Dear Friend,
Labour is taking pounds from our pockets with a 3.6% rise in Council tax which could have been avoided.
The recent council tax rise has shaken a lot of Chesterfield residents. Canvassing last week has given me a chance to ask how this rise is going to affect some of the poorest residents, some of whom are working in low paid jobs.
I remember when I was a child my mum and dad having jars in the kitchen for the gas, telephone and pools money. When we used to get in from a bus ride my mum would put any change into the jars and I always felt safe that those glass jars had shiny coins in them. These days people are putting pound coins into their pots, jars or envelopes to save for bills. Take away even a few pounds and this can and does mean a lot to people on low incomes. For arrogant Labour Councillors to say that it is a small amount to take away from them sticks in my stomach.
Labour need to listen to the real people who are on the end of their politically motivated decisions. That's what we are doing, along with street surgeries, questionnaires, petitions and the usual Focus deliveries. We're keeping local people informed about the help we are giving and the campaigning issues that are important to them. We have important council elections on 2nd May and ahead of that our Cllrs and candidates are continuing to work hard canvassing and delivering.
I want to say a massive thank you to members who have given so much time to helping, whether that is organising deliveries, stuffing envelopes or delivering in your neighbourhood - whatever you have done you are brilliant and your help is very much valued.
If you want to join in and help Cllr Tony Rogers, Keith Falconer, Cllr Barry Bingham, John Barnett or Cllr Keith Morgan please contact them directly or get in touch with me.
2013 Spring Conference
Nick Clegg made an interesting point in his Conference speech on Sunday that Liberal Democrats were in politics to make a difference and Labour were in it to hold power. I want to make a difference.
Talking of conference, it was a pleasure to attend the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Brighton at the weekend and to represent the Chesterfield local party.
The agenda was packed. I have a full set of consultation papers if anyone is interested in viewing them. There were policy motions ranging from Corporate Tax Avoidance to Creating a Stronger Manufacturing Sector in a Stronger Economy. I particularly enjoyed Every Child Taught by an Excellent Teacher.
I suppose the question is how is all this relevant to us in Chesterfield. Time and time again I have been on the doorstep asking about local issues and wanting to find out if there was anything we could do to help but I am faced with 'tuition fees' or 'immigration 'or the 'lack of job opportunities. ' So to me it is relevant and important that the Liberal Democrats get it right nationally, and work as hard as we do locally to bring fairness and a good deal for people so we don't have to keep fighting and defending National policies in order to win local support.
We have done a lot and being at Conference reminded me of some of our key achievements:
* FAIRER TAX, £600 tax cut for 24 million ordinary workers! * 1 million new private sector jobs, 1 million apprenticeships! * PENSION REFORM, we have secured the biggest ever cash rise in the state pension, worth £650 extra every year!
I'm looking for new members so why not let your friends and family know what we know: Only the Liberal Democrats are working for a fair, equal society coupled with a strong economy.
Conference Star
The undoubted star of the conference was Mike Thornton MP for Eastleigh. Having met him I can understand why he won so convincingly in the by-election two weeks ago. What a fantastic, natural and compassionate man he is - a real local champion. He told me he was most proud of us: the ground force, the local activists, Cllrs and the supporters who poured into Eastleigh and delivered, phone canvassed and got him elected. We will need that here for 2nd May, we need that for 2013 and the Euro Elections, and we need that in 2015 for the Borough and General Elections.
I need your help because I want us to win in Chesterfield. We can win if we show the same kind of 'Eastleigh spirit'. Contact me at any time and let me know what is important to you, the people in your street, any local stories or issues, or how you can help with our campaigns. I'm proud of Chesterfield, and I was proud to be your representative at the Spring Conference.
Kind regards,