I'm an MP. Get me outta here!

[sandGroundZero]

our Damien

Southport is under attack from the vindictive policies of Labour-controlled Sefton Council, which is trying to impose a cycle network on my constituency. Residents, businesses, disability groups and safety campaigners are against it. Revenues are already down because of an existing scheme, and the inaccurate data used to support this scheme is truly shameful. Will my right hon. Friend make time available to debate these schemes, which I know concern many across the House?

Jacob Rees-Mogg

I hear gossip that my hon. Friend is actually working in collaboration—whisper it quietly—with the Liberal Democrats in his area against these schemes. It shows how completely lunatic they must be that they have created an alliance between my hon. Friend and the yellow peril. I congratulate him on his broadmindedness. We have to remember the convenience of motorists and the need to have capacity on the roads for motorists, and cycle lanes need to be safe and take into account the views of locals. I understand that my hon. Friend has extended the consultation period to 25 July. I am sure that many people will want to send in their views to this terrible socialist council.

[Alikado]

our Damien

Southport is under attack from the vindictive policies of Labour-controlled Sefton Council, which is trying to impose a cycle network on my constituency. Residents, businesses, disability groups and safety campaigners are against it. Revenues are already down because of an existing scheme, and the inaccurate data used to support this scheme is truly shameful. Will my right hon. Friend make time available to debate these schemes, which I know concern many across the House?

Jacob Rees-Mogg

I hear gossip that my hon. Friend is actually working in collaboration—whisper it quietly—with the Liberal Democrats in his area against these schemes. It shows how completely lunatic they must be that they have created an alliance between my hon. Friend and the yellow peril. I congratulate him on his broadmindedness. We have to remember the convenience of motorists and the need to have capacity on the roads for motorists, and cycle lanes need to be safe and take into account the views of locals. I understand that my hon. Friend has extended the consultation period to 25 July. I am sure that many people will want to send in their views to this terrible socialist council.

If his campaign were to succeed and the cycle lanes removed what would happen?

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news...after-21187106

Then whose fault would it be, the vindictive Labour again?

[sandGroundZero]

Funding for infrastructure upgrades, changes to The Highway Code and new requirements to ensure that active travel schemes' effects are properly assessed.

	The active travel boom seen throughout the pandemic will continue to thrive thanks to a £338 million package to boost cycling and walking across the country, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced today (30 July 2021). … Independent opinion polling and new research also published by the DfT shows that active travel schemes are supported, on average, by a ratio of two-to-one.
	This plan describes the vision to make England a great walking and cycling nation. It sets out the actions required at all levels of government to make this a reality, grouped under four themes: better streets for cycling and people cycling and walking at the heart of decision-making empowering and encouraging local authorities enabling people to cycle and protecting them when they do
	This briefing has been written for transport planners, others concerned with the built environment, and public health practitioners. It looks at the impact of current transport systems and sets out the many benefits of increasing physical activity through active travel. It suggests that while motorised road transport has a role in supporting the economy, a rebalancing of our travel system is needed. Some key messages when developing a healthy local transport strategy include: physical inactivity directly contributes to 1 in 6 deaths in the UK and costs £7.4 billion a year to business and wider society the growth in road transport has been a major factor in reducing levels of physical activity and increasing obesity building walking or cycling into daily routines are the most effective ways to increase physical activity short car trips (under 5 miles) are a prime area for switching to active travel and to public transport health-promoting transport systems are pro-business and support economic prosperity. They enable optimal travel to work with less congestion, collisions, pollution, and they support a healthier workforce

[sandGroundZero]

I have always known that millions more people in this country want to cycle, if the conditions are right, and the past four months have proved it. The joy of cycling is that doing it doesn't just benefit you. It doesn't just make you happier. It doesn't just make you healthier. It helps millions of others too, whether or not they have any intention of getting on a bike. It means less pollution and less noise for everyone. It means more trade for street-front businesses. It means fewer cars in front of yours at the lights.

All of us, cyclists and non-cyclists alike, have suddenly found out what it is like to have streets where you can breathe clean air, hear the birds singing at noon, and walk or ride in safety. We have all noticed the new found safety on our roads with fewer cars hurtling down our streets, near our homes and our gardens and our schools.

