Sir Edward Leigh: The courage to continue after the general election
It has been some three months since I last penned a column for Lincolnshire Reporter. When I last wrote it was in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attack on Westminster. Since then we have faced similar attacks in Manchester and Borough Market in London and real tragedy with the fire at the Grenfell Tower…
It has been some three months since I last penned a column for Lincolnshire Reporter. When I last wrote it was in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attack on Westminster. Since then we have faced similar attacks in Manchester and Borough Market in London and real tragedy with the fire at the Grenfell Tower block.
Despite these attacks, that would attempt to undermine our way of life, we are still here, we continue on in defiance – much like Simon Smith, the man in Reading who got knocked down by a bus and, in a video that has gone viral, simply brushes himself off and walks into a pub, seemingly unscathed.
The world of politics continues; relentless and unabated. We have seen the election of a new county council for Lincolnshire, where Conservatives strengthened their position to take overall control of the council, a vindication that in local government Conservatives deliver for local people.
Across Britain we have been convulsed by a snap general election that delivered an inconclusive result. The first since 1974, which saw my party’s slender majority prior to the poll reduced to just shy of half the House of Commons.
I was very pleased with my personal result within the Gainsborough constituency.
It was my ninth general election campaign victory and the party’s 24th successive victory since we won the seat from the Liberals in 1924.
I received 31,790 votes which is the highest poll for any candidate since the seat was created in 1878, beating my previous best in 1992 of 31,444, increasing the gap between my Labour opponent and myself.
It was also the first time that a candidate in the constituency has ever polled above sixty per cent.
Nevertheless, the overall result nationally was an election that nobody won.
The Conservatives lost our majority, Labour lost: Having not secured sufficient additional seats to be able to challenge us for Number 10 – even if you combine all the other parties.
The Liberal Democrats lost their leader within days of the result and certainly showed no sign of the ‘fight-back’ they are always so keen to say is happening (although a cursory glance at the local election results a month earlier would have pointed to that) and UKIP disappeared from the House of Commons and those voters who had hitherto supported them deserted the sinking ship.
I had hoped that the polls showing a wider lead between the Conservatives and Labour were more accurate than the ones that showed a tight race between the two parties.
In a first-past-the-post system like ours it is often not the number of votes cast for each party that is critical, but the gap between the two main parties.
I think the signs were there that Labour was having a good campaign and the Conservative campaign, nationally was faltering.
I thought the endless attacks on Jeremy Corbyn were ill-advised and that setting out our own stall is far more valuable than trashing an opponent’s.
The Conservative Party’s electoral performance has traditionally depended on three things: securing overwhelming support amongst its core AB voters; securing solid support amongst C1 voters; and winning over equal numbers of C2 voters as our opponents.
The remaining DE voters are useful, and their support welcome, but they traditionally tend to vote for Labour. It was this formulation that gave the Conservatives majorities, even if slender, in both 1992 and 2015. The slow and steady improvement in the party’s electoral performance from 2005 to 2015 reflects our gradually improving performance amongst both C1 and C2 voters.
It’s undoubtedly true that the Conservatives have an impending problem with younger voters, which requires urgent attention.
We need to build a broad consensus in order to govern – to borrow a phrase – for the many, not the few. We need to appeal to those at the top, those and the bottom and those who find themselves between the two.
We must generate policies to make people’s lives easier; take positions on cultural issues that speak to their hearts.
On the former, the party offered little: we all but pledged to raise taxes; seemed to threaten a raid on people’s savings for old age; and began to unpick middle class welfare; and said nothing to address the cost of driving or improving healthcare.
On the latter, after an electrifying early conflict with Jean Claude Juncker, we ducked any further substantial conflict with hostile politicians and failed to engage on issues like crime and human rights.
Party strategists in Conservative Campaign Headquarters in London should not overlook the obvious: that without building a broad consensus it will be next to impossible to secure a parliamentary majority.
The ordinary, just-about-managing families must be the foundation of that consensus. Living in commuter towns and the suburban villages; they work in ordinary jobs; they have mortgages; they hold traditional views on many issues. But they ultimately determine who governs.
They must remain the focus of the Conservative Party in the coming Parliament.
I know that many people who supported me felt disappointed and angry that we did not secure the majority that the Prime Minister had called the election to secure. I recognise that a £1 billion deal with the DUP is not an ideal outcome. Nevertheless, I am reminded of the wisdom of Winston Churchill:
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
So, I know that together Conservatives locally will continue, making a real and positive difference to the communities we serve: On local parish councils, on the district councils, at County Hall or in Westminster.
I think that there are plenty of areas of commonality between the Conservatives and the DUP.
I know a lot of people have been concerned about their record on individual freedoms and the environment. I think a lot of these concerns are being overstated.
