Archive for March, 2009

Save The Great British Pub

Published by Iain on March 31, 2009 in National Comment. 2 Comments

There’s an interesting article in today’s Manchester Evening News about the closure of local community pubs, following a think-tank report showing that small pubs in the north-west of England have been hit hardest by the current economic climate.

This is a real problem and I’m delighted that our shadow business and culture teams have recognised it and sought to come up with sensible solutions which protect jobs and communities alongside taking a responsible attitude to alcohol consumption:

  • Cutting taxes on lower alcohol drinks such as low alcohol beers and raising taxes on problem drinks like high strength ciders and alcopops in order to use the tax system to target binge drinking whilst ensuring that responsible drinkers and the traditional British pub are not unfairly penalised
  • Enforcing existing laws to deal firmly with irresponsible drinkers & premises
  • Trusting adults to make informed choices, not punish them for the actions of an irresponsible minority
  • Supporting the British pub as a vital part of local communities

Local residents who support these measures can also sign the petition on the Conservative Party website.

Scrap This Propaganda On The Rates

Published by Iain on March 30, 2009 in National Comment and Worsley & Eccles South. 5 Comments

It is perhaps apt given the current headlines that today is publication day for the 2007/8 MP expenditure on allowances. With the broad headings, it is hard to separate ligitimate expenditure from indefensible spending like bath plugs and, erm, adult films.

What is clear, however, is that the public have long since lost trust in the current system, and it must be tightened up considerably. Local residents across the communities which make up Worsley and Eccles South are tightening their belts and making savings, and our Parliamentarians must both do the same and be seen to be doing so.

There is one line of expenditure which should have a big red marker pen right through it – the appalling communications allowance. This gives sitting MPs ten grand a year to publicise themselves – propaganda on the taxpayer.

It is political literature in all but name; the latest effort from Barbara Keeley MP was bright red and yellow and was entirely indistiguishable from a Labour leaflet.

So it’s interesting that Barbara Keeley managed to blow £7401 of taxpayers’ money on this propaganda in 2007/8, and Hazel Blears totted up an even bigger bill – over £8500.

Contrast that with Eccles Labour MP Ian Stewart whose communications bill was just £130, and nearby Conservative MP for Altrincham Graham Brady who did not claim anything at all under the communications allowance.

So here’s a pledge, as the Prospective Conservative MP for Worsley and Eccles South. The £10k per annum propaganda allowance – if elected, I won’t be using it, and I will support any measures put forward by a future Conservative Government to scrap it entirely.

Andy Crane Show

Published by Iain on March 29, 2009 in Greater Manchester. 0 Comments

Had a great time on BBC Manchester at lunchtime, despite the odd technical hitch. Here’s a photo:

(l-r: me, Steve Shanyaski, Andy Crane, Ian Britt)

Andy Crane Show on BBC Manchester – Tomorrow

Published by Iain on March 28, 2009 in Greater Manchester. 0 Comments

Tomorrow lunchtime (Sunday 29th March) I’ll be a guest on the Andy Crane show on BBC Radio Manchester, along with singer-songwriter Ian Britt and comedian Steve Shanyaski.

The show broadcasts live from 12 noon until 2pm on 95.1FM or on the BBC live stream - do tune in!

Marching For St George’s

Published by Iain on March 28, 2009 in Walkden. 0 Comments

It was absolutely brilliant to see so many people at the St George’s High School march this lunchtime.

Despite having to trek all the way into Manchester and the poor weather, hundreds of parents, pupils, staff and local residents turned up to support the school.

Well done to all the pupils, parents and staff who worked so hard to organise the march. You are a real credit to the local community.

Along with my Conservative colleagues, I will continue to give St George’s all the support that I can. It is an excellent school at the heart of the local community and there is no reasonable justification for Labour’s decision to close the school.

St George’s March TOMORROW

Published by Iain on March 27, 2009 in Walkden. 1 Comment

Don’t forget to support the march to save St George’s RC High School in Walkden – it’s tomorrow!

The march is assembling at 11.30am at All Saints Gardens, Oxford Road, Manchester, before marching to Castlefield.

Hope to see you there!

The Future of Local Journalism – Public Meeting

Published by Iain on March 26, 2009 in Greater Manchester and Salford. 0 Comments

Tomorrow evening (Friday 27th March) there is a public meeting at Manchester to discuss the future of local journalism, and to oppose the savage cuts to our local press – including the Salford Advertiser - being proposed by the Guardian Media Group.

This meeting will be held in Committee Room 3 of Manchester Town Hall, starting at 6.30pm. All are welcome to attend.

Worsley and Boothstown Community Committee

Published by Iain on March 25, 2009 in Boothstown & Ellenbrook and Worsley. 1 Comment

This evening I went to observe the Worsley and Boothstown Community Committee, which was held in the hall at Bridgewater School.

A number of interesting points were raised, and I’m particularly concerned by the “suggestion” that green belt land on Vicars Hall Lane south of the Canal be used as a landfill site – an absurd suggestion on a number of levels. I’m going to have another look through the briefing paper provided and I will comment in more detail tomorrow.

On a related note, the Walkden and Little Hulton Community Committee is being held on Monday evening at the Walkden Gateway. The meeting starts at 6pm and all local residents are welcome.

Support The St George’s Pupils

Published by Iain on March 24, 2009 in Salford and Walkden. 2 Comments

On Saturday, the pupils of St George’s RC High School are holding another march in support of their school. They have my full support and I will be attending.

I’m delighted to see young people like them engaged in the political process – it is just a shame that they have had to do so in the face of such an appalling and unjustifiable decision by our Labour Council.

Following Labour’s decision to charge a group of schoolchildren the best part of two grand for last year’s march, this year the march is being held in Manchester, starting from All Saints Gardens on Oxford Road at around 11.30am.

I have said from the start that St George’s is an excellent school at the very heart of the local community, and I cannot see how Labour’s insistence on closing it down can be seen as reasonable from any possible angle. I will continue to support the school until the decision is reversed.

I hope to see you on Saturday!

Fixed Penalty Notices

Published by Iain on March 23, 2009 in Walkden. 3 Comments

I spent an interesting couple of hours this morning along with my ward colleagues Cllrs Les and Nicky Turner accompanying the Neighbourhood Police Inspector and one of his officers around Walkden, looking at the effectiveness of Fixed Penalty Notices for littering and dog-fouling.

I’m pretty clear now that the FPNs are an effective deterrent, but we need to make sure that our PCSOs and Council wardens actually use the powers that are available to them to issue these notices.

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