News In Brief

New figures today reveal that long-term youth unemployment in Barnsley has risen by a massive 170 per cent in the last year

17 May 2012 

As reported in the South Yorkshire Times today, Michael has accused Ministers of not caring about what is happening in Barnsley as new figures released by the Office for National Statistics reveal that the number of 18 to 24 year olds in Barnsley who have been unemployed for more than twelve months has risen by a massive 170 per cent in the last year.

The new figures also show that the overall level of youth unemployment in Barnsley is currently at 2,800 - a 15 per cent increase in the last 12 months.  On top of that, the total number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) in Barnsley has also risen sharply - it now stands at 7,830, a 12 per cent increase over the last 12 months. 

In Barnsley, there are now 9.3 people chasing every job.  This figure was 4.7 a year ago. 

Commenting on the new unemployment statistics, Michael said:

“Youth unemployment in Barnsley keeps on rising month on month yet the Government still refuses to take the necessary action.  Ministers just don’t seem to care about what is happening here in Barnsley. 

“People are fighting through these difficult economic times while this Government fails to lift a finger to help.       

“There are many things that Ministers could do to help, such as introducing a tax on bankers' bonuses to fund 100,000 youth jobs and a tax break for small firms taking on extra workers to help get Britain back to work.  They should also introduce a “Real Jobs Guarantee” scheme for young people, which would tackle the problem of long-term youth unemployment by providing a six-month paid placement, preferably in the private sector, for all 18-24 year olds who have been unemployed for more than twelve months.  This would help over 400 young people in Barnsley.   

“Ministers need to wake up to the jobs crisis they're responsible for and take urgent action.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Barnsley Chronicle, 18 May 2012

 

Financial Times: ‘Ministers attacked over repeated U-turns’

13 May 2012 

The Financial Times has reported today on the repeated U-turns on government initiatives which Ministers scrapped after taking power and have since reinstate.

Michael, quoted in the article, said the U-turns were a sign of “chronic incompetence” by the government.  He added:  “Ministers just don’t get it, which is why they continue to get it wrong time and time again. Their incompetence is costing the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds.”

Click here to read the full article: “Ministers attacked over repeated U-turns” (paywall)

 

Ministers should stop blaming other people for their mistakes

13 May 2012 

The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has called on businesses to stop "complaining" about the economy and work harder.

Responding to these comments, Michael - quoted on the BBC News website and in The Independent on Sunday - said:

"The Conservatives said after the local elections that they had got the message," he said.

"Instead, these out-of-touch government ministers are burying their heads in the sand and just want to blame everybody else for the fact their economic plan has failed.

"The truth is it's ministers who need to 'work harder' - at getting an economy that promotes growth and creates jobs."

 

Out and about in the constituency

11 May 2012 

Michael had a busy day in the constituency today.  

As reported in the Barnsley Chronicle and the Sheffield Star, he visited Barnsley Hospice Stairfoot furniture store to support their campaign to encourage more donations to charity shops. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barnsley Hospice receives £1.6m from the NHS each year, but has to raise an additional £1.9m to stay open. Its retail shops generate about £900,000 a year.  Items can be donated at any of the shops between 9am and 4pm Monday to Saturday, or left in the shed at the back of the hospice.  For further information about Barnsley Hospice, visit www.barnsleyhospice.org

Michael also officially opened the Co-operative Funeralcare centre in Hoyland town centre:

And visited Kendray Primary School to plant a tree with students to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And lastly, Michael also visited the Newcomen Beam Engine in Elsecar with the Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund (Yorkshire), Fiona Spiers.  Back in March, Michael welcomed the announcement by the Heritage Lottery Fund that it has awarded £425,000 to Barnsley Council for the restoration of the Newcommen Beam Engine in Elsecar. For more information, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The South Yorkshire Times, 17 May 2012

 

Blog post: 'The Government should be acting to cut crime, not the police'

10 May 2012 

Michael has written a new blog post about the Police Federation’s march today in Westminster and the Government’s 20 per cent cuts to the policing budget.

Click here to read the post.

 

Michael criticises the Queen’s Speech for failing to offer any proposals to boost growth, create jobs or help people’s living standards

09 May 2012 

Michael has criticised the Government for missing the opportunity of the Queen’s Speech today to begin taking responsibility for getting Britain back to growth and for easing the squeeze on those on middle and lower incomes. 

Commenting after the Queen’s Speech, Michael said:

“The Government’s economic failure was central to the message given by the public last week.  The speech today was supposed to be the Government’s answer to that clear verdict, but instead the message was one of no change.  This is despite the Government delivering the first double-dip recession in 37 years and the worst unemployment in 16 years. In Barnsley, there are now over 12 people on JSA chasing every job vacancy, compared to just four a year ago. 

“The Government has also chosen not to find room for action to deal with living standards, energy prices, social care or train prices.  These are the big issues that families in Barnsley are worried about yet Ministers have refused to listen. The Government has set out the wrong priorities and it is now clearer than ever how out of touch it is with millions of families and pensioners across the country.”    

*** Click here to read Ed Miliband’s response to the Queen’s Speech

 

"If this coalition fails us again, we will all pay the price"

09 May 2012 

Michael has written an article for the Yorkshire Post today about how David Cameron and Nick Clegg have a chance in today's Queen's Speech to begin taking responsibility for getting Britain back to growth and for easing the squeeze on middle and lower income people.

