Conversations with my MP

Who is my MP?

The Rt. Honourable Jeremy Hunt MP

created 05 June 2012

I was out cycling this morning with the Farnham Road Club. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect to be out cycling the lanes and roads around Farnham, Elstead, Godalming, tea and tea-cakes at Abinger Hammer and back home. On the ride I made a note to tell you the roads are a mess – potholes everywhere, sunken manholes and drains. (I’ve reported some of them to fillthathole.org.uk). Then I came to a great stretch of road that actually had a cycle lane, with a really nice section of tarmac – which got me thinking.

How about combining your role as Health Secretary and your legacy of the fabulous London Olympics, and promote Surrey as the home of English/British cycling. All we need is a cycle lane (a painted strip 2 foot in from the left of all roads and lanes in Surrey). Then a decent strip of tarmac within this lane to ensure the safety of cyclists, surface level manholes and drain covers (cars don’t see potholes until the cyclist ahead swerves to avoid them). You would be protecting the cyclists from serious accidents. This is going to cost money you say, wait I have another idea.

This week I read an article in Time magazine (1st July, ‘Can Service Save Us’) about returning US war veterans and how the majority of them have post-traumatic stress, what is helping them is getting them involved in projects helping their local communities. Which brings me to my point, we also have lots of soldiers returning from warzones, some of them will be laid-off, they will need help re-adjusting to ‘normal’ life. We need projects to ease them back into civilian life. The ‘adopt a cycle lane’ project might be one of these projects.

Similarly we need to get our kids, who have no jobs, doing something useful, acquiring skills, painting and maintaining roads is probably not suitable for them, but helping farmers develop or maintain their farms may be more appropriate. Visiting and helping elderly folks paint their homes, maintain their gardens, collecting  their shopping, etc. Life skills. How about helping reclaim our fields, forests and meadows, helping with building new homes, flood-proofing homes, the list goes on.

The government needs to take advantage of all the brain power in the UK, I propose you encourage the voluntary establishment of ‘think tanks’ across the country, where folks can gather and provide ideas for solving problems. Use a web site to coordinate these ‘idea incubators’. Encourage local MPs to participate in regular, monthly?, meetings. The ‘prize’ for a good idea is the government will sponsor its implementation. Many ideas can be implemented by the community with no government involvement. Let’s get Britain doing what we do best, innovating and volunteering to help.

Published 30th June 2013

65 Flood Warnings For UK As Heavy Rains Continue Posted by guildy on September 25, 2012 in News Floods in UK: More than 800 homes flooded as storms hit Posted by BBC News on 26 November 2012

It’s that time of year again and thousands of people in the UK are suffering from the floods – many homes and businesses have been damaged. It’s almost impossible to keep the water out once the rivers burst their banks. Some properties have been flooded more than once this year.
We need a practical, simple solution. The local council is responsible for improving flood defences, and these must continue to be implemented. In addition, I suggest we investigate ways to ‘wrap our property in plastic’ to keep the flood waters out if it breeches the flood defences. The proposed scheme could be funded by the property owner, or Insurance companies.
Rigid sheets of clear plastic (produced from recycled plastic) could be attached to the house to keep out the flood waters. These would slide into a set of permanently attached ‘sliders’. The length and width of the plastic sheets would vary to enable an entire house to be wrapped up to a height of say 1.5 meters (above flood levels in your region). The front door would be the last sheet inserted as you made your escape before the flood reached your property.
Different colours could be made available for the more fashion conscious.
Now over to the inventors to design and perfect this fledgling idea. The scheme could generate local jobs both to the plastic sheet and fixture manufacturers and to local fitters!

first published 24 December 2012

The 'People's Bank'

I have been thinking of late how I and the many thousands like me who have some savings, can earn a decent rate of interest, but also help the economy. This coalition government needs to find a way to optimise the use of all its resources: that’s us the people, our savings, our desire to work and earn a living, and our ideas. How best to put that to the best interest of our great country.
Well, I have £5000 in a savings account earning me close to 0%, and I am sure there are quite a few pensioners who have that and more earning a pittance. How about someone, a ‘bank’, make us an offer we can’t refuse. How about offering us 5% interest on our savings, tax free (there’s the government buy in to the scheme). Allow us for example one free withdrawal a month, and make it an annual contract. In this way the ‘bank’ will easily accumulate £10billion (that’s £5000 from 2million people), and it will make a substantial difference to the many pensioners dependant on the interest their money earns. According to an article there is over £750billion in pensions and savings accounts, so reaching £10billion shouldn’t be difficult.
The 5% interest rate can be achieved if the Bank lends out the money to small or medium sized UK companies at say 5.5% or 6% (the benefit to the bank is 0.5% – 1% earned). And low interest rate loans to local companies will enable them to employ more local people. Now we’re talking about using under-utilized savings to fund companies desperate for loans to hire more underutilized Brits. It’s a win-win-win, and all it will cost the government is the tax on the interest it would otherwise have received from the savings.
I had thought we would need a government bank (remember Nationwide) to manage this, but I fancy Richard Branson and his Virgin Money could run it. A new bank, looking to make a difference, what do you say Richard, how about a Virgin Bank for the people, or a People’s bank? My money is yours for the asking, at 5% tax free interest, I reckon you’ll have a queue to your door.

