Newspaper column wc 26/12/22 - Looking back over a busy year

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and was able to take some time to reflect on why we celebrate this special day.

Speaking of reflection, I want to take this opportunity to look back at the year we have had as the end of 2022 approaches. 

I want to begin my column by mentioning one of the most historic and significant moments of this year, the sad death of our late Queen, Elizabeth II. I had the privilege of being involved in the many Platinum Jubilee events that were held across Mid-Cornwall in May of this year and saw people of all ages came together to celebrate her unparalleled reign.

The death of Her Majesty in September saw the nation unite once more in mourning for Elizabeth II and I was honoured to have taken part in events both locally and in Westminster around the Queen’s State Funeral and the Accession to the throne of Charles III.

Earlier this year we also saw the passing of our beloved D-Day veteran and local hero Harry Billinge, who touched the lives of so many, including mine, with his brave service to his country and tireless fundraising work to honour his fallen comrades.

I couldn’t write this column without also mentioning the big changes we saw at Number Ten as Boris Johnson stepped down as Prime Minister to be replaced by Liz Truss, albeit only briefly, before former Chancellor Rishi Sunak became our current Prime Minister. I will always be very grateful for everything Boris Johnson achieved, both for our country and for Cornwall, while in office.

On a more personal note, the change of Prime Minister saw changes for me and my role in Government. I started the year in the Whip’s office and in July was pleased to accept a role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

I returned to the back benches in September however, I was pleased to be reappointed to the Whip’s Office by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in October, where I remain today.

However, regardless of my role in Government, my main priority will always be working to deliver for our constituency and I look forward to continuing to do this whether or not I have a role in government.

Now to matters in the constituency where work has begun this year on a number of exciting projects this year.

We have seen the start of work on the A30 Link Road to connect the town and the A30, to provide a direct route from the A30 to St Austell and take through traffic away from the nearby villages. This is something I have lobbied Ministers on since before being elected MP and is the single biggest piece of Government infrastructure spending in Cornwall, at £85million. It has now been signed off and construction started in June.

We also saw the Government grant the first ever license for the launching of satellites from European soil at Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay, and as I write this, the launch date will be imminent. This is something that I have been involved with very closely and am excited to see happen. It is the first time anything like this has ever been done in the UK and is a huge achievement by all involved.

Speaking of achievement, I was pleased to work with Cornwall College and the Department for Education to secure a multi-million-pound funding boost that will allow Cornwall College to build a new campus in St Austell. This is ground-breaking for the town as it will support future generations and I look forward to continuing to support Cornwall College in its aspirations as a career college going forward.

I have also stood up and spoke at the Boundary Commission’s public hearing against proposals that would have seen the clay area communities split up and put in different Parliamentary constituencies, along with Par and St Blazey. I am pleased that following my representations the Boundary Commission has now withdrawn these proposals.

Housing issues have also continued to be a big part of my work. I know this is a big concern for many constituents which is why I have been pleased to work with Ministers to ensure measures are introduced to better regulating the holiday let industry through the Levelling Up Bill, such as Cornwall Council setting up a registration scheme for holiday lets in their areas and consulting on planning permission being required when a property is changed from residential to holiday use.

This year we also saw the continuation of the Government’s levelling up agenda, with confirmation of its replacement for EU funds, the Shared Prosperity Fund, worth more than £130million for Cornwall.

We also saw the Government confirm its long-awaited devolution deal for Cornwall, with an additional £360million of funding for Cornwall, as well as a new office of elected Mayor up for discussion.

I hope this has given just a glimpse of some of the work I have done on your behalf over 2022 and will continue to do.

As ever, I want to say a huge thank you to my team who have been busier than ever supporting me to assist constituents with issues. This year my team and I have received and replied to nearly 20,000 emails, dealt with nearly 9,000 individual pieces of casework on behalf of local residents and businesses, ranging from housing and benefit enquiries to visa applications and energy issues.

May I wish you all a Happy New Year and I look forward to continuing to serve our constituency and Cornwall through 2023 and beyond.

My office is now closed and will reopen at 10am on January 3, 2023. However, you can still contact me by emailing steve.double.mp@parliament.uk or calling 01726 829379 and leaving a message. I will get back to anyone requiring urgent help.

 

Newspaper column wc 19 December 2022 - Looking towards Christmas

Parliament has now risen for Recess and so I am working in the constituency and looking forward to taking some time off with my family later this week for Christmas.

I hope you will also be able to take some time to enjoy the festive season with your friends and family and celebrate this special day.

Over the last year I have been contacted about all manner of things, but something that has remained a very important issue for me and many people in our constituency, which they have expressed significant concerns about, is illegal immigration.

That is why I am pleased to see that the Prime Minster has now set out new plans to address this issue. These include a new agreement with Albania so that the vast majority of Albanian claimants can be removed; a new, permanent, unified Small Boats Operational Command in the channel with 700 new staff and tougher immigration enforcement with 200 new staff and better data sharing with banks.

They will also see cheaper accommodation sites so we can move migrants out of hotels such as the Beresford in Newquay and also clear the initial asylum backlog by 2023 by doubling the number of caseworkers and radically streamlining the process.

The Prime Minister has also announced that legislation will be introduced in early 2023 to make it clear that if you enter the UK illegally you should not be able to remain but should be swiftly detained and removed.

I fully support the Government in its efforts to tackle illegal immigration and look forward to seeing the Prime Minister’s plans in action. The UK has a proud and long history in being a safe sanctuary for those genuinely seeking refuge from war or persecution, such as we have seen recently with those from Ukraine who have come to Cornwall

However, our hospitality should not be abused as some have been doing and it is right we close these loopholes whilst continuing to provide safe routes for those that need it.

