Owen Meredith

A Drop In the Ocean - But Every Little Helps

2012-01-12T12:57:00.001Z

As Tesco profits take a nose dive (unrelated, but they deserve a mention since I've borrowed their slogan), the Government announced today that is has saved taxpayers over £100m on property this financial year.

the Cabinet Office said that savings have been delivered following the introduction of "strict property controls and getting a better grip on the property estate".

Minister for Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, said, " We are getting a grip on the Government estate - introducing greater transparency has not only shown the true scale of what we own or lease, it has enabled us to see the scope for savings and to push ahead with making them.

" In our determination to find savings for taxpayers, we have introduced tight controls and saved over £100 million in the first nine months of this financial year.

" We expect even greater savings by the end of this Parliament, as we make better use of space and put an end to the days where the government estate was bigger, inefficient and went without scrutiny.

" Governments will always need property, but it can only be right that the public can see what property is held and how efficiently it is being used."

While £100 million saved is great news, and saves the taxes of 16,000 workers, it doesn't even pay one days interest on Britain's debt mountain.

Press: Politicisation of Caerphilly Newsline Exposed - Conservatives Slam Council Propaganda Spend

2011-12-05T17:05:00.001Z

Caerphilly Welsh Conservative spokesman, Owen Meredith, has today repeated his call for Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC) to scrap its ‘Newsline’ newspaper after Wales Online (5th December) revealed that material used for the tax-payer funded publication was lifted straight from Plaid Cymru’s website.

In April, Mr Meredith criticised the Council after his Freedom of Information request showed that more than half a million pound of taxpayers’ money had been spent on Council self promotion over the last 5 years. CCBC spent £512,000 on its ‘Newsline’ publication between 2005/6 and 2010/11. The council refused to reveal its full marketing budget under the same request.

Mr Meredith commented:

“In April, Welsh Conservatives exposed the shocking levels of taxpayers’ money being ploughed in to this vanity newspaper.

“Today we have seen shocking evidence of the abuse of taxpayer funds by Plaid Cymru. There is now nowhere for them to hide. The Newsline has been well and truly exposed as the shameful propaganda tool we have always said it was.

“In hard times, Caerphilly Council are spending the taxes of more than 110 council tax payers every year on this Plaid Cymru mouthpiece. It should be scrapped today!

“Both Labour and Plaid administrations in Caerphilly have indulged in self promotion through the Newsline. The Welsh Conservatives are the only party in Caerphilly who would scrap the paper and invest the money in frontline services, where it can make a real difference to local families.”

Letter to the Editor

2011-12-01T11:17:00.002Z

Dear Sir,

6 months on from the Welsh Assembly election, what have Labour delivered for Wales?

200 more people in the benefits queue; 120 more young people out of work; 50 more languishing in long term unemployment - and that in Caerphilly alone.

Labour fought the election promising to stand up for Wales, but after 12 years in power, and 6 months in to another 5 year term, yet again Labour have let us down.

In Caerphilly, we are lucky to have a member of the Welsh Government as our AM - none less than Employment and Skills Minister, Jeff Cuthbert. But unfortunately, just like Labour, Jeff is failing to deliver for people in Caerphilly, and the whole of Wales.

In that election, the Welsh Conservatives and I promised radical action to tackle the unemployment that has blighted Caerphilly for decades - a new approach on jobs, a financial lifeline to local business, and hope for a workless generation. Jeff and Welsh Labour promised to "stand up for Caerphilly" but once again all they have done is take us for granted, promise everything, underdeliver and wait for the next election and the next chance to weigh our vote.

We deserve better. After more than 80 years of Labour representation in Caerphilly - we have seen little real progress.

Come on Jeff, isn't it time you rolled your sleeves up and started to deliver?

Yours sincerely,

Owen Meredith
Welsh Conservative Candidate (2011), Caerphilly

Fancy a Stake of £100,000?

2011-11-24T11:24:00.000Z

A new initiative by Barclays and Channel 4 has been launched this month, which aims to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs and community leaders.
The Stake, launched on 11th November, and links up with social networking site, Facebook to provide young people with the chance to submit ideas for how they would like to spend a share of £100,000 to enhance their community or start a business. Users then vote to decide as an online community which projects should be funded from the prize pool.

Anyone aged between 16 and 21 can submit their idea for a community or business project that they feel will make a real difference in their local area. The most popular ideas will be considered by a panel of judges, and up to six young people will win a share of £100,000 to make their idea a reality.

The competition aims to demonstrate that business and social enterprise can be creative, fun and challenging and that good ideas and passion can be rewarded.

The competition closes on December 23rd 2011 at midnight.

You can enter The Stake via the competition website www.thestake.co.uk

Why The Government Will Vote No on Monday

2011-10-22T12:37:00.000+01:00

Writing in Today's Daily Telegraph, the Foreign Secretary William Hague spells out the Government's opposition to an EU referendum.

On Monday, the House of Commons will vote on a motion for a referendum on whether Britain should remain a member of the European Union. The Government will oppose the motion. Our policy is very clear: we believe that Britain should be in Europe, not run by Europe. We believe that Europe needs fundamental reform. As a Conservative, I want to bring powers back from Europe, as we set out in our election manifesto. But a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU, especially at this time of profound economic uncertainty, is not the answer.

Europe is back in the headlines across the world. The eurozone crisis is the epicentre of global economic difficulties. Monetary union without greater fiscal integration has not worked. But the countries of the eurozone are our closest neighbours; more than 40 per cent of our trade is with them. Nothing would do more to help our economic recovery than a resolution of the eurozone’s difficulties, while its disorderly break up would have a very serious impact on our economy.

That crisis is stimulating debate in Britain about our place in Europe, a debate already alive because of the British public’s unprecedented disillusionment with the European Union. One of the major causes of this is the Lisbon Treaty. The EU is much changed since we joined in 1973: there have since been five major treaties. All the previous treaties had at least been foreshadowed in the governing party’s general election manifesto; all but Lisbon.

Not only did it not feature in Labour’s manifesto, it was almost the same as the constitutional treaty on which they promised a referendum. The Conservative Party fought hard and was united in voting for a referendum but we did not succeed: Labour got the treaty through without consulting the British people, a shameful act. That has been a serious blow to the European Union’s democratic legitimacy in this country.

There are many other reasons, such as those European policies, regulations and directives that are unnecessary and unwanted interferences in our national life. Why on earth should it be decided in Brussels what herbal medicines people here can or cannot buy? And why should the training of doctors in local hospitals be mucked about by European legislation on working hours?

But despite these many burdens and nuisances, the EU brings advantages that are enjoyed daily by people and businesses across the country and that are important for our prosperity: nearly untrammelled free trade across 27 countries, enforceable legal rights to work in all those nations, and combined clout in trade talks to open new markets for our goods and services.

The ability to lead European countries to a united position, as with sanctions on Iran and Syria, strengthens Britain’s power in the world. Even obscure directives can have benefits: directive 2009/147/EC prevents the slaughter of our garden birds as they migrate over the Mediterranean.

Consequently, my view on the European Union has long been that we should be in it to enjoy its advantages but not let ourselves be sucked into a federal state, and we should be bringing powers back rather than handing more over. That has long been the Conservative Party’s policy.

We have a Coalition Government; the two Parties differ on Europe, but in a year and a half we have accomplished more than Labour did in 13 years: there has been real success in bringing the EU budget under control, saving hundreds of millions of pounds from what Labour committed us to; where Labour enmeshed us in EU bail-outs, we have won agreement to get us permanently out of such liabilities; and now the referendum lock is law, there can be no further change to the EU treaties that shifts power from Britain to the EU without triggering a national referendum – under the provisions of the Act passed this summer all the treaties of the past 20 years would have been subject to a referendum in Britain.

The sudden holding of a referendum on leaving the EU would add to economic uncertainty at a time when businesses need all the certainty and confidence they can get. And it was clearly not part of the manifesto on which Conservative MPs were elected, or part of the Coalition Agreement by which we govern.

Instead, we should use any further changes to the EU treaties to our national advantage. The whole Government is agreed that we must first make sure that eurozone integration would not allow countries in the single currency to impose decisions on countries outside it and, second, ensure that Britain’s leading position in financial services is recognised and protected. Beyond that, we should seize opportunities as they arise to reduce the EU’s powers in Britain in other areas, most importantly in social and employment laws, where EU interference is doing real harm.

A decade ago, many thought we could settle our position on Europe as “thus far and no further”. That is no longer adequate. There may be debates about means and timing, but the Conservative Party is united around the goal of bringing powers back from Brussels to Britain. That is what we stand for, that is our aim now and that is what we will campaign for in future elections.

A Sensible Amendment - Any EU Vote Must Be In or Out

2011-10-21T11:56:00.000+01:00

A group of 2010 intake MPs have tabled an amendment to the EU Referendum motion, to be voted on in the House on Monday. I hope the Speaker selects this amendment for debate, as it makes a much more sensible case for a referendum.

The amended motion would read: "This House calls upon the Government to publish a White Paper during the next session of parliament setting out the powers and competences that the Government would seek to repatriate from the EU, to commence a renegotiation of Britain’s relationship with the EU and to put the outcome of those negotiations to a national referendum.”

That allows the Government to renegotiate our relationship with Europe and then have the much needed in/out vote on the resulting deal. Rather than having a 3 option referendum which the original motion calls for.

A 3-way vote simply fails to address the issue and final settle the debate over the EU. A spilt vote and narrow victory for any of the options would not be ideal, and the most likely outcome – referendum call for renegotiation could be more damaging to the argument. With the euro-sceptics saying not enough has been achieved through renegotiation and the pro-Europeans arguing too much has been.

If we are to have an EU vote, it must settle the debate once and for all. Only an in/out referendum will do that.

Pensioners & Benefits Claimants Cash In as Inflation Spells Bad News For Government

2011-10-18T10:59:00.000+01:00

Today’s inflation figures are bad news for the Government as the CPI rate hit 5.2%. Putting aside the political difficulties of an inflation rate that is running at more than twice the Bank of England target (2%), high inflation will cost the Government more than £5billion.
Despite a recent change from RPI to CPI for up-rating, the cost of welfare benefits and state pensions will soar next year, as their April increase is linked to the September inflation rate.

Today’s figure of 5.2% will mean that the basic state pension will have to rise by at least £5.30 a week from April. Up from £102.15 to £107.45

There are around 12 million pensioners in the UK, each gaining an extra £275 a year as a result of inflation linked payouts. Basic State Pensions alone with add £3.3bn to the welfare bill next year.

The 1.6 million Job Seekers will see their weekly payout rise from £67.50 to £71.01 – adding a further £300million to the bill.

Labour’s Maths Doesn't Add Up – University Fees Plan Is Flawed

2011-09-26T11:42:00.003+01:00

All weekend Labour have been rolling out shadow ministers to hail their policy u-turn over tuition fees as a way of helping students and taxing the banks. Labour claim that plans to reduce the tuition fee cap would be paid for by reversing the tax corporation tax cut for financial services.

But do the figures add up?

Firstly, the policy doesn’t benefit anyone but the rich. Reducing the fees cap to £6,000 (assuming they are sticking to the Government's reformed repayment terms) will makes degrees cheaper for those earning over £140k, but do nothing for anyone else as has been explained very well here.

Secondly, they are funding it with money that has already been spent.

In March, the Chancellor announced a plan to cut corporation tax, step by step over the term of this parliament, to deliver the lowest corporate tax regime in the G7. Supporting private sector investment and job creation in the UK and giving us a corporate tax rate 16% lower than the USA.

Labour claim they would reverse this cut for financial services companies (and increase interest rates for high earning graduates) to fund the £800m cost of their tuition fees policy. Yet George Osborne was also clear that this corporation tax cut would not benefit the banks. Judging the mood of the public and ensuring that the banks pay their fair share to fix the mess they helped create, the Chancellor said:

“And to ensure that this is not a net tax cut for banks, I am adjusting the bank levy rate next year to offset its effect.

“In each and every year of this Parliament our permanent bank levy raises more than the one-year bonus tax of the last Parliament.”

Yet again, Labour are planning to spend money that doesn’t exist (even ignoring the fact they plan to tax the banks in this way to pay for their un-funded VAT cut).

Labour left office with us borrowing £1 in every £4 we spend. They still haven’t learnt you can only spend a pound once!

Worrying News For All Political Parties

2011-09-18T16:41:00.001+01:00

Lord Ashcroft has commissioned a wide ranging polling exercise, which has been carried in Today’s Sunday Telegraph.

The headline is that David Cameron comes out considerably ahead on leadership questions, but more shockingly – especially as we start the conference season – is that in nearly every key policy area, one third of the British Public thinks no party has the best policy to tackle the challenges.

This is worrying news for all parties as they head off from Westminster to the ~~seaside~~ Northern cities for their annual party conferences.

It will be very interesting to see if these numbers change over the coming weeks and months as the political debate heats up.

Caerphilly Charity Event This Saturday - Last BBQ Of The Summer?

2011-08-31T12:59:00.001+01:00

Family BBQ

Sat 3rd Sept 2011

@ Hapus Ice Cream Parlour

From 6.30 onwards

Live music

Licensed Bar

Steak, Salads and Home made ice cream!!!!

