Archive for January 10th, 2008

Salford Labour - Cuts and Hypocrisy

Published on January 10, 2008 in National Comment and Salford. 0 Comments

I can only cringe at the hypocrisy of the Salford Labour activists who decided to picket David Cameron’s visit to Salford Lads Club this afternoon - see the BBC News Online story and David Ottewell’s blog.

Those Labour activists would do well to remember these three things:

  • It is a Labour Government who have decided to close the much-needed maternity and neo-natal services at Salford Royal (Hope) Hospital, whilst the Labour-run Salford City Council has now stood by and cravenly surrended any hope of reversing that decision
  • It is our Labour Council who have taken the decision to close St George’s RC High School, which is oversubscribed and provides an outstanding service to pupils from some of the most deprived areas of the City.
  • It is the Labour Government that has provided Salford City Council with it’s worst formula grant settlement for decades. Even worse, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in Hazel Blears, Labour MP for Salford.

The stench of Labour hypocrisy and sheer bloody cheek is so strong it has drifted all the way from Ordsall to here in Walkden as I type this out.

Update: The Channel M video of the visit is very telling.

David Cameron In Salford - Review

Published on January 10, 2008 in National Comment and Salford. 0 Comments

I was delighted that David Cameron - along with Shadow Home Secretary David Davis - was able to take the time to visit Salford today, as well as making a keynote speech on crime and anti-social behaviour. You can read the speech in full here.

Personally I was very pleased with the robust message on both violent crime and on anti-social behaviour which can often escalate into more serious crime. I thought David Cameron struck exactly the right tone, with a sober and honest assessment of some of the problems facing communities across the country together with a genuine message of hope and commitment that these problems can and will be tackled in the future.

I was very pleased that both Davids took the time to answer some questions after the speech and also to meet with the Conservative Councillors. With 30% of the vote across the City in 2007, and our Council group membership increasing, Conservatives in Salford have shown that the Conservative Party can make a big impact in the urban north of England.

David Cameron in Salford

Published on January 10, 2008 in Salford. 2 Comments

Off now to greet David Cameron, who is making a keynote speech here in Salford. Much more later!