Bannerman's Top Ten EU Myths - Myth 1

Following a really interesting evening with David Bannerman MEP, I thought I would look at the main points within his book and share them with you.

I have long felt that proper debate with all views should be televised. The whole EU monster is complicated and difficult to analyse when details are not at the voters disposal. It has taken me several years to mull over what I learn before concluding that we must leave the EU as soon as a good exit strategy allows.

So it was good to hear points from David that reflected my view and I start such discussions using his neat little booklet:

So Myth 1: we would lose 3 million jobs, if we left

The EU sells much more to us than we sell to them and so the 4 million jobs that the EU would lose by not trading with us (and this would be the worst case scenario) would put us in a good leveraging position on negotiations. The Lisbon Treaty requires EU to have a trade agreement, even if we left, as they do with Norway and Sweden, so this is highly unlikely to happen.

So to conclude on this myth. They need us more than we need them...

Cllr Judy Terry and her take on China and signs on the A14!

The following is the opinion of Cllr Terry and does not necessarily reflect my own. In fact jury is still out for me on China. However I do agree with the last paragraph.


 
TRADING WITH CHINA IS EXPANDING
 
Today I was honoured to meet the Chinese Transport Minister, when he visited Hutchison Ports at Felixstowe, to see the £350m recent investment and learn about the port's huge importance to our local and national economy. I also had the opportunity to talk to Hutchison's senior directors about how the public and private sectors can work more closely together to deliver benefits to Suffolk.
 
The County Council recently held a seminar to alert local businesses to the tremendous opportunities for exporting services and products to China, as its own economy expands. The Chinese Government has a five year plan to create new cities, with all the infrastructure that will involve, from schools and hospitals, to factories, service industries and leisure. So exciting! But, such expansion demands good fiscal management.
 
On the way back from Felixstowe in the fog, I was reminded how lax the last Labour government was when it came to fiscal management. The overhead signs all the way along the A14 cost more than £70m of our money; a legacy of former Ipswich MP, Chris Mole, who was a Labour transport minister, these signs are still not connected three years after installation!  
 
It appears no-one thought to consult with the adjacent landowners to ensure access to the required electricity supply. At this rate, they will be obsolete long before they are working - proving that they weren't needed in the first place.
 

councillor Judy Terry's latest

 
AREA COMMITTEES APPEAR TO BE A REALITY!
 
Today (17th November) at a packed NE Forum meeting, Labour's Cllr. Sandy Martin announced that 'this will probably be the last Forum meeting', much to the surprise of the audience, including 6th form political students from Northgate
 
Plans to introduce 'area committees' are still in the consultation phase, indeed it was extended because of so many complaints at its inadequacy, and neither Executive nor Council have made any decisions as to the way public engagement can be managed in the future.
 
Now we know that the new Labour administration in Ipswich have no intention of listening to the people, and any future 'consultation' will also be a total sham.
 

another one
 
EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION
 
Although he works at Ipswich School, Labour's Alasdair Ross opposes any sharing of best practice, or even teaching and facilities, with the state school where he is a governor. Why? Perhaps he's ashamed to be a Labour councillor working at a private school, yet it is one of many private and state schools which have excellent outcomes for vulnerable and less talented youngsters.
 
These schools identify what children are really good at, whether it is art and music, or science, sport or Geography; not all children can be good at everything but, by taking the time to support and encourage them, they can make great progress and achieve whatever their ambitions may be. It is having ambition, and confidence in that ambition, which brings results.
 
Tony Blair launched his 1997 campaign on 'education, education, education'. He recognised, as do the Conservatives, that a good education is the foundation for anyone's future. It brings pleasure in knowledge, and helps even those with the most modest qualifications to be employed.
 
Alasdair Ross is up for election in Rushmere next year. We can only hope that he develops a passion for universally good education, and makes an attempt to bring the public and private sectors closer together in the best interests of our children, rather than to think that a good education is somehow 'elitist'.


The above is solely words of cllr Terry and does not necessarily reflect my own opinion.