This Saturday Lewis and Sue Richards with the support of Machen Rotary Club, and Machen inner wheel, will be hosting a family BBQ at Hapus Ice Cream Parlour to raise funds for ward C7 of the Heath Hospital. A very good friend of theirs, Val Jones, has recently spent many weeks being cared for by the fantastic nurses that work on this ward. Due to her condition Val is completely bed bound and the nurses have only been able to give her bed baths. Despite their long shifts the nurses have also been raising funds to buy a piece of equipment that will allow them to give the people in their care proper showers. The have raised over half the money needed and the purpose of this evening is to raise the final £1500 to allow them to buy this important piece of equipment. We have already sold over 70 tickets, we aim to sell another 40 which will enable us to reach our target and present these hard working nurses with the money they need!

Tickets cost £15.oo for adults and £5.oo for children, for this adults will get a 10oz steak, freshly prepared on your arrival (or piece of salmon or homemade veggie burger and sausages), with a selection of salads and new potatoes, and of course lots of our delicious ice cream.There will also be live music by Cats Claw a fantastic local band, a licensed bar and the coffee shop will be open selling coffee.

Please come long to what promises to be a fantastic evening in support of a great cause.

Tickets are available from Sue Richards on 07720297139 Or @ Hapus Ice Cream Parlour

Please note it is essential to buy your tickets before hand as we will be preparing our food to order. Also please bring your own cutlery!! If you can’t make it this Saturday but would still like to support us in the form of a raffle prize or donation please phone Sue or drop in at the parlour.

DoH Respond to 38 Degrees Scaremongering of NHS Patients

2011-08-30T17:04:00.002+01:00

Campaign group 38 degrees has repeated an old attack on the Government today, repeating claims that the Government is privitising the NHS, and removing its duty to be accountable for Healthcare in England.

The Department of Health response makes pretty clear reading:

“We have already responded in detail to 38 Degrees. In that response we made clear the Secretary of State will continue to be responsible – as now – for promoting a comprehensive health service. The NHS will always be available to all, free at the point of use and based on need and not the ability to pay. To say otherwise is absolute nonsense.

“We also made clear that modernising the NHS will both safeguard the future of our health service and will deliver a world class health service that puts patients at the heart of everything it does. The independent NHS Future Forum confirmed there is widespread support for the principles of our plans.

“Competition is not, and will not be, used as an end in itself. The Bill does not change current UK or EU competition legislation or procurement legislation or the areas to which they apply.”

This kind of negative campaigning by 38 Degrees is unhelpful to say the least. It doesn't inform the debate, it doesn't help to improve patient care and it doesn't act in the interest of the British public or taxpayers.

The Government's NHS plans are a much needed forward step for the NHS that will improve patient care. The fact is that the status quo qill leave us with a Healthcare system that is unafforable, failing and delivering some of the poorest results in the devloped world. Without radical reform (and beleive me, the reform needed in another 20 years will be even more radical than this) the NHS will simple collapse in on itself.

I really do wish that the opposition would wake up to the real world. All Government's need a strong opposition, but without putting forward constructive and workable alternatives, the left in this country are failing in their duty.

Claimant Count May be rising – But That Doesn’t Mean More People Are Out Of Work

2011-08-17T12:27:00.002+01:00

Today’s unemployment statistics show that the Claimant Count (number of people on Job Seekers Allowance) rose by 37,100 in the last 3 months. While this is obviously not good news, it is far too simple to jump on these numbers as a sign of the economy stalling.

You don’t have to look much deeper into the numbers to begin to see why this rise has come about.

Historically, the ILO measure of unemployment and the Claimant Count were not so far apart. Over the last two decades (since 1992), these measures have become increasingly distant (see below).

What we are now seeing is a correction in that trend. As Government policy on Welfare Reform assesses the work that people can do, rather than what they cannot do, people are getting the right support to get back into work and therefore even as we see employment rise (25,000 news jobs in the last 3 months), unemployment is also rising as inactively falls.

Instead of people being pushed off JSA to improve the figures, Government is finally giving people support to get back to work.

We’ve had a growing problem of inactivity in the UK economy, and many of those people classed as ‘inactivity’ actual want a job - more than 2 million in fact. So while these people have been pushed off JSA onto other out of work benefits, the figures have improved but they remain workless but willing.

In February 2011 the number of people claiming key out of work benefits was 4.86 million, down 236,400 from the year earlier. More than 200,000 people back into the labour market (some back in work, some on JSA).

In that same period, the number of people with work has grown by 251,000.

So while the rise in unemployment is never good news, the picture is not a simple as it first seems, and we should be praising the fact that 251,000 (net) jobs have been created in a year where the economy has been fighting some pretty tough headwinds.

The UK economy is growing (faster than the US, Germany and the Eurozone); we are creating jobs (way ahead of forecast); tackling the deficit; and supporting long-term unemployed back to work. We're go a lot to be optmistic about.

New Expenses Body Revamps Website – At £52k Cost To Taxpayers

2011-05-16T16:51:00.000+01:00

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) has been exposed for spending more than £52,000 of taxpayers’ money on a revamp of its website, just 12 months after it was set up.
Responding today to my recent freedom of information request, IPSA confirmed that £52,411.82 was spent on the redesign, 'including the costs of website consultants, website development, hardware, licences, testing and installation'.

The body was set up to regulate MPs expenses and restore public confidence that their cash was being spent wisely and legitimately after the sensational exposures of 2009 when Members of both Houses were caught pocketing taxpayers’ cash.

This exposure is another in a long line that show how IPSA is letting down MPs and the public in failing to provide value for money for taxpayers.

Information obtained under Freedom of Information Request, Reference: FOI2011-056

Thank You

2011-05-08T23:56:00.000+01:00

Today You Will Decide Our Future - Vote For A Positive Change

2011-05-05T07:01:00.003+01:00

Dear Caerphilly Residents,

Today you will decide our future.

Polling stations across Caerphilly are now open and you have the chance to vote in this important Welsh Assembly election.

Throughout this campaign I have set out my plan to work with you to make a positive change for Caerphilly. Today, we have a once in a lifetime chance to make that plan reality.

With rising unemployment; falling school standards; and growing waiting lists in our hospitals, more than ever we need a positive change for Caerphilly.

I know many of you may have never voted Conservative before and I respect that. But this election is not about party politics – it is about Caerphilly’s future and who can be an ambassador for Caerphilly and deliver the real change we need.

By now you know the six key pledges I have made and the positive actions I would take as your AM to make Caerphilly a better place to live, work and visit for everyone. This is my contract with you.

It is time to do things differently. Please lend me your vote today and judge me by my record against these pledges.

Thank you and best wishes,

Owen Meredith

p.s. Don’t forget, the Conservatives came second here in the general election – we can win! With your support we can begin making those positive changes tomorrow.

POLLING BETWEEN 7AM AND 10PM TODAY

Voters Have The Power Stop NHS Cuts

2011-05-04T12:36:00.002+01:00

Voters have power to reverse Labour’s NHS cuts Tomorrow at the ballot box, Welsh Conservatives will offer the people of Wales a pledge to reverse Labour’s £1billion cuts to the Welsh National Health Service. Welsh Conservatives are the only party committed to protecting the NHS budget and increasing it in line with inflation for the next four years. Speaking outside the Royal Gwent Hospital, Nick Bourne, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the National Assembly, outlined how protecting the health budget would enable a Welsh Conservative Assembly Government to invest in NHS staff, cancer services and improving patient care. Welsh Conservatives have pledged to establish a £10million Cancer Drugs Fund to pay for cancer medicines, many of which are readily available to patients in England but denied to patients in Wales. The Party would also be able to protect the number of nurses, increase investment in ambulances to improve response times and in hospices to address Wales’ chronic under-funding. Nick Bourne said, “Who would’ve thought that a Labour Government would cut funding to our National Health Service. “Labour, backed by Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems, plan to cut Wales’ health budget by £1billion, at a time when patients are waiting longer for treatment. “Welsh Conservatives are the only party committed to protecting Wales’ NHS budget and increasing it in line with inflation. “By protecting the NHS budget, we can commit to protect the number of nurses, address staff recruitment and retention problems and invest in CCTV to improve safety for NHS workers. “We would tackle inequalities in access to cancer medicines by establishing a £10million Cancer Drugs Fund so Welsh patients can access medicines already available to patients in England. “Throughout this campaign people across Wales have been telling me that despite these challenging economic times, we need to maintain and improve the delivery of health services for patients. “By protecting the NHS budget we can invest in rapid response vehicles to improve ambulance response times, improve palliative care in our hospices and invest in new treatments and facilities for patients. “In this election, voters have a clear choice between Labour’s NHS cuts or a protected NHS budget with the Welsh Conservatives.”

A Simple Video To Explain The Voting System (If 5 Minutes Counts As Simple)

2011-05-02T15:28:00.000+01:00

The Welsh Assembly has put together a 'helpful' video to explain how the voting system in Wales works.

They claim it is a simple system, i'll let you judge. But, I don't think anything that requires a 5 minute video to explain how an election works is 'simple'.

Yet another reason why we shouldn't switch to AV for Westminster elections - three different voting systems would be totally crazy!

#Senedd2011: How your election vote works from
Assembly Wales / Cynulliad Cymru on Vimeo.

Meredith “We Need A Fairer Deal On Business Rates To Save Our High Streets And Jobs”

2011-05-02T09:11:00.000+01:00

Caerphilly Assembly candidate, Owen Meredith, has called for a ‘fairer deal’ on business rates. He has promised to work with the Council, Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and local businesses to review rates in the town centre and encourage local enterprise.

Making the pledge, he highlighted the fact that 470 businesses in Caerphilly closed their doors for the last time in 2009. He also promoted Welsh Conservative plans to scrap business rates for all businesses with a rateable value under £12,000. He confirmed that small businesses would pay no rates for the entire Assembly term.

Mr Meredith said:

“Speaking to businesses throughout Caerphilly, there is one thing that just keeps coming up – business rates. This is especially the case on our high streets.

“Businesses are suffering as their tax bills cripple their competitiveness. Far too often businesses are telling me that they have cut staff or plan to close down as their rates are unaffordable.”

“Looking at the details, there are massive inconsistencies in the valuations across similar retail units in Caerphilly town. The calculation rate appears totally illogical and needs to be looked at. In my view the rates are too high and do not reflect the reality facing retailers in Caerphilly.I have already raised this with the VOA.

“If elected I will continue to work proactively with shopkeepers, the council and the VOA to find a solution before it is too late and our high street retailers disappear.”

The Welsh Conservative candidate welcomed rate relief that has been in place from the Assembly Government, but said that the support failed to go far enough. Mr Meredith commented:

“We cannot go on like this. We have seen too many businesses close, unemployment rise and a lack of support for enterprise. In Caerphilly 21,000 working age people are out of work and we need a new approach to boost enterprise and employment.

“Key to achieving this will be supporting small businesses that are the backbone of our economy. That is why I am delighted that Welsh Conservatives will slash business rates for small businesses. Locally, as well as my plans on jobs and to boost tourism, I am pushing for review in our town centre which will provide vital support for those businesses and help them take on new staff.”

Vote For A Positive Change: My Contract With Caerphilly

2011-05-01T21:08:00.001+01:00

This Thursday you have the chance to vote for a positive change.

Throughout this campaign I have set out my plan to work with you to make a positive changes for Caerphilly. This week, we have a once in a lifetime chance to make that plan reality.

Below are my six key pledge to you. This is my contract with Caerphilly. If you share this vision for our future, lend me your vote on Thursday; and on Friday we can start to make these poisitve changes together.

(click to enlarge image).

Council Challenged To End Postcode Lottery Of Pensioners' Tax Rebate

2011-04-25T21:58:00.000+01:00

A Welsh Assembly grant will see Caerphilly County Borough Council receive more than £210,000 this year to provide help to pensions with their council tax bills. Under the Assembly scheme £4 million is being made available to local authorities in Wales.

No guidelines are provided to local authorities on how to distribute the funding, which resulted in a postcode lottery of support last year. Caerphilly Council followed the pattern of most Welsh Authorities, supporting pensioners already in receipt of council tax benefit (CTB), while other authorities adopted universal schemes.

Challenged by Welsh Conservative Assembly candidate, Owen Meredith, Caerphilly Council confirmed it has not yet reached a decision on the allocation of support for this year. Mr Meredith is urging the council to provide a flat rate of support to all pensioners.

He said:

“This is a great scheme and I give credit to the Assembly Government for introducing it. However, I am disappointed that Caerphilly Council took decisions which failed to help hundreds of pensioners who are really feeling the squeeze and get no help from elsewhere.

“Providing support only to those already in receipt of CTB fails to help those who need it most. Pensioners who, often having taken the responsible decision to save for their retirement, find themselves too 'well off' to qualify for benefits but are none-the-less struggling to pay their bills.

“I have urged the council to follow the example of Torfaen, Bridgend and Denbighshire in providing a flat rate of support to all pensioners liable for council tax. This ensures those with the greatest need, who miss out on other benefits, receive this vital support.”

Mr Meredith has written to Cllr Colin Mann, the cabinet member responsible for finance on Caerphilly county Borough Council asking him to take action. The Assembly provides Local Authorities with a £5,000 grant to cover the cost of administering their chosen scheme.

Mr Meredith added:

“This can be done and I expect the council to act. There is no excuse for neglecting hundreds of pensioner taxpayers in this way.