I have read their manifesto and could not find any mention of these issues and certainly not any commitment to try and reverse the UK government’s current position.
It seems to be a preoccupation of a metropolitan liberal elite who certainly don’t represent the traditional values of family, flag and faith which have been a sure foundation of my political philosophy over the past 34 years.
Theresa May is and will remain our prime minister. At such a critical time as this, now is not the moment to indulge in a leadership contest. We have the more important work to get on with of delivering successful Brexit negotiations.
It was great that more young people have, it seems, engaged in politics.
I was in my 20s, when I first contested a parliamentary seat, and just into my 30s when first elected.
Over the decades I have seen the change in our country – brought about by both Conservative and Labour governments – some of it very positive and some of it having a lasting, detrimental impact (like Public Private Finance or unrestrained migration).
I think that what people want, particularly young people, is for us to be positive, aspirational and honest. In the debates we have had following the Queen’s Speech last week there have been many calls for more public spending, but the money government spends ultimately always comes from hard-pressed taxpayers.
I make no apology for reminding anyone that our national debt stands at £1.7 trillion. In the last five minutes that will have risen by £443,000.
There is no point in talking about cutting the deficit if the national debt keeps rising remorselessly every year, to be a burden on the next generation, and the one that follows and the one that follows that, perpetually on and on without end.
Perhaps one of the most striking statistics to emerge following the result is that if just 401 people, in some of the most marginal contests, had switched from the winner to the Conservatives, Mrs. May would have a majority. It just shows how important a vote can be and why taking part in our democracy is such a responsibility.
I think the prime minister needs to recognise that young people have decided to engage with our democratic process.
Democracy is after all rule by the people, but very specifically those who participate. I think we will see some moves to recognise this engagement.
It may be a time of increased interest in our politics. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of people who are not engaged within our polity. Turnout in my constituency was just shy of 70%; nevertheless that means three in every 10 people didn’t vote, for whatever reason.
It is also clear that our politics has become more polarised.
I will continue to do my part to build consensus in the months and years ahead, and continue to do my best to represent everyone within my constituency.
Sir Edward Leigh has been the Member of Parliament for Gainsborough since 1983.
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The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
There have been 1,005 new coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and 26 COVID-related deaths so far this week — compared to 867 cases and 40 deaths this time last week.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard on Friday recorded 113 new cases in Lincolnshire, 20 in North Lincolnshire and 18 in North East Lincolnshire.
On Friday, four deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, two in North East Lincolnshire and -1 in North Lincolnshire. Fluctuations in data are usually due to some deaths in those areas being reallocated to other regions across the UK or a miscount. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported two new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and one at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, bringing the total so far this week to 11, a drop from 20 last week.
On Friday, national cases increased by 8,523 to 4,163,085, deaths rose by 345 to 122,415 while COVID first jab numbers hit over 19 million.
This week has seen Greater Lincolnshire overtake the England average infection rate by seven cases per 100,000.
Six of the nine districts have seen an increase in their infection rates since Wednesday but health bosses expect to see numbers going up and down, so it isn’t too concerning.
The England average has continued to fall over the past week.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates over the last week up to February 26:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Feb 19 to Feb 26. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
Local health bosses said there are no COVID mutations of concern in Lincolnshire currently, but they have a plan if new variants enter the county.
The plan is called ‘Operation Eagle’ and would include surge testing and contact tracing to find where the variant first appeared in Lincolnshire.
The Kent mutation is present in the majority of cases in Lincolnshire and is known to be around 70% more transmissible, but not more dangerous.
Variants of concern include the South African mutation which can spread more rapidly and vaccines might not work quite as well against it.
However, there is no evidence it causes more serious illness for the majority of those who come into contact with it either.
In national news, the UK’s coronavirus reproduction number – or R number – remains between 0.6 and 0.9 from last week, meaning for every 10 people infected, they will pass COVID on to between six and nine others.
Vaccinating people in order of age is the fastest way to cut COVID-19 deaths in the next phase of the roll-out, say experts advising the UK government.
People in their 40s will be next, once the current phase is completed, not key workers. Here’s when you could get your coronavirus vaccine.
Some of the first people to check into quarantine hotels have had their first taste of freedom upon their release today after self-isolating for 11 nights.
From last Monday, UK and Irish nationals returning to England from a “red list” country deemed at high risk for COVID-19 have had to check into quarantine hotels.
The 15 areas of England to have vaccinated the lowest proportion of adults against COVID-19 are all in London.
