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WESTMINSTER WHISPERS
CAMBRIDGESHIRE TRAIN STABBING Horrific news about the mass stabbing on the train in Cambridgeshire over the weekend for which a suspect has now been arrested. As we think about the victims, it is slowly dawning that it could have been much worse. Coincidentally I took Martin and Tara Cosser to a meeting with Justice Minister Jake Richards about the tragic stabbing of their son Charlie and their remarkable campaign to reduce knife crime. Martin has seen getting on for 100,000 young people and is absolutely tireless in advocating that school curriculums need to change – not least to make sure every child knows there is an anonymous helpline they can call about anyone they know has a knife. Martin and Tara C are literally banging down every door in Whitehall and today Justice Minister Jake Richards was visibly moved by what he heard. Charlie’s Promise has saved lives already but there is much to do.
AND THEN THERE’S THE BUDGET With three and half weeks until the big day, we seem to have got stuck in the view that there ‘have’ to be tax rises but there are plenty of alternatives. I have talked before about welfare reform but in this article in the Times last week I look at public sector productivity. Put simply, if public sector efficiency grew at the same rate as the private sector we would not have to put up taxes at all (and debt would start to fall). This is not about Tory ideology - plenty of independent voices, including David Smith in yesterday’s Sunday Times, are pointing out that relying on tax rises to balance the books risks killing off growth. Making public services more efficient is how we avoid painful cuts to the services we all value. I talk about this more (including the role of the OBR) in a recent episode of the The Rundown by PoliticsHome.
LOCAL LIFE
BYE BYE WAVERLEY, GUILDFORD & SURREY COUNCILS Big news last week with the Government finally announcing a two unitary structure for Surrey. For us that means elections next May for the new West Surrey Unitary Council which will start work in May 2027. No announcement on a Surrey Mayor, perhaps because the government doesn’t want to fund one. But they did agree to write off an initial £500 million of Woking’s debt which, as Surrey Leader Tim Oliver agrees, is a big relief to Guildford and Waverley council taxpayers as we will all now be under the same council.
ALBURY VILLAGE HALL NO MORE? Disappointing news for the Albury community with last week’s announcement that Albury Parish Council can no longer afford to fund the running costs of the Village Hall. Shere Division County Councillor Bob Hughes and Albury Parish Council are trying to see if there is a way to keep the Hall open. Come to the public meeting on Wednesday 5th November at 19.30 to discuss (of course in the Village Hall - and doesn’t that show why it is needed?)
FARNCOMBE FRIGHTS Totally brilliant Annette and Tanya (dressed up below) are the driving force behind the Farncombe Day Centre which does an amazing job tackling social isolation and offering support to vulnerable older residents. It has a lovely, friendly atmosphere so it was a real privilege to meet some of the attendees and volunteers, be shown round and see some very exciting plans to develop the facilities on the site.
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