News Releases

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17th May: Alan celebrates Carers week

To celebrate the launch of Carers Week, 10-16 June 2013, local MP, Dr Alan Whitehead has joined forces with actress Lynda Bellingham, to recognise the contribution that carers in Southampton make on a daily basis.

In a photocall in Westminster, Alan Whitehead, pledged his support to carers across Southampton as part of the national awareness campaign, Carers Week. The week is an opportunity to celebrate the 6.5 million carers across the UK and raise awareness of the impact that caring has on people’s lives.

More information

 

15th May: My Second Home Allowance

The Independent Parliamentary  Standards (IPSA) committee has recently published the outcome of the arrangements it had implemented whereby  MP’s who had previously  held mortgages for second homes (mostly in London) were provided with a period of two years in which to sell their properties and make alternative arrangements for staying in London during the week when Parliament is sitting. All MPs now either rent or stay in hotels during the week, and claim for the cost of doing so, as I now do.

More information

 

13th May: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Event with Canada's Environment Minister.  DCLG questions.  Meeting regarding Energy Bill amendments.

 

6th May: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Tuesday – Southampton Labour Party meeting.

• Wednesday – State opening of Parliament.  Meeting with SSE (formerly Scottish and Southern Energy) regarding capacity issues.  Meeting with the Environmental Investigation Agency regarding F-Gas EU Regulation.  Meeting with RSPB regarding biomass. 

• See more of Alan's week

 

24th April: Alan joins 'Street CRED' on Windrush Road

Alan Whitehead MP joined up with Southampton City Council’s neighbourhood cleanup scheme ‘Street CRED’.

Street CRED (which stands for Crime Reduction and Environment Days) is a new scheme aimed at restoring pride in Southampton’s neighbourhoods by Southampton City Council.

More information

 

22nd April: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Southampton Labour Party meeting.  Meeting regarding the carbon floor price.  Chairing an Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group seminar ‘Packaging: Minimising environmental impact throughout the life-cycle’.  Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meeting. Parliamentary Labour Party meeting regarding housing supply and planning.
• See more of Alan's week

16th April: Alan calls for independent review of nuclear negotiations

Alan Whitehead has called for an independent review of the Government's negotiations over a public subsidy for nuclear power stations. More information

 

15th April: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Defence questions.  Meeting with the Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group Coordinator.
• Tuesday – Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meeting.  Interview with the Fostering Network.  ADS Aerospace Apprenticeship event.  Fabian Parliamentary Group meeting regarding pensions and ageing.  Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies event.
• See more of Alan's week

27th March: Are families on the minimum wage better or worse off under this Government?

Alan Whitehead MP is today publishing new research by Usdaw which looks at all of the Conservative Government's changes to tax and benefits, and assesses whether families in Southampton on the minimum wage are likely to be better or worse off after all these changes come into effect.

More information

22nd March: Budget fails to stand up for squeezed city families

Alan Whitehead has criticised the 2013 Budget as failing to stand up for families in Southampton squeezed by the economic downturn, while handing a tax cut to millionaires this April. More information

19th March: Government slashes rights on redundancy consultation

Alan Whitehead MP has slammed the Conservative Government’s underhanded sneaking in of measures to halve the time employers are required to consult before making large-scale redundancies. More information

18th March: Meeting local apprentices for National Apprenticeship Week

Alan Whitehead MP has visited Carillion’s training centre in his Southampton during National Apprentice Week to see how local apprentices are gaining valuable skills and qualifications for a career in construction.

More information

14th March: Extend free school meals to cut child poverty

Alan Whitehead MP is backing calls for a free school meal to be provided to every child in poverty. More information

11th March: Southampton worst hit by bedroom tax in the south-east

More Southampton families will be hit by the bedroom tax than in any other authority in the south-east, according to new figures published by the National Housing Federation. More information

11th March: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Meeting with Linden Homes regarding energy efficiency in houses. Calor Gas event.  Chairing Sustainable Resource Forum event regarding energy from waste.
• See more of Alan's week

7th March: Compulsory NHS Tendering Update

Alan Whitehead has welcomed the Government’s partial u-turn on their plans to put competition and privatisation at the heart of the NHS. More information

7th March: Putting Earth Hour 'on the map!'

