Politics

Political round-up Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher

Our new PM has shown she is in charge

The new political season has begun with a wealth of radical announcements. Our third woman Prime Minister has wasted no time in showing that she is in charge and that she is determined to transform our economy from its postPandemic inertia. Economic growth is, rightly, the agenda and the prescription is lower tax, less regulation and enhanced incentives for people to work more productively. By abandoning planned increases in National Insurance and Corporation Tax, the new Government has put the Conservative Party back on track in being able to keep its 2019 General Election manifesto promises. Reductions in income tax and the removal of disincentives for those in receipt of benefit payments will encourage employment activity. By cutting taxes on transactions, such as house purchase, more transactions will take place. The reductions in Stamp Duty will undoubtedly help the housing market by making it more worthwhile for those who wish to downsize to do so without suffering unreasonable financial penalties. Delays and uncertainties arising from the planning process benefit no one. A good example relates to the proposed surf lagoon development at Brocks Pine on and adjacent to the Avon Heath Country Park accessed from the A31 at St Leonards. It is now almost 10 months since an application was made to Dorset Council for a lagoon, outdoor climbing wall, visitor reception, café and administration building and ancillary service buildings in the Green Belt. I recently enquired of the council about when a decision would be made on the application, the threat of the impact from which hangs heavily among locals. I asked Dorset Council to decide the issue now and thereby remove the uncertainty. Dorset Council, however, have told me that both National Highways and Natural England, which are Government controlled quangos, have delayed their responses to the consultation process. National Highways has recommended that no decision be taken before December 6

Christchurch & East Dorset CHRIS CHOPE MP

so that it can engage in further discussions with the applicant’s representatives, while Natural England took nine months to respond as a consultee and, when it did so, merely stated that the application lacked sufficient detail to enable an assessment to be made! It will be interesting to find out whether the Government’s welcome attack on regulation and red tape, including potential new freedoms for Dorset Council will apply to the Government’s own regulatory bodies. Perhaps the time has now come when Dorset Council will no longer have to indulge tardy statutory consultees in a way in which it does not indulge local residents when they respond to planning applications. One might also ask why Dorset Council, as owner of some of the land needed for the Brocks Pine development, has not vetoed the whole project.

New PM’s changes will only benefit the rich

September 23, 2022. The day the myth of Conservative responsible stewardship of the economy finally expired. It evaporated as the pound plunged to its lowest level against the dollar since 1985. It combusted as the cost of Government borrowing, gilt yields, ballooned with investors dumping Britain’s debt. And it perished as international economists such as the former US Treasury Secretary mocked Britain for ‘pursuing the worst macroeconomic policies of any major country in a long time.’ I’m sure some bright spark will write in to say ‘yeah, but Gordon Brown sold gold well cheap’ or contribute an alternative banality. Can I remind readers that the Tories have been in power now for 12 years? With every new Prime Minister, they want you to forget the negligence of the previous ones. Each Tory PM has brought forward a growth strategy which the next one put in the bin as a failure. The latest idea is an old, discredited one, straight out of the 1980s. It’s called trickle-down economics. In a nutshell, make the richest richer, and they’ll spend and invest more of their money on everyone else. Indeed, this is exactly what Kwarteng has done. Despite all the headlines about tax cuts, the Institute of Fiscal Studies confirmed that only those earning more that £155,000 will be better off with his changes. The rest of us? We’ll all be poorer. The inflation the Government is unleashing forces people into higher tax brackets. At the same time, the rising cost of goods and services eats away at the buying power of what the taxman leaves us. Indeed, only the Tory MPs who have second jobs will be better off under their new leader. There’s so much more to unpick

Dorset Labour GREG WILLIAMS

this week I would need another column. Fracking? It’s back! And if you don’t like it, well, Rees-Mogg wouldn’t clarify in the house how communities will be consulted. It was even suggested he could deem it ‘national critical infrastructure’ so that communities can’t object. Our local MPs need to be across this. What was missing this week? Any sensible plan for social care, or supporting the health service. What about a windfall tax on energy generators who are making 900% profits at current wholesale prices? Nope. And where was the independent assessment from the Office of Budget Responsibility? They weren’t allowed to release one. Meanwhile, Truss attacks the Bank of England and its independence. All the interventions, such as the energy price cap, are just piling on to Government debt. Truss and Kwarteng have doubled UK government borrowing this year with just a fortnight in power. We will be paying this off for decades. By 2026-27 borrowing will be a landslide £110 billion - 3.9% of GDP – exceeding the 3% limit for a country wanting to join the EU. The irony.

