Jordan's Journal

No one will forget the image, back in 2006, of David Cameron projecting his green credentials by cycling to work - only to be followed by his chauffeur driven car carrying his briefcase and shoes.

I was reminded of this incident when I read the latest leaflet from Will Quince, the Conservative candidate in Colchester. In 2007, Hertfordshire Councillor Mr Quince sat proudly with his Blue MG Midget car on his drive extolling how much money the car cost him to run. Yet in 2010, we see Mr Quince championing his own green credentials in a his-vis jacket cycling to meetings.

While I am sure Mr Quince has a keen interest in the environment, he does himself and the people of Colchester a diservice by trying to con us about his green priorities. The Conservative pledge of 'vote blue, go green' seems to be more a case of 'do as I say, not as I do'.

During his recent visit to Colchester, Transport Minister Chris Mole talked to students at the University of Essex   about Labour's work on climate change and the impact of transport on the environment. As he put it, never is a prophet lest heard than in his own land.

Labour is making Britain greener, cleaner and less polluting. Many of our European partners believe Britain is a world leader in progressive environmental policies. It was Britain that put climate change at the heart of G8 policy, the first to call a UN Security Council meeting on climate change and we were the first country to introduce a Climate Change Bill.

Labour has a record on the environment of which I am proud. Our CO2 emissions fell by over 10 million tonnes last year and our greenhouse gas emissions were 66 million tonnes lower, while our recycling levels have also quadrupled. By 2011 we will have phased out old high-energy light bulbs in favour of energy efficient ones, and are working with industry to phase out single-use carrier bags.

As a non-driver - by choice - I have a vested interest in making sure Colchester is served by good, cheap, reliable public transport. But this is not just because rely on it, but because making public transport a public service would allow many of us to opt to leave our cars at home, there by reducing congestion and preserving the environment.

To mark the fifth anniversary of the fox hunting ban coming into effect, I'm encouraging people to go online to sign a petition backing the hunting ban.

In 2001, Labour went into the General Election with a manifesto pledge to ban fox hunting and in 2004, we delivered on that pledge.  I am now urging people to sign up and join other parliamentary candidates, councillors and MPs to ensure that the ban on hunting with dogs that came into force in February 2005 remains in force.

Whilst the barbaric practice of allowing people to set hounds on foxes to rip them apart has been outlawed, if the Tories came to power, the next Parliament may see legislation which specifically allows this type of blood sport to return to our countryside.

One of David Cameron’s first public commitments was to a vote to bring back hunting. This shows how out of touch he is with mainstream Britain. So now it's now time to show him that there is no place for this barbaric activity in a 21st century Britain.

So, please go online and back this ban to help keep cruelty history. Sign up to 'Back the Ban' at www.backtheban.com

Today's announcement that England's universities will face budget cuts in the next academic year has worried many in the sector. However, the decision by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFEC) to reduce funding by 1.6% must not draw away from the wider picture of higher education.

There has been substantial growth in higher education over the past decade. Investment in the sector has increased by 25% in real terms, while the Research Base has more than doubled. Participation is up by 21%, with 339,000 students now undertaking higher education courses. 

The number of university places may fall, but entry into university has always been - and should continue to be - competative. The rise in applications is not simply through the Government's desire to get more young people into higher education, but because there are simply more 18-year-olds in Britain today.

I am particularly proud at the work we have done to widen participation. We've made steady progress, with the gap in participation in higher education between higher and lower socio-economic classes narrowed by 7%. Labour will continue this in the years to come, with 2012 pupils from low income backgrounds, who are in the top 50% of performers, will receive a comprehensive package of assistance to attend university.

David Cameron has refused to back Labour vision of aspiration, where 50% of all young people go to university, even after over 50% of young people in every social group now say they want to go. Their policy is confused - David Willett’s was hinting to the Universities that they’re relaxed about fees rising to £7,000 a year, but the next week he was telling students that the case for a rise hasn’t been made.

The Lib Dem position is divided on Higher Education – their position flip flops from one week to the next. Students, parents and universities would have every right to feel that they are completely in the dark about what a Lib Dem government would actually do were they were ever to win power.

I regularly visit the University of Essex, in my constituency, to chat to students and staff and hear about their concerns. I am always happy to support them whenever I can, and I was especially pleased that my support for them, and the higher education sector, was recently endorsed by the University's Students Union. As the Student Union President put it: "His [Jordan's] care for students rights is unprecedented. His grassroots work with international students, and home students alike is the reason why I am so motivated to endorse him as a Parliamentary candidate."

I agree with the Russell Group, who recognise that "universities will have to bear their fair share of any cuts" as we slowly begin to exit the recession. Labour recognises that far from being a drain on resources and the economy the Higher Education sector is a precious asset. As such, the budget reduction by HEFEC is relatively small. However, I believe that the cuts announced today need to be minimial, measured and must not impact on frontline teaching.