Andrew George
Promoting the
Politics of Courage
I’m running a positive campaign to restore decency and honesty to our politics. To build a brighter future. To combat those who want us to become more inward-looking, backward-looking, more self-absorbed. I’ll build a campaign for an outward-looking, forward-looking and compassionate country.
We’ve been misled by a privileged clique who’ve irresponsibly played on fears to stoke prejudice. We must get beyond the Brexit chaos they’ve dragged our country into. We must restore the things that matter for the sake of our children’s future – our NHS, our schools and the very sustainability of our planet.
Come and join a growing campaign team. We’re determined to win this seat back this time, to make the difference, to build a brighter future.
Many people say “you politicians are all the same”. That statement has never been more untrue. The choice here is stark:
Andrew George - Standing up for Cornwall
National campaigner, local campaigner, MP.
Andrew describes his role - "Seeking out the silent voices. Standing up to bullies. Fighting for justice”
Liberal Democrats - Building a brighter future
Unbelievable! The Chancellor has extended multi-billion tax handouts to second homeowners in his Budget, and this during a housing emergency.
This tax loophole has been extensively exploited by many wealthy property investors since 2012.
The Chancellor announced in his budget yesterday that eligibility for those second homeowners who ‘flip’ their properties from Council Tax to Business Rates, apply for the Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) and pay nothing has been extended to almost all stand alone holiday homes.
Instead of closing a multibillion-pound tax loophole, the Chancellor has just crowbarred it open still further!
I can’t remember how many times I’ve spelt this out to government ministers. They’ve completely failed to comprehend it. It’s shocking that billions of pounds are being handed out to wealthy property investors when there are hundreds of thousands of families who can’t afford to secure a decent first home, even at an affordable rent.
I will challenge ministers again before the Budget is voted on. They must think again.
Entitling holiday lets to small business rate relief (SBRR) was shocking enough, but not unusual for the Conservatives who introduced it. In Cornwall alone, more than half a £billion of taxpayers money has been handed out to holiday homeowners (most of whom live outside Cornwall) in the last decade. This kind of money could’ve gone some way to help solve our housing problems.
Since the government introduced the double council tax on second homes last year, that has encouraged even more to flip their property from council tax to business rates, apply for small business rate relief and then pay nothing! Now some have the gall to ask for it to be backdated, which is putting the local authority into an even worse financial crisis.
This must stop. I cannot believe that the Chancellor has done this.
While billions have been wasted on HS2 and other vanity projects, all we need is a tiny fraction of that to invest in improved train services.
Rolling out high quality Wi-Fi services - which have been trialled and can now be delivered – on all our train services would help to transform the journey experience and diminish the relevance of the journey time – especially for working people and the business community.
I’m pressing the transport secretary to upgrade the quality of our services – whether journeys take four, five or six hours, is less important than delivering punctuality, reliability, comfort and improved passenger services.
BBC Cornwall ITV News West Country Cornwall Live Cornwall Reports Packet Newspapers
Should MPs come down from Westminster to represent the Party in the constituency? Or represent their constituency in Westminster?
Some may prefer the first option, but I've always been clear that I represent west Cornwall and Scilly in Westminster.
Another reason why I value opportunities to get out and meet people as often as I can when I don't need to be in London. Holding public meetings, like this one in Helston at the weekend, or meeting these brilliant students at Penwith College recently.
The world of politics is never boring, but always challenging. Events like these draw people into the difficult decisions politicians often face, including the many occasions when opinion can be sharply divided.
I'm pleased to report that at all recent events questions and opinions were aired openly, differences of view were respected. Everyone listened and engaged in a manner rarely seen on social media!
Thank you to the many people who attended. Look out for my next public meetings and surgeries..
Truro and Penwith College BBC Cornwall Cornwall Live ITV News West Country Cornwall Reports Packet Newspapers
Pleased my office will be represented at Helston Town Council's community advice drop in tomorrow.
If you're in the Helston area and have any queries, please pop over and say hello.Need some help but not sure where to start? We are bringing together more than a dozen local and national organisations for a free Community Advice Drop-in at the Guildhall.
Tuesday 27th October, 11am to 3pm
Corn Exchange, Guildhall, Helston
Free, no booking required
Get face to face advice on household bills, energy, housing, debt, benefits, wellbeing and community safety. Come along at any time and speak to as many organisations as you need.
Find out more: www.helston-tc.gov.uk/council_events/community-advice-drop-in/
Age UK Cornwall & The Isles of Scilly
Andrew George
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service
Cornwall Community Flood Forum
disAbility Cornwall & IoS
Environment Agency - South and South West
South West Water
Inclusion Cornwall Business Page
Young People Cornwall
Community Energy Plus
This must change.
The recent fines against SWW is just another cost on Water Bill payers, unless Government ministers agree to reinvesting that money to ensure the company meets its obligations.
It's scandalous a risk-free privatised monopoly, which has spent more than three decades doing more to enrich its top execs and shareholders than in properly halting the sewage spills and mending the leaks, can handout another quarter of a million in rewards to the last failed CEO, as she 'retired' from the company, at the same time as it was about to be fined for failure.
My parliamentary colleagues and i are pressing for answers. And for assurances that:
🚰 Water bill payers won't be stung again to bale out the company as they pay fines.
🚰 Senior execs will be held criminally liable for failure.
🚰 Water companies are publicly accountable, can be forced to switch governance to a community interest company with independent community champion on each board, and to nationalise those that fail.
BBC Cornwall Cornwall Live ITV News West Country
Packet Newspapers Surfers Against Sewage