Supporting People and Businesses with Energy Bills

The new Government, under Prime Minister Rt Hon Liz Truss MP, is taking bold action to protect British households from the spiralling costs of energy. I strongly welcome and support her plans, which include an Energy Price Guarantee to give people certainty with their bills.
The price guarantee will mean that an average energy bill for a typical household will be no more than £2,500 a year for the next two years. A typical household will save on average £1,000 a year from the two-year energy price guarantee. This comes in addition to the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme for everyone, and the £1,200 of support for the most vulnerable households. Households who do not pay direct for gas or electricity from the mains will receive support from a fund, and will be no worse off.
Businesses will get equivalent support, under a scheme lasting six months. After this there will be ongoing support, particularly for vulnerable industries.
The package is expected to reduce inflation by up to 5 percentage points from where it otherwise would have been.
Plans will also be brought forward in the next few months to detail how the Government will make the UK a net energy exporter by 2040. The ban on fracking in England will end, meaning production of domestic shale gas could begin in as little as six months.
Additionally, the Prime Minister announced that the Government will launch two reviews; firstly, a review of energy regulation to fix the underlying problems. Secondly, a review to ensure we deliver net zero by 2050 in a way that is pro-business and pro-growth.
Cost projections for the delivery of the price guarantee are uncertain as they depend upon usage levels (which are highly dependent on weather patterns) and, for future three-month periods, the wholesale price of energy. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will set out the expected costs as part of the fiscal statement later this month.

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Liz Truss to become next Prime Minister

Rt Hon Liz Truss, MP for South West Norfolk and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, will become the next Prime Minister after it was announced she had won the Conservative Party leadership election this afternoon (5 September 2022).

Ms Truss secured 81,326 votes (57%) compared to Rishi Sunak’s 60,399 (43%).

In a short speech after the results were announced, Ms Truss committed to “deliver a bold plan to cut taxes and grow our economy. I will deliver on the energy crisis, dealing with people’s energy bills, but also dealing with the long term issues we have on energy supply. And I will deliver on the National Health Service”.

Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, supported Ms Truss during the campaign. He commented: “I am delighted Liz has been elected as our new Party Leader and will become our next Prime Minister. She’s incredibly talented and experienced, and I know she will implement the bold Conservative policies needed to continue to grow our economy, deal with the problems facing our nation and unleash our country’s full potential”.

New Bill of Rights introduced to Parliament

Earlier today (22 June), the Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, introduced a new Bill of Rights to Parliament, which will strengthen freedom of speech and bring an end to bogus human rights claims that waste both taxpayer money and court time. The Bill will make clear that the UK Supreme Court is the ultimate judicial decision-maker on human rights issues and that the case law of the European Court of Human Rights does not always need to be followed by UK courts.

Commenting on the proposals, Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, said: “Our human rights laws are in desperate need of reform so I am delighted the Government is now delivering on this manifesto pledge. This new Bill will finally bring some common sense to the legal system, whilst also giving freedom of speech greater weight in law and it easier to deport foreign criminals to better protect the public from dangerous offenders.

More details on the proposals can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bill-of-rights-to-strengthen-freedom-of-speech-and-curb-bogus-human-rights-claims

Evennett Slams Rail Strikes

Yesterday (15 June), Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Vice Chairman of the Conservative slammed the rail strikes due to take place next week during a debate on the issue in the House of Commons.

On the Southeastern network alone, most stations and routes will be closed, with services severely restricted and approximately 20% of services operating. Sir David highlighted estimates that around 250,000 people will be unable to work on the first day of the strikes alone, when the mass walkout is set to have the greatest impact. It is also predicted that the cost to the economy could be almost £100 million pounds, with London suffering almost 60% of the economic hit. Additionally, there be a loss of earnings for the workers and rail companies involved with the walkout, much reduced spend by those who travel by rail to shops, a knock-on effect for tourism spending, and the potential to significantly intensify existing supply chain disruptions.

Sir David called on the Labour Party to be pro-active in getting the strikes called off, as they have so far refused to condemn the reckless strike action. He concluded his speech by urging “the unions to sit down with the industry, take on board the misery that their actions will cause, and act responsibly”.

Making Britain the Best Place to Grow Up and Grow Old

© Parliamentary Recording Unit

Yesterday (16 May), Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP, the Secretary of State for Education, opened the fourth day of the debate on the Queen’s Speech on ‘Making Britain the Best Place to Grow Up and Grow Old’. Mr Zahawi used his speech to outline how the Government’s substantial legislative programme will ensure children receive the world class educations they need to succeed, spread opportunity more equally across the country and support lifelong learning and upskilling.

Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, intervened during Mr Zahawi’s speech to highlight the excellent work Townley Grammar School for girls are doing in taking over King Henry School in Erith to share skills and provide a better education to even more children in Bexley Borough.

