Paul Blomfield News

A disastrous day for Sheffield

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:04:00 +0100

Paul Blomfield MP has reacted to the news that the Lib Dem �Tory government are scrapping the �80 million government loan to Forgemasters by calling it a �kick in the teeth not just for Sheffield but the whole of British manufacturing�. As well as the Forgemasters loan being scrapped, the Lib Dem �Tory government announced it has suspended Government funding for the new Retail Quarter. Mr Blomfield said this is �a disastrous day for Sheffield�.

Paul Blomfield MP said:
�Scrapping the loan to Forgemasters is a kick in the teeth not just for Sheffield but the whole of British manufacturing. This loan would have created hundreds of jobs at Forgemasters and thousands of local jobs in the manufacturing supply chain. At this crucial time the Lib Dem � Tory government has cost Sheffield new jobs and growth and people will remember this for a long time.

�I�m shocked that the government has also condemned the new Retail Quarter. This Lib Dem-Tory Government seems hell-bent on preventing new jobs from being created in Sheffield. It�s disastrous day for Sheffield.

�Earlier this week Nick Clegg said he wanted progressive cuts. I�d like him to explain to the people of Sheffield, the city that he is supposed to represent, just how undermining jobs in Sheffield is progressive.�

I will work to protect jobs and services from the Tory-Lib Dem government

Tue, 11 May 2010 20:58:00 +0100

After today�s news that the Tories and Lib Dems are joining forces to form a coalition government Paul Blomfield, newly elected MP for Sheffield Central, has said:

�I�ve spoken to thousands of people in Sheffield Central in recent months and I know that above all the vast majority did not want a Tory government.�I think a lot of Lib Dem supporters will rightly be despairing at the sight of the Lib Dems joining forces with the Conservatives.

�As the new MP for Sheffield Central I will work to protect jobs and services in Sheffield from the savage cuts that we�re all expecting from the new Tory-Lib Dem government.�

Gordon Brown visits Forgemasters as manufacturing growth hits 15 year high

Tue, 04 May 2010 22:14:00 +0100

Gordon Brown has visited Sheffield Forgemasters this evening to meet workers producing components for the next generation of Civil Nuclear Energy. He toured the factory along with Paul Blomfield and Richard Caborn.

Meanwhile, growth in activity at British Factories reached a 15 year high as Manufacturers secured more export orders and recruited more staff.

IFS says Lib Dem tax plans will not help the poor

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:38:00 +0100

Lib Dem plans to lift the tax threshold to �10,000 have been exposed by the
influential Institute for Fiscal Studies. Paul Blomfield said "The Lib Dems are trying to pretend that their proposals aim to help the poorest. It's a cruel deception. Lifting the threshold gives the same tax handout to all taxpayers, except those on less than �10,000 who benefit least. And to pay for the changes, the Lib Dems will cut Child Trust Funds, tax credits, and winter fuel allowances for many pensioners.The Lib Dems will be taking money from some of the poorer to give to the wealthier, just as they have in Sheffield with Council funds."

As Larry Elliott commented in the Guardian (1) "Vince Cable came in for some stick, with the IFS noting that Liberal Democrat plans to raise the income tax threshold to �10,000 while also withdrawing child tax credits and ending the child trust fund would help the middle classes but not the poor."

(1)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/apr/27/election-2010-rising-vat-spending-cuts

Support for children "key election issue"

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 05:49:00 +0100

The contrasting policies of the three main political parties is a key issue in this election, says Paul Blomfield. Labour will:

Maintain Child Trust funds and Child Tax credits and offering a �4 a week 'Toddler tax credit' for the parents of younger children.

Expand nursery provision from September so that parents of three and four year olds will receive 15 free hours of flexible child care thirty eight weeks a year.

Keep Sure Start funding rising with inflation and offering flexible working for older workers and more help for grandparents as well as a "Fathers' month" of flexible paternity leave.

But the Tories, and their potential Lib Dem allies, are threatening support for families, promising cuts to Child Tax credits and Child Trust Funds. The Tories are also proposing 'top-up fees' for nurseries, undermining the free nursery provision introduced by Labour.

Paul Blomfield calls on the Lib Dems to come clean on policy

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 07:43:00 +0100

Paul Blomfield today slammed the negative campaigning of local Liberal Democrats
and the self-obsessed speculation of their leader Nick Clegg, urging them to be
honest about their policies so that people could make a real choice.

"While Clegg is busy fuelling discussion about his role in determining the next
Prime Minister and local Lib Dems are appealing to Conservatives to join with
them, as they prepare for a Tory-Lib Dem pact, there are real issues at stake",
said Paul Blomfield.

"Lib Dem income tax policy will cost �17 billion, of which only �1 billion will
help those on lowest incomes. And they will pay for it by cutting back on tax
credits, winter fuel allowance and the child trust fund. They are hiding deeply
regressive policies behind a false rhetoric of fairness."

Eddie Izzard backs Paul Blomfield

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:48:00 +0100

Eddie Izzard visited Sheffield on Friday to lend his support to Paul Blomfield's campaign. Eddie, along with Paul and NUS President Wes Streeting spoke to over 200 students at Sheffield University before walking along West St and Division St to speak to people.

Paul Blomfield signs Sheffield is my Planet Pledge

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 12:58:00 +0100

Paul Blomfield has signed the Sheffield is my Planet pledge, which shows simple but effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint by making changes to your Travel, Home Energy and other choices.

Simple changes such as; driving more carefully, using energy saving light bulbs and buying food in season can make a big difference to your footprint while saving you money.

Paul Blomfield calls for fair digital rights

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:36:00 +0100

The way in which the Digital Economy Bill passed with limited debate was unfortunate and I am concerned that a number of clauses in the bill may result in a presumption of guilt, not reflect the reality of how people use the internet or simply be unworkable. I will focus on using the provisions for post legislative scrutiny included in the act to amend these as appropriate and support supplementary legislation where necessary to ensure the act is fair to all users.

When considering these amendments the principles that I will follow are; to oppose measures that unjustly deny people�s access to the internet, that the internet shall be built and operated openly and without discrimination and that copyright and software patent laws should be reformed to reflect the needs of citizens in the Internet age.

Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling visit Sheffield

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:52:00 +0100

Paul Blomfield welcomed Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling to Sheffield where they discussed the importance of revitalising the manufacturing sector in securing the recovery and providing new jobs in Sheffield.

Discussion focussed on securing the recovery, the Strategic Investment Fund, worth �950 million, which is already providing investment in advanced industrial projects including at Sheffield Forgemasters and Labour's �5billion investment to help people back to work, which will guarantee a job or training place for all 18-24 year olds out of work for six months.