St Ives Liberal Democrats

Andrew George MP, in response to the news Cornwall Council is to work with Devon on a dual economic partnership arrangement, has warned that Cornwall should remember the lessons of recent history and stand on its own two feet and avoid being straight jacketed by others.

“Cornwall has achieved more in economic development terms in the last decade since it achieved separation from Devon and secured Objective 1 – now Convergence – status than it had in the decades before, when it followed the “Devonwall” agenda.

“Cornwall should always seek to work in partnership with others whether in Plymouth or Portsmouth, Devon or Devizes, Torbay or Taunton, on an issue by issue, project by project basis. But we mustn’t lose control to others. Cornwall and Scilly do best when we stand on our own two feet. We do worse when we become dependent upon others,” said the St Ives MP.

He added, all economic executive functions should be based in Cornwall, partnership can be sought with areas that share the same interest, such as rail links or maritime connections, when needed.

“We don’t need to set up more wasteful organisations, talking shops or bureaucratic functions purely for the sake of it.

“We also don’t need to join with others purely to ‘gain clout in the corridors of power’. Where we have a shared interest with others we should demonstrate that shared interest. other than that we should stand on our own two feet,” said Andrew George.

Penzance Cornwall Councillor, Mario Fonk said: “Merging with Devon would be a recipe for disaster, we will once again end up as the poor relations.”

The Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs, Ed Davey MP has congratulated Andrew George MP – St Ives – for leading the Parliamentary campaign for a supermarket watchdog.

In a letter to Andrew George, the Government Minister said: “Thank you for all your work on this [the campaign for the establishment of a supermarket watchdog] – I am not sure this would have happened without your determined campaigning over many years.”

Andrew George, who is Chairman of the Grocery Market Action Group, has said if supermarkets have ‘nothing to hide’ they should have ‘nothing to fear’ from a supermarket watchdog.

“Over the years, supermarkets have become so powerful they have been entirely able to dictate market conditions and to engage in unnacceptable abuse of that power.”

Members of the Crocery Market Action Group include Friends of the Earth, the British Independent Fruit Growers Association, Traidcraft, The National Farmers’ Union, War on Want, Action Aid, The British Brands Group, The Association of Convenience Stores and others.

This is the second in a series of articles looking at the Parliamentary campaigns that have been backed by Andrew George MP this year. These campaigns are raised through Parliamentary Early Day Motions.

The St Ives MP recently backed:

EDM 452 which condemns the use of stoning to death as a means of execution by the Iranian Government and calls on the Government and international community to use every means at its disposal to cause the Iranian Government to free Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, whose death by stoning is imminent.

EDM 442 which raised awareness of World Population Day – held on July 11 – and commended the United Nations Population Fund for designating a day to focus attention on the importance of world population and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The EDM also highlighted statistics showing that upto half-a-milllion women die every year during pregnancy and childbirth and 32 per cent of maternal deaths could be prevented through family planning alone. The EDM calls on the Government to increase population assistance to 10 per cent of official development assistance, and focus especially on family planning.

EDM 445 calls on the Government to do more to combat undiagnosed diabetes. It estimates 1.1 million people suffer from undiagnosed diabetes, and the diabetes population could rise to more than 5 million people by 2030. The EDM notes that early diagnosis and regular management can reduce risks of complications heart disease and kidney failure.

EDM 446 commended the work of Shelter Cymru’s Information Matters To Rural Communities Project, which aims to improve awareness of services to alleviate homelessness and poverty in rural communities. It recognises the lack of readily available advice and support in rural areas and the stigma attached. It welcomes the distribution of 3000 information packs containg advice on housing, debt, welfare benefits and rural well being in the project area.

EDM 455 notes 80,000 cancer cases could be prevented, every year, in the UK through diet, physical activity and weight management. It applauds the work of the World Cancer Research Fund for its funding of scientific research and raising awareness of how people can reduce their cancer risk.

EDM 457 welcomes the coalition government’s committment to introduce a statutory register of political lobbyists, however it is concerned that without a statutory code it could be flouted by lobbyists and calls for the government to implement an obligation to comply with statutory ethical principles.

EDM 459 praises the organisers behind British Pub Week 2010 – October 30 to November 6, which include Justice for Licensees, and the British Institute of Innkeeping. It also celebrates the vital role pubs play in local communities, the benefits they offer and the unique social experience they provide. It encourages MPs to support their local pub’s participation in British Pub Week to help boost trade and footfall.

Andrew George, the Liberal Democrats Rural Affairs Parliamentary Team Leader, commenting on news the offspring of a cloned cow had entered the food chain, said: “I do not believe there is any risk to human health. However, the public deserve reassurance there is full traceability.

“Consumers have a right to informed choice when purchasing their food. For a variety of reasons, consumers will naturally wish to know where their food comes from and how it has been produced.”

St Ives MP, Andrew George has called on the Government to give those in greatest housing need more, rather than less choice. His call follows the PM’s recent statement that council house tenants should have their rights restricted.

“The Prime Minister’s comments are not part of any Coalition Agreement. Any Government Minister is, of course, entitled to float ideas for debate within the Coalition, but they also have to expect fellow coalition members to respond just as openly.

“When the day arrives and we achieve greater choice for social housing tenants and can offer them more options and choice for better housing and alternative accommodation, perhaps then we can look at some of the estate management issues which the Prime Minister has raised. However we are a long way from achieving the choice which those on housing waiting lists and those living in council housing need and deserve,” said Andrew George.

He added the Prime Minister’s proposal emphasises the ‘great distinction’ between the two parties making up the Coalition Government, with the logical conclusion of the PM’s proposal an even more divided society when it comes to choice in housing for the poor and better off.

“That is simply unacceptable – especially in an area which already experiences such a gulf in housing opportunities between better off second homeowners and local people with extremely restricted housing opportunities,” said the St Ives MP.

The MP for St Ives has welcomed the announcement by Business Secretary, Vince Cable MP, that the Government will press ahead with the creation of a new supermarket watchdog.

Andrew George has campaigned for many years for the creation of a supermarket ombudsman to regulate supermarkets to get fair treatment for suppliers and he gave evidence to the Competition Commission as part of its two-year inquiry into the activities of supermarkets.

He said, “This is very good news. Over the years, supermarkets have become so powerful they have been able to entirely dictate market conditions and to engage in unacceptable abuse of that power.

“This will affect 10 supermarket chains. If they have nothing to hide then they will have nothing to fear.”

More info here

Andrew George MP took part in the debate on the Coalition Government’s Annual Energy Statement last week. Video footage of his question can be found by scrolling forward to 39 mins 46 seconds.

Andrew George is Environmental Team Lead for the Liberal Democrats

Andrew George MP for St Ives constituency is a member of the House of Commons Health Select Committee. Last week it met to interview Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, about the Government’s planned health service reforms. These reforms include scrapping the Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts and putting GPs in charge.

Andrew George’s questioning of the Health Secretary can be seen by scrolling forward to 57 mins.