Mr Evennett subsequently delivered his own speech in the debate. He expressed his view that “the UK is, and always has been, one of the best places to grow up in, and I am convinced that it remains a great place for those of all ages to live in”. He used his speech to focus on the Government’s policies for education and concluded with:

“by levelling up skills and education, we not only help to unleash the potential of every area in our United Kingdom, but grow the economy and boost our GDP. There is a clear theme from the Queen’s Speech that needs to be promoted loud and clear: the Conservative Government believe in social mobility, opportunity and an education system that offers the best to all, so that every individual can maximise their life chances”.

Sir David’s full speech, as well as the entire Debate on the Address, can be read at: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-05-16/debates/D9101E0E-FF5E-4AE5-B987-DB4673129252/MakingBritainTheBestPlaceToGrowUpAndGrowOld

Evennett welcomes Queen’s Speech

Earlier today (10 May), Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, gave his “strong support” for the Queen’s Speech and “warmly welcomed” the measures contained within it. At the top of the Government’s agenda was the determination to grow the economy and help ease the cost of living for families.

Sir David watched the historic moment when the Prince of Wales addressed Parliament, as the Queen missed the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years due to health reasons.

The measures announced will help everyone across the country by helping to ease the cost of living, strengthening our economy, clearing the COVID backlogs in the NHS, making the most of our Brexit freedoms, levelling up and making our streets safer.

The Schools Bill was among 38 new Bills for the upcoming Parliamentary session. The Bill will raise standards for students, reform funding and level up opportunity by delivering a stronger and more highly performing school system that benefits every child, regardless of where they live.

The speech also included the Brexit Reforms Bill to ensure retained EU law can be amended, repealed or replaced with legislation which better suits the UK and British business.

The Government will also deliver a key manifesto pledge from the 2019 General Election on human rights by introducing a new British Bill of Rights. This will restore the balance of power between the legislature and the courts, ensuring our human rights framework meets the needs of the British people, boosts public confidence and ends the abuse of our human rights framework and restores common sense to our justice system.

Evennett welcomes Chancellor’s Spring Statement

Earlier today (23 March), the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, delivered his Spring Statement in Parliament. Among the various measures, he announced his new Tax Plan to reduce and reform taxes, plans to tackle the increase in the cost of living and incentivising private sector-led growth.

Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party for Business, was present in the House of Commons Chamber to listen to the Chancellor. Sir David commented: “this package will be welcomed across the UK as it will help families with the cost of living with the largest ever fuel duty cut, doubling the existing Household Support Fund to £1 billion and raising the National Insurance starting threshold to £12,570 from July to deliver a tax cut for nearly 30 million workers.

“I regularly speak with businesses across the country and know they will also be pleased with the measures contained within the Spring Statement today. In particular, the increase in the Employment Allowance, which will be worth up to £1,000 for half a million smaller businesses”.

Following his Statement, Mr Sunak said: “It is only because this Conservative Government is taking the tough but responsible decisions that we can announce taxes are being cut and debt is falling. Today’s new Tax Plan will help families with the cost of living, create the conditions for private sector-led growth, and share the proceeds of growth fairly. We are delivering the biggest net cut to personal taxes in over a quarter of a century, and that is only possible because of the disciplined approach to public spending that only a Conservative government can provide.”

Business focus at Conservative Spring Forum

Left to right: Rt Hon Sir David Evennett MP, Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Mark Brooks OBE

Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, and Mark Brooks OBE, President of the Bexleyheath and Crayford Conservative Association, were among those that attended the Conservative Spring Forum in Blackpool from Thursday 17^th – Saturday 19^th February.

Sir David, who is the Vice Chairman for Business, hosted various meetings for members to listen and question Ministers on business and industry related matters. In addition, he hosted a business dinner, with guest speaker Rt Hon Therese Coffey, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, as well as a business lunch, which was addressed by the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, which Mark Brooks attended as well.

Sir David and Mark also spent time in the Conference hall, where the PM, Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary delivered speeches.

Evennett helps to support Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal

© Pete Jones pete@pjproductions.co.uk

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity. The charity provides essential frontline nursing and hospice care for people with any terminal illness, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement. It is the largest charity funder of palliative and end of life care research in the UK. Last year, the charity provided direct support to more than 69,000 people – a 15% rise on the previous year – which is more than ever before.

The Great Daffodil Appeal is Marie Curie’s flagship annual fundraising appeal and is now in its 36^th year. The campaign is held every March but its public collections have been cancelled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, fundraising events and collections are going ahead, and the charity is urging new and existing supporters to come forward to show their support.

Earlier this week, Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, attended a Parliamentary event to show his support for Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal. Sir David joined Parliamentary colleagues and Paul Chuckle, TV comedian and entertainer best known for being one-half of comedy duo The Chuckle Brothers.

At the event, Sir David spoke with representatives from the charity about the appeal and the work they do to support people affected by terminal illness. He commented: “Marie Cure have always done such fantastic work to support people with terminal illness and their families. I am therefore pleased to be able to support the Great Daffodil Appeal yet again and to help highlight this campaign.”