Welcome to this week’s newsletter.
As you may be aware, Sue Gray provided an update this week on her review of gatherings in Downing Street parties. Unfortunately, due to a police investigations it was not the full report we were hoping for.
I have included below the response I have sent to people that have emailed me about this, though if you have emailed recently you might not have received it yet. I am fully aware of how angry people are. I am angry as well. In the meantime, I am carrying on with my day-to-day work of trying my best to deliver for the residents of my constituency. All I can do is ask for your continued patience.
We know we can expect energy prices to rise this year. To combat the rise in prices, the Government have announced a series of measures that will help struggling households. This includes a council tax rebate and a reduction in energy prices of £200.
The long-awaited plan for levelling up was also published. These include long-term targets to improve left behind areas of the UK, with commitments around health, transport, opportunities and much more. We are seeing funding locally, such as, £14 million from the Future High Streets Fund, a brand new £15 million A&E being built at Leighton, £22.9 million from a Town Deal and £6 million for the South Cheshire College Institute of Technology. That money will deliver results over the next couple of years and these plans released are about embedding change in the longer term.
HS2 have launched a couple of consultations about environmental and equality impacts of their Crewe to Manchester train line. Do make sure you have your say via the details below.
We have also been told that organisations working in a number of Crewe Wards (Central, East, North, South & St Barnabas) will be eligible to apply to a new youth investment fund targeted at areas of deprivation. Details below-if you are a local charity working in these wards do register with me to attend a seminar I am organising about how to apply to the fund.
In Parliament one of my Conservative colleagues passed the first stage of passing a new set of higher fines for those guilty of animal neglect. Whilst most laws get put before us to vote on are proposed by the government, backbenchers do get a chance and I definitely support these proposals.
Have a great weekend.
Energy Bill Rebate
The energy regulator OFGEM, has announced that the energy price cap will rise in April. This will, no doubt, be tough on families who may have to pay higher bills.
The Government is stepping in with a package of support to help households with this increase.
Firstly, all domestic energy customers will receive a £200 discount on their bills in October, which will be repaid over 5 years in £40 instalments. This will help take the edge off this year's increase, spreading the cost over a longer time.
Secondly, Council Tax bills for those in bands A-D will be discounted by £150, helping around 80% of homes.
Local authorities will also receive a discretionary fund which will help those on lower incomes and households in-band A-D who are exempt from Council Tax.
Finally, it has been confirmed that the eligibility for the Warm Homes Discount will be expanded by a third so that 3 million vulnerable households will now benefit from it.
I understand how difficult this rise in energy costs will be for local, hardworking families. This plan is a way of ensuring help is targeted to those that need it most.
More information is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-to-receive-350-boost-to-help-with-rising-energy-costs
Ukraine
The Prime Minister visited Ukraine on Tuesday to meet with the Ukrainian Prime Minister and show them the UK’s support against Russian aggression.
In a joint statement, both leaders agreed to work together to improve Ukraine's ability to defend itself. The UK will provide £88 Million in support to help them build resilience and reduce reliance on Russian energy supplies.
The Prime Minister also spoke to Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to express his concern about Russian hostility and warning that any further incursion into Ukrainian territory would be a mistake.
Everyone hopes for a peaceful resolution to this situation, but, come what may, we stand fully behind the people of Ukraine.
Levelling Up Plan
This week, the Government published it's plan to level up the UK, providing opportunities to every region of the country. Locally we are seeing the investment that comes with the ambition to level up already. We have £14 million from the Future High Streets Fund, a brand new £15 million A&E being built at Leighton, £22.9 million from a Town Deal and £6 million for the South Cheshire College Institute of Technology. We will see the impact of this money in the next couple of years. But this plan is about how we get long term change in how the government invests and spreads opportunity.
By 2030 the government wants to:
- Have pay, employment and productivity rise in every area, with each having a globally competitive city
- Increase in Research and Development funding outside of the South-East
- Improvements in public transport, bringing all regions to the standard of London
- Nationwide 4G coverage and 5G for the majority of people
- Increase in Primary School reading, writing and maths skills
- 200,000 people undertaking high quality training every year, 80,000 of which from the lowest skilled areas
- Life expectancy gap narrowing, and rising overall by 5 years by 2035
- Wellbeing improving in every area
- Greater pride in local community
- Rise in first time home buyers in all areas
- Serious crime falling
- Greater devolution in all areas of England that want it, ensuring money is spent on local priorities
While we can't expect to see these changes overnight, this is a positive vision part of a long-term plan to make real change to all areas of the country that have been left behind.
