I’ve had a fantastic few months talking over Wokingham people’s opinions and ideas; So I’ve listened, I’ve learned and I’m ready! The Home Page button marked ‘Issues and Policies’ give you more detail, but here are the subjects you found most important and a summary of our manifesto on each of them.
Debt – we will not let the politicians leave our debt for our children to clear up. Recovering from debt will be expensive and painful, but we must take action.
Enterprise – It seems that yet again we have work to do before we can say ‘Britain means business’. It is only the creation of wealth that will take us through our forthcoming challenges. Sleeves up, cut the red tape and let’s get on with it.
Political Reform – The majority of the country’s votes are simply thrown away. In Wokingham alone 23,000 votes out of 46,000 were ignored. These voices need to be heard, even though the main two parties don’t want to listen. I also want the local party machine to have a choice of at least one local person to be a candidate. I also want MP’s to stand for a maximum of two terms – this will attract experienced people and discourage career politicians.
Education – Let the professionals do their job and that job is to inspire children with desire to learn more. Teachers must not be forced to provide ‘tick in the box teaching’.
Immigration – Quality not quantity, We’re not bigots, we are a fair and open minded nation. We need people with the right skills and we need a government that will control numbers.
Freedom. We will not tolerate the creeping sense of state control, underhand taxes and a straightjacket society. If we allow the individual to be free, then we will all prosper.
Europe – Being with Europe is not being European. Being British, French or German etc is to be celebrated and we encourage all countries to retain their identity and at the same time have respect for others. Enjoy an economic partnership and respect our differences. Attempting to merge thousand year old cultures will fail.
Local Issues: Housing – We will continue to fight against the continued build up of housing in Wokingham and West Berkshire. Since 1931, Wokingham has increased in size at 16 times the rate of the rest of the UK, destroying a thousand year old local culture. Town Centre Development. For years now, I have been fighting for a town to be proud of – this will continue. Our Youth. Somewhere to go and something to do. What they want to do, not what we think they want. Engage and connect. Our career starters. I will do all that is possible to give our young workers a great start in working life. This means pulling businesses, community groups and local government together. Retirees. Respect; this is the age of experience, it is preposterous that we ignore this talent. Again, let we must bring Business, Local Government and the Community in Wokingham to bring us together.
These are your issues, you have been my brains, now let me be your voice. Please vote for me on May 6th and YOU WILL MAKE HISTORY.