Latest news with #JonPearce
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Wildfire action call made by MP as moorland burns in Peak District
A call was made for the risk of wildfires in places like the Peak District to be discussed in Parliament at the same time as a fire had broken Pearce raised the issue in the House of Commons on Thursday after a number of recent the High Peak MP was stood up in London to address the need for a debate, in his constituency eight fire crews from Derbyshire, South and West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester were descending on a wildfire at Black Ashop Moor near Snake Road, government said it would provide an update in due course. Labour MP Pearce said: "Although many of us are enjoying the hot, dry weather, it does increase the risk of wildfires - in the past month alone, firefighters have been called to 20 wildfires in the Peak District."These include a major incident in Goyt Valley which shut roads, destroyed 800 acres and took days to bring under Peak Borough Council has since approved an order for public areas of the Peak District within its borders, giving powers to police and council officers "to reduce the risk of wildfires".It has banned lighting fires, barbecues, fireworks and sky lanterns, and carrying items which officers think will be used to do so, with fines of up to £100. Pearce continued: "All too often, these fires are started by the irresponsible use of disposable barbecues."Locally, we are doing everything we can to prevent this. I have written to all local supermarkets asking them not to sell disposable barbecues."Will the Leader of the House hold a debate in Government time on how we reduce the risk of wildfires in our national parks?"In response, Leader of the House Lucy Powell MP said the "irresponsible use of disposable barbecues" leads to "devastating consequences", adding: "Local authorities have existing powers to apply controls to restrict or ban the use of such barbecues in certain areas, but I will ensure that he gets an update on how we can take this further".
The National
04-06-2025
- General
- The National
SNP slam Labour over MP lobbying trip to Israel amid Gaza genocide
The National previously reported that the party's most prominent pro-Israel group, Labour Friends of Israel (LFI), sent a delegation of parliamentarians to the country last week. This included LFI chair Jon Pearce, as well as fellow Labour MPs Cat Eccles, Kevin McKenna, Peter Prinsley, Mark Sewards and Labour peer Luciana Berger. READ MORE: Jeremy Corbyn brings in bill for public inquiry into UK complicity in Gaza genocide Israel's actions in Gaza have been described as genocide by leading international experts including Amnesty International, UN special rapporteur to the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese, and the UN special committee investigating Israel's action in Palestine. The International Court of Justice has also said that there is a plausible risk of Palestinians' right to be protected from genocide being violated. But this didn't stop the Labour MPs from smiling and being pictured with a host of Israeli officials over the course of the four-day delegation (below), including president Isaac Herzog. (Image: LFI/Twitter) Herzog has previously been criticised after photographs showed him signing Israeli bombs set to be dropped on Gaza. His comments in the wake of the October 7 attack were also cited in South Africa's International Court of Justice case as expressing genocidal intent. Meanwhile, they also met with deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel, Israel's Leader of the Opposition, Yair Lapid, as well as with Yair Golan, leader of Labour's sister party, the Democrats. Golan said in October 2023: 'I think that in this battle, it is forbidden to allow a humanitarian effort. We need to say to them: listen, until the [captives] are released, from our side, you can die from starvation. It's totally legitimate.' Now, the SNP have hit out at Labour over the trip, saying it is a 'new low' for the party. "The Labour Party has repeatedly found themselves on the wrong side of the appalling destruction and slaughter of Gaza and the Palestinian people. But Labour MPs posing for pictures with these individuals is a new low,' the party's Middle East spokesperson Brendan O'Hara said. "Children are starving to death in Gaza and the Labour Government continues to allow the sale of component parts for the jets that bomb them to pieces - all the while too many Labour MPs sit silent and now we see some of them all smiles with the very state dropping the bombs.' He added: 'It is brutally and blatantly clear that the Netanyahu Government will continue to act with impunity unless and until there are consequences for their actions - smiling for pictures with these men does exactly the opposite and people in Scotland will be appalled." Labour have been approached for comment.
