City AM’s Editor, Allister Heath, leads today with the headline ‘Never Trust UK economic statistics.’ In his article, he laments the lack of reliable data with which to gauge whether - and how fast - the economy is recovering. But, he has also touched on a wider political challenge. Despite the arrival of ‘Red Ed’, […]
Read MoreAfter the excitements of the Lib Dem and Labour Party conferences, next week is the turn of the Conservative Party! For anyone who is attending, I am speaking at the following fringe events. For those who won’t be there, feel free to let me know your views on the debates listed below! Sunday 3 October1745 […]
Read MoreStudents, parents and teachers in Elmbridge and across Surrey have been celebrating a strong year for GCSE and A-Level results. On Friday, I was invited to attend the annual prize-giving at Notre Dame school in Cobham (below) - and enjoyed being part of their celebrations, after an impressive year of academic, sporting, artistic and musical […]
Read MoreAs the forecasters duly proclaimed the end of the lingering summer weather, today saw downpours across Surrey. I was up before 6 a.m. to catch a ride with local paramedics (Aran Blunden and Katie Crabb, see below), and get a glimpse first-hand of the challenges they face on an ordinary shift. They responded to two […]
Read MorePlanning is a red hot local issue in Elmbridge, a borough which is 57% greenbelt. I have regularly posted comment on the need to protect the greenbelt, but also address the lack of affordable housing locally. The South East plan imposed top-down targets of nearly 6,000 new housing units in Elmbridge. The newly elected government […]
Read MoreSweden is one of those countries it pays to keep an eye on. Run (until relatively recently) by social democrats, with high levels of taxation, a competitive economy and high social mobility, it appeared to defy gravity - and the debate between economic liberals (like myself) and socialists or social democrats. In short, it was […]
Read MoreLast week, the BBC published a report based on research by Experian (a credit checking business) which stated that Elmbridge (and Surrey) are amongst the areas of Britain most ‘resilient’ to economic shocks. Good news, and little surprise at one level. We live in an affluent area with thriving local business and relatively low unemployment. […]
Read MoreEvery now and then the media pick up on the gruesome modern equivalent of the slave trade in Britain - Chinese cockle pickers drowning in Morecambe Bay, or squalid urban brothels enslaving young girls. The UK Human Trafficking Center (in Sheffield) report the referral of over 500 victims trafficked into Britain for forced labour or […]
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