Julia Lopez MP

The much-vaunted Milburn review on welfare reform was kicked past the Budget. Now we know why - it comes with a £6bn price tag.

Labour’s plan to control public spending is to spend more.

How is this all going to be paid for?

People were told Labour's tax rises would fund better public services but if they don't get a grip on welfare, Labour will end up having cuts forced on them instead.

Andy Burnham wants us to believe the EU-UK reset he’s about to sign off is a good deal.

So why is he about to put us on the hook to pay a higher carbon tax that will increase the price of energy? High energy costs are already seeing factories shut down and everyone’s bills shoot up.

This tax will go on electricity bills, gas boilers, petrol and diesel cars and on the manufactured goods you buy. For the average household, the European carbon tax could add £281 a year to household bills - more if you dare have a larger house or bigger car.

Our Cheap Power Plan would see the carbon tax scrapped altogether - the priority right now must be to get bills down!

Why is Andy Burnham trying to drag us back to the 2017-2019 parliament, when politicians endlessly wanged on about the merits or otherwise of the customs union, single market and a second EU referendum?

The world has moved on.

Businesses have said to the Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, that they do not want ongoing uncertainty over the nature of our relationship with the EU. We now have competitive advantages on tariffs and regulations that we don't want to lose. And his own Ministers fear that he is making this push without any mandate. It's a recipe for trouble.

A beautiful, misty morning in Upminster, remembering those who have given their lives in service to our nation and thinking of the families for whom Remembrance Sunday is a time of personal mourning.

I was discussing the extraordinary turnout with the brilliant British Legion organiser, Ian. Every year, you hope people will come out to remember and each year the crowds seem to get bigger - it is a tribute to the constituency, a tremendous coming together of all the services, schools and voluntary organisations, as well as local residents.

The strength and spirit of our nation quietly endures.

C2C, which serves my constituency, has consistently been one of the top-performing rail lines in Britain, topping customer satisfaction polls. That's why Labour chose it as one of the first to be nationalised - they thought it would make nationalisation look good.

Before nationalisation, 94% of trains were on time. Now it's 71.5%. I joined a cross-party group of local MPs this week to raise the alarm - but these were fears I set out before nationalisation.

Labour needs to demonstrate to my constituents why their approach is an improvement, not simply a recipe for decline.
thetimes.com/uk/transport/a…