The Conservatives have promised a radical reform of fuel duty that would give an immediate cut of 5 pence a litre on the price of petrol at current rates. Under plans unveiled this week duty on fuel would be lowered when oil prices are high and raised when they fall to give a fairer deal to motorists.
Stephen Metcalfe, Prospective Conservative MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock has fully backed the plans saying: “This will help families when the cost of living is rising and also reduce the inflationary impact on the economy from fluctuations in the international oil price.”
“If a Fair Fuel Stabaliser had been introduced at the 2008 Budget, fuel would now be 5 pence per litre cheaper, shaving £3.50 off a tank of fuel for a Ford Mondeo. If it had been in operation for the last year, it would have saved the average household more than £90 in fuel costs at a time when family finances have been under pressure.”
Mr Metcalfe added: “Government revenue would remain the same, as it would be financed by the higher tax take resulting from soaring oil prices currently kept by the Treasury. The Treasury would take less tax on fuel when oil prices rose, but claw back cash when prices fell.”
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Stephen Metcalfe comments on end of year report for Gordon Brown
One year on: higher taxes, services cut and communities gagged
Stephen Metcalfe, Prospective Conservative Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock delivered his verdict Gordon Brown’s first year as Prime Minister, highlighting Government policies which are adding to the rising cost of living, bringing about the closure of local services and silencing the voice of local communities.
• Soaring taxes at time of rising cost of living: Families and pensioners are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet, but Government taxes are making it even harder. Families have lost out due to the 10p income tax debacle and rising council tax bills. Higher, retrospective car taxes and new bin taxes are on the way. The housing market is slowing, tied up in the new red tape of Labour’s Home Information Packs and hit by Gordon Brown’s punitive stamp duty, compounding the effect of the credit crunch.
• Cuts to local services: In a Government programme of massive cuts, 2,500 post offices are being closed across the country. 1,000 shops which double up as post offices are expected to close if their post office business is axed. Another 3,000 post offices are under threat due to the end of the Post Office Card Account. On top of this, 1,700 family doctor surgeries could close down across England, under Labour plans for large and remote ‘polyclinics’ to replace local GPs.
• Silencing the voice of local communities: Under new planning laws being pushed through Parliament, local councils will lose any say over large, controversial planning applications. A new Labour quango – the Infrastructure Planning Commission – will take control, enforcing planning rules imposed by Ministers with no say for Parliament. The people of Britain have also been denied any say over the European Constitution (also known as the Lisbon Treaty), after Gordon Brown went back on his promise to hold a referendum.
Stephen said:“One year on from Gordon Brown becoming Prime Minister, the country is going in the wrong direction – with looming cuts to local services, a soaring cost of living fuelled by higher taxes and local people consistently ignored by Whitehall.
“Gordon Brown has no big vision for Britain and no answers to the long-term challenges we face. People in this country are desperate for change: to improve the NHS, to raise standards in schools and to fight back against crime. They need a government that is on their side and not on their backs like Gordon Brown.”
Stephen Metcalfe, Prospective Conservative Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock delivered his verdict Gordon Brown’s first year as Prime Minister, highlighting Government policies which are adding to the rising cost of living, bringing about the closure of local services and silencing the voice of local communities.
• Soaring taxes at time of rising cost of living: Families and pensioners are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet, but Government taxes are making it even harder. Families have lost out due to the 10p income tax debacle and rising council tax bills. Higher, retrospective car taxes and new bin taxes are on the way. The housing market is slowing, tied up in the new red tape of Labour’s Home Information Packs and hit by Gordon Brown’s punitive stamp duty, compounding the effect of the credit crunch.
• Cuts to local services: In a Government programme of massive cuts, 2,500 post offices are being closed across the country. 1,000 shops which double up as post offices are expected to close if their post office business is axed. Another 3,000 post offices are under threat due to the end of the Post Office Card Account. On top of this, 1,700 family doctor surgeries could close down across England, under Labour plans for large and remote ‘polyclinics’ to replace local GPs.
• Silencing the voice of local communities: Under new planning laws being pushed through Parliament, local councils will lose any say over large, controversial planning applications. A new Labour quango – the Infrastructure Planning Commission – will take control, enforcing planning rules imposed by Ministers with no say for Parliament. The people of Britain have also been denied any say over the European Constitution (also known as the Lisbon Treaty), after Gordon Brown went back on his promise to hold a referendum.
Stephen said:“One year on from Gordon Brown becoming Prime Minister, the country is going in the wrong direction – with looming cuts to local services, a soaring cost of living fuelled by higher taxes and local people consistently ignored by Whitehall.
“Gordon Brown has no big vision for Britain and no answers to the long-term challenges we face. People in this country are desperate for change: to improve the NHS, to raise standards in schools and to fight back against crime. They need a government that is on their side and not on their backs like Gordon Brown.”
