Building the right homes for Cornwall

I have always believed it is important to help young families fulfill the ambition of owning their own home. Over time, owning an asset like your own home gives you some financial security and allows you to set down roots. Twenty years ago it was possible to get relatively affordable mortgages for 95 percent of the value of a property and this meant that people who were working could generally save a five percent deposit. However, after the banking crisis in 2008 things went into reverse. Banks and mortgage companies now expect a much higher deposit than was the case twenty years ago, typically 25 percent which means that it's much harder for young families to purchase their first home.

A few years ago the government introduced a new "Help to Buy" scheme where government would help to underwrite the deposit in order to ensure normal families who work hard but don't have large incomes or even large savings, could be supported to purchase their first home. The scheme was available on certain new build properties and it has been a success with some good examples across Camborne, Redruth and Hayle.

Building on this success, the Government this week announced further details on the new Help to Buy scheme that will run from 2021 to 2023. The scheme will be targeted and continue to help more people onto the property ladder including regional property price caps based on average first time buyer prices. Such caps will take average first time buyer prices for the region and add a further 50% to ensure there is good availability of the scheme. This is a positive step forward and demonstrates the Government’s commitment to building at least one million new homes over the course of this parliament.

There is no doubt that nationally we have a housing shortage. A combination of population growth and issues like family breakdown means that many families are struggling to find a home that delivers their needs. In Cornwall, the issue is exacerbated in some areas by second homeowners. So, as well as helping first time buyers purchase their first home through schemes like Help to Buy, we do also need to build more homes.

However, the homes that we do build should be built to the highest quality. Every year, I have a number of constituents contact my office citing defects to their newly built home that they have just moved into. No one should expect to purchase a poor-quality home or receive poor customer service, but far too many do. That’s why this week the Government announced that it will be establishing a New Homes Ombudsman to protect the rights of homebuyers, holding developers to account when things go wrong, and including legislation to require all developers of new build homes to belong to this Ombudsman. Not only will this ensure a constant access to redress for all buyers of new build homes, it will also help to drive up standards across the country.

Winter storms

Last Thursday I was asked by the Prime Minister to join his Cabinet as the Environment Secretary. It is a huge honour and I am looking forward to the task ahead with many important Bills to get right as we leave the EU and chart a new course for vital industries like farming and fishing.

However, my very first task within hours of being appointed was to take charge of our plans to manage the impacts of storm Dennis. The last two weekends have seen Britain battered by two storms, and once again, many communities are experiencing the distressing effects of floods. In Cornwall we have had plenty of gale force winds and lots of rainfall but, unlike a few years ago when the tidal surges damaged sea defences at Portreath.

This time the worst of the damage has been seen in Worcestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and South Wales but there have also been widespread effects across the country. Part of the problem is that following a very wet winter land is already very waterlogged, the water table is very high and rivers are already brim full. That means that there is nowhere for additional rainfall to go. In recent years we have spent billions of pounds on over 600 flood defences which has protected over 200,000 homes and there are more under development that will protect a further 100,000 homes. In this last episode, although over 500 homes were flooded, the defences we had in place protected about 20,000 homes. A further £4 billion has been allocated for the next five years to build more still and the Met Office also recently announced that it was investing £1.2 billion into a new supercomputer to help predict future weather conditions and foresee extreme weather events.

The success of our flood defences in protecting many homes is, of course, no consolation to those who were affected and had their home flooded this week. Suffering flood damage is an incredibly traumatic event for people and that is why we have also announced a package of measures to help people get back on their feet with reliefs on Council Tax, payments to those affected to help them manage the short time crisis and grants to help them repair their homes in a way that will make them more resilient to future flooding events.

Around the world we seem to be seeing an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. It is not just here in the UK. Over the Christmas period we saw massive bushfires across Australia fuelled by hot and windy conditions with more than 11 million hectares of bush, forest and parks across Australia burned. There were also higher-than-average rainfall and floods in Eastern Africa and droughts in south-east Asia.

One factor driving the increased frequency of extreme weather events is climate change and that is why we must continue to make progress to reduce carbon emissions and that is a key objective in both the Environment Bill and the Agriculture Bill that are going through parliament at the moment.

Investing in local transport

In a peninsula like Cornwall, there will always be challenges to building a resilient public transport structure. However, some good progress has been made in the last few years. We have invested to improve our railways and there is now a regular half hourly service running through Cornwall which has led to a significant increase in passenger numbers.

However, for most people in Cornwall, it is the local service that matters most and the key to making things work better is to try to integrate or join up the bus network with the rail network more effectively than we have done in the past. This will allow rail and bus timetables to work in tandem to give people more frequent options to get from one destination to another.

I have long pressed for a regular and routine 30-minute local train service through Cornwall with buses then providing onward connections over shorter rural routes to our villages and this is now starting to come together. By joining up commercial routes of buses and trains with smaller, local, shuttle buses travelling shorter distances, you start to get the makings of something that could really work, and you could build more confidence in the public transport network.

