Good evening john,

With Parliament returning last week, I have enjoyed spending the summer recess in the constituency talking to people and visiting our vital businesses. 

This week's update includes a significant announcement by the government in relation to our pets, a brilliant visit to one of our local pubs and an explanation of the tough decisions we face.

As ever, if you have an issue you would like to raise with me as your local Member of Parliament, please email: [email protected].

New law on pet abduction
 

A new criminal offence for pet abduction is set to be introduced under government plans to crack down on pet theft following a reported rise in pets being stolen during the pandemic. The new law will recognise the welfare of animals and that pets are valued as more than property.

The new offence is one of several recommendations in a report published last week by the Government’s Pet Theft Taskforce which was launched in May 2021. The Taskforce considered evidence from academics, animal welfare organisations, campaign groups, enforcement agencies and industry experts.

I welcome the findings of the Pet Theft Taskforce report following a number of residents participating in my survey on this issue.

 
(A picture of Zola!)

I saw from the responses to my survey and the strong feeling on this matter. The scourge of pet theft has real emotional consequences for victims.

My dog Zola and cat Alfie are part of the family - I would hate the thought of anything happening to them.

Back your local!
 

I visited Mark and the team at the fantastic Dipton Mill Inn. 

The Brooker family bought the pub in 1989 and have successfully run the pub every since. Geoff passed on the premises onto his son Mark in 2015 and Janet continues to cook superb food for those enjoying the brilliant local walks. 

The pub were awarded the value pub of the year in 2020

We have taken decisions others avoided
 

Last week the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Health Secretary set out plans to raise on average £12 billion per year on our health and social care system across the whole of the UK. This cash will ensure we have the resources to tackle the NHS backlog and address the crisis in social care which has been shirked by generations of politicians.

We cannot spend money we don’t have and with over £400 billion spent on support for jobs and livelihoods throughout the pandemic through furlough, increases in social security, grants for businesses, Kickstart and so much more. We have got to look at a sustainable way to pay for these improvements. Some say we can simply borrow the money and hope that things will be alright. However, no responsible government could propose such a plan when debt to GDP is forecasted to surpass 100%.

So, the Government is taking the decision to increase National Insurance contributions in order to pay for this significant bill. This is a difficult decision – it breaks a manifesto commitment. But a catastrophic global pandemic was also not in any manifesto. We need to emerge from the pandemic with an NHS that bounces back, and a social care system reformed to alleviate the age-old concerns of the elderly paying too much for care.

A 1.25% per cent levy based on National Insurance Contributions is the fairest and most progressive approach that will raise the £12 billion required. The levy will apply to those over the state pension age, and an equivalent increase in rates of dividend tax will take place to ensure fairness.

The money raised will ensure the NHS is at 110% capacity with 30% more elective patients treated by 2024. It will ensure there’s a cap on the cost of care.

This is a tough decision, but a right one to ensure our NHS gets back on its feet and our social care system gets the sustainable long-term plan that’s been needed for so many years.
 

Guy Opperman MP

Member of Parliament for Tynedale and Ponteland