David Kidney MP for Stafford

Welcome to my Website

As we move into 2010 we are all asking questions. What is the year going to bring?

I am glad that Britain is just beginning to come out of recession, but I think we all know that this is still very fragile, and that more people could have difficult times ahead. I am glad that the action taken to protect jobs and keep people in their homes has helped.

When I am talking to you, on your doorsteps or in my surgeries I know you are thinking carefully about the election that will take place this year.

The one thing we can be certain of is that there will be big changes.
Hundreds of MPs will be leaving parliament and hundreds of new inexperienced and nervous MPs will be replacing them.

For me the big question is what is the best way to help us make Stafford greener, cleaner, fairer and kinder.

In the 12 years I have now spent as Stafford's MP, I have met many thousands of my constituents. I have felt very priviledged that so many of you have chosen to share with me your ideas and your concerns. For those of you who have not met me here is a little more information about me and about my values. You might also like to follow my podcasts.

 If you look below you will find hundreds of articles about things that I have commented on in recent years. This will give you a very clear idea of what is important to me.   Use the key issues page or  search options to help you find out more.

If you cannot find the information you are looking for please contact me so that I can help you.   

David in the News

• the social care debate

  Channel 4 News held the following debate on social care 10/03/10 How do you think that social care should be funded?...

  more...

• Dignity in Dying

  DIGNITY IN DYING 10 March 2010 Labour MP David Kidney has been asked his views on assisted death by the organisation Dignity in Dying. The organisation is seeking the views of candidates ahead of the forthcoming election. There are three questions: Do you support increased funding for good quality, patient centred care at the end of life? Do you support the right of mentally competent adults, in advance, to refuse life sustaining medical treatment? Will you support a change in the law to give terminally ill, mentally competent adults the...

  more...

• The conference on Social Care

  

  Age UK hosted a conference on social care, at which all three political parties were present. Here are the Opening remarks by Andy Burnham. 10 March 2010 When I became Health Secretary last year, I put reforming care for older and disabled people at the top of my priority list. I have to admit there have been days since when I’ve had cause to question the wisdom of that decision. This issue, as we all know, is a political minefield and I’ve asked myself more than once whether I’d bitten off more than I could chew. But, as difficult...

  more...

• More on Stafford Hospital Inquiry.

  9th March 2010 STAFFORD HOSPITAL REPORT BY ROBERT FRANCIS QC Last Friday evening, Julie Bailey and members of Cure the NHS picketed my surgery at Penkridge. I spoke to Julie and her supporters and they raised two issues with me. They asked for my support for a public inquiry. They asked me why no-one has been held to account for what went wrong at Stafford Hospital. They said, for example, why has no-one been prosecuted and they gave the example of a prosecution for corporate manslaughter....

  more...

• We need to invest to get people back into work

  08 March 2010 Stafford’s Labour MP David Kidney says the Conservatives are wrong to be planning to abandon their plans to scrap extra jobs for young people: “Last week, I spoke to a father in Penkridge whose daughter had just got a job under Labour’s Future Jobs fund. He told me he had been sceptical when he heard about the scheme, but now that his daughter has a really good job locally he says he is impressed by the scheme. “We have got to keep investing in jobs through the recovery. That’s why I am backing the Future Jobs Fund...

  more...

• The skills we need for the green economy

  As part of his work as a minister, David Kidney's job is to encourage the development of the skills we are going to need for developing a strong economy. Here are some thoughts after a conference held at Cheltenham Ladies conference, for young people from the college, pupils from the surrounding state schools and a number of local businesses....

  more...

• stafford cares

  Stafford Cares A community response to our ageing society At Church Lane Church Hall, Stafford Saturday 27th March 10-3.00 How can we help to keep people well, happy and independent into their 80s and 90s? The idea for the day at Church Lane comes from contacts between: David Kidney MP, Churches Together, Stafford Hospital, the faculty of ageing at Staffordshire University, and many of the voluntary groups that are carrying out work with the elderly. Lots of organisations will have stalls to show how they are helping. If you think you should have a stall...

  more...

• What does the Inquiry tell us?

  In the aftermath of the report on Stafford Hospital by the Healthcare Commission last year, I wrote to all the constituents of Stafford to let them know what was happening, and to ask for their support in making things right at our Hospital. 4000 people took the trouble to respond to my questionnaire and asked to be kept in touch with where things are going. The letter that follows has been directly mailed to all those who asked for this information. It may also be of interest to other people. 26th February 2010 Dear I want to update...

  more...

• improving child protection

  Pioneering scheme in Staffordshire 05/02/10 This week, Labour Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, has announced a pioneering scheme that will improve protection for children by enabling members of the public to make enquires about people who are in contact with children. The Child Sex Offender Disclosure scheme has been successfully piloted in four areas: Hampshire, Cambridgeshire, Cleveland, and across all of Warwickshire. Now it has been confirmed that from August, the scheme will roll out to 18 more police force areas, including Staffordshire. Welcoming this news, Stafford’s MP David Kidney says: “The scheme will give added reassurance to parents worried...

  more...

• supporting people into work

  David Kidney, Stafford’s Labour MP, says he is glad that Staffordshire has been selected as a pathfinder for a new welfare reform initiative to help parents with younger children: “The Department for Work and Pensions has chosen Staffordshire Jobcentre Plus as one of four pilot areas for a new support system for lone parents with younger children returning to work. The purpose of Progression to Work is to provide a supportive framework to help many more parents with younger children to prepare for work. Putting this framework in place will ensure that more families are helped with work-related...

  more...

David answering a series of questions on energy at the Dispatch box.

To get regular updates on David's speeches and questions get email updates from  theyworkfromyou.com

Site editors note. As an MP David asked many questions in Parliament. As a Minister, he still askes questions, but this is done in different ways. David now answers many ministerial questions. You will find some of his questions, answers and speeches listed here.

More video clips.