"Conor Burns MP" <news@conorburns.com> To: <news@conorburns.com> Reply-To: <news@conorburns.

com> News Bulletin from Conor Burns MP #109

11 July 2013 17:55

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In this edition:

Issue 109 Thursday 11th July 2013

Conor Burns MPs Diary Photo news: Conor opens new Parvalux factory Conor in Parliament: Conor questions PM on G8 Photo news: St Aldhelms Academy Navitus Bay Wind Farm interview Conor in the papers: We'll make Bournemouth a Silicon Beach, pledge businesses Photo news: Digital Manifesto Photo news: Winton Carnival Conor in the papers: Why did Leveson ignore hacking beyond press, ask MPs Photo news: St Peters School Achievement Awards Conor in the papers: Get Here Leveson: MPs order hacking judge to face grilling Photo news: JP Morgan Conor in the papers: Ramadan a ding dong: Daily broadcast of Muslim call to prayer stunt could inflame tension Conor in the papers: The public would find an eye watering 10,000 pay increase for MPs unacceptable Conor at the Reagan Ranch How to contact Conor Burns MP

Since the past edition, Conor has:

Asked Prime Minister David Cameron about the recent G8 meeting at Lough Erne, Northern Ireland. Visited local business Parvalux to open their new factory. Been quoted in The Sun and The Independent regarding Lord Levesons unwillingness to appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. Signed the Digital Manifesto for Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch at Bournemouth University. Held a surgery in Bournemouth to help local people with their problems. Attended the St. Peters School achievement awards, where he presented pupils with their records of achievement. Visited local employer J P Morgan for a question and answer session with their employees. Visited the Winton Carnival. Been quoted in The Sun about Channel 4s proposals to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer during Ramadan. Celebrated with local residents after a successful campaign to install a puffin crossing on Turbary Park Avenue. Been quoted in The Bournemouth Echo about MPs pay. Visited students at Talbot Heath School to talk about the legacy of Baroness Thatcher. Written an article in The Spectator arguing against an increase in MPs pay.

Photo news:

Conor opens new Parvalux factory

Conor Burns MP cuts the ribbon to open Parvaluxs new factory on the Fleets Industrial Estate with Managing Director Nick Spetch.

Conor is shown some of the machinery at Parvaluxs new factory.

Conor in Parliament:

Conor questions PM on G8

Click on the image above to watch Conors question to the Prime Minister. The full text of the exchange was as follows: Conor Burns (Bournemouth West, Conservative): May I echo the strong words of the Leader of the Opposition, and thank my right hon. Friend for bringing the G8 to Northern Ireland, and through that, showing the world how far it has come from the dark and dangerous place I remember from my childhood? Before the conference, the Prime Minister alluded in a newspaper interview to his frustration with the diplomatic vagueness of communiqus. This one was a big step forward, and he has a list of real and tangible declarations on tax and transparency. What more will we do to get that excellent list reproduced in full in todays Belfast Telegraphto the British people? David Cameron (Prime Minister; Witney, Conservative): I commend the Belfast Telegraph on the fact that it has not joined the mass of the cynical and hard-bitten, and has actually said, Hold on, this is an important breakthrough on the issues that people really care about. We must now hold all those countries to their commitment and ensure that everybody delivers on the action plans for beneficial ownership, so that we can see who owns what company. We must ensure that the international exchange of tax information can involve every country in the world. In that way we can get fairer taxes and help the developing world at the same time. We need follow-up on all these issues.

Photo news:

St Aldhelms Academy

Conor Burns MP touring the building site at St. Aldhelms Academy.

Navitus Bay Wind Farm interview

Click on the image above to watch a package on the Navitus Bay Wind Farm, featuring an interview with Conor Burns MP.

Conor in the papers:

