CAMERON WINS FINAL LEADERS’ DEBATE

David Cameron was strong on substance and strong on leadership.  He was the only one to show he had a plan to get the economy going and get jobs created.  He was in control, assured and clear – he set out his argument and his vision.  He clearly won the argument on how to sort out the banks, control immigration, how to help people off welfare and into work, and on the Euro. 

Nick Clegg was out of his depth on the economy. He had the same style but offered no substance, and he failed to be straight with people on:

• The Euro: he said he doesn’t advocate joining the Euro, but his Manifesto says we should.
• Immigration: he said four fifths of people who come here come from the EU, but the independent figures show it’s less than a third.
• An amnesty for illegal immigrants: he denied he supports an amnesty, but that’s exactly what his party proposes.
• Welfare: he said people who refuse work shouldn’t get benefits, but his welfare spokesman says they should.

Gordon Brown was unrelentingly negative – he had nothing positive to say at all.  He looked as tired as his arguments, and he couldn’t escape his disastrous record in office. 

Stephen said, “David Cameron made a brilliant closing statement. He was passionate, personal and direct. Nick Clegg just read his statement, whilst Gordon Brown stumbled through his and ended as he started – negatively.”

GETTING CHILDREN WITH CANCER THE DRUGS THEY NEED

Conservatives have unveiled plans to help children suffering with cancer get access to the drugs they need.

Around 1,500 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK, and the disease claims about 300 children’s lives. But children and young people can be particularly affected by problems accessing drugs for rarer cancers.

A Conservative government will create a £200 million a year Cancer Drugs Fund – paid for from the savings the NHS will make because of our plans to stop Labour’s tax on jobs – and change the way that cancer drugs are commissioned, to make sure all the cancer drugs children need are available on the NHS.

Stephen said, “There is a clear choice at this election: Labour, and their jobs tax that will take £200 million out of the NHS budget; or the Conservatives, who will stop the jobs tax and use the savings in the NHS budget to create a Cancer Drugs Fund.”

IFS REPORT ON PUBLIC FINANCES HIGHLIGHT LIB DEM AND LABOUR FAILURES

The Institute for Fiscal Studies Report on Public Finances exposes the scale of tax rises planned by the Lib Dems and Labour, with extra tax rises of £470 per household under the Lib Dems and £220 under Labour compared to the Conservative plans.

The IFS also slam the Lib Dem estimates of tax revenues as ‘highly speculative’ and destroy their claim to fairness by showing that people earning up to £113,000 benefit more than those earning under £10,000.

The IFS lay the blame for the lack of detail in the debate about public spending cuts squarely on Gordon Brown’s cynical decision not to publish a spending review in order to hide the truth about his spending cuts from the voters.

Stephen said, “The Lib Dems’ policies have been shown up as unfair for Stockport, whilst Labour claim they want to talk about policy but refuse to publish the figures and refuse to debate the issues. People will rightly conclude that Gordon Brown doesn’t want anyone to know the truth about the consequences of his economic failures.”

STEPHEN HOLLAND SLAMS LIB DEM PLANS FOR LOCAL INCOME TAX

Lib Dems want council tax to be replaced with a local income tax of 3.5% on both the basic and higher rates of income tax (Lib Dems, Reducing the Burden, Policy Paper 81, July 2007).

Their proposals mean a typical working family in England would pay a local income tax bill of £1,784 in 2009/2010, compared to an average council tax per dwelling of £1,175 – an increase of £609 a year!

This would shift the burden of taxation onto working families.

Stephen Holland said, “Nick Clegg and Stockport’s Lib Dems talk about fair taxes but the reality is their policies will hurt hard-working families in Stockport.

“Not content with giving Stockport’s residents the highest council tax bill in Greater Manchester, they appear to want to increase this burden. Conservative Councils on average set lower council tax bills than Labour or the Lib Dem ones. I have served myself as a portfolio-holder responsible for setting council tax, and I know that lower council tax can be set by cutting out waste on unnecessary marketing and freezing councillors’ allowances.”

“Why doesn’t the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate leave the Council’s pension scheme which is costing Stockport’s taxpayers thousands of pounds a year in contributions?”

To see how much councillors’ pension contributions cost you in 2008/2009, click here:

http://www.stockport.gov.uk/2013/2986/45681/membersallowances0809?view=Standard

No Conservative Councillor in Stockport constituency is a member of the Council’s pension scheme.

TIME FOR REAL CHANGE IN STOCKPORT

This General Election is the most important we’ve faced in a generation. 

Many people have still to make up their minds how to vote. Conservatives will improve your quality of life, protect our environment, give more powers to local people and safeguard our liberty.

Our message to people is simple: let’s change Britain for the better.

• Let’s stop Labour’s jobs tax that will kill the recovery.
• Let’s cut benefits for those who refuse work.
• Let’s fund new NHS cancer drugs.
• Let’s have national citizen service for 16 year olds.
• Let’s restore discipline in schools.
• Let’s scrap ID cards.

Prospective MP Stephen Holland said, “If you think it’s time for real change, the only way to vote is Conservative.