Click here to read the article.

 

Michael on BBC Daily Politics show

09 May 2012  

Michael was on the Daily Politics show yesterday.

Click here to watch the full programme.

 

Michael says Mr Cameron is showing increasing signs of "bunker mentality"

08 May 2012

Writing in the Daily Telegraph yesterday, David Cameron insisted that he understands the message from the local elections “loud and clear” and will now put in some "hard work". 

In response to the article, Michael - quoted in the Metro, BBC News and the Huffington Post - said:

"David Cameron is showing increasing signs of having a bunker mentality. After two years in Downing Street, with one million young people out of work and an economy in recession, he says the lesson is that he needs to put in some 'hard work'.

“Only this out-of-touch Prime Minister would have taken 730 days to figure that out. Cameron thinks the message from the local elections is that he should plough on with his policies regardless.

“The problem is not the Government's spin, it's Cameron and Osborne's recession. Until we see a proper plan for jobs and growth, and real help for people whose incomes are being squeezed, no one will believe that David Cameron gets it."

 

Michael raises concerns about the loss of 49 police officers who respond to 999 emergency calls in South Yorkshire

08 May 2012

As reported in the South Yorkshire Times, Michael has raised concerns about the loss of 49 police officers who respond to 999 emergency calls in South Yorkshire.

Analysis by the House of Commons library of data provided by the South Yorkshire Police has shown that since March 2011, 49 fewer police officers are available to respond to 999 emergency calls in South Yorkshire - that’s a 3 per cent decrease in the last 12 months.

Overall, the number of police officers we have lost in South Yorkshire since May 2010 is now 119.   And by 2015, South Yorkshire Police are set to lose 436 police officers and 680 police staff as a result of the cuts to Police funding.

Commenting, Michael said:

“These cuts to police officers who respond to 999 emergency calls are extremely worrying.  Our Chief Constable has been put in an impossible position by the scale of police funding cuts he is being forced to implement.  I recognise that savings need to be made, but the cuts are going too far and too fast, with the steepest cuts in the first two years.  That’s just not right.”

 

Local election results in Barnsley

04 May 2012

In the local elections in Barnsley, Labour has made nine gains from the 21 seats contested. This included five of the six wards up for election in the Barnsley East constituency.

Seven of the nine gains were at the expense of the Barnsley Independent Group. Another gain was from an independent councillor with no affiliation and the last was in Penistone West, where the Conservative Mayor of Penistone, Steve Webber, was unseated.

Labour's majority now stands at 41 (with 52 seats altogether), compared to five in the Barnsley Independent Group, five Conservatives, and one independent, Councillor Harry Spence.

The big gains for Labour in Barnsley have also been reflected across the country, with Labour taking control of a number of councils, including: Birmingham, Southampton and Harlow.

Commenting on the election results in Barnsley, Michael said:

“This was a great result for Labour. I want to congratulate all our candidates who have worked so hard and pay tribute to our brilliant organiser Rory Bickerton.

“The results in Barnsley send a clear message to Cameron and Clegg that they must change course and that we have had enough of their economically flawed and unfair policies.”

 

Michael’s statement on the news of the death of local teenager Liam Collier

04 May 2012

It has been reported that 15-year-old Liam Collier, from Barnsley, was pronounced dead in woodland in Elsecar shortly after emergency services were alerted to the discovery of a body on Monday night. Commenting on the sad news, Michael said:

“Like all local residents, I was shocked and extremely saddened to hear of the death of Liam Collier.  My heart goes out to his family and friends - and my thoughts and prayers are with them at this most difficult of times.”

The latest local news report can be seen below:

South Yorkshire Times: "Dead teenager found in woods identified"

The Sheffield Star: "Tragic teenager died soon after losing mum"

 

Barnsley Bitter served to MPs in the Palace of Westminster 

04 May 2012

Michael has arranged for the award-winning Barnsley Bitter to be served as the guest ale in the House of Commons bar for MPs, Strangers’ Bar.    

Barnsley Bitter is brewed at Acorn Brewery (in Michael’s constituency), which was started up from scratch by chief brewer Dave Hughes and his wife Judi in 2003. 

Yesterday (Monday 30 April 2012) was the first day that Barnsley Bitter was served in Parliament and Michael was joined in Strangers’ Bar by fellow local MP John Healey as well as Dave Hughes and David Broadhead from Acorn Brewery.

Michael got behind the bar and pulled a few pints of the local bitter for eagerly awaiting MPs.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commenting, Michael said:   

“I wanted to get Barnsley Bitter served in the Palace of Westminster as I think it is a great opportunity to showcase such a fantastic local brew.   It is also brilliant to be able to share some of Barnsley’s finest produce with colleagues in Parliament.

“It was great that Dave Hughes and David Broadbent from Acorn Brewery could come down to see how well it was being received by MPs. 

“Acorn Brewery produces many popular beers so hopefully this will be the first of many local bitters enjoyed by parliamentarians in the Palace of Westminster.”  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to find out more about Acorn Brewery and Barnsley Bitter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barnsley Chronicle, Friday 4 May 2012

 

Michael supports campaign to ensure that young Barnsley ballet dancer can take up her place at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy

3 May 2012

Michael is supporting a campaign to help make sure that a talented local 16-year-old girl from Barnsley, Tala Lee-Turton, can train in Russia at the prestigious classical ballet training school, the Bolshoi Ballet Academy (www.balletacademy.ru).

