A Wonderful Sight

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The third greatest sporting nation on Earth.

Five Reasons why the Olympics have been great for Great Britain

 
Five reasons why the Olympics have been great for Great Britain:

1.  Confirming our place in the world as a great sporting nation.

2.  Encouraging a culture of aspiration and competition. Establishing a new generation of  positive heroes for young people to look up to.

3.  Uniting our diverse country around a common theme.  Strengthening the Union between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

4.  Reclaiming the Union Flag away from groups like the BNP.  Flying the Union Jack will no longer be a rarity.

5.  Reminding the world how beautiful our country is.  Many more will come to visit.

by Robert Halfon MP - Working Hard for Harlow.

After the Olympics: Scrap BBC3. Merge BBC4 with BBC2. Then the BBC should set up a new 24 hr BBC Sports Channel

The BBC have had an amazing Olympics. Without doubt the coverage has been pretty spectacular. Not only has there been wall to wall coverage on BBC 1 but up to 20 digital channels have offered different sports.

I don't agree with everything the BBC does, but on sports coverage they have excelled. So, my proposal is this: scrap the little watched BBC 3, merge BBC 4 into BBC 2 (returning BBC 2 into its previous remit of a knowledge rather than 'infotainment' channel).

With the money saved, set up a new BBC 24 hour Sports Channel, to rival Sky Sports. The BBC have the journos/commentators, and the technical expertise. With a dedicated sports channel, we might even retain Formula One for example, instead of wasting Licence Fee money on minority TV channels that few watch.

A variant of my idea above - would be to put the proposals to the Licence Fee Payers - and ask them to vote on them. I have already presented a Bill to Parliament to democratise the Licence Fee:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9647000/9647080.stm

Rob Halfon ~ Working Hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Matching, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering

Heart4Harlow Olympic Festival: United around different flags

All Nations on Stage

All Nations represented

Today there was a special Heart4Harlow event in the Park. Brought together by charismatic Town Chaplain Robert Findlay, faith communities across Harlow came together to create a special afternoon of music, prayer and a celebration of the Olympics.
Former Paralympian Ann Wafula Strike made a speech as to what Harlow meant to her.  Olympian Torch Bearer Mike Jackson, also took to the stage.  
There were many different community groups from Street Pastors to Streets2Homes who set up stalls.  Plenty of food was available for everyone.
I was asked to introduce the flag bearers march and dance around the park. As you can see, Vanda carried a Brazilian Flag. Harlow TUC represented the North Koreans and Cubans. Others took flags from countries either from which they came from, or had special meaning.

Mike Jackson, Vanda & I holding the Olympic Torch

Rob with Harlow Street Pastors

Meeting Harlow Labour members and Cllrs!

David Forman from Harlow TUC with the North Korean Flag

England well represented

Vanda keeps Brazil up front. Zimbabwe there too.

Harlow TUC David Forman and Cllr. Waida Forman with Cuban Flag

Great fun and a wonderful atmosphere. A day when Harlow was united.

P.S. You can see a video of Ann Wafula Strike HERE.

One of my favourite parts of the Olympics Opening: 007 & The Queen

Good to know that Her Majesty is a fan of 007.

by Robert Halfon MP - Working Hard for Harlow

Olymptastic

A wonderful evening spent stuck to the TV - watching Britain produce the greatest show on earth.  It felt so special to be British.
I hope the incredible spectacle of the Olympic opening, will finally put all the moaners & groaners, doomsayers, and general misery-guts back in their boxes.
Most of us in the UK are unlikely to see the Olympics in our country again during our lifetime.  We should make the most of it and enjoy every moment over the next few weeks.

Is privatised security wrong for the State?

From Daily Mail

The disaster of the G4S debacle begs an important question:  should major state events use private security firms, or should only the police and armed forces be responsible?

On Thursday, during a short debate on G4S and the Olympics, I asked the following question to the Home Secretary:

Robert Halfon (Harlow): Will my right hon. Friend review the use of private companies at all for state events such as the Olympics?

