The Coalition Agreement has now been published in full and over the coming weeks I will explore different aspects of it on which I would welcome your feedback. To be an effective Bank Bencher I need that feedback because with that I can approach the Front Bench with evidence for what I am saying.
I have already received a lot of feedback, particularly on the Capital Gains Tax proposals – and I share the concerns that have been raised with me and will be lobbying on your behalf. There is a big difference between taxing speculative short term gain and taxing prudent long term investment at this proposed higher rate.
The Principles of Government
David Cameron and Nick Clegg have set out the principles they see underpinning the detail of the Coalition Agreement. We are agreed that the first duty of government is to safeguard our national security and support our troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere. The most urgent task facing this coalition however is to tackle our record debts, and steps to tackle this problem are clearly set out in the document.
But we all want to see a Britain where social mobility is unlocked. To that end we will see sweeping reform of welfare, taxes, and most of all, our schools – with a breaking open of the state monopoly and extra money following the poorest pupils. We are at last in sight of the fairer funding I have been campaigning for.
We also want to see better health services and more choice. We will see GPs with authority over commissioning – they are much closer to understanding patients’ needs. We will also see less centralisation of health care – something I shall be fighting to make a reality here so that we get well resourced local community hospitals, including the proposed new physiotherapy unit at Teignmouth Hospital.
Constituency Work
I was delighted to meet so many of you in Ipplepen and Kingsteignton at my “Meet your MP” events. It was a great opportunity just to say hello or to learn about local community issues with which I can help – like the proposed development of Ipplepen Village Hall. I am planning to organise a number of these but if there are urgent local community issues you think I can help with let me know and I can try to fix an early meeting.
It gave me great pleasure to join the National Farmers Union last Friday at the Devon County Show to be briefed over breakfast over the issues they face. The clear message was they need a solution to Bovine TB and a proper “deal” from the supermarkets. On Saturday I visited Volunteering in Health’s Fun Day to open it and congratulate The Teignmouth Hospital League of Friends for the huge cheque they were able to donate to this worthy cause. We had great weather and a lot of fun! Then I returned to Newton Abbot to knock on a few more doors to meet some of you who were not out enjoying the sun shine!