Tala has recently been offered the chance-of-a-lifetime to be one of a small group of British students that have trained and studied at the school.  

The four-year training programme commences in September 2012, but without financial support Tala will not be able to realise her dream.  Tala’s family have now started a local sponsorship campaign to raise at least 75 per cent of the required funds.  The school fees alone are €13,000 per year and there will also be air fares and health insurance cover.

Tala is from Barnsley in South Yorkshire and has attended Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Tring, Hertfordshire, since 2007, after winning a coveted Music and Dance Scheme (MDS) scholarship.

She initially trained at a school in Barnsley (Fearons-Middleton School of Dance) and attended outreach programmes of the Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet and the Yorkshire Ballet Scholarship Centre. She has also more recently been personally coached by the Bristol Russian Ballet School, which is where she found her love for the Russian method of training.  Tala has also performed with both English National Ballet and American Ballet Theatre at the Coliseum in London in performances of Nutcracker and Le Corsaire.

Training at the Bolshoi Academy will boost Tala’s career prospects immensely, providing her with the opportunity of a career across Europe and the rest of the world.  She will have to learn Russian in the first year so that she can study academic subjects in the second to fourth years – all delivered in Russian – alongside the four year dance programme.

Commenting, Michael said:

“The Bolshoi Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the world and it is fantastic that Tala has been offered this incredible opportunity.  Only eight British students have studied at the Bolshoi in its 239 year history and Tala will be the first from Barnsley and indeed the first student from Yorkshire.

“I have been in touch with Tala’s family and I am going to do all I can to drum up support.  I am sure Tala will do a great job representing the UK and I know she will make Barnsley and Yorkshire very proud.  I would encourage people and businesses across Barnsley to consider sponsoring Tala’s studies and doing all they can to support her in fulfilling her ambitions and becoming a great ambassador for the region.”

3 May 2012, South Yorkshire Times

**If you would like more information about becoming a potential sponser, please e-mail michael.dugher.mp@parliament.uk and we will pass on the contact details.**

** Click here to see a report about Tala on ITV Calendar News**   

 

Michael says that Lib Dems must pay back Michael Brown's dodgy donation

01 May 2012

Michael has called on the Liberal Democrats to pay back Michael Brown’s £2.4 million donation.  Michael said:

"Michael Brown's long flight from justice is over - but the Lib Dems are still refusing to do the decent thing and pay back the £2.4 million he gave them.

"Until Nick Clegg returns Michael Brown's dodgy donation, nobody will be able to take him seriously when he says he wants to clean up politics.”

 

Michael votes against suspending Sunday trading restrictions during the Olympics

1 May 2012

Last night, Michael voted against the Government's proposals to temporarily suspend the Sunday Trading Act restrictions during the Olympics.  To see why, see below Michael’s letter to constituents regarding this matter.

Letter to constituents regarding the Government's proposals to temporarily suspend the Sunday Trading Act restrictions during the Olympics:

Thank you for contacting me recently regarding the Government's proposals to temporarily suspend the Sunday Trading Act restrictions during the Olympics.

The current Sunday Trading laws were put in place after extensive consultation and several years of negotiation with interested parties, including unions, businesses and religious organisations, to build the consensus that has remained to this day.

After much thought, I decided to vote against the proposed changes in Parliament yesterday as I believe that there are still many concerns that Ministers have failed to address, plus I felt that the Government has failed to properly consult retailers, the people who work in the industry or indeed the public.

In relation to the Government's proposals, I am particularly concerned about employment rights and whether working on Sundays during the temporary period will remain entirely voluntary for staff.  There are also questions as to whether employees would be given adequate time to refuse to work on Sundays without the usual notice to their employer.  The Labour Party sought to amend the Bill, to improve the level of protection for workers, but the Government chose to block it.  We also sought to limit the hours large shops can open to offer some protection to employees, and to reduce any negative effect on smaller shops, but again the Government chose to reject this.

The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) has found that over 73 per cent of retail shop workers believe that longer opening hours will lead to more pressure on them to work on Sundays against their will.  Whilst staff legally have an opt-out, many fear that in exercising that right they could harm promotion prospects, damage relationships with colleagues, or even end up losing their jobs.  Additionally, many staff already struggle to work Sundays due to practical problems stemming from poor transport connections on a weekend or childcare issues (especially for single parents).

The Labour Party has been clear from the outset that we would not countenance any attempt to use the relaxation of Sunday trading restrictions as a 'Trojan horse' for longer term deregulation.  We have made this argument to the Government and I am please to say that the Labour Party managed to secure this commitment on the face of the Bill with a sunset clause.

I believe the tradition of shorter opening hours on Sundays, which encourages people to spend some downtime with their close family and friends, is a good thing.  We live in a time when people have more opportunities to shop than ever before.  The current trading laws, in my view, do protect workers from feeling like they have to work long hours on a Sunday and they do contribute to maintaining Sundays as a special day in the week.  I think it would be a great shame for this to change.

