Tag: Stewart Jackson

Peterborough The Self-Harm Capital Of The Prison Estate

07:07 Friday 26th April 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Peterborough Prison had the highest amount of self-harm incidents in the whole of the UK in 2012. More than 1200 incidents were recorded last year. That’s more than 400 more than the next worst prison, Foston Hall In Derby. 24 self-harm incidents were recorded every week at the prison last year. Now Andrew Nielson Director of Campaigns at the Howard League For Penal Reform, which is a charity working for less crime, safer communities, and fewer people in prison, he’s with us this morning. Andrew, morning.
ANDREW NIELSON: Morning.
PAUL STAINTON: First of all I suppose, your reaction to these figures.
ANDREW NIELSON: Shocking obviously that Peterborough tops the table. There is some positive news in that the national figure of self-harm incidents in prisons has gone slightly down. But why Peterborough is top? I think they ke point, and I think it actually relates to another story you’ve got today about the Dawn Project, working with women, is that Peterborough holds both men and women. And while self-harm in custody is a problem found across the board, there’s absolutely no doubt that it’s the biggest problem with women in prison. Continue reading “Peterborough The Self-Harm Capital Of The Prison Estate”

Tears Before Bedtime – Jail For Chris Huhne

09:10 Tuesday 12th March 2013
Andy Harper Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY HARPER: So, both Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce have begun their sentences of eight months imprisonment for perverting the course of justice following a speeding offence. Now irrespective of your feelings for the pair, do you think this is an appropriate sentence, given the complaints about lenient sentences in relation to other crimes?.. There’s been a lot of talk recently about lenient sentencing for crimes regarded as being of a violent nature. For example, the man who kicked the Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson and smashed a bus shelter was given a twelve week jail sentence, suspended for a year. So, is jail the answer in this case? And what does it feel like, waking up on your first morning behind bars? Well Noel Smith was in Whitemoor between 2000 and 2003, after being jailed for bank robbery and possession of firearms. He’s now the Commissioning Editor of Inside Time newspaper. Noel, a very good morning to you. Continue reading “Tears Before Bedtime – Jail For Chris Huhne”

2015 A War Of Words

08:38 Friday 1st March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: So, the LibDems are cock-a-hoop this morning after holding on to Eastleigh in Hampshire in the Parliamentary by-election, caused of course by that resignation of former Cabinet Member Chris Huhne. Mike Thornton retained the seat with a much reduced majority, whilst their Coalition partners the Tories were pushed into third place by the rise of Ukip, who recorded their best ever Westminster result, made in Ramsey of course, master minded by Lisa Duffy. Labour finished an incredibly distant fourth. Well the LibDem’s Leader Simon Hughes was a relieved man. (TAPE)
SIMON HUGHES: I’m very pleased as well as relieved of course. We worked well. We didn’t squeak in by 50 votes or 500 votes. It was a majority of nearly 2,000. Mike was an excellent candidate. He had a credibility locally to fight a good campaign. It was a consolation that, in government, this was the first time since we’ve been in the Government, we defended one of our seats. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well, victory for the LibDems, but Ukip are claiming the moral victory, annd Ramsey councillor Peter Reeve hailed the result as a huge step forward for the Party. (TAPE)
PETER REEVE: Before, Ukip was very much seen as a party against the EU. But people are actually paying attention to what we’re saying. The media’s giving the coverage to what we’re saying. And I think when people look at us and actually get a chance to really appreciate what it is that Ukip are saying, they suddenly realise that, oh my goodness, there’s a party saying exactly what I think. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well as I mentioned, Labour finished a very distant fourth, a result they say is “impressive” considering their previous results in that constituency. So is this just a protest vote, or is it a defining moment in UK politics? Have people had enough of the status quo, and are beginning, like they are in Italy, to look for alternatives? Let’s speak to Stewart Jackson, the Conservative MP for Peterborough. Are you worried this morning Stewart? Continue reading “2015 A War Of Words”

Peterborough For Sale

08:16 Monday 18th February 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

(MUSIC: ANY OLD IRON)

