Greater Manchester Growth Deal set to boost Jobs, Skills & Economy

The Greater Manchester Growth Deal, which will see over £450million invested into Greater Manchester over the next few years, was strongly welcomed by Greater Manchester MPs Andrew Stunell, John Leech & Mark Hunter when it was announced today.

The deal will help to create 5,000 jobs, support over 75,000 people learning new skills and generate up to £80million in private and public investment.

Commenting, Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell said, “This is very welcome news for our area. The money for the transport interchange in Stockport is an excellent signal of support for regeneration in the town centre, which is vital for long-term prosperity.”

Manchester Withington MP, John Leech said, “This is welcome news for Greater Manchester and demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to developing the prosperity of Manchester. We have already seen hundreds of millions of pounds of investment in Greater Manchester from the Government, improving infrastructure, creating jobs and allowing Manchester to reach its potential.

Devolving power and funding to Greater Manchester will allow the region to shape its future and deliver the changes needed to improve the infrastructure and create thousands of jobs.”

Mark Hunter, MP for Cheadle said, “The Greater Manchester Growth Deal is terrific news for Cheadle constituency and the wider region. Along with the redevelopment of the public transport hubs and the additional support for local businesses, I am delighted that there will be new money to enhance local further education colleges – it is imperative that we continue to invest in our young people by providing more apprenticeship opportunities.”

The Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership today agreed an historic Growth Deal with the Government which will see £476.7million invested in Greater Manchester, £169.7million has been confirmed in the first year, and as part of the Government’s on-going commitment to the Greater Manchester LEP it has provided an indicative aware of a further £307million of funding from 2016/17 onwards.

The key features of the deal are:

  • Major investment in public transport and roads, including 12 new Metrolink trams, a new Quality Bus Network Route 8 from Bolton to Manchester, new transport interchanges in Ashton & Stockport Town Centres
  • Securing Greater Manchester and the North West’s place as a major centre for Life Science in the country with a new fund to be spent locally developing the industry.
  • Reforming public services so that vulnerable people are provided with targeted employment support and Greater Manchester Leaders have more control over how the ASB is spent in the city region

The Greater Manchester Growth Deal is part of a £12 billion long-term programme to revitalise local economies. The deals are the latest and greatest example of the British economy being rebuilt from the bottom up, and sharing the benefits of the recovery around the country.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, said – “The Greater Manchester Growth Deal will create thousands of jobs, provide incredible new training opportunities for young people, and improve transport links across the region for people and their families; building a stronger economy and a fairer society.”

“We’re placing the power and money in the hands of people in Greater Manchester who know how to spend it best, making a real difference to local communities.”

Local Euro-MP nominated for environment award

Tameside’s Lib Dem MEP has been shortlisted to win a prestigious award for his services to the environment. Chris Davies has been nominated to become a Parliamentarian of the Year for his work in promoting reform of Europe’s common fisheries policy.

All 766 MEPs will now vote to select the winners in each category who will be presented by The Parliament magazine with their awards at a ceremony in Brussels next month.

Chris has led the 85 strong European Liberal Democrat group on the EU Parliament Environment committee since he was elected in 1999. He has been described by WWF, the Worldwide Fund for Nature, as one of the ‘most influential’ MEPs for building coalitions in support of measures to protect the environment.

The MEP formed a cross-party campaign group, ‘Fish for the Future’, which helped to secure the votes of 502 MEPs in favour of ambitious reform.

The new fisheries policy is already being credited with helping to rebuild Europe’s depleted fish stocks. A ban on the discard of fish will be phased in from next year.

Davies said, “Reforming the CFP was a team achievement and I am hugely pleased to have played a part in bringing it about.

“Overfishing and bad practices have cut fish stocks and cost jobs, but we now have fishermen and scientists working together to bring about improvement. The future for fish and our fishermen is looking bright.”

“I was elected as an MEP to work with our European partners to find shared solutions to the problems we face in common. Our new approach to fishing policy shows how successful that can sometimes be.”

Davies’s rivals for the award on the shortlist are French centre right MEP Maurice Ponga and German Green Reinhard Butikofer.

Yes!

The Yes Campaign for the Fairer Votes referendum now has its new website up and running.

To mark the launch of the site, and the start of the six month countdown to polling day, they also organised activities at a range of bonfire night events.

Elwyn Watkins: Time to let the voters decide

Let the voters decide

On Friday, the High Court upheld the decision of the Parliamentary Election Court for Oldham East and Saddleworth and dismissed ex-Labour MP Phil Woolas’ appeal.

Commenting after the decision at the Royal Courts of Justice, Liberal Democrat candidate for Oldham East and Saddleworth, Elwyn Watkins, said:“This judgment makes it clear once again that if you knowingly lie in your election campaign and deceive your constituents you should be kicked out of parliament. This is a victory for the people of Oldham and Saddleworth.
“Once again, I am grateful for the sterling work and support my excellent legal team have provided throughout and for the considered verdict of the High Court Judges.
“Now it is time to move on and for the by-election to take place. The people of Oldham East and Saddleworth have been without an MP for long enough. They need to be able to choose a new Member of Parliament as soon as possible.
“With just 103 votes between Labour and myself at the General Election, it is going to be a very close contest. I hope that local people will back someone who has a track record for standing up for what he believes in.”

World AIDS Day

red ribbonToday, 1st December, is World AIDS Day. Openly gay Liberal Democrat MP for St Austell & Newquay, Steve Gilbert, has sent the following message to mark the occasion.

“Today is a really important day to raise awareness, raise money of HIV/AIDS and to show our support for those with the illness.

“Despite recent medical advances, HIV/AIDS remains a life-limiting illness and we still have a huge way to go to tackle it.

