The Buck Stops Here | David Buckley Windso

Housing, Growth and Reducing Taxation

Before we look at any growth strategy by Parliament or any political party pledge, it needs to be underpinned by trust and confidence in the organisation driving the plan and this is lacking with all political parties in Parliament at present. We need to start there. We need to install trust and confidence as the foundation of any plan or strategy. We do this by setting party political politics aside and making the right decisions, first time. No political spin, no political party agendas just the right thing, right now.

Economic growth is vital for a country's development and the improvement of its citizens' standard of living. There are several key ways a country can grow its economy, each driven by various factors that stimulate growth:

1. Investment in Infrastructure

Stimulus: Investment in roads, bridges, airports, and telecommunications enhances connectivity and efficiency, reduces costs, and supports business operations.
Impact: Improved infrastructure attracts foreign and domestic investment, facilitates trade, and promotes regional development.

2. Education and Workforce Development

Stimulus: Higher education levels and skills training lead to a more productive and innovative workforce.
Impact: A well-educated workforce increases productivity, innovation, and the ability to adapt to new technologies and industries.

3. Technological Innovation

Stimulus: Investment in research and development (R&D) fosters technological advancements and the creation of new industries.
Impact: Technological innovation enhances productivity, creates high-value jobs, and opens new markets.

4. Trade and Export Promotion

Stimulus: Reducing trade barriers and entering trade agreements boosts export opportunities.
Impact: Expanding exports increases revenue, supports domestic industries, and creates jobs.

5. Monetary and Fiscal Policies

Stimulus: Appropriate monetary policies (e.g., setting interest rates) and fiscal policies (e.g., government spending and taxation) can stabilise the economy and encourage investment.
Impact: Stable economic conditions promote business confidence and investment, while targeted spending can stimulate specific sectors.

6. Business Environment and Regulatory Framework

Stimulus: Simplifying regulations, reducing bureaucracy, and protecting property rights create a more attractive environment for businesses.
Impact: A favourable business climate encourages entrepreneurship, attracts foreign direct investment (FDI), and fosters competition and innovation.

7. Financial Sector Development

Stimulus: Strengthening banking systems, capital markets, and access to finance supports business expansion and innovation.
Impact: A robust financial sector provides the necessary capital for startups and expansions, driving economic growth.

8. Sustainable Resource Management

Stimulus: Investing in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and resource-efficient technologies can create new industries and reduce environmental impact.
Impact: Sustainable practices ensure long-term economic growth while preserving natural resources for future generations.

9. Government Policies and Public Sector Efficiency

Stimulus: Transparent and efficient governance reduces corruption and increases public trust and investment.
Impact: Effective government policies support economic stability and growth, while efficient public services improve overall productivity and quality of life.

10. Population Growth and Urbanisation

Stimulus: Increasing population and urbanisation can lead to higher demand for goods and services.
Impact: A growing population provides a larger labour force and consumer base, driving economic activity.

11. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystems

Stimulus: Creating an environment that supports startups and innovation hubs can drive economic diversification and growth.
Impact: Entrepreneurship leads to the creation of new businesses, jobs, and technologies, fostering economic resilience and dynamism.

By leveraging these strategies, the UK can stimulate economic growth and enhance its overall economic performance. Each method can be tailored to the specific needs and conditions we see to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth built on a foundation of political stability and trust.

So why is the UK economy struggling to grow?

A lack of confidence and trust in our politicians, so we have no foundations on which to build.
All the decisions being made by any Government are made by a small select group of people - the cabinet. This represents less than 30% of the population who are making decisions for the majority.
All the elected political parties make decisions based on their need to stay in power and NOT in the best interests of the people.
All decisions are made to maintain power, win votes and not to create growth.
Parliament has not managed those who invest in our economy and were not motivated to set the standards expected from investors. We have seen the effects of this with the performance, investment and the maintenance of all of our services (from banking to water quality) being decimated. ALL the political parties have been responsible to the failure we all witness today.

It is clear why our economy has not grown and all our services have failed. We need to put politics aside and create an environment in parliament where there is accountability to improve standards throughout. This can happen if the Royal Windsor constituency puts an Independent into Parliament for the first time in history. This is a seismic event which will reset politics and allow the whole of the UK to see that any politician or political party can be held to account.

