Friday, April 17th, 2015
Daniel Dalton MEP
Daniel Dalton MEP has been named Conservative in the European Parliament.
The West Midlands MEP will lead for the Party on issues such as trading standards, product safety, fake goods and fair business practice.
Mr Dalton said, “I am proud to be handed this important portfolio, an area which affects people’s lives directly at home in the West Midlands and right across Europe. My priority will be to make sure consumers and traders get a fair deal, wherever they are and whether they do business face to face or online.
“I also want this approach to be balanced with common sense in the EU. Over-zealous regulation only ends up punishing the consumers it is supposed to protect, either by skewing competition or restricting choice. The healthiest approach to consumer protection is to make sure shoppers get all the information they need to make an informed choice – then let them decide how they spend their money.
“However, where products are downright dangerous we must act to take them out of circulation. In fact Conservative MEPs have already achieved notable successes by banning harmful toys and changing design regulations to prevent some household fittings such as window blinds becoming death-traps for infants.
“I want to build on those achievements, because consumer confidence is not only good for the public but also essential to a prospering economy. Unless people feel safe from sharks and rip-off merchants, they will not have the confidence to part with their hard earned cash.”
Monday, April 6th, 2015
Today is the start of the new 2015/16 tax year in the UK and all tax-free personal allowances are increasing thanks to the Conservative led Government.
The tax-free personal allowances are increasing from £10,000 to £10,600. This will also be the first year people born between 6th April 1938 and 5th April 1948 will have the same allowance as working age people, as their allowance has only risen by £100.
The higher rate (40%) tax threshold is increasing to £42,385 and the starting rate of income tax on savings will be cut from 10% to 0% on savings income of up to £5,000.
The new couple’s allowance means people who are married or in a civil partnership can transfer up to £1,060 of their tax-free allowance to their partner, but only if both partners don’t pay more than the basic rate of income tax.
Also, the married couple’s allowance, which is only available if one partner was born before 6th April 1935, is increased to a maximum of £8,355 and a minimum of £3,220.
Sunday, April 5th, 2015
Major changes to UK pension rules come into force at midnight, in what Chancellor George Osborne has called “a revolution”.
He said the moves were the “biggest changes to pensions in 100 years”.
People aged 55 and over will be given new powers to decide what to do with their retirement savings. From Easter Monday, they can cash in Defined Contribution (DC) pension savings. But there have been warnings about potentially big tax bills.
Mr Osborne told Sky’s Murnaghan programme, “What it means is that people who have worked hard and saved hard can have access to their pensions savings.”
He also urged people to make use of the government’s guidance scheme. The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) will run the Pension Wise guidance service for those approaching retirement.
Pension savers will no longer be required to use their pension pot to buy an annuity when they approach retirement. Some 540,000 people will be able to take control of their savings from 6 April, according to the government.
Pension changes 2015
- People aged 55 and over can withdraw any amount from a Defined Contribution (DC) scheme, subject to income tax
- Tax changes make it easier to pass pension savings on to descendants
- Many people with Defined Benefits (DB) schemes will be allowed to transfer to DC plans
- All retirees will have access to free guidance from the government’s Pension Wise service
- Existing annuity holders are unaffected for the time being, but there are plans for them to be able to sell their annuity
Friday, April 3rd, 2015
Last night’s TV debate confirmed what we already knew: the choice at this election is between the competence of a Conservative government or the chaos of Ed Miliband propped up by the SNP.
Time and time again, Nicola Sturgeon showed how the SNP would dominate a weak Labour leader – at one stage, she even promised to keep Ed Miliband ‘honest’.
By contrast, we saw competence and strong leadership from David Cameron, the only leader with a clear plan to secure a better future for Britain.
And that plan is working – we’ve seen 1,000 new jobs every single day this Government has been in office; we’ve cut income tax for over 26 million people, helping them keep more of the money they earn; we’ve cut the deficit by half as a share of our economy and will get back in the black in the next Parliament so Britain can once again live within its means.
