Martin Evison is the SDP candidate for Newcastle North.
North East Bylines asked candidates for our 27 constituencies ten questions on a range of subjects. We will be publishing their answers over the next few weeks.
1. What is your plan for economic revival in the North East?
SDP polices centre around reshoring manufacturing and reducing energy costs to business and industry, developing skills-based training, and promoting and protecting British industry providing secure employment and decent pay.
2. How will you help to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets?
We will reinforce nuclear power as a major component of energy generation. We will develop a regulatory framework to support UK gas fracking subject to adequate environmental assessments and for so long as natural gas remains a necessary part of our energy fuel mix.
While we will support renewables, we do not support unrealistic objectives such as “Net Zero” which lead to an unbalanced and costly energy regime in the UK without materially impacting global warming.
3. How will you work to end child poverty in the North East?
Cheaper fuel bills will reduce household costs and that of food and other goods. We will support the traditional family. Will we will introduce a national care service as part of a unified provision. We will build more affordable state housing and end the sale of council houses.
4. What is your view of the war on Gaza and how would you resolve it?
SDP have no formal policy on Gaza. As a minor party they are not yet in a position to have any influence.
My personal view is that the underlying problems are intractable and this particular outburst of violence is particularly tragic and avoidable. I cannot see any moral justification for the attacks of 7 October. If there is supposed to be a political one, then I despair.
A ceasefire and immediate release of all the hostages seems a priority.
I very much support the right of Jewish people living in, studying in or visiting Newcastle to go about their lives without fear of intimidation.
5. How can the curriculum be widened to make it more useful and inclusive for our pupils?
Among a number of policies, we will introduce more technical and BTEC-like courses. We will reinforce teaching of British history, politics, geography and literature to GCSE. Humanities courses will be balanced and honest, and avoid advocacy of unorthodox or sectarian agendas.
6. How do you propose to protect our waterways from contamination with sewerage?
We will clean up our rivers by setting capital investment targets to prevent sewage discharges and by robust enforcement of all water pollution regulations.
7. What do you see are the main benefits of Brexit?
Control of our borders and reduction in levels of net inward migration, ability to deport illegal immigrants and those convicted of serious offences, freedom from external regulation, and restoration of our fisheries. Yes, I am being ironic: there is much that needs to be done.
8. What will you do to fight for fair pay for all NHS staff?
SDP policies for the NHS focus on reform. To give just one example, NHS management and overhead functions will be reduced in cost by 15% in real terms over the lifetime of the parliament, with the savings returned to front line care. The NHS will not fund DEI initiatives or champion any contested political causes. These measures should allow pay to be more properly focused on frontline staff.
9. Which historical figure would you go to for advice?
George Orwell (if he is not historical enough, then Niccolò Machíavellí)
10. How would you ensure that you represent all constituents, including the ones who didn’t vote for you?
There are 50,700 addresses with registered voters in Newcastle North. It would be great to meet everybody, but I expect other measures such as ‘town hall’ meetings, focus groups and digital / social media are more practical. I would hold regular in-person surgeries and have no desire to move to London.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO OUR CROWDFUNDER
HELP US BECOME STRONGER SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER POWERFUL CITIZEN JOURNALISM!