Alan Whitehead MP showed his support this week for energy powered by nature, as part of WWF’s Earth Hour 2013. Members of Parliament were asked to put wind, wave, and solar power symbols on a UK weather map to symbolise the need for more renewable energy - to help protect our planet.

More information

6th March: We must ratify the Maritime Labour Convention

Alan Whitehead MP has called on the Government to stand by its promise to protect the rights of British seafarers by ratifying the Maritime Labour Convention. More information

5th March: Keeping our promise to the world's poorest

Alan Whitehead MP has called on David Cameron to fulfil his promise to spend 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI) on international aid and to put this commitment in law. More information

4th March: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Environmental Audit Select Committee meeting.  Dods Renewable Energy Dialogue Report Launch.  Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sixth Form Principals event.
• See more of Alan's week

11th February: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Meeting regarding developing the UK’s infrastructure.  Committee on Standards briefing.  Telephone interview with ICIS Energy regarding the Energy Bill.  UK Green Building Council event.  Telephone briefing for Climate Change Forum event tomorrow.  Joint Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group – Greenpeace - WWF ‘Wind versus Gas Investment’ report launch.  Meeting regarding the Energy Bill.
• See more of Alan's week

29th January: Putting a clear decarbonisation target into the Energy Bill

Alan Whitehead last night tabled amendments to the Energy Bill requiring the Government to effectively decarbonise the power generation sector by 2030. More information

28th January: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Speaking at a Business Solent event 'Sustainable Solent Conference'.  All Party Parliamentary Group on Sustainable Housing AGM. 
• See more of Alan's week

23rd January: Alan's speech on rights for HMO tenants

You can now watch and read Alan's full speech on introducing a his Private Member's Bill on new rights for HMO renters. View Alan's speech here.

22nd January: Creating a buzz about disappearing bees

Alan Whitehead MP recently joined a giant bumble bee and campaigners from the environment charity Friends of the Earth to draw attention to the alarming decline in UK bee numbers. More information

21st January: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Telephone conversation regarding biomethane policy.  Meeting with PNP Paribas Clean Energy Partners regarding biomass.  Meeting with Friends of the Earth regarding carbon emission reduction targets.
• See more of Alan's week

18th January: Bill to give new rights to renters

Alan Whitehead MP will next week introduce a Bill in Parliament to give new rights to people living in shared rented accommodation to improve their home’s energy efficiency. More information

14th January: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Southampton Pensioners' Forum meeting.
• Tuesday – Energy Bill Committee meetings.  Friends of the Earth ‘Saving Britain’s bees’ event.  Meeting with Scottish and Southern Energy regarding the Energy Bill. 
• See more of Alan's week

11th January: Southampton MPs slam super-peak train fares

John Denham and Alan Whitehead, Labour MPs for Southampton Itchen and Southampton Test have expressed their deep concern at plans by the Tory-led government to introduce “super-peak” fares to train services. More information

7th January: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Visit to the Ford Factory, Southampton.  Parliamentary Labour Party meeting.
• Tuesday – DPMQs.  Chairing a joint Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group - Low Carbon Finance Group event regarding the Energy Bill.
• See more of Alan's week

 

20th December: Lib Dem Capture and Storage over a decarbonisation target

Yesterday Alan spoke in the Commons debate on the second reading of the Government's Energy Bill, which is their flagship attempt to make our energy system fit for purpose in the coming decades. You can read the full text of Alan's speech here

18th December: Devestating cuts to Council spending power announced

Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, has condemned the devastating cuts to Southampton City Council’s funding announced by the Tory Government today. More information

 

11th December: We need a clean power target to deliver green jobs for Southampton

Alan Whitehead MP has joined forces with Friends of the Earth and RSPB in a call for the Government to deliver green jobs for the Southampton and the South East.

Alan Whitehead says the Bill risks driving investment and jobs in clean energy out of the UK, and could bust the UK’s chances of meeting its goals to tackle climate change by launching a new dash for gas.

