LABOUR CONFERENCE 2011 – Liverpool
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MIKE SPARLING – Torridge and West Devon CLP Delegate
Speech intended for Labour Party Conference (Refounding Labour debate) Liverpool, 25/09/2011
Conference, good afternoon.
I recently returned from Cairo. Walking around Tahir Square, it dawned upon me just how much has changed in the last 18 months. This is true also for our Party; the whirlwind 2010 general election (during which I was proud to stand as a Labour candidate in the South West) and the leadership contest that followed, do themselves seem a distant mirage.
Given everything that has happened, here in Liverpool we meet remarkably united and increasingly so. This is a mark of resilience, our energy and the fact that we have a very serious job to do, in opposition – now, more than ever.
Tremendous progress – yes, but there is a huge amount still to do.
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The election of a new leader was the first step towards resetting our relationship with the voters. How many times did we hear the phrase, ‘If there’s ever a time to be in opposition, this is it’. Yet for the new leadership to wade in and engage in a screaming match with the coalition government when we had just lost an election – as we must recognise – would have proved counterproductive. The new leadership recognises that we must reconnect with the pulse of the nation.
So to that end and with the leadership question settled, we must all play our part in, yes modernising the structures of our own Party and secondly our policy platform. Not to do so, in the wake of defeat, would be viewed for what it is by the public – denial at best and arrogance at worst.
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On policy, we can be confident about standing up for our record in government where we got things right and whilst not chastising ourselves, we musn’t delude ourselves either: the public will want to know not as a kneejerk reaction but rather what we credibly offer for the future.
In spite of Cameron’s vacuous jibes about our policy canvass, we must make no apologies for the fact that we are seriously listening to the British electorate, who have insisted through the ballot box that our policies be refreshed. This is particularly pertinent to Scotland.
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Take our party structures. As party membership has declined, so too has our activist base. We must be innovative therefore, in reaching out, building relationships with suppprters, so we can once again truly be called the people’s party. As a former parliamentary candidate in the South West, I know how the changes in Refounding Labour will transform the fortunes of CLPs across our region, from Poole to Plymouth to Penzance.
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Conference, it is precisely because we are engaged in such comprehensive renewal that we can come back stronger prior to the next general election – certainly not in spite of the fact.
So, in these changing times, let’s stay the course now before us…
Renew our structures. Revive our policies and our relationship with the public.
Do this, united and we enhance the likelihood of securing the outcome we all seek; to have been a very successful, one term Opposition, for the good of the communities we ask to serve. Let’s support these proposals.
Thank you very much.
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- JULY 2011
- Mike Sparling campaigning with former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, at London Pride 2011
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May 2011
TIME IS RUNNING OUT
Don’t risk staying at home and not voting or the Tories/Lib Dems will win in Tavistock
your voice in tough times:
You have 1 vote: Vote Labour
Need help getting to the polling station? Call our campaign hotline: 07889 338 687
”Don’t vote for the same. We will act, not just talk. We will fight for young people & work for good health facilities, schools & policing in Tavistock.”
5 THINGS TO REMEMBER:
1. You don’t need your polling card to vote.
2. Polls are open 7am – 10pm this Thursday.
3. If you’ve got a postal vote, but haven’t sent it back yet, you can take it to any polling station
before 10pm.
4. If you don’t know where your polling station is or you need a lift to vote, call our campaign
hotline on 07889 338 687
5. Place a cross (X) next to your Tavistock Labour candidate
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April 2011
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RECORD NUMBER OF Labour CANDIDATES IN WEST DEVON
Mike Sparling, Moira Brown and Ian Gaspin (Tavistock’s candidates) are amongst a record number of Labour candidates, contesting the May 2011 local elections in Torridge & West Devon, amidst growing support for Labour in the region:
Outlined below is the maifesto from the candidates in Tavistock:
SUPPORT FOR LABOUR APPEARS TO HAVE RISEN SHARPLY IN WEST DEVON. HOWEVER, WE CAN ONLY SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE TORIES / LIB DEMS, IF YOU USE
YOUR VOTE ON MAY 5TH.
There will be an election in Tavistock on Thursday 5 May. This will be our first chance to send a message to the Tory-led government, propped up by Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems, about the choices they are making. Choices that hit many families in Devon especially hard.
Labour recently went from 5th to 1st in a Cornwall by-election. 
Don’t be fooled – with your support, Labour CAN win here, but only with your vote.
The Tories / Lib Dems take voters in Tavistock for granted. Send them a clear message this May.
Support your local Labour candidates:
Spread the word, join our campaign.
Come OUT and VOTE for Labour on May 5th.
ONLY LABOUR IS YOUR VOICE IN TOUGH TIMES:
1) STANDING UP FOR YOUNG PEOPLE – not kicking away the ladder for our next generation
2) PROTECTING YOUR FRONTLINE HEALTH SERVICES
3) PROTECTING POLICE SERVICES
4) IDENTIFYING SENSIBLE SAVINGS - not cutting too far, too fast as the Lib Dems and Tories are doing
5) SUPPORTING JOBS AND GROWTH 
MIKE SPARLING / IAN GASPER
TAVISTOCK SOUTH WEST / SOUTH
Mike (former Parliamentary Candidate) and Ian said, ‘If elected, your issues will truly be a priority. We will work with neighbours and the authorities to address them. We will stand with you, against the Lib/Con status-quo, to make Tavistock an even better place to live.’
MOIRA BROWN
TAVISTOCK NORTH
Moira Brown, Labour’s candidate for Tavistock North, says, ‘I would be an active councillor who engages issues that matter, such as negotiating a better deal for residents’ parking. Voters should see me as not only as vote against the cuts of the Coalition, but as someone who will fight.
MIKE SPARLING - TAVISTOCK CAMPAIGN - SPRING 2011
We need your support, to send the Tories and Lib Dems a message this May:
DON’T BELIEVE THE SAME OLD STORY – THAT THIS IS A ‘TWO HORSE RACE’ AND THAT ‘LABOUR CAN’T WIN HERE’.
Everyone knows times are tough at the moment. Jobs are hard to come by. Prices are going up. Family budgets are being squeezed. The economic recovery has stalled. But the Tories & Lib Dems are pressing ahead with reckless cuts which will put more pressure on families and hit Devon services hard. Our area needs councillors who will stand up against these plans – not councillors from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
COME OUT AND VOTE FOR LABOUR!
We promise to be your first line of defence against the damage being done by a Conservative Government and their Liberal Democrat allies. Please put a poster in your window to show your support.
To have one delivered, email
mikesparling@hotmail.co.uk
Now is the time to make a stand against the regressive Conservative / Liberal Democrat agenda.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. Spread the word. VOTE Labour for your family in Tavistock this May.
Mike, Moira and Ian
Three ways to get in touch with your Labour Candidates:
07706840427 michaelsparling.wordpress.com mikesparling@hotmail.co.uk
March 2011
I would like to publicly express my condolences to Sheryll Murray MP (SE Cornwall). My thoughts are with her and her family at this very difficult time.