Now turning to some good news for schools in our constituency. Last week the Government announced that it will be providing extra investment for Mawgan-in-Pydar Primary School in St Mawgan and also Poltair School in St Austell to improve facilities as part of School Rebuilding Programme.

This is something that I have been working closely with the Government on as I understand that the quality of facilities in schools can have a significant impact on a student’s learning.

I am pleased to see that the two schools will both benefit from the School Rebuilding Programme, backed by £1.8 billion in 2022–34 to rebuild and refurbish 239 more schools across the country. This will see old buildings updated and modernised to create state-of-the-art sports halls, music rooms, science labs, and dining areas.

It’s great to see the Government continuing to invest in our schools to provide children with the best opportunity to succeed and helping them to learn and develop and achieve their full potential. 

Finally, I would just like to take this opportunity to thank all those who will be working over the festive period in our NHS and care sectors, those who work in retail and hospitality, our local police and other emergency services and our armed forces who keep us and others safe all over the world, all year round. Thank you for all you do

However you spend your Christmas, I hope you have a good one and I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year for 2023.

My office will be closed from 12 noon on December 22, 2022 and reopen at 10am on January 3, 2023. However, you can still contact me by emailing steve.double.mp@parliament.uk or calling 01726 829379 and leaving a message. I will get back to anyone requiring urgent help.

 

Newspaper column 14 December 2022 - More powers to control holiday lets

Housing, and in particular its availability and affordability, has been an issue in Cornwall for many years. However, it has grown significantly worse over the last few years due to the massive increase in demand for holiday lets and Airbnbs which I know people are concerned about popping up in communities across Cornwall.

Cornwall has seen a massive rise in the number of properties converted into Airbnbs. In January 2016 there were 17 Airbnb properties in Cornwall. According to data from holiday rental research firm AirDNA, there were 20,688 active Airbnb and Vbro rentals in Cornwall as of August 2022.

Housing continues to remain one of the biggest problems that people raise with me and is something I, and other MPs, have been working with the government to address.

That is why I am pleased to see that the government has now announced new measures to manage the number of holiday lets in Cornwall. This follows the Government consulting on a potential scheme earlier this year.

As you will know, I have been working with Ministers for many months to ensure these important measures would be included in the Levelling Up Bill as it completes its passage through the House of Commons.

I am glad to see the Secretary of State confirm that the Levelling Up Bill will include the ability for Cornwall Council to set up a registration scheme for holiday lets in the county. As an MP who represents an area with disproportionate numbers of these properties in their constituencies, I have been calling for this action for a while.

A register of holiday lets will not only allow Cornwall Council and the Government to better understand their impact on the communities they are in, but also better regulate this sector in the future.

But it does not end there. The Secretary of State has also confirmed he will be consulting on plans which would mean holiday let owners need to submit a ‘change of use’ planning application with local planning authorities having a say on whether or not they agree with the changes.

I am delighted to see these measures being proposed as they are significant steps towards enabling Cornwall Council to manage the impact of holiday lets on our local housing market.

However, I do believe that we need to remember that the housing crisis in Cornwall will not be resolved overnight. The county still faces some significant challenges, such as the high demand for houses and low supply and lack of affordable homes which was only exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.  

I understand that the rise in house prices and demand for holiday accommodation has seen many local families struggle to find homes to rent, or they have been priced out of the market, but I do believe that the measures announced by the government go some way to bringing balance back to the housing market.

The details of how the scheme would be administered will be consulted on before 2023’s summer recess, with a view to the scheme being up and running as soon as possible thereafter.

I know these measures will be something Cornwall Council will be keen to progress and look forward to working with them and my colleagues in Westminster to ensure they are in place as soon as possible.

As ever, if I can be of assistance on this matter, or any other, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – call: 01726 829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column 7 December 2022 - The Devolution Deal for Cornwall

  

On Friday we saw another important step being taken towards a new era for Cornwall with the signing of a historic £360 million devolution deal between the Government and Cornwall Council.

This historic deal, which transfers additional money and power into the hands of local leaders in Cornwall, is the first single county deal of its kind to be announced and shows the Duchy leading the way once again. This deal will now go out for public consultation before Cornwall Council makes a final decision next year.

I am pleased to see that we are now building on the previous 2015 devolution deal for Cornwall and taking the next step towards unlocking further benefits of devolution for the half a million people who live here.

 

Some of the key features of the deal include Cornwall’s first ever long-term, fully devolved investment fund of £360m guaranteed for the next 30 years; Powers to improve local skills to ensure these meet the needs of the local economy; £8.7 million to support the building of new homes on brownfield land; An additional £500,000 for transport planning to support the area to improve key transport infrastructure priorities and new powers to drive the regeneration of Cornwall and to build more affordable homes.

There is also up to £10 million for housing and heritage-led regeneration to support the delivery of locally determined priorities in Cornwall, and £500,000 of funding to protect and promote the Cornish language.

The deal also includes a commitment from government to work with Cornwall to finds ways to better manage the impact of second homes and holiday lets.

This significant deal could also mark a new era of political leadership by establishing a different relationship with the Government for Cornwall. This presents a huge opportunity for Cornwall and gives us the chance to obtain more decision-making powers and millions of pounds of additional investment to deliver on priorities for the people of Cornwall.

There has been a lot of speculation and rumour about the devolution deal, however, now that this ground-breaking announcement has been made, people can see for themselves exactly what this will mean for Cornwall rather than taking other peoples’ word for it: www.gov.uk/government/publications/cornwall-devolution-deal-kevambos-digresennans-kernow

I want to make it clear that this is the start of that journey, not the end, and what’s in the immediate deal, although very positive, is not the end of the story. The devolution deal will provide Cornwall with the basis to continue to negotiate with the government for more additional funding and powers to make the changes we want to see here happen.

