Charlotte MacKenzie

Posts Tagged ‘university’

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Labour makes the difference for Cornwall

In news on October 11, 2009 at 4:00 pm

Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth, Charlotte MacKenzie, spoke in the children, families, and schools debate at the Labour Party conference.

Here’s what Charlotte said:

‘When I went into my Twitter account this morning there was a tweet from someone in Cornwall saying:
“Hmm, I like Gordon’s new policies… Maybe I should actually vote Labour.”

All of us campaigning for Labour to win have our track record of achievements backing us. Where I live before the minimum wage was introduced four out of ten jobs were advertised at below the level at which it was first introduced. I’m delighted to be speaking to you conference the day before this year’s increase to the minimum wage, which has made a difference for thousands of people in my home constituency.

I am going to talk about education – because we all know there is a connection between low wages, lower expectations, and the Tories’ educational failures which meant many children left school with few or no qualifications.

Labour’s investment in education in Truro and Falmouth means we now have 11 children’s centres, mostly purpose built. In Truro, where I’m a councillor, this helped to support the development of three new community centres.

There are new primary school buildings, a new secondary school, new college buildings, a new university – which means that the number of 18-24 year olds in Falmouth has increased by 80 per cent since 2003 – a new medical school based partly at Cornwall’s main hospital site in Truro, alongside which a new dental school is being constructed to provide the NHS dentists Cornwall needs.

None of this would have happened without Labour thinking big, investing in our future, and supporting Cornwall’s case for the European funding which helped to build the new university.

All of this happened despite rather than because of the local authority – whose Liberal Democrat leadership until 4 June presided over deteriorating reports on children’s services which still have some serious issues to address. One of the first acts of the incoming Tory majority executive on 4 June was to place Cornwall Council’s schools for the future bid on hold – they have since decided to proceed with the bid.

Locally and nationally, let’s say clearly to people “if you want change, choose Labour’s continued investment in public services”.’

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Tremough plans welcomed

In Uncategorized on July 23, 2008 at 11:10 am
Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth Charlotte MacKenzie visited the masterplan exhibition at the Tremough Campus on Thursday 17 July.
 
Speaking after the visit, Charlotte MacKenzie said:
 
“Further development of the Tremough Campus to support the relocation of Dartington College of Arts and proposed Environment and Sustainability Institute will bring more benefits to Falmouth and Penryn.
 
“I welcome the planned Environment and Sustainability Institute because it is just what we need to support growth of green sector businesses and the aspiration to make Cornwall carbon neutral.
 
“People in Penryn have had enough of local parking problems. I looked very closely at this aspect of the plans and an additional 160 places are planned including transitional arrangements while building work is undertaken. Alongside this there needs to be positive action off campus to improve parking for local residents.” 
 

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University news welcomed

In Uncategorized on March 3, 2008 at 12:51 pm

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The Government today announced more investment in higher education through a new ‘university challenge’.

The news was welcomed by Dr Charlotte MacKenzie, Labour’s candidate for MP in the new constituency of Truro and Falmouth, who said: “Cornwall’s university is tranforming the local economy, and making a real difference for young people. Because of success stories like CUC, the Government announced today that more funding will be invested in new university projects to unlock local talent and drive economic regeneration.”

Secretary of State for Universities John Denham MP said: “I want to build on the successes of the last few years which have seen new centres of higher education transforming local economies and the lives of local people. We must learn from these success stories and act on the growing evidence that locally based projects play a key role in helping local areas and people realise their potential. Communities should have the chance to show they can make the most of the power of higher education, to help unlock the talent of their local people and help make them better off.”

In the last 5 years, the government has committed £100m, and opened or committed to 17 local university campuses or centres including that at Tremough.

Welcoming the decision announced last week that University College Falmouth and Dartington College of Arts will merge in April this year, Dr Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“This is very exciting news for Falmouth and Penryn.

“The fact that these colleges are merging from April this year demonstrates their commitment to complete the new build and admit more students by 2010. The location and creative academic strengths which are being brought together here have the potential to develop a unique provision.

“Cornwall has a vibrant cultural landscape producing success stories like Kneehigh and the Cornwall Film Festival. A University for the Arts in Cornwall will be good news for local cultural industries, as well as the university. It will mean more high skill and better paid jobs.

“The University campus at Tremough has already led to an 80 per cent increase in the number of 18-24 year olds living in Falmouth. This development is expected to lead to a further 25 per cent increase on student numbers at University College Falmouth.

“Together with the docks redevelopment and marina, this will mean a bright future for Falmouth and Penryn. Both developments have my total support.”

The Government announcement can be found here .

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FXU welcomes Labour Students

In Uncategorized on February 7, 2008 at 2:24 pm
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Labour Party representatives thoroughly enjoyed the political awareness day organised by the FXU Students’ Union on the Tremough campus.

Labour Students ran a successful stall with the local Labour Party. They were welcomed with overwhelming support from students for Labour’s petition to save 24-hour firecover at Falmouth firestation.

Truro and Falmouth Labour Party’s youth rep Anna McGlynn said: “It was great to talk to students at the event, and hear from them what their concerns were. There’s clearly a lot of strong feelings about local issues like housing in the area, and public protection. Their enthusiasm for signing the petition against ending twenty-four hour fire cover in the area was an indication that this issue is one that impacts on everyone in the area.”

Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Truro and Falmouth, Charlotte MacKenzie, who started the firestations petition, said: “The students we spoke to at Tremough have a clear message for the Liberal Democrats at County Hall: don’t cut Falmouth and Penryn’s 24-hour firecover.”

The quality of student accommodation off campus was one of the issues raised during wide-ranging debate at the student question time. Charlotte MacKenzie said “Students raised a good range of questions on local and national issues.”

Photo: Anna McGlynn with Labour Students George Middleton-Baker and Bethan Taylor.