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Amber Rudd MP, Conservative Party

On behalf of Hastings Online Times, Sean O’Shea (SOS) asks parliamentary candidates about their image of the ‘good society’, how it might be organised and financed, and what they would do to address some of the specific problems affecting the people of Hastings and Rye.

SOS: Some people have become cynical about the way our society is organised, e.g. finance, education, work, politics, the tax system and legal system, to mention just a few sectors. Furthermore, in the midst of growing inequality many of our core institutions are now perceived as serving a privileged elite, and neglecting or exploiting ordinary people. What is your view on this issue and what might you do to address the problem?

Amber Rudd It is true that the days of deference to authority are over.  All major institutions have been brought low by scandal.  The Church, the BBC, politicians and even journalists have had dreadful, damaging revelations made about them, which feed the cynicism and outright dislike from the public. But this is the world of transparency and accountability.  It is right that crimes are exposed and that there is nowhere to hide.  How else do we keep our children safe and our representatives honest?  We can only rebuild trust by our own integrity. I hope that as individuals and organisations are exposed, their replacements are different and that that difference allows trust with the public to be rebuilt.

What is your vision of the ‘good society’ and how might such a society be organised and financed?

A ‘good society’ is one in which people have the opportunity to fulfil their dreams and ambitions no matter what their background, and also to enhance and develop the unique talents each of us have.

As a Conservative I believe that individuals like yourself are best placed to make the important decisions that will affect you and your family. The government, the State, does not hold all the answers.

The Government should offer choice and quality in public services, and support and guidance in the private sector.

But trusting individuals is not where it ends. Since 2006 I have made my primary goal for Hastings and Rye to bring more investment to the constituency and see a growth in jobs, especially in the private sector.

As a Conservative, and former businesswoman, I understand that to bring down youth unemployment, to foster long-term prosperity in our part of the South East we must support and help our local small and medium sized businesses. And that is what as Conservatives in Government, we have been doing. From reducing red tape to cutting Corporation Tax; legislating for a £2,000 NI cut for small businesses to setting up the Regional Growth Fund and Enterprise Zones.

We also need to help people who can’t help themselves and protect and motivate young people. I am determined to fight for local improvements in schools and our hospital.

I want to help unleash the potential and ambitions that every constituent has. Whether it is to own your own home, get a top quality education for your children, start your own business, find that first job, support your community or even run for elected office. I believe there is potential in every one of us to achieve our goals, and as a Conservative I strongly believe that if you work hard, play by the rules and believe in yourself, then no matter who you are, or where you come from, you can meet those goals and achieve your ambitions.

How does the tough regime of the DWP (Dept for Work and Pensions) and their partners ATOS (a French multinational IT services company), and now MAXIMUS (a multinational company who runs healthcare programmes in the US, Australia and Saudi Arabia) fit into the concept of a ‘good society’?

It’s about getting people back to work. The best way out of poverty and deprivation is through employment and fulfilment at work. It is important to realise that a job offers more than just financial reward, it also instils self-confidence, self-worth and structure to people’s lives.

That is why this Government has been committed, and successful, in getting people to fulfil their ambitions and utilise their talents by ending their dependence on benefits and instead finding work.

In the last five years nearly 1,500 more people are in work, and since 2010 80 new businesses have set up in Hastings and Rye. This is a fantastic achievement and means there are now more of our local residents who have the security of a regular wage, and can now support their families.

This is why the work of the DWP and the relentless focus of this Government, and myself, on seeing jobs grow and businesses expand, is at the heart of my vision of the ‘good society’.

What do you consider to be some of the specific problems and challenges affecting the daily lives of people in Hastings and Rye and what would your party do to address them?

In Hastings and Rye we face challenges surrounding poor transport infrastructure, the need for improving education standards and the expansion of businesses and job growth.

Over the last five years we have had some real successes with unemployment down by nearly 50%, with almost 1,500 more residents in work than in 2010; we have seen twice as many schools now rated as good or outstanding; and we have got an ‘absolute commitment’ to get HS1 for Hastings and Rye and further dualling of the A21 at Pembury.

These are great successes but we still have much more to do. I want to see our schools improve further, our hospital become a centre of excellence, our transport infrastructure pulled into the 21st Century, more jobs for local residents and I want to see businesses grow and expand.

We do face challenges in this constituency, but I think local residents have shown great resilience and determination in the last few, tough years, that we can face these challenges together and make real progress.

Hastings is known for its atmospheric pubs and vibrant music scene, yet pub landlords and musicians – not to mention the fishermen – are struggling to make a living, pubs in the UK are closing at a rate of 31 a week (Campaign for Real Ale, CAMRA, 2014) and it’s likely that there will be few left if the decline continues. How would you address this issue?

Pubs are often a fantastic centre of the community and make a significant contribution to our local economy. I know that the pubs in Hastings are driven by hardworking and committed individuals and sadly many can struggle to make a decent living.

This Government recognises this and I was pleased that two years ago the Government decided to make a targeted reduction in beer duty and abolished the beer and wine duty escalator, keeping the duty on wine and beer broadly similar. Beer duty was cut again in 2014-15 by 1p and the duty on ordinary cider has been frozen for 2014-15. The Government has also taken other action that will help pubs, including the business rates package and abolishing employer National Insurance contributions for under-21s earning below £813 per week from April 2015.

Why do you think people should vote for you personally?

I am the only candidate with a clear vision for our area that is based on a track record over the past five years that shows I stick to my word.

In 2010 I promised to put job growth and business investment as my top priority and over the last five years unemployment has fallen by nearly 50%, businesses like Saga and B D Foods have invested in our town, and I have held five annual Jobs Fairs to help residents back into work.

