Julian Sturdy

Sorry I have not entered a post for some time, I have been having a few problems with my  broadband service however eventually BT have managed to solve the problem after a number of telephone conversations. I hadn’t realised how reliant I have become on the internet until the last few weeks without it.

They say a week in politics is a long time, well Mr Brown must certainly be thinking this as he looks back on the election that never was, in fact if Gordon had not bottled it we could have been going to the polls today. The question he will be asking himself is will there be a better opportunity?    

The Daily Telegraph is reporting today that Gordon Brown is under pressure to suspend rises in fuel duty as the threat of another fuel protest draws ever closer. The paper is saying that the Treasury is expected to pick up an unexpected £3 billion tax windfall from soaring oil prices.

With petrol prices set to pass through the £1 litre barrier Gordon Brown could be heading for a Winter of discontent if the fuel blockades go ahead.

The road haulage industry has every right to be furious at the soaring price of diesel and the impact it is having on their businesses. This Government has to realise that it can’t just keep using the industry as a cash cow, something will have to give at some point. However is the run up to Christmas a good time for more fuel blockades, given the impact it could have on businesses as stock deliveries dry up and they struggle to meet retail demand across the country in what is their busiest time of the year.

It would certainly give Gordon Brown and the Labour Government a big headache, however public sympathy for the the blockades that has been there in the past could soon disappear when Christmas becomes disrupted.        

Back on the home front even without a General Election things are very busy, I held a surgery in Dringhouses last Saturday which was very successful, there were plenty of people wanting to come and meet their Conservative Parlimentary Candidate and share with me their views on this Labour Government all very encouraging. A big thank you to Matthew Litten who held the surgery with me, Matthew is the next Conservative Councillor for Dringhouses & Woodthorpe in York. 

Posted by Ellee Seymour

I had an excellent fringe meeting yesterday at the Conservative Party conference to highlight the urgent need to dual York’s northern ring road. We were very fortunate to have MEP Timothy Kirkhope on the platform, and a large number of North Yorkshire county councillors who attended pledged their support.

I was able to meet up with Shadow Roads Minister Robert Goodwill who is visiting York on Friday and he has endorsed the dualling campaign. This is a great bonus, he fully understands how important it is to support these issues and to help our business communities, as well as commuters.
I am planning to meet Shadow Home Secretary David Davis at a meeting later today to discuss the totally unacceptable proposed cuts to our already fully stretched and dedicated police force which could see 300 police fewer officers in North Yorkshire if the Home Office gets its way.

I have been proud to promote these vital issues on behalf of the citizens of York Outer to ensure that we get the fair deal we deserve and that our views known by those who can make a difference.