Update from Pete Force-Jones - Your True & Fair Candidate
Devizes (East Wiltshire) Constituency Newsletter Mid-March 2023
Hello and welcome to my second newsletter of March, a newsletter of two halves.
1. Meeting people:
Last weekend I had the pleasure to meet with councillor Nick Fogg for an hour or so. Many readers living in or around Marlborough will be aware that Nick will shortly be donning the chains as Mayor once again.
We started by sharing a few memories of his previous terms in office. Nick has a fascinating background and I was able to learn more about his involvement in local politics and his hopes and plans for the town during his upcoming stint in the role.
We chatted about how local businesses coped with the impact of the lockdown, and the important role that friendly local pubs play in our local communities. Despite some local Pub closures, both temporary and permanent, we should be thankful our area still supports a very good number, (and far too many to mention here by name - though needless to say I look forward to visiting a good number of them again after cricket matches this summer!) We both agreed that Pubs can provide a vital community service, offering a warm, welcoming hub to both workers after a long day (or week) at work, or to those living alone who just fancy popping in for a pint or two, a bit of company and a much-needed chat with some friendly faces. We even managed a brief comparison of the respective football teams we follow (Derby and Swindon for those who are curious!)
I also managed to grab an opportunity to get into Great Bedwyn recently to chat with a few parents on their daily after-school pick-up duty, These proved informative chats (and if you are one of those who generously gave up a few moments of your time, thank you!)
I found the current local MP had a 100% recognition rate amongst those I spoke to (whether or not that would necessarily prove a positive on his behalf, I’ll not mention here!), but more importantly, I was keen to learn of local people’s priorities, both on a local and national level: housing and the cost of living and our NHS straddled both, public transport provision and concern for the health of the local river mentioned as the most common local worries.
2. A few thoughts on the budget:
Well, some credit due to the chancellor for a start-at least this one didn’t immediately crash the economy, though quite what it will end up achieving, in the long run, is perhaps more up in the air.
Nice to see that the government recognise that childcare provision needs to be improved, though suggestions of increasing the ratio between staff and children to help meet the promises must surely raise a few concerns, and the timescales do seem to lay much of the detailed implementation onto whoever is in government after the next election.
I’m not overly convinced the chancellors’ increase to the annual pension savings allowance from £40,000-£60,000pa will see that all that much take up in our constituency where the mean average wage lies in the region of £30,000pa. Nor am I sure that his plan to bring certain people back into the workforce, (that the IFS have suggested could cost the country £70,000 per job) is necessarily going to prove the best use of public money.
I guess most will feel some impact of the freeze to the tax thresholds, estimated to ‘cost’ lower ratepayers an average of £300pa, and upwards of £900 for those just breaking into the 40% threshold.
Nice to see some money is being given (returned?) to the councils to help fill in numerous local potholes, and today we even see welcome movement from the government regarding wages for some in our NHS - The hardworking hospital staff certainly deserve it, but then so in my judgement do all of the junior doctors and teachers living and working here. According to the IFS and Nuffield Trust, these workers have seen their wages drop in real terms by 14.1% and 11% respectively since 2010. Let’s hope those in charge quickly decide to negotiate in good faith with those whose claims remain outstanding too.
Surely there is someone in government who will realise it is at least as beneficial to the country to give every key worker a fair pay deal as it is to offer further tax breaks to the wealthiest?
True & Fair In the News
True & Fair leader was recently invited to appear on Piers Morgan, Andrew Pierce on GB News and Jeremy Kyle on Talk TV to discuss the Lineker debacle, Brexit, Northern Ireland, The Windsor Framework, and Illegal Immigration Bill – amongst other news topics. Clips of these interviews can be found on our YouTube channel and at the links below.
Date: 13/03/23
Date: 10/03/23
Jeremy Kyle, Talk TV
Date: 03/03/23
GB News
Thanks for reading,
True & Fair Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Devizes
https://www.trueandfairparty.uk/pete-force-jones