MPs /Politics

Politics We must care enough to protect our planet from harm

The word ‘culture’ gets bandied about and we can lose sight of its importance. It can be seen as a soggy concept about which few care. Like it or not, organisations do have prevailing cultures, often set from the top, which embody their values and principles: ‘how things get done around here’. The culture of an organisation can be the core of its strength or, sometimes, its downfall. A strong, principled culture is what makes scientists get things right in the face of commercial pressures. It is what enables businesses to balance the interests of shareholders, customers, employees and local communities. It is what inspires the best politicians in properly safeguarding the nation’s future rather than playing to the gallery. Much of COP26 revolved around ‘culture’ as the interwoven social, political and economic driver of decisionmaking. It has certainly shown a need for a significant change in the habits, behaviours and outlooks of billions of people. Climate change challenges us. Do we care enough to pay the upfront costs of switching from fossil fuels to clean energy? Do we care enough about faraway countries to contribute to their necessary transformations? Does our culture lead us to collaborate globally or find reasons to prioritise national self-interest? Change starts at home. Our environment, here, is a treasure: the Jurassic Coast, the carved, curved hills of Hardy Country, the Wiltshire Downs, the Blackmore Vale itself to say nothing of the young otter I saw last week playing in a pristine upper stream. These things come together to remind us of cause and effect, of how connected things are, of how valuable are simple things: new birth, clean water, fine views and the happiness and friendships they can bring. ‘Less is More’ as a three-word tag line. Feet firmly back on the ground, there are practical things to do. Our water: whether there is legislation or not, each community across the Vale should be alert to every sewage spill and call it out, loudly. We, individually, should not even put a kitchen towel down the loo, let alone plasticised wipes. Housing: it is unforgiveable now to build houses with a substantial carbon footprint that will require retrofitting with low-carbon technology or in climate-vulnerable places that require massive engineering inputs to make them safe. It is as unforgiveable to contemplate new developments without the integration of employment, public transport, services and amenities that create properly sustainable communities. ‘Market forces will provide’ is the mantra of the planners. The nation has destroyed much of its industrial heritage and capability through this doctrine. Driven by market forces alone we would still have lead in paint and worse. Market forces deliver lowest cost solutions unless a government intervenes to insist on quality. Governments must regulate for the future good. So, as our Local Plan processes go through their further consulting motions across the Vale, there is a need to pressure decision-makers to future-proof our communities. Another three-worder, then: ‘Must Do Better’.

Mike Chapman, on behalf of Vale-based Lib Dems

Goodwill doesn’t stretch to government

Tis the season of goodwill, but as we take stock at the end of the year, goodwill to the government is in short supply. Indeed, we’ve all endured a short supply of stock in the supermarkets and on the forecourts. Meanwhile inflation – some global, yes, but much self-inflicted – and tax rises look set to gnaw away at the money in our pockets. I’m sure goodwill to the government is lacking in our local MPs too – even if they can’t admit it. They promoted an ‘oven ready’ solution to the social care crisis, only for us to discover it will still force hundreds of those on the lowest incomes to sell their homes. Hardly the spirit of the season… We can only hope that, like Ebenezer Scrooge, they will awaken with a change of heart once the bill returns from the Lords. We shall see. My hopes aren’t high though. You just get the sense it’s one rule for them, one rule for the rest of us. People where I live in Shaftesbury were aghast at the Tories’ brazen attempt to let Owen Paterson off the hook when he was caught taking corporate cash to influence government procurement processes. Even though the member for North Dorset voted against the government, it’s a pity for him that the stench of sleaze lingers on. Speaking of bungs, perhaps as a Christmas present, our MPs could get Blackmore Vale some of that ‘levelling up’ cash their newer colleagues in the north have got? One thing’s clear folks –you have to vote Labour for decades and then vote Tory for the first time to get your pork-barrel money. We’ve been doing it wrong here! On behalf of the local Labour party, I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I know many of our members are paying special attention to those in their villages who are facing Christmas alone for the first time because of covid. Just a friendly face at the window and the offer of something like a warm Christmas pudding in a tupperware can make a huge difference. So while goodwill may be hard to come by in Westminster this Christmas, let’s all take a moment to think of those near to us –who we may not be close to –but could do with a little help.