Following the General Election result, there are now however some really interesting and important things happening in line with the Government’s commitment to levelling up our towns and ensuring that regions like Cornwall outside of London receive improved connectivity. Earlier in the autumn, I wrote about the plans to introduce Britain’s first Superbus network here in Cornwall. The network was part of the government’s plans to reverse the impacts of dwindling services in local towns and drive forward a bus revolution that will improve access for everyone.

The pioneering investment would direct investment towards more frequent public transport in the countryside, introducing new apps that will improve the information available to commuters whilst also ensuring that the bus fleets will be cleaner, greener and more environmentally friendly.

Earlier this week the Government further committed to improving bus and cycle links announcing a significant £5 billion package of funding to drive forward the reforms needed. The new funding, delivered over the next five years, will see the introduction of more regular and faster bus services while providing cycle routes with a major boost - funding more than 250 miles of new cycleways and introducing at least 4,000 new Zero Emission Buses.

Creating an integrated public transport system for Cornwall is an important step forward in ensuring that our local communities are supported. Investments like those announced this week and earlier in the autumn will help to improve the affordability of transport for local people, improving our regional links and ensuring that we have a more environmentally friendly transport service.

Unleashing the potential of our towns

The result of the recent General Election has transformed British politics and given way to a sense of energy and optimism. Much of this is because the government now has a stable majority providing the ability to get on with the job of governing. However, there is also another factor that is proving decisive, namely that the government is committed to delivering on its promises, levelling up our towns and cities and unleashing Britain’s potential.

For towns like Camborne, Redruth and Hayle this is welcome news. Our local towns were once at the heart of the industrial revolution and our expertise in mining engineering was second to none. Over the years, with the loss of mining our fortunes waned and all too often the political attention was on big northern cities, but now we have an opportunity to reset this imbalance and deliver the economic regeneration that our towns and communities need.

In Hayle there is already some exciting work taking place to transform the harbour into a new coastal quarter. We have already repaired the harbour walls, started to develop South Quay and built a new marine business park on North Quay. Now further construction is under way at North Quay with the first phase of the scheme delivering homes, new shops and open spaces just yards from the beach at Gwithian Towans. There will also be considerable investment into the roundabout at Loggans Moor roundabout helping to improve the flow of traffic and improve the infrastructure.

The Historic Towns Fund is also set to help with the regeneration of Redruth, one of just 69 in the country. It recognises the amazing architecture that we have in Redruth and will help restore it. The fund can help spread the regeneration that has been started with the opening of Kresen Kernow. Projects like Krowji and the work around the Butter Market shows just what is possible with some imagination, passion and local leadership and we now have funds to help facilitate further work.

In the weeks ahead I will also be meeting community leaders in Camborne to explore plans to help transform Camborne’s growth prospects. Camborne will be receiving funds from the new Towns Fund which focuses on areas with a proud industrial heritage that are in need of economic growth, with up to £25 million being designated for Camborne. There are already a number of exciting and innovative ideas being talked about including the potential to redevelop the old bus station, and breathe new life into the high street but I want to ensure that the community is fully involved in discussions about priorities.

We've got Brexit done, now lets move on

By the time that many of you read this article, there will be less than 24 hours until the UK has formally left the European Union. This is a momentous occasion and there are many exciting opportunities open to the UK as we chart a new course and enter a new chapter in our history. From my perspective, the chance to be at the heart of designing an independent agriculture and fisheries policy for the first time in half a century is something I relish.

Over the course of the last three years, there were times when both I and many others who had voted to leave the European Union feared that Brexit would never happen and that for the first time in this country’s history we would not have respected a democratic vote. As someone who campaigned to leave and sought to compromise in order to achieve Brexit, it’s been a deeply frustrating time.

With Brexit now done, the time has come to move on, to bring this country back together and get on with delivering on the people’s priorities. I think there are signs that we may have turned a corner with the aggressive tone of debate changing and a calmness descending on Westminster and the general political debate. Much of this has been helped by the fact that the government is getting on with the job and doing what it said it would do in its manifesto during the recent election campaign.

From investing in our NHS, levelling up our schools funding and improving the vital infrastructure on which we all depend, there is much going on within Westminster and at a local level. Already the Prime Minister has indicated his support for regions like the South West and others outside of London to help reduce the inequalities that exist in our communities. In our NHS, we have seen commitments to build a new hospital, a new maternity and children unit at RCHT Treliske whilst also nationally increasing spending on the NHS by almost £34 billion per year.

On schools, the Prime Minister has confirmed his commitment to improving standards and ensuring that every child has access to a world class education. Last week statistics for schools across Camborne, Redruth and Hayle revealed that many had seen an increase in the proportion of pupils achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics last year. With some schools experiencing a jump of over 40%, it is clear that children are already benefiting from the excellent standards of teaching that they are receiving.

The last three years have been a turbulent year in British Politics, however it is my hope that with a majority government, we can continue to put the turmoil and divisiveness of the past behind us and all move on. Events to date have shown a promising start for the year.

Developing a new Agriculture Policy fit for the 21st Century

Last month’s general election result has finally brought clarity and direction, following three very difficult years. The UK will leave the EU at the end of this month and there will be an orderly Brexit with an implementation period running until the end of this year. There will be no extension and we will not be part of the customs union, nor the single market, but we will seek a free-trade agreement.