We are building a strong economy so we can secure the future of everyone in our country – whether that’s by investing in our NHS, giving our children a good education or looking after the elderly in our society.
Tonight made it clearer than ever: that we have to keep on working through the plan and not go back to more debt, more taxes and more waste – all the things that got us into a mess to start with.
Thursday, April 2nd, 2015
Cllr Alan ‘Chippy’ Lees BEM
Family, friends and residents of Tamworth filled St Editha’s Church yesterday to say farewell to Alan “Chippy” Lees BEM.
At the start of the service, current and former politicians from across Tamworth’s political divide formed a guard of honour for former Castle ward Cllr “Chippy” Lees who passed away on Monday 23rd February.
St Editha’s Church was filled with both tears and laughter as the tributes to Chippy flowed. Revd Ray Khan told the packed congregation how Chippy used to sit at the back of the church and say keep the sermons and hymns short, he also Chippy was in the same in council meetings.
Revd Khan said Chippy told him, “If you have nothing to say, don’t say anything.” He also said Chippy was once sat in a council meeting that was going on and on and he stood up and said, “Mr Mayor, can you please hurry up and end this meeting or I will leave, because my dinner will be cold.”
Revd Khan talked about Chippy’s love for judo and how on one occasion in Tamworth’s Castle grounds, some young people had music blasting away. Chippy asked them to turn the music down and was greeted with abuse and one young man stood up and said, “What are you going to do about it?” Chippy then used his 4th dan black belt in judo and both the young man and the ghetto blaster ended up in the River Anker.
Revd Khan then said to the congregation, “If Chippy was your sensei, stand up now” and the church was filled with people standing in tribute.
Following the church service, Chippy was laid to rest in Wigginton Road cemetery at a private family service.
Chippy Lees was a true gentleman who was proud to live in Tamworth and represent his neighbours and friends on Tamworth Borough Council and he will be sorely missed.
Monday, March 30th, 2015
Five years ago, millions of people were unemployed, there was no economic security for our families and there were worries about whether our country could pay its debt.
Britain was on the brink.
Five years later, because of our long-term economic plan and the difficult decisions we have taken, we have more people in work than at any time in our history, living standards are on the rise and we are more economically secure.
Of course we haven’t fixed everything, but Britain is back on its feet again.
1000 jobs are being created every single day. 760,000 more businesses have started up.
Last year our economy grew faster than any other major advanced economy in the world – meaning more people getting that job offer and more families hopeful of a better future.
This election also takes place at a time when the world is dangerous and uncertain.
So we need strong leadership to safeguard our national security as well as our economic security.
That’s why in 38 days’ time, Britain faces a stark choice.
You can choose an economy that grows, that creates jobs, that generates the money to ensure a properly funded and improving NHS – as well as a Government that will cut taxes for 30 million hardworking people.
Or you can choose the economic chaos of Ed Miliband’s Britain – over £3000 in higher taxes for every working family to pay for more welfare and out-of-control spending. Debt will rise and jobs will be lost as a result.
Ed Miliband pays lip service to working people while planning to hike taxes and increase debt.
After five years of effort and sacrifice, Britain is on the right track. This election is about moving forward – and as Prime Minister, that is what I will deliver.
Thank you,
David Cameron
Tuesday, March 24th, 2015
West Midlands Conservative MEP Daniel Dalton, lead negotiator for the ECR Group on the Internal Market Committee (IMCO), has lauded Conservative victories in a key vote on the proposed free trade deal with the USA.
IMCO members voted to endorse key Conservative objectives, backing a comprehensive agreement that protects investors, without limiting the scope of a deal before negotiations have even seriously begun.
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has huge potential to deliver significant economic growth and new jobs to the UK, with independent analysis estimating that removing existing barriers to trade, including tariffs, regulatory differences and market access limitations, will deliver as much as £10 billion annually to the UK economy.
After the vote, Mr Dalton said, “This vote signifies that the European Parliament is serious about negotiating a free trade deal with the United States. A comprehensive agreement with America will deliver jobs and growth to the UK, you cannot achieve that if investors don’t feel safe, and if options are taken off the negotiating table too early, so I welcome today’s result.”
