NUSRAT GHANI, MP FOR WEALDEN IN 2019

We wonder if they will now start building affordable housing units that are sustainable in terms of climate change? A local resident has written to Nus Ghani, Wealden's MP to ask:

Rt Hon Nusrat Ghani MP
Member of Parliament for Wealden.
House of Commons
London, SW1A 0AA
                                                                                                                        21 August 2019

Dear Ms Ghani:

Please find enclosed, copy of my letter to Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, the Secretary of State for, Housing, Communities & Local Government, dated 19/08/2019.

Please also find enclosed copy of my letter to Wealden District Council’s head planning officer, Christopher Bending, dated 10-8-19, together with his letter dated 03/07/2018.

As you may gather from reading of this correspondence, I am not impressed at the responses received from Wealden District Council (WDC) in light of their administrative failings as a local authority. WDC are charged with providing affordable housing stocks for a sustainable future, bearing in mind that the current rash of housing built is for the rich, or for landlords to profit from, leaching on those who cannot aspire to a home of their own at realistic prices (or affordable rents), due to the policy deficiencies of WDC and no doubt other local authorities who are guided by the Local Government Association as to how to avoid the Duties placed on them.

It would be a simple matter for any Council to use their powers of compulsory purchase to buy (for example) 10 acres of land @ £90,000 to provide 180 small affordable housing plots of 69.5 x 34.7 feet or 90 more spacious plots (to allow for garaging) of 69.5 x 69.5 feet (31.5 x 31.5 meters). These units would then cost £500 and £1,000 respectively. I would suggest a 10% hike on agricultural land values; with an Agreement that such land should only be used for sustainable units for 20 years.

It would be equally simple for any Government to publish standard approved plans for low cost sustainable homes, complete with building regulations. Any young family or retiree might then install such a home for the same £25,000 that I spent on building the sustainable unit that I have now been forced to vacate.

This suggestion could have the effect of kick starting a new wave of productive citizens, freed from the shackles of oppressive rents, who might then focus on being creative, while also enjoying a low carbon lifestyle.

I would appreciate your views on such proposals at your very earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

A resident made homeless by Wealden District Council

SEAWORK 21 MARCH 2019 - Nusrat Ghani, UK Minister responsible for Maritime, Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Maritime Security, Skills and Apprenticeships and the Year of Engineering, is to return to Seawork on the opening day of the exhibition, Tuesday 11 June 2019.

Ms Ghani will open Seawork and the Marine & Coastal Civil Engineering Expo with a key note speech to visitors and exhibitors, followed by a tour of both exhibitions which are now co-located in Southampton’s Mayflower Park.

Nusrat has served as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport since January 2018. She has been actively involved in the Maritime 2050 strategy which was published in January of this year. A particular focus is on diversity in the marine industry and in March 2019 she announced new funding to encourage more young women to embark on a career at sea.

Last year the minister opened the first meeting of the Clean Maritime Council, which will devise a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the sector and to improve air quality on and around our waterways, ports and shipping lanes.

The size and breadth of Seawork and the Marine & Coastal Civil Engineering Expo will enable Ms Ghani to reach out to a broad representation of the commercial marine sector and will also give exhibitors and visitors the opportunity to interact again with a member of the government.

Seawork is Europe’s largest commercial marine and workboat exhibition. Marine & Coastal Civil Engineering Expo is Europe’s leading event showcasing the latest equipment and techniques in marine civil engineering and construction.

DAILY EXPRESS 17 NOVEMBER 2018 - ‘Shipping industry faces the next big challenge - Brexit'

BRITAIN is [or was] a great maritime nation. We have always relied on overseas trade for our prosperity, and throughout history our ports have risen to the commercial challenges of the age.

During the 19th century, they supported the largest merchant fleet ever seen, with around half of all ocean-going ships under the Red Ensign. By the start of the 20th century, a quarter of total global trade was passing through British ports and they’ve continued to innovate ever since. Now the shipping industry faces the next big challenge - Brexit. But it also brings opportunities to expand into vibrant new markets across Asia, Africa and South America.

These are the places where growth will be fastest over the next few decades, and where the greatest untapped potential lies for British business.

The maritime sector has a massive role to play as we become a more outward facing country, and exploit our new position in the world.

Ports across Britain are preparing for growth by investing billions of pounds in new facilities. Immingham, our largest bulk port, is significantly boosting its capacity.

Deep sea hubs like Felixstowe and London Gateway are ready to handle the new generation of ultra-large container vessels.

Liverpool enhanced its position as Britain’s biggest transatlantic port two years ago by opening a new £400 million terminal.

And Dover is creating new cargo berths and a distribution centre through the £250 million Western Docks Revival scheme.

As Maritime Minister, I’m proud that the Government has delivered the Port Connectivity Study to get freight moving faster, and we are developing a 30 year strategy for the industry called Maritime 2050, to harness new technologies and ensure we strengthen our position as a maritime leader.

