SPEAKING UP FOR STOCKPORT’S TRANSPORT SYSTEM AT THE NORTH WEST CONSERVATIVES CONFERENCE

Prospective MP for Stockport Stephen Holland addressed the North West Conservatives Conference in Bolton in conjunction with the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority.

The Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority is responsible for developing high quality transport infrastructure to benefit Greater Manchester and the North West, so that the region can fulfil its role in contributing to the continued success of the whole of the north of England.

At the regional conference Stephen stressed the importance of Stockport’s strategic location for the North West region in terms of rail links and road links.

Stephen said, “Stockport is one of the major gateways to Manchester and the North West. Our viaduct was opened in 1842 and Stockport must never be overlooked given its strategic location. After Stockport’s residents completely rejected the congestion charge, it is high time the Transport Innovation Fund was released to develop Stockport’s transport system and help sustain the local economy.”

UNEMPLOYMENT ABOVE TWO MILLION FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1997

UK unemployment has risen above two million for the first time since 1997. During the three months to January, the number of people unemployed rose to 2.03 million according to the Office for National Statistics. For February, the number of people getting Jobseeker’s Allowance added a record 138,400 to reach 1.39 million.

Stephen Holland said, “This is a grim milestone that no one wanted to reach. There has been a chronic failure by the Chancellor to alleviate the burden on businesses and help reduce unemployment. Too many of the Government’s announced schemes are not actually in place, such as the subsidy for firms which are recruiting, announced in the New Year. Why don’t the Chancellor and his parliamentary aide, Stockport’s Labour MP, do more to help struggling businesses in Stockport?”

Conservatives are calling on the Government, in the forthcoming Budget, to:

• Abolish income tax on savings for basic rate taxpayers and raise the pensioners’ personal allowance by £2,000 to £11,490 for the year 2010-11.
• Get credit flowing and save jobs with a £50 billion National Loan Guarantee Scheme.
• Help small businesses with cashflow by delaying VAT bills for six months.
• Freeze council tax for two years by cutting wasteful Government spending.
•.Get companies hiring again through reducing employment costs for small businesses by cutting National Insurance, and through a tax break for new jobs.

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STEPHEN HOLLAND CONDEMNS THE MASSIVE COUNCIL TAX HIKE FOR STOCKPORT’S RESIDENTS

Prospective Conservative MP Stephen Holland has condemned the massive council tax hike for Stockport’s residents. The Liberal Democrat-run Council has voted to increase council tax for the coming year by an inflation-busting 4.25% following years of similarly high council tax hikes.

Stephen said, “Stockport’s Liberal Democrats have once again proven they are unfit for government. At a time when families and pensioners are feeling the pinch under Labour, it is shocking that the Liberal Democrats have not given something back to the people of Stockport and kept council tax down.”

Councillor Les Jones, the leader of Stockport Conservative group said, “Like budget meetings for the past few years, one theme was constantly offered by the Liberal-Democrats – ‘It isn’t our fault’. Mind you, it is everybody else’s fault, yet they have controlled Stockport Council for the last ten years, so, yes, their failure to manage in previous years has contributed largely to the current situation.

“What is conspicuous about Stockport’s new budget is the absence of any specific investment or spending proposals. I assume that they didn’t expect the opposition groups to notice there is over £5m of unallocated resources, yet, they have not brought any proposals forward to deal with that money.”