The recent comments in a report by the Sainsbury's Centre for Mental Health highlight the links between children that have conduct issues in early years such as fighting and stealing often go on to a life of crime.
This is fine example of the need for progammes such as Sure Start which the Conservatives want to abolish.
It cost £30k to keep a adult in prision for a year whilst a Group Therapy programme costs £900 per child or about £4,000 if more intensive work.
Yesterday I attended the Young People of the Year awards where young people who have made a positive impact on there communities were awarded.
One of the winners had with the help of Social Services and the Police really turned her life around from a life that was going of the rails fast with substance abuse and involvement in crime.
I hate to think that Tory cuts would leave people like this young lady to fall through the net and in the long run cost society more in the long term.
Copy of the report below.
http://www.scmh.org.uk/news/2009_preventing_conduct_disorder.aspx
Monday 23 November 2009
Sunday 22 November 2009
Labour East Regional Conference
The weekend has been pretty shattering really as I spent most of it at the Labour East Conference in Stevenage.
The Conference started with the TULO Reception where Barbara Follett told us how she had enjoyed working with the Region in her role a Minister for the East of England and how she is looking forward to her retirement from being MP for Stevenage having served the people of Stevenage since 1997.
Transport Minister Chris Mole informed of us new investment in rolling stock that will improve the reliability and comfort of train passengers.
Was good also to meet so many friends such as Julian Ware-Lane, Peter Roberts, Chris Jones, Ally Barron along with many more.
Harriet Harman was amazing her message was simple and just what I have been hearing on the doorstep people want Labour to do more for them and do not want Dave Cameron's Tories in Government with massive cuts in public services.
The rest of the day was taken up with briefing and campaign training before John Prescott came along to rally the troops so to speak.
The Conference started with the TULO Reception where Barbara Follett told us how she had enjoyed working with the Region in her role a Minister for the East of England and how she is looking forward to her retirement from being MP for Stevenage having served the people of Stevenage since 1997.
Transport Minister Chris Mole informed of us new investment in rolling stock that will improve the reliability and comfort of train passengers.
Was good also to meet so many friends such as Julian Ware-Lane, Peter Roberts, Chris Jones, Ally Barron along with many more.
Harriet Harman was amazing her message was simple and just what I have been hearing on the doorstep people want Labour to do more for them and do not want Dave Cameron's Tories in Government with massive cuts in public services.
The rest of the day was taken up with briefing and campaign training before John Prescott came along to rally the troops so to speak.
Thursday 19 November 2009
Afternoon in my constituency
Just spent a very enjoyable afternoon in the constituency being photoed ahead of the General Election.
This also gave me tha chance to see South East Cambridgeshire from a perspective as a tourist with its wonderful Catherdral in Ely, stunning landscape, watersports, wildlife centre at Wicken Fen, ideal roads and paths to bike on I would strongly recomend South East Cambridgeshire as a venue for a holiday.
There is even some talk of opening up the historic waterway linking Ely to Thetford which is ideal for canoists.
This also gave me tha chance to see South East Cambridgeshire from a perspective as a tourist with its wonderful Catherdral in Ely, stunning landscape, watersports, wildlife centre at Wicken Fen, ideal roads and paths to bike on I would strongly recomend South East Cambridgeshire as a venue for a holiday.
There is even some talk of opening up the historic waterway linking Ely to Thetford which is ideal for canoists.
Tuesday 17 November 2009
Crime and disorder
The last weekend was a strange one firstly I had £30 taken from my wallet which meant I was unable to go nightclubbing on Saturday night.
On Sunday also I found myself involved in the middle of a crime as a stolen red Vauxhall Astra being chased by police narrowly missed me unfortunately for the driver of a little red Ford Fiesta there were less luck at the Astra ploughed into them on Dereham Road.
It was very interesting to hear Sir Jackie Stewart talk on TV the other day about how many people with Dyslexia drift into a lifestyle of crime having failed to gain suitable skills for life during there Schooling.
If prisons do not reform those convicted into a law abiding citizen then they have failed in there purpose and failed society with the cost of keeping a person in prison in the region of £30k a year.
On Sunday also I found myself involved in the middle of a crime as a stolen red Vauxhall Astra being chased by police narrowly missed me unfortunately for the driver of a little red Ford Fiesta there were less luck at the Astra ploughed into them on Dereham Road.
It was very interesting to hear Sir Jackie Stewart talk on TV the other day about how many people with Dyslexia drift into a lifestyle of crime having failed to gain suitable skills for life during there Schooling.
If prisons do not reform those convicted into a law abiding citizen then they have failed in there purpose and failed society with the cost of keeping a person in prison in the region of £30k a year.
Tuesday 10 November 2009
From Farm to Dustbin
As you will know South East Cambridgeshire produces some of the finest vegatables and salad products in the World so you can imagine how frustrating it is that so much food goes to waste.
Today in Tesco I saved some perfectly good salad from the fate of ending up in a landfill and added some flavour to my plate for just 10p
Of course its not just the food that is wasted think of all the water, energy/carbon used to produce the food and space wasted in landfill sites.
