Karl McCartney: The importance of staying true to what you believe in
Politics never sleeps. We are only a few weeks into the New Year and we have already seen the soap opera surrounding the outgoing and incoming Presidents of the USA taking fresh twists and turns. The Labour leader, the Rt. Hon. Jeremy Corbyn MP, has proved himself again to be beyond satire as he seemingly…
Lincoln MP Karl McCartney. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter
Politics never sleeps. We are only a few weeks into the New Year and we have already seen the soap opera surrounding the outgoing and incoming Presidents of the USA taking fresh twists and turns.
The Labour leader, the Rt. Hon. Jeremy Corbyn MP, has proved himself again to be beyond satire as he seemingly changed his mind on EU immigration policy and salary caps within a matter of hours.
We have also seen our financial institutions and economists starting to (finally) admit their forecasts on Brexit were overblown as we see the economy grow apace meaning more jobs and wealth for our country, though the important thing for me is to ensure everyone benefits.
There continues to be pressures on the NHS nationally and locally, and I would like to pay tribute and thank our local doctors, nurses and other health professionals for their sterling commitment and support over the Christmas and New Year period. We all should remember that they do the same important role every day of the year.
In terms of those pressures, the decision by the local Clinical Commissioning Group to close two surgeries in Lincoln, displacing 5,500 people, remains a real concern. A decision that risks increasing GP appointment waiting times across the city.
Further pressures from any other closures in either the city or our county will only add further pressures to the service.
The pressures on our NHS also show why we need to urgently bring immigration down. Figures released just before Christmas showed 333,000 more people settled in this country than left – the equivalent of having to accommodate the population of cities such as Nottingham or Leicester every single year.
These immigration figures need to be addressed urgently. It is now the time to do, not just say.
I was pleased to see that our Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP, in her first major speech of the year set out a clear Conservative vision for the United Kingdom, a vision of a Shared Society is one I wholeheartedly agree with.
Like her I want to ensure that everyone in our country, county and city is able to share in the success of the country and be able to make the very best of their lives, for themselves, their families and the community.
The key question as ever is to how to put this in practice. The support the Conservative government has made in raising the national living wage, allowing people to earn more before they start paying tax and the recent announcement to tackle homelessness in our city are vital steps on this journey.
I will be playing my part in this, especially in continuing to raise the profile of the need to tackle the underachievement of boys in the education system and the lack of male teachers in our schools.
I commend the speech I made on this subject in September 2016 to everyone and it can be read and viewed here.
I was struck on Thursday with the Thought for the Day from Canon Angela Tilby on BBC Radio 4.
It is well worth a listen. She speaks very eloquently about the need for authenticity in politics and the pressures placed on politicians to not say what they really feel and believe in. This does not just apply to Members of Parliament, it is also applies to our city and county councillors from all sides. There is always this constant pressure to conform.
This stems from collective decision making, the fact that political parties are “broad churches” so there will never always be agreement on all party policy and also pressure from party whips trying to bring everyone into line.
For some, the far too many who only venture into politics for self-advancement, this is not an issue as they do not believe in anything, except of course, their own self-advancement.
Please rest assured there are a substantial number of my colleagues who like me are firmly staying true to what I believe remains key to what I do and say, both in Lincoln and in Westminster – something that will never change, no matter the “pressures” I come under to conform.
It is what I believe the people of Lincoln want from their Member of Parliament. It is also what I believe the people across the country partly showed in their actions and votes in last year’s referendum.
Karl McCartney is the Conservative MP for Lincoln.
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The number of coronavirus patients in Greater Lincolnshire hospitals has reduced by nearly 24% in less than three weeks.
The figure had already dropped by a third on February 16 when there were 170 patients with coronavirus being treated at hospitals across the county.
In more positive news for Greater Lincolnshire, the figure has dropped further by almost a quarter as of Friday, March 5
Across the four hospital trusts in the county there are currently 130 patients, which is a reduction of the 170 figure from February 16.
United Lincolnshire NHS Trust (ULHT) had 95 COVID positive patients on February 16 and this number has now fallen to 76.
There were 44 patients with coronavirus at Lincoln County Hospital as of Friday morning with a further 29 at Boston Pilgrim. The figure has risen slightly by a further three across the two hospitals by later in the day.
As of Friday morning, the Northern Lincolnshire Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLaG) has 50 patients with coronavirus, a reduction of eight from the previous data.
Of these patients, 22 are at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby and 28 at Scunthorpe General Hospital. One of the 50 patients is in ICU at Scunthorpe.
Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust currently has four COVID-19 positive inpatients across its community hospital sites. This is a reduction from the seven patients at the trust’s sites on February 16.
The Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has been boosted by the news that it currently has no patients with coronavirus within the trust, which is a reduction of 10 from the previous data.