We now have the freedom to press ahead with our plans to develop a new agriculture policy that is fit for purpose in the 21st century and delivers for British farmers and the environment.

The Agriculture Bill has returned this week for the second time. As before, we seek to replace the bureaucratic shambles that is the Common Agricultural Policy with something that has coherence.

Rather than arbitrary area-based payments, where land ownership and tenure is subsidised, we will instead direct future funding to support activities and interventions that deliver for our environment and enhance animal welfare.

We want a package of incentives to support sustainable farming practices and the bill creates the powers to do this.

We recognise that Basic Payment Scheme payments currently make up a significant proportion of net farm income. However, rather than maintain a system that just masks poor profitability, the ambition behind our Agriculture Bill is to tackle the causes of that poor profitability.

So, the bill creates the power to make grants available to deliver a prosperous future for farming by helping farmers invest in new technology and equipment to reduce costs.

There is a section in the bill to improve transparency and fairness in the supply chain, so that farmers stop being price takers and start getting a fairer share of the cake.

Also, we want to make it easier for farmers to retire with dignity and simultaneously help new entrants get access to land.

I grew up on a farm and spent a decade working in the industry. Domestic food production is crucial and plays a vital role in contributing to our nation’s food security.

The government takes this very seriously, so the revised bill creates a duty to review food security every five years and a duty to consider the production of food when devising policy.

I also know that farming is a risky business and there will always be circumstances where the government must act and intervene in a crisis to support farmers or stabilise markets. The bill makes provision for that too.

Finally, I know that change must be delivered in an orderly and progressive way. It won’t happen overnight. Our bill envisages a seven-year transition period from the old legacy system to the future policy, starting next year.

Our ambition is to use our new-found freedom to embark on a journey to a better future for farming. We want to innovate and develop the policies of the future.

A decade from now, I want the rest of the world to be coming to the UK to see how it is done, and I know we have some of the best farmers in the world who can do just that.

Levelling up our schools

A child’s education is one of the most important aspects of their life. The first three years of a child’s life are the most formative and have a crucial impact on a child’s life chances.

Education is also the single most important thing that can increase social mobility and help the next generation to get on in life. We must constantly strive to strengthen primary education, bring rigour to both secondary education and the exams system and also support those who want to go on to university or take on an apprenticeship.

Here in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle we are fortunate to have some fantastic local schools delivering an outstanding quality of education. When I am visiting them, I always find that there is a sense of pride from students and teachers alike. It is clear for everyone to see just how hard the staff are working to deliver the highest levels of education for our children. But it is important that we do everything that we can to support our schools so that they can continue to deliver an outstanding education.

Throughout the General Election, the Prime Minister made clear his intention that the Government would invest in schools around the country with £14 billion over the next three years, worth an extra £150 million a week. Because of this major investment, each secondary school will receive a minimum of £5,000 per pupil for the next academic year, and each primary school will receive a minimum of £3,750 rising to £4,000 in 2021-22.

Many in the campaign questioned whether the Government would deliver on these promises but this week the Department for Education released figures which showed that the per pupil funding figures had increased for schools in the constituency, delivering on its pledge and helping to level up education funding for schools in Cornwall. This is a positive step forward and demonstrates that the Government is serious about improving the lives and futures of everyone in this country regardless of whether you’re from Putney or Camborne.

We will also do more to support those who need extra support from schools to help them achieve their full potential by increasing the high needs budget by £780 million in 2020-21. This 12% increase will ensure that every pupil can access the education that is right for them and strengthen the support that they receive in their schools.

I think it is important to create a culture of excellence in the education system where schools are constantly striving to achieve more for all children. You only get one education, so we must do all we can to make it a success.

A New Year Awaits

The New Year has always been regarded as a time for hope and optimism. For some, it is a chance to turn over a new leaf, stop smoking or start exercising. For others it’s a chance to take up a new hobby.

Our country has had to endure several years of highly divisive argument over Brexit. It has divided communities, political parties and in some cases even families. Following the result of the recent General Election we have a chance to put all the arguments behind us, bring our country back together and start the process of healing. This week the Bill that delivers an orderly exit from the EU concluded all its stages through the House of Commons without incident. Our country has finally turned the corner and is on the way back.

The year ahead represents a fresh start for our politics and a chance to finally turn our attention to other matters. Already the Prime Minister has indicated his support for regions like the South West and others outside of London to help reduce the inequalities that exist in our communities. In the weeks ahead the UK will leave the EU and the Government will get on with delivering on the people’s priorities. From investing in our NHS, levelling up our schools funding and improving the vital infrastructure that we all depend on, there is much to be getting on with.

The year ahead also brings new opportunities for our towns. Since I was first elected in 2010, my number one priority has been to deliver the economic regeneration that our towns require, attracting the jobs and opportunities to level up our towns. Last autumn it was confirmed that all three of the major towns had been selected to receive funding. Hayle will receive funding to improve the flow of traffic at Loggans roundabout, Camborne has access to a new regeneration fund and Redruth will receive funding to help restore and preserve some of the historic buildings in the town. In the months ahead I will be working with local councils and the communities to discuss how best to deploy these new resources.