“Had greater thought been applied to this prior to council tax bills for 2011/12 being issued in March, the council could have reduced the administrative cost further and ensured 100% awareness by promoting the scheme at that time. They certainly knew the money was coming.”

New Jobs Approach - Western Mail Letters

2011-04-22T09:44:00.002+01:00

Sir,

I was very pleased to read news from the ONS this week that unemployment fell in the last three months. Not only that, but 143,000 jobs were created (net) in the UK economy.

Thankfully, the private sector is recovering and taking on people at a much faster rate than the jobs losses in the public sector.

Having seen a disappointing fall in employment in my own constituency over the same time, I wondered how many of thes new jobs had come to Wales. Sadly, the answer was just one in every 100 new jobs created was here in Wales – 2,000 in total.

Surely that shows us it is time to do things differently?

To mend our economy and put Wales on a strong footing once again, we need a new approach to jobs and a new voice for Wales after May 5.

OWEN MEREDITH

Welsh Conservative candidate for Caerphilly

Published in the Western Mail, 22nd April 2011 and the South Wales Echo, 23rd April 2011

'Jobs Trust' Plan To Tackle Unemployment

2011-04-20T10:30:00.004+01:00

Caerphilly Assembly Candidate, Owen Meredith, has announced details of his ‘Jobs Trust’ plan which will target support to the unemployed and match skills to local job opportunities.

If elected on May 5^th, he will create a ‘Caerphilly Jobs Trust’ that will develop partnerships between schools, colleges and local employers. It will also seek to facilitate inward investment by working with the business community to promote Caerphilly to the wider world. In the longer term Mr Meredith says he hopes the trust will act as a source of venture capital to support local entrepreneurs and encourage new business start ups.

Owen said: “This is a new way of thinking to help tackle Caerphilly’s long standing employment challenge. More than 40% of working age people in this constituency are not in jobs and not active in the economy. We cannot go on like this!”

Mr Meredith highlighted the latest employment data which he says shows the Caerphilly desperately need a new approach on jobs. The latest data shows that in Caerphilly constituency:

2,574 people are claiming Job Seekers Allowance, 3,200 unemployed.
17,800 people are economical inactive - 34.4% of the population. The 3^rd highest rate in Wales.
12,450 people are claiming out of work benefits.
Our employment rate is just 59.4%
The business birth rate is 33.67 per 10,000 population – the 4^th lowest in Wales.

Mr Meredith commented:

“A total of 21,000 working age people are out of work. If that is not proof enough that we need change, just look at the job creation rate. In the last 3 months 143,000 jobs were created in the UK economy - depressingly just 2,000 of those are in Wales.”

“Of course, there is no silver bullet to solving our jobs crisis in Caerphilly, but a new approach where we join up thinking between educators and employers; support people to find work with jobs clubs; and encourage entrepreneurs to start new businesses by slashing tax rates and cutting rates tape will be a vital step forward.

“Working together we can create the enterprise led economy that Caerphilly desperately needs.

“For the 2,574 people claiming Jobseekers Allowance; For the 8,100 people looking for work; For the 925 young people out of work, education or training - we need a positive change for Caerphilly.”

Letter to Caerphilly Residents

2011-04-18T09:00:00.000+01:00

Dear Residents,

This week people throughout Caerphilly will start to have their say on our future. As the postal ballot papers for the Welsh Assembly election begin to land on doormats, this is our chance to think about what kind of future we want for Caerphilly. I am asking you to vote for positive change and action in Caerphilly.

I am sure you’ll agree that Caerphilly is a great place. I was born and brought up here and it has been my family’s home for 35 years. There is so much potential here, but also much we need to work on. Our employment rate is just 59%; our health outcomes are falling further behind England; and education standards are slipping.

We cannot go on like this!

Every day I am struck by how much better things could be. That is why I decided to stand in this election – to represent my hometown and help make a positive change for Caerphilly. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do believe that by working together we can make the positive changes many of us have been waiting for, for so long. Building an enterprising local economy; improving education and skills; and providing first class health and social care – this election is our chance to make these changes happen.

If you give me the honour of serving you as your Assembly Member, my first duty will always be listening to you. I have spent this campaign doing just that. With your views and priorities in mind, I have set out the positive actions I would take as your AM to make Caerphilly a better place to live, work and visit for everyone:

1. LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY - I will continue to hold monthly public meetings and conduct regular residents’ surveys to listen to your views and shape Assembly policies.

2. NEW JOBS AND BUSINESSES - I will create a Jobs Trust to help people move from education to employment, support people to learn new skills and work to bring new investment and jobs to Caerphilly.

3. PROTECT HEALTH FUNDING - Welsh Conservatives will ensure that health funding in Wales is protected, reversing Labour and Plaid’s £1bn cut to the NHS. I will fight for better targeting to improve patient care and health outcomes.

4. BUSINESS LED GROWTH - I will work with businesses to create an economic council to directly advise politicians on the policies that are holding Caerphilly businesses back and preventing economic growth.

5. SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE – I will work with young people to establish a youth co-operative run by, and for, young people. Welsh Conservatives will fund schools directly, cutting waste and bureaucracy.

6. BOOSTING TOURISM – I will continue to promote Caerphilly as a tourist destination and work with local businesses to boost Caerphilly’s offering and appeal as a place to visit.

It is time to do things differently. Please lend me your vote this May and judge me on my record against these pledges.

Yours sincerely,

Owen Meredith

p.s. Don’t forget to post your ballot paper back by 2^nd May – or drop it off to any polling station between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 5^th May.

BBC Wales Today - Interview 15th April 2011

2011-04-17T14:42:00.001+01:00

Time To Bin The Newsline: Meredith Slams Council Ad Spending

2011-04-14T13:31:00.000+01:00

Caerphilly Welsh Assembly candidate, Owen Meredith, has blasted Caerphilly County Borough Council for spending more than half a million pound of taxpayers money of self promotion over the last 5 years. #

A freedom of information request submitted by Mr Meredith revealed that CCBC has spent £512,000 on its ‘Newsline’ publication between 2005/6 and 2010/11. The council has refused to reveal its full marketing budget under the same request.

Mr Meredith commented:

“Councillors should be ashamed. Caerphilly Council are spending the taxes of more than 110 council tax payers every year on this shameless self promotion. The true cost of council propaganda has been hidden by the council, who have refused by request for details of the full marketing and publicity budget, which is likely to run to many multiples of this figure. I will continue to fight for transparency and to get this figure exposed.

“The expansion of the Newsline paper in recent years has moved far away from its original function to provide information to residents. Instead it has been used for political purposes to promote certain councillors and pet projects.

Owen Meredith Says It's Time To Bin
Caerphilly Newsline

“As well as the huge cost to taxpayers, council propaganda has become a competing force with independent local media. An independent media is a vital part of democracy. The council must roll back their publicity operations to protect that independent voice and support local newspapers.”

Mr Meredith also pointed out that Local Authorities in

England

have been instructed by Central Government to limit the cost and scope of council publications, with guidelines being revised to limit the publications to no more than two per year. He said:

“The UK Government has taken action to protect taxpayers, support local newspapers and limit propaganda. I will be pushing the Welsh Assembly Government to take similar action and will do all I can to protect taxpayers interests and support growth and diversity in local media.”

Don’t Lose Your Voice - Register To Vote Today!

2011-04-12T18:04:00.000+01:00

This Thursday (14th April) is the deadline for registering to vote in the Welsh Assembly election and Alternative Voter referendum on 5th May.

All application must been submitted to the council and received by 5:00pm on Thursday.

The Assembly election will decide the future direction of Caerphilly and Wales. It is the first Assembly election to decide the AMs who will use the full powers awarded following the March 3rd ‘Yes’ vote and will sit for 5 years, instead of the normal 4.

Conservative Candidate for Caerphilly, Owen Meredith said:

“Whatever way you plan to use your vote, it is vital that you ensure you are on the register. If you haven’t received your polling card yet you may not be signed up and your voice could be taken away from you on polling day.

“Around the world we are seeing the great lengths and sacrifices that people will go to in order to have the chance to vote and have a say on their Government. In Wales and throughout the UK, many of our ancestors have fought for our right to vote and we are privileged to have this chance.

“It is incredible disappointing that only 4 out of 10 of us did so in 2007 and I hope that we see a much higher turnout on May 5th.”

Residents can download a registration form from http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/ or request one from Caerphilly County Borough Council:

Call: Electoral Services on 01443 864203
Email: electoralservices@caerphilly.gov.uk.

Completed form should be returned to:

The Electoral Registration Officer
Caerphilly County Borough Council
Enterprise House
2 Tir-y-berth Industrial Estate
New Road
Hengoed
CF82 8AU

Taking Action To Tackle Fly Tipping

2011-04-08T09:38:00.000+01:00

A few weeks ago, I reported a long standing problem with apparent fly-tipping in Heol Ty Crwn, Caerphilly and a large volume of rubbish building up at the rear of one property. The accumulation of rubbish and waste was attracting vermin and causing distress to many local residents.

As a matter of urgency, I raised this with the Council to establish if the property was occupied and what action could be taken to remove the rubbish and improve the outwardly appearance of the property, which is very run down.

I’m very pleased to report that in response to my action and a number of conversations with the council, action has now been taken and the accumulation of rubbish has been removed.

Before - The piles of rubbish dumped at Heol Ty Crwn

After - Action taken and the rubbihs cleared

How To Get Ahead - Western Mail Letters, 2nd April 2011

2011-04-07T15:29:00.000+01:00

Sir,

Every day it becomes clearer that Wales needs change.

After 12 years of Labour-led devolution, we continue to lag behind the rest of the UK on health, education and economic performance.

Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results; yet Labour and Plaid seem to believe that is the approach Wales needs.

While failing to come up with a strategy for growth or manufacturing as promised, they are constantly clamouring to spend more and more of our money on pet projects that fail to deliver. In the words of their own Chief Secretary to the Treasury, “there is no money left”.

For Wales to get ahead we need a new approach. An approach focused on enterprise and a relentless pursuit of private sector investment. We need a future where the Assembly supports business growth and job creation rather than standing in their way.

OWEN MEREDITH

Welsh Conservative Asembly candidate for Caerphilly

Published on Saturday 2nd April

Caerphilly Green Question Time - 13th April

2011-04-07T10:33:00.000+01:00

Your chance to quiz Caerphilly's Assmebly candidate on 'green' issues. Owen will be participating in the debate.

Tory Commitment - Letter To The Editor, Western Mail

2011-04-06T15:46:00.001+01:00

Sir,

Wayne David MP claimed in an article in your paper (Labour view on an independent Wales, 02/04/2011) that the Conservative Party “sees itself increasingly as a party of England” and is “anti-welsh”.

I cannot imagine anything further from the truth!

As the Conservative candidate for Caerphilly in the Welsh Assembly election, I am passionately committed to my home town and policies to create an enterprising local economy - that brings jobs and investment to Caerphilly; to support young people to gain the right education and skills to keep talent local and support Caerphilly's development; and to protect vulnerable people with first class health and social care.

Mr David’s article nakedly exposes his priorities - spending time doing down other political parties rather than getting on with the job and helping solve the problems Caerphilly faces.

Caerphilly deserves better that that.

Yours sincerely,

Owen Meredith
Assembly Candidate for Caerphilly, Welsh Conservatives

Published Friday 8th April

Meredith Offers Caerphilly A Positive Change

2011-04-01T17:16:00.001+01:00

Owen Meredith has formally launched his election bid for the Welsh Assembly, pledging to make a positive change for Caerphilly.

Speaking in Caerphilly town centre ahead of the May 5^th poll, he said:

“On May 5^th, people in Caerphilly have a real choice. A choice between the same old failed politics or taking the chance for a positive change and a new direction.

“Since my selection, I have been listening to Caerphilly and have heard that call for change. I know that you are frustrated by petty party political squabbles and politicians investing their energy in doing each other down, rather than solving problems Caerphilly faces.

“I share that frustration. That is why I have spent this campaign listening to you and have set out my vision for A positive change for the future of Caerphilly – a future where we work together to make Caerphilly a better place to live, to work and to visit for everyone.

“I am Caerphilly born and bred, I know how much potntial we have here. I want to see us unlock that potential. That is what I am standing for in this election.

“Standing to create a positive change in our economy – where we work together to promote Caerphilly as a place to do business and come visit, invest in a skilled workforce, get people into work and support enterprise by slashing business rates and red tape.

“To create a positive change in healthcare - where we reverse Labour and Plaid’s £1bn cut to the NHS in Wales, focusing our resources on delivering better health outcomes, deliver a cancer drugs fund and help older people to stay in their own homes for longer.

“To create a positive change in education – where we give parents and teachers control in the classroom and create a Jobs Trust to help people improve their skills, find new jobs and move from education to employment locally.

“That is the positive change for Caerphilly I am working for. That is the positive choice on May 5^th.

"If you share that vision, vote for it. Vote for change. Vote Owen Meredith on May 5th."

Speaking after the rally, local residents responded to Mr Meredith’s comments:

Louise Hammond, a legal secretary from Bryncenydd said:

“It’s great to see someone offering something positive for Caerphilly. I’m especially interested in his idea for a Jobs Trust, we certainly need a new approach to bring jobs to Caerphilly.”

