Politicians can only govern with the consent of the people - this is the hallmark of any democratic society. Accordingly, this means that one of the first obligations of any democratic government is to listen to the people. The removal of the 10p starting rate of tax recently has reminded the government of this obligation.
Undoubtedly, the reduction in income tax from 22p to 20p in the pound will benefit thousands of people across West Cumbria and I welcome this reduction like I welcome the Government's increase in child benefit, increase in winter fuel payments and increased investment to lift hundreds of thousands of children out of child poverty. Although the 10p starting rate of tax was introduced by Gordon Brown as Chancellor, and although it was clearly only ever intended to be a temporary measure, its removal is an undoubted mistake. I welcome the recognition of this by Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling and more importantly, of their promise and their determination to put it right.
The truth is that Labour's record in improving the lives of working people throughout Britain is impressive. More people are now working in Britain than at any other time, unemployment in Copeland has fallen by over 60% since Labour was elected, the introduction of the national minimum wage (opposed by David Cameron), child tax credits, working family tax credits and pension credits have all contributed towards improving the lives of the most needy. Only Labour has done this, and only Labour ever would have done this.
Labour's core purpose will always be to further the interests and improve the lives of ordinary working people- and it always will be. The best way to do this, is to build the Great Society and this remains Labour's goal.
As a working class West Cumbrian I entered politics because of my passion to help build this Great Society and to build it here in West Cumbria. As a West Cumbrian, and as your Member of Parliament, I believe that my ambitions for our community match yours. I want new schools, new healthcare facilities, a new hospital, new roads, new nuclear, new jobs and new opportunities. In short, through our collective efforts, I want us to build a new West Cumbria. Regular readers will know that after three years as a Member of Parliament, we are making rapid progress in all of these areas - but this can only be achieved with Labour.
Labour's list of achievements is long, but perhaps most importantly it's only Labour which is making the detailed, specific and unique investments into West Cumbria which we want and need. The nuclear renaissance, the commitment for a new district acute general hospital, the proposals for a new heath centre at Cleator Moor, the new £30m Westlakes Academy School at Wyndham, the £35m Parton Lillyhall Bypass, the multi-million pound nuclear skills academy, and so much more are all Labour achievements. Moreover, without Labour, they would not have happened.
So once the 10p issue has been put right (and I will continue to work to make sure it is), Labour should not stop there. Labour has redistributed wealth during 11 years in government, but more needs to be done. I want to see the poorest in our society lifted out of taxation altogether. The introduction of the 10p rate for low earners was a brave Labour move; the removal of the poorest from taxation would be braver still.
In government, as in politics, perfection is impossible to achieve - but progress is not. As a West Cumbrian and a Labour Member of Parliament I know that Labour's purpose remains, that our passion for social justice still burns and that only Labour can deliver for the children, students, patients, pensioners, workers, home owners and families of Copeland.
We can build the Great Society, and we can build it here in West Cumbria. We are in this together; the work goes on.