A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | XYZ
Read below to find out Gerry's opinion on many key issues in Bradford South and beyond. If you cannot find the information that you want, please feel free to contact Gerry
A
ANIMAL WELFARE
Gerry's Opinion:
We should ensure that any unnecessary harm to animals is avoided. In the past, I have voted to ban the use of animals for the testing of alcoholic and tobacco products, as well as finished cosmetic products. I have also voted to ban fur farming and fox hunting, and supported the Animal Welfare Bill - the first Bill of its kind to ensure that owners have a duty of responsibility for their animals.
There is a balance to be achieved. I do not think that the public want to see the health of them and the wider environment put second to animal protection. Poor testing - such as the Thalidomide tragedy - must not be allowed. Opportunities for cures - such as Parkinson's disease treatment progress through animal testing - should not be missed. Labour introduced a National Centre in 2004 which will help to ensure that the welfare of animals is protected as much as possible with consideration for all lifeforms.
B
C
CLIMATE CHANGE
(Also see Environment)
Gerry's Opinion:
The world's climate is changing, and we can all do something about it. Labour is battling for better government environmental targets across the globe, but we can all set an example now. If a million people swap three light bulbs for energy saving versions, it would be equivalent to getting 100,000 cars off the road in terms of carbon reduction.
Labour wants the UK to be Europe's leading low carbon economy, and it is well on its way. The economy grew by 25% between 1997 and 2005, but greenhouse emissions fell by 7%. Better transport links and industrial standards play a big part, but we must all play out part individually if we are to get the results that we need.
CRIME
Gerry's Opinion:
Statistically, the chances of you being a victim of crime in the UK are lower than they have been for over 20 years. Things are even better in our region. Over 800 Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers have come in since 1997 in West Yorkshire. Recorded crime for six key offences fell by 23% in Bradford between 2003 and 2006. This is a testament to our local force, as well as Labour's commitment to fighting all crime and its causes.
Of course, these results are no comfort to those that have seen or been a victim of crime. Rather than being complacent, an extra £3million has already been invested for 2006/7 alone to help with drug & alcohol rehabilitation and action against crime in the community. The Government will work relentlessly to continue stopping crime.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Gerry's opinion:
The Government is committed to ensuring that we have a criminal justice system that protects the public and puts victims first.
Some landmark improvements have been made. Labour made sure that crime doesn't pay - giving courts the power to confiscate the assets of major criminals and channel the money into Police improvements. The Criminal Justice Act, together with the continuing expansion of our prisons, means that a life sentence means life for the most serious and dangerous criminals.
But the justice system hasn't just affected criminal masterminds and murderers. Legislation like the Corporate Manslaughter Bill - which I pushed through as a Home Office Minister - will protect people in their everyday work across the UK. The Government is also making great plans reform legal aid and further improve victim support.
CULTURE / SPORT / MEDIA
Gerry's opinion:
The 2012 Olympics, independent media regulation, and free access and record funding for museums and galleries - every one of these are groundbreaking achievements that we can all benefit from. Work like this is vital. We will only achieve as a country if we support the variety of interests and aspirations that people have.
Bradford was a strong capital of culture candidate, and it's easy to see why. The Alhambra and other cultural heritages are symbols of success, and I'm proud to have Bradford Park Avenue and the Bulls in Bradford South. It would be easy to get complacent, but I will be continuing the battle for further funding in our area.
D
DEFENCE & SECURITY
(Also see Foreign Affairs)
Gerry's opinion:
The responsibility of the country's safety is an unimaginable weight on the shoulders of the Prime Minister. It must be tempting to wrap everyone up in cotton wool, but in reality, our freedom, as well as our safety, is important to us. We need to keep society safe without stopping people living their lives. The Government's anti-terrorism measures are in tune with that principle.
Of course, terrorism is a global challenge, and Britain cannot overcome it alone. Likewise, we should help out the United Nations with their work to reverse the dangerous conditions in some of the worst parts of the world.
E
ECONOMY
Gerry's opinion:
Everything else that you see in this list hinges on this one thing - a successful economy. We only talk about these issues because of the strong economy behind us. After black Wednesday and the sky-high interest rates of the 80s and early 90s, Britain has become the fourth largest economy in the world. Growth has continued for the longest period on record, thanks to unprecedented support for business and enterprise, together with innovative policies - such as Bank of England independence.
In Bradford, long-term unemployment fell by a whopping 59% over 10 years since 1997, but I'd like to see it fall further still. The Government is aiming for the ultimate goal - full employment in every region by 2010 - together with record support for our future employees and employers across the country - taking our economy from strength to strength.
EDUCATION
Gerry's opinion:
Important changes are happening to education in Bradford, and the Council must make sure that they get it right. Buttershaw and Tong are getting new Secondary Schools as part of the Government's £400million exclusive funding for our area, and important changes to the Catholic Schools are happening too.
We should celebrate the education achievements so far - spending per pupil has increased by £1,430 between 1997 and 2007. As a result, almost 25% more pupils are getting A*-C grades at GCSE. Now, we should use all the earmarked funding to make even more of our children's potential.
ENVIRONMENT
(Also see Climate Change)
Gerry's opinion:
Whilst we should obviously make environmental improvements to combat climate change, we should also do it to enhance the appearance of our area. The Government passed the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act to give local authorities extra powers to tackle litter, graffiti, abandoned car problems, fly-tipping, noise pollution, and other environmental concerns. Labour is also ensuring that every household has a kerbside collection for at least two types of recyclable materials by 2010.
Our beaches, rivers, and drinking water are now at their highest ever quality too, and the vast majority of new houses are being built on brownfield sites. All-in-all, Britain should become a much cleaner and pleasant place to live.