“I urge everyone to join me today in support of the work of charities such as the Terrance Higgins Trust and RED to help those at home and across the world.”

There are vigils and events around the UK to commemorate the day. Lib Dems will be present at events in Manchester, London and elsewhere.

More about World AIDS Day here

Tameside MEP warns Clegg on control orders

Nick Clegg MP

Warned - Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg MP

A Tameside Liberal Democrat Euro-MP has warned Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg that he must secure the abolition of control orders or face a backlash from his party. Chris Davies says that people suspected of terrorist offences should be charged and brought to court, rather than face indefinite house arrest at the whim of the Home Secretary.

The MEP has told BBC Radio 4’s ‘Week at Westminster’ programme that, to assist prosecutions, Liberal Democrats want juries to be able to hear evidence gained from monitored telephone calls.

He said: “Control orders represent a fundamental attack on the principles of liberty.  Nick Clegg has to be seen to fight for their abolition and he has to win.

“If he does not, many Liberal Democrats will question the value of being in this party.”

Control orders were introduced by the Labour government in 2005.  Critics claim that they undermine the presumption of innocence by requiring no evidence to be presented before severe restrictions are placed upon an individual.

While Liberal Democrats are committed to their removal, Conservatives are divided.  Justice Secretary Ken Clarke is backing their abolition, while Home Secretary Theresa May wants them to be retained.

Challenged to explain how he would address public concern about terrorist incidents, Chris Davies pointed out that control orders are not allowed in the USA.

He said: “Terrorists wish to undermine our values of freedom, democracy and liberty.  If we sacrifice these principles ourselves, the terrorists win.”

Fishing madness threatens Tameside food treats

Pizza eaters who like a tasty tiny fish on top of their melted cheese look set to be able to enjoy the flavour for a while longer. Proposed EU curbs on the size of the anchovy catch have been warmly welcomed by Tameside Euro-MP Chris Davies. But he has warned that Spanish fishermen are campaigning to have them weakened in ways that he believes threatens the future of stocks.

The major anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay has been closed for five years because of fears that it faced complete collapse.  Scientists now claim that it can be safely re-opened so long as no more than 30% of the fish are caught in any one year.

An attempt by Spanish and French MEPs to raise fish catches to unsustainable levels was been beaten off in a key European Parliament committee by just two votes.

Chris Davies, who is campaigning for major reform to the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, fears that the battle indicates the size of the challenge ahead. The Liberal Democrat MEP said: “Many politicians still insist on putting the short term interests of fishermen before the need to guarantee fish stocks for the long term.

“Unless we secure change, there will be no more fish left in our seas.”

Fishery collapse happens when so many fish are caught that they cannot recover by breeding. The most dramatic recent example occurred in the North Atlantic when the cod fishery of the Grand Banks was closed in 1992 due to fish stocks falling to 1% of their original level.

The fishery has still not recovered 18 years later.

Lib Dems are tackling the housing problems in this country

Andrew Stunell MP

Andrew Stunell MP

“In spite of such trying economic circumstances, Liberal Democrats are getting on with the job of tackling the housing problem in this country that has fast become Labour’s hidden legacy.”

Commenting on the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review on the Department for Communities and Local Government, Lib Dem Communities Minister Andrew Stunell said:

“These cuts are tough, but fair, and sadly necessary.

“Despite reductions in spending, Liberal Democrats in government will this year deliver more new social homes than in any year under the previous Labour government.

“We will also deliver a bigger net increase in affordable housing in this Parliament than Labour managed in their 13 years in power, for considerably less money.

“In spite of such trying economic circumstances, Liberal Democrats are getting on with the job of tackling the housing problem in this country that has fast become Labour’s hidden legacy.”

Nick Clegg announces £7bn fairness premium

Nick Clegg MP

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg MP

“I can announce today that in the Spending Review we will provide extra funds – a total of over £7 billion over the spending review period – for a “fairness premium”, stretching from the age of two to the age of twenty: from a child’s first shoes to a young adult’s first suit. This is more than £7 billion spent on giving the poorest children a better start in life.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg this morning announced that the Coalition Government will spend an extra £7bn on giving the poorest children a better start in life.

The “fairness premium” will come in three parts:

First, all disadvantaged two year-olds will have an entitlement to 15 hours a week of pre-school education, in addition to the 15 hours already available to them at three and four years of age. By offering more help at an earlier age to the most disadvantaged children, we will directly tackle the gaps in attainment that open up in the critical early years of life. This additional early years investment will amount to £300 million a year by 2014-15.

Second, a Pupil Premium to help poorer pupils wherever they live in the country. Schools will receive additional funds to offer targeted help to every pupil eligible for free school meals and reduce educational inequalities. By the end of the Spending Review period, this pupil premium will grow to an additional £2.5 billion of investment each year.

Third, we must make sure that bright but poor children grow up believing that a university education is not out of reach. So we are looking now at what can be done to remove the obstacles to aspiration that hold back bright boys and girls from deprived backgrounds. Alongside reforms to Higher Education, we are proposing to provide a form of “student premium” for the least advantaged students, representing a commitment of at least £150 million a year by the end of the spending review period. Our goal is clear: to tear down the barriers that prevent poorer young adults from entering university. We will be consulting with universities and students on the most effective way of achieving that goal.

MEP welcomes language support for Brits in court

British citizens accused of crimes elsewhere in Europe are to gain the right to free interpretation services.

Tameside Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies believes that the EU measure will help ensure fair trials and make it easier for British citizens to protect their liberty.

Said Davies, “Being accused of a crime while in a foreign country is a frightening experience for anyone but it is many times worse when you can’t speak the language.

“The EU is adding value to the role of national governments.  Free translation and interpretation is a vital safeguard to protect innocent people from having their rights trampled on in the rush to bring criminals to justice.”