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

SURVEILLANCE

I was in Washington DC last week with the Home Affairs select committee as part of our investigations into anti- terrorist activity and the surveillance society. We went to see what our American cousins are doing in both areas, to learn what we can do better. We had meetings on Capitol Hill as well as the White House and department for Homeland Security. We will be reporting to government shortly.

This all feeds into big decisions to be made at Westminster about how long the police can detain people without charge if suspected of terrorism. In the USA it is about 24 hours, but they have a system there of being able to bring a lower charge, maybe an immigration offence, increasing the charge to terrorism later once they have completed their enquiries. We do not have that system. American lawyers are amazed that English law now allows us to keep a suspect for up to 28 days, not just without charge, but even without being told why they are being held!

Of course, if a person turns out to be the guy who planted the bomb or organised the plot, what do we care? But what if it’s your son or daughter, arrested by mistake, on their way to work? What about the innocent South American in London two years ago, not just arrested by mistake – but shot seven times in the head. By mistake.

Parliament has to get the balance right between protecting our society from the terrible threat we now face, and making sure we don’t end up with a police state. The country’s top policeman came to our committee recently and argued for a longer period – maybe 50 to 90 days. Because of the need to investigate mobile phone records, follow up international leads and trawl through computer hard drives, he anticipates future cases where this will take more than 28 days, even though they have not had such a case yet. The government are consulting us on whether the law should be changed. This week we will be probing the Home Secretary on this issue. At the moment, I am of the view that the case for an extended pre-charge detention period has yet to be made. Only two years ago 48 hours was the limit, then 7 days, now 28. Over the next few weeks, these weighty decisions will have to be taken. These are your freedoms.

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, October 30, 2007

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

TAX CUTS

I was standing at the back of the Winter Gardens hall in Blackpool when our spokesman announced the new policy on inheritance tax – there was an audible whoosh of excitement followed by a thunder crack of tumultuous applause. No one would pay death duties on assets of less than one million pounds. The weekend press has been full of how popular the policy was in the marginal seats – crediting this one policy for finally killing off the probable general election. But why?

Only 6% of families pay inheritance tax, meaning that at least in theory, the new policy should be irrelevant to 94% of the population. But this issue touches a deeper chord. All of us want to leave something to the next generation when we go to meet our maker, and the thought of a large slice of all that we have toiled for (and already paid our taxes on) going to the Treasury is anathema. So although, the fear of inheritance tax seems much worse than its actual bite, especially given the rise in house prices in our part of the world, it resonates with many families.
I also begin to sense that for the first time in ten years a growing number of people are feeling that they now pay more than enough in tax, especially as the massive cash investments in health and education have brought modest rather than dramatic improvements.

So there it is: tax cuts back on the political agenda and no general election. Although I travel to all kinds of murky places preaching the importance of democracy – free and fair elections, the rule of law and freedom of speech etc – the sad truth is that democracy can be highly inconvenient! The last few weeks have been spent by most of us MPs or would-be MPs in frantic preparations for leaflets and posters and public meetings – all now a complete and utter waste of time – a distraction from the real job of representing this constituency. But it has to be done. As Churchill said, democracy is the worst form of government, apart from all of the others.

It is now almost impossible for there to be an election in 2008, which means we have a good stretch of time to get on with tackling the challenges of the present. Just as well as I sense storm clouds brewing over several issues, both local and national. The leaflets can wait.

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, October 16, 2007

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

BLACKPOOL

I have never enjoyed our long trek to Blackpool but this week, the old-fashioned seaside town has plumbed new depths. It appeared dirtier than ever and seems to have sprouted a new clutch of grotty night clubs and burger bars. The B&B that we have been mistakenly booked into would make Fawlty Towers look like a palace. I am not saying the ensuite bathroom is small, but I banged my elbow four times on the first morning when trying to shave.

Worst of all, our luxury guest house is cleverly located on the going home route for every single all night reveller. All night long our sleep was disturbed by rowdy drunken youngsters stumbling their way home from another night out at the local bars. They were singing and swearing. Wave after wave of them, all through the night.

At 4am in the morning my resolve to tackle Britain’s burgeoning culture of binge drinking had never been so strong. Wish you were here!

