Labour really can run a minority Government.

So the question being “Can Labour really run a minority Government?”

Yes, is the short answer, even though the Conservative party have many more seats.

Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell are quite right to raise the prospect of a minority Government as they have one thing that Theresa May does not have – a fully costed and detailed manifesto.

Now that might seem a little underwhelming, but in politics the manifesto is the most important set piece. Everyone who voted Labour, undoubtedly connected with something contained within the manifesto.

 

As I have mentioned previously, I made a point of watching Theresa May launch her manifesto while I ironed my shirts. Paper and pen at the ready but as quickly became apparent quite unnecessary, for Theresa talked only about a vote for me is a vote for a better Britain.

She babbled on about being strong and stable and every vote for her would make her stronger. A stronger negotiating arm for Brexit, blah Theresa, blah me, blah my team, more stable Theresa.

 

The entire Conservative manifesto is summed in one short paragraph.

 

Sure there were “items” contained throughout – but they were ALL wishy washy wishlists that begged for us, the electorate, to blindly support in principle. No figures, no costed items, no numbers of people to be impacted by cuts or for the expectant tax hikes, no clarity for who the winners and losers would be.

 

This is all in sharp contrast to the Labour manifesto, which clearly sets out those who will benefit, how much it will cost and how it will be paid for. Two major parties that represent the interests of an entire nation were poles apart when it came to treating the electorate with due respect. 

Theresa May’s coalition of chaos with Arlene Foster, Leader of the DUP brings Northern Ireland’s right wing main party manifesto into the spotlight and rightly so.

For it is the merging of Theresa’s blank cheque manifesto written on the back of a fag packet that has to be merged with the DUP manifesto.

The supply and confidence deal –MayDUP

The pictured addendum, whilst light on figures (it is written for Northern Ireland, not Great Britain) it does nonetheless set out a number of standards the Tories will either have to agree on, or fall out over. Such as raising earnings, keeping the triple lock, soft Brexit.

To be blunt the Tories will want to avoid another General Election for fear of losing even more seats and Labour MPs will be chomping at the bit to have another go. Just as the 8^th June General Election was for Theresa May to throw away, it is now for the Conservative MPs to hold it together with the DUP.

I don’t see how they will as they are so divided within the party over Brexit that I cannot see them lasting very long. However I do take one point on board – I never believed the ConDem coalition would last 5 years – and it did. However the DUP who have just had their best ever result, will not want to be left scarred in the way that the LibDems are.

So when Jeremy and John talk of running a minority Government, it’s not just about numbers, for the opposition parties, it might just be a temporary lifeline during which they will hope to be able to regroup, stronger and more stable!

 

 

Thank you and get ready for round 3

Supporters and members at last Saturday’s street stall.

 

Having stood in 2015 for Salisbury and South Wiltshire, a place that I really do love and care about, it was a straightforward decision that I took, to stand again on 8th June. Having come second last time I was keen to defend my second place and also try to narrow the gap to John Glen. I am proud to be able to say that I did it, or rather WE did it!

It is really hard to put into words just how humbling being a Parliamentary Candidate can be, people will tell you things that they are most passionate about, more often than not heartfelt stories that often leave you feeling drained and angry, but these insights and life experiences also strengthen ones resolve to fight on and do the best you can. It becomes part of the adrenaline that helps fuel a General Election campaign.

Sometimes other things rock you and two weeks ago it was a 96 year old Gentleman who approached me in town to say ” I will be voting for you and Thank you.”  For all the thank you’s and support I have received, this was the most unexpected.

Special thanks to Paul Clegg, my Agent and Steve Fear for managing a huge amount of office work for both the Council elections and the General election. Special thanks also must go to my wife, Caroline and also my newlywed stepdaughter and son-in-law, Vicky and Chris, who all made big sacrifices to allow me to campaign as much as possible.

All that was done, was done by volunteers alone, a lot people do not realise that. As this was a snap election, the greatly reduced time available to build up a profile meant I had to change campaign style, so less door knocking, but plenty of leafleting and meeting and greeting. So, to all the Labour party members and supporters who helped do this, thank you, you delivered around 24,000 leaflets, mainly this one….

For those of you who did not receive anything from me, I am sorry. We had organised and paid for an unaddressed A5 folded leaflet that should have been delivered by the Royal Mail to every household, just before or around the time that the Postal votes were delivered. The failure to get my election address delivered is an absolute insult to all those who made personal donations to my campaign.

Do not blame your Postie, it’s not their fault, the blame lies at Royal Mail’s failure to ensure the post was distributed in good time. The history for this goes back to when the LibDem Tory Coalition watered down the standards that the Royal Mail had to achieve in its deliveries as part of the lead in to the subsequent privatisation of the industry.

As a Councillor and trade union representative, I have received numerous First class correspondence over a week after it was put in the post box, meaning important and time sensitive post is not arriving in a timely fashion. The blame lies at the door of Royal Mail management’s failure to ensure that sufficient resource is placed into getting post delivered.

Please let me know if you are sure you have not received the A5 election address, titled “For the many not the few” by email tom.corbin18@gmail.com so I can build up a bigger understanding of the areas that were missed out and also inform the Royal Mail complaints.

Some missing thanks and commiserations. Theresa May called a General Election on herself, lost seats and then failed to even acknowledge these loses. The future of moderate conservatism is questionable with Theresa May linking up with the DUP and I am sure many Conservative voters will not support the DUP’s hard line attitudes. Therefore, I am eager and willing to take on the political battle forward again in the near future, should the Country be asked to make its choice.

Finally congratulations to Jeremy Corbyn, for his part he led a strong, positive campaign that engaged people from all backgrounds. Jeremy weathered the sustained attacks against him well. His strength of resolve seemed undiminishable. The Tory hate campaign apparently spent £1.2m on social media alone.

