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Stephen McPartland Member of Parliament for Stevenage has nominated local employer Astrium as the manufacturer to put forward to represent Stevenage in Made By Britain which is running throughout Britain to highlight manufacturing capabilities.

Stephen said, “I am proud to nominate Astrium’s Digital Processor which is an outstanding example of leading-edge technology being developed by Astrium here in Stevenage as part of their new generation of satellites. Britain will benefit from this advance not only from the new satellite services for the fast-growing mobile multimedia communications but also through the massive export opportunity as this technology has great potential to be applied in remote and developing countries.”

Stephen added, “Stevenage, is the base for many high-tech companies, and we are helping to lead new growth for the UK.  It is essential we keep Stevenage at the forefront of the high-technology sector and ensure multinational companies continue to invest in jobs and facilities locally. I will keep raising the profile of Stevenage as a centre of high technology excellence."

Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage, joined as MBDA employees raised thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support at the Lister Hospital by having their heads shaved.

Hairdressing students from North Hertfordshire College helped out by shaving the heads of a total of 37 employees.

The idea to raise money for the Macmillan charity in this way was to show support for one of their work colleagues at MBDA who suffered hair loss as a result of chemotherapy treatment.

Following weeks of negotiations, the Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP, Secretary of State for Justice, announced his decision to support the knife crime amendment backed by Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland, which would see anyone over the age of 16 receiving a mandatory custodial sentence for endangering or threatening life with a knife.

Stephen commented, “I am pleased that, after a successful parliamentary campaign, the Government has taken the right decision and will now ensure there are strong deterrents against committing knife crime. With the introduction of this amendment, young people who are convicted of this new offence called aggravated carrying of a knife – which means they have used a knife to threaten or endanger life, will face a mandatory prison sentence.“

Stephen added, “The changes I have backed are tough on crime and tough on criminals. They provide direct backing to the Police and demonstrate to criminals that knife crime will not be tolerated.”

The successful Parliamentary campaign had support from around 40 Members of Parliament, led by Nick de Bois, as well as The Sun, the Metropolitan Police Federation and anti-Knife Crime campaigners.

A very successful charity golf day which raised over £1,700 in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust was held over 18 holes at Stevenage Golf Centre Aston. At the end of the event Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland presented the prizes to the winners ABCOMO and runners up. Overall 79 golfers took part playing in teams of four.

The Teenage Cancer Trust is the current chosen charity of Homebase who, along with other supporters donated the prizes. The organiser, Annie Cummins of Homebase in Stevenage, said she was blown away by the generosity of the golfers. She was also very grateful to Stevenage Golf Centre and to Les Keen for all their help in organising the event.

Stephen McPartland MP for Stevenage had a whistle-stop tour around the town to visit many of the furniture and home improvement retailers who have made a commitment to providing excellent customer service by becoming members of The Furniture Ombudsman.

Stephen said, “The Furniture Ombudsman works hard to encourage the highest standards of customer service within the furniture industry. The Furniture Ombudsman currently has a pool of members which extends to approximately 4,500 furniture and home improvement outlets in the UK. It is great that the organisation exists to support both the consumer and the furniture industry and I am proud that it is based here in Stevenage.”

Stephen has a particular interest in the tour as he is also the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Group, a forum which discusses the issues affecting the furniture industry at Parliament.

Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage spent some of the morning helping and sorting through donations at the Marie Curie Shop in The Hyde, Stevenage.

Stephen said,“I very much enjoyed my time in the shop and the enthusiasm of the volunteers was amazing, as they made me feel like part of the team. Improving Cancer care locally is one of my key priorities and you can help by signing up to my campaign for a Satellite Radiotherapy Unit to be based at the Lister Hospital.

Stephen McPartland MP welcomed Skills Minister, John Hayes MP, to Stevenage to open officially a brand new facility offering welding skills training at North Hertfordshire College Skills Centre.

Stephen said "I am very proud of the groundbreaking work of the Weldability-Sif Foundation Charity and North Hertfordshire College. This amazing initiative which they have developed will help create lots of employment opportunities locally and offer our young people training in a skill with a high paid job at the end of it. This is an inspirational project which has my full support".

Fintan Donohue the Principal and Chief Executive of NHC, a large number of students and representatives of different interested groups attended the ceremony.

The main reason I voted against the Government and rebelled is because I believe it is wrong that people under the age of 54 have never had the opportunity to vote on the issue of Europe.

I would like to clarify that only the Liberal Democrat party manifesto contained a pledge on an in or out referendum.

I am afraid from listening to the debate that the Labour Party have made it clear that if they form a government again, they will pursue greater integration with Europe, which will culminate in a United States of Europe in my view.

I voted against the government and in favour of a referendum because I believe in choice and people should be able to choose what relationship they would like with Europe.

Stephen McPartland
Member of Parliament for Stevenage