Thank you again for contacting me about this important issue.   Please do not hesitate to get in touch again about this or any other matter.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Dugher MP
Member of Parliament for Barnsley East

 

“Maude should 'come clean' about Virgin trip”

29 April 2012

As reported in the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror today, Francis Maude, the minister in charge of transparency, has been accused of hiding more than £3,000 of hospitality to attend the British Grand Prix.

Mr Maude declared the trip on the Cabinet Office website without stating the value of the hospitality and failed to record it on the Register of Members' Interests.

Michael, who is a Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, said:

"Francis Maude has very serious questions to answer as to whether he broke parliamentary rules.

"He cannot seriously say that his ministerial responsibilities have got anything to do with attending the Grand Prix with this company. So it looks like he has tried to pull a fast one by burying the fact that he attended the event with a cursory reference on the Cabinet Office website and by not declaring it with all the proper details in the Register of Members' Financial Interests.

"Francis Maude is always lecturing people about maximum transparency. He should practise what he preaches and come clean about this."

Click here to read the full article in the Independent on Sunday: “Maude should 'come clean' about Virgin trip”

 

Michael on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Saturday Edition show

28 April 2011

Michael was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live today about David Cameron’s refusal to refer the serious allegations over the conduct of the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to the independent adviser on the ministerial code of conduct.

To listen to the interview, click here and scroll to 1:15.

 

Michael on Sky News: “Delays make it look like Government has something to hide”

28 April 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael has said in an interview on Sky News today that the Government's refusal to conduct an inquiry into the conduct of Jeremy Hunt has made it look "weak" and as if it has "something to hide".

He added: "I think David Cameron needs to start showing some leadership. The Prime Minister is responsible for the conduct of his ministers, no one else is. And he could act, and choose to act today by referring the matter to the independent adviser on ministers' interests.

“I just don't accept that it's credible for him to stay in his job for any longer. He seemed to be blaming his adviser in the middle part of the week, the Prime Minster is hiding behind Leveson. I think both should start taking some responsibility.You know, Jeremy Hunt's best defence is that he was clueless, he had no idea of the level of collusion we saw last week between his office and the Murdochs' on what is a multi-billion pound, incredibly sensitive commercial deal. And if that's the best defence he can offer, that he was clueless, well I don't think that's a reason for him to stay in his job either."

"It's clear from today's newspapers and reports that Lord Leveson, this is not covered in his remit. He has no powers over the conduct of ministers, that's for the Prime Minister. And we have someone who's the independent adviser on ministers' interests who has the power to investigate, but this has to be instigated by the Prime Minister. And that's why the Prime Minister should act today.”

 

Barnsley council close to finalising documentation to seek Government approval for the compulsory purchase of derelict properties in Welland Crescent

27 April 2011

Michael has been informed by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC) that they are close to finalising the necessary documentation to send to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in order to seek approval for the compulsory purchase of two derelict properties in Welland Crescent, Elsecar

This follows the refusal of the owners of the properties to sell to the council. 

Michael has been campaigning for the demolition of the properties since he visited the estate over a year ago.  He has been in regular contact with BMBC and wrote to the Leader, Stephen Houghton, back in November 2011 when he thought that it was taking too long for the issue to be resolved.

Commenting on the latest development, Michael said:

“This is positive news as it seems that an end to this long-running problem is finally in sight.  The situation with these derelict properties has gone on for far too long - they are in a dangerous state and are a magnet for vandals and fly tippers.

“I have been campaigning for months now with local residents, together with Hoyland Milton Councillors Robin Franklin and Tim Shepherd, to say enough is enough. I am happy that BMBC is now ready to take another significant step towards the compulsory purchase of the properties.

“Once the documentation has been sent to Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, I will write to him to make sure that the process is not held up in Whitehall any longer than necessary.  The sooner these dangerous eyesores can be pulled down the better it will be for the local residents". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barnsley Chronicle, Friday 27 April 2012

 

Michael encourages businesses in Barnsley to take part in awards programme  

27 April 2011

Michael s encouraging local businesses to get involved in Manufacturing Excellence 2012, the UK-wide awards programme which identifies and celebrates outstanding UK manufacturing businesses and also helps companies to improve.

Past winners have shown that by taking part and adopting best practice they can thrive and grow.  

Applications need to be submitted by 1 June 2012.

Commenting, Michael said:

“I would encourage businesses in Barnsley to apply and take advantage of this programme.  Entry is free and there is up to £20,000 free consultancy advice up for grabs as well as the chance to win at the Manufacturing Excellence Awards in November.  The programme works with all manufacturing businesses, whatever their size, age, sector or area of expertise to help improve their processes and showcase their successes and innovations.  If companies are interested in finding out more, they should visit www.mxawards. ”  

 

Barnsley Chronicle, Friday 27 April 2012

 

Hoyland Common Primary School visit Parliament

27 April 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children from Hoyland Common Primary School visited the Palace of Westminster last week to learn more about the work and role of Parliament.   After a tour of the Palace, the class had time to meet their own MP, Michael Dugher, to discuss what it’s like working in Parliament.     

 

The Guardian: Jeremy Hunt accused of throwing special adviser to the wolves

26 April 2012

The Guardian has reported today on Michael's comments that the Government was trying to paint Jeremy Hunt's key policy adviser as a "Lee Harvey Oswald lone gunman" and that “they've thrown the little guy to the wolves in order to save his boss's job."

