Press Releases

23rd april 2010

St. George’s Day Greetings.

I extend congratulations to constituents on the occasions of St. George’s Day which is the 23^rd April. St. George is the Patron Saint of England and among the most famous of Christian figures. The banner of St. George – the red cross of a martyr on a white background – was adopted for the uniform of English soldiers as far back as the reign of Richard I and later became the flag of England and the White Ensign of the Royal Navy. Little is known about St. George himself but he is venerated in many countries of the world and I send my best wishes to all of my constituents who celebrate St. George’s Day. I have also supported calls in Parliament for St. George’s Day to be made a public holiday in England.

26th March 2010

‘I Stand for Children’

The NSPCC believes that protecting children must remain a political priority, in order to keep children safe from harm and protect those who have experienced abuse. As a prospective parliamentary candidate, I can make an important contribution to this by pledging ‘I Stand for Children’.

Roger Godsiff

Please sign up below by clicking on the link:

http://istandforchildren.com/candidate

26th March 2010

Roger Godsiff congratulates the people of Bangladesh on the celebration of Independence Day on the 26th March. Speaking today Roger Godsiff said "the people of Bangladesh are rightly proud to celebrate their Independence Day which commemorates the declaration of Independence and the start of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.

Bangladesh, which was formerly East Pakistan, began its struggle for liberation in order to assert its own unique cultural identity and this is personified by the Bangla language. I have been very proud to have led a campaign in Parliament for Banlga to be recognised as an official language of the United Nations and I pay tribute to people in all the Bangladeshi communities throughout the United Kingdom who have joined with me in this campaign.

The War of Liberation in 1971 was traumatic for the people of the newly founded Bangladesh and the people of West Pakistan but since Independence, which was achieved under charismatic leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh and Pakistan have enjoyed excellent brotherly relations.

Once again I extend my warmest congratulations to the people of Bangladesh on the celebration of their National Day of Independence.”

22nd March 2010

CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF MIKE NANGLE

I knew Mike Nangle for many years and I was saddened to here about his death.

He served with great distinction on the City Council for two decades and was a stalwart of the Labour Party. I extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends.

12th March 2010

MOTHERS ARE EXTRAORDINARY AND DESERVE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING

Mothering Sunday takes place on Sunday 14th March which is exactly three weeks before Easter and it is time when children pay respect to their mothers for all that they have given to them.

Mothering Sunday is often referred to as 'Mothers Day' and in Victorian times it was the day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family. It is celebrated throughout the world and is a very special day for children to express their love and thanks for all the hard work and loving care of their mothers. I offer my congratulations to all mothers in my constituency and hope that they have a most enjoyable day with their children and grandchildren.

24th Jan 2010

Roger condemns the latest suicide attacks in Afghanistan.

Speaking after the massive coordinated suicide attacks in Kabul for which the Al-Qaeda organisation claimed responsibility Roger Godsiff said “yet again the Al-Qaeda organisation are attacking civilians in order to try and destroy the fragile seeds of democracy which have put down in Afghanistan.

Some people consistently offer excuses for what Al-Qaeda is seeking to do by blaming the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan but they target civilians in shopping centres in order to spread fear and cause the maximum carnage.

Yet again our thoughts should go to the victims of these vicious unprovoked attacks.”

13th Jan 2010

Roger condemns latest terrorist attacks by the Pakistan Taliban in Pakistan

Speaking after the latest terrorists atrocities in Karachi Roger Godsiff reiterated his strongly held views that this was a deliberate and coordinated attempt to undermine the democratic institutions of Pakistan and to destroy the country. Said Roger “the latest attacks, including the one on innocent men, women and children in Karachi are not being carried out against military targets and are designed purely to terrorise people and to destroy the unity of Pakistan.”

In the latest attacks the nephew of a constituent of mine was killed and his two young children would also have been victims of the suicide bomber had he not, by chance, taken them to see an aunt rather than to the shopping centre where the suicide bomber detonated his bombs. “I have seen at close hand the anguish and distress that has been caused to the extended family in my constituency and my condolences go to them and to the families and friends and all the other people who were brutally murdered.” says Roger.

“These attacks should be condemned by everybody who wants to see Pakistan survive and prosper as a country.”

11th December 2009

Roger has condemns Iraq bombing.

I offer warm congratulations to all my constituents of Scottish descent who will be celebrating St. Andrew’s Day on the 30^th November. St. Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland and since 2006 St. Andrew’s Day has been a Bank Holiday in Scotland. St. Andrew’s Day is an occasion when Scottish people celebrate pride in their nation and I am pleased to join with them in their celebrations.