We'll make Bournemouth a Silicon Beach, pledge businesses

The Bournemouth Echo Wednesday 12th June 2013 An ambitious bid to style Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch as a Silicon Beach with a thriving creative and digital economy has been outlined. Leading businesses, entrepreneurs and MPs are all backing the bid to grow the local creative and digital sector in the hope the area can eventually rival Californias Silicon Valley or Berlin, which attracts companies and talented workers from all over Europe. At a creative and digital economy summit held at Bournemouth Universitys Executive Business Centre on Friday, a host of different businesses and organisations pledged to commit money or expertise to the bid to boost Bournemouths reputation both in this country and abroad. The area is seen as a potential Silicon Beach because it boasts above average business start-up and survival rates and it is one of the UKs liveliest digital media clusters, with Bournemouth University and the Arts University College of Bournemouth both attracting talented students. However, currently many talented students leave the area after graduating. Tobias Ellwood, Bournemouth East MP, said: The creative and digital economy accounts for eight per cent of our GDP already and that figure is growing by 14 per cent a year. This is the big growth business, its the thing to be in. Half of the techies who worked on Avatar came from Bournemouth University but what do they do when they graduate? They do a runner to Berlin and other places. And Conor Burns, the MP for Bournemouth West, said: We have an enormous opportunity here in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch to bring a large amount of business to this conurbation. We have a very simple offering in this part of the world its a fantastic place to live and work. If Berlin can persuade people to come and do business there then Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch certainly can. SOME OF THE MANIFESTO COMMITMENTS Ashley Faull, of 2Kings, will commit 2million of asset lending to the creative and digital sector locally. Bournemouth and Poole College will launch an apprenticeship scheme for this sector. Bournemouth University will commit around 40,000 to support a range of work to boost the sector locally. A key element of this will be supporting the working group established to take forward the manifesto vision. Bournemouth Borough Council will launch the Community Finance Initiative which aims to assist small businesses and first-time home buyers. It will also develop a cultural and digital industries hub at the former BCCA building in Boscombe. The Borough of Poole and Dorset County Council, with Arts University Bournemouth and Bournemouth University, will produce a feasibility study of the old police station opposite Poole Civic Centre.

Photo news:

Digital Manifesto

Conor signing the Digital Manifesto alongside Tobias Ellwood MP and Professor John Vinney.

Photo news:

Winton Carnival

Conor Burns with Mayor Rod Cooper at the Winton Carnival.

Conor Burns with students from Bournemouth University Students Union at the Winton Carnival.

Conor in the papers:

Why did Leveson ignore hacking beyond press, ask MPs

Nigel Morris, The Independent Thursday 25th June 2013 Lord Justice Leveson is to be tackled by MPs over his failure to follow up a police report which revealed that hacking operations were ordered by law, telecoms and insurance companies. The judge who conducted the Government-commissioned investigation into press ethics has been called before a Commons select committee to face questions over his inquiry. Lord Justice Leveson received a report from the Serious Organised Crime Agency which said companies routinely hired criminals to hack, blag and steal private information from rivals. The agency spelt out that the illegal practices went far beyond newspapers, but the judge did not act on its warning and did not even refer to its findings. The formal invitation by the Culture, Media and Sport committee comes at a moment of stalemate over the future of press regulation following the publication of the Leveson report in November. The main political parties have agreed a plan for an independent press regulator underpinned by royal charter, while newspapers have published an alternative charter. The judge will be questioned over the impasse, as well as his failure to act on the disclosure that blue chip companies authorised hacking. Conor Burns, a Tory committee member, said: "I would be more than surprised if colleagues did not want to seek to understand what his thinking was." Mr Burns said they would want to know what he "did with these further allegations that hacking appeared to be far more widespread" and "what his rationale was for what he did or didn't do with them". The committee previously issued an informal request to the judge to give evidence which he turned down. He looks certain to accept this time as witnesses who refuse to comply with a formal invitation can be threatened with contempt of parliament. The MPs hope he will face their questions before the Commons rises for its summer recess on July 18. A spokeswoman for the judiciary said he had not yet received the invitation, adding: "He will respond to the committee if and when he does." Asked whether Lord Justice Leveson should appear before the committee to give evidence, David Cameron's official spokesman said: "That is a matter for him." Theresa May, the Home Secretary, told MPs on Monday that she recognised the "degree of concern" prompted by the new disclosures about hacking and said she also found them "worrying".

Photo news:

St Peters School Achievement Awards

Conor with students at the St Peters School Achievement Awards.

Conor in the papers:

Get Here Leveson: MPs order hacking judge to face grilling

Kevin Schofield, The Sun Friday 26th June 2013 Lord Justice Leveson was yesterday ordered to appear before senior MPs as a potential constitutional crisis looms. Members of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee sent the judge a strongly-worded letter. It said they want him to give evidence on his phone hacking inquiry and Press regulation recommendations. Last night committee chairman John Whittingdale said their patience had snapped. He said: We would be very interested to hear his views. Committee member Conor Burns added: Its disappointing it hasnt been a more straightforward exercise to get him to appear before us. It is thought to be the first time such a senior judge was summoned to give evidence to MPs. The committee can compel him to attend if he refuses again leading to an unprecedented battle between Parliament and the judiciary. Lord Justice Leveson last night refused to say if he would agree to turn up. A spokesman claimed he had not received any communication from the committee. Meanwhile, police chiefs are to be hauled before the Home Affairs Committee on Tuesday to explain what they knew of hacking by law firms and big business. The Serious Organised Crime Agency built a report on the scandal six years ago but no one was prosecuted. Lord Justice Leveson was also informed about it during his inquiry but made no mention of it in his report.

Photo news:

JP Morgan

Conor Burns talking to employees at local employer JP Morgan.

