Angela Smith, says Penistone & Stocksbridge relies on Rail

Local MP and member of the influential Commons Transport Committee, Angela Smith, has added her support to a parliamentary motion highlighting the extent to which British business and the economy rely on rail.

The motion, which has been laid in Parliament as the Government begins to make decisions about spending cuts, calls on the Government to recognise that more people are now travelling by rail ever before and that major rail improvement projects boost the economy.

Every year 1 billion of the 1.3 billion passenger journeys made by rail are people commuting or travelling for business. Rail freight also transports 100 million tonnes of goods every year worth £30 billion.

In 25 years time there are expected to be 80% more people commuting by rail and freight demand is forecast to be up by 70%.

Commenting Angela Said:
"People in Penistone & Stocksbridge rely on rail. It gets them to and from work and allows leisure journeys too. Even those who are not regular passengers reap the benefit of less congestion and the vital role rail freight plays in transporting everyday goods and fuelling the economy."

She further added;
"We all know there are tough spending decisions to be made in the coming weeks and months but its is vital that the government does not make cuts to rail investment that could damage the local and national economy by not enabling growth. This is why I am pleased to have been able to add my name to this parliamentary motion."

Angela Smith calls on a fairer funding package for local government

Coalition government slammed on cuts to local councils

Taking part in a debate on local government finance the Penistone and Stocksbridge MP, Angela Smith, slammed the cuts which are being forced by the new ConDem government onto Barnsley and Sheffield Councils.

She told the Commons that these cuts will have a detrimental effect on services in the areas but more than that unfairly target those who have the least.

Not only that but it is quite noticeable that it is the northern Metropolitan councils who will be bearing the brunt of the cuts, while the shire councils in the south escape much more lightly.

Commenting, Angela Smith said,

While everyone accepts that measures are needed to bring the deficit under control the £1.6bn worth of cuts being imposed on local authorities risk putting many important services under threat.

Not only that but with cuts being imposed in area based grants and working neighbourhood grants it will be those in most need who will suffer the most.What is also interesting it is those areas which have the greatest need which are being asked to cut the most, that cannot be right."

With the possibility that councils will be told make cuts in the region of 25% later this year I fear the worse for our local services."

The debate had been called by Labour to highlight the severity of the cuts being imposed by the coalition government on local government and show how they are being unfairly targeted at areas with the highest need and at people with the highest need.

Penistone MP ConDems the first budget of the coalition

Angela Smith MP, has today condemned the CONDEMS' first budget

Dismissing the notion that this is a budget for jobs and recovery, the Penistone MP said,

"It is clear from this budget that it is the ordinary people of this country, including the unemployed and the sick, who will be paying the highest price. This is not the fair budget that the ConDems say it is.

"The raising of VAT to 20% will hit hardest those on the lowest incomes, completely wiping out any gains they may get from the increasing of personal allowances.

"As for jobs and helping the private sector, this ConDem government showed it true colours when it pulled the plug on the £80 million loan to Sheffield Forgemasters. And this budget represents a missed opportunity; we could have had a budget for growth, but instead the ConDems have offered a budget straight from the 1980s and we all know what happened to our area then.

"With a pay freeze for many thousands of public sector workers it is certainly not a budget for hard working families and with £11bn of cuts in welfare it is certainly not a budget for the thousands that will be thrown out of work by this ConDem government.

However, Angela's greatest criticism was targeted at the Liberal Democrats, who have U-turned on their opposition to raising VAT.
"All those who voted for the Lib Dems at the recent general election must now feel totally betrayed. This party has dropped almost every principle it had for the baubles of power. Knowing South Yorkshire people as I do, I don't they will forget this betrayal that easily. People who voted Liberal did not vote for this and do not deserve it."

Local MP calls for greater recognition for the UK’s six million carers

Local MP, Angela Smith has teamed up with GMTV news reporter and presenter John Stapleton to support this year’s Carers Week (14 - 20 June) and celebrate the contribution made by people in Pensitone & Stocksbridge, and throughout the UK, who provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled.

The theme of Carers Week is ‘A Life of My Own’ with calls for greater understanding and support for the army of carers who provide vital care for their families, friends and communities. In doing so, many sacrifice much in their own lives, unable to do the little things that most of us take for granted. All too often, these unsung heroes also suffer ill health.

Angela met up with John Stapleton at the House of Commons to pay tribute to carers, and to urge that they receive more support in their caring roles. Angela said:

“A trip to the cinema, or even a full night’s sleep – these are luxuries for many of the thousands of carers in Barnsley and north Sheffield I am supporting Carers Week and all those helping to raise awareness of carers, and their priceless contribution they make to our local community. I hope that as a result of Carers Week, many more carers will find out about services and support that exist to help them.

John Stapleton, who has cared for both his wife and his mother, said:

"Working without pay and often with little recognition - many carers give up their lives as they once knew them, but never give up on caring. They are not the forgotten few, but the forgotten millions. This Carers Week let's speak up for carers - let's not leave them isolated and lonely, financially, physically and emotionally broke. Let's start caring for the carers, give them back a life of their own."

Other celebrities supporting Carers Week, all of whom have had experience of caring, include:  Lynda Bellingham, Cilla Black, Jonathan Dimbleby, Sir David Jason, Claire King, Phyllida Law, Miriam Margolyes, Angela Rippon and Tony Robinson.

Carers Week is organised by a partnership of 7 national charities: Carers UK, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Care, Help the Hospices, Macmillan Cancer Support, Parkinson’s UK and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.