Full details on this plan can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-unveils-levelling-up-plan-that-will-transform-uk
Sue Gray Update
I understand why people are angry about this.
I know people made huge sacrifices to stick to the COVID rules.
People that make the rules should of course follow them.
I saw first hand how the rules impacted on people during my time volunteering on the NHS frontline during the first lockdown. I had to give bad news to relatives over the phone rather than in person. I met relatives who had to have rotas and limit who could come and see their loved ones at the end of their lives.
I also saw how staff tried their best to follow the rules, including during things like lunch breaks.
Nobody is perfect, and perhaps a lot of people did break the rules but that doesn’t mean we should not have high expectations of everyone working in places like Number 10.
I recognise people working in Number 10 worked very long hours and helped this country through an incredibly challenging time but that doesn’t give them a licence to behave as they want. Lots of keyworkers helped get our country through this.
All of this means I am very concerned about what happened. I feel deeply let down and whatever else I decide, what has happened is clearly shameful and should not be defended or ignored. I have made that view very clear to government.
I know there is intense interest in whether I think the Prime Minister should resign. This is probably one of the biggest decisions I can take as an MP. It has enormous consequences for our country at a time when it faces enormous challenges and when we have Russia apparently intent on invading a sovereign European country. He also has his own mandate from an election he led and MPs should not lightly step in outside of an election. I think it is right that I should think very carefully about this.
A lot of people have contacted me to offer their support to the Prime Minister on the basis that he took very big decisions that got this country through the worst of COVID, for example on going alone on the vaccines instead of joining with the EU, on accelerating the booster programme so we avoided another lockdown, on programmes like furlough. I understand that.
But I also think that it is important to be able to expect that people that set the rules follow them.
I decided early on that if I would have the opportunity to understand in much more detail what went on that it would be sensible to wait for this. If a lot of what has been reported is true then I understand why many people say he should resign. The fact I haven’t said he should resign does not mean I accept or condone what has gone on or that I agree he should carry on. It means I want to take a decision with the full facts.
If for example, the Prime Minister asked for and received repeated reassurance that everything that was happening was within the rules then I would take that into account. The Prime Minister is focused on running the country and should be able to rely on senior staff (many of whom are paid a lot more than him) to manage what is going and should be able to rely on what he is told. If he didn’t ask when he should have, or was told things they were doing were not within the rules but carried on, that is of course very different.
I hoped like everyone that the Sue Gray Report would give me those answers. That is why I held off replying to people because I had hoped I could give a firm answer within a couple of weeks rather than half an answer followed by another answer later. No doubt you will have seen as a result of the police launching their own investigations, that despite what the media say the report was not released. An ‘update’ was released with almost no information. Certainly even the update finds clear failings and the wrong culture. I would be very surprised if the full report or the police don’t find the rules have been broken. It is absolutely right that the Prime Minister has apologised and committed to making changes. Whatever else I decide, I of course will insist that changes are made and we see that they are.
But as frustrating as it is, we don’t have the full and detailed picture. In my view it would not be sensible for me to make a final decision now when I will know soon whether the police decide the COVID laws were broken and exactly what people were told they could do within the rules. But I want to emphasise again that does not mean I accept or condone what has gone on. It is the opposite. But I believe it is right for me in taking such an important decision to do so with the full picture. Newspaper reports and media speculation are not the full picture.
In the meantime I am carrying on with my day to day work of trying my best to deliver for the residents of my constituency. All I can do is ask for your continued patience. I can also confirm that I was not at any parties at Number 10 or anywhere else.
Brexit Freedoms Bill
Two years ago, the UK left the European Union, honouring the decision of the referendum. We are now taking full advantage of the opportunities this presents.
This week, the Government will introduce a 'Brexit Freedoms Bill', which will make it easier for outdated EU law to be amended or removed. This will allow us to introduce reforms, which will cut £1 Billion worth of red tape for businesses and help us level up all regions of the UK.
