Welcome to my 177th news bulletin!

Welcome to my 177th news bulletin!

THE CONSERVATIVE MANIFESTO

The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has launched the Conservative Party's 2017 General Election Manifesto—'Forward, Together: Our Plan for a Stronger Britain and a Prosperous Future'.
This detailed plan offers a clear vision for Britain not just for the next five years but for the years and decades beyond. It is a programme for government and a declaration of what we intend to achieve—with big, sometimes difficult, and long-term decisions that are right for our future and for future generations.
You can read more in my local manifesto newspaper by clicking here.
Our manifesto also contains a welcome commitment to education, and to my campaign for fairer provision, by confirming that, under a Conservative Government, no Cheshire East school will see its budget cut as a result of a new funding formula.
This, as I am sure you will all agree, is fantastic news for our schools, and shows that quiet, calm and concerted lobbying can yield real results for local residents.
You can read the full Conservative General Election Manifesto here.

Edward Timpson
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich
P.S. You can let me know your thoughts, any time, via my website:  www.edwardtimpson.com/myfeedback

FUNDING SUCCESS FOR CREWE & NANTWICH SCHOOLS

I am delighted that my campaign to convince the Education Secretary and the Prime Minister that school funding in Cheshire East needed to be fairer has been a success.

Not only has it been a success in Cheshire East, but it has been a success across the country, ensuring no school has its budget cut as a result of any new funding formula. An extra £4 billion will also be given to schools, as confirmed by the Conservative Party 2017 General Election Manifesto.

I would like to congratulate Theresa May for listening to my concerns, the other Cheshire Conservative MPs who campaigned with me, and all the teachers and parents who took the time to respond to the Government's public consultation.

Out and about on the campaign trail...

Thanks to everyone who has stopped for a chat in the constituency over the past few weeks. It has been great to hear your thoughts on both local and national issues. If we're yet to meet, do feel free to get in touch via my feedback form here.

Manchester Terror Attack

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the horrific terror attack in Manchester, their families and their friends, and I know local people share this sentiment.
Cheshire Community Foundation have set up a fund following the attack, with all monies raised going to help the victims and families. You can make a donation to this fund by clicking here.

12,000 people enjoy record-breaking Reaseath College Family Festival
Nantwich News:

More than 12,000 people poured into Nantwich to enjoy the carnival atmosphere of Reaseheath College’s Family Festival.

The action-packed festival, which offered hundreds of activities and displays, attracted the largest ever crowd.

Messages from families from 90 miles away praised staff and students, the range of activities and the organisation of the event.

Headline acts included The Company of Horsemen, who thrilled spectators with a stunt riding show, and Team Extreme, whose BMX stunt riders and skaters gave an exciting performance of acrobatics on wheels.
Other activities included tours of Reaseheath’s progressive technical training resources such as its Centre for Horticulture, Environment and Sustainable Technology, and its Food Centre.

Visitors also learned about the college’s current £31 million investment in new halls of residence, Sports Science and Performance Academy and an Advanced Agricultural Technology and Engineering Centre.
Reaseheath Principal Meredydd David said: “Our annual festival continues to amaze all that attend and this was Reaseheath at its very best.

"Our Family Festival gave visitors a fantastic day of activities, demonstrations and displays which were packed with fun and enjoyment and demonstrated some of the skills our fantastic students have".

UK unemployment rate falls to 4.6% - lowest in 42 years
ONS:

UK unemployment has fallen to its lowest level since 1975, as a record number of job vacancies are on offer, new figures show.

The UK jobless total fell by 53,000 in the period January-March 2017, and 152,000 across the year.
There are now over 31.95 million people in work in the UK - 122,000 more than for October to December 2016 and 381,000 more than for a year earlier - and the employment rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 who were in work) is at 74.8%, the highest since comparable records began in 1971.

Vacancies are also up, with strong growth in accommodation and food services sectors.

In Crewe & Nantwich, the claimant rate - at 2% - is significantly lower than regional and national averages.

Timpson's lobbying scores funding win for Crewe & Nantwich schools
Crewe Chronicle:

Tories including Edward Timpson have successfully lobbied the Prime Minister to review the Government's
proposed 'Fair Funding Formula'.

Proposed budget cuts for Cheshire East schools were outlined in a consultation document earlier this year, and this stirred parents and Cheshire MPs alike to lobby against the changes.

Mr Timpson, who until recently was MP for Crewe & Nantwich,
met Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for Education, and Nick Gibb, the Minister for School Standards, in January and March, and followed this with a meeting with the Prime Minister, Theresa May, in April.

Commenting on the campaign and its success, Mr Timpson said:
“It became clear to me at an early stage that it needed to be fairer for Cheshire East, so I started a programme of formal and informal lobbying on the issue in Westminster, as well as encouraging as many of my constituents as possible to respond to the consultation.
"In addition to raising the issue with colleagues at the DfE, I also felt compelled to make representations to the Prime Minister and her policy-makers.
"I know how distressing these proposals were to parents, so I am delighted with my party's commitment to protect existing budgets, and its promise to invest a further £4 billion in our national school system".