Column July

Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Thu 2nd Jul 2009

The newly elected speaker John Bercow, who is both a colleague and a friend of Malcolm

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Speaker Bercow - a colleague and a friend

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The election of a new speaker was an unusually personal event for me as I have got to know John Bercow really well in recent years.

When he was first elected to the House as the MP for Buckingham he was an acerbic right winger espousing all the causes and opinions I most opposed.

In recent years he has moved to the Liberal centre encouraged by his Labour supporting wife. This infuriated most of his former colleagues although I do not believe the views he expresses are incompatible with mainstream Conservatism.

During this Parliament John has been a member of the International Development Committee which I chair. Although the demands of the Chairman's panel and other activities have restricted his participation his contributions have been invaluable.

He visited China with the committee last year and more recently was a member along with me of Des Browne's all-party mission to Sri Lanka.

I found him entertaining, thoughtful and interesting company. The views he has most recently expressed are genuinely his own revealing that he has undergone an almost Paul-ine conversion.

He spoke out strongly on human rights especially in the context of Darfur and Burma. He made a robust intervention with the Chinese Deputy Foreign minister on these issues and received an equally robust response..

In Sri Lanka he provoked an outburst from the President when he pressed the case for letting the UN and international media into the conflict zone.

As is required he leaves behind his political views prompting Gordon Brown to comment he thought he had and David Cameron to express the hope he had abandoned all of them.

I was pleased to sign John's nomination as Speaker, telling him that had anyone forecast that I would do so when he first entered the House I would have thought them insane.

However, he now has an extremely challenging role to which I expect him to apply himself with diligence.

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Government must take seriously plea for North Sea tax deals

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More tax concessions are needed to secure future exploration and development of North Sea oil and gas assets.

The Government would be wise to take seriously the appeal by UK Oil and Gas for more tax concessions to secure future exploration and development of North Sea oil and gas assets.

The changes introduced in the budget were minor, will have little effect. Exploration has now plummeted presenting us with the danger that new discoveries may not be found in time to be tied into the existing infrastructure.

People may be forgiven for thinking that oil companies have plenty of cash and don't need any tax relief. The reality is that an increasing amount of investment is coming from smaller companies who have to raise capital on the markets and may struggle in the present climate.

Other areas of the world may often easier returns and less risk. Russia has found at the hard way the dangers of driving investment away and are having to plead for its return.

If we lose momentum in the UK we may find it hard to regain. This would prejudice our domestic industry, exports and long term security. Well targeted tax relief - e.g. for field investment or new exploration and appraisal drilling

would almost certainly pay dividends in terms of jobs and future tax revenue.

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Hannah's form shows sponsorship well deserved

Hannah Miley and Malcolm

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Good to see Inverurie swimmer Hannah Miley in good form and to see she is receiving sponsorship from our local councils. Hannah is improving all the time and is meeting world class status which bodes well for record and medal bids in the future.

Even in hard times I believe it is right that local councils put support behind their local sporting sons and daughters. Would Torvil and Dean have made it without the support of Nottingham Council?

It is also right that Aberdeen City Council stick to their pledge of a 50 metre pool which would help all local swimmers although more should be made available to upgrade our existing pools.

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My bus bill will help safety

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I am continuing to press for government support for my School Bus (Safety) Bill which is debated in the House this week.

I realise that not everyone agrees with every detail of the bill but I believe it contains enough to command widespread support.

If even some of the measures were adopted it would contribute to improved safety.

The main objective is to create a culture of safety around school buses for both drivers and pupils - especially when the bus is stopping to drop off or pick up passengers.

Some education authorities, such as Aberdeenshire, have already set their own standards above the legal minimum - for example with regard to seat belts and safety training.

Even if the Government cannot accept all my proposals I hope they will recognise there is real public concern among parents who necessarily entrust their children to school buses each day and give careful consideration to all my proposals - including the provision of flashing lights when a bus is stopping and the no overtaking when the lights are flashing.

Even discussing these proposals can make a contribution to improving safety.

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Deepest recession will cost us all dear

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We need a serious and responsible debate about what the government can and cannot afford

Britain is a long way from coming out of the deepest recession since the 1930s and there is real debate as to what will change as a result and how much it will cost us in the future.

Huge amounts of taxpayers' money have been poured into banks - yet there are signs that the bonus culture may be returning faster than the availability of mortgages especially to first time buyers.

A small amount may have been repaid but billions more has yet to be accounted for. 25 per cent deposits for mortgages are the norm and this is a huge burden on young couples and families.

They will not be pleased to see their struggle continue while bankers who have squandered billions and been bailed out by the taxpayers return to their lavish multi millionaire lifestyles.

The takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB was not only a bad deal for Lloyds it was bad for banking customers too and unfair to other banks. There is a strong case to unscramble the merger and restore two banks.

Nor is it right to continue to mix high risk investment banking and more conventional retail banking. The Government may have guaranteed UK depositors but at what cost? Is it entirely fair that people who deposited their savings openly with top security rated non UK banks should be left without any comparable recompense?

Meanwhile, the Government are claiming they can maintain public spending as debt soars to record levels. Few people believe them. Most people expect that spending will be cut and taxes will rise to pay for the hangover.

Selling off part of Royal Mail no longer looks attractive given the state of the stock market. Trident may not be affordable, let alone ID cards, IT contracts, 50 per cent university enrolment etc.

We need a serious and responsible debate about what we can and can't afford. Otherwise pensions will shrink along with the economy and everyone's standard of living will fall. Government needs to show how it is dealing with this. Right now, it's not.

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Lady Aberdeen remembered

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The death of Lady Aberdeen at the age of 95 was a sad event for Haddo and the North East. I met her on a number of occasions - most recently at the Haddo Choral Society Ball a few years ago. She was a huge enthusiast for the arts and the family had deep political connections.

I remember after my first successful defence of the seat in 1987 I was at an event at Haddo and she told me she was pleased I had got back as she was afraid I might not, given my majority. "I was so worried", she said, "I nearly voted for you."

Subsequently she became even more disenchanted with the then Conservative Government for as she put it "abolishing our regiment". She said she had told a tenant she might vote Liberal only to be put right. "Laird's vote Tory. Tenants vote Liberal; but remember there are more tenants than lairds".

Haddo is a great North East institution steeped in history and character. Lady Aberdeen was a long established and revered part of it. It will never be quite

the same without her.