Local MP, Andrew George, is to hold the next in his series of meetings to consult constituents about the challenges and opportunities of a Coalition Government and his role as local MP on Friday 17th June 2011.

The meeting is being held at Mullion C P School (opposite Mullion Health Centre) and will commence at 7.30 pm.  It will be Chaired by the Chairman of Mullion Parish Council, Cllr John Lang.

Mr George is delighted to have an opportunity to consult local people about their perceptions, concerns and questions about the UK’s first Coalition Government since the Second World War.  He also hopes local people will want to find out more about the Government’s plans for the future of the NHS; and other policies on which he has helped to force the Government to think again.

Mr George supported the creation of a Coalition Government after the General Election.  He argued that politicians should put petty party tribalism aside and come together in the national interest.  The subsequent decision to enter into a Coalition with the Conservatives was the only feasible outcome after negotiations in early May.

Mr George described the Coalition arrangement as the “least worst option”, but believes that parliamentarians on the Government benches (Liberal Democrats and Conservatives) should speak their minds more often and not to be constrained by Party Whips from properly holding the Government to account.  Mr George continues to campaign in Parliament rather than to accept without question everything that the Coalition Ministers bring forward.

Mr George leads for the Party in Parliament on the environment and rural affairs.  As there is no Liberal Democrat Minister in the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mr George is deeply involved in its work and has regular meetings with DEFRA Ministers to ensure that the Liberal Democrats are consulted on all aspects of the Department’s work.  Mr George is also an active member of the Health Select Committee.

Mr George has won a reputation of being prepared to speak out on matters of principle.  He has put forward amendments to Government policy and Bills with the intention of improving legislation and seeks to make a constructive contribution to parliamentary debate.  He has been prepared to constructively question Coalition Government policy and to vote against the Government where it affects the poorest in society and where he believes it is to the detriment of the best interests of Cornwall.

As well as leading the Parliamentary campaign against the Government’s Health Bill, Mr George has led campaigns to resist tax increases which he believes would be to the detriment of the poorest, opposed the Parliamentary Act which many fear would promote selective education, led the Parliamentary campaign against Government plans which would undermine the integrity of the Cornish border and has argued against Government plans which he believes will impoverish some of the lowest paid workers who were entitled to housing benefit.

Originally posted on 16.08.2010

Below is a cutting from yesterday’s Independent on Sunday newspaper. Mr George had been contacted by the newspaper for a comment on the Prime Minister’s appointment of Sir Philip Green to lead a review on public sector spending cuts.?? Mr George told the newspaper that he had no difficulty in Sir Philip Green enjoying the wealth he had gained through his enterprise and endeavour and felt sure that he had a talent which could prove to be useful to the Government. But he might be better qualified to advise the Treasury on revenue gathering than lecturing poor public sector workers about their future job prospects.

Please note: This article was originally posted on 18/08/2010

The MP for the West Cornwall and Isles of Scilly constituency of St Ives, Andrew George – who has been one of the most rebellious Liberal Democrat MPs in Parliament since the inception of the Coalition! – predicts that the Government will last the full five years.??

The Coalition Government marks its 100 days in office today and Mr George predicts that it “will have hundreds more…”??

Mr George, who voted against the Academies Bill and who campaigned against the VAT rise, said: “The Coalition is strong. This is the ‘New Politics’. Two distinct Parties who have come together – in spite of their differences – in the national interest. “A Coalition Agreement has been reached. Where we are unable to agree, we have identified a working method of taking the matter forward either – as with Trident and nuclear power etc. – to Parliament or – in the case of electoral reform – to the country in a referendum. “Where issues are not in the Agreement, we will engage in new mature politics – i.e. intelligent debate rather than the old juvenile Punch and Judy politics. “Where we disagree, we will complete the debate, decide democratically and then move on.??

“Each disagreement – and I predict there will be many more – is not tantamount to a major earthquake leading to catastrophe and the end of civilisation; which, bizarrely, is how some in the media would prefer to portray it. It is just facing up to political reality in a new political environment. Debate is good. Tribal warfare is a waste of time and should be left in the dustbin of history. “Coalitions will never agree amongst themselves all of the time. There will be occasions when there will be much more than just tissue papers between us. Disagreements and healthy debate are fundamental to a healthy democracy.??Let’s celebrate it.”