Click here to read the full article. 

 

Michael on BBC Radio 4 World at One

25 April 2012 

Michael was on the BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme today to talk about the Leveson inquiry and the new revelations surrounding the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

To listen to the interview, click here and scroll to 23.30.   

 

BBC News: MPs say lack of government strategy causing 'mistakes'

24 April 2012 

The Public Administration Committee has published a report criticising the Government for an absence of national strategy which is leading to "mistakes" such as those following the recent Budget.  The Committee also said that the aims set out in the coalition agreement were "too meaningless to serve any useful purpose". 

Michael, quoted on the BBC News website, said: "The Public Administration Committee report is another damning indictment of David Cameron's Government. Incompetence and unfairness are the defining characteristics for this Government.  At the last election, David Cameron promised he would change Britain for the better and that we would all be in this together. He has failed on both counts.  He should get a grip of his out of touch Government, change course and stop making hard-pressed pensioners and families pay the price for his incompetence.”

To read the full BBC News article, click here: ‘MPs say lack of government strategy causing 'mistakes'’

 

Legal Aid Bill returns to the Lords today following the Government’s decision to vote down amendments last week

23 April 2012 

The Legal Aid Bill returns to the House of Lords today after the Government decided to vote down their previous amendments last week.

The amendments, which Michael voted for in the House of Commons, would have ensured that asbestos victims would not have to hand over 25 per cent of their damages to pay their legal bills and would also exempt all industrial disease cases from the new payment arrangements.

The Bill, without significant amendments, would make it more difficult for people to seek redress in the courts and Gillian Guy, the Chief Executive of Citizen’s Advice Bureau, has said that it is “those in greatest need who will suffer”. 

Michael has previously written to Secretary of State for Justice with his concerns and has said it is imperative that where abuse has occurred, victims have recourse to pursue justice. 

Michael wrote a blog post about this important issue a few months ago - click here to read the article.

 

LabourList: 'Another day, another Cameron re-launch'

23 April 2012 

Michael has written an article for LabourList this morning about David Cameron’s attempt to re-launch the Conservatives' local election campaign after weeks of awful headlines.

Click here to read the article: Another day, another Cameron re-launch

 

The campaign to save the Children’s Heart Unit in Leeds must continue despite the disappointing ruling by the Court of Appeal

20 April 2012 

Michael has said that the campaign to keep the Children’s Heart Unit in Leeds is far from over, despite a disappointing ruling by the Court of Appeal yesterday.    

A national review into paediatric cardiac units by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) started in 2008.  It aims to streamline and move paediatric congenital cardiac surgery services (PCCS) to fewer sites across England.  The Royal Brompton Hospital in London subsequently challenged the way the consultation was carried out by the JCPCT and claimed the review had been unfair.  But yesterday the Court of Appeal ruled that the consultation was lawful.  This decision means the review, which has been on hold for more than six months, can continue and a decision on the future of the unit in Leeds is now expected on 4 July. 

Last year, Michael submitted a response to the consultation on the review of children’s heart services to press the case for keeping the vital service in Leeds as opposed to moving all services for children with congenital heart problems in Barnsley to Newcastle or Liverpool.

Commenting on the latest development, Michael said:

“The ruling by the Court of Appeal is disappointing, but the campaign to save the Children’s Heart Unit in Leeds is far from over.  I think it is more important than ever that we keep up the pressure to retain the unit.  There is a clear case to keep the service in Leeds and I recently wrote again to the Chairman of the NHS committee responsible for making decisions about the future of children’s heart services in England and Health Minister Simon Burns MP.  

“Recent independent analysis of the views of patients, doctors and the public in Yorkshire and the Humber has reinforced the case for keeping the service in Leeds and found that the majority of people in the area would not choose to travel to Newcastle for treatment.

“Without the flow of patients from these populous areas of Yorkshire, Newcastle would not meet the annual minimum 400 surgical procedures deemed necessary for a safe and sustainable centre, let alone the optimal number of 500. I believe that this undermines the case for choosing Newcastle as the Specialist Surgical Centre and I am concerned that if it was chosen, it would soon prove, according to the JCPCT's own criteria, unsafe and unsustainable.  As a result, it could therefore have to close, leaving the region without any congenital cardiac surgical care whatsoever.

“The NHS Constitution enshrines the right for patients to make choices about their NHS care.  A configuration of Specialist Surgical Centres should therefore place a great deal of emphasis on the results of patient flow analysis.  All the problems of reconfiguration, such as extra distance and extra cost for individual families, are minimised if you move the doctors to the patients, not the patients to the doctors.”

 

This week told us everything we need to know about the Government’s priorities - and it’s bad news for Barnsley

20 April 2011

Blog post by Michael Dugher: 

New figures released this week by the Office for National Statistics revealed that unemployment in Barnsley has risen to over 7,500 – a 12 per cent increase in the last year.   There are now over 12 people on JSA chasing every job vacancy in Barnsley, compared to just four a year ago.  And the figures for youth unemployment are even more depressing.  The number of 18-24 year olds in Barnsley who have been out of work for more than 12 months has risen by a massive 142 per cent in just the last 12 months.   

