Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

QUEEN'S SPEECH

This week launched us into another year of Westminster cut and thrust with the always splendid state opening of Parliament. We may not be able to play rugby, cricket or football any longer, but by gum we know how to do ceremony!

Terror and crime top the bill again, a sad sign of the times. Let me ask you a direct question: what do you believe about the true state of the terror threat facing our country? How many men and women are there in our midst actually planning to blow us up?

It is a significant question for two reasons. First, we must react to this threat in a proportionate manner. If we are complacent too many will die. If we overreact we will sacrifice for ever too many of the personal freedoms that have helped make this country great.

Secondly it reflects the nation’s current lack of trust. I am a member of the Home Affairs select committee and we get an annual briefing from the head of MI5. It is pretty scary. But even as I listen to her words I struggle with the thought: is this really all true? I am not alone in this. That is the true fall out of the war in Iraq. Until then, the British people had tended to believe their leaders on matters of defence and security. I certainly did. But then in 2002 I voted to send many constituents into a battle zone on the strength of a passionate assurance that Saddam had WMD that could fall into the hands of global terrorists and be a threat to all of us. It turned out to be a load of rubbish.

But where does it leave me and all of you? Having to be more sceptical and exercising our own judgement even though we do not have all of the facts. Since the London bombings last year there can be no doubt that there are terror squads living in our major cities waiting to pounce. I accept that we have to be on our guard, toughen up our terror laws and pour resources into counter-insurgency. But I am watching like a hawk for signs of exaggeration.

It is vital that this lost trust is restored. A period of sustained and gritty truthfulness and a total rejection of spin from Downing Street, whoever is Prime Minister, is the only thing that can do it

posted by Nigel on Monday, November 20, 2006

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

SHERFORD SCHOOL

Most of us are still hoping that the new town at Sherford still will not happen. After all, although all of the legal decisions about whether it should happen are now in place (so we can’t stop it) there is still a long way to go. We accept that the SHDC have no choice but to include this proposal in their local plan, but we cling to the hope (probably unrealistic) that the economics won’t stack up and that this unwanted development will never be built.

In the meantime, the authorities are rightly putting in place all of the plans for the infrastructure that must surround this new community. Reality check: once the inspector makes a final decision next spring, it will all start to happen very quickly.

The advanced plans include discussions about a new secondary school, and under new laws, it is not just a question of the local council building and running it in the traditional way. Any group can put in a bid to run this new school, including commercial groups or churches. What a brave new world! The unions have recently called for Sherford school to be an LEA school in the same old way. Some things never change!

I am not in favour of a group of business people from up the line presenting some glossy bid to run this new school just for profit, but I am interested in two possible proposals of which I have some knowledge.

One is for this school to be grouped with the existing Ivybridge Community College. Given the fantastic track record of success of that centre of excellence, due mainly to outstanding leadership, this would surely mean that Sherford got off to a flying start and was inextricably linked to excellence. It would still be an LEA school, but one of the best.

Secondly I understand that there is interest by Churches Together in Devon a combination of churches of all complexions. They already run other schools which are doing well on the other side of the county. Church schools are popular because they tend to operate from a basis of very clear values that most of us want our kids to embrace, are strong on pastoral care and get great results.

I am sure there will be other bidders, but it is encouraging to know that there will be at least two quality options.

posted by Nigel on Monday, November 13, 2006

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

BLOG

Do you ever blog? Can’t say as I ever have – but all this is about to change. Today I launch a new facility on my website: www.garystreeter.co.uk namely my first blog. I will start the week with a different hot topic each week and invite your comments. Those of you with access to computer can blog away to your hearts content giving me your thoughts.

Why am I doing this? Haven’t I got enough to do? Well, yes, but we all know that the gap between the electorate and the elected is growing, especially among younger people. Remember that only 1 in 4 people aged 18 to 25 voted at the last 2 elections, crating a worrying democratic vacuum. We have to find ever more effective ways of communicating with and listening to the electorate; simple as that.
When I was first elected 14 years ago there were no e-mails. Now my office and I fight our way through a daily tidal wave, at least 2 dozen being from constituents direct, in addition to the 40 letters or so a day that roll in through snail mail. As more people get connected so the shift towards electronic contact will increase. In the 1950’s nobody wrote to their MP. Times have changed.
Of course the technology stuff can be taken too far. Some of my colleagues have dispensed with their regular surgeries claiming that the inter face with constituents can now all be “virtual”. I disagree with that. There is still no substitute for the face to face encounter. Besides some of the most vulnerable in society do not have e-mail access.

Anyway back to the blog. I want to hear from you whatever your age, but especially if you are young and have plenty to say. We start on a topical issue. In the summer, the police successfully obtained a Dispersal order for Plympton to help deal with youth anti-social behaviour. Should the police make more use of Dispersal orders to stop young people gathering on street corners and causing a nuisance? What about Plymstock and Ivybridge? What are the parents doing while Wayne is causing mayhem up the Ridgeway?

But hang on a minute, do these youngsters have anywhere else to go? Are we in danger of making criminals of kids who are just being….teenagers? What is the solution?

posted by Nigel on Friday, November 03, 2006