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Written by Alan Marsden until 2009. Written by Richard Ali, til June 2010.
Written by Alex Harrison thereafter.
Tuesday, 31 August, 2010
| Benefits need shake up |
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I’m responding to many letters that have been sent to the Burnley Express regarding concerns over the coalition government’s cuts to the benefit system. I’m sure there are many hard working residents in this town that are only to delighted to see a government with the backbone and capacity to do something about it. For far too long the benefit system in this country has been an insult to those who feel betrayed working long and hard for barely just enough to live on, while there are layabouts who prefer the law abiding hard working tax payer to provide them with some sort of living. The benefit system in this country should be used as a crutch for those in need, not an arm chair for those who can’t be bothered. Also I’d like to comment on the recent article about the graffiti on a well-known street in Burnley wood. Many angry comments were portraying the ward to be nicer than it actually is. The blunt fact is, Burnley wood is in the state it’s in because I’m sorry to say that a majority of the people who live there don’t look after their immediate vicinity and have no civic pride, the fact is it’s had money thrown at it for years and years as had Stoneyholme, neither ever look any better nor ever will, one bright idea is to knock the houses down, yes! Let’s just move the problem people into everyone else’s area. On the other hand people in wards such as Ightenhill or Worsthorne and Cliviger and other areas that pay higher taxes but get less for their money have civic pride and take great care in making their homes and streets better, let’s spend the money there instead of on those who think the rest of us should pay for it.
Alex Harrison,
Deputy Chairman Political
Monday, 16 August, 2010
| Conservatives look to the Future! |
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The Burnley Conservative Future has formed a branch at the Burnley Conservative Association, this is for members under the age of thirty to actively get involved. At a meeting tonight the team compiled new and progressive plans to reach out to more young members. In a vote this evening Mr. Mathew Isherwood was appointed as Chairman, Miss Victoria Taylor Deputy Chairman (secretary and membership) and Mr. Jason Mcginty as Deputy chairman (Treasurer and Political). “I think its extremely important to encourage younger people to get involved within the functioning of the Party, after all they are the future. The Party has seen recently quite a successful General Election in Burnley and we can only build upon that success with new fresh ideas from younger members.” Details of the functioning of the conservative Future (C.F) will be posted to the website on a regular basis.
Burnley Conservatives Deputy Chairman,
Alex Harrison.
Thursday, 12 August, 2010
 | P.M Visits Manchester |
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David Cameron visited Manchester on Tuesday to send a personal thank you to all the people in the North West who helped the party during the General election campaign. the Prime minister asked the Burnley conservative Chairman Mr. Alan Marsden "how did we do in Burnley?" also adding how extraordinary it was to see Labour lose one of it's more secure seats, In an uplifting speech the Prime minister reminded party members that the coalition was important to be able to achieve it's policy pledges and that there would be times ahead which would be challenging but necessary. also in attendance from the Burnley Conservative Association, were Mrs. Susan Nutter, Deputy chair membership and Alex D.C Political. |
Sunday, 09 May, 2010
| Elections |
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A massive thank you to all those who voted Conservative in Burnley on Thursday. With 16 % of the votes, compared to the low-30 %s for both Labour and the Lib-Dems, Burnley is now close to becoming a three-way marginal.
As I write, there are on-going discussions on reaching agreement between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats, to ensure we have the solid government that this country needs at this time. A government that has the policies to deliver a Better Burnley.
Richard
Sunday, 25 April, 2010
| In full swing |
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Under two weeks to go and the election is in full swing. Burnley Conservatives are out and about, delivering leaflets across the constituency, and bringing our message that it's time for a better Burnley to as many as possible.
I've spoken to lots of people on their doorsteps over the last few days and have had a great reception. That's not to say everyone shares my views - Labour supporters are especially quick to say they'd never vote for anyone who wasn't 'red,' but almost everyone I have met has been polite.
