strategy. The current plans require the building of 4,000 onshore and 3,000 offshore turbines by 2020.

Brian continued: “Wind power is extremely costly, disliked by those living closest to onshore wind farms and some say that it simply panders too much to the extreme elements of the green lobby. Many experts also doubt if we can meet those targets by building the numbers required- especially offshore. There is also the second problem of required energy production back-up from conventional energy sources because of the uncertainties created by wind fluctuations. Energy experts state that we will need a 90% back-up capacity to cover the problem of wind fluctuations which is not only expensive but would be laughable if it was highlighted in a Monty python sketch.”

Brian strongly believes that we should not simply focus on expensive and non effective forms of renewable energy sources when there are other alternatives which are not being considered as they are not deemed fashionable or politically correct.

Brian said: “We should not shy away from fossil fuels but concentrate on making them carbon free. The technology is available, proven and working in plants now. We have 300 years worth of energy beneath our feet in coal resources. We should be exploiting coal in the medium term whilst working towards nuclear fusion in the long term. It is vital that we do everything we can to keep the lights on and ensure that British business as competitive as possible.”

News 16th November

You can become an Olympian!

Brian Binley M.P. for Northampton South has called on all local companies to take advantage of the business opportunities in the London Olympic programme.

All they have to do is log on to the ‘compete for’ scheme website which is delivered through a joint private sector/public sector partnership working closely with London Organising Committee. The scheme is easy to access, open to any company, free of charge and opens up access to thousands of contract opportunities.

The scheme has a particular focus on the supply chains and acts as a brokerage service matching buyers with potential suppliers.

Northampton’s businesses have gone through a difficult year, the opportunity offered through the ‘compete for’ scheme offers them a great chance to bid for long term contracts in what is a difficult time for many businesses struggling for contracts and facing mounting cash flow issues.

A local Northamptonshire Company have already secured a deal to supply kerbs and paving for the Olympic park and this just one example of the contracts which are up for grabs for companies via the ‘compete for scheme.’

Brian said: “The Olympics are an extremely prestigious event for Britain. The economic impact of the games is fantastic for Britain and the ‘compete for scheme’ is certainly something all companies should take advantage of. I am delighted that local company A&L Paving have secured an Olympic contract”.

“I want as many Olympians from Northamptonshire at the games as possible. Athletes, swimmers, individual volunteers and for businesses able to claim they were a part of the 2012 Olympic Games by obtaining an Olympic contract and I look forward to reading of more Olympians.”

Businesses can sign up for the free service by visiting the following website: http://www.competefor.com

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create the centre whether the people of Northampton wanted it or not.”

News 18th November

Northampton South Speaks!

78% of recipients to a survey in Northampton South said that Asylum and Immigration was the most important issue that the Government had to deal with and when asked if they would like to see tougher border controls 94% of people agreed.

Over 1,000 people in Northampton responded to the survey conducted by Brian Binley in his Summer Newsletter which aimed to gain public feedback on important issues. The questions aimed to ascertain opinion to both national and local issues.

The 34,000 Newsletter recipients were asked: What are the top three issues facing the Government currently?

65% of people believed that the Government could do more to combat crime and anti-social behaviour. The impact of the recession is also evident with 63% claiming that the state of the economy and lack of jobs are cause for concern.

In response to local issues, 74% believe pubs are essential to the community spirit of Northampton, following the potentially crippling 2% budget increase in beer duty.

64% claimed that although fly-tipping was not a problem, littering was an issue within Northampton, some areas are affected more with these issues than others but all respondents commented that both problems are blighting Northampton and were in agreement with Brian that these problems need to be addressed.

98% of respondents claimed that negative equity was not a problem for them.

Brian said: “Voters in Northampton South representing all communities clearly thought that immigration was the biggest national problem. I have consistently said border controls need tightening and more importantly illegal immigrants should be turned away in days rather than weeks. We know that the Government pursued a conscious policy of allowing large numbers of immigrants “in order to rub the Conservatives nose in it” but all they did was make it more difficult for young Britons of whatever creed or colour to get jobs or to access the services they needed. No wonder Britons from across the spectrum are angry.”

“Can I say a big thank you to all those who completed the survey and say to them that their opinions and views are important and are used to frame my own views.”

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ly because of the two previously overwhelmingly negative responses towards the centre. It appears that the WNDC were determined to grant permission to create the centre whether the people of Northampton wanted it or not.”

News 17th November

Conservatives are good for business

Northampton South MP Brian Binley has welcomed a survey released by EBay, which reveals that online firms overwhelmingly believe the Conservatives have the best policies for small businesses.

