Read my latest news and views…
Is the government having an identity crisis?
The principle of a more joined up, efficient government is one I whole-heartedly support. Yet a compulsory ID scheme, intended more to get the government out of a difficult situation than solve any real problems will only cost us all more, whilst making the way we live our lives in this country just that little bit worse.
Planning Inspectors slam South & Vale councils for Local Plan failure
In an extensive nine-page letter to both Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils the Planning Inspectors have concluded that the councils have failed to discharge their statutory obligations and the draft Joint Local Plan 2041 should be withdrawn.
Is there anything they won’t tax?
Death and taxes. The two things that we all know are guaranteed in life; and there seems to be a growing feeling that there is not much that governments would not slap a tax on.
Responding to concerns about policing in Thames Valley
In my opinion Thames Valley Police misjudged the handling of a complaint regarding a Facebook comment made in March of this year.
From my understanding the comments appear to be rude, ill-judged, unpleasant and offensive – but thankfully being rude and causing offence is not a crime.
The loophole in the Government’s drink-spiking law
Spiking - giving someone drink or drugs without their consent - is an awful crime. In the worst cases we know that it can kill, and sadly it is a tactic we know some criminals will use to rape or sexually assault their victims.
There is a BIG problem with the new law the Government is trying to pass to deal with this. A problem that could mean that some people could get away with it.
Rural crime falls by 17% across the Thames Valley
I made tackling rural crime a priority when I was elected, and now Thames Valley has an outstanding Rural Crime Taskforce, which has conducted hundreds of investigations and provided invaluable crime prevention advice to rural residents. This concerted effort is clearly having an impact, leading to the downward trend in rural crime trend we are now witnessing thanks to our funding and our commitment to support farmers.