Latest news with #JonathanBrash
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Hart petition demands A179 Hartlepool road safety work
Hundreds of people have signed a petition demanding major safety improvements on a road where a pedestrian Parish Council has joined calls for work on the A179, including dualling from its junction with the A19 to the Tall Ships pub roundabout, a new roundabout at the top of Hart village and a 40mph speed petition raised concerns about the number of accidents, including the death of the pedestrian in February, with councillor Rob Darby saying: "We just do not think that road is safe at all."Labour-led Hartlepool Borough Council said: "We will await the petition and will consider it in due course." The online petition has attracted over 650 signatures so far, the Local Democracy Reporting Service Parish Council vice chair Thomas Britcliffe said he wanted the speed limit implemented as soon as possible."On a night when it's quiet people race along there and then crash at the roundabout at the bottom," he said. Traffic 'crisis' The petition stated that over 40 years the area had seen thousands of new homes built nearby, "all placing increasing pressure on the A179 link to the A19".Campaigners said "no significant upgrades have been made since Hart village bypass opened in 1983" and, with multiple large-scale energy projects planned off the A179, traffic congestion had reached "crisis levels."The petition runs until the end of September and will then be submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council's leader, Hartlepool's MP Jonathan Brash and Tees Valley Mayor Ben said campaigners had his "total support"."As a former resident of Hart Village and someone who has two young children, I know full well the very real concerns that residents have about traffic in that area," he said."I therefore fully support this campaign and would be only be too happy to meet with residents, the parish council, the borough council and Tees Valley mayor to see what can be done to deliver this for residents." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hundreds of fish dead after temperatures rise
Volunteers have pulled 173 lbs (78 kg) of dead fish out of a park pond after a hike in water temperatures. Residents spotted hundreds of the fish floating on the surface of the pond at Rossmere Park, Hartlepool. The Environment Agency (EA) found no evidence of pollution, and said the fish had died due to the impact of rising water temperatures on dissolved oxygen in the water. Labour MP Jonathan Brash said he was "really upset" to see the pictures of the dead fish and hoped to find ways to prevent it from happening again. The EA ran tests along the watercourse but found no evidence it had been polluted. A spokesman said the prolonged dry weather combined with "stagnant water flow and increased water temperatures" led to a drop in the dissolved oxygen in the water, which killed the fish. Hartlepool Borough Councillor Quewone Bailey-Fleet said that three local men removed the dead fish from the pond and have now committed to volunteering long-term to help maintain it. Mr Brash met with the council and Environment Agency teams at the pond. He said: "They're currently aerating the water to boost oxygen levels and are testing the water quality. "The initial view is that the recent hot weather reduced oxygen levels and increased ammonia - a dangerous mix for the fish. "The good news is there's still a living fish population in the pond, and we've now moved into the recovery phase." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Hundreds of dead fish in lake after hot weather Samples gathered as fish deaths investigated Hundreds of fish found dead in historic loch Environment Agency
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Hundreds of fish dead in Hartlepool pond after temperatures rise
Volunteers have pulled 173 lbs (78 kg) of dead fish out of a park pond after a hike in water spotted hundreds of the fish floating on the surface of the pond at Rossmere Park, Environment Agency (EA) found no evidence of pollution, and said the fish had died due to the impact of rising water temperatures on dissolved oxygen in the MP Jonathan Brash said he was "really upset" to see the pictures of the dead fish and hoped to find ways to prevent it from happening again. The EA ran tests along the watercourse but found no evidence it had been polluted.A spokesman said the prolonged dry weather combined with "stagnant water flow and increased water temperatures" led to a drop in the dissolved oxygen in the water, which killed the fish. Hartlepool Borough Councillor Quewone Bailey-Fleet said that three local men removed the dead fish from the pond and have now committed to volunteering long-term to help maintain Brash met with the council and Environment Agency teams at the said: "They're currently aerating the water to boost oxygen levels and are testing the water quality. "The initial view is that the recent hot weather reduced oxygen levels and increased ammonia - a dangerous mix for the fish. "The good news is there's still a living fish population in the pond, and we've now moved into the recovery phase." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Government sees off backbench rebellion as welfare reforms clear Commons
A proposed benefit cut for future out-of-work claimants has cleared the Commons after Labour ministers saw off a backbench rebellion. The Universal Credit Bill cleared the Commons at third reading, after it received MPs' backing by 336 votes to 242, majority 94. 'If you can work, you should,' social security minister Sir Stephen Timms told MPs before they voted on the welfare reforms. 'If you need help into work, the Government should provide it, and those who can't work must be able to live with dignity. 'Those are the principles underpinning what we're doing.' Work and pensions ministers faced calls to walk away from their universal credit (UC) proposals at the 11th hour, after they shelved plans to reform the separate personal independence payment (Pip) benefit and vowed to only bring in changes following a review. 'When this Bill started its life, the Government was advocating for cuts to Pip claimants and UC health claimants now and in the future. They conceded that now wasn't right, and it was only the future,' Labour MP for Hartlepool Jonathan Brash said. 'Then they conceded it shouldn't be Pip claimants in the future, leaving only UC health claimants in the future. Does (Sir Stephen) understand the anxiety and confusion this has caused people in the disabled community, and would it not be better to pause and wait for the review and do it properly?' Sir Stephen replied: 'No, because reform is urgently needed. We were elected to deliver change and that is what we must do. 