Former Chelsea footballer Scott Minto will be playing in a record-breaking charity football match to help raise money for a teenage leukaemia sufferer.  The event will take place on Saturday when Petts Wood Football Club will attempt to break the record for the most amount of players in a five-a-saide match.  

It will involve over 700 children and young adults.  Players will take part in the Feels Like Team Spirit campaign, which is being held in honour of 15-year-old Harry King.  

Harry, who was rushed into Royal Marsden Hospital this week with an infection, had a bone marrow transplant on April 14.  The club, who are holding the match to rasie money for youth team member Harry's treatment, hope th football fan can make the event.  The match kick-off is at 9am.

Orpington MP, Jo Johnson, will also don his football boots as he joins other players in the record-breaking attempt.  

Local MP Jo Johnson, pictured, has called on Southeastern to provide fast trains to and from Orpington at peak times. He urged the Leader of the House of Commons, Sir George Young MP, to allow for a parliamentary debate on the matter and raised the issue on the floor of the House, following the announcement of a public consultation on Southeastern's December 2012 timetable, which must be signed off by the Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening MP.

The MP, who demanded "a service that is commensurate with the town's importance", said: "I was encouraged by the minister's response, and am pleased that he will bring the concerns of Orpington's commuters to the attention of the Transport Secretary.

"My constituents pay enough for their daily commute, and they frankly deserve a service that would slice 20 minutes off their journey to work. I will not let up until I see better value for money for local residents."

Mr Johnson's appeal was welcomed by local commuters. Personal assistant Claire Brewer, who travels daily to Wembley via Charing Cross, said: "There should be fast trains from such a main station as Oprington.  People who live closer to London take longer to get to work than those who live further away, which is annoying and unfair."  

To read the full article click here

Jo joined fellow Bromley MPs, Bob Neill and Bob Stewart, to launch the swimming pool at The Pavilion Leisure Centre.  The centre, which is run by Bromley Mytime Leisure, reopened after substantial redevelopment.  

Jo said: "This is a fantastic new complex and a great opportunity for people of all ages to stay healthy.  I would encourage anyone to visit when they have a chance."

To find out more about Bromley Mytime Leisure click here

Jo Johnson: Britain has just posted its first quarterly trade surplus in cars since the 1975 nationalisation of British Leyland by one of the last Labour governments.  Will the Prime Minister welcome the news that Britain has not only cut its deficit by 25 per cent over the last two years but is once again a net car exporter

Prime Minister: My Honourable Friend makes an extremely good point and the party opposite do not want to hear good  news.  He's absolutely right that while we need to take difficult decisions, the deficit has now been reduced by one quarter, so we are on our way to balancing our budget and dealing with our problems.  But on the issue of motor car manufacturing, it is encouraging that the first time since 1976 that we have a surplus in car manufacturing.  That is because of the hard work people have put in at Nissan, at Honda, at Jaguar and Land Rover.  It is extremely good news that is has taken this long to get back to a trade surplus in cars and that Britain is a real home for manufacturing.

Jo took part in the welcoming ceremony for Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in Bromley town centre this morning as part of the celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee.  Jo stood alongside  neighbouring MPs Bob Neill and Bob Stewart as the Queen was welcomed by the Mayor of Bromley David McBride.  

Jo said: "I was thrilled Her Majesty chose to pass through the borough during her Jubilee tour of the country.  I know I speak for all of Orpington when I express my gratitude for her tireless and spirited service to our nation and her people".  

For more information on the Diamond Jubilee click here

Joseph Johnson: Does the hon. Gentleman recognise that UK gilt yields are at an historic low, and that we would be taking a tremendous risk with them if we moved away from an economic policy that no less a person than the Governor of the Bank of England has described as the "textbook response" to the situation this country faces?

To read the full Hansard transcript click here

Jo called on the Leader of the House of Commons, Sir George Young MP, to allow for a parliamentary debate on the urgent need for fast trains to and from Orpington at peak hours.  The minister responded positively and expressed sympathy with the strength of feeling in Orpington in favour of rush hour fast trains to central London.  Jo raised the issue on the floor of the House following the announcement of a public consultation on Southeastern's December 2012 timetable, which would have to be signed off by the Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening MP.

Jo said: "I was encouraged by the minister's response, and am pleased that he will bring the concerns of Orpington's commuters to the attention of the Transport Secretary.   My constituents pay enough for their daily commute, and they frankly deserve a service that would slice 20 minutes off their journey to work.  I will not let up until I see better value for money for local residents."