“A vote for Labour and the Lib Dems could leave us stuck with Gordon Brown as Prime Minister – or the uncertainty of a hung Parliament which could kill the recovery.”

FIGHTING FOR STOCKPORT’S SCHOOLS

More than half of Stockport’s schools have been rated merely satisfactory or inadequate for pupil behaviour (the worst two rankings). The only other two places in the country with this record are Bradford and Hull.

Teachers don’t feel they have the power to deal with disruption.  This Labour Government has undermined adult authority in the classroom. 

The Conservatives would take immediate action to reverse this. 

Stephen Holland said, “We will make it easier for teachers to remove disruptive and violent pupils from the classroom so the education of other pupils does not suffer, and we are fully committed to Stockport’s Sure Start Children’s Centres.”

THE JOBLESS RECOVERY UNDER THIS LABOUR GOVERNMENT

The latest growth figures are below expectations and come in a week when unemployment went up again and the Government borrowed more than ever before. That is a reminder that Britain’s deep economic problems remain.

Disappointing Growth – growth in Quarter 1 2010 was 0.2 per cent, well below expectations of 0.4 per cent.

Longest Recession – the UK had the longest recession in the G20, with 6 consecutive quarters of negative growth.

Rising Unemployment – figures released by the Office for National Statistics on 21 April 2010 showed that unemployment was rising. In the period December-February, unemployment was up 43,000 on the previous period to 2.502 million.

Record Borrowing – according to Office for National Statistics figures released on 22 April 2010, net borrowing in March was £23.5 billion. This is the largest net borrowing in any month ever.

Last Major Economy Out Of Recession – All the other G20 nations, including the US, France, Germany and Japan resumed growth before the UK.

Weakest Decade of Economic Growth Since the Second World War – Under Labour, the UK has had the weakest decade of economic growth since the Second World War. According to the Financial Times, output grew by 1.7 per cent on average every year from 2000 to 2009.

Prospective MP Stephen Holland said, “What Britain doesn’t need now is a jobs tax that would kill the recovery or a hung parliament that would lead to economic paralysis.  What we need is a new Conservative Government ready to take decisive action to stop the jobs tax, deal with our debts and get the economy working for Stockport.”

Stockport’s Labour MP is the Parliamentary Private Secretary of Gordon Brown’s Chancellor. Is it time to VOTE FOR CHANGE on May 6th in Stockport?

CONSERVATIVES LAUNCH ARMED FORCES MANIFESTO

Labour have let down those who wear the uniform with such pride. Our Forces sacrifice and risk so much to do their duty by us. The least we can do in return is to do our duty by them. That is why we are today launching our Armed Forces Manifesto, which outlines how we will repair the Military Covenant and rebuild the bonds between the Forces and the people. We will:

• Give the Armed Forces clear leadership – we’ll hold a Strategic Defence and Security Review to make sure resources match commitments. In the meantime, we’ll protect the defence budget for 2010/11.
• Equip our Armed Forces properly – we’ll reform procurement so our Forces get the equipment they need when they need it, at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer.
• Support our servicemen and women – we’ll double the operational allowance, improve rest and recuperation leave and establish a tri-Service Military Covenant.
• Support service families and children – we’ll give Forces children extra support in school through the pupil premium, and provide college and university bursaries for the children of Forces personnel who have been killed.
• Support our veterans – with a new mental health screening process and a new ‘Troops for Teachers’ programme to get ex-service personnel into teaching.

Stephen said, “We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to our Armed Forces, including our veterans. That’s why I met with The Royal British Legion last year and pledged to do my bit for our British Armed Forces.”

http://www.stephenholland.org.uk/2009/10/stephen-holland-pledges-to-%e2%80%9cdo-his-bit%e2%80%9d-for-british-armed-forces/

VOTE FOR CHANGE IN STOCKPORT ON MAY 6TH

Over the last few weeks Stockport Conservatives have been speaking to as many residents as possible in Stockport. This evening they were joined by North West Conservative MEP Sir Robert Atkins and his wife who came to lend a hand.

Stephen said, “We are trying to see as many residents as possible because it is important to speak to and listen to local residents. If we haven’t visited you yet, we hope to do so in the remaining few weeks of the campaign.

“Many residents have told us that they feel let down by Labour nationally and locally by the Lib Dems who have set the highest council tax in Greater Manchester.”

USE YOUR VOTE AND VOTE FOR CHANGE IN STOCKPORT ON MAY 6TH

SOARING INFLATION BAD NEWS FOR STOCKPORT’S FAMILIES

UK inflation increased sharply to 3.4% in March from 3% in February. This is worrying news for families across Stockport who are already feeling the pinch.

The decision by Gordon Brown’s Chancellor to freeze tax allowances while inflation is soaring means that people will pay more of their income in tax – the last thing they need when they are already struggling to balance their budgets.

Stephen said, “A hung Parliament could lead to an even weaker pound and even higher inflation, with the risk of higher interest rates to tackle it. Only the Conservatives can restore confidence in our economy and guarantee the recovery.”

Stockport’s Labour MP is the Parliamentary Private Secretary of Gordon Brown’s Chancellor and works closely with him