Yesterday the Chancellor, George Osborne, delivered his sixth and final Budget of the current Parliament. It was a good budget for the country as a whole and an excellent one for Braintree.
I'm pleased to hear that progress is being made in finding a new sponsor for Tabor Academy in Braintree.
I've recently received a number of form-letters from people concerned about the implications on the NHS of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), I thought it important to address those concerns.
The internet is now an important part of all our lives. As more public services go online it is essential that everyone has access to a fast and reliable Internet connection.
I visited some of the shops in Great Yeldham earlier this week and it is clear that despite on-line shopping and out of town shopping centres the traditional village shop still has an important role.
New figures show that 1288 fewer people in Braintree are now claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance since 2010 - a 63% drop. There are now just 761 claimants a fall of 407 since January last year.
I have written to Nicky Morgan MP, the Secretary of State for Education, to highlight the current situation at Tabor Academy and request a meeting with her to talk about its future. I am also arranging to meet with the new management team.
I believe that taxes should be modest and tax regimes simple, and when big companies or wealthy individuals don't pay their fair share it puts more of the tax burden on the rest of us. That is why I believe that we should be tough on tax dodgers.
The Conservatives created the Armed Forces Covenant to make sure that we honour the social contract that we have with service personnel and their families.