Jim Ferguson » jobs

Jim Ferguson’s concern over housing in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey

Jim Ferguson — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:24:52 +0000

“Liberal Democrats have announced they will add VAT to new build houses. Home building industry body Homes for Scotland, whose membership provides 95% of all homes built for sale in Scotland as well as an increasingly significant proportion of affordable housing, today unsurprisingly slammed Liberal Democrat proposals to add VAT to new build homes if elected to Government and so do I.

We are in desperate need of social and “truly affordable” housing for rental with 10,000 people on the Highland Council Housing Waiting List.
Those on local average earnings have little chance of accessing mortgages since the Banking crisis.
Most work locally and need housing in the areas where they work. Spiralling petrol and diesel costs make it even more difficult for those on lower incomes who live in rural areas, hence my concern on this issue.

Members of the public have made clear their dismay over Labour Government’s failure to control immigration.
Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrat comments, recently broadcast, have incensed the electorate when stating Inverness and other areas need more migrants! Gordon Brown’s Labour “open borders” policy has been a complete failure. Massive increases in migration have resulted in overstretched Public Services. The increased cost of the Benefits System underpinning the policy could have major economic consequences.

If migrants are to be welcomed, we must ensure crucial infrastructure is in place, including jobs, education, health and housing and naturally the ability to cope with the diversity of languages involved which is particularly difficult in rural areas.

We need to develop Tourism further as it is a principal Highlands industry and vital for local economy creating crucial meaningful jobs and provide the necessary homes for these people.

We need a common sense approach to address Highlands problems.

Jim Ferguson
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Press Release 21^st April 2010

Lib Dem proposal increasing cost of new homes sheer madness

Home building industry body Homes for Scotland, whose membership provides 95% of all homes built for sale in Scotland as well as an increasingly significant proportion of affordable housing, today slammed Liberal Democrat proposals to add VAT to new build homes if elected to Government.

On the day that Tavish Scott launched the party’s manifesto in Scotland, the organisation’s Chief Executive Jonathan Fair said:

“Somehow, the Liberal Democrats seem to be unaware that Scotland, not to mention the UK as a whole, is facing its worst housing crisis since the Second World War. Not only has our industry lost up to half its workforce, development is touching an all-time low and vital First Time Buyers are struggling to find deposits of up to 25%. Any measure increasing the cost of new homes, whether in the public or private sector, is sheer madness and will simply exacerbate the problems we as a country already face.”

Ends

Enquiries to:

Jennifer Kennedy, Homes for Scotland – 0131 455 8350

Notes to Editors:

Homes for Scotland (www.homesforscotland.com) represents the country’s home building industry which, prior to the onset of the credit crunch,:

- was the largest source of private investment in Scotland and the largest user of the planning system

- built 20,000 new homes, contributed £6bn to the economy and directly impacted the employment of 100,000 people (2007 figures)

Half the industry’s directly employed jobs have already been lost and Scottish new build housing output has plummeted, presenting far-reaching and long-term social and economic consequences.

Click here to read Homes for Scotland’s “building for their future” appeal to MPs as they prepare to enter the election season.

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Jim Ferguson announces launch of political campaign Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey Highlands Scotland UK

Jim Ferguson — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:49:55 +0000

May 6th has now been officially declared as the date of the next General Election.

Over the last two years I have been a serious political Candidate and campaigned hard during this time.
Visiting every area, holding regular coffee mornings and surgeries, canvassing and leading from the front.

The people of this region deserve to be heard and the weakness shown by those currently in office, to properly represent the people of the Highlands needs to come to an end.
My main motivation for standing is to ensure that real support is brought to the Highlands and the people of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey. My desire to bring the high degree of support that a Conservative Government would bring and to do so it is imperative that this region elects me to represent them in Parliament.

Out of every other Candidate who is standing, only I will have the ability, as a member of the party in power to get the investment and infrastructure to ensure that the businesses and people of this region get the top support they deserve.
All the other Candidates will be in opposition and can only ask what they will of a Conservative Government.
I would remind everyone that I would be the MP of the party in power and it is that thought that I ask you to seriously consider.

This General Election is a clear choice. A vote for any other party will help to keen Gordon Brown in power.
Do you want Gordon Brown for another 5 years or David Cameron as Prime Minister?