1st published 25 September 2012

Are we at a UK Tipping Point?

Are Brits becoming more dishonest? Driving home the other evening I realised that I was one of many drivers exceeding the speed  limit. I decided there and then to drive within the speed limit. I set my speed control to a couple of mph (kph) below the maximum speed limit, and started counting cars that overtook me. On the motorways (max 70mph) more cars overtook me than I overtook, in 50mph and lower zones fewer cars overtook me. On average 50% of drivers were exceeding the maximum speed limit.

I notice too that many drivers don’t obey the ‘keep clear zones’ outside fire stations (that’s just crazy), on roundabouts, outside schools, etc. And when one person creeps into the “clear” zone others quickly follow, and soon the roundabout becomes jammed – making it worse for everyone.

Too many people make calls on their mobile phones whilst driving, despite numerous adverts aimed at dissuading this dangerous practice. And it’s not just drivers: recently politicians have been exposed claiming expenses fraudulently, newspaper editors involved in phone voicemail hacking, bank managers misrepresenting inter-bank lending rates and claiming excessive bonuses, cigarette butts, drinks cans, and papers discarded on our pavements. These steady incursions into dishonesty must be stopped – read the Tipping Point.

Solution: Install more cameras on roundabouts and traffic lights, harsh fines for all trespasses, the government needs the money, CCD cameras are relatively cheap to install, and harsh fines will discourage dishonesty.  Perhaps even publish photos in local papers of all criminals.

 first published 10 August 2012

Reduce or Re-purpose Donations to the Third World?

image reused from WaterAid

I believe UK taxpayers, are donating multiple billions of UK Pounds to third world countries. I don't see much of a return on this generosity. I suggest we look at these donations in light of what it does for the recipient country as well as on UK jobs and our influence in the world. For instance, instead of sending money and debt relief to these countries rather send appropriate products and expertise:

• Water pumps, water purification, water butts for capturing rain water - all to provide water locally - teach them the importance of sanitation Water Aid do this very successfully.
• Engineering (to maintain the water pumps), building skills (for schools, houses, community centres, toilets and roads)
• Education in health, nutrition, solar power, water purification, micro finance, internet.
• How about providing bicycles - manufactured in the UK, preserving jobs here, and providing much needed 'green' transport to the locals - and provide education in the  maintenance of bicycles - perhaps providing much needed jobs to local 'bicycle mechanics'.
• Food and agriculture - teach them about safe use of human waste as fertilizer.
• Wireless broadband, internet usage: buying and selling produce

By adopting such an approach UK benevolence will be an investment in the future of the recipient peoples, is less likely to be wasted or stolen, and will result in improved relations.

first published 17th June 2012

Please help the Syrian People NOW

image recycled from hhrd

We must provide the Syrian people protection from the murderous armies and 'rebel gangs' which have been indiscriminately killing them as they have been for the last 15 months. "Activists say more than 13,000 people have been killed since the crisis in Syria began in March last year." The Independent

Surely we can do more to help the Syrian people. We need to protect them from the rulers and the soldiers that continue to murder them. Rebel coalition groups are forming to fight against the armies of Bashar Assad. Assad admitted he is not in control of these 'rebel groups' who he claims are murdering men, women and children. The UN should seize this opportunity to offer him a solution, the UN will send in a peace keeping force to quell these rebel fighters, if and only if Assad orders his armies to stand down. The UN can then negotiate with the 'rebel armies' to accept a cease fire. By offering a hand to Assad, the UN can enter his country legitimately. Let China and Russia take the lead in this initiative, as clearly they want to.

