A new direction for Bury South

I am sat at my desk looking at the calendar and I cannot believe that it is already 2 months ago today since the General Election took place. Since then I have celebrated my birthday, my two eldest children have gained a 2.1 in their respective degrees and I have returned to work at the Nicky Alliance Day Centre. Oh and the new Government have set about trying to mend 13 years of Labour ruin. The new retail park in Bury Town Centre opens next week and Blackburn Street in Radcliffe Town Centre has now re-opened allowing traffic once again to flow through the heart of Radcliffe. The next couple of years are going to be hard financially for everyone as drastic savings have to be made to have the long term effect this country needs. As George Osborne says ‘we are all in this together’.

Well the most important General Election for a generation is now over with no clear winner.  I do wish to thank everyone who voted for me in record numbers in Bury South, over 16,000 people put their trust in me and it was a magnificent achievement.  It was a massive swing holding Labour to account.  The turnout here in Bury South was up by 8% and the swing of 8% is almost twice the regional swing and more than 50% higher than the national swing.   Having reduced Labour’s majority significantly it has now gone from a Labour safe seat to a marginal seat.  I have really enjoyed the last 4 years of campaigning and meeting all the thousands of people I have met during this time.  The campaign was not run by me alone and I must thank the many people who have helped over the years by delivering leaflets, making phone calls and organising events.  Tomorrow it will be back to catch up on my Council case work and then a well earned break away for a couple of days next week.

Tomorrow is 6th May and the day of the General Election has finally arrived.  After nearly four years of campaigning as the Parliamentary Candidate for Bury South in the early hours of Friday morning we will all find out who you the people of Bury South voted to be their MP and indeed who they have chosen to govern this country for another 5 years.  Will it be tired, worn out Gordon Brown or  David Cameron who is the only person who can bring real change to this country, mend our broken society and get Britain working again.  The last few weeks have seen labour lies scaring the most vulnerable in our society into thinking that under a Conservative Government they will lose their free bus passes, free eye tests, free prescriptions,winter fuel allowance and penion credit.  No one denies that times ahead will be tough but we all need to work together to get the ecomony working, get people back into work and to give our youth the skills and opportunities many of us were fortunate to learn whilst at the same time protecting the most vulnerable in our society.  Make your vote count tomorrow and vote Conservative.

Less than two weeks since his last visit David Cameron stopped off in Bury Town Centre yesterday on his way to Bolton.  He spent time going round the indoor market chatting to stall holders, staff and shoppers.  He received a very warm welcome especially from a 6 month old baby who received an unexpected hug although she was rather more fascinated with the tv camera pointing straight at her!  This morning was an early start with a business breakfast hustings at the Midland Hotel kindly hosted by Mansons Finance Group.

Today I had the opportunity to meet with Andrew Lansley Shadow Secretary of State for Health together with my colleague David Nuttall Parliamentary Candidate for Bury North.  Andrew Lansley confirmed during his visit to Bury that under a Conservative Government these vital services would remain open at Fairfield.  Andrew Lansley also took the opportunity to meet with GPs and staff at Blackford House Medical Centre in Unsworth where he was taken on a tour of the Centre and the new extension.

Yesterday I welcomed Grant Shapps, Shadow Housing Minister, to Bury South where he met with Michael Herwald Estate Agent to discuss the issues he sees with the housing market which included a range of topics such as Home Information Packs (HIPs) something that the Conservatives have pledged to scrap; stamp duty and mortgages especially for first time buyers.

Today I spent most of the day in the sunshine at Radcliffe Girls and Boys Club along with a team of volunteers tidying up the grass area to the right of the club and cutting back branches and raking up tree cuttings.  It is amazing to see the difference in the Club since we started work there 9 months ago.  The new roof looks fantastic and more groups are now using the Club following its transformation.  However there is still plenty to do.  I believe the next major project is a new ceiling in the main sports hall.  I shall keep readers updated on developments.

This evening I went along to the celebrations at the Sheridan Suite for Israel’s 62nd birthday.  I understand that over 600 people had visited throughout the evening.  Having been out for a quick meal with my daughter who is 21 today I resisted the very tempting food on offer though!  It was wonderful to see so many young people taking part in the event.

I was delighted to welcome David Cameron to Whitefield on Wednesday evening when he spoke to over 400 people.  Philips High School where I am a Governor was the venue for this large gathering and David spent time meeting the Head Teacher Mr Chris Trees and the Girls’ football team on arrival.  Speaking to those was attended afterwards they were excited about this policies.  Sayeeda Warsi, who is no stranger to Bury South, introduced him and spent time aftewards meeting with the many young people who attended the event.

The Conservative Party have pledged their commitment to the NHS and will increase spending within the NHS every single year.  Yesterday saw the message being delivered in Prestwich where members of my campaign team were out meeting local residents.  One GP I met recently told me that she will be voting purely on which Party she believes will be the best one for the NHS.

I spent today in Prestwich out and about meeting residents listening to their concerns.  Many are Lib Dem voters who have realised that the only way to get rid of Gordon Brown is to vote Conservative and were delighted to give me their support.

The scaremongering is already starting and we are only Day 3 into the election campaign.  Many older people have come up to me over the last few days worried that a Conservative Government will take away their winter fuel allowance, free TV license, free bus pass and cut pensions or pension credit.  The truth is that we will do none of these and not only that we will ensure that these very people who have been let down by Labour will be better off under a Conservative Government.  Let’s look at Labour’s record of helping pensioners – they have raided pensions, turning one of the best private pension systems in Europe into one of the worst; 48,000 people in residential care today have had to sell their homes to pay for care and more than 4 million people could be hit by Brown’s inheritance tax.  The Conservatives plan to raise the basic state pension and restore the link to earnings; end the scandal of elderly people having to sell their home to pay for residential care; a two year Council Tax freeze; more police on the beat, raise the inheritance tax threshold and to make the NHS a  world class service.