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20 March 2011
For immediate release
LABOUR IN THE SOUTH WEST CALLS FOR VAT RISE ON FUEL TO BE REVERSED
Mike Sparling from Labour South West is calling on the Chancellor George Osborne to reverse the government’s VAT rise on fuel.
The hike in VAT to 20 per cent in January has added nearly 3p to the price of a litre of petrol and will raise £700m for the Treasury, according to figures from the independent House of Commons Library.
The Labour Party says the VAT rise should be reversed immediately on petrol using the £800m extra the government is now getting from the bank levy, compared to what it was expecting in the last Budget.
Mike said:
“Labour has consistently opposed the Conservative-led government’s VAT rise which has hit families in Devon and Cornwall and helped to push up petrol prices to their current record levels.
“It’s time the Chancellor George Osborne took immediate action on fuel prices to ease the pressure on families who are already facing a tough year and their incomes squeezed. He should immediately reverse the VAT rise on fuel, which has added nearly 3p to the price of a litre of petrol, using the extra £800m the Treasury will be getting from the bank levy.
“And in the Budget later this month George Osborne should look again at the annual fuel duty rise due in April. The last Labour government often postponed planned duty increases when world oil prices were on the up – as they are now. The Tories promised a ‘fuel duty stabiliser’ to win votes before the election, but if they don’t deliver one it will just be another broken promise from this government.
“Current instability in the Middle East and North Africa is driving up oil prices around the world which means the price of petrol at the pump is continuing to rise.
“Now is the wrong time to be making things even worse for hard-pressed families in Devon and Cornwall by hiking up VAT, as this government has done. George Osborne should admit he got it wrong and reverse the VAT rise on petrol now.”
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls MP added:
“I hope people across the Westcountry will back our campaign and send a message to the Chancellor George Osborne that he needs to act immediately to reverse the VAT rise on fuel. It’s the wrong tax at the wrong time and is hitting families and businesses hard.
“George Osborne also needs to come up with a plan to get our stalled economy moving again and get more people into work making their contribution and paying taxes. That’s the best way to get the deficit down and ease the pressure on families facing the squeeze.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
1. For more information please contact Mike Sparling on 07706840427
2. Labour’s campaign can be found at http://www.reversevatonfuel.com/
3. Research by the House of Commons Library shows that the rise in VAT is adding 2.71p to the cost of a litre of unleaded petrol, assuming a pump price of 130p. Based on these figures the VAT rise has added £1.35 to the cost of filling up a 50 litre tank.
Fuel prices by region
The table below shows the average price in pence of a litre of unleaded petrol (95 octane) in each region and nation of the UK, according to the AA fuel price reports for February 2011 and December 2010.
| Average unleaded price (pence) | |||
| Region/nation | Feb 2011 | Dec 2010 | Change |
| Northern Ireland | 129.9 | 122.6 | 7.3 |
| Scotland | 128.6 | 121.6 | 7.0 |
| Wales | 129.1 | 122.3 | 6.8 |
| North East | 128.2 | 121.4 | 6.8 |
| North West | 128.4 | 121.7 | 6.7 |
| Yorks & Humberside | 127.8 | 121.2 | 6.6 |
| West Midlands | 128.6 | 122.1 | 6.5 |
| East Midlands | 128.3 | 121.9 | 6.4 |
| East Anglia | 129 | 122.5 | 6.5 |
| South East | 129.5 | 122.7 | 6.8 |
| South West | 129 | 122.5 | 6.5 |
| London | 129.3 | 122.7 | 6.6 |
| UK Average | 128.8 | 122.1 | 6.7 |
MIKE SPARLING WARNS THAT WEST COUNTRY FAMILIES WILL BE £1500 WORSE OFF THIS YEAR:
Labour South West has joined Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour party, in his warning that on average a couple with children and one person earning will be £1500 worse off this year. This is more than double the loss of a couple without children.
MIKE SPARLING said:
“It is becoming increasingly clear that David Cameron’s plans will mean that life will be much tougher for families over the next few years. I am worried about how this will affect families in Devon and Cornwall.
In addition to this, frontline service cuts, driven by the decision to go too far and too fast have been shown to hit couples with children twice as hard.
Taken together these changes will mean a cost of living crisis for ordinary families in the South West which will have a deep impact for years to come.
Ed Miliband said:
“These changes fail a fundamental fairness test: that families with children should be protected, not unfairly targeted.
Squeezed wages, squeezed prospects, squeezed aspirations
That is why the British Promise, that the next generation would always do better than the last, is now under threat like never before.
There is a concern that because the Government is making the situation worse, the cost of living crisis will not go away even when the economy recovers.
MIKE SPARLING said:
“I am angered by the effect David Cameron’s broken promises will have on the families in Devon and Cornwall. By asking children and families to bear the brunt of their cuts, this Tory-led Government is showing that they have no idea what pressure ordinary families are under.
It is terrible Tory-led Government are stacking the odds even further against working families in the West Country who want to get on in life.”
Notes to Editors:
Ed Miliband, Speech to Resolution Foundation Monday 28 February ‘The Cost of Living Crisis Facing Britain’ http://edmiliband.org/speeches/cost-of-living-crisis-280211/
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MEETING WITH AGE CONCERN UK / SHADOW PENSIONS MINISTER
Mike Sparling meeting with Shadow Pensions Minister, Rachel Reeves.
Feb 28th 2011, House of Commons
Mike Sparling met with Shadow Pensions Secretary, Rachel Reeves, along with representatives from AGE UK and others, to discuss the potential impact of the proposed ‘Pensions Bill’ on women across the country, including in the West Country.
Mike said, “Certain aspects of the Bill are welcome, such as auto-enrolment. However, the speeding up of the equalisation of the State Pension Age, unfairly targets at risk groups and breaks the co-alition agreement. It represents yet another broken promise from this Conservative led government.”
For more on how the Pensions Bill is likely to have a negative impact on vulnerable women, visit http://bit.ly/farj5Q (external site)
LABOUR GAIN IN CORNWALL
First Labour and Coop Councillor at Cornwall Council
It feels terrific to have been elected as the first Labour Councillor on Cornwall’s still new Unitary Council and as the first Co-operative Party Councillor.
The election results were
Mike Champion MK 32
Paul Holmes Liberal 61
Jacqui Merrick Green 31
Anna Pascoe Lib Dem 152
Denise Pascoe Conservative 203
Jude Robinson Labour & Co-op 230
I managed to get four hours sleep but am now sitting in my home – yesterday’s campaign centre – surrounded by soggy leaflets, canvass sheets and coats thinking about all the work ahead and still excited by it all. Strange people, politicians – and I suppose I am officially one now as an elected member.
The Unitary elections were a real low for Labour in Cornwall. In this seat in May 2009, we got 11% of the vote and came fifth. This time, we won with 32% share of the vote.
There has been a huge amount of good will coming my way, from people in all parties and I am very touched by that. My parties, Labour and Co-op, have been fantastic and to have had such support from members and friends all over the country has been both amazing and daunting. It is a lot to live up to and after finally finding the time to get my very unruly hair cut today, I have a lot of work to do.
