In this week’s Advertiser I’ve answered a number of questions, as have fellow candidates. I thought it’d be useful to post my answers on here. All eight questions are here – I’ve not removed any difficult questions! – and my answers are posted in full (obviously there was a limit to the space that the Advertiser gave to each candidate and I have complied with that).
How can the NHS be improved?
The NHS is the number one priority for the Conservative Party – that’s why we have committed to real terms increases in the NHS budget every year. Under our proposals the maternity unit at Salford Royal Hospital could be kept open if the local community and GPs support it and give it the necessary funding priority, and our health premium would mean more funding for the NHS locally.
How can you ensure that politicians relate to the people as well as representing their interests in Parliament?
I want to be the next MP for Worsley & Eccles South so that I can put something back into my own area. I’ve grown up here – I use the same local shops, the same public services, the same roads and the same public transport as everyone else. It is vital that a local MP understands the community that they represent.
What are the key issues for Worsley and Eccles South in this election and how do you plan to tackle them?
I will: defend our local NHS services, particularly Salford Royal Maternity Unit; stop Labour’s destruction of the local environment by returning planning powers to local communities; act to restore honesty and transparency to our political system; and work tirelessly to make sure that the local economy drives forward again.
How do you plan to regenerate town centres and shops in this economic climate?
We need to support the local businesses that are the mainstay of our town centres – by abolishing Labour’s tax on jobs, cutting red tape and introducing measures to allow small firms access to the credit they need. As a local resident, I try to set a good example and shop locally.
Is politics relevant to the people in Worsley and Eccles South?
I trust local residents to know what is best for their area, and under a Conservative Government power will be returned to the people. We’ve seen recently with St George’s High School, the Congestion Charge debacle and the campaigns to save local Green Belt that thousands of local people are prepared to stand up and be counted.
Can you really claim to understand the people you’ll represent if you’ve not had much experience in the world of work?
I’ve represented local people on Salford City Council for the last six years, and my work experience ranges from running a busy office to working with children from the most deprived areas in Greater Manchester. I can also provide a fresh start after years of Labour neglect.
Can the Conservatives move on from Margaret Thatcher?
Yes. There will be hundreds of local people voting in the election this year who were not even born when Margaret Thatcher left office. Under Labour, the poorest have got poorer, youth unemployment has risen and inequality is now greater than in 1997. Only the modern Conservative Party is standing up for local people.
Why should people vote for you?
By voting for me, residents in Worsley & Eccles South will get a strong local advocate with a track record of speaking up for our communities, and a strong Government that will cut the deficit and get our economy moving. Our area needs a fresh start and we can only get that by voting Conservative.
In 2008, the good people of Irlam voted out their Labour Councillor, after it became clear that the Labour Party were no longer listening to local residents in Irlam, particularly over their disastrous proposals for a congestion charge.
You know the feeling. Something you have wanted for so long, that has driven you and been consuming. You’ve invested your time, your energy and your commitment. You hoped your feelings would be reciprocated. At first, you thought they were. What you wanted, they wanted and the early signs were promising.
The Choice At The General Election