A New Kind of Politics

I want to be an MP to change things for the better for our country and Newcastle North. I’m not a professional politician – I’m a young mum currently making a career as an employment lawyer. I was as astonished and upset about MPs abuses of the expenses system as everyone else outside Westminster. My values mean that you can trust me to claim only what is necessary to do the job of being your MP effectively. I’m also part of the generation that has grown up with the internet, and I want to use e-mail, Facebook and blogging to allow people to get in touch with me, and discuss issues more easily. I’ll still be available in person at surgeries for people who prefer face to face meetings to on-line communication.

Expenses

My starting point is that I believe that an MP should put herself wholeheartedly at the service of their constituency. I want to be the MP for Newcastle North because I went to school here, live here and care about people here – not to get what I can out of the system.

Parliament is now reforming itself, and there is still some debate to be had about the final rules. But my own principles will guide me, and I can guarantee that:

· My main home will continue to be in the constituency

· I will claim for unavoidable expenses incurred in being your MP, and not seek to “maximise my allowances”

· I will be transparent about what I am claiming for and what I am spending allowances

Being Approachable and available to constituents

I want to use new technology to add to the traditional ways of letting people get in touch with their MP.

I have grown up with the internet, and I want to use its potential to help people get in touch with me – not only with personal difficulties, but also to contribute to policy debates.

I will have a Facebook page and I will reply to e-mails as quickly as possible. I will set up discussion forums on issues affecting the constituency and contribute to groups constituents set up. This will help people in work or who do not like going to meetings to keep in touch with me. I will still hold surgeries and attend relevant public meetings on issues of importance to our city.

I will also set up a blog so that people know what I have been doing. As your MP, I will work for you, so you have a right to know how I am doing this.

But the internet is not for everyone, and I will have regular surgeries in the different parts of the Newcastle North constituency so that people can meet me face to face to discuss issues or problems.

A New Politics

The Labour government introduced the Freedom of Information Act and has given local councils more freedoms and flexibilities to act on behalf of residents. It’s also created new opportunities for residents to get involved – for example to become members of NHS Foundation Trusts, and improved information for residents through getting services on line (through www.direct.gov.uk).

I agree that more modernisation is needed and I support calls for a referendum on a move to a new fairer voting system.

And I support initiatives to educate young people about how our democracy works, such as youth councils, and I see part of an MPs role as connecting with the voters of the future so that they understand what an MP does and how government works.