Having been the MP for Mid Norfolk since 2010, and the Conservative Candidate for the constituency for three years before that, I have come to know Blenheim Grange very well, and have long helped speak up for the 1500 or so residents that call it home.
That is why I have written a letter of support for Carbrooke Parish Council’s application for this funding, which would be used to provide much needed community facilities for the people of Blenheim Grange.
I firmly believe that there is an urgent need for improved community facilities on the estate – to help social cohesion and avoid social issues between residents. Having been badly let down by developers in the past, the estate is in need of some much needed investment, and I applaud the efforts of the Parish Council, and local district and county councillors, to keep raising awareness of this issue.
“After losing my job in Government last year I didn’t look to replace my loss of salary but instead pledged to return to focus on my longstanding work on regeneration through various not-for-profit projects I have helped set up: The Norfolk Way, The Big Tent Foundation, The Bridge of Hope, Prosper4Jobs, the New Anglia Net Zero Festival Partnership, and a blood cancer research company owned by patients & charities.
Because I had understood that ACOBA was concerned (rightly) with the prevention of lobbying or profiteering by former Ministers exploiting privileged access to Government through their former Departments, I didn’t think that this sort of work on not-for-profit / community / start-up social enterprise projects required permission.
As soon as I understood that I should have sought ACOBA guidance earlier, I apologised and sought their guidance with full disclosure of all my various projects since being an MP.
ACOBA have today made clear that as an Ex-Minister I should have sought their permission before undertaking ANY work, regardless of whether for a charity or a not-for-profit project.
ACOBA have also made clear that HAD I sought permission earlier there would have been no reason not to give it: they have made clear that NONE of the projects I have been working on represent any conflict of interest and nothing in the actual work I have undertaken contravenes the Ministerial Code or the Nolan Principles of Public Office, both of which I take very seriously.
My error was in misunderstanding the ACOBA process & remit: I have apologised profusely in writing to the ACOBA committee for that misunderstanding and made very clear that I totally respect their remit & process which I am willingly and gladly ensuring I am bound by on all matters going forward.”
George Freeman calls on the Government to take the opportunity of regulatory freedom post-Brexit to better integrate our aid and trade by using variable tariffs to incentivise high-quality production, and UK aid to support tech transfer of UK agritech and clean tech to help developing nations tackle the challenges of sustainable agriculture and development.
Grand Challenges: International Collaboration
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)
What diplomatic steps he is taking to encourage international collaboration to tackle the UK Government’s grand challenges. (914440)
The Minister for Asia (Nigel Adams)
We are at the heart of discussions about global challenges and mega-trends, including through the UK’s G7 and COP26 presidencies. On clean growth, we will harness those presidencies to advance our climate agenda in the run-up to COP26. On artificial intelligence, in September, the UK signed a declaration with the US to drive technological breakthroughs in AI. This puts the UK at the forefront of the AI and data revolution. On science, the UK has strong science collaboration arrangements with more than 50 countries, from the research powerhouses of the US and Europe to emerging economies.
George Freeman [V]
Through my work with the Prime Minister’s taskforce on innovation, growth and regulatory reform, we are looking at how we can make Brexit a real opportunity for the UK as a global science and innovation superpower to better integrate our aid and trade and to boost R&D investment, inward investment, exports and sustainable global development. Does the Minister agree that, to help developing nations to confront the biggest global grand challenges of sustainable agriculture and development, as set out in the Foresight report, including the challenge of nearly doubling world food production on the same land area with half as much water and energy, we could use variable tariffs to incentivise high-quality production, and UK aid to support tech transfer of UK agritech and clean tech for sustainable growth?
Nigel Adams
I thank my hon. Friend for all the work he does in this area. Nowadays—and when he was an excellent Minister—we provide preferential tariffs for 70 developing countries through the generalised scheme of preferences. This includes a framework covering implementation and international environment conventions. We are supporting international research partnerships and the roll-out of agritech across the poorest and most climate-vulnerable countries. This is delivering crop varieties that are more productive, nutritious and resistant to drought and pests. Our clean tech investments are enabling UK battery pioneers to develop new technologies and business models to deliver clean energy in Africa.