2019 was a turbulent year in British Politics however it is my hope that with a majority government that we can finally put the turmoil and divisiveness of the past year behind us and all move on. Events this week have been a very promising start.

If you have a problem that you need help solving, why not email us to provide some detail or drop into our Camborne office to arrange to meet one of our team. George can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk, by telephone on 0207 219 7032 or by appointment in our Camborne Office at 13 Commercial Street, Camborne, TR14 8JZ.

Christmas - A time of goodwill

Our country has had to endure several years of highly divisive argument over Brexit. It has divided communities, political parties and in some cases even families. Following last week’s General Election result with a clear majority for Boris Johnson and the new Conservative Government, we have a chance to put all the argument behind us, bring our country back together and start the process of healing.

As we approach Christmas, which is traditionally the season of goodwill, let’s hope that some goodwill can also spread into our political discourse. In recent years there has been a trend towards a greater polarisation of views. Social media has encouraged people to make short and terse comments on issues of the day and to make sometimes quite aggressive or offensive comments anonymously about others. People can wind themselves up and become angry. We need to get more tolerance and respect back into our political debate.

I think there are some signs that we may have turned a corner. The aggressive tone of debate and the level of intolerance was particularly noticeable and acute in the 2017 General Election. I think that this time, while people were very frustrated by what has happened (or not happened) over the last three years, there was also a calmness about the situation and a clarity about what was needed to rectify matters which subsequently translated into a very clear and decisive result in the election.

Boris Johnson has wasted no time in doing what he said he would do. The Queen’s Speech has already taken place this week and on Friday Parliament will have started taking through the legislation needed to implement the withdrawal agreement that was agreed with the EU in October. Having cleared its stages in the House of Commons the Bill will be on its way to the House of Lords by the New Year where it is expected to clear very quickly.

Christmas is also a time when we are particularly aware of the dedication of NHS staff and other public sector workers who work difficult shifts throughout the holiday period. Boris Johnson has reaffirmed his clear commitment plans to substantially increase spending on our NHS by almost £34 Billion per year. Spending on the NHS has increased over the last decade and is about 20 percent higher now than in 2010 but the pressures have grown faster. As medicine advances and surgery becomes more complex, the NHS can do more and that is why we need to make a major new injection of funds.

After some turbulent and difficult times for our country, I would like to wish everyone a peaceful and restful Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

Get Brexit done or more dither and delay?

As I write this article, MPs are voting on whether to hold a General Election in December. Many of us had hoped that it would not get to this stage, that MPs would have found a way to compromise and finally deliver Brexit, indeed there was a moment where a Brexit deal looked possible, but it was not to be. Once again factions in Parliament, Labour and the Liberal Democrats came together to dither and delay and force the Government to abandon any hope of delivering Brexit this side of Christmas.

When the election comes, people will have a clear choice to make between a Government who will get on and deliver Brexit or a Labour opposition that will dither and delay and force more years of referendums and misery on this country. There will be a choice between a government that is putting 20,000 more police on the streets, delivering the biggest hospital building programme in a generation, investing £14 billion more in our schools and levelling up education funding across the country and a government that will truly deliver on the public’s priorities. Or a Labour Opposition who would turn 2020 into a toxic, tedious torture of two more referendums, one on the EU and one on Scotland, hike up taxes, ruin the economy and run this country into the ground.

Here in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle there is also a choice to be made. In my time as an MP I have made the economic regeneration of our towns and job creation my number one priority. We have made good progress in recent years with the new link road, developments around Tuckingmill and the Kresen Kernow Archive, the prospect of South Crofty reopening and new jobs in industries like computer software.

We’ve also seen huge levels of investment into our local health services, and are fortunate to have some of the best healthcare facilities in the country. Recently, there have also been significant commitments from the Government to build a new maternity and children’s unit at Treliske as well as funding to be directed towards a new hospital helping more people have access to first class public health services. Across the constituency, I’ve also worked hard to protect our precious green spaces, campaigning alongside residents to ensure that our precious green spaces are protected from inappropriate developments.

In Westminster I have worked to support those who need help the most, representing constituents cases, helping to unblock problems, proposing a bill that would correct the historic injustices that affect properties affected by mining subsidence as well as fighting for fairer funding for Cornwall, for our schools, nurseries and local services.

In the last nine years we have achieved a great deal, but there is still more to be done to drive forward the growth and reforms that people yearn for. It is time now for the people to decide between a government that will get Brexit done and get on with delivering on the publics priorities or more dither and delay with Labour.

Are we in the home strait at last?

For the first time since the Falklands War, MPs assembled in Parliament on a Saturday to discuss Brexit and the Prime Minister’s Withdrawal Agreement. This was an important day and there were hopes that we might finally turn the corner and settle this long running Brexit saga which has sucked the life out of all other debate.

However, it was not to be. Once again, factions in Parliament and Labour and the Liberal Democrats came together to add a wrecking amendment that blocked the deal. Then, because they passed an earlier, rather bizarre Act of Parliament, the government was forced to send a ridiculous letter on behalf of Parliament begging for an extension.

