30 October 2009
DAYBYDAY
the weekly newsletter from Paul Clark MP
Paul showing his age with the UK Youth Parliament members from Medway and House of Commons Speaker, John Bercow MP
The Youth Parliament takes over University education at top of agenda The UK Youth Parliament came to the House of Commons today. Whilst existing MPs were assured that this was not a coup attempt to bring new blood into the Commons sooner than we had expected, it was a great opportunity to listen to young people putting across their political opinions. There were some slight changes from the usual proceedings, with
1
UKYP MPs clapping speeches and applauding at regular intervals. That’s not something that usually happens in the Commons chamber, but it’s not an unusual occurrence in other chambers across the world. Recently in Australia the opposition brought a cardboard cutout of a Minister into the chamber to highlight his reluctance to appear at the Despatch Box.
Engaging young people in political discussion is hugely important. So much of what MPs do directly affects young people and it’s right that they are given an opportunity to have their say. But with so few first time voters using the opportunity to cast a ballot on election day, it’s going to take a little more than a one day only event in the Commons to change things. PC
DAYBYDAY 30 October 2009
New homes for St Mary’s Island Kickstart programme comes to Medway John Healey MP, Labour's Minister of State for Housing, this week announced that Medway will receive £6,932,000 of government funding to Kickstart stalled construction sites. Kickstart provides funding to restart mothballed building projects. In Medway, the construction of 103 new homes on St Mary’s Island will be resurrected by the cash injection. John Healey MP, Labour's Minister of State for Housing said: "this announcement is another solid example of the Labour Government using the power of public investment in tough economic times to build the homes we need, support the construction industry, and create jobs and apprenticeships.
“This is great news for Medway. It will provide new homes, save jobs, provide apprenticeships and help local families to get a home of their own. These are Labour values in action – in our area, supporting hard working people through the recession, offering everyone, not just the privileged few, the chance to succeed.” PAUL CLARK MP
money is expected to be repaid with less than a fifth consisting of direct grant to support developers and the rest used to fund affordable homes as part of the Kickstart programme. Only developers who have accepted a realistic current market price for This funding will mean 103 more houses their land have been eligible for this being built on St Mary’s Island. The project is investment. one of 54 authorised today having passed tough value for money tests to receive a share This announcement means that since June of £147 million nationwide. This is on top of housing has approved the release of almost 61 other schemes already approved, which £1.5 billion in Government help for housetakes total Government investment through building. Kickstart so far to £448 million to deliver over 11,000 homes. Post your comments about housing on Paul’s blog at paulclarkmp.com To ensure the Government gets the most for every taxpayer’s pound the funding comes with tough terms. Over two thirds of the
Kickstarting development on St Mary’s Island images courtesy: bing.com and airads
2
DAYBYDAY 30 October 2009
Picture of the week New Brompton College teachers meet Gordon and Sarah Brown
The Prime Minister and his wife, Sarah, welcomed two of Medway’s teachers to Downing Street last week. Jo Price and Judy Rider attended Downing Street’s ‘Community Heroes’ reception as part of Gordon and Sarah Brown’s efforts to give proper recognition to those people across the UK who have made possible some of the improvements seen in our public services. Jo Price and Judy Rider have been responsible for the transformation of New
3
Brompton College in Gillingham. Several years ago, the school was achieving just 9% of pupils with good (A-C) GCSE grades. This year, the school celebrated the awarding of Academy status and for the first time ever 30% of pupils with GCSE grades A-C. Jo and Judy have been responsible for the transformation of this once ‘failing school’ into a vibrant and dynamic educational institution. School league tables, released by the Dept. for Children,
Schools, and Families, showed New Brompton College received a ‘value added’ score of over 1030. This result places in the school in the top 5% of schools nationally. The value added score is designed to show the improvements that children at the school have made in the past 12 months. This year, the school achieved 30% of pupils with A-C GCSE grades for the first time ever. More photos online at www.paulclarkmp.com
DAYBYDAY 30 October 2009
@paulclarkmp Some interesting news from the world of Twitter
Followers this week: 279 Tweeting from the Commons? Tweeting, as it has become known, is steadily gaining popularity amongst MPs. Although nobody had heard of it a few years ago, it seems that the media aren’t interested in anything any longer unless someone has ‘twittered’ it first. This week the debate of the pros and cons of Twitter in politics reached fever pitch when Lib Dem MP, Dr John Pugh, tabled an Early Day Motion calling for Members of Parliament to stop posting Twitter updates and emailing one another during Prime Minister’s Question Time. Fair enough, I think, mainly because I don’t do it and prefer to listen to the
4
debate. I’m also a Minister and not a backbench MP, so it’d probably be frowned upon even more. Sometimes, finding the time to Twitter (yes, I know it only takes a minute) can be difficult. When you’re jumping from meeting to meeting, not 100% sure who you’re going to be talking to next, honestly the last thing on your mind is whipping out your phone and telling the world that you haven’t got a clue who you’re about to sit down with and why you’re about to sit down with them. Follow the non-meeting-related updates on twitter.com/paulclarkmp
DAYBYDAY 30 October 2009
Why this was the wrong way to make a point
You may have seen this if you were passing by Gillingham Station this week. I think it’s appalling and I want to explain why. Yes, there are people with understandable and very clear concerns about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but defacing a British Legion poster isn’t the way to make a point. As the local MP for the area I have always been and will always be happy to engage with people who do not feel that we made the right decision going to war in Afghanistan or Iraq. That is every constituent’s right. When people in this country want to voice their opinion on the state of their Government, they rightly do so by coming to Parliament and protesting or by
5
What was said: “Whilst we support people’s right to share their opinions this must be done in a legal, peaceful and respectful way” Chief Superintendent Steve Corbishley speaking to the Medway Messenger
kicking out the Government of the day at a General Election. We don’t do it by vandalism. There is a lively debate about this issue and the issue of protesting around Parliament taking place on the blog at the moment. To take part, visit paulclarkmp.com and add your opinion now.