Archives for December 2009

Labour welcomes the latest unemployment figures across the country as a clear sign that the economy is picking up, but the regional breakdown for the South East paints a puzzling picture.

While many areas show falls in the number claiming benefits last month, the South East has reported a substantial rise of 15,000 people to a total of 279,000. That's the worst region in the country.

But it's a rise on a low proportion of those out of work. The worst area of the country is still the West Midlands, with 10.1% out of work. The SE is best with 6.3%.

So what does being top AND bottom of the league mean? Are we just playing catch-up with areas that have lost older industries?

It's interesting too that the number of part-time jobs is growing, while full-time jobs fall.

Here's what Dorset MP, and employment minister, Jim Knight had to say on the News Channel:

At the start of this recession there was talk about the SE dependence on London leading us first into recesssion and then first out. But in fact we've done better than other areas, up until now.

Citizens Advice have talked about the reluctance of the SE's white collar workers to sign on. With Christmas approaching, and little work around, perhaps they've finally had to bite the bullet.

As we stuff the Turkey and toast the year ahead it's well worth remembering the 279,000 people in our region looking to 2010 with uncertainty.

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We had a fascinating trip to Swindon for the last Politics Show of the year. The town is the butt of many jokes, the latest surrounding their twinning with Disneyworld, but there is serious work being done here, at the cutting edge of the new economy, and serious questions to be asked.

We were guests of the California-based microchip manufacturer Intel who employ 700 people in Swindon. They want Britain to move faster - matching line speeds of 50mbs in other parts of the world - and explore new areas of on-line work like telemedicine.

That would sell more of their processors and graphics chips, of course, but unlike global corporations our government has to think about more than the bottom line.

Complaints from rural areas that they're starved of broadband have led Lord Mandelson to include a 50p a month levy on fixed phone lines in the Digital Economy Bill to help pay for the extension of broadband to rural areas.

Swindon Labour MP Anne Snelgrove, who was on our Politics Show panel, explained that the levy was aimed at people with fixed lines because those on lower incomes could shift to pay-as-you-go mobiles and avoid the tax.

And she criticised the town's local Conservative council for spending money on a free wireless internet scheme for the town, while cutting other parts of the budget.

That Disney connection returned as she labelled the council "Mickey Mouse" -
they called government policy "Goofy" for slowing the pace of change in the digital economy.

To me it highlighted that we're all part of one global on-line economy nowadays. As the world spins faster than Walt Disney could ever have imagined consumers are demanding that every part of the UK can share in the very latest technology and national governments have very little influence.

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How many garlic peelers does one man need? One for each house presumably.

Hampshire MP James Arbuthnot asked us to pay £12.22 each for THREE sets according to the expenses receipts released today.

You can see them here. He ordered from the shopping channel QVC and claimed them in April as "kitchen equipment". At least he only asked for second class postage.

Mr Arbuthnot also claimed £1870.83 to paint a summer house, £2749.50 for tree works (despite claiming a chain saw in a previous year) and £451.88 to mend his mower.

The Telegraph hammered his previous expenses so Mr Arbuthnot's website proudly declares that he has now put his receipts for 2008/09 on line himself, earlier than required. Strangely I can't find the garlic peeler....

Meanwhile in Gosport you couldn't make it up.

Sir Peter Viggers took a huge hit on the latest claims. You'll remember the Duck Island MP had his bill turned down (so to speak)

This time a claim for £10,526 only resulted in £299.16 of taxpayers money. This is the explanation written alongside.

"Spoken to Sir Peter. Not appropriate to claim interest on increased borrowing taken to free equity of house. Agreed to re-imburse interest equivalent to original borrowing."

I spoke to Sir Peter this morning and he explained "I have always consulted the fees office, and taken their advice."

He won't say whether he will or won't pay back the money ordered by Thomas Legg. It must be in the tens of thousands and he's having to stand down. The latest claim includes another whopping home insurance bill of £4555.70.

MPs are groaning at the shame and embarrassment of their old receipts being turned out again in public, with little consolation in the fact that they have now put their house in order.

The reduced level of censorship in this batch mean you can spot things like married couple Andrew Mackay and Julie Kirkbride claiming for different second homes.

And there are some debatable decisions. Poole MP Robert Syms had £359 for a bunk bed rejected with the explanation "living costs for any one other than yourself are not permitted."

But Wantage MP Ed Vaizey was allowed to have £680 for a carpet in the Master Bedroom and nursery, and three black out blinds, which along with other curtains came to more than £200.

One final insult in the whole sorry saga. Sir Peter followed up his claim for a Duck House with a £115 invoice from a pest control company who specialise in "bird proofing and cleaning."

Really, you couldn't make it up.

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The long-serving MP for Salisbury Robert Key is a thoroughly decent man. Announcing his retirement this morning his letter spoke of his desire to do the right thing for his family and his party.

From all sides there have been glowing tributes to a strong Wiltshire champion, and fond memories of his traditional singing each time he was re-elected. Though 65 he has kept up with the times. His expertise in science and his Christian faith adding real depth to deliberations on the ethics of medical research.

But I suspect many young Tory hopefuls will be raising a glass to Rob Key tonight not because of his years of service but because his standing aside gives them a chance at a plum seat - and he did it deliberately before the deadline for by election rules.

From January David Cameron has made it plain that all women shortlists could be imposed on Associations. Whilst Mr Key was a supporter of all women contests when appropriate he wanted to give the Association the freedom to choose his successor in whatever manner they chose.

Odds are it will be an open primary. I'm told the advert goes out at the end of the week, with a possible selection date of the 31st of January.

Get those applications in!

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There are big government announcements expected this week that could see internet linked smart meters fitted to all our homes by 2020.

The idea of the meter is that when we see what we're spending we turn things off - saving an average £100 per household in trials. And by removing the cost of meter reading the energy companies could afford to fit them free.

But the big dividend could come from micro-generation. Everyone doing their small bit to increase the amount of renewable energy on the system. The US company GE have a launch of the technology at the Berkshire headquarters to time with the government announcement.

Here's a sneak preview. Is it at least part of the answer?

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