Fact checking Leo Docherty

Fact checking the MP for Aldershot

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Leo Docherty MP's Concerning Voting Record on Police Funding

25 May 2024

The Cuts to Police Budgets

Leo Docherty, the Conservative MP for Aldershot, has consistently voted in favor of reducing central government funding for local police forces. According to the public record on TheyWorkForYou.com, Docherty has voted:

  • Against requiring the Government to make annual reports on funding for police forces (October 2018)
  • Against requiring a strategy for ensuring police forces have sufficient resources (January 2018)

These votes were part of a broader austerity program by the Conservative government that saw central government funding for police forces in England and Wales drop by nearly 30% in real terms between 2010 and 2019 according to the Institute for Government.

The Impact on Public Safety

These deep cuts to police budgets have had a major negative impact on public safety and security across the country. With fewer officers on the streets and diminished resources, police forces have struggled to combat crime effectively. Some key impacts include:

  • Nearly 22,000 fewer officers in England and Wales as of 2018 compared to 2010 levels
  • Rising crime rates, with a 14% increase in weapon-related offenses from 2017-2018
  • Slower response times and increased pressure on overstretched forces
  • Cuts to critical areas like community policing, investigations, and forensics

The former chief constable of West Midlands Police stated the cuts represented an “attack” on the police service and put public safety at risk.

Docherty’s Defense of His Stance

When challenged on his voting record, Docherty has defended the cuts as necessary austerity measures to rein in the deficit. He argues that police forces should do more with less through efficiency savings and prioritization.

However, frontline officers and law enforcement experts have sharply criticized this view, arguing that there is no way to maintain effective policing with year after year of deep real-terms budget reductions.

A Reckless Approach to Public Safety

By repeatedly voting to slash funding for police over his years as an MP, Leo Docherty has taken a reckless approach that has undermined public safety and security in communities across the country. His constituents and the broader public deserve better than this short-sighted disregard for fully funding one of the most critical functions of the state.

As crime rates continue to trend upward, it’s critical that MPs like Docherty reverse course and vote to properly equip police forces with the resources and manpower they need to keep streets safe. When it comes to issues of law and order, pinching pennies is utterly unacceptable.

Sources

Voting Record: Leo Docherty’s voting record on police funding from TheyWorkForYou.com: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25628/leo_docherty/aldershot/votes

Police Funding Cuts: Institute for Government analysis on 30% real-terms cut to central government police funding from 2010-2019: https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/performance-tracker-2019/police

Impact of Cuts:

Leo Docherty's Controversial Stance on Free School Meals

21 May 2024

Leo Docherty has been the Conservative MP for Aldershot since 2017. One issue where his voting record has attracted criticism is free school meals. According to the data from They Work For You, Docherty has consistently voted against policies to extend and make free school meals more accessible.

In October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Docherty voted not to extend free school meal provision over the holidays until Easter 2021. This was deeply unpopular, especially after footballer Marcus Rashford had campaigned extensively for the extension to tackle child holiday hunger. Despite immense public pressure, Docherty stood by his vote.

Again in October 2021, Docherty voted against labelling children from households on Universal Credit or other benefits as automatically eligible for free school meals. This made it harder for poorer families to access the free meals.

Most recently in March 2023, Docherty opposed a bill that would have made additional funding available for free school meals over non-term time periods like the summer holidays when many families struggle.

Docherty has never publicly explained the rationale behind his stance opposing policies to expand free school meal provision and eligibility. He has faced fierce backlash from constituents and campaigners who argue that no child should go hungry and that free meals are a vital support for families on low incomes.

The counterargument from the government has been around concerns over the rising costs of extending the free meals program. However, critics content that protecting vulnerable children from hunger should be a key priority for public spending.

As the cost of living crisis continues to deepen in 2023 and 2024, Docherty’s record voting down free school meal expansions looks increasingly out of touch. His constituency has areas of high deprivation that would benefit from ensuring no child goes hungry. Unless he changes his position, this issue will likely remain a sticking point for many Aldershot voters.

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