But however we pursue our global ambitions outside the EU, Europe will remain our closest and biggest market.

That is why the Government's priority in the negotiations is to strike a good deal for the whole of the United Kingdom.

We have made good progress on the Withdrawal Agreement and on the scope and structure of the future relationship - including transport - and remain confident of a positive conclusion.

Although we are leaving the Customs Union, we continue to seek a customs arrangement with the EU that would help maintain frictionless trade.

Our recent White Paper set out proposals for such an arrangement, and why it would be the best solution for everyone.

But no matter how confident we are about agreeing a mutually beneficial deal, it would be irresponsible not to prepare for other scenarios.

That is why we are also taking the steps necessary to be prepared in the unlikely event that we leave the European Union without a deal, and why we have recently provided advice to businesses and private travellers on how to plan for such an exit.

Ports are playing an active role in these preparations, and working with border officials on how to respond to the worst case implications of no-deal.

We don’t want - or expect - to rely on contingency measures, but it’s important we plan prudently.

So as we enter the final few months of EU negotiations, we firmly believe that “no deal” would be in no-one’s interests.

Whatever the outcome of the discussions on trade, we will be doing everything in our power to keep flows moving at the border, and hope that the EU will reciprocate.

But as those talks progress, let us not forget the huge post-Brexit opportunities for Britain to develop a more global outlook, and with the support of our flourishing maritime industry, to strike new trade partnerships around the world.

THE INDEPENDENT 18 JANUARY 2018

Nusrat Ghani has become the first female Muslim minister to speak at the House of Commons dispatch box.

The Conservative transport minister was cheered as she rose during transport questions to give an answer on disability access at train stations.

Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, welcomed Ms Ghani to the frontbench.

“I am proud to be from a party of opportunity,” he said. “We are a party of opportunity that provided this country with its first woman Prime Minister. 

“Today, we are the party that provides the first Muslim woman minister to speak from the Government dispatch box - my honourable friend the Member for Wealden. I congratulate her, and I am very proud to sit alongside her today.”

Ms Ghani was promoted by Theresa May during last week’s reshuffle and will also serve as an assistant government whip. She had previously been a parliamentary aide to Amber Rudd’s Home Office team.

The MP said she was “delighted and honoured” at her promotion to the frontbench.

She said: "The roles are both exciting and challenging opportunities, and I am looking forward to getting started and making a difference. 

“Transport is a subject on which I have campaigned passionately since being elected as the MP for Wealden. Alongside my ministerial duties, I will continue to be a strong voice for Wealden and deliver for my constituents.“

Born in Kashmir, Ms Ghani previously worked for the charity Barnardo's and the BBC World Service. She has been MP for Wealden since 2010.

There have been several male Muslim government ministers, including the current London Mayor Sadiq Khan, but Ms Ghani is the first female Muslim to speak for the Government in the Commons. By Benjamin Kentish

NUSRAT GHANI TWITTER TROLLS

THE TELEGRAPH 12 DECEMBER 2015

The Conservatives’ first Muslim woman MP has been targeted with violent threats on Twitter and Facebook after voting for air strikes against the so-called Islamic State in Syria.

Nusrat Ghani, the MP for Wealden, East Sussex, dismissed as “idiots” the social media users who made threats via Facebook and Twitter and said she would continue doing her job, debating national security, and trying to represent and protect her constituents.

The abusive comments and threats were posted after the vote on air strikes on December 2, and have now been passed to the police who are examining the evidence to see whether any potential offences have been committed.

Ms Ghani is among a number of MP who received threats via social media websites after backing David Cameron’s plan to extend military action against the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isil) into Syria.

However, she told the Telegraph that Isil, which is also known as “Daesh”, had to be stopped and that she would continue to back action against the terrorists who have killed thousands in their attacks.

“Daesh are slaughtering Muslims in the region and killing Muslims, Christians and others elsewhere – there have been thousands of deaths attributed to their terrorism activities,” she said.

“One of the reasons I voted to extend air strikes from Iraq into Syria was to stop them from continuing the killing of Muslims and Yazidis and non-Muslims, the raping of women, beheading of hostages.

"They are a threat to the region and there will be no stability in the Middle East until Daesh are removed. They are a direct threat to us here and in Europe, regardless of what faith that you are,” she said.

“There are passions on both sides of the argument and I completely understand that. And I understand the fear people have that we are engaging in something that’s incredibly complex.

“I am happy to have this discussion with people. What I am not prepared to tolerate is anonymous threats of violence, of all sorts. That’s not the way we work in a democratic country.

“My job is to represent my constituency, keep my constituency safe and help keep my country safe and I won’t be deterred from that.”