I owe a huge thank you to all those people who helped: local members and those from other constituencies in Cornwall, the team from Plymouth, friends from Bristol, Devon, Linda and Benny Gilroy and all the supporters in Camborne, who voted for me and Labour even though they were showered with Lib Dem leaflets telling them it was pointless.
More people in Cornwall should go with their hearts and vote Labour. It would surprise everyone to realise just how much support there is here from people who have been persuaded that they have to vote Lib Dem to ‘keep the Tories out’.
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Jude Robinson campaigning in the Camborne North by-election
“I am delighted to be standing as the Labour and Co-operative candidate. The Co-operative Party promotes fair trade, ethical business and community solutions. It is a sister party to Labour and candidates can represent both parties if they have been accepted for support on the election panels.
At the Camborne North Town Council By Election in November 2010, I came second to the winning Tory candidate, beating Mebyon Kernow into third place. The Liberal Democrats did not stand a candidate. At the Camborne West By Election in September 2010, the Liberal Democrats were beaten into fourth place behind Labour.
This is the first by election since the General Election, so it is going to be an interesting one. The Lib Dems are already attacking the Tories over the cuts the Lib Dem/Tory coalition is imposing.”
JUDE ROBINSON, Labour’s Candidate in Camborne North
www.juderobinson.org.uk
Cornwall Council had put forward plans for 487 homes, including homes for rent at locations right across the county from Penzance to Bude.
http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=23123
In July 2009,the Labour government gave Cornwall Council the go-ahead to proceed to the next stage and the consultation for the final brief was launched.
http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/housing-pfi-round-six.htm
Jude Robinson, Chair of Cornwall Labour Party said: “Another election pledge broken – the Tories and Lib Dems talked about affordable housing during the election but now in power they are axing funds that Labour had allocated to build decent homes for local people.
“It is a huge waste of all the work and preparation for the scheme but worse, it snatches away hopes for so many families.
“This is a heartless government of unfair cuts. For people in Cornwall dreaming of their own home, the message from the coalition government is clear: dream on.”
ENDS.
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MASSIVE SWING TO LABOUR IN SOUTH WEST BY-ELECTION 22/11/10
Jude Robinson, who stood for Labour in the election, said: “We are delighted with warm welcome on the doorstep and the dramatic increase in our share of the vote. We are not claiming this as a victory but Labour was only 160 votes behind the Conservatives and we continue to work hard.
“People are coming back to Labour as they reject the Tory/Lib Dem coalition but local members are not taking anything for granted. We are more than just a party of protest and Labour is campaigning right across Cornwall on issues that matter to people: services for the elderly and disabled, investment in schools and communities and support for working people in tough times.”
The Liberal Democrats did not stand a candidate in the by election, although they had previously held the seat.
The by election was caused by the resignation of Hayley Waller, who won the seat in a by election in 2009.
Mebyon Kernow came third in the by election despite running a campaign that claimed the contest was only between Conservatives and MK.
Notes:
Results of Camborne North By Elections August 2009/ November 2010/
November 2010 Turnout 1075 votes 19.79%
Con 478 44.5% +16.5%
Lab 318 29.6% +18.5%
MK 279 26.0% +0.4%
LD 0 0% -35.3%
August 2009 Turnout 843 votes 16.9%
Lib Dem 298 35.3%
Con 236 28.0%
MK 216 25.6%
Lab 93 11.1%
ENDS
Funding cuts by the Tory-Lib Dem coalition could mean between 500 and 700 fewer police officers across Cornwall and Devon, says Cornwall Labour Party. The figure of 500 fewer police is based on applying equally across the country an estimate from the Police Federation that around 20,000 police officers could be lost over the next four years. Accountants KPMG also estimate similar cuts in police numbers of around 18,000 because of the cuts. Devon and Cornwall police are currently considering cutting up to 700 police officers’ jobs. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who has become notorious for broken election promises, pledged 3000 extra police across the UK.Jude Robinson, Chair of Cornwall Labour Party said that 20 per cent cuts in central government funding for policing announced in the Spending Review would hit Cornwall hard and undermine the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour. “The Tories and Lib Dems are breaking their pre-election promises to protect policing and the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour. Most people in Cornwall want to see more of the police, not less.“Big cuts of 20 per cent over the next few years will mean the number of police on the street will fall. Labour’s policies helped police to cut crime in Cornwall and Devon year on year. In Britain crime, including violent crime, fell by more than 40% during Labour’s time in government. “The Police Federation says that there could be 20,000 fewer police officers because of the government’s funding cuts. In Cornwall and Devon, there are proposals on the table to reduce the force by 700 officers. That would be terrible news and will undermine all the progress we have made to tackle crime in the last few years.”Jude added: “Across Devon and Cornwall, we now have 363 PCSOs and 661 more police officers than in 1997. Labour pledged to protect funding to keep the record number of police officers and Police Community Support Officers we now have.” Shadow Home Secretary Ed Balls MP added:“By front-loading these cuts – with the biggest cuts next year and the year after – it will be even more difficult to minimise the impact on frontline policing through efficiency savings.“The Home Secretary has abjectly failed to fight the corner of the police in these Spending Review negotiations and it will fall to the Labour Party in Cornwall and across the country to stand up for the law-abiding public against these reckless cuts.”During the general election campaign, Nick Clegg promised 3,000 extra police officers:“I would do two things. Firstly quite simply: more police on our streets. This government wants to waste billions of your money on an ID card system so that you have to pay for the privilege of having lots of your own detail on a plastic card that you carry around for pretty well exactly the amount of money that the government … your money the government’s pouring into that we could put 3,000 more police officers on the streets. “Nick Clegg, Leaders Debate, 15 April 2010 ENDS Notes The Police Federation has suggested 20,000 police officers would be lost by the end of the Spending Review period:“Well that’s a really tough settlement. We’ve seen since 2004 we’ve reduced bureaucracy, we’ve made some efficiency savings of £1.5 billion but now we’re talking just in sheer terms of cash so we estimate £1.2 billion by the end of this period and that can only come now from staff. So we know forces have a recruitment freeze on officers, we churn about 5,000 officers a year so we’re probably talking losing, by the end of this time, 20,000 officers and that’s going to have a big impact. Let’s have no doubt about that, that’s going to have a big impact and that doesn’t include staff officers that we lose as well. So this is a tough tough day for policing.”Simon Reed, Vice Chairman of the Police Federation, Sky News, 20 October 2010KPMG has estimated that around 18,000 police officers could be lost:“The Chancellor’s headline of a four percent cut in police funding equates to a real cut of 20 percent in central government contribution. The extent of the cuts will be identified over the next few months. KPMG estimates that approximately 18,000 police officers could be cut over the next four years.”‘What does the Spending Review mean for Home Affairs / Police?’, KPMG analysis, http://rd.kpmg.co.uk/Topics/23657.htm And the Police Superintendents’ Association also says there is ‘no doubt’ there will be fewer police officers:“…the public should be in no doubt that there will be fewer police officers and staff in the future.” Derek Barnett, President of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales, 20 October 2010,http://www.policesupers.com/news/full.asp?id=77&news=494 |
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“It is a shame that George Osborne chose to abolish the Educational Maintenance Allowance without describing what will be in its place – this only adds to fears that measures to help students from low income households to stay in education will not be continued effectively.