Theresa May (Home Secretary; Maidenhead, Conservative)

Given the numbers necessary for venue security for the Olympics, it was entirely right of LOCOG to look at working with a private sector contractor as large as G4S, as I have said. It was entirely appropriate for LOCOG to do that. Frankly, it would not be right to say that we should not use private sector contractors for venue security—they are used in a number of such events very effectively. I remind my hon. Friend that G4S will provide venue security personnel for the Olympic games.

Sebastian Coe, now confirms that the Olympic security will be covered by military personnel.  I have no problem with the army looking after the Olympics.  Better fully trained military than semi-trained security guards.

Most fair-minded people  have no objection with private companies contracted by Government for many areas of our public life. I am in favour of the private sector.  But, when it comes to our macro-security, is it better that law and order is owned and run by the State?

by Robert Halfon MP - Working Hard for Harlow

VIDEO: Should private firms police the Olympics?

Following the fiasco involving the G4S security firm - who have now said that they may be unable to supply the 10,000 security officers for the 2012 Olympics - today in Parliament I asked the Home Secretary to consider whether private security firms should be involved at all in future state events.

To the Home Secretary's credit, she came to Parliament to answer questions - even though the mistake had actually been made by private firm G4S.

Given that the British Army has now been drafted in, G4S now have serious questions to answer. You can watch the full video above.

by Robert Halfon MP - Working Hard for Harlow.

The amazing Harlow Festival

Press Notice:

The Harlow Festival 2012 is a celebration of arts, culture, heritage and music across Harlow featuring almost 40 events organised by local community groups and professional artists, offering drama, music, dance, visual art and film productions or activities.

The festival has also enabled local groups to work collaboratively together, including Harlow Ballet and the de Merc Chamber Choir, and the Efua Sey Cultural Academy with Hare Street Primary School.

Harlow Festival ends on Sunday, May 27, with Sparks Will Fly, a day of activities in Market Square to celebrate the approach of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This is an amazing festival and it celebrates everything that is good about Harlow.

It is incredibly exciting to have the festival in the run-up to the Olympics. It is no wonder that Harlow is becoming the Cultural Capital of the East of England and I congratulate everyone who is involved with this fantastic project.

The festival also features Make a Bug workshops at Science Alive bringing arts and science together while an African Film Festival at St John's ARC brings memorable Africana documentary film-making to the town for the first time.

A dramatic retelling of the heritage of the town can be seen at the Playhouse through the eyes of theatre company Razed Roof, and to celebrate the town's Sculpture Town status there are tours throughout the month by minibus, bicycle and foot!

Jazz favourites Head South visit Marigolds Jazz Club whilst the Harlow Writers Workshop launches its latest anthology.

There are also jubilee celebrations, art exhibitions including 'Harlow through the eyes of the artist' at the Gibberd Gallery, and drama and dance including the music of Walt Disney from New Edition and the Karen Chapman School of Dance.

Harlow Arts Council with the support of sponsors Harlow Health Centres Trust and Attwaters Solicitors, and Essex County Council, has awarded grants and support to participants of the Festival and the grand finale Sparks will Fly in Harlow.

Festival brochures are available from Harlow Playhouse, Harlow libraries and arts venues across the town, or by visiting www.playhouseharlow.com. 

No drugs at the Olympics

Rob with Hugh Robertson MP and paralympian, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson

Rob with Sports Minister, Hugh Robertson MP

There may be some Olympic Athletes who take performance-enhancing drugs - but there will be few who will get away with it.

That was the conclusion I drew from a visit yesterday, with Sports Minister Hugh Robertson, and Paralympian, Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson, to GSK/Kings College Drugs Testing Laboratory in Harlow.

The Lab, is in the former  neuro-science part of GSK and is quite a remarkable operation.  Every Olympian will be tested for drugs, with the samples then security couriered over to the Harlow Site.  There is then a rigorous conveyer belt operation to test/re-test and freeze some of the samples.  The laboratory methods used will be the most advanced of any previous Olympics.

I was incredibly impressed visiting the Lab and meeting Professor Cowan, from Kings College, who is in charge of the whole operation.  It is a great example of partnership between one of our most foremost Academic Institutions and a world-class company like GSK.  The University work hand in hand with committed GSK Staff.

Above all, it is incredible to have this Laboratory in our Town - something we should be very proud of.  Harlow with our new Enterprise Zone, University and hopefully a University Technical College, is making its mark as a centre of scientific excellence.

