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

WELFARE SYSTEM

2.7 million people in the UK are too ill too work and get incapacity benefit. Many of them are genuine and deserve our support, some of them are taking us for a ride and decisive action to solve this problem is long overdue. The current cost of over £7 billion could be better spent on sending our armed forces into battle properly resourced or pay for more doctors. I may be getting grumpier as I get older, but I have had enough.

Trouble is how do you decide who is genuinely in need and who is not? We know that there are irresponsible people out there or there would be no crime. And what sort of illnesses should we accept – for example the 2,000 people too fat to work who cost us £4.7 million per year, is that OK? Many illnesses like depression and dizziness, real in themselves, are nonetheless very hard to assess objectively.

The number of people claiming incapacity benefit has trebled since 1979. Does that ring true, at a time when healthcare has got better? People over retirement age are not entitled to it, so the figures only relate to people of working age and the alarming rise cannot be explained by the fact that we are living longer. It may have something to do with the fact that you are paid less on job seeker’s allowance and are increasingly pressured to find work. If more Brits found work, we would need fewer economic migrants to take up the slack.

I see plenty of people in my surgeries and try and exercise my own judgement about the voracity of the claim, but how can I judge a medical condition? What I try and weigh up is whether someone is trying their absolute hardest. I no longer have much time for those whose attitude is: the state owes me a living.

Our individual responsibility is to stand on our own two feet if we can. The state’s job is to support those who genuinely cannot. What we need is a far better system for telling the difference. The current assessment is shallow and arbitrary. As the storm clouds gather over public spending in the next few years, I believe that the vast majority of tax payers do require action on this. Once again I stress – genuine claimants: we are sorry for what you suffer and are happy to support you.

posted by Nigel on Monday, November 26, 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

COMPETITION

How many people do you think Tesco employ at Lee Mill? 100? 300? Wrong – over 700, making them one of the largest local employers in just this one store. Years ago, I sat next to their then Chief Executive at a dinner and asked him to explain the secret of their astonishing rise to dominance from humble beginnings. His answer has lived with me: simple, we asked our customers what they wanted and then we gave it to them.

They, and others, are successful because they offer shoppers what they want, and we flock there in droves. But it does not come without a price. What about the impact on nearby town centres whose shops struggle to compete? Competition is a good thing of course; it keeps us all on our toes. But unfair competition, abuse of market dominance, is unhealthy and illegal. The Office of Fair Trading has recently investigated alleged anti-competitive practices by the big supermarkets. Their market dominance gives these multiples huge leverage over suppliers, which is why prices paid to farmers for many agricultural products has been too low.
I like to listen to people talking about the small local shops of yesteryear, the high quality butchers, grocers and bakers that many of our village and town centres used to have. But times change: we became so much more mobile, working and shopping further afield. The giant out of town supermarkets began to offer a wider range of products for a lower price all under one roof, and the rest was history. There is no turning back.

This all seems gloomy, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel. The supermarkets now are very alive to customer and stakeholder criticism. They are starting to source more and more of their products locally, trying to put something back into their community. They are beginning to pay a fairer price to farmers. They are aware of their impact on town high streets and are looking to be more supportive.

This has come about because of pressure from the public and media. We cannot blame supermarkets for giving us what we want. But we can keep them on their toes, both nationally and locally, to make sure their shadow does not cause all the other plants in the garden to die. Let your chosen supermarket know your views on these issues and see if they respond positively. If they don’t, shop somewhere

posted by Nigel on Monday, November 26, 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

A NEW PLAN FOR PLYMOUTH

Plymouth is changing its skyline – trading in the boring 1950’s flat roof monotone profile for a thrusting optimistic race to the clouds, high rise, dramatic and modern. I, for one, welcome this. May this vision be completed before any economic slowdown strikes. 3 years into the Mackey plan and our built environment is changing shape. I have never seen so many cranes on our horizon. Add to this the plans for substantial growth, the creation of new jobs and business opportunities, the sense of momentum in the private sector and it all adds up to a very positive outlook for our city of great potential. New Plymouth step forward and take a shiny bow.
But hold on a minute. Just look at the daily headlines: assaults, drug-induced crime, communities setting fire to schools, binge drinking, and anti-social behaviour. Six of our secondary schools are failing. Old Plymouth limps on, seemingly unaware that the new day is dawning.

I think of the endless meetings with high ranking officials that we three MPs have to pour over challenges in education, health, crime and all things related. The overriding sense is of intractable problems – whether drug abuse, alcohol consumption or mental health dilemmas. Social services are over-loaded, families with disabled children have to battle for every small victory, anti-social behaviour is rampant, teachers are abused, children pushed from pillar to post as families crumble.

The Mackey plan has been very successful in delivering up dramatic changes to the physical fabric of our city. I am beginning to wonder if we need to create a new plan for the social and spiritual fabric of our city. There has never been as much money thrown at the problem as in the last ten years, but who can honestly say that we have made much progress on these deep-seated issues. In many areas, such as drinking and anti-social behaviour, we seem to have gone backwards. Top-down initiatives do not work because they are not owned by the local community or shaped specifically to meet local needs. If the Mackey plan had been handed down to us from Whitehall we would have rejected it.

So is it time for a new plan to tackle the social and spiritual malaise of our city, something that the council, government agencies, the private sector, the faith communities and voluntary sector and politicians can all help shape and get behind?

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, November 13, 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

FIREWORKS

We are approaching the time of year when common sense flies out of the window and a country in which you can be fined for dropping litter or exceeding a speed limit by five miles an hours allows people do what they like with highly dangerous tubes of explosive material. Yes, it’s fireworks time again. Naturally, I do understand why people want to celebrate the time that the House of Commons was very nearly blown to smithereens, with all of its odious occupants in it! I would point out however, that it was a long time ago and Mr Fawkes failed in his mission. Maybe its time to get over it!

Just kidding. I have enjoyed firework night in the past and admire the skill of the people who make these incendiaries. But not everybody does, and so I write with a plea. Let’s all think about the implications of our ear-splitting fun on our neighbours, especially those mature in years, especially those living alone, especially those who rely on their pets for company.

Every year I get letters telling me about the awful experience that a surprising number of residents go through in the run up to Guy Fawkes’ night. Our harmless bangs can be somebody else’s night of torture. For every person who contacts me pointing out the impact on their own nerves, at least two describe the terror wreaked on their pets causing distress to them and their owners.
Over the past few years Parliament has tightened up the rules and the firework manufacturers and retailers have played ball. More and more people are attending organised bonfire night parties – which is much better because they tend to be in remote places and of course only happen on the night itself or the weekend closest to it.

But still a mindless few cause mayhem by throwing bangers in the street for weeks on end and letting of rockets where they cause maximum disruption. Leaving aside the physical damage they can do, the random nature of these explosions heightens a sense of mayhem in normally quiet neighbourhoods.In years to come, I think we will look back and be amazed at how we allowed young people access to such explosive material in such an unfettered way. But for now, let’s all have a good time, but remember our vulnerable neighbours and their pets, and use fireworks in a safe and neighbourly way.

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, November 13, 2007