News from Deborah Dunleavy

We need  a fresh start in Bolton and the country. I’m out everyday knocking on peoples doors in Bolton NE and that’s certainly what I’m hearing. Another bad day for Parliament in todays press. I say this as I sit at home reading todays Times before leaving for a days campaigning.

It’s now 3 1/2 years since I was selected in an open primary by the people of Bolton NE to fight the seat for the Conservatives, little did I know what lay ahead or how long the road would be. There are all sorts of criticisms in today’s papers for MPs of all party’s, which is why I believe that the only way forward will be after a GE.

I’m not going to dwell on my opponents expenses, but I do feel the need to express my disappointment that David Crausby, the current Labour MP for Bolton NE, felt it  necessary to do his job as an MP, to have a new bathroom and kitchen in his London flat, paid for with with borrowed money, and that he then felt it appropiate to claim the interest back from you and I – the taxpayer.

I reiterate my promise that if elected I will;

 1. Publish my expenses on line every month

2. Not employ family members

3.Will rent (not buy) a flat in Westminster, therefor not making a profit out of tax payers money.

The second article I came to made equally depressing news, the headline read ….Spending on quangos rises by £10bn despite Brown’s pledge…….

The article starts by saying

” Public spending on quangos has soared by nearly £10 billion in the past 2 years, the Cabinet Office revealed yesterday. Since Gordon Brown became Prime Minister the annual figure has increased by more than 25% from £37bn to £46.5bn despite largely coinciding with the worst recession since the 1930s…………….the figures will highly embarrassing to the government”

When I’m asked on the doorstep what the biggest difference will be with a Conservative government I reply…..competence!

For the last 6 quarters we have been in recession, the longest since records begun. Public borrowing stands at £178 billion ….scary! Last year our economy contracted by 4.8% the biggest fall in a year for 88 years.

Yesterday at an unprecidented announcement to the press (can’t help thinking the government thought it would be better news) we were told we were officially out of recession as in the final Q of 2009 the economy grew at 0.1%…fragile to say the least. This figure also had the benefit of the upturn in car sales and a VAT reduction.

It’s about time the government started to be honest with us, if they know the truth that is! All along they have been wrong, and it really does lie at Gb door, he was after all the chancellor in all the years he overspent whilst the economy was growing. Even now they tell us a different story to that of the leading economists.

Simon Hayes, the chief UK economist at Barclays Capital, was quoted in The Times today as saying the figures would reignite concerns over whether the budget deficit could be reduced as quickly as Mr darling hoped. He said ” Bringing the public debt situation under control is likely to be more painful than implied by the Treasury’s Pre-Budget Report forecasts, which assume that the economy’s trend rate of growth will remain at 2.75%. That seems very optimistic to us.”

Lets have the truth, give us some credit and stop playing politics with us all!

Just had a tour of the Warburtons Bread Factory with my special guest in Bolton Phillip Hammond MP Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

We were given the grand tour by their Executive Director Ross Warburton and General Manager Peter Haworth. Anyone who lives in Bolton will know that Warburtons bread is part of our history and we are all very proud of it. It was a fascinating insight into the journey of a loaf of bread, from the factory  to our dinner tables.

Pictured from left to right Peter Haworth, myself, Ross Warburton and Phillip Hammond MP.

At the Christmas Tree at Dunscar along with Bromley Cross Councillors Alan Wilkinson and David Greenhalgh.

Last night I attended the official switching on of the Christmas Tree lights at Dunscar, it was a festive occasion with the Mayor and Mayoress in attendance and ended with some lovely Christmas Carols. It was an excellent turnout and lovely to see so many children there on what was a chilly evening. 

I do love tradition, we should all do what we can to preserve some of the wonderful traditions we have. 

It’s that time of year where I attend lots of these things, especially with my children Isabella and Scarlett.  It was Scarlett’s Christmas Concert last week at school, and this Saturday both of my girls are in their Christmas show from their Stagecoach group so I will be off to enjoy that on Saturday afternoon.

Me and Dr George Holmes Vice Chancellor of the University

I strongly believe that this is not what the public want to hear and I will continue to question the current Labour Government where I disagree with them but I wont be leading a negative campaign such as my opposition are, there will be no newspapers put out with very scared looking pensioners on the front to whom the Labour party are telling untruths about us to.

I came into politics to add something to society and that is exactly what I intend to try and do. I do hope all the people who write/email or come in to see me think that’s what I’m doing. There is no greater satisfaction then helping all those people who have so far asked for assistance.