Rita Lukins from Caerphilly commented:

“It is nice to see a politician setting out their vision for Caerphilly and taking about what they would do rather than what their opponents are doing. Owen has an energy and enthusiasm that Caerphilly could benefit from.”

Meredith: Boost Your Business With £50,000 Bonus

2011-03-30T10:59:00.001+01:00

Caerphilly Assembly Candidate, Owen Meredith, is encouraging local businesses to think about their future and enter the “Take One Small Step” competition.

The competition is being run for a second year by Barclays Bank, who will provide a year’s support and coaching to nine regional businesses or individuals with the best business ideas. Winners will cash in with a £50,000 prize to accompany the free support and advice to bring their ideas to life.

This year Barclays have given a £450,000 cash injection to the competition. Barclays Managing Director, Steve Cooper, commented on the openness of Take One Small Step. Mr Cooper said:

“It changes lives. The brief is broad – the idea could be a lifelong ambition or a recent brainwave. It could be a personal experience or just a dream. This competition is a great opportunity.”

Free business seminars will be held across Britain, focusing on improving online skills and business online.

Mr Meredith said:

“This is a great opportunity for Caerphilly. There are lots of people out there with great business ideas who just need this kind of support and encouragement to get them off the ground. With our employment rate at just 59% in Caerphilly, and one of the lowest business start up rates in Wales, we need people with the ideas about creating new businesses and jobs to come forward and do so – competitions like this can help us to create the enterprising economy Caerphilly desperately needs.

“Existing businesses with bold plans and start ups who have little more than an idea should enter this completion. I encourage anyone who has ever considered making it on their own to take one small step towards that dream and enter this competition.”

A judging panel will shortlist 3 entries from each region which will then be subject to a public vote.

Last year’s winner in the ‘Wales and the West’ Region was Bev Chittem of the Dragon Fly Project. She commended the support given to winners, saying, “The professional yet friendly support from our bank manager has also been hugely appreciated.”

She went on to encourage anyone considering applying to do so, “Go to the seminar near you. I found it very inspiring. It will focus your thinking and provide a format that will allow you to harness all the exciting ideas whizzing around your head. Fill in the application and go for it.”

A FREE Boosting Business Online seminar will take place on Wednesday 13^th April at the Celtic Manor Resort, newport. You can register online via https://www.takeonesmallstep.co.uk/seminars. Competition entries must be received by April 27^th April 2011.

For full details and entry forms go to www.takeonesmallstep.co.uk.

Blog: 40 Days To Make A Positive Change For Caerphilly

2011-03-25T16:15:00.000Z

With just 40 days to go before the Welsh Assembly elections on May 5^th 2011, my campaign team and I are working hard to deliver A Positive Change for Caerphilly.

Caerphilly is a great place, there is so much potential here; but to realise that potential we need change.

Caerphilly’s employment rate is just 59%, we cannot go on like this.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do believe by working together we can make the positive changes that many of us have been waiting for, for so long. Building an enterprising local economy; supporting education and skills; and providing first class health and social care – this is our chance to make that change happen.

This is no time for party political squabbles. It’s a time to make a big choice about the future of Caerphilly. Do we carry on doing the same old things, or try something different?

With the nominations forms now in, and just 40 days before the election, I would be delighted to have you on board to be part of creating that positive change. Here are some of the ways you can help:

· FACEBOOK: Spread the message on facebook and invite your friends to join my group

· TWITTER: Follow me @owenlmeredith for regular updates

· DONATE: £5 to help bring change

· CAMPAIGN: Check out upcoming events or volunteer for phone canvassing

· POSTER: Show your support with a poster during the election

· PLEDGE: Canvass yourself and pledge to vote for Owen

Thank you.

Meredith Welcomes Budget Boost For Tourism

2011-03-25T08:00:00.001Z

Welsh Assembly candidate for Caerphilly, Owen Meredith, welcomed this week’s budget announcements to boost UK tourism and said that Caerphilly must plan to make the most of the help on offer.

In Wednesday’s budget, the Chancellor, George Osborne MP, announced plans to boost UK tourism, which included:

A £100 million pound international campaign, co-funded by industry, to attract visitors to the UK
A task force to cut red tape for tourism focused businesses
More UK Boarder Agency biometric visa centres and online visa processing to make it easier for tourists to visit
More service sector apprenticeships and a partnership with People 1^st to deliver consistently high customer service
Changes to Tourist Board to create partnerships between industry and government
Help to boost information available through smartphone apps and new media
Consultation on moving the May Day bank holiday to extend the tourist season
Cancelling Labour’s planned abolition of Furnished Holiday Lettings relief.

Mr Meredith said:

“I am determined to see Caerphilly climb up the ranks of Welsh tourist destinations. We have a lot of offer people and we need to showcase it.”

“One of our greatest assets is Caerphilly Castle, but only 96,000 got to see it last year. We need to sell Caerphilly to the world and boost our all round offering to tourists to ensure people explore the whole of the County.”

“With the help announced in the budget this week we can plan for a future where Caerphilly is a ‘must visit’ location on the tourist map. I will continue to work with local businesses, the tourist board and others to see that vision for a positive change for Caerphilly become reality.”

Owen Meredith Pledges Support for NSPCC Cymru Campaign To Protect Children

2011-03-23T09:00:00.011Z

Owen Meredith prospective assembly candidate for Caerphilly has today pledged his support to the NSPCC Cymru ‘I stand for children’ campaign which aims to make child protection a priority for the next Assembly Government.

Mr Meredith said: “Children and young people will play a vital role in building a healthy and prosperous Caerphilly and Wales for the future. It is therefore vital that we do all we can to protect them and improve their lives.

“A comprehensive package of support for all children, whether in schools, sports, on the roads or in social services is a necessity in the next Assembly term. If elected I will be fighting to ensure that the Assembly Government delivers that, which is why I am more than happy to sign up to support this campaign.”

The NSPCC’s campaign is calling on candidates to commit to three child protection measures:

· Ensuring that funding of frontline children’s social services is protected

· Tackling child neglect

· Ensuring that children are effectively protected from abuse in all sports settings in Wales

NSPCC head of service for Wales, Des Mannion, said: “We need to make sure that the next elected Assembly Government keeps child protection high on its list of priorities. By signing up to our campaign, candidates in this next election can help.

“The public can also help by visiting our campaign website and letting their candidates know what they want done.”

More information about the NSPCC Cymru/Wales ‘I stand for children’ campaign can be found at www.istandforchildren.com/wales or www.istandforchildren.com/cymru

Blog: Figures Show 2,500 More Doctors and 3,000 Fewer Managers In The NHS Since Election

2011-03-22T13:44:00.000Z

New figures released today have revealed that since the 2010 General Election, there are 2,500 more doctors and 3,000 fewer managers working in the NHS in England.

This is evidence that the Conservative-led Government are delivering on the pledge to protect the NHS and shows that the NHS is safest in Conservative hands. These frontline care improvements can be replicated in Wales in the radical steps taken in England are observed and implemented in the Principality after the Welsh Elections on May 5th.

With Labour and Plaid cutting £1bn from the Welsh Health budget, and the Welsh Conservatives being the only party committed to protecting the NHS budget in every year of the next Assmebly, there is a clear choice for voters heading to the polls in 7 weeks.

Owen Backs BBC Dragon In Launch of £400,000 Tenner Tycoon Enterprise Challenge

2011-03-20T12:25:00.002Z

Caerphilly Assembly candidate, Owen Meredith, praised the BBC Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones for his work in launching the UK’S largest ever enterprise competition for schools this month.

40,000 schoolchildren across the

have signed up the campaign to ‘make money, make a difference and give back’. Schoolchildren up to the age of 19 will have access to £10 from the Tenner Bank, enabling them to set up their own micro-enterprise.

During March, the budding entrepreneurs have to use their £10 capital to make a profit and make a difference in their community.

Owen said: “This is a great competition which helps young people to realise their potential and learn practical business skills. I am delighted that Peter Jones has put so much work into supporting the Tenner Tycoon Challenge and encouraging a new generation of entrepreneurs.

“With more than 900 young people in Caerphilly not in education, employment or training, this is the kind of challenge that can motivate people and kick start the businesses and business leaders of tomorrow.”

A £400,000 Tenner Bank has been made available to schools, colleges and youth groups across the country through support from Peter Jones, Big Lottery Fund and Michael and

Xochi Birch.

Peter Jones, whose charitable foundation is supporting Tenner Tycoon, said: “Tenner

Tycoon challenges young people to aspire to be a successful entrepreneur. It provides an opportunity to experience business and enterprise firsthand and learn about being an entrepreneur.

“The Peter Jones Foundation is proud to support Tenner Tycoon which this year will champion a new generation of tycoons who are motivated to improve society as well as make a profit.”

Tenner Tycoon aims to drive the creation of a new generation of entrepreneurs who will be inspired to take action and play their part in the ‘enterprise-led recovery’ – one of the three themes of Mr Meredith’s election bid.

This year’s Tenner Tycoon will focus on the following themes:

• AMBITION: Nurturing a desire for young people to become entrepreneurial in life

• ACTION: Learning vital skills and business know-how, inspiring ‘doers’, not just ‘thinkers’, about enterprise

• MOTIVATION: Defining a ‘tycoon for today’ that aspires to benefit society as well as make a profit

They will also have a chance to win Tenner Tycoon Awards, which aim to celebrate their success and their contributions to their local community.

Throughout the month students will be able to access information from the site http://www.tenner-tycoon.org/.

Press: Conservatives Launch Petition For Pothole Cash

2011-03-20T10:40:00.004Z

Caerphilly Conservatives have this week launched a petition calling on the council and Welsh Assembly to make urgent funding available to repair dangerous potholes in the county’s highways.

Local campaigners, Judith Child and Kath Catris have joined Welsh Assembly candidate Owen Meredith to fight for more funding as the county’s highways become increasingly hazardous.

Mrs Child of Bedwas Road in Caerphilly said: “I’ve never seen the county’s roads this bad. It was inevitable after the long cold winter and the council should have taken earlier action to get to grips with the problem. I know that some funding has been available but it clearly isn't enough.”

Mrs Catris from Rudry added: “There are very serious problems on some pavements in the borough which are incredibly dangerous, particularly for older and disabled people. We need to take action quickly.”

Conservative Welsh Assembly candidate, Owen Meredith, commented: “The budgets for the Assembly and council are tight, but if we don’t spend the money now to fix these potholes, it will cost us a lot more in compensation claims down the line. Safe highways are a basic service the council should provide, WAG and CCBC need to find the funds to end this chaos.

“The current programme of skim and patch repairs are a waste of money and failing to deal with the problem.”

Residents can sign the petition online via www.owenmeredith.co.uk; potholes can also be reported via the council’s website at www.caerphilly.gov.uk

New Approach Needed On Jobs

2011-03-18T18:00:00.013Z

Figures this week have confirmed that Caerphilly needs change. The latest data from the Office of National Statistics, published on Tuesday, shows that 2,615 people in the constituency remain on Job Seekers Allowance, with 940 young people (under 24) not in education, employment or training. More than 11 people are now chasing every job vacancy advertised by Job Centre plus.

Owen said:

"The figures speak for themselves. It is extremely disappointing that unemployment remains higher in Caerphilly than elsewhere. This is a long term problem we have faced - not a result of the recession. Our unemployment rate remains stubbornly high and, more shockingly, only 3 out of every 5 adults of working age are economically active. We need a new approach on jobs in Caerphilly.”

That is the message Owen and his team have been taking residents throughout Caerphilly this week, as his latest leaflet lands of doormats.

Last night he also held his second public meeting, as he continues a campaign which is listening to residents about the kind of change they want to see in Caerphilly. A strong message from that meeting was that politicians need to do more to work with businesses in the area to promote growth and provide jobs.

Owen is determined to see an enterprising economy created in Caerphilly and has pledged focus relentlessly on working with businesses to deliver it. Since his selection as the Welsh Conservative candidate, he has been engaging with businesses across Caerphilly, listening to their views on what has helped them to run a successful business and what has held them back.

Responding to calls for business for better political engagement, Owen has promised to establish an Economic Council for Caerphilly which will bring politicians and entrepreneurs together, creating a formal route to discuss and resolve policy matters which are preventing business growth.

Owen has also pledged this week to create a Jobs Trust which will support people to move from education to employment; provide social enterprise investment capital and run jobs clubs to support people looking for work. It will also work with local employers to ensure people have the rights skills to gain employment in the local area.

Town Hall Meeting on Jobs and Regeneration

2011-03-15T14:53:00.001Z

Owen Meredith, prospective candidate for Caerphilly in May’s Welsh Assembly Elections, will hold his second town hall meeting on Thursday, giving voters the opportunity to grill him on his policies.

Mr Meredith will be taking questions at Caerphilly Conservative Club, Bartlett Street on Thursday 17th March from 7pm. The meeting will focus on regeneration of Caerphilly Town Centre, job creation and the promotion of tourism.

Owen said:

“It is vital that politicians listen to the people we hope to represent. That is why I am holding these meetings to hear your views on how we tackle the challenges we face in Caerphilly and learn from what has held us back in the past. By holding these meetings it gives people a real opportunity to make their voices heard and ensure that the issues they care about are at the top of the political agenda.”

