A weekend of campaigning and football

I’m just taking a quick break from a hectic bank holiday campaigning weekend. I’ve been out with our brilliant campaign teams throughout the constituency, talking to voters and delivering Labour’s message for the final few days of the campaign; fighting for your future.

When the media feeding frenzy about leaders’ debates, personalities and other campaign trivia dies down, the fact remains that this election is about your future and the future of your family and your community.

As Peter Mandelson said yesterday, if David Cameron walks into Downing Street next week he will immediately start implementing his plan to shrink our economy by £6bn at a time it needs continuing support. The implications for jobs, living standards and public services are dreadful.

But enough of politics. Following a morning campaigning I was at a packed Horsfall stadium yesterday afternoon to watch Bradford Park Avenue’s heartbreaking defeat in the final of the Unibond Premier League play-off. Having finished runners up to Guiseley in the league, Avenue won their play-off semi final last week to ensure a place in the final against Boston United. Despite taking the lead Avenue couldn’t hold on an finally lost 2-1 in extra time.

Victory would have seen Avenue promoted to Conference North, and only two promotions away from re-establishing themselves back in the Football League. I know the club are still very ambitious and I’m sure they will bounce back even stronger next season.

Sticking with football, on Wednesday evening I attended an election debate about football issues organised by the Bradford City Supporters Trust. It was a really good evening with a great discussion of the key issue facing the sport. The panel was made up of myself and representatives from the Liberal Democrats and Green Party. The Tories were invited to send a representative but they declined the invitation. Says it all really.

The mask slips…

So, finally, we get to see some flesh on the Tories policies; and what frightening reading they make for local communities in places like Bradford. Cameron’s slick PR mask has finally slipped and revealed the true nature of his Thatcherite agenda; savage cuts to public services and tax breaks for the wealthy.

Firstly, we had Cameron telling the BBC that his £6 billion spending cuts would be targeted at regions outside of London and the South-East, just like the Tories did in the 1980s.

Then we discover that the Tories would end Labour’s policy of free nursery places for all 3 and 4 years olds by allowing childcare providers to charge parents top-up fees. This would be a real blow to many families in Bradford South and could put childcare out of their financial reach.

Next up we had this story. A number of senior Tories criticising their own policy on so called ‘free schools’ and admitting that the only way to pay for them was to cut the budgets of existing schools. Whilst Labour has doubled pupil investment and launched the biggest school building programme ever, the Tories would look to reverse this policy and take money from our schools.

Be afraid, be very afraid….

Happy St George’s Day

A happy St George’s Day to you all from everyone here at the Bradford South Labour HQ. We’ve been out on the doorstep already this morning, following another school gate campaign session in Queensbury. It’s going to be another busy weekend for me and all of our local campaign teams throughout the constituency.

As well as the general election, May 6th is also the date of the local council elections in Bradford. Labour has a great slate of candidates in Bradford South and I hope you will support them with your vote. They are

Great Horton – Joanne Dodds
Queensbury – David Allen
Royds – Val Slater
Tong – Alan Wainwright
Wibsey – Lynne Smith
Wyke – David Warburton

For those of you living in Tong ward it will be a chance to vote for local man Alan Wainwright. Alan was selected to fight the seat for Labour following the announcement by long-serving Councillor Tony Cairns that he was retiring. Tony has served the people of Tong with distinction for 26 years and he will be sorely missed, but I know Alan will make an excellent Councillor.

Eddie Izzard - Brilliant Britain

Enemy at the Gates

Apologies for not posting for a while, but I’ve been busy out on the campaign trail as you would expect. In fact, I’m just in between campaign sessions at the minute. Me and the team have just been leafleting and talking to parents outside a primary school in Wibsey, and next up it’s a door knocking session also in Wibsey.

These ‘school gate’ events are a great way of meeting some of those who have most benefitted from a Labour government; young families. We have seen real progress over the last 13 years in policies that give real help to families: Sure Start, tax credits, a doubling of investment in spending per pupil, an increase in paid maternity leave to 39 weeks, paid paternity leave, the right to request flexible working, the Child Trust Fund, free childcare for all 3 and 4 year olds, an 80% increase in Child Benefit since 1997 – these are all policies that have really helped families in Bradford South.

Yes, they are all achievements that will be under threat if we wake up on May 7th with a Tory government. The Tories have said they will cut Sure Start, cut tax credits for many families, axe the Child Trust Fund. David Cameron and the Tories voted against the increase in paid maternity leave, against the increases in Child Benefit, against the right to request flexible working, against our extra investment in education.

The Tory agenda is one of abandoning communities like those in Bradford South. The Tories are a change we can’t afford.

But don’t take my word for it; watch Labour’s new short campaign video featuring the brilliant Eddie Izzard above, or by clicking on this link www.labour.org.uk/brilliant-britain Well worth a watch.