Ms Ghani said bombing was required as a way to take back territory that Isil had seized – because the jihadists’ military success was a key factor in enabling them to recruit more people to their evil cause.

“Daesh are a sort of embryonic state and their power comes from taking territory. Their ideology is based on them having territory. To be able to challenge and remove Daesh, we have to be able to take back territory and one way of doing that is military strikes,” she said.

“It’s hard to have a debate on social media. It’s very easy to go on social media and say things that are not appropriate.” 

By Tim Ross, Senior Political Correspondent

CONSERVATIVE MPS 2017-2018

CONSERVATIVE CLIMATE - Michael Gove has been summoned to Brussels because of his party's failure to meet air pollution targets despite warnings about which the Prime Minister was aware of. The High Court has ruled that Britain is not doing enough to meet air quality obligations - making the politicians that are in power, including local councillors and planning officers: Climate Criminals.

UK POLITICS

The United Kingdom has many political parties, some of which are represented in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Below are links to the websites of the political parties that were represented in the House of Commons after the 2015 General Election:

CONSERVATIVE PARTY

CO-OPERATIVE PARTY

DEMOCRAT UNIONIST PARTY

GREEN PARTY

LABOUR PARTY

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

PLAID CYMRU

SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY

SINN FEIN

SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY

UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY

ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY

Conservative Party

Co-operative Party

Democratic Unionist Party

Green Party

Labour Party

Liberal Democrats

Plaid Cymru

Scottish National Party

Sinn Féin

Social Democratic and Labour Party

UK Independence Party

Ulster Unionist Party

We are concerned with how the make up of the above parties and (reasonably) popular policies may affect the Wealden district, because we are all brothers on two islands in the Atlantic Ocean and what we do or fail to do is likely to rebound on ourselves and our fellow man in other nations around the world. How we act today influences policies in other countries in our global community. It is not just about us and our patch.

SUCCESSION - Nusrat Ghani succeeded Charles Hendry, the MP who married a heiress and retired to a stately home that can only be described as a climate change nightmare. The Member before Hendry was Sir Geoffrey Johnson-Smith, an MP who was confronted with planning complaints of a serious nature, but failed to investigate at all - despite the fact that he was a journalist before becoming a member of parliament. One complaint was to do with the unlawful demolition of the Bushy Wood animal sanctuary. Another to do with an officer procuring planning consents for his Masonic father in law; a prominent local builder - an interesting case that is now the subject of further investigations concerning Ian Kay and Bernard Best of Tyrian Lodge, Eastbourne.

All of this is before Ms Ghani's time, but she is the MP for Wealden and should then be aware of such things before she becomes an unwitting accomplice or stooge. She should also be aware that Sussex Police enjoyed a cozy relationship with Wealden DC and for this reason it appears that this force did not investigate the allegations of 12 petitioners - not even opening a file - then presenting nothing to the CPS for them to be able to even consider a prosecution. The crowning glory being the supply of Sussex Police  blank headed notepaper to Derek Holness (or his colleagues) so that Wealden's officers could write their own letter of exoneration. When in fact there had been no investigation. the Wealden Action Group challenge(d) Sussex Police to provide a Crime Number and details of any file opened. Sussex Police could not provide a crime number, because none was recorded.

We hope that Emma Brice is also aware of this where impropriety in councils is more prolific than you'd imagine - especially concerning declaring interests at planning meetings, or rather, neglecting to declare them, or even knowing that others in a chamber should not be speaking and saying nothing. A failure to investigate a crime is itself a crime. it follows that perhaps there should be an investigation as to why the Sussex Police failed to open a file on 12 allegations of malfeasance in public office. Malfeasance is where misfeasance is covered up or is part of a chain of multiple wrongs.

DISTRICT & BOROUGH COUNCILS

East Sussex has five District and Borough Councils, each with a border on the coast. From west to east they are: 

Eastbourne Borough Council

Hastings Borough Council

Lewes District Council 

Rother District Council 

Wealden District Council

There is also East Sussex County Council as the provider of services to the 5 East Sussex districts.

As near neighbours and with councils now sharing facilities and working together, these area of Sussex are included in our remit and an area where climate change and affordable housing are issues that need urgent attention. Where the coastline is a feature in every Council, Blue Growth is a food security issue, especially where this side of of our local economy is under-exploited.

NUS'S LINKS & REFERENCE

https://www.maritimeuk.org/media-centre/news/news-new-maritime-minister-nusrat-ghani-mp-welcomes-women-maritime-taskforce/

https://www.gov.uk/government/people/nusrat-ghani

https://www.seawork.com/news101/seawork-news/maritime-minister-returns-to-seawork

Independent news UK politics nusrat ghani first female muslim government dispatch box house commons speak transport minister

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/tim-ross/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/12047422/Twitter-trolls-target-female-Muslim-MP-over-Syria-air-strike-vote.html