Newspaper Column – The Cornishman – 21/10/24

• London is so remote and often out of touch. The unique challenges of transport in West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are sometimes hard to fathom for those more than 300 miles away in Westminster. 

Whether it’s price hikes for school bus tickets, securing investment for infrastructure or seeking parity for Scillonians with those on the mainland and in Scotland, these issues are becoming very serious indeed. I raised questions with transport Ministers this week and will follow up. I also met the CEO of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, which runs the ferry and cargo sea link and the fixed-wing air service to Scilly.  

Cornwall’s MPs are working together on these matters. 

• I made the case for enhancing local hospital services in the Commons this week. Our Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance should be open 24/7. It was closed at night over two years ago. 

It’s a vital service for local people. A fully functioning, 24/7 UTC can help reduce the pressure on Treliske Emergency Department. That means better patient outcomes, fewer ambulances queues and shorter journeys and waits. Last week I met the hospitals’ CEO, Steve Williamson, and fellow senior staff and officers. Though there’s clearly work to do, good progress is being made. 

• I again spoke in the Commons this week on appalling tragedies in Gaza and Lebanon. I feel the government’s position has become unsustainable. This cold-blooded slaughter of innocent people must be stopped. 

The UK government should no longer “stand with” the far-right Israeli government. Though I supported the UK’s military helping to intercept missiles and protect innocent Israeli civilians when they were under attack, we should do the same to protect innocent civilians in Gaza and Lebanon when under Israeli attack. Instead, we supply their weapons. This must stop. 

• I was pleased to write a two page spread for Fishing News last week. There’s so much to be done to support the sector. We also established a new All Party Fisheries Group which will review a wide range of matters relevant to our coastal communities.   

• My next surgery in St Ives on Friday 25th October is already fully booked. Indeed, it’s 5 times oversubscribed. There is a programme of further surgeries continuing on a regular basis. It’s an opportunity to raise concerns or request my assistance with any matters relevant to Parliament. However, instead of waiting for an appointment, it might be quicker to simply contact me and my staff and we’ll take matters up for you. So, for casework, or booking an appointment, email: andrew.george.mp@parliament.uk 

• Housing justice is an important issue I’ve campaigned on for forty years. I was pleased to secure a Commons debate on regulating holiday and second homes in Cornwall yesterday (23rd October). The previous government handed out £500 million in taxpayers money to holiday home owners through various tax loopholes in Cornwall alone. That money should have been invested in first homes for those in housing need. In the lead up to the budget, there’s a ‘golden opportunity’ for the new government to create a more just system. 

• This week, the government launched a consultation on NHS reform. The Conservatives have brought the NHS to its knees. If we cannot restore our NHS in the next few years, I fear it will be on a slippery slope. Rebuilding front-line staff morale is critical; if these reforms don’t improve staff retention, they will fail. Managment gurus and allowing the private sector to cherry pick the profitable bits of the NHS are not the answer.