A couple of weeks ago these remainer MPs said they just wanted to “take no deal off the table.” But now that a deal has been secured by the Prime Minister, they now say they want to take a deal off the table, ignore the referendum result and extend our membership to the EU instead. Not only would this betray the trust of those who voted to leave and who expected their government to implement the result, it would also be the first time in our history that we have not respected a democratic vote.

For over three years, politicians in Westminster have been arguing about how to deliver on the referendum result. We’ve been able to say what we don’t want and even voted against a deal three times. As someone who campaigned to leave and sought to compromise in order to achieve Brexit, it’s been a frustrating time. But it’s now time to get Brexit done and despite the frustrations of this week we may just have turned the corner and entered the home strait.

Since becoming Prime Minister over 80 days ago, Boris Johnson has shown huge determination to get Brexit done and taken a stand against those factions in parliament who want to block democracy. It was initially said that Boris Johnson wouldn’t get a new deal but he did. That he wouldn’t get rid of the backstop, but he did. That the EU would never change the Withdrawal Agreement, but it did.

The fact that a new deal has been secured with the EU changes the dynamics completely and although factions in parliament have been using tactics to play for time, they couldn't block the legislation to implement the deal. It passed with a majority of 30. By hook or by crook either before an election or after an election, the deal that Boris Johnson has secured will eventually be done and Brexit will finally be delivered.

Britain’s first Superbus network

In a peninsula like Cornwall, there will always be challenges to building a resilient public transport structure. However, some good progress has been made in the last few years. We have invested to improve our railways and there is now a regular half hourly service running through Cornwall which has led to a significant increase in passenger numbers.

However, for most people in Cornwall, it is the local service that matters most and the key to making things work better is to try to integrate or join up the bus network with the rail network more effectively than we have done in the past. This will allow rail and bus timetables to work in tandem to give people more frequent options to get from one destination to another.

I have long pressed for a regular and routine 30-minute local train service through Cornwall with buses then providing onward connections over shorter rural routes to our villages and this is now starting to come together. By joining up commercial routes of buses and trains with smaller, local, shuttle buses travelling shorter distances, you start to get the makings of something that could really work, and you could build more confidence in the public transport network.

There are now however some really interesting and important things happening with the Government announcing that local bus routes will be supported more than ever with the new ‘Superbus’ network. This network is part of the government’s plans to reverse the impacts of dwindling services in local towns and drive forward a bus revolution that will improve access to these fantastic local services.

As the home to Britain’s first ‘Superbus’ Cornwall will pioneer the service with investment driven towards more frequent public transport in the countryside and rural places where often the remaining local services have often struggled to meet demand. New apps will also be developed that draw together information on bus routes, fares, and timetables from different bus operators across England into one place. As ever the need to think about the environment has been factored into these plans with buses for larger cities and towns to be electrified, and hybrid engines ordered for those on more rural routes.

Creating an integrated public transport system for Cornwall is an important step forward in ensuring that our communities are supported. Often you’ll find in Cornwall that you may be able to get a train for part of your journey but that it is very difficult to get to that train. The ‘Superbus’ network will help deliver that support by improving the quality, frequency and capacity of rail and bus services to create an integrated public transport system for Cornwall so that no one is left behind.

The idea of the ‘Superbus’ network planned for Cornwall is to have low fares improving the affordability of the routes whilst also introducing more bus priority measures to speed up journeys and make them more reliable. For many, it is often the cost and difficulty of travel is a major barrier to getting work, seeing loved ones or travelling at all. The ‘Superbus’ service will help to alleviate the problems that people experience and will be a major boost for local residents in Cornwall.

The Brexit finishing line is in sight

For over three years, politicians in Westminster have been arguing about how to deliver on the referendum result. We’ve been able to say what we don’t want and even voted against a deal three times. As someone who campaigned to leave and sought to compromise in order to achieve Brexit, it’s been a frustrating time. But the finishing line is now in sight, and it’s time to finally get Brexit done.

Despite his detractors and attempts by those who have sought to frustrate and cancel Brexit, the Prime Minister last week delivered a workable proposal that both delivers on the referendum and takes into account the concerns around making the Irish border.

It removes the so-called “backstop” which was anti-democratic and would have left the UK trapped in EU law with no way of getting out. It also disregarded the importance of political consent in Northern Ireland so it compromised one of the key aspects of the Belfast Agreement. That is why Parliament rejected the last Withdrawal Agreement three times.

The proposal was a revised offer that would have passed parliament. The UK would leave the Custom Union and Single Market whilst also restore the supremacy of British law over EU law and freeing the country from the European Court of Justice. It would ensure that British taxpayers’ money remains in Britain and spent on priorities that matter to the public but it would have addressed all the issues that were of concern to Ireland.

There would be a regulatory zone on the island of Ireland covering all goods but eliminating the need for all regulatory checks for trade in goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and any customs checks would take place either electronically or, where necessary for physical checks, at traders’ premises or other points in the supply chain. Northern Ireland would remain completely part of the UK customs territory and not the EU customs union.