Tuesday, March 24th, 2015
the overall winners Jenny Humphries and Kate Casey of The Kitchen café in Marmion Street Tamworth
Local MP, Christopher Pincher, has announced Tamworth’s best pub, restaurant, shop and market stall as votes for by the public.
Tamworth’s best pub, restaurant, shop and market stall as votes for by the public has been announced by local MP, Christopher Pincher.
Mr Pincher asked local residents to vote in his quest to find the best and most popular traders in the town.
Local shops, pubs, restaurants and market stalls were each given bundles of voting papers to give to their customers to vote. The poll was also run online and hundreds of local people got involved.
Mr Pincher said, “We have many wonderful and unique independent retailers, restaurants and market stalls here in Tamworth and in our surrounding villages. I believe it is important that we celebrate and support our local traders so they are here for generations to come. That is why I ran our own “Best Local Shops, Restaurants and Market Stalls 2015” campaign.”
There were four categories for people to vote on –best pub, restaurant, shop and market stall.
Each category winner receives a certificate and a one-hour e-commerce session with Product Nation. There is also a special prize for the most votes across all categories and that winner will also receive a £50 voucher for printing and design from The Printing Shed printing company.
The competition closed on 20th March with a final flurry of votes before they were all counted.
The winners of each category are:
- Pub: Ubar, Church Street
- Restaurant: The Kitchen Café, Marmion Street
- Independent shop: Mercian News, Victoria Road
- Market stall: J L Fruit
The overall winner, the trader who got the most votes, is The Kitchen on Marmion Street.
Mr Pincher added, “This competition was very closely fought and many businesses and residents came back to my office for nomination forms again and again. I am really pleased so many businesses took part and I thank them all. I would like to congratulate the winners and especially the overall winner The Kitchen, just down the road from my office.”
The winners will receive their certificates and winners prizes shortly.
Saturday, March 21st, 2015
Christopher Pincher MP with Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador Angela Rippon
On Tuesday 17 March Tamworth’s MP Christopher Pincher pledged to make this election memorable by taking action to support the 850,000 people living with dementia across the UK.
Mr Pincher joined over 200 other MPs and representatives from Alzheimer’s Society, including the Society’s ambassador, Angela Rippon, in Westminster to meet people with dementia and commit to support those affected by the condition. On the day, Mr Pincher discussed local dementia issues with Ms Rippon and supported Alzheimer’s Society’s general election campaign. It is calling for more people to get the dementia diagnosis they need and for everyone to be properly supported afterwards.
Mr Pincher said, “We all have a part to play in improving the lives of people living with dementia. There are around 1,099 people living with the condition in Tamworth – and many more who are in regular contact with family and friends with the condition. It is an issue we absolutely cannot afford to ignore.”
Alzheimer’s Society campaigners were in Westminster to urge MPs to make this election memorable for all those affected by dementia. The charity is striving to ensure that more people get a diagnosis and the support they need, that there is a doubling of spending on dementia research and that communities are encouraged to become dementia friendly to ensure people with dementia can live full and active lives.
While in Westminster, Alzheimer’s Society supporter Shelagh Robinson, 73, who was diagnosed with dementia five years ago, delivered a petition with 67,375 signatures to the Prime Minister. The petition calls for everyone diagnosed with dementia to have access to a Dementia Adviser or Support Worker – a named contact who can help them come to terms with the diagnosis and guide them through the complex health and social care system.
George McNamara, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Alzheimer’s Society said, Dementia is the biggest health and care challenge our country faces – one that all of society must respond to. By the end of the next parliament more than a million people will be living with dementia. There is unlikely to be a family in the country that is not affected.
“We are pleased to have been able to engage over 200 MPs in one day. Christopher Pincher has a huge influence in Tamworth and we hope he will use this opportunity to take action and improve the lives of people living with dementia. 2015 is set to be an important year for politics – but together let’s also make it an historical year for people with dementia.”
Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading support and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. Click here to find out more about Alzheimer’s Society.
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