F
FAMILIES
Gerry's opinion:
I can remember all too well what it was like to be a young parent in the 1980s. Even in the 1990s, there was only a childcare place for one in eight children aged under eight years-old. I have been proud to help introduce the changes that have happened since then, including: free universal part-time nursery education for all three and four year-olds, funding families so they are £1,400 a year better off on average (and £3,200 a year better off for the poorest fifth), the Child Trust Fund, and new paternity and maternity leave rights.
In 2006, 44,500 families benefited from family benefits, but I would still like to see more done in the area. Thousands of Sure Start Childcare centres will be rolled out across the country, better working arrangements will be created, and the Government is planning even more to boost home ownership and social housing standards.
FIREWORKS
Gerry's opinion:
Millions of fireworks are sold each year in the UK, and generally speaking, millions of people enjoy them too. There are some spectacular fireworks displays in our district at the time of Diwali and November 5th. It would be wrong to stop this enjoyment, but we should ensure that fireworks are safe and not unnecessarily disruptive.
Labour have toughened up the rules on fireworks, and multiplied the fine for their illegal sale or use. Fireworks after 11pm are now only permitted for four days in the calendar year, and the Government offers dependable guidance to pet owners during these periods.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(Also see Defence & Security and International Development)
Gerry's opinion:
Domestic interests and international action are connected more than ever before. Drugs, terrorism, people trafficking, AIDS, poverty, migration, climate change and trade all require action together with other countries and international organisations.
So long as we have the ability to act on these matters, it will be a pain on our conscience if we don't. With fair trade, for example, we know that poor countries will not be able to generate the growth needed to escape poverty without external investment and fairer trade rules. The admirable actions of our armed forces in places like Afghanistan and Kosovo will bring long-lasting improvements to the lives of millions, if not billions. The determined diplomacy of our officials abroad should also be praised - making efforts to ensure peace that will be of huge historical significance.
G
H
HEALTH
Gerry's opinion:
No matter who you are, how much you earn, or where you are from, every person should receive free quality healthcare. That's what the NHS was supposed to be about, but the 12 hour waits in Accident & Emergency (A&E) that people used to experience gave the NHS a bad name.
Thank goodness the NHS is back, and it's getting better. In 2005, 97% of patients waited in A&E for under four hours. Spending doubled between 1997 and 2005, and it will have tripled by 2008. More money means more lives - death rates from heart cancer went down by 12% between 1997 and 2005; heart disease deaths fell by 27%.
Now the Government has the opportunity get down to the finer details: better customer service so you can choose where you get care and when; and more preventative action too, legislating for healthier lifestyles from the school kitchen to the smoke-filled socialising of adult life.
HIV/AIDS
(Also see International Development and Foreign Affairs)
Gerry's opinion:
Prevention through education and treatment for sufferers are a must in every part of the world. Treatment is advancing, and everyone with the disease should be able to lead an enjoyable life, rather than see their diagnosis as a death sentence.
Labour started the first ever Department for International Development, and has since provided 100% debt relief to the poorest countries. This extra money can be used to get all children to school, and provide access to treatment for millions across Asia and Africa.
I
IMMIGRATION
Gerry's opinion:
This is possibly the most misunderstood issue of modern times. Understandably, very few people in the UK know how difficult it is to actually get into this country. Even fewer understand how beneficial the people that do visit can be.
Overseas visitors spend billions in the UK - overseas students alone are worth £5 billion each year. A common myth is that foreign visitors take 'our' jobs, but there are hundreds of thousands of job vacancies, and migrants contribute roughly 10-15% of our economy's overall growth. That said, if it is in our country's interest, the Government will of course place limits on immigration.
The decision to phase out all low-skilled immigration from outside the EU was made in January 2007, and the immigration enforcement services will get double the funding by 2010.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
(Also see HIV/AIDS and Foreign Affairs)
Gerry's opinion:
Along with the establishment of a specific International Development department, aid to the poorest countries has more than doubled since 1997. As well as cancelling any debts outright, Labour has lobbied and lobbied to get other countries to do the same.
As the Live 8 concerts demonstrated, many of the problems still need to be addressed, and there is strong public support for further help. So, by 2013, I am proud that the Government has promised to devote 0.7% of national income to development. Labour are also pressing for a doubling of aid from other UN countries, and are working to protect poorer countries from the corruption and poor governance that has blighted aid efforts in the past.
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
PENSIONS
Gerry's opinion:
The original state pension, based on William Beveridge's 1942 recommendations, had served its time and was hopelessly out-of-date. Despite its virtues, the system cut women and carers short, and failed to adapt to Britain's ageing population. For these reasons and more, I was glad to see Labour write the landmark Pensions Bill in 2006.
By linking the basic state pension to earnings, the pension will be worth twice as much by 2050 than it would have been otherwise. Over 500,000 women between the ages of 46 and 56 will now retire with a full pension who wouldn't have previously. The retirement age will increase with life-expectancy, and companies will no longer be able to force people to retire before the age of 65. In time, I hope that this new reform will be as well admired as the famous social security changes of the 1940s.
PENSIONERS
Gerry's opinion:
In Bradford, over 76,000 pensioners have seen the biggest rise the basic state pension for a generation. Nearly 25,000 pensioners aged 75 or over also now have a free TV licence. It's a far cry from the days when 2.8million pensioners lived in poverty (only back in 1997), but I'd like to think that things can get better still for Bradford's pensioners.
I hope that we can get free heating put into even more pensioners' homes, and successfully roll out free public transport nationally, as well as locally.
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Gerry's Gallery
Have a look at Gerry's Gallery; showing the variety of work that Gerry undertakes as MP for Bradford South.
