NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2016 GRAHAM BRADY Member of Parliament for Altrincham and Sale West Dear All, Welcome to January’s newsletter. Signing the book of Remembrance for Holocaust Memorial Day After the festivities are over, it’s back to work, to face whatever 2016 has in store. We may have only a few short months before the vote on EU membership. I expect things will be hotting up before too long! I welcomed the announcement that ministers are to be allowed to campaign on either side in the referendum campaign. It’s something I’ve been pressing for over a year. Below is an article which appeared in the Sunday Times over Christmas: Clouds threaten winter of content James Lyons Published: 27 December 2015 1922 committee chairman Graham Brady says forcing ministers to resign will cause the Tories lasting damage (Paul Cooper) AFTER leading the Conservatives to their first outright election win for 23 years, David Cameron might have been forgiven for ending 2015 in a glow of contentment. Yet with the EU referendum and other difficult decisions looming, the prime minister — who has a majority of just 12 — cannot rest on his laurels, the “shop steward” of Tory MPs warns today. Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 backbench committee of Tory MPs, fears disarray in Labour’s ranks has lulled his party into “a slightly misleading sense of security”. “More often than not, the government wins votes very comfortably in spite of what, on paper, is a very thin majority,” he said in an interview with The Sunday Times. “We have to be aware that state of affairs may not persist and, as we head towards the middle years of this parliament, we have to prepare for a much more difficult period where votes could be much tighter.” Brady, 48, who is MP for Altrincham and Sale West, wants to see the creation of more grammar school places following the controversial “expansion” of the Weald of Kent School in Sevenoaks to a second site. He said there is also an “impatience” among colleagues for a decision on a third runway at Heathrow: “It has now to be absolutely clear that there can be no delay after next summer.” However, it is the EU referendum and its aftermath that preoccupies Conservatives. Until now, Brady has said he would wait and see what renegotiation deal Cameron strikes with Brussels before deciding how to vote. But, in a sign of the shift under way in the parliamentary party, he now admits he is leaning towards leaving. He also warned the contest must be “demonstrably fair” or risk turning into a running sore, like the issue of independence for Scotland. Some predict Cameron may be forced out of Downing Street before his self-imposed 2020 deadline if he loses the referendum, but Brady still thinks he will go when he wants. “Obviously he has indicated he would not fight the subsequent election and I suppose it partly depends on the timing of the referendum,” he said. * There was disappointing news about Wythenshawe and the judicial review:http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/health/live-judicial-review- wythenshawe-hospital-10697430 I will continue to work with clinicians at the hospital to try to achieve the best outcome. I have been helping the English Lacrosse Association with preparations for the 2017 Women’s World Championships to be held in the UK, organising visas and so on. I hope that we will see Lacrosse locally going from strength to strength, inspired by the national team’s success. House of Cards author Michael Dobbs, now Lord Dobbs of Wylye, drove from Wiltshire to Altrincham to speak to a group of Conservatives at the Cresta Court Hotel. He signed copies of his books for many of us and attracted over 170 guests to our dinner. It was an excellent evening and it was fascinating to hear from him. Graham Brady MP, Lord Dobbs of Wylye, Victoria Brady I had a meeting with Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce to discuss matters of concern to local businesses. On 12th January I met with all the deputy heads of mission of EU Countries at the Polish Embassy. It’s something I do once or twice a year. I think it’s important that they have a properly balanced view of British attitudes to the European Union. With St Ambrose principal, James Keulemans and a group of pupils I visited St Ambrose College in Hale Barns this month I spoke to a well-attended meeting of the politics society about the current political climate and met with the new Principal, James Keulemans. I am sure he will follow in the tradition of excellent head teachers at the school. I was asked to present prizes for the Scouts air gun competition at Altrincham Target Sports Centre; there was coverage in the Messenger: http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/14231203.Altrincham_sports_centre_righ t_on_target_as_it_hosts_scouts_airgun_competition/ That’s all for now, I’ll be back with more news next month. With best wishes, GRAHAM BRADY MP .