May 11, 2015 9.49 am
This story is over 83 months old
Now the real job begins for the Conservative government
Elections results reaction: “Last week you could be forgiven for thinking polls are more use on the piste than in the papers,” writes Conservative councillor Richard Davies.
Never in the field of human elections have so many experts been so wrong for so long. Some time ago controversial US presidential hopeful, Sarah Palin, was roundly ridiculed for saying of political polls “Polls? Nah… they’re for strippers and cross country skiers.” However after last week you could be forgiven for thinking they are more use on the piste than in the papers.
In a move that has dumfounded the pundits and the Labour Party, the UK electorate have come out in favour of the Conservative agenda. All the talk of red lines, coalition and deals is simply dead in the water. Those sad enough, like me, to stay up and watch the action develop on election night were presented to a spectacle like no other.
Having been presented with a certain fait accompli by most media outlets and commentators, then walking into the election count to be greeted by an exit poll suggesting a blue team victory was frankly unbelievable. Even on these very pages a narrative had played out suggesting that Lucy Rigby was a shoo-in to replace Karl McCartney as Member of Parliament for this key bellweather seat. As the night drew on the hope became a reality as the Labour vote stalled, UKIP failed to gain any sort of traction and our one time coalition partners, the Lib Dems, collapsed.
We woke to a new dawn with David Cameron firmly installed as Prime Minister with an unthinkable majority of 12 in the House of Commons. Lincolnshire is still blue at both local and Parliamentary level with only Lincoln City Council remaining red.
So what of the future? Well in simple terms Cameron has a job on his hands, his bold ambitious manifesto around the economy and taxation now has to be delivered, it’s tough enough to ‘walk the walk’ during a campaign but now the real job begins.
The impact in Lincolnshire is going to be significant. In the same way thousands of jobs were created during the last parliament and an unparalleled number of families had their tax lifted, we can expect more of the same as a sound long term economic plan continues to pay dividends to hard working families across the region.
I also think it’s fair to say the obviously popular welfare reforms will continue. Ian Duncan Smith’s laudable ambition to liberate people from the welfare poverty trap by encouraging employment will undoubtedly continue. I suspect without the Liberal Democrats to cool reform we’ll see more radical approaches to social policy with the right to buy plan expanding to enable more people to step onto the property ladder for the first time. Cameron has already pledged to see the welfare benefits cap reduced to £23,000 per annum from the present £26,000, further emphasising the role of working over benefit dependency.
Perhaps even more controversially we are probably going to see proper constitutional reform with the frankly criminal imbalance of constituency size being redressed properly. Here in Lincolnshire current constituencies vary in size from approximately 70,000 right the way through to nearly 90,000. The Conservative stated ambition to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600 and standardise the size of each electoral area will see revisions in the local boundaries so that by the time of the next election you may find yourself living in another constituency.
Finally we have the question of Europe. Unable to deliver his promised referendum during the last parliament David Cameron has just two years until the deadline passes to give the British people a vote on continuing membership of the European Union. This will be a crucial decision for Lincolnshire businesses in particular and I really hope that the requisite prior negotiation will bring about the substantive reforms that will hopefully persuade us all to retain membership. However unless these discussions really get a handle on the immigration concerns many have then I fear we will leave the union. The only way I see the people of Lincolnshire supporting the European project is if it returns to be a free trade scheme and loses the trappings of political union that rightly us Anglo Saxons abhor.
Councillor Richard Davies is the executive councillor for Highways and Transportation at Lincolnshire County Council. He is also responsible for Access LN6, a £6.5 million programme to improve sustainable transport options in the LN6 area of Lincoln and Hykeham.
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Family-run business Stokes has expanded with a new fast takeaway dining destination next to its iconic Lincoln High Street cafe.
The 120-year-old coffee experts have been serving delicious food and drink to the people of Lincoln for generations now, and as part of its ever-growing plans to keep providing a much-needed service in the city – a new mission has begun.
Stokes To Go – a takeaway premises serving all the Stokes classics – has opened next door to the High Bridge cafe on Lincoln High Street.
A range of tasty food and drinks on sale. | Photo: Stokes Tea & Coffee
It is the only place for miles in the city that can offer the range of top quality menu options that Stokes has on display.
With a modern interior and seating area upstairs, people will be able to sit indoors and take in the scenery while eating their Cornish pasty or drinking their coffee.
Tasty treats for those with a sweet tooth. | Photo: Stokes Tea & Coffee
The store will be open seven days a week, from 8am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
Locally sourced produce will again be at the heart of Stokes To Go, offering fresh baked pastries, breakfast ciabattas, cut sandwiches and Project D doughnuts. Vegetarian options will also be available.
Stokes To Go is hoping to offer a quick service at the same high standards of its cafes. | Photo: Stokes Tea & Coffee
Nick Peel, Managing Director at Stokes Tea & Coffee said: “We’re thrilled to launch the new Stokes To Go store. Customers have been asking us if we would take over the space next door to our High Bridge Café as it’s been empty for some time.
“It’s brilliant to see that the whole iconic building has now been brought back to life and everyone can enjoy it.
“We were conscious that there hasn’t been a lot of choice for customers who prefer locally sourced, top-quality options for their takeaway breakfasts and lunches.
“So, opening Stokes To Go means customers can not only enjoy a unique menu served fast, they don’t have to compromise on quality anymore even when they are short on time.”
A new mobile app has been created as a free digital version of The Little Book of Stamford with a guide to everything you need to know about the Lincolnshire town, including where to shop and places to eat and drink.
What’s on in the town, where to park and more are also included in The Little App of Stamford app. It is free to download from Apple’s App Store and an android version is planned for release on June 1.
The app was created by Stamford Digital in association with #ShopStamford, a hashtag set up five years ago to promote and support the town’s retailers and traders.
The app includes everything you need to know about Stamford, including where to shop, places to eat and drink, what’s on in town, and more.
Tim Baker, who lives in Bourne with his wife and two children, is the founder and managing director of website and app firm Stamford Digital which launched in September 2018.
Tim said: “I picked up The Little Book of Stamford and instantly loved what it stood for and the design. It is a great tool to help visitors and shoppers navigate Stamford, as well as helping local businesses to raise their profile.
“I thought by making the book available digitally through this mobile app, I could help compliment what it aims to achieve.”
The app is a free digital version of The Little Book of Stamford.
Sarah Sewell, who is the chairperson of #ShopStamford and owner of Energy Clothing, added: “The app is going to be a great add-on to the book and map we have already produced. It is yet another platform we can use to promote the wonderful independent businesses we have here in Stamford, so people can discover what we have to offer.”