On Monday we had in Parliament the pre-budget report. This was arguably the most important pre-budget report, as the economy has gone through a series of sharp shocks over the past few months, on the back of unbelievable and unprecedented global financial turbulence.

The House of Commons is always at its best during big set-piece occasions. The pre-budget report doesn’t have the theatre of the Budget that normally takes place in March, but this pre-budget report was the closest thing I’ve seen to a fully-fledged budget not only since I’ve been an MP, but in my opinion my lifetime.

One of the first things the Chancellor said to the House of Commons was that these are exceptional times and require exceptional measures. I think everybody acknowledges this assessment – the issue and key test is then what you do in those exceptional times.

That is why the Chancellor’s pre-budget report is so important as a means of helping people in these difficult times. A very clear decision has been made by the Government that it should help people as much as possible and as quickly as possible, by putting money into the economy now so we can come out of these times sooner and stronger.

You will be aware of the one year cut in VAT of 2.5 per cent. This puts a staggering £12.5 billion back into the economy by the Government.

From January, every pensioner will get an extra £60 – that’s not marked down for a couple, who will get £120 per household. From April the state pension will rise by £4.55 from £90.70 to £95.25 a week.

For families with kids, there will be an increase in child benefit to £20 a week, and this will be brought forward to January rather than the traditional time to increase in April. The Government is also increasing child tax credit by £75 a year in April.

These measures should help many thousands of hard-pressed families in Hartlepool. And some of the other measures will hopefully have a great impact upon the economy of the town. We should receive some of the £775 million brought forward on housing, which will improve energy efficiency and build much needed housing in the town. We will also receive part of the £150 million extra money on the Warm Front programme, which has already helped a whole range of people in Hartlepool. Given the importance of building a new generation of primary and secondary schools in the town, I am excited at the possibility of the £800 million investment which will be brought forward on these programmes. I also aim to work to ensure we will receive part of the extra £100 million to upgrade GP surgeries to training practices.

The issue of exceptional times and how you can respond is something which I think is important and is a prime example of where different choices in politics can make a difference. This is something I mentioned in my column piece last month. Do you take the view that it is the natural order of things, that there will need to be a period of hurt for some people while the economic cycle adjusts itself? This seems to me to be some of the things that Ministers said in the 1980s and 1990s – things like “if it isn’t hurting it isn’t working”, or “three million unemployed is a price worth paying for low inflation” are phrases that I think are wrong, even immoral. That is not why I am in politics.

I have heard it said that recession can be good for us as people smoke less, drink less alcohol, eat less rich food and spend more time with there families.

I fundamentally disagree that a recession can be good for us.

That is why the government cannot shrug their shoulders and say that a recession is inevitable, even desirable. It’s like someone in adverse weather saying that they don’t need to build a shelter because Mother Nature often gets a bit choppy and cold. The Government should be doing all that they can to help people in this country to weather the storm. This is why I welcome the pre-budget report.

Last week was the first ever Colleges Week. Colleges play a crucial role in our local communities. In Hartlepool, a relatively small town, it is often forgotten that we have four educational establishments of astonishingly high quality which cater for students over the age of 16 – Hartlepool Sixth Form College, my old place where I obtained my A levels, Hartlepool College of Further Education, English Martyrs Sixth Form and, providing world class art and design, Cleveland College of Art & Design. Any other town of 90,000 inhabitants would give their eye teeth for one high class further education establishment – in our town we have four.

Given that the long-term future of the economy, not only of this town but of the entire country, will be dependent on raising our skills levels, I’m pleased that our colleges are so ambitious and so focused on providing the skills that Hartlepool needs. In the short term, during the tough economic times, colleges I believe are providing a vital role in supporting individuals and businesses.

In the next few years, we will see an exciting new chapter in our education, as Hartlepool Sixth Form College and the College of FE both undertake major new building programmes that will transform their offer and provide a world-class 21st century learning experience for the people of Hartlepool. We have never seen such an intense and ambitious building programme for our colleges ever in the history of the town.

I was also delighted to meet up with Richard McKie as he celebrated success in the World Skills UK Awards. Richard, from Seaton Carew, was part of the team which has won the Northern heat of the UK Manufacturing Team Challenge, I wish him well in the UK Finals.


On Friday evening, I had a great time at the Maritime Experience with the Roaring Mouse Drama Group. Roaring Mouse is a group of people with learning disabilities who have come together to form a theatre company and to put on plays. It seemed fitting that a bunch of actors would have their photos taken as movie stars in a variety of film settings, to produce an entertaining art exhibition and calendar. Working with professional photographer Dave Hudspeth, the group recreated their favourite films and actors in a various poses. So we had Titanic recreated, which seems appropriate given our coastal setting, Brief Encounter recreated at Hartlepool Railway Station, and Rocky in one of Hartlepool’s boxing clubs. I was pretty envious of the James Bond photo shoot, where people seemed to have great fun with a top-of-the-range Aston Martin. I also liked the Godfather pose, given that it is my favourite film.

The images are on display at the Museum of Hartlepool in the style of full size Hollywood movie posters. The calendar is really high quality, and I would urge you to consider buying one for the New Year, which isn’t all that far away.

The project was not only great fun, especially it appears with the Aston Martin, but is also linked with a bigger and more serious project, “Did you get a Life?”, which looks at the ambitions and aspirations of people with learning difficulties in Hartlepool. This project will include a performance by Roaring Mouse early next year. My thanks go to Linda Malcolm and Roaring Mouse for inviting me to the event – I really enjoyed it.


I’d just wish to end on a sad note, regarding the recent loss of Harry Hunter. Harry was a Headlander through and through. My first branch of the Labour Party was St Hilda’s, and Harry helped me a lot in my first years in the Party. He was a kind and decent man, and his death at the age of only 58 has shocked and upset me. I attended his funeral on Friday at St Hilda’s Church, and it seemed the entire Headland and Central Estate was there in force to pay their respects to Harry. He reflected all that was good about the Headland, all that I’m proud of with regards to the men and women of this great part of the town, and I’m afraid the ‘Cos’ will never be the same again. My sympathies go out to his mother Dora, and to his children Paul, Angela and Stacey.

Supermarkets, corner shops and big food and drink companies this week joined in the campaign. Have a look at nhs.uk/Change4Life for more info.

In Hartlepool there will be Change4Life promotions around healthy food and recipes in supermarkets and activities like walking campaigns or cycling groups.

Starting in January 2009 it will be everywhere – you will see it on television, in magazines, at your local leisure centre, in the supermarket, at school or in your local GP surgery - so look our for it.