We are living through tumultuous times and I wanted to deal directly and properly with the concerns constituents have raised.
As you may know, I campaigned to Remain in the EU Referendum in 2016, but I also promised to respect and honour the result. Despite the obvious weaknesses and failings of that campaign - on both sides - I have been clear and consistent that I will honour that pledge. When MPs ask the people in a Referendum I deeply believe that we must respect that result.
Here in Mid Norfolk people voted 62:38 for Leave. Although as I pledge at each election I believe sincerely that my duty as MP is to try as best I can to represent the interest of ALL the people of Mid Norfolk - including the children and young people who can’t vote - and the interests of the whole community, not just the people who vote for me - the Referendum was a simple Leave or Remain question, and all of us who voted to Remain have to accept that we lost.
So the issue then becomes HOW we leave. I believe it is essential for the interests of the Mid Norfolk (and national) economy, and therefore our public services and all the things that Government provides which are funded from a growing economy, that we secure a Withdrawal Agreement which provides what was promised in the Referendum (and what I believe the vast majority of Mid Norfolk residents want: to be in the “Common Market but NOT the political union”).
This isn’t straightforward because the “Common Market” is based on a Common Customs Union, and Common Trading Standards, which are the very things many Leavers specifically want to Leave. That is why I strongly supported Theresa May in negotiating to get a sensible Withdrawal Agreement for an orderly withdrawal and a workable long-term relationship providing continuity for today’s businesses and sectors (like automotive, aviation, medical research, food & farming and higher education) deeply dependent on collaboration with European projects and partners, but freedom to begin to orientate more of our trade to the fastest-growing global markets worldwide, beyond the EU.
When - in March - it became clear that a coalition of MPs in Parliament who HAD voted to trigger Article 50 were determined to vote AGAINST the Withdrawal Agreement (for their own disingenuous reasons - Opposition MPs just for the sake of opposing, second-referendum MPs to try and force a second referendum, and hard line no-deal Brexiteers to try and force no deal on March 29th) I supported the Prime Minister in seeking an extension.
It was also clear to me that after a series of negotiating errors, Theresa May had run out of runway to negotiate and that we needed a new leader to try and complete the negotiations.
After the EU elections in May it was clear to me that unless we resolve the ongoing Brexit Civil War which has gridlocked our country, Government and Parliament, we will not be able to move on. And worse - we are likely to see extremist politicians exploit the vacuum for their own claims to power. History shows us how dangerous this is. I believe that Jeremy Corbyn’s neo-Marxist front bench would be a disaster for this country.
With public anger at this impasse deepening dangerously, I believe the Conservative Party has to step up and bring new energy, ambition and resolution to getting a sensible Withdrawal Agreement AND launching a bold domestic policy programme of reforms to tackle the deep grievances with UK politics and government which have incubated this crisis.
That is what Boris Johnson offered, is delivering and why I support him. I simply do not accept in any way the caricature of him being put about by the more extreme anti-Brexit campaigners as some sort of right wing extremist.
Anyone who follows Conservative politics knows that Boris Johnson's track record as Mayor of London shows a long commitment to liberal Conservatism, public services, public transport, environmental activism, support for an activist Industrial Strategy, UK aid and International development and major investment in infrastructure and a deep commitment to making Government work for the silent majority of citizens who work and pay their taxes and want Government to work for them.
I am supporting him because he is committed to doing what I think we need to do:
· get on and show the British people that we WILL honour the EU Referendum result
· negotiate hard to get a good deal
· launch a bold programme of domestic reforms to tackle the domestic grievances (infrastructure, connectivity, schools, NHS, social care and better housing and planning and public transport) which are the priority of most UK citizens
It is impossible to please all the people all the time - and I accept and welcome that all constituents will make their own judgements - but I wanted you to hear from me why I have taken the position I have.
It is a huge privilege to be the MP for our part of the world.
