Light's Out

Hello again,
Today's events to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the start of the First World War conclude this evening with a service in Westminster Abbey and a call for us all to turn out all but one light in a few minute time.

There have been some very moving services and events throughout Broxtowe and I had hoped to share some of my photographs but the gremlins have got into my computer!

I thought the production of Swan Canaries in Stapleford was excellent and a good turn out enjoyed a first class story about a group of women at the Chilwell munitions factory. Congratulations are due to everyone involved in Stapleford Remembers. 

Two Green Party Councillors have resigned from Kimberley Town Council over concerns about how the council is spending tax payers money and allegations that it is not being run democratically. You may remember I rose my own concerns in a recent email newsletter.
This is very bad news for Kimberley - whatever your politics David Kerwin and Katharina Boettge were two very good and competent Councillors. Independents and the only Conservative Town Councillor resigned some time ago because of the way the Labour group was controlling the Council. I am meeting David and Katharina  later this week and will keep you informed as to events on Kimberley Town Council.  

 

A number of constituents have contacted me about the situation in Gaza and I am sure my own feelings are shared by many. I have passed on the contents of all correspondents to the highest levels of Government and I can assure you I have discussed the views of many of my constituents with a number of my colleagues, including other members of the Government.

I have been appalled at the pictures and accounts from Gaza. The loss of life is terrible especially the deaths of so many children. I was particularly upset and concerned at the loss of life in UN schools where families were sleeping having been forced out of their homes. As you will know Gaza is a densely populated place where people have few places to flee to.

I am pleased that Israel has announced a short ceasefire today but what is urgently needed is an unconditional and permanent ceasefire. The British Government, notably the Foreign Secretary has been working to achieve that and Philip Hammond had yet further discussions with Israeli Ministers yesterday. Given the complexities and difficulties in reaching some sort of agreement over a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel I have no doubt those negotiations and discussions should take place behind closed doors and not in front of microphones and cameras. Accordingly, I thought the comments of Labour's leader, Ed Miliband, yesterday were unnecessary and not in the least helpful. This is not the time to play party politics.

I think it is very important to state some basic principles. Firstly, Israel is entitled and should defend herself, whether it is from rocket attacks or tunnels into Israel in order to kill and injure civilians and soldiers. However, international law is quite clear, as the Prime Minister said this morning "use of force always has to be proportionate and civilians should not be targeted."

Hamas must stop its rocket attacks on Israel, they are not only unlawful but have little effect as Israel has a sophisticated an effective defence system. If Hamas genuinely wants to stop the attacks on Gaza that almost inevitably lead to the loss of civilian lives then they should stop their attacks on Israel immediately.

In the long term we need peace and stability with an independent and democratic Palestine and an Israel whose existence is accepted and respected - each based on the borders decided back in 1967.