Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The Prime Minister Commits to In - Out EU Referendum

Campaigning for a EU Referendum at last year's Conservative Party Conference

Today's speech by the Prime Minister was truly historic and marks a watershed in Britain's relationship with Europe. The British people will be given a say on whether they wish to remain in the EU. I was not alive when Britain last voted on Europe and only those who are at least 55 today had a say when the country was last given a vote in 1975.

The vast majority of the public are thoroughly unhappy with our present relationship with Europe. A Conservative Government would renegotiate a new relationship with EU and put it to the people to decide whether we remain in or leave.

This is a chance to fundamentally change not just our relationship with Europe but hopefully Europe itself, a chance to regain control of our borders and to restore law making powers to this country and most importantly a chance for the British people to decide. 

I am very proud of the Prime Minister today and courage he has shown. The dividing line with Labour is clear. Labour will refuse the people a say. It is therefore imperative that the Conservatives win in 2015.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Conservatives Call For Council Tax Freeze

Southampton Conservatives are calling for council tax to be frozen for a 3rd year running. The government has made available £800,000 this year to support Southampton in keeping council tax down, yet Labour are proposing turning the cash down and instead raising council tax by 2%.

Today we heard that Southampton is set to receive an additional £5.8M from government this year. This is money can be used to protect front line services that are under threat from the Labour run council. Southampton Conservatives are saying that with extra funding from government there is no excuse for key services to be cut and local taxes hiked up by Labour.

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Labour Should Abandon Their Cuts to Vulnerable Children

Before Christmas I went to visit the Southampton Young Carers Project, a service at risk of being axed by the new Labour Council Administration.

The Young Carers Project supports some of the most vulnerable families in the city. The project supports 120 brave young children who look after sick or disabled family members. It gives them valuable respite, puts on trips for them and helps to give them a childhood despite the pressures of family life.

Labour announced in November that they will withdraw the full £89,000pa that the council currently gives to the service. This would mean that in April the service will be cut off at the knees, with no time to find alternative sources of funding to keep it going.
Labour’s budget cuts have disproportionately hit services to children in Southampton and cuts like the Young Carers Project will not save money in the long run and instead will put more pressure on families, leading to more family breakdown and children being taken into care.

Local Conservative Councillors are calling on Labour to abandon their plans to cut the service.