How many times do people in Falmouth need to let Post Office Ltd know that moving the main post office to Market Strand won’t work.

The Moor is Falmouth’s main stopping place for buses, disabled parking, and taxis. It was designed partly to meet the needs of the many people who rely on the post office.

Market Strand is not suitable as it lacks adequate parking and is a busy thoroughfare which is often congested with traffic.

The people of Falmouth have twice fought successfully to block plans to move (or close) the post office.

Falmouth Labour Party is backing the local campaign to keep the post office on Falmouth Moor.

To make your views known during the six week consultation:

E-mail consultation@postoffice.co.uk

Write to:

Post Office Ltd,

c/o National Consultation Team,

PO BOX 2060,

Watford,

WD18 8ZW.

Phone 08457 223344.

The election of Ed Miliband has been welcomed by Labour Party members in Cornwall today.

Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“We are looking forward to working with Ed Miliband for Labour to win the next election. Labour opposes the unnecessary job losses, cuts, and VAT rise made by the Tories and Liberal Democrats which will cause hardship for many people in Cornwall.

“Members across Cornwall supported all the leadership candidates, and because of that we decided as a constituency Party not to back any one candidate’s nomination.

“During the Labour leadership election Ed Miliband met members and supporters in Cornwall at the Eden project. He really listens and unites people behind him.

“I know that all our members in Cornwall will now unite behind the whole Party’s choice of Ed Miliband as leader and as the next Labour Prime Minister.”

For further information and Labour Party conference comments this week contact:
–
Charlotte MacKenzie
Truro and Falmouth Labour Party
01872 261675
07932 501293

Letter to West Briton, published August 2010:

Cornwall Council recently agreed that Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly should set up our own Local Economic Partnership – which will lead on local economic development when the Regional Development Agency goes. So why has it since been announced that instead Cornwall Council will bid to be part of a wider partnership with Devon, Exeter, Plymouth, and Torbay?

There is nothing to stop a Cornwall LEP working in partnership with others on issues such as transport infrastructure. Whereas the wider grouping misses the opportunity to ensure that decisions about our economic future will be made here. Cornwall Council’s consultation about this closes on 19 August, and the bid must be submitted by 6 September.

At the same time, on 6 September, Parliament will debate legislation to bring in new constituency boundaries which will reduce Cornwall’s representation at Westminster and create one or more larger constituency that crosses the Tamar.

During the election, candidates of all Parties said they had Cornwall’s best interests at heart. Some have spoken locally against the boundary changes but none have tabled amendments to change the draft legislation. If you want your local MP to vote against this Bill so that Cornwall continues to have six MPs please write and ask them to do so.

What price democracy? First the Cornwall Council executive ignores the clearly expressed wishes of our elected councillors. Then our MPs ignore the wishes of local people and look set to vote for a Bill which will mean Cornwall has less MPs.

Update 6 September 2010

1. As anticipated, all six Cornish MPs voted with the Lib Con Government. The Bill has now passed it’s second reading and will be the subject of five days consideration in committee. Sarah Newton MP and Cornwall’s three Liberal Democrat MPs said nothing. Sheryll Murray MP asked fellow Tory Cornish MP George Eustice whether it was fair that the Bill would lead to at least one constituency crossing the Cornwall/Devon boundary. He said no, and referred to the fact that Cornwall is a ‘Duchy’; but he had already said he would be voting for the Bill.

2. In the event, the Local Economic Partnership proposal which went in today is for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly; the bid document is here.

Letter to West Briton, published August 2010:

Many Cornish families now fear unemployment as Cornwall Council announced plans to cut 2000 local jobs (West Briton, 29 July).

These jobs cuts are not inevitable – chief executive Kevin Lavery describes them as “pre-emptive”. It makes no sense at all to second guess central government cuts rather than make the case strongly for more continued funding because of the disastrous impact cuts will have on local services and the local economy.

The Con Dem Government’s budget already threatens the household budgets of many families in Cornwall. The cancellation of plans for new school buildings will mean job losses in the construction industry. The possible delay in infrastructure projects like the Scillies ferry and terminal will also have a negative impact on jobs and the economy. Driving more people onto unemployment benefits from the private as well as public sector will increase, not reduce, public spending – as it did when the Tories were last in government.

Labour opposes the VAT increase which even Liberal Democrat MPs like Andrew George – who voted for the Con Dem budget – acknowledges will hit hardest those who can least afford it. People in Cornwall must surely see through the fact that Liberal Democrat MPs are voting for cuts and VAT increases in London, while their Councillors pretend the Council’s plans for 2000 job losses in Cornwall are nothing to do with them.

These jobs cuts can and must be opposed by everyone in Cornwall who cares for the well-being of the many people who rely on Council services and jobs.

The Coalition Government announced it’s first budget today.

The budget included plans to:

• freeze pay for Cornwall’s four out of ten workers employed in the public sector;
• cut housing benefits which helped many people in Cornwall keep their homes during the recession;
• cut funding for child benefits, Sure Start, and the disability living allowance;
• review transport and other investment plans which are important for Cornwall’s economy in the Autumn.

Labour spokesperson Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“This budget is bad news for people in Cornwall.

“Many people here will be worse off as a result of today’s announcements. Many local workers now face pay freezes alongside bigger bills. It will increase the threat of homelessness for families on lower incomes. It cuts support for families with children and for Sure Start, and plans to cut funding for the Disability Living Allowance. There is a commitment to review spending on transport and other projects in the Autumn, and there was no specific commitment to any of the plans for investment in Cornwall’s transport infrastructure.

