Category Archives: Politics

Modern liberal conservatism

Haldane: Bond bubble is the biggest threat to financial stability

Via City A.M., Bank official: Bond bubble is the biggest threat to financial stability | City A.M.. OUTSPOKEN Bank of England official Andrew Haldane warned yesterday that the bursting of a bond bubble is the biggest threat to the world’s financial stability. Haldane, the Bank’s executive director of financial stability, told the Treasury Select Committee that central banks’ massive asset-buying programmes have created significant risks. “If I were to single out what for me would be the biggest risk to global [...]

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Public meetings on Bucks hospitals with Sir Bruce Keogh

Next week, on 10 June, as part of NHS Medical Director Sir Bruce Keogh’s nationwide inquiry into mortality rates, a review team led by Regional and Medical Directors of NHS England will arrive to investigate Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. The purpose of the visit is to examine why the Trust has high mortality rates and establish what can be done to improve the standard of care for patients. It is expected to last 2-3 days. Meetings to canvas opinion from [...]

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The Finance Bill 2013 – How to promote special interest lobbying

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Yesterday, I spoke against Clause 35 and schedules 15 to 17 of the Finance Bill 2013. They introduce tax relief for “high-end” television production (that is, posh drama and comedy) and video games development. They’re industries I’d like to see flourish but not by granting special privileges. It’s special privilege which is the most egregious objective of lobbying: it represents a subsidy for a preferred group at everyone else’s expense. I began by provoking laughter, for this kind of measure deserves to be [...]

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Bucks County pledge extra £3m on local road repairs

The Conservative-run County Council has announced a one-off £3 million addition to this year’s £25m budget for road maintenance in Buckinghamshire. Many people have voiced their concern over the state of Wycombe’s roads. This move by the County Council should start to improve matters. As a frequent road user in Wycombe and the wider Buckinghamshire area, both by car and on my motorcycle, I look forward to the prospective improvements. While these additional funds will help to reduce the backlog [...]

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Today, Tax Freedom day

The Telegraph reports Today is ‘tax freedom’ day: Employees start to see their earnings go into their own pockets rather than to the Government from Thursday, low-tax campaigners said. The Adam Smith Institute declared May 30 “Tax Freedom Day” – a day later than last year and the latest it has fallen in the calendar since 2006. Tory MP Steve Baker said it showed the “shocking truth about taxes and overspending”. “This doomsday machine of deficit spending, debt and currency [...]

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Why not 24/7 quality care?

Via 82% more chance of dying in surgery at the weekend: Shock finding of report into NHS operations | Mail Online. Patients who undergo planned operations at the weekend rather than a Monday are 82 per cent more likely to die. Shocking findings show that death rates for elective procedures increase throughout the working week. This will add to mounting concern about NHS patients receiving poor care during ‘antisocial’ hours when consultants are off duty. See also The Telegraph’s spectacularly [...]

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The Prime Minister’s statement on the Woolwich incident

The Prime Minister’s statement on the attack in Woolwich may be found here. He opened his statement: What happened yesterday in Woolwich has sickened us all. On our televisions last night – and in our newspapers this morning – we have all seen images that are deeply shocking. The people who did this were trying to divide us. They should know: something like this will only bring us together and make us stronger. Today our thoughts are with the victim [...]

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“And no more!” – triumph at my 4th weighing-in

As reported by The Telegraph and The Spectator, I’m publicly weighed every year in High Wycombe along with the Mayor and councillors. It’s an attempt to deter us from gaining weight at taxpayer expense. In each of 2011 and 2012, the cry was “And some more!”. After playing the panto villain in 2011, enough was enough by 2012 and, thanks to MyFitnessPal, Parliament’s gym, swimming and running across the Chilterns, this year’s triumphant result was “And no more!” In shock news, if you [...]

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An absolute Conservative commitment to an EU referendum

You can choose whatever name you like for the two types of government. I personally call the type of government which can be removed without violence “democracy”, and the other “tyranny”. — Karl Popper Before the Lisbon Treaty, I had no interest in being an MP. That Treaty was introduced to sidestep democratic rejection of the near-identical EU Constitution: I saw democracy dying at the hands of fanatical advocates of European political integration. Previously, I thought it was enough to vote Conservative [...]

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Introducing the Exporting is GREAT Campaign

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has launched a new pilot marketing campaign called Exporting is GREAT that will run throughout May 2013 to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) grow internationally. Exporting is GREAT is designed to increase understanding of the benefits of exporting and to drive awareness, and take-up, of the many sources of support and help available. The UKTI knows from research that international trade offers a significant boost to a company’s success. Yet less than 25% [...]

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Steve Baker is MP for Wycombe. He was previously an RAF officer then a business software consultant. Find out more...

Steve holds regular surgeries in High Wycombe. If you would like an appointment, please call 01494 448408.

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