He added:

“There is a real choice in this election – a chance to make a positive change for Caerphilly. Please come along to raise your concerns, asks questions and meet your candidate.”

The meeting is open to anyone living in the Caerphilly constituency and registration is not required.

Mr Meredith will contest Caerphilly for the Welsh Conservatives, who came second in the recent General Election poll. Owen has pledged to fight a campaign that will listen and act on residents concerns, working with the community to deliver a positive change for Caerphilly.

You can find out more about his campaign and follow its progress online via Facebook or visiting his website at http://www.owenmeredith.co.uk/.

Candidate Courts Cameron’s Support For Caerphilly Tourism

2011-03-15T09:02:00.007Z

Owen Meredith, prospective candidate for Caerphilly in May’s Welsh Assembly Elections, is raising Caerphilly’s profile as a tourist destination by taking his campaign to the heart of Government.

He has met with the Prime Minister, David Cameron, to discuss his campaign to raise the profile of the town and also gave him a copy of the new-look Caerphilly visitor’s guide.

Owen discusses his campaign to boost tourism with
the Prime Minister, David Cameron MP

Mr Meredith said:

“Caerphilly has so much to offer to tourists from within the UK and overseas. This tourist guide highlights some of the gems we have and it is vital that we get out there and show it off!

“Earlier this month I held an event in London to promote Caerphilly, and this week I had the chance to discuss the campaign with the Prime Minister during his visit to Cardiff. He supported my efforts to put Caerphilly on the map making the most of the beauty and heritage Caerphilly has on offer.”

Caerphilly resident, Louise Hammond, praised Mr Meredith’s efforts to promote tourism. She said:

“I attend the Big Cheese every year and it attracts thousands of people to Caerphilly which is great, but we need to bring more people in the whole year round. I’m really pleased to see that Owen is taking pro-active action to get out there and promote Caerphilly.”

Owen has promised to put boosting tourism and improving Caerphilly town centre’s offering to residents and tourists at the top of his agenda if elected in May. He added:

“To help our economic recovery and bring new jobs into the town, we need to make the most of our assets. Caerphilly has the largest Castle in Wales and one of the biggest in Europe, with a tour of Welsh castles topping the ‘must do’ poll for tourist, we are in danger of missing a massive opportunity.

“If we are to make the most of our great castle, we have to offer visitors more. At the minute, people come to see the castle, but then leave without exploring what the rest of Caerphilly has to offer. There is enthusiasm from local businesses to work in partnership with the Council and the Assembly to enhance the ‘Caerphilly Experience’ for tourists and I am determined to do whatever I can to help them achieve this.”

Improving Cancer Care In Caerphilly

2011-03-12T23:34:00.001Z

One in three people in Caerphilly will get cancer at some point in their lives.

The shocking truth is that cancer patients in Wales are less likely to survive than patients in other parts of the UK and Europe. Despite higher NHS spending per patient in Wales than England, out outcomes in key areas such as cancer are falling short.

Disappointingly, the Labour-led Assembly Government decided not to follow the UK Government's lead and set up a Cancer Drugs Fund. This decision is potentially depriving Welsh patients of new cancer medicines which are readily available to patients in England. Welsh Conservatives are committed to establishing a £10million Cancer Drugs Fund to make new treatments available to residents in Caerphilly and throughout Wales.

Owen said: “Cancer has the power to devastate lives. My mother lost her fight to cancer, and like many families who experience the long and painful fight, I know that any new treatment can bring vital hope in dark times.

"Cancer patients in Caerphilly should be able to access the same exciting new treatments as patients in England. It is unfair that cancer patients here should have to wait longer for treatment than in other parts of the UK. Welsh Conservatives will invest in cancer services by protecting and increasing the health budget.”

Owen to Speak At "Green Question Time"

2011-03-05T12:17:00.001Z

Next week Owen will join a political panel to discuss what the impact of the Welsh Assembly elections will be on environmental policy.

It will be Owen's first public appearance as Special Advisory on the Environment to the Conservative Group on the Assembly.

Does Wales Need More Power? Are Welsh Voters Really Interested?

2011-03-03T17:03:00.000Z

On the day Wales goes to the polls, here is a copy of an article I wrote for Egremont blog yesterday:

[Today], Wales goes to the polls for the first of two referendum votes in the space of just nine weeks.

The question being put on 3rd March is: Do you want the Assembly now to be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for?

But what exactly is being voted on and what does it mean for the people of Wales?

Here is a rough guide of what happens now (do bare with me). The Welsh Assembly currently has powers in twenty policy fields*, but it only has ‘legislative competence’ on some matters (these are the sub-sections of policy fields). In other matters, when the Welsh Assembly wants to pass a new law, first it must ask permission from Westminster, which can then grant a legislative competence order (LCO) to permit enactment of said Welsh laws.

So this referendum is about whether the Welsh Assembly should have the power to create primary legislation in those 20 areas without first asking the permission of Westminster. In effect, this is speeding up a process that would happen over time through the LCOs.

The ‘Yes’ camp say that this is simply a tidying up exercise to sort out an anomaly of devolution. Conversely, the ‘No’ camp argues that the Welsh Assembly has failed to do anything genuinely positive for Wales in the last twelve years with the powers it possesses, so it should not be trusted with more.

In what has been a lacklustre campaign, much of the focus has been on how the Welsh Assembly has performed. After twelve yeas of devolution, health care and schools in Wales are performing worse and the economy lags behind the rest of the UK.

The ‘Yes’ campaign says these are matters to be addressed on 5th May, not this Thursday; yet Yes for Wales mendaciously is putting public spending cuts at the heart of its campaign. They argue that a ‘Yes’ vote will protect Wales from the expenditure reductions that are a result of the UK Government’s determination to get to grips with the nation’s finances.

This is nothing short of political opportunism. Wales receives a block grant from Westminster. It has no tax raising powers. Regardless of the referendum result, the Welsh Assembly’s budget will remain the same. Yet the ‘Yes’ campaign continues to argue that “it’s good to know that our Assembly is protecting services for the most vulnerable”, while failing to mention the £1 billion cut in health spending forced through by the Labour-led Welsh Assembly.

The whole referendum campaign is hardly exciting people. The feeling on the ground is that people either aren’t aware or don’t care (see this BBC News video). There is a real danger that a lack of information, the current system’s complexity, and the referendum’s proximity to the Welsh regional elections will dampen voter turnout. Commentators are predicting this to be as low as 30 per cent. I fear this could be true. If Wales votes ‘Yes’ without enthusiasm, the devolution project might be on the road to ruin.

The 1997 referendum turnout was 50 per cent, with the ‘Yes’ vote winning by the closest of margins: 50.3% to 49.7%. Another knife edge verdict could put Wales on the verge of a devolution crisis.

*The 20 policy fields: Agriculture, fisheries, forestry & rural development, ancient monuments & historic buildings, culture, economic development, education & training, environment, fire & rescue services & promotion of fire safety, food, health & health services, highways & transport, housing, local government, National Assembly for Wales, public administration, social welfare, sport & recreation, tourism, town & country planning, water & flood defence, Welsh language.

——————————————————————————————————-

NB: There are no official campaigns for either the ‘Yes’ or the ‘No’ campaigns but two groups have come out leading the respective arguments: Yes for Wales and True Wales. The Welsh Conservatives have taken a neutral position ahead of the referendum, allowing members and elected representatives to campaign for either side in a personal capacity.

Press Release: Meredith Takes Caerphilly to London As He Calls For Tourism Boost

2011-03-03T09:00:00.002Z

Conservative candidate for Caerphilly, Owen Meredith, has urged Caerphilly County Borough Council and the Welsh Assembly to work with local businesses to do more to promote tourism in the town.

This week he held an event in London celebrating St. David’s Day and promoting Caerphilly as a tourist destination.

Mr Meredith said:

“I am determined to match my words with actions. That is why this week I have taken Caerphilly to London, speaking to a London audience about the beauty and heritage Caerphilly and the Welsh Valleys has on offer.

“To help our economic recovery and bring new jobs into the town, we need to make the most of our assets. Caerphilly has the largest Castle in Wales, and one of the biggest in Europe. With a tour of Welsh castles topping the ‘must do’ poll for tourist, we are in danger of missing a massive opportunity.”

At the event, Emma Salisbury, a graduate living in London, said:

"Owen speaks very passionately about Caerphilly, and you can see his determination to see it rise up the list of top tourist destinations. It was very interesting to learn about what Caerphilly has to offer, and I hope to be able to see if for myself before long.”

Owen concluded:

“If we are to make the most of our great castle, we have to offer visitors more. At the minute, people come to see the castle, but then leave without exploring what the rest of Caerphilly has to offer. There is enthusiasm from local businesses to work in partnership with the Council and the Assembly to enhance the Caerphilly experience for tourists and I am determined to do whatever I can to help them achieve this.”

Owen discusses what Caerphilly can offer tourists with
London graduate Emma Salisbury

Owen Joins Fellow Candidates For “Are You On Board?” Panel Debate

2011-03-02T17:24:00.000Z

Today the election campaign kicked off. With 9 weeks until polling in the Assembly election, I joined fellow candidates for the “are you on board?” panel event organised by Community Homes Cyrmu.

The event was spilt into two sessions. In the first we heard from four speakers about the challenges and successes in housing provision in Caerphilly. With nearly 6,000 families on the housing waiting list in Caerphilly, it was certainly an interesting discussion. Speakers came from United Welsh Housing, Caerphilly County Borough Council, and Care and Repair Caerphilly.

Two things stuck out in my mind. First was that little real progress has been made over the last decade in terms of brining down the numbers on housing waiting lists, or tackling the crisis of affordable housing. The second came from Care and Repair Caerphilly, who provide an excellent service support older residents to stay in their own homes for longer. In the last year alone they have helped 1,500 people. The striking fact is that for every £1 they spend on adaptation services to support independent living, they save the NHS £7.50. Clear evidence that services focussed on prevention rather the treatment can pay huge dividends.

The second half of the session was a panel discussion, where I had the opportunity to answer questions from local residents. This was the bit of the day I had been looking forward to, and there was certainly no disappointment. In what will no doubt be the first of many such occasions, Ron Davies (PC) and Kay David (LD) joined me on the panel, although Labour were unable to put forward a representative.

We covered questions on regeneration, housing, jobs, education, skills and healthcare. I focussed on the interconnectivity of all these things and my determination, seemingly unlike my opponents, to see a greater role for the private sector in Caerphilly. With four out of ten local jobs funded by the state and more than 40% of working age people out of work, we have to take a new approach to tackling these challenges.

We need to work with local businesses and entrepreneurs to support them to grow and create jobs. Only then can we create the enterprising economy we need, which will bring with it the prosperity and services to be able to make a positive change in these other areas.

Meredith: Heritage Centre A Step Forward

2011-02-25T13:00:00.001Z

Conservative candidate for Caerphilly, Owen Meredith, has welcomed proposals by Caerphilly County Borough Council to create a heritage site in the town centre on the site of the former Post Office near Twyn Square.

Plans announced by the council this week see a new building designed to complement the adjacent Tourism centre. The development is expected to include a library, a council customer service centre, a heritage centre and a presence from Gwent Police and other community facilities.

Supporting the plans, Mr Meredith said:

“This is the kind of development Caerphilly needs. In fact, I wrote to the council just last week asking them why the town centre had been allowed to become collection of empty and unsightly premises. I pushed them to take action on the Co Co Discount and Post Office sites in a way that would maximise the tourism potential of the town centre and capture some of the heritage of Caerphilly on the high street.”

However, Mr Meredith criticised the decision to spend taxpayer’s money on a new building. He commented:

“This is the right idea, but I am not sure the current plans make the most of what we have. I would rather see the existing site redeveloped, at a smaller cost and retaining its history, rather than knocked down and rebuilt as seems to be the proposal here.

“This proposal is a step in the right direction, but we need to see more radical moves to help people feel proud of Caerphilly again and encourage visitors in. That is the message I am getting from local businesses and residents on the doorstep, and that is what I will be using this election campaign to promote.”

Owen has written again to Cllr Davies to call for a more to be done ahead of the final plans expected to be published in the coming weeks.

Caerphilly Conservatives: “Council Tax Freeze Can Be Delivered Without Cuts”

2011-02-24T16:51:00.000Z

Caerphilly Conservative Council hopefuls have backed plans to freeze council tax for two years in the County Borough.

The news comes as Council’s across Wales force up local taxes by up to 4.9%. Caerphilly is the only borough to be recommending a freeze.

They announced support for the Council’s plans and criticised remarks from Caerphilly’s Labour AM, Jeff Cuthbert, who described the plan as undeliverable.

Speaking in favour of a freeze, Conservative council spokeswoman Elizabeth Evans said:

“There is clearly capacity for a freeze – if not a cut - in council tax. Families in Caerphilly are seeing household budgets squeezed with inflation, pay freezes and tax rises all taking a bite. The last thing we need is the Council adding to the pressure.”

She added:

“I hope that the Council deliver on their proposal for a two year freeze and that Plaid are not simply making promises to gain headlines ahead of elections this year and next.”

“Labour has a lot to answer for to the people of Caerphilly. Their Government got us into this mess by failing to prepare for a recession, and letting the national debt spiral out of control. Piling on the pressure by calling for an increase in council tax – as Mr Cuthbert seems to be doing – is completely unacceptable.”

