Welcome to my weekly update no.338
Westminster has been gripped by Greenland fever as Donald Trump and multiple world leaders head for Davos. Very much a time for cool heads given how unstable other parts of the world are (Iran, Ukraine & Venezuela in particular). Meanwhile locally it’s all happening in Ash…
WESTMINSTER WHISPERS
TRUMP’S TARIFFS Just as it seemed we had avoided the worst of President Trump’s tariff tendencies, he has slapped 25% tariffs on the UK along with several European countries. No invasion of Greenland is planned, and it very much feels like a way to browbeat Denmark into negotiations on sovereignty. But the language being used is extraordinary - look at Trump’s letter to the Prime Minister of Norway in which he says ‘The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total control of Greenland.’ I talked about it to Senior House Republican Mike Johnson this morning at a reception in parliament and he understands our concerns about such statements. There is plenty we can do if we want to avoid being pushed around like this, not least stand on our own two feet when it comes to defence as I told Laura Kuenssberg yesterday.
JENRICK JUMPS The other topic on the Kuennsberg show was Robert Jenrick’s decision. My colleagues in Westminster were pretty angry about it: our job is to provide the country with a credible alternative to a government we believe is doing huge damage to the economy so the only person celebrating this kind of behaviour is Keir Starmer. Tracey Brabin, Labour Mayor of West Yorkshire, confirmed that on the show when she said it was a ‘gift.’ There was, however, a silver lining: people saw that Kemi is a decisive leader more than capable of dealing with adversity. In opposition you aren’t in charge of anything except your own party so that matters.
JUST BAN IT I received an amazing response to my social media post about the need to ban social media for under 16s: over 1,000 emails in support from Godalming and Ash residents. Please forgive me if it takes a little while to respond! As a parent of three, I totally share the worries, particularly about the impact on attention span. This morning 60 Labour MPs said they agree so expect another government u-turn. I (and the Conservatives) also want smartphones banned from schools. Many local schools do this but we want all of them to support Gemma Taylor’s Smartphone Free Childhood campaign in Surrey.
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LOCAL LIFE
ASH VALE LIFT OFF Despite all the frustrations of Westminster, occasionally you get good news: on Thursday I was thrilled to receive this letter from the Department for Transport confirming step-free access at Ash Vale Station will now progress to the design stage. I have been pushing hard for this and we are not there yet: we still need Surrey County Council to agree match funding. But it is a big step forward (to no steps) and brilliant for anyone who has been struggling with three flights of stairs. Here’s a great summary in the Guildford Dragon.
ALSO IN ASH…On Friday (23rd January) I am hosting a Q & A on crime, anti-social behaviour and local policing for residents of Ash, Ash Vale and Tongham. The event will take place at Ash Manor School, Manor Road, Ash from 1830-1930. I will be joining the local police commander so come along.
AND IN ASH YET AGAIN…Guildford Borough Council has now received Taylor Wimpey’s outline planning application for 420 homes at Ash Manor Farm. Tongham and Ash have already seen very rapid expansion in recent years so this is a huge worry for many people, not least because of the loss of rural green fields, increasing pressure on busy roads and growing strain on surgeries and schools. I plan to hold a public meeting so residents can find out more and have their say - watch this space for dates and details. In the meantime here is the application link so you can review and comment.
WHILE IN CRANLEIGH the £5m cost increase for the new leisure centre is coming to Waverley Full Council for debate next week. It will take the budget to an eye watering £36m (up from £20m in 2020). I’ve received a number of emails from residents asking why the Lib Dems are still pursuing the much more expensive ‘Passivhaus’ spec rather than a cheaper low carbon option. Back in December, Waverley’s Scrutiny Committee recommended a rethink but the response was to threaten to close the Leisure Centre altogether if there was any opposition. Surely we should be working together to keep costs down…
SURGERY CALLS My first call was to a Godalming resident who is developing an extremely autonomous vehicle project. It might sound far-fetched for a Brit to be taking on Tesla but the UK has the third largest tech ecosystem after the US and China and there are more and more remarkable UK-based tech successes springing up. I then spoke to a Milford resident about his concerns about anti-semitism locally. Sadly we have all got to be extremely vigilant that the clock is not turned back on this most pernicious of issues.
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AND FINALLY Yes its that time again! Today is Blue Monday, the 3rd Monday in January which is supposed to be ‘the most depressing day of the year’. Is this true or is it a load of old cobblers designed to help sell holidays? Have a read here!