At the moment we live in worrying times and to play on peoples fears as my local Labour Party are doing is simply quite unforgivable, if ever I find myself doing that then I believe thats the time to bow out of politics, because to me politics is about making things better.

I was a privilidge last week to be a guest again at Bolton University’s Awards Ceremony. We are very lucky to have Dr George Holmes who is a most excellent Vice Chancellor and I was honoured to be one of his guests.

Labour claims to stand up for hard working families.  It has encouraged Mums back to work, saying it is good for them and their families.

Since 2005 they have been able to take advantage of a child care scheme which gives parents up to £243 pm paid directly from their wages to a nursery or childminder before any tax or NI is paid.

Without these vouchers there would be no point in some parents working at all.  In an incredibly sly and typical slight of the hand, Gordon Brown is to take them away to “divert” the money to nursery places for two year olds for lower income families for 12½ hours a week.

If, and its a big IF, a parent could find a job for those hours that would pull them out of poverty, they would be very lucky indeed.  Parents who have made the decision to work rather than end up on benefits, have just had a major stab in the back by this inept government which is simply trying to move the deck chairs round on a sinking ship.  A government that has simply run out of ideas!

On Sunday I attended the Remembrance Service at the Town Hall.

It’s always a moving service for me, especially when the last post is played and the parade does the march past.

This year I felt it more so; the War in Afghanistan

– which is what I think it is, becomes more disturbing by the day.  The sight of our young soldiers being repatriated is almost unbearable.  My personal view is that I would like our soldiers brought home.

I understand all the logic for being there, I despair at the lack of equipment – in fact I find it hard to reason with myself over this matter, but I always come to the same conclusion – they don’t play by the same rules as us.  This needs no further evidence than the recent killings of five brave soldiers murdered by the very people whom they were training.  How can we ever “win” a conflict where each side has different rules …………. and a final question ……. what does winning look like?

I’ve just spent the morning over in Bury helping our Candidate David Nuttall with a petition calling on Gordon Brown to match our committment to the NHS. We were also running a petition to save Fairfields Maternity Unit.

Andrew will make a wonderful Minister for Health, I really believe in his ideas for change. If there’s one thing that needs cutting…it’s targets. Andrew believes we should have enough faith in our doctors and nurses to trust them to do their best for us and start to measure something else….outcomes.

He believes what we should be measuring is if 100 have cancer, how many get better. Surely that’s what counts, not how long where they on that list before they got moved to this waiting list.

What do you think?

Andrew Lansley MP Shadow Health Minister and myself campaiging for the NHS

Yesterday I visited The Royal Bolton Hospital on World Stroke Day. I was invited down by JIGSAW the stroke support group in Bolton and The Stroke association who asked me to go along and help them raise awareness of Strokes. This I did with pleasure as I’m sure all my readers know my Dad is severely disabled through a stroke.

There are so many things to campaign on for Stroke sufferers I don’t know where to start. Improved recognition of Stroke diagnosis would be a good place followed by more access to physio and speech therapy. I think we have seen huge leaps forward in Bolton but it’s all about how it feels for you, and from my visit to JIGSAW recently and talking to those who have suffered a stroke, we still have a long way to go.

Whilst I was at the Hospital Matron Suzanne Lomax took me around The Stroke Unit. I must say that Suzanne was a pleasure to meet, she is so utterly committed to her cause. This is a lady who has devoted her entire nursing career to stroke patients. Suzanne’s view is that nursing is all about patients and being there for them – what a breath of fresh air!

Pictured from left to right myself, Staff  Nurse Wendy Worsley, Health Care Assistant Cristine Gildea and Matron Suzanne Lomax.

On The Stroke Unit

At Bolton Market

Last week (sorry for the late posting but I’ve had a few days in the Lake District with my Mark and the girls over half term) Tobias Ellwood MP The Shadow Minister for Tourism came to visit for the day. Tobias was speaking at my Business Club on Thursday evening and spent the day visiting other businesses in Bolton.

We started the visit at Bolton’s Market (pictured) which earlier this year won the Greater Manchester Tourism Award of the Year. We should be very proud of our market, it has a long history and sells some wonderful produce. I must also thank Unsworth’s Deli for some amazing turkey sandwiches.

Whilst there Tobias did an interview for The Bolton News and Bolton FM. Next we headed off for Smithills Hall, it’s funny that you don’t always appreciate things on your own doorstep, and I think Smithills Hall is one of those. I’d forgotten just how wonderful this historic Hall is, I would recommend anyone to go and visit, and to go with one of the tour guides. We had Derek Eccles who made our journey around the Hall a  pleasure.