22 Mar 2010| Return to Homepage | | News 2009 | | News 2008 | | News 2007 | | News 2006 | | News 2001-05 |
Ian Mearns, MP for the new constituency of Gateshead, paid a fulsome tribute to David in his maiden speech.
He remembered the 'great passion' that David devoted to his work on behalf of Tyne Bridge and especially his home town of Gateshead and praised David's contribution to making Gateshead 'an even better place to live'.
In his speech, Ian said,
"It is with enormous pride that I stand here, honoured to represent the people of my home town, Gateshead, where I have lived for more than 30 years. In doing so, I am conscious of the fact that I follow in the footsteps of a formidable predecessor, David Clelland, the former MP for Tyne Bridge, whose constituency formed half the new constituency of Gateshead. The other half of the constituency was represented in the previous Parliament by my hon. Friend the Member for Washington and Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson), who, I am glad to say, is still with us.
"David Clelland was not only an excellent representative of the people of the Tyne Bridge constituency and a first-class Member; he was and remains a personal friend. Having worked with David for more years than I care to remember, first as Labour party colleagues, subsequently together as councillors and, most recently, he as MP and I as deputy leader of Gateshead council, I know all too well the great passion that David has always devoted to representing the people of Tyne Bridge and, in particular, Gateshead. David would be the first to say that his work was both an honour and a privilege. However, I want to place on the record my gratitude and that of the people of Gateshead for David's contribution, both as a councillor and as a Member of Parliament, to making Gateshead an even better place to live."
The full text of Ian's maiden speech can be read here.
24 Apr 2010
David has revealed how his last year as an MP was blighted by threats and innuendo over expenses.
And yet he was completely exonerated and found to be totally guilt free. Yet this unfounded slur threatens to overshadow the many years of good work for Tyne Bridge and the region, especially in the area of transport, that David has given.
David said,
"The last 12 months have been the worst in Parliament. A lot of people were caught up, including myself, and had to suffer months of prejudice, suggestions of wrongdoing, threats, emails and letters - only to find we are exonerated by a High Court judge.
"It has been very unpleasant for MPs' families as well. Some MPs have children going to schools and wives who have to go to work.
"It has been a very bad period and I think some of the consequences of it are going to play out for quite some time in terms of the effectiveness of MPs.
"Cutting the office allowances for MPs will mean a lower standard of service for constituents. There is a feeling that people are going to be looking over MPs' shoulders all the time looking for something to criticise rather than encourage people to get on with the job.
"In my view the changes are for the worse quite frankly. I am leaving so it won't affect me. I am proud to have represented the Tyne Bridge constituency because it's the area where I was born and bred. It has been a great privilege and strength because when I come down here, I can feel I am a genuine voice for my constituency. When Tyne Bridge goes, I go with it."
"But those MPs who will be serving in the next parliament will find themselves dictated to by quangos and civil servants and will have less authority to represent their constituents which cannot be good for democracy in my view."
6 Apr 2010
David has said he is thrilled that Newcastle United are back in the Premier League next season.
He described the Premiership as the Magpie's 'natural home' and said he had never doubted their return.
David said,
"I'm absolutely thrilled that they are finally back in the Premier League. It's their natural home and I never doubted they would be back where they belong next season. It was an absolute certainty they would make it back to the Premiership.
"They have dominated the league all season. There was never any doubt. It will now take an investment to keep them up there."
David has slammed BAE for the way the company handled the bidding for the light tank contract.
While David and North-East minister Nick Brown were lobbying hard at Westminster, BAE changed 'the nature of the game'.
David said,
"They did come too late, there is no doubt about that. It was just on the cusp of the announcement and then out of the blue decided they would somehow create 400 jobs. All along they had told us there would be 270 redundancies and if they got the work they could save 100 of these.
"So to come at the last moment when, as far as I'm aware, civil servants had made their decision and to ask of us then to put this to ministers is a bit late in the day to say the least.
"We, Nick Brown and myself, made representation and the final decision was delayed but the damage was done, it was too late to change things.
"When it all came out it shot the legs from under us, but as a result BAE changed their bid. But it was just too late, they should have been up front in the first place. They have always given us the impression that their jobs would mainly go to Sweden. I just don't think they have helped their own company and they certainly haven't helped the workforce in the way they approached the whole thing.
"And it is a bit disappointing that after having a good relationship with them they change the nature of the game right at the end."
David says he is confident that the law on drugs will soon be modified.
This follows the deaths of two teenagers after using the plant food mephedrone as a stimulant.
David said,
"This is obviously extremely worrying. It's tragic that lives are being lost. There are these drugs that are not categorised by law and from time to time the law needs to be adjusted.
"From time-to-time there are these new developments in law but before a number of tragic incidents it was not known that this drug was dangerous. Now we know, something has to be done sooner rather than later and I'm fairly confident there will be changes in the law soon."
David has co-sponsored a Commons motion deploring the notion that state schools should be run for profit.
The proposals are based on a Swedish model backed by the Conservatives but David says that future generations should not be exploited by companies for profit.
The Early Day Motion reads:
EDM 1115
FOR-PROFIT STATE SCHOOLS
16.03.2010
Purchase, Ken
That this House is alarmed by proposals of edubusinesses to run state schools for profit along the lines of the Swedish system supported by the Conservative Party; and while recognising the important role business can play in supporting schools, deplores the notion that the educational needs of present and future generations should be exploited for profit by companies, organisations or individuals.
