#Salisbury Cathedral blessed with added colour in the sunshine

Tom’s #Salisbury general election campaign round up

At the start of the short campaign in April we received a great response on the doorstep, we knew that the long conceived Labour policies were working. We also knew that the Tories were getting a hard time on the doorstep and that support for the LibDems had totally collapsed.

First we had the SNP strategy from the Tories which they felt galvanised their vote. It started around claims that Trident replacement would not go ahead. Nicola Sturgeon became an unlikely ally of the Tories.

Reacting to the poor doorstep reception and with just two weeks to go to the election both the Tories and Libdems made big lurches to the left with their policies making wild promises that unlike Labour’s policies were lacking explanation of how they were to be funded.

Despite the challenges from the press and Labour these promises for £ Billions of extra spending have never been explained. Despite this, the story on the doorstep changed. People became very confused, all the main parties were giving similar assurances, especially with regard to child care and child tax credits, our disjointed care system and investing much more in the NHS. The NHS being the one thing that galvanised people from every background.

It was this that changed the mood on the doorstep. There was for the first time mass confusion, with floating voters seemingly no longer able to recognise the differences between the parties and Labour’s policies of addressing the imbalance and inequalities in society no longer seemed to be as important once the NHS funding was being supposedly addressed.

For myself, out campaigning every day, these unfunded promises are what actually swung things towards the Tory vote. So it was proved that for all the credibility of Labour’s pledges – all based on fully funded plans, that you can say what you like, especially when in Government and people will trust you. People placed their trust in David Cameron to deliver even though they know he can only deliver by making thus far unsaid, unpleasant decisions that will further impact on people’s lives.

I have to hand it to the Tories, they played a blinder, they have misled a nation over their own policies, the SNP and most importantly the NHS. They have successfully helped create and capitalise on the LibDem downfall whilst propping up Nick Clegg’s seat. The future is not going to be pleasant. One thing is for sure, despite the unexpectedly massive defeat David Cameron is not going to have it easy. I hope people will see the need to campaign loudly.

I am very proud of the campaign we ran in Salisbury and especially proud of those who joined me during the campaign. The only reason Labour came second in Salisbury is because we campaigned for change, if you want to see that opposition grow then please join us.

On a knife edge – time is ticking on the future of the #NHS

Dear ,

I have been very active on campaigning on the NHS for quite some time. My wife works for the NHS so I have experience in the home of some aspects of changes that the NHS has gone through. Understandably as a local Councillor and parliamentary candidate I have met many other employees and patients who have strong views about the NHS and social health care services.

It is clear to me that employees are papering over the cracks to try and give the service we each expect whilst struggling with ever increasing cuts. It was only a few months ago that Salisbury Foundation Trust which manages Salisbury District Hospital were devastated to find themselves £1.1m in the red. I have been quietly told that the Trust is now facing a debt of around £8m next financial year.

At this election we face a stark choice, not only does the future of the NHS rest in our hands as to whether we wish to see it stay in public hands or sold off piecemeal to private investors. The standard of care and which health care services can continue to be provided is under question. Time is ticking on the NHS.

It is going to take a long time to recover the NHS and give the level of care required. Labour has made firm commitments to invest in the NHS with a long term commitment investing in more Doctors, Nurses, Midwifes and Carers. However it is about more than increasing the staffing levels, it is also about repairing our disjointed care system. Labour will bring personal care under a single point of contact to ensure health and social care needs are properly met.

I have for many years been following the changes to mental health care. I have been doing what I can to help tackle the stigma that surrounds mental health illness. With so many ailments such as Schizophrenia, Depression, Bipolar, Anxiety, PTSD and Dementia it is vitally important that prompt care is given when needed. Labour recognises that delay in referrals is damaging health. Labour will see mental health given parity with physical health.

I believe only a Labour government will truly protect the future of the NHS as a public body with time to care. If you agree with me, please feel free to share this with your friends and make sure you vote Labour on Thursday.

Labour is the only credible party to govern

With only two days to  go Labour is the only credible party to govern.

The Tories and LibDems have over the last two weeks made big lurches to the left in an attempt to woo voters.

These last minute changes to policy reflect panic politics following poor feedback on the doorstep.

The chaos that has now unfolded is that many floating voters do not know who they are going to vote for.

Labour has been consistent for many months.

Labour’s pledges are all backed by fully funded plans. We do not have any wild unfunded promises. We based our policy on credibility, unlike the unrealistic policies of the Green and UKIP parties.

To be a party of Government, Labour has not only recognised the need for consistency but also the need for credibility.

As we face the last two days of campaigning it is worth summing up,

Labour will protect and invest in the NHS, the Tories will continue with their program of privatisation of the NHS.

Labour will protect the education budget, the Tories will reduce the education budget.

Labour will raise the standard of living to reduce the impact on the welfare budget, the Tories want to continue to squeeze the poorest in society.