Among our newest supporters is Burnley actress, Hannah Hobley (of Benidorm and Cranford fame), who graciously said I was the only candidate with the vision and experience to achieve a better Burnley. Thanks Hannah, it's great to have you on board.
So, now to more leafleting....
Richard
Sunday, 11 April, 2010
| The first week |
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The election campaign is now well underway. In Burnley people are annoyed and frustrated about what is happening to the hospital. I’ll return to this later, but first I wanted to confirm our economic plans.
First, everyone knows the next government will have to reduce the country’s deficit.
Unlike Labour or the Lib Dems a Conservative Government will hold an emergency Budget within 50 days of taking office to set out a credible plan to eliminate a large part the structural current budget deficit over the course of a Parliament.
We’ve already announced that the first measures will start to take effect this year – under a Conservative Government spending in 2010-11 will be £6 billion lower than under Labour as we introduce the efficiency savings identified by Sir Peter Gershon and Dr Martin Read.
Importantly, the future reductions in the deficit won’t be done at the expense of health – we have committed to protecting health spending in real terms and will honour our commitments on international aid. However, we have said we will introduce the following savings including a one year public sector pay freeze in 2011 (but this won’t affect the one million lowest paid workers). We’ll also cap the biggest public sector pensions above £50,000 and introduce a 5% pay cut for Ministers followed by a 5 year freeze, and a 10% reduction in the number of MPs.
As part of our efficiency plans we will stop Labour’s tax rise on working people and jobs at the same time as reducing the deficit faster. This will help 18,000 working people across Burnley.
Through all of this we won’t forget the unemployed and we’ll create a single Work Programme for everyone who is unemployed, and over two years we’ll fund 200,000 apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, 100,000 work pairings and 100,000 further education college places. We will also provide 10,000 extra university places.
Returning to Deerplay ward, I have been both saddened and frustrated at the Liberal Democrats this week at their childish little games in Burnley Council. It’s plain stupid to produce artificial dividing lines between parties over something as important as health care. (Please take a look at our press releases for full details).
It’s time for a better Burnley.
Richard
Monday, 05 April, 2010
| Of dogs and Audis |
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I'm afraid leafleting sometimes brings it's own risks; which range from the unsympathic householder to the unfriendly dog. It was the latter which managed to take a nip out of my fingers as I pushed a leaflet through a door on Saturday. While there was more blood than hole, as it was sometime since my last tetanus,I decided to take myself down to Burnley General for a booster.
Many thanks to the staff for looking after me. I came away with dressed fingers, a tetanus jab and a course of anti-biotics. I will live to leaflet another day!
Saturday also marked the launch of Labour's now infamous 'Gene Hunt' poster which we neatly adapted. I for one am aiming to get close to the number of votes we got in Burnley in the '80s. At over 19,000 it would easily beat the opposition.
And then again, we're the only ones talking real policy. That says a huge amount.
Richard |
Sunday, 28 March, 2010
| Budget fudge |
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What a fudge of a budget. Now we know that Labour has no new ideas, no energy and no plans to get the economy moving.
There was nothing in this Budget except political positioning. No credible plan to deal with the debt. No serious plan to boost growth. All the spending decisions have been put off until after the election, and all the big tax rises concealed in the small print. In fact, the only new policies were ones stolen from the Conservatives – like the stamp duty cut and new university places.
It was the day Labour were found out.
Richard
Friday, 19 March, 2010
| Unite and Labour |
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Today I sent the following letter to Julie Cooper:
Dear Julie,
I am writing to you in light of recent revelations that the Labour Party and its prospective Parliamentary candidates have received millions of pounds in funding from the trade union, Unite.
Unite is currently calling for a major strike against British Airways, causing turmoil at one of Britain’s largest companies and threatening maximum disruption to passengers
Since Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, Unite has spent more than £11 million of its members’ money boosting its influence within the Labour Party – providing one quarter of all the party’s income. On top of this, Unite’s political director, Charlie Whelan, is a key election adviser to the Prime Minister.
