They Blog For You

Interesting article by Nick Clegg and Iain Duncan Smith on the need for greater social mobility in today's Telegraph.  They are absolutely right to point to the problem.  What bothers me are their proposed solutions, which all seem to be about government doing more. The coalition duo begin their article by accepting that Labour's big [...]

I've written before about the importance of keeping EMA. In simple terms, it's a small but vital weekly fund available to young people from low income families to enable them to afford the associated costs of staying on in education after 16. EMA was on that long list of things [...]

Gove has established quite a reputation for turning all he touches, not to gold, but to dust.   His Big Idea of course is to raise standards by spreading Academies all over the country and providing incentives for parents to set up Swedish-style so-called ‘free schools’.   It’s true that UK educational [...]

Total of British Soldiers killed in Afghanistan = 362   Today I've discovered a new heroine. I was chairing this morning's session of a Westminster Education Forum conference on scientific research. It was held in the swish location of Over-seas House in St James's Street London. The first of six speakers in my [...]

Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, will be running the latest seminar in the series of her 'Next Generation' business seminars. Begun last year in collaboration with City College and Howes Percival LLP, these meetings bring together Norwich students, entrepreneurs and established local firms to discuss the skills and business [...]

Delyn MP David Hanson walked for water at Westminster today as part of a global campaign to raise...

Delyn MP David Hanson walked for water at Westminster today as part of a global campaign to raise awareness for the world water and sanitation crisis.   Marking the United Nations World Water Day, David Hanson joined hundreds of thousands of people across the globe who walked in solidarity with the almost [...]

Chloe Smith and Simon Wright, Norwich North and South MPs, today call on the Chancellor to consider creating enterprise zones in Norwich in his Budget tomorrow. They write jointly to the Treasury with the backing of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership; Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Norfolk Institute of [...]

It's a long time since I've written a letter to the Guardian. Their untrue reports yesterday has prompted dozens of requests for interviews from the media. They lose interest when they hear what my opinion is. The letter reads:-   "Having never expressed an opinion, privately or publicly, on the subject, I [...]

                 As an MP I have always thought I should be loyal to my constituents, to my country and to my party – in that order. I have always taken seriously what I promised electors at the last Election and done my best to further those aims. When the Conservative [...]

Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, will on Friday 11th March be visiting the Nationwide Building Society as part of her ongoing campaign to improve financial services and advice in Norwich. Chloe has been working locally with the Citizens Advice Bureau and other local organisations in the private, public and voluntary [...]

On Friday I put my name down as a co-signatory of an Early Day Motion on the reforms to the NHS. My mindset is not completely stuck in the mud; I do welcome change and evolution and even reform, but not just for the sake of it, and not if [...]

Maia Mikashavidze's tale in oner that disgraces the Government of Georgia.   For many reasons I have been a uprooter of Georgia. The country has a rough deal from the West. The Conservative MPs on the Council of Europe disgracefully back the Russians in 008 when then invaded sovereign territory of [...]

KEVIN Brennan MP recently joined young people with autism and their families in the House of Lords to sign the ‘Ambitious about Autism’ pledge.The pledge confirms support for three key ambitions; 1) More and better services for children with autism, 2) Improving awareness and understanding about autism and 3) Influencing [...]

KEVIN Brennan MP has warned members of the House that the UK Government’s Education Bill will take away local democratic power from communities, teachers and parents, and put the power into the hands of Michael Gove.In a speech, during the second reading of the Education Bill, Mr Brennan urged members [...]

During the General Election I explained  that the government had been borrowing far too much. I was clear that we needed to curb the rate of increase in borrowing and public spending, and warned that would mean cuts in some areas, and a tight set of budgets. I promised to [...]

                   The government is mired in criticisms from the public sector. Only the state, they claim, can care for us. Only the traditional public sector  can look after our woods, educate our children and provide us with health care. Any attempt at reform will make things worse, they say.                 They are [...]

For the overweight on the chewing-gum-for-the-eyes ITV reality programme, being crowned 'the biggest loser' is the ultimate goal. I wish I could say the same with regard to Enfield and the cuts to the Education Maintenance Allowance. Sadly, in this case, being the second biggest loser in England and out [...]

CARDIFF West MP Kevin Brennan and Rhodri Morgan AM recently visited Craig-y-Parc school near Pentyrch to see how the local school is improving the lives of people with cerebral palsy and other complex support needs.The school combines a wide range of education, social activities and residential care to give youngsters [...]

                   The opponents of Free schools are complaining that the government has allocated £50 million of capital to such schools. They are seeking to suggest that the government will end up spending much more than £50 million. Is this true, and does it matter?                   The government has ruled out allowing for [...]

There is poison conflation of arguments that has created folly. On Thursday parliament will vote against votes for prisoners. It’s at best pointless and at worst damaging to persecuted people across Europe. There was a meeting  in the Commons to discuss the issue tonight. It was not a public meeting so [...]