Conor in the papers:

Ramadan a ding dong: Daily broadcast of Muslim call to prayer stunt could inflame tension
James Beal, Leigh Holmwood & Miranda Prynne, The Sun Tuesday 2nd July 2013 Channel 4 yesterday said it will screen a Muslim call to prayer every day during Ramadan because it is more relevant than the Diamond Jubilee. Boss Ralph Lee claimed the fact that 2.8 million UK Muslims will celebrate the holy month from next week put last years Royal celebrations in the shade. He added: Nearly five per cent of the country will actively engage in Ramadan. Can we say the same of other national events that received blanket coverage on TV such as the Queens coronation anniversary? I want to set out to provoke people to think about Islam in ways that arent associated with terrorism. But UKIP accused Channel 4 of a cynical PR stunt and said it risked further inflaming tension between communities in the wake of the Woolwich killing of soldier Lee Rigby - allegedly linked to Islamic extremists. A spokesman said: This is a priceless piece of attention seeking. I cannot believe that the majority of mainstream Muslims want to see this. It will inflame community tension. Tory MP Conor Burns said: I find it extraordinary Channel 4 would pursue this politically-correct tokenism. What would happen if they were to do this type of thing during a Christian festival such as Lent? Channel 4 will screen a full three-minute chant by Hassen Rasool, a muezzin or prayer call leader, from the start of Ramadan next Tuesday. It will then break into its regular schedule to mark the first prayer of each day at 3am. On the first day Channel 4 will also air 20-second bursts of the chant at four other prayer times 1.11pm, 5.26pm, 9.20pm and 10.49pm. Radical preacher Anjem Choudary, accused of encouraging terrorism, said he welcomed any move to promote Islam. He added: Islam is the fastest growing ideology in this country by some accounts Britain could be a Muslim country by 2015. Abu Zakariyya, of the radical Islamic Emergency Defence group, added: We want to see Sharia law in the UK and only God knows if this could be a step towards it.

Conor in the papers:

The public would find an eye watering 10,000 pay increase for MPs unacceptable
Conor Burns MP, The Spectator Wednesday 10th July 2013 It has often been said that there is no perfect time for an increase in MPs pay. If that is true then surely now would be the most imperfect time. All MPs who are doing their job to any percentage of excellence know that our constituents are feeling very concerned for the future. Any spare money they have is going into repairing domestic debt and yet with rising petrol prices, food costs and utility bills not that many have much spare money at all. So this week with the backdrop of Conservative tearing lumps out of Labour on cash and influence and Labour responding by attacking the Conservatives on funding from business we may see the independent body responsible for setting MPs pay recommend a 10,000 pay increase. Leaving aside for a moment whether it is warranted what exactly would this be saying to the public? Can we seriously on the one hand say that we need public sector pay restraint (the private sector is largely self-frozen), that we must all make sacrifices to repair the economy and reduce the deficit if at the same time we accept a large increase to our basic pay? What is really starting to alarm me is the massive disconnect between the arguments that are being played out here in Westminster and the worries of the public in the country. The tribal battles may be good for the morale of partisan participants but they are surely toxic for the reputation of politics and politicians. Too many of the political class still do not seem to understand the herculean task that is still to be done to restore public confidence in politics in the aftermath of the expenses scandal. Yet the verbal equivalent of fist fights on party funding and outside earnings must leave a public quietly focused on their own daily lives and challenges quietly perplexed if not bloody angry. We cannot ask or earn the publics trust if we cannot speak up for the political process or attempt to attribute malign motives to our opponents. We will have to await the terms of the IPSA announcement on MPs pay. Yet the leaks seem to be reinforced by comments of some figures in IPSA. A 10,000 pay increase to be more than offset by a change to the pension arrangements. Indeed it would appear that even if the whole pay increase were put into the pension the benefit would still be less. So we are asked to accept a headline pay increase that most members of the public would find eye watering and an overall package that would be worse than now. One has to wonder if the errant genius or malice on the part of IPSA. I fear tomorrows announcement could reignite public anger and fuel further disengagement from politics. There is a debate to be had on how MPs should be paid. It should be had when we are in better economic times. If IPSA do not show sensitivity to public sentiment then they will have proved themselves unworthy of the trust Parliament has placed in them. This is shaping up to be a pretty bad week for politics in Britain and the people are the losers.

Conor at the Reagan Ranch

Conor with Governor George Allen at the Reagan Ranch in California.

Click on the image above to watch Conor Burns MPs speech to the Young Americas Foundation conference at the Reagan Ranch Centre in California earlier this year.

Three ways to contact Conor Burns MP:

By Phone: 020 7219 7021 By email: conor.burns.mp@parliament.uk By post: Conor Burns MP House of Commons London SW1A 0AA

www.conorburns.com

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Promoted by Andrew Morgan on behalf of Conor Burns, both of 135 Hankinson Road, Bournemouth, BH9 1HR