This is a reproduction of a speech to delegates prepared for Labour Conference 2010 in Manchester, September 2010:
MIKE SPARLING, TORRIDGE & WEST DEVON CLP, FORMER PPC SOUTH EAST CORNWALL
Conference, I would like to share with you some thoughts about rural constituency campaigning.
I’ve heard the question posed, even by those in our ranks and on more than one occasion in the last 12 months or so – just what is the point of organising and fundraising and campaigning in rural constituencies that flip/flip between blue and yellow? Do these efforts really matter?
Well, tell that to a mother in the border town of Saltash, alarmed at the thought of losing her house, because her family is not ‘deserving’ enough, or to the Dockyard worker at Devonport, who faces a precarious future.
Yes, it’s been challenging. We’ve had our fair share of uprooted billboards and in a scene no doubt familiar to many of you, we’ve also squared up to numerous, neighbourhood, doorstep pooches – confrontations incidentally I more often than not failed to win. Of course we have also been exposed to very real anger and discontent.
However, even in these circumstances, in SE Cornwall and our twinned constituencies in Devon, a tireless and determined network of activists, campaigners and party officials from across the South West region secured a vote for Labour running into the many thousands. That’s thousands of votes from people in a region almost exclusively Tory or Liberal, who believe in Labour values and I am very proud of the fact that this year alone, membership in South East Cornwall has almost doubled.
So now we are presented with an opportunity anew, particularly where we lost, to re-connect with people, not merely as a function of our political ambitions, but because in common with our core principles, we care about the well being of those most vulnerable in our communities, as they are faced with the regressive co-alition agenda.
The Westcountry is an immensely beautiful part of Britain. In recent years, public services were transformed by Labour. The Tories never deliver for this region and now, backed up by Lib Dem sponsors, their deeply philosophical approach to policy making at every level, risks undermining all that has been achieved.
So the message from Devon and Cornwall to delegates from other significantly rural constituencies is clear. There is work to do. Don’t get down, get up and get out. Crucially, let us embrace the new membership and repay their faith in us by engaging them in our work.
Conference. Now more than ever, there is not a county, a constituency or a community in this entire country that does not need the voice of a strong Labour message. United – whether a member of Manchester Central CLP or South East Cornwall CLP, we must all play our part in securing a progressive future for our country. Thank You.
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Ed Miliband secures Labour leadership
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22 September 2010
Labour sees record surge in membership
Tens of thousands of people have joined the Labour Party since the General Election in May 2010 and the membership base in SE Cornwall has almost doubled.
At one point the Labour Party website crashed as record numbers of visitors sought to join up.
Rest assured, this was all fixed. You can join the fightback at https://secure2.labour.org.uk/join
One new member, David, commented that he was “…frustrated at tactically voting Lib Dems who then form an alliance with the Tory party. Will never vote Lib Dem again.”
This will no doubt ring true to many voters in South East Cornwall, who have been badly let down by the Lib Dems. Indeed, our membership base has almost doubled in less than 7 months in this constituency. Come, join us!
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Labour claims victory in Exeter and Norwich elections
Exeter and Norwich council elections represent largest voting test since formation of the coalition in May. This is a fantastic result for Labour and a fantastic result for Exeter. Labour became the largest party on Exeter city council, winning more than half the 13 seats available in last night’s by-elections.
For more on this story: http://bit.ly/9Lvd02
Visit Exeter Labour Party at http://www.exeter-labour.org.uk/
Labour PPCs issue letter of endorsement for Ed Miliband
Twenty Labour PPCs have issued an open letter declaring support for Ed Miliband. The former candidates write:
“Ed Miliband is the only candidate who can give a voice to our authentic Labour values and offer a coherent policy programme that works. He is the change that we need to win the next election and transform Britain for good.”
The full text and signatories are reproduced below:
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As Parliamentary Candidates standing for Labour at the last General Election, it became clear to us as we talked to voters that those who previously supported us felt that the previous Labour Government didn’t listen enough and weren’t doing enough to address their concerns. This included the increasing income gap between them and those earning obscene amounts – notably in the banking sector whose frivolous excesses and irresponsibility had led to the worst peacetime economic crisis since the Great Depression. Coupled with that was the abolition of the 10p rate which meant overnight they were paying double the amount in taxation and taking a double cut in their earnings. This would explain that among all the different social groups, the skilled working class or C2s showed a drop of 18% support for Labour.
In order to win back our own supporters who deserted us at the last election and ultimately to win back the 5 million voters who backed us in 1997 we need to endorse the candidate who will address these concerns and do the best job for the people of this country.
Having listened and talked to all the Leadership candidates, we are convinced that the person who most effectively meets the challenge is Ed Miliband.
Ed is the candidate who can best offer the change our Party needs if we are to win back the support of people across the length and breadth of the country.
He wants to change Britain’s economy so that it encourages people to take responsibility. That means taking action at the top of the wage scale to ensure that the richest contribute their fair share. It means supporting those who can’t work, but encouraging those who can to do so. And it means recognising the contribution that middle-income earners make, so that they are supported if they fall on hard times.
As part of this change, Ed wants to tackle inequality in our society. That’s why he’s campaigning for a Living Wage to ensure fair pay for a fair day’s work. And that’s why he wants to establish a High Pay Commission, to close the gap in income inequality between the top and the bottom.
To build this new economy, local industries have to be supported and nurtured. Ed is furious, as we are, about the Coalition Government scrapping the Regional Development Agencies, which did so much to sustain local economies. As leader, he would support an active industrial policy that encourages more high-paid, high-skilled, and more sustainable jobs.
Ed knows we have to get the budget deficit down and is committed to making the tough decisions needed to help balance the books. However, he believes this must be done fairly and not at the expense of the most vulnerable in society, and in way that ensures growth to strengthen and entrench the recovery.
New Labour achieved a great deal in Government – the National Minimum Wage, crucial investment in public services, a windfall tax on utilities to pay for tackling youth unemployment, the introduction of civil partnerships and better paternity and maternity rights in the workplace. In addition, as former SoS at the Department of Energy and Climate Change Ed was the first government minister anywhere in the world to commit to cuts of 80% in greenhouse emissions by 2050. He also championed the new electric car being manufactured by Nissan in Sunderland. Finally the Equalities Act was one of the most powerful tools we have for empowering those disproportionately affected by Con Dem policies and Ed has taken the lead in this area by unequivocally recognising that we must embed equality in the Party itself at every level from cabinet down to branch. Overall Ed is proud of our record, and so he should be.
But at times we lost sight of what we hold dearest – our values – and how best to articulate and apply them to policy making, which is why we lost the election this year. In order to win back the trust of the public at large, Labour needs to return to its values, and rely on them as we set about building a better Britain.
