Labour failings

Harlow Constituency 2010: The Facts - Why Harlow Needs Change  

Published Apr 2010

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Prospective Harlow Conservative MP Robert Halfon reveals Labour's failures in Harlow  

Published on 19 Apr 2010

LABOUR'S failure was exposed today as Robert Halfon published the key facts of their record in Harlow.

The Government's own statistics showed 13 years of disappointment and neglect, with Harlow now suffering from: 

* Record unemployment 

* The highest ever levels of crime, including burglary and violence 

* A drastic shortage of affordable and council housing. 

Robert Halfon, who will contest the Harlow constituency - which includes Nazeing, Roydon, Hastingwood, and Sheering - said: "We can't go on like this. Harlow desperately needs a change of direction. 

"Only the Conservatives can sort out Harlow's economy: with lower taxes for lower earners, 200,000 extra apprenticeships over 2 years, and a massive expansion in affordable and council housing. 

"And only the Conservatives will deal with the social problems, by getting a grip on Labour's immigration chaos, setting our police free to do their jobs, improving our NHS and Sure Start, and helping people off welfare and into work." 

He added: "Over the last few days I've been privileged to meet hundreds of voters, and they all tell me the same thing: 'Let's get rid of Gordon Brown, and this tired old Labour Government, and get our economy moving again'" 

Government statistics prove that people living in Harlow face ten serious problems  

Published on 21 Mar 2010

PROSPECTIVE Harlow Conservative MP Robert Halfon has highlighted ten reasons why people should vote Conservative at the general election - by publishing a ten-point dossier of issues affecting daily life in Harlow. 

Violent crime in the town has nearly doubled in the last decade, burglaries have increase by 25 per cent in the same period and the local health service is facing a financial crisis. 

Harlow has the highest crime rate in Essex and then there is the worrying statistic that men in Harlow are more likely to die an alcohol-related death than than anywhere else in Essex. 

Robert Halfon said: "How many more stark facts need we reveal to show that this Labour government has done absolutely nothing to help people in Harlow. 

"All the Government has done is ensure that people living in Harlow are more likely to become a victim of violent crime, are far more likely to be burgled than in many other places in Essex. And then the local health service that would treat them should they fall ill is facing financial difficulties." 

The 'Halfon ten' highlight a wide range of serious problems affecting Harlow. 

They include high crime. high unemployment and serious funding concerns affecting the National Health Service locally. 

Robert Halfon, who will contest the Harlow constituency - which includes Hastingwood, Matching Tye, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering at the general election - said: "Bill Rammell and Gordon Brown would like us to think that everything in the garden is rosy, yet Harlow faces some significant problems which cannot be swept under the carpet. 

"It is time for Labour to face up to these problems and explain why after 14 years of a Labour Government, so little has been done." 

Mr Halfon added: "David Cameron has set out plans to redirect money to areas like Harlow, which face social deprivation. 

"This cash will boost our NHS and schools.

"At the same time we’ll sort our economy out by cutting taxes, reducing regulation and lowering the debt. We won't let Labour's neglect continue." 

The 'Halfon ten' highlight:

Harlow's Crime

* violent crime nearly doubled in Harlow over the last ten years 

* burglaries in Harlow increased by 25 per cent over the last ten years 

* Harlow now suffers from the highest crime rate in Essex 

Harlow's Health 

* NHS West Essex - the local primary care trust - which is responsible for health in Harlow is now struggling with the 20th worst deficit in the UK due to a serious lack of funding 

* Their funding blackhole for this year is nearly £2 million 

* North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which supplies mental health services to Harlow, suffered from a £5.3m cut in recent years. The cut came as senior staff at NHS West Essex admitted there was a cash deficit

* Men are more likely to die from alcohol-related death in Harlow than anywhere else in Essex. Men in Harlow lose on average 12 months of life, due to alcohol abuse 

Harlow's Recession 

* Under Labour, the number of Harlow families who have been forced into bankruptcy has increased by 321 per cent. Bankruptcy in Harlow remains massively above the national average 

* One in five Harlow children are living on the breadline, in workless families, according to charity Save the Children. Child poverty in Harlow is now twice as bad as in nearby Brentwood or Bishop’s Stortford

 * Unemployment in Harlow has now climbed to a worrying 5.1 per cent on average, with male unemployment at a staggering 7 per cent. 