The Online Business Index - a quarterly survey of companies trading on the internet - looked at the views of 507 small to medium sized businesses. According to the findings, 67 per cent of online firms think the Conservatives have the best policies for small businesses, compared to only 18 per cent for Labour and just four per cent for the Lib Dems.

These findings come despite evidence that online businesses have escaped the worst of the recession – 68% are confident about the future, 69% expect rising sales over the coming months, and 77% expect to grow or maintain profit margins.

Said Mr Binley: "This survey just underlines what I have been saying for a long time: that the Government just does not understand business, especially the SME sector, and what makes it tick.

Labour has been a burden and a handicap on business that we can no longer afford. Labour Britain is more bureaucratic than anything we have ever known, and all of us feel it in our daily lives. Businesses, in

particular small businesses, have endured more than their fair share of it.

"Gordon Brown and his Chancellor have continually ignored the cries of the small business community since the first signs of recession started to set in, and have done absolutely nothing to help them, support them or encourage them. As a result, many people have seen years of honest endeavour go to ruin, and with that, a lot of people have lost their jobs because of it.

"I am very encouraged that the SME’s have not only taken notice of what the Conservative Party is saying about helping small businesses, but liking what it sees and hears.

"We will have to create the right environment for businesses, large and small, to grow. If we do, then we will provide the growth, the tax revenues, the jobs and prosperity which come with it. That is how to get the country out of trouble.

"Small businesses are the future prosperity of this country, and a Conservative Government will treat them with the respect they deserve."

News 5th November

The British people must be given a referendum on the E.U.

Inevitably but sadly the Czech President Vaclav Klaus has signed the Lisbon Treaty, making the Czech Republic the last EU country to ratify. It is now a matter of weeks before this treaty is enforced and swathes of powers are transferred from the member states to the EU. The process of the “ever closer union of the peoples of Europe”, an ambition explicitly expressed in the 1957 Treaty of Rome, will take an enormous leap forward. Inexorably the process of political integration that began over 50 years ago has marched onwards – with the Single European Act, and the Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice Treaties all contributing to European integration. Perhaps it hardly needs saying, but the process has been one-way. The EU has no reverse gear. Ever more powers are transferred to Brussels, none are returned to the member states.

The EU will assume even more of the trappings of a supranational state with a permanent President of the Council and a de facto Foreign Minister. The potential role of the EU in shaping and implementing a common foreign and defence policy is hugely extended, a new European External Action Service is in all but name an embryonic EU diplomatic service, “Police Cooperation and Judicial Cooperation on Criminal Matters” will move from being decided by intergovernmental agreement into a mainstream competence, there is a new concept of “shared competences” in which the EU is given unlimited scope to extend its legislation in a wide range of policy areas and the Charter of Fundamental Rights is incorporated into the treaty. Of course, there are red lines and opt-outs for the UK. But there have to be serious doubts about the effectiveness of the safeguards in each of these areas – as the House of Commons Scrutiny Committee, amongst others, has concluded.

We all remember that Government’s promise to give the British people their say on the Giscard d’Estaing’s Constitution. But when the Constitution was rejected by the French and the Dutch in 2005, the Constitution was sent back to the drawing board for an inelegant redraft. But, as we know, a redraft was all it was. The Constitution’s enormous extension of powers was preserved hook, line and sinker in the redraft – which became known as the Lisbon Treaty. No less an authority than Giscard has said this. He was very clear and explicit about the matter at a Global Vision Conference held in September 2008.

Yet the Government took the redraft as a pretext to completely renege on their promise of a referendum and claimed the Lisbon Treaty was a mere “tidying up exercise”. Of course they did, because they knew the British people would reject the treaty and the idea of yet more powers being transferred to Brussels in a referendum.

Incidentally I wonder if David Miliband, chief exponent of the Lisbon Treaty as a “tidying up exercise and therefore not that important thesis”, is aware that we have noticed that he has changed his tune recently. He now seems to think that the treaty is important after all. If the extension of an EU common foreign policy as specified in the Lisbon Treaty is vital for Britain, as he argues, then the treaty can be no “tidying up exercise”. In at least one area – that of foreign policy – it is quite clear that Mr Miliband believes the treaty has something rather significant to say.

Of course the British people were cheated. And they must still be given their say on the relationship between this country and the EU. Sadly the Lisbon Treaty will now be enforced and a referendum specifically on the treaty would be tantamount to a referendum on withdrawal. But there is clearly a huge appetite in the country for a freer, looser relationship with the EU in Britain. There should be a referendum on whether the British people agree with the proposal that a British Government should move ahead with a major renegotiation of our very relationship with the EU.