Now that we are independent, we can ensure we have laws that work for us and suit our own needs and priorities.
Airline Passenger Rights
In proposals announced this week, airline passengers will be able to see justice for unfair practices.
The Government proposals include:
- A fairer compensation model for domestic flights, with a focus on the length of the delay, rather than just meeting the current threshold of 3 hours.
- Making Airlines sign up to an Alternative Dispute Resolution Scheme, where passengers can raise complaints without the need to go to court
Changes like these, which put the passenger first, are only possible now that we have left the EU and are free to create our own rules.
Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-takes-action-to-strengthen-airline-passenger-rights
Creative Industry Investment
Businesses in Creative Industries will get £50 Million of Government investment, to help boost the fast-growing sector, and encourage economic growth throughout the UK.
This includes:
- £18 Million to support creative businesses outside of London
- £12 Million for a three-year 'UK Global Screen Fund' to promote UK films across the world
- £8 Million to help start-up video game developers
The UK's creative sector has grown consistently in recent years, on average at around twice the rate of the rest of the economy. That is why we are supporting this industry, helping create jobs and opportunities across the UK.
Youth Investment Fund
Applications are now open for the Government's Youth Investment Fund to help local youth facilities and services improve outcomes for young people.
Phase 1 of this funding, worth £10 million will be distributed by BBC Children in Need and is aimed at youth provision in left-behind areas of England.
Eligible wards locally are:
Crewe Central
Crewe East
Crewe North
Crewe South
Crewe St Barnabas
The Grants will be between £5,000 and £50,000 and must be fully spent by 31st March 2022. To be eligible you must be a not-for-profit organisation working with young people.
If you are interested in applying please email me at kieran.mullan.mp@parliament.uk as I will be organising a briefing to assist interested organisations.
For more information and to apply visit here: https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/grants/dcms-youth-investment-fund/
Hermes Motherwell Donation
Delivery business Hermes has made a generous donation to local women’s charity Motherwell to assist their work. I was asked by the firm to choose a local charity to receive the donation and I have been working with Motherwell on a project to combat violence against women and girls which this funding will help with. More details about the project will be shared soon. I was motivated to want to do something in this area after hearing from lots of local school girls who contacted me about the issue and how important it was to them.
Walk-In Vaccination Centres
The following walk-in vaccination centres are running over the next few days. Why not make your way down if you still need to have one of your doses.
Hollowood Chemists, West Street, Crewe, CW1 3WQ
8:30am - 6:30pm - Pfizer and Moderna (1st, 2nd and boosters)
Until Tuesday 8 February
Nantwich Masonic Hall, Wybunbury Road, Willaston, CW5 7ER
8:30am - 6:30pm - Pfizer and Moderna (1st, 2nd and booster)
Until Tuesday 8 February
Greater Fines for Animal Welfare Offences
A Conservative MP's Bill, which will increase the penalties for animal welfare offences, has moved one step closer to becoming law.
The Animal (Penalty Notice) Bill will create a new maximum fine of £5,000 for animal health and welfare offences.
This is on top of the new, increased prison sentence of 5 years for animal cruelty offences, which has already been announced.
The UK has some of the strongest animal protection laws in the world. These change strength and protect animals even further, and ensure those who mistreat or harm them, pay the price for their crimes.
HS2 Consultations
A couple of consultations about the impact of HS2 are now open. You can now have your say on both the Environmental Statement and the Equality Impact Assessment Report by emailing or sending a letter to the addresses below. Both are open until 11:45pm on 31st March.
Environment Statement: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/hs2-phase-2b-crewe-manchester-environmental-statement-consultation
Email: HS2BillES@Ipsos-MORI.COM
Post: FREEPOST HS2 Bill ES
Equality Impact Assessment Report: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/hs2-phase-2b-crewe-manchester-equality-impact-assessment-report-consultation
Email: HS2Bill EQIA@Ipsos-MORI.com
Post FREEPOST HS2 BILL EQIA
Traffic Report
The following are road closures for the week ahead as reported by Cheshire East.
Elm Drive, Crewe – Until 25th February
Albion Street, Crewe (Between Alton Street and Doddington Road) - 7th February until 11th March
Wrinehill Road and Dens Lane (Between Mill Lane and Cobbs Lane) - Until 7th February