I deeply believe that my core responsibility is to try and tackle public disillusionment with politics by:
1. Showing that I am listening to - and guided by - the views of this constituency. Mid Norfolk voted 62:38 to Leave.
2. Continuing my local work as a hardworking constituency MP to tackle the challenges of inaccessibility, disconnection, marginalisation, and the silent suffering of people in villages and towns which are struggling to remain vibrant.
I believe that by honouring the EU Referendum result and implementing a bold package of domestic reforms we can reunite this country, and re-inspire a New Generation that we are not withdrawing from our global and European responsibilities, but redoubling our commitment to build a more secure, resilient, prosperous and enterprising country in which everyone can realise their potential.
The Climate Change emergency is one of the most important long-term challenges facing us all. That’s why I welcomed, and was delighted to be able to speak in last week’s debate and get the chance to highlight the importance of the issue and the need for us all to work together—across party, across generations and across both Houses in the interests of the next generation.
Having founded one of the UK's first-ever clean-tech consultancies and worked for fifteen years helping finance new green technology before coming to Parliament, and as an MP having worked in the Department for Energy and Climate Change as well as Life Sciences Minister, I am absolutely committed to this. It is important that we all agree that there is an environmental emergency in the world - and that we send the message to the next generation that we get it, and that the timing is sensitive – and not just talking, but implementing real change. Good environmental stewardship and policy is central to good one-nation conservatism.
In my speech I made two key points:
1. Having led the Industrial and Agricultural Revolutions which have, over the last 200 years, drastically accelerated global CO2 emissions and a loss of wild habitats, the UK has a moral and political duty to help today’s developing world achieve clean, low carbon growth without the same damages
2. While it is essential to tackle this, it is also vital that we do not pursue it in an anti-business spirit, but instead harness the power of the market through innovation, science and good business to help us solve these problems.
To see my full speech from the debate, please see the video below, as well as the Hansard text here
Thank you for those who have emailed me regarding the Indicative Votes in Parliament petition.
I’m delighted to confirm that I am working closely with Sir Oliver Letwin MP to find a way to give the House of Commons a chance to show which Brexit option COULD most easily command a majority in the House.
If there isn’t a majority in the House for the PM’s deal, then I strongly believe we have a duty to explore which Brexit options *would* be able to pass the House of Commons.
Whatever the outcome of this Brexit crisis it seems to me essential that Parliament is given a chance to discuss and vote on the different options, and reach out beyond party politics to try and find some common ground, to help us find a way to resolve the Brexit crisis, move on and get back to proper Government.
Having grown up around animals, I have always been passionate about protecting animal welfare.
That’s why I very much appreciate the concerns of everyone who’s contacted me regarding the fur trade. It is absolutely right that the UK leads the way in the highest standards of animal welfare and that the importation of fur products is tightly regulated.
It is important to stress that it is illegal to import furs derived from cats or dogs, or products made from them; in addition the fur and skin of endangered animals or fish cannot be imported without a valid permit. Meanwhile, under European legislation it is prohibited to import furs or fur products from 13 wild animal species originating in countries where they are caught in the wild by leg-hold traps, or trapping methods that do not meet international standards of humane trapping. Strict rules are in also place in the European Union to ensure that animals kept for fur production are kept, trapped and slaughtered humanely.
Once the UK has withdrawn from the EU, however, it will be for the Government to consider future policies, taking into account the outcome of exit negotiations. That's why I'm delighted that Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, has put animal welfare at the top of his priority list.
Rest assured, I will continue raising all concerns on this issue with Ministers. As an animal lover, I believe we must always lead the world in animal welfare, and I will go on campaigning to ensure that this issue remains at the heart of our post-Brexit agenda.
For those of my constituents struggling to pay the bills, and reliant on our local public services, it’s no longer acceptable to go on cutting frontline services, whilst spending so much on the (too often) high salaries, gold-plated pensions, and duplicating back office bureaucracies which soak up vast sums of our precious public money.
As you will have seen in my ‘Protecting Frontline Services’ statement last month, and in my ‘Devolution’ statement last November, I have long been calling for urgent reform in this area.
Currently in Norfolk we have 1 County Council AND 7 District, Borough and City Councils as well as 5 NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, and multiple NHS Trusts (including the ‘inadequate’ Norfolk and Suffolk Mental Health Trust) and the East of England Ambulance Service.