I would ask that every person in this region look closely at what I can offer. It’s time to play this to your advantage and ensure this region gets the strongest support from a Conservative Government possible. If you have never voted Conservative before, you need to seriously consider doing so now.

I am not a career politican, I have worked hard all my life with a family business that I started from scratch 16 years ago.
If you invest your trust in me, you can be certain of having an honest and hard working MP who understands what you are all going through and who acknowledges that your concerns and interests are my concerns and interests.

It’s time for change and true representation for the people who live and work in this region.

Make your vote count – there is much at stake!

Jim Ferguson

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Labour will put the boot into Britains recovery

Jim Ferguson — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:38:42 +0000

Labour will kill the recovery

Monday, April 5 2010

The Conservatives have launched a poster as part of a wider campaign highlighting how Labour’s job tax will kill the recovery.

“Labour have confirmed today that they are going ahead with a national insurance tax rise on jobs that Britain’s business leaders say will endanger jobs”, said George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor.

The Conservatives have also unveiled new research showing how National Insurance has become Labour’s favourite stealth tax:

Total receipts from National Insurance have risen over five times faster than income tax receipts over the last decade.
Average National Insurance Contributions (NICs) per family have risen over twelve times as much as average income tax receipts per family over the same period.
In that time Gordon Brown cut the basic rate of income tax once (as part of the 10p tax con) but he increased National Insurance rates in three different ways – and that’s even before Labour’s new tax on jobs planned for 2011

“With Gordon Brown now finally forced to call the election, the choice is clear”, Osborne added.

“Labour’s jobs tax and debt will stamp out the green shoots and kill the recovery. Conservative plans to cut wasteful government spending and stop the jobs tax will get Britain working.”

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Captains of Industry and Business Leaders are Backing the Conservatives UK

Jim Ferguson — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:42:27 +0000

Top Business Leaders Back Tories On Tax

9:42am UK, Thursday April 01, 2010

Ruth Barnett, Sky News Online

A group of business leaders have written a letter backing the Conservatives’ proposal to halt a planned rise in National Insurance.

David Cameron described it as a “very important moment in the election campaign”.

The executive chairman of Marks and Spencers, Sir Stuart Rose, and easyJet entrepreneur Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou are among the 23 people to have signed the letter, which is published in the Daily Telegraph.

The signatories employ around half a million workers between them.

They agree with shadow chancellor George Osborne that increasing NI by 1p next April, as Labour plans to do, is bad news for the economy.

“The Government’s proposal to increase national insurance, placing an additional tax on jobs, comes at exactly the wrong time in the economic cycle,” the letter says.

The Labour Party feel that the Conservatives’ plan has not been properly costed and not properly thought through.

Sky’s political correspondent Joey Jones

“In a personal capacity, we welcome George Osborne’s plan to stop the proposed increase in national insurance by cutting Government waste.”

Mr Cameron told BBC Breakfast: “These household names – people like Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Mothercare – are saying that Labour’s plans to put up National Insurance contributions are the biggest threat to the recovery.

“They are saying there is no threat to the recovery from cutting waste in 2010 but there is a threat to the recovery from putting up National Insurance contributions.

George Osborne

“Labour have said the whole thing is that we can secure the recovery. Well, today that plank of their whole approach has been removed.”

Chancellor Alistair Darling pledged to introduce the rise as a way of paying off some of the nation’s debts.

But Mr Osborne said he would axe the increase for people earning less than £45,000 if his party wins power at the next election. He said he would pay for this by finding efficiency savings worth £12bn.

Mr Darling counters that Mr Osborne’s policy is at odds with the Conservatives’ claim they would cut the deficit sooner and deeper than the Government plans.

Treasury Chief Secretary Liam Byrne said the Conservatives were not able to fund their promise on NI.

“No business goes to its shareholders with unfunded promises – but that’s exactly what the Tories are doing,” he said.

The captains of industry and top business leaders are fully aware of the failure of this Labour Government. They are giving their full backing to the Conservatives, because they know we have the experience and common sense, to get rid of Labour’s crippling debt, but not at the expense of putting more businesses out of action, or risking the creation of new jobs.

Members of the public whose jobs are hanging by a thread need to take note and ensure their vote is for the Conservatives. Another term of Labour could spell disaster for them and everyone else in the United Kingdom.