This election is about values and principles.

NHS on a knife edge

Each and every one of us does not know from one day to the next when we might need the support of the state, whether it is a visit to the doctor or hospital or the support of health and social care services, each of us trusts that our care needs will be met. The health service was set up with the most basic of Christian values. We should all be cared for equally, regardless of background.

 

 

We currently have an underfunded disjointed care system where unnecessary lengthy delays occur. A shortage of beds mean that there are long waiting lists for people awaiting suitable care home facilities causing over occupation of Hospital beds. Many needing advanced care will never leave the hospital environment.

 

 

Long delays in mental health services are preventing those who are ill from receiving prompt care, by the time they do their condition has all too often greatly deteriorated. The police have become the front line in managing social care, someone who is suffering mental ill health is not a criminal, however with a shortage of space the police are often the ones who have to take sufferers into wholly inappropriate police custody only to find there is a shortage of specialist ward beds. People who need supporting are finding themselves released without their care needs being met.

 

 

Labour has pledged to address these issues by investing in the NHS with time to care, mental health will be given the same priority as physical health. Labour will keep the NHS a service for everyone, investing in the staff who have faced years of pay freeze. Labour will further reward staff for their anti – social hours worked, recognising the pressure felt by the staff. Labour will repeal the Conservative’s privatisation plans, cap profits and put the right values at the heart of the NHS.

Today was the first clear indication that the Tory’s expect to lose the election by a landslide #Salisbury

So today was the first clear indication that the Tory’s expect to lose the general election by a landslide. They made all sorts of noise over the replacement of Trident – suggesting that if the SNP get enough MP’s that this will sway the Labour party against its current stance on the future replacement of Trident.

Whilst it is no secret that many Labour politicians have reservations about our continued nuclear armed status, it would take a massive loss of Conservative MP’s to change the direction of the UK’s replacement of Trident.

Trident is one of a handful of things to get cross party support between the Conservative and Labour parties. The LibDem’s by contrast are hoping for a part time nuclear deterrent. I think they are their own deterrent on this one.

So does Scotland get to hold us to ransom if there is a Labour Government – err no, I don’t think so!

This is of course what the Conservatives would have us believe. They are of course not fearing what happens in Scotland. Scotland is for the Tory’s a lost cause. Today’s political performance was based purely on their realisation on knocking on doors that the Great British public have turned against the Tory machine. In trying to be seen as a party to be reckoned with the Tory machine has hit the panic button!

Thank you Michael Fallon, for the wind is definitely blowing in Labour’s sails.

Labour choice for #Salisbury #ED4PM

#Salisbury Campaign for real ale – I do!

Last night saw Salisbury’s General Election candidates have the opportunity to speak out in support of real ale and pubs.

I am a real ale fan and have been for a number of years – educated by my railways peers, without wishing to sound like I drink irresponsibly, but due to the shifts, railway life lends itself to friendships and a social culture which reflect the unusual hours and days worked. I have where occasion allows me to over the last few years been part of group of Railwayman who have made trips around the country supporting real ale pubs and making good use of CAMRA’s Good Beer guides.

Real ale sales have come a long way. 20 years ago and 6X was about the only ale to be found in many local pubs, small and larger breweries such as Salisbury’s own Gibbs Mew were in rapid decline, impacting on local skilled workforces. Undoubtedly expensive TV advertising had played a large part of the decline with major brand names such as Tetley’s, Castlemaine XXXX, Kronenbourg 1664, Stella Artois, Fosters and Carlsberg dominating the market. The downward slide of the local brewery over the preceding 30years was, by the time I came of age, in freefall with the Campaign for Real Ale being one of the lead voices to resist this change.

It is frightening to think how close we came to losing all our local breweries but we are now at a stage where we have far more real ale producers cropping up than ever before, giving consumers a rich and varied choice. Sadly this only half of the story.

Pubs are still in decline, the local heartbeat of the community whether it is the Village pub, or the one down the road – pubs are closing at an alarming rate. Each time a pub closes it impacts on the local economy.

Pub Landlords put in long dedicated hours of service to run their pubs, indeed it is a way of life. For those who are fortunate enough to own their own pubs they have free reign on choosing how best to operate.

Large Pub owning companies have restricted the market greatly. In some cases tenant Landlords might not be experienced enough to satisfy the overbearing demands of the owning company. There is certainly a pattern of new tenants upon meeting set targets, finding they are being forced into ever increasing targets to the point of failing to meet the ever rising demand.

Locally Enterprise Inns has an overbearing hold on pubs in the constituency. I have had representations made to me that some pubs that have closed locally have been in direct conflict with others that Enterprise Inns owns and by forcing a closure through continued decline or unmet targets with different Landlords has been a mechanism by which a pub can be closed and the asset sold on. The reason given to me for this is that Enterprise Inns is in financial difficulties and so it is trying to make monies where it can by selling off properties for alternative use whilst still retaining control of the local market with reduced asset and staffing overheads.