In England, the Coalition Government is working with local councils to fund a freeze in council tax for the next two years, in exchange for a package of cost-savings that protect frontline services.

Mrs Evans concluded:

“Conservatives in Caerphilly want to see the council deliver more for less. A tax freeze can be delivered without cuts. Announcements by Welsh Police Authorities this week have demonstrated that cost savings can be found in public services that do not impact on frontline delivery. It is time that Caerphilly Council started finding those savings!”

Big Points For The Big Society

2011-02-20T15:26:00.000Z

This week the Government announced the plan behind the Big Society Bank. The fund will pull in £400 million from dormant bank accounts, which will be joined by £200 million from the high street banks.

It will not directly invest in community projects and social enterprises, but invest in a basket of funds which in turn put cash into the Big Society. The bank is to act as a catalyst for social investment.

But could millions more of funding be unlocked at no cost?

In the weeks before Christmas Sainsbury’s ran TV adverts informing over 1 million people in the UK that they had Nectar points worth more than £50 – just over 5% of scheme members.

With hundreds of other schemes in operation - Tesco, Air Miles, Homebase, Boots Advantage Card, Waterstones, to name a few – the number of loyalty accounts with unclaimed rewards must run into millions.

It is true that many of those with high points balances will have been saving up to help with the cost of Christmas, but think about how many different reward schemes you are a member of; How many have you just forgotten you are part of? How many have you lost you card and joined again? How many have you just stopped collecting from as your shopping habits change?

Since the scheme launched in 2002, over £1.4 billion has been paid out by Nectar. Take a conservative estimate that 1% of points have gone unclaimed, and that’s £14 million of rewards (in just one scheme) that companies have already allocated to customers – but have never been claimed. Just think of what that funding could do.

If these ‘dormant points’ were used in the same way as dormant bank accounts, millions of pounds could be added to the value of the Big Society Bank.

Unsurprisingly, when I contacted leading reward schemes to try and put some accurate numbers on this, they were not prepared to disclose the value of unclaimed points or dormant accounts for commercial reasons. But I will continue to lobby them and the Government for this to be seriously explored.

There is a huge opportunity here for idle funds on corporate balance sheets to be put to good use. Partnership between loyalty schemes and the community to promote an easy way of charitable giving. This really could give big points to the Big Society.

WAG Admits Disadvantaging Welsh Businesses

2011-02-18T12:20:00.000Z

This week the First Minister admitted that the Welsh Assembly Government is disadvantaging Welsh businesses by failing to use money allocated to them from the UK Government to waive backdated business rates for Welsh ports.

During First Minister’s Questions the Labour leader was repeatedly asked why he was refusing to support Welsh businesses which have been burdened with massive backdated tax bills.

Welsh Conservative leader, Nick Bourne AM, said

"This admission from Labour-Plaid that Welsh businesses will be penalised by the Assembly Government’s decision not to pay off backdated rates will do nothing to help Wales’ fragile economic recovery.

“These businesses were unfairly hit by a backdated tax bombshell at an already challenging economic time.

“Businesses at Welsh ports are critical to Wales’ economic recovery and it is disappointing that Labour-Plaid Ministers are prepared to put their future at risk.

“The Welsh economy needs an Assembly Government that will stand up for Welsh businesses to help them become more competitive and this admission reveals this is not going to come from Labour-Plaid.”

Meredith: New Approach Is Needed To Boost Caerphilly’s Economy

2011-02-14T16:25:00.000Z

Prospective Welsh Assembly Candidate, Owen Meredith, has called on the Welsh Assembly to “get off the backs” of local businesses, following a week of discussion with Caerphilly based firms.

He kicked off an “on-going conversation with local businesses” by meeting a number of town centre shop-keepers, business groups and larger employers.

Mr Meredith said:

“It’s been a great week. I’ve met with a wide range of people to see how we can work together to create the enterprise led economy that Caerphilly desperately needs. Only by listening to the views of those who have the ability to create jobs can we form the right policies in Cardiff Bay to help deliver them.

“I will be continuing to consult and work with the business community throughout this campaign – and beyond – to deliver a positive change for the economy in Caerphilly.”

The move was prompted by new data from the Office of National Statistics showing employment in the constituency is more than 10% below the UK average – at just 59.5%. That puts Caerphilly in the bottom tenth for employment in the UK, with the 4th lowest rate in Wales.

The Welsh Conservative candidate for Caerphilly has been critical of the Labour-Plaid administration for failing to promote the private sector in Wales. The public sector now accounts for more than 65% of the Welsh economy (77% by some estimates). He said:

“For every 6 private sector jobs we have in Caerphilly, there are another 4 in the public sector. That is not sustainable. We need wealth creating business that provide real jobs.

“For the 2,511 people claiming Jobseekers Allowance; For the 910 young people out of work, education or training; For the 14 people chasing every job vacancy - we need a positive change in Caerphilly.”

Last week’s ONS figures also show that weak business growth is hitting Caerphilly hard. The area has fewer businesses and a much slower start up rate than the rest of Wales.

Owen commented:

“After my discussion with local entrepreneurs, I am more convinced than ever that Caerphilly has the people and the spirit to get our economy moving. With the right support from the Assembly and Council, we can reinvent the town to make the most of the assets we have – not least Caerphilly Castle! I’ll be working with local businesses in the coming months to see how we can delivery the right policies to revive Caerphilly’s economy.”

Owen Meredith discusses the impact of business
rates with Caerphilly Shopkeeper Linda Gough

One of the biggest issues raised was the level of business rates. Mr Meredith called on the Welsh Assembly Government to immediately reverse a decision that will pile added pressure onto small businesses in Wales. WAG announced last month that it will follow England in writing off substantial backdated business rate bills given to businesses, despite the UK Government providing the funding to do so.

Jonathan Morgan AM, Shadow Minister for Local Government, commented on that decision:

“This is grossly unfair. Small businesses are not receiving the support they need from the Labour-led Assembly Government. Welsh Conservatives would abolish business rates for the majority of small businesses to help them expand and create new jobs.”

Denise Lovering, Director of Glenside Commercials Ltd, which employs 40 people in Caerphilly welcomed Mr Meredith’s efforts to engage with the business community. Following his visit to their headquarters, She said:

“It was very heartening to hear from someone who cares about businesses in Caerphilly, at all levels. I was impressed with Owen’s intention to work towards providing a better environment for business - which can only be good for the area as a whole.”

Owen has pledged to run a campaign that listens to, and works with, the community to find positive solutions to Caerphilly’s economic difficulties. Anyone wishing to discuss this with him is invited to email caerphilly@owenmeredith.co.uk.

Labour's Economic Legacy - Letter to the Editor (Western Mail)

2011-02-14T09:28:00.003Z

My letter to the Western Mail, as printed on Saturday 12th February 2011:

Dear Sir,

Jeff Cuthbert presents a very misleading case in his letter “Not the Only Solution” (Western Mail, 05/02/11).

He says we “live in fiscally austere times thanks to the political decisions of the UK Government” yet fails to mention that the need for austerity is a direct result of the mismanagement of the UK economy, and massive deficit left behind by the last Labour Government.

The only solution he offers to what he rightly describes as ‘structural’ problems in the Welsh economy is more state funding – from Europe, from Westminster and from Cardiff. More of the same from a party that cannot see how its policies of spend, spend, spend, have helped Wales get into the economic mess we find ourselves in today.

With the Welsh economy more than 65% dependant on public spending (77% by some estimates), isn’t it time we tried a different approach and put the emphasis on creating sustainable private sector growth and jobs? I’m sure the 2,500 people looking for work in his constituency would agree.

Yours sincerely,

Owen Meredith
Prospective Assembly Candidate for Caerphilly (Welsh Conservative)

Businesses in Caerphilly Are Crying Out For Help

2011-02-11T21:31:00.000Z

I’ve spent today listening to the views of the business community in Caerphilly. We’ve talked about how we create an enterprising economy and what has held us back from achieving that in the past.

It’s been a very interesting day.

There’s been some positive news – 50 new start up companies at a Business Forum event last night, the reopening of Caerphilly indoor market with new jobs being created, optimism about Caerphilly hosting the BBC Proms in the Park. But the overarching message has been that Government, at all levels, has been working against businesses and stopping them grow.

I met some great people, working hard to create jobs and keep people in employment. Across a broad range of businesses – butchers, jewellers, fashion retailers - one of the strongest themes coming forward was that business rates are holding them back from doing more. Businessmen and women see themselves paying out – often hundreds of pounds a month – and can’t see what they are getting in return. We need greater transparency about Assembly Government spending.

One business I spoke to, which has been family run for more than 10 years, told me how the snowy weather and uncleared streets in 2009 had impacted on business so much that in order to keep up tax and rent payments they had to make two skilled workers redundant. That cannot be right.

A flagship Welsh Conservative policy to scrap business rates for all small firms with a rateable value below £12,000 was welcomed by all those I spoke to. It is seen a real step forward in helping businesses to expand and grow.

Everyone I spoke to in Caerphilly town centre said the fiasco over the old Co Co Discount store, and the now derelict site, was dragging the image of Caerphilly down. You can see why (image right). This is the first thing that greets visitors to the town – not the image a county town should be sending out.

I will be writing to the County Council for a full update on the situation with the site. I am also writing to national retailers with the aim of finding an ‘anchor store’ for the top of Caerphilly town that will help bring shoppers back to Caerphilly.

I ended the day at the headquarters of a national company which services and repairs Heavy Goods Vehicles. The family run business is based in Caerphilly and employs 40 people here. They are doing well, but have been held back from expanding by bureaucratic regulations and an inefficient planning system. They are also concerned about the high cost of the Severn Bridge toll acting as a trade barrier for the South Wales economy and pressure from rising fuel prices on their customers. I was impressed by the energy that the company Director has and her passion for doing business in Caerphilly.

From my visits today, and views shared at last night’s public meeting, there is an overwhelming consensus that Caerphilly can do better. We can make more of our history and heritage. We can make more of our great castle and the tourists who come to see it. With the right support and positive change I am now convinced more than ever that Caerphilly can build the enterprise economy we so desperately need.

On a related note: Caerphilly Farmer’s Market takes place tomorrow morning in the Twyn, I would encourage you all to attend and sample some of the great local produce on offer. The market is open from 9:30 to 13:00.

Press Release: First Town Hall Meeting To Take Place This Week

2011-02-06T14:17:00.001Z

Welsh Assembly hopeful, Owen Meredith, will this week be holding his first ‘town hall’ meeting, giving voters in Caerphilly the opportunity to grill him on his policies and raise their concerns about local issues.
In the first of three planned meetings, Mr Meredith will be taking questions at this Thursday (10th February) at Rudry Parish Hall from 7pm.

Commenting on his decision to hold public meetings in the run up to the election, Owen said:

“I want people to engage with these elections and come forward with their views - politics shouldn’t be a one-way street of information. I will listen to people’s views and work with them to find solutions to local problems.

"By holding these meetings it gives people a real opportunity to make their voices heard and ensure that the issues they care about are at the top of the political agenda."

He added:

“There is a real choice in this election – a chance to make a positive change for Caerphilly. Please come along to raise your concerns, asks questions and meet your candidate.”

The meeting is open to anyone living in the Caerphilly constituency. To register please email caerphilly@owenmeredith.co.uk or call 07816 156925 – registration is advisable, but not essential.

Mr Meredith will contest Caerphilly for the Welsh Conservatives, who came second in the recent General Election poll. Owen has pledged to fight a campaign that will listen and act on residents concerns, working with the community to deliver a positive change for Caerphilly.

You can find out more about his campaign and follow its progress online on Facebook or visiting his website at http://www.owenmeredith.co.uk/.

INFO: New Year New Start Event with Caerphilly Business Forum

2011-01-31T17:00:00.002Z

Caerphilly Business Forum have announced that they will be holding an event that will offer support to new businesses in the area.

I would urge anyone in a position to offer advice, and those looking for it, to sign up and attend this event.

Thursday 10th of February 2011

Tredomen Business & Technology Centre

5:30pm -7:30pm
To book your please email leah@cbforum.co.uk with your name(s), company and contact details.

Data Shows Need For Enterprising Change In Caerphilly

2011-01-30T18:31:00.000Z

Fresh economic data published by this week by the Office of National Statistics makes grim reading for Caerphilly residents. Employment in the constituency is more than 10% below the UK average – at just 59.5%. That places the town in the bottom tenth in the UK, with the 4th lowest employment rate in Wales.
We need a renewed focus on private sector jobs and growth in Cardiff Bay. I am seeing very little from the current administration that will help create the enterprise led economy that Caerphilly and the rest of Wales desperately needs – despite the rhetoric.

We need a positive change, we cannot continue endlessly down the same path and keep expecting different results.

For the 2,511 people claiming Jobseekers Allowance; For the 8,100 people looking for work; For the 910 young people out of work, education or training; For the 14 people chasing every vacancy - we need to change.

For too long Wales has relied on a bloated public. A public sector that now accounts for 80% of the Welsh economy. For every 6 private sector jobs we have in Caerphilly, there are another 4 in the public sector. That is not sustainable. We need wealth creators and wealth creation.

