Category: Wokingham and West Berkshire Issues

I would like to thank all who voted for me to resume my duties as Wokingham’s MP. I would like to assure all those who did not that I will seek to represent all when individuals need help in dealing with government and when mistakes have been made or policy is not fair.

I would like especially to thank all who helped in my election campaign, putting out leaflets, contacting voters and running the office. I also want to thank all those who stood for election, and those who helped them. All those of us who believe in an active democracy should be grateful to people who give of their time and money to provide electors with choices at election time.

Dear Elector,

I am writing for one last time in this election to ask you to vote for me. It has been my privilege to represent the Wokingham constituency in past Parliaments. I have important work in progress for you which I would like to continue.

Locally I have been working to improve our local facilities by encouraging and supporting new investment in better train services and stations, in better road links and parking, in more school places to offer choice and good quality education, and to protect our best green spaces. The next five years will be central to this task. In the last Parliament we saw the completion of Reading station, extra Great Western capacity, and a new station in Wokingham. In the next Parliament we need to see better roads into Reading and to get across Wokingham, more new schools, and an improved Wokingham town centre. In West Berkshire we need to do more to protect the rural qualities of much of the area, and to improve the maintenance of existing roads.

Conservatives offer a continuation of the economic recovery, lower taxes and home ownership for the many. Raising the tax thresholds for basic rate and 40% tax on incomes will make work more worthwhile and leave individuals and families more of their own money to spend as they choose.

Nationally in the last Parliament I championed the causes of a new relationship with the EU, backed by a referendum, and justice for England. The next Parliament is likely to see constitutional reform at its core. The Parliament will start with the task of enacting more devolution to Scotland. This should trigger the question  of justice for England. As the Euro area presses onward with more political integration for its members, so any government of the UK must define a new relationship. We want to be friends with them, trade with them and co-operate with them, but not be dragged into a political union we do not want  and have not voted for.

I would like to be part of trying to sort out these mighty issues for you and the wider nation. It will be easier to achieve if we also find we have a Conservative government after tomorrow.

Yours sincerely
John Redwood

Published and promoted by Thomas Puddy for John Redwood, both at 30 Rose Street Wokingham RG40 1XU

The Radio Berkshire debate yesterday morning between five of the candidates in the election (the BBC did not allow the Independent to participate) produced a range of questions on traffic, transport, road noise,  housing, the provision of school places, Wokingham’s Town Centre and style of life in Wokingham. By holding it in Wokingham Market Place we received no questions about anywhere in the West Berkshire part of the constituency.

There was little disagreement between the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrats over the main local  issues. All of us want better railway services, better roads, less congestion, better access to stations with better parking, some limits on development and a flourishing Wokingham Town centre. Most of the matters debated were about decisions which will be taken by Wokingham Borough Council – or would be taken by West Berkshire if we had been asked about that area – rather than decisions to be taken by the next Parliament. The Council enjoys the planning powers to determine where to build and what to build. The Council has the budgets for local roads and the Town Centre redevelopment. The Council forecasts school place demand and makes sure there is sufficient provision.

The only national mater we discussed was the abatement of noise on the M4, a strategic highway under the control of the Department of Transport. I repeated some of the details of the work I have been doing, explained we have now won the battle for sound reducing surfacing, but still need to improve the plans  on sound barriers.

I confirmed that if elected I will resume my lobbying for fairer funding for local schools. I will work with the Council on any permissions and money needed from central government for local road and school building projects and for redevelopment schemes. I will make sure local opinion is considered by Councillors and the Chief Executive of the Council if a significant body of local opinion thinks Council plans need changing. I will continue my long correspondence and exchanges with Ministers and officials over noise reduction from the M4.

Published and promoted by Thomas Puddy for John Redwood, both at 30 Rose Street Wokingham RG40 1XU

This election I have been spending time again in the West Berkshire part of the constituency. People in Mortimer, Stratfield Mortimer, Wokefield, Burghfield, Burghfield  Common, Beech Hill, Beenham, Sulhamstead, Englefield, Aldermaston Wharf, Padworth and Ufton Nervet are an important part of the total Wokingham constituency and always figure prominently in my thinking of the needs and views of the  area.

In the past as the local MP I have worked closely with West Berkshire Council as well as with Wokingham Borough, and will do so again if elected on May 7th. During my walks around the villages it was good to meet  people  who have used my surgery services in the past. Mortimer was keen to brief me on the village plan that is currently being constructed. In various locations the issue of too much development came up.

Being a voice for the Wokingham constituency of course means taking an interest in the policies and issues of West Berkshire as well as of Wokingham Borough.

Published and promoted by Thomas Puddy for John Redwood, both at 30 Rose Street Wokingham RG 40 1XU

I have worked long and hard to help secure a referendum on our membership of the EU. This is now within our grasp.

If you are one of those who thinks we should simply leave the EU, this is your best chance to do so. No poll puts UKIP anywhere near winning the election. No party but the Conservatives will offer an IN/Out referendum who has any chance to deliver one.

If you are one of those who thinks we might be able to negotiate a new and better deal with the EU, then you should also accept the Conservative policy and agree that the proposed settlement needs to be put to the British people. Most of business thinks we need powers back and a different, less intrusive deal. Only the Conservatives will try to secure this.

If you someone who wants to stay in the EU, but agrees membership needs voter consent which is currently does not have, you too should vote for the one party which will offer you that referendum. The UK is not going to be happy with its membership all the time people are refused a say, and all the time EU powers increase by stealth without asking for the consent of the British people, as they did under Labour.

