The BV magazine, October ‘22 POLITICS
Same party, different views There’ll not be a general election until 2024 – but that doesn’t mean the fight for practical, pragmatic politics ends, argues Simon Hoare MP The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes tells us: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” As the hand of autumn firmly settles over our landscape, we are more than aware of the ending of one season and a passing to the next. And so, perhaps, we might be seeing this on our political landscape too. I fought my first Parliamentary election in 1997. Not a great year for the Tory party and an election that heralded 13 years of Labour Government. Slowly the Tory Party, in the words of the song, got itself up, dusted itself off and started all over again. We should expect a General Election in 2024; I know that many want that to be earlier. I can understand their argument but I do not share it. With all of the recent turmoil and sadness, COVID, Ukraine, the death of The Queen, interest rates and inflation, I really do not believe that it would be in the interests of the UK to take six weeks for a General Election campaign. Side with commonsense I am firmly of the view that most people want the Government to focus – and focus on solving today’s problems in a practical and pragmatic way. I will work tirelessly, as I have done since first elected, to ensure that the interests of North Dorset are taken into account when policy evolves. I want to make sure that Government is doing all it can to help and support people
22
locally. In so doing, I appreciate a resurrection of fracking. I will that sometimes puts me out continue with this campaign of step with Government – and hope that Government but I have usually found that listens. Fracking is bad news for the commonsense side of the Dorset’s environment. I hope argument, that Government I am inclined to listens to the It is the dragon of be on, usually public mood. inflation that must wins through Likewise, I be slayed, not our in the end. Let could not pledge to protect the me give you fathom any some recent economic, vulnerable examples. social or I have made political clear, both publicly and merit in removing the privately, that I will not support 45p income tax band. The