Dear Residents
Happy New Year 2024! Hoping you had a wonderful holiday break. And Welcome Back!
Parliament comes back this week but so much has already happened and I wanted to bring you up to date straight away with the biggest story of the New Year and one that Kingston has found itself at the centre of.
The Post Office Scandal
Bates vs The Post Office
Aired on New Year’s Day, a four-part documentary of the Post Office scandal has touched hearts and minds across the country. Surprising in so many ways that it took an ITV production to propel this story to the centre stage as it is not a new story – and perhaps that is what makes it so shocking, that successive campaigners have tried without success for over 20 years to get the truth, recognition and compensation. The real star of the piece has been Mr Bates played by Toby Jones.
The Victims
Our empathy and compassion for the more than 900 innocent victims of the Post Office Scandal, many of whom were prosecuted, served prison sentences (one even when pregnant), lost their life savings, good name and well-being, and in some cases their health, longevity and even life, some actually taking their own life as the last resort – as the Post Office false accounting software called Horizon caused shortfalls and the Post Office management accused them of theft.
The Government Rescue Package
PM Rishi Sunak announced last week an emergency House of Commons debate in which evidence was given highlighting one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in recent history. The Department for Justice will bring forward legislation to quash all convictions, including cases where innocent victims were forced to plead Guilty. The government will fast forward compensation for 555 postmasters and have set aside a budget of £1 billion.
Sir Ed Davey
Ed Davey was the Minister for Post Office Affairs between 2010-12 when the convictions began and Alan Bates sought support and was ‘fobbed off’. Within our own constituency of Kingston and Surbiton a number of postmasters also reached out to Ed as their own MP and Post Office Affairs Minister and were left to fight their cases alone, in all cases being told by the Post Office that they were alone in facing conviction, that the Horizon computer was ‘robust’ and that no third party had access to their terminals – all now known to be untrue. Ed Davey then went on to consult for the very same legal firm representing the Post Office prosecutions. Ed Davey has denied wrongdoing.
Self-Reflections
A generation of most trusted and admired members of their community have been vilified for something they didn’t do - and would never do. Our hearts honour their leadership, sacrifice and strength in wrongful persecution. I am grateful that the government have finally ensured that they are exonerated and compensated – although nothing will make up for the life they have lost. As a Compassionate Conservative, I promise to dedicate myself to asking questions, listening, and recognising wrongdoing against the individual and being there to represent you. Integrity, kindness, listening and being prepared to fight your corner is my commitment to the privileged role of representing our residents as our Parliamentary Candidate.
Where’s Ed This Week?
Missing-in-action at the recent Post Office emergency debate in parliament, our shy MP for Kingston was out on the road campaigning in Guildford, Surrey, for the next election, staging his oh so amusing stunts.
Development
Surbiton Station
Taking everyone a bit by surprise Network Rail launched their redevelopment programme for Surbiton Station. The new programme provided welcome renovation of our iconic art deco monument – but at the expense of losing our surface parking (currently 446 spaces) to a 17-storey tower block and spiral 250 parking-space-multistorey. The proposal is playing a negotiating game which is unfair on residents, and I have called this out in the media including Radio Jackie and Kingston Nub News. Our surveys already tell us that tall buildings are in the top 5 local issues so we went out on the record to defend your preference against over-development and seeking a plan that reflects heritage and height proportionate to our iconic 1920’s elevation.
We want to hear your views here now.
https://www.kingstonconservatives.org.uk/campaigns/17-storey-tower-block-surbiton-what-are-your-views
Tolworth Tower
With relief, we heard that the Tolworth planning was withdrawn at the 11th hour for health and safety reasons.
Cost of Living Support and National Insurance
Around 1.6 million private renters are set to receive a substantial boost to their housing support in April, as the Government lays legislation to increase Local Housing Allowance
£7 billion investment over the next five years means 1.6 million private renters on Universal Credit or Housing Benefit will be around £800 better off a year.
It comes as national insurance cut comes into effect – meaning households with two average earners will save nearly £1,000 per year.
The boost will benefit some of the poorest families on either Universal Credit or Housing Benefit who will gain around £800 a year on average.
NHS Health
Kingston Hospital
Strikes
Volunteering during the junior doctor strikes at Kingston Hospital I was impressed to see that our fantastic paramedics and Kingston Met Police were on standby to cover. While basic pay should be more - is the demand for 35% increase affordable at this time? Safety of patients should be paramount especially at the most critical point in the year. I know the government will do their best to resolve the dispute when the strike is over. I would like to thank all the management, staff, nurses and paramedics who did so much to keep our patients safe during this difficult week.
In response to my recent question to Kingston Hospital Management on the impact of the strikes, here is the insightful reply:
'Recent industrial action has been challenging and like other hospitals, we have needed to postpone non--urgent, outpatient and elective procedures at Kingston Hospital to ensure the safe staffing of our wards, urgent and emergency services, cancer and maternity services. Our efforts have also been focused on discharge planning, within the hospital and with our community and local authority colleagues and system partners, to ensure patient flow is maintained and safe services are delivered, and our staff have been working hard to address the backlog of appointments and procedures.'
More Nurses
I was delighted that this month the government met their target to recruit 50,000 more nurses.
Clinical Priorities Public Meeting
I was also fascinated to be involved in our local NHS Trust project, at a public meeting at the DoubleTree by Hilton, to discuss the future of the hospital and community service in the context of clinical priorities, such as Young Life and Older Living, Lifestyle Choices and Healthy Living. The group discussed a model that would put the patient at the heart of choice with more individual responsibility, as well as A&E where I work, looking closely at social care and mental health emergency priorities.
Healthy Start
NHS Healthy Start is a national programme that provides financial support to eligible young families and pregnant women for fruit, vegetables, milk, and infant formula, as well as providing free vitamins. The scheme has moved to digital, with families receiving a pre-paid chip and PIN Mastercard with money pre-loaded every 4 weeks. Visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk Or Call 0300 330 7010 to check eligibility & apply
ULEZ
This month TfL staged their 140th strike since Sadiq Khan took office threatening misery for commuters and devastation for the London hospitality sector. It was called off at the 11th hour when the Mayor ‘found’ a £30m give-away of London’s tax-payers money. Was that funded from ULEZ fines from people who can’t afford a new car?
The Mayor of London is fast creating a North /South divide with South of London drivers subsidising TfL train drivers and commuters – letting us pay for the benefits of the North London fast transport system.
What do you think?
Vanakkam Thai Pongol!
Welcome to Tamil Harvest Festival at Church House, Westminster celebrated by 90m Tamils around the world and here in London and Kingston and Surbiton. We celebrate with you and thank you for the valuable skills contribution especially in medicine and science and cultural heritage you have brought to Britain which we have shared with you tonight on the stage with beautiful dancers and their costumes. At the same time, we remember the recent atrocities and the continued campaign for human rights, justice and retribution and pray for a future of peace, respect and the right for self-determination. We support the valuable work on the APPG Tamil Community chaired by Elliot Colburn MP for Carshalton. We continue to make this case and renew our support for the UN resolutions and diplomacy at this important festive celebration of Tamil values.
We wish you peace and prosperity. Pongalo Pongal!
Happy New Year and Welcome back!