Last month’s Budget could have taken urgent action to get Britain back to work, but instead we got tax cuts for millionaires.  It did nothing to help create jobs and growth and families and pensioners are now starting to find out just what this Government’s decisions will mean for their own budgets.

According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the changes that are coming into effect this month will leave a family with children worse off by an average of £511 a year.  New government figures also show that up to 5,000 families in Barnsley are set to lose all of their Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit.  This includes:  over 4,250 families on modest and middle incomes losing all of their Child Tax Credit – worth around £545 per year; and over 750 working couples earning less than around £17,000 per year potentially losing all of their Working Tax Credit – worth up to £3,870 per year – if they cannot increase their working hours.

Worst of all, it has been calculated that following these changes to working tax credit, thousands of couples with two children on the minimum wage will be better off quitting their jobs and living on benefits if they cannot work at least 19 hours per week.  This is not just unfair, it makes no economic sense. 

This week, there were a series of debates in Parliament on the Budget.  How the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats chose to vote tells you everything you need to know about this Government’s priorities....

Click here to read the rest of the article...

 

The number of young people in Barnsley unemployed for more than a year has risen by 142 per cent in the last year

18 April 2012 

Michael Dugher has said that rising youth unemployment has become a “scandal” in Barnsley after new figures released by the Office for National Statistics today reveal that the number of 18 to 24 year olds unemployed for more than 12 months has risen by 142 per cent in the last year.      

The new figures show that the level of youth unemployment in Barnsley is currently at 2,815, a 15 per cent increase in just the last 12 months.  

The new figures also show that the total number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) in Barnsley has risen sharply.  It now stands at 7,825 – a 12 per cent increase over 12 months.   There are now over 12 people on JSA are now chasing every job vacancy compared to four a year ago.   

There is widespread concern that the Government hasn’t been doing enough to provide the help required to prevent the spectre of a “lost generation” among those who have recently left school.  

As reported on the We Are Barnsley website and the South Yorkshire Times, Michael is putting pressure on the Government to introduce a youth unemployment scheme in Barnsley which would help over 375 young long-term unemployed people in the borough.  This “Real Jobs Guarantee” scheme would tackle the problem of long-term youth unemployment by providing a six-month paid placement, preferably in the private sector, for all 18-24 year olds who have been unemployed for more than twelve months. 

Michael has said that the Government could fund 25 hours of work per week at the national minimum wage and in return businesses would be expected to cover at least ten hours of training and development a week.   It has been calculated that the initiative could be paid for by a tax on bank bonuses.

Commenting on the new unemployment statistics, Mr Dugher, said:

“The Government has been warned about the rising problem of youth unemployment for over a year now, but it is just not doing enough.  It is a scandal that in Barnsley, the number of young people who have been unemployed for more than a year has risen by 142 per cent in the last year.    

“Last month’s budget should have taken big and bold action to get Britain back to work.  Instead we got a hand-out for millionaires and cuts to tax credits.  I am calling on the Government to introduce a “Real Jobs Guarantee” scheme, which would tackle the problem of long-term youth unemployment by providing a six-month paid placement, preferably in the private sector, for all 18-24 year olds who have been unemployed for more than twelve months.   This would help over 375 young long-term unemployed people in Barnsley, offering them real jobs, real opportunities and real responsibilities.”   

“We've had two years of excuses – it’s time for the Government to take decisive action to get people back into work.”

 

Sheffield Star: Families losing out on credits

16 April 2012 

As reported in the Sheffield Star last week, Michael has warned that nearly 5,000 families in Barnsley have lost out in changes to tax credits, according to government figures.

The cuts, which came into effect on 6 April, hit 4,250 families on middle incomes who lost their entire child tax credit, worth £545 a year.  Another 750 working couples earning less than £17,000 lost their working tax credit - worth up to £3,870 per year.

Click here to read the article: Families losing out on credits

 

Francis Maude boasts about trying to turn Britain into a “tax haven”

7 April 2012 

Francis Maude has caused further embarrassment for the Government after boasting that the Coalition wanted  to turn Britain into a  ‘tax haven’.

The embattled Cabinet Office minister said it would be a ‘compliment’ if Britain were seen as a place where foreigners or businesses paid little or no tax.

It is the latest gaffe by Mr Maude, who has faced calls to resign after creating panic by advising motorists to store fuel in jerry cans. 

Michael, quoted in The Sun, Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph and The Mirror, said: “Francis Maude goes from bad to worse. At the same time as the Government is cutting tax credits for working families, he seems to be aspiring for Britain to become like the Cayman Islands, where the wealthiest can hide their money.”

 

Over 5,000 families in Barnsley are set to lose all their tax credits

5 April 2012 

New government figures show that up to 5,000 families in Barnsley are set to lose all of their Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit from tomorrow (6 April 2012).  This includes:

• Over 4,250 families on modest and middle incomes losing all of their Child Tax Credit – worth around £545 per year.
  
• And over 750 working couples earning less than around £17,000 per year potentially losing all of their Working Tax Credit – worth up to £3,870 per year – if they cannot increase their working hours.

The figures also reveal that following tomorrow's changes to working tax credit, a couple with two children on the minimum wage will be better off quitting their jobs if they cannot work at least 19 hours per week.

