South East Cornwall: thoughts of potential parliamentary candidates for the week

Last week I took time to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Saltash, Torpoint and Millbrook. We must never forget the sacrifice they made to be able to have the freedoms we have today.

I am glad that there have been a series of announcements from the government. In particular, the Prime Minister came to Liskeard to launch the policy to deliver 100,000 more apprenticeships by the end of the next parliament. This will ensure we continue to roll out the successful apprenticeships programme, which since 2010 has seen over 5.8 million people gain the skills and opportunities they deserve. This will ensure that young people have the skills they need to get good and secure jobs.

I am proud of our record of supporting veterans – but I want to see a clear plan to ensure that the UK remains the best place in the world to be a veteran. That’s why I’m pleased that the Conservatives have set out a clear new plan for veterans, including a new veterans bill enshrining veterans’ rights, a dedicated minister, extended tax breaks for businesses that employ veterans and cheaper railcards – recognizing and rewarding veterans throughout life.

I moved to Liskeard nineteen years ago to work for Colin Breed, (Liberal Democrat MP for South East Cornwall from 1997 to 2010). Colin was observant, curious and caring: he figured out how to get things done, such as securing funding to bypass Dobwalls and establishing the ‘Food Code’ to protect farmers from supermarket abuse.

Colin’s selfless and effective community service inspired me to run for office; and after working for a Cornish charity; management of a social enterprise; and working as a mathematics teacher, I gained a comprehensive understanding of local issues. In 2017 I was elected Cornwall Councilor for Lostwithiel and used this platform to lead successful campaigns such as the creation of an independent ‘Cornwall Climate Commission’ and the passing of four new laws to control holiday home sprawl.

Our Tory MP has failed to secure any funding for the Tamar Crossings or the deadly A38 and has left local farmers and fishermen facing financial ruin.

If you elect me to serve in Parliament, I will work tirelessly to abolish the Tamar Tax and provide safe roads; affordable homes; a thriving green economy; and public services we can all be proud of.

It was great to be in Looe last week, a coastal town that owes so much to our rich fishing heritage. The pilchard fleet with their iconic sails and of course the pilchard cannery are long gone, but the proud heritage of the local fishing families lives on in this small coastal fleet. These fleets are vital to our coastal communities, not just for the income they provide and the families they support, but also for the wider tourist attraction they provide to our visitors.

Brexit promises of a fairer share and exclusive use of our waters up to 12 nautical miles were dropped during the negotiations and there can be no doubt that our fishermen have been used as bargaining chips and then left afloat.

What adds salt to the wound is that since then the Conservative government has amassed homegrown bureaucracy. The cumulative impact of these new rules and duties, along with multiple consultations, is taking a toll on the financial resilience and mental health of our brave fishermen.

It’s time for change. Like the NHS and the economy, you can’t trust the Tories when it comes to fishing.

The rise of Tamar Bridge and Ferry Talls is inexplicably linked and is unacceptable and two questions need to be asked to ensure the future cost effective operation of both services; How was Tamar Bridge Operating allowed to accumulate significant debt (£45m)? What will councils do differently to reduce debt by making the service profitable?

The Oversight Committee should engage an accountant to surgically review the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry operations in terms of funding and debt reduction and returning the operating company to profitability. Clear direction could then be given to the operating company.

The money requested from the Treasury has to come from somewhere, and the deputy’s proposal would send money to the mining company; however, this only further increases the national debt which you and I then pay from our taxes; there is no magic money tree.

As your MP, I will do things differently. I will work with other MPs, regardless of party affiliation, to hold both councils to account. We will keep you updated with regular public progress reports. This is not a quick fix, but a crucial step towards solving the problem.

Why vote green? Fixing the housing crisis is a good reason. Only we, the Greens, have the brave policy of canceling the right to buy. Right to Buy has crippled council housing and meant that virtually no new shared housing is being built. This housing shortage has also driven up house prices, making rents unaffordable for ordinary locals.

What if we went beyond simply restoring councils’ ability to retain new homes? What if the quality of new shared housing was really high? I would campaign for new shared housing to be built to Passivhaus standards. I would say even beyond that the houses would have enough solar panels to generate more than all the electricity the house needs on average for the year. This would mean negative electricity bills for council tenants.

Imagine the consequences for the private real estate market. They would have to build to the same or better standards or they wouldn’t be able to sell to anyone. Similar ideas have been tried in Vienna, Austria, where shared housing is of the highest standard and highly desirable.

Yet another reason for the people of South East Cornwall to elect me as their MP on the 4th of July.