Newspaper column 25 September - More good news for Spaceport Cornwall!

While Parliament has not been sitting I have been pleased to have been out and about around Mid-Cornwall speaking to local people and businesses about what matters to you.

Last week it was great to go along to Fowey and join the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Fowey Harbour Commissioners.

I also joined the St Columb Minor Residents Association at the Farmers Arms for a question answer session on all sorts of local and national issues. I have another Meet your MP session coming up tonight (25 September) at the Godolphin Arms in Newquay from 1830, and then another at the Carlyon Arms in St Austell on Wednesday 2 October from 1830. Anyone is welcome to come along and see me and there is no need to book an appointment.

At the weekend I was delighted to join with the Marine Conservation Society and children from Gorran School to carry out a beach clean on Gorran Haven beach as part of the MCS’s Great British Beach Clean Weekend. It was wonderful to see the children so enthusiastic about taking care of where we live.

Meanwhile on Wednesday I welcomed the decision by Cornwall Council’s Cabinet to award £12 million funding for Spaceport Cornwall.

The award brings the project, which will see Cornwall become the base of the country’s first horizontal launch spaceport, move closer to fruition.

I have always been clear that the vision for Spaceport Cornwall, one that was just a pipe dream when I was first elected and one that I have been proud to support and help make reality, is one that could transform Cornwall.

As well as the exciting benefits for Cornwall locally, we should also be mindful of how Spaceport Cornwall fits in the national context of the UK Government’s space ambitions, that would see it becoming the UK centre for the launching of satellites for commercial and government use.

I also see Spaceport Cornwall as a way to restore Cornwall to a leading pioneer in a modern, high tech and growing industry. A place our children will be able to grow up and stay with bright and vibrant careers. At a time when we need to see more of our young people inspired to take up engineering and technology what better than to have a thriving space industry on our doorstep to raise their aspirations.

Having worked to bring the UKs first horizontal launch spaceport to Newquay Airport, since before I was elected in 2015, including securing £7.85 million of Government funding, I am pleased that we remain on track for lift off in 2021.

Thank you and well done to all those at Cornwall Council and the Spaceport Cornwall team for this important step forward.

My team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone needing support. The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm (no appointment necessary). If there is an issue you would like my assistance on then please, either visit the office or contact me on either 01726 829379 or office@stevedouble.org.uk. Additionally, I hold regular, appointment only, advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can be found at: www.stevedouble.org.uk/events

Campaign response - Please ask International Development Secretary to attend global children's health milestone event

Thank you to constituents who have written to me to to ask to urge the Secretary of State for International Development Alok Sharma MP to attend the first ever UN High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage in New York on 23 September 2019.

I will be more than happy to pass on this kind invitation and the points constituents made to Alok when I have the opportunity to do so.

DFID has made a very clear statement to Parliament in July that it is fully backing the UN’s Universal Health Coverage report and work to further health coverage throughout the world, and as such there is every intention that the UK will be sending a delegation to the meeting:

“The UK pioneered Universal Health Coverage through the establishment of the National Health Service and we continue to host many of the best medical scientists and practitioners in the world. Good health is a foundation for development; it enables people to go to school, go to work, and contribute to the economy. It is firmly in the UK’s national interest to work with countries to promote good health, to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks, and to contribute to the fight against antimicrobial resistance… The UK will also support the High-Level meeting on Universal Health Coverage at the UN General Assembly in September.”

Campaign reply - You're invited to discuss the new autism strategy

I have recently been contacted by a number of constituents as part of a campaign inviting me to an event hosted by The National Autistic Society where I will have the opportunity to discuss the autism strategy with autistic people, their families and professionals.

I welcome the increased priorities given to helping people on the autism spectrum, which is becoming more understood as we understand the many different ways these conditions can impact on the lives of people who have them.

I would be happy to attend this event, Parliamentary business allowing, and hope to use my experience to inform my  thinking on the autism strategy in the future.

Campaign response – Save free TV licences

Over the past few weeks a group of constituents have got in touch with me to ask me to urge the Prime Minister to save free TV licences for over-75s from being scrapped.

They will be pleased to know that the Prime Minister has now sent a strong and public message to the BBC that they must reconsider their decision to scrap free TV licences and the impact it will have on the elderly and the vulnerable.

The former Chancellor first announced in the 2015 summer budget that the Department for Work and pensions will cease to fund free TV licences for those aged 75 and over from 2019/20, and that the BBC will instead absorb the cost of this and take responsibility for the policy.

At the time, the government agreed to boost the BBC’s income by increasing licence fee each year in line with inflation and requiring iPlayer users to have a TV licence.

This shift of financial burden from taxpayers to the BBC to fund free TV licences is based on an intention to deliver sound public finances and is one that I support.

The BBC also agreed at that time that this was a good deal for them.

The BBC is operationally independent from the Government, so the announcement to scrap free TV licences is very much its own decision.

To be clear, neither myself nor anyone in the Government made or supported this decision. I wanted and expected the BBC to take on the provision of free TV licences.

In 2017-18, the BBC received over £3.8 billion in licence fee income—more than ever before. The BBC is also making over £1 billion a year from commercial work, such as selling content abroad, which can be reinvested.

Taxpayers clearly want to see the BBC use its substantial financial income appropriately and ensure that it delivers for UK audiences.

I expressed disappointment with the BBC’s decision to no longer provide free TV licences for over-75s when it was announced earlier this year, despite reviewing over 190,000 submissions in the public consultation exercise it ran.

With several proposals on the table, the BBC has taken the most narrowly defined reform option that will have the biggest impact on older people.

Like the Prime Minister I continue to believe that the BBC can and ought to do more to support over-75s who have contributed so much to our society.

