Published on July 26, 2010

Why Cameron's Big Society is nothing but a Big Con!

Cameron's Big Society is nothing more than a Big Con, camouflage for the huge cuts to our public services.

Like many Conservative-led initiatives, the idea is neatly wrapped up in glossy wrapping, which conceals the true nature of the beast.

In this case it's about sacrificing the jobs of thousands of public sector workers. But who will fill the gap left by these workers, once they've been thrown onto the scrapheap?... well that's you and me apparently!

So we're being asked to embrace a new future of DIY public services, without guarantees for patients, parents or communities. When will we all have the time to do all this new voluntary work? This is simply the abandoning of public services!

Asking volunteers to take the place of public sector professionals will not create a big society it will undermine our society. Don't get me wrong I'm all for the further devolution of decision making, of empowering local communities, but this isn't the ConDem coalition empowering you, its the ConDems abandoning you.

Cameron is obviously living in Cloud-cuckoo-land. The same charities he expects to lead this new DIY revolution are facing devastating cuts by local authorities desperately trying cut costs by 30% over three years. Many of these organisations are facing very uncertain futures. Are they really in a position to take on this burden? At what cost?

Time now for a little comic relief. The following video was produced by the Labour Party during the 2010 General Election. Set in the future where David Cameron's Big Society has reached its logical conclusion...

Published on July 16, 2010

Why you can't believe a word Nick Clegg says

In a question time style event hosted by the Yorkshire Post, Nick Clegg attacks Tory plans to cut public services.

Ironically, he tells the story about how his constituency in Sheffield Hallam has more people working in public services, as a proportion of the workforce than any other constituency, and how the Tories would have no mandate to make such cuts. Tut tut...You've sold-out your constituents Mr Clegg!

Published on July 13, 2010

Sign the petition against ConDem VAT Bombshell

Many Lib Dem MPs fought against Tory "secret" plans to increase VAT during the General Election, but now find themselves having to defend the shameless decision to increase VAT to 20%.

Both the Tories and the Lib Dems have misled their voters and stabbed the most vulnerable in the back!

No one voted for this unfair increase in VAT, in fact David Cameron said: "We have absolutely no plans to raise VAT."

If Lib-Dem MPs vote for this, it will mark the end of the Liberal Democrat's claim to be a Progressive Party.

Join me by campaigning against this unfair VAT increase and sign Labour's petition below.

Click here to sign the petition!

Published on July 05, 2010

” I don't know why they (Tories) want to cut the schools building project programme.

That's a silly thing to do.

We need to continue to invest in our schools building.”

Nick Clegg 29/04/10

ConDems target our schools

I clearly remember what it was like to attend a crowded, cold, damp and crumbling comprehensive school when I was growing up in South Shields.

The classrooms were more like a collection of huts, prefabricated buildings that were only ever meant to be a temporary measure. That’s why I’m so angry about the announcement today to axe Labour’s Building Schools for the Future programme.

Thankfully my old school was recently demolished to make way for a state of the art £19 million facility. I pray that the scheme is already too far advanced for the ConDems to cancel it!

It is feared that as many as 700 school rebuilding projects could be scrapped as a result of the ConDem decision.

This is nothing short of the ridiculous and unbelievably short-sighted. If we are to inspire our young people to aim high and achieve their full potential we must have modern teaching facilities.

But it is not only schools that will lose out, think about the thousands of workers in the construction industry!

Yet another devastating blow to our local communities with more cuts to the education budget expected next Monday.

Let me leave you with another quote from David Cameron in the leadership debate held on 15 April 2010: “I'm passionate about getting as much money into the school as possible…”

Oh and whilst we’re at it, here’s another cracking quote from Nick Clegg in the final debate on 29 April 2010 …”I don't know why they (Tories) want to cut the schools building project programme. That's a silly thing to do. We need to continue to invest in our schools building.”

…Hypocrites!

