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Shadow Cabinet Support Member for Schools
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Over the last few days, I have been calling on people on their doorsteps to discuss the elections. Obviously, a major topic is the shameful situation regarding MP's expenses. Like most people I believe that this has now got out of hand. Whether we believe that MPs are not paid enough and need to supplement their income from cheating expense, or whether we think that this be a valid way of ensuring that our representatives should be allowed to claim ever last penny they can from our taxes, this has now been seen to be A BAD THING. You and I are not allowed to do this, and indeed we wouldn't be so casual, crass or inept as to try to justify such cheating. One gentleman on the doorstep yesterday summed up his feelings. The normal man in the street, currently facing hard times because of the current economic climate, would immediately be sacked from their job (if it still existed) and might even be faced with prosecution if they tried to defraud their employers in such a way. Why should the "honourable gentlemen" be allowed to to do it? And why should they be allowed to get away with it by simply saying "sorry"? SORRY is not good enough. However, I'm delighted to report that on the doorsteps of my division the people who matter have not been taken into the trap of thinking that every politician should be tarred with that brush. Whilst one or two have taken the opportunity to discuss this with me, a greater number have reflected on the work I have done over the last four years (and before when it comes to schools) and have assured me that they know I don't have a second residence in Stafford, and that I don't get any of the expenses that MPs do! - Nor should I! On my part, I have been able to reassure them that we are fighting to keep the Council Tax down. I have been able to point to this year's budget where we "embarrassed" the Labour Party into holding down the tax increase to 2.45%, and our pledge to HOLD it to a maximum 2% from now, if we gain power at the County. I have been able to point to my ability to make grants from my LMIS for the last four years, and to talk about the future when we will make more money available locally. I have been able to agree that the roads need attention and to point to our manifesto pledge which will spend £30million on fixing (not patching) the roads, roads in Anslow, roads in Rolleston, roads in Draycott, roads in many rural division where the Labour leadership has ignored the problems and blamed "lack of money". I have also been able to point to things like "no right turn in Union Street", like "no left turn" into Horninglow Road" and other farces where I have fought the Labour County Councillor publicly in the Burton Mail and on Radio Derby. I have taken the opportunity to point out that I have policies for action at the County and that neither UKIP nor Lib-Dem have and that even if they made some up, they wouldn't have any chance of putting them into action because they won't win the power at County. Remember when casting your vote - A vote for UKIP is a vote for LabourUKIP have no local policies - their party exists only to remove the UK from Europe at national level. So voting or them locally is complete waste of a vote. A vote for Lib-Dem is a vote for LabourThe Liberal Democrats currently have only 2 seats at county - and for the last four years they've wasted them. A vote for Labour is a vote for NO CHANGEOnly the Conservatives have the chance (with your help) to make a difference by gaining control at County Hall. Log on to our Staffordshire Conservatives website to read our manifesto. Click here to proceed to the rest of the site.
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Published by Bob Fraser, 8 The Fletches, Stretton, Burton upon Trent on behalf
of East Staffordshire Conservative Association, Gothard House, Burton upon Trent
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