I have written previously in 'Tories crack the Ministerial Code' about how the current government has significantly eroded the public's trust in politics. In light of the recent behaviour of Boris Johnson and this week's updating of the Ministerial Code, I have again written to my local MP, Richard Fuller about how these updates further … Continue reading An open letter to my Tory MP on changes to the Ministerial Code
Given the horrific events, not just on the day of the Hillsborough disaster, but also during subsequent events over many years, and the failure of anyone to be held accountable for the disaster, you may have expected swift measures to be put in place to ensure that there could never again be a repeat of … Continue reading Is a ‘Hillsborough Law’ being kicked into the long grass?
This morning representatives from Network Rail, Govia Thameslink Railway, Central Bedfordshire Council, Biggleswade Town Council, Bedfordshire Rail Access Network and Richard Fuller MP met to discuss the latest progress on step-free access at Biggleswade station. We also discussed the progress of the Transport Hub, which when completed will provide a seamless link between bus and … Continue reading Biggleswade Station Update – 9th May
The corrosive fallout from the EU referendum, the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic and the horror of the ongoing war in Ukraine have been deeply unsettling and have led many to adopt a somewhat fatalistic approach to the future. It seems that since the financial crash of 2008, UK politics has never reverted back to … Continue reading It’s time for Labour to be bold
The UK's political system has some obvious democratic failings, perhaps the most prominent being the 'first past the post' voting system, which has enabled our current Government to rule as an 'elective dictatorship' on a minority of votes cast. However, there is less obvious inequality of representation created by the lack of working-class voices in … Continue reading Why we need more working-class voices in Parliament
UK homes account for around 15% of our CO2 emissions. A combination of improved energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy would reduce this, as was set out in the zero carbon homes plan, abandoned in 2016. In 1998 a reduced 5% VAT rate was introduced for energy-saving materials such as solar panels, but this didn't … Continue reading The Treasury vs Net Zero Carbon
Below is an open letter sent to my North East Bedfordshire MP Richard Fuller, setting out why a Hillsborough Law is urgently needed and calling for his support for it. Dear Richard The tragedy of Hillsborough goes far beyond the horrific events that took place on 15th April 1989. The Liverpool supporters suffered a double … Continue reading An open letter on the need for a Hillsborough Law
The sheer scale of the tragedy of Hillsborough is difficult to comprehend, cutting across so many aspects of the relationship between the people and the state. It starkly set out how justice is not applied equally across our society and how agencies of the state persistently close rank and prioritise reputational protection over the safety … Continue reading Hillsborough – finally a catalyst for change?
Blaming the Victorians for a large percentage of our rail network being inaccessible to a significant proportion of the UK public is wearing very thin after 150 years. While some progress has been made since 'Access for All' funding for step-free stations was introduced by Gordon Brown's Labour government in 2006, thousands of platforms across … Continue reading When will Labour stand up for a step-free railway?
After being asked to stand in at short notice and give a presentation to my local Labour Party on Labour's 'Green' policy I spent a few hours trawling the internet and writing notes in preparation. I have written previously about the importance of crystal clear messaging and the need to present a radical alternative to … Continue reading So what exactly is Labour’s Green policy?
Julian Vaughan 