Martin Fahy, Director of Nursing and Quality at NHS Lincolnshire CCG, told BBC Radio Lincolnshire that the bed occupancy rate at ULHT’s hospitals has now improved from 100% to around 70%, which he said is an “improving position”.
Palm oil which can be fatally toxic to dogs was found on Cleethorpes beach behind Thorpe Park on Thursday.
At least three large lumps of the substance washed up on the beach.
Cleethorpes Beach safety team said on Friday, March 5 that it has since had reports of possible palm oil in different spots along the whole beach.
Palm oil can be fatally toxic to dogs. | Photo: Cleethorpes Beach Safety
The team will be out checking on Friday and removing any that it finds, so people are being advise to be extra cautious.
In a video about the discovery resort manager Scott Snowden said the palm oil can be hazardous to dogs if ingested, so they need to be kept on leads.
He added that anyone finding any palm oil must not touch it and needs to ring the resort office on 01472 323356 or contact the Facebook page.
HM Coastguard Donna Nook Rescue Team added: “It’s not unusual for anything washed up on the beach at Cleethorpes to be present further down the coast too. Please report any sightings to the coastguard.”
A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire Council said: “We’d ask dog owners to be vigilant and keep their pets on leads while walking along Cleethorpes beach after palm oil has washed up on the sand. While not dangerous to humans, it can be toxic to dogs.
“Palm oil can become contaminated with fuel waste and other toxins and, in solid form, can be extremely harmful to dogs and wildlife. When washed up on shorelines, the waxy white substance can lead to boulder-sized chunks emitting a smell of diesel which is attractive to animals.
“If you spot something you believe to be palm oil, please contact the beach safety team on 01472 323356 who will immediately collect and dispose of it properly.
“If owners suspect their pet has eaten the oil, they are advised to contact a vet immediately.”
Executive member Nick Worth will not be standing for re-election to Lincolnshire County Council in May.
He says the time has come to step down from his role on the authority, but will continue as a South Holland District Council member for at least another two years.
Cllr Worth, 63, has responsibility at the county council for culture and emergency services.
Serving 12 years as the Conservative member for Holbeach including a rollercoaster eight years on the executive – with among other things overseeing the controversial issue of handing over the running of libraries to communities – has been a “tough but enjoyable” period.
“Ironically, I decided not to stand again about 18 months ago, before lockdown,” said Cllr Worth. “With the portfolio for leisure, culture and fire and rescue, I was covering a large amount of the county – quite often in excess of 20,000 miles a year. I actually got tired of it.
“Since lockdown, I’ve probably done about 2,000 miles maximum.”
That reduction in travel and having more time at home in Holbeach St Marks has only served to underline the decision he made known to county council leader Martin Hill a year-and-a-half ago.
Naturally, the leader wanted one of his most hard-working and respected colleagues to continue, but Cllr Worth had made up his mind.
“I also felt that sometimes you can go on too long. It’s easy to say ‘I’ll stand for another four years’,” he added.
Cllr Worth said he has enjoyed his time on the executive, but the libraries saga – including a dogged fight with campaigners against the move and the county council twice having to go to the High Court to defend its actions – had been a particularly difficult challenge.
“I’m quite proud of what we achieved in the end,” he said, also pointing to the revamp of Lincoln Castle and new appliances for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue as two other satisfying achievements.
“Locally, the big thing which I’m really pleased about – and one of the issues I came on to the council for – is getting the roundabout at Peppermint Junction. That was a real coup for me.
“And that all led on to [the establishment of] the Food Enterprise Zone. It’s had national recognition and is looking like a world-class facility.”
He added: “I shall miss being on the county council because it’s a real challenge. It’s much more strategic, looking at a bigger picture and much bigger numbers – scarily so in fact.
“One of the biggest challenges of having a cultural portfolio is constantly fighting for money after adult social care, children’s service and highways.
“Two years ago the culture portfolio was set the target of breaking even over four to five years. It was a massive challenge with savings in excess of £1.5m, but credit to the staff to get to the point where we think we can do it.”
He says he is proud to have flown the flag for the south of the county as it is a constant fight to get things away from being “Lincoln-centric”.
As for the future, his decision to leave the county council has been made easier knowing that there is someone “younger, very efficient and enthusiastic” looking to keep the seat for the Tories.
Fellow district councillor Tracey Carter has confirmed that she will be standing.
Meanwhile, Cllr Worth will complete 21 years as a Holbeach member on the district council when the elections come round again in 2023. The deputy leader will make a decision then on whether to stand for re-election again.
In the meantime he’s looking forward to spending more time with his partner Sally Horne and arranging the annual Holbeach Food Festival at Carter’s Park, which this year is scheduled for September 4 and 5.
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