Samaritans need your help!
Stephen Metcalfe, Prospective Conservative Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock met with volunteers from the Samaritains at this year’s Basfest and heard first hand about the challenges they face and their desire to attract more volunteers.
Samaritans, who provide a 24hr support service for those who feel desperate and alone, and those contemplating suicide, believe that offering people the opportunity to be listened to in confidence and accepted without judgement, can alleviate despair and suicidal feelings. In providing this service, they hope to achieve their aim of reducing suicide across the UK.
As a former volenteer himself, Stephen Metcalfe said:
“I know how valuable the work of the Samaritans is and how very rewarding it can be for those who volunteer. The listening ear the Samaritans provide can make a real diffence to those who are feeling desperate and suicidal. This vital service can often be the last hope for those who feel they have nowhere else to turn.”
The service provided on a voluntary basis depends on members of the public coming forward and offering to help them. Volunteering with the Samaritans gives people a real chance to make a difference to peoples lives and to help those experiencing emotional distress.
All sorts of people volunteer with the Samaritains from all walks of life and from all backgrounds. There are many roles within the organisation from helping with fundraising and publicity, to helping answer the phones and supporting those who need help.
Anyone intersted in volunteering should contact Basildon & Thurrock Samaritans on their volunteer hotline on 07866 725258 or visit them at 16 Little Lullaway, Basildon SS15 5JJ.
Samaritans, who provide a 24hr support service for those who feel desperate and alone, and those contemplating suicide, believe that offering people the opportunity to be listened to in confidence and accepted without judgement, can alleviate despair and suicidal feelings. In providing this service, they hope to achieve their aim of reducing suicide across the UK.
As a former volenteer himself, Stephen Metcalfe said:
“I know how valuable the work of the Samaritans is and how very rewarding it can be for those who volunteer. The listening ear the Samaritans provide can make a real diffence to those who are feeling desperate and suicidal. This vital service can often be the last hope for those who feel they have nowhere else to turn.”
The service provided on a voluntary basis depends on members of the public coming forward and offering to help them. Volunteering with the Samaritans gives people a real chance to make a difference to peoples lives and to help those experiencing emotional distress.
All sorts of people volunteer with the Samaritains from all walks of life and from all backgrounds. There are many roles within the organisation from helping with fundraising and publicity, to helping answer the phones and supporting those who need help.
Anyone intersted in volunteering should contact Basildon & Thurrock Samaritans on their volunteer hotline on 07866 725258 or visit them at 16 Little Lullaway, Basildon SS15 5JJ.
Monday, 30 June 2008
Brown must do a U-Turn on Vehicle Excise Duty, demands Stephen Metcalfe
Motorists left to pick up tab for failed Government policies
STEPHEN Metcalfe, Prospective Conservative MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock has backed Conservatives in Parliament in their attempt to force Gordon Brown into a u-turn over Government plans to backdate taxes for high-emission cars to 2001.
Conservatives have tabled an amendment for the final stage of the Finance Bill to be debated this week, that will try and force the Government to drop plans to backdate the tax to 2001.
The Government is to change the way that Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is calculated to raise an extra £2,500,000,000 for Gordon Brown’s coffers. Family cars face higher VED as well as a ‘showroom tax’ for new cars. The VED tax will be retrospective – so any car bought after 2001 will be hit by the higher tax rates. This will lead in turn to a plummeting re-sale price for second-hand cars. This will make it more difficult for people to replace their car and upgrade to a new or better one.
For example, the tax bill for a typical Ford Mondeo will rise from £210 to £310 a year, with a new £500 showroom tax on top. Yet, even the Government’s own estimates show that carbon dioxide emissions from motoring will hardly be cut at all.
Stephen Metcalfe said: “With the abolition of the 10p Tax Rate, fuel prices rocketing, energy prices rising, mortgage cost growing in the wake of the credit crunch, food prices spiraling and higher Council Tax bills - everyone is feeling the effects of the soaring cost of living.
And now the cost of driving a car will soon be even higher – the Government should scrap its plans for a big increase in road tax on family cars. This is yet another slap in the face from Labour. Along with everything else this is really hitting hard-working families across Basildon & Thurrock.”
“Conservatives have consistently opposed these measures. The Government must execute a sharp U-turn. Any change in road tax should focus only on the most polluting vehicles, and be offset by equivalent reductions in family taxes. All Gordon Brown is interested in is finding new ways to push up his notorious stealth taxes even further.”
STEPHEN Metcalfe, Prospective Conservative MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock has backed Conservatives in Parliament in their attempt to force Gordon Brown into a u-turn over Government plans to backdate taxes for high-emission cars to 2001.
Conservatives have tabled an amendment for the final stage of the Finance Bill to be debated this week, that will try and force the Government to drop plans to backdate the tax to 2001.
