‘Devolution a solution?’
FOR A moment I would like to take my party colours off and talk about Devolution. Even though it means councillors like me disappearing (do not all cheer at once) I believe the service folk get may be better.
Often when you call a borough councillor we will say: “Thats a county issue, I cant do anything about it”. If your problem is about roads, schools or social care that’s true.
Services, budgets and powers are split between county and borough councils.
So you get two politicians representing the same patch. We get accused of passing the buck. We are not. Believe me it is as frustrating for us as it is for you.
Devolution will change that. The councillor you elect will be responsible for everything. The buck passing will end. You will get a better service.
Devolution will also bring elected mayors. Outside London this has worked well so far with both Andy Street (Conservative) and Andy Burnham (Labour) putting place before party to get stuff done. Regions will get a voice that can stand up to London and make sure we are heard.
Finally, there will be significant administrative benefits. Duplication of back office functions in the counties will be ended. There will also be thousands of fewer local politicians.
Finally, there will be fewer elections and the people you vote for will have the political clout to get things done on your behalf.
There will be genuine political questions about boundaries to answer. That is for another time. But right now I believe this reform will mean services will improve for local people.
Councillor Ian Woodall
Labour
Headless Cross and Oakenshaw
‘A welcome boost’
THANK YOU Ed Miliband for moving ahead with the government’s clean energy plan
This plan will end reliance on fossil fuels and ultimately bring down household bills.
The plan will also unlock £40billion of private investment every year, thus boosting the UK economy.
This will create thousands of skilled jobs on top of those being created by the building of 1.5million homes thanks to fixing the grid system and speeding up the planning process.
Hence, this will provide more renewable energy projects which will in itself reduce dependence on foreign energy.
So, unlike the Tories’ big magic money tree, policies of higher bills and higher taxes because of dependence on foreign energy, what we have is a Labour government putting British consumers first and making our country great again.
Geoffrey Brooking
‘Labour is no better’
I COULDN’T match the bulk of Mr Brooking’s letter with his lauding of the PM.
He rightly stated the Conservatives were useless for 14 years with virtually unrestricted immigration (though this started under Blair) and a complete betrayal of Brexit.
Quite how this makes the present government impressive eludes me, especially as it continues the same foolish policies.
Domestically, ‘two tier Kier’ has presided over imprisoning people for Facebook posts but not even prosecuting people for a violent assault on the police, which saw a PC have her nose broken, the Manchester airport scandal.
‘Free gear Kier’, who professed a determination to clean up politics in opposition, has received over £107,000 in assorted freebies since becoming Labour leader, two-and-a-half times the MP in second place.
His government voted to withdraw universal winter fuel payments for pensioners, a move supported by our own MP – just imagine the vituperation Mrs Maclean would have got if she had done that! This, despite a 2017 Joseph Rowntree Foundation report claiming it could result in 4,000 deaths, a report commissioned by the Labour party.
The drive to net zero, which will have no effect on global climate change as Britain emits less than one per cent of greenhouse gases, is another example of this government’s folly. Sending 470 delegates from Britain to Baku and back for a conference on climate change is beyond mockery.
Regrettably, the Standard has seen fit to give a column for the eco-extremists to pour forth their self-flagellating nonsense.
With the world in its present unstable political state, energy security should be a priority – ‘drill baby drill’ if you prefer.
Rather than ‘making our country respected on the world stage’ we are a laughing stock, a financial soft touch and politically inept.
The fiasco over the Chagos Islands, started under the Tories but driven forward by Labour, is a perfect illustration of this. Land which has never belonged to Mauritius is ceded to them despite it being of vital strategic significance to our most important ally, the USA.
Then it emerges the new government of Mauritius is not that keen after all whilst the Chagossians oppose the transfer, as does President-elect Trump.
Doubtless the Chinese, with whom Mauritius is increasingly friendly. will make good use of the military bases there. Sensing weakness, the Spanish resumed agitating for Gibraltar and the Argentinians the Falklands.
Space precludes mentioning the budget, the capitulation to their friends in the public sector unions, the attack on farmers, the increasing numbers of illegal immigrants crossing the channel, foreign aid, antisemitism, continued defence cuts, the list goes on. Far from ‘making Britain great again’ Starmer and his comrades seem determined to see the country irrevocably ruined before the next election.
K Wass
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EDITORS COMMENT
NEW YEAR is traditionally the time for a fresh beginning, a chance to ring in the changes and lifestyle improvements.
With that in mind, it is fantastic that we are the official media partner for the Wythall and Hollywood Fun Run.
It was great to see the event return last year, attracting runners from all over the Midlands and further afield.
And this year we want to make it even better – time to lace up your running shoes, join us and raise funds for Acorns Children’s Hospice – a fantastic local good cause.