Most importantly of all, Jeremy did something which other party Leaders have failed to do – he engaged with the younger voters, who have played a massive role in changing the political direction of the Country. No party can afford to ever take younger voters for granted in the future.

Whenever the next election takes place, a party that fails to give hope for the future will pay the political cost. I am absolutely certain that Labour will lead the way once again with a positive, progressive manifesto that gives hope for a better future for all and I will be there to help lead that charge supported by the many….

Education, Education, Education, Salisbury Journal (part 4)

Why vote Labour? My response.

Over the last few weeks the Salisbury Journal has allowed the Candidates to respond to questions.

Part 4, the second of two questions posed by the Editor, Joe Riddle and my answer limited, again to just 250 words!

 

What are your priorities for the education system? Are tuition fees fair? What is your stance on grammar schools?

 

For those attending Primary school, Theresa May will take your lunch away. Labour will invest more in schooling, bridging the Tory funding gap that will see 585 Teachers jobs lost in Wiltshire.

By losing our highest achieving pupils to Grammar schools, the other schools suffer lower overall pass rate results, which reflects unfairly on the hard work they do.

Where Grammar schools exist, this issue is accepted. However the divisive nature of introducing more Grammar schools is not welcomed in areas that are currently unaffected.

By removing university tuition fees and restoring maintenance grants, Labour is investing in our long term future and removing the boundaries that prevent many young people from reaching their full potential.

1^st June issue of the Salisbury Journal

Managing our Security, Salisbury Journal (part 4)

Why vote Labour? My response.

Over the last few weeks the Salisbury Journal has allowed the Candidates to respond to questions.

Part 4, the first of two questions posed by the Editor, Joe Riddle and my answer limited, again to just 250 words!

 

How do we ensure the security of our citizens in the wake on the Manchester terror attack?

 

The callous and cowardly act, inflicted principally against women and children in Manchester is sadly not something for which you can totally rule against.

There are however proactive steps that can and should be taken to help reduce the future likelihood of such attacks in the longer term.

Prevent, is a constantly evolving Government strategy to combat extremism. Given what we know so far there is a clear need to revisit how we make sure that Prevent is effective. Labour wants to work with community groups, faith leaders, and internet companies to directly challenge extremist ideology and lies being spread through social media.

Currently Police Officers have to decide which calls to respond to. Labour will increase policing, with 10,000 more Officers on the street there will be more resource to deal with crime.

1^st June issue of the Salisbury Journal

Armed Forces of the future, Salisbury Journal (part 3)

Why vote Labour? My response.

Over the last few weeks the Salisbury Journal has allowed the Candidates to respond to questions. 

Part 3, the second of two questions posed by the Editor, Joe Riddle and my answer limited to just 250 words this time!

2. Is the UK military properly equipped to defend the nation’s interests in the modern world?

          And what should be our approach to defence?

          Does Britain need nuclear weapons?

 

Whilst I welcome the news of Boeing coming to QuinetiQ Boscombe Down, there are still major issues for our armed forces. Tory knee-jerk decisions, like scrapping Nimrod, HMS Ark Royal and the Harrier jump jets, have weakened our defences and cost British taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds. Under the Tories, the British Army has now shrunk to below 80,000.

Labour will conduct a proper review of our assets to ensure our Armed Forces remain versatile and adaptive with updated equipment to meet the challenges of the future. Labour remains committed to the NATO target of 2% GDP on defence. Renewing the Trident nuclear deterrent and working hard to drive forward global multilateral disarmament efforts.

 

25^th May issue of the Salisbury Journal

Our future with the EU, Salisbury Journal (part 3)

Why vote Labour? My response.

Over the last few weeks the Salisbury Journal has allowed the Candidates to respond to questions. 

Part 3, the first of two questions posed by the Editor, Joe Riddle and my answer limited to just 250 words this time!

1. What should be the main focus for the UK in the Brexit negotiations?

          Should there be a second EU referendum?

          Is no deal better than a bad deal?

 

Labour will focus on building a new relationship with the EU, where jobs, the economy and retaining the benefits of the Single Market and the Customs Union are our priority. Where workplace rights and the environment are protected. Where EU nationals living here, can live in certainty that Brexit will not affect them.

There cannot be a “no deal” option, there is far too much at stake if we want to protect jobs, the economy and maintain close cooperation with our European allies over security and foreign policy.

The majority of people who voted remain accept the vote to leave, therefore there is no point in having a second referendum.

Labour’s approach will be based on transparency and accountability, including a meaningful vote in the House of Commons on the final Brexit deal.

 

25^th May issue of the Salisbury Journal

Solving the NHS crisis, Salisbury Journal (Part 2)

Why vote Labour? My response.

Over the last few weeks the Salisbury Journal has allowed the Candidates to respond to questions.

Part 2 the second of two questions posed by the Editor, Joe Riddle and my answer limited to just 300 words.

 

2. How would you solve the problems facing the NHS?

 

 

Just two years ago the Tories promised us service as normal with continued investment. SDH is shelving improvements as staff manage a massive financial crisis, waiting times are up, the Tory sticking plaster approach has failed. Social Care provision is stretched to the point that companies who’ve bid for contracts are handing them back to local authorities.

Labour will end privatisation and transform social care and the NHS by creating a joined up service.

Labour will invest an additional £37bn over the next Parliament by increasing the rate of tax on the top 5% of earners, those earning above £80,000. Moves that are supported by public opinion.

I’ve always tried to lead on mental health issues and I will do all I can to reduce the stigma that exists around mental health. I am proud that a Labour government will give mental health parity with that of physical health.

 

18^th May issue of the Salisbury Journal