It was well thought through and made a lot of sense but sadly, as usual, the EU have refused to engage in it. The problem all along in this process has been that the EU have adopted a stance that says they want us to stay fully in the EU so that we will still pay them large amounts of money and so they can still have control of our laws and a free run of our market. Getting them to accept that we have voted to become an independent country making our own laws has been a struggle, not least because they see a faction in Parliament including Labour and the Lib Dems who want to ignore the referendum result. If the EU senses that Britain no longer values it's democracy and us willing to simply ignore election results, then why should they have any qualms about demanding they maintain direct control of our laws?

This situation cannot continue. We need a General Election to settle this stagnant argument but first we must get out of the EU at the end of this month with or without an agreement. The vote to leave the European Union was a momentous decision in this country’s history and we need to embrace democracy.

As the world’s fifth largest economy with world leading expertise in science, finance and industry, we have an incredibly strong hand of cards to play as we leave the EU and we should not fear leaving without an agreement.

Party Conference

This week is Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, which marks the end of the conference season for MPs. However, in this world of upside down politics that we appear to be living in, I am writing this article not from Manchester but from Westminster as a result of cynical attempts by opposition MPs to wreck our conference.

Last week the Supreme Court entered the realm of political judgements and stated that the Prime Minister’s decision to prorogue parliament was unlawful. I fundamentally disagreed with the Court’s decision and it was clear that those who brought this particular challenge before the court did so for the sole objective of frustrating Brexit and cancelling the result of the referendum. The events that followed this decision led to opposition MPs voting against the usual practice of a parliamentary recess to cover the conference season.

Westminster politics has become quite feral at the moment and only a General Election can settle things. However, in the meantime Boris Johnson is undeterred by these attempts to undermine him. The Conservative Conference went ahead as planned and was a great success with many exciting proposals on schools, police and the NHS once we get Brexit done.

Locally there have been significant announcements for Cornwall with the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock announcing that Cornwall will receive up to £450 million for a new hospital. This is great news for everyone in Cornwall and will be a significant boost to the many staff and patients who have come to give so much to our NHS. The plans are part of a new strategic Health Investment Programme of £13billion to upgrade hospitals across the country. This will include funds for the NHS in Cornwall to begin work, with local decision makers, to consider options and work up the business case, which could include a brand new acute hospital on a new site, upgrading of existing Community Hospitals as well as redevelopment of existing facilities at Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske. This truly is welcome news and once more demonstrates the government’s commitment to delivering first class public services for everyone.

There was also an announcement that the National Living Wage, which was introduced by George Osborne a few years ago, would be increased to £10.50 meaning that the lowest paid will receive a substantial pay rise. Unemployment is at a record low but there are too many people who work hard but still struggle financially. This will be a boost for them.

There have of course been other issues discussed at the conference that received less attention. In my time as an MP and particularly as a Minister at DEFRA, I have worked to try to improve environmental and animal welfare standards. This week plans to restrict the export of live animals and to ban the keeping of primates as pets was announced. At DEFRA we’ve made great strides in improving animal welfare from installing CCTV in slaughter houses to improving the legislation around the breeding of puppies and we want to continue to improve the law.

Improving our transport links

In a peninsula like Cornwall, there will always be challenges to building a resilient public transport structure. However, some good progress has been made in the last few years. We have invested to improve our railways and there is now a regular half hourly service running through Cornwall which has led to a significant increase in passenger numbers.

We have also seen the introduction of the new fleet of Tinner buses marking a major step forward in the quality of our bus network. It’s good to see some local branding on the buses with a nod to the industrial history of the area but, more importantly, the quality of the service has improved.

The Government’s decision to expand Heathrow Airport with will also see opportunities for Cornwall, opening up new routes, improving business links and attracting more visitors. It is expected that a new runway could see over 200,000 passengers fly between Newquay and London in the future, helping to secure the future of Newquay Airport which was once in doubt.

We are also making progress improving things on long haul journeys. From the moment I was elected, I fought to get an upgrade to the “Night Riviera” sleeper service, which has now been introduced. I am a regular and devoted user of the sleeper service, using it every weekend to get down to Camborne. I know how important the service can be for businesses and visitors alike and I am pleased that it will be able to provide more capacity and better facilities to compete with other forms of transport.

But when we need to travel, the journey will usually be long and we must make the journey as comfortable as possible. Great Western’s decision to remove the buffet carriage from its services to and from Cornwall has been a terrible mistake. The trolley service marks a major backward step in the quality of the service. On a busy train the trolley can’t even move and it is not fair on staff who have to try to make the best of a bad job. I will continue to press for the buffet carriage to be reinstated as part of the next franchise negotiation.

However, for most people in Cornwall, it is the local service that matters most and the key to making things work better is to try to integrate or join up the bus network with the rail network more effectively than we have done in the past. This will allow rail and bus timetables to work in tandem to give people more frequent options to get from one destination to another.

I have long pressed for a regular and routine 30-minute local train service through Cornwall with buses then providing onward connections over shorter rural routes to our villages and this is now starting to come together. If we could join up commercial routes of buses and trains with smaller, local, shuttle buses travelling shorter distances, you start to get the makings of something that could really work and you could build more confidence in the public transport network. We now have the more regular train service and the next step is to increase the use of buses in conjunction with the rail service.

