Here is how we led this edition of our occasional newsletter. As you scroll down you will see links to some of the featured articles. The 12-page printed edition was delivered to homes in our Uttlesford ward, which covers Catmere End, Chrishall, Duddenhoe End, Elmdon, Great Chesterford, Little Chesterford, Littlebury, Littlebury Green, Pond Street, Strethall, Wendens Ambo, Wenden Lofts.
GRANDAD, WHERE WERE YOU ON JULY 4, 2024?
When this General Election is discussed in years to come, it will be the scale of the Conservative loss rather than the size of Labour’s victory that will be remembered.
Memories will fade of the prior decade and its protagonists. A few simple statistics will be a reminder of how the most successful political party in history crashed to its lowest ever number of parliamentary seats. Contrast how the only party to have achieved more than 50% of the vote in a UK general election (in 1931 and again in 1935) could barely muster 23% of the vote in 2024.
By the time this newsletter reaches you the press will have analysed, criticised, compared and likely condemned Labour’s first 100 days, a popular but rather meaningless measurement.
The wounds to our economy, infrastructure and environment are so deep that no matter the political complexion of government there are no easy or quick fixes, and to be fair Labour seems keener on performative grandstanding than addressing systemic issues.
However, there is good news for Uttlesford. Finally, a Local Plan is emerging to tame the wild-west frontier attitude of housing developers, including a raft of environment-friendly policies to protect our countryside and rivers, and a route to rebalancing the district’s infrastructure in key areas such as education and primary care. The Plan will put us in a better position to cope with and benefit from the riptide of growth around Cambridge.
ELECTION REFLECTION
It is difficult to put into words the scale of damage the Conservative Party inflicted on Britain while it tore itself apart on a roller coaster of political mayhem, since characterised as “the most dishonest, corrupt and incompetent government in British modern history.” The election result in NW Essex was a measure of deep disenchantment with central government and with our MP’s local performance, who lost 90% of her majority and survived only because there were seven other candidates splitting the vote. Such is democracy.
SOME THOUGHTS FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION:
CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT
In a list of priorities for the protection of humankind, unpolluted water and safely disposing of our waste would be close to the top of the list. Yet rather than being treated as national priorities they have been left to the market, poorly regulated and financially exploited.
ABANDON PLANS FOR MEGA COUNCILS
Reorganisation of local government in England is heading towards the worst of all options. The Labour government should abandon the drive to merge district councils into big single authorities and instead strengthen local government and its connection to location and communities.
REINSTATE REGIONAL PLANNING
When Regional Spatial Strategies were abandoned in 2010 at the start of the Tory/LibDem coalition the meaning went out of the word ‘planning’ and was replaced by ‘profiting.’ Cue chaos and the primacy of vested interests. We need to get back to strategic regional planning.
FIX OUR ROADS
Be serious about our infrastructure starting with pothole repairs and clearing drains to avoid road flooding. Fund county highway authorities to do their job properly. Short term fixes are dangerous and doing huge damage to our economy.
RESTORE TRUST IN WESTMINSTER
Actually DO something about corruption in the corridors of power and the influence of lobbyists. At least TRY to regain public confidence in the function of government.
A BETTER ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Our first-past-the-post system isn’t working. Witness how Labour gained a landslide majority with a vote share of 33% on the lowest turnout in a century. Two historical parties are sustaining a culture of stupidly polarised and adversarial tribalism which cannot cope with the complex and volatile world we live in. We have seen how bad it can get in the USA. It must not happen here.
FEATURED ARTICLES:
Housing: a better way?
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