There has also been much misunderstanding about what a Mayor will mean for Cornwall. Instead of 87 councillors choosing who will lead Cornwall Council, everyone living in Cornwall will be able to have a say on who will lead the Duchy.

 

This is not about creating another layer of bureaucracy, but about ensuring the Leader is elected by the people of Cornwall, who best understand what Cornwall needs. This will give the council leader a greater democratic mandate and can be directly held to account by the people of Cornwall.

The devolution deal will also give the Duchy a much higher profile and puts us around the table with people like the Mayors of London, Greater Manchester and West Midlands.

A lot has been said about what this deal will mean for Cornwall, but I hope people can now see for themselves and make up their own mind rather than listening to speculation and rumours.

There will now be a comprehensive consultation by Cornwall Council to listen to the views of people across Cornwall and I would encourage everyone to have their say and feed into that conversation. The 10-week consultation is set to begin on 9 December and if supported, the election of a Mayor for Cornwall will take place in May 2024.

I now look forward to working with my colleagues in Westminster and Cornwall Council to progress this important deal which has the potential to drive real improvements and outcomes for the people of Cornwall.

 

As ever, if I can be of assistance on any matter, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel: 01726 829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column 30 November - Supporting local businesses

 

After a November that has flown by, we are now heading into December and towards the Christmas season, with everything that that entails. For my column for this week I wanted to focus on my recent experiences of some of our excellent local businesses and some of the initiatives that are there to promote and support them.

Last week was Family Business Week, a week-long celebration of family businesses as a force for good. These firms are the backbone of our economy and the bedrock of our communities.  However they are often overlooked, and the scale of their impact on our lives is underestimated.  Family Business Week is a campaign designed to ensure these firms get the recognition they deserve, and to celebrate their amazing work.

After a busy time in Parliament last week I visited the Ryder family, who run several businesses including Summercourt Travel, Travel Cornwall and Merlin Vehicle Rental from Summercourt.

It was great to see a truly intergenerational team working together in a strong family business, just one of so many who operate across our constituency.

Over the weekend it was good to duck out some of the terrible weather and visit the Charlestown Christmas Market, which was held at Penrice School in St Austell. Although I am sure many people were swamped with ‘Black Friday’ ads from big businesses, it was brilliant to see so many exceptional small local businesses represented at the Christmas Market, with thousands of people visiting over the two days it was on. This sort of event was sadly missed during the COVID-19 pandemic and it is great to see them returning now across the constituency as we have got back to normal.

My visit to the market over the weekend, got me thinking towards Small Business Saturday, which takes place on this coming Saturday, 3 December.

Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to 'shop local' and support small businesses in their communities. The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses.

On Small Business Saturday, customers across the U.K go out and support all types of small businesses, online, in offices and in stores. Many small businesses take part in the day by hosting events and offering discounts. To encourage footfall in our towns and villages on Small Business Saturday, Cornwall Council is making all of its pays and display carparks free for the day.

We are truly lucky in Cornwall to have such an amazing array of small local businesses. As we approach Small Business Saturday, and the Christmas period, please do all you can to support them, so we can keep and grow this essential sector of our economy now and in the future.

If I can be of assistance on any matter, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

 

 

 

Newspaper column 23 November 2022 - Looking back on the Autumn Statement

Last week the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced his Autumn Statement as the country continues to face significantly difficult times due to the cost of the COVID-19 pandemic and Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.

Despite the difficult waters we are having to navigate, I was pleased to see the Chancellor’s statement include many positive announcements, including protecting the State Pension Triple Lock, confirming that benefits will be increased in line with inflation and the extension of the Energy Price Guarantee for a further 12 months as well as significant support for businesses.

The government have had to make some tough, but fair decisions to tackle inflation, balance the books and get debt falling. It is important that we get a grip on inflation as this is ultimately what makes everyone poorer. If we don’t act now, the country risks it dragging on for longer.

The Office for Budget Responsibility has made it clear that global factors are the primary cause of current inflation and expect the measures announced by the Chancellor to reduce this. The Bank of England also confirmed that it expects the package to keep interest rates lower for borrowers and mortgage holders, which is welcome news.

Nevertheless, I know that we all face very difficult times ahead and that is why I am pleased to see the government continuing to stand by those who are most vulnerable.

I was pleased to hear the Chancellor confirm that we will be keeping the State Pension triple lock. This means that in April next year, the State Pension will increase in line with inflation, which is the biggest annual cash increase in the State Pension ever. Millions of pensioners will now see an up to £870 rise in their State Pension payments and are guaranteed a pay rise every year.

This is something that concerned many of my constituents and from the start I made it very clear to the government that they should keep the promise made in our 2019 manifesto, so this is great news.

The government is also increasing benefits in line with inflation to protect the vulnerable. More than 10 million households in receipt of working-age and disability benefits will now see a much-needed increase. The average uplift for households Universal Credit will be around £600. I know many families are struggling and this will help to support them.

The National Living Wage is also going up, which will help millions of the lowest paid workers. From 1 April 2023, the National Living Wage will increase to £10.42 an hour for workers, which represents an increase of over £1,600 to the annual earnings of a full-time worker. This is the largest increase in the UK’s National Living Wage ever and shows this government is committed to helping and supporting those who need it the most.  

Putin’s weaponization of our energy has driven up our prices. The cost our country has incurred as a result is enough to have funded a second NHS. That is why the government is taking action to ensure we can become energy independent in the future. However, until that is possible, I am pleased to see the Chancellor commit to protecting all households across the country by extending the Energy Price Guarantee for another 12 months from April. This will save people another £500 and there will also be more funding for the Household Support Fund to help vulnerable households.

The Government is also acting to help businesses with an almost £14 billion business rate support package over the next five years, including an extended and increased relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses worth almost £2.1 billion. The relief scheme will increase from 50% to 75%, benefitting thousands of local pubs, restaurants and small high street shops in the constituency.