Ed Miliband is the only candidate who can give a voice to our authentic Labour values and offer a coherent policy programme that works. He is the change that we need to win the next election and transform Britain for good. That is why we as Labour Parliamentary Candidates at the last election are supporting him. That is why we want Ed Miliband to be Leader of the Labour Party.
Jonathan Slater (Aldershot)
Lucy Powell (Manchester Withington)
Stuart King (Putney)
Nancy Platts (Brighton Pavilion)
Catharine Arakelian (Chingford and Woodford Green)
Graham Giles (Gosport)
Richard Scorer (Hazel Grove)
Tom Miller (Woking)
Luke Pollard (South West Devon)
Michael Sparling (South East Cornwall)
Sonia Klein (Ilford North)
Nicholas Milton (Kenilworth and Southam)
Tim Shand (Guildford)
Kevin Bonavia (Rochford and Southend East)
Eleanor Tunnicliffe (Richmond Park)
John MacKay (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross and candidate for the Scottish elections in 2011 in Caithness, Sutherland & Ross)
Jane Innes (Nuneaton)
Gareth Gould (South Holland & The Deepings)
Andrew Judge (Wimbledon)
Cat Smith (Wyre and Preston North)
Mandatory national minimum wage introduced and increased more than inflation
Maternity pay increased more than inflation (120%)
Paid maternity leave more than doubled
Sure Start
Child tax credit
Child trust funds introduced
Free nursery places for 3 and 4 year olds
Increased funding for education
Old age pensions increased more than inflation
Number of qualifying years needed for a full basic state pension reduced
Winter fuel payment, now benefiting more than 130 000 people in Cornwall
Free bus passes for people aged 60 and over
Free eye tests for people aged 60 and over
Increased funding for the NHS
Reduced waiting times for NHS treatment
Section 28 scrapped
Civil partnerships
Enhanced equality rules introduced
Large inroads made into child and pensioner poverty
Cornwall pay
In 1997 the median pay of fulltime workers was £250 a week, in 2010 it was £402.50 a week (by place of work in Cornwall), an above-inflation nominal increase of 61 percent and a larger percentage increase than for England as a whole (ASHE annual tables 7.1a).
Maternity pay
In 1997 statutory maternity pay was £55.70 a week; in 2009 it was £123.06 a week, an above-inflation nominal increase of 121 percent.
Paid maternity leave
Paid maternity leave was 18 weeks in 1997 and is now 39 weeks.
Pensioners
The basic old age pension in 1997/98 was £62.45 for a single person and £99.80 for a couple. It is now £97.65 for a single person and £156.15 for a couple. Those are both increases of about 12 percent in real terms. (The pension credit, formerly minimum guaranteed income, is now £132.60 a week for a single person and £202.40 for a couple.) About 900 000 pensioners have been taken out of relative poverty since 1997.
NHS
Hansard 27 February 2008 columns 1754W-1756W gives the reductions in NHS waiting times for Cornwall, 1997-2007.
Education
Since 1997 there has been a 38 percent real-terms increase in perpupil funding in Cornwall (Hansard 2 February 2010 column 70)
Teachers average pay in Cornwall has risen by 59 percent since 1997 (DCSF)
Number of full-time equivalent teachers in Cornwall has increased by 13 percent since 1997 (Hansard 4 February 2010 column 474W).
Michael Sparling, Labour’s spokesperson for South East Cornwall, was pleased to welcome Mr Miliband, the Shadow Climate Change Secretary, to Plymouth on Tuesday 10 August. Mr Miliband met with Labour Party members from the 2 Plymouth constituencies, South East Cornwall, Torridge & West Devon and from across the region. The meeting was very well attended, with standing room only. A friendly, frank discussion took place, with members being afforded the opportunity to speak directly with the leadership contender.
After the meeting, Michael Sparling, who is helping to direct the South West campaign team for Ed Miliband, said, ”I believe Ed Miliband is best placed to challenge the Con-Dem coalition cuts agenda and lead a strong opposition that learns from the problems of the recent past. It is clear from meeting with Ed that he is a champion of social justice and equality. Ed understands the vital role of trade unionism in promoting a better society, he stands for traditional Labour values and has a positive vision for the future.”
Notes to Editors:
- Voting begins on 1st September
- Candidates will be in Exeter for a South West hustings event to co-incide with the local City elections
- Photo from this event attached
Mike Sparling with Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP
Mike Sparling was pleased to meet with Ed Miliband, former Climate Change Secretary, to discuss issues of importance to local Labour Party members and to support his campaign for leadership of the Labour Party.
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I too am very pleased to add my support to his campaign for Labour leader. The Labour Party needs to understand why voters were lost at the last election. In Ed Miliband, we have the opportunity to bring the Party closer together so that we have the capacity to listen to the public and learn from the recent past, for the good of the country. I am backing Ed because I want the Labour Party to be led by someone who will lead but also listen. Hard working families in Devon and Cornwall will be hit hard by the coalition cuts. Now, more than ever, Labour must strive harder to be the Party that not only talks of fairness, decent pay and jobs but delivers it, in every part of the country.
Ed Miliband has the conviction and ability to drive this effort on behalf of local people and I look forward to welcoming him to Plymouth in August.
The Chancellor delivered a budget that will throw THOUSANDS of people out of work, hold back economic growth and damage the public services we all rely on – and increased VAT from 17.5% to 20%, so that higher prices will be paid in the shops by everyone, from pensioners to the unemployed
The Tories’ cuts are unfair to families and older people: cuts to the disability living allowance, cuts to help for the jobless, cuts to tax credits, cutting back free school meals, and cuts to Child Benefit, which they have frozen for the next three years.
What the country needed was a Budget to support economic growth, protect jobs and cut the deficit fairly. Instead the Tories gave us a reckless Budget that pulls the rug out from under the recovery. And they couldn’t have done it without the support of the Lib Dems, who have let down everyone who voted for them in the election just a few weeks ago.
Michael Sparling – Labour’s spokesperson for SE Cornwall
Michael Sparling In South East Cornwall, Labour maintained our position. This was in spite of national trends and also boundary changes that threatened to negatively impact our demographic. This was a more than satisfactory result. I am proud of the campaign we ran. The membership has grown and I am optimistic for the future of SE Cornwall Labour Party. Congratulations to Sheryll Murray for being selected to serve local people. I fear for this community, as the Tories just don’t seem to genuinely have the best interests of the least fortunate in society at the core of their philosophy – it’s just not in their DNA. Neverthless, I wish Sheryll well. Thank you to the other candidates for what was, on the whole, a well spirited campaign. Congratulations also to Ben Bradshaw, who despite all of the pundits predictions, has held Exeter for Labour. In Plymouth too we have gained Council seats and held Moorview, so congratulations to Plymouth Labour and Alison Seabeck. I want to extend heartfelt gratitude to Linda Gilroy for all she has done for Plymouth Sutton & Devonport, where the result is disappointing. The campaigners and activists in Plymouth are nothing short of inspirational. Labour will constitute a very forceful opposition to Oliver Colville and the Tories. Nationally, Labour gained 16 councils and 399 council seats – locally Labour stormed to an overwhelming victory across the country. Labour will remain undeterred in continuing to fight for local communities and for our country.