A view shared by John Ball of Swansea Business School, who last week wrote that “now more than ever is the time to grasp the opportunity to role back the public sector … the Welsh economy’s dependence on the public sector [is] inappropriate, dangerous and always a risk to future economic welfare.”

Yet weaker entrepreneurial performance is hitting Caerphilly hard. We have a third fewer businesses here than the rest of Wales. Caerphilly creates 23% fewer businesses a year than the Welsh average - 33 new companies per 10,000 population compared to 44 in Wales as a whole. Monmouth topped the league table with a new start-up rate of 66.

And instead of offering support to turn that around, this week the Assembly Government pilled yet more pressure onto small businesses in Wales. WAG announced that it will not be following the UK Government’s lead in writing off the debts of small businesses which were given substantial backdated business rate bills.

As Jonathan Morgan AM, Shadow Minister for Local Government, said: “This decision is grossly unfair to Welsh businesses. Businesses in England are having their debts written off and the UK Government has provided the Assembly Government with sufficient funding to ensure that Welsh firms are not unfairly penalised.

“Small businesses … are not receiving the support they need from the Labour-led Assembly Government. Welsh Conservatives would abolish business rates for the majority of small businesses to help them expand and create new jobs.”

People in Caerphilly have the skills, entrepreneurial spirit and courage in them to create new businesses and develop our economy. With the right people in the Welsh Assembly, speaking up for Caerphilly – not only within Wales, but beyond our borders – we can create the positive change to drive our economy forward.

*****

Notes:

Caerphilly Constituency claimant count: 2,511 (Source: ONS, December 2010)
ILO unemployment rate: 8,100 [Caerphilly County Borough] (Source: StatsWales, June 30th 2010)
Ratio of claimants per Jobcentre vacancy: 13.6 (Source: ONS, December 2010)
Caerphilly County Borough [[Wales]]: Business birth rate 33.67 [[43.99]]; death rate 42.77 [[53.69]]; active rate 338.94 [[481.56]] (Source: Annual Labour Market Survey / Business Demography, Office for National Statistics)
Economic inactivity in Caerphilly County Borough is 27.5% - the 3rd highest in Wales. (Source: ONS, December 2010)
John Ball’s article: http://www.clickonwales.org/2011/01/welsh-economic-prospects-in-2011/

Plaid Should Examine Their Own Economic Record

2011-01-26T14:22:00.002Z

Following yesterday’s disappointing Growth figures, Plaid Cymru – who share power with Labour in Cardiff Bay – were quick off the mark to down play the Welsh Economy: “Wales is set for a double-dip recession” and pointing blame at the Coalition Government.

While making his politically motivated attack on the Government in Westminster, Mr Edwards (Plaid's Treasury spokesman) also admitted that “these figures are preliminary and we expected a slowdown in growth because of the poor weather conditions”.

Adding:

"The question now is - is Wales going to end up back in recession because of the reckless economic gamble that the UK Government has embarked on?”

It seems that Mr Edwards has forgotten that it is the Labour/Plaid Government in Cardiff Bay that hold responsibility for economic development in Wales. In the 12 years of Labour led devolution, economic performance in Wales has declined. Our GDP/GVA per capita was 79% of the UK average before devolution, and is now 74%.

Plaid would do well to recognise that fact and explain to the Welsh people why the policies of the Welsh Assembly Government have failed to help the Welsh economy.

Before pointing the finger of blame, Plaid should re-examine their own role in this and apologise to the Welsh people for letting them down.

PRESS RELEASE: Meredith Announces First ‘Town Hall’ Meeting Dates

2011-01-23T09:00:00.001Z

Prospective candidate for Caerphilly in May’s Welsh Assembly elections, Owen Meredith, has announced the date of two ‘Town Hall’ style public meetings he will be holding.
The 24 year old candidate will be holding public meetings to introduce himself to voters and listen to their concerns and priorities. The first meeting will take place in Rudry Parish Hall on Thursday 10th February; followed by a meeting in Caerphilly town centre on 17th March.

Announcing the meetings, Owen said:

“I am delighted to be able to hold these meetings. This is a real opportunity for me to hear your views and answer your questions directly. My campaign will be focused on listening to your concerns and looking at positive ways to address them.”

He added:

“There is a real choice in this election. We have a real chance for change. Please come along and share your views on making a positive change for Caerphilly.”

Meetings will take place on:

Thursday 10th February 2011 // 7pm // Location: Rudry Parish Hall, Rudry

Thursday 17th March 2011 // 7pm // Location: Conservative Club, Bartlett St, Caerphilly
The meetings are open to anyone living in the Caerphilly constituency. To register your interest in attending, please email caerphilly@owenmeredith.co.uk or call 07816 156925 – registration is advisable, but not essential.

Mr Meredith will contest Caerphilly for the Welsh Conservatives, who came second in the recent General Election poll. Owen has pledged to fight a campaign that will listen and act on residents concerns, working with the community to deliver a positive change for Caerphilly.
You can find out more about his campaign and follow its progress online via Facebook or visiting his website at www.owenmeredith.co.uk.

Caerphilly Campaign: First Leaflet Hits The Streets

2011-01-19T22:07:00.000Z

Owen and his team have today delivered the first 1,000 leaflets of his election campaign.

The leaflets begin to spell out his vision of the positive change that, in the right hands, the Welsh Assembly could make for Caerphilly. It sets out the foundations of his vision for building an enterprising local economy; supporting local young people to gain the right education and skills; and protecting the most vulnerable people in society.

His message to the people of Caerphilly is "this is our chance to make that change happen".

It also announces the date of the first two 'town hall' style meetings that Owen will be holding in the coming weeks.

See the full leaflet here

PRESS RELEASE: Caerphilly Boy to Fight Hometown in May Elections

2011-01-18T13:42:00.001Z

Caerphilly born Owen Meredith was last night selected to fight the Caerphilly constituency in the Welsh Assembly elections on May 5th.

He will contest the seat for the Welsh Conservatives, who came second in the recent General Election poll.

Building on their momentum from the General Election, Owen has pledged to fight a campaign that will listen and act on residents concerns, working with the community to deliver real change for Caerphilly.

Following his selection, Owen said:

"It is a huge honour to have the opportunity to contest Caerphilly in this election. I was born and brought up in Caerphilly and it has been my family home for more than 35 years.

“There is so much potential here, but also a lot of problems we need to work on. I want to see Caerphilly thrive and be an economic centre in South Wales. I am deeply concerned by the state we are in, as a town and a nation. It is amazing to think that after 12 years of devolution, Wales is the worst performing economy in the UK. In the right hands, the Welsh Assembly has the power to do so much more for the people of Caerphilly and the rest of Wales.

“Every day I am struck by how much better things could be. My campaign will be about working together to make the positive changes that so many of us have been waiting for, for so long. Building an enterprising local economy; supporting local young people to gain the right education and skills; and protecting the most vulnerable people in society – this is our chance to make that change happen.”

Owen moved away from Caerphilly to attend Keele University, but couldn’t return due to a lack of local employment opportunities. He says that this has motivated him to stand for election.

“When I moved away, I didn’t see myself ever moving back to Wales. There simply weren’t the opportunities here that would allow me to realise my ambitions. Sadly, for many of our young people that story is familiar. That has to change, and I want to help make that change happen.”

You can find out more about his campaign and follow its progress online via Facebook or visiting his website at www.owenmeredith.co.uk.

Owen outside Rudry Primary School in Caerphilly, which he attended from 1990-97.

Trillion Pound Horror and The Bloated Public Sector

2010-11-19T12:12:00.001Z

Managed to watch Britain's Trillion Pound Horror Story last night. A great channel 4 documentary that explains in no uncertain terms the mess we are in.

It makes (and keeps making throughout) the very story observation that the public sector in the UK is now larger than the private sector. A point a blogged about some time ago in reference to the Welsh economy, when the public sector was swallowing about 60% of GDP in the Principality - that figure is now more like 75%!

It's well worth an hour of your time: watch it on youtube here

Saturday Entertainment

2010-10-30T13:49:00.000+01:00

Saw this last night and thought i'd share it with you:

What Did 7 million People Get Out of Bed For This Morning?

2010-10-22T12:18:00.002+01:00

Every day in the UK something strange is happening. As the dawn breaks, 7million people get up, go to work and pay their taxes.

But what are they paying their taxes for? Most of us are happy enough sharing some of our hard earned cash with the Treasury knowing that we are paying for quality healthcare, good schools, police on our streets, etc. That’s all very well, but for more than 7 million workers in the UK, thier taxes pay for none of that.

Every day, 7 million people go to work simple for their taxes to be squandered on the £43 billion annual bill for debt interest.

Even with the planned spending cuts, by 2014 3 million more people will be working to pay the bill for a decade of debt. 10,000,000 workers tax bills wasted on debt.

Just think about that for a moment. All those taxes you and 7 million other people pay, and the services you depend on in exchange, you get none of it. Every last penny of the tax you pay goes to foreign countries, companies and private investors who buy government debt.

In the June budget, the Chancellor used a brilliant little phrase to break down some of the ‘big number’ statistics. Something he should have repeating in the Spending Review.

George Osborne defined a “taxpayer year”. He took the median income in the UK (around £26,000), calculated the PAYE (income tax) and NI (national Insurance) bill for that income - a total tax bill of £6,135. So a full year’s effort for the average worker gives a tax contribution of £6,135, this gives you one “taxpayer year”.

Take the £43 billion debt interest bill (£63bn in 2014), and divide it by a taxpayer year, gives you 7,008,965 taxpayers working just to pay the interest bill on the national debt.

That cannot be right, and demonstrates perfectly whey tough action to rein in spending is needed.

Green MP Claims Fail Reality Test

2010-10-19T17:05:00.000+01:00

Green MP Caroline Lucas today claimed that the UK could save £100bn by scrapping nuclear weapons and energy.

She believes cancelling Trident could save over £100 billion, and scrapping yesterday’s announcement of new nuclear power stations will save £8 billion in nuclear waste costs.

Lucas says, "Rather than callously cutting to the bone the UK's vital social infrastructure the Chancellor should axe the renewal of Trident, which would save £100bn.

"And if he also scraps plans for the proposed eight new nuclear power stations, he'll save the UK something like £8bn in waste disposal subsidies.?

"Scrapping these nuclear programmes would save huge amounts of money to help ease the deficit problem and save some of the essential services that the Government is otherwise committed to hacking.

"But it would also ensure a more secure future for the country, something which is often claimed as the longer term purpose for the cuts."

But what she fails to mention is that in this Utopian future she speaks of, we’ll all be freezing cold and sitting around in the dark! She has no credibility and offers no feasible alternatives to nuclear power.

Which taxes would you put up, Mr. Miliband?

2010-09-29T21:30:00.000+01:00

I wouldn't normally just post CCHQ press releases, but this is interesting and I'm feeling lazy... New analysis of Ed Miliband's promises to Labour during the leadership election, calculated by Matthew Hancock MP, shows that his promises mean a £35bn tax rise - equivalent to 7p on the basic rate of income tax. Commenting Matthew Hancock MP said: "Ed Miliband's plans mean £40bn of tax rises, but so far he's only talked about £5bn taxes on the banks - taxes he opposed in the Labour manifesto he wrote just six months ago. That leaves a shocking £35bn of tax rises, equivalent to 7p on income tax. "Ed Miliband said he would set out how he would deal with the deficit by the time of the spending review, but it's increasingly clear he has no plan. "When Ed Miliband says he wants to target the squeezed middle, it's now clear he wants to target them with swingeing new taxes. It may woo the Labour faithful but not the hard pressed British public. "Which taxes would you put up, Mr Miliband?"

A Bridge Too Far?

2010-08-25T11:15:00.000+01:00

Figures revealed this week show how the Welsh Assembly Government and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council paid out £190,000 of taxpayers’ money to fund three wire mesh bridges over the new Church Village bypass between Pontypridd and Talbot Green.

As part of the £90million bypass project the funding has been used to create “safe walkways” for the local population to cross the new road. The difference being the bridges have been designed for the local population of dormice rather than residents.

This is a total waste of money. I fully support the ‘displacement’ measure that have been taken in building the road to provide new ponds and other habitat for wildlife disrupted by the new road. But £190,000 for these bridge in the current financial climate – in fact in any financial climate – is just absurd.

Surely if some method for the mice to travel between the two sides of the carriageway were needed some kind of pathway under the road could have been installed during construction at a fraction of the cost?

Taxpayers should rightly be dismayed by this kind of spending.

Now all that is left is the bill for the training course to teach the mice how to use the bridge!

Image from Metro.

£185 million Investment in South Wales

2010-08-16T15:12:00.000+01:00

In a welcome move Corus has announced plans for a major investment at the steel plant based in Port Talbot. The £185 million scheme will repair a blast furnace. Work is expected to begin in July 2012 and will extend the life of the furnace by 20 years - securing a long-term manufacturing base for the company in South Wales.

The furnace will be equipped with two world-class iron making facilities.

This investment brings much needed private sector funding into South Wales and after years of failure by Labour to prepare the region for the coming public sector recession.

DCLG Spends £14 Million on Self Promotion

2010-08-12T16:40:00.000+01:00

The Department for Communities and Local Government has this week published all spending over £500 from April 2009 - April 2010 online.

In the 12 months leading up to the General Election, the Labour controlled department spent a massive £13,908,786.58 on advertising, marketing, promotion and marketing consultants.