'And it's particularly scandalous that the system gives up on young people in such enormous numbers – nearly a million not in employment, education or training.' The minister said the Government wanted to 'get on and tackle the disability employment gap' and added the Bill 'addresses the severe work disincentives in universal credit, it protects those we don't ever expect to work from universal credit reassessment'. As part of the Bill, the basic universal credit standard allowance will rise at least in line with inflation until 2029/30. But the Government has proposed freezing the 'limited capability for work' (LCW) part of the benefit until 2030, which a group of 37 Labour rebels including Mr Brash opposed in a vote. The move was ultimately approved by 335 votes to 135, majority 200. New claimants who sign up for the 'limited capability for work and work-related activity' payment would receive a lower rate than existing claimants after April 2026, unless they meet a set of severe conditions criteria or are terminally ill, which the same rebels also opposed. Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central who was among them, had earlier said: 'No matter what spin, to pass the Bill tonight, this will leave such a stain on our great party, founded on values of equality and justice.' She warned that making changes to universal credit before a wider look at reform was putting 'the cart before the horse, the vote before the review', and branded the Government's decision-making an 'omnishambles'. Ms Maskell pressed her own amendment to a division, which she lost by 334 votes to 149, majority 185. It would have demanded that out-of-work benefit claimants with a 'fluctuating medical condition' who slip out of and then back into their eligibility criteria either side of the changes would receive their existing – not the lower – rate. Marie Tidball said that during the review of Pip, which Sir Stephen was tasked with leading, 'the voices of disabled people must be front and centre'. She proposed putting a series of legal conditions on the so-called Timms review, including that disabled people should be actively involved in the process. The Labour MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge did not move her amendment to a vote, on the basis Sir Stephen could offer 'further assurances that there will be sufficient link between the Timms review recommendations and subsequent legislation on Pip to ensure accountability and that the voices of disabled people are heard'. The minister said he could give her that assurance, and added that 'the outcome of the review will be central to the legislation that follows'. A total 47 Labour MPs voted against the Bill at third reading including Mr Brash, Ms Maskell, Mother of the House and Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott, and former minister Dawn Butler. The Bill will undergo further scrutiny in the Lords at a later date.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Government sees off backbench rebellion as welfare reforms clear Commons
A proposed benefit cut for future out-of-work claimants has cleared the Commons after Labour ministers saw off a backbench rebellion. The Universal Credit Bill cleared the Commons at third reading, after it received MPs' backing by 336 votes to 242, majority 94. 'If you can work, you should,' social security minister Sir Stephen Timms told MPs before they voted on the welfare reforms. 'If you need help into work, the Government should provide it, and those who can't work must be able to live with dignity. 'Those are the principles underpinning what we're doing.' Work and pensions ministers faced calls to walk away from their universal credit (UC) proposals at the 11th hour, after they shelved plans to reform the separate personal independence payment (Pip) benefit and vowed to only bring in changes following a review. 'When this Bill started its life, the Government was advocating for cuts to Pip claimants and UC health claimants now and in the future. They conceded that now wasn't right, and it was only the future,' Labour MP for Hartlepool Jonathan Brash said. 'Then they conceded it shouldn't be Pip claimants in the future, leaving only UC health claimants in the future. Does (Sir Stephen) understand the anxiety and confusion this has caused people in the disabled community, and would it not be better to pause and wait for the review and do it properly?' Sir Stephen replied: 'No, because reform is urgently needed. We were elected to deliver change and that is what we must do. 'And it's particularly scandalous that the system gives up on young people in such enormous numbers – nearly a million not in employment, education or training.' The minister said the Government wanted to 'get on and tackle the disability employment gap' and added the Bill 'addresses the severe work disincentives in universal credit, it protects those we don't ever expect to work from universal credit reassessment'. As part of the Bill, the basic universal credit standard allowance will rise at least in line with inflation until 2029/30. But the Government has proposed freezing the 'limited capability for work' (LCW) part of the benefit until 2030, which a group of 37 Labour rebels including Mr Brash opposed in a vote. The move was ultimately approved by 335 votes to 135, majority 200. New claimants who sign up for the 'limited capability for work and work-related activity' payment would receive a lower rate than existing claimants after April 2026, unless they meet a set of severe conditions criteria or are terminally ill, which the same rebels also opposed. Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central who was among them, had earlier said: 'No matter what spin, to pass the Bill tonight, this will leave such a stain on our great party, founded on values of equality and justice.' She warned that making changes to universal credit before a wider look at reform was putting 'the cart before the horse, the vote before the review', and branded the Government's decision-making an 'omnishambles'. Ms Maskell pressed her own amendment to a division, which she lost by 334 votes to 149, majority 185. It would have demanded that out-of-work benefit claimants with a 'fluctuating medical condition' who slip out of and then back into their eligibility criteria either side of the changes would receive their existing – not the lower – rate. Marie Tidball said that during the review of Pip, which Sir Stephen was tasked with leading, 'the voices of disabled people must be front and centre'. She proposed putting a series of legal conditions on the so-called Timms review, including that disabled people should be actively involved in the process. The Labour MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge did not move her amendment to a vote, on the basis Sir Stephen could offer 'further assurances that there will be sufficient link between the Timms review recommendations and subsequent legislation on Pip to ensure accountability and that the voices of disabled people are heard'. The minister said he could give her that assurance, and added that 'the outcome of the review will be central to the legislation that follows'. A total 47 Labour MPs voted against the Bill at third reading including Mr Brash, Ms Maskell, Mother of the House and Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott, and former minister Dawn Butler. The Bill will undergo further scrutiny in the Lords at a later date.
