John Denham

Welcome to the website of John Denham

John Denham has been representing Southampton Itchen in Parliament since 1992. 

He is currently Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. 

On this website you'll find news about what John's been up to in both Southampton and Westminster. 

You can get in touch with John on constituency issues by following the link below.

 

Supporting Southampton

Last week I visited the North East, the North West, the Midlands and London.  I talked to people who were leading their regions and looking to the way out of recession.  They all faced real problems, as we here do. But they were all upbeat and determined to stress their potential and strengths.

Then I came home and read my favourite local paper.  I find the Conservative Deputy Leader of the City Council - a man who should be talking up our city and attracting investment to Southampton - delighting in talking the city down.  He says the Government is neglecting our region, but, to his embarrassment, the very the same Echo reports a Government £20m investment in local public transport supported, as a priority, by Southampton Council!  The same Echo reports free swimming for over 60s and under 16s, supported by the Government!  Some neglect!

In the downturn it is the Labour Government which is investing in public services and infrastructure to help keep local people in work.  It is the Conservatives who demand we cut public spending now. 

On Friday I will cut the first turf for the new Ordnance Survey headquarters, a massive public investment to maintain the Ordnance Survey’s 160-year link with Southampton and create work for 200 construction workers. 

Southampton is one of just eight local authorities in the whole country fast-tracked on the Building Schools for the Future programme to rebuild and refurbish the secondary schools most in need of investment.  A programme worth over £100m.

In the last few weeks, the Labour Government has also promised £8.8 million pounds over the next two years to rebuild or refurbish our primary schools.  All our head teachers will also share £13 million for new classrooms, science laboratories, gyms or ICT facilities. 

And we mustn't forget the Government's investment of £42.83 million pounds in the Solent to Midlands Advancement of Rail Transport (SMART) project so that new, larger containers can be carried by rail from the docks to the Midlands and take heavy lorries off our roads.

Since Labour came to power millions of pounds have been invested in Southampton's education, health and other public services.  We've seen hospital waiting times fall to their lowest in history, the construction of new cancer, heart disease and outpatient centres at the General Hospital and new walk-in centres for primary care.   And we've seen our schools with more teachers and better results.

The Government can't solve all Southampton's problems during the downturn but it can, and does, help.   So why does our local council deny the Government's support for our city?  The truth is shocking.  The Deputy Leader of Southampton Council will oppose me at the next general election.  He thinks there are votes to be won in talking down our city and making our current problems worse.  But he won't win votes knocking Southampton.  I'm fighting for our city.