Labour Government threatens rural life

Every day I meet new people from across rural West Cornwall and I am finding that, from whatever walk of life, we all face similar challenges. Many of these challenges can be overcome but now, more than ever before, we need the help of a Parliament that understands rural life.

In West Cornwall regulation and red tape continually obstructs our farmers and small businesses. Our post offices, small schools and public services face ongoing threats and housing and employment opportunities are bleak for young people; you may be aware that South Kerrier has the highest level of young people out of education, employment or training in Cornwall.

The economic crisis is affecting all of us in different ways, but without the appropriate help rural Cornwall faces grave levels of isolation and unemployment. Without stronger representation the hidden poverty on the Lizard will be forgotten by those with power to affect change at Westminster.

I have decided to hold an event in each village on the Lizard; I want to hear your concerns and do what I can to help. The events will be free, there will be free tea and coffee and a stall selling cakes and pasties. So far we have the following planned and more will be coming as the year progresses:
Tuesday 24th February - Mawgan-in-Meneage Recreation Hall 6.30-8.30pm
Saturday 7th March – Manaccan Parish Hall 1 - 4pm
Monday 23rd March - St. Keverne Parish Hall 6.30-8.30pm

I recenty attended the Daffodil Festival in the Parish Church at Mawgan-in-Meneage (pictured above). It was a great example of a rural community celebrating one of the many traditions in Cornwall's history. Cornwall is a big player in the Daffoldil Market.

We need change in West Cornwall, rural communities need a government that works with them, not against them.

Farmers need less regulation and supermarkets should be forced to label British produce so we can make informed choices as consumers.

The basic state pension should be raised in line with earnings and we must provide long-term care for those who need it.

We must break down the barriers between health and social care and provide personalised services in the community as well as in the home.

Young people need meaningful apprenticeships, local jobs and homes that they can afford.

Finally, a government that borrows with no regard for the future fills me with great concern.

As a member of an incoming Conservative Government at Westminster I will be able to effectively defend the interests of this Constituency and advocate achievable solutions to our problems.

Our communities deserve more than rhetoric and empty gestures; we need constructive and deliverable solutions to local, national and global challenges.

Monthly report back

I thought I’d try to give you a monthly impression of the work I undertake as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, meeting local people and hearing about their concerns.

I was honoured to attend the local Conservat-ive Party's Annual President's Dinner at the home of Sir John and Lady Nott (above). Sir John was of course our former Member of Parliament and the Defence Secretary during the Falklands crisis in 1981. The evening was very enjoyable and lively, with up to 70 people attending and a good time was had by all.



I welcomed Jim Paice MP, Shadow Minister for
the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs hear the
concerns of local farmers and the agricultural community. Together we visited Wills’ Green Grocer in Helston (picture above) which is still family run and approaching its’ 70th year as an independent small business. We also met with farmers on the Lizard and they were very keen to raise with Jim the promise of the local badger cull in areas where TB is found in cattle. We also discussed Conservative plans to help farmers, and about the help offered to farmers regarding stabilising the cost of fuel and a programme of deregulation. Jim took all our concerns on board and promised to work hard in Westminster to provide help for farmers in West Cornwall.

Later in the month I welcomed a visitor from just over the water; the Conservative MP for South West Devon; Gary Streeter. Gary and I travelled to Helston to meet parents who have disabled children and as a direct outcome of that meeting a Parent/Carers group in Helston is being established. Afterwards, Gary was kind enough to speak at a large gathering in Marazion Community Centre on the subject of faith and politics, which was a very interesting discussion.

On Saturday 1st November my family and I met farmers at the annual ploughing match at Rosevidney, St Erth, and in the evening we attended the Annual Dinner of the Western Agricultural Association at the Queens Hotel, Penzance.

I was delighted to attend the St Just Feast Civic Parade and Church Service with Cllr Bill East on Sunday 2nd November. On Monday 3rd my family and I returned to St Just for the meet of the Western Hunt and the St Just Feast Celebrations.

