Tories meet Southway residents
IMMIGRATION, fixed taxes and European powers were the issues that concerned Southway residents, according to Conservative representatives visiting the area.
Eric Pickles, the UK chairman of the Conservative party, and Matthew Groves, the Tory candidate for the Plymouth Moor View seat, met with people at the Southway shopping centre.
-
CONCERNED: Chairman of the Conservative party, Eric Pickles, with Cindy Page and Conservative candidate Matthew Groves
Mr Pickles said yesterday it was the first time he'd walked into a business and workers had told him it "was time for a change", which happened when he entered the Southway Post Office.
He said: "People in the whole of the South West seem disillusioned by Labour. Most people tell us that they feel the South West has lost out over the last decade or so."
Mr Groves said: "People are angry that Labour signed away so many of our country's powers to Europe and are worried about immigration and fixed taxes affecting pensions.
"We will sign a pledge that any powers proposed to be given away will go through a national referendum first. We will also claim back some of those powers lost."
He said if he got in he would improve rail transport links to Plymouth.
"I will fight for more trains that get to London in under three hours. If we want Plymouth to grow, we need better links," he said.
"If I get elected I'll be banging the table to get a better deal — rail links are a greener way of travelling."
Woolwell resident, Cindy Page, asked Mr Pickles what the party would do to address the amount of young girls getting pregnant and living on benefits.
She said to him: "Why are young people encouraged to leave home by being given a flat?
"They are not being encouraged to learn skills. These problems start at school — people need to respect their elders."
She told The Herald: "He agreed with me. He said the party would do their best to encourage apprenticeships and training."
The Tory chairman said he'd received a friendly reception and was disappointed that in Saltash, Cameron had taken the first egg in the campaign, rather than him.
He said: "We had the first egg of the campaign but we dodged it."
He added: "There have been few incidents of violence. I think it's because we're a polite nation. In other countries you might be at risk of gun fire. It doesn't stop the hecklers though."
5 Comments
by Tim, Plymouth
Thursday, April 29 2010, 4:53PM
“It's such a shame that half the country seem to think that the change we need is more Blairite/Tatcherite (they are the same, think about it) policies. All the Tory's will do is speed us faster down the road to ruin.
The Labour party should be fighting for a higher minimum wage, more progressive taxes and greater investment in public services, not less. It seems only the Greens have a decent economic policy, but are, unfortunately, a wasted vote.
People need to wake up to the fact that our national debt is historically low. Yes the annual deficit is high, but don't listen to the IMF, look how they are about to destroy Greece and Spain.
Yes, leave the country, go and live in Europe where they have proper left wing governments rather than pseudo Tory, neo-liberal, Americanised bigots.”
by Mary, plymouth
Thursday, April 29 2010, 2:28PM
“Well now the politician are lazy as well as greedy. Not one member of any party has visited my street.I was waiting for anyone to persuade me to vote for them because I am so disgusted by the greed of members of the house of commons and unimpressed by the present local coucillors. I WILL vote because I want to protest against all the parties that allowed this greedy to occur and to let them know that all is not forgotten. So Green party if they have a candidate , an independent would do but even the disgusting BNP just to register a protest.”
by Plympton Resident, Plympton
Thursday, April 29 2010, 1:37PM
“Uk dump......................very true,wish we could leave,keep telling the kids to move abroad,there is nothing in this country for them.
Seeing as though the election is next week I would have thought someone would have been knocking on my door by now, but NO not a politician in sight
Has anyone seen sight or sound of anyone from these parties apart from when the odd one turns up in a shopping centre. No wonder people can't be bothered to vote,if Politicains can't be bothered to canvass why should we be bothered.
As an undecided voter I jokingly said I'd vote for whoever knocked my door first,at this rate I won't be voting LOL”
by UK dump of europa, Leaving next couple of years
Thursday, April 29 2010, 12:54PM
“If you have the opportunity to leave this country then do so. 9 out of 10 expats wouldn't come back to the UK. I wonder why !”
by Hugh, West Mids
Thursday, April 29 2010, 12:47PM
“Moor View is safe Labour and will have little effect on the election. Sutton/Devonport is vital, however, as if the Tories win Sutton/Devonport they get a Commons majority. Lib Dems, UKIPers and Greens can safely vote Labour there to block it without giving Brown his own majority. But higher up the Tory target list in Devon SW voting Labour is too risky. A win there likely means a Labour majority so in Devon SW the Tories must be backed to stop it.”