Together we can make Gordon Brown listen

Together we can make Gordon Brown listen

At the last General Election, Gordon Brown promised us a referendum on the EU Constitution but now he is breaking that promise.

He claims we don't need one because the new document is called a "Treaty" rather than a
"Constitution". But it doesn't really matter what people call it. The fact is that the new Treaty is basically the same as the Constitution and it means giving away more powers to the EU.

It would create a new EU president and lead to the loss of at least 60 of our national vetoes. It gives the EU the power to make treaties and introduces a new ratchet clause that would make it easier for the EU to taken on even more powers in the future.

Just before becoming Prime Minister Gordon Brown said "the manifesto is what we put to the public. We've got to honour that manifesto. That is an issue of trust for me with the electorate."

That manifesto included the promise of a referendum and it is up to all of us to make sure that he honours that pledge.

The campaign for a referendum is supported by people from all parties in fact more than eight out of ten of Labour’s own voters want a referendum.

If you would like to play your part in making sure that Gordon Brown keeps his promise, then I hope you will offer your support to the cross-party "I want a referendum"
campaign by signing their online petition at www.iwantareferendum.com

5 Star Scanner Appeal Dinner

I had the pleasure of attending the Five Star Scanner Appeal dinner hosted by the Darwen Chamber of Trade on Saturday night. The Darwen Chamber of Trade were lending their support at the Five Star Scanner Appeal to help raise £1 Million to provide a much needed replacement MRI scanner for The New Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The night was inspired by a very special little girl from Lower Darwen called Madison Allen who has a tumour and would be helped by the new scanner.

The whole night was fantastic and went off without a hitch thanks to the planning and hard work of Denise and Jill. The whole night was about raising money for one of the best causes I know about and I am delighted to say that we raised over £4,000.

Although it was a star studded evening with lots of celebrities the real star for everyone was Madison who stole the show.

Today’s Favourite Headline

My Visit to the Food Festival in Darwen

I was delighted to have the chance to attend the Darwen Food Festival. Charlotte and I are are both foodies so it was a real treat for me. I hope you like the pictures.

David Grogan Appointed as Candidate for Darwen Local Elections

Proms in the Park (St Veronica's Church, Helmshore)

With Charlotte still away on Holiday I spent Saturday evening attending Helmshore Proms in the Park in the grounds of St Veronica's Church. The Proms raised funds for my church (St Thomas Helmshore) and was a fantastic event raising over £450. The evening was well attended with over 80 People who were all serenaded by the Haslingden and Helmshore Brass Band. I enjoyed myself immensely as did everyone who attended. I hope that this fantastic celebration of every thing that made Britain Great will now be a yearly fixture in Helmshore.

After Proms in the Park I was invited to Tony and Lowri Copes’ house for a glass of wine and a panninie. Charlotte has obviously been telling people I need looking after while she is away!!

Stand up Speak up

Fight on for Fairfield II

This week I again met with David, whose son’s life was saved by the proximity of Fairfield Hospital Maternity Unit. David told me that when William was in Hospital there was another couple on the Maternity Ward in Fairfield whose child would have died if their journey in the ambulance had been a minute longer. David is devastated at the news the Fairfield Maternity Unit will close but has vowed to fight on to save it.

A recent poll showed that the Conservatives are overwhelmingly the most popular party with the nation's GPs. GP Newspaper's survey of GPs found that 48% intended to vote for the Conservatives compared to just 23% for New Labour.
The survey also found that 47% of doctors felt that New Labour's performance had been poor or very poor.

It is now clear that the people who the public trust most to deliver their healthcare, like doctors and nurses, are the same people who trust the Conservative party with the NHS.

We must have an immediate moratorium on Brown's New Labour NHS cuts before lives are lost in the Valley.