Labour cuts hit vulnerable in Harlow  

Published on 1 Mar 2010

FOR months the Labour MP and Labour activists in Harlow have made great representations about changes to local services - in part caused by years of profligacy with local council taxpayers money.

Yet they have been curiously quiet about Government cuts that are having a severe impact on Harlow residents. 

Prospective Harlow Conservative MP Rob Halfon has called an end to Labour hypocrisy on cuts and has highlighted some of the most significant Government cutbacks that will hit our community hard.

The catalogue of Government cuts include: 

* A £1.6 million cut to Harlow College 

* A £5.3 million cut to NHS mental health services in west Essex; and 

* £3 million less for housing regeneration in the Harlow area. 

Robert Halfon’s findings come as Harlow families are being hit hard by Labour’s tax rises - Gordon Brown’s abolition of the 10p rate, and his planned increase in National Insurance. 

Mr Halfon, who will contest the Harlow constituency which includes Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering at the general election, said: "Whoever wins the election will have to review public spending. But why do Labour have a track record of cutting Harlow’s key public services, instead of cutting bureaucracy and IT projects and Government waste? 

"Gordon Brown’s cuts are heartless. They seem to be targeted at the most vulnerable people in our society: NHS patients, students, and the unemployed. 

"I am deeply saddened by this. The truth is that Labour cuts are ones which they want to try and sweep under the carpet. 

"In recent years, civil servants in Harlow have even been driven to strike action, to protest against Gordon Brown’s cuts - and they were supported by the local trade union. 

"Labour should come clean about their cuts to local services." 

Letter - Why have our armed forces been let down?   

Published on 22 Feb 2010

Sir,

Following the news that Mr Rammell had been in Afghanistan last week visiting our troops it is important to ask why Gordon Brown has let down our armed forces so badly?

In Harlow, many people are asking why was it necessary for the Labour Government to make cutbacks to the Territorial Army, such as closing the local TA Centre, particularly since 2001 some 12,000 TA members have gone to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Moreover the closure came at a time when local recruitment was booming and Harlow TA had one of the highest recruitments in the regiment.

Further to the cuts to our local TA, why was is it that the Government sent troops into battle without proper preparation?

As the current Iraq inquiry has shown, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup gave evidence stating that "the armed forces had been under-funded in the years leading up to the invasion which led to shortages of equipment".

He added "one of the first British casualties in Iraq, Sergeant Steven Roberts, was shot dead three days after being told to give up his body armour because of the shortage".

The tragedy is that many of our armed forces now fighting in Afghanistan are also without the proper equipment that is needed.

This is a Government that is cutting our vital TA services across the country, has sent our armed forces into combat zones without the proper equipment, and has given bureaucrats at the MoD £47 million in bonuses, when just a fraction of this would have kept our TA open.

No wonder so many people think Gordon Brown's defence priorities are wrong and question the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Robert Halfon, prospective Conservative MP for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering 

Letter - Ten questions about Harlow TA Centre   

Published on 17 Dec 2009

Sir,

Many questions remain unanswered regarding the closure of the Harlow Territorial Army Centre.

It is vital that the full facts of this crazy decision are known and that these questions are answered.

We were told the closure was necessary to save money for the frontline. Yet since 2001, 12,000 TA members have gone to Iraq or Afghanistan. 

If the TA has been closed to save funds surely the fact the MoD is now paying petrol costs for TA members to travel to Chelmsford means it would have been cheaper to keep the Harlow centre open.

Why is it Harlow TA was initially told closure would take place in March 2010 yet it was in October when the Harlow members were away on a training camp, that they were told Harlow TA was to be no more and the TA building was closing immediately? 

