Laura Sandys MP: In Europe, who would want to be the Odd Man Out?

Laura Sandys is the Member of Parliament for Thanet South.  Follow Laura on Twitter.

The Europe Question for the UK could not have come at a better or a worse time. Better because we are forced by the global economic situation to look at our role in Europe dispassionately, but worse because the rational would resist navel-gazing and use this crisis to get on with reforming Europe from within.

Europe needs to confront some very big challenges.  It faces some fundamental choices of whether to batten down the hatches and look inwards, or embrace freer, more flexible markets – a more internationalist rather than institutionalist response to our common economic difficulties. 

Surprisingly for those who don’t believe we have influence, the UK’s plan for growth across Europe has gained a lot more traction over the last year, not least with Germany.  The Prime Minister’s policy of greater flexibility across Europe with a deepening of the single market is not just hot air. 18 European member states have now signed up to his manifesto for reform.

Laura Sandys MP: We must be on customers' side - and be seen to be on their side

Laura Sandys is the Member of Parliament for Thanet South.

I was quite amazed at the coverage of the Queens Speech. The fourth estate had already decided long before it was delivered what the follow-up headlines were going to be – House of Lords reform and Tory infighting. And we were led to believe that unless the Speech delivered a bill to  solve the euro crisis, deliver growth and reduce unemployment singlehandedly, it would be a failure.  So I suppose I should not have been surprised that the commentary didn’t seem to mention the consumer-focused legislation at all!

I didn’t read anything about the introduction of social tariffs for those on the lowest incomes in the draft Water Bill. Has anyone assessed the positive impact that the Grocery Code Adjudicator could have on building a more resilient food supply chain – i.e.: better value for the consumer? And what were the commentators saying about Electricity Market Reform? There was not a murmur about how these proposals might address some of the biggest financial headaches facing households. These are all very important bills for the people that we serve – our constituents.

Laura Sandys MP: Parliament as a whole will be stronger if we elected the House of Lords

This week ConservativeHome's focus has been on Lords reform. Over the last three days pieces by Penny Mordaunt MP, Lord Dobbs and Lord Lamont have made the case against the Coalition's plans. Today, in the latest part of this continuing series, Laura Sandys writes in support of a largely elected Upper House. Laura is Conservative MP for South Thanet.

In the Members’ Tea Room, there is constant complaint from backbenchers of all parties about the diminishing power of Parliament. Some claim that the executive is too strong and undermines the voice of Parliament. Others claim that the patronage of the executive (or shadow executive) erodes the independence of Members. Some feel the Parliamentary deficit does not allow us to adequately scrutinise government.

As a result, I find some members’ opposition to House of Lords reform puzzling. While there are some important amendments required to the draft bill, the overall principle of a reformed and elected house will deliver a stronger more empowered Parliament with greater powers and incentives to hold Government to account. Collectively we will have a fully functioning bicameral system without the self imposed restraint that the Lords show today.

With additional capacity, Parliament could begin to effectively scrutinise long term government strategy. Perhaps the pressing need to secure energy investment would not be quite so critical had the last Government’s long term strategy been examined. If an elected second chamber had held the last Government to account, the Crossrail project could have been delivered on time. With reform, Parliament would be stronger, not weaker, more effective not less.

Laura Sandys MP: Piracy, protection and tariffs: the triple threat to global trade

Laura Sandys MP is the MP for Thanet South, and was a senior research associate at the Centre for Defence Studies at Kings College.

Piracy, protectionism and tariff barriers are to global trade what credit crunches are to the banking system - both represent critical blows to economic stability and a threat to the UK’s growth prospects.   So the Prime Minister is totally right in relaxing regulations to allow our trading vessels to carry armed protection – as a deterrent and also as justifiable self defence for those on board.  With an increase in piracy our global shipping lanes must be further secured and this is a measure that sends a message to pirates – stay clear of UK flagged ships.
 
But piracy is not just isolated to Somalia.  The successful Somali pirates are merely early exponents, and others in West Africa and the South East China Sea are seeing unprotected shipping as an opportunity for criminal behaviour.  While armed guards are important we also need a new international agreement on prosecution and detention.

The British Chamber of Shipping has already assessed that piracy is putting a 15% increase on the costs of global transport, and with a very high proportion of transport required to travel through “piracy pinch points” and the increase in commodity and energy prices, the cost of security is likely to rise even further.

Laura Sandys MP: What can you do for your Enterprise Zone? I am off to Sweden!

Laura Sandys is MP for South Thanet.

The Government today announced that another 12 areas have been designated as Enterprise Zones.  As one of the Government’s policy platforms for growth, it is crucial that those lucky enough to receive this imprimatur make the most of the opportunity.

Six months ago, Sandwich in my East Kent constituency was hit with the devastating news that the pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, was set to close. As the region’s largest private sector employer, its departure has put 4,000 jobs at risk and is threatening 3,000 other jobs within the community. Quite a body blow to an economy which after years of Labour Government had stagnated, lacked diversity, and sufficient opportunities for local residents and shares deprivation figures with Darlington!

Laura Sandys MP: If this nation is to stay great it needs to earn it

Laura Sandys is MP for South Thanet.

Every pundit seems to be pushing  pet ideas that will immediately unlock growth – some making more useful comments than others.  But while individual measures – planning policy, enterprise zones, lower tax for small businesses - can all contribute to greater growth there are also some deeper realities that we must face.  While governments want us to be competitive and reverse decline have we, as a nation, lost that ambition?

The United Kingdom cannot function in isolation. We are living through a fundamental readjustment of the global economy accelerated by the financial crisis of the last few years.  This country has no inherent right to be at the top table, and we are dealing with competitors who neither suffer from complacency nor are respectful of the historic dominance of the West.   We must face up to the fact that unless we really change our ways, our competitiveness, and our growth strategy; our expectations in life and for the next generations are going to have to change dramatically.

So while the present coalition government is addressing many of the challenges that were ducked by the last administration  – benefits reform, pension reform, worklessness and education attainment – we also have to spearhead a change in our nation’s desire to grow, to succeed, to perform and to win.