Category Archives: Campaigns

Spending Review delivers on local priorities

Yesterday the Chancellor set out the government’s spending plans for next year, 2021/22. These announcements deliver on the government’s promises to residents in Elmbridge, and include important measures to tackle Coronavirus, but also to deliver on other priorities including policing and schools.

First, Coronavirus. The government is spending £280 billion this year to get the country through the pandemic, including through the furlough scheme, business loans and grants, and tax relief. Next year, public services will receive £55 billion to tackle Coronavirus, including an initial £18 billion to fund programmes on testing, PPE and vaccines. This will support the national fight against the pandemic, and our local effort in Elmbridge.

Beyond Coronavirus, the Spending Review contained good news for some key local priorities. On schools, the Chancellor confirmed that funding will increase by £2.2 billion next year. As a result, our local primary schools will see a 4.2% per pupil funding increase, and local secondary schools will see a 2.7% per pupil increase. You can read more about this here.

On policing, Surrey Police will benefit from a £400 million national funding boost for policing, enabling the recruitment of 6,000 more officers across England and Wales next year. While we don’t yet know what Surrey Police’s share of these officers will be, it’s good news that the force is on track to meet its target of recruiting 78 new officers this year.

The Chancellor also announced significant new funding for the NHS, including a £6.3 billion boost to general spending, £3 billion dedicated to supporting the NHS in recovering from the pandemic, and £325m for new diagnostic equipment. As ever, I’ll be making sure that this translates into better outcomes locally.

Finally, there was an important announcement about social care, which is particularly relevant for us locally. I know that the sector has been under pressure during the pandemic, so it’s good news that the £1 billion social care grant divided between local authorities this year will be provided again next year, and complemented by an extra £300 million grant.

Coronavirus continues to be a challenge. But there is now light at the end of the tunnel, and with more testing and vaccines becoming available, the government will also be focussing on addressing the important, everyday issues that can really make a difference locally.

47 more police officers in Surrey

Yesterday, new Home Office statistics showed Surrey Police has recruited 47 additional police officers since the government began its major drive one year ago. This brings the total number of police officers in Surrey Police to 2,041, and contributes to the government’s target of recruiting 20,000 more officers by April 2023.

It is very welcome news for residents in Elmbridge and across Surrey. New crime figures this week showed a 3% fall in crime in Surrey and a 2.2% fall in Elmbridge, so these extra officers will help to ensure that this trend continues.

Beyond increasing numbers, the government is backing the police in other ways, for example by doubling the maximum sentence for assaulting an emergency worker to two years. We’re also giving them the tools they need to do the job – allowing more officers to authorise enhanced stop and search powers, and introducing new powers to target known knife criminals. I’m looking forward to being out and about with the local police in Elmbridge soon, to see first-hand how all of these changes are making a difference in our community.

Update from South Western Railway

Earlier today, I had a useful update from Mark Hopwood, Interim Managing Director at South Western Railway (SWR), about their plans for local rail services post-Coronavirus.

We met up (outside) at Walton Station, where Mark briefed me on the new footbridge that will be built over the tracks next year. Importantly, the footbridge will have a lift, which will make moving between platforms a lot easier for disabled residents. It was also great to hear that SWR has reduced rent for the retailers around Walton Station, some of which I visited a few weeks ago. This is a welcome move, recognising the impact of reduced rail travel, and therefore customers, since March.

SWR are also looking at how residents can get better deals and a better overall experience on the railway after Coronavirus. First, they are working on new, flexible ticketing options, so that residents who might not commute every day can still get a good deal. SWR will also begin rolling out their new ‘Arterio’ trains in the new few months, which will have accessible toilets, free WiFi, air conditioning and live information screens.

Of course I appreciate that before Coronavirus, SWR’s performance had been causing significant frustration and disruption locally. Mark assured me that he will be building on the improvements in performance seen in the early part of this year. I will be keeping a close eye on this in the months ahead.

Update on unauthorised moorings on the River Thames

Last week, the Surrey Advertiser reported that the Environment Agency (EA) has appointed a contractor to help tackle the long-running issue of unauthorised moorings on the River Thames.

This contractor (District Enforcement) will work to apply penalty charges if restrictions on mooring times on EA-owned land, such as the Desborough Cut in Walton, are breached. This should help to prevent the abuse of their moorings, freeing up EA staff to take legal action against boats moored to their land without their consent. District Enforcement should begin their work on 2 November.

I have been pressing the EA to take action to address unauthorised moorings, so this is a welcome step forward. However, it will only help on EA-owned land, meaning that a wider solution is still needed.

In my view, the only such solution available is the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). This was the only proposal in Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC)’s consultation on unauthorised moorings last year that could tackle the problem across the whole riverbank, not just on land controlled by the council.

