Welcome to my weekly update no.366

So often the party conference season is all heat and no light but this one, it’s fair to say, has been significant. Kemi Badenoch this week enthusiastically embraces the low tax, pro-business policies that Andy Burnham repudiated last week – the days of soggy centrist consensus are well and truly over. Locally I had a jam packed meeting with Network Rail – and we are making progress on a lift for Ash Vale Station.

WESTMINSTER WHISPERS

KEMI’S KEMISTRY It’s a big week for Kemi Badenoch who has dramatically turned things round for the Conservatives over the last year. New polling today from Lord Ashcroft shows her personal ratings holding up well despite Andy Burnham’s honeymoon ([link removed]) and only 6% saying the Conservatives will never be in government again. I often get asked whether Conservatives should do a deal with Reform but there are good reasons Kemi has always ruled this out: Reform are clear they want to destroy the Conservative party (not exactly a foundation for a successful alliance) and nearly one third of Conservative voters are strongly against any pact ([link removed]) . But before Labour and the LibDems cheer too loudly, remember that in our system when voters decide they want to throw out a government they generally
find a way to do so. And the lack of any plan to grow the economy in Andy Burnham’s conference speech makes it more likely his government will run out of money faster even than previous Labour ones. I don’t have a crystal ball but it feels like the next election will be fought on first principles which is why Kemi’s new booklet The Right Way ([link removed]) is worth a read.

TAXING TIMES It looks like taxes are going up again. In this morning’s Times I have an article explaining why a new bank tax would be a mistake. Everyone loves to bash banks and they did behave badly in the financial crisis. But tax revenues from financial services fund half the cost of the NHS and I explain why there is a real risk a new tax would mean less revenue not more ([link removed]) . So what should we do if we want decent public services which, of course, depend on tax? In my next Substack email, coming out on Thursday, I look at how some countries do manage to combine lower taxes and better public services. Don’t forget to subscribe ([link removed]) if you want to get the article straight to your inbox!

LOCAL LIFE

🚆 NETWORK RAIL UPDATE A long catch-up with Network Rail Operations Director Tom Desmond and Public Affairs Manager Matthew Evans on Friday — with some tentative progress on some infuriating local issues:

1. ASH VALE STEP-FREE ACCESS Positive news: the long-awaited project is now looking pretty likely to go ahead. Nothing is ever certain but the detailed design stage is now well underway, and Ash Vale is one of the most advanced of the numerous ‘Access for All’ funded projects currently progressing across the UK. There are still hurdles to clear so watch this space.

2. LEVEL CROSSING DELAYS which snarled me at Milford on Friday – appear to be coming down at Milford, Farncombe, Tangley and Chilworth but I have asked to see the actual figures.

3. BREACH AT LAW BROOK Progress has unfortunately stalled while the various parties try to untangle a complicated legal ownership situation. What matters now is getting the breach fixed as quickly as possible before the environmental damage worsens and winter weather sets in. I’ve offered to chair a roundtable between the parties if that would help get things moving.

4. FARNCOMBE FOOTPATH WIDENING is sounding positive: I asked for details and concrete next steps in the project which will make using the path far more comfortable and practical for residents.

5. NEW TIMETABLE CONSULTATION Network Rail is developing a major new timetable aimed at tackling delays and reliability problems across the wider network, so watch out for a consultation in the next few weeks. Although reliability has improved a little there are still issues which need ironing out and I get a significant amount of casework.

WINKWORTH ARBORETUM Wow! The new visitor centre is looking amazing and does delicious lunches. Winkworth is now heading into its peak autumn season, so the newly expanded car park is also a very welcome addition particularly for local residents who have had to deal with parking pressures overflowing onto local roads on the busiest days. Well worth a visit over half term and warm weather could mean a particularly spectacular autumn display. 🍁

ELMBRIDGE VILLAGE is a wonderful independent senior living community on the edge of Cranleigh which I popped into on Friday. A big thank you to Sarina and the team for showing me around such a welcoming place including the allotments which were absolutely stunning. Following the tour, I joined residents for a Q&A with no holds barred!

LADYWELL CONVENT Thank you to Sister Helen, Mark and Nigel for a warm welcome and enjoyable tour of Ladwell Convent - a peaceful spiritual sanctuary on the edge of Godalming. I enjoyed the opportunity to understand the work and challenges the Covent faces.

CALLUM CENTRE, RODBOROUGH Mireille Wildeman and her team do inspirational work for children with special needs at Rodborough’s dedicated Callum Centre which allows them to dip in and out of mainstream schooling as they need. And congrats to Mireille on her wedding this week!
AND FINALLY… TO THE MOON! 🌕🚀 Scientists at the University of Surrey are investigating whether Moon dust could one day be used to fuel spacecraft. The Surrey Space Centre team is looking at whether magnesium can be extracted from lunar dust and used as a propellant - potentially allowing future spacecraft to refuel using resources already on the Moon rather than carrying everything from Earth. Once again Surrey is quite literally reaching for the stars (groan groan sorry about that one…


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