Karl McCartney

By Karl McCartney Karlmccartney

The summer seems a long time ago. The heating is now back on, the nights are drawing in and some of the mornings are certainly fresher.

Following the tremendous referendum result in June there is also a freshness in Westminster, heightened by the various conferences.

This is matched by a freshness closer to home with recent improvements to the city of Lincoln’s transport system, the increasing vibrancy of our myriad of businesses and of course, we have a new wave of students settling in to our two universities.

They, along with all the other positive changes to our city will certainly add some seasonal colour and a huge welcome to them all.

I have always been clear that in addition to representing the good people of my Lincoln constituency both locally and in Westminster and Whitehall, a Member of Parliament has a national role.

It is important to seek to make a difference and raise issues that affect those in Lincoln, Lincolnshire and also across the United Kingdom.

These issues should always be where there has been a lingering injustice, are just hovering into view or have been overlooked – sometimes on purpose. It is where a Member of Parliament can make a real difference.

Last year, I campaigned on escalating false whiplash claims resulting from minor or deliberate vehicle accidents, fuelled by greedy personal injury lawyers playing the system.

This year, amongst other issues I helped defeat the extension of Sunday trading hours in the spring, campaigned across Greater Lincolnshire and the East Midlands to secure our exit from the European Union in the early summer, and this autumn I am raising the issue of the underperformance of boys within our education system. This has been clearly a problem for 30 years or more.

Boys are behind girls when it comes to exam results, becoming apprentices and going to university.

We also need far more male teachers, and to retain those we already have. I recently led a debate in Parliament on this subject, have also written newspaper articles in the Telegraph and Guardian and elsewhere on the issue and have asked the government to take some decisive positive action.

I will be doing more over the coming months. We cannot continue to keep letting generations of boys and their families down.

With Brexit thankfully happening soon, we need to make sure everyone can fulfil their potential.

Locally, the city is moving apace and proving it is the jewel in the East Midlands crown, if not the whole country.

The past few years have seen a worthy celebration of the city’s past with the Magna Carta celebrations, the Lincoln Castle restoration and the coming transformation of the Lincoln Cathedral environs.

The next few years is about putting the final pieces of the transport infrastructure jigsaw together so it is far easier to get in, out and around the city and in some cases bypass it altogether.

We have seen many improvements including recently the opening of an East-West Link road and vital railway footbridges in the centre of the city. We also have more to come including an Eastern Bypass and a central Lincoln transport hub.

However, it is still not enough.

It is why I, alongside Councillor Richard Davies who is responsible for transport across the whole county, held a successful transport summit earlier this month with all those with a big stake and a big say in Lincoln’s transport system invited to discuss a plethora of issues.

For instance, we still need new pieces of infrastructure such as the Southern Relief Road, a fully dualled Western Bypass, a park and ride system, and more common sense traffic management systems in the city to help keep traffic moving.

Positively, there were lots of areas of agreement, and a clear sense of urgency and strategy.

These twin roles, speaking up for the City of Lincoln and Lincolnshire in Westminster and Whitehall and championing national causes, is why being a Member of Parliament is so rewarding.

In the coming months, I will keep readers up to date with progress on these fronts, and many more.

Karl McCartney was the Conservative Lincoln MP between 2010 and 2017. He is now the Conservative candidate for the city for the next general elections.

By Karl McCartney Karlmccartney

This year has been a momentous political year, one that will not be surpassed for decades to come. We have a new Prime Minister, a continually divided opposition and a brighter future as a country in my mind than the one we had at the start.

The tremendous result of June 23 has freed us from the shackles of the bureaucratic backward looking European Union to a future where we have the opportunity to set our own laws, trading agreements and immigration controls.

It was also a result that was thoroughly supported across this great county of ours, so much so, we recorded the highest percentage of Leavers than anywhere else in the country.

A proud record to add to the pantheon of our county’s many achievements. Whereas 59% of the Lincoln’s voters were Leavers, Boston was the highest in the land on 76%!

But that is of the past, it is what happens now and in the future that matters.

The new government is getting things right, in the right order and with the right message. One of the things I learnt from two decades working in business is there can always be a tension between having constant certainty versus the need to have time to think, plan and consider.

In business, the clamour for certainty comes from employees, shareholders and suppliers. In politics, it comes from voters, trading partners and the media. Plus the opposition and others who still cannot accept the result (even some still in the Conservative Party!).

Taking the time to think, plan and consider is always the best option. It is wise not to act in haste and repent at your leisure.

It is why I have not supported those clamouring for us to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty immediately.

The government is clear “Brexit means Brexit”. Having looked at matters over the summer it is also clear on a broad timetable and a process. The plan that we should adopt current European Union laws and then repeal what we do not like gives certainty to business and voters.

Protecting core budgets on agriculture and science helps (it is our money anyway) is vital and I hope the government can give more clarity on fisheries soon as well. These are key issues for our county and I and my fellow colleagues in parliament across Greater Lincolnshire are well aware of their importance.

Making clear that we will set our own rules on immigration is also an important marker.

The sabre rattling from the elites over the Channel is both to be expected and is also out of kilter with what I expect their own people want. Why place unnecessary trade barriers on the UK and when our neighbours export more to us than we do to them?

With two universities and a thriving multinational manufacturing base in Lincoln, I want free trade with our own European partners, and also free trade with the rest of the world. We can now do it, on our terms, without having Brussels overrule us.

I know from many meetings in parliament, some of which I have instigated and chaired so far, including with key Secretaries of State, that it is full steam ahead on Brexit.

They, and our dedicated civil service, are working as a team to finalise to agree our full terms of departure. It is vital we take time to ensure our negotiating hand is right.

We now have both the timetable and the clarity on the approach – and we know we need more detail. But patience, my friends, patience. It will be a positive future for us all, not least as once Article 50 is invoked, as we now know by March 2017 at the latest, there is then a maximum of two years – but it could be less, before we leave the EU.

Karl McCartney was the Conservative Lincoln MP between 2010 and 2017. He is now the Conservative candidate for the city for the next general elections.