It is very disappointing to see Barbara Keeley MP complaining today that her office expenses are not high enough.
Even under the revised scheme, MPs receive a very generous allowance to provide staff and office space, and it is insulting and wrong for her to whine that her expenses are not high enough, especially with so many local residents struggling in the current economic climate.
Of course, as Deputy Leader of the Commons prior to the election, Ms Keeley would have been one of the key players involved in drawing up the new frameworks, adding hypocrisy to her insulting comments. If she really thought that her expenses were not generous enough, why did she not say so prior to the election?
It was fantastic to see so many people on Walkden railway station yesterday, as the first Sunday services for a generation picked up passengers.
The new Sunday service is a just reward for the hard work of the Friends of Walkden Station who have campaigned tirelessly for this new opportunity. FOWS organised a fantastic station gala and both the platforms and the trains were full of passengers and local residents.
The service has been funded, initially for one year, by the Conservative/LibDem administration on the Integrated Transport Authority. The service will be monitored to see if it can continue – please use the new service or it will be discontinued!
In the meantime, many thanks to my colleagues on the ITA for providing the funding and to Northern Rail for agreeing to run the service, and particular thanks to Friends of Walkden Station who deserve the lion’s share of the credit for the new service.
(Picture: myself with Cllr Ian MacDonald, Vice-Chairman of the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority, with a commemorative headboard)
It has been a terrific honour to be your Conservative Parliamentary candidate for the new Worsley & Eccles South constituency.
I’d like to thank my family, friends and colleagues who have all been extremely supportive, and particularly every single one of the 13555 local residents who came out and voted Conservative on Thursday.
This represents a huge 7.6% swing from Labour to Conservative, and Labour’s majority has been slashed from a notional 10001 to just 4337 – making this seat a genuine marginal for the first time in many decades.
Obviously, I’m disappointed not to win, but I’m really proud of the result we’ve achieved, with limited resources and a small but dedicated campaign team. More than that, we’ve run a positive campaign full of hope, in marked contrast to the Labour Party who have needed to scare their supporters to the ballot box with lies, smears and half-truths about the intentions of the Conservative Party.
I look forward to continuing to serve the people of this area as the ward Councillor for Walkden South. Labour have not listened to local residents, but they have been given one final chance by the electorate. I will continue to speak up for those residents across the local area whose voice needs to be heard.
Gordon Brown has rightly been chastised for the outright lies that Labour have published in their election leaflets across the country, including here in Worsley & Eccles South. It is very sad that the Labour Party have so little positive to say that they have resorted to attempting to scare pensioners and families into voting Labour. That’s not the sort of politics I want to be part of – I won’t shy away from criticism where criticism is due, but the Conservative manifesto paints a positive future for Britain. I hope that local people will choose hope and optimism over the lies, smear and fear peddled by the Labour Party.
So let’s debunk those Labour lies to pensioners in full:
- we will protect Disability Living Allowance for the over 65s and Attendance Allowance for pensioners;
- we will keep the winter fuel allowance;
- we will keep free TV licences for pensioners;
- we will increase the basic state pension;
- we will protect free bus passes for pensioners;
- and we will protect and respect the rights and security of social housing rents.
Confidence in the political system is at an all-time low. The last thing we need is a Government elected on the back of scaring the electorate. It’s time for change. Vote Conservative on Thursday 6th May.
Last night, I had the pleasure of taking part in a hustings debate at Higher Irlam Social Club with my fellow candidates. I’m very grateful to Jackie and her colleagues from Save Our North West Green Belt for organising the debate, which was well attended by local residents.
I’ve done everything I can to support local residents in Irlam, Cadishead and Peel Green to defend the Barton Moss Green Belt from Labour’s bulldozer, and a Conservative Government would hand planning powers back to local communities.
There were also questions about Labour’s appalling decision to close the excellent maternity unit at Salford Royal Hospital; I do not believe that it is too late to reverse that decision and a Conservative Government would allow local people to give maternity services the necessary funding priority to keep Salford Royal maternity unit open.
As well as delivering thousands of leaflets and knocking on hundreds of doors, local residents in Worsley & Eccles South constituency can also keep up with my campaign online.
Obviously this website will be updated regularly, but you can also keep up with my campaign by becoming a supporter on Facebook, or by following me on Twitter.
Everyone knows that the election race in Worsley and Eccles South constituency is close between myself and Gordon Brown’s Labour candidate from Sale.
At the last local elections, Conservatives outpolled Labour across Worsley & Eccles South, and there are no Liberal Democrat Councillors in the entire constituency. Bookies show a close race between Labour and Conservative, with the other parties out of the running.
We have a real opportunity here to elect a local MP who understands the area and will stand up for local people in Westminster. This is my home and I will not let you down. A vote for the Liberal Democrats or any other party will only mean five more years of Gordon Brown – and we can’t afford that.
Only the Conservatives can beat Labour here in Worsley & Eccles South!
As millions of people across the country settle down to watch the first-ever leaders’ debate in a General Election, local residents in Worsley and Eccles South can also enjoy two upcoming debates between the local candidates.
Save Our North West Green Belt are holding a hustings meeting on Thursday 22nd April at Higher Irlam Social Club, starting at 7.30pm.
Churches Together in Boothstown are also organising a hustings, on Friday 30th April at Boothstown Methodist Church, also starting at 7.30pm.
Hope to see you there!
I was delighted to accept an invitation to attend the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce hustings this morning at the Holiday Inn on Liverpool Street.
Vote For Change On Thursday
The only way Britain can make a fresh start with a new government on Friday is if you vote Conservative on Thursday. Any other vote could leave Gordon Brown in Downing Street.
Labour only offer more of the same and their desperate campaign is designed to scare families, older people and the vulnerable
The Liberal Democrats’ policies on immigration, crime and the economy would damage Britain.
From Friday, we will start to fulfil our contract with the British people – to get the economy moving, improve front line services and deliver change for the better.
We won’t leave the poorest and the vulnerable behind because we’re all in this together.