Many TA members were not even able to get their belongings as the centre was emptied whilst they were training. 

Why was the Harlow TA disbanded when local recruitment was booming? Harlow TA had one of the highest recruitment in the regiment. 

Why despite guarantees, were not all Harlow TA members not offered a place in Chelmsford? 

Will not the cost of clearing the land around the Harlow TA, and making it fit for civilians, be so costly that it will make any alleged savings few and far between? 

The Government has made a u-turn on cutting funding for TA training. As yet Harlow TA members have not received their training money. When will this be received? 

Why was Harlow disbanded when its location is vital to its work as in communications back-up - particularly as the TA was close to London and Stansted? 

Mr Rammell talked about making savings yet why are MoD bureaucrats getting bonuses of £47 million when just a fraction of this could keep the Harlow TA centre open? 

My final question asked Mr Rammell why, as Armed Forces Minister and local MP, he has not done more to support the constituency and national interest in keeping Harlow TA open rather than spouting the latest line from the Government? 

The TA members and the wider Harlow community deserve to be given answers to these questions immediately..

Robert Halfon, prospective Conservative MP for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering 

Halfon poses questions to Armed Forces Minister and Harlow MP Bill Rammell over the closure of Harlow Territorial Army Centre   

Published on 16 Nov 2009

AFTER meeting with a number of Harlow TA members on Friday night to discuss the closure of Harlow's Territorial Army Centre, Conservative parliamentary candidate Robert Halfon has posed a number of questions to Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell. 

Mr Halfon said: "The answers to these ten questions are vitally important if the TA members in Harlow, and the wider community, are to have the full facts about why this totally illogical decision to close the centre was taken. 

"We need answers - and a full explanation now. 

Mr Rammell owes it to the local community, the community which he currently represents in Westminster, to inform them why he allowed this centre to be closed." 

1 - You (Mr Rammell) say the closure was necessary to save money for the frontline. Yet since 2001, 12,000 TA members have gone to Iraq or Afghanistan. 

2 - If the TA has been closed to save funds surely the fact the MoD is now paying petrol costs for TA members to travel to Chelmsford means it would have been cheaper to keep the TA open in Harlow. 

3 - Why is it that the Harlow TA was initially told closure would take place in March 2010. Yet it was in October, when the Harlow TA members were away on a training camp, that they were told Harlow TA was to be no more, and the TA building was closing immediately? (Many TA members were not even able to get their belongings as the centre was emptied whilst they were away training). 

4 - Why was the Harlow TA disbanded when local recruitment was booming? In fact Harlow TA had one of the highest recruitment in the regiment. 

5 - Why despite guarantees, were not all Harlow TA members not offered a place in Chelmsford? 

6 - Will not the cost of clearing the land around the Harlow TA, and making it fit for civilians be so costly that it will make any alleged savings from the Harlow TA few and far between? 

7 - The Government have made a u-turn on cutting funding for TA training. As yet Harlow TA members have not received their training money. When will this be received? 

8 - Why was Harlow disbanded when its location is vital to its work as in communications back-up - particularly as the TA was close to London and Stansted? 

9 - You (Mr Rammell) talk about making savings yet why are MoD bureaucrats getting bonuses of £47 million when just a fraction of this could keep the Harlow TA centre open? 

10. Why as Armed Forces Minister and local MP have you not done more to support the constituency and national interest in keeping Harlow TA open, rather than spouting the latest line from the Government? 

Why have you not yet met with TA members to discuss the decision to disband Harlow TA? 

Prospective Harlow Conservative MP Robert Halfon speaks out at Government decision to disband town's Territorial Army   

Published on 26 Oct 2009

THE Government's decision to disband Harlow's Territorial Army has been slammed as "short sighted" and "a massive slap in the face" for the town's volunteers who are prepared to put their lives on the line for their country. 

Harlow prospective Conservative MP Robert Halfon said the decision to merge the group with a troop in Chelmsford was "extraordinary" and called on Harlow Labour MP Bill Rammell - the Government's Armed Forces Minister - to think again. 