I support the Prime Minister’s call for the BBC to review its decision and will be speaking up for many constituents who want to see free TV licences for the elderly reinstated.

Please rest assured that I know how strongly many constituents feel about this issue. I will continue to urge the Government to make the strongest possible representation to the BBC when Parliament returns in October.

Newspaper column 18 September 2019 - No we shouldn't cancel Brexit!

As mentioned last week, I am back in Mid-Cornwall and looking forward to spending the next few weeks talking to as many local people and businesses as possible. I have already had a very positive meeting with local councillors and Cornwall Council for an update on the plans for the £85m St Austell-A30 link road, and will be holding Meet your MP events in Newquay next week on the 25^th from 6.30pm at the Godolphin Arms and in St Austell on 2^nd October from 6.30pm at the Carlyon Arms in St Austell.

Over the weekend I was a bit taken aback to see the headlines coming out from the Liberal Democrat conference. This was newsworthy for all the wrong reasons. They have finally been honest with the public and admitted that their primary goal is simply to cancel Brexit.

For a party that has the term ‘Democrat’ in its name, making your primary goal to ignore and revoke the result of the biggest ever vote probably isn’t a good idea. I know 17.4 million people, including the tens of thousands of us locally, who aren’t very happy right now, as well as the many more who just want to see the fair democratic result following 2016’s vote to be carried out and for us to move on.

The argument from the Lib Dems is that Brexit is the cause of the current political situation and that the easiest way out of it is to just call the whole thing of and cancel Brexit. Firstly, as far as I can see it isn’t Brexit that is the cause of the current chaos but not delivering Brexit. It is not the fault of the millions who voted to leave, but it is those who have refused to honour the result and have worked in every way they can to undermine and thwart a positive outcome.

Any thought that cancelling Brexit will bring an end to the crisis we find ourselves in is quite simply ridiculous. Trust is already at a low ebb and for many seeing the result of the referendum just cast aside would only further damage their already fragile trust in democracy. It would simply prolong the uncertainty and deepen the divisions. Many people would understandable feel that the political establishment is set against them and their votes count for little.

This was swiftly followed by a car crash of an interview with the Lib Dem candidate for North Devon in which they said, on BBC Radio 4, that support for Brexit in the area was down to the fact that  ‘it’s 98% white’ and ‘they don’t travel a lot’. They went on to say that ‘I do not link all leave voters to hate crime’, and even talked about race as another factor.  This is an appalling attitude to people who voted leave for very genuine reasons and is quite frankly unacceptable.

It is clear that the Lib Dems in the South West view voters with contempt, believing that they simply know best. It is very sad that a party that carries the Liberal tradition of David Penhaligon has come to this.

The only way to bring this situation to some sort of closure is to deliver on the referendum result, leave the EU on 31^st October and get back to Parliament being able to focus on the things the country really wants us to address. It is quite clear there is only one leader who is committed to doing that and this is why I am happy to give Boris Johnson my full support.

My team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone needing support. The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm (no appointment necessary). If there is an issue you would like my assistance on then please, either visit the office or contact me on either 01726 829379 or office@stevedouble.org.uk. Additionally, I hold regular, appointment only, advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can be found at: www.stevedouble.org.uk/events

Campaign reply - The prorogation of Parliament

A number of constituents have sent a campaign email regarding the Scottish court ruling on the prorogation of Parliament. What is most telling is that it makes no reference to the English court ruling of opposite finding. Now the matter will go to the Supreme court.

It would be inappropriate  for me to say much more pending that hearing. We must wait and see what the courts rule.

There is though the bigger picture to consider. These are frankly dangerous times for our democracy and the feeling of many is that we are in the midst of an establishment stitch up to stop the democratic will of the people and usurp the referendum result.  Wherever I go in the constituency the clamour is growing ever stronger that we must leave the EU.

As I promised during the referendum campaign and the recent election I will do all I can to ensure we leave.

Campaign response - Free movement

Thank you to constituents who have recently got in touch with me about their
concerns about the ending of free movement after Brexit.

I understand how important it is that the government gets it right what our
future immigration system.

We voted to leave the EU and its institutions, but we did not to leave
behind our friends and family from the EU who are already in the UK. I have
been clear that I want to see EU citizens who have contributed so much to
our economy and community remain here after we Brexit, deal or no deal.

In August the Home Office published its latest information on the Settled
Status Scheme, which showed that over 1 million EU citizens have now been
granted settled status - just five months after the Scheme fully opened. The
Scheme is clearly performing better than expected, and will remain a key
part of the government's immigration policy post Brexit, deal or no deal.

I have not been made aware of any refusals/difficult cases in our
constituency. On the contrary a number of people I know from the EU were
granted settled or pre-settled status in a matter of hours after submitting
their information and documents on the smartphone app.

Whether or not we leave with a deal, EU nationals in the UK will have until
at least the end of 2020 to apply. This date is under review and the
government may decide to extend it to allow for more EU nationals to
register within the timeframe.

In addition to a mass communication and marketing campaign across the
country to make EU citizens aware of the scheme, the Government has also
awarded £9 million worth of funding to community organisations to provide
support to vulnerable or hard-to-reach groups to complete their
applications.

This week the Government has also announced plans for a new European
temporary leave to remain scheme for our European friends who wish to move
to the UK to live and work here after a no-deal Brexit and before the new
immigration system is implemented.

We are ending the freedom of movement - a key promise made during the EU
referendum of 2016 - to deliver what the people voted for. Ending the
freedom of movement in its current form is the starting point for our new,
fairer and more effective immigration system.

Further discussions need to be had about what additional arrangements should
look like, but while taking back control is important, nevertheless I want
to see that our immigration system is able to deliver for our economy and
for our businesses, by looking outwards and bringing to the UK the skills
and talent that we desperately need.