Weekly Column
Pulling the plug on a project is not easy. But on HS2 the Prime Minister has taken a tough decision about a scheme that is overbudget, late, and based on assumptions that are no longer accurate. So stopping it was the right call when the easiest short term approach would have been to carry on.
A benefit of his announcement at Conservative Party Conference is that £36 billion will instead be redirected into long term transport projects, including to upgrade Ely Junction. This is a vital scheme to tackle a bottleneck where 5 busy railway lines converge which I along with MPs, businesses, local authorities, and others have long campaigned for. It will unlock more passenger services for Lynn and with extra freight trains to Felixstowe will deliver significant economic and environmental benefits.
Along with rail improvements, I am optimistic there will be further funding locally for road projects and I continue to lobby for the A10 West Winch Housing Access Road as well as other improvements.
Education is the closest thing to a silver bullet in terms of policy that can improve opportunity and the Prime Minister set out plans for an Advanced British Standard. This will bring together A-levels and T-levels into a new single qualification, increase the teaching time students have to help raise standards, and give people the best opportunities to succeed.
Another policy I carried out my own focus group on was a plan to create a smokefree generation. This would mirror New Zealand’s approach and mean anyone aged 14 or under now would never legally be able to buy cigarettes. The public health benefits are obvious however some points raised when I discussed it with sixth formers visiting the House of Commons around enforceability, individual rights, and smuggling are ones I’ll consider carefully during the consultation phase.
Party conferences are a mixture of speeches, exhibition space for organisations, and debates on the fringe. As an example of the variety, while I was in Manchester I met charities including Guide Dogs to talk about the impact of pavement parking; Arthritis UK on the prevalence and treatment of the condition; Cats’ Protection about pet theft; Animal Free Research UK about techniques in cancer research to avoid the use of animals; as well as speaking to businesses including energy companies investing in offshore wind, broadband, and farming representatives.
Watching coverage of Labour’s conference in Liverpool, it was striking that the Shadow Chancellor didn’t mention inflation by name in her speech when the cost of living is a real concern. In contrast, halving the rate by the end of the year is the government’s priority. Given Labour’s plans for extra borrowing would increase inflationary pressures perhaps the omission was less of a surprise.
The appalling terrorist attacks on Israel and the indiscriminate killing of hundreds of innocent people, hostage taking, rape, and other crimes have dominated the news. The unconscionable acts by Hamas are utterly reprehensible and the footage deeply disturbing. The UK stands with Israel and its right to self-defence at this time of great need.
First published in Lynn News on the 13 October 2023