That is why this document aims to kick off the most radical change to our cities since the arrival of mass motoring. We announced in May £2 billion of new funding for cycling and walking – representing a sixfold increase in dedicated funding, the biggest increase this country has ever seen. That will pay for first hundreds, then thousands of miles of protected bike lanes, so anyone can ride safely; low-traffic neighbourhoods, to stop rat-running and make it easier to walk and cycle; bus and bike corridors on some main roads; and funding for a massive rise in e-bikes, all of which will open up cycling to more and different people and make places better for everyone. There will be vouchers to pay for bike maintenance, free cycling training for everyone who wants it, and parking changes to discourage the school run.

I know not everyone can cycle, which is why we're investing billions in roads, buses and railways too – but many more of us can and should. Vast numbers of car journeys are very short and could easily be travelled by bicycle. People often think that encouraging bikes and walking causes congestion – but it doesn't, if you do it properly, and make the kind of changes we are proposing to streets to improve walking and cycling accessibility.

Of course you can't deliver a fridge-freezer on a cargo bike – but you can deliver plenty of other goods that currently come in diesel vans. I want bicycles to be part of an effusion of green transport, of electric cars, buses and trains, because clean air will be to the 21st century what clean water was to the 19th.

This unprecedented pandemic has also shown many of us, myself very much included, that we need to think harder about our health. We need to think harder about how we can make lifestyle changes that keep us more active and fit – the way we travel is central to this. This strategy sets out our plans to start prescribing bikes on the NHS – with the bicycle in effect giant, universal prescription, with our bike lanes becoming huge, 24-hour gyms, free and open to everyone.

When I was mayor of London, one of the things I was proudest of was building some of the world's best cycle lanes. It was often difficult and we faced opposition. But when the results of consultations and opinion polls came back, our opponents were often surprised to find themselves in a small minority. People want the radical change we are committing to in this strategy, and we politicians shouldn't be afraid to give it to them.

I too am proud of this plan for unleashing our nation of cyclists – improving people’s health, the environment, and wider society along the way. This will mark a step change in how our towns and cities look, feel and operate for people across this country – I hope to see everyone soon on their bikes.

[Hamble]

I have always known that millions more people in this country want to cycle, if the conditions are right, and the past four months have proved it. The joy of cycling is that doing it doesn't just benefit you. It doesn't just make you happier. It doesn't just make you healthier. It helps millions of others too, whether or not they have any intention of getting on a bike. It means less pollution and less noise for everyone. It means more trade for street-front businesses. It means fewer cars in front of yours at the lights.

All of us, cyclists and non-cyclists alike, have suddenly found out what it is like to have streets where you can breathe clean air, hear the birds singing at noon, and walk or ride in safety. We have all noticed the new found safety on our roads with fewer cars hurtling down our streets, near our homes and our gardens and our schools.

That is why this document aims to kick off the most radical change to our cities since the arrival of mass motoring. We announced in May £2 billion of new funding for cycling and walking – representing a sixfold increase in dedicated funding, the biggest increase this country has ever seen. That will pay for first hundreds, then thousands of miles of protected bike lanes, so anyone can ride safely; low-traffic neighbourhoods, to stop rat-running and make it easier to walk and cycle; bus and bike corridors on some main roads; and funding for a massive rise in e-bikes, all of which will open up cycling to more and different people and make places better for everyone. There will be vouchers to pay for bike maintenance, free cycling training for everyone who wants it, and parking changes to discourage the school run.

I know not everyone can cycle, which is why we're investing billions in roads, buses and railways too – but many more of us can and should. Vast numbers of car journeys are very short and could easily be travelled by bicycle. People often think that encouraging bikes and walking causes congestion – but it doesn't, if you do it properly, and make the kind of changes we are proposing to streets to improve walking and cycling accessibility.

Of course you can't deliver a fridge-freezer on a cargo bike – but you can deliver plenty of other goods that currently come in diesel vans. I want bicycles to be part of an effusion of green transport, of electric cars, buses and trains, because clean air will be to the 21st century what clean water was to the 19th.

This unprecedented pandemic has also shown many of us, myself very much included, that we need to think harder about our health. We need to think harder about how we can make lifestyle changes that keep us more active and fit – the way we travel is central to this. This strategy sets out our plans to start prescribing bikes on the NHS – with the bicycle in effect giant, universal prescription, with our bike lanes becoming huge, 24-hour gyms, free and open to everyone.

When I was mayor of London, one of the things I was proudest of was building some of the world's best cycle lanes. It was often difficult and we faced opposition. But when the results of consultations and opinion polls came back, our opponents were often surprised to find themselves in a small minority. People want the radical change we are committing to in this strategy, and we politicians shouldn't be afraid to give it to them.

