FROM STEVE
BRINE MP
A few weeks ago, I posted a message alongside a photo of our great Cathedral
bathed in Spring sunshine - on my twitter
feed which read; 'There are days when it is
just fantastic to be the MP for Winchester
and then there are days like today - when it's
even better.'
The response was incredible, both online
and offline with people grabbing me in the
supermarket and even on the station
platform to agree how lucky we are to live
here. The power of social media in the
modern age and they are of course, dead
right.
The truth is, I love what I do here and after
years of doing other jobs (I've had a few) I
know I'm in the right place now and that's
why I will stand again next May.
gathering of all the people in this county who
can tackle the shameful recidivism rate we
have.
As well as outlining the Government’s changes
to probation, bringing those serving under 12months into supervision for the first time, I told
the tale of our visit to Texas last Summer to see
their approach which is diverting resources
away from incarceration to treatment, with
impressive results. There will always be
dangerous people who need locking up for their
safety and ours but prison is still state failure in
my opinion and we have, for the sake of
taxpayers and our society, to do better. You
can see more and read what I had to say at
www.stevebrine.com/reoffendingconference
At the end of March I hosted a big public
meeting in Winchester to give my
constituents the chance to hear about
proposals for some possible major changes
in our local NHS. It's really important
everyone understands what is being
discussed and I would urge you to visit
www.stevebrine.com/prioritynhs
Finally, all roads (literally) lead to watercress
round here and I continue to engage
positively with The Watercress Company
and the adjacent Alresford Salads. What I
won't do is do anything to drive what are
successful local businesses, employing
local people and supporting local events,
into the ground. If you in these villages have
thoughts, I'd be pleased to hear them.
One aspect of that ‘right place’ is my role on
the Justice Select Committee; both for what
we do and what it leads to. One such
opportunity was the chance to be a keynote
speaker recently at a major conference held
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