GROWTH

It is correct to state that the only way we can reduce the tax burden on UK taxpayers is to stimulate growth. However, it is my opinion that normal stimulation and organic growth is not enough to drag the UK out of the regressive economic decline we are seeing now. We have discussed how we need to build the foundations; we have listed the ways growth can be created, now we need to discuss the creation of new concepts to grow to the huge levels we need in order to drag us out of this depression we are facing.

If we look back in history to the last period of accelerated growth, we can find a similar event to exactly what is needed now - The Industrial Revolution. This is where anybody could aspire to greater things, and the economy become wealthier, improving the standards of life for the majority - not just the few.

The first Industrial Revolution started in Great Britain because it had new technology, advanced transportation, a colonial market to sell goods to, and strong financial institutions that could invest in manufacturing.

How do we create the financial resources to become a global player?

Unlike any other Parliamentary candidates, Independents come up with solutions not just the reasons why Parliament failed or blame others for that failure.

I will look to install a government backed “Rebuild the UK” growth fund similar to what we did after the 2nd World War. This will generate an investment fund from £500billion to a £1 trillion and be one of the largest growth funds in the world. Supported by private investors, who will be attracted by the returns available from the fund. The UK will be one of the most attractive markets for missionary investors globally as we rebuild our growth, infrastructure and society. Once the UK is rebuilt and we have a sustainable economy, the UK will be a leader in technology, innovation and democracy and show the rest of the world what can be achieved when a country, it’s people and investors pull together.

So how will we do this – what is the plan?
The broken housing market is the key to creating the foundations of this fund. There is a large amount of money tied up in a broken sector that will struggle to show any real returns for decades, due to the housing bubble created by our Government. This means that both home grown and global investors will not see the returns from this UK investment vehicle again. There will be zero asset growth in the housing sector, meaning a zero or negative return to investors in the private rental sector for decades to come. The costs for building our social housing will no longer yield returns suitable for investors, so I would aim to create a higher yield of return in a new ‘Rebuild the UK’ investment fund. This fund would be attractive enough to be a global leader, to include tax breaks for investors and would attract both UK as well as global investors. The fund would be risk adverse but would invest in technology, infrastructure, education, business and entrepreneurial innovation as a springboard to accelerated sustainable growth for the UK. This would create a missionary growth fund supported ‘by the people, for the people’ to rebuild the UK but at the same time attracting local and global investment. Let’s remember we are still one of the greatest, safest and most resilient economies in the world and with global instability, the UK is still an attractive place to invest and rebuild, together with the UK people.

This would need to be fully costed and risk assessed but with this sort of stimulation, alongside normal growth strategies, we can climb out of this regressive environment. If we do not create new visionary ways to create growth then the decline will continue for generations to come, and nothing will save the UK from a long-term irreversible depression.

None of the political parties will or can bring such ideas forward, as they just carry on making the same decisions expecting a different outcome. I am the only candidate to talk about an actual idea or plan.

Vote for something that is real in 2024 and vote Independent, to make a real difference to our futures.

The Cost of Living Crisis: Why Party Politics is responsible

The picturesque Windsor constituency, renowned for its royal connections and historical significance, has not been immune to the devastating effects of the ongoing cost of living crisis. This crisis, characterised by soaring prices for essential goods and services, rising energy costs, and stagnant wages, has left many residents struggling to make ends meet. While the roots of this crisis are complex and multifaceted, one significant factor that cannot be overlooked is the role of political party politics in exacerbating these issues.

The Crisis Unfolding in Windsor

Windsor, with its affluent facade, often masks the underlying struggles faced by many of its residents. The cost of housing has skyrocketed, making it increasingly difficult for both young professionals and families to afford a home or get a stable roof over their heads. Rising energy prices have added another layer of financial burden, particularly during the colder months when heating becomes a necessity. Additionally, the prices of everyday essentials, from groceries to transportation, have seen significant increases, further straining household budgets.

How Political Party Politics Contributes to the Crisis

Short-Term Policies and Election Cycles

Political parties, driven by the need to win elections every few years, prioritise short-term gains over long-term solutions. This approach leads to policies that provide immediate but temporary relief, rather than addressing the systemic issues that cause the cost of living to rise. For example, while subsidies on fuel or temporary tax cuts might offer quick relief, they do not address the underlying economic conditions that drive inflation and high costs.