Five years ago I said I wanted to see our schools improve and provide the best possible education for our children. Now we have twice as many schools performing at a good or outstanding rate; and as a Governor of the Hastings and St Leonards Academy Trust, I have kept the pressure up to provide the next generation with the educational start they need in life to compete in the global race.

When campaigning for the 2010 General Election I said I wanted to revolutionise our local transport system and see proper investment in our roads and rail. Well, five years on the Hastings/Bexhill Link Road is almost complete; the Queensway Gate is on its way; the A21 is being dualled; we have record investment in pothole repairs; we have saved the 06:39 commuter service; the UNIZONE travel card is being extended to Hastings; and we have secured an ‘absolute commitment’ from Network Rail to see High-Speed rail come to Hastings and Rye.

Over the last five years I have also stuck to my work on local health services. I have also supported our local maternity services, and was part of the ‘Hands off the Conquest’ campaign to ensure our maternity units stayed in Hastings. We were successful. I have also pushed for central government funding that has seen new equipment installed at the Conquest and also the Kipling Ward (Children’s Ward) has been renovated after pressure from parents, Friends of the Conquest and myself.

I’m now prompting my vision for the next five years, my six-point plan that will see more jobs come to Hastings and Rye; better transport links; improving schools; a centre of excellence hospital; a better deal for our local fisherman and further promotion of our area to boost the tourism trade.

I have shown that I stick to my word, and that I follow through on the plans I lay out. I have also shown that together with local businesses, residents and organisations, over the past five years we have a track record to be proud of. But the job is not complete, there is still so much more to do to ensure we lock in our economic recovery and secure the better future for all our residents, and that is why I’m seeking a further five years to get the job done.

 

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Posted 15:57 Wednesday, Apr 1, 2015 In: Elections

3 Comments

  1. Nicola Waring

    When Amber Rudd’s government abolished SEEDA (amid suspicion of corruption and controversy over expenses and trips abroad) the top boys moved along. But no worries. Sea Space and Sea Change carried on where SEEDA left off.

    Hastings and Bexhill Renaissance Ltd (trading as Sea Space) was incorporated 06/05/2004. The business activity of the company is listed as: Letting and operating of own or leased real estate. East Sussex Energy Infrastructure And Development Ltd (trading as Sea Change) was incorporated 12/05/2012, its activity is listed as: Development of building projects.

    Lacuna Place, Havelock Road, comprising 31,398 sq ft (2,917 m2) of contemporary offices over four floors, plus a ground floor reception, completed in September 2008, remains empty. It incorporates two retail units totalling 6,017 sq ft (560 m2) on the ground floor. One unit fronts Havelock Road and is designed for general retail uses. The other is designed as a café/restaurant. These spaces have been boarded-up since completion.

    The development was a partnership between Sea Space, Allied Irish Bank and The Land Group. In November 2012 Stiles Harold Williams was appointed Joint Fixed Charge Receivers for the property.

    Despite the absence of demand, Sea Change continues to build office and retail space in Hastings’ town centre, and business premises on farmland. In May 2012 Hastings Borough Council published Hastings Local Plan The Hastings Planning Strategy Proposed Submission Version. Councillor Peter Chowney, Lead Member, Hastings Borough Council, wrote the introduction “..this plan is important: it will affect dramatically how the town changes in the coming years. It will shape the look, feel and prosperity of Hastings not just for us, but for generations to come”. His vision for the town is “a vibrant business hub buzzing with cafés, restaurants and lively new leisure facilities; a multi screen cinema, multi storey car park and public squares; an expanded Priory Meadow shopping centre; streets and neighbourhoods newly alive with specialist shops and services“.

    All of the candidates for Member of Parliament for Hastings and Rye endorse this. No one has said it should be thrown out and started over. Nor questioned why Hastings Local Plan has not yet been accepted by the government appointed inspector. Send in the clowns.

    Comment by Nicola Waring — Friday, Apr 10, 2015 @ 16:23

  2. Kitaj

    Although Amber paints herself as a politician that has delivered it feels like everything is so much worse. Jobs in the area are still poor quality, low wage jobs. Amber Rudd had no part in getting industry to come to Hastings, in fact her government abolished SEEDA, the organization that was actually helping this region. The Road to Nowhere that Amber Rudd has been so proud to trumpet has been shown to have been built on a tissue of lies and mismanagement and will be of no benefit to Hastings. Now we have to suffer the same problem with the Gateway road which wasn’t necessary until the link road was built. We have lost vast swathes of important countryside for nothing. The thousands of jobs that have been promised have never come to fruition. Amber Rudd has done nothing for the fishing fleet, the actual rail plans she has shouted about are currently non-existent and are not what was required. Where are all the potholes being mended in this area? I suspect as ever that ESCC has focused on the area around Lewes and Rye; Hastings and St Leonards are left with not only potholes but collapsing roads. Add to that a total housing fail, there really is nothing for Amber Rudd to brag about. I believe Hastings has had enough of having MPs bussed in, UKIP and The Tories don’t care about Hastings let’s have someone local who understands our needs.

    Comment by Kitaj — Thursday, Apr 9, 2015 @ 02:19

  3. DAR

    A lot of Tory policies within the Coalition seem hell-bent on privatising as much of the NHS as they can get away with, and fragmenting the Education system to an alarming extent – with the ridiculous, hardly-accountable “free schools” being the worst example. Yes, some welfare reform was/is necessary, but wealth inequality has only worsened since 2010, and Cameron’s half-witted slogan “we’re all in this together” is just plain risible to the majority of the population who can see that it’s clearly not the case. And do I need to mention immigration? Well, yes. A more failed policy commitment is hard to find than this one when Cameron’s pledge to get net migration to below 100,000 ends up as an increase to 300,000. Hopeless.

    Comment by DAR — Thursday, Apr 2, 2015 @ 17:27

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