Cornwall, Lord Ashcroft, Newton, Tories
In news on March 8, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Charlotte MacKenzie has written to the local Tory PPC demanding answers on funding from Lord Ashcroft:
“I am writing to follow up some of your comments at the recent Falmouth School hustings; these were about what I can only describe as your party’s Deputy Chairman Lord Ashcroft’s bankrolling of political campaigns.
The facts have been widely reported. In 1999, when Conservative leader at the time William Hague first recommended Lord Ashcroft for a Peerage, he was rejected. It was only in 2000, after he promised to return to live in Britain and pay tax here, that the House of Lords allowed him to become a member. It has now emerged that this is a promise he never kept. Instead of paying tens of millions of pounds in tax – money that might have helped to fund Cornish schools and hospitals – Lord Ashcroft chose to spend the money on Conservative political campaigns instead.
I have three simple questions for you in relation to Lord Ashcroft:
1. Do you think it is right that Lord Ashcroft should have been allowed by your party’s leaders to conceal the truth about his status for 10 years?
2. Will you repay any money that has come from Lord Ashcroft or one of his companies directly or indirectly via Tory central office?
3. Will you rule out taking any donations from Lord Ashcroft or his companies in future?
I won’t allow a fair future for people in Cornwall to be bought off by a billionaire from Belize. People here have a right to know how many £s from Lord Ashcroft’s donations have been spent on your Conservative campaigns contacting people in Truro and Falmouth constituency. At the Falmouth School public event you said you would be privileged if you were elected, and I agree.
Next time people in Truro and Falmouth receive one of your letters or leaflets, they have a right to feel and recognise that your expensive Tory campaigns may have come at the cost of a new school or new health care facilities for people in Cornwall. The Conservative Party also want to cut Sure Start, cut the Child Tax Credit, and scrap the Child Trust Fund for millions of UK families. While at the same time giving the richest people in Britain a huge £200,000 tax break.
Given the importance of this matter I am copying this letter to local media.
I would not want this letter to compromise our friendly and direct recognition as the two main Party candidates here since 2007. The coming general election will be a choice between a Labour and Tory government, and we have one shared belief in common: Cornwall needs representation of the Party in Government.
Yours sincerely
Charlotte”
animal protection, Charlotte MacKenzie, hunting
In news on February 19, 2010 at 10:12 am
Five years ago, on 18 February 2004, the Labour Government’s Hunting Act became law, ending the cruelty and suffering of hunting with dogs.
Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth Charlotte MacKenzie said:
“In this rural constituency, I hear both sides of the arguments for and against the Hunting Act. But the majority of people who have contacted me on this issue are asking me to confirm that I will vote against any proposed repeal that would allow the cruelty of hunting with dogs to return.
“The fifth anniversary of this hard won Labour law is a day of celebration for those who support animal protection, and believe it is an ethical as well as environmental cause. Rather than trying to turn the clock back on hunting with dogs, those seeking a sustainable future for rural communities, as I do, need to look to the future.
“It would not be a good use of parliamentary time to bring forward a proposed repeal of the Hunting Act. It shows just how out of touch the Tories are with the issues that matter most to people, including those in rural communities: jobs, the economy, health services, schools, housing, and transport.
“But if a proposed repeal of the Hunting Act were brought forward, I will vote to continue the ban on this cruelty, and I have also pledged to support a wider range of animal protection measures by ‘voting cruelty free’.”
Cornwall, firestation, Lib Dem incompetence, libraries, schools, Tory cuts
In news on January 26, 2010 at 11:23 am
Cornwall Council leader Alec Robertson this morning confirmed yesterday’s Cabinet decision to agree to cut the Council budget and services by 20 per cent. With a warning that 1,000 jobs may go, he refused to be drawn on possible specific cuts.
It was inevitable that last year’s Council reorganisation would lead to streamlining of backroom administration in areas like IT and finance. There have already been some job losses as a direct result. Now the Council says it is looking to contract out some of this administration.
Labour’s prospective MP Charlotte MacKenzie said: “The Council’s Tory dominated leadership must now tell people in Cornwall which one in five of our schools, firestations, one stop shops, libraries, community and voluntary sector funding, and other services they intend to cut.
“The Council’s three year funding settlement from central government – which supports most local services – increased by more than 4 per cent this year, well above inflation.”
Independent reports previously concluded that the former Liberal Democrat administration lacked effective political leadership in it’s handling of issues such as proposed cuts to local fire services.
Charlotte MacKenzie added: “Now the new Tory dominated leadership seems to be following the Liberal Democrats’ poor example. Everyone who works for the Council and relies on their services now fears what these plans will mean for them.
“By refusing to take up the invitation to work as part of the new Council’s leadership, the Liberal Democrat group has placed itself in the position where they can only do what they sometimes seem to enjoy most: complain loudly, be ignored, and then blame somebody else.”
climate change, Cornwall, housing, Sarah Newton, schools, Tory cons, transport
In news on January 18, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth, Charlotte MacKenzie, today challenged the local Tory candidate to make known her real views on local priorities. ConservativeHome today published the top priorities of Tory candidates.
Charlotte MacKenzie said:
“This is a coward’s charter and it is not what Cornwall needs. The Tory candidates who responded to this survey put Cornwall’s priorities last.
“The issues they ranked as least important include affordable housing, better transport, new schools, protecting the countryside from over-development, and tackling climate change. Most people see these as some of their top priorities for Cornwall. I challenge Sarah Newton to confirm whether she replied to this survey, and if so to publish her response.
“Everyone can ask MPs and candidates for their views on climate change through Ed Miliband’s website .
“This is an own goal for local Tories – it is hypocritical to make promises they lack the clout to deliver, even within their own Party.”
climate change, Cornwall, Tory cons
In news on January 18, 2010 at 1:33 pm
The latest press release from Cornwall’s Tories claims of their plans to dispose of 48 office buildings and spend £12 Million plus on remodelling three main offices:
“Capital receipts from property disposals will be re-invested in better services.”
Whereas Local Government Association guidance published in October 2009 confirms the legal position:
“Councils can only use assets sales to finance capital spending.”
This fact was made clear to Cornwall Council’s Cabinet on Wednesday 13 January 2010, and the Tory press release was published after that meeting.
While we are on the subject of Tory bogus claims, the fact that buildings which are no longer Council offices will not contribute to the Council’s carbon emissions may do nothing to reduce Cornwall’s carbon footprint if these buildings continue to be used by others without being retro-fitted.
What has happened to Cornwall’s climate change action plan?
Cornwall, housing, John Healey MP
In news on January 12, 2010 at 1:48 am
Housing Minister John Healey MP announced on Monday 11 January that Labour is increasing funding for new council homes by £500 Million.
Some of this funding has already been allocated to Cornwall Council to build more council houses including 16 new homes at Tresillian near Truro. Charlotte MacKenzie, Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth, said:
“This is great news for Cornwall. This is the largest council house building programme for at least two decades and I am really glad that people in this constituency will benefit. The boost for our area is part of the massive £1.5 Billion housing pledge announced by the Prime Minister last June.
“Everyone deserves a decent home, but house prices and private sector rents make that unaffordable for many people in Cornwall. This funding is a step in the right direction and I will be calling for further funding in future so that we can meet Cornwall’s housing needs.
“Labour’s actions stands in stark contrast to the Tories’ proposals for slashing spending on affordable housing – which would have seen £800m less invested in housing over the past year. The Liberal Democrats are never going to form a government or hold the purse strings to help people in Cornwall.”
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