More of the same from Labour; treating us like fools

Yesterday, Gordon Brown launched Labour's 'national plan'; another relaunch of his failing Premiership. It is a dishonest programme based on dishonest spending figures. How can we know whether any of his plans will work if Gordon Brown won't tell us how he plans to pay for them? Yet again, he is treating us all like fools.

This is the kind of dishonesty that puts people off politics and politicians. We need to be straight with people about the need to cut spending and about the radical reforms that are needed in our country.

Mersey Gateway- inquiry closing

As the public inquiry into the Mersey Gateway project draws to a close, I would like to reiterate my support for the project. This project amounts to more than a bridge; it represents a huge development and regeneration opportunity for Halton and the surrounding area.

I have been following the proceedings closely and am looking forward to reading the outcome of the inquiry when it is published later this year. In the meantime, my Conservative colleagues and I are continuing to press for a fair deal on tolls for all local residents and businesses.

In Touch with Ditton

Treating us like fools

The Prime Minister and the Labour Party continue to believe they can treat us like fools. We had the cancelled election of autumn 2007, when Gordon Brown said the worsening polls had not been a factor in his decision to cancel the election; last week’s pretence that he never intended to move the Chancellor, the Foreign Secretary or the unelected First Secretary of State in the Cabinet reshuffle; and now more nonsense about public spending with the Prime Minister claiming that spending will rise over the next few years under Labour whereas the Conservatives will make huge cuts to frontline service. This is a desperate attempt to con the electorate.

Let us be absolutely clear; our country’s public finances are in a mess after twelve years of Gordon Brown as Chancellor and Prime Minister. The figures the Prime Minister read out in Parliament last week show real terms spending (taking into account inflation levels, debt repayment of record proportions, and increased benefits payments, resulting from the recession) falling by around 7% a year from 2011. These are the government’s own figures from the budget, analysed by an independent body (the Institute for Fiscal Studies). We Conservatives recognise that we are entering a much-needed period of austerity with tough choices to follow. We are committed to being straight with the British people in describing what we need to do to get us out of this terrible economic hole; Labour’s debt crisis. Labour needs to be honest with the public about the implications of their debt crisis for the public services.

I was disappointed to see Derek Twigg repeat this Labour nonsense at Business Questions in Parliament last week. Surely the people of Halton and Britain deserve to be treated as grown ups and not treated like fools.

Halton today

I was in Halton today campaigning with colleagues who are committed to giving the Borough and the country the vision and government it deserves. Once again I was struck by the mood of anger and disappointment on the doorstep; a feeling of being let down by politicians, especially as we face huge economic and social problems as a country. I continue to believe that all of us in politics have to redouble our efforts to listen to, and be straight with, the electorate. If we do not, more and more people will stay at home at the next elections and by default allow the BNP and others to make progress.

Hillsborough files- further update

Three weeks after writing my second letter to the Home Secretary (six weeks after the first) asking about the unreleased Hillsborough files, I have received a further standard response from the Home Office's "Direct Communications Unit". Once again it completely avoids committing to the release of the files or any timescales for the decision on the release of files. It says an announcement will be made when “a decision has been reached”.

I will now write to the new Home Secretary. Perhaps he will answer the simple questions I am asking, over two months since his predecessor gave us hope that at long last we would get to the truth about this terrible injustice.

Carers Week

This weekend marks the end of Carers Week in which thousands of events have taken place throughout the UK. They have highlighted and celebrated the incredible contribution that carers make to our country; more than six million people, including 175,000 young carers under the age of 18. I continue to meet with and talk to carers and their organisations across Halton to see what I can do to help them. They are the unsung heroes in our society.

Weekly News- Massive thumbs-down to Gordon’s failing regime

http://www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.co.uk/runcorn-widnes-news/runcorn-widnes-local-news/2009/06/11/massive-thumbs-down-to-gordon-s-failing-regime-55368-23836062/

LAST week, Britain gave it’s damning verdict on this failing Labour Government.
I was in Halton during the week and found the mood on the doorstep one of anger and disappointment; it’s clear that the people of Halton are furious about the behaviour of MPs in Westminster and want a General Election to have their say.

It is also clear that the results were a disaster for Gordon Brown and the Labour Party. This is their worst election performance since the war. We need a General Election now so that the country gets the change it needs.

I’m looking forward to continuing to campaign in Halton in the build up to next May’s important local elections, and between now and whenever the Prime Minister finds the courage to call a General Election.

In last week’s elections, the Conservatives won as many votes as Labour and the Liberal Democrats put together. We are the only party with an MEP in every region of the UK.
We came first, increased our vote share and were 13% ahead of Labour. We performed well right across the country, topping the polls in every English region apart from the North East, and beating Labour in Wales for the first time ever.

We are ready for the General Election, whenever it is called.

BEN JONES
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Halton

Election results

Last week, Britain gave it's damning verdict on this failing Labour Government.

I was in Halton during the week and found the mood on the doorstep one of anger and disappointment; it was clear that the people of Halton are furious about the behaviour of MPs in Westminster and want a General Election to have their say. It is also clear that the results were a disaster for Gordon Brown and the Labour Party. This is their worst election performance since the war. We need a general election now so that the country gets the change it needs.

I am looking forward to continuing to campaign in Halton in the build up to next May's important local elections, and between now and whenever the Prime Minister finds the courage to call a General Election.

In last week's elections the Conservatives won as many votes as Labour and the Liberal Democrats put together. We are the only party with an MEP in every region of the UK. We came first, increased our vote share and were thirteen per cent ahead of Labour. We performed well right across the country, topping the polls in every English region apart from the North East, and beating Labour in Wales for the first time ever. We are ready for the General Election; whenever it is called.

Election day in Halton

I spent yesterday in Halton; talking to voters as they went to the polls. We will see how the results unfold across the country over the next few days, but one thing was clear to me; the people of Halton are very angry about the behaviour of MPs in Westminster and want a General Election to have their say.

D Day commemorations

This weekend marks the 65th anniversary of the D Day landings of 1944. It is fitting, the day after we voted in free elections around this country, that we take time to remember the great sacrifices made by so many to keep us free from tyranny. I will be thinking of my grandfather this weekend and all of his brave comrades for all they did for us.

I will also be thinking of the incredible sacrifices being made by our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their courageous families, who carry a heavy burden on our behalf.