May 2024 – Stephen Cummins for MP

Stephen 0 Comment

Southend against Sewage

I was at the Surfers Against Sewage Paddle Out on the 18th of May.

Yes, that’s me holding the sign in the green t-shirt with the casettes on it. Possibly should have worn a shirt if I’d known I’d be posting the photo! The solution to problems like this in our society, come down to us using the law to control the worst extremes of capitalism. Water and Sanitation is a human right. Here’s is what we the Liberal Democrats will change to make clean water happen and compel water companies to work for us.

Scrap Ofwat. We, the Lib Dems, want to completely overhaul the industry by scrapping the regulator Ofwat and turning water companies into “public benefit companies” that put the environment before profits. Below is Lib Dem MP Tim Farron on Radio 4’s Today programme, talking about our plans to get sewage out of rivers and off our beaches. (I added this radio interview the 30th of May).

Get the Tories out of power. There is no hope of change from the Tories. In April 2024, Conservative and Labour MPs, including Anna Firth, voted to further weaken Ofwat’s powers to do something about the water companies. Here are the details. We can have clean rivers, fair water prices and infrastructure investment. Only about 120 miles east of Essex in the Netherlands, 100% of sewage is treated in line with EU legislation. In the UK it is what? We don’t even know!

Surfers Against Sewage have stood up for clean water for many years, thank you to them!

Stephen 0 Comment

The right to be WASPI

The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign was started because many women born in the 1950s were unfairly affected by changes to the state pension age. In 1995, the Tory government decided to equalise the state pension age for men and women, raising it from 60 to 65. However, these changes were implemented with little notice, leaving many women with insufficient time to adjust their retirement plans. As a result, these women faced unexpected financial hardship and uncertainty. The WASPI campaign seeks to address this injustice by demanding fair compensation and better communication from the government regarding future pension changes.

WASPI crowdfunded £100,000 to pay for legal action in order to challenge these changes. Justice is not at all ‘open’ in this country. We all have a right to agitate and protest. We can be WASPS and I stand with these women.

Finally, WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) have won their case and should be compensated immediately by the incoming government, following the ombudsman’s recommendations. It only amounts to between about £1,000 and £3,000 each. It’s especially frustrating that The State Pension Age (Compensation) Bill was dropped due to the general election being called when far less important bills were pushed through.

The UK Government saved £200 billion by equalising the State Pension age at 66, yet the lack of resolution for the 3.8 million WASPI women affected has been disgraceful. The Liberal Democrats have consistently supported WASPI in their campaign, and it is now up to the new government – whoever we the people choose – to present a plan to ensure these women receive the compensation they are owed.

Stephen 0 Comment

National Service plan

National Service recruits in the RAF. Imperial War Museum / Non Commercial License Even the men who served don’t think we should bring it back.

The Liberal Democrats have warned that the Conservative Party’s plans to spend £2.5 billion on National Service would lead to cuts to vital services in Southend.

The Conservatives have said their plans would be paid for by slashing funding for local areas through the Shared Prosperity Fund from 2028-29, which funds projects that boost jobs and living standards, improve public services and build pride in local communities.

This fund has provided £1,338,755 of funding for Southend from 2022 to 2025. Thirteen local projects have been funded, but details have not been published by the council yet.

The Liberal Democrats said it showed the Conservative Party had completely the wrong priorities, and called on the government to reverse their plans to slashed troop numbers by 10,000 instead.

The Conservative Party has already done so much damage to people’s living standards and public services in Southend with all their chaos. Now they want to slash funding for local services to pay for their hare-brained plans for a National Service, which are nothing but a desperate distraction from the government’s record of failure on the NHS and economy.

If the Conservatives were serious about defending Britain’s security, they would reverse their plans to cut the Army by 10,000 troops.

Stephen 0 Comment

Dogs on the Beach

This is about more than dogs on the beach. It is about the special relationship between humans and their dogs and our rights to free roam on the shore. Yes, the council can legally stop us from going on the beach during the summer and yes dog poo is bad. We almost had a solution three years ago when 58% supported it. This time the consultation didn’t even mention a dog beach. How is a that a fair consultation?

However. Who’s beach is it? It’s everyone’s. I’d include all plants and animals in that too. The environment needs to be respected and protected. A minority, according to the council’s own consultations are stopping the rest of us using this beautiful and free amenity. We have even proposed a compromise, only a small part of the 7 mile stretch? The answer was still no.

I’ve been fighting this for years, and I’ll keep fighting it. It has only been in place 15 years. Early humans were in Kent on the Thames Estuary over half million years ago.

The PSPO (Public Space Protection Order) has been renewed for another 3 years. It is disproportionate and unreasonable, but we can’t afford to bring it to court and petitions, consultations and protests have done nothing. I think the council sees our beach as an asset to sell to visitors on behalf of a narrow about of businesses in the area. I’m all for businesses and making a living, but some balance is needed. Dare I say it, a more Liberal and Democratic balance…

You can join the Southend Dog Beach Campaign here. Remember, every dog has it’s day.

Stephen 1 Comment

Art in Leigh

Old Leigh really is the jewel in the crown of Southend West and I intend to keep it that way. We also have a wonderful array of creative artists producing sublimely beautful works inspired by our lovely Estuary.

I was there today and took some photos. Then had a well-earned beer in the Peterboat.