Apart from taking part in fringe meetings and listening to the welcome stream of main platform announcements, Janet and I have been spending most of our time hosting over 50 MPs from other countries, part of my duties as International Chairman of the Party. Once excited election talk is out of the way, our conversation turns to issues of mutual concern: political stability, economic growth, the war against terror and most notably migration. What are we to do about the vast wave of human migration that seems to have engulfed this modern world? People are on the move in unprecedented numbers looking for better living standards or to escape conflict or persecution.

Colleagues from European sister parties all report the same tensions in their countries. People from the developing world regret the fact that so much of their talent wants to live elsewhere rather than stay and help the long term process of transforming their country. It is, with climate change and global terror, perhaps the greatest challenge of the 21st century: how to handle mass migration.

I am clear about this. We have to be much more robust. Some migration is good for the economy but in recent years we have lost control and urgently need to get it back. Too much immigration puts at risk social cohesion and increases the risk of crime and terrorism. Our borders have become too leaky most of our European neighbours agree. It is time for tougher action.

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, October 09, 2007

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

MARKET CORRECTION

Market correction. It sounds so innocuous, so technical. In fact, although absolutely necessary now more than ever, it is to be feared. It is the cuddly name we give to house prices (or share prices) crashing down so that people can afford to buy them in the future. Any young couple trying to buy a home in these parts knows only too well how the affordability gap is unbridgeable for all but a few.

Who can doubt that we need a correction in the housing market and rising interest rates are hastening its arrival. The recent turbulence in financial markets brought about by imprudent lending by young men in a hurry can only deepen the impact that interest rate rises were already starting to have. Now that the rate at which banks borrow from each other has risen, it is only a matter of time before these hefty increases are passed on to us the end borrowers. The trouble is that inflationary pressures remain in the wider economy, so the scope of the Bank of England to reduce borrowing rates is limited.

The turmoil of recent days is a reminder of how fragile and inter-connected our world banking system is. It is all based on confidence, and when that buoyancy is shattered it can all come crashing down.

This problem has largely been kick-started by irresponsible lending in the USA. America sneezes and we catch a cold. Oil and gas prices are controlled by a few robber barons in unstable parts of the world. We now truly have a global economy. All it now needs is some major global crisis and the market correction could become a raging recession. Keep your eye on disturbing noises emanating from the White House about bombing Iran as a possible flashpoint. Would Russia just sit idly by this time and let the US flatten their allies when they are looking to flex their gas- rich hardened muscles on the world stage again?

I am by nature an optimist, but I am quite gloomy about what might be around the corner. We have had so many years of peace and plenty, unprecedented in historic terms. But the history of the planet also teaches us that it is unlikely to continue.

So what is to be done? We keep forgetting the lessons of the past. Banks must stop lending irresponsibly and we all should fasten our safety belts.

What do you think?

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, October 09, 2007

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

LOCAL HOUSING

As I argued last week, banks need to review their lending policies following recent financial turbulence.

Unfortunately, one downside to this is that it will make things even tougher for our young people to get their foot on the housing ladder. I can remember my first mortgage: £11,250 that bought Jan and I a nice 2 bedroom terraced house in Mutley, with a pit of parental help on the deposit. I am not talking pre-historic times, but 1980. I was earning £4,800 in those days, so my mortgage was just over 2 times salary. If you earn £20,000 today and get a mortgage of 3 times salary, £60,000, add in a deposit, what will that buy you in Plympton, Plymstock or Ivybridge? Even with two salaries totalling £30,000, it only enables you to buy a place for £100,000 unless you have significant savings or a lot of parental help. No such houses exist in this area. The goalposts have moved in just 25 years, not least because this is such a great place to live that property prices have gone through the roof.

When I was first elected the attitude of most people, especially in the smaller towns and villages, was: over my dead body – no new housing. There has been a sea change. Most of us accept that it is now vital to provide the right amount of new development aimed at local youngsters – not least to keep our ageing communities alive.

Which brings me to Sherford. None of us wanted it, but we have got it – and it does at least provide an opportunity for local youngsters. There are massive problems, especially to the existing infrastructure, particularly roads.

But as we can’t stop it, it has to be done well, which is why I agreed months ago, to chair a quarterly meeting between the developers, the planners and local community groups to make sure that it was built in the best possible way. I will continue to do this.

My 3 rules for Sherford are: the impact on existing communities – especially our roads – must be minimal; the focus must be on affordable homes to buy for local youngsters, not outsiders; and the facilities have got to be put in at the same time as the houses – not as an afterthought.
This will be a long battle, but I am determined that we should make this new settlement solve this crisis for our young people.

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, October 09, 2007