Election Thoughts

Posted By: Elwyn Watkins
Date Posted: 09/05/2007

This is my first post!  I had promised to start an email blog a little earlier, but got caught up with the election campaign.  Things worked out reasonably well with an increased Lib Dem vote and majority in Healey.  Thank you to everyone that voted.  Obviously I am most grateful to those that voted for me, but democracy keeps everyone on their toes, so those that got me working harder to stay elected also have a valuable part to play!

I would also like to thank the other candidates Jim Moran and Andrew Neilson.  I was pleased that none of us resorted to the personal attacks that happened in other areas and tried to concentrate upon the issues. 

I was less pleased about the Labour leaflet that went around.  This was obviously one done from the Labour Party HQ.  It accused the Lib Dems of many things that simply were not true.  Of especial concern was that part where it stated that Lib Dems ‘plan to AXE the Home Help service’.  This must have caused considerable concern to anyone who relies upon this service.  I can give anyone in this situation my assurance that this is simply not true.  We are looking at modernising the service, but have the categorical assurance of the senior council officers that this will not affect the extent or quality of the service.  If it does not, then I will not support it. 

Many elderly people rely upon having some outside help to allow them to remain independent and I fully support this service.  People who have worked all their lives, paid taxes and successfully raised families certainly deserve to be helped in their old age.  I would, though, remind people that this modernisation process was started and agreed by all of the Labour Party councillors when they were in power.  For them to campaign against something that they voted for and agreed is simply wrong. 

My theory is that the Parliamentary Labour Party candidate from Rossendale is behind these scare stories.  He must be getting desperate if he is resorting to telling people things that are not true and causing unnecessary concern to many elderly people.   It may well work well somewhere else, but in Rochdale we are still quite a close community and it is my belief that telling people things that are not true will not work out in the long term.