Welcome to my weekly update no.343
Westminster today has just a whiff of the Iraq war arguments of two decades ago but if Blair was (in retrospect) too keen to get involved, now we just appear to be sitting on the fence. At least locally it has finally stopped raining and I am told Surrey has 30 teams out fixing the potholes.
WESTMINSTER WHISPERS
A WEEK IS A LONG TIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST I have just sat down from asking the Prime Minister about the Iran attacks. I found myself uncomfortable listening to his statement. Yes international law (and a rules-based order) matter but so too does international security including stopping a nuclear war, stopping Putin invading Ukraine and holding NATO together – and sometimes you have to choose. And how come Australia and Canada, both led by left-leaning governments, were able to support the US action whilst the UK was not? My concern is not just that the UK, which has extensive interests in the Middle East, has basically been irrelevant but that we are becoming more so by failing to invest properly in our defence. That’s why I asked the PM, at a minimum, to unblock the argument between the Treasury and the MOD on defence spending. It felt like the Prime Minister was more interested in pleasing his anti-Iraq war MPs than addressing the underlying issues.
GREEN LIGHT FOR THE GREENS Last week voters in Gorton and Denton gave the Greens a spectacular victory. Green candidate Hannah Spencer prevailed, but not without controversy - from campaign materials in Urdu to accusations of family voting. I agree that the implications for British politics are much bigger than the normal mid-term thrashing governments get in by-elections. My biggest concern is that Labour is likely to interpret this as a reason to tack left which means the economy will remain stuck in its high tax high debt doom loop. That will spell disaster for them at the next election as parties who leave the centre ground create a vacuum for others to fill. It will also means the economy becomes much more salient to voters which ought to be a big opportunity for Kemi and the Conservatives. More on that no doubt in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement tomorrow which I will report on in next week’s email.
LOCAL LIFE
END THE CURSE OF SMARTPHONE-ADDICTED KIDS Judging by the overwhelming response to my posts on this important issue, most of you agree with my view that smartphones should be banned inside schools and social media banned for under 16s. I just pray none of my kids get to see this email because it is not making me popular at home…if you want to hear more on this, join me on Friday 13th March 12.30-1.30pm for a lunchtime public meeting with Rt Hon Laura Trott MBE MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education in Godalming at the Wilfred Noyce. We have teachers, parents and young people all attending - tickets are going like hotcakes so be sure to book your free place here.
MOBILE PHONE MEETING More mobile phone meetings (for adults not kids!) This time with Virginmedia02 which has a special resonance for me as I am an 02 customer. The good news is that following our campaigning VirginmediaO2 have delivered 18 upgrades locally in the last year with a further 28 planned in the next 12 months. Godalming High Street, Cranleigh, Bramley, Wonersh and Shamley Green should all benefit - I even got a 5G signal in the Cranleigh leisure centre car park recently. But we need more progress in Gomshall, Peaslake and South Godalming. Take a look at the vid below.
My meeting with VirginmediaO2 - click on the image to view the clip
POTHOLES POTHOLES I still have a full inbox of pothole concerns and it remains a major concern. After weeks of relentless rain we now have a window of drier weather so Surrey Highways can get on with proper, permanent fixes rather than emergency patches and have 30 teams out. Councillor Jane Austin has written a useful article on the specific challenges facing Surrey - and why prevention is better than ‘patch repairing.’ If the Conservatives win the May unitary elections, we will resurface a quarter of all roads – which should cover all the bad ones. Jane’s article is here.
MARATHON TIME I can’t quite believe it but I have decided to run the London Marathon again this year - the year I will turn 60 😭– but it is for a fantastic cause. In August 2023 I lost my brother Charlie to a horribly aggressive and rare cancer called Sarcoma - which develops in the bone and soft tissue. So I am running to support my sister Susie who is aiming to raise £1 million for Sarcoma UK, a brilliant small charity funding vital research to help other families affected by sarcoma cancer. Any support you are able to give is much appreciated - here is my justgiving page.
TONGHAM’S FAB FARM Last month, I had a brilliant visit to St Paul’s CofE Primary School, where I was introduced to their much-valued nurture farm which is currently home to guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and a purpose-built reptile enclosure. They are used for therapeutic provision for children in a way that helps them gain confidence and improve learning outcomes such as reading. The school now wants to extend the farm by introducing goats! If you could help with sponsorship or a donation please drop me a line on [email protected].
SURGERY CALLS My first call was to Alasdair Denton-Miller, Chairman of Alfold Sports Council & Social Council about the nightmare with Thames Water and sewage overflows which have caused the club to close for nearly a week in January. I have been on the case for several months to deal with the pressures created by the size of the village doubling in recent years. At a minimum I am pushing for the pipe network to be re-lined this year. I then spoke to a Cranleigh resident who lives in a new-build where he and his neighbours are incredibly frustrated with their management company. I talked to him about how it is possible to get control from management companies who are not doing their job well or for a fair price. Finally I spoke to a Milford resident about issues following a cataract operation and her concerns about the quality of treatment.
AND FINALLY This Thursday 5th it is World Book Day so expect to see children across Godalming and Ash heading into school dressed as their favourite book characters — from Roald Dahl to Harry Potter and everything in between. A brilliant opportunity to get children reading and using their imaginations instead of staring at screens. And if you want a tip for adults, try this gripping murder involving Queen Camilla by her (and my) favourite crime writer Peter James.
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