It is also good to see billions of pounds more funding due to be invested into our NHS and education system, to ensure people can get the start they need and access to top quality healthcare.

I acknowledge that these are tough times, but hopefully the decisive action this government takes now will see us through them as quickly as possible. As the Chancellor said: "There may be a recession made in Russia but there is a recovery made in Britain.”

 

If I can be of assistance on any matter, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column 9 November 2022 - Home Offices actions in Newquay

 

Over the past few weeks the issues around immigration have again taken priority in the national political scene. Both the illegal channel crossings themselves, but also how those who arrive are then dealt with.

We all know that one of the biggest challenges facing our country at the moment is the number of migrants and asylum seekers coming to the UK.

This was brought home to Cornwall over the weekend with confirmation that the Home Office is using a Newquay hotel to house a limited number of migrants and asylum seekers.

This is a national issue and each part of our country must do its bit to help.

Cornwall has a long and proud tradition of welcoming people seeking refuge, most recently with the commendable efforts made by our people and communities to help those displaced by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine via the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

However the move by the Home Office does raise a number of concerns. Over the weekend I have been in touch with Home Office Ministers, the Leader of Cornwall Council and local councillors, to ensure these people both get the support they need and that the Home Office takes steps to properly process them and take further action as required.

Firstly, I have made it clear that we expect the Home Office to process applications as quickly as possible to ensure those who are genuine refugees get the support they need and are able to move on to the next stage of their lives in the UK. Equally it is important that the Home Office identify those who are not refugees and that these people are repatriated to their own countries.

Secondly I have asked that resources be made available to Cornwall Council to ensure that while these additional people are living here, there is no impact on our already stretched local services.

Thirdly I have asked for a commitment from the Home Office that no hotel in Cornwall will be used in this capacity beyond the end of winter so as to not impact on our important tourist season.

I will continue to work with all involved, including our local police and Newquay Town Council, as well as those previously mentioned, to ensure that those who need our assistance get it in a prompt and timely manner while ensuring there is minimal impact on our local communities.

If you require my assistance with this matter or any other, please do get in touch with my office on 01726 829379 or email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column 12 October 2022 - Why we should increase benefit payments in line with inflation

 

We all know that the Government will have to make some difficult decisions to balance the books due to the cost of the package of tax cuts and increased borrowing. It has been suggested that one way to do this could be by freezing benefits or increasing them by less than the inflation rate.

This week the Prime Minister has confirmed that she will not be making a decision on whether to raise benefits in line with inflation until November.

At a time when we are all in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, I am disappointed to hear this. I do not understand why the Prime Minister and her Cabinet once again seem to be set on picking another fight with its back benchers.

Earlier this year, then Chancellor Rishi Sunak and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a firm commitment that benefits would rise in line with inflation from next year. I believe that when a promise is made it should be honoured.

The way in which the current legislation works means there will always be a time lag between the announcement in Autumn of the inflation rate, and the increase to benefits at the beginning of the next financial year, the following April. I understand this does cause a reduction in real time for the lowest-income households.

In April this year benefits were uprated by 3.1%, which was much lower than inflation at the time of the increase, which was around 9%. This meant that benefit rates for 2022/23 were worth less in real terms than the 2021/22 rates, and this is why a rise in line with inflation is crucial for the next year, hence the previous PM and Chancellor’s commitment to do so.

This is a promise that I believe should be kept and I do not understand why the new Prime Minister is not fulfilling that commitment. It is not right that low-income households should be hit hardest by rising inflation when we are already facing a cost of living crisis.

If the Government is giving tax breaks to people in work, it shouldn’t then try to balance the books by taking money away from people on benefits.

Contrary to what some senior figures in Government, have said, this isn’t as simple as people needing to go out and get a job. A lot of people in Mid Cornwall on Universal Credit are in work and this is a top-up of their wages so that they can afford to make ends meet. I believe that it is very important that the Government continues to support households in St Austell & Newquay in this way. 

In fact, over the last 10 years the benefits system has undergone a radical overhaul which ensures that work always pays. It has helped those people trapped in a cycle of dependency on legacy benefits, such as Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), break free and these benefits are gradually being phased out in favour of Universal Credit, which you can claim while working and which does not stop abruptly once you earn a certain amount of money, but instead tapers off to make the transition easier.

Yes, while there will always be a small number of people who do not want to work, the vast majority of people on benefits are also on them because they cannot work due to disabilities, have low paid jobs, or are unable to work additional hours.

 

To punish the most vulnerable people is simply wrong. Of course, we want to see more people in work. We also want people to be able to work more hours and get better paid jobs, and the system is there to help them do that.

I see first-hand the fantastic work of the Department for Work and Pensions staff in the St Austell & Newquay constituency to support people into work and more people than ever are now in employment. Helping people into jobs is the best way to support families in the long term.

However, we have to acknowledge the huge pressure that everyone is feeling at the moment, particularly for households on benefits as that is where the pressure is felt the most.

I believe the right thing to do will be to continue to help and support those households through the coming months, including by fulfilling the promise to raise their benefits in line with inflation. This is something I will continue to raise with the Government.

If you require my assistance with this matter or any other, please do get in touch with my office on 01726 829379 or email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column 05/10/22 - The Government listens to criticism...

 

Earlier this week the Chancellor made the decision to scrap the abolition of the 45p tax rate. From the moment it was announced I have made my views against this plan very clear and have always maintained that I believed it was a mistake.

I have been in constant contact with Ministers raising my concerns, and those of my constituents, about the cutting of the 45% tax band for those earning over £150,000.

I made no secret of the fact that I was concerned about the scrapping of the 45p tax rate and the impact this measure may have on inflation and interest rates in the coming months. My thoughts were shared by a number of constituents.