The Government is to change the way that Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is calculated to raise an extra £2,500,000,000 for Gordon Brown’s coffers. Family cars face higher VED as well as a ‘showroom tax’ for new cars. The VED tax will be retrospective – so any car bought after 2001 will be hit by the higher tax rates. This will lead in turn to a plummeting re-sale price for second-hand cars. This will make it more difficult for people to replace their car and upgrade to a new or better one.
For example, the tax bill for a typical Ford Mondeo will rise from £210 to £310 a year, with a new £500 showroom tax on top. Yet, even the Government’s own estimates show that carbon dioxide emissions from motoring will hardly be cut at all.
Stephen Metcalfe said: “With the abolition of the 10p Tax Rate, fuel prices rocketing, energy prices rising, mortgage cost growing in the wake of the credit crunch, food prices spiraling and higher Council Tax bills - everyone is feeling the effects of the soaring cost of living.
And now the cost of driving a car will soon be even higher – the Government should scrap its plans for a big increase in road tax on family cars. This is yet another slap in the face from Labour. Along with everything else this is really hitting hard-working families across Basildon & Thurrock.”
“Conservatives have consistently opposed these measures. The Government must execute a sharp U-turn. Any change in road tax should focus only on the most polluting vehicles, and be offset by equivalent reductions in family taxes. All Gordon Brown is interested in is finding new ways to push up his notorious stealth taxes even further.”
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Post Office Closure Programme Steams Ahead
Following yesterday’s publication by the Post Office of its plans for the future of the Post Office network across South Essex, Stephen Metcalfe, Prospective Conservative MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock, has welcomed the fact that no Post Office closures are proposed in the South Basildon & East Thurrock Constituency.
Stephen said: “Post Offices form a vital part of our local community, and I am delighted that the network in South Basildon & East Thurrock will remain in tact. However, I do feel for those communities in Thurrock, Southend and Castle Point that will be affected by these proposals. The cuts will hit the most vulnerable and the elderly the hardest. Labour Ministers need to recognise that if the local Post Office closes, often other vital services are also lost.”
He continued: “I believe the time has now come for the Government to step in and preserve what is left of the network. At present, we have the absurd spectacle of Labour Ministers and Members of Parliament campaigning up and down the country in their own constituencies to keep their local Post Offices open while voting in favour of the closures in Parliament.”
“Everyone can see through this hypocrisy; let’s have some honesty from this tired and discredited Government. If they, like me, believe Post Offices are an important part of our community then someone should tell the Prime Minister it’s time for action not more dithering and indecision. Come on Mr Brown: Save Our Post Offices!”
Stephen said: “Post Offices form a vital part of our local community, and I am delighted that the network in South Basildon & East Thurrock will remain in tact. However, I do feel for those communities in Thurrock, Southend and Castle Point that will be affected by these proposals. The cuts will hit the most vulnerable and the elderly the hardest. Labour Ministers need to recognise that if the local Post Office closes, often other vital services are also lost.”
He continued: “I believe the time has now come for the Government to step in and preserve what is left of the network. At present, we have the absurd spectacle of Labour Ministers and Members of Parliament campaigning up and down the country in their own constituencies to keep their local Post Offices open while voting in favour of the closures in Parliament.”
“Everyone can see through this hypocrisy; let’s have some honesty from this tired and discredited Government. If they, like me, believe Post Offices are an important part of our community then someone should tell the Prime Minister it’s time for action not more dithering and indecision. Come on Mr Brown: Save Our Post Offices!”
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Mental Health Unit leads the way!
Stephen Metcalfe, Prospective Conservative Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock today met with Anne Milton MP, Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, Dr Patrick Geoghegan, chief executive of the South Essex Partnership NHS Trust (Sept), and Eunan MacIntyre, Director of Inpatient & Emergency Services and Mrs Lorraine Cabel, Chairman of South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to tour the recently opened facilities at the Basildon Hospital Mental Health Unit.
Anne Milton MP, a former nurse who has a background in caring for those with mental illness was impressed by the facilities and talked at length with Dr Geoghegan and Dr MacIntyre. The changes in procedure and treatment have enabled the centre to deliver better care, more quickly while reducing the need for patients to spend extended periods with the unit.
Dr Geoghegan has stated: “Mental illness is now the number one reason that people are off work - through anxiety, stress and depression where it used to be back pain. Yet the investment is not going into helping these people and supporting them."
He believes the recently opened facilities in Basildon and Rochford, and the imaginative approach adopted by the unit has seen real improvements in the way patients are cared for and has gone someway to compensate for that lack of investment.
Stephen Metcalfe said: “I too was very impressed with what has been achieved here in Basildon, the rapid response to patient needs and the desire to help those with mental illness back in to the community as quickly as appropriate has to be welcomed. There is a stigma surrounding mental illness and anything that can be done to break down that prejudice and help them back into the wider community is excellent.”