Growing our towns - Redruth

At the height of the tin mining era, Redruth was once one of the wealthiest towns in the land. After the loss of tin mining our fortunes fell behind other parts of the country but today there remains a legacy of that era with some fabulous and quite unique architecture in the town.

We have made good progress getting Redruth back on its feet. The town council now organises four events a year starting with St Piran’s Day, then Murdock day, the pasty festival and finishing with the Christmas lights parade. The support that these now receive from both local schools and local residents shows that the community is strong.

We have also seen numerous projects that have brought revival to the town. Krowji turned the old redundant grammar school building into a hub for creative arts and small businesses. A couple of years ago it completed a significant expansion and is now home to many new enterprises. The Kresen Kernow Archive project is now complete and opened s couple of weeks ago. It is a fantastic resource for the whole county and has led to the regeneration of the old brewery site. I worked with both Cornwall Council, the town council and the owner of the old brewery site to get this project in Redruth and secure the funds needed to complete it and it is great to see that work now complete. A committed team locally have also achieved a huge amount to bring the former butter market back into use as a public realm with a growing number of successful, often specialist shops, opening in recent years.

This week the government announced a new Historic Towns Fund to support regeneration of historic towns like Redruth. I am delighted that Redruth is one of just sixty nine towns nationally to be selected for access to this fund. It is designed to help regenerate old historic building and bring them back into use to help revive towns. Almost £14 million has been set aside for towns in the South West. Access to this fund will help us to build on what we have started with projects like Kernow by spreading the revival up into the town.

I want to work with the local community to identify which projects we should prioritise. There have already been a number of successful projects to bring shops back into use and to restore some of the traditional architecture. There is more work to be done around the butter market. There are also tentative plans to take over the Methodist Chapel by the railway station and bring it back into use as a community asset as a centre for performing arts. It is one of the largest chapels in Cornwall and is an important asset for the town.

The progress we have made to date shows that it is possible to turn the corner with some imagination and support. I am looking forward to building on what we have started with the local community.

Growing our towns

As I write this article, much of the attention in the media has focused on the ongoing Brexit negotiations and the parliamentary processes that those who have failed to accept the referendum result have deployed to stop Brexit. Whilst the saga continues to rumble on, the Prime Minister has rightly continued to focus on the priorities that are important to the public.

In recent weeks we have seen the largest ever investment at RCHT Treliske as plans were announced for a new maternity unit and main entrance. We’ve also seen plans to increase the number of police on our streets, 10,000 new prison places, more funding for mental health services, and just last week a record £14billion cash boost for schools, helping to level up per pupil funding so that every child has a world class education.

In another sign that the Prime Minister is committed to delivering on his promises, the Government has announced plans to level up 100 towns across the country helping to correct the historic imbalances in local funding that some towns have experienced.

When I was first elected, I always made clear that economic regeneration in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle was my number one priority. Over the last 9 years, I have worked hard to achieve this and in recent years we have made progress in regenerating our towns with the new link road, developments around Tuckingmill, the prospect of South Crofty reopening and new jobs in industries like computer software. But there has always been more to do to help level up our towns.

Towns like Camborne, Redruth and Hayle were at the heart of the industrial revolution and our expertise in mining engineering was second to none. Over the years, with the loss of mining our fortunes waned and all too often the political attention was on big northern cities.

It is therefore very welcome to hear the news this week that Camborne had been selected as one of 100 pioneer towns selected to receive up to £25 million in funding for economic regeneration. The funding is part of a wider £3.6 billion Towns Fund separate from other funding pots which are focusing on areas with proud industrial and economic growth. This is fantastic news for residents in Camborne who have long been calling out for more funding for our towns, higher living standards and improved local facilities.

In the weeks ahead I will be working with local communities, businesses and local leaders to join forced and draw up ambitious plans to help transform Camborne’s growth prospects with a particular focus on improved transport, broadband connectivity, skills and culture. This is an exciting time for Camborne, however I will continue to work with all our local communities to ensure that our towns continue to receive the support they need to ensure that our towns can look to the future with a new optimism.

Parliament returns

Now that Parliament has returned from the summer recess, much of the focus and attention in Westminster has shifted back to the ongoing Brexit negotiations.

Last week the Queen approved the Prime Minister’s request to prorogue Parliament, bringing about an end to the longest parliamentary session since the Civil War and beginning the process for a Queen’s Speech. Many have characterised this action as a threat to democracy, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The facts remain that prorogation before a Queen’s Speech is normal constitutional procedure, and that often when a new Prime Minister is appointed, they often have their own agenda and priorities which require them to be presented in the format of a Queen’s Speech.

The decision to end the current parliamentary session will enable the Prime Minister to put a fresh domestic programme in front of MPs for debate and scrutiny while also ensuring that there is good time before and after the European Council for Parliament to further consider Brexit issues.