More information

11th December: New Bill to Improve Home Energy Efficiency

Alan Whitehead MP today presented a Private Member's Bill in the House of Commons which could radically improve the energy efficiency of Britain’s homes. More information

10th December: Alan calls for plain tobacco packaging

Alan Whitehead MP is calling for the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products. Research into cigarette packaging shows that packs which are a standardised colour and design - but retain the current picture health warnings - are significantly less attractive to children than the branded equivalents. More information

10th December: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Meeting with other Hampshire MPs regarding Portsmouth’s dockyard.
• Tuesday – Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meetings.
• See more of Alan's week

4th December: Alan welcomes Gas vs Wind Econometrics Report

Alan Whitehead has welcomed a new report by Cambridge Econometrics that for the first time looks at the long term consequences of pursuing a renewables-intensive versus a gas-intensive energy strategy. More information

4th December: Campaigning for more accessible services for disabled children and their families

Alan Whitehead MP joined with young disabled and comedienne Sally Phillips this week to celebrate International Day of Disabled People as part of a new campaign calling for better local services for disabled children and their families. More information

 

3rd December: Alan on the Politics Show

Alan was on the Politics Show South this weekend, talking about the Leveson Inquiry, the Energy Bill, the charitable status of private schools, and other issues. You can watch the show here for the next 7 days.

3rd December: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Scope’s ‘Keep Us Close’ campaign, calling for better local services for disabled children and families.
• See more of Alan's week

29th November: David Cameron must implement Leveson in full

Alan has commented on the publication of Lord Leveson's Report into the ethics and practices of the press, and David Cameron's refusal to commit to a new independent press regular guaranteed by law. More information

28th November: Backing Palestinian Statehood in Parliament

Alan Whitehead MP has backed a Parliamentary motion supporting the formal recognition of a Palestinian state. More information

27th November: How the Work Programme is Failing Southampton

Research by Alan Whitehead, shows that the Conservative Government’s flagship Work Programme is having almost no impact on getting long term unemployed people back to work in Southampton. More information

19th November: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Sandbag Climate Campaign event 'Help or hindrance? Reforming offsetting rules in European Climate policy'.  International Conference on the Genocide of the Hazara people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Delegated Legislation Committee meeting regarding the Draft Disabled People’s Right to Control Regulations 2012.  National House Building Council event.
• See more of Alan's week

12th November: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Campaigning with Southampton Labour activists Corby 
• Tuesday – Meeting regarding demand-side measures and the Energy Bill.   Environmental Audit Select Committee and Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meetings.
• Wednesday – Meeting with Southampton City Council and SCRATCH (Southampton City and Region Action to Combat Hardship) regarding a FareShare (food supply organisation for the vulnerable and needy) project for Southampton. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service celebrating success event.
• See more of Alan's week

8th November: 4G Auction could fund 14,000 new homes in the south east

Southampton’s Labour MPs Alan Whitehead and John Denham are calling on the government to back a plan to build thousands of new affordable homes to boost the economy and create thousands of new jobs.  More information

6th November: Debate on Ford Closure

Alan Whitehead spoke today in an urgent debate in Parliament about Ford's announcement to close their plant in Southampton, and the grants and loans signed off by the UK Government to Ford before the closure plans were announced. More information

1st November: Tory Tax Hike Plans for 15,000 city families

Alan Whitehead MP last night voted against Tory plans to require the equivalent of a £200 tax hike on 15,000 of Southampton’s poorest residents. More information

31st October: PM Ducks Alan Whitehead Question on Ford Grant

The Prime Minister today ducked the question of whether he knew Ford planned to close their Southampton factory before awarding them a multimillion pound grant through the regional growth fund. More information

30th October: Challenging Gove over GCSE Fiasco

Alan Whitehead MP yesterday challenged Michael Gove on what action the Government was taking to put right the GCSE marking fiasco. More information

29th October: City Deal undermined by £12 million grant cut

Alan Whitehead MP has warned that the Government’s City Deal offer to Southampton, while a welcome step forward, is not a substitute for the £12 million cut from our city’s formula grant last year- equivalent to £1 in every £10 Southampton receives from national Government. More information

29th October: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Meeting with union convenors at the Ford factory in Swaythling.  Parliamentary Labour Party meeting. 
• Tuesday – Energy and Climate Change Select Committee and Standards and Privileges Select Committee meetings.  Meeting with the Council for European-Palestinian relations regarding the rights of the Palestinian people.  Southern Group of Labour MPs meeting.  British Marine Federation and Royal Yachting Association event. 
• See more of Alan's week

