Enhancing localism and democracy

Giving local people more say in the way services are run and more opportunities to speak up for the local area can be a big positive for residents in Halesowen and Rowley Regis. For instance, through localised planning decision making and opportunities for referendums to be held.

Central government and local authorities do not always know best and so I will be a voice for improving democratic accountability, devolving power and for allowing decisions to be made at the lowest practical level.

Big Lottery Fund event video
11th April 2012

James has made a video, featuring clips from the Big Lottery Fund event that he organised for Halesowen & Rowley Regis community and voluntary groups. read more »
Local groups looking forward to big lottery wins
5th April 2012

Local community and voluntary groups look set to bid for a share of the £40million that the Big Lottery Fund allocates to projects in the West Midlands every year.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris and the Big Lottery Fund held a Funding Day at the Hope Centre in Halesowen for groups to learn about what funding is available and how local organisations could improve their chances of being successful. read more »
Learning lessons from the voluntary sector
12th March 2012

MP James Morris has met with leading figures from voluntary and community organisations from across Sandwell to discuss the pressures facing them.

The event, organised by Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations, brought the MP face-to-face with people running local voluntary organisations, ranging from household names like the YMCA to less well-known organisations serving individual communities. read more »
Local groups building the Big Society
16th December 2011

Published in:
Halesowen News
For me, the best thing about being Member of Parliament for Halesowen and Rowley Regis is the opportunity that it gives me to meet so many extraordinary people and community organisations who are doing so much for our local area, often without recognition. read more »
EU Referendum
4th November 2011

Published in:
Halesowen News
Voting against your own Party is not an easy thing to do. read more »
The EU referendum vote was damaging for Tory modernisation - it made the Party look out of touch
2nd November 2011

Published in:
ConservativeHome
Last Monday I voted in favour of having a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union. read more »
Concepts of the Big Society
20th September 2011
Published in:
What is Big Society?
Around this time last year, I wrote an article for NALC on localism, stating that this “could be one of those rare moments in political history where policy idea meets the sweet spot of political opportunity”.

| What is Big Society? read more »
The case for community budgeting is growing
26th July 2011
Published in:
NewStart Magazine
Recently the deputy prime minister announced that the government is going to extend community budgets to right across the country – and is encouraging local authorities to apply to participate. read more »
Understanding the role of local government
23rd May 2011
Published in:
NewStart Magazine
In spite of the lack of public awareness at times, local authorities in the UK actually have a great deal of responsibilities – being involved with social care, schools, housing, planning and much more. read more »
Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP blasts the prospect of AV
26th April 2011
Published in:
Halesowen News
On May 5 the people of Halesowen and Rowley Regis will go to the polls in the first national referendum for 36 years. read more »