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The facts say we must vote Labour out of power

Since Labour came to power in 1997 the gap between the rich and the poor has widened. Labour has failed to tackle poverty.   Since Labour came to power in 1997 manufacturing output and jobs have declined at a faster rate than under the previous Conservative Governments. Industrial production continues to decline in the UK while it is increasing in USA, Japan, Germany, France, China, Canada, Italy and in the Eurozone as a whole.  The trade weighted value of sterling has fallen by about 25% since 2007 - a faster decline than when Britain left the ERM in 1992. The UK has world's second largest negative balance of trade second only to the USA which is a much bigger economy. In contrast China, Japan, Germany, France,  the Netherlands,  Norway, Russia, Sweden, Denmark and the Eurozone as a whole all enjoy positive balance of trade surpluses   Exports fell by 4.4% in January 2010 compared to December 2009. Between early 2008 and autumn 2009, GDP fell by 6.2%. The recession lasted 6 quarters longer than any other G7 economy.Labour Government spending as a share of GPP rose from 44% in 2006 to 52% in 2009- compared to 48% in Germany.The Labour Government’s projected deficit of £167 million is equivalent to 11.8% of GDP and the Government has no credible plans to reduce it. This compares with a deficit of only £6 billion when Labour came to power in 1997.The Labour Government’s budget deficit as a share of GDP is on a par with Greece's. It is the highest since the Second World War and will be the biggest of any G20 economy according to the IMF.The UK’s National Debt will rise from £617 billion in 2009/10 to £1,400 billion in 2014/15. It is now at its highest level since the Second World War. According to McKinsey the total indebtedness in the British economy as a share of GDP is the highest amongst 10 major economiesThe Labour Government is now spending 4 pounds for every 3 it receives in revenue.The Labour Government is now borrowing 25 per cent of what it spends. And 25 per cent of what the Labour Government borrows is spent on pay interest on the Government's borrowings. The Labour Government now spends 52 per cent of GDP which means that each worker on the private sector has to support and pay for at least one worker in the public sectorNearly 6 million on benefits dependent on taxpayers for their benefits.  Over 6 million on the public sector payroll dependent on taxpayers for their incomes. There 2.5 million unemployed and rising. Our rate of youth unemployment is the highest on record since the Second World War.Inflation is now running at 3.5% and interest rates are rising.These facts and figures make an overwhelming case for voting Labour out of Government and ensuring that a discredited and bankrupt Labour Government is not kept in power by any backroom deals such as a possible coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

David Giles ● 6037d0 Comments ● 6037d

Ealing in Crisis - a Crisis of Trust

Had Tory Cllr Phil Taylor turned up on time at the SEC “Ealing in Crises” question-time he would have known that the Green Party candidate for Ealing Central and Acton Sarah Edwards, could not attend due to an illness. He would also have known that I had made a statement at the event on her behalf.In his inimitable style he chose instead, to cast her in a bad light in his blog by stating  in his opening words that she "failed to turn up"without any words of explanation. Even Labour had the decency to explain why she couldn’t make it in their comments on what Cllr Phil Taylor described as a “fantasy planning session” Cllr Phil Taylor must surely know that this sort of language and these attacks are what put people off politics. I am sure the SEC put a lot of effort into arranging this worthwhile event and then for him to question their accountability is absurd. It states on their web page that the SEC represents several Ealing resident associations. Aren’t Councillors also supposed to represent the residents of Ealing? That evening everyone searched for the “big idea” to solve Ealing’s problems but it became clear that an under-current feeling existed throughout: the lack of trust in our politicians and in local democracy. This was evident from recent events such as the Gunnersbury Park campaign which I was involved in, the Arcadia development flop, Dickens yard debacle and the Southall Biofuels plant which was overwhelmingly rejected by the council and people in Ealing and yet, against our wishes, we find it back again in the current appeal.If we elect councillors and politicians shouldn’t they listen to us? Cllr David Millican’s response to questions on the Arcadia development, which he supported, was: “we are listening”. The audience were not convinced given it was rejected as called for by residents.How do we move on from here? How can trust be rebuilt? Perhaps councillors could start by heeding residents and by challenging some of the assumptions behind development:  such as the presumption that the population growth forecasts in the local plans are inevitable, without questioning what is optimal or practical;  such as the idea that new homes are the only solution, while many properties lie empty;  such as the idea that private developers should dominate planning policy; such as the notion that consumerism and additional retail outlets are the answer to our well being;  such as the idea that developers and experts know best etcCouncillors could also open their minds to alternative ideas such as the transport inter-change at Ealing Broadway and explore ways to finance it before rejecting out of hand, such an Ealing Credit Union where our savings will stay invested within the local community like in Leeds, such as developing a local energy industry like in Woking where they have developed their own local electricity grid, such as free insulation for homes like in Kirklees, such as a new centre for repairing household items like that run by Islington council, such as retaining waste within the borough to produce energy from anerobic digestion etc. Developments such as these would create more local jobs and save money.Ealing can have a brighter future if our elected leaders take the initiative and work hand in hand with residents.C Bryan

Conrad Bryan ● 6073d10 Comments ● 6048d