25th October: Ford closure a devastating blow- here's what we can do

Alan Whitehead MP has welcomed the City Council's pledge to set up a taskforce to help Ford workers affected by the closure announcement today, and called for answers from Ministers over what action the Government has taken to protect these skilled manufacturing jobs. More information

23rd October: Time to scrap the badger cull

Alan Whitehead has welcomed today’s announcement by the Government has paused on its plans for a badger cull in England, but warned that the campaign must go on to scrap the cull for good. More information

22nd October: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Campaigning in Corby
• Tuesday – Chairing Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum seminar ‘Developing a zero waste economy: moving forward from the Review’.  Antarctic Reception for second reading of Antarctic PMB.  APP Environment Group AGM.   Chairing an Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group seminar on the Birmingham Green New Deal ‘Delivering the Green Deal: Innovations in Local Government’.
• See more of Alan's week

17th October: Portswood shoppers donate enough food to provide 1000 meals to FareShare

Alan Whitehead met with volunteers and donors to the Million Meals Appeal at Portswood Sainsburys, which helped to break records last weekend. More information

16th October: The Tories were wrong to try to carve up Southampton

Alan Whitehead and John Denham has welcomed the findings in the Boundary Commission's consultation over new constituencies for Southampton, which shows the overwhelming majority of respondents disagreed with Tory plans to carve up Southampton into multiple part rural, part urban constituencies. More information

11th October: Labour's Power Book

This autumn Labour has published The Power Book, which looks at innovative new ideas on how to give local people a stronger voice in the energy market. Alan Whitehead has written a chapter for the book about Southampton and how our community heating scheme could serve as a template for the rest of the country.

Download the Power Book and read Alan's chapter.

10th October: Alan's article for House Magazine on the future of green policy

In the special Labour Party Conference edition of House Magazine, Alan Whitehead writes about the future of green politics and policy in the UK. Read Alan's article.

9th October: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Constituency meetings.
• Tuesday – Meeting with Alderney Renewable Energy regarding potential academic and business links within the constituency.  Southampton Labour Party meeting.  Careers talk to University of Southampton Politics Association
• See more of Alan's week

28th September: Energy Bill has little to say about reducing demand

In Alan's latest 'soapbox' article for Utility Week, he argues that the Government is failing to provide mechanisms for helping households and businesses reduce their energy demand. Read Alan's article

24th September: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Meeting with the Southampton Centre for Independent Living regarding the Southampton Remploy Factory.  Meeting with the Principal of Oasis Lordshill Academy regarding GCSE grade boundaries.  
• See more of Alan's week

18th September: Please sign the Petition for an Inquiry into the GCSE Regrading Scandal

Alan Whitehead is backing calls from schools across Southampton for an inquiry into this summer's GCSE regrading scandal. More information

18th September: Green Belt under threat from Land Swaps

Alan Whitehead MP has said continued double-speak from Tory Ministers could lead to the slow but irreversible erosion of Britain’s green belt land. More information

13th September: Alan backs Million Meal Food Drive

Alan Whitehead MP has pledged to help local residents living on the breadline by signing up to volunteer at a local food drive. More information

 

13th September: Analysing the reshuffle for The Environmentalist

In Alan's latest article for the Environmentalist, he looks at what the reshuffle means for energy policy expertise in government, and whether this spells the end of David Cameron's 'flirtation' with green policy. Read Alan's article.

11th September: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Phone call regarding the Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group.  Telephone briefing for Climate Change Forum event on Wednesday.  Parliamentary Labour Party meeting.
• See more of Alan's week

7th September: Debate on Attracting Green Investment

Earlier this week Alan spoke at a Policy Exchange debate on whether the Government would be able to attract green investement to the UK. You can now watch the full debate below- Alan's speech starts at the 25 minute mark.

