My Ministerial Role and My Constituency
I have been made the Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries. This is a long title, possibly one of the longest in Government. It also includes in effect two jobs. One is to cover the arts, libraries, broadcasting and the creative industries over at the Department for Culture Media and Sport (known as DCMS). The other is to cover broadband roll out, telecoms, and illegal filesharing over at the Department of Business (known as BIS). Phew.
As a local MP, it is interesting to consider how these responsibilities affect people in the constituency. The first and most obvious is broadband rollout. About ten per cent of all homes do not have broadband at all, and about one in 3 have very poor broadband, mainly in rural areas. There are some parts of the constituency that remain affected. Our aim is to get everyone to have a basic broadband service by the end of 2012, and to roll out high speed broadband over the next few years. If you have any issues with broadband do let me know.
I also cover what is known as illegal filesharing. This is a new law which would allow internet companies to temporarily disconnect people if it could be proved that they have been copying music or films without proper authorisation. This is something we have to act on, as every piece of music that is copied illegally takes money away from artists and creators, who provide a lot of money for the economy. We're looking to introduce the new measures next year, but no one will be cut off (and then only temporarily) without plenty of warning and a chance to change their behaviour.
Another issue that is likely to be prominent is libraries, which I also cover. Libraries are very important to local communities, but as money becomes tighter, they may suffer. I will use my position to try and ensure that we can make responsible savings so that libraries continue to provide important services for local people - not just book borrowing, but also education and access to broadband and other local and national services.
One local issue has already cropped up which affects my ministerial responsibilities directly. The local television transmitter burnt down, and cannot be replaced until September (they have to build a new one from scratch). Many people have had their TV coverage affected and are understandably looking for a speedy solution and I am looking into this.
I continue to focus on other local issues as normal. I met with those campaigning against the reservoir, ahead of the public enquiry. I am continuing to campaign for a new station at Grove. And I was delighted that the new Government threw out the housing targets which have led to plans for huge housing developments across the constituency. It may not affect those where planning permission has already been granted but it could lead to a rethink where no decision has yet been made.
Recent constituency engagements include a spot of metal detecting (I also cover archaeology!) and as a judge for Didcot's Got Talent, a great night for pupils aged 6-11 to show off their talents. I tried not to be too Simon Cowell-ish!
I can still be contacted at the House of Commons, SW1A 0AA, 020 7219 6350 vaizeye@parliament.uk
Next surgeries are 9 July: Grove, Old Mill Hall and 23 July: Didcot, King Alfred Drive Community Centre both at 530pm
Posted on 14 June 2010 by Ed Vaizey
Re-election & Appointment as Culture Minister
I was delighted to be re-elected as your MP at the general election, with an increased majority and an increased share of the vote. It is a great privilege to serve you, and thank you for giving me the opportunity.
Since then, of course, we have had one of the most extraordinary weeks in British politics, culminating in a coalition government, something we have not had in peacetime for eighty years.
I was delighted with that outcome, as it resulted in my becoming Minister for Culture, a job I have been keen to do for many years. Apart from the Cornerstone at Didcot, as well as the cultural delights of Oxford, there is a lot of cultural activity taking place in every town and village in the constituency, which is a useful reminder of how important culture is to our day-to-day lives, even if it does not make a great impact on politics.
I am based in the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport. You will be delighted to know I will not be swanning around in a ministerial car, as the Secretary of State immediately banned them, instantly saving the taxpayer £250,000 a year. All Ministers have also taken a 5 per cent pay cut.
The new job will be demanding, but I will not lose sight of the constituency. The general election was an important time, because it gives you the opportunity to listen to people's concerns. I think the voice of pensioners was hardly heard, but there were toher issues, such as mental health, raised at the hustings, that did not get a voice. I am also aware of the privilege of representing a constituency with extensive science, energy and defence interests, which gives me a local perspective on national issues.
I also intend to hold regular public meetings to allow people to come and question and raise concerns with people who run our public services - not just me, but also councillors, the Police and the health service.
Posted on 20 May 2010 by Ed Vaizey
More Eve of Poll E-mails
I've received some very encouraging e-mails from local people over the last 24 hours. Here's just a flavour of them...I've edited them to protect the correspondents' identity...
"Until today I have been one of those undecided and of crikey the election is tomorrow! I have lived in Faringdon for just over 20 years... The government has done absolutely nothing to aid me or my family... I have now what most people would describe as a reasonable career...I'm hoping to move closer to Wantage... So I will be voting for Ed- Purely for local issues-that's my leap of faith!"
"I thought you did a good job last night and I'm glad I got to see you in action as it has helped make my decision for me. I don't agree with the conservatives on many things, but on the most important things to me (the policies which directly affect small businesses) the Tories are the only ones to state that they would help small businesses by making it easy for the government to purchase their services and products and that would be most welcome."
"As I said last night, Ed has a really good reputation as a local MP, and
I think that will put him in good stead tomorrow, especially with those
that might still be wavering on a National level."
"Many thanks for your e-mail. Much more positive than any I have received from you rivals - i.e. labour "that all Tories are evil bankers" and the Lib Dems that "the Tories want to close down the NHS”!
You can certainly count on my support."