“It isn’t surprising that a Tory Chancellor would make these cuts. But many people here have previously supported the Liberal Democrats because they believed they could stop the Tories. Today, top Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander sat on side with the Tories while they savaged the household incomes of many Cornish families and those on lower incomes.”

To join Labour call 08705 900 200 or follow the link below.

The Falmouth Penwerris byelection saw Labour take 38 per cent of the votes cast.

At Cornwall Council elections last year, the County and District Penwerris seats – which had previously been held by both Labour and the Liberal Democrats – were one of four Independent wins in Falmouth.

On Thursday 27 May, Labour’s Kim Moreton received 304 votes – the same number with which the Cornwall Council seat was won by Independent Councillor Grenville Chappel in 2009. Although the Falmouth Town Council byelection seat was narrowly won by the Conservative candidate with 324 votes, Labour’s voteshare represents a substantial swing back to Labour, and shows the Party is fighting back successfully to rebuild our strength in Falmouth.

Charlotte MacKenzie today thanked everyone who voted Labour in Truro and Falmouth.

Speaking after the result had been declared, Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“I want to thank everyone who voted for me and voted Labour here.

“The general election turnout and result in this constituency shows many more people voting Labour than at last year’s local elections, when some people who were rightly dismayed by the MPs’ expenses scandal chose to stay home.

“Many people who lent their support to the Liberal Democrats because they believed that was the best way to ‘stop the Tories’ at this general election feel utterly betrayed by the fact that Nick Clegg is now in talks about possibly supporting the Tories to form a government in this hung Parliament.

“How people vote is a matter for them. My personal approach has always been to encourage people to vote for what they believe in.”

The Falmouth Packet has corrected an inaccurate report on a public debate in Falmouth this week.

They misreported broadcast comments on immigration by Labour’s general election candidate for Truro and Falmouth Charlotte MacKenzie.

The comments were made during the recording of a BBC Radio Cornwall debate which was broadcast and can be listened to again online here.

Charlotte MacKenzie said in response to a question on EU immigration that it is a two-way street and single Labour market.

The invited audience drawn from across the Truro and Falmouth constituency applauded Charlotte MacKenzie’s further comments that asylum seekers need protection.

Speaking today Charlotte MacKenzie said: “Falmouth has been a cosmopolitan seaport welcoming people from Europe and beyond for centuries. As a candidate I won’t pander to prejudice and made this clear during the BBC broadcast. I am glad that the Falmouth Packet have published this retraction.”

Truro and Falmouth – vote Labour

Charlotte’s website

Charlotte’s blog

Charlotte MacKenzie TV

Follow Charlotte on Twitter

Find Charlotte on facebook – politician’s page and profile

Recent news:

BBC Radio Cornwall – listen to the Truro and Falmouth debate

West Briton – listen to the Truro and Falmouth podcast

Voting for Cornwall’s economy

Housing and earnings in Cornwall – candidate debate

Cornwall’s NHS – candidate debate

Charlotte’s candidate column – Falmouth edition

Labour launches manifesto

Cornwall’s environment – candidate debate

Cornwall Council – first candidate debate

The Daily Mirror 2010 guide to voting tactically to keep the Tories out confirms

Labour supporters – vote Labour here

Charlotte’s promises to you:

an honest, fair, hardworking, local MP who lives hereI will only claim for the direct costs of doing the job. I will publish my diary and expenses in full. I will not take on a second job.

protecting Cornwall’s NHSNew NHS treatment guarantees for patients. Get results from cancer tests within one week of seeing your GP. Mums can choose where to give birth.

fair funding for elderly careLabour will introduce a new National Care Service like the NHS. Free of the fear that people must sell their homes and spend family savings to pay for the care they need.

more local jobs

Labour’s investment will help start up new industries for Cornwall – in the creative, digital, marine, maritime, and renewable sectors.

local homes your family can affordMy job as an MP will partly be to help ensure Cornwall Council listens to you and delivers more local homes that your family can afford. Labour is investing in low cost housing, and helping first-time buyers by raising the stamp duty threshold to £250,000, and

we will keep mortgage interest rates low.

more new schools and better children’s servicesThis year the Labour Government allocated £69 Million of a possible total £500 Million for Cornwall’s schools for the future. The Labour Government intervened to make sure Cornwall Council improves local children’s services.

fair system of student fundingAccess to university must be based on ability, not wealth – I will put local students first when considering any proposed changes to university funding, and vote against any increase in top up fees.

The choice in this constituency

At every general election since the second world war when Falmouth was in the same constituency as Truro, Labour won the seat.

In this constituency today there is a three way fight between the main Parties. It is only fair for voters to expect openness from the candidates, particularly in the wake of the MPs’ expenses scandal.

After your MP is elected, whether or not they choose transparency, they will be under public scrutiny.

The well-established website They Work for You which keeps track of how MPs vote on key issues has invited candidates to answer national and local questions to help people decide how to place their vote. At the time of posting this, the Tory and Green candidates in Truro and Falmouth have not done so. Why not?

Public trust in politicians is a huge issue at this election. But only Charlotte MacKenzie for Labour and the Tory candidate in this constituency have so far made and published a voluntary declaration of interests. This isn’t a legal requirement for candidates, but it is for MPs.

Surely those wanting to be elected must recognise voters will make up their own minds if they fail to publish this information using the common format.