6th September: Voting against 11% Tory Rail Fare Hikes

Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, has today called for the Government to cut the planned increase in rail fares that Ministers have approved for January 2013. More information

5th September: Alan backs new Bill to tackle prepay meter debt

Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, has today backed a Bill to stop energy companies preventing some of their poorest customers from being able to switch their supplier. More information

3rd September: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Meeting with the Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group Coordinator.  Meeting with RenewableUK regarding the Energy Bill.
• Tuesday – Standards and Privileges Select Committee and Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meetings.  Meeting with Wärtsilä Power Plants regarding Electricity Market Reform.  Meeting with BSW Timber regarding the future of the public forest estate in England.  Meeting with ‘Which?’ regarding the getting a better deal for Southampton energy customers.  Speaking at a Policy Exchange energy panel debate.
• See more of Alan's week

27th August: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Tuesday – Meeting with Solicitor to the Council regarding voter registration.  Interview with MSc student from Imperial College regarding renewable energy regulation for low carbon electricity generation technologies.
• See more of Alan's week

7th August: Skills for Climate Change Speech

Alan recently gave a speech in support of the Skills for Climate Change Project, which supports training and development for low carbon jobs. Coming the day after George Osborne was revealed as interfering in energy & environment policy, Alan argued that greening our economy was inevitable, and a vital way in which we can restore growth. Read Alan's Skills for Climate Change speech

23rd July: George Osborne is making energy policy 'unworkable'

Alan Whitehead MP today launched a report with other members of a powerful Commons Committee slamming George Osborne and the Treasury for making energy policy in the UK ‘unworkable.’ More information

17th July: Why we need a more joined-up ports policy

Following on from a successful campaign to unblock £150 million of investment in Southampton's port, Alan Whitehead writes for Maritime UK on the need for a more joined-up ports policy across the UK. Read Alan's article

16th July: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Meeting with the British Photovoltaic Association.  Chairing joint PRASEG-Aldersgate Group panel debate entitled ‘Energy strategy: informing the policy debate with the latest corporate thinking’.  Micropower Council event.  Local Government Information Unit event.
• See more of Alan's week

9th July: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Delegated Legislation Committee on electoral commissioners.  Meeting of Southern Group of Labour MPs with Ed Miliband.  Labour Environment Campaign Executive meeting.
• See more of Alan's week

July 5th: Worrying inaction from Government over unfair competition with Southampton's port

Yesterday Alan pressed the Government to take real action to stop unfair, state-subsidised competition that threatens Southampton's port. More information

July 4th: Southampton Children's Heart Unit Saved!

Alan Whitehead MP has welcome the decision of the independent Safe and Sustainable Review into Child Heart Surgery to save the heart unit based in Southampton. More information

July 3rd: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Meeting with the Green New Deal Group.  Meeting with Veolia regarding community heating in Southampton.  University of Birmingham panel discussion regarding their nuclear power policy commission report.
• See more of Alan's week

July 2nd: Southampton Signs up to Community Covenant

Southampton MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead have welcomed the decision by Labour Southampton City Councillors to formally sign up to the Ministry of Defence’s Community Covenant. More information

June 29th: Speech on the Green Economy

Yesterday Alan Whitehead gave a wide-ranging speech in the Commons on greening our economy. Alan laid out practical measures relating to home insulation, energy generation, transport and finance that the Government could be taking forward right now to deliver green jobs and growth across the UK. Read Alan's speech.

June 28th: Renewables Politician of the Year

Yesterday Alan Whitehead was named as Politician of the Year in the RenewableUK Awards. The Politician of the Year Award recognises a UK politician that has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of renewable energy over the last twelve months. More information

 

June 27th: Alan backs landmark Antarctic Bill

Alan Whitehead has put his support behind a landmark cross-party Bill to protect the Antarctic. More information

June 26th: A Big Gap in the Draft Energy Bill

In an article for The ENDS (Environmental Data Services) Report, Alan lays out a serious gap in the Government's Draft Energy Bill, regarding a total lack of measures in the Draft Bill to deal with 'demand-side' measures to reduce energy use and manage our energy more efficiently. Such measures would be vital for the UK to meet our climate change targets and help households struggling with high energy bills.

Read Alan's article 'Demanding a Demand-Side for Electricity Market Reform.'

