Browsing Tag lisa nandy

Lisa Nandy used the opportunity of being drawn for her first question to the Prime Minister to ensure that the coalfield communities would not suffer at the hands of the Conservative and Lib Dem coalition.

In Prime Minister’s Questions, Lisa told the Prime Minister that the Coalfields Regeneration Programme had breathed new life into places such as Wigan and that the decision to freeze this funding would devestate these communities all over again. She asked David Cameron for the assurance that his party were not merely seeking to close the coalfields down all over again.

Mr Cameron evaded the question, saying that he had been to visit the site and that it was an example of ‘excellent joint work between the public and private sector’ but failed to say how such work would continue to be funded.

Lisa will continue to raise this issue in Parliament, putting pressure on the Government to invest in areas that were ruined by the last Conservative Government.

Following complaints from resident’s on Cale Lane about the operation of a company on the Industrial Estate, Lisa visited the site with constituent Vince McCarthy and local Councillor Chris Ready.

Lisa said: “My visit today confirms why residents are concerned. The company have allowed a mountain of waste to accumulate, blighting the landscape and causing a significant health and safety risk.” Lisa added, “They also allow open backed Lorries in and out of their base, creating dust, disruption and strewn debris on the road, severely hampering the daily lives of my constituents.”

As a result Lisa has taken the matter up directly with the Secretary of State. Lisa said, “This company have already been fined for their activities yet matters have got worse. It is clear that further action is needed. I want the Secretary of State to finally deal with this issue.”

Reacting to today’s budget Lisa said: “The Budget is regressive – it taxes the poor to soften the blow to the rich. Raising VAT to 20% will bring misery for low income families and pensioners. The Tories promised to protect children and older people but what they have given with one hand, they have taken away with another.”

Children were the big losers in one of the harshest budgets for years, losing child trust funds, taking a real terms cut in child benefit and finding their parents’ incomes squeezed by a series of tax hikes.

Lisa said: “leading economists are united in their view that the only effective way to pay off the deficit is by investing in jobs to generate income and growth. The Tories have chosen another path for ideologial reason, and I will fight them all the way.”

In her second appearance in the House of Commons, new MP for Wigan, Lisa Nandy contributed to a debate on poverty and raised the issue of cuts that are to be brought to Wigan by the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition.

Cuts announced this week by the Department for Communities and Local Government amount to a staggering £2.92m in Wigan alone. Of this, by far the biggest cut will be to education, which comes to just short of £2m and is a clear reflection of the new Government’s attitude to education and social mobility in one of the UK’s most deprived constituencies.

Lisa made a strong case for preserving the SureStart centres in Wigan – Beech Hill and Ince – as this has been a major concern raised by many of her constituents. She also drew the House’s attention to the axing of the Future Jobs Fund and other measures which are likely to cripple the constituency:

“By taking away a scheme that guarantees a real and lasting paid job for young people who would otherwise not have one, we store up trouble for future generations. If we are not careful, we will leave a legacy every bit as devastating for future generations as the one that continues to blight so many children’s lives now. We must not repeat the legacy that was created in the 1980s and 1990s. I urge the Minister to think again.”

You can read the full speech from the debate by clicking here.

Lisa has pledged her support for the nature campaign run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

The letter, which Lisa has signed, calls for a strong economy with nature at its heart. Pursuing a sustainable economy rather than one based on over-development of the natural world will allow us to live within our ecological needs.

Lisa said: “I agree with the RSPB that governments should invest in a healthy economy and a healthy environment. As well as protecting jobs, I want to see them tackle climate change and protect our seas, countryside and wildlife.”

“Wigan is lucky to have some outstandingly beautiful natural areas. We must protect them for future generations. In years to come I hope they’ll be able to see that their world is a richer one because of the action we took today.”

Lisa set out her views on the future direction of the Labour Party at a conference organised by the Communication Workers Union last week.

Lisa said: “I was pleased to have an opportunity to set out the concerns that people have raised with me on the doorstep. During the campaign my team and I knocked on over 10,000 doors in Wigan.
“People told us they felt concerned about the lack of decent housing, employment rights and were concerned about their homes and jobs in the recession. People told me they valued public services and wanted to see them protected. Those concerns must help to shape the future direction of the Labour Party and inform the leadership debate.”
You can read the speech by clicking here.

Lisa was officially sworn in as the MP for Wigan today.

Even though the votes have been counted, MPs must swear in to officially hold office.

Once they have sworn in MPs are eligible to vote and speak in the House.

Lisa said: “I was keen to affirm as soon as possible, so I could get involved in debates and speak up for Wigan”.

Lisa has been getting stuck in to the work of being Wigan’s MP since she was elected in the early hours of May 7th.

Lisa’s first priority has been to make sure she has a local office that is up and running. The office at Gerrard Winstanley House, Crawford Street, is open with local people working there to help constituents with problems and enquiries. Lisa has also received a huge amount of correspondence about individual issues and problems in the last few weeks. She wants to let everyone know that she is looking at everything as soon as she can and everyone who has contacted her will received a response soon, she said:

‘It is fantastic that so many people want to get in touch. I am receiving hundreds of emails and letters each week so it is taking some time to get back to everyone but I promise I will contact people who have raised specific problems or issues with me’

Since the election, Lisa has spent time in both Westminster and the constituency. In Westminster she has been dealing with a number of tasks that will help her to be an effective MP for Wigan, including trying to find a desk, get access to a computer and Internet in the House of Commons and ensuring that all of the letters and send get through to her office. With over 200 new MPs and a change in government it takes a while for even office space to be allocated.

Lisa has found a few minutes to speak to BBC Radio Manchester and BBC North West to let constituents know how everything is going, what they can expect and what issues she thinks will be important in the coming weeks and months. Coverage will be available here soon.

Lisa Nandy set out her reaction to the May 2010 general election result, and the political uncertainty the country faces.

Lisa said: “The biggest issue facing Wigan is the economy – we must protect jobs and homes through this difficult economic time.”

Lisa was giving her reaction in a debate on the BBC Politics Show, with newly elected Conservative MP Fiona Bruce. You can watch the debate by clicking here.

The results for the General Election were announced last night in Wigan, Makerfield and Leigh. Despite a difficult night predicted for the Labour Party nationally, Labour held all three seats.

Lisa said, “I would like to thank the people of Wigan for giving me the opportunity to serve them and the town.

“It is not yet clear what the country has chosen, but it is clear tonight that Wigan has rejected a return to the pain, inequality and despair of the 1980′s and 90′s, and I will work tirelessly to defend the services that matter to people in Wigan.”

You can read how the Wigan Evening Post covered the story by clicking here. The results of the Council elections are expected later today.