PAUL STAINTON: If you live in the North of the county you might have to start learning Cockney. Bridge Street, wreck your feet says David Bailey. Grin and bear, Cathedral; Square says Catherine. It’s always closed – it’s the bish bash bosh, the Whittlesea Wash. You get the idea, a bit of Cockney. Well Peterborough’s MP has slammed plans that would allow a London borough to build houses in Peterborough. The City Council is in talks with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The idea is that it might help young Londoners get on the housing ladder. Marco Cereste joins us now. Morning.
MARCO CERESTE: Hello Paul.. How are you?
PAUL STAINTON: I’m .. I’m fine.
MARCO CERESTE: Good. Continue reading “Peterborough For Sale”

Transportation Of People – The Tale That Grew In The Telling

17:00 FRIDAY 15th February 2013
News BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

KERRY DEVINE: Leaders of the second richest local authority in the country reportedly want to buy land in Peterborough to build homes for people on its housing waiting list. The average price of a house in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is more than one and a half million pounds, while in Peterborough that figure is just over £160,000. Ben Stevenson has more. Continue reading “Transportation Of People – The Tale That Grew In The Telling”

Catastrophic PFI Contracts Threaten Cambridgeshire Health Services

08:24 Thursday 7th February 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: MPs have delivered their verdict on what has been described as one of the worst reports ever seen within the NHS. “Catastrophic” was a word used to describe the Private Finance Initiative for Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Trust. The future of two of the county’s hospitals is inow in doubt, although we have heard this morning that Peterborough will not be closed. Stewart Jackson MP for Peterborough has that guarantee from the Health Minister. But regional health bosses and the Labour Government have been blamed for what went wrong here. Earlier, MP for Peterborough Stewart Jackson, who called for the investigation by the Public Accounts Committee, had this to say. (TAPE)
STEWART JACKSON: I’ve had a personal guarantee from Secretary of State that Peterborough Hospital will not be closed. It’s not a situation where either of the hospitals are likely to be closed. But there will be some difficult decisions, reconfigurations, and some cuts in clinical services, to keep jobs and clinical care at the Hospital. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: He also went on to say he didn’t think either hospital would close. But he went on to blame other people for what was going on, including the last Labour Government, and said that Andy Burnham, the Health Minister at the time, needs to be called to account. Well we can speak to Ed Murphy. He was the Labour Parliamentary Candidate in Peterborough at the least election. So Labour have to shoulder some blame here Ed, for what they did, and particularly Andy Burnham. Continue reading “Catastrophic PFI Contracts Threaten Cambridgeshire Health Services”

Stewart Jackson On Gay Marriage

11:20 Monday 4th February 2013
Andy Harper Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[A]NDY HARPER: Now I know that we have talked about this before, but we are now on the eve of this debate in Parliament. The Times leads with “Tory gay marriage rebels are told you are out of touch.” Do you think you are out of touch with the general public and your constituents?
STEWART JACKSON: Absolutely not. I’ve had about 350 letters and emails about this issue, over 300 have expressed a very strong opposition to the proposals and the legislation, including some very high up officials in the Anglican Church living in my constituency, and about less than 20 in favour. And my view is that if the legislation is of such great importance, then why wasn’t it in our manifesto, and why isn’t it in our forthcoming manifesto for the 2015 election. Not one Conservative Member of Parliament was elected on a mandate to disregard traditional marriage and force a hierarchy of equalities, whereby equal marriage campaigners are saying your religious tolerance is less important than my right to get married to a same-sex person. And I think that’s absolutely the wrong attitude. It’s unnecessary. There’s no mandate. And it will cause endless legal problems in our society. Continue reading “Stewart Jackson On Gay Marriage”

Immigration And The Housing Shortage

17:41 Friday 18th January 2013
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: According to the Peterborough Conservative MP Stewart Jackson, the Government isn’t doing enough to prepare for the arrival of migrants from Bulgaria and Romania next year. It’s after MigrationWatch released figures suggesting up to 50,000 people could come here next year, when they get the right of free movement across the EU. The Communities Secretary Eric Pickles admitted that more migrants would have an impact on social and affordable homes. So we thought we’d try and shed some light on this, and find out what effect migration has already had on housing in Cambridgeshire. (TAPE)
ERIC PICKLES: The truth is I don’t think anybody entirely knows the number that are going to come from Bulgaria and from Romania. Given that we’ve got a housing shortage, any influx is going to cause problems, not just in terms of the housing market, but also on social housing markets. Continue reading “Immigration And The Housing Shortage”