I, and many other MPs across the country, have made representations to the Government and are pleased the Chancellor has listened to those concerns and decided against pushing ahead with this. This shows the Government is willing to admit when they have got it wrong and are prepared to listen and change, and that is something I welcome.

I know that the scrapping of the 45p tax rate has overshadowed some of the very positive announcements in the budget, especially the support for both households and businesses with energy costs.

The Energy Price Guarantee will provide further support for households by limiting the amount the billpayer can be charged per unit of gas or electricity, so the exact bill amount will continue to be influenced by how much energy is used.

The scheme will also ensure a typical household pays an average £2,500 a year for their energy, and save a household £1,400 a year on average usage.

While the Energy Bill Relief Scheme will discount wholesale gas and electricity prices for all businesses, charities, schools and hospitals, which face excessively high energy bills over the winter period.

I also welcome the reversal of the National Insurance health and care levy and cut in the basic rate of income tax which will put more money into the pockets of everyone in work.

I do believe that simplifying our tax system and removing the higher rate tax band is the right thing to do, however I want to make clear that it has got to be at the right time when our economy is growing, and public finances are in a better position.

I do believe that now is the completely wrong time when so many households are going to be facing huge financial pressures in the coming months to pay their bills. As households up and down the country face increasing bills, this is the wrong time to be cutting taxes for the wealthiest.

The fact the Government has decided to scrap this plan shows that MPs have represented their constituents and because of this the Government has changed tact. I have done my job as MP, representing constituents’ concerns, and am pleased to have been able to persuade the Government to change their policy.

I understand that some people will be frustrated by the recent events and now look forward to working with my colleagues in Westminster to gain back the public’s trust and show that we remain the best people to be able to run this country, especially in the coming months ahead.

As always, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance. Please do get in touch if I can help – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

ENDS

 

Newspaper column 28 September 2022 - The Growth Plan

 

Last week the Chancellor set out his mini budget, which I was pleased to see will give people more money in their pockets at this difficult time and allow our economy the room it needs to recover.

The Growth Plan will tackle energy costs to bring down inflation, back business and help households through a range of measures, which include cutting average household energy bills by £1,400 this year.

We are living in extraordinary times and it is clear that the cost of living increases that we have seen, brought about by Putin’s illegal war on Ukraine, require an unprecedented response from the Government.

I am glad to see the new Chancellor taking swift action to address the areas of concern around the cost of living that myself and other MPs have raised, and I will continue to do all I can to ensure the Government hears the voice of Mid-Cornwall to ensure no one struggles through the winter months.

As part of the Chancellor’s Growth Plan, there was further good news for the constituency as a number of potential Investment Zones were announced, including Cornwall Airport Newquay. Investment Zones will play a crucial role in driving growth across the UK by lowering taxes and liberalising planning frameworks to encourage rapid development and business investment.

Cornwall Airport Newquay is a vital and growing part of Cornwall’s infrastructure. The announcement from the Chancellor confirms the potential the Government sees in the airport and I am pleased to see the Conservative Administration at Cornwall Council working with the Government to realise this.

This very welcome development will build on the existing enterprise zone status of the airport and provide prospective businesses looking to invest in the area incentives to do so.

Cornwall Airport Newquay joins a number of other sites in Cornwall that could benefit from this status including lower taxes – businesses in designated sites will benefit from time-limited tax benefits, and accelerated development.

However, this announcement is not only fantastic news for the airport, but the wider constituency. I am currently working with the Government and Cornwall Council to look to extend the Investment Zone to ensure it includes other opportunities in Mid-Cornwall, such as lithium extraction. It is exciting to see the progress being made towards full-scale, sustainable lithium production right here in the constituency and the potential to create a much greener future for us all.

Businesses in designated areas in investment zones will benefit from 100% business rates relief on newly occupied and expanded premises. Local authorities hosting Investment Zones will receive 100% of the business rates growth above an agreed baseline in designated sites for 25 years.

In addition, businesses will receive full stamp duty land tax relief on land bought for commercial and a zero rate for Employer National Insurance contributions on new employee earnings up to £50,270 per year.

I look forward to seeing more details on these exciting proposals and working with all concerned to help continue the growth of Cornwall Airport Newquay and potentially the wider area.

As ever, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance. Please do get in touch if I can help – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

ENDS

 

Newspaper column 22 September 2022 - Looking back on a momentous week

In the week since the death of Her Late Majesty, I have been honoured to perform duties on behalf of my constituents, in Westminster and in Truro & Falmouth, to both commemorate the late Queen and to welcome our new sovereign, King Charles III.

Last Friday lunchtime, I laid flowers on the green at Truro Cathedral, alongside Cornwall Council’s Chair, Pauline Giles and its Leader, Linda Taylor. In the evening I returned to attend a very moving Evensong and to sign the Book of Condolence. 

On Sunday, I returned again, to attend the proclamation of the new King.  This is an ancient ceremony and wonderful to be a part of.  In an age of 24-hour news and social media, the proclamation felt like a window onto times gone by, where county towns and villages would have heard the news for the first time at the proclamation, as well as confirmed their loyalty to the new monarch, by shouting “God Save the King!”.  Truro’s proclamation was read first in English, then in Cornish.

Straight after the Truro proclamation I was back to Westminster.  On Monday morning in Westminster Hall Members from the House of Lords and the Commons welcomed the new King and Queen Consort.  Addresses were read by Speakers of both Houses and a reply made by the King.  Westminster Hall is a building that has captured my imagination since I first visited it as a teenager.  The silence of this ancient hall, broken only boots of the King’s Guard or buglers was incredibly atmospheric.  We then had the honour of being the first audience to sign the National Anthem in the King’s presence and he appeared genuinely moved.