After Iraq, Afghanistan (still raging), the expenses scandal, the most serious global economic crisis since the 1930s and 13 years of Labour government, the best the Tories could manage is a hung Parliament. The majority of those who voted did NOT vote for Conservative change. Labour are well placed to capitalise on this failure of the Conservative Party to gain the trust of the British people.
Finally, thank you to the thousands of people who voted for me and to everyone who has supported or in some other way contributed to my campaign. It has been such a privilege to represent the Labour message in South East Cornwall. I have learnt so much from you and we now look forward.
MICHAEL SPARLING, crossing the River Tamar on the Torpoint Ferry. Royal Dockyard in the background.
We here time and time again of the upset about not being properly consulted by the LibDems when they pushed through the introduction of the new unitary Cornwall County Council. Now that it is in place, under Conservative control, it is failing local people. There is sentiment that South East Cornwall is ignored. Clearly, the interests of the people in this constituency are being sidelined and this raises serious question marks over local accountability. Now more than ever, it is time for a strong local champion to stand up to the Tories and the Lib Dems and show that people in South East Cornwall count.
Especially after the expenses scandal, politics must be about the future. It must be about connecting with local people and not taking them for granted. This means prioritising issues like the Saltash Bridge toll, the challenges facing our fishing industry and concerns over a proposed incinerator. I am committed to protecting the recovery for local people, defending public services for local families and to fighting as a champion for a fairer South East Cornwall, against this stagnant status-quo.
VOTE for MICHAEL SPARLING
Get involved and support Michael's campaign
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For Immediate Release 15 April 2010
Michael Sparling pledges support for NSPCC General Election campaign to protect children
Michael Sparling, prospective parliamentary candidate for South East Cornwall, has pledged to support the NSPCC’s ‘I stand for children’ campaign which aims to make child protection a priority for the next Parliament.
Michael Sparling said: “As a candidate in South East Cornwall I’m supporting the NSPCC’s new campaign to ensure protecting children is a political priority: I Stand for Children.”
The charity’s Diana Sutton, head of the public affairs and campaigns unit at the NSPCC, said: “We need to make sure that the next elected Government keeps child protection high on its list of priorities. By signing up to our campaign, candidates in this next general election can help. The public can play their role by letting the politicians know what they want done.”
Ends
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For Immediate Release 14 April 2010
LABOUR’S MICHAEL SPARLING DEFENDS FAMILIES IN SOUTH EAST CORNWALL FROM TORIES ‘LABOUR WORKS FOR all families.’ That’s the message from Labour’s candidate against Tory plans that would exclude many local people. While Labour has focused support on giving children the best possible start in life – Tory plans would only recognise married couples – regardless as to whether or not there were children. Labour’s Michael Sparling said: “Marriage and stable relationships are important for bringing up children. ”That’s why Labour has rightly focused on supporting our children to give them the best possible start in life with policies like tax credits, Sure Start, provide record levels of child benefit and protecting funding for schools. “Under Tory plans thousands of loving, caring families right here in South East Cornwall would lose out as David Cameron and George Osborne take the axe to Labour’s investment and try to tell parents what their families should look like. “The Tories simply don’t understand that Britain has changed. People in South East Cornwall will take a long, hard look at the Tories and their lack of support for local children. Labour’s Work and Pensions Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: "Look behind the headlines: what the Tories claim to be giving to some couples with one hand, they are taking from children with the other. The Tories’ choice is to cut Child Tax Credits, cut Child Trust Funds, scale back Sure Start and they refuse to protect the schools budget. How is that fair? "Of course marriage and strong relationships are important for families and bringing up children. But it is appalling to tell widows or women who've left an abusive husband that they don't deserve support. And it is completely unfair to tell children whose parents, for whatever reason, aren't married that they and their families are second class. What kind of signal is that? How can that be good for families in Britain?” - Ends -
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UK GENERAL ELECTION CALLED – THE VIEW OF MICHAEL SPARLING – LABOUR PPC
I spent much of my childhood in South East Cornwall and continue to live in the region today. I am standing for Labour in this constituency because it is a privilege and responsibility to do so. The Lib/Con stagnant stalemate has failed local people.
At the height of the economic crisis, we faced a global whirlwind. We were determined not to make the mistakes of the Tories in the 1980s and 1990s. The response demanded strong leadership. The Prime Minister and the team behind him provided it. That leadership is respected the world over, yet the decisions taken were opposed almost exclusively by Cameron’s Conservatives. Labour made the right calls in averting depression. We are making the right calls emerging from recession.
That is the magnitude of the choice facing voters in this constituency. There is a choice between a Labour government focused on improving living standards, or the vacuous one man band show of David Cameron’s Conservatives. Peel away the make-up and it’s quite clear that the mask has slipped. Cameron says he would stand up for the ‘great ignored’ but the Conservatives go into this election ignoring families trying to keep the wolf from the door and all the while offering tax cuts for the wealthiest few. The Tories neglected Cornwall in the past and would not hesitate in taking us back to an age of Tory austerity.
Secure the recovery. Protect frontline services. Renew our politics. I have a positive vision for South East Cornwall and I appeal for your support.
MICHAEL SPARLING
Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for South East Cornwall
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BUDGET STATEMENT – MICHAEL SPARLING – PPC SE CORNWALL
The Labour government made the right calls at the outset of the crisis and we are now seeing the recession grow into recovery, as opposed to depression, because of the tough choices taken by Labour, in spite of opposition from David Cameron. This budget seeks to support that recovery, not undermine it. It was balanced and fair and offers the best chance for Britain. We must return a Labour government, or put all that has been achieved at risk, to the detriment of families, businesses and vulnerable people up and down the country.
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SALTASH COMMUNITY SCHOOL, SIXTH FORM – MICHAEL SPARLING PPC – SPEECH – 24/03/2010
‘Against the Odds’
MEMBERS OF STAFF, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING and thank you for inviting me here today, bright and early! For those of you who don’t know, my name is Michael Sparling and I am the Labour Party’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for this constituency of South East Cornwall.
It’s a particular pleasure for me to be visiting Saltash Community School today. When I was myself a Sixth Former – which as you might have noticed wasn’t all that long ago, I spent a lot of time in Saltash and continue to have friends here today. So, I’m really pleased to be here with you. I never thought I’d say it – but I’m happy to be back at school – and I wasn’t even asked to say that by Mrs Briggs!
I’ve been asked to make a short presentation. The session is less than hour long, so I’ll try to keep my remarks fairly short and then open the floor up to some questions and a wider conversation between and amongst all of us. I look forward to hearing what you have to say.
As well as making some remarks about why and how I got into politics generally, I’ve been asked to comment on ‘Why Labour?’ With that in mind, I’m going to begin by showing you a short video called AGAINST THE ODDS. It’s only 3 minutes long – but I think it provides some historical background as to the roots of the Labour Party and puts those roots into some kind of a contemporary context.
