NEWS
Articles written by Jacob for local and national newspapers.
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VACCINE ROLLOUT SUCCESS
The Somerset Guardian, 13th January 2021
This week, the Government reached a major milestone with more than 2.3 million residents in the United Kingdom (UK) having been vaccinated. The programme is the biggest in NHS history and is off to a strong start with more people here...
ANOTHER NATIONAL LOCKDOWN
The Somerset Guardian, 6th January 2021
The start of the year often brings feelings of hope to many. With 2020 having been dominated by the pandemic people were optimistic that with the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccinations the prospects for 2021 would appear different. Instead, the...
NEW YEAR UPDATE
The Farrington Gurney Parish Journal, Jan/Feb 2021
A year has now passed since the General Election of December 2019 and the Government has continued to work hard to progress important issues including exiting the European Union against the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic. Whilst the Government...
A LITTLE CHILD IS BORN TO US
The Somerset Guardian, 23rd December 2020
'The people that walked in darkness, hath seen great light'. Isaiah foretold the coming of Christ and the theme of light is one that recurs constantly in the explanation of the arrival of Christ. The opening of St. John's Gospel is not a record of events in...
NEW FUNDING FOR HOSPITALS
The Somerset Guardian, 16th December 2020
This week, the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, announced a £600 million fund to upgrade and refurbish NHS hospitals. I was delighted to see that the Hospital Trusts within and around the North East Somerset constituency have received a...
THE FOREIGN AID BUDGET
The Somerset Guardian, 9th December 2020
This week, the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, wrote to me outlining the United Kingdom’s (UK) new foreign aid spending plans. The recent Spending Review confirmed the sobering reality that the pandemic has taken its toll on the public...
TIER TWO RESTRICTIONS
The Somerset Guardian, 2nd December 2020
This week, the four-week national lockdown in England finishes and the tier system, that previously had been implemented to control the spread of Coronavirus, will take its place subject to periodic review. With the exception of the Isle of...
NEXT GENERATION BROADBAND
The Somerset Guardian, 25th November 2020
Recently, the Head of External Affairs for Devon County Council, Peter Doyle, who is overseeing Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS), wrote to me with an update and highlights from the local broadband programme. Connecting Devon and...
FUNDING FOR CHARITIES
The Somerset Guardian, 18th November 2020
This week, the Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, wrote to me outlining the Government’s Covid-19 funding for charities, including several in North East Somerset. The multi-million-pound package adds on £150 million that has been released...
PENSION CREDIT
The Somerset Guardian, 11th November 2020
Last week, a Labour M.P. raised with me at Business Questions the needs of pensioners who are not in receipt of benefits to which they are entitled. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently released figures, which fits in with this, on how...
BE PROUD OF OUR HISTORY
The Somerset Guardian, 4th November 2020
Last week, Jeremy Corbyn, was suspended from the Labour Party following his critical response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's report on anti-Semitism. Alas for Sir Keir Starmer, even if he were able to expunge his party's longstanding...
MPS MUST DO THEIR DUTY
The Farrington Gurney Parish Journal, Nov/Dec 2020
As you will be aware, Parliament continues to sit, but the number of Members in the Chamber at any one time is much reduced. A number of MPs have, however, suggested that this should not occur owing to current social distancing measures and...
THE PRIME MINISTER STANDS FIRM
The Somerset Guardian, 21st October 2020
On 31st January 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) finally left the European Union (EU) following the referendum vote in 2016. Further to the formalities of our departure being ironed out, the Prime Minister has made great effort to strike a trade...
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
The Somerset Guardian, 14th October 2020
Recently, I received an e-mail from Elly De Decker, England Director for the National Lottery Community Fund, as regards World Mental Health Day, which took place on Saturday 10th October. In her message, Ms De Decker outlined the...
NEW DOMESTIC ABUSE FUND
The Somerset Guardian, 7th October 2020
Recently, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Kelly Tolhurst, announced that the Government is giving a £6 million Domestic Abuse Capacity Building Fund to local authorities to help tackle domestic abuse...