Partisan Priorities Over Constituent Needs

Party politics tends to prioritise the interests of the party over those of the constituents. This misalignment can lead to policies that benefit a select few, rather than the broader population or none. In Windsor, this has manifested in policies that favour large developers and opportunists, leading to unaffordable housing and limited support for small, local enterprises that could provide stable employment and fair wages.

Lack of Accountability and Broken Promises

Political parties often make grand promises during election campaigns but fail to deliver once in power. This cycle of broken promises erodes public trust and leaves critical issues unaddressed. The residents of Windsor have witnessed numerous promises of affordable housing, better public services, and economic relief, yet the reality remains starkly different.

Policy Inconsistencies and U-Turns

The frequent changes in leadership and government result in policy inconsistencies. Each new administration seeks to undo the policies of its predecessor, leading to a lack of continuity and long-term vision. This instability particularly affects economic policies, which require sustained effort and commitment to yield positive results.

The Independent Solution

Given the failures of party politics, the need for an Independent candidate in Windsor becomes evident. An Independent MP is not bound by party lines or partisan agendas, allowing them to truly represent the interests of their constituents. Here’s why an Independent can make a difference:

Focused on Constituent Needs: An Independent MP can prioritise the real needs of Windsor residents, such as affordable housing, fair wages, and effective public services, without being distracted by party agendas.
Accountability: Without a party to answer to, an Independent MP is directly accountable to the constituents. This direct line of accountability ensures that the promises made are kept and the needs of the people are met.
Long-Term Vision: Independents are in a unique position to push for long-term solutions that address the root causes of the cost-of-living crisis, rather than temporary fixes aimed at winning votes.

Conclusion

The cost-of-living crisis in Windsor is a stark reminder of the failures of party politics. Short-termism, partisan priorities, broken promises, and policy inconsistencies have all contributed to the current situation. It is time for a change, and electing an Independent candidate into Parliament for the first time in history for the Royal constituency would be the first step towards a more accountable, effective, and constituent-focused approach to governance. Windsor, with its rich history and vibrant community, deserves leadership that puts its people first and works tirelessly to improve their lives.

The whole of the Windsor constituency is the beacon for this seismic change that is needed to reset our democracy and politics for the better, right now in 2024.

Flooding and Sewage

For decades we have seen annual flooding across the constituency, but Windsor, Eton and Maidenhead town centres have been protected by flood defences since the installation of the Jubilee River.

We will experience serious flood events for decades to come, risking life, properties, businesses and infrastructure. Additional to this risk there is a risk to property prices as lenders look to withdraw funding from risk areas such as Datchet, Horton, Wraysbury, Old Windsor and Eton Wick.

Flood events are becoming far more common since climate change occurred and we see pressures being applied by a lack of maintenance of the main rivers, it’s tributaries and this is surpassed by the lack of investment in the sewage and water system built in the 1850’s for a population of 20 million people.

We must have a suitable flood defence installed for Datchet, Horton, Wraysbury and Old Windsor and there are just more excuses from all political parties and stakeholders, that seem to relying on miracles or national investment. There is no guarantee or appetite from any of the political parties on this issue.

With the ongoing support of the Crown Estate there is still a window of opportunity to install the only suitable flood defence as stated by Philip Hammond and Parliament in 2017. The River Thames Channel One flood defence that will link up with channels 2 & 3 in Surrey to complete a robust river defence for all communities living around the River Thames.

We have heard excuse after excuse from the Environment Agency, the local flood authority RBWM and now Defra in June 2024 stating there will be NO national flood funding for River Thames Channel One. Therefore, we need to find new ways to fund the channel that is the only way to protect our property assets into the future.

Every political party candidate in the General Election from the Lib Dems to the Conservatives has stated they are committed to getting financial support nationally but in June 2024 Defra stated in a letter attached this will NOT BE HAPPENING.

Only David Buckley as an Independent, supporting you, will find ways to fund this project if elected and not give up getting this project over the line by 2035. Yes, it takes a decade to get such a big infrastructure project modelled, fully funded and shovels in the ground but it takes immediate action now by electing an MP to push for this project at every level from parish to parliament to get it started.

I have a plan A, plan B & a plan C to get this project from myth to fact. No other candidate or political party has the will, the vision or passion to get this over the line.