Whilst there is limited scope to preserve such pubs there has been a small amount of success with listing pubs as a community asset, for this to be successful upon a pub being put up for sale a six month period will first elapse to give the local community a chance to create a suitable bid to purchase the asset. In truth it is very hard to mobilise a community to take on such a task and at the end of the process the community offer can still be turned down.

The Chancellor announced Beer duty down a penny at his pre-election budget, whilst welcome, this is still nowhere near enough to help pubs compete with the supermarket shelves.

Further supermarkets are forcing breweries into challenging competition to keep production up at very low cost which is restricting the growth of local micro-breweries compared to the more successful real ale breweries that have been fortunate to get a head start.

Labour recognises that large Pub companies have been exploiting tenant landlords and that action is needed to help protect future tenants.

The general election boils down to a choice between five years of the same or a fairer society with Labour. I am proud to be the alternative voice for Salisbury’s constituents.

#Salisbury needs a better plan and a Labour Budget

Salisbury needs a better plan and a Labour Budget

This week’s Budget changed nothing for working people here in Salisbury

George Osborne spent an hour telling people they’ve never had it so good. But after five years of the Tory government, working people are still an average £1,600 a year worse off.

The Tories came into office promising to protect our National Health Service, make people better off and balance the books. But their plan hasn’t worked and the Budget said nothing about the NHS. I’m worried that the NHS as we know it won’t survive five more years of the Tories.

The Tory government started Budget day with plans for extreme spending cuts and they ended Budget day with plans for extreme spending cuts which go beyond simply balancing the books.

They would mean deep cuts to police, defence and social care which are almost impossible to achieve. That’s why I believe the Tory plans can only be achieved by putting the NHS at risk and raising VAT again.

That’s what you get from a Tory Chancellor who gives with one hand and takes away much more with the other. The Tories can’t build a better future for working people because they only stand up for a privileged few.

Labour has set out a better plan for Britain’s future; a plan that works for ordinary families, rewarding the hard work they do and saving the NHS they rely on.

So a Labour Budget will raise living standards by increasing the minimum wage and with 25 hours of free childcare for working parents.

We will save our NHS from the Tories with 20,000 more nurses, 8,000 GPs and cancer tests guaranteed in one week, paid for by closing tax loopholes and a mansion tax on properties over £2million.

We will cut business rates for small firms, reduce tuition fees to £6,000 a year and guarantee an apprenticeship for every school leaver who gets the grades. We will cut taxes for millions of working people through a lower 10p starting rate.

And we will balance the books in a fairer way by reversing the Tory tax cut for millionaires and scrapping the Bedroom Tax.

That’s the Labour Budget we need; a better plan that puts working families first and saves our NHS. Not a Budget flop from a Chancellor whose plan is failing working families here in Salisbury.

#Salisbury #SleepOut2015 at the Cathedral cloisters with @AlabareUK

I was very pleased to add my support to Alabaré sleep out held at Salisbury Cathedral Cloisters on Friday 13^th March. Aside from raising funds for Alabaré, it is also a way of raising awareness of the plight and difficulties faced by Salisbury’s homeless community.

 

It is very easy to generalise the reason for why someone ends up living on the street and possibly even easier to be critical. In truth the reasons are usually quite varied. Living on the street is clearly not an easy life. Various studies but the life expectancy between 10 and 30 years lower than the average life expectancy.

 

Drug and alcohol addiction undoubtedly have an impact on these figures but these reasons are not necessarily the reason for why people end up homeless. In truth addiction is much more likely to occur as a result of a desperate life living on the cold hard ground.

 

During the cold of winter it can take days to rid the cold ache from the bones, a constant depressing grind. Without support from charities such as Alabaré, Crisis, Soldiers of the Streets and Salisbury Trust for the Homeless life can be unbearable. The only other support comes from others living on the streets.

 

Sofa surfing has sadly become a very common term, a term which reflects someone of no fixed abode but who is fortunate enough to be able to lean on a wide enough friend base that they can avoid sleeping outside. For those with either too much pride or not enough support from their piers living on the street becomes an option for which they quickly become trapped in.

 

Alabaré support those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless with drop in support centres based in Salisbury and also in Trowbridge. Alabaré have been providing individual support to people who are homeless, have mental ill health or learning disabilities since 1991, dealing with the root causes and helping to give people the confidence to move forwards with their lives.

Salisbury has seen a rise in the number of apparent homeless people sleeping rough with a small community setting up camp in the Maltings car park. Dry, but bitterly cold, they serve as daily reminder to visitors and commuters of depressing times. It doesn’t seem that long ago that pledges were made to house the homeless. It seems that we have allowed things to slip and it is now time to make those same pledges again.