I too am proud of this plan for unleashing our nation of cyclists – improving people’s health, the environment, and wider society along the way. This will mark a step change in how our towns and cities look, feel and operate for people across this country – I hope to see everyone soon on their bikes.

Great.
We enjoyed cycling in Southport's paths this week.

Been marvellous to visit my elderly parents within their restrictions and other family to say hello keeping distancing rules as we do not want to
let work colleague's down by being off rota.

[sandGroundZero]

Cameron and the Missing Billions

David Cameron was paid to promote Greensill Capital’s financial products around the world. Now that Greensill has collapsed, Panorama investigates how much the former prime minister knew about it?

[sandGroundZero]

Margaret Hodge

Seventy-seven year old 27 year veteran of the House of Commons Margaret Hodge, notable for chairing the public accounts select committee, occasionally drawing accusations of hypocrisy over her own tax affairs and of course for slandering former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with an anti-semitism slur, has announced that she will stand down as MP for Barking before another election.

[sandGroundZero]

'Saudi Arabia has no better friend in the UK than me':

Daniel Kawczynski tried to sell himself by claiming to be the most 'pro-Saudi' MP The Polish-born politician arranged to host one potential employer in Parliament Series of Whatsapp messages were sent to a fixer between years 2017 and 2018 Despite his search, Mr Kawczynski never found employment in Saudi Arabia

[sandGroundZero]

Joy Morrissey, the Conservative MP for Beaconsfield

Joy Morrissey, the Tory MP for Beaconsfield and a parlianentary private secretary to the jsutice secretary, described [Chris] Whitty [the chief medical officer] as an "unelected Covid public health spokesperson" and accused him of turning Britain into a "public health socialist state". …

— Record Covid cases as Tory MPs round on Whitty.
The Times Thursday December 16 2021

[sandGroundZero]

The Psychology of Anti-Mask “Libertarian”Contradictions


Mark Fysh, Sir Desmond Swayne, Dame Andrea Leadsom, and Richard Drax,
all members of …the “libertarian” wing of the Conservative Party

…many “libertarians” seem to confuse “freedom” with “avoiding the consequences of their actions”. Fysh and his ilk are not demanding “liberty” but rather (further) enhanced privilege: to endanger the lives of others to avoid inconveniencing themselves.

— Sam Fowles, politics.co.uk

[The PNP]

'Endangering the lives of others to avoid inconvenience to themselves'.....Much like the
attitude of climate deniers/sceptics, ploughing determinedly on with their high-carbon
lifestyles, regardless of the consequences to others. Who not infrequently turn out to be
the same ones who oppose stronger Covid safety measures!

[Stuartli]

'Endangering the lives of others to avoid inconvenience to themselves'.....Much like the
attitude of climate deniers/sceptics, ploughing determinedly on with their high-carbon
lifestyles, regardless of the consequences to others. Who not infrequently turn out to be
one and the same!

Or completely obsessed self-important individuals who believe that by constantly churning out the same old mantra, others will take it that what they say is of value.

[The PNP]

Or completely obsessed self-important individuals who believe that by constantly churning out the same old mantra, others will take it
that what they say is of value.

If the Worlds politicians had bitten the #Climate Change bullet in a meaningful way 20 odd years ago, we might not be in the dire mess we are now. But then, they were (and some still are) more concerned with their popularity and winning elections, by pandering to the sceptics amongst their electorate!

[Alikado]

If the Worlds politicians had bitten the #Climate Change bullet in a meaningful way 20 odd years ago, we might not be in the dire mess we are now. But then, they were (and some still are) more concerned with their popularity and winning elections, by pandering to the sceptics amongst their electorate!

All the Governments are merely paying lip service to climate change, things that will need to happen such as building 'Eco homes ' should have been implemented into Building & Planning Laws years ago, Measures such as rainwater harvesting , Solar Power/ Heating should be the norm now on all new builds and refurbs. .

[Stuartli]

If the Worlds politicians had bitten the #Climate Change bullet in a meaningful way 20 odd years ago, we might not be in the dire mess we are now. But then, they were (and some still are) more concerned with their popularity and winning elections, by pandering to the sceptics amongst their electorate!

Climate change has been going on for many, many decades, years and centuries and, as someone who experienced the winters and summers of 1947, 1963, 1976 and more recent examples, it comes across that it will always be so.

We can stem it to some extent, but Mother Nature is far more powerful than we can ever be.....