The Queens Speech

Dear Geoff, When we came to office in 2010, Britain was on the brink. Our task was urgent: to rescue our economy from the mire. With that economy now going in the right direction, we are once again on the brink - but this time, on the brink of something special. We have a golden opportunity to renew the idea that working people are backed in this country; to renew the promise to those least fortunate that they will have the opportunity for a brighter future; and to renew the ties that bind every part of our United Kingdom. We now have the mandate to deliver that renewal. And it starts with today's Queen's Speech: a clear programme for working people, social justice, and bringing our country together - put simply, a One Nation Queen's Speech from a One Nation Government. The first task of a One Nation Government is to help all working people have security. And nothing is more crucial to that than a job. A new Bill will help to create two million more jobs this Parliament. That means there should be a job for everyone who wants one - in other words, full employment. To help people get those jobs, we'll train them up; three million more will start apprenticeships over the next five years. We will also reward work by letting people keep even more of the money they earn - for the first time putting it into law that the Minimum Wage is and always will be tax free. That will be alongside a five-year tax lock which means there will be no income tax, VAT or National Insurance rate rises in this Parliament. The second big focus of this Queen's Speech is championing social justice. That starts with education: a decent schooling for every child, no matter where they're from. Our school reforms in the last Parliament were bold; one million more children are now learning in good or outstanding schools. In this Parliament they will be bolder still: taking over and turning into Academies not just failing schools but coasting ones too, as part of our new Education and Adoption Bill; opening not just a few more Free Schools, but 500 more. Of course, there is nothing that embodies the spirit of One Nation and the cause of social justice more than our NHS, which is there for everyone, whoever they are, regardless of their ability to pay. So we will continue increasing spending on our health service, by at least £8 billion a year by 2020, and make it a truly 7-day NHS. We will also continue our welfare reforms that help people into jobs, reducing the benefit cap further, to £23,000. Our reforms will incentivise work - so people are always better off after a day at the office or factory than they would have been sitting at home. That's true social justice - not handing people benefit cheque after benefit cheque with no end in sight, but turning workless households into working households; the misery of unemployment into the purpose and dignity of employment; and the welfare system into a lifeline, not a way of life. Third, this Queen's Speech will bring every part of our United Kingdom together. Our legislation will make sure this recovery reaches everyone, from the oldest industrial towns to the remotest rural villages. Our High Speed 2 Bill will help bring our great northern cities together in a Northern Powerhouse that rivals the biggest cities in the world. For our different nations and regions to coexist as One Nation, people must have more direct power over the areas in which they live. So our Cities Devolution Bill will allow them to bid for an elected mayor, with far more sway over planning, transport, policing and health. We will have a Scotland Bill, a Wales Bill and a Northern Ireland Bill, and will put into practice our promises on devolution - making Holyrood the most powerful devolved Parliament in the world. Governing with respect means respecting the wishes of the English too. That's why we will address the fundamental unfairness devolution causes in England, by introducing English votes for English laws. And the UK will have more control over its affairs, as we bring forward proposals for a British Bill of Rights to replace the Human Rights Act. We will also legislate to have an EU Referendum before the end of 2017, putting the question to the British people for the first time in 40 years: the European Union - in or out. Underpinning all of this is security. With an Extremism Bill, an Investigatory Powers Bill and a Policing and Criminal Justice Bill, we will keep our people safe. That's our legislative programme. It's challenging but doable; optimistic but realistic. It's the bold first step of a One Nation Government - a Government for working people. And this is the Britain we're setting out to create: a Britain where you can get a decent job, have a good education, buy a home of your own, have dignity when you retire, and feel safe and secure throughout your life. In the last Parliament we laid the foundations for that; in this Parliament we will use them to build something special. We've now got the majority we need. With this Queen's Speech we're going to get on and do it - for every single person in this great nation. So - if you haven't already - please join the Conservative Party today, and play your part in everything we'll achieve together in the next five years. Thank you,

Thanks for your support in the Local Elections. We will get there next time..

Thanks to all the folks who have helped me over recent months in my bid to get on WMDC to act for the interests of the people of Pontefract.

3196 local people voted for me on the 7th of May. Thank you one and all. A number of friends helped me get leaflets and literature out and delivered. A number of people spoke up and vouched for me with their friends and their friends went on to do the same again.

It's a humbling feeling knowing that so many people took a hand.

Pontefract South had one of the highest turnouts with more than half of all people eligible actually voting. For the ones that didn't that's your choice and maybe you didn't see anything that you could relate to, or hear a point of view that made sense for you.

Perhaps we all need to try harder next time.

For the ones that did take a hand, good on you. Even if you voted for the other candidates.

If you see me around say hello.

Cheers and thank you.

Geoff

Tribal Politics in Yorkshire - Time for a change then!

In this part of Yorkshire people have often looked at Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford as really solid Labour heartland. As a result you see several of the Labour Party's key players taking shelter in "safe Labour Seats" in South and West Yorkshire.

Well times are  changing. Whilst it is not uncommon to meet people whose great grandparents voted Labour, grandparents and parents too because its the party of the..... whatever actually a number of people are expressing concerns about how Labour has lost touch. How Labour politicians have become rich as their supporters have struggled.

A number have talked about Ed Millibands socialist party in government but managed by Nicola Sturgeon's SNP and the impact of their spend spend spend plans.

More questioning people have started to look at other possibilities or choices. The outcome for me has been the welcome sound of people on the doorstep talking about their grandparents voting habits but finish by saying they intend to vote for me on Thursday. Or that they already have voted for me by post. Welcome and encouraging feedback, We will see how that works through at the count on Friday.

If you are one of those who are yet to decide or if you always have voted Labour. Take a day off on Thursday and vote Geoff Walsh for Pontefract South in the local elections and Beth Prescott for Westminster in the General Election. 

If you are reading this in Yorkshire or other English Constituencies and would like the benefit of a Conservative Government on Friday morning please make sure you exercise your vote and Vote Conservative.