However, the key trigger point should have been a letter from the Environmental Agency to the Crown Estate politely requesting if the Crown Estate would discuss options on Southlea Farm in Datchet, which was allocated in the 2017 modelling as the entrance to River Thames Channel One. This letter was agreed at a joint meeting with the Lib Dem leading administration of RBWM (the local flood authority), the EA and all leading members of the RBWM administration and yet they failed us by not sending that letter when it was agreed in late 2023. Without this and if the Crown Estate are already committed to an alternative use for the land, it stops the flood defence scheme in it’s tracks.

Unfortunately, we have political party politics at every level of our government from the local flood authority at RBWM and at parliament with a leading party dictating to us that we can have and what we can do on a political party agenda and not what us as constituents need or want.

So, this election it is a binary choice. Voting for any political party or swapping one party for another will result in no flood defence OR VOTE for David Buckley to get our much needed flood defences.

Remember the door for national funding is shut. All the political parties have relied on this as their only solution to restore our flood defences. So, they have already failed before they are elected. We must not allow this and risk our property assets and a lifetime of increasing flooding.

Moving on to talk about sewage, which is a key issue for any constituents living close to any waterways, particularly in Eton & Eton Wick. There is talk of nationalisation by many political parties, particularly the Liberal Democrats. Nationalisation is where all the costs of rebuilding the infrastructure, over £200billion will be burdened on you the UK taxpayer, which I find unacceptable.

All political parties have sat over this debacle and allowed the system to become unfit. Let’s remember it was built in the 1850’s and designed to discharge sewage into our rivers and seas, so it needs a total re-design. This was visionary and genius at the time but with huge population growth and climate change increasing for decades it has forced the system into a state of collapse.

This was foreseeable by MP’s and should have been managed but now their only solution is to burden the taxpayer for their failure. I have a different view:

The mercenary investors in our infrastructure and corporations need to change their behaviour. They need to be fit and proper people to if they wish to invest in our infrastructure or find that door closed for good. All political parties have sat by, and allowed these corporations to asset strip our infrastructure, but no more. We will replace weak politicians with politicians who understand a missionary and socially responsible approach to business where mercenary investors will be held to account for failure - and not the UK taxpayer.

Look at Ed Davy (leader of the Lib Dems) leaving the post office workers to prison, suicide and bankruptcy without a care. We must stop this behaviour and put representatives into Parliament who will not make excuses but take responsibility and stop mercenary investors from taking advantage of the UK taxpayer.

So here we are, with all political parties telling us they will sort a problem that they created. This behaviour has to stop, starting with replacing professional politicians with real people, people who understand how to make these corporations come back to the table and present the UK Taxpayer with a repayment of the dividends and debt they have created and join us in rebuilding our infrastructure for the foreseeable future.

We must not pass this failure by politicians onto the taxpayer. We have the highest taxation in history with increasing taxes soon to be upon us (maybe for decades) and some political parties wish to burden us with more unnecessary taxation due to their failure to foresee and manage an obvious catastrophe coming our way.

Only an Independent can bring this into Parliament, free from party political shackles and agendas but with a fresh approach to put the UK people before politics.

So you have a binary choice on 4th July. Vote for any political party and get more taxation for decades or vote for an Independent who will go to Parliament and demand alternatives for the taxpayers. I stand for lowering taxes quicker than all other parties who see you as the low hanging fruit - ripe for the picking.

What can an Independent do for you?

An Independent is FREE to put residents first every time, being FREE from political agendas, constituents are put first every time

An Independent is a resident first and an MP second, meaning they always stand by your side on issues that affect you locally.

An Independent takes your local and national issues and creates a plan with you, stands side by side as that plan moves forward until resolved.

With an Independent by your side, you are never alone.

An Independent can support policies from any political party that are best for constituents or amend them to make the best decisions for constituents first time, every time.

An Independent has your back and is you, a constituent.

An Independent is there to serve you and will be amongst their constituents at all times.

An Independent will only go to Westminster when needed by you or will be in the constituency

An Independent can work with all political parties both locally and National to put your needs first

An Independent will take local issues to Parliament for all political and non-political to find solutions, no matter who you voted for. Whereas a political party MP will only support their own political party. You will not be alone from 5th July 2024 for the next 5 years!