Given the scale of the damage that Unite wants to inflict, it is only fair that the public knows the truth and you come clean about Unite’s relationship with your campaign and the Labour Party.
I have ten simple questions for you:
1. Are you a member of Unite?
2. Has your campaign received any funding from Unite?
3. How much cash have you received?
4. What parts of your campaign has Unite paid for?
5. Do you support Unite’s decision to strike against BA, which will damage British business and ruin thousands of people’s holiday plans?
6. Will you take any money from Unite while the BA strike is going on?
7. Do you think it is right that Unite can pay for its employees to have special access to Downing Street?
8. Do you believe it is right that Charlie Whelan is a close adviser of Gordon Brown but leading a strike that is going to do great damage to business and the country?
9. Will you call on the Labour Party to stop taking any more cash from Unite?
10. Do you support Unite’s policies to oppose making public services work better?
These are questions that need answers urgently and they deserve to be in the public domain.
The Labour Party under Gordon Brown is becoming more and more reliant on the unions. This means that the Labour Party cannot speak out or act to prevent strikes and industrial action like those at British Airways because they are dependent on the very same unions to fund their election campaigns.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Ali
Prospective Conservative MP for Burnley
Sunday, 14 March, 2010
| Lib Dems fail millions |
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It is crucial that when the election comes voters in Burnley are fully aware of which party will stick up for the poorest in our country, so it was an education to see exactly what Labour and the Lib Dems did in last week's debate on the annual Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Order.
Conservatives naturally welcome any benefits up–rating so far as it goes and no matter how unfairly distributed. However, this up-rating is shot through with some deeply cynical decisions. For example, I am concerned that hundreds of thousands if not millions of pensioners will be worse off as a result of the freezing of additional payments attached to many state pensions.
Another example is that the Government announced a 1.5 per cent increase in child benefit, disability living allowance, carers allowance and incapacity benefit. However, as no funds will be provided next year, that amounts to a crude pre-election bribe for one year only, followed by a real terms cut.
Despite these criticisms and misgivings, Conservative MPs did vote for the Order. To do otherwise would have risked depriving millions of the most vulnerable people - pensioners, people with disabilities, struggling families, of the extra help that they need and deserve.
But, I wonder if Burnley's Lib Dems know that their national party voted against the up-rating Order. In fact, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for work and pensions tabled an Early Day Motion opposing the provisions of the Order. The effect would have been to freeze all benefits across the board!
So the bizarre position taken by the Lib Dems was that they were voting “No” but in the desperate hope that they would lose the vote! This was at best absurd posturing, and at worst a cynical attempt to deny help to the most vulnerable in our society – pensioners, people with disabilities and struggling families.
Perhaps the Burnley Lib Dems would like to comment on their party's behaviour?
Richard
Saturday, 06 March, 2010
| Local accountability |
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Given the growing concerns about just how Burnley Council’s Liberal Democrat administration spends council taxpayers’ money it is timely that Conservatives have confirmed our plans to ensure value for money on town hall spending. Conservatives believe in giving more power, discretion and autonomy to local councils – of whatever party. But that greater power has to be backed up by greater accountibility to council taxpayers.
So, under a Conservative Government Burnley Council would be required to allow Burnley people to see exactly how it is spending public money. Councils will be required to publish regularly information about their spending available online. They would list all items of external expenditure on goods and services above £500 – and also publish contracts and tender documents in full, to enable more small businesses to win council procurement contracts.
While Councils are already required to publish the allowances and expenses of every named councillor each year there is no central register to compare allowances from council to council. So, as part of our policy to scrap Comprehensive Area Assessments, town halls would instead publish key information online in an open and standardised format. This will allow the public to easily compare councillor expenses across the country.
