James Wharton MP

The Northern Echo have printed my letter about the budget cuts to animal disease monitoring.  Given the timing you really could not make up what this government get up to…

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/letters/4329236.Animal_disease/

This morning I visited Stockton Sixth Form College, with local Grangefield Ward Councillors Phillip Broughton and Aidan Cockerill.  The college had applied for an exciting new redeveopment, with the LSC giving all encouragement.  Having expended millions of pounds on planning and preparing the scheme the funding may now be cut off.  The LSC do not have anywhere near enough money to meet its committments and a number of projects have been shelved.  Hopefully this will not mean that Stockton Sixth Form loses out but it is a real, and worrying, possibility.

Last night I had dinner with local business people from Stockton South and across Teesside.  There was wide ranging discussion, including the impact of the recession and post budget reaction.  It is clear that businesses are extremely worried and confidence in the government is at a low.  Until businesses get their confidence back it will be harder to get the economy moving again.  It does seem the only way to achieve this will be by a change of government.

The weekend say the Conservative Spring forum in Cheltenham, with announcements on education and freeing up primary schools from central government interference getting particular media attention.

The Spring Forum also saw the election of Jeremy Middleton as Chairman of the National Convention (and important body within the party which represents the members on the Board).  Jeremy is the first person from the North East to be elected to this position and I am sure he will do a great job of representing the members and the North in particular.

This afternoon I was in Yarm, meeting constituents who were out enjoying the exceptionally warm weather.  The response from people I met was really positive and we rounded things off with a drink in the Black Bull, which busy as ever. This is how Sundays should be spent!