Monthly Archive for March, 2010

Cancellation of Brighouse Election Forum

Published on March 28, 2010 in News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Letter from Hilary Myers to Rev Dr Ian Coverdale, Chair of Churches Together in Brighouse & Rastrick, 27 March 2010:

Dear Ian,

Thank you for your letter explaining the insurmountable difficulties you had trying to arrange a pre-election Question Time Panel of the parliamentary candidates in Brighouse.

I have to say I am very disappointed.

As you know I was always prepared to be flexible with regard to the make up of the panel and felt it was up to Churches Together, as the organisers and hosts of the event, to have the final say.

I am concerned that the Labour and Conservative candidates, who took opposing positions on who they would or would not appear with, have effectively sabotaged the whole event.

As a result, the electorate has been denied a chance to quiz the people who are seeking their votes, in person, during the General Election Campaign itself.

This is not a victory for democracy or for common sense. It is just another nail in the coffin of our outdated political system. No wonder people are so fed up with the two old parties. They think it’s just about the two of them having an argument about whose turn it is next. They make so much noise that none of the smaller parties who want to see real change, not just phony change, ever get much of a look in. It’s a stitch up!

Can I thank you again Ian, for trying to arrange this event. I hope this disappointing outcome will not deter Churches Together from trying again at future elections. Please pass on my best wishes and thanks to all your members.

I am copying this letter to Michael Peel at the Halifax Courier and to Stephen Firth at the Brighouse Echo for their information should they wish to represent my views to their readers.

Yours sincerely,

Hilary Myers

Hilary Myers criticises budget on national TV

Published on March 25, 2010 in News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Hilary Myers on Sky News

In a pair of interviews shown live on national TV on budget day, Hilary Myers, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Calder Valley, criticised Alistair Darling’s budget for a lack of fairness.

When interviewed by Sky News before the budget statement, Hilary explained that she would like to see a budget focused on making Britain a fairer place. Liberal Democrat proposals would reduce the tax burden on the least well off by scrapping income tax on the first £10,000 earned for everybody. Lib Dems would also invest to help stimulate the green economy, reducing carbon emissions and creating new jobs.

Following Alistair Darling’s budget statement, Hilary expressed disappointment. She said:

“There should have been more measures to close the inequality gap between rich and poor, which has widened under the current Labour government. The budget also had very little detail about the cuts and savings that are going to have to be made, and not enough measures to help the environment.”

Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, said:

“The Chancellor is incapable of coming clean about where spending cuts will have to fall. Rather than being honest with people about what the Government can and cannot afford, the Chancellor would rather let others indiscriminately shave departmental budgets.”

Tories are wrong about empty homes

Published on March 17, 2010 in News. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Letter from Hilary Myers to the Halifax Courier, 17 March 2010:

Councillor Byrne’s assertion that ‘using empty homes is not the key to Calderdale’s housing problems’ (Courier, 14th March) is an insult to the 8,000 people on our housing waiting list. Whilst some of these empty properties might not be suitable for families, the majority could and should be brought back into use. This would not only benefit those on the waiting list, but refurbishing and re-occupying these homes would have the added benefit of improving the character and condition of the streets and places within which so called ‘void’ properties are to be found.

Byrne’s notion that scrapping the modest regional targets for building only 800 new homes in Calderdale also suggests that she and the Tory-run local authority want to duck their responsibility for providing high quality affordable housing for those whose cannot currently get their feet on the housing ladder. Yes, it is important that local communities help create bottom-up local plans, but we all need to meet our obligations to help solve a national and local housing crisis.

A survey of planning experts found that 80% of them think the Conservatives’ policies, as outlined in their recent ‘Green Paper’ on this issue, will lead to a fall in houses being built. This is because, like Cllr Byrne, their proposals show ‘a complete lack of understanding about how the planning system works and that incentivising communities to welcome development will be unsuccessful’. Evidence of this can be found in her mishandling of Calderdale’s plans to build 400 houses in the Copley Valley. If this is an example of how she and her Cabinet colleagues intend to help ‘residents shape and protect the character of their neighbourhoods’ then we should all be deeply worried.

