Meet the first of Louth and Horncastle constituency candidates
THE countdown is on to the 2010 General Election polling day on May 6. Voters will be heading to the polls in Louth and Horncastle with a choice of seven candidates. Here, local government reporter PETER CRAIG takes a look at the pledges from three of the candidates. The remaining four – Julia Green (BNP), Colin Mair (English Democrats), Patrick Mountain (Labour) and Daniel Simpson, (Lincolnshire Independent) will appear tomorrow. Election news and results on the day will be available on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/elections2010
Sir Peter Tapsell – Conservative
THE 80-year-old is aiming to become Father of the House of Commons because of his long service and is relishing the opportunity to pass on his experience to the large intake of new MPs on May 7.
He graduated from Oxford University and was vice-president of the Oxford Union. From 1948 to 1950, Sir Peter served with the Royal Sussex Regiment in The Middle East. During the 1955 election campaign he worked with the then Prime Minister Anthony Eden. He was knighted in 1985 and is married to Gabrielle.
He said: "I was in no way involved in the expenses scandal. I have not been asked to repay a single penny.
"After 50 years in the Commons, my zest for politics remains undimmed.
"My age and experience will be my greatest assets in a parliament full of young, new and unproved members.
"I want to play my part in restoring the prestige of the House of Commons and guiding the country through the problems we are now facing.
"Labour has an appalling record. We cannot go on like this."
Fiona Martin – Liberal Democrat
TWO-time mayor of Horncastle, Fiona Martin is a town and district councillor for Horncastle and has been a party member for up to 30 years.
The married mother-of-four has also represented the area on Lincolnshire County Council and has pledged to work hard as a Liberal Democrat MP and aims to foster a greater response in Westminster to rural problems.
She said: "I know how the recession has affected the people in this constituency and feel it's important for them to have a MP who knows the area well and will fight for them.
"We have four key policies. The first is to have fair taxes that put money back into people's pockets – the first £10,000 of everyone's earnings will be tax-free giving a tax cut of £700.
"The second is to invest in a fair future by making Britain greener, creating real, new jobs that last.
"The third is to give voters a fair deal by cleaning up the system – the right to sack corrupt MPs, an elected House of Lords and a new voting system.
"The fourth is to give a fair chance to every child in this country."
Pat Nurse – UK Independence Party
THE 50-year-old journalist is the daughter of a Second World War immigrant. She is the mother of four and a grandmother to two, and enjoys cycling, walking and horse-riding.
She said: "I have moved into politics because of the social engineering and lifestyle control of Labour's policies.
"These have helped to make the bridge between those who have and those who have not even wider. Labour have priced the poor out of education, strangled business with red tape and made criminals of law-abiding citizens.
"The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats offer much of the same kind of state control and it is time for real change and not just a new face.
"I am also concerned at the growth of super state power from the EU.
"UKIP loves Europe, wants more trade and links with Europe, but it hates the domineering EU Parliament which sucks up to £6.4-billion each year.
"If we left the EU and traded direct with our neighbours then we can better invest in health, education and social services and transport."
4 Comments
by Stephen Minister, Louth
Wednesday, April 28 2010, 1:18PM
“Come on Sir Peter, how about a comment on the fact that Louth is the biggest town in England not to be on the rail network then? There are about 17,000 residents in the town and a further 12,000 in the outlying areas and various villages upto a ten mile radius. That is 29,000 people and no rail link. Dont you not think it shameful that we are the biggest town in England without a railway?”
by Pat Nurse, Lincolnshire
Monday, April 26 2010, 5:41PM
“I would urge all voters to vote with conscience and for the party that is most in line their views. For many, that party is UKIP because of it's stance on freedom, democracy, individualism, immigration, the EU and choice. It came second in the Euro elections because the voter recognised it serves Britain best in Europe. It can do well in the national elections. Real change can only come if the voter wants it. Voting Conservative again, because the area has always voted Conservative is not a valid reason. The Lab/Lib/Con failed old parties have had their day. The political volcanic eruption is coming. You the voter can make it happen if that is what you want.
As for railway links, UKIP would reinstate all old railways lines to provide a proper rail infrastructure in Louth and Horncastle. More needs to be done to end the transport inequality of rural areas. The money for this would come from the wasted £40 million per day that we pay for EU membership which takes away our democracy, our right to make our own laws, and our sovereign right to govern ourselves. More money would come from abolishing the wasted billions lost in administrative and managerial quangos which simply act as a barrier between people and their local services.
For more information about L&H Candidate Pat Nurse see http://patnurseblog.blogspot.com/ For more about UKIP and its policies.see http://www.ukip.org/ Join the revolution!”
by AL, Louth
Friday, April 23 2010, 5:38PM
“I'd be the first to admit that as Tories go, Sir Peter is one of the better ones. But the fact is that thousands seem to vote for them here regardless. If a Tory government is the last thing you want, your vote is totally wasted without proportional representation. I don't know why he bothers campaigning, people will vote blindly for him..or whoever else stands for the Tories.”
by Stephen Minister, Louth
Friday, April 23 2010, 1:28PM
“If you speak to anyone over this election as far as Louth goes, the result is a forgone conclusion. I beleive this is because the Conservative rural vote has been bundled up in to one big safe East Lindsey seat. However, in every election, be it just within the Louth town itself or within the whole of East Lindsey, one extremely important issue always goes forgotten and unaddressed. Louth is the biggest town in England not to have a railway station. The fact the there is a mere 30 miles or so disused railway between Grimsby Town and Firsby, where the trackk still remains used every day and a mere three miles outside Spilsby is an absolute disgrace. As people will know in 1970 this stretch of track was closed down. Big mistake. This closure effectively cut off most of East Lindsey with the exception of Skegness, which in parts is reduced to a single track, with no direct links to Lincoln nor Grimsby. By reintroducing this 30 or so miles of track this would breath new life into Grimsby, Louth, Alford and Boston, all which are market towns. This would produce greener, more sustainable public transport, it would provide freight traffic and bring in much needed business and tourisim. Right now I can hear people say what about the Peakes Parkway? Well, 60 percent of the Peakes Parkway is in the countryside and what 40 percent is in Grimsby town centrer cuts a broad swathe through the community and cuts Grimsby more or less in half. There are already existing roads perfectly able to take traffic once the rail link be introduced. Green sustainable rail transport is the way forward and nobody can offer any ill effects a reintroduced rail link would cause with the exception of a few buildings would need demolishing but with the broader picture being the more important issue here.. As for the cost; Railtrack recently relaid the track with recycled track between Boston and Skegness. If it was considered a viable economic outlay for that stretch of track then it easily is two fold for the Grimsby to firsby section with is actually a shorter distance. So how about is all you election candidates, what do you say?”