NEWS
Articles written by Jacob for local and national newspapers.
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MAXIMISING NHS CAPACITY
The Somerset Guardian, 12th January 2022
Recently, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care wrote to Members of Parliament to set out the action being taken to maximise NHS capacity and ensure resilience as the pandemic continues. The Government has taken three main...
HAPPY NEW YEAR
The Farrington Gurney Parish Magazine, Jan/Feb 2022
The New Year represents change and new resolutions. This is as much the case in Parliament, as Members of Parliament return to Westminster, as it is elsewhere even as we continue to face challenges including Covid-19. Following the...
CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS
The Somerset Guardian, 22nd December 2021
As Christmas approaches it is worth dwelling on the role of Mary, the Mother of God and her role in salvation. It is a subject that has been considered by the doctors of the Church because it is fundamental to the coming of Christ, our saviour. Mary had...
GET BOOSTED NOW
The Somerset Guardian, 15th December 2021
This week, the Prime Minister wrote to all Members of Parliament emphasising the importance of vaccinations and boosters. Since the beginning of the year, we have seen that immunisation is the key to beating COVID-19. The UK was the first country...
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE UPDATE
The Somerset Guardian, 8th December 2021
This week, the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, wrote to Members of Parliament detailing the launch of the Government’s ‘Health and Social Care Approach to Winter’. The Government is working hard to recruit 18,000 more staff, including nurses, healthcare...
THE NEW OMICRON VARIANT
The Somerset Guardian, 1st December 2021
This week, the Prime Minister wrote to all Members of Parliament to set out the Government’s response to the new Omicron variant, which I had, until now, assumed was pronounced O-micron rather than Omi-cron and I think is the American...
SOCIAL MOBILITY FOUNDATION
The Somerset Guardian, 24th November 2021
Recently, I received an e-mail from the Social Mobility Foundation (SMF) letting me know that applications for its 2022 Aspiring Professionals Programme are now open. The Foundation emphasised how keen it was to ensure that...
TRANSPORT UPDATE
The Somerset Guardian, 17th November 2021
This week, the Government confirmed that all new heavy goods vehicles in the United Kingdom will be zero-emission by 2040. This, combined with the UK’s 2030 phase out for petrol and diesel cars and vans, represents a world-leading pledge to end...
COVID BOOSTER UPDATE
The Somerset Guardian, 10th November 2021
This week, the Government has released figures showing that more than 10 million people across the United Kingdom (UK) have received their COVID-19 booster or third jabs, thus ensuring the vital protection they have secured from their...
ENERGY PRICES
The Farrington Gurney Parish Magazine, Nov/Dec 2021
With Winter now upon us and Christmas approaching, the Government continues to take steps to protect customers impacted by rises in global gas prices, supporting vulnerable and low-income households with their energy bills...
AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT UPDATE
The Somerset Guardian, 3rd November 2021
This week, the Minister for Justice and Afghan Resettlement wrote to all Members of Parliament regarding the Government’s efforts to help all those who have managed to flee the Taliban. During the initial two weeks of evacuation, our armed forces...
FREE BROADBAND FOR JOBSEEKERS
The Somerset Guardian, 27th October 2021
Recently, Julie Elliot, Member of Parliament for Sunderland Central, wrote to me about the national rollout of TalkTalk’s project in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which provides free broadband to job seekers. I thought...
SIR DAVID AMESS
The Somerset Guardian, 20th October 2021
David Amess died a martyr’s death. He was a Catholic whose faith was fundamental to him and was the foundation of his service. A martyr is a witness, one who by his actions provides evidence for the truth. David did this throughout his life. It...
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL UPDATE
The Somerset Guardian, 13th October 2021
As half-term is approaching and some are planning trips away, I thought it would be useful to use my column this week to give an update about foreign travel following a letter that was recently sent to me by the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps. The...
FUEL SUPPLY ISSUES
The Somerset Guardian, 6th October 2021
This week, the Transport and Business Secretaries jointly wrote to Members of Parliament (MPs) to give them an update on the current fuel supply issues. The Ministers assured MPs that, contrary to what is being reported in the media, we have...