Human Embryology and Fertilisation Bill

I've spent a fair amount of today popping in and out of BBC Parliament showing the second reading of the HEFB. I was lifted by the quality of some of the debates, on both sides, it's an extremely important piece of legislation and I personally hope it gets through unscathed. Aside from the unusual spectacle of our elected members behaving well I grow increasingly dismayed by the power of religious pressure groups, and individuals, over our legislative process. This fear of science which is still prevalent even after centuries of scientific advancement improving our lives, economies, and quality of life is abhorrent. Most notably the allowed absence of Ruth Kelly from the vote, how do the people of Bolton West feel about this abandonment by their voice in parliament? I don't accept that as a minister she would have to vote with the Government, these are ethical issues and whilst I may strongly disagree with her views she should have the courage of her convictions (assuming she has some) to vote one way or the other and not to cowardly hide away until it's all over.

If I may return to my main point though. This debate could be mired down in apocryphal religious tales of woe, shouting from the rafters that the end is nigh and it'll only be a matter of time before we are breeding machines to fight or do our laundry. Or people could use it to say these are possible solutions to huge problems, treatments for Cancers, Alzhiemers, Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis the list goes one, could be available within a generation. That is a true and noble aim. Not only that but the UK could become a world centre for biological science, creating jobs, funding universities.

One of the Issues discussed today was about the creation of a Bio-Ethics Committee, an excellent plan however further from that the creation of a scientific "court" a place for scientists to put forth their ideas in true debate on contentious issues, arguing the rights and wrongs of their processes. A place not for religious dogmatism and ignorance but somewhere scientific theory can be argued in a reasoned way.

 

Off to Crewe and Nantwich on Sunday, come along!

Pre Election Round-up

Well you may notice that there is a leaflet out and about ready for you to read. I've focused on some important issues, mainly Tram safety. Soon there will be no police presence on the metrolink, I think this is an appaling situation which needs to be rectified immediately. Our tram stations are dank and forbidding, I've heard reports of multiple muggings at Besses station, and can only imagine this is repeated at many others. Also I will be reporting on some major issues involving Kirkhams shortly. Remember to vote on May 1^st, it's a hard fought for right so don't waste it, even if you only write none of the above, although naturally I'd prefer it if you voted for me!

 

 

Wildlife Reserve in Scotland

Ok I'll admit this is an unusual subject for a blog based in the North West however hear me out. I half watched a program earlier today about a man trying to bring back indigenous wildlife to Scotland. He wanted to restore his own land back to forest, with Wolves, Bears, Moose (Meese?) and Boars. This program showed just how inflexible our big government has become, because he wanted to fence it off it could not be classified as a nature reserve, and so it would be a Zoo. If it's a Zoo then animals are not allowed to predate on each other so it would have completely missed the point of reverting it back to its natural form. He had to fence it off because understandably his neighbours were somewhat worried about wild wolves and bears. He had trouble with Ramblers because they claim a right to roam over his land so didn't like the fence. It obviously doesn't matter than it's his land!

Here we have a story of a man of means trying to give something back to make something beautiful out of his wealth, and all he faced was frustration from the authorities, and hassle from busy bodies!

 

So I get to my point, Government should be localised and flexible, there are no one size fits all solutions in politics. Give people the freedom to bend the rules when it benefits others, this is a place where we can educate our children. Revitalise ourselves from the hectic struggle of modern day life. Bring back wildlife that hasn't been seen in this country for hundreds of years.

Lets create something beautiful for generations to follow.

Bury Budget

Last night was the council meeting to decide Bury's budget for the forthcoming year, and what a night it turned out to be. Cllr Peter Redstone told the council that, inline with Conservative promises at last years local elections, council tax would be less that inflation. A rise of 3.4% was announced, compare that with the previous three years of Labour Budgets and rises of 4.7, 4.8 and 4.9 percent respectively. Even with this rise unfortunately some services have had to be changed, however many of the savings are due to increased efficiencies and even a windfall from the sale of land in Radcliffe. Not only will tax rises be 3.4%, for pensioners who are not on benefits there will be no increase!

Naturally Labour had to despoil the evening by proposing an unsound and in some cases downright dangerous alternative. Cutting child care services and raiding Bury's reserves to offer a 0% increase, such an obvious headline grabbing political move for these power hungry maniacs! How anyone could trust them with a local council is beyond me, especially when they cannot keep Britains finances in check, why should we trust them lower down the greasy pole?

There was also a Lib Dem amendment to the Budget however again they show us they lack the courage of their own convictions and couldn't support it with their amendment!

More on Congestion Charging!

Well as many of you may have read in the papers Bury Council has voted against the Congestion Charge. At an extremely vocal full council it was decided that if the government returns with a proposal for the £3bn investment in public transport including the Congestion Charge we will have nothing to do with it. I was interested to note that the Labour Group Abstained, but it is unsurprising considering their government taskmasters are trying to force this through, no doubt they are being pushed into this. Only with a Conservative controlled council could this have been thrown out and only with more Conservative Councillors can threats like this be averted in the future.

A Little CF stuff now, elections have been called for the Conservative Future NME elections. And already things are getting steamy and sultry (alright not strictly true but it makes it sound so much more exciting!). One Figure that did impress me though, Conservative Future has over 80 000 members, the Liberal Democrats could only muster 40 000 to select their new leader.

 

Anyway have a very merry Christmas and a Extremely Prosperous New Year (that is of course unless Mr Darling stuffs it up even more!)

Congratulations

Just a quick post to Congratulate our very own Stuart Penketh on his selection to stand in the constituency of Ellesmere Port and Neston as a PPC, a fantastic local councillor as many will testify and an excellent choice for this vital seat!

Congestion Charging

Well I promised I would speak about this in my first post, and so I shall! First I would like to say that I am completely opposed to the concept of Congestion Charging especially in the format being proposed at the moment. I can safely say that if I believed that Bury Conservatives were in favour of the charge then I would have had serious doubts about standing as a candidate.

Now I'd like to explain as well as I can the situation at the moment. At the moment there is a lot of misinformation being bandied around that the consultation regarding funding is a way of getting congestion charging in by the back door, this is not true. The council has put forward a plan to find out how much money will be available to improve public transport within the borough, and if the funding is available without having to implement the congestion charge. That is the crux of the matter. Bury (and Manchester) would benefit greatly from a injection of money to create new services, in particular improved services in the north of Bury. Without these services in place it is futile to penalise people who are not provided enough services to travel around.

This subject I know is very important to people in Prestwich, being on the border of the proposed first boundary of the charge anyone wishing to visit family just over the M60 would be charged, parents taking their children to school would be charged, even going to the new Morrisons being opened would cost you!

I note with Interest that Liberal Democrat national policy is in favour of Congestion Charging, however your local councillors say they disagree with their party! Pandering to public opinion demeans the public they are attempting to serve! The Conservative Party, both nationally and locally, has always opposed congestion charging and there is no difference in Bury! Only a majority Conservative administration can stop Congestion Charging in Bury.