Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Labour NO2AV launch
The Labour Party NO2AV Campaign was launched today in Langworthy Ward, Salford. Ward Councillor John Warmisham and MP's Hazel Blears and Tony Lloyd were there to support it.
Monday, 18 April 2011
WHY VOTE NO
Why Vote NoAV makes elections unfair
AV breaks the principle of one person one choice, because supporters of fringe parties, such as the BNP and UKIP, end up having their vote counted several times while supporters of mainstream parties only have their vote counted once. Under AV the candidate that comes in third place can end up winning. Talented Labour MPs could be evicted in favour of mediocre compromise candidates. The Liberal Democrats hope to win many more seats through being everybody's second choice. Voters themselves should decide who the best candidate is, not the voting system.
AV is a politician's fix
AV is a politician's fix, taking power away from voters and allowing the Liberal Democrats to choose the government after each election. The only vote that really counts under AV is Nick Clegg's. Our current tried and tested voting system delivers clear outcomes and everyone's vote is equal. Where is the democracy in allowing the party that comes third to decide whether Labour go into government or not?
AV is complicated and expensive
Only three countries use the complicated system - Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea - and Australia has compulsory voting to make sure people turn up. AV would also be expensive, requiring councils to spend more time and money on vote counting, which would increase your council tax.
This referendum is a choice between a voting system that gives everyone an equal say, and delivers clear outcomes, and a complicated, expensive and unfair political fix. Defend one person, one vote
Vote NO to AV on 5 May 2011
NOtoAV is a campaign that has support from members of several political parties. More than a hundred Labour MPs oppose AV. The campaign is backed by Lord Prescott, Margaret Beckett, members of the shadow cabinet and leading trade unions
AV breaks the principle of one person one choice, because supporters of fringe parties, such as the BNP and UKIP, end up having their vote counted several times while supporters of mainstream parties only have their vote counted once. Under AV the candidate that comes in third place can end up winning. Talented Labour MPs could be evicted in favour of mediocre compromise candidates. The Liberal Democrats hope to win many more seats through being everybody's second choice. Voters themselves should decide who the best candidate is, not the voting system.
AV is a politician's fix
AV is a politician's fix, taking power away from voters and allowing the Liberal Democrats to choose the government after each election. The only vote that really counts under AV is Nick Clegg's. Our current tried and tested voting system delivers clear outcomes and everyone's vote is equal. Where is the democracy in allowing the party that comes third to decide whether Labour go into government or not?
AV is complicated and expensive
Only three countries use the complicated system - Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea - and Australia has compulsory voting to make sure people turn up. AV would also be expensive, requiring councils to spend more time and money on vote counting, which would increase your council tax.
This referendum is a choice between a voting system that gives everyone an equal say, and delivers clear outcomes, and a complicated, expensive and unfair political fix. Defend one person, one vote
Vote NO to AV on 5 May 2011
NOtoAV is a campaign that has support from members of several political parties. More than a hundred Labour MPs oppose AV. The campaign is backed by Lord Prescott, Margaret Beckett, members of the shadow cabinet and leading trade unions
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Cold-hearted Tories freeze out elderly
Salford’s Older People’s Champion has spoken out against the latest Tory-led Government plans to cut winter fuel payments the elderly.
Speaking at Salford Forum of Older People today, Cllr John Ferguson, said a decision to cut the winter fuel allowance showed the Government was “as cold-hearted as the homes of many old people will be this winter”.
He added: “In Salford the Council has had to make £42 million cuts and we made a deliberate decision to protect the most vulnerable. We have maintained our standards of care for the elderly when others have reduced them.
“But this Government has cold-heartedly cut the winter fuel allowance and done so cynically in the small print of the Budget.”
The Conservatives and their Lib Dem allies both promised that they would not reduce the winter fuel allowance and Cllr Ferguson condemned “another broken promise from this Government”.
Despite soaring fuel prices and last year’s bitterly cold winter, the Tory-led Government has announced that the elderly will have their winter fuel allowance slashed by £50 for the over 60s and £100 for the over 80s.
Cllr Ferguson later said: “So much for Cameron and Clegg’s General Election pledge that the payments would stay in place. Nick Clegg, after the Budget, even tried to claim on local radio that winter fuel payments were ‘rising’.
"Nick Clegg needs to come clean with pensioners in Salford and correct his mistaken claim that winter fuel payments are rising. He must finally admit that this December they will be £100 lower for the over 80s and £50 lower for those aged 65-80.”
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Call for Tory Councillor to resign.
Salford Labour chiefs have demanded the resignation of Tory planning spokesperson Cllr Iain Lindley for ‘scaremongering ‘ about non-existent plans for an ‘incinerator’.
The call comes in a letter from planning lead member Cllr Derek Antrobus to Tory leader Cllr Karen Garrido.
In the letter he says: “Cllr Lindley is persisting in circulating a leaflet which claims the council is planning for incinerators at two industrial estates in Walkden.
“He knows from statements I made at the last meeting of the City Council, based on the impartial advice of officers, that this is untrue.
“There are no plans for an incinerator and the policy adopted by the Council says that those estates are inappropriate for incineration.”
Tracy Kelly, Labour’s candidate in Walkden South, said: “I have complained to Cllr Antrobus about this leaflet. It is totally untrue in its claim that there’s a plan for incinerators”.
“People are really angry about this scaremongering. The Tories don’t want a ‘Big Society’ but a ‘Frightened Society’ - It’s time they were stopped from misleading people.”
Cllr Antrobus said: “My main concern is with the unnecessary fear that Cllr Lindley is causing. It’s not about the election. The Tories used the same tactic in a recent by-election and their vote fell by 23%.
“But many vulnerable people will be scared by the messages Cllr Lindley is putting out and that is why I’m calling on Tory leader Cllr Mrs Garrido to sack him.”
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