On Tuesday I stole a couple of hours and walked through St James’ Park towards Buckingham Palace and on to the garden of flowers in Green Park.  I was able to smell the fragrance from the tributes before I could see them.  Reading cards and tributes from young and old and from all over the UK and the world was quite something.  My faith in the goodness and kindness of people was reinforced by this experience.  Away from the usual divisions that I sometimes face as part of this role, this, I felt, was a truer representation of the hearts of people.

On Wednesday I was able to sign a book of condolence on behalf of my constituents in the House of Commons Library.  As well as sending our heartfelt condolences I welcomed Their Majesties.  I also expressed our gratitude for their hard work over many years as our Duke and Duchess.  As many of you will have seen, Wednesday was also the day Westminster Hall received Her Late Majesty to lie in state.  I was honoured to be the first Member of Parliament to enter the hall, once allowed, to pay the respects of my constituents to the Queen.  Many constituents are unable to make the journey to London and it was a genuine privilege to be able to convey their respects.  The gloriously bright and vivid purple, red and gold is a sight that will stay with me forever.

Back in Cornwall I have signed the book of condolence in Falmouth and there are further services to attend ahead of Her Late Majesty’s funeral, which is a National Day of Mourning. Since the Queen’s Death the Palace of Westminster has been in formal mourning and we are unable to conduct any meetings or business.  The House is expected to resume its business on Wednesday 21^st September.

However, we are still on hand here in the constituency to answer any queries that you may have please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.

Newspaper column 14 September 2022 - The Queen

Last week was a historic and significant week in so many ways, some of which I may write more about in the coming weeks.

But there is of course only one subject to write about this week - the sad death of our Queen Elizabeth II.

Much has been said about the length of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and how she was a reassuring constant for our country and the Commonwealth throughout her seventy years on the throne. Parliament sat over the weekend to allow MPs to give tribute, where we spoke about her sense of duty, her wisdom, her kindness, her sense of humour and about how she touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of constituents during her lifetime of devoted service to her country. As well as showing all of these qualities, the Queen was also seen around the world as a talented and diplomatic Head of State, navigating the waters of international diplomacy with great tact and skill over the years, which were reflected in the tributes paid by rulers from around the globe. But above all of these things, Elizabeth II was a mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and we must also all pass on our sympathies to the Royal Family for their loss, at this most difficult of times.

Personally, I was incredibly honoured to see the Queen on several occasions, both at Buckingham Palace during a Garden Party, and at the State Opening of Parliament, both formal occasions in Royal Palaces. However the meeting I will remember the most, was the time the Queen came to Cornwall, for what turned out to be her last visit to the Duchy. This was on the occasion of the G7 Leaders Summit, and the Queen joined the heads of state from the G7 countries at an event at the Eden Project. In order to get there, she came down on the Royal Train and alighted at St Austell station, where I was honoured to be in the civic line up to meet her. This was, in my memory, the only time that as well as the Queen visiting, we also had the then Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Charles and Camilla, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Katherine. Three generations of the Royal Family in St Austell at the same time. It was very clear at her visit, that this lady, while diminutive in stature and in her mid-nineties, was very much a commanding presence, who lit up the whole room and commanded our absolute respect. It is not protocol to share conversations you have with the Queen, but I will treasure them always.

We have seen further historic events this week. Over the weekend I was present at the reading of the Proclamation of Accession to the throne of our new King, Charles III, on the steps of Truro Cathedral by the High Sheriff of Cornwall. This is part of an ancient tradition, that predates the availability of mass media, so the first the general public would know of having a new monarch was when the proclamation was read out.

Then on Monday, the King and Queen Consort visited Parliament and we welcomed them to Westminster Hall, where he addressed both the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The King promised to uphold the constitution and thanked the Houses for their tributes to the Queen.

I wish King Charles III a long and prosperous reign, as well and also look forward to seeing the new Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, William and Katherine, in their new roles. Long Live the King!

 

Newspaper column 7 September 2022 - First week back

 

This past Monday saw Parliament return after the Summer Recess. It has been great spending some time with my family over the past few weeks, but also as always has been a good opportunity to get out and about and meet with people and businesses across Mid-Cornwall. Thank you to everyone who took the time to welcome me over the summer.

Monday also saw the conclusion of the leadership election with Liz Truss confirmed as the new Leader of the Conservative Party, who then also becomes Prime Minister, with this appointment taking place on Tuesday.

There were two very strong candidates for our next PM and I wish Liz Truss the very best in her new role.

While the Leadership competition has been taking place over the summer I was very clear to both candidates that top of their agenda needed to be looking at what more can be done to help families and businesses with the cost of living crisis. The increase of the costs of living, caused by Putin’s war in Ukraine, continues to be an issue I am regularly contacted about. While the Government has already put a wide number of measures in place to help, it is clear that this is a unique and rapidly evolving situation, and that the new Prime Minister will need to do more as we head into what will be difficult winter months.

As we come to the end of another summer season, I am also keen to hear feedback from residents and businesses about how it has been this year, particularly compared to the exceptional circumstances of the previous two years,

In particular we are having issues with providing affordable housing for local people in Cornwall, something which has been made worse by the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Another contributing factor to this has been the continuing rise of short-term holiday accommodation, particularly at the detriment of full time accommodation.

The Government has launched a new review to help understand the impact short-term holiday lets are having on housing in communities in tourism hotspots.

This comes following the rise in use of rental booking websites and apps, with a large increase in the number of properties listed on platforms such as Airbnb in recent years, especially in high tourist areas like Cornwall.

I am pleased to see the Government has listened to concerns and is taking positive action to ensure short-term holiday accommodation plays a positive role in Cornwall in the future.

This is not a ban on short-term holiday lets, as we understand the important part they play in supporting our local economy. This review will give us a better understanding of how we can best support local communities in those holiday hotspots, and also the tourism industry, to ensure that they can both work together.

