Big debate fires up election countdown
THE countdown to this year's General Election campaign kicked off in the Calder Valley this week when candidates came face to face at a lively meeting in Lightcliffe.
Six politicians who have already declared their intention to stand at the next election faced questions on subjects ranging from the economy, the environment , election reform and climate change.
The meeting at Lightcliffe Primary School, was attended by more than 100 people. It was organised by Churches Together in Hipperholme and Lightcliffe and was chaired by the minister at Christ Church, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe, the Rev Patrick Taylor.
Candidates taking part were Conservative Craig Whittaker, the Green Party's Kate Sweeny, Independent Chris O'Connor, Labour candidate Steph Booth, Liberal Democrat Hilary Myers and Greg Burrows, representing Ukip.
The Calder Valley is recognised as a key marginal seat which has been represented since 1997 by Labour's Chris McCafferty.
Four questions, which were submitted before the meeting, were put to the candidates and Ivor Davies, from Brighouse, kick-started the session with the question 'Who do we trust with our economy?'
Mrs Booth said the Labour Party had plans in place to take the country out of the recession whereas people did not know what the Tories were planning.
But Coun Whittaker said his children's children would be paying debts incurred by the Labour government while Mrs Myers said the Liberal Democrats' treasury spokesperson Vince Cable was the man with the right answers.
"His judgement is sound and I would trust him with the economy," she said.
Kate Sweeny said while people associated the Green Party with environmental issues the party also had a detailed economic policy and much of the policy was similar to the Liberal Democrats.
Independent Mr O'Connor said the main political parties had not done a very good job.
"We are bombarded with statistics from all sides but the main thing is to be honest and open and move forward," he said.
Mr Burrows said the last 30 years had been a disaster.
"We do not want people to be apathetic. We need them to stand up for the country and I hope by standing for Parliament I can try to make a change," he said.
Mr Roger Drayton, of Lightcliffe asked if people still had faith in the political system and Mr O'Connor said he thought the problems of the last 20 years and more was down to a loss of openness and democracy.
"We must get back to openness, honesty and democracy," he said. "That is the only way forward, we have to win back the trust of the people."
Mr Burrows said spin and lies led to a lack of trust and changes had to be made. Ms Sweeny said there was a need for more representation at local level and Coun Whittaker said the Conservatives were ready to get rid of un-elected quangos locally and regionally. He said his aim if elected was to work hard for the constituency.
"I am want to be a good local MP like Chris McCafferty has been," he said.
“We need to get down to grass root levels and I am doing this because I care about the Calder Valley.”
Speaking of the MPs’ expenses scandal Mrs Booth said there were some arrogant MPs who thought they could get away with it but the vast majority of MPs were decent hard working people.
Candidates were generally in agreement on the need to invest in renewable energy sources apart from Mr Burrows who said he wanted to see changes to the smoking ban which had seriously hit the pub trade.
Another similar meeting is expected to be organised by the Brighouse churches.
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Weather for Halifax
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
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Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
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