HANSARD TRANSCRIPT:

Jo Johnson MP: Southeastern has just opened a consultation on its December rail timetable which presents the Department for Transport an opportunity to give commuters in Orpington the fast services at peak hours that they have been crying out for for a long time.  Could we have a debate please on the urgency of providing Orpington with a service that is commensurate with the town's importance and it's sizeable commuter base?

Sir George Young MP: My Honourable Friend speaks for a large number of commuters in his constituency who need a fast train to the centre of the capital.  As a former Transport Secretary, I understand the importance of what he has said.  My understanding is that the Department for Transport does have to sign off on any revised timetable and my Right Honourable Friend (the Secretary of State for Transport) will have to be satisfied that it meets the aspirations of my Honourable Friend's constituents, and I will certainly pass on his concern to her, so that she can be aware of it before any such validation takes place.

To read the full Hansard transcript click here

To view the consultation on Southeastern's website click here

Jo attended the Petts Wood May Fayre on Bank Holiday Monday.   

Jo said: "It was a fantastic day – superbly organised – and I congratulate all those involved in this great display of community spirit."

Jo has congratulated Boris Johnson and Bexley and Bromley Assembly Member James Cleverly on their re-election wins in Thursday's mayoral contest.  Jo said: "I am of course delighted by Boris' well-deserved win.  As the Mayor said on Friday night, this has been a 'long and gruelling campaign', and I am grateful to everyone in Orpington who chose to put their trust in the Mayor for another term.

"I especially want to thank the local volunteers who gave up so much of their time to go door to door in dreadful weather and get out the message of his achievements so far and pledges for the future.  I know that no one will fight for areas like Orpington more than Boris, and I look forward to four more years of falling crime rates, lower council tax, greater transport investment and less waste at City Hall."

Jo voted in the Mayoral election at 10am yesterday at his local voting station, Perry Hall Primary School.  Jo said: "Obviously I'm biased, but I was proud to be voting Boris Johnson for Mayor and James Cleverly as Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley.  I think they have a tremendous record, and I look forward to four more years of falling crime rates, lower council tax, greater transport investment and less waste at City Hall.  

"Although the results are not yet known, what I can say for sure is that I saw great enthusiasm on the streets yesterday, and terrific energy from a team of over 70 volunteers, young and old, who fought passionately for every last vote.  The Mayor, James Cleverly AM and I are all extremely grateful for their spirited efforts".

In a video message, Jo called on local businesses to get involved in the 2012 Bromley Expo.  Jo said: "Last year I had the great pleasure to open the Bromley Expo.  A fantastic event with 68 stands and 800-900 visitors.  It was a great opportunity for businesses to interact with each other, to network, to make business contacts.  I cannot urge people strongly enough to sign up for this year's – June 14.  Be there!"

To watch the video click here

To learn more baout Bromley Expo click here

Jo welcomed Mark Prisk, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, to Orpington on Wednesday for a Q&A session with local businesses at the Orpington Campus of Bromley College.  Jo was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Mark in January of this year.

In his introduction, Jo said: "Mark is spearheading the Government's drive to secure small and medium-sized businesses as the backbone of a strong and sustainable economic future.  This has meant slashing stifling regulation, improving access to finance, investing in skills, and promoting trade with new and emerging markets."

Jo also spoke about plans for the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) for Orpington High Street.  They are being led by Chandra Sharma, Chairman of South East London Branch at Federation of Small Businesses.  A BID is an organization that is owned and led by local companies that would promote Orpington High Street as an attractive place to do business by improving trading conditions and addressing concerns.

This comes on the heels of a £2.2 million improvement scheme to Orpington High Street, opened by the Mayor of London in July 2010, which has already resulted in substantial improvements, including one of the lowest vacant unit rates in the UK.  A BID would build on that success.

In his Q&A session with local businesses, Mark discussed what the Government is doing for small businesses, access to finance, red tape and apprenticeships.

To learn more about Orpington Business Forum click here

A former professional footballer and a politician are among the people helping to break a world record in support of a 15-year-old leukaemia sufferer.

Petts Wood Football Club, who are holding a match in support youth team member Harry King, will be joined by former Chelsea player Scott Minto and Orpington MP Jo Johnson to help break the record.

The club are trying to break the record for the most players taking part in a five-a-side match while showing their support for Harry, who was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia in October.  They are also trying to raise money for his ongoing treatment.  The match will take place on May 19 and May 20 at the club's grounds in Barnet Wood Road, Hayes.

You can donate to Harry King and read the full story here

Wednesday 25 April saw English Lacrosse Association (ELA) launch their Bid to host the 2017 Women's World Cup at Westminster with the help of the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson and an array of fellow MPs.