first published 05 June 2012

Greece 2012: "Problem" or "Opportunity"

image reused from hansafx

The Greek financial crisis and how we approach it should be viewed from the perspective of what's in our, i.e. Britain's, best interests. Is it best for Britain if Greece remains in the Euro-zone, or exits the Euro-zone and reverts to its own currency? Is there a way for us to invest in Greece today to benefit Britain? Is there a way we can help the Greek people and benefit Britain? We could purchase more of their products in payment for purchasing more of our financial and technological expertise. Can we manufacture things for Greece, do we have solutions to some of their problems, be they financial, tax collection, pension funding, medical, business. Can we write off some of the money they owe us, the British taxpayers, and gain some advantage for ourselves?  What do you think? 

first published 18 May 2012

Prisoners leaving Prison under-prepared

image recycled from sassy wire

Prisoners are being released unprepared to resume life outside of prison. They may have nowhere to sleep, have no way to earn a wage, no one to support them on the night or during the first week of their release. They are offered help after they have left prison but often-times too late. How can this be addressed?

There is a process in place for preparing a released prisoner for resumption of normal life, I believe it just needs to start earlier, perhaps 12 months before his or her release. This gives them incentive to better prepare for their release and to look forward to it:

• Set up a bank account in a Government owned bank
• Set up benefits to start one week, or month, before release (not 1 - 3 months after release), and pay these into the new account
• Offer training courses:
  
  • An apprenticeship (compare with the prison in Norway)
  • Using a PC (email, job search, CV writing, spreadsheet for budgeting, searching for help online, for instance see here, etc)
  • Cooking and shopping for ingredients
  • Using the Library, Citizens Advice Bureau, Job Search, NHS - including registering with a GP
  • In Meditation and/or Religion (for instance)
• ensure the individual has somewhere to stay for at least 6 months on release

A better release process will lead to an individual better prepared to resume 'life outside', and this will benefit all of us.

first published 18 May 2012

Impose tax on bank transactions

I have saved a few £1000s over the (35) years I have been earning. All my earnings are deposited into my bank account. From there it finds its way into the economy - either through my transactions (spending!) or via the bank lending my money on to its borrowers.

Over the years the bank has paid me close to 0% interest, yet they earned plenty of interest by lending out my savings (8% - 20%). This is just not fair. So I'm all for charging banks a minimal amount on every transaction they make.

See the  suggestion: A tiny tax of about 0.05% on transactions like stocks, bonds, foreign currency and derivatives. Could raise £250 billion a year globally. Well-tested, cheap to implement and hard to avoid. TheRobinHoodTax

first published 21 April 2012

British Human Rights

There is a debate about whether the EU can impose human rights or laws on member countries,  even when they may contradict local laws.

I propose that we create different levels of rights, British Human Rights, some of which can be temporarily removed based on individual behaviour.

It seems to me there should be a set of Basic Human rights, international rights, given to all, no matter where in the world one chooses to live. These basic rights should be protected by the ruling Government and/or United Nations. For instance:

Freedom to live in the country of your birth or adopted nation; to peacefully speak, debate or protest; freedom to love and live with whom you choose; safety from violence; equality regardless of gender, colour or religion; right to religious belief; right to a fair trial; innocent until shown to be guilty; access to education; access to medical care; the right to work; freedom from torture; etc.

I propose, "Additional Human rights" are granted by the government of the country over its citizens; these additional rights may be removed from those who break the law of the country. These rights are for law-abiding citizens.

Additional rights might include: the right to vote; to bear arms; to own property; to stand for election to government office; etc.

I propose that prisoners lose their "Additional rights" until their punishment is complete. Hooligans who hurl abuse or threaten citizens (including police) must be tried and punished. Foreign nationals who break local laws will be returned to their country of birth.

first published 21 April 2012

The UK Coalition

I am a huge fan of Coalition Government, I love the idea of politicians working for the good of the people. Liberals and Conservatives working together, cooperating, for the sake of us all.

The goal of a coalition must be to strive for the highest common factors, rather than the lowest common denominator. Utilising the top skills and experiences of both parties, the best from each, will give us more than the individual parties could bring. David Cameron plus Nick Clegg, George Osborne plus Vince Cable, and so on - brings a wealth of experience to tackle the problems facing the UK.

My 1st experience of a Coalition Government or "Government of National Unity" was in South Africa, the ruling ANC working with the former ruling National Party - it brought great results to the country for the first few years, the country passed through the transition remarkably peacefully, unfortunately it did not last beyond a few years. I wish the UK Coalition well!

I'm pro your austerity measures, please balance the government budget!

first published 21 April 2012