Category: Wokingham and West Berkshire Issues

Dear Constituent

Prosperity, not austerity, is what we need. I campaigned for that in  the General Election just over a year ago, promising to work for all my constituents, and to put more and better paid jobs at the heart of what I did for our area. I also stressed the need to help provide more affordable housing for sale and rent. I promised to support Conservative plans to bring down taxes on income and to rule out increases to VAT.

Some of you are now concerned about the consequences of the recent EU referendum vote. The vote was an important exercise in direct democracy. It supplanted our normal representative democracy, where I as your MP weigh carefully all local opinions before making a judgement about how to vote in Parliament on your behalf. On this occasion you all had the same one individual  vote as I had. Everyone had the opportunity to speak out, write and appear on platforms to advance the  side of the argument they believed in. Many of the debates I joined had lead speakers on both sides from business or the law or recently retired civil servants or university lectures and professors , making it an inclusive debate. It was not a debate led by MPs only. As an individual I could only speak and vote for one side. My long study of the UK’s involvement with the EU persuaded me that we can do more to promote our prosperity and freedom from outside the formal structures of the EU.

I would like to reassure those who disagree with me on the referendum issue. We  now revert to representative democracy. As your MP I will continue to represent you all when you have issues and problems that need taking up, and I will ensure your views are heard. We are  not leaving Europe, just the EU. I want us to have many strong and good links with our neighbours, based on trade, mutual investment, tourism and travel, academic joint working, student exchanges, joint cultural events and all the other things that draw on our shared heritage and long history of collaborative working across the Channel.

I well understand the worries some Remain voters have, as I heard them well put throughout the referendum campaign. I will work tirelessly to ensure as smooth a transition as possible. I want to see generous research budgets and strong joint working between UK and EU universities. I wish to see us maintain good access to the markets of the rest of the EU. I wish to reassure all who have come to the UK from the continent to work and reside that they are very welcome here and no-one wants to change their rights to be here. Leaving the EU does not mean an end to all migration. The UK will still be welcoming to the many highly qualified people who want to come, to the investors and students who wish to work with us, and to some  family members of people already legally settled here. The difference will be that the UK public and Parliament will debate and the UK government propose the rules and the numbers governing future admissions.

It is going to take time to sort out the various matters that need change. It will take time for all of us to adjust to the new mood and landscape the popular vote has created. Parliament will  not wish to thwart the will of the national majority, but it will wish to supervise changes to current arrangements to seek ones which are practical and sensible. I suspect the economic and business impact will be less than many feared, as both sides should have every interest in continuing successful and flourishing trade and investment programmes.

I did feel as your MP that I had to stress recently that I will not vote for any budget which cuts public spending or increases taxes in the way the Chancellor was suggesting for the post Brexit world. I take my election promises to vote for lower income taxes and no VAT increases seriously. I also strongly believe that as the UK and the other advanced economies are only growing slowly, we need to reduce taxes a bit more and spend more on national priorities like the NHS and housing, not less.  I will continue to be a voice and to exercise my Parliamentary vote  for prosperity not austerity.

Yours sincerely

John Redwood

I have received the enclosed update from Highways England about the temporary cameras on the A329(M) and timeline for report on the junction: A329M Response.

Today Parliament meets to commemorate the life and work of Jo Cox, and to mourn her untimely passing. Yesterday I spoke in Wokingham Market place when we met to remember the murdered MP.

Sometimes you do not appreciate you have something or someone of value until they are gone.

I have been very moved by constituents writing to me to share grief at her death, and to thank me for what I do as an MP. That was unexpected. Many other MPs have experienced the same thing.

The death of Jo Cox seems to have reminded people of the good points of our Parliamentary democracy. People are usually quick to condemn the personal failings and political mistakes MPs all too often make. That is part of the strength of our system. Voters are right to expect high standards and to complain when MPs lapse. I am glad I live in a country where you know who to blame and can blame them openly when you think they are wrong.

The murder of an MP because she wished to be approachable, carrying out her duties to consult, listen and try to remedy problems has reminded us that there is a lot right with our system of government and a lot wrong with the murderer. The presence of an accountable well known figure in each place, answerable to a limited number of electors and keen to help and represent them is an essential part of our being a democracy.

Voters can get help or representation from their MP, whether they share the same party and outlook or not. Every voter has an equal say in choosing that MP, and an equal chance of influencing that MP’s views and votes in Parliament. Today when we grieve for a young life cut short needlessly and violently, we can be proud of our Parliamentary system. Modern government is big, distant and often clumsy. Keeping a local accountable person to help guide government to better ways, and to stand up for individuals in need of justice or support is a crucial part of our inheritance. I thank the public for recognising that. MPs in turn have to live up to expectations of good conduct, and show just how they make power accountable.

I have received the following letter from Network Rail about improvement works at Wokingham station. They will be holding an information session about the works on Tuesday 21 June from 3:00pm – 7:00pm at Wokingham station.

160616-Letter from Network Rail

I have been approached about the future of this site. The Council are in discussion with Tesco, the owners of the land, about their intentions for redevelopment and the provision of a  convenience store. If you wish to see faster progress or have problems with what is envisaged, please contact Tesco who need to understand local concerns.

I have received the following letter from the Post Office regarding the decision to move the Mortimer Common Post Office from West End Road to Budgens Stores in Victoria Road:

Letter from the Post Office re Mortimer Common Post Office

Some have complained to me that grass cutting has been changed in ways they do not like. The Council tell me they have let a new contract and some areas have been left to grow longer than before. Councillors are aware of the concerns in some places about the new specifications and gaps between cutting and are currently reviewing it. Anyone who wishes to see local changes should contact their local Councillor now to be part of this revision process. The Council website will help you identify your local Councillors.

Yesterday I convened a meeting with the Chief Executive of NATs and the Chief Executive of Heathrow to discuss increased aircraft noise over Berkshire and North Surrey and the growing number of complaints it is generating.  I was joined by Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, John Howell MP, Adam Afriyie MP and Dr Philip Lee MP whose constituencies are also badly affected.

We explained the problems which have arisen from shifting the Compton Gate and concentrating flights on departure, and the growing noise from low flying planes landing during easterlies.

Heathrow accepted that the Compton Gate route had changed, and pointed out that there has been a traffic increase and more heavy planes flying over our area.

The two authorities promised to do more work on the causes of the disruption, and agreed that some combination of flying higher and flying in quieter ways could help abate the problem.  The MPs pressed for a return to past patterns which had been considerably quieter.

I will post any official minutes which we agree, and will be following up the meeting as we need change.

I visited Woosehill GP surgery on Friday to discuss availability of appointments , the adequacy of funding and any plans to expand service provision. As with my recent meetings with other GPs I urged Wokingham CCG, GP practices and the Council to take advantage of the additional money now being made available for practices to expand and improve services.

We do need more doctors to be recruited to handle the extra people now coming to our area as the new homes are completed and sold or rented. I have lobbied the government for more money for GP services, which the government has now promised. I also am willing to take up issues over the way the extra money is being allocated with Ministers to improve the deal for Wokingham if there are ideas of how the distribution of the cash could be made fairer and more helpful to us.

On Friday I discussed with the Borough Council the need to increase capacity on the A329 M. I made clear the need for the Highways Agency cameras studying the problem to capture the problems for through traffic on the motorway as well as looking at traffic coming from and going to the M4.

I also asked for them to speed up consideration, as it seems quite obvious that capacity has been reduced for through traffic by the changes they made  recently. I am also lobbying the Highways Sgency further.