Irwell Vale with Sir Robert Atkins MEP and the team

We had a great night last night canvassing with Sir Robert Atkins in Irwell Vale.We had a fantastic response with a clear majority supporting Cllr. Darryl Smith.

We finished the evening with dinner at the White Horse, which has to be one of the best restaurants in the Valley.

How will you mark the day?

As I am sure most of you are aware, today is St. Georges Day. I have long believed that today should be a national holiday and we should do more to celebrate this day and England.

To mark the occasion I went to the St. George’s Day Dinner at Whitehall Country Club on Sunday. The event was in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. This is a fantastic cause. My own family has recently been touched by cancer and this and other cancer charities are close to my heart.

The dinner itself was a great success and raised over £1,400.00. The end of the dinner was marked by the singing of the National Anthem, Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia. This is the sort of thing that Margaret Hodge, Minister of State for Culture, Media & Sport, is attacking as not being inclusive enough.

This is complete nonsense; at my table there was a lady from Poland and a lady from Germany, who were just as proud as I was to celebrate this traditional English occasion.

Have you seen this month's pay packet?

HOW MUCH WILL YOU BE HIT
BY GORDON BROWN’S TAX
ON HARD-PRESSED FAMILIES?

Nursery nurses will pay £154 more per year. Bar staff will
pay £67 more. Catering assistants will pay £161 more.
Retail cashiers will pay £185 more. Sales assistants will
pay £227 more. Library clerks will pay £203 more.
Hairdressers will pay £198 more. Receptionists will
pay £167 more. Home carers will pay £157 more. School
secretaries will pay £140 more. Cleaners will pay £45
more. Cooks will pay £136 more. Dental nurses will
pay £132 more. Typists will pay £110 more. Call centre
operators will pay £103 more. Bakers will pay £89
more. Florists will pay £79 more. Caretakers will pay
£78 more. Veterinary nurses will pay £128 more. Farm
workers will pay £75 more. Legal secretaries will pay £71
more. Hospital porters will pay £56 more. Van drivers
will pay £51 more. Road sweepers will pay £49
more. Pub managers will pay £48 more.

Security guards will pay £21 more.

Labour have over-spent and over-borrowed, and as a result the public finances are in a mess. That is why Gordon Brown is putting up taxes, and kicking people when they are down.

The Conservatives have specific proposals to help hard-working families:

• We will oppose Labour’s plans to double the 10p tax rate.

• We will use direct democracy to control council tax bills. We will give power to the people, through local referendums, to stop large council tax rises.

• We will raise the threshold for inheritance tax, taking 98 per cent of family homes out of it altogether.

• We will abolish stamp duty, the tax on house purchases, for 9 out of 10 first-time buyers, helping people get onto the housing ladder.

• We will end the couple penalty in the tax credits system. Taxes and benefits should encourage families to stay together, but the current system actually pays couples to live apart.

• We will reform the administration of tax credits to make the system simpler and fairer.

• We will help people into jobs and cut benefits for those who won’t work.

Sir Robert Atkins MEP Speaks at The Rossendale and Darwen Society Annual Drinks Party

On Saturday Sir Robert Atkins MEP came to speak to the Rossendale and Darwen Society at our annual drinks party. This was a bit of a double celebration for the engagement and went fantastically well. Charlotte once again pulled off a masterful stroke with the nibbles.

Robin Hood’s Well, a Grand National win and an Engagement

Charlotte and I had a very happy day on Saturday. The day started with my advice surgery in Belmont with Colin and Jean Rigby. I put a picture of Belmont Church on this blog a few weeks ago and received loads of emails saying what a beautiful building it is. I agree Belmont as a whole is a very picturesque village.

When I got home Charlotte was on her way out to put a small bet on the Grand National. I chose Bewleys Berry (for obvious reasons) Charlotte backed Compile or Die. As any of you who watched the race will know Charlotte backed the winner with Bewleys Berry limping home.

Later that day I suggested to Charlotte that we go for a walk up to Robin Hood’s Well and over Musbury Tor. When we arrived at Robin Hood’s Well, I asked Charlotte to marry me and I am delighted that she said yes. I thought at one point that the Rossendale weather was going to let me down but just as we reached the top the sun came out. All in all it was a perfect day.

Stubbins Primary School – Visit

I had the pleasure of being invited to Stubbins Primary School to make a presentation to their assembly on Monday. The school children are learning about different countries across the globe as part of World Awareness Week.

Having been able to visit Kenya a few weeks ago I was happy to come and talk to the school about my experience. This is a fantastic school with hard working teachers who achieve great results.

I am returning to the school today to finds out what the children have learned. I will be paying special attention to year three who where studying Kenya!!

Abolition of the 10p rate will have massive impact in Rossendale and Darwen - Press release

Commenting on the doubling of Income Tax rates for the low paid on Sunday April 6, Jake Berry, prospective Conservative MP for Rossendale and Darwen, said:

“We are all seeing the cost of living go up – whether in higher Council Tax or rising fuel and energy bills. I am staggered that the Government has therefore decided to double the rate of Income Tax on the lowest paid and on part-time workers. On Sunday April 6, Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are scrapping the 10% starting rate of Income Tax.

“It seems the people who have the least are the ones who will be paying the highest price for the Government’s bungled budget. This tax rise may have little impact in the South of England where wages are higher but average wages in Rossendale and Darwen fall well below the national average and people have contacted me to say the this doubling of their tax bill will squeeze them further just when they can least afford it.”

“The Government has confirmed that around 5.3 million families will lose out. 26 Labour MPs have signed a motion calling on the government to reverse the budget tax hike on low income earners. I support their motion and hope that this badly thought out tax plan will be scrapped.”