stouravonmagazine.co.uk

New Stour & Avon, October 7, 2022 11

Charity patron is top author

by Lorraine Gibson

Local families charity, Home Start Wessex, has welcomed bestselling children’s author, Sarah Lean, right, as their new patron. She got involved with the charity in 2021 as a judge for its writing competition, designed to encourage local families to share their experiences, using storytelling and reading. Sarah, based near Wimborne said: “I was amazed by the standard of entries. Both the children and adults shared moving and entertaining stories and poems about family life.” During the judging process, she became more aware of the vital work that Home-Start Wessex does and how life-changing their volunteer services can be. “I’ve had the privilege to meet some of the team at Home-Start Wessex, where the atmosphere is positive, safe, warm and welcoming. “The space for growth that they provide is extraordinary and palpable. I am in awe of the work they do for families and delighted to be a patron. It will be my privilege to contribute in any way I can.” Caroline Pope, community & corporate engagement manager, said, “Sarah went above and beyond in her role as judge. She was incredibly generous with her time, and I could see what a huge asset she could be to the charity. I am thrilled that she has agreed to become a Patron.” Sarah’s first book, A Dog Called Homeless, published in 2012, has been successful worldwide and her latest , The Good Bear, is described as a ‘Beautifully written, heart-warming animal story.’ Since 1995 Home-Start Wessex has helped more than 3,500 families and supported more than 10,000 children through a network of 600 volunteers offering friendship, practical support and emotional advice to families facing difficulties, including poor mental health, postnatal depression, disability, domestic abuse, bereavement, isolation and multiple births. The service is in more demand than ever, and they need volunteers. If you can spare 2-3 hours a week, contact michelle@ homestartwessex.org.uk. No qualifications are necessary, and full training will be provided. Homestartwessex.org.uk/.

Bike sight

Diverse Abilities returned as guest judges to choose the final “Bike of the Night” of 2022 at Poole Quay Dream Machines. Graeme, Simon, Matt and Natalie are regular spectators at the event and had the opportunity to view the bikes on display along the quay front. Together they chose a Bike of the Night to go forward to the Bike of the Year competition. The winner was Jude Wardell-Knights with his Harley Davidson Trike, pictured with Graeme and Simon.

Don’t dump, donate!

Have you bought new tech kit recently? Have you got old laptops, mobiles or iPads lurking around the house? The average household has around 20 old, unused devices hidden away. Alarmingly, the UK is on track to become the biggest producer of electronic waste in Europe per head by 2024. Help is at hand! DonateIT accepts unwanted and defunct tech items, securely wipes them, repairs and repurposes them or, when that’s not possible, reclaims spare parts and recovers precious metals. It’s funded from the reclaimed spare parts and is sponsored by local businesses. Simon Barfoot from DonateIT will be back on Saturday, October 15, as part of this year’s Planet Wimborne Green Festival from noon-2pm. The last collection, in May, comprised three PCs, 14 laptops, 17 tablets, 26 smart (ish!) phones and four iPhones. Not only did this mean less dangerous e-waste going to landfill, but 11 refurbished items donated to local first schools, Wimborne Community Food Supply and local Ukrainian families – all to children who had previously had no access to online learning at home. DonateIT also accepts other tech items including satnavs and games consoles. (It doesn’t matter if the kit doesn’t work.) Please do not bring printers, scanners or monitors – these can be taken to the local council recycling centre.

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Ellie’s got her giggle back

Ellie Humphries was six months old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. Her family was told she had less than one per cent chance of survival.

Now aged five, Ellie’s got her giggle back and she started school in September. There’s a risk Ellie’s cancer may come back, so she has scans every few months. “Five years on, it doesn’t get any easier,” says mum Jenna. “We still get that scan-xiety.” As well as being partially sighted and paralysed on one side of her body, the cancer has left Ellie with brain damage. “Throughout everything, Julia’s House has been our rock,” says Jenna. “They provide the specialist care Ellie needs, and they’re an incredible support for Ellie’s big brother Tom and for me and Luke as well. They’re our lifeline.” Julia’s House relies almost entirely on donations to fund the charity’s vital care for families across Dorset and

Wiltshire. Incredibly, one in four children that Julia’s House cares for are funded by Gifts in Wills. Leave a Gift in your Will for free, either in person or online. It’s easy and simple and it won’t cost you a penny today. Leave your gift of care. Visit juliashouse.org/

legacy

WILL YOUR LEGACY BE ELLIE’S

Leave a Gift in your Will with our free Will writing service

Julia’s House provides a lifeline of care for seriously ill children across Dorset and Wiltshire. Incredibly, 1 in 4 of the children we care for are supported by Gifts in Wills. Even a gift of just 1% could make 100% difference to families like Ellie’s.

Your lasting gift of care will never be forgotten.

Visit juliashouse.org/legacy or call 01202 644220

Registered Charity No. 1067125

CLASSY CLASSICS: Land Girls Joan and Betty. Top, a line of classic cars and, below, John Ilott’s ‘Jimmy’, troop carrier Pictures: TOM SCRASE

Classic show at model town vintage day

Classic cars, motorbikes and military vehicles turned out for Wimborne Model Town’s recent Vintage Day event. John Ilott’s ‘Jimmy’, a 1943 10-wheeled American troop carrier was the big hit while visitors crowded into the garden arena to wave flags and listen to a ‘We’ll Meet Again’ 1940s tribute by the Land Girls. Dave Stokes from the Dorset BSA Owners Club spent the day giving sidecar rides with his1950s motorcycle combinations and raised £115 in donations for the volunteer-run charity visitor attraction. “With the warm September sunshine, the model town was offering a quieter reflective Vintage Day atmosphere this year in the run up to the royal funeral,” said spokesman Greg Hoar. And the new Wimborne Miniature World for all to discover was very welcomed by all ages. After so much to see and join in, people did enjoy a nice cuppa in the Tea Room & Shop serving lunch afternoon teas and snacks throughout, along with a Model Town Quiz.