This is not a party matter. This is above party. Some ask what guarantee is there Conservatives will enact the referendum if successful. The answer is easy. Conservative MPs will know that is a big reason why they have won, so they will see the need to honour the promise. Many of us believe in this deeply, so I wonder why you even ask.

Published and promoted by Thomas Puddy for John Redwood, both at 30 Rose Street Wokingham RG40 1XU

There is a leaflet in circulation in Earley suggesting I did not lobby Ministers on the need for noise reducing surfaces and better barriers on the M4. As I have pointed out before I did lobby Ministers, meeting them in the Commons to do so. That is why the Transport Department rightly said I had not held a meeting with Ministers in the Department, because  the meetings and conversations took place at Westminster.I also backed up my numerous written submissions to the Department with oral submissions to officials when they consulted us on the smart motorway scheme.

Published and promoted by Thomas Puddy for Jo Redwood, both at 30 Rose Street Wokingham RG 40 1XU

I have now been to most of the villages and towns of the constituency, and will visit the remaining ones this week.    Two big themes come out from the many conversations I have held on doorsteps.

The first is the wish to see the economic recovery continue. People in business are finding things are picking up, with better order books. Wages are at last outstripping prices, and the tax cuts are welcome. There is a strong feeling that we should carry on with the approach that has got us back above the levels of 2007 when the Labour bust destroyed the boom and visited austerity on many families. The success in creating many more jobs is widely welcomed.

The second is the worry that the Wokingham constituency and England could get a bad deal, especially if the SNP win lots of seats and have undue influence on our public finances in the next Parliament. Scotland already has a better financial settlement than we do in Wokingham. As a result Scotland does not have tuition fees, and has better arrangements on care costs. People want a fairer settlement. They agree with me in taking up the issue of fairer funding for our schools and want to see Wokingham receive the money it needs for infrastructure.

If elected on May 7th the work I have been doing on getting permissions and money for new schools, roads, and general running expenses of our public services will continue. It will also be in the context of leading a campaign to get fairness for England, at a time of maximum pressures from the SNP.

Published and promoted by Thomas Puddy for John Redwood, both at 30 Rose  Street Wokingham RG40 1XU

In this election stopping tax avoidance is a popular cause. Like many I am all in favour of collecting more money without raising tax rates, to get our deficit down. Like many I also wish to see tax evaders and tax cheats  caught and made to pay.

Maybe we  should pause and remind ourselves of two facts. First,  tax avoidance is legal. Second, Parliament has legislated to offer various tax breaks to individuals, institutions and companies to encourage certain kinds of behaviour. Those who want to stop tax avoidance, need to tell us which good behaviours they no longer wish to encourage. They need to set out which tax breaks they think should be made illegal.

Let’s  take a good example. The Anglican Church is one of the richest institutions in our country. It has a portfolio of assets of well over  six billion pounds in value. Its policy is to minimise tax on the capital gains and income it earns on this portfolio, claiming charitable tax reliefs. I think it is right to do so, and I will continue to support this tax break. The income and gains from their properties, shares, and  bonds is used to pay for clergy, to pay for bishops homes,offices and cars and for a range of other charitable purposes.

Or let’s consider what most people do to cut their tax bills. The two most common forms of tax relief used by many people are pensions tax relief and ISA savings tax relief. I fully support these as well, and see nothing wrong with encouraging savings by allowing people to accumulate savings free of income tax and capital gains in their pension funds and isas.

Published and promoted by Thomas Puddy for John Redwood, both at 30 Rose Street Wokingham RG40 1XU

I have long held the view that London does need more airport capacity.  I had to  accept that the last Parliament had no mandate to back airport expansion, and no wish by many MPs to decide it. The next Parliament will be different.

The main parties have all agreed that a decision does have to be made, and have agreed to be guided by – but not bound by – the report which will be published into the competing claims of Heathrow and Gatwick shortly after May 7th.

I have not come to a final conclusion on the best answer, because I wish to read the report. I also would like to hear more views from residents in the Wokingham constituency. I am also most concerned about the increase in flights and noise over the constituency in recent months, and unhappy about how this occurred and how the matter was handled by NATS. I will make further representations to both Heathrow and NATS if elected on May 7th. I will also link the issue of noise to the decision on future airport expansion,  as noise will be an important consideration for many living within range of Heathrow as we do.

Published and promoted by Thomas Puddy for John Redwood, both at 30 Rose Street Wokingham RG40 1XU

Yesterday saw  the last of the three meetings where all the Wokingham constituency candidates are invited to share a platform. We have now  held meetings at the Holt and the Methodist Church in Wokingham, and  at St Crispin’s School. Next week there is a Radio Berkshire debate.

I have visited most places in the constituency over the campaign, and have more visits planned for the final days.   On Thursday and  Friday I wish to visit the villages in the West , as well as revisiting Burghfield.

There has been considerable interest in the election, and most voters have wanted to talk to me about the national issues which the new Parliament will have to tackle. At the public meetings we have discussed the economy, the NHS, education, immigration, the EU, planning, housing, the relief of poverty, jobs, the deficit and votes for young people.

I remind people that I am happy to answer questions sent to the local issues pages of this website, and can do so by publishing question and answer here, or by sending a private reply to your email address if you supply it and ask that the question is not published.

Published and promoted by Thomas Puddy for John Redwood, both at 30 Rose Street Wokingham RG40 1XU