June 25th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Renewable Energy Association event regarding sustainable biofuels.  Energy and Climate Change Select Committee event regarding the Energy Bill.  Parliamentary Labour Party joint Defra, DECC and DfID backbench meeting on Rio + 20.
• See more of Alan's week

June 19th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Home visit to a disabled constituent.  Centre for the 3rd Age AGM.  Discussion with the Shadow DECC team regarding the Energy Bill.
• See more of Alan's week

June 19th: Local construction of affordable homes drops by 90% under the Tories

Official figures revealed today that affordable house building had collapsed in Southampton under the Conservative Government. The figures from the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency show that affordable housing starts fell 90% from 296 to just 31 in 2011/2012 compared with the previous year. More information

June 11th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Official re-opening of Southampton Central Station.  Meeting with the General Director of Industry, Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources regarding the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme.  Energy and Utility Forum event regarding Electricity Market Reform.
• See more of Alan's week

June 6th: Alan writes for the Environmentalist on the problems with nuclear power

Alan's latest article for The Environmenalist magazine is now online. It looks at the Government's plans to become increasingly reliant on nuclear power, the lack of competition in the nuclear sector, and whether the huge subsidy the government proposes to give nuclear could be spent in a better way. Read the article here.

31st May: Alan backs Jacqui Rayment for Hampshire PCC

Southampton MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead have today publicly backed local City Councillor Jacqui Rayment to be the Labour candidate for the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner election in November. More information

28th May: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Meeting with Head at Upper Shirley High School. 
• Tuesday – Meeting with Renewable Energy Systems Limited, WWF and Labour frontbenchers regarding the draft Energy Bill.
• See more of Alan's week

21st May: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Meeting with Art Asia, Southampton.  Visit to Chilworth Science Park and Elliots builders merchant in Southampton to discuss green technology as part of the Climate Change Caravan visit.  Speaking at the Climate Change Caravan event in Southampton.  Environmental Audit Select Committee seminar regarding the Rio+20 Earth Summit.
• See more of Alan's week

 

17th May: Alan Backs Equal Marriage

Alan Whitehead has called on the Conservative Government to stand by its promise to allow gay couples to marry.

More information

15th May: 'Parliament Talks Energy' public meeting a big hit!

Thanks to all local residents who came along to our 'Parliament Talks Energy' event held in Freemantle Community Centre on Monday. More information

 

14th May: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Southampton Labour Party meeting.  Energy and Climate Change Select Committee public meeting regarding energy prices in Freemantle.
• Tuesday – Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meeting.  Electoral Commission Parliamentary Advisory Group meeting.  Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group seminar regarding waste management infrastructure. BIS briefing on the Green Investment Bank.   
• See more of Alan's week

9th May: Public meeting on energy prices- at Freemantle Community Centre

People in Southampton will have the chance to give their views to a Parliamentary inquiry on energy issues – including rising prices, switching energy supplier and the way energy companies communicate with their customers -  at a special Parliamentary event being hosted by local MP Alan Whitehead at Freemantle Community Centre in Southampton on 14 May. More information

4th May: A New Labour Council- Thank You Southampton!

Yesterday people from across Southampton came out to elect our city's first majority Labour Council since 1999. Thank you to everyone who came out to vote. No matter who you voted for, or even if you didn't vote at all, your Labour Councillors and Alan Whitehead will carry on working hard for you all year round. More information.

1st May: £150 million investment in Southampton Port secured

Alan Whitehead has welcomed the final decision to unblock millions of vital investement in Southampton's port, after a campaign in Parliament led by Southampton's Labour MPs. More information

25th April: The UK is back in recession- the Tories have to face facts about their failed strategy

According to the Office of National Statistics, the economy shrank by 0.2% in the first three months of 2012; it shrank by 0.3% in the last three months of 2011. More information

23rd April: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Labour Party meeting regarding House of Lords reform.  Introducing a joint Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group – Greenpeace launch of a report regarding electricity market reform.
• See more of Alan's week

23rd April: Alan presses Centrica on help over 550 planned city redundancies

Centrica has today announced they will be closing their British Gas call centre in Southampton. Following the announcement, Alan Whitehead has pressed Centrica over what help they will provide for the 550 workers threatened with redundancy. More information

