Alec Shelbrooke: The need to reverse Labour’s destruction of the Welfare State is greater than ever

Alec Shelbrooke is the Member of Parliament for Elmet and Rothwell. Follow Alec on Twitter.

In December I introduced a Ten Minute Rule Bill to the House calling for the introduction of a Welfare Cash Card to ensure that welfare payments are used for the purchase of essential items; the purpose for which they are intended.

The media frenzy following my speech resulted in the principle of the Bill being lost in favour of a debate over well rehearsed left-wing rhetoric. The festive holidays brought a rare opportunity for calm reflection; untainted by the volatility of hyper partisan politics. As such, in the weeks that followed I have received numerous messages of support from people across the country – of all political persuasions - recognising the benefits my Bill will bring to detoxifying the label that is currently attached to those 5.8million people currently in receipt of one or more DWP benefits.

I want to stop benefits being a dirty word and bring about a new approach where people aren’t ashamed to be claiming benefits. We should be proud to live in a country that helps people get back on their feet when they need help. The previous Government allowed a two-tier benefit system to fester where the actions of a tiny minority of claimants have unfairly tarnished the reputation of benefits and of the hard-working but low-paid people who rely on them.

Alec Shelbrooke MP: Why we should all fear war in Iran

Alec Shelbrooke is the Member of Parliament for Elmet and Rothwell. Follow Alec on Twitter.

The threat of war in Iran has been a growing concern for some time.

In recent weeks the threat of a military conflict in Iran has grown exponentially with unattributed comments from the Israeli government such as: “Israel is strong, Israel is responsible, and Israel will do what it has to do”, thus baiting Iran and raising the temperature of aggression between the two nations and increasing the chances of a military strike.

I am an unquestionable supporter of Israel.  It is the only democratically elected state in the Middle East, surrounded by countries who have declared (through their dictatorial governments) the unabashed ambition to “wipe Israel off the face of the earth”. Israel deserves the support of all democratic humanitarians around the world.  Although the lines can sometimes become blurred over Israel’s actions, these are almost always as the direct result of attacks on its citizens and a very real, “fight for survival”.

When President Mahmood Ahmadinejad addresses magnanimous organisations, such as the UN, with anti-Semitic tautology, it should be clear to all rational people what this holocaust-denying, war-mongering, precarious man really means when he speaks of “removing the state of Israel”.  If in the same position would we Britons sit idle and chew cud if another country was proffering anti-anglo sentiment to the extent of anglo-anihilation and construction of alleged weapons of mass destruction, intent of aiming said weapons at us? No. We would be in outrage and call for defence and affirmative action. So, in fact the restraint that Israel has shown so far deserves praise and respect. But this is not about the rights and wrongs of Israel launching a pre-emptive strike to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability; it’s about the consequences that such actions will bring to the rest of the world.

Alec Shelbrooke MP: Union members should opt in to the political fund on an annual basis

Alec Shelbrooke is Conservative MP for Elmet and Rothwell. Follow Alec on Twitter.

This week’s heightened debate about political funding has raised the important issue of Trade Union Funding.

As a former member of Unite for many years and a firm believer in the need for Trade Unions, I get very frustrated that the leadership of the Trade Unions undermines their important work for their members by constantly playing party politics. Not only this, but trying to twist the Labour party to their own way of thinking; citing the recent declaration by Unite’s Leadership that they will only be supporting candidates for the Labour party who are committed to their demands.

Indeed, how the Labour Party operates their candidate selection process is entirely a matter for them.  What is not a matter for them is how hard-working people have their hard earned money –vwhich are used as fees to be protected by a union - used for the political ideological demands of a few at the top.

Many may immediately argue that the leaders of the unions take the action they do to protect their members, but is that really what their members want?