Edward Davey MP - Press releases

Issued by: Keith Reed
Embargo: Immediate, 09/08/99

"English history to be saved" - Edward Davey

Major campaign success as the Oxford Cambridge RSA announce reinstatement of Anglo-Saxon history to the A level syllabus.

Kingston MP, Edward Davey, expressed his delight this week when his campaign to keep Anglo-Saxon history alive in schools achieved success.

When the Oxford and Cambridge Examination Boards threatened to remove the option of Anglo-Saxon history from their A-level syllabus, Mr. Davey immediately raised the issue in Parliament, and won cross party support, including the backing from the Secretary of State for Education and Employment.

Ron McLone, the head of policy for the Oxford Cambridge RSA, announced this week that the Board had reviewed their policy following the concerns expressed by MPs and historians alike, and that Anglo-Saxon history would be reinstated to the A level syllabus.

Commenting on the examining boards’ change of heart, Edward Davey said,

"At last the Oxford and Cambridge examining boards have seen sense and have formally acknowledged the importance of this period."

"Following an article in the Times Education Supplement, describing my campaign, historians throughout the country contacted me, alarmed at the examining boards proposals. They feared that students would lose the opportunity to study this crucial era of British history.

"Having studied Alfred the Great, Edward the Elder and the Viking invasions myself at A-level, I know how interesting and challenging this period of history is.

"Kingston’s own connections with this period are famous, as the place where seven Anglo-Saxon Kings were crowned before entering London. Now students throughout the land will once again be given the opportunity to learn about the significant role our town has played in shaping this country’s history."

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Annual Report

Issued by: Keith Reed
Embargo: Immediate, 16/08/99

Keeping in regular contact with constituents is vital - Davey

Edward Davey MP Launches his 2nd Annual Report.

After the popularity of last year’s pilot initiative local MP, Edward Davey, officially launched his second annual report on Tuesday 17 August at his constituency office at 23A Victoria Road, Surbiton. Every household in the Borough will be receiving a short version of the annual report which outlines his major campaigns over the past year, including his work
both in parliament and in the constituency.

Extracts of his speeches in the Commons and his voting records are also included, as are all his contact details and an explanation of how he can be of assistance to local constituents or businesses with problems that they may encounter. The report also contains a survey to give every group, charity, society or organisation an opportunity of meeting him
before the end of the millennium.

A longer version of the report will also be available in local libraries and most other public places. In total, over 60 000 copies of the short version of the annual report will be sent out to local residents and almost 800 versions of the longer annual report will be sent to businesses and voluntary organisations.

With the launch of Mr. Davey’s new web site last month, the annual report is available on the InterNet, at www.edwarddavey.co.uk. For those who suffer from visual impairments, a taped version is also being produced and
can be ordered from Mr.Davey’s office by telephoning 0181-288-0161. The final cost of producing these reports is over £3000 which has been met by Edward and not at the taxpayers’ expense.

Mr. Davey commented:

"Keeping in regular contact with constituents is vital.

"Frequent advice sessions and the annual report together help me to represent my constituents more effectively, and give me valuable insights for policy debates in the Commons.

"I’m grateful for all the people who’ve given their time free to help me prepare this report and deliver it free to local residents.

"I’ve already noticed an effect of sending the report out – more local people get in contact with me, because my mailbag has increased significantly in recent weeks. I hope many more people write to me with their issues of concern."

Pensions

Issued by: Keith Reed
Embargo: Immediate, 16/08/99

"Labour’s tax breaks for super-rich and raids on pensioners’ cash highlights Government’s failure on social justice." Davey

A recent report prepared by local MP, Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat Economics Spokesman for Charles Kennedy has highlighted the implications of Labour’s tax policies, which have created huge tax breaks for wealthy investors while taking money from 300 000 of Britain’s poorest pensioners.

Comparing two of Labour’s major tax changes in the report, he has discovered that the introduction taper relief to the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) regime in 1998 could be worth up £500 million to the 46 partners of Goldman Sachs UK alone, and is also likely to save Geoffrey Robinson and Lord Sainsbury large amounts of cash.

In contrast, the abolition of reclaimable tax credits also announced in the 1998 budget will take an average £75 a year from 300 000 pensioners whose income is already below the tax threshold.

Edward Davey said,

"This Government promised social justice but is delivering financial injustice. They have created massive tax breaks for the super rich whilst raising taxes on some of our poorer pensioners."

"The Government cannot claim to be interested in social justice when they implement measures like this."

"The money that could be saved by the Goldman Sachs partners due to the introduction of taper relief could fund the raid on pensioners for 20 years."

I know that local residents believe that actions speak louder than words. They are unlikely to be taken in by the Government’s spin claiming, on one hand that they are fighting for social justice, whilst with the other they are taking the pounds out of local pensioners pockets."

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