Reflections 2016: Matt Warman – Our job to seize the opportunities we have with vigour
Christmas is a time to reflect on the year both politically and personally, and 2016 is a year that demands rather more than a few hundred words. Whole books have already been written about Brexit, the ascent of Donald Trump and of course about both David Cameron and Theresa May. It’s trite to suggest that…
Christmas is a time to reflect on the year both politically and personally, and 2016 is a year that demands rather more than a few hundred words. Whole books have already been written about Brexit, the ascent of Donald Trump and of course about both David Cameron and Theresa May.
It’s trite to suggest that both US and UK politics were simply seeing different expressions of the same problems, but it is equally daft to pretend there’s nothing in common.
As we look back it seems likely to me that those who suggest President-elect Trump will be a disaster for the whole world are the successors of those who said that the actor Ronald Reagan was never going to run a country.
Reagan, of course, turned out to be just the Cold War President the world needed, elected in part as a reaction to changing global trends that were affecting Americans at home. He was a President working with an unprecedentedly popular British Prime Minister.
It is, of course, coincidental that the last time there was a Conservative by-election win as big as that we have just seen in Sleaford and North Hykeham it was during the Falklands.
Brexit, meanwhile, attracts just as many naysayers as Mr Trump. Soon the country turns the corner into the year in which we will trigger Article 50 and finally put to bed those fears expressed by some that leaving the EU may not actually happen.
It might finally also put an end to those foolish enough to think the solution to a first referendum result they didn’t like is simply a second vote. Going down that path both undermines democracy itself, and ignores the fact that the referendum of 2016 yielded the result it did because both Brussels and British Europhiles failed to make a convincing case not over weeks of the campaign, but over whole preceding decades.
Locally, 2016 was also the year Lincolnshire said no devolution: this in my view is a multi-billion pound mistake the consequences of which we will live with for years to come.
As neighbouring Cambridgeshire presses ahead with spending the consequent new money, Lincolnshire will struggle with the ongoing under-investment that has blighted local infrastructure in particular.
Eight out of 10 councils voted for devolution, including both Boston Borough and East Lindsey District – it would be perverse if the democratically expressed will of those councils was frustrated by others, and I hope to do all I can to push for greater investment in the area I have the privilege to represent.
It’s been a year Boston has pushed ahead with the much-needed flood barrier, seen broadband speeds improve significantly (on average), when Skegness’ economy has seen further rises in tourist numbers and when our farmers have continued to grow the best vegetables in the country.
There is much to be optimistic about – and at Christmas it’s also a time to consider that the job of politicians is to grapple both with all the challenges we face and to seize the opportunities with equal vigour.
It’s a thrilling prospect, and I look forward to discussing it with many of you in the New Year.
New Year’s resolutions
Personal
I recently joined the annual President’s Day rugby match at Boston Rugby Club, which reminded me how much I enjoy the sport, so I would like to try and play more often next year, and take up more sport in general in my spare time.
Professional
2017 will be an important year for politics, when we start to negotiate our exit from the EU, so I want to keep doing my best to make sure that government ministers know they must fight for the best possible Brexit deal for Lincolnshire, and also ensure that Boston and Skegness’ roads, infrastructure and NHS are at the front of their minds.
Matt Warman is the Conservative MP for the Boston and Skegness constituency.
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It has been a tragic week with three deaths on Lincolnshire’s roads after two male motorbike riders and a man on a pedal bike lost their lives.
The roads are now busier again after further lockdown restrictions were eased on April 12, but since then three men have sadly died.
A man died after falling from his pedal bike in Branston on Wednesday, April 14 and police said his death is not being treated as suspicious.
On the same day, a 34-year-old male died after a crash involving two motorcycles near Gainsborough.
The man who lost his life in the collision was riding a silver Wuyang motorcycle. The second motorcycle was a blue Suzuki being ridden by a man in his 30s, who was taken to hospital with suspected serious injuries.
A 54-year-old man from North Lincolnshire also died after his motorbike crashed with a Royal Mail post van on the A631 near Glentham at around 4pm on Thursday, April 15.
This comes after it was revealed on March 11 that for the first time in over three decades nobody had died on the county’s roads in the first months of the year, according to Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.
Lincolnshire Police revealed earlier this week that between 2018 and 2020 twenty five motorcyclists lost their lives on Lincolnshire’s roads.
There have been 285 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and eight COVID-related deaths so far this week – a 7% drop in cases and one less death from the previous week.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard on Friday recorded 32 new cases in Lincolnshire, eight in North Lincolnshire and three in North East Lincolnshire.
On April 16, three deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and none in Northern Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported two hospitals this week so far, compared to none this time last week.
On Friday, national cases increased by 2,596 to 4,383,732, while deaths rose by 34 to 127,225.
In local news, Lincolnshire health bosses expect COVID-19 cases to rise in our region as lockdown is eased, but are optimistic that if numbers are kept low enough, then people will be free to enjoy the summer.
Andy Fox, Deputy Director of Public Health at Lincolnshire County Council, said the lifting of coronavirus restrictions this week had not caused any specific concerns yet.
Since Wednesday, Greater Lincolnshire has again seen a decrease in its infection rates overall, against an increase nationally.
All districts have seen a fall in their rates, except small increases in North Lincolnshire and South Holland. Lincoln has stayed the same and has the lowest rate in the region.
Boston has the highest infection rate of COVID-19 in Greater Lincolnshire and is ranked 9th in the UK.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates up to April 16:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Apr 9 to Apr 16. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
England’s R number has dropped slightly to between 0.7 and 1 according to the latest data this week. This means for every 10 people infected with COVID-19, they will pass it on to between seven and 10 others.
The new Indian variant of the COVID virus that’s been detected in the UK has all the hallmarks of a very dangerous virus.
It has two new significant mutations in the spike protein that help it infect cells and evade the immune system.
People are “likely” to need a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine within 12 months of getting the first two, Pfizer’s chief executive has said.
Dr Albert Bourla said a booster jab could be necessary “somewhere between six and 12 months” after the second one – and every year thereafter.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Friday, April 16
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,919 cases (up 43)
41,028 in Lincolnshire (up 32)
9,275 in North Lincolnshire (up eight)
8,616 in North East Lincolnshire (up three)
2,185 deaths (up three)
1,613 from Lincolnshire (up three)
304 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,302 hospital deaths (no change)
810 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
450 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,383,732 UK cases, 127,225 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF the latest update. postcode data includes deaths not in healthcare facilities or in hospitals outside authority boundaries.
Plans to demolish part of a former play centre and Chinese takeaway to build 41 new student flats, have been submitted to the City of Lincoln Council.
Killingbeck PLG has applied for permission to demolish “most” of the existing facade of the former home of Imagination Station and Big Wok, on Beaumont Fee, and rebuild it as part of the development.
The main hall, a warehouse and a recently built “link block” to the rear of the building will also be demolished, and will be completely replaced with a new extension.
In documents to the council, the applicant describes how the 41”study bedrooms” will be en-suite and open off a central circulation area.
The build will form part of the Iconinc post-graduate residential units development next door and will sit opposite the Park Court student accommodation on Park Street.
It will include 12 apartments on the ground floor, 11 at first and second floor and seven units on the third floor.
How the build could look.
The application said: “There is a clear need for good quality, post-graduate, city centre, residential accommodation and the economic case for the redevelopment of the site is reinforced by the fact the site can be linked with the new Iconic development so amenities can be shared.
“The demolition of the existing property and the proposed redevelopment will bring positive benefits to the area economically and aesthetically.”
As part of the build, residents will gain shared access to existing facilities including the gym.
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