Stephen Metcalfe MP backs the Eat Happy Project in Pitsea

Local MP Stephen Metcalfe has today attended the ‘Eat Happy Project’ in the local Pitsea Tesco Store to help raise awareness and engage children on the important issue of food and dietary health.

The nationwide project run by Tesco looks to engage schools, farms and factories so that children can discover for themselves where their food comes from as well as learning basic cooking skills.

Stephen Metcalfe commented: “It was great to see the children having so much fun making some delicious dishes for themselves and I want to thank them for cooking my lunch. Initiatives such as this are crucial to the health and wellbeing of our children. It is important to start early in getting our young people interested in their food and is an excellent way of combatting possible future health problems.

Over a quarter of a million children have now taken part in this scheme nationwide, and I am extremely pleased that our local children will now have the same opportunity. This project is also an excellent example of how business initiatives can have a positive and far reaching impact and benefit on our local communities.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP: More Labour scaremongering over local hospital

Stephen Metcalfe, local Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock has today hit back over Labour’s recent claims about our Basildon & Thurrock health services and called on them to apologise to our local health workers whose efforts they have criticised.

Although Basildon Hospital was the first trust in the country to be taken out of special measures, Labour has claimed that the NHS in Basildon is “moving backwards on every single measure” and that without a Labour win at the next election, then “healthcare free at the point of use will no longer be a given in this country”.

Stephen Metcalfe, commenting on these claims said: “It is sad to see Labour allowing party politics to get in the way of fully recognising the hard work and commitment of local people in getting our local hospital back on the right track and caring for our local community.”

Labour’s claims are directly contradicted by the results that have been published in recent weeks, where the hospital has now achieved a rating of ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission, and its maternity ward as a further example has become the first in the country to be rated as ‘outstanding’.

Stephen Metcalfe continues: “This scaremongering is particularly rich coming from Labour, as it was under their government that the issues at Basildon Hospital were ignored. Now that we are actually seeing results, all they can do dismiss the progress that has been made for political gain.”

Speaking on the subject of the principle of free healthcare, Stephen Metcalfe said: “There is absolutely no suggestion by the Conservatives that the principle of free healthcare at the point of access will be threatened, and in fact, the work that we do ensures that this principle is actually safeguarded for the future. While the previous Labour government left the country on the brink of bankruptcy, it is the current Government that are now picking up the pieces. We are supporting our local services in Basildon and Thurrock; pledged to increase the overall NHS budget year on year in this Parliament and recognise the hard work of everyone who works in our health services.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP marking the centenary of World War One

Local MP Stephen Metcalfe has today remarked on the importance of remembering ALL those that have been lost in conflict over the last century as we collectively commemorate 100 years since the start of World War One.

Although Stephen Metcalfe would have wanted to attend the ceremony last night in Westminster marking the anniversary, he was instead on a visit to the Balkans where he was able to visit some of the historic sites of war. Included in his trip, was a visit to the site where Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo, sparking the events that led to the First World War.

Stephen Metcalfe commented: “Yesterday’s ceremony in Westminster was deeply moving but it was incredibly poignant to be in such a historic place as Sarajevo at a time of such significance for both our country and the world. We should never forget the lessons that we can all learn from history and the duty we all have to ensure future generations do not suffer the same perils of war.”

Stephen Metcalfe also had a chance on his trip to visit Srebrenica, which was the site of the infamous 1995 Srebrenica genocide. Stephen Metcalfe commented on his visit saying: “It was extremely harrowing to learn about the events that took place here. The fact that this all occurred within living memory brings home the message of remembrance even further.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP gets Westminster promotion

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has secured a promotion in the latest Government reshuffle.

As well as continuing his normal duties for the local area the MP will now assume the role of Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS’s) to the Secretary of State for Justice, Chris Grayling MP.

Whilst the role offers no salary increase, PPS’s are subject to the Ministerial code and Mr Metcalfe will now be responsible for tracking backbench opinion in Parliament on Justice issues and offering support to both the Secretary of State and the Department in general.

Mr Grayling, who assumed office in 2012, has overall responsibility for the Government’s strategy on criminal justice, cutting crime, penal policy, human rights, and offender rehabilitation.

                                                                                     

Mr Metcalfe commented: “I am delighted to have been asked to assume this role and am very much enjoying the challenge of serving in my new capacity.” 

“I know that justice, crime, and policing are extremely important issues in South Basildon and East Thurrock and I be working extremely hard to ensure that we continue to make progress in these areas.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP: $75 billion investment in Airbus is great news for local economy

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has welcomed the news that orders have been placed for 496 airbus aircraft after this year’s Farnborough Air Show.

The order, which has been valued at $75 billion, is great news for our local economy as a number of  component parts for Airbus are made here in Basildon.

The local MP visited the Air Show to demonstrate his support for the industry and to see first-hand how Basildon and Thurrock based companies are helping to keep planes in the sky.

“There is not a single Airbus A380 in the air that doesn’t use parts from Basildon” said Stephen. “I am extremely proud of this fact and am delighted to see that so many orders were placed at the Farnborough Air Show.” 

“This $75 billion investment can only be good news for the local economy as a whole. It shows that Basildon has a key role to play in global industries and I will do all I can to support the work of engineering and Aerospace businesses in South Basildon and East Thurrock.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP shows his support for Tractor Plant family day

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, recently joined Basildon’s Case New Holland (CNH) at their Family Day to thank their employees for their hard work.

The Day gave employees the opportunity to bring their families to their workplace and to enjoy a range of events laid on by the Management including tours of the plant, engineering activities, and of course, rides on some of the many tractors produced there.

It was also a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the impressive landmark of 50 years of uninterrupted tractor production in Basildon.

The local MP commented: “It was brilliant to join Colin Larkin and all at the tractor plant for their Family Day and to have a tour of the production line. There was so much on offer for people of all ages and I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.” 

“I would like to thank all employees past and present for their hard work, for boosting the local economy, and for the work they do with young people.  I am extremely proud to tell people of their fantastic track record of production in Basildon.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP and Secretary of State congratulate Basildon Hospital staff in House of Commons

Local MP Stephen Metcalfe, and Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP, rose on the floor of the House of Commons recently to praise Basildon Hospital for the progress it has made since it was placed into special measures.

The chief inspector and Monitor have confirmed that Basildon and Thurrock NHS Foundation Trust can leave special measures with no further support. Both Mr Metcalfe and Mr Hunt highlighted the inspired leadership of Chief Executive, Clare Panniker, who has overseen this process.

In addition to employing an additional 241 nurses, the hospital has now received a ‘good’ rating with its maternity unit the first in the country to be rated “outstanding”.

The Secretary of State joined Mr Metcalfe in congratulating the management team and all staff at Basildon Hospital who have worked hard to turn the hospital around and confirmed that the Government will continue to support the hospital as it strives to make further improvements.

He also suggested that people will want know why it is that when there was a CQC report under the previous Government, it was sat on for six months and nothing was done. 

Mr Metcalfe commented: “Unlike the previous Government, this Government has faced up to the issues at Basildon Hospital and tackled them head on. The results speak for themselves. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of staff at every level at the Hospital, we have seen substantial positive change and I have every confidence that this will continue.”