The Independent
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
MP's plan to help TikTok-famous towns overrun by tourists
A Labour MP has suggested that new powers allowing town halls to establish bus routes could alleviate new issues facing TikTok-famous "honeypot villages". Jon Pearce commended the Government for proposing new powers that would enable councils to manage their own bus routes and prevent companies from discontinuing essential services. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, which recently passed its second reading, would streamline the franchising process for authorities seeking to establish London-style networks and better protect vital routes. Mr Pearce highlighted the parking problems in High Peak communities, exacerbated by a TikTok trend of photographing sunset and sunrise over Mam Tor. The 517-metre-high hill in Derbyshire has gained popularity on social media, with videos filmed at the location receiving over 100,000 likes on TikTok. Mr Pearce continued: 'I'm co-ordinating a response to these issues with local stakeholders like the Peak park, police and councils, and a key tranche of what we need to do is deliver better bus services that are integrated with local train services. 'This Bill will transfer powers away from Westminster and empower local communities to take decisions necessary for our commuters to get to work, our students to get to college, our vulnerable to access the healthcare they need, and our honeypot villages to manage tourism sustainably.' Gritting crews were unable to reach a Peak District road near the hill earlier this year after more than 200 cars were double parked on it, according to Derbyshire County Council, and Mr Pearce previously wrote to authorities, when he warned that emergency services had been obstructed. The Bill would give councils the power to set up franchised bus networks to regulate routes, timetables, fares and vehicle standards, without the need for ministers' permission. Ms Alexander said the Government is 'fixing the broken' franchising process and told MPs: 'Proposed schemes need to jump through a myriad of hoops and they still require my consent to proceed, which is odd to say the least. 'The idea that I understand more what passengers in Leicestershire or Cornwall need than their local leaders is for the birds. In December, we opened up franchising to every local authority and now through this Bill we will further streamline the process making it simpler for franchise schemes to be granted and assessed.' Ms Alexander said the franchising model 'won't work everywhere', and added: 'That's why this Bill also strengthens enhanced partnerships and removes the ideological ban on establishing new local authority bus companies. 'Furthermore, by giving local authorities the power to design and pay bus operator grants in their areas, this Bill gives greater protections for socially necessary local services – securing those lifeline routes that keep communities connected.' Pressed about funding to local authorities for the £3 bus fare cap, Ms Alexander said: 'There is a spending review under way but I can confirm that I fully appreciate the importance of an affordable and accessible bus route.' Ms Alexander also said the Government will 'press pause' on so-called floating bus stops 'perceived to be poorly designed', amid concerns over accessibility issues and potential hazards for visually impaired people and others. Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Paul Kohler said the Bill 'rightly lifts the outdated, ideologically driven ban on municipally owned bus companies, empowering local authorities who wish to use it, rather than infantilising them' and added that 'it is not and must not become a one-size-fits-all approach'. He added: 'Empowering local authorities in law is one thing. Enabling them in practice is quite another. 'Whilst this Bill hands councils a set of keys to a new bus network, it doesn't ensure there's fuel in the tank.' Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon earlier said improvements for passengers 'simply won't happen' without more Treasury money. He said: 'The Bill does not prioritise passengers and there is nothing in it that guarantees an improvement in service standards. 'The truth is that this Bill appears to be driven by political nostalgia. It is in many ways a thinly veiled attempt to recreate the municipal model of the pre-1986 era without fully considering the financial and operational realities of today.' The Bill will undergo further scrutiny in the Commons at a later date.
The National
04-06-2025
- General
- The National
Labour MPs visit Israel in middle of Gaza genocide
The party's most prominent pro-Israel group, Labour Friends of Israel (LFI), sent a delegation of parliamentarians including chair Jon Pearce, as well as fellow Labour MPs Cat Eccles, Kevin McKenna, Peter Prinsley and Mark Sewards. They were pictured with a host of Israeli politicians over the course of the 4-day delegation, including former president Isaac Herzog. Herzog has previously been criticised after photographs showed him signing Israeli bombs set to be dropped on Gaza. His comments in the wake of the October 7 attack were also cited in South Africa's International Court of Justice case as expressing genocidal intent. In the days after the attack Herzog said it was not only Hamas militants who were responsible but 'an entire nation' and vowed that Israel would fight 'until we break their backbone'. Incredibly, in the middle of a genocide, Labour MPs @Jon4HighPeak @catecclesstour @PeterPrinsley @MarkJSewards just visited Israel with lobbyists @_LFI, and met with politicians who've depicted civilians in Gaza as an enemy & called for starving the entire population to death 🧵 — North Herts Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@NHertsPsc) June 4, 2025 Meanwhile, they also met with deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel. According to a LFI briefing on the trip, the group also held meetings with Israel's Leader of the Opposition, Yair Lapid, as well as with Yair Golan, leader of Labour's sister party, the Democrats. Lapid said in October 2023: 'I think that in this battle, it is forbidden to allow a humanitarian effort. We need to say to them: listen, until the [captives] are released, from our side, you can die from starvation. It's totally legitimate.' They then travelled to Ramallah in the West Bank, meeting with representatives of the Palestinian Authority including ambassador Adel Atieh.