Greg Williams, of Dorset Labour

The ups and downs of misreading the public mood

You’ll remember the fascinating story of King George III, who suffered from quite extreme mental disorders towards the end of his life, his eldest son acting as Prince Regent to keep the show on the road. His favourite son, however, was his second son, the Duke of York, Prince Frederick. Without wanting to detain you with more details, they say that this was the Grand Old Duke of York about whom you will have heard. Yes, he was the one who marched them up to the top of the hill only to then march them back down. Over the past few weeks in Westminster, the lyrics to this nursery rhyme have sprung to mind. It’s been something of a bruising few weeks in SW1. First the terrible murder of my good friend and colleague Sir David Amess as he went about helping his constituents, which sent shockwaves across the Parliamentary Estate and has changed forever the security measures for MPs in our constituencies. Then the misunderstandings and misinformation about the sewage portion of the Environment Bill, which led to innumerable accusations to MPs and the inevitable tumult of sewage-related bon mots. But, and here’s where the Duke of York comes in, when it came to the Owen Paterson debacle, things really took off. Let’s face it, the whipping system in Parliament is somewhat archaic. And when a three-line whip is issued by any party, the assumption is that the troops will fall in line, march up that hill behind their party, and firmly grasp the higher ground. I myself may have voted a considerable number of times against three-line whips, but this is a little unusual. Holding your own party to account or seeking to express an independent view isn’t a common expectation when it comes to votes. When I originally saw the Government amendment to the debate on the conduct of Owen Paterson, it seemed to me to represent something of a compromise. A rebuke, but also an acknowledgement that there’s much to improve in the system. I indicated to the Government I would support such an approach. But as the debate unfolded and following the vote, I realised that we were on the wrong side of the argument. That I had misread not only the mood of the House but that of the country. And that the Government had erred. This, the Government itself accepted the following day, and withdrew its amendment, withdrew its conflation of the conduct of one Member with the system under which such conduct is assessed, and U-turned. But this, of course, left the troops having not gained any higher ground, but rather having had attacks from all sides for first marching up and then marching back down that metaphorical hill. Perhaps it wasn’t Prince Frederick who, during the Flanders campaign towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars, drove his forces forward before quickly retreating. And if it was, I’m sure he had just cause. Similarly, I’m sure that recent events in Westminster have a ready explanation. But I do hope those in a position of control reach deep into their childhood and take note of the far-sighted rhymes of their youth.

Somerton & Frome MP David Warburton

The NewBlackmore Vale

is great for business

Get amazing results with our specialist advertising team! n FREE design service n Expert advice on targeted campaigns n Personal service from people with years of industry experience

Call Debi Thorne on 07714 289409

MPs’ round-up Poor ministers, trying to second guess this virus

Pity ministers trying to second guess a far more nimble virus adversary. We know that modelling is fallible from what happened last year. Lacking reliable prognosticators there’s a temptation to over engineering our defences. Unfortunately closing things down involves a heavy price in terms of the economy, liberty and livelihood. Even the most economically illiterate and those who are comfortable with government diktat can surely see the cost of that in things like children’s education, mental health and healthcare foregone. Hence the delicate balance and why I’m –generally – supportive of those tasked with making the tough choices. As I write it seems to me that the omicron variant will spread fast with its speed reduced a bit by cancelling some foreign travel, allowing time to get booster shots in arms. I can’t see from the crude figures published for Southern Africa that it’s any more lethal, however, and the hunch (we can’t say more than that right now) appears to be that jabs and the new drugs coming on line to treat people will be effective, but we don’t know how effective. Still, we should know well before Christmas as lab results come through and are reconciled with real world data. I’ve been doing quite a lot in the House on covid since it’s today’s big issue. However, I hope I haven’t been too much of a one-trick pony. On Tuesday I sponsored an adjournment debate to encourage ministers to include offenders’ families under the definition of victim of crime. The sins of the fathers shouldn’t be visited on the sons, daughters, spouses, second cousins twice removed or anyone else other than the perpetrator. Yet I have heard of families that have been destroyed by the attitude taken towards families, particularly when the crime in question is of a stigmatising nature. Put yourself in the position of an innocent whose partner unknown to you has been involved in something unpleasant. At three in the morning comes the knock on the door. As your partner is dragged off and detectives ransack your home and personal possessions looking for evidence your world falls apart. The least you should be able to expect is courtesy, respect and sympathy from the statutory authorities and a recognition that you are a victim, not the cause, of crime. I regret that when families left bereft and in dire straits by crime they had no hand in look around for a bit of help, support and common kindness there just isn’t any. All they see is the stony face of the criminal justice system. We can do better than that.

MP for South West Wiltshire Dr Andrew Murrison

I’m committed to improving booster availability

I would like to let you know firstly, that my absolute priority at the moment is to make sure that our vaccine booster jabs are available to those who need them and want them. In rural West Dorset there has been some difficulty in some getting boosters. I continue to make these representations to the NHS and to the minister. If you’re in my constituency and are having difficulty with your booster, please let me know.

n I was also pleased to welcome Farming, Fisheries and Food Minister Victoria Prentis to West Dorset last week. We met up with fishermen from across the West Dorset Coast in West Bay and I also convened a summit of farmers from across all sectors in Puddletown to discuss key factors with the farming industry and new environmental initiatives. We also discussed other supply chain and resource issues, emerging policy and their key part in protecting and enhancing our environment. We were able to have a lot of important discussions that will help some of our key industries in West Dorset. It was excellent to have the Minister with us to learn more about the issues facing both of these industries, and wonderful to show off what West Dorset has to offer in terms of the fantastic facilities in West Bay, and the combined agricultural knowledge of our farmers.

n This week, the Government has announced an important clampdown on County Lines drug dealing as part of its Drug Strategy –and it is about time! £145m will go to tackling it. You may remember I wrote about this back in the summer, because I was getting concerned about it, particularly for our market towns – and following on from that, the railway police did a considerable operation which lead to thousands of pounds worth of drugs seized in Weymouth and Dorchester.

n Last week in the House of Commons I also asked ministers from the Department for Communities to keep Dorset on the agenda for levelling up. I want to see our great county benefitting from all of the opportunities available, and so I am continuing to make sure it is in the minds of ministers to give Dorset its fair share.

n On Saturday evening, the annual Cerne Abbas Christmas fair took place, as well as the Sherborne Festive Shopping Day on Sunday. Both were great events –very enjoyable. They are two of the wonderful events that make Christmas so special here in West Dorset with many more over the coming weeks.

MP for West Dorset Chris Loder