Stephen 0 Comment

General Election called

The power finally returns to the people. The 4th of July will come fast. It is an opportunity to change from the Conservative Party in Southend West and Leigh. Maybe it seems like we’ve always had a Tory MP, even back to the Guinness-on-Sea days. Change is gonna come, and good things come to those who wait. Like a good pint of Guinness.

Vote now for things actually getting better. Our future is back in our control.

Stephen 2 Comment

Who is Stephen?

I’m delighted to introduce myself as your Liberal Democrat candidate for Southend West & Leigh.

When people hear “Liberal Democrat,” I want them to think of hopeful and positive politics. Our party wants to make a society where everyone can live their best life in a free and fair community. We are a collaborative party and will bring success to Southend and the wider South Essex area by working with other progressive parties. Just like we do on the Southend city council in our coalition with Labour and the Independents.

I was born in England and grew up in Ireland. In a way, I’m a returning immigrant with roots here. I live and work in Southend and have done so for almost 10 years. I came here initially for contract work at Southend Borough Council but fell in love with the Thames estuary, the quality of life here and the friendly people. My daughter attended Eastwood Academy where I served as a governor. I set up a residents’ association where we initially lived on San Remo Parade and started the Southend Dog Friendly Beach campaign. I also ran for the local council in West Leigh. Additionally, I’m studying part-time for a Master of Laws (LLM) in Human Rights and Family Law. I work from my home on Victoria Avenue for an asset management company in the City of London as an Information Architect. For fun, I run a book club and a synthesizer club at Anke’s Tea and Coffee Lounge in Westcliff.

If you’ve seen me around, you’ll know I have a disability. It is called PFFD which means I have short legs and walk on crutches. You’ll see me most days flying along the Chalkwell Esplanade on a skateboard with my three small dogs, Georgie, Gizmo and Tinx. My wife and I’s favourite thing to do is sit at the Saltwater Beach Cafe and chat to our friends and neighbours and pat their dogs. Being disabled hasn’t stopped me from living a full life, but it has given me a greater empathy for others. I understand the struggles we face to live well, protect our loved ones, and show kindness and compassion. We need more equality and fairness in our society, not selfishness and greed. Not everything’s value can be measured in pounds and pence.

It may seem impossible to shift from a Conservative MP in Southend, but the Tories are now unrecognisable compared to the party they were a decade ago. They have failed to protect our beautiful estuary, our local economy, our health service and the safety and security of our families. With a new government in July, my focus as your MP will be to challenge the parliamentary decisions that shape our lives. Voters now have a rare opportunity to choose a fresh start to secure our future in Southend West and Leigh. Trust me with your vote and let’s do this together. To follow my campaign, visit http://www.stephencummins.org.uk

Stephen 0 Comment

Grrrl Power

Grrrl Zine Fair started in 2015 as a way to bring together feminist self-publishing through an event. They create events, workshops, and zines and manage a queer and feminist zine library based in Southend at the Old Waterworks. Organiser is Lu Williams, the artist who makes zines and curates the library. Ably assisted by her dog, Poly.

They bring girls, women, transgender, non-binary, and gender-fluid people to the forefront, prioritizing their voices through events, commissioning new artworks, hosting zine and skill-sharing workshops, talks, and occasionally curating exhibitions.

Hand-making a paper magazine to share with like-minded creatives is more like something I did in the 1980’s so it’s good to see this grass-roots cool stuff is still happening.

Many being students I asked them would they vote Liberal Democrat? They said no, they’d rather vote for the Green Party. There’s a lesson there: the young remember and once trust is gone, it is gone forever. Maybe if we can come up with some way to undo our mistake, like debt forgiveness, increasing the threshold when it kicks in or simply paying it instead of the student is the solution.

Education is a right not a product to be sold. Parents like my wife and I have already paid for my daughter’s university education through my taxes. Not to mention other sons and daughters’ educations. That’s how it should be in a liberal democracy.

Stephen 0 Comment

What is Liberalism anyway?

Depends who you ask! Americans fighting for Independence would have said it is to be free or die trying. France would have it being about a free-market, Canada Trudeau’s government which grew out of reformists.

So what about here in the UK? We had Tories vs Liberals for in some form hundreds of years. The Conservatives evolved from the traditional long-haired, pro-king Cavaliers and the liberals from the short-haired Roundheads.

It has always been a fight of new vs old, tradition vs modernity, looking forward vs looking back, looking inward of our national border vs looking outward.

When Labour came along, it was another shift: to the idea that the people who work drive society, not the parasitic capitalists. This change made the Liberals almost become extict. The last Liberal government in in England was their landslide victory 1906 against the Tories.

In May 2024, it’s more about how authoritarian a party is and how much for social justice vs freedom they are. A libertarian in America would say no to big government, basically a survival of the fittest approach to society. Socialism and Communism are seen as ways to take away your freedoms.

But there’s freedom to and freedom from. For us all to be really free we need to restrain the worst excesses of Capitalism or we’re back to a world of child labour slavery and a life that is, as Hobbes said ‘nasty, brutish and short’ We give up some freedom to gain more. For example, we’ll stop at a Red traffic light so that motorists generally including us don’t get maimed or killed in a car crash.

The chart here on Political Compass shows we the Lib Dems are balanced on societal freedom vs justice/equality. We’re a bit more to the right on Economic policy, so not against personal wealth but not for everyone giving up everything they have.

The compass is constantly moving though and different everywhere you go in the world though. It is not an exact science.

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Monthly Archives: May 2024