Mr Halfon said: "It makes no sense whatsoever. Bill Rammell has said the move will help the Government save £32.5 million and 'help us to prioritise resources to the frontline in Afghanistan'. 

But if this Government had not wasted and squandered our money to such a massive extent then such short-sighted and misguided changes would not be needed. 

"There are a number of incredible stories about how ministers have wasted our money. 

For instance they bought 14 specially armoured vehicles for £4.5 million then sold them for £44,000, including to a private security firm working in Baghdad, at a time when the MoD was short of them. 

"In addition, the order for the new stealth Nimrod plane has not only been cut nearly in half, from 21 to 12, but the cost of the project has also risen from £2.8 billion to £3.5 billion, with the project now seven years behind schedule." 

He said: "As Armed Forces Minister, Bill Rammell should be made to overturn this ludicrous decision. Nothing that the Government has proposed makes any sense. 

"As I understand it Harlow (Territorial Army) will close while Hertford and Chelmsford will remain. 
"It is a poor excuse to use financial reasons to close Harlow TA in order to adequately finance Afghanistan. Harlow still occupies a better strategic position to take volunteers from the region."

Mr Halfon added the current battery has a healthy number of volunteers, especially cadets, which provides a great benefit to the town through its young people and to the Army in terms of potential future recruits." 

He added: "The cost of keeping the Harlow centre open could be mitigated by working with the community in Harlow including Harlow and Essex councils to make better use of the facility, perhaps to the extent of finding alternative accommodation for a TA centre and turning the whole TA centre over to other community or commercial uses. 

"If this were not bad enough, It is wrong that the Government have also cut £20m from TA reserve training over the next six months. This will hit recruitment, while some serving TA soldiers will simply quit. This will damage the TA’s ability to deploy in future. We oppose that cut." 

Mr Halfon, whose views on reserve training are echoed by Conservative MP Julian Brazier, the co-chairman of the All Party Group for Reserve Forces, added it was vital everything possible was done to maintain the number of Territorial Army reservists who at one point accounted for one fifth of the force in Iraq and for one eighth of the force in Afghanistan. 

Mr Halfon said it was Conservative Party policy to increase the amount spent on TA training and condemned the decision to do the exact opposite. 

"The dedication and commitment shown by these soldiers is astonishing and everything possible should be done to make sure this country has the troop numbers it needs if we are to continue committing soldiers to these wars."

FROM ROB'S BLOG: Threat to our fire service   

Published on 21 Mar 2009

IT is worrying to learn that new European Union regulations could lead to cuts in Essex's fire services and force up council tax bills. 

The European Parliament, including our local Eastern Region Labour MEP Richard Howitt is among those who have voted to impose new red tape through the EU Working Time Directive.

If the new EU rules go ahead, workers' rights to opt-out from the working time rules will be abolished. Employers would have to ensure workers work no more than 48 hours a week. 'On-call' time in the workplace, even when inactive, would be counted as working time. 

This will have a devastating impact on retained (part-time, professional) fire-fighters, who double up their fire work with other jobs. 

Many have pagers – on call in the event of emergencies. This will cut the number of retained firefighters on active duty, especially in rural communities. 

There will be reduced local fire cover, response times will increase as firefighters have to come from further away, and more full-time firefighters will be needed – pushing up the fire levy on council tax bills.

No wonder, the Local Government Association and Chief Fire Officers' Association have attacked the plans.

Currently, in Essex there are 258 retained firefighter posts of which 238 are filled, reflecting recruiting difficulties. 

Such shortages would worsen if Labour's Euro-MPs get their way. Retained firefighters do a superb service to our community, helping tackle fires, floods and road accidents.

I am very concerned at the effect of these new rules which would cut back workers' rights to work when they choose. 

This red tape, backed by Labour MEPs, would cut local fire services, put lives at risk and force up council tax across Harlow and surrounding villages. It is vital the Government stands firm on this crucial issue. 

Labour MEPs need to be sent a message in the European elections that their failure to protect local fire services is not acceptable.