You can read more HERE.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Visit of Olympic Torch will be one of the most memorable days in Harlow's history

It was announced on Monday that the Olympic Torch will be visiting Harlow on Saturday, July 7 next year as part of the 70-day, 8,000-mile Torch Relay.

This is marvellous for Harlow and will be a massive day for the town and all who live and work here.

With the world’s media focused on the Olympic Torch Relay ahead of the Games this will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase what a fantastic place Harlow is.

Harlow Council are already working hard on the planning of various events for the day which is guaranteed to go down as one of its most memorable in the town’s history.

Lea Valley Park

To Lee Valley Park today for a tour of the Park. I had been invited by the Chairman and Management, particularly since Lea Valley covers so much of the Harlow Constituency, surrounding parts of Nazeing.

It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning - and have a hearty breakfast beforehand in the Park Cafe.

Travelling around the park, you can't help but see the very best of nature on our doorstep: lakes, rare birds, rivers, natural habitat, including the most remarkable weeping willows.

What made the visit even more special was to see the Olympic WhiteWater canoeing stadium - almost completed. The good news is that it will be ready by April 2011 - well before the Olympics start - giving canoeists around the country a chance to use these amazing facilities.

P.S. I hope you like the pictures.

Harlow Community Update

Parliament is on Recess at the moment and I am using the time to visit a wide range of community organisations across Harlow and the villages - as well as holding surgeries for local residents.  I thought you might like a few highlights:

Harlow College: In a previous Blog, you can see a vide of a speech I made at the Ground-breaking ceremony for the new on-site Anglia Ruskin University.  It was a great event and a proud moment for Harlow.  The picture above shows me with Harlow Chairman Cllr Sue Livings, Principal Colin Hindmarch and Vice Chancellor Mike Thorne.

Olympics for Harlow:  I was pleased to chair a meeting at Harlow Council about the Olympics.  Our aim is t encourage residents of Harlow to volunteer for the Olympic programmes - and join the volunteer programmes that are available.  We also want to ensure that Harlow celebrates the Olympics - ideally holding a number of Olympic events - and Showings - across the Town during 2012.

Battle Of Britain.   Last weekend was the Battle of Britain anniversary.  There was a special anniversary commemoration in Chelmsford Cathedral. It was great to meet some Harlow RAFA Standard Bearers on this very special day.

Construction Training Partnership (CTP).  Regular blog readers will know that I am a strong supporter of CTP. I went to visit CTP to discuss funding streams - and see if there is any financial support available for the work they do to train young kids in construction and electricals.

Churchgate Residents Association (CRA).   CRA is a very active residents association, and I was asked to speak on a a range of issues, particularly traffic, planning and green spaces.  During the meeting I also had the chance to set out the Government plans for the Big Society.  I particularly enjoyed a pint of Kronenbourg  with some of the residents - in the Queen's Head Pub afterwards!

Health Day.  Last Thursday was 'Health Day'. I met with the North Essex Health Trust to discuss mental health provision in Harlow.  This is an incredibly difficult area and it is good that some capital funds will be invested to refurbish the Derwent Centre.  I also had a meeting with the Chief Executive and Chairman of the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) to discuss a range of issues - particularly dementia training for staff and the NHS Walk-In Centre.  After I attended the PAH  AGM to hear about the hospital plans to become a Foundation and also understand the financial difficulties facing the Trust over coming months.

Harlow Regeneration.  Two important meetings here:  With Harlow Renaissance (HR) and John Curry from Harlow Civic Society.  HR set out their plans up to March 2011.  It is hoped that new developers will be chosen by then to carry through Harlow's much needed rebuilding of the Town Centre. John Curry set out to me the concerns of the Civic Society - particularly regarding the future of the Market Square.

Parndon Mill.  Another visit to Parndon Mill to see a wonderful glass exhibition.  Well worth seeing.

Hare Street Pub.  After some correspondence from nearby constituents, I went to meet the Landlord and Landlady, as well as the regional manager.  I was impressed with the new dining area extension. I am confident that the management of the Pub are doing all they could to be in harmony with local people as well as deal with anti-social behaviour.  The Landlady is also Chairman of the local Pub Watch.

