Armed Forces Day 2024

You might say ‘hey Stephen, you sound Irish, how could you be supporting armed forces day? Today, I’m thinking of my Great-grandfather who never came back to my Great-grandmother and their children. Henry Cummins’ name is on the Menin Gate and was killed in the Ypres Salient of The Great War. His remains never found, but commemorated every day with a last post with the other 40,000 on that cenetaph. He was in the Leinster regiment. The conflict between Ireland and the UK is over now and I want to remember the past but not relive it.

So today, on Armed Forces Day in the UK, we should:

• Honour Service Members: Recognize the bravery and dedication of those in the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Remember Veterans: Pay tribute to veterans for their past service and ongoing contributions.
• Support Families: Acknowledge the sacrifices made by military families.
• Reflect on History: Understand the historical role of the Armed Forces in securing peace and security.
• Engage with the Community: Participate in local events to show support.
• Raise Awareness: Learn about the challenges faced by military personnel.
• Support Charities: Consider donating to organisations that help service members and their families.
• Promote Peace: Reflect on the efforts made by the Armed Forces to maintain peace.

By focusing on these aspects, we can show our appreciation and support for the men and women who serve our country. Like Abraham Lincoln said at Gettysburg that we should resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain and we should dedicate ourselves to …

“a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.“

#MartinOut

Southend United deserves better. See here for the Shrimper’s Trust’s latest statement. https://www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/latest-news/statements/

Grays Athletic FC, were without grounds when theirs was sold to developers in 2010. But now they have their own again. I don’t want that to happen to Southend United, but there is some comfort in knowing this year Grays Athletic FC got their own grounds. Maybe a shrimp can rise from the ashes like a phoenix too? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-66900687

Hustings Southend West & Leigh

A fantastic set of questions, very deep and straight to the point on what matters to people in this election.

If anyone wants more clarity on what I said, email me at stephen@stephencummins.org.uk

I think the best answer came from Tilly responding the Anna on the topic of food banks. You can see it in the video above at 32:23.

A huge thank you to Leigh Road Baptist Church along with the Churches Together in Leigh-on-Sea group for hosting these hustings last night, 24th June 2024

What will be my FIRST act as your MP?

Original public domain image from Wikimedia Commons

Stop the sewage dumping. How? The first practical step a Member of Parliament (MP) can take to stop companies like Anglian Water dumping sewage into waterways like the Thames estuary is to introduce new leglislation containing the following:

1. Sewage Tax: Introducing a tax on the £2.2 billion annual profits of water companies to ensure they are financially responsible for cleaning up their own mess.
2. Ban on Executive Bonuses: Prohibiting bonuses for water company executives until the sewage dumping problem is resolved.
3. Real Enforcement: Strengthening enforcement to ensure compliance and investing in infrastructure to eliminate the overspill system, treating and filtering every drop of wastewater.

For more detailed information, you can check their official manifesto on sewage policy​ (Liberal Democrats)​.

Leaflet to the voters in Southend West & Leigh

Dropping leaflets through a letter box rather than an inbox is still an important part of the democratic process. This is what I’m sending the people in my constituency to convey what I want to do on theri behalf.

Protest vs business

While I was getting my anti-sewage ice cream, the police showed up and a man from Scoop berated the campaigners for taking his business: he paid rates and rent and it wasn’t fair.

I said to him cleaner water means more visitors and more ice cream sold. He melted away.

So how do you balance protest for the greater good with a local business which is also good? I think the campaigners would not have made a big difference. How many people today didn’t buy an ice cream because they got a free one. I saw about 10 people. But they may not have bought one.

So there is a price to pay for democracy. Maybe if they just pretended to give away ice cream? But that might have annoyed people coming g over to the ice cream van! I don’t know.

Fancy a free poo coloured ice cream?

On Tuesday the 18th, “Sewage sundaes” will be handed out on Southend’s seafront to highlight the pollution on the city’s beaches. The campaign, organised by 38 Degrees, features free poo-themed ice cream to draw attention to sewage discharges in Southend’s estuary and other waterways and to demand action from the next government.

Matthew McGregor, chief executive of 38 Degrees, stated, “Summer holidays are approaching, but our seaside is threatened. While our ice creams won’t actually contain human waste, the point is serious. The people of Southend deserve clean seas. We’ll be collecting signatures for a petition demanding the next Prime Minister address sewage spills.”

This protest follows a significant increase in sewage spills by Anglian Water in 2023. Local beachgoers and swimmers have recently rallied near Southend Pier with Surfers Against Sewage, calling for cleaner seas.

I’m meeting up with them at 11.30am on Marine Parade if you’d like to come along.

The plan to stop the Sh*t in our waters

It is not hard to do. The water companies are just not doing it and the outgoing government didn’t make them. And I include Anna Firth and James Duddridge. Whatever they promise or say, this is what they have actually done. No more. The Lib Dems will work for you to stop this irresponsible greed. We’re being listened to as well.

How?

1. New Water Regulator

2. Ban on Executive Bonuses.

3. Local Environmental Experts & Community involvement. We hold them accountable. We measure the water quality not them.

The government’s Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan aimed to gradually stop pollution from untreated sewage overflows But it was useless. Overflows still expected to spill untreated sewage by 2040.

The solution is: remove the overspill system entirely, treat, clean and filter every drop. Stop wasting money on CEOs, Directors, Contractors, invest in your network.

And don’t forget who doesn’t work for you.

Stakeboards not skateboards

Like the poster? We have also the diamond shaped ones for windows and even stakeboards (not skateboards!) Let me know if you’d like some delivered to put up at your home, I’ll even drop them over myself!