Published on June 30, 2010

"We're not seeing enough police on the streets, we're not catching enough burglars, we're not convicting enough.

Then we do, when we do convict them, they're not getting long enough sentences."

David Cameron 15/04/10

Bang goes the bobby!

I am outraged by news of potential huge cuts to the Police force and the decision by Teresa May to scrap Labour's policing pledge ,which included the promise that neighbourhood police officers spend at least 80% of their time on the beat.

The hypocrisy of this coalition astounds me! Let’s look back to the promises made in the historic first prime ministerial debate on 15 April 2010.

Jacqueline Salmon from Burnley asked the leaders “I was born and still work in Burnley, Lancashire. The town has the highest burglary rate per head of population in the entire country. What confidence can you give me that towns such as this all over the UK can be made safer places to live and work?"

In response Cameron claimed that “… the system isn't working properly now, there's no doubt about it. We're not seeing enough police on the streets, we're not catching enough burglars, we're not convicting enough. Then we do, when we do convict them, they're not getting long enough sentences.

Clegg, the PM’s partner in crime said “Jacqueline, you asked, what can we do to stop burglary happening over and over and over and over again. Two things: firstly, quite simply, more police on our streets….”

However, yesterday they scrapped the promise that neighbourhood police officers spend at least 80% of their time on the beat. Something specifically designed to combat the perception that too much time was spent 'off the beat', filling in forms.

Another part of the Policing pledge included answering 999 calls within 10 seconds and getting to emergencies inside 20 minutes...Now, exactly which part of this can we afford to scrap? Which part is bureaucratic?

Sir Hugh Orde, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers also said it was "misleading in the extreme" to claim police manpower could be maintained in the face of cuts of up to 33% facing the Home Office".

It is feared that as many as one in five officers could go, in addition to backroom staff. I thought you said “We're not seeing enough police on the streets” Mr Cameron!?

Then, today Ken Clarke criticises what he sees as a ‘bang 'em up culture’. He plans to divert thousands of offenders away from short-term prison sentences. I suspect the £4bn prison-building programme – the largest in Europe, will also be scrapped!

Perhaps Clarke missed the first TV debate when his boss said “we're not convicting enough. Then when we do convict them, they're not getting long enough sentences…”

Oh and lets not forget Cameron defending the need for short sentences when he regaled us with the story of his mother who is a magistrate “you've got to have that power for a short prison sentence when you've tried the other remedies”.

The cuts to vital frontline public services are disastrous. Under Labour, record numbers of police officers and increased prison places helped see a 37% reduction in crime…the link is obvious!

The ConDems want to paint a picture of being tough on crime….you must be joking! I fear the consequences of this hypocritical, short-sighted and irresponsible behaviour.

Read the BBC transcript of the first debate here (PDF 3.65 MB)

Published on June 25, 2010

Why am I standing for the National Policy Forum?

I announced a few weeks ago that I would be seeking nominations from CLPs as a National Policy Forum representative for Yorkshire and Humberside. Since then I have been in touch with every constituency in the region.

Thank you to everyone who has already given me their support, it is very much appreciated.

The National Policy Forum is a vital conduit for members to discuss, debate and influence Party policy. I would be very proud to represent the Yorkshire & Humber region in this process.

Your constituency can make a total of four nominations (plus one Young Labour Representative).

Please encourage your CLP to nominate me (my membership number is L0054574) and pass the word on to members that you know to vote for me!

Dont forget to join my Facebook supporters group by clicking here or by searching for Simon Young for NPF in Facebook.

Click here to download my flyer (PDF 1.71 MB)

Click here to visit my National Policy Forum section

Vote down the budget on Tuesday (27 June, 2010)

Budget Horror Show (June 22, 2010)

Fighting for Forgemasters (June 20, 2010)

Campaigning against ConDem cuts (June 16, 2010)

David Miliband for Labour Leader (June 14, 2010)

Welcome to my new online home (June 14, 2010)