NEWS
Articles written by Jacob for local and national newspapers.
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LIB DEM INCOMPETENCE
The Somerset Guardian, 17th August 2022
The Liberal Democrats, who currently run B&NES, clearly do not have enough to do. This week, either through ignorance or idleness, they have written to me asking me to write to myself about procurement law. Such linguistic contortions would make me...
POLICE OFFICER UPLIFT
The Somerset Guardian, 10th August 2022
As readers may recall, one of the pledges made in the 2019 Conservative manifesto was to recruit 20,000 more police officers by March 2023. I am pleased to report that figures released last month show that the Government is on track to fulfil...
MAKING COMMUNITIES SAFER
The Somerset Guardian, 3rd August 2022
This week’s terrible news of a murder in Radstock has brought crime prevention to the forefront of residents’ minds. As our hearts go out to the victim’s family and friends so our hope that such tragedies can be prevented rises. The brave local...
EXTRA HELP FOR FAMILIES
The Somerset Guardian, 27th July 2022
Last week, I received some information from Bath and North East Somerset Council regarding financial assistance for children who would, in school term time, be eligible for free school meals. Parents of children who normally qualify for...
PRIME TOOLS SHOWROOM OPENS
The Somerset Guardian, 20th July 2022
Last week I had the honour of opening the new showroom for Prime Tools, a thriving business on Radstock Road in Midsomer Norton. I was hugely impressed by all I saw on my visit and thought it worth highlighting such a wonderful local success...
UPDATE ON RECENT EVENTS
The Somerset Guardian, 13th July 2022
Last week, Boris Johnson was forced to resign as Leader of the Conservative Party in spite of winning a resounding majority in 2019 and delivering Brexit. I am still receiving many e-mails from the public saying that they voted for Boris and are angry and...
NATIONALITY AND BORDERS ACT
The Somerset Guardian, 6th July 2022
This week, the Home Secretary wrote to all Members of Parliament with a comprehensive overview of the Nationality and Borders Act. This landmark legislation will build a new asylum system that is fair but firm; deterring illegal entry into...
SUMMER UPDATE
The Farrington Gurney Parish Journal, July/August 2022
This year’s Summer Parliamentary Recess will begin when the House of Commons rises at the end of the day’s session on 21st July and business will resume on Monday 5th September. During recess, Members of Parliament typically spend more time in their...
SUPPORT FOR NATURE PROJECTS
The Somerset Guardian, 29th June 2022
Last week, Lord Benyon wrote to all Members of Parliament about the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF). The Minister announced that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has established the Fund...
THE HIGHER EDUCATION BILL
The Somerset Guardian, 22nd June 2022
Attacks on free speech, the cancel culture and de-platforming have become a scourge of universities, which ought to be bastions of free speech. This is why I am so pleased that the Government has introduced the Higher Education (Freedom of...
H.M. PASSPORT OFFICE
The Somerset Guardian, 15th June 2022
A number of constituents have written to me over the past few months as regards the problems that they have been encountering with H.M. Passport Office. Whilst the backlog seems to be improving, I thought that I would use this week's column to...
THE PLATINUM JUBILEE
The Somerset Guardian, 8th June 2022
The rain held off just long enough for the West Harptree Jubilee celebration to be completed. Along with communities across the land, towns and villages in North East Somerset paid tribute to The Queen. The prayer we all make in the national...
TINTAGEL CLOSE REDEVELOPMENT
The Somerset Guardian, 1st June 2022
Recently, the chief executive of Curo, Victor da Cunha, wrote to me with an update about the housing association’s current plans for Tintagel Close in Keynsham. Following surveys and a consultation with the residents who would be...