Posted on 5 May 2010 by Ed Vaizey
Hustings, Hustings and More Hustings
Most of the candidates in Wantage will have done 7 hustings by the end of the election: farmers, Didcot sixth formers, Wallingford, Didcot, Wantage, Faringdon and Sutton Courtenay.
Didcot is tomorrow, and the most recent have been Wallingford, Wantage and Sutton Courtenay. All were well attended, with at least a hundred of not 200 at each. Wantage was the most bad-tempered because of Lib Dem heckling.
Questions raised included freedom of conscience for Christians, the economy, nuclear power, mental health, overseas aid, the euro, Trident, tuition fees, the Middle East, the House of Lords, housing, the voting system, pensions, immigration, defence.
Labour have a very impressive candidate, who may well do better than expected.
Posted on 3 May 2010 by Ed Vaizey
Two Nice E-Mails
I have had loads of supportive e-mails during the campaign - thank you. Here are two that came in today that perhaps reflect the mood in Wantage:
"Just a week ago, I had almost made up my mind, definitely not Gordon, unlikely David most likely Nick. But, in the past few days, since I watched David doing an impromptu Q&A session at a school in Derby, and actually bothering to check out Manifestos, I have back tracked, and you can definitely count on my vote. Couldn`t stand another 5 days, let alone years with the 'red army'. Nick, I have this feeling would walk into number 10, stop, shudder and wonder which way to turn!
My wife, has also been transformed as of the past week, now the crunch is arriving. She is also voting for you. So, bloody good luck with your vote, and of course, the national one. I`m not into politics, but can spot fair, decent, passionate and motivated people, and yourself and David Cameron do come across with those attributes.
Let`s hope we`re typical of the floaters, and we turn your way thinking".
And this:
"We've only met a couple of times, but I liked the time, and the trouble, you always take. I've watched you over the years and you haven't disappointed.
Good luck for Thursday, but you probably won't need it as you've worked hard!"
Posted on 3 May 2010 by Ed Vaizey
Electoral reform
Given that Gordon Brown has put our economy on a par with Greece, perhaps he could start campaigning for us to have the same electoral system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Greece
Clear as mud...
Posted on 26 April 2010 by Ed Vaizey
Thoughts on TV debates
We were told this would be the internet election. In fact it is the TV debate election, and they have dominated all discussion. What to make of this?
First, David Cameron was absolutely right to agree to them. Like the Commons on television, we will wonder from now on why they hadn't happened before.
Second, he was right to agree that Nick Clegg should be on them. The Lib Dem leader gets equal billing in every election so why should the TV debates be any different?
Third, they have galvanised the election - it is what everyone is talking about. I do not agree that they are the X factorisation of British politics. In my experience on the doorstep, people are sophisticated enough to distinguish between a good performance on TV and who they want to run the country.
In any event, people vote for a whole load of reasons. As the Guardian recently reminded us, many people think Wilson lost the 1970 election because of England's exit from the World Cup.
Politics has not necessarily been dumbed down. Some people do choose to vote because they like the look of the candidate or because someone knocked on their door but most will vote because they support a specific policy. We should not chastise the few people who choose to vote on the basis of a TV debate - rather we should be proud so many people wanted to watch it.
Posted on 26 April 2010 by Ed Vaizey
Didcot's Got Talent
On Saturday, I was one of four judges judging Didcot talent at the Civic Hall. Two dance groups, two guitar soloists and three bands, and the winner was the Mojo Pins, who already have a demo tape out there. I judged with whispering Bob Harris of Old Grey Whistle Test fame, and he was brilliant. All the acts were outstanding, and even more impressive was the organisation by Didcot sixth formers, as part of their Young Enterprise project. Well done to all involved.
Posted on 26 April 2010 by Ed Vaizey
Wallingford Town Council Dinner
I went to the Wallingford Town Council dinner on Friday night. The mayor (this year it is Dee Cripps) holds it very year and it is always well attended. It is held in the town hall in the market place, and reminds one of Wallingford's history, with the names of town mayors dating back to the 1200s inscribed on the walls. Wallingford is just one of four towns mentioned in the Magna Carta, and has a Royal Charter dating back to 1155, preceding London. The twon mace is kept here, and it pre-dates the House of Commons mace, and was kept safe throughout the Commonwealth. There are documents kept in the Berkshire Record office that detail eveyr payment for the mace, plus details of its journey from London to Wallingford. One day, we should take it to the House of Commons to meet its junior cousin.
Posted on 26 April 2010 by Ed Vaizey
The Wantage and Didcot constituency
The constituency I hope to represent is technically called Wantage. Soon after being elected as the MP, I began to refer to the constituency as Wantage and Didcot. Didcot is the largest town in the constituency, and it is also in a different district, so I felt the title better reflected the spread of the constituency. Wantage and Didcot is also less of a mouthful than Wallingford, Didcot, Wantage, Grove and Faringdon, which might be more accurate. The Lib Dems soon copied this description, but the ultimate success came last night when I caught myself on the local BBC news, described in the aston as the candidate for Wantage and Didcot. If the famously pedantic BBC elections unit now refers to the constituency as Wantage and Didcot, that is real progress!
Posted on 20 April 2010 by Ed Vaizey