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.“
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:
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.
Ban on Executive Bonuses: Prohibiting bonuses for water company executives until the sewage dumping problem is resolved.
Real Enforcement: Strengthening enforcement to ensure compliance and investing in infrastructure to eliminate the overspill system, treating and filtering every drop of wastewater.
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.
Protesting Sewage in the Sea with free ice cream – but taking money from local businesses selling ice cream…
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.
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.
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.
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!
I was at the Southend-on-Sea Indian Street Food Carnival yesterday and it was fantastic food, dancing and fun.
We constantly hear about ‘stopping the boats’ and how migration is bad. That migrants are a strain on our schools and hospitals and benefit cheats. We never hear about the good migrants bring to our society. Just like the rest of us, they give much more than they take. Migrants contribute £4.7 billion more in taxes than they receive in benefits, bolstering public finances and funding essential services like healthcare and education.
The terms “refugee”, “asylum seeker” and “migrant” are not the same. A refugee is someone fleeing serious risk to their lives. An asylum seeker is someone waiting to be legally categorised as a refugee. People the Tories just leave on boats or in hotels. In inhumane conditions. It is shameful.
Migrants are more generally people who go from one country to another. For lots of reasons: to be with family, to work, to start a new life, escape natural disasters, all kinds of reasons.
And they are good for the UK. Migrants help balance the UK’s aging population. In 2020, 48% of migrants were aged 25-44, compared to 26% of the UK-born population, contributing to the workforce and supporting public services.
International students bring in £25.9 billion annually and enhance the academic environment with diverse perspectives, preparing all students for a globalised world.
Migrants play a crucial role in the NHS and tech industry. Over 13% of NHS staff are non-British, ensuring the healthcare system runs smoothly. In tech, skilled migrants drive innovation and competitiveness.
Migrants are twice as likely to start businesses compared to UK-born people. Their entrepreneurial ventures create jobs and stimulate local economies, contributing significantly to our economic vitality.
Immigration enriches the UK’s cultural landscape. London alone hosts over 300 languages, making it one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. Festivals, cuisines, and artistic expressions from around the globe thrive in the UK.
Migrants revitalise economically declining areas. Their presence can lead to a 20% increase in property values and support local businesses, creating more vibrant communities.
The Conservatives have broken our immigration system. Their restrictive rules prevent employers from hiring needed workers and keep families apart. The asylum backlog has soared, and public confidence is shattered. The Home Office is failing.
The Conservatives have closed safe routes for asylum seekers. They created the small boats situation. Only 299 people used this route in 2018. Over 10,000 have crossed so far this year.
We Liberal Democrats propose a fair, effective immigration system that treats everyone with dignity. Key measures include:
Ending the Conservatives’ Hostile Environment and investing in officers, training, and technology to combat smuggling and trafficking.
Transferring work visa, student visa, and asylum powers from the Home Office to other departments, with a new unit to process applications swiftly and accurately.
Repealing the Illegal Migration Act and providing safe, legal routes for refugees to prevent dangerous Channel crossings.
Tackling the asylum backlog with a dedicated unit outside the Home Office, setting a three-month processing standard for most claims, and speeding up returns of those without a right to stay.
Allowing asylum seekers to work if they wait more than three months for a decision, helping them support themselves, integrate, and contribute through taxes.
The UK has a proud tradition of welcoming newcomers, enriching our economy, culture, and communities. Let’s keep it that way for all our benefit.
I met Bayo Alaba at the Surfers against Sewage protest and he was an absolute gentleman. We may have been standing for different parties but he treated me, a disabled person with complete respect and I have nothing but respect for him in return. Standing for different parties makes no difference to that. We stood together on the beach against sewage in our community.
I don’t get angry about much, but the way the representatives of the local conservative party have spoken about him, been caught doing it and then cynically apologising is not acceptible in a civilised society. Coconut is a racist term. It is describing someone as black on the outside and white on the inside. I hate even having to type that. You can see the exchange below between Conservative Cllr Reece Smith and Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Gavin Haran. Just imagine what they say that hasn’t been captured in black and white.
Here he is getting a photo taken with Anna Firth and Ron Woodley at a commemoration of the D-Day landings. I wonder did they leave early after this.
