Welcome to my weekly update no.352
Last week we had the surreal spectacle of a Kings Speech written by a Prime Minister who will almost certainly not be in office to deliver any of the bills it contains. Locally we have had some wonderful fetes and the debate over Hascombe’s historic fountain continues.
WESTMINSTER WHISPERS
READY… STEADY…BUT NOT GO Despite no formal Labour leadership contest yet being triggered, leadership hopefuls Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham have made their ambitions pretty clear over the past few days – with the latter given the all-clear to run in the upcoming by-election in Makerfield. It’s a mug’s game trying to predict what will happen next but I am going to stick my head above the parapet and say that I think the most likely outcome is that Burnham wins and becomes Labour leader in a coronation that happens before the summer break. That would mean we have had seven PMs in a decade, something we haven’t seen for at least 200 years. I could make the political point that it totally undermines Labour’s claim that it would bring stability. But of more concern is the damage to the country and our reputation. We need leaders and ministers who take long term decisions, something just not possible when there is this level of churn.
THE KING OF THE NORTH I shadowed Andy Burnham when he was Culture Secretary and he shadowed me when I was Health Secretary so we have crossed swords many times. What is my take on him? He is a very effective communicator. He managed to persuade many people that Andrew Lansley’s 2012 NHS reforms were privatisation through the back door (they were not) by hammering home the point in debate after debate and interview after interview. When I was Chancellor, we buried the hatchet and worked closely to get the massive devolution deal for Manchester across the line. Overall I would say his centre of gravity is definitely to the left of Blair. But he is also a pragmatist who tends to prefer incremental steps over any radical changes which could make him unpopular. That has made him a pretty successful Mayor of Greater Manchester where he is popular with both business and voters. If he carries on in the same way as PM I would expect someone less dangerously left-wing than some in the media are portraying but also less likely to break with the incrementalist, managerialist consensus that so desperately needs uprooting.
TRUMP GOES TO CHINA Last week we also saw Donald Trump travel to China to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This was the first time a US President had travelled to China since Trump’s last visit in 2017. It was good they met – as a minimum we need the world’s superpowers to be talking enough to avoid accidental wars. But there was little of substance to come away with. Trump’s intervention on Taiwanese independence and description of Taiwan as a ‘negotiating chip’ were a cause for concern and added to a sense that mistakes made on Iran, Greenland and tariffs made his position weaker than he would probably have liked. As someone who would always like to hold the door open to America returning as leader of the world’s democracies, that was not something that gave me any pleasure.
LOCAL LIFE
400 HOMES WITHOUT INFRASTRUCTURE…AGAIN I don’t generally get involved in planning applications but have decided to make an exception as a result of what is happening in Alford which has tripled in size in the last two decades and on current plans will triple again. So last week I wrote to the Planning Inspector to oppose Thakeham Homes’ appeal for up to 400 houses at Alfold Crossways. Many residents are rightly worried about the impact on roads, infrastructure, local services and the character of the village – whilst fully recognising the need for more housing. Our planning system should remain genuinely plan-led and Alfold has an adopted Neighbourhood Plan shaped by the community. We should stick to it.
BUT IT’S NOT ALL BAD NEWS In happier news a happy crowd of Alfold residents met on Saturday to celebrate the installation of this beautiful new sculpture - with a formal ribbon cutting by the newly re-elected Cllr Kevin Deanus. The bespoke design is made from weathering steel so it will last for decades with minimal maintenance. The new sign says “Heart of Fold Country” - Fold comes from the old saxon word meaning a pen for animals - so celebrating the area’s rural heritage and historic local identity rooted in farming, woodland and the old Wealden landscape. Speaking at the unveiling Kevin said he hoped it would become a much-loved part of Alfold’s history for years to come. Stunning!
HASCOMBE’S FABULOUS FOUNTAIN Hascombe’s historic spring fountain has sadly been switched off for public health concerns about its untreated water supply. On the face of it, it does feel rather over-the-top but the Drinking Water Inspectorate has strict safety rules which local authorities are required to follow. Hascombe Parish Council and Waverley Borough Council are now working together to explore how the fountain could safely be brought back into use, potentially through filtration and regular testing - but the ongoing costs could be very significant for a small parish council, particularly given many users come from outside the village. Speaking as someone who lives only a mile away it would be brilliant to find a way to fix this - I'm supporting Hascombe parish council to see if a solution can be found…
HEROIC NEVIE I am blown away by the remarkable courage of 16-year-old Nevie from Ash, diagnosed earlier this year with a rare and life-limiting brain tumour known as DIPG. Neve has responded with extraordinary courage and kindness by raising more than £15,000 for charities supporting children with cancer and funding research into the disease. She is also creating care packages for children undergoing radiotherapy, including handmade teddy bears, fidget toys and end-of-treatment gifts. Neve’s determination is truly inspiring - and a wonderful reflection of the compassion and generosity of the Ash community too. Here is the link to Nevie’s GoFundMe page.
THE MEATH - NATIONAL EPILEPSY WEEK As a Patron of The Meath I am proud to support the incredible work the charity does supporting people living with complex epilepsy and associated disabilities - many local families benefit enormously from its care and support. I would encourage everyone to take a moment to learn more about epilepsy, including what to do if someone experiences a tonic-clonic seizure. To mark this special week fellow Meath Patron Professor John Duncan has also shared reflections from 40 years as a neurologist in a fascinating new blog exploring the past, present and future of epilepsy research and treatment - here is the link - its well worth a read!
AND FINALLY…if you feel what is happening in Westminster is so ridiculous we just need to laugh…check out this brilliant video about my old home Downing Street.
Click on the image to view the clip
Useful LinksRegister to vote - Register to vote - GOV.UK
Report a pothole - Surrey County Council FixMyStreet
Report an issue WBC - Report Issues or Problems | Waverley Borough Council
Report an issue GBC - Report an issue - Guildford Borough Council
Surrey police non-emergency - Contact us | Surrey Police
Citizens Advice Surrey - Home - Citizens Advice South West Surrey