Jim Ferguson

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Conservatives to offer real help for small business UK

Jim Ferguson — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:49:00 +0000

I am pleased to see some real help being promised for small business. Its encouraging that small business is being recognised for the part it plays by the Conservatives who understand the importance of the fact that we are a nation of traders and that small business accounts for 80% of the revenue raised.

Jim Ferguson

Conservative tax reform to aid self employed

Wednesday, March 31 2010

Mark Prisk, the Shadow Business Minister, has announced that a Conservative Government would undertake a full and fundamental review of small business taxation, including IR35.

The aim will be to provide a simpler, clearer and lasting tax regime, so businesses can plan with confidence.

“For the last 13 years, Labour have constantly meddled with the tax rules for freelancers and self-employed, Prisk said. “IR35 has especially proved to over-complex, uncertain and often unfair”.

IR35 has cost business £73 million over 10 years but it has barely raised revenue for the Treasury. Prisk criticised Gordon Brown for making it harder to be self-employed at a time when Britain should be open for business.

“This is why a Conservative Government would mandate the independent Office of Tax Simplification to undertake a fundamental review of current arrangements with the aim of providing a clearer, lasting and fairer tax regime”.

This announcement is in addition to previous plesges to simplify the tax system, cut Corporation Tax for small firms, and make small business rate relief automatic.

“Small businesses cannot afford 5 more years of Gordon Brown”, Prisk added. “Only the Conservatives have the energy and the ideas to get Britain working by boosting enterprise”.

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Gordon Brown’s record – Conservative “Vote for Me” campaign

Jim Ferguson — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:00:56 +0000

Michael Gove has launched a new poster campaign putting Gordon Brown’s record at the heart of the election campaign.

These posters arrive alongside a new analysis of Labour’s time in power, and you can view both by clicking the links below.

Read the document

Speaking at the launch, Shadow Education Secretary Michael Gove said:

“Gordon Brown is asking people to vote him in for another five years but he and his tired Government will just make things worse.”

“He has doubled our national debt and squandered billions of pounds selling off Britain’s gold at rock bottom prices. He has taken billions out of our pensions system and doubled the tax rate for the poorest workers. He has let down our young people by causing record youth unemployment, and overseen an increase in the gap between the rich and poor. And he has let 80,000 criminals out of prison early, leading to 1,500 crimes being committed by people who should have been behind bars.”

“We can’t go on like this. The choice at this election is five more years of Gordon Brown’s tired government making things worse or David Cameron and the Conservatives with the energy, leadership and values to get the country moving.”

… and here are some other things Gordon Brown did…

Cut the Defence Budget at a time of war – and got caught out denying it!

Gordon Brown misled the Chilcot Inquiry, Parliament and the public when he claimed that ‘the defence budget has been rising every year since 1997’
(Hansard, 10 March 2010, Col. 291).

He was later forced to admit that ‘I do accept that in one or two years defence expenditure did not rise in real terms’
(Hansard, 17 March 2010).

Figures from the Ministry of Defence show that the defence budget actually fell year-on-year in real terms on four occasions since 1997 – in 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2007.
(Channel 4 News Factcheck, 10 March 2010).

Taxed jobs as we were emerging from recession.

Last December, Gordon Brown’s Government announced a tax on jobs – a 0.5 per cent rise in the rate of National Insurance Contributions for both employees and employers. This comes on top of the
rise in NICs announced in the 2008 PBR, meaning a total planned rise of 1 per cent. This is a tax on all businesses and on every person earning over £20,000.
The Federation of Small Businesses has estimated that this could mean up to 57,000 jobs are lost. (FSB,
Press Release, 24 March 2010)

Increased spending on quangos by £10 billion.

The cost of unelected and poorly accountable government bodies has soared by almost £10 billion under Gordon Brown. In his first year as Prime Minister, total expenditure on so-called
“executive non-departmental public bodies” rose from £37.0 billion to £43.0 billion in 2007-08 – a 16 per cent rise
(Cabinet Office, Public Bodies 2007, p.10; Public Bodies 2008, p.10).

Figures for 2008-09 revealed quango expenditure rose by another £3.5 billion to £46.5 billion – a 7 per cent rise
(Cabinet Office, Public Bodies 2009, p.6) making a mockery of his claims to deliver a new politics.

Brought boom and bust to the NHS – which led to NHS cuts.