(I’m not sure that you’ll all be able to see the screen, but at least you’ll be able to hear what’s being said). It’s called AGAINST THE ODDS
- VIDEO -
I don’t really think I chose the Labour Party. Rather, the Labour Party chose me.
What sparked my interest in politics in the first place is a more difficult question to answer and so I’ll tell you a bit about my background. I suppose I was a bit of a geek. I stayed home from school to watch the election results come in. It seemed exciting to me somehow and I was interested in how people took different positions on different issues. I went to a private boarding school followed by an inner city State school, experiencing both sides of the coin and this has certainly had some influence on why I got into politics. We have no choice over the background we are born into. I decided pretty early on that this should in no way impede our life chances.
So like many things, once you’ve got the bug it’s hard to get rid of it and that led me to take government and politics at A-level at City College, Plymouth. From there I went on to study Philosophy and Politics at the University of Manchester. I don’t know if anyone here has any connection to Manchester, but I was only a year or so older than you are now and I became inspired by the upbeat spirit of the people in the north of England. Manchester, particularly having come from the Westcountry, was for me a vibrant, tolerant city where students and Muslims and ‘Goths’ lived side by side and people were as comfortable in the curry mile or the gay village as they were in Chinatown or the Jewish quarter. Under a Labour Council, in spite of an IRA bomb and other setbacks, the City had undergone a transformation and was proud, united and standing tall. I was impressed by how resilient and inclusive people can be, but shocked by the poverty that still blighted our country.
After graduating, I worked for a government Minister in her Burnley constituency office, as an unpaid intern. It was here that I was introduced for the first time to what I consider to be the raw, ‘starting place’ of politics. Until that point, my only experience of politics was seeing our national figures on the television, watching the big news stories. Actually, I discovered, politics really starts at a very mundane, local level – lack of street lighting, recycling collection, playgrounds – helping people when you can, or at least pointing them in the right direction. Everything else is built on that localism. That’s an important point to make, because it’s not something that’s seen by everyone – it’s very easy to get an impression of politics as simply being all about the Westminster bubble news cycle.
After some time in London, I finally returned to the Westcountry. I got in touch with the local Labour Party and got stuck into campaigning. From there, I went on to be selected as a candidate for County Council elections last year, prior to being selected as a Parliamentary Candidate this year. I’ve still not been paid a penny or claimed any (here’s the dirty word) expenses and there’s very little glory in it. I’ve come to realise that I do it because I think it’s more constructive to try and make positive difference, than it is sitting in my armchair moaning about the world around me and doing nothing about it.
So that’s a little about my background. Of course, the white elephant in the room is the fact that (and I’m sure you might have noticed) there is a General Election on the way, so if you’ll permit me, I’m going to be party political for just a moment!
In the last recession, the Conservatives (or ‘Tories’) said that unemployment was a ‘price worth paying’. Thousands of people lost their homes. Over 3 million unemployed, homelessness, the Poll Tax, decay and despair. The railways were broken. Asylum seeker claims were out of control. The NHS was on its knees with fewer doctors and nurses, Dickensian buildings and huge waiting times. CSO’s that now support the Police didn’t even exist – neither did neighbourhood policing. There were 12,000 fewer teachers in schools and 100,000 fewer classroom assistants. There was no real effort to help people from less advantaged backgrounds get to university and rich families were actually given money to help pay towards sending their children to private schools, whilst ordinary families lost out. Take a long, hard look at the Tories and you’ll see that they really haven’t changed. Today, they want to scrap Labour’s guarantee that every young person be offered a place in an apprenticeship, training or further education and they have aligned themselves with other Parties in the European Parliament that support extreme views. They propose risking the economic recovery whilst it is still fragile and want to scrap the Child Trust Fund, which is designed to support young adults such as yourselves.
Compare that with Labour’s record in government and you‘ll see that all parties aren‘t the same. Since 1997, Labour has invested unprecedented resources into our health and education systems, because we believe in a fairer Britain. Only 13 years ago, I was being taught in a wooden hut. There are now more students than ever and not only that, they are being educated in better facilities than ever. Brilliant Britain is more tolerant today and has seen other changes too since 1997. We’ve secured the Olympic Games. Crime is down by a third, the creation of brand new hospitals with more doctors and nurses, brand new schools with record results and the very first Sure Start centres, the Disability Discrimination Act, devolution for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London, the abolition of hereditary Peers in the House of Lords, the abolition of Section 28 which discriminated against young gay people, Civil Partnerships, half a million children out of poverty, child benefit at record levels, tax credits, the minimum wage, the ban on cluster bombs, the cancelling of debt for developing countries, a Department for International Development, the trebling of aid and the very first climate Change Act. That’s the kind of positive change we’ve delivered for Britain. The Tories are the kind of change we can’t afford.
Party politics aside, I’d like to finish by making some general points about apathy and why it’s important that, at the very least, you use your vote. How many of you will be able to vote for the first time in this election? How many of you think you actually will vote? OK, well, although our system isn’t perfect, although things can always be better, our democracy is actually pretty damn special when compared to other parts of the world, where people are literally dying to be able to cast their vote. You live in a democracy and that means you have a say and a responsibility. This is a privilege and we shouldn’t just dismiss it. Actually, you should cherish it. It’s particularly young people who say to me that ‘it doesn’t make any difference’ or ‘they don’t listen to us’. Many young people wander, “What difference can one person make?” [p] You would be amazed by what one person can do if you’re willing to get involved. The sad reality though is that if you don’t use your vote or get involved, then yes, some politicians will ignore you because, frankly, they don’t need your support. What makes this even sadder is the fact that the biggest issues often effect young people the most. Education funding, job training programmes and rights for workers are just two of the issues that will directly effect your life in the coming months and years. It’s young people who are dying in Afghanistan. [p] Think about the future and the world you will one day inherit. Think about climate change. Add any issues that are near and dear to your heart on a personal level – perhaps the care that will be available to your grand parents or parents as they grow old – and the list becomes even longer. Don’t vote and you effectively kiss away your ability to have any influence as to how these issues play out in your world. If you don’t vote you are really undermining your right to complain about decisions taken by political leaders that you don’t like. The bottom line is, you should vote because you can.
If I can leave you with just one thought today (apart from vote Labour!), it’s this. Don‘t be negative, but be positive about your future, your community’s future and your country‘s future. Don’t get turned off, get motivated. Don’t get dragged down by apathy, get involved. Make a change, and, against the odds [p] make a difference.
Thank you.
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CORNISH TIMES – A Prospective’s Perspective 19/03/2010
MICHAEL SPARLING - Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for SE Cornwall
We Deserve Better – A Fairer Future for SE Cornwall
I would like to start by thanking the various communities in South East Cornwall for their support over recent weeks. I am proud to come from the Westcountry that we all cherish. It is this pride which drives a conviction – that South East Cornwall can be fairer and better for us all.
As I have been visiting our colleges and knocking on doorsteps in the Spring sunshine, it has been moving to hear at first hand the widespread concerns of local voters. It is abundantly clear that many people feel left out in the cold by the mud-slinging that continues to take place between the Conservatives and the Liberals in Cornwall. The interests of the people in this constituency are being sidelined. There is particular anger at an apparent willingness of the new unitary Council in Truro to dismiss the concerns of South East Cornwall. This raises serious question marks over local accountability. Now more than ever, it is time for us to stand up to the Tories and the Lib Dems and show that people in South East Cornwall count.
