News Category - Justin Tomlinson

MP Gets His Bike Out To Support Swindon Cycling Project

Jun 19, 2013

On Friday, Justin Tomlinson MP helped promote Sustrans' Cycle to Work campaign by joining local residents on a led bike ride from North Swindon to the town centre. The ride took participants from ASDA Walmart at 7.30am, along National Cycle Network Route 45 and the Western Flyer cycle path, before finishing up at the railway station by 8.15am. North Swindon resident Chris Hancox, who joined the ride, commented "This ride was a great way to discover the fantastic network of traffic-free cycle pat...

Justin Hosts Meeting On Covingham Flood Risk

Jun 19, 2013

Justin Tomlinson MP hosted a roundtable discussion about the ongoing risk of flooding in some parts of Covingham. This has been a longstanding issue, with hundreds of homes repeatedly flooded. Discussion focused on the short term threat and ways to alleviate it and also the solutions in the long term. Justin said “This is the first time that we have got all the key players round a table to listen to the local residents who have long been campaigning for a solution. “It was a very positive meetin...

Justin Tomlinson: Labour would take £234 from 18,010 pensioners in North Swindon

Jun 19, 2013

Research by Justin Tomlinson has shown that Labour’s plan to cut pensions would hit 18.010 pensioners in North Swindon, many of whom depend on their Basic State Pension to pay their bills and put food on the table. Labour have chosen to cap pensions rather than benefits, meaning the Basic State Pension would be £234 less a year by 2017/18. Justin Tomlinson said: “Now we know that when Labour say they would cut welfare, what they really mean is they would choose to cut the Basic State Pension ove...

Swindon Advertiser Weekly Article - 14th June 2013

Jun 19, 2013

It was exceptionally sad to hear this week of the loss of Councillor Rex Barnett. Rex was one of those with a real effortless charm and endearing cheek that cut through politics and put him at the heart of the community, be it as a Councillor in his home of Haydon Wick, or in Swindon as a whole as Mayor. As Mayor he was seen chasing people around Lydiard Park to collect money for his local charities (he raised record amounts) and, as a Councillor, Rex was never happier than when berating the En...

Justin Supports Wiltshire Air Ambulance

Jun 19, 2013

North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson attended the UK Air Ambulance annual reception; the All Party Parliamentary Group for Air Ambulances (APPGAA), which took place on the House of Commons Terrace. It was a fantastic opportunity for Justin Tomlinson to meet the air ambulance charity within his constituency, their teams and patients that have been saved by the incredible service. Justin praised them for their fantastic work, wishing the charities and service men and women every success for the futu...

Justin Backs Right To Buy Opportunities In Swindon

Jun 19, 2013

Buying your own home is one of the biggest steps you can take and perhaps the single most expensive thing you will ever buy. For many, home ownership is simply out of financial reach. Ever since the Right to Buy was introduced by the Thatcher Government, those for whom homeownership was perhaps a distant dream, it has actually become a reality. The scheme allows Council House Tenants to purchase their Council Home at a reduced price. Stopped by Labour, the scheme was brought back by the Conser...

Justin Visits Greenmeadow Primary School

Jun 19, 2013

Justin Tomlinson MP recently visited Greenmeadow Primary School in Haydon Wick to give the school assembly the opportunity to pass its very own Parliamentary Bill. He was also interviewed for the school magazine about the life of an MP. Justin spoke a little on the campaigns he has championed in Parliament - school libraries, school sport and financial education for young people, all of which the children thought were good campaigns. They then had to pick their favourite and whilst every campaig...

Parliament On The Agenda At Covingham Park Primary

Jun 19, 2013

Justin Tomlinson MP recently visited Covingham Park Primary School to give the school assembly the opportunity to pass its very own Parliamentary Bill.Justin spoke a little on the campaigns he has championed in Parliament - school libraries, school sport and financial education for young people, all of which the children thought were good campaigns.They then had to pick their favourite and whilst every campaign had its keen supporters, school sport won by an overwhelming majority.One side of the...

Swindon Advertiser Weekly Article - 7th June 2013

Jun 19, 2013

This week my mailbag was full of emails and letters from residents on the Energy Bill. Some wanted me to vote for a decarbonisation target and some wanted me to vote against. No-one disagrees that we need to improve our energy security in a low carbon way. We have a crumbling energy infrastructure, aging dirty power stations and an impending energy gap. This is a result of the dismal failure by the last Labour Government to secure investment. Geographically, there is no reason why Britain can't ...

Justin Tomlinson MP Fights Tax Avoidance On Public Accounts Committee

Jun 19, 2013

Following investigations by journalists and whistleblowers, it turns out that despite generating $18bn in revenue from its operations in the UK between 2006 and 2011, Google has paid just $16m in tax. This and other tax avoiding companies have been highlighted in a recent report published by the Public Accounts Committee. As a member of that Committee, Justin has been grilling these companies, holding meetings with senior figures from companies like Amazon, challenging them about their tax arran...