14 Mar 2010
David has spoken of his disappointment at rumours that BAE Systems has failed in its bid to get two major contracts.
According to the Financial Times the work is expected to go to American company General Dynamics who will build the army's Scout armoured vehicles. The expected refit of Warrior vehicles is expected to be delayed for a year.
This means that the future of the Scotswood Road plant is now uncertain with over 600 jobs at stake.
David said,
"Myself and Nick Brown have been working very hard for some time on this contract but this is a competitive tender and we can't tell the Government where to put the work.
"BAE is an international company. It is not totally reliant on Government orders."
David is continuing to make representations in the hope that the rumours are incorrect and work can still be brought to Scotswood Road.
22 Mar 2010
David has expressed his disappointment that the rumours are now shown to be true.
He said,
"Obviously, I am very disappointed that they have lost a contract and very concerned for the future of jobs on Scotswood Road as a result of that.
"I am also concerned about the manner in which BAE have handled this situation. They appear to have kept changing their calculations of how many jobs would be saved or lost, plucking numbers out of the blue.
"Unfortunately, it is the workers who will now suffer as a result."
11 Mar 2010
David has said the North-East must continue to argue for a High Speed rail link.
Lord Adonis, Transport Secretary has announced a plan for a 'Y' shaped line dividing at Birmingham with one line coming as far as Leeds.
David is anxious to secure the economic benefits for the North-East that a high speed link would bring if the line is later extended up the east coast.
This is despite it emerging that Lord Adonis ignored expert advice from HS2 that the economic returns from bringing the line to the North-East would far outweigh the additional cost.
He said,
"I think we have still got plenty of time to argue our case and that strengthens our hand."
"We have seen evidence from abroad of the massive boost to a city's economy from high speed rail, and we cannot afford to miss out on this. The challenge facing the North East is to ensure we convince any future government that it is vital we secure this investment."
2 Mar 2010
David has challenged the Transport Secretary over plans for the A1 western by pass.
In the Commons Transport Committee he asked about Highway Agency plans to create three narrow lanes and impose a 50mph limit.
David said to Lord Adonis,
"You are aware that we have had this discussion that the Highways Agency now propose that the section of the A1(M) around Tyne and Wear is to be reduced to 50mph in advance of creating three lanes out of the current two lanes, three very narrow lanes."
Speaking of the disadvantages to the region of only having to two lane motorway north of Scotch Corner, he added,
"So people travel from London to Scotch Corner on a normal motorway at 70mph but when they come to the North East everybody is reduced to 50mph."
Lord Adonis then admitted he knew nothing of the plans but would investigate.
A full transcript of David's points in the committee may be read here.
David has called on the government to do more to help pubs and clubs.
In a parliamentary motion, he welcomes the efforts to help pubs but says that private clubs such a working men's clubs are also suffering. not least from the taxman!
David's Early Day Motion reads:
EDM 833
MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBS AND CLUBS
09.02.2010
Clelland, David
That this House welcomes the appointment of a Pubs Minister to help stem the tide of pub closures; and calls on the Government to extend the remit of the Minister to include non profit-making private members' clubs such as those in membership of the Committee of Registered Clubs' Associations and the Working Men's Club and Institute Union which are at the heart of many communities and which are also suffering from the economic downturn, the negative effects of well-meaning government legislation and the over-zealous attentions of HM Revenue and Customs.
David has hit out at plans to restrict lanes and speed on the western by-pass.
The Highways Agency are thinking of crating three narrower lanes in each direction and restricting speed to 50 mph. David says this is to save money rather than find a real solution.
He fears that money to widen the road could be lost if this scheme takes the place of a proper solution.
David said,
"It seems to me that rather than deal with the traffic flow problem on the bypass, by the obvious but costly methods of road widening and closing certain slip roads, the agency is seeking a cheap solution."
"I fully agree that the volume of traffic is far greater than the original design capacity. Indeed, I have been making that precise point for the last 20 years."
On the idea for a speed limit, he said,
"I am sceptical that the solution is to impose a speed restriction. When the traffic flow breaks down during peak periods, traffic is reduced to a crawl and at those times 50mph would remain an aspiration rather than a reflection of reality. At other times, when traffic is flowing freely, I fail to see what positive benefit would be derived from a 50mph restriction. On the contrary, motorists would find it intensely irksome and non-productive."
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State owned East Coast train
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David has welcomed the government's announcement of more trains from the North-East, including a non-stop Newcastle-London service.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis was in the area yesterday to announce this. The Newcastle service would be more regular with some non-stop, and there are plans direct trains on the coastal route serving Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
Speaking of the Newcastle-London service, David said,
"This is very welcome news. This is the first time I can remember a direct services between the two and I'm sure businesses will make the most of this."
New train operators would be asked to look at the Sunderland service which would be part of a new strict set of rules that bidders for East Coast would have to adhere to.
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Gritter at work but will the salt last?
(Photo: FreeFoto) |
As salt shortages mean councils have cut back on road gritting, David has said the cold weather was unexpected.
Gateshead Council has only a few days supply left with a similar situation in Newcastle, leading to 'emergency measures'.
David remarked,
"This cold snap has been completely unexpected and obviously there has to be some emergency measures to ensure major highways are kept open."
With the cold weather expected to continue for some time yet, salt stocks are running low and new supplies are being sought.
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| Promoted by Ken Childs on behalf of David Clelland, both of 19 Ravensworth Road, Dunston, Gateshead. NE11 9AB |