In some boroughs, including Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham, just one in five adults have received a single dose of a vaccine, according to NHS England data up to 25 February.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Friday, February 26
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
53,205 cases (up 151)
37,581 in Lincolnshire (up 113)
7,989 in North Lincolnshire (up 20)
7,635 in North East Lincolnshire (up 18)
2,065 deaths (up six)
1,517 from Lincolnshire (up four)
299 from North Lincolnshire (down one)
249 from North East Lincolnshire (up two)
of which 1,216 hospital deaths (up three)
754 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up two)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
420 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up one)
4,163,085 UK cases, 122,415 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.
After roadside littering reared its ugly head in Lincolnshire again, councils across the county appear to be passing the buck, without taking any action.
The issue was raised by The Lincolnite reader Rebecca Dunn, who went to clean up with her friends part of the roadside on the Western Bypass in Lincoln, because she said it was “starting to look like a landfill site.”
Some of the litter that was found at the roadside dated back 17 years to 2004, suggesting that the area hadn’t been cleaned in years.
A can dating back to 2004 was found at the side of the road. | Photo: Rebecca Dunn
Rebecca had told The Lincolnite that she was consistently asking West Lindsey District Council about roadside cleaning for over two years, but nothing was done about it.
She was eventually given a response, which claimed that funds are no longer available for litter picking on roads over a 50mph speed limit — the bypass has a 60/70mph limit depending if it’s dual or single carriageway.
An alarming amount of bags filled by roadside litter on just one stretch of Lincoln’s roads. | Photo: Rebecca Dunn
When asked about this, a spokesperson for WLDC said: “Working on high speed roads is a real challenge for us, wherever possible we will work with partners to allow our staff to work safely.
“For instance, we litterpick dual-carriageways at the same time as lane closures are in place for grass cutting operations.”
Rebecca and some of her friends went to clean up the roadside. | Photo: Rebecca Dunn
The council added: “We are aware of reports of litter on this section of the highway and have been working in collaboration with the Highways Authority to get the trees cut back.
“Now that work is complete it will allow us access to the laybys to undertake litterpicking work.”
West Lindsey District Council also said that there is no specific part of the street cleansing budget, of which we weren’t given the total figure, dedicated to the stretch of road in question.
However, the council said that anyone with specific issues regarding street cleansing should call 01427 676676.
“Starting to look like a landfill site.” | Photo: Rebecca Dunn
The Lincolnite also approached Lincolnshire County Council for a response about this, who declined to comment and called it a “district matter”.
Part of the A46 ring road around Lincoln is the responsibility of Highways England, while others are under County Council management.
In response to our original story, many people pointed out that a similar issue is arising on roadsides in North Kesteven.
North Kesteven District Council were also asked to comment on the problem, but did not reply.
A man living in North Hykeham has started his own family business offering authentic homemade Punjabi style curries for the local community.
Rizvaan Ashfaq, known to all his friends as Sid, launched Hadiqa’s Street Food Kitchen on February 15 after moving to the Manor Farm housing estate in North Hykeham last summer.
He runs it alongside his fiancée Raluca Nistor, a forensic psychologist for the prison service who runs the admin side of the business.
Mutton and potato curry (bottom and top left) and chicken and chickpea (top right). | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
There are currently three curries rich in flavour to choose from, which are priced at £8 and include traditional pilau rice. They are mutton and potato, chicken and chickpea, and mixed vegetable, with the latter suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Sid, who also enjoys bodybuilding in his own time, said the motto for his business is ‘Just heat and eat’ as the dishes are all prepared freshly and just required heating up by the customer.
Hadiqa’s Street Food Kitchen is based in North Hykeham. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The curries are all served with traditional pilau rice. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
He told The Lincolnite: “Takeaways are often very commercialised and people suffer in Lincoln and Hull who cannot get authentic Indian curries.
“I thought why not bring it local. I did some surveys on social media to gauge interest and the reaction was positive, so I started building my business from November. I launched on February 15 and it has been very busy.
“Normal curry houses or takeaways are often not traditional. We buy all the spices fresh and blend them by hand. We make it in an authentic way, they are tasty and people will get all my hard work and passion.”
Rizvaan Ashfaq, known as Sid, and his fiancée Raluca Nistor run Hadiqa’s Street Food Kitchen in North Hykeham. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The 39-year-old is originally from West Yorkshire and also works as a general manager/director of the cocktail bar Level Cafe Bar and Grill in Hull, which is owned by his uncle Zafer Yildiz.
The food is made freshly in the professional kitchens there before being transported to Hykeham in a refrigerated van ready for delivery.
People can order to North and South Hykeham, and Lincoln through Facebook, via email at [email protected] or by calling 07791542912.
Orders can be placed Monday to Thursday with the menu changing monthly, with the next one in mid-March. The customer can choose a delivery day between Friday and Sunday before being allocated a time slot. Delivery is within a four mile radius, with surrounding villages also eligible soon.