Do we really need all of these different bodies?
I believe that, with better joined-up planning of housing, road, rail, broadband and public service delivery etc, we can ensure a better growth model for our area – with new funds, and which prevents the wrong sort of ‘development’ being forced upon us.
Imagine if, instead of 8 councils, multiple NHS bodies and countless quangos, we had one or two organisations which had responsibility for ALL of the local services in our area – a One Stop Shop for all your housing, benefits, training, and environmental and occupational health needs. Equally, imagine if there were just two unitary bodies - East and West - in Norfolk, unlocking huge efficiency savings that could then be reinvested in the frontline. (Norfolk County Council alone are spending £23 million on administration this financial year).
Much has been written about the future of local government in Norfolk, and the local services that they provide, in the past few days. With an increasing elderly population and more pressure on resources than ever before, we simply cannot go on like this.
The time has come for all of us in this area to come together fast and agree on a new model, one that puts our constituents first.
For my constituents struggling to pay the bills, council tax and reliant on our local public services, it’s no longer acceptable to go on cutting frontline services, whilst spending so much on the (too often) high salaries, gold-plated pensions, and duplicating back office bureaucracies which soak up vast sums of our precious public money.
Currently in Norfolk we have:
- 1 County Council AND 7 District, Borough and City Councils. (NCC spend £23 million on administration alone)
- 5 NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, and multiple NHS Trusts (including the ‘inadequate’ Norfolk and Suffolk Mental Health Trust) and the East of England Ambulance Service
- Dozens of other quangos – all being given taxpayers’ money by government to spend on often fragmented services here.
Do we really need all of these different bodies?
I believe we are wasting too much precious money on back office administration, instead of ensuring that it reaches the frontline services we all need and cherish.
For example, we have recently seen how Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner rejected Norfolk Constabulary’s suggestion of a very sensible merger between the two counties’ control rooms, with the joint facility being situated in the new state of the art HQ at Wymondham. This would have saved 100 frontline officers.
Another example - last year, I requested that the senior NHS manager responsible for commissioning in the East come to my constituency office to discuss the causes of the pressure being put on GP surgeries in Dereham, and the surrounding area. Shockingly, they were not only late and hadn’t read any of the relevant papers, but were unable to answer even the most basic questions about our local NHS spending. This is clearly WRONG. And it needs to stop.
Government is putting more money into key services like Health, Education, Defence and Mental Health, but not enough is getting to the frontline. (To be fair to our local councils, their budgets have been cut by approximately 25% to help reduce the deficit - which is exactly why we need to slim back the back office admin).
Imagine if, instead of 8 councils, multiple NHS bodies and countless quangos, we had one or two organisations which had responsibility for ALL of the local services in our area – a One Stop Shop for all your housing, benefits, training, and environmental and occupational health needs. It would be a simpler system for people to negotiate and we could unlock huge savings for the frontline, to reinvest effectively.
This is now urgent. We cannot go on pouring precious taxpayers money into a system which spends it on itself before passing on an increasingly small amount to the frontline.
All of us need to have the courage to tackle this problem. And fast.
Times have changed since the controversial Beeching closures back in the 1960s. For too long, we have seen investment in our commuter lines, but not enough into lines that open up our rural towns and villages to unlock growth.
Here in Mid Norfolk, I have long advocated the full reopening of the Wymondham to Dereham Railway line for regular commuter services and I remain firmly committed to working towards achieving this. It is vitally important if we are to ensure that the Wymondham – Dereham – Norwich Research Park triangle is to truly fulfil its vast potential in the coming decades.
On a wider note, I was delighted to see the East-West rail announcement in last week’s budget. I have campaigned extensively for this since becoming an MP back in 2010 and the prospect of an innovation express running from Norwich to Cambridge to Oxford to Reading to Southampton – linking up our east and west clusters – is something I relish.
As a new Victorian-model rail company (the first of its kind in 150 years!), it will undertake development to fund both new and improved rail infrastructure, benefitting both commuters, homeowners and businesses.