The Liberal Democrats would start solving our national housing supply problems by bringing the 250,000 vacant homes back into active use, including the 3,300 in Calderdale. This would also help to both secure and create many jobs in the construction industry. As we know, Calderdale is a great place in which to live. It is not surprising that people want to set up home or stay here. To callously dismiss the opportunity to bring empty properties back into use, and all the benefits that go with such a plan, shows how Conservative politicians are insensitive to local needs and lack any sort of vision for addressing urgent problems and making the most of existing assets and opportunities.

Hilary Myers

ID card warning for Todmorden

Published on March 16, 2010 in News. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

Letter from Hilary Myers to the Todmorden News, 16 March 2010:

In recent days residents of Todmorden have received a letter from the Home Office, Identity and Passport Service, recommending that they apply for an ID card and outlining all the so-called benefits.

But readers of the Todmorden News should be warned. The Government is telling them only half the story. What they don’t tell you is that you will be signing up for a lifetime of fees and penalties, compulsory fingerprinting and lifelong surveillance and data trafficking. Once you’re on the ID database you never get off. Why risk it?

And even if the issue of your civil liberties doesn’t bother you that much, just consider the outrageous cost of this scheme. The agency in charge is spending about £230,000 a day in making its giant database the hub of government activity.

For more information visit www.no2id.net, www.IDcardcon.org or www.libdems.org.uk.

Don’t be conned!

Hilary Myers

Hilary tops poll at education debate

Published on March 14, 2010 in News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

On 11 March 2010, Hilary Myers took place in an education debate at Todmorden High School, organised by the NUT. The panel featured Steph Booth (Labour), Hilary Myers (Lib Dem), Craig Whittaker (Conservative) as well as Christine Blower (NUT General Secretary) and Rebecca Senior (Head Girl of Tod High).

Hilary spoke about Lib Dem plans to invest an extra £2.5bn in schools, and highlighted the shortcomings of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future policy whereby it has penalised schools like Todmorden High which have improved their results, meaning they are less likely to get new buildings. She also pointed out that the Tories would cut money allocated to rebuild schools, and divert it into building new academies, which would be of no use to pupils in the Calder Valley.

After each question, a group of around a dozen sixth formers/first time voters were asked to vote electronically, and anonymously, on who had answered the question best. Hilary got the highest score of the politicians on every single question.

At the end of the event, this group were asked to vote on the question “who would get your vote now?”. Hilary topped the poll with an overwhelming 61.5% of the vote, proving that not only are Liberal Democrat education policies head and shoulders above the other parties, but that Hilary Myers is the only candidate for Calder Valley trusted to deliver on education.

The final votes, as shown in the picture above, were as follows:

  • Labour: 7.7%
  • Conservative: 7.7%
  • Liberal Democrats: 61.5%
  • Green Party: 23.1%
  • UKIP: 0%
  • BNP: 0%
  • Other: 0%

View report of the debate in the Halifax Courier.

Spring 2010 campaign – Education

Published on March 12, 2010 in News. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , .

One of Tony Blair’s most famous speeches prior to his election in 1997 promised that his top three priorities would be “Education, education, education”. Thirteen years later, the Labour government’s record on education has gone from bad to worse.

Government figures from January 2010 reveal that the gap between poorer children and the better-off is clear when they are only five years old. Labour’s shameful failure to give children from disadvantaged backgrounds extra support means that this gap grows wider as children grow older.

Liberal Democrats would spend an extra £2.5bn on schools, giving them the money they need to cut class sizes and run catch-up classes, particularly for younger children. This will help ensure all children get the individual attention they need and a fair start in life.

For university students, we have a carefully costed plan for phasing out tuition fees. Liberal Democrats believe it’s fundamentally wrong that young graduates start their working live owing tens of thousands of pounds to the state.

But it’s about more than just money. We would reduce the number of tests taken by primary school children. Additionally, we would replace the national curriculum with a slimmed down “minimum curriculum entitlement”, enabling teachers to be more flexible and creative. We would enable older pupils to take a mixture of academic study and vocational training, to better prepare themselves for the world of work.

