Lib Dem ppc for NW Hampshire Tom McCann has condemned the Tories’ proposals for “free schools” as unworkable and anti-democratic.
The Tory proposals, leaked last week, would allow anyone to set up a school and take control of schools away from local authorities and hand it over to centralised control from Westminster. The plan is copied from a similar system tried but unproven in Sweden.
The proposals have been rejected as unworkable and too expensive by not only the government but also Tory county councils such as Kent and Hampshire. Andover county councillor and Hampshire education spokesman David Kirk said “choice is something we’d all dearly love to be able to offer, but choice costs.”
Tom believes control of schools should rest with local people through their elected councils. “It is not something to be privatised and handed out at the whim of a government minister” he said. “This shows the Conservatives commitment to localism to be a sham. A vote for them is a vote to replace Labour centralisation with Tory centralisation. Even their own party activists don’t trust them.”
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Tories must come clean on tax
North West Hampshire’s MP Sir George Young has let the cat out of the bag about the tax status of the Tory party’s biggest donor, Lord Ashcroft. For months debate has raged over whether Ashcroft actually lives in the UK and pays tax, or is a “non-dom” - not domiciled in the UK for tax purposes. If he doesn’t pay tax then he is barred from funding the Tory party and the millions he has poured into their campaigns would have to be repaid.
When quizzed about this on BBC’s Newsnight Sir George said “He is in the same position as a number of Labour peers who are non-domiciled and who fund the Labour party.” In other words he doesn’t pay the full rate of UK tax.
The Conservatives, who have previously opposed changes to the law which would have forced parliamentarians to end their status as non-doms, are now desperately trying to play down the fresh confusion over Ashcroft. Meanwhile Ashcroft’s company Bearcroft Corporate Services is under investigation by the Electoral Commission following complaints that he has used it to circumvent the rules on funding political parties.
Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Tom McCann commented “Ashcroft’s dubious tax position must be clarified. Ten years ago, when he was given a peerage, he promised to come clean and pay tax. He still hasn’t done so and he and the Tory party are hiding his true status. This makes a mockery of David Cameron’s claim to be a reformer in favour of cleaning up politics.”
Hear for yourself what Sir George said at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8506284.stm
And read more of the story at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/09/lord-ashcroft-conservatives-tax
When quizzed about this on BBC’s Newsnight Sir George said “He is in the same position as a number of Labour peers who are non-domiciled and who fund the Labour party.” In other words he doesn’t pay the full rate of UK tax.
The Conservatives, who have previously opposed changes to the law which would have forced parliamentarians to end their status as non-doms, are now desperately trying to play down the fresh confusion over Ashcroft. Meanwhile Ashcroft’s company Bearcroft Corporate Services is under investigation by the Electoral Commission following complaints that he has used it to circumvent the rules on funding political parties.
Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Tom McCann commented “Ashcroft’s dubious tax position must be clarified. Ten years ago, when he was given a peerage, he promised to come clean and pay tax. He still hasn’t done so and he and the Tory party are hiding his true status. This makes a mockery of David Cameron’s claim to be a reformer in favour of cleaning up politics.”
Hear for yourself what Sir George said at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8506284.stm
And read more of the story at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/09/lord-ashcroft-conservatives-tax
Lib Dems back 10:10 campaign
Test Valley’s Liberal Democrats are calling on the borough council to sign up to the 10:10 campaign to cut carbon emissions by 10% in 2010.The motion submitted by Cllr Mark Cooper of Romsey and seconded by Cllr Len Gates of Andover highlights the success of the campaign and calls on Test Valley to join other Hampshire councils in actively supporting the 10:10 campaign.
Cllr Gates hopes the motion will get the support of all councillors. “Global warming is a far more serious threat to us and out future than anything else we have seen. It isn’t going to go away and it needs positive action to tackle it” he said. “This action is best taken at a local level and local councils have a major role to play. We can make a difference and we have a duty to do so.”
Cllr Gates hopes the motion will get the support of all councillors. “Global warming is a far more serious threat to us and out future than anything else we have seen. It isn’t going to go away and it needs positive action to tackle it” he said. “This action is best taken at a local level and local councils have a major role to play. We can make a difference and we have a duty to do so.”
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