Today in Tesco I saved some perfectly good salad from the fate of ending up in a landfill and added some flavour to my plate for just 10p
Of course its not just the food that is wasted think of all the water, energy/carbon used to produce the food and space wasted in landfill sites.
Monday 9 November 2009
Marriage just don't do it
Just found out that yet another friend of mine has seperated from his wife after I had attended his wedding reception last year.
Another friend's marriage is on the rocks or rather should I say in the cliff by the sounds of it.
To be honest I count myself luck having escaped marriage after a engagement of a few months.
People often seem to be happy living together well sometimes, when marriage comes happiness disappears faster than rabbit.
As a pagan I do not believe in exclusive relationships between couples, a more pural approach is healthier than years of unhappiness with all the heartache and stress.
Modern life is complicated with many pressures and stresses.
Another friend's marriage is on the rocks or rather should I say in the cliff by the sounds of it.
To be honest I count myself luck having escaped marriage after a engagement of a few months.
People often seem to be happy living together well sometimes, when marriage comes happiness disappears faster than rabbit.
As a pagan I do not believe in exclusive relationships between couples, a more pural approach is healthier than years of unhappiness with all the heartache and stress.
Modern life is complicated with many pressures and stresses.
Sunday 8 November 2009
Remberance Sunday and Afganistan
On the treadmill this morning I was moved by an interview on the Andrew Marr show with a young Solider aged 18 or 19 years old who had lost his legs whilst serving in Afganistan.
Later in the day at Church I read the list of the fallen from World War 1 and World War 2.
The mission in Afganistan is a challenging one the lost of life and injuries are of course tragic but the price of allowing the Taliban along with other extremist Islamic Fundementalists is one that Britian can not afford.
On the issue of Afganistan Gordon Brown has called it spot on withdrawl before the competition of the mission is not an option.
Later in the day at Church I read the list of the fallen from World War 1 and World War 2.
The mission in Afganistan is a challenging one the lost of life and injuries are of course tragic but the price of allowing the Taliban along with other extremist Islamic Fundementalists is one that Britian can not afford.
On the issue of Afganistan Gordon Brown has called it spot on withdrawl before the competition of the mission is not an option.
Wednesday 4 November 2009
Toyota and F1
Today the news broke that Toyota are going be withdrawing from F1 and there is a possibility that Renault may follow.
For some they will see this as a death nail to F1 with BMW having withdrawn earlier this year the sport is moving back to time without the big manufacturers.
In the 1970's when the sport was at its pinnacle all the teams were small indepentant teams with the likes of Hesketh, Walter Wolf and Arrows mixing it with the likes of Ferrari and Lotus.
in 2010 the Lotus name returns to the sport with the help of Malaysian backing and the amazing Nino Singh Judge and Steve Kenington both engineers who ran Hakkinien and Senna in Lotus F1 teams.
Also 2010 sees a new entrant to F1 in John Booth's Manor with backing from Virgin.
For some they will see this as a death nail to F1 with BMW having withdrawn earlier this year the sport is moving back to time without the big manufacturers.
In the 1970's when the sport was at its pinnacle all the teams were small indepentant teams with the likes of Hesketh, Walter Wolf and Arrows mixing it with the likes of Ferrari and Lotus.
in 2010 the Lotus name returns to the sport with the help of Malaysian backing and the amazing Nino Singh Judge and Steve Kenington both engineers who ran Hakkinien and Senna in Lotus F1 teams.
Also 2010 sees a new entrant to F1 in John Booth's Manor with backing from Virgin.
Tuesday 3 November 2009
Child Obesity rates leveling off
Some really good news today as the rise in childhood Obesity rates seems to have levelled off.
Back in September I meet with Health Secretary Andy Burnham where we discussed the Governments 5 a day Healthy eating campaign.
The key for Government both local and national is to encourage the concept of a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and regular exercise.
Their is proven link between poverty and bad health for example men in Chelsea and Kensington live to 83.1 years on average compared to 73 years in Manchester.
Ideally not only would it be good for the gap to narrow but for the men to live longer in Chelsea and Kensington as well.
Monday 2 November 2009
Le mans
Making progress towards my target of getting my team an entry in the Le Mans 24 Hours race.
Today has been a mixture of crunching numbers and also undertaking some exercise as the Le Mans 24 Hours is not only a test of endurance for the drivers but also the Team Principle, Team Manager, Race Engineers and Mechanics.
As I found to my cost in 2005 at Silverstone the key to a successful endurance race is to prepared, organised and very disciplined.
Time management is key which is why I have taken the step to scale back some of my political activities such as coming off the Brecks partnership and the Labour East Regional Board.
Today has been a mixture of crunching numbers and also undertaking some exercise as the Le Mans 24 Hours is not only a test of endurance for the drivers but also the Team Principle, Team Manager, Race Engineers and Mechanics.
As I found to my cost in 2005 at Silverstone the key to a successful endurance race is to prepared, organised and very disciplined.
Time management is key which is why I have taken the step to scale back some of my political activities such as coming off the Brecks partnership and the Labour East Regional Board.
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