Latest news with #LincolnJopp
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Stanwell protest as Spelthorne council meets over asylum hotel
Protestors gathered outside the offices of a local authority as councillors discussed paused plans to house exclusively male asylum seekers at a scheme, which was put on hold on 1 August, was planned for the Stanwell Hotel in Stanwell, Surrey, and would have seen asylum seeking families currently being housed there Borough Council leader Joanne Sexton told the meeting she was seeking legal advice about the Home Office voted on Thursday to ask the Home Office to "immediately reconsider its plans to utilise the Stanwell Hotel to house adult male only asylum seekers". One of the protestors, Zoey, told BBC Radio Surrey: "We've accepted the families, the children have run in the schools with our children, come to birthday parties with our children."Now there's the threat of moving the families out we're concerned for our children. Every park is full of all these men just sitting around."Another protestor, Lorraine, said: "We've got to think of our kids, our grandchildren, our children and their future."Spelthorne's Conservative MP Lincoln Jopp wrote to the Home Office in July protesting the decision. Councillors told the meeting how families already housed at the hotel had successfully integrated with the community.A motion to shut the facility to all asylum seekers and return it to use as a hotel was defeated. A Home Office spokesperson said: "The government is reducing expensive hotel use as part of a complete overhaul of the asylum system."From over 400 asylum hotels open in summer 2023, costing almost £9million a day, there are now less than 210, and we want them all closed by the end of this Parliament."We will continue to work closely with community partners across the country, and discuss any concerns they have, as we look to fix this broken system together. The security of the local communities within which hotels are located will always be our paramount concern."
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Spelthorne MP wants floating solar panels on UK reservoirs
An MP is calling for more solar panels to be located on the UK's Jopp, the Conservative MP for Spelthorne in Surrey, claimed in the Commons that putting the panels on just 15% of the country's reservoirs would double the UK's solar energy well as avoiding the use of arable land, he said, they would be more efficient due to the cooling effect of while agreeing the idea has "potential", the government said it had not backed any floating solar bids because the cost of the floating structures and underwater cabling make it 10 to 15% per cent more expensive than ground mounted panels. The technology is already being used in India, China, the USA and Turkey, and is being used in Surrey at the Queen Elizabeth the Second Reservoir in Jopp said expanding the idea would add 16gw to electricity generation, creating 80,000 jobs in the construction phase and 8,000 long term maintenance jobs. Mr Jopp told BBC Radio Surrey: "If we were to onshore the floating element and the anchorage element that would reduce the cost and produce some great jobs."Because the government haven't been seen to be behind it, like they have for example offshore wind, then investors are reticent, because they want to know there's going to be a ready market for the electricity."All of that visual vandalism of putting solar panels all over this beautiful country of ours on greenfield sites and agricultural land, it removes that problem, too."In the Commons, energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh told Mr Jopp: "Although we are very keen to encourage this technology and encourage the sector to grow, there is more that needs to be done in order to make them cost effective."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rail delays harm pupil attendance records, MP says
Pupils are being recorded as late to school due to consistent railway delays in Surrey, according to an MP. Lincoln Jopp told the House of Commons that schoolchildren in his Spelthorne constituency who used South Western Railway to get to school are recorded as late on attendance registers that "follow them throughout life". The 07:58 BST service from Sunbury to Shepperton – used by "a lot" of pupils – was recently cancelled four times in six days, the Conservative MP said. South Western Railway apologised for any disruption experienced. Jopp asked Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander if the government would "commit to improving the reliability and punctuality of that section of the line" when it nationalises South Western Railway on 25 May. The cabinet minister responded that the government was "determined to turn this situation around" when it takes over from current operators First Group and MTR. She said: "We have inherited an abject mess from the train operating company, who over six years have failed to get the new fleet of Arterio 701 trains into service." South Western Railway began operating the first of its new Class 701 trains in January. The rail operator – which runs services between London Waterloo and Hampshire, Surrey, Wiltshire, Dorset, Berkshire and Devon – said its rollout of the Arterio fleet in April was taking "longer than expected". It ordered 90 trains costing £1bn in 2017, which were originally due in service from 2019. "Many of the 98 stations the Arterio will serve were built more than 150 years ago, and we have a challenge interfacing the train to some of our older platforms, given their design," a spokesperson said. "While the further delay has been frustrating, we now have a way forward that will see increasing numbers of customers enjoying increased capacity and comfort of the Arterio through the rest of 2025 and beyond." Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. What difference will rail nationalisation make? Rail fares to rise despite renationalisation plans Long-delayed £1bn train fleet to launch South Western Railway
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
South Western Railway delays harm Surrey school attendance
Pupils are being recorded as late to school due to consistent railway delays in Surrey, according to an Jopp told the House of Commons that schoolchildren in his Spelthorne constituency who used South Western Railway to get to school are recorded as late on attendance registers that "follow them throughout life".The 07:58 BST service from Sunbury to Shepperton – used by "a lot" of pupils – was recently cancelled four times in six days, the Conservative MP Western Railway apologised for any disruption experienced. Jopp asked Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander if the government would "commit to improving the reliability and punctuality of that section of the line" when it nationalises South Western Railway on 25 cabinet minister responded that the government was "determined to turn this situation around" when it takes over from current operators First Group and said: "We have inherited an abject mess from the train operating company, who over six years have failed to get the new fleet of Arterio 701 trains into service." South Western Railway began operating the first of its new Class 701 trains in rail operator – which runs services between London Waterloo and Hampshire, Surrey, Wiltshire, Dorset, Berkshire and Devon – said its rollout of the Arterio fleet in April was taking "longer than expected".It ordered 90 trains costing £1bn in 2017, which were originally due in service from 2019."Many of the 98 stations the Arterio will serve were built more than 150 years ago, and we have a challenge interfacing the train to some of our older platforms, given their design," a spokesperson said."While the further delay has been frustrating, we now have a way forward that will see increasing numbers of customers enjoying increased capacity and comfort of the Arterio through the rest of 2025 and beyond."
Irish Examiner
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
British cabinet minister: No-one in the House of Commons wants Kneecap to play Glastonbury
Rap group Kneecap should not be allowed to perform at Glastonbury although the final decision is for the festival organisers, according to a British cabinet minister. Commons Leader Lucy Powell said she believed 'no-one in this House' would want to see the group at the festival, adding: 'We'll all continue to say so loud and clear.' The Belfast band are being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. Video has emerged of the group at a November 2023 gig appearing to show one member saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' Can the Leader of the House reassure us that if this band remains on the bill at Glastonbury that she will not attend and that she will also discourage all of her Cabinet colleagues from attending also? Kneecap apologised on Monday to the families of murdered MPs and claimed footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. They added they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are both banned organisations in Britain. Speaking at business questions, British Conservative MP Lincoln Jopp (Spelthorne) raised the allegations against Kneecap and welcomed the police investigation. He told the Commons: 'However, as of today, they still remain on the bill for Glastonbury this year. 'Can the Leader of the House reassure us that if this band remains on the bill at Glastonbury that she will not attend and that she will also discourage all of her Cabinet colleagues from attending also?' Ms Powell replied: 'These are incredibly serious, unacceptable comments, whether they're against a Conservative MP or any other MP I totally condemn them and the whole House condemns them.' She added: 'On the issue of Glastonbury, I'm sure the festival organisers have heard loud and clear the comments that have already been made about that band and it is a matter for Glastonbury Festival to take that forward. 'But I'm sure that no-one in this House would want to see them playing at Glastonbury and I'm sure we'll all continue to say so loud and clear.'
