LICHFIELD’S MP says former coal mining communities have been at the back of a list for support for far too long.
Cllr Dave Robertson made his comments at a Coalfields Regeneration Trust speech.
The Labour MP said areas such as Handsacre and Burntwood had been let down by previous Conservative governments.
He said:
“The pit patch coalfield in my area hasn’t had a Labour MP and a Labour government at the same time since 1974, so we have just crossed 50 years.
“I think that’s particularly acute in the town of Burntwood and the village of Handsacre because those areas have been ignored, starved of investment and have just been at the back of the list for far too long.
“But was is really clear when you reach out and speak to communities in those areas that there is absolutely no reason for that. Those communities are strong, vibrant, together and every single person is willing to work together and push it forwards. They just need the help of their MP and their government.”
Mr Robertson added that he was keen to ensure a brighter future for areas with a mining heritage.
“I’m proud to be part of a Labour government that will be driving that mission in all of our coalfields and all of our communities to make sure that everybody can thrive.
“Alongside amazing charities like the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, we can make a real difference and together we can breathe life back into those communities and return that economic prosperity to the areas that powered the world for a century.”
Lack of investment?? We could do with the half baked “freeze a pensioner” idea being dropped before we get the “actually we have no idea but rhetoric” from our MP, who is fully supportive of funds withdrawal. the idea of taking winter fuel payments from the vulnerable seems normal for a party who no longer support the working and retired working classes.
That’s all great, but stop blaming the Conservatives and tell us exactly what you’re going to do ?.
Talk is cheap.
Hopefully there will be progression.Not been any in the past 60 years!
Years and Years of discussion and false promises and statements.
Maybe let’s start with the so called “ Burntwood TOWN “ Centre. ?
The whole area is totally depressed with no Beating Heart.
Not to mention The Blue Boards.
Nice suit Dave
Yes Dave, we get it. The Conservatives were no good. That’s why we voted for you and your mate Kier and his free wardrobe. Now stop talking and waffling and telling us all how bad the Tories are and tell us what you’re going to do. So far you’ve been pretty basic in your representation of your new constituents. Winter fuel allowance is going to be hard to live down. Referring to coal mines that closed 50 years ago isn’t going to help.
So they have been at the back of the line for far too long. Ok. But what actions will you be taking as an MP? I suspect none.
All talk, no action, follow the party line. Looks like the got rid of one useless MP to be replaced with a carbon copy.
Perhaps he could negotiate some free coal to keeps some of our pensioners warm during this winter being as they won’t have the winter fuel allowance thanks to him and his party
Is this man wearing blinkers ?
How does removing a chunk of elderly persons’ financial support help to maintain the financial viability of the locality referred to by this MP ?
Surely financial activity in the locality will take a downturn ?
But, I suppose the Labour perspective is that we know how better we can spend your money for you, so we’ll take it back and spend it more wisely in an area that turned it’s back on mining 50 years ago.
Somehow, I don’t think so !
Bored of hearing about Winter Fuel Allowance on irrelevant subjects. As the wealthiest demographic in this country on average the majority don’t actually need it. There is help out there for pensioners who will be struggling if only people tried sharing that message instead of wittering on about WFA.
I hear Pensioners talking about working all their lives and deserving it. Well everyone else is working as well and many of them are on such low wages they can’t even afford to feed their kids. Let’s not forget that the current workers will now have to work a lot longer before being able to claim their pension.
Why pay it to someone who is wealthy? Why pay it to someone in residential care who has no heating bill? The blanket approach had to be stopped and was nonsense.
I have sympathy with those pensioners that are truly struggling but I know that’s not all those complaining on here. Help for those in most need is available if they want it.
As an annual one off payment, cancelling it was an easy choice to reduce debt. However, perhaps a delay until next year and a good hard look at means testing would have been fairer to the worst off.
If you have time it’s worth looking at the Taxpayers Alliance article on the value of art works owned by National and Local Government, approx £5.5billion? On show less than 5% or so?
@ Rob Birch…I see things rather differently to you. If you pay into a scheme i. e. Tax and National Insurance; together with a plethora of other taxes, why should you not benefit from that? Do you advocate all aspects of life being means tested? The ‘rich’ paying for their own health care, schooling, pensions etc? And who qualifies as rich?
If current State Pensions were evalulated on the same basis as the National Minimal Wage then that would (in most cases) negate the need for supplemented benefits. Look carefully at basic State Pensions and see if you could live on it. It is nowhere near the minimal wage.
Our country is one of the worst in its Pensions provision. This is indefensible. Means testing is double taxation and cannot correct underlying cause.