According to new figures from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, families with children are set to lose an average of £511 a year due to changes to tax, benefits and tax credits being introduced from tomorrow. 

The analysis follows last month's Budget and is on top of tax rises already introduced, like last year's VAT rise which is costing a family with children an average of £450 per year.

Commenting, Michael said:

“This is a deeply unfair change from a government that is increasingly out of touch with parents feeling the squeeze and struggling to juggle work and family life.  It is just plain wrong to cut support for working families on low and middle incomes whilst handing out big tax cuts for millionaires.  

“And how can it be right to leave working parents trying to do the right thing better off if they quit their jobs.  We must always ensure that it pays to work. 

“But the Government’s policies are not just unfair, they are also not doing anything to help create economic growth or get the deficit down.  We desperately need action to get jobs and growth to Barnsley - the Government must change course now.”  

And the Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls, said today:

“For all the Government’s talk about increasing the personal allowance, these independent figures show that while they may be giving one with one hand they are taking much more away with the other hand. That is why families with children will be an average of £511 a year worse from tomorrow.

“This Government’s policies aren’t just unfair, they’re also not working on jobs, growth or the deficit. With the economy flatlining, unemployment soaring and £150 billion of extra borrowing to pay for this economy failure, raising taxes and cutting spending too far and too fast has backfired.

“We need a plan for job and growth, like Labour’s five point plan, to get our stalled economy moving again, get Britain back to work and get our deficit down.”

 

Michael sponsors Barnsley lad’s fundraising walk for soldier’s charity ABF

4 April 2012 

Michael, and fellow Barnsley MP Dan Jarvis, have sponsored Kieran Townend (12) to take part in a 9-mile walk around the Pen-y-ghent area of the Yorkshire Dales to help raise money for the soldier’s charity, A.B.F. (Army Benevolent Fund).  Kieran’s uncle, Graham Shaw, was tragically killed in Afghanistan two years ago.

Kieran will also be taking part in the walk with local councillor, Jim Andrews.    

Michael with Dan Jarvis MP, Kieran Townend and Cllr Jim Andrews

Michael said:  “Dan and I are very happy to sponsor Kieran on his fundraising walk.  We feel he is a great example to all young people in Barnsley and I am sure his uncle Graham would be extremely proud of him.”

 

Michael on BBC Sunday Politics show

1 April 2012 

Michael was on The Sunday Politics show today talking about the Government’s poor handling of the fuel dispute, the Bradford West by-election and party funding reform.

Click here to watch the interview on iplayer.

 

The Sunday Telegraph: David Cameron to face questions over meetings with fund raising group at Downing Street

1 April 2012 

The Sunday Telegraph is reporting today that David Cameron could have breached the ministerial code after it emerged that he held a meeting with members of a Conservative Party fund-raising group at 10 Downing Street.

Michael, who is quoted in the article, said: "This is further evidence that David Cameron is using Government buildings as his own personal fiefdom. This should be investigated and we will certainly be following this up."

Click here to read the full article.

 

Michael keeps up the pressure to maintain a Children’s Heart Service in Leeds

30 March 2012 

As reported in the Sheffield Star, Michael has written to the Chairman of the NHS committee responsible for making decisions about the future of children’s heart services in England and Simon Burns MP, the Health Minister responsible, to keep up the pressure to retain the unit at Leeds Hospital.

Last year, Michael submitted a response to the consultation on the review of children’s heart services to press the case for keeping the vital service in Leeds as opposed to moving all services for children with congenital heart problems in Barnsley to Newcastle or Liverpool.

Now independent analysis of the views of patients, doctors and the public in Yorkshire and the Humber has reinforced Michael’s case for keeping the service in Leeds, by finding that a majority of people in the area would not choose to travel to Newcastle for treatment.

Without patients from Barnsley and across Yorkshire travelling to Newcastle, the children’s heart unit there would not meet the annual minimum 400 surgical procedures deemed necessary for a safe and sustainable centre.

Michael believes that this undermines the case for choosing Newcastle as the Specialist Surgical Centre for children requiring heart surgery.  He is concerned that if Newcastle was to be chosen over Leeds, it would soon prove unsafe and unsustainable and as a result would have to close, leaving the region without any congenital cardiac surgical care whatsoever.

In his letter, Michael has urged the Chairman of the committee and the Minister to ensure that these findings are given due weight and consideration as part of their decision-making process. He recommends that the rights of patients to make choices about their NHS care should be recognised and that all the problems of reorganising service, such as extra distance and extra cost for individual families are minimised if they would move the doctors to the patients, not the patients to the doctors.

If you have any comments about the review of children’s heart services, please let Michael know so that he can pass on your concerns to the people making the decisions.

 

Michael encourages people to get involved with Barnsley Council’s library survey

30 March 2012 

Michael is encouraging people to back their local libraries and get involved with a Barnsley Council survey regarding the future of libraries in the borough. 

The council has said it wants to make sure that Barnsley libraries “continue to play a central role in communities by providing an efficient service for everyone who wants to use it”.

A questionnaire has already been sent to a random sample of residents and now all Barnsley residents can go online to have their say on the borough’s library service.