18th April: Abolishing 50p rate will only benefit 1% in the south-east

The Government's own figures confirm that only 1% of taxpayers in the south-east will benefit from the abolition of the 50p rate of tax, Alan Whitehead has confirmed today. More information

17th April: Hidden costs of NHS redundancies in Southampton revealed

Southampton's Labour MPs today revealed the hidden costs of redundancy pay-outs in Southampton arising from David Cameron's NHS re-organisation. More information

16th April: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Parliamentary Labour Party DEFRA Backbench Group meeting.  Meeting with Richard Benyon, DEFRA Minister, regarding Southampton Port and the Marine Management Organisation.  Labour Party Sustainable Communities Policy Commission meeting.
• See more of the week ahead

27th March: Pupil Premium funding redirected to wealthier areas

The Tory Government has directed its Pupil Premium funding towards wealthy areas with low areas of child poverty, at the expense of poorer areas like Southampton with higher rates of child poverty, new research has confirmed. More information

26th March: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Labour Environment Campaign meeting. Commons budget debate. Government statement on cash for access scandal.
• Tuesday - Aldersgate Group event regarding the Rio+20 Earth Summit.  Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meeting.  Meeting regarding local elections.  Meeting with the League Against Cruel Sports. 
• See more of Alan's week

22nd March: Gas decision negates all the Government's previous commitments on climate change

The Government's decision to allow gas-fired power stations to continue to emit carbon at the same rate for the next 30 years would mean Britain's whole plan for carbon reduction 'goes out the window' and ranks as 'one of the stupidest and most thoughtless pieces of decision-making in government for some time' Alan Whitehead said today. Read Alan's blog piece on the gas debate.

21st March: Tax hike on pensions to fund tax cut for millionaires

Alan Whitehead has slammed proposals in the Tories' budget to fund a tax cut for the wealthiest 1% of taxpayers via a raid on pensions which will cost the average pensioner in Southampton £75 a year. More information

19th March: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• Monday – Parliamentary Labour Party DEFRA backbench group meeting. Meeting with the British Metals Recycling Association regarding cashless transactions for the trade in scrap metal.  Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group event regarding Solar PV.  Delegated Legislation Committee regarding the Public Bodies Order 2012.  Green Alliance event regarding planning and renewables.
• See more of Alan's week

16th March: Keynote speech on the Future of Electricity Markets

Last week Alan gave the keynote speech at the Smartest Energy conference on the future of electricity markets, and on how the government's proposals for reforming the energy market don't really reform the market at all. You can now watch Alan's full speech below, and find out more about Alan's speech here.

16th March: Preparing for Earth Hour and the world leaders' summit on sustainable development

Accompanied by the WWF’s panda mascot, Alan Whitehead MP is committing to switch off the lights for WWF’s Earth Hour 2012 and to supporting the environment summit in Rio. More information

12th March: Revised Helius Biomass Proposals Don't Go Far Enough

The revised plans for a 100MW biomass power station to be built in Millbrook docks don’t go far enough to address concerns raised about the plant’s sustainability, Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead said today. More information

 

12th March: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

• • Monday – Meeting with head of local immigration team regarding joint work. Meeting Southampton University research students at ‘SET for Britain’ biology, chemistry and engineering poster exhibitions. DCLG questions.  Launch of Climate Week.  Speaking at the launch of 'Universities for Labour'. 
  • See more of Alan's week

  8th March: Statement on Remploy Closure

  Alan Whitehead was in a packed Commons chamber last night to challenge the Government over the closure of the Remploy plant in Southampton. Alan and fellow Southampton MP John Denham have made a joint statement about the Southampton closure. Read the statement here

   

  8th March: We need an urgent review of Work Tax Credit changes

  Labour MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead are calling on the Government to reconsider its decision to cut Working Tax Credits in April. More information

   

  7th March: Alan Backs Big Switch from Which

  Southampton’s Labour MPs have backed the ‘Big Switch’ campaign for energy customers to bargain together to get a better deal from the Big Six. More information

   

  6th March: Interview on future energy policy and 'fixing' the energy market

  Last week Alan was the keynote speaker at Smartest Energy conference, where he outlined problems with the Government's current approach to reforming our energy market. After his speech, Alan spoke to Energy Live News about the same issue. Watch the interview below or visit Energy Live News for the full story.