Despite massively increasing spending, Gordon Brown has been guilty of a ‘boom and bust’ approach to the NHS finances, forcing NHS Trusts into cuts and wasteful short-term spending. Between 2005 and 2007, 14,500 jobs were cut from the NHS as Trusts struggled to recover from deficits
(NHS Information Centre, NHS Staff 1998-2008, 25 March 2009).

And since 2004, the number of beds in the NHS has been cut by 21,500 – the equivalent of 12 per cent
(Department of Health, Bed availability and occupancy 2008-09, 30 September 2009).

Accident and Emergency departments and maternity units up and down the country have faced or are facing cuts and closures. And things are only set to get worse, as one of Gordon Brown’s own health advisers said that ‘the days of the District General Hospital are over’
(Professor Sir Ara Darzi, NHS London, A Framework for Action, 11 July 2007).

Let truancy rise to record levels.

In 1998, Gordon Brown’s Treasury set a target to reduce truancy rates to 0.5 per cent
(HM Treasury, Comprehensive Spending Review, Public Service Agreements 1999-2000, December 1998).

But the figure now stands at 1.05 per cent – up 44 per cent since 1996/7, well in excess of the Government’s target, and at a record high. 67,000 pupils skip school without permission every day
(DCSF, Pupil Absence in Schools in England, Including Pupil Characteristics: 2008/09, 25 March 2010).

Paid couples more to live apart than together.

The tax credit system penalises parents who live together, giving families a financial incentive to split up.
The IFS has highlighted the fact that a couple with children earning £20,000 between them could be more than £5,000 better off in terms of benefits and tax credits if they split up.
(The Sunday Times, 4 March 2007).

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Alan Blackwood, Corus Redcar steel worker – “We are dead, gone, finished. There is absolutely no way it can be saved!”

Jim Ferguson — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:04:43 +0000

Corus workers’ anger over government ‘platitudes’

Work to partially mothball the plant could take up to six months

Corus workers on Teesside have accused the government of talking “platitudes” over the future of Redcar’s plant, which is being partially mothballed.

The shutdown of the blast furnace at Teesside Cast Products (TCP) begins later, with up to 1,600 jobs set to go.

Gordon Brown said he was “desperately looking” for investment. Corus has said the closure is temporary, with the firm open to “credible offers”.

Unions say the mothballing is premature and have threatened industrial action.

We are dead, gone, finished. There is absolutely no way it can be saved

Alan Blackwood, Corus worker

TCP has been under threat since last May, when an international consortium pulled out of a 10-year contract.

The mothballing was confirmed earlier this week, despite hopes that a buyer could be found in the meantime.

Alan Blackwood, 57, who has worked at Redcar for 42 years and is now facing voluntary retirement, said: “I am just gobsmacked. It just feels to me that Corus doesn’t want Teesside to exist.

“We are dead, gone, finished. There is absolutely no way it can be saved. I think I am more concerned about the company than the government is.”

Linda Robinson, 50, whose family have been working at the plant for three generations, said her brother had just finished last shift and would never be going back. Three generations of Linda Robinson’s family have worked at the plant.
“They say mothballing, but really it’s closure,” she said.

“It is catastrophic for the community. The future is bleak.”

The mothballing could take up to six months, meaning the job losses will be gradual, but there was a sense of finality among workers.

Geoff Waterfield, multi-union chairman at TCP said: “I think the mood today, as it’s been for quite a while, is quite a sad mood really amongst everybody.

“And today I think will be very emotional on the site, and very emotional in the region for the community – because it affects not just the workers but pretty much everybody in the surrounding area”.

The predicted knock-on effect has been described as “horrendous”, with Redcar and Cleveland Council estimating up to 8,000 further jobs could be lost at local companies.

Speaking on Thursday, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson maintained the plant will be protected by the company, with a view to re-opening once a buyer has been found.

I’m very proud of the people here because they’ve had to live with this hanging over them

John Bolton, TCP managing director

However, the Community union says it plans to ballot its members on industrial action over the decision to mothball, while the GMB union has announced it is also considering action.

The shutting down of TCP’s blast furnace will start on Friday, followed by the “blow down” process to use up the remaining raw materials.

On Saturday, holes will be drilled in the furnace to take out residual metal – a procedure known as “tapping the salamander”.