Downs School.  I have regular talks with Head David Yeld.  This time at the school we discussed way of helping pupils get special bursaries to schools of outstanding academic excellence.

Hastingwood and Matching Farmers.  Matching and Hastingwood are a new part of the constituency following Boundary changes introduced at the last election.  Friday at 07:30, saw me with local farmers, police and a crime prevention officer to discuss crime issues.   It seems that our farms are frequent victims of crime, yet due to the work of the police and the farmers neighbourhood action panel, much work has been done to ensure that crime is reduced.  It was an important meeting for me and a good education too.

School Home Support.  This charity is very active in Harlow, providing academic and mentoring support to school children across a wide range of schools. I will be working closely with them in the future helping to raise relevant issues in Parliament.  Every child SHS is involved with improves academically by up to 70+ percent.

Harlow Macmillan Cancer.  Friday was broken up quite nicely with a visit to Macmillan Cancer Coffee morning in the Park Inn Hotel.  The charity was holding coffee morning fund-raisers up and down the country. I was glad to support - and enjoy a muffin at our local one.

Harlow Fields School.  The most special visit of the week was to visit staff, pupils and governors at Harlow Fields Special Needs School.  This truly is a remarkable and inspirational place.  The school has had a refurbishment and looks magnificent. The staff and pupils had such passion and feeling that I was so moved by my time there.   I look forward to going again very soon.

The History of Harlow Council.  A wonderful history of Harlow Council has been published by local historian Ron Bill (and former senior Council official). The story stops at 1985 and is an incredible chronology on all that was dine to build Harlow new town.  Ron had kindly asked me to do a speech about his book and had given me an advanced copy.  I had read the book and in my speech noted the speed, passion and community spirit of all those who had built Harlow - especially in the early days.  I noted some other observations too, including that smoking had been allowed in the Council Chamber until 1971 and pictures of the Stow, before the shopping area had become pedestrianised.  I also said that Harlow history repeated itself in that arguments about expansion, the M11 junction and housing were just as strong in 2010 as in the fifties, sixties and seventies.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Meeting a Survivor

I was very privileged today to meet a survivor of the Holocaust, Ben Hefglott. He was a remarkable individual. Having survived the horrors of the Nazi genocide, Mr Hefglott came to England and subsequently became a British Olympian champion - in weightlifting - in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.

I thought to myself how incredible it was that this amazing man, who had been born in a Polish Town, had been a victim of the Nazis. and yet, against all the odds, survived, and achieved great sporting prowess - as well as becoming a successful businessman.

Mr Hefglott - and his sister (also a survivor) - spends much of his time going up and down the country, giving talks to children in a wide range of schools.

I met Mr Hefglott, courtesy of the Holocaust Education Trust, who were holding a reception for Conservative Parliamentary Candidates, with guest speaker and Shadow Cabinet Minister Francis Maude MP.

Mr Maude - who was in Rwanda with me in 2008 - on Project Umubano - made the point that the work of the HET was essential, because, as with other genocides (such as in Rwanda in 1994), there were always revisionists who were ready to deny the existence of the genocide, or pretend that it had been exaggerated.

I was pleased to have been there. It was good to learn of the work of the HET and meet those who had suffered greatly but achieved so much.

Pistol Sports. Time for Reform?

On Saturday morning, I had a very good meeting with Bill Lewis, Captain of a local gun sports club. Bill has been a gun sporting enthusiast since he was a youth and has a great passion for the sport. He had written to me about the problems that gun sportsmen face because of the bans on certain types of guns. The problem is that Government restrictions on handgun use are so tight that gun sportsmen are not permitted to use .22 pistols, even in sporting activities and at supervisory club level.

The result of this ban means that the British Olympic .22 pistol team, have to train abroad in order to participate in the sport at the 2012 Olympics, in which a special dispensation will be given so that this particular competition can go ahead. The irony of the British team forced to travel overseas, in order to participate in the Olympics in Britain, should not be lost on anyone who believes just how restrictive elements of gun-banning legislation has become.

My own view is that there needs to be a reform of the law - with modest relaxation of the ban on .22 pistols shooting for sporting purposes only - provided the pistols are kept at licensed clubs and only used for specific sporting activities. Above all, the British Olympic Team should be able to practice in the UK.

