Jordan's Journal

News that commuters will see direct benefits of East Anglia's new rail franchise will be welcomed by many people who use our rail network every day, for business and pleasure. 
 
Under a new rail franchise, passengers can hope to see quicker journey times, better stations and longer trains. This is largely due to the strict guidence placed on franchise bidders by the Department of Transport.

National Express - the current franchise holder - currently pays the Government around £50 million a year to run services through Colchester, and I share the view of many travellers that do not feel this represents value for money.
 
I am personally delighted at this news, having raised the concerns of local commuters with Transport Minister Chris Mole in the past. I am pleased that Mr Mole has commited the Department of Transport to making sure that increasing customer satisfaction is among the new franchise's top priorities. 

As one of the hundreds of Colchester residents who commutes regularly from North Station to London, I am looking forward to seeing dramatic improvements, both in rail services and infrastructure at North Station in the years ahead.
 

Colchester, like so many towns around Britain, has suffered the affects of the global financial crisis.

Unlike previous governments in previous recessions, Labour has taken action in the recession and is planning for the recovery. Our actions ensure real help now by supporting families and investing in jobs, public services and in key sectors of the economy.

Many of us see the recession through the prism of our families. That's why I am proud of a Labour Government who has supported families during the recession with extra mortgage protection, a tax cut for £22 million basic rate taxpayers, guaranteed work or training for 18-24 year olds, increases in child benefit and child tax credits, a rise in the basic state pension, increasing statutory redundancy pay and the car scrappage scheme.

We're bringing forward investment, not cutting services. And that’s real help to all - not tax giveaways for the few.

And we must not forget the behaviour of local Conservative Councillors last year, when they opposed the Council’s budget and reminded us all that the Conservative's overall policy on the recession was wrong and that they still belive that 'unemployment is a price worth paying'

Last year, in my December blog, I wrote about the violence that we had seen in the Middle East. For me, the upsurge in violence last December reflected the frustration and weakness in the ongoing search for the two-state solution. I understood then, as I do now, the reasons behind Israel's actions, yet it is clear that the interests of all sides will only be served through the creation of a viable Palestinian state existing alongside a safe and secure Israel. 

My recent visit to the Middle East reinforced that view.

At a Palestinian refugee camp outside Amman, it struck me that those who will bear the biggest burden of this crisis are the children of the region. We are used to seeing schools decorated with murals and pictures, showing us what is inside young and impressionale minds. The tragic pictures outside the schools in the camp I saw were off guns, tanks and soldiers in uniform.

Travelling along the King's Highway travels through the vast, lonely deserts of Jordan and it is here that you can sense the tension that remains between Israel and Jordan. The baren landscape is punctuated by Jordanian military watch towers and check points, while the desert, the Israeli border stands with the same watch towers. Watching us, watching them, watching us.

Down at the River Jordan, the closest point between the two nations, Israel is literally a stones throw away. Yet I felt a sad irony as the old, basic wooden viewing platform on the Jordanian side was dwarfed by a brand new, multimillion pound visitors centre on the Israeli side. The Israeli centre however, remains unused as it is located in a closed military zone in the West Bank.

Returning to Colchester, and the sub-zero temperatures, was something of a shock. Equally shocking, was the chaos that followed the snow and ice that we had in the days leading up to Christmas. I have joined calls for an inquiry into why Essex County Council failed to grit our major roads in Colchester. It is unacceptable that the situation deteriorated to levels where Police officers were gritting the Lion Walk and over 150 were hospitalised for ice-related injuries.

2010 will be a year of choices, challenges and decisions: in Colchester, in Britain and around the world.

While Labour will continue to face the tough challenges and take the proper decisions to turn our country from recession to recovery, we in turn hope the people will make the right choice at the next General Election.

A very Happy New Year to you all.