I have launched a survey on my website www.stevedouble.org.uk to allow you to give me both your experiences of the recent summer season, and on short term holiday let accommodation.

This will help me gather views and information on peoples experiences of the summer season this year, as well as the benefits and challenges related to short-term lets.

I will then ensure your views are heard as part of my response to the Government, so they can decide what further action to take.

As ever, of I can be of any further assistance, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column 31 August 2022

I know the announcement last week of the increase in the energy price will be a cause of great concern for many households and businesses across mid-Cornwall. The ongoing impact of the pandemic and invasion of Ukraine continues to have a devastating effect on our economy.

The government has already announced a substantial package of support but it is clear that these latest prices mean that more needs to be done. I think most people appreciate that new policies, especially those that involve spending large amounts of public money are not allowed to be announced before a new Prime Minister and government are in place.

However, whoever wins the election to be the new Prime Minister, I will be making the case as soon as they are in office for further support to be announced and put in place as a matter of urgency.

We have now come to the end of another peak tourism season here in Cornwall. Schools are getting ready to go back and next week Parliament will return from summer recess. There is plenty to get to work on in the coming weeks ahead and I am looking forward to getting back to Westminster and representing our constituency in Parliament as your MP after spending the summer at home here in Mid-Cornwall.

The Duchy remains one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK and across Europe. I have particularly noticed many more European visitors this summer. Whilst this summer has clearly not been quite as noticeably busy as the last couple of years, we have still seen large numbers of tourists coming to enjoy all Cornwall has to offer, many who do return year after year, and I can understand why people love coming to visit our beautiful county.

Yes, we can all agree that there are some negative impacts for residents created by the number of tourists who visit the county. The roads get busy, shops can be crowded and maybe the places we locals like to visit can become overcrowded. This is nothing new, we have always been faced with these challenges as part and parcel of people wanting to visit Cornwall.

However, I know people are also concerned about the impact the number of second homes, holiday lets and Air bnbs popping up in communities across Cornwall has, along with the pressure tourists can place on our local NHS and other services.  This is an issue that the Government is addressing and is currently reviewing the effect of short-term holiday lets in popular tourism destinations, like Cornwall. The evidence will be used to look at the ways it can protect those communities and the tourism industry to ensure they can both work together.  

Another area that we are addressing is the impact of second homes. To tackle this, the Government is giving new powers to local authorities, like Cornwall Council, to be able to double council tax on unused second homes to boost funding for local services. This is something I have long campaigned for, both during my time as MP for St Austell and Newquay and also when I was a Cornwall Councillor.

I was also pleased to receive a letter last week from the Health Minister that recognised the challenges Cornwall is facing with our health services including waiting times for ambulances, delays in discharging people from hospital and the difficulty in recruiting staff. Whilst there are no quick and easy solutions, it was reassuring to know that the minister understands the unique combination of issues we face and the steps that are being put in place to help.  

However, I think it is important, despite all the challenges tourism can bring, that we recognise just how important it is to jobs and the economy in Cornwall. I have always been a strong supporter of the tourism industry, serving as Chair of the influential Hospitality and Tourism All Party Parliamentary Group for six years, and have seen its importance to the Cornish economy. In fact, our constituency of St Austell and Newquay depends on the tourism and hospitality sector more than any other single constituency in the country.

The sector plays a huge part in the lives of so many people in Mid-Cornwall. One in three households in Cornwall relies on tourism for at least part of their income as well as supporting hundreds of businesses in the wider supply chain from food and drink producers and tradesmen to retailers and service businesses like cleaners. We need to remember the value of tourism, and that overall, the positives do outweigh the negatives for Cornwall and its residents.

It’s also important that we continue to support our local hospitality and tourism businesses in Mid-Cornwall throughout the year to ensure they can continue to thrive outside of the summer months.

During summer recess, I have visited and met with businesses in the constituency, and listened to some of the challenges the business is facing as we recover from the impact of the pandemic as well as the rising cost of energy and other business costs, recruiting and retaining staff and the availability of affordable premises.

These conversations with local businesses and residents will help me in my discussions with the new Prime Minister and Ministers when they are in place next month to ensure we do all we can to support local businesses throughout the year.

I am proud to represent and serve a constituency that so many people want to come and visit for their holidays and will always be a vocal champion for our tourism sector and the businesses it supports.

As ever, of I can be of any further assistance, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

 

 

 

Newspaper column 27 July 2022 - a busy last week in Parliament before Summer Recess

 

Parliament has now risen for the summer which means I will be spending more time in our constituency, getting out and about trying to meet as many people and businesses as possible in the next few weeks, as well as spending time with my family.

Although Parliament has now risen, last week was a busy one. First up I met with the new Housing and Planning Minister, Marcus Jones, to make the case for further action to address the housing crisis in Cornwall.

The meeting, held at the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities, was an opportunity to ensure the new Minister understands the current challenges facing us here in Mid Cornwall and listens to the case for reforms to the planning system.

Housing, especially its availability and affordability for local people, continues to be one of the top issues that is raised with me by residents in the constituency, so I was keen to feed this back to the new Minister. It is important he is aware of the particular pressures we face, as well as proposals for what we need to do to improve the situation.

The Government’s new Planning and Regeneration Bill is currently passing through Parliament and provides an opportunity to take steps to ensure more housing is available to local people in the future.

In the meantime, the Government is running a consultation on the impact of short-term holiday lets on communities in tourism hotspots like Cornwall to help us understand the scale of this problem and take appropriate steps to alleviate it, such as introducing a register for short term holiday accommodation or further reforms to the planning system such as requiring change of use planning permission to convert to a holiday let.

However, it is important to remember that there are no quick and easy answers for the current housing issues we are facing, but we do need to take steps to ensure we are never in this situation again and I was pleased that the Minister listened to my concerns.