News 5th November

“Bully boy Sugar betrays small businesses”

What a really compassionate, understanding and humane man Alan Sugar must be. How courageous that he should blast small firms adding: “that most small businesses didn’t need more money, they need insolvency practitioners”. What a way to encourage entrepreneurs to start up new businesses and provide the jobs growth the country so desperately needs.

I have been fortunate enough to found two small businesses which now collectively employee some 230 people, but I well remember the long sleepless nights when I wondered where the next order was coming from or whether a dodgy debt would be paid.

I remember, during the last recession, when age debt was stretched almost to breaking point and my house was on the line.

I remember the worry, the fear but also the determination to succeed and I believe my experience of people who run small businesses is much closer to the truth than the well known business bully boy, Alan Sugar.

The truth is that the Government he joined to grab instant aristocracy had no understanding of the culture of small business and it seems neither does the very un-noble Lord Sugar.

Gordon Brown let the economy rip for his own reasons and was the prime architect of the problems the SME sector now faces. He told the FSA to go easy on casino banking and as a result small and medium sized businesses are now paying the price.

Only yesterday, in the BIS Select Committee, leading figures from the aerospace industry told us they were deeply worried at the pressures being placed on SME’s in their supply chains and were especially concerned by the seeming unwillingness of banks to lend for growth and development.

As every M.P. knows, small businesses up and down the country are facing lengthening aged debt and unpaid invoices and are going to their banks pleading for help with working capital. They are being screwed into the ground by high interest rates, personal guarantees and overdraft renegotiation fees- and they are just the successful ones.

What a fitting person Lord Sugar is to be appointed the Governments Enterprise Champion.

In Government- he should be incarcerated! Enterprise Champion he should be fired!

News 5th November

“Bernie must decide on Silverstone”

Doubt still remains over the future of a British Grand Prix even though Britain triumphed during a dramatic season in Formula 1 which has never been far from the headlines.

Following the expected failure of Donnington to hold the event, Bernie Ecclestone has still not granted the race to Silverstone and its time he became big for Britain.

It seems remarkable that despite the success of British drivers Bernie is still prevaricating and if we are not careful Britain won’t have a Grand Prix at all in 2010 and that would be a tragedy for the sport.

The success story of the Brawn G.P. in their maiden season highlights what is great about Britain. Six months ago they were struggling to make the grid following Honda’s withdrawal from the sport. Their success story is truly remarkable and is a motivating example to all SME’s in the country. Britain deserves the chance to congratulate the new constructors Champions in their own county and that’s another reason why Bernie should plump for the track immediately.

Brian said:

“Silverstone is vital to our local economy. 40,000 people are employed in the motor sport industry within a forty mile radius of the track. I therefore urge Bernie Ecclestone to choose Silverstone in hours rather than days. The planning and organisation of a Grand Prix takes a lot of time and effort and he should also realise that thousand of jobs are on the line and it is time for Bernie to stand up for Britain.”

“Surely the success of the Brawn G.P.team coupled with that of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton further highlights the need to retain a British Grand Prix. Six Grand Prix teams operate relatively close to Silverstone and many of them have called for the track to remain the home of the Grand Prix. This again underlines the import of securing the future of race at the track. I am sure that Bernie, who holds them all in great respect, will listen to their advice and act upon it. They would be grateful, race fans would be grateful, local industry would be grateful and so would the nation.”

News 28th October

“Are the Government deliberately waiting for people to die?”

Brian Binley M.P. passionately stood up for his constituents this week who have been victims of the Equitable Life savings collapse.

Over one million people in Britain were affected following the near collapse of Equitable Life nine years ago. The victims, after being promised 3 billion pounds in compensation, have yet to receive any of the compensation due to the stalling tactics of the government.

In a debate last week Brian stated: “Are the government deliberately waiting for people to die?” In relation to many of those pensioners who will never see justice for the appalling way in which Equitable Life was managed.

Brian slammed the Government’s response to the situation of those in his constituency suffering as a result of the Governments actions. Brian stated “The Government are denying the victims of the collapse justice by refusing to timetable a plan for payment of compensation and more specifically, by not defining what “disproportionately of suffering” actually means.

Whilst the Government are stalling over the timetable for compensation many pensioners are dying leading to many constituents outrage at the Governments delaying tactics, meaning many victims may never receive payment or see justice.

Brian intends to write a letter to all his constituents who are part of the Equitable Life Members Support Group, pledging his support to there difficult situation.