Weekly round up

A late posting as for some reason had no internet on Sunday 

So last weekend saw the national Labour policy forum meet to decide on our policy and pledges in the run up to the General Election Next year 

Over the coming months we will see the results of this announced.

I submitted two ideas to the forum, and wanted to briefly detail them here.   

The first was a proposal that all energy companies be forced to offer there lowest rate to prepay meter users. Many people who are on low incomes, or whose landlords insist, have no option but to use these meters, paying a higher price for their energy. This should be stoped and my proposal call for this.

The second was a bit more complicated. Recently there have been many calls for the railways to be renationalised, the Tories have mucked up the franchising process, and Directly Operated Railways (a government entity) have been running the east cost railway  very successfully making a profit, following the decision by national express to walk away as it was not making enough money from the franchise.

My proposal took this one step further. I proposed that the railways become mutual (similar to a building society, or a member owned cooperative) that way both the people running the railways, and the passengers would have a greater say in the operation of the network. Any profits could be reinvested, and users of socially important ( but loss making) services would have a greater voice. Price rises would be kept to a minimum as there would be no profit hungry share holders demanding ever increasing dividends.  

We have alreadey seen that this idea might have some traction. So watch this space.

Just before the national policy forum I attended the Unison ( my trade union ) labour link national forum, where I addressed the delegated on public transport in mixed rural and a

Urban areas, and how the slashing of services at weekends and night time, has let to people bein unable to find work, and an increase in rural isolation.

This week I will be looking at countryside issues, and visiting parts of the Blackdown anob to see how older people in this area cope with social isolation in rural areas.

That all for now

Martin

Weekly update.

Hello

So a busy week for Labour in Yeovil, with several thousand leaflets being delivered for the by election in the Town Council West ward. I spent much of the previous week over a hot printer preparing leaflets for Murray Shepstone our superb candidate.  The team have been out delivering, and with over 4000 voters in the ward it's a lot of miles of shoe leather. So a big thanks to everyone who has been supporting The big push. As I write this the result is still to be published, so good luck Murray

At the start of the week I was contacted by someone who has been affected by the bedroom tax. I was able to guide this person to the correct source of support, as they are now behind with rent payments, and have been tempted to resort to payday lenders to cover the shortfall.  Labour has already pledged to axe this unfair Tory lib dem idea. But people are still struggling, and will do until we elect a Labour govt in May next year.

This week was also the week of our monthly constituency meeting, and was the first one I have been unable to get to since I was chosen as Ppc. I was sorry to miss it as we are planning our summer activities . One thing to look out for is our new NHS campaign. A labour innovation, and being damaged by the Tories every day.

This weekend I will be meeting members in Yeovil, and on Saturday night I have been invited (in a personal capacity) by Taunton Thespians to do the audience warm up (and draw the raffle!) when they visit South Somerset with their open air production of 'Taming of the Shrew'  they will be at Muchelney Abbey, with the show going up at 7.30.  Tickets are going fast, but still available from www.tauntonthespians.org.uk. 

That's it for now. 

Martin

#martin4labour

 

Weekly roundup

Hello all.

As part of my Prospective parliamentary duties,  from the end of July I'll be doing a weekly roundup of what I'm doing.  It will have information about our campaigns in Yeovil and South Somerset, people who I've met, and opportunities for everyone to get involved.

Before I start the weekly round up I did want to highlight two events that I have attended in the last 8 weeks or so.  The first was an evening of political cabaret from Banner Theatre. Presented by Yeovil Trades Council. http://www.yeoviltuc.org.uk/?may-day-event-2014-banner-theatre.,54  it was a cracking night and was presented to mark May Day Why - International Workers’ Day.


The second, also organised by the Yeovil Trades Council, along with the unite union yeovil and west Dorset community group, was the 'Dealing with Austerity in Yeovil' public forum.  We had many presentations from a diverse range of organisations including the Citizens' Advice Bureau, the Lord's Larder (food bank), Midwest European Communities Association (MECA), Morton Eaves Ltd, and the Unite and Unison trade unions. There was also be speakers on student issues, cuts to local bus services, and an amazing personal account of how the Work Capability Assessments are affecting people.

So. Weekly round ups to follow

Martin