Work to preserve the machinery will then begin, in the hope that it can be restarted at a future date.

John Bolton, managing director of TCP told the BBC: “It’s a very sad day today. We’ve known about the potential of this happening since May.

“I’m very proud of the people here because they’ve had to live with this hanging over them.

“Everybody here has done everything they can to keep this plant going.”

Link to original BBC article

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Sir Richard Branson endorses Conservative plans for the Economy

Jim Ferguson — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:07:25 +0000

More and more business people and economic experts are coming on board with the Conservatives to show their support for our economic plans to repair Labours recession. Sir Richard Branson is a welcome addition with his endorsement of our plans to repair the economy and reduce the Labour created debt that is plauging our nation in so many ways.

Jim Ferguson

Sir Richard Branson backs Conservative economic plans

Many of the papers this morning report comments by made by the country’s best known entrepreneur, the Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, which are highly supportive of the Conservative medicine being prescribed for the economy.

He gave his backing to the economists who backed George Osborne’s strategy for reducing the deficit on Sunday, saying:

“I believe the UK’s record budget deficit does pose a serious risk to our recovery. It would be damaging if we lost the confidence of the markets through delayed action, and saw interest rates have to go up steeply.”

“We are going to have to cut our spending and I agree with the 20 leading economists who said we need to start this year. The next government, whatever party that is, must set out a plan to reduce the bulk of the deficit over a parliament by cutting wasteful spending and must not put off those tough decisions to next year.

“These factors threaten to undermine the confidence of international and UK businesses, consumers and the global financial markets. That could cost jobs and reduce investment in Britain. We must send a clear signal that we have the issues in hand and a clear strategy for UK plc.”

Sir Richard stopped short of giving an unequivocal endorsement of the Conservative Party at the general election, but as the Daily Mail reports today, he met David Cameron and George Osborne at the Commons last week for what sources described as “a good meeting”.

George Osborne naturally welcomed Sir Richard’s backing for the economic strategy he is pursuing :

“Sir Richard Branson’s support for our economic policy of early action to deal with Britain’s debts is hugely welcome. As Britain’s best known entrepreneur, he knows more about creating jobs and building an economic recovery than the entire Labour Cabinet put together.

“The whole country will want to pay attention to his warning that Gordon Brown’s approach could mean lost jobs, higher mortgage rates and less investment in Britain. Coming just 48 hours after the country’s 20 leading economists made exactly the same argument, the momentum for change is growing every day.”

Jonathan Isaby

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Recovery of Britains economy has a long and difficult way to go

Jim Ferguson — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:18:47 +0000

Having spoken to businesses in Nairn last week and Granton on Spey its clear that businesses in the Highlands are not getting an easy ride. The failure to support the High Street businesses is having a knock on effect and communities are concerned in particular when a business closes.

The High Street in Nairn has too many vacant premises and I was dismayed to see this now starting to happen in Granton on Spey as well with four businesses already shutting their doors. These businesses employ people and provide vital services to their community. Rural areas in particular in the Highlands need cohesion within their communities and traders and business is vital to that community cohesion.

The failure of politicians who are supposed to be representing this area of the Highlands is there for all to see and what we need is action instead of the usual empty rhetoric in particular from Liberals.

Every area that is represented by a Conservative MP after the next General Election with a Conservative Government will fare much better and will get the help and support that all business needs to recover from Labours recession.

Its time to get business rates lowered and real practical assistance to the wealth creators with a serious effort to curb unnecessary regulation and red tape.

Jim Ferguson

Gordon Brown’s legacy will be the Great Recession

Commenting on the news that the UK is the last G20 economy to leave the recession, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said “Gordon Brown’s promise that Britain would lead the world out of recession lies in tatters”.

“We were one of the first in and now, today, we are the last out. Gordon Brown’s legacy will be the Great Recession.”

Not only is the UK the last G20 economy to leave the recession, but:

The UK was one of the first countries to enter recession, and the last G20 country out.
Some countries emerged nine months ago.
The pound has fallen significantly against other major currencies.

Osborne added that a key reason for this was that “Gordon Brown’s decisions as Chancellor left Britain ill-prepared and his judgements as Prime Minister made the recession even worse.”

The Conservatives have published a document explaining how Gordon Brown made the recession worse – you can read it in full below.

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