Why?

Labour's Legacy

2010-08-12T12:39:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the light bloggin at the minute. I'm working on a few pieces though so normal service will ressume soon.

In the mean time, here's a nice video to watch:

At Last, A Straight Forward Referendum Question

2010-07-27T11:12:00.000+01:00

The Deputy PM, Nick Clegg, has published the question this week that we been asked of the British people on May 5th next year.
It reads:

“Do you want the United Kingdom to adopt the 'alternative vote' system instead of the current 'first past the post' system for electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons?”

Amazingly simple and straight forward. Well done Nick.

Let's hope that when the Question for the referendum of devolution of further powers to Wales is announced it matches the ease of understanding and simplicity of this one. We will wait and see.

Public Sector Job Loses: Are We Half Way There Already?

2010-07-06T20:32:00.002+01:00

1.95 million jobs will be created in the private sector in the next 5 years. That is the impressive figure published last week by the independent Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR).

On the opposite calculation, 610,000 public sector jobs will be lost - around 10%. Most of these are expected to come from a recruitment freeze rather than redundancy, suggesting 2% of the public sector workforce moving from public to private sector a year voluntarily. A reasonable assumption.

But, before the public sector unions start to crow about slashing jobs, take a look at the ONS figures for employment in March 2010.

Under public sector employees, the ONS data notes: Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc and Lloyds Banking Group plc are classified to the public sector from 13 October 2008. They are therefore included in the public sector estimates from December 2008 onwards but not for earlier periods. Similarly, Northern Rock is classified to the public sector from 9 October 2007 and is therefore included in the public sector estimates from December 2007 onwards but not for earlier periods.

So the question arises, how many of these 610,000 public sector job losses are simply direct transfers from RBS, Northern Rock and Lloyds Banking Group from State ownership back to private hands?

Current UK headcount for the three nationalised banks is:

Northern Rock UK employees = 4,500
RBS UK employees = 96,000
Lloyds Group UK employees = 140,000

So UK banking sector employees currently classed as public sector totals = 240,500

Assuming the OBR uses the same definition of public sector as the ONS, when we sell the banks back to the private sector, nearly half of the projected public sector job cuts have been achieved.

Surely We Can Do Better Than This?

2010-07-04T19:52:00.000+01:00

Email just arrived in to my inbox from TFL:

"I am writing to let you know that due to a serious track cable fire at Barking on Friday evening, the District line is suspended between Whitechapel and Upminster.

We are working to restore services as quickly as possible; however, we do not expect a normal service to resume until later in the week. There is likely to be a very limited service between Upminster and Whitechapel on Monday"

Seriously?

What on earth can take so long? Every weekend they do track replacement work, surely they can just divert the engineers to the site of the fire and replace the section. The fire can not possibly have damaged more track length than would normally be replaced during 48 hours routine maintenance?

Sort it out TFL!!

Government The Way You Want It

2010-07-02T16:27:00.000+01:00

At some point in our lives we have all come across something that the government is doing that makes us stop and think. This week, they have done just that, but in a very different way.

The government is finally listening to the people, in a big conversation with the nation, we are being asked which laws, regulations and red tape we think should be scrapped. As part of a Great Repeal Act and "one-in, one-out" rule for new legislation, we are being asked to submit ideas of what should go.

On a sub page of the HM Government site (note this is a sub page, not a shiny new website with bespoke design for this exercise), the Your Freedom page lets people register their views and rate those of others: http://yourfreedom.hmg.gov.uk/

Log on and be part of a new style of government.

And let us hope they actually listen to the results!!

A Prime Example of Government Waste

2010-06-07T21:35:00.000+01:00

As I logged on to facebook this evening, I was greeted with this advert:

It invites me to join a group "DFID Livlihood news" boasting 1,555 members.

The group description states "Welcome to the news page of the UK’s Department for International Development Livelihoods team. We use this page to give our fans quick updates of the work we do to help some the poorest people in the world climb out of poverty."

My reaction: WHY?

I fully support the pledge to spend 0.9% of UK GNI on overseas aid, providing it is spent on development aid that helps poor countries build the infrastructure and the economy to allow them to grow their way out of poverty. I do not believe in hand outs, but do believe we can all benefit from a third world with a growing economy and a prosperous people.

For that reason, I am pleased the UK government has ring-fenced DFID spending against cuts.

But, under no circumstances do I think it is acceptable for that ring fenced budget to be spent on facebook adverts, costing more than £1 a "click". Based on the number of members, we can reasonably assume that this group alone has cost tax payers in excess of £1,500 and not helped save or improve a single life in the developing world.

I have no idea how many other government departments are on facebook "promoting" the work of their department at the expense of UK taxpayers, but if anyone is aware of other examples, I'd be very interested to hear from you. Please drop me an email with the detail on owen@owenmeredith.co.uk.

None the less, surely this is a prime example of a ‘cut’ than can be made (and be made this year) that isn’t going to impact on anyone’s life.

ID Cards Will Be History in 100 Days

2010-05-27T13:59:00.000+01:00

Home Secreatry Theresa May has announced that ID Cards will be scrapped within 100 days. A Bill will be put before Parliament shorly to end ID Cards and the National Register by August.

An unneccesary, expensive and intrusive scheme scrapped within weeks of a Conservative government taking office. Excellent news.
Scrapping it will save the Home Office about £800m over a decade - a budget saving i don't think anyone will complain about.

(Very) Light Blogging

2010-05-18T22:47:00.000+01:00

Sorry about the light / lack of blogging lately. Normal service will resume in a week or two.

Post-election I have taken up a new job and as a result am burried in paperwork and work related bumff for more hours of the day than I care to think about. The remaining hour I can get away without sleeping needs to be spent eating and drinking!

In the mean time, keep an eye on my twitter: @owenlmeredith for my occasioanal thoughts.

No Other Option But a Tory-Liberal Pact

2010-05-08T13:54:00.001+01:00

I’ve been looking at the numbers trying to see if there is an option other than a Con-Lib pact.

Labour and Liberals, even with the Northern Irish parties, do not have enough seats to gain a majority.

I looked at another option of giving away ministerial seats to key players who may be more willing to be in government and get on with a job rather than be tribal for the sake of it.

That option looked a bit like this:

650 MPs

Minus 5 Sinn Fein MPs who do not attend Parliament

Less speakers vote (has casting vote, but unlikely to use)

644 Voting MPs = 322 needed for a majority

Conservatives have 306

Plus likely Conservative victory in Thirsk & Malton on 27^th May

Conservative total 307 - 15 short.

Add DUP and Independent Unionist seats who normally vote with the Conservatives (+9)

Plus offer Caroline Lucas a job in Defra? (+1)

Plus offer Kate Hoey London Minister? (+1)

And Frank Field in DWP to do the benefits reform Brown blocked (+1)

And keep Tessa Jowell as Olympics Minister? (+1)

Government Total 320 – 2 short

Leaves a new government still short of a majority. I thought about a Supply and Confidence deal with the SNP in exchange of not blocking a referendum on Scottish Independence if they can get it through the Scottish Parliament? (+6)

That would leave the opposition as:

LABOUR + SDLP + ALLIANCE (- Hoey, Field and Jowell) = 259

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS = 57

WELSH NATIONALISTS = 3

But I think this gives the SNP far too much power. The only option is a Conservative – Liberal pact, it’s the only hand the voters dealt the politicians.

Vote For Change - 12 Hours Left To Vote

2010-05-06T10:00:00.002+01:00

With the polls open and voting underway, here are a few key reasons to get out and vote for change by voting Conservative.

Polls close in just 12 hours.

50 more reasons...

POLLS ARE OPEN: You Decide... Or He Will

2010-05-06T06:49:00.001+01:00

Today, 45 million British voters have the ability to shape the future of this great country.

How they vote today will decide who governs the UK for the next 5 years, the way the state interacts with our lives, how much money people have in their pockets, the way our children are educated, the way our health service is run, the size of parliament and how we elect MPs. A huge raft of issues and polices are on that ballot paper today, and a clear decision must be made.

If the 45 million voters of the UK fail to make a clear choice, over the weekend that follows one man will:

POLLS ARE OPEN 7AM - 10PM

GO OUT AND MAKE A CLEAR CHOICE

DON'T LET ONE MAN MAKE YOUR MIND UP FOR YOU

VOTE FOR CHANGE - VOTE CONSERVATIVE

Image from Times Online

What Will Costs Us £310,882 A Minute Tonight?

2010-04-29T11:31:00.000+01:00

With just 7 days to go to polling day, millions of people will sit down tonight and turn to the BBC to help them make up their mind how to vote.

The third and final 90-minute leaders debate goes out live on BBC1 from 8:30pm.

What Gordon won't mention but will be worth remembering is that that during the course of the 90 minute debate, the Labour Government will borrow another £27,979,452.05.

This will be added to our national debt, which already stands at around £890 billion. The next government are inheriting the worst public accounts in peace-time history.

So as you watch, listen and digest what the three leaders say tonight, keep in the back of your mind that every minute they speak costs the country £310,882.

As the debate tonight focusses on the economy, here's a useful summary of the latest economic statistics released last week:

Brown's Horror As Real Voter Asks A Question

2010-04-28T14:56:00.002+01:00

Today is not a good day for Gordon Brown.

After meeting a pensioner in Rochdale, the PM hasbeen recordedcriticising staff for allowing the woman to talk to him, and calling her a ‘bigoted woman’ after she raised the issue of immigrationfrom Eastern Europe with him.

In what is arguably the biggest gaffe of theelection campaign so far, the media, blogosphere and twitter have gone into overdrivecriticising the PM for the remarks. But I think they have got it all wrong. As disastrous as the 'bigoted woman' remark may be, surely the bigger point is the fact the Prime Minster, seeking ~~re-~~election for another 5 years has criticised staff for letting thewoman talk to him? Heaven forbid the public be allowed to speak to politicians.

In the Sky News tape, the PM is heardsaying “That was a disaster. Theyshould never have put me with that woman!” following up with “whose idea was that?”

“It was Sue Ithink”

Presumably, what the PM means, is: who’s idea wasit to allow a member of the public to talk to me without being first vetted by my officials? The whole point of my ‘tea-on-your-sofa’election campaign was that I would never have to talk to an actual member ofthe British public about my policies or my record in government.

No doubt the Nokia’swill be flying someone’s way later! If I was Sue, I’d go into hiding, andquickly!

Clegg Changes His Mind Again

2010-04-27T22:35:00.000+01:00

Another day and another comment from Nick Clegg on a hung parliament.

The Lib Dem leader is now saying he will "work with anybody" after the election, moving from his position of yesterday when he claimed that if Labour lose the election, he would not prop up a Brown government.

Seems like in a hung parliament situation, the votes of 44million Britains won't matter to Mr Clegg, it would be his vote alone that decides who is in power after May 6th.

The old saying goes that a week is a long time in politics, but it seems in Lib Dem politics a day is even longer!!

Plan For Change

2010-04-27T16:51:00.002+01:00

This video was used in the 2008 Conservative Party Conference, but still holds a lot of weight today in terms of showing a positive message of what a Conservative Government will do to bring real change to this country:

Clegg Confirms The Only Way To Get Change Is To Vote Conservative

2010-04-27T09:41:00.001+01:00

On Sunday, former Lib Dem Leader Paddy Ashdown told the Peoplenewspaper: "We could not go into a coalition with the Tories, itwouldn't work. Nick Clegg cannot work with David Cameron."

Yet on the sameday, Nick Clegg told Andrew Marr on the BBC "Ithink a party that … has lost the election spectacularly, cannot then lay claimto providing the prime minister of this country". Which he thenclarified means ‘I won’t work with Brown if Labour lose’.

So Clegg and theLib Dem seem to be saying that in the event of a hung parliament, they wont work withthe Conservatives, and they wont work with Labour. So unless they obtain anoutright majority (which I don’t think anyone (even the Lib Dems themselves) believeis possible) Nick Clegg and Lib Dems will not be in government.

Therefore, althoughhe may try and say otherwise over the next 10 days, the only way to get achange of government and bring change to the country after May 7^th isto vote for it, and to vote Conservative.

A Minute Of Your Time

2010-04-26T12:52:00.003+01:00

Last week I blogged on a bad week of statistics for Labour following the news that unemployment has risen, youth unemployment is up, economic activity has fallen, inflation is soaring, debt has risen and economic growth has slowed.

Today, Conservatives have created a short video clip with a simple message - In every minute of this Labour government there are 7 incidents of 'anti-social behaviour'; 2 violet crimes; 4 children suspended from school; 915 tonnes of CO2 emitted; £8,562 is spent of NHS Bureaucracy; 2 people lose their job; red tape costs business £13,691; £964,612 is taken in tax; quangos cost £170,765; £310,122 is added to the national debt.

Take a minute to watch it, and then decide if you want 5 more years of Labour:

Or the alternative:

Leaders Debate Costs UK £27,979,452.05

2010-04-23T11:18:00.002+01:00

During the 90 minutes of the Sky News Leaders Debate last night, Gordon Brown and the Labour Government borrowed another £27,979,452.05.

Our national debt now stands at around £890 billion.

That works out at about £14,500 for every man, woman and child in the UK, and a tax bill for every family of £1,899 this year alone, just to pay the interest on that debt.