Speaking after the appalling attack by the Taliban on innocent men, women and children in Rawalpindi on Monday 2^nd November 2009 Roger Godsiff said “this is a systematic attempt by the Taliban to destroy the country of Pakistan because the Pakistani Government were engaged in an on-going operation to rid the country of the Taliban killers. The attack in Rawalpindi on innocent men, women and children - many of whom were queuing at banks to collect their wages - demonstrates clearly that the Taliban has no respect whatsoever for human life and is prepared to carry out the most barbaric attack on civilians using suicide bombers and remote controlled bombs. This attack in Rawalpindi follows on from the atrocities in Peshawar and Islamabad when many other civilians had been killed over the last few weeks and our sympathy should go out to the relatives and friends of the victims. At the same time we should give our support to the Pakistani Government which is trying to hold the country together against a murderous group of fanatics who want to break up the country.”

Application by Warwickshire CCC for redevelopment of Edgbaston Cricket Ground

Following on from the previous correspondence that I have had with you and your meeting on the 18^th September with the Chief Executive of Warwickshire CCC and Councillors I would be grateful if you could clarify what the position of the Council is regarding insisting that only retractable floodlights are installed at Edgbaston rather than permanent floodlights.

I am aware, of course, that planning permission has been given for the whole package but the fact of the matter is that the City Council have enormous leverage over Warwickshire CCC because they are seeking the assistance of the City in obtaining a loan of £20 million on better terms than they would have to pay in the money market and this means that the Council are in a very strong position to impose the change to retractable floodlights on the Club.

My understanding of the situation is that the tender for the provision of lights at Edgbaston has gone to a number of companies, one of which has already installed the permanent lights at Trent Bridge and the retractable lights at Lords and The Oval. In very broad terms the economics are that standard permanent floodlights would cost around £1.5 million, the sculptured permanent floodlights for which planning permission has been given will cost around £2.3 million and retractable lights will cost around £2.8 million. These are industry figures. The difference, therefore, between the provision of permanent floodlights at Edgbaston and retractable floodlights is around £0.5 million which equates to an annual interest repayment of around £30,000-£40,000.

The provision of permanent floodlights at Edgbaston will totally change the skyline of that part the City and I don’t think either residents or people living further a field appreciate just how dominating the five permanent sculptured floodlights will be and how much they will change the landscape.

Bearing in mind that the Club is seeking the support of the City Council in its £20 million loan I think that the additional cost of £30,000-£40,000 a year in interest payments is minute in comparison with the lasting damage that will be done to the scenic appeal of the area and I very much hope that you have made it clear to the Club that a pre-condition of any loan is that retractable floodlights have to be installed as they are at Lords and The Oval.

Speaking at a meeting with residents in his constituency today Roger Godsiff made clear that he was totally opposed to the decision by the Scottish Government to release the Lockerbie bomber, Megrahi.

Said Roger “The blowing up of the aircraft over Lockerbie was an appalling outrage which resulted in over 200 men, women and children being massacred through no fault of their own. Investigations into the outrage identified a number of suspects and after prolonged negotiations and representations to the Libyan Government Mr. Megrahi was put before the Courts and sentenced as being an accomplice in blowing up the aircraft.

I am certain that Mr. Megrahi did not act alone but he is the only person who has been put before the Courts and Court Records show that the evidence against him was extremely compelling. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for his part in the murder of all these people and I can see no justification whatsoever for him being released even on compassionate grounds. The feelings of all of the relatives and friends of the innocent victims of the outrage have to take precedent and they are strongly opposed to the release of Mr. Megrahi by the Scottish Government. I agree with them and do not believe that he should have been released.”

Speaking at a meeting in his constituency today Roger Godsiff called upon the PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accountants appointed to find a buyer for LDVs assets, to choose a firm which is committed to keeping jobs in Birmingham.

Said Roger “some 800 workers have already been made redundant and another 4000 who work for suppliers in the West Midlands are under threat if LDV is not resurrected. The accountants claim that more than ’30 expressions of interest’ have already been lodged with them but it would be a betrayal of the workers who built the company up if the accountants sold the assets to a firm which ‘asset-stripped’ the company’s tooling and brand and then moved production overseas.

LDV has been badly hit by the economic downturn in the world and sales of commercial vehicles have fallen by nearly 50% but the current recession will, eventually, come to an end and it would be tragedy if a demise of LDV turned out to be yet another nail in Birmingham’s manufacturing coffin.”