Commenting, Michael said:

“There are some great libraries in Barnsley East, such as Worsbrough and Darfield.  I think it is important that people who utilise all the great services that our local libraries provide get involved with this survey so that we can let the council know how much the community uses and values them.  To complete the survey online just visit: http://consult.barnsley.gov.uk/public/adcs/as/libraries/users.” 

 

Criticism of the government grows as it is accused of causing panic

29 March 2012 

The Government has been criticised for causing panic with the Prime Minister calling an emergency Cobra meeting and Ministers advising the public to store jerry cans of petrol.

Queues have formed at petrol stations as demand for fuel shot up after ministers called for people to top-up their cars.  

Michael, quoted in the Metro and Sky News, said: “Cobra is supposed to meet to deal with a national crisis - not to help a prime minister distract attention away from a political crisis". He also called the Government’s handling of the situation “completely irresponsible” during an interviewed on Jeremy Vine’s BBC Radio 2 show.  To listen to the interview, click here and scroll to 0:10.     

 

Michael interviewed on BBC Today Programme, Daybreak and Daily Politics about the “Cash for Access” scandal surrounding the Prime Minister

26 March 2012 

Michael has called for an independent inquiry into allegations over cash for access to the Prime Minister.  Speaking on the Today programme (scroll to 3:00), Daybreak, Radio 5 Live, Sky News, BBC News and the Daily Politics today, he said that an internal Conservative Party inquiry into newspaper revelations that its former co-treasurer Peter Cruddas offered policy influence in return for donations was not good enough.

Mr Cruddas was secretly filmed saying that a donation of £200,000 or £250,000 gave "premier league" access to party leaders, including private dinners with Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne. He also suggested that any such donor could have their feedback on political plans fed back to Downing Street policy makers.

Commenting on the allegations surrounding the Prime Minister, Michael said:

"Time and again the Tory party has been the obstacle to capping donations from wealthy individuals. Now it appears obvious why.

"This week the Tory-led government gave tax cuts to millionaires but forced pensioners and hard-working families to pay more.  We now hear the Tory treasurer boasting that some of these same millionaires who got a tax cut in the Budget this week can buy a seat at the private Downing Street dinner parties of David Cameron and George Osborne through donations worth hundreds of pounds to the Conservative Party.

"Those same donors are being apparently promised that policy concerns will be fast-tracked to the highest levels of the Tory party and the Government.

"Pensioners, the young unemployed and squeezed middle families cannot afford to buy this sort of access or influence which is just another reason why this government is out of touch with the overwhelming majority of British people.”

As reported in the Telegraph, Mirror, Guardian, Independent, Reuters UK, Metro, Daily Mail and BBC News, Michael has also written to the Prime Minister demanding that he discloses what policy representations Tory donors have made at lunches and dinners at Downing Street, Chequers or Dorneywood since May 2010.  He has also called for further transparency and for meetings between big donors and the No10 Policy Unit to be published.

 

Michael says Labour’s youth jobs scheme would help almost 2000 young people in South Yorkshire

23 March 2012 

As reported in the South Yorkshire Times today, Michael is urging the Government to introduce a youth unemployment scheme in South Yorkshire which would help almost 2000 young long-term unemployed people across the region.   

Labour’s "Real Jobs Guarantee" scheme would tackle the problem of long-term youth unemployment by providing a six-month paid placement, preferably in the private sector, for all 18-24 year olds who have been unemployed for more than twelve months.

The Government could fund 25 hours of work per week at the national minimum wage and in return businesses would be expected to cover at least ten hours of training and development a week.   It has been calculated that the initiative could be paid for by a tax on bank bonuses.

Recent unemployment figures have shown that long-term youth unemployment across South Yorkshire (more than 12 months) has risen from 920 to 1980 in the past year – an increase of 115 per cent. 

Michael said:

“The Government is clearly failing to take action to tackle the growing problem of long-term youth unemployment.  In the last year alone, the number of young people in South Yorkshire aged between 18 and 24 who have been unemployed for more than 12 months has increased by 115 per cent. 

“With this “Real Jobs Guarantee” scheme, young people would be offered real jobs, real opportunities and real responsibilities.  It would not only provide work opportunities, but also ensure that companies provide at least ten hours of training and development per week.   It would be a real investment in our young people.  

“The scheme would not just be a free ride either.  Those who didn’t take advantage of the opportunity would face sanctions and potentially lose their Jobs Seeker’s Allowance for three months.

“Ministers need to wake up to the jobs crisis they're responsible for, take urgent action and implement this scheme that would help almost 2000 long-term unemployed young people in South Yorkshire.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Yorkshire Times, Thursday 22 March 2012

 

Cabinet Office Questions – 21 March 2012

21 March 2012 

Michael asked a question to the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, today during Cabinet Office Questions.  Michael asked:

"Last week Mark Taylor, co-chair of the “New Suppliers to Government” panel advising the Minister on SMEs, resigned saying: Government contracts to SMEs were “drying up”; things were “going backwards”; that SMEs were “finding it more difficult to do business with Government"; and he accused the Government of "recounting" its figures.

"Given that the Minister has admitted the Government is nowhere near its promised target of 25 per cent, can he explain why it is that the proportion of procurement spend going to SMEs is actually falling at: DECC, DCMS, BIS, Health, Education, Transport, HMRC, Defra, DfID and the Treasury?"

To watch the exchange, click here and scroll to 19:30.

 

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