Modern liberal conservatism
On 17th September 2020, the Department of Health and Social Care announced new measures to improve patient care ahead of winter. Winter is a difficult time for any health and care system, but this winter presents an even greater challenge. This winter, the Department’s priority is to ensure our hospitals are not overwhelmed; that we protect the NHS. As a result, the Department of Health and Social Care have allocated a further £2.7 billion to NHS systems. This funding, in […]
If broadcasters send bids relating to coronavirus legislation in the following form by SMS, I will send them on to colleagues: *Media bid:* [Channel], [Presenter] at [time] on [subject]. Contact: [name] [number] For example: *Media bid:* Sky News, Adam Boulton at 10:00 on local lockdown in the NE. Contact: Alice 07777 123456 I am not managing the process, only passing on bids. Colleagues may or may not reply directly. Thank you.
On Saturday, the British Furniture Confederation (BFC) launched its Buy the Best, Buy British, Save Jobs Campaign. Its aim is to encourage the British public to seek out British-made goods when they shop this autumn. It is crucial the furniture sector thrives to support the economy. With British furniture factories closed, or with reduced working due to the pandemic, manufacturers expect sales are down. Worse still, around half of British manufacturers believe they may be forced to make some redundancies or see […]
Feedback after my appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme to discuss coronavirus restrictions has been overwhelmingly positive. Nevertheless, I recognise some people rightly have real concerns surrounding the health of their loved ones. The Today interview is here, in a segment from 01:08:45: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000mcnw I gave my sources here: I hope after listening to the interview, and reading the sources above, even those who disagree may concende this is an important and legitimate debate. There is no lack of concern for people at […]
I am sorry that once again we are seeing so much concern and division during a time of pressure in our negotiations with the European Union. Much of what is being said, as so often, is alarmist. There is no question of the UK acting lawlessly. Of course, it is highly undesirable there is the possibility of the UK legislating in a way incompatible with another party’s interpretation of our treaty obligations. We are a rule of law nation: we […]
Tags: Brexit, Legislation, Parliament, Rule of Law
Today, the Secretary of State for International Trade announced the UK’s agreement in principle for a free trade deal with Japan. This is the UK’s first major trade deal as an independent trading nation. The UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was agreed in principle by Japan’s Foreign Minister, Minister Motegi, and the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP on a video call this morning. I am really pleased that the historic deal secures additional benefits beyond the EU-Japan trade deal and […]
Trees are often raised with me by local people in Wycombe. The Conservative Party 2019 manifesto committed us to tree planting: We will invest in nature, helping us to reach our Net Zero target with a £640 million new Nature for Climate fund. Building on our support for creating a Great Northumberland Forest, we will reach an additional 75,000 acres of trees a year by the end of the next Parliament, as well as restoring our peatland. The Conservatives website […]
Tags: Environment, Trees, Wycombe
A number of constituents who live in Wycombe and work for British Airways have been in touch in recent weeks about the awful situation they are in due to the coronavirus crisis and BA’s response to it. This is an appalling time for BA staff and their families. I have made a number of interventions to represent them, and in particular we have: Written to the Secretary of State for Transport to raise the concerns of constituents who had contacted […]
Today, the Chancellor announced our Plan for Jobs, worth up to £30 billion – to support people to find jobs, create new jobs through investment, and finally protect jobs by revitalising the hard-hit sectors upon which many jobs depend. The Government have announced a range of measures – on top of the £160 billion plan to protect people’s jobs, incomes and businesses – to support, create and protect jobs. This includes: Rewarding and incentivising employers who successfully bring furloughed staff back […]
Tags: Covid
The Chancellor has announced a much-needed boost for tourism and hospitality businesses in Wycombe, as part of his Summer Economic Update to kickstart the economy post-coronavirus. The measures will see VAT for hospitality, accommodation and attraction businesses cut from 20 per cent to 5 per cent for six months. The move is designed to support the sectors which have been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus crisis, helping businesses to recover and boosting the number of jobs across the country. […]
Steve Baker is the Conservative MP for Wycombe.
Steve was first elected to Parliament in 2010. He was previously an RAF engineer officer then a consulting software engineer. Find out more...
Steve holds regular surgeries in High Wycombe. If you would like an appointment, please contact me.