However, whilst Brexit remains an important issue, it is right that we continue to focus on the crucial public priorities. In recent weeks we have seen the largest ever investment at RCHT Treliske as plans were announced for a new Maternity Unit and main entrance. The Prime Minister has also announced plans to increase the number of police on our streets whilst also delivering 10,000 new prison places. Locally in Cornwall we have also seen more money delivered for mental health services and young people in Cornwall ensuring that people get the support they need.

Earlier this week it was also announced that schools across the country will be boosted by a record £14 billion cash boost, helping to level up per pupil funding so that every child has a world class education. I regularly meet with teachers and headteachers across Camborne, Redruth and Hayle and one of their biggest campaigns has always been fairer funding for our schools.

The Prime Minister’s announcement means that every school will receive a minimum of £5,000 per pupil next year and every primary school will get a minimum of £4,000 per pupil from 2021-22, rising at least in line with inflation. The cash boost will also help children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) with £700 million extra being attributed to these funds so that every pupil can access the education that is right for them and none are held back from reaching their potential.

No one can know for sure how events will develop over the next week, and by the time many of you read this column we could be in a clearer position. However, at times of uncertainty what people need from their government most of all is a determined clarity of purpose and with the election of Boris Johnson we now have it.

The growth of St Michael’s hospital

Last weekend I visited St Michael’s Hospital in Hayle to see the recent investment in new facilities that is now allowing the majority of orthopaedic work in Cornwall to be transferred from Treliske to Hayle. St Michael’s has always had an exceptional reputation for its role as a centre of excellence on breast cancer with new investment made about eight years ago and the leading reputation of some of the surgeons who work there. In recent years there have periodically been scare stories that the future of the hospital is in doubt. However, far from losing services, more are being transferred there.

There has always been some orthopaedic work done at St Michael’s but the lack of adequate isolation units for patients who develop infections or complications meant that patients who were judged to be higher risk tended to be operated on at Treliske. The new investment made last year with the building work completed at the beginning of this year means there are now three isolation rooms which have enabled far more hip replacements and other similar operations to move to St Michael’s from Treliske.

One of the key ways to stabilise Treliske Hospital is to take some of the unnecessary burdens off it. It has been under intense pressure with an exponential rise in demand. Steps can include reducing the pressure on A&E by introducing additional critical care units at other sites so that people with minor injuries can be treated without creating a burden on the main A&E service. There are also many routine operations that are far better managed at satellite sites run by the RCHT, like St Michael’s, leaving Treliske to focus its energies on its core function as an acute hospital for the more risky operations and emergencies.

The NHS is a great British institution and the dedicated staff who work in it show tremendous commitment and this was evident as always at St Michael’s last week. Earlier this week, the Prime Minister was in Cornwall to visit Treliske and meet staff there to talk about some of the issues they have faced. Boris Johnson recently announced some major new investments in Treliske to upgrade facilities such as the maternity services. The hospital has had its share of problems in the past but is starting to turn the corner and it was good that Boris Johnson took the opportunity of a visit to Cornwall to meet NHS staff.

I hold advice surgeries most weeks and have a dedicated team who are here to help unblock problems. If you have a problem that you need help solving, why not email us or drop into our Camborne office to arrange to meet one of our team. I can be contacted at george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk, by telephone on 0207 219 7032 or by appointment in our Camborne Office at 13 Commercial Street, Camborne, TR14 8JZ.

A tougher approach to policing

The election of Boris Johnson has reinvigorated Government in his first few weeks setting a clear and determined course. Since his election, the Prime Minister has announced a relaxation of migration rules for scientists, £1.8 billion for the NHS including a new maternity and children’s unit for Treliske and a raft of other commitments to address the concerns that many have had.

Over the weekend, it was also announced that the Government would be delivering 10,000 new prison places, as well as a number of tougher anti-crime policies not to mention a larger rollout of stop and search. These measures are in addition to the 20,000 extra police officers that were announced during the Prime Minister’s Conservative leadership election campaign. The Prime Minister has a plan and it is refreshing to see Government delivering on the issues that matter most to people.

Recently I took part in walk around with police officers in Camborne to understand the challenges that the police face, as well as talking to local residents and business owners about their concerns. Over the last few weeks I have received reports that some businesses have experienced problems with antisocial behaviour and I wanted to get a better understanding of the concerns of local businesses and shop-goers. It was also a good way for me to speak to local residents and tell them about some of the great work that is going on across Cornwall to deliver what our communities want and expect.

In Cornwall, the local police have piloted successfully the Tri-Service Safety Officer role. It’s the embodiment of the blue light services in one role, combining the skills of a trained firefighter, a co-responder paramedic for the ambulance service and having community safety accreditation from the police. The individuals (and there are ten now) are highly skilled, highly trained, highly professional and are there to respond to community need and based in our more rural and remote areas. Its been an innovative way of providing good neighbourhood policing whilst not losing police officers.

Here in Cornwall it is right that we continue to look at what more we can do to improve neighbourhood policing to ensure that people feel safe in their homes and local communities. As a rural peninsula the challenges that we face in Cornwall are often more difficult to deal with, but that doesn’t mean that local communities should be abandoned. That is why the Prime Minister’s recent announcements are a welcome return to a strong team in government working with police and crime commissioners and local authorities to cut crime and ensure that law and order remains a priority.