P.S. This article is quite interesting from the National Shooting Association. You could also read HERE, HERE and HERE.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

A few days as Prospective MP!

Sometimes people ask me what a Prospective MP does, so I thought I would give you a small illustration!

Thursday -

Such a good day! After spending hours doing constituency correspondence, with my long suffering volunteer assistant, Ann Russell-Day, I then went to the Harvey Centre to meet a determined Harlow student, who is a real go-getter and offering to help on my campaign. He is currently studying in London, but comes back regularly. I am sure he will be a great asset. It is a great feeling when someone pro-actively offers assistance, especially someone like this chap, who is clearly going places. Later I have a long meeting with my Constituency Chairman, Cllr Lee Dangerfield. His home is like the Pentagon, with every manner of computer and serious hi-tech gear.He downloads Twitter on my Blackberry (telling me Facebook is so yesterday), and at last I feel I have joined the Twenty First Century. Over delicious Bolognese (without spaghetti for me - diet), we discuss our campaign plan. The Campaign Team arrive a while later and we go through a check-list of various activities. We have so much to do and like every anxious PPC, I always feel I am not doing enough. Everyone else tells me I am doing too much and to pace things a little! I am lucky to have such a great team of volunteers, who have spent days, months and years, doing everything they can to turn Harlow blue. After the meeting, I rush home to watch Margaret on BBC2. As I settle down to a glass of whisky, I feel like such a Tory!! In the end, the programme was disappointing and ended rather flat.

Friday -

I put on my nice dry-cleaned suit (from M&S – I am still a fan) and get ready for a day of constituency activities. Fridays are always packed as I visit a range of community organisations and meet local residents with problems. First, off to Epping Forest District Council, with some Hastingwood residents to meet with officials. For years, the residents have had to put up with a waste contractor in the village. Their homes and cars have been covered in dirt and dust, there is constant noise, a rat infestation and the grass verges have been ruined. What amazes me is the confusing plethora of agencies there are to approach to deal with the problem. The residents have been campaigning for years to little avail, so this meeting – which lasts for two hours – is with some of the agencies concerned, to get things moving. To be fair, the officials were reasonable and understand the problem, and a follow up meeting is scheduled. But how much will really be done to improve the lives of residents?
After this it was back to Harlow to Nandos - to meet an amazing woman, Anne Wafula Strike. On the way, I got a call from my local paper about a donation Lord Ashcroft gave us back in 2005 – have Labour got nothing better to do?

I park my car in the Water Gardens, and as I put money in the parking machine, it keeps spewing it out. A kind pigeon then decides to make a deposit on my formerly very clean suit. The pleasures of being a PPC.

Anyway, back to Anne. She is a disabled Olympic Athlete, and expected to compete in 2012, having participated in Athens (she was injured for Beijing). Anne is a true hero and I am proud she is in Harlow. I was amazed to learn that Anne has had her grant funding cut by sporting organisations.

After another party meeting, I rush off to meet David Gauke. He has come to meet a very successful small business, Top Form Clothing (which supplies school uniforms and equipment to parents and children). Top Form is run by an inspirational lady, Claire Harrison, who is a real entrepreneur. What struck me in our discussions with David, Claire and her partner Kath, was the disillusionment felt with all politicians. Nevertheless, I feel that with the right policies - and if we convey a sense of trust - these voters will choose us next time. I doubt they will be voting Labour.

At a superb dinner later with Harlow Conservative Women’s Committee, David gives a first class speech and is just so personable and friendly to everyone. I, of course, overdo it with the cheese. Will I ever learn?!

Saturday -

A Campaigning day! Our Association is out in full force to deliver leaflets and canvass. I do a stall in Staple Tye with my best Canvasser, Clive Souter, who has done his back in – thanks to canvassing. Despite some difficult issues going on locally, we get a fantastic reception, and are fortified by some McDonald's cappuccinos. Then I go home, watch some Gavin and Stacey on DVD and get ready to meet my mother. It’s her birthday and I promised to take her to dinner (being a good boy, present was already bought). The diet goes down the pan (in this case Italian), yet again...




Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering.