Ed Brown, pictured here with the Prime Minister, is full of praise for the decisive action taken by Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling over the past few weeks to support the safety of the British banking system.  The Labour Government’s plan  now been followed throughout the  world, with similar action across Europe and in the US and has won international praise.

The global credit crunch is just that: a worldwide problem. Britain’s economy suffers along with  others and these are unquestionably  tough times. But the government is taking the right measures to tackle the problems families and businesses face.

Reckless Tories
While Labour  prevented the collapse of the entire banking system and avoided widespread chaos, David Cameron’s reckless Conservatives would have simply let the banks go to the wall. In fact they have opposed all Labour’s actions to help the British economy. With Labour, we can all be reassured that an experienced team led by Gordon Brown will see us safely through.

The Tories have consistently failed to support the tough action that Labour is taking - they would have let Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley collapse. Their proposals on fuel duty would have meant we’d be paying an extra 5p a litre now, just when we can least afford it.

More help with Mortgages
Labour is helping people struggling to pay their mortgages in the current difficult times. Hard-working people worried about losing their homes due to redundancy or loss of income as a result of the downturn, will be able to defer interest payments for up to two years while they get their family finances back on track.This builds on what responsible lenders already do in the early months when people hit temporary difficulties, and Labour’s new scheme will provide people with a longer period to get sorted out. The result will be more  affordable monthly payments for homeowners needing help through difficult times.

Ed Brown, Labour Prospective Parliamentary candidate for North East Beds has slammed the introduction of premium rate phone lines and will be writing a letter to the Secretary of State for Health on behalf of local residents to protest about their use in Biggleswade surgeries. Commenting on the issue, Ed Brown said:

‘‘Premium rate numbers have no place whatsoever in the provision of NHS services. Patients who need to book an appointment should not have to pay through the nose, simply to see their doctor. The cost is particularly unfair for people who may have difficulty in travelling to book an appointment in person, who are often the least able to afford these rip off charges. Premium numbers are a poor deal for patients and I will be writing to the Secretary of State to ask him to ban their use and make free or low cost lines compulsory.’’

Local residents who would like Ed to share their concern should contact him using the contact information on this website. Thanks to the Biggleswade Chronicle for covering this story this week.

Ed Brown has applauded Biggleswade Town Council’s reversal of its earlier decision to deny funding to the Biggleswade Rail Action Campaign. The local group, founded after a public meeting organised by the NE Beds Labour Party earlier this year, is campaigning for improved access for passengers at the station. As a founder member of the group, Ed welcomed the decision to fund the group, which is working hard to improve access for all members of the community.

The Chancellor’s budget speech yesterday provided welcome news for Pensioners, Families and Children in North East Beds. It also provides benefits to people on lower incomes, workers in need of affordable housing and anybody who cares about the environment. The statement also ensured that the country will continue to seek economic stability, opportunity and security for all.

Ed welcomed the news, commenting: ‘This year’s budget represents a great deal for people in North East Beds and the country as a whole. I welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to helping lift over 250,000 children out of poverty and providing investment in local schools, health services and police. The Government also showed that it is committed to tackling key issues such as poverty, affordable housing and climate change. It is clear from the announcement that this Government will make the investment that our services need, rather than making the short term spending cuts called for by the Tories. Let’s not put ten years of stability and growth under Labour at risk.’

Ed and local Labour party members publicising the budget

Ed Brown, Labour PPC for NE Beds constituency is calling on Alistair Burt MP to back a Private Members Bill providing equal rights for temporary agency workers. The Bill, introduced by Labour MP Andrew Miller, is intended to provide agency ‘temps’ with the same rights as permanent employees and received significant support in Parliament last week.

Commenting on the Bill, Ed said: ‘I support the Agency workers Private Members Bill and am calling upon Alistair Burt MP to offer his backing. Employment agencies provide a perfectly proper role in supplying agency temps on a short term basis. However, it is clear that many vulnerable workers are being exploited by unscrupulous employees. Further, the use of temps often threatens the jobs of hard-working people in important local industries, such as agriculture. This legislation is necessary to protect jobs in North East Beds and to provide a fair deal for local workers.’

Although the majority of employment agencies are reputable, many are exploiting workers. This is an issue of importance in the local community due to the high number of agency workers. It particularly affects migrants from outside of the UK, who are more likely to work for unscrupulous employers. However, it also affects British workers, who face the risk of being undercut on wage levels.

click here to read coverage of this story in Bedfordshire on Sunday

Ed Brown today welcomed statistics that show unemployment in the constituency has dropped 48% since 1997.

Commenting on the release of the figures, Ed said, “I know the drop in unemployment in North East Bedfordshire over the past decade is reflected up and down the country, with record numbers of people in work and the number of vacancies in the UK economy growing to 680,000.

I am pleased that so many constituents are now in work, and benefitting from the various work programmes and in work benefits that are now in place. I also welcome the positive effect the rise in employment has had on lowering levels of child poverty here in the constituency.”

As reported in the Biggleswade Chronicle, access to Biggleswade station is to be discussed at tonight’s public meeting, at the Biggleswade Town Chamber, Saffron Road, Biggleswade. A representative from Bedfordshire County Council will be attending and will speak alongside Ed Brown on the issue of access. The meeting will start at 8 pm and doors open from 7.30 pm. The speakers will be followed by a Q&A session, at which attendees will have the opportunity to contribute.

The NE Beds Labour Party and I have organised a public meeting to allow local residents to air their views about the standard of services at Biggleswade station. The meeting, which will be chaired by Biggleswade Methodist minister, Rev. Martin Dawes, will be held at 8 p.m. in the Biggleswade Town Council Chamber, Saffron Road, Biggleswade. Representatives from First Capital Connect and the Council have been invited to attend and all are welcome.

Ed Brown has criticised the Conservative Councils’ shambolic consultation over proposals for gypsy/traveller sites in Arlesey and Stotfold.

Speaking about the consultation, Ed said: “The Tory Councils’ so-called ‘consultations’ on the proposals have been a shambles from start to finish. Local residents are entitled to know and fully understand the details of the plans. No reasonable effort has been made to fairly and properly explain the proposals and their possible impacts upon the local communities.”
Speaking about the proposals, Ed commented: “The sites in North East Bedfordshire are not up to scratch. We cannot ignore the needs of gypsies/travellers, but the sites have to be legal and appropriate for their and local residents’ needs. At the moment, the sites are unlikely to stop illegal sites developing on unauthorised land. This is exactly what the law is in place to prevent. The local communities are right to be concerned that the current proposals may be flawed and need a serious rethink by
the Councils involved.”

Over 1000 NE Beds residents have now signed the Labour party’s petition calling for the introduction of disabled access to Biggleswade train station. Speaking on BBC Three Counties radio’s drivetime show, Ed Brown called out to all interested residents to support the petition. Ed explained that the local Labour party were calling upon the Conservative run council to bring back better access and make Bedfordshire public transport available to all.