Jo was present and helped demonstrate his support by signing the 'Back the Bid' England flag.  As well as cross-parliamentary support – which came from David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband – ELA were delighted to welcome Jeff Probyn, former England Rugby Union player and Lisa O'Keefe, Director of Sport at Sport England.

Jo said: 'This bid gets my support as I know the economic value it will bring to local communities. England will do an excellent job hosting this tournament and I wish the English Lacrosse Association every success in this venture.'

The final decision will be made by the Federation of International Lacrosse in June this year. The proposed venue for the event is Surrey Sports Park, Guildford, having welcomed the Lacrosse Home Internationals in April this year and the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2010. 30 nations are expected to compete in the FIL Women's World Lacrosse Cup in 2017 in comparison to the 16 countries that competed in Prague in 2009.

To learn more about English Lacrosse click here

Jo asked Greg Clark MP, Minister of State for Decentralisation and Planning Policy, on the floor of the House about the Government's National Planning Policy Framework, which seeks to give local residents greater power to shape their community.  He sought guarantees that metropolitan open land and urban open spaces will have the same safeguards against mass development that green belt land currently enjoys.

Jo said: "I was pleased to receive the minister's unequivocal assurances that Bromley's green and open spaces will be protected under the new reforms.  Orpington has more green land than any other constituency in the Greater London region.  These areas are greatly cherished by local residents and I will continue to seek guarantees that they will be secured."

Joseph Johnson: Residents of Bromley are reassured by the reiteration of protections for the green belt, but can my right hon. Friend guarantee that metropolitan open land and urban open spaces will continue to enjoy the protections that they currently enjoy under the new NPPF?

Greg Clark: Yes, and I know how important that is in my hon. Friend’s constituency.

To read the full Hansard transcript click here

Jo described the support he has given the Christopher Tappin, who was extradited to the US in February, and to his family, on BBC South East yesterday.  

Jo said:  "I've made representations to the Home Office, to the Foreign Office.  In fact, I took Mrs Tappin to see Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt only a week or two ago in which we discussed his case in great detail.  So the Foreign Office is following it extremely closely."

To watch the full clip click here

Jo said: "I am delighted for Christopher Tappin and his family that he was granted bail yesterday.  It was an absurd decision to deny bail in the first instance on the basis that a 65-year old man is a flight risk and this now puts Mr Tappin in a far stronger position to defend himself at his trial. 

"Last week, I accompanied Mrs Tappin to the Foreign Office, where we received assurances that he will continue to receive consular assistance.  I will continue to press the Government for reform of the UK-US Extradition Treaty so that other families are not put through the same unimaginable distress as the Tappins."

Joseph Johnson: My right hon. Friend rightly says that a well funded IMF and a bigger eurozone bail-out fund cannot be the whole solution to the eurozone crisis. Does he believe now that the overriding priority must be steps towards debt mutualisation and the structural reforms to address the underlying competitiveness issues that are at the heart of the crisis?

Mr Osborne: I absolutely believe that eurozone countries need structural reforms. This country needs structural reforms. The things that we have proposed to Parliament on welfare, education, planning and the like, are all part of reforms to make our country more competitive. We have not been talking about our economy here, but we came into government with the highest budget deficit of the lot and some real competitiveness problems. On mutualised debt, over a year ago, I said that I thought that the logic led the eurozone towards euro bonds. I have put that on the record, but ultimately that is a decision for the eurozone.

To read the full hansard transcript click here

Jo took part in team-building classes at the Orpington campus of Bromley College today.

Jo said:  "It was great to see students thriving after what has clearly been a very successful merger between Orpington and Bromley Colleges.  I applaud principal Sam Parrett and her team for their great work in building a higher education hub in the borough.

"I was delighted to join Orpington's budding Olympians in developing teamwork and leadership skills in this imaginative programme."

To learn more about Bromley College of Further and Higher Education click here

Joseph Johnson:  The Prime Minister was in Orpington on Tuesday, making him, I believe, the first serving Prime Minister to visit the constituency in more than 40 years, since the days of Edward Heath. May we have a debate on the historic neglect of the outer London boroughs that this mayoralty and this Government inherited and which this mayoralty and this Government are working so tirelessly to reverse?

Sir George Young:  My hon. Friend has, of course, an interest in the outcome of the elections. It is certainly the case that Boris Johnson has given consideration to the outer London boroughs that was denied to them by the previous incumbent. I very much hope that on election day those who share my hon. Friend's concern that the outer London boroughs should not be neglected at City Hall will turn out in force and vote for Mayor Johnson.

To read the full Hansard transcript click here