I will continue to do all I can to work with my Cornish MP colleagues, Cornwall Council and the Government to implement sensible and practical steps to ensure local people can access the housing they need.

Last week I also had the opportunity to visit St Austell Jobcentre and see the fantastic work that the staff are doing to support local people back into employment. This followed a very interesting and positive visit to Newquay Jobcentre a couple of weeks ago. 

This tied in with the recently released employment figures for St Austell and Newquay, which are excellent and really demonstrate how the hard work of the DWP staff in St Austell and Newquay Jobcentres is making a difference.

The figures for Universal Credit published by the Office of National Statistics show that in June 2022 there were 1,895 actual claimants in St Austell and Newquay constituency, which was 3.0% of the population aged 16-64. The equivalent UK claimant rate was 3.7%. There were 250 claimants aged 18-24, which was 3.5% of the population aged 18-24. The equivalent UK claimant rate was 4.3%.

 

Over the past year the number of claimants has fallen by 1,340 in our constituency, and the numbers of people in St Austell and Newquay claiming Universal Credit are also lower now than in March 2020 before the pandemic.

 

This is good news and thanks to all at the Department for Work and Pensions who work hard supporting people back into employment. It was also great to meet with some employers to talk about the innovative ways in which they are working with St Austell Jobcentre to get new staff.

I want to end this week’s column by talking about one of the highlights over the past year, which has been the return of local schools from Cornwall to Parliament. It’s always a pleasure to meet with pupils and last week I met with children from Penrice Academy in St Austell and spoke to them. Tours and visits haven’t been able to take place for a number of years due to covid, so it is great to be able to welcome them back.

Anyone who would like to book a tour of Parliament can do so via the website here: www.parliament.uk/visiting/ or contact my office and we will try to arrange it for you.

If I can be of any further assistance, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk

Column 13 July 2022 - My new Ministerial role

 

It was former Prime Minister Harold Wilson who coined the phrase “a week is a long time in politics”. Throughout my seven years as an MP there have been numerous periods when that phrase was relevant, but none more so than this past week.

As I am sure readers will be aware, I have been a supporter of Boris Johnson throughout the turbulent past few months, still believing he was the best person to lead our country through our current challenges. This was not a blind faith, but a view formed from seeing him deliver for our country time and again in recent times.

It was therefore incredibly difficult and indeed sad for me to come to the conclusion last week that he could no longer continue to govern our country and should, in the best interests of the county and the Conservative party, resign from office.

The events at the start of last week sadly showed that despite attempts to change the way his office in Downing Street operated, little change had taken place. We quickly and decisively reached a tipping point among MPs whereby many who had previously supported him withdrew their support with many resigning from the government ministerial roles.

As a member of the whip’s office, I was of course caught up at the heart of the turmoil. I know some locally, including local journalists and media outlets, questioned why I did not comment sooner in the week on the events taking place and publicly express my views. The explanation for this is simply due to the role I had. At times such as the past week the whip’s office play a vital role in ensuring Parliament continues to be able to function. Many people do not fully appreciate the amount of work that goes on to ensure Parliament is able to function smoothly. There is a great deal of management, organisation and administration that must take place to ensure not only the House of Commons chamber, but also the many committees that take place every day, happen without a hitch. A great deal of this work is carried out by the whips.

With so many ministers resigning, it was a full-time job to keep on top of what was happening and ensuring Parliament, and our democracy, continued to function. At a time like this, whatever our personal views, it is not appropriate or particularly helpful for whips to be giving a running commentary to the media or posting on social media. Another part of our role is to feed back to the Chief Whip the views and concerns of MPs. In order to be able to do this objectively, it is important that we are not clouding the conservations we have with our own views.

That is not to say I did not make my own views clear to the Chief Whip, I certainly did. Once I did put finger to keyboard, in the very early hours of Thursday morning, once it seemed likely that the Prime Minister would be stepping down, I was able to clarify my own thoughts and draft a statement. The statement I drafted reflected my feeling at that time. I was exhausted, mentally, emotionally and physically. The prospect of having to form a new interim government and the upheaval and effort it would need felt very heavy at that time. The last thing I wanted was the prospect of having to learn a new role in government, potentially a new department and working with new people. So I did include in that statement a line which said I would be happy to remain in the whips office but would not be accepting any new role in the government. It was a true reflection of my thoughts and feelings at that time – I meant it. As long as the uncertainty and lack of clarity over the Prime Minister’s leadership remained, I was not prepared to be in any other role.

However, 36 hours later when I had returned home to Cornwall, managed a reasonably good night’s sleep in my own bed and been able to get the events of the week into more perspective, I felt much better and much more positive about the clear path that has been set out towards an orderly transition of leadership in the autumn, as well as the formation of a new government to cover this interim period to provide stability and ensure essential government business would continue. Therefore, when the Prime Minister did call me on Friday afternoon and invited me to become a minister in the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), I was willing to consider it. I did not say yes immediately, but having carefully considered the offer and given the clear change in circumstances the Prime Minister’s resignation statement brought, I decided it was the right thing for me to do to support the functioning of government in these unprecedented times and accepted this new position. Another important reason that guided my thinking is that DEFRA covers many key areas that are particularly relevant to Cornwall such as agriculture, fishing, coastal and rural matters including things like sewage and of course environmental policy.

I know that there will be those who will criticise me for ‘changing my mind’. I did. However, it was Winston Churchill who once said, ‘those who never change their minds never change anything’.

The important thing for our country right now, whilst we go through this process of electing a new leader of the Conservative Party who will be our next Prime Minister, is to ensure this time is as smooth as possible. This means government ministerial roles need to be filled by those who are willing to serve in this way. I have no idea how long this new role will last but I am willing to carry it out to the best of my ability for as short or long as required to play my part to help our country through this time.