The day after another outrage

After another awful act of barbarity most of the major political parties are suspending national campaigning. Local campaigning is allowed to continue. This is obviously a sensitive issue, and one where mixed feelings are seen.

Uppermost in my mind are the victims of last night's terror act, and their loved ones. Such loss and injury must cause all sort of heartbreak and sadness.

This is the second terrorist act in the General Election campaign. Innocent lives lost and damaged forever by persons who lunacy is apparently unbounded.

The terrorists cannot be allowed to win. Their victory will be the altering of our lives, and this includes how we conduct our democracy. Of course we must tighten security measures and be mindful of the those who have suffered loss and injury, but we cannot allow democracy to be derailed.

Each of us reacts in different ways, and I pass no judgement on any of my political friends for how they choose to respond to such outrages. One thing is certain, and that we should be discreet. Some will go further and refrain from political activity, others will want to carry on as usual. Residents and voters  will also have mixed feelings, and those of us determined to attempt even modest campaigning must be mindful that some will not be appreciative on a day like this.

Above all, campaigning or not, let us remember those who suffer.

I support Samaritans #LocalActionSavesLives

MISSING: Patricia Finnie

https://www.facebook.com/EssexPoliceUK/videos/1385197031564193/?autoplay_reason=gatekeeper&video_container_type=0&video_creator_product_type=2&app_id=2392950137&live_video_guests=0

Me and Harold Salkin

Accosted at lunch the other day by this gentleman, who told me of his working for Labour in the 1945 General Election.

As I was leaving he gave me his business card, wherein I discovered he was a writer.

Look here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cradle-True-Art-Harold-Salkin/dp/1909421499

Local candidate Julian Ware-Lane pledges support for local pubs and brewers

CAMRA’s 187,000 members in the East of England are asking candidates to promote and celebrate Britain’s 1,540 breweries and over 50,000 pubs by considering a range of measures to help make pub-going and beer drinking more affordable for UK consumers.

Julian Ware-Lane has committed to:

·         Celebrate and promote Britain’s breweries

·         Support action to help pubs thrive

·         Represent the interest of pub-goers, beer and cider drinkers if elected into the next Parliament

Beer, brewing and pubs support nearly 900,000 jobs and contribute £23.1bn to the  economy annually. Candidates are therefore being urged to ensure the sector is not left behind in the Brexit negotiations due to take place in the coming years.

Julian Ware-Lane says: “I am proud to be speaking up for pubs and real ale. Well-run community pubs play a crucial role in local life and can have a huge impact on people’s happiness and social inclusion. If elected, I will continue to show my support in the next Parliament.”

Colin Valentine, CAMRA’s National Chairman says: “We are delighted that Julian Ware-Lane has pledged their support for beer and pubs. Pubs are a uniquely British institution which showcase our nation’s brewing tradition while providing an essential community facility for those that use them. It is therefore critical that pub-goers and beer drinkers are not left behind when it comes to negotiating Britain’s future over the coming years.”

  

About CAMRA

CAMRA is consumer group with 187,000 members which acts as the independent voice for real ale drinkers and pub goers.

Regional Information:

Region	CAMRA members	# Jobs	Contribution to local economy
East of England	21964	91,347	£2billion
East Midlands	28680	57,158	£1.5billion
London	15817	92,486	£3.5billion
North East	19837	31,996	£805.million
North West	23600	106,829	£2.5billion
Northern Ireland	405	16,705	£379.million
Scotland	5104	58,320	£1.7billion
South East	24512	134,440	£3.1billion
South West	15629	91,019	£2billion
Wales	4487	45,057	£836million
West Midlands	17797	89,243	£3billion

www.camra.org.uk/pledgeforpubs

Proud of our community - Ashley Dalton

Rail passengers £1,000 better off under Labour

The Borough of Southend-on-Sea has nine railway stations. Southend West has two. Many in the constituency are commuters, most often into London on the c2c line. Rail fares is a hot topic for these commuters.

 

·        The next Labour Government will put rail passengers first by putting the brakes on rapidly increasing rail fares and saving commuters £1,014 on their season tickets

·        Under a Labour Government, passengers will on average save £1,014 on their rail season tickets over the next parliament, compared to the potential cost under a Tory Government.

·        Since 2010, regulated rail fares have risen by 27.1 per cent, increasing the average cost of a season ticket by £594.

·        The 2015 Conservative manifesto included a commitment to keeping rail fares frozen in real terms. However, regulated fares were capped at the Retail Price Index (RPI), which consistently over-estimates inflation, rather than the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Labour will cap regulated fair rises at the Consumer Price Index (CPI), using the money saved through bringing rail franchises back into public ownership. As more services come into public ownership, greater amounts of savings become available, and Labour will aim to introduce further fare caps or reductions.