Labour inherited a disaster from the Tories in 1997. Since then, the Labour government has delivered huge benefits to people from all walks of life in Cornwall. These include a transformation of our hospitals and schools, the national minimum wage (opposed by both the Conservatives and the Lib Dems), paternity rights, working families’ tax credits and pension credits, to name just a few. Such measures have been especially valuable to a county in which there are so many families on low incomes. Securing Objective 1 Status brought massive inward investment. Whilst growth is currently slow, unemployment in Cornwall has rarely been so low. Now is not the time to risk the recovery. Under a Labour Government, massive projects like the Eden Project, the Peninsula Medical School, combined Universities in Cornwall and the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth have raised both employment levels and the quality of life. Cornwall holds a prestige and status it had struggled to achieve under the bleak Tory years of neglect. The problem is that more than a decade on, the Liberals have failed to deliver and seem uninterested in local activism. They have taken us for granted.
Local voters will soon have a choice about the kind of direction they want for their families in South East Cornwall. The Tories and Liberals can promise what they like, but when given the opportunity to serve, nobody has ever delivered like Labour. We know the Lib Dems will struggle to form a government. If the Conservatives do, a lot of the people in Cornwall now supported by Labour initiatives and public services are really going to feel the rug pulled from beneath them. My pledge is to fight for this area. The Tories and Lib Dems continue to fail South East Cornwall and we deserve better.
Especially after the expenses scandal, politics must be about the future. It must be about connecting with local people and not taking them for granted. This means prioritising issues like the Saltash Bridge toll, the challenges facing our fishing industry and concerns over a proposed incinerator. I am committed to protecting the recovery for local people, defending public services for local families and to fighting as a champion for a fairer South East Cornwall, against this stagnant status-quo.
MICHAEL SPARLING
March 2010
MICHAEL SPARLING
Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for South East Cornwall
M: +44(0)7706840427 E: michaelsparling@hotmail.com F: www.facebook.com/mhsparling T: http://twitter.com/michaelsparling W: michaelsparling.wordpress.com Y: http://www.youtube.com/MichaelSparlingPPC
Published and promoted by Ray Collins, General Secretary, the Labour Party, on behalf of the Labour Party, all at 39 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0HA
Website: labour.org.uk ; to join or renew call 08705 900 200 .
Labour PPCs issue letter of endorsement for Ed Miliband
Twenty Labour PPCs have issued an open letter declaring support for Ed Miliband. The former candidates write:
“Ed Miliband is the only candidate who can give a voice to our authentic Labour values and offer a coherent policy programme that works. He is the change that we need to win the next election and transform Britain for good.”
The full text and signatories are reproduced below:
As Parliamentary Candidates standing for Labour at the last General Election, it became clear to us as we talked to voters that those who previously supported us felt that the previous Labour Government didn’t listen enough and weren’t doing enough to address their concerns. This included the increasing income gap between them and those earning obscene amounts – notably in the banking sector whose frivolous excesses and irresponsibility had led to the worst peacetime economic crisis since the Great Depression. Coupled with that was the abolition of the 10p rate which meant overnight they were paying double the amount in taxation and taking a double cut in their earnings. This would explain that among all the different social groups, the skilled working class or C2s showed a drop of 18% support for Labour.
In order to win back our own supporters who deserted us at the last election and ultimately to win back the 5 million voters who backed us in 1997 we need to endorse the candidate who will address these concerns and do the best job for the people of this country.
Having listened and talked to all the Leadership candidates, we are convinced that the person who most effectively meets the challenge is Ed Miliband.
Ed is the candidate who can best offer the change our Party needs if we are to win back the support of people across the length and breadth of the country.
He wants to change Britain’s economy so that it encourages people to take responsibility. That means taking action at the top of the wage scale to ensure that the richest contribute their fair share. It means supporting those who can’t work, but encouraging those who can to do so. And it means recognising the contribution that middle-income earners make, so that they are supported if they fall on hard times.
As part of this change, Ed wants to tackle inequality in our society. That’s why he’s campaigning for a Living Wage to ensure fair pay for a fair day’s work. And that’s why he wants to establish a High Pay Commission, to close the gap in income inequality between the top and the bottom.
To build this new economy, local industries have to be supported and nurtured. Ed is furious, as we are, about the Coalition Government scrapping the Regional Development Agencies, which did so much to sustain local economies. As leader, he would support an active industrial policy that encourages more high-paid, high-skilled, and more sustainable jobs.
Ed knows we have to get the budget deficit down and is committed to making the tough decisions needed to help balance the books. However, he believes this must be done fairly and not at the expense of the most vulnerable in society, and in way that ensures growth to strengthen and entrench the recovery.
New Labour achieved a great deal in Government – the National Minimum Wage, crucial investment in public services, a windfall tax on utilities to pay for tackling youth unemployment, the introduction of civil partnerships and better paternity and maternity rights in the workplace. In addition, as former SoS at the Department of Energy and Climate Change Ed was the first government minister anywhere in the world to commit to cuts of 80% in greenhouse emissions by 2050. He also championed the new electric car being manufactured by Nissan in Sunderland. Finally the Equalities Act was one of the most powerful tools we have for empowering those disproportionately affected by Con Dem policies and Ed has taken the lead in this area by unequivocally recognising that we must embed equality in the Party itself at every level from cabinet down to branch. Overall Ed is proud of our record, and so he should be.
But at times we lost sight of what we hold dearest – our values – and how best to articulate and apply them to policy making, which is why we lost the election this year. In order to win back the trust of the public at large, Labour needs to return to its values, and rely on them as we set about building a better Britain.
Ed Miliband is the only candidate who can give a voice to our authentic Labour values and offer a coherent policy programme that works. He is the change that we need to win the next election and transform Britain for good. That is why we as Labour Parliamentary Candidates at the last election are supporting him. That is why we want Ed Miliband to be Leader of the Labour Party.
Jonathan Slater (Aldershot)
Lucy Powell (Manchester Withington)
Stuart King (Putney)
Nancy Platts (Brighton Pavilion)
Catharine Arakelian (Chingford and Woodford Green)
Graham Giles (Gosport)
Richard Scorer (Hazel Grove)
Tom Miller (Woking)
Luke Pollard (South West Devon)
Michael Sparling (South East Cornwall)
Sonia Klein (Ilford North)
Nicholas Milton (Kenilworth and Southam)
Tim Shand (Guildford)
Kevin Bonavia (Rochford and Southend East)
Eleanor Tunnicliffe (Richmond Park)
John MacKay (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross and candidate for the Scottish elections in 2011 in Caithness, Sutherland & Ross)
Jane Innes (Nuneaton)
Gareth Gould (South Holland & The Deepings)
Andrew Judge (Wimbledon)
Cat Smith (Wyre and Preston North)
The pages below detail press releases, speeches and other significant updates