Local MP demands City Council stop loan to Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

Roger Godsiff, the local Member of Parliament, has written to Mike Whitby, the Leader of Birmingham City Council, urging him and his Cabinet colleagues not to make any loan or grant available to Warwickshire County Cricket Club towards the redevelopment of the ground until the issue of ‘floodlights’ has been properly addressed.

The Planning Committee of Birmingham City Council approved the application by Warwickshire CCC for a major redevelopment of the ground including the erection of five 150 foot high floodlight pylons on the 14^th May and the Government Office for the West Midlands have subsequently declined to become involved on the grounds that this is a ‘local matter’ which should be determined by the City Council.

Says Roger “I disagree with argument put forward by the Government Office for the West Midlands that this is a local issue because Edgbaston is a major national sporting venue. In June 2000 a Government Inspector decisively rejected the application by Warwickshire CCC for the erection of five permanent floodlight pylons and the new application is even more substantial.

The ball is now firmly in the court of Birmingham City Council. They have it in their power to stop the erection of these five 150 foot high permanent floodlight pylons. Edgbaston would fully meet the criteria for Test grounds by having permanent floodlight ‘bases’ and retractable floodlights like those at Lords. If the home of cricket can have retractable floodlights in order to preserve the attractiveness of the people living in St. Johns Wood then why can’t the same consideration be given to the people of Balsall Heath and Moseley.

The whole issue of permanent or retractable floodlights is about money and in view of the fact that Birmingham City Council are rumoured to be preparing to make available £20-£30 million of public money to assist with the redevelopment of Edgbaston I have called upon the Leader of the City and the Con/Lib.Dem Cabinet to support the people of Balsall Heath and Moseley by not making any finance available to the cricket club unless they are prepared, at the very minimum, to install retractable floodlights at Edgbaston.”

Roger Godsiff joined with international human rights activists in condemning the flogging of a 17 year old women by Taliban militants in the Swat Valley. The flogging took place as a punishment, ordered by a Taliban Court, for the woman having, allegedly, had a sexual relationship with another man which was deemed illegal by the Taliban. The beating was filmed by the Taliban and released to television channels.

Said Roger “This barbaric assault, ordered by the Taliban, shows exactly what the Taliban is all about. They pose as so called ‘freedom fighters’ but in reality they are a bunch of self-appointed fanatics who are intent on imposing their own will on areas they control through a combination of fear and a perverted interpretation of what is written in the Koran. When they ruled Afghanistan they subjugated women to a second-class status; forced them to cover their bodies from head to toe and denied them the right to even basic education. The barbaric flogging of a 17 year old woman for an alleged ‘sexual crime’ confirms their contempt for the rights of women.

All civilised people should condemn this barbaric outrage and it should send a chilling message to those individuals, who act as apologists for the actions of the Taliban, of exactly what the Taliban stands for and what they would like to impose on anybody who is unfortunate enough to fall under their control.”

During a Parliamentary visit to Syria from 12^th to 19^th April Roger Godsiff led a delegation of MPs to meet with Khalid Meshaal, who is the Chief of the Political Bureau of Hamas.

Said Roger “At the meeting, where I was accompanied by MPs from both the Labour and Conservative Party, we had the opportunity of listening to the official views of Hamas on both the current situation in Gaza and the West Bank and their ideas about how the way forward in the region was, in their opinion, likely to evolve. All Parliamentarians who attended also took the opportunity to question Khalid Meshaal about Hamas policy and the recent events surrounding the invasion of Gaza by the Israeli army.

We have to deal with the reality of the world as it is, including the Middle East, and this means that there needs to be engagement and dialogue with Hamas even if we disagree with them on any, or all, of their policies or actions. Hamas was elected as the majority party in Gaza and international observers confirmed that these elections were properly conducted. Elections have recently taken place in Israel and the democratic process in that country has delivered a Government consisting of certain parties and individuals who many people in other parts of the world may not like or agree with. The only alternative to engagement and dialogue is to accept that conflict will continue and the main sufferers will be ordinary Palestinians and Israelis most of whom want to see a just and fair settlement in the region which will meet the legitimate demands of the Palestinian people and will also give lasting security to the people in Israel

The 17^th March is commemorated as St. Patrick’s Day in memory of Patrick the son of Calpurnius, a Roman-British army officer, who was born in the 4^th century AD. Having originally being sold into slavery by pirates he escaped and went to Ireland where he spent 20 years travelling throughout the country establishing Monasteries and setting up schools and Churches and winning converts for Christianity.

Although originally a Catholic Holy Day St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a secular holiday which is celebrated by Irish people of all religious faiths as a celebration of the Irish culture and I extend greetings to all my constituents of Irish descent on this happy occasion.