Flyer article, April 2016 by Mione Goldspink

April, 2016.

Local Matters with Mione Goldspink

The discussion and debate about the EU Referendum is now well underway. As a Liberal Democrat, I am in favour of Great Britain staying IN the European Union. I do believe that we are stronger together, with other European countries as our partners, than when we stand alone. We have much more influence over world affairs when we are part of a bigger bloc than we would ever have as just a little off-shore island. I do not pretend that the EU is perfect - far from it - but I strongly believe that we have a better chance of bringing about reform if we are inside the club, rather than being on the outside.

There are many excellent reasons for voting to stay IN the EU, but I will list only 5 of them:

1) Prosperity: - there are millions of jobs which are linked to our trade with other EU countries, and over 200,000 businesses. Almost 45% of the goods and services which we sell abroad go to other EU members and 53% of the goods we import come from the EU -exempt from tariffs, which makes the goods cheaper for us as consumers.

2) Freedom to travel and work across all the member states. This opens up fantastic opportunities for many different British people, and it benefits the Scientific Research community enormously.

3) Protecting the environment and combating Climate Change. Greenhouse gases are no respecters of national borders - these problems can be tackled much more efficiently when we work together.

4) Security: - We are stronger together in our fight against terrorists as we can share information more quickly and efficiently. The European Arrest warrant also brings benefits in catching criminals and rapidly bringing them to justice.

5) Peace across Europe. After all the suffering and waste of life in two World Wars the European Union has brought co-operation and peace.

These are some of the reasons why I shall be voting to stay IN on 23rd.June.

I must comment again on the Conservative Government's dismal provision of affordable housing. A Local Government Association report, which was published at the beginning of March, showed that many Councils fear that the Tory Housing Bill will cause a sell-off of homes, and these will never be replaced, and as a result there will be a massive increase in homelessness. Why on earth did the Government not consult properly before it produced this new Bill? The shortage of affordable housing to rent in East Herts was documented in a Housing Needs Survey presented in November 2015. When I asked a Public Question about this at Full Council meeting on March 2nd I was told that the Council holds the provision of affordable housing as a "Top priority" and yet it has no specific plans for any action! It claims that it is prevented from providing new housing by Government Regulations. What is wrong with the Council? What is wrong with the Government? Can't they see the misery that this lack of housing is causing? I understand that our MP, Mark Prisk visited the Night Shelter in Bishop's Stortford and met some homeless people. We live in a very affluent part of the country, where there is an appalling lack of affordable housing and a need for a Night Shelter. I wonder if Mark Prisk might be able to do something to help?

Mione Goldspink. (Chairman Bishop's Stortford Liberal Democrats).

email: mionegoldspink@hotmail.com