Labour recently pledged to amend council audit regulations to require town halls to publish the pay packages of local authority staff earning over £150,000 by name, in £5,000 bands; and publishing the number of staff earning £50,000 or more. A Conservative Government will go further by requiring local authorities to publish more public information on the remuneration of senior town hall staff, including pensions, perks and severance packages. Conservatives believe greater public scrutiny will serve to provide downward pressure on excessive and unjustified wage inflation.
A Conservative Government will work with councils to offer better quality public services and more value for money. We know that by identifying waste and bureaucracy, we can free up resources that can be used to improve services or lower taxes, depending on what voters in Burnley and Padiham decide.
Richard
Sunday, 28 February, 2010
| Are you better off than you were five years ago? |
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New analysis has revealed that GDP per capita has fallen since the last general election. The UK now produces £281 less per person in real terms than at the last election. This is the first time in recent history that GDP per capita has fallen over a full parliament. The only other time output person has fallen over a parliament was during the short-lived 1974 Labour parliament
So when people ask the famous question ‘are you better off than you were five years ago?’ Gordon Brown is the first Prime Minister in modern British history who has to answer ‘no’.
Labour’s 2005 manifesto promised ‘increased prosperity’. That is the biggest broken promise of all. Even through the dark days of the 1970s and the recessions of the early 1980s and 1990s the growth of GDP per capita was sustained in every full Parliament.
This shows that the debt-fuelled model of growth that Gordon Brown pursued for the past decade is fundamentally broken. Gordon Brown’s debt is the single biggest threat to our economic future. We cannot afford another five years of Gordon Brown. We need a new economic model built on saving and investment under the Conservatives.
Richard
Sunday, 21 February, 2010
| Leafleting |
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I had a very busy weekend delivering our latest leaflet. It was a real pleasure to talk to so many people on my way round. Labour are in real trouble in Burnley, but so are the Lib Dems after wasting so much public money on frivolities.
It really is time for a better Burnley.
Richard
Sunday, 14 February, 2010
| Skills - Another Labour let down |
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At the beginning of this month the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the quango responsible for distributing Government funds to universities and colleges, confirmed that funding for 2010-11 will be £449m lower than announced previously.
This means that teaching budgets are being cut by 1.6% in real terms compared to 2009-10 levels, research funding is being frozen, and the capital budget for new buildings is being cut by 15%. The latest cuts follow others announced in December’s Pre Budget Report, and mean that the higher education sector is set to see its budget fall by a total of around £1bn over the next three years.
With more than a million young people not in any kind of work or training, we need to create more opportunities, not less. That’s why Conservatives have pledged to provide an extra 10,000 university places this summer, paid for by a discount for early repayment of student loans.
To help young people not following traditional academic routes, we will also redirect £775m from the Government’s wasteful and inefficient ‘Train to Gain’ to create 100,000 new additional apprenticeships and training places, and to fully fund the 77,000 adult apprentices which are currently only part-funded.
Conservatives will also ensure that all apprenticeships are work-focused by making it easier for companies to run apprenticeships, and give a £2,000 bonus to each small firm creating a new apprenticeship.
Richard
Sunday, 07 February, 2010
| Getting Burnley back on its feet |
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Burnley can’t afford five more years of Labour. We need change to get this town back on its feet. Neither Labour nor the Liberal Democrats have the first idea of where growth is going to come from.
For the first time ever, Conservatives have set out eight benchmarks – the Benchmarks for Britain – against which we are happy for the next Conservative government to be judged. If we achieve these benchmarks over the next Parliament, then we will have succeeded in taking the British economy in a very different direction from the one it has followed for the last ten years.
Conservatives will make this a reality with a range of policies including more competitive taxes, new infrastructure like high-speed broadband, a green investment bank, radical education and welfare reform.
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Prince Charles’ latest visit to Burnley was a real filip and emphasise His Royal Highness’ interest in seeing the town get the opportunities it deserves . I was however disappointed that some on the extremes of politics criticised the visit. But perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised as their political bedfellows say it is their duty to remove the Queen as Head of State.
Richard
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