David Laws MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, says:

“The gap between poorer children and the better-off is clear when they are only five years old. Labour’s shameful failure to give children from disadvantaged backgrounds extra support means that this gap grows wider as children grow older.

The Conservatives’ plans will mean many schools have their budgets slashed.

Liberal Democrats will give schools the money to cut class sizes and provide children who are struggling with more individual support by committing an extra £2.5bn.”

Hilary Myers, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Calder Valley, says:

“We have made a key strategic decision, in this age of austerity that is upon us, to increase spending in one important area – our children’s future. I believe that dedicating £2500 each for one million of our poorest children is right, sensible and fair.”

Come clean on funding Craig!

Published on March 11, 2010 in News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Letter from Hilary Myers to the Halifax Courier, 11 March 2010:

I note that Craig Whittaker, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Calder Valley, is now advertising himself on local buses. I wonder how he can afford such costly promotions?

The cynical attempt of Lord Ashcroft, a non-dom, to fund the campaigns of would-be Tory MPs in marginal seats such as ours and to use his money to support potential lawmakers who would help set the taxes for everyone else while his mega-rich Lordship makes his own arrangements, has been exposed as an outrageous affront to democracy.

In the new spirit of transparency and financial openness to be expected following the MPs’ expenses scandal, I think local voters should be told exactly how much ‘Ashcroft Money’ has been channelled into Craig’s campaign, both in the last few years and in support of this latest expensive initiative.

My questions for Craig are:

  1. Have you received any money or donations in kind from Lord Ashcroft or his company Bearwood Corporate Services Ltd since 2000?
  2. If so, are you happy to receive money from someone who has not been paying full UK tax?

I challenge him to come clean now about his expenses and how he is funding his campaign. If he is not prepared to be open about this there is little reason to trust him to do so should he be elected to represent the people of Calder Valley in the next Parliament.

Hilary Myers

Hilary Myers is first Calder Valley PPC to sign up to DEMREF 2010

Published on March 8, 2010 in News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Hilary Myers has become the first Calder Valley PPC to sign up to DEMREF 2010, a campaign which aims to react to the MPs’ expenses scandal by asking parliamentary candidates where they stand on reform of the political system.

Liberal Democrats have been calling for proper reform of the political system for many years. We want to move to a proper proportional voting system, but also have fixed term parliaments and full reform of the House of Lords, amongst other measures.

It therefore comes as no surprise that Hilary Myers was the first, and to date the only, Calder Valley PPC to sign up to the campaign and list what measures she supports.

Pub closures – cause for concern

Published on March 1, 2010 in News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Hilary outside a local closed pub

Hilary Myers, Local Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) for the Calder Valley constituency, is concerned about the number of pub closures in the Calder Valley. There are least ten boarded up pubs along the A646 from Todmorden to Friendly. Today, she has committed to the following.

  • Promote the interests of Britain’s pub goers
  • Champion well-run community pubs
  • Support the rebalancing alcohol taxation to support beer and pubs
  • Press for reform of beer tie to deliver a fair deal for consumers
  • Support the role of well-run pubs as solutions to alcohol misuse

These commitments are based on a campaign being run by CAMRA, The Campaign for Real Ale which is asking all Prospective Parliamentary Candidates whether they are willing to speak up for Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers. CAMRA’s new Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter sets out a series of options for supporting well-run community pubs, local brewers and consumer rights.

Mike Benner, CAMRA’s Chief Executive welcomed Hilary Myers’ support for the Charter, saying:

“We are delighted that Hilary Myers has promised to work to promote the interests of beer drinkers and pub goers. Well-run pubs make a huge contribution to community life, each of which injects £80,000 into their local economy every year.  Amid growing concern over the loss of more than 5 pubs a day, it is now more important than ever to support well-run community pubs, to promote local brewers and to protect the interests of consumers.”

Speaking after signing up to CAMRA’s Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter, Hilary Myers said:

“I am proud to be speaking up for community pubs, local brewers and consumers.  Well-run pubs are the bedrock of community life – they are part of the solution to the problem of alcohol misuse and not part of the problem.  They deserve our support.”