   

  5th March: Extracts from Alan's diary this week

  • Monday – Opposition day debate on jobs and growth in a low carbon economy. Parliamentary Labour Party meetings.  Energy Intensive Industries All Party Parliamentary Group and Combined Heat and Power Association meeting.  Which? Magazine Big Switch event regarding energy company price increases.
  • See more of Alan's week

   

  29th February: Rio Summit must be a workshop, not a talking shop

  In June of this year, world leaders will meet in Brazil for the 'Rio+20'- a vital summit to agree a plan for sustainable development across the globe. Last night in the Commons there was a debate on the UK's preparations for the Rio summit. Alan spoke in the debate, and talked about what we should hope to achieve at the summit, and how while real progress had been made, in other ways we are still squandering our resources in an 'startlingly profilgate way.' More information

  29th February: Please join us at Southampton Drop the Bill Rally

  This Thursday, Southampton's Labour MPs are holding a rally at the Sir James Matthews Building at Solent University for all local residents who want the Tory Government to drop its disastrous NHS Bill. Find out more about the rally

  28th February: Interview on university fees, 'free schools' and education policy

  Last week Alan was interviewed by Winchester University student and Political Editor of Winchester News Online Louis O'Brien. Louis interviewed Alan about education policy, particularly the impact of rising tuition fees and the Government's 'free schools' policy. You can watch the interview below.

   

  

  27th February: Energy Bill Revolution Launch

  Alan Whitehead MP has called on the Government to back the Energy Bill Revolution, a new campaign calling on the Government to use the money it gets from carbon taxes to help UK homes cut their energy bills. More information

  24th February: Tory Government breaks pledge to protect front-line police

  New research by Southampton’s Labour MPs today confirms that the Conservative Government have broken their pledge to protect front-line police policing and that there are already over 50 fewer officers patrolling the streets in Hampshire. More information

  20th February: Alan backs windfall tax on the Big Six

  Alan Whitehead has called for a windfall tax on the profits of the Big Six energy companies, with the proceeds going to help families struggling with their energy bills. More information

  20th February: Extracts from Alan's diary this week...

  • Monday – Winchester News Online video interview regarding the fall in university applications resulting from the Government raising tuition fees.  Meeting with Greg Barker, DECC Minister, regarding the Energy White Paper.  Briefing for Energy UK’s ‘Powering the UK’ seminar on 21/2/12.  Parliamentary Labour Party meeting.
  • See more of Alan's week

  17th February: The Green Deal- stuck at the starting gate?

  Any time you hear the Government criticised about fuel poverty or its environmental credentials, chances are you'll hear them use the upcoming 'Green Deal' as a defence. Read Alan's article for Inside Housing about whether he thinks the Green Deal will achieve all the Government says it will.

  16th February: We need tougher regulation of landlords and 'tipping points' for Houses in Multiple Occupation

  Alan Whitehead has called on the Conservative Council in Southampton to toughen its proposed ‘tipping points’ for how many Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) should be allowed in different parts of the city. More information

  15th February: Tax credits bombshell to hit over 700 local families

  Over 700 couples with children in part-time work in Southampton could lose around £4,000 a year from this April, following a change to tax credit rules being introduced by the Tory government. More information

  9th February: A quick note for parents worried about contraceptive implants

  Over the weekend Alan met with a local parent who raised concerns about the provision of contraceptive 'implants' in schools. Here's a brief note from Alan looking at the issues raised.

  6th February: Extracts from Alan's diary this week...

  • Monday – Energy and Climate Change Select Committee trip briefing.  Labour Party Sustainable Communities Policy Commission meeting.  Briefing for Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum seminar on Tuesday. Parliamentary Labour Party meeting.  Chamber of Shipping event.
  • See more of Alan's week

  2nd February: Alan wins pledge from Government on next gen boilers- but does it go far enough?

  Alan Whitehead has won a pledge from the Government to improve support for next generation boilers to help cut household energy bills and carbon emissions. More information

  1st February: Don't miss out on Warm Front help

  City Labour MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead are today urging eligible constituents to take advantage of the Government’s flagship energy help scheme Warm Front, to make their homes warmer and cut their energy bills. More information

   

   

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