Do our local newspapers care about jobs?

A personal messsage from Nick

Let me say at the outset that I think our local newspapers do care about jobs in Enfield. Indeed, the Enfield Independent is running a story next week about the Enfield Jobs Fair which will be vital for publicising the event to residents. So why, you might ask, have I written such a provocative question for the headline?

In Enfield we're fortunate to have such well respected and successful newspapers as the Enfield Advertiser and Enfield Independent. The papers can print whatever they like, and however much I might like them to print more stories about me as the MP or what's going on in politics, at the end of the day they have to fill their pages with what they know their readers want to read.

It's my view that people in Enfield would be interested to read about the Enfield Jobs Fair. I'm organising an event which will be opened by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, where over 40 local companies and training providers are showcasing hundreds of genuine job vacancies. Big names such as BT, Tesco, Virgin Media, Sainsbury's, Barclays and Greggs will be there, as will local big-hitters Winchmore Brickwork, Johnson Matthey and Barclay Bros. And yet so far, in the last four editions of each newspaper, news of the Enfield Jobs Fair has only appeared in one paper. Once. On page 19.

So I need your help to make the case that the Enfield Jobs Fair is news worth printing.

By clicking to read the online stories they've posted HERE and ALSO HERE, it will drive the event up their website's "Most Read" chart. We need lots of publicity for this event where genuine job vacancies - hundreds of them - are on offer.

At the moment we're not in the Top 5 of the Advertiser's Most Read, and at number 4 for the Independent. Let's climb the chart! Feel free to leave a comment on the websites, too.

Many thanks indeed for your help,

Best wishes,

Nick

Nick de Bois MP

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Boris - this year there will be 1,000 more police on streets than 2008

London Mayor Boris Johnson explains how crime is down, there are more police on the streets and he has frozen his share of council tax every single year he has been Mayor.

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Enfield Island Village coffee morning

First thing on Monday morning Nick joined residents at the Enfield Island Village coffee morning hosted by Martine, the new RSA Trust community co-ordinator.

During the morning Nick was able to learn of the plans for developing a more robust community spirit across the neighbourhood and the wide variety of activities underway. From foreign language lessons, a jobs club, to an ambitious eco garden project the spirit of "Big Society" was very much alive and thriving.

Nick said, "It was great meeting residents here and I was delighted to see such ambitious and creative plans underway that will benefit the whole of the Island Village".

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Oasis Enfield Island Village Youth Club

Nick visited the Oasis Enfield Island Village Youth Club this evening.

Established for over nine years the Youth club is booming. Nick's visit to the club included listening to young music artists record cover versions as well as their own music. This included original rap and cover versions of some of Adele's best known songs. He was so impressed with the artists he asked for a CD of their work which he listens to when in his car.

Nick said, "I was very impressed with the activities, all very creative including music, art and of course computer games and pool. The facilities are great, and best of all I was able to listen to some of the youngsters tell me in their own words how much help and direction they were getting from being members of this club".

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Enfield welcomes Mayor's regeneration team

Nick joined council leaders and neighbouring MP Andy Love to welcome Lord Triesman, Mayor Boris Johnson's regeneration representative for Enfield, on a tour of the proposed areas for development.

This included the plans for a third rail line along the Brimsdown Enfield Lock line to Liverpool Street and back again. In addition Lord Triesman visited the congested Bullsmoor Lane-Mollison Avenue area. Nick has been campaigning for a Northern Gateway Access Road (NGAR) to the M25 to ease congestion.

Nick said, "The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has through his Outer London Regeneration Fund already committed over £4 million to Enfield for high street regeneration in the east of the borough. My purpose today was to press for support from the Mayor's office for these key strategic developments which will shape Enfield's jobs and industrial base for the next 30 years".

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Nick interviewed about extradition by PressTV

Recently Nick was interviewed by Amina Taylor from PressTV about the UK's extradition treaties with both the United States of America and within the European Union under the European Arrest Warrant.

Following the e-petition regarding the imprisonment of Babar Ahmad for seven years while awaiting extradition to the United States of America, which gained over 140,000 signatures, a debate was held in both Westminster Hall and the chamber of the House of Commons on the topic of the UK's extradition arrangements.

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Nick calls on Enfield Council to freeze Council Tax

Nick has joined with Enfield Southgate MP David Burrowes to call on Enfield Council to freeze council tax next year.

All local councils are being offered access to an £805m government fund to freeze council tax for 2012/13, but Enfield Council is undecided as to whether to accept the money.

They have launched a Budget consultation paper, inviting residents to comment, with p.12 saying the Council is undecided on whether to take the Government's money.

Writing on the letters page of this week's Enfield Independent, the two MPs said, "At a time when household budgets are being stretched further by the rising cost of living, it is unthinkable that the council would hesitate in accepting Government money to help residents in this way".

They add, "Councils up and down the country will be tapping into this fund. Enfield Council should take this money on offer from the Government, rather than taking it from the pockets of Enfield residents".

Nick and David are urging residents to take part in the consultation and demand that the administration freezes council tax. You can do so by e-mailing:

Budget.consultation@enfield.gov.uk

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Nick backs campaign to support Enfields high streets

Today Nick, along with fellow Enfield Members of Parliament David Burrowes and Andy Love, backed a campaign to boost trade on high streets across the London Borough of Enfield.

The campaign, which was launched by the Enfield Business and Retailers Association, is called "Love Your High Street" and aims to tackle lower sales in light of the current economic climate and show that Enfield is very much open for business following the wide scale disorder in the summer.

While attending the launch, Nick helped draw the winning ticket in the raffle which was held in conjunction with the campaigns launch.

Following the launch, Nick commented: "Enfield Town has shown resilience during the difficult economic times but it would be entirely wrong to suggest that retailers are having an easy time. The local community needs to think, when spending their money, not just think of Westfield or Bluewater but think about using their own local high street which is a vital part of the local area and economy".

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Nick makes the case for local tourism with Tourism Minister

Today, Nick met with John Penrose MP, the Tourism Minister, to discuss the Coalition Government's support for tourism related businesses in Enfield North and the rest of the UK.

The Government has recently introduced a series of measures to boost the hospitality and tourism industries and the Minister explained how these would directly impact on jobs in Enfield North.

From abolishing red tape and reforming unnecessary regulations the Government is determined to do everything it can to help the incredibly important tourism sector, especially with the London 2012 Olympics, the Cultural Olympiad and Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee all happening next year.

Following the meeting Nick commented "I'm glad that the Government is prioritising the tourism industry as it plays such a vital part in our local economy. Many residents in Enfield North as employed in this sector so it was good to have the opportunity to make their case directly to the Minister. The plans to capitalise on the Olympic Games next year should generate over 60,000 jobs around the country and I want to make sure that as many of these as possible come to Enfield North and its residents".

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Enfield Advertiser slams Council "cowardice" over Chase Farm

As reported in a previous post, Labour-run Enfield Council has refused to seek a judicial review of the decision to downgrade Chase Farm.

In its comment piece today, local newspaper the Enfield Advertiser has accused the Council of "cowardice" and being "lily livered".

As the comment piece states, "The people of Enfield were first of all failed by their government. Now they have been failed by their council".

The previous Conservative administration had sought a judicial review of the then Labour government's decision to downgrade services at Chase Farm. In failing to act in the same way, the current administration "has proved itself a whole lot more lily livered than its predecessors".

You can read the comment piece in full here.

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