Archive for March 25th, 2010
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
After Alistair Darling finished his speech on Tuesday I spent some of the afternoon looking in detail at what he had said – and not said. The key thing I found was that this was a Budget empty of real ideas and full of political positioning. The Chancellor ducked dealing with the debt. He offered no serious plan to boost growth. He put off spending decisions until after the election, and concealed all his big tax rises in the small print. The government is not being straight with people. We need a fresh team with energy and determination to tackle the problems we face and be honest with voters. In about 40 days or so, we will all have a chance to choose that new team.
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
I would like to inform Mercury readers in Hints, Swinfen, Weeford and Canwell that I support Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant’s principled opposition to the present government’s proposed high speed rail route, revealed in last week’s paper. Their plan will drive straight through important local green spaces and cause major disruption to the lives of local residents. It is environmentally and socially unacceptable. And given that the high speed trains will not stop at Lichfield, there seems little economic benefit either to our local community. Indeed the plan may blight the value of many homes.
I am sure that a high speed link will be good for the country but this route is not good for our local community and along with Michael Fabricant I will not support it. We must lobby the Department for Transport for alternative routes and organise our opposition at the Planning Inquiry whenever it is convened.
Christopher Pincher
Parliamentary Spokesman, Hints, Swinfen & Tamworth