With this in mind, I will continue to press EBC to introduce a PSPO to tackle this problem once and for all.

Vote Conservative on December 12, Move Britain Forward

My nomination papers to be the Conservative candidate in Esher and Walton are in, and the election campaign is now in full swing. The Conservatives are offering a positive vision to get Brexit done, and unleash our full potential as a country. I hope you will vote Conservative on 12 December for three reasons:

1. We have a great Brexit deal agreed with the EU. We need the MPs elected to drive it through Parliament, so the UK can move on. This is the common sense and moderate way to deal with Brexit – giving effect to the referendum as a matter of democratic principle, and doing it with a deal so we continue our trade and cooperation with our EU partners.

2. We have a positive agenda to take the country forward: expanding infrastructure to create the jobs of the future and raise wages, tackling climate change at home and abroad, keeping taxes low and easing the cost of living, and using the tax revenue from a thriving free enterprise economy to put more police on the streets, invest in our precious NHS and level up schools funding.

3. I have championed Esher and Walton constituency and I am committed to making it an even better place to live – increasing school places and funding, getting NHS investment to our GP practices, getting more police on the streets of Elmbridge, safeguarding the Greenbelt, and supporting local groups helping the most disadvantaged in our communities.

You can follow my campaign on Twitter and Facebook, or feel free to drop me a line at dominic.raab@esherwalton.com.

Bowes Road Update

Back in January, I met with residents of Bowes Road in Walton-on-Thames to listen to their concerns about the volume and speed of traffic in the area. We raised those concerns with Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Roads Colin Kemp, who committed to take action to improve the situation.

Following this meeting, and a petition organised by Bowes Road resident Bardia Dorudi, I have been liaising with Surrey County Council, working together to address the concerns of residents on Bowes Road.

Surrey County Council has listened and now agreed to install traffic priority signs at two of the road’s four pinch points by the start of next year. This will make traffic in both directions give way at some point during their journey along the road, slowing down cars (increasing road safety). If the initial improvements are successful, the Council plan to add two more sets of signs at the remaining pair of pinch points, which would further calm traffic.

These improvements will make a real difference for those living on Bowes Road, and I am pleased to be able to help with an important quality of life issue for residents.

 

Championing Local Concerns on Heathrow

I am grateful that Heathrow took up my suggestion of holding some local consultation events in Elmbridge, giving residents the opportunity to voice their concerns around noise levels and broader issues related to the proposed expansion. Today, Heathrow were down in Imber Court in Molesey. On 12 March they will be at the Cecil Hepworth Playhouse in Walton – full details of all the local events can be found here.

Today, I went along with our local Molesey team (from left to right below – Peter Szanto, Paul Wood, myself, Steve Bax and Terence Alexander). We reiterated our concerns about noise levels and air quality – and the need for clear limits and independent monitoring. We also discussed proposals on improved rail links to make sure expansion does not make local road congestion worse. Please make sure you respond to the consultation, by attending a local event or registering your views here. This is an opportunity to help shape the solutions to these problems.

Discussing Traffic Concerns with Bowes Road Residents

On Friday, I met with residents of Bowes Road in Walton to listen to their concerns about the volume and speed of traffic in the area. The on-site meeting was organised by Bowes Road resident Bardia Dorudi who has set up a petition to increase safety on the road, particularly around the speed and acceleration rates of cars travelling in the area.

My thanks to Mr Dorudi and the residents for talking me through their concerns and to Surrey Cabinet Member for Roads, Cllr Colin Kemp, for coming down and taking the residents’ concerns away and agreeing to take further action.

Magnitsky Awards

Last week, I was honoured to attend the Sergei Magnitsky Human Rights Awards in London, where I was presented with the Political Campaigner Award.

Sergei Magnitsky was a Russian lawyer who was tortured and murdered in 2009, whilst in state detention, for disclosing the biggest tax fraud in Russian history. Last year, as a backbench MP, I led a cross-party coalition of MPs across eight political parties which secured an amendment to the Criminal Finances Act, to enable the freezing of assets of individuals responsible for gross human rights abuses, who then try to launder their blood money through Britain.

It is something of a tragic honour to receive such an award. But, the event highlighted the hard work and dedication of those campaigning for justice.

The annual awards ceremony, was attended by a range of human rights activists, lawyers and journalists who have contributed to the global Magnitsky campaign.

My Column on Changes to Dangerous Driving

Today, I have written a column for the i Newspaper announcing two key changes to the law on dangerous driving.

First, we will be introducing a maximum life sentence for offenders who kill someone as a result of driving dangerously, or carelessly while under the influence of drink of drugs.

Second, we will create a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving to plug a gap in the law, especially for cases where individuals suffer life-changing injuries.

You can read my full column explaining the proposals here.