The Independent
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
TikTok-famous towns need new buses to handle social media crowds, MP says
A Labour MP has suggested that new powers allowing town halls to establish bus routes could alleviate new issues facing TikTok-famous "honeypot villages". Jon Pearce commended the Government for proposing new powers that would enable councils to manage their own bus routes and prevent companies from discontinuing essential services. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, which recently passed its second reading, would streamline the franchising process for authorities seeking to establish London-style networks and better protect vital routes. Mr Pearce highlighted the parking problems in High Peak communities, exacerbated by a TikTok trend of photographing sunset and sunrise over Mam Tor. The 517-metre-high hill in Derbyshire has gained popularity on social media, with videos filmed at the location receiving over 100,000 likes on TikTok. Mr Pearce continued: 'I'm co-ordinating a response to these issues with local stakeholders like the Peak park, police and councils, and a key tranche of what we need to do is deliver better bus services that are integrated with local train services. 'This Bill will transfer powers away from Westminster and empower local communities to take decisions necessary for our commuters to get to work, our students to get to college, our vulnerable to access the healthcare they need, and our honeypot villages to manage tourism sustainably.' Gritting crews were unable to reach a Peak District road near the hill earlier this year after more than 200 cars were double parked on it, according to Derbyshire County Council, and Mr Pearce previously wrote to authorities, when he warned that emergency services had been obstructed. The Bill would give councils the power to set up franchised bus networks to regulate routes, timetables, fares and vehicle standards, without the need for ministers' permission. Ms Alexander said the Government is 'fixing the broken' franchising process and told MPs: 'Proposed schemes need to jump through a myriad of hoops and they still require my consent to proceed, which is odd to say the least. 'The idea that I understand more what passengers in Leicestershire or Cornwall need than their local leaders is for the birds. In December, we opened up franchising to every local authority and now through this Bill we will further streamline the process making it simpler for franchise schemes to be granted and assessed.' Ms Alexander said the franchising model 'won't work everywhere', and added: 'That's why this Bill also strengthens enhanced partnerships and removes the ideological ban on establishing new local authority bus companies. 'Furthermore, by giving local authorities the power to design and pay bus operator grants in their areas, this Bill gives greater protections for socially necessary local services – securing those lifeline routes that keep communities connected.' Pressed about funding to local authorities for the £3 bus fare cap, Ms Alexander said: 'There is a spending review under way but I can confirm that I fully appreciate the importance of an affordable and accessible bus route.' Ms Alexander also said the Government will 'press pause' on so-called floating bus stops 'perceived to be poorly designed', amid concerns over accessibility issues and potential hazards for visually impaired people and others. Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Paul Kohler said the Bill 'rightly lifts the outdated, ideologically driven ban on municipally owned bus companies, empowering local authorities who wish to use it, rather than infantilising them' and added that 'it is not and must not become a one-size-fits-all approach'. He added: 'Empowering local authorities in law is one thing. Enabling them in practice is quite another. 'Whilst this Bill hands councils a set of keys to a new bus network, it doesn't ensure there's fuel in the tank.' Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon earlier said improvements for passengers 'simply won't happen' without more Treasury money. He said: 'The Bill does not prioritise passengers and there is nothing in it that guarantees an improvement in service standards. 'The truth is that this Bill appears to be driven by political nostalgia. It is in many ways a thinly veiled attempt to recreate the municipal model of the pre-1986 era without fully considering the financial and operational realities of today.' The Bill will undergo further scrutiny in the Commons at a later date.