On Remembrance Sunday I was honoured to attend the Remembrance Day Parade in Penzance and Church Service at Chapel Street. This is always a busy and emotionally powerful occasion as we join tigether to remember those brave servicemen and women who gave their lives for the sake of the United Kingdom. I laid a wreath on behalf of the St. Ives Constituency Conservative Association.

On Monday 10th November the Lizard Conservatives invited me to a reception with pasties and wine at the Wheel Inn in Cury Cross Lanes, where I was asked to speak about rural issues with local members. The event was very well attended and I know that this is only the first of many activities planned for people living on the Lizard.

On November 13th Mark Prisk MP, the Shadow Minister for Cornwall, came to West Cornwall. I arranged a visit to Helston Medical Centre and St. Keverne and Marazion Surgeries. This fact-finding tour demonstrated the commitment of the Conservative Party to surgeries to retain their right to dispense prescriptions, and again highlighted the sustained attack on rural life by the Labour Government. Mark pledged to make representations in the House of Commons on behalf of West Cornwall.

We also visited fishermen in Newlyn to discuss the problems faced by shipping and fishermen over the proposed location of a wave hub off the north coast of Cornwall. Mark concluded his visit by attending a reception for West Penwith farmers at our home.

On Friday 14th November I attended a meeting of the West Cornwall Healthwatch, of which I am a member, and on Saturday 15th I went to Helston for the opening of a Fair-trade Christmas gift shop and then onto Leedstown for the 50th Anniversary of the village hall. I lived in Leedstown for a short time when I was a teenager.

Those of us in West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have a great many needs which are simply not addressed by our current MP and Lib Dem run County Council. I’ve been very busy in the last few months to do what I can to help, but there is still so much to do and this is a challenge I relish!

Being the Conservative candidate is busy and exhilarating, and you can be sure that I will continue to work to raise concerns on behalf of those who have been forgotten by the powerful at County Hall and at Westminster!

Beyond my political duties I’ve had the great privilege of being the guest speaker at the Darby & Joan Club in Helston and the Evergreen Club in Mullion. I’ve been interviewed at an evening service at Helston Baptist Church, and I’ve led school assemblies twice at Bolitho School in Penzance.

Pledge to oppose surgery cuts

Today Mark Prisk MP, the Shadow Minister for Cornwall and I pledged to give our full support to save dispensaries in GP’s surgeries throughout West Cornwall.

Mark and I visited three dispensing surgeries today and we both pledged to fight Government proposals to cut local dispensing surgeries. A proposal in the "Pharmacy in England; Building on Strengths—Delivering the Future" White Paper issued by the Department for Health, could result in many rural practices having to stop dispensing medicines to their patients.

We were both fortunate to hear the concerns of local patients and practitioners at St. Keverne Surgery, Helston Medical Centre and Marazion Surgery (photo above with Practice Manager Jackie Brown and Dr. Walden). We witnessed the depth of local feeling throughout West Cornwall and pledged to campaign to save the dispensaries with local patients. The campaign has so far led to hundreds of local residents writing letters of objection to the Government regarding the possible loss of rural dispensing surgeries.

Mark said that the Conservatives favour keeping the current arrangements within surgeries: “I cannot stress enough the importance of services such as dispensing surgeries and post offices in small rural communities. The Conservatives oppose any change in the provision of dispensaries in local GP’s surgeries.”

We were both appalled that under Government proposals, up to 80,000 of the 140,500 patients in Cornwall who have their medicines directly dispensed by their GP’s surgery could lose this choice. Surgeries would also lose the valuable source of revenue provided by their dispensing capability, which could adversely contribute to the future viability of the surgery.

Mark and I were not able to visit all of the dispensing surgeries that could be affected by the Government’s proposals. However, these surgeries alone dispense to almost 9,000 patients; to lose their dispensing service is unacceptable and unnecessary, particularly when you consider that many of these patients are older of vulnerable people. I invited Mark today to witness our concerns first hand and to make our views clear back at Westminster. The Government White Paper provides limited options, including the status quo. This is the only option that would protect rural dispensing surgeries and ensure patients retain choice when collecting their prescription.

Mark assured me that he will return to Westminster to make representations to the Government on behalf of all of us in West Cornwall.