He continued: “This is often an area of healthcare that is overlooked, but can have devastating consequences on peoples lives. The approach adopted here allows for treatment at the same time as helping patients maintain connections with the wider community, it really has paid dividends. Working with patients as opposed to just for them has help people return home more quickly and often keep them in employment which can have so many positive benefits – long may their excellent work continue.”
Anne Milton MP, a former nurse who has a background in caring for those with mental illness was impressed by the facilities and talked at length with Dr Geoghegan and Dr MacIntyre. The changes in procedure and treatment have enabled the centre to deliver better care, more quickly while reducing the need for patients to spend extended periods with the unit.
Dr Geoghegan has stated: “Mental illness is now the number one reason that people are off work - through anxiety, stress and depression where it used to be back pain. Yet the investment is not going into helping these people and supporting them."
He believes the recently opened facilities in Basildon and Rochford, and the imaginative approach adopted by the unit has seen real improvements in the way patients are cared for and has gone someway to compensate for that lack of investment.
Stephen Metcalfe said: “I too was very impressed with what has been achieved here in Basildon, the rapid response to patient needs and the desire to help those with mental illness back in to the community as quickly as appropriate has to be welcomed. There is a stigma surrounding mental illness and anything that can be done to break down that prejudice and help them back into the wider community is excellent.”
He continued: “This is often an area of healthcare that is overlooked, but can have devastating consequences on peoples lives. The approach adopted here allows for treatment at the same time as helping patients maintain connections with the wider community, it really has paid dividends. Working with patients as opposed to just for them has help people return home more quickly and often keep them in employment which can have so many positive benefits – long may their excellent work continue.”
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Stephen Metcalfe Welcomes William Hague's Support in Basildon
Stephen Metcalfe, Prospective Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock and William Hague MP, senior member of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet yesterday visited the South Anglia Housing and Essex Police Neighbourhood Office in Pitseaville Grove.
Both William and Stephen heard first hand how the partnership between the Housing Association and the Police was working and the benefits it has brought for the local community.
They toured the offices, chatted with staff about the new arrangements, met with local Police Officers and also heard about the recent successes with operation Leopard.
Operation Leopard saw Police target youths and known offenders responsible for anti-social behaviour. Those identified were warned that their actions would not be tolerated the Police then photographed them and their associates as they wandered around an estate for the next few days.
The results were spectacular! Crime across the whole area fell to almost nothing and whilst there has been a small increase since the operation finished, now that funding has been secured the operation can continue for at least another year.
William Hague was impressed with the results and said that he would certainly be talking to his shadow cabinet colleagues about the successes here in Basildon and would encourage David Davis, Shadow Home Secretary, to look closely at the Partnership, the operation and its results.
Stephen Metcalfe said: “I have been immensely impressed by the success of Operation Leopard. As is often the case, it is simplest ideas that are the best, such as the idea of coming out of the police station, targeting persistent offenders and photographing them. Their activities seem to have paid real dividends and has made a real difference to the lives of the 2,500 local residents who have been affected by the actions of a small minority.”
He continued: “I know that there are a number of other Police Forces who are looking at the results here in Basildon and want to try similar operations in their own areas. I would recommend it to them and would like to see this kind of Policing adopted not only across the whole of Basildon and Thurrock, but also seen as best practice across the whole country."
Both William and Stephen heard first hand how the partnership between the Housing Association and the Police was working and the benefits it has brought for the local community.
They toured the offices, chatted with staff about the new arrangements, met with local Police Officers and also heard about the recent successes with operation Leopard.
Operation Leopard saw Police target youths and known offenders responsible for anti-social behaviour. Those identified were warned that their actions would not be tolerated the Police then photographed them and their associates as they wandered around an estate for the next few days.
The results were spectacular! Crime across the whole area fell to almost nothing and whilst there has been a small increase since the operation finished, now that funding has been secured the operation can continue for at least another year.
William Hague was impressed with the results and said that he would certainly be talking to his shadow cabinet colleagues about the successes here in Basildon and would encourage David Davis, Shadow Home Secretary, to look closely at the Partnership, the operation and its results.
Stephen Metcalfe said: “I have been immensely impressed by the success of Operation Leopard. As is often the case, it is simplest ideas that are the best, such as the idea of coming out of the police station, targeting persistent offenders and photographing them. Their activities seem to have paid real dividends and has made a real difference to the lives of the 2,500 local residents who have been affected by the actions of a small minority.”
He continued: “I know that there are a number of other Police Forces who are looking at the results here in Basildon and want to try similar operations in their own areas. I would recommend it to them and would like to see this kind of Policing adopted not only across the whole of Basildon and Thurrock, but also seen as best practice across the whole country."
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