"May The Force Be With You"

We had a brilliant day at the Rossendale Hospice BBQ last weekend. The event was a great success and was well attended. Charlotte bought some cards and a new pinny form the craft stores. The highlight of my day was being pictured with a storm trooper.

I was delighted to be asked, by Peggy Starkie, to attend and to support the event. I have visited the Hospice and will be doing a skydive later this year to help them raise funds. If you would like to sponsor me you can do so online by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/jakeberry .

Road Tax Hike to hit Rossendale and Darwen

I have been a little bad at blogging over the last few weeks, but I have been spending time in Crew and Nantwich, helping my friend Ed Timpson.

We had a fantastic result which I am sure you have all read about in the papers over the weekend. I attach below my most recent press release setting out my view on the “Great Road Tax Robbery”..

Jake Berry Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Rossendale and Darwen has today called for a re-think of the government’s plans for the new rates of road tax to apply retrospectively to cars bought before 2001.

The change in vehicle duty will affect 7 out of 10 motorists. Many of those who will be most penalised by the rise are on low incomes, and could have to pay an extra £245 a year to tax a car.

Jake Berry commented “Tax is set to rise on cars such as the Ford Mondeo by a massive 23%. This will disproportionately effect low income families in Rossendale and Darwen, who tend to buy older, larger family cars. Additionally the large rural community in this area, for many of whom cars are a lifeline, will have to pay up to 42% higher Road Tax next year if they wish to drive family cars such as a VW Passat Estate.”

Jake continued “We are all feeling the pinch from rising prices for basic items such as petrol, food and energy bills. Drivers are taking the brunt of price rises again; this increase in Road Tax comes in addition to a 2 pence rise in fuel duty due later this year. The finances of hard working families in Rossendale and Darwen are under massive pressure, Gordon Brown says he shares the public’s pain but here is fresh proof his government is the problem.”

May 1st 2008 - The Results

As you may know, I very rarely put pure political statistics up here. I use this blog to let people know what I have been up to, however, the results last week were so remarkable I believe they bear greater scrutiny.

Rossendale

Conservative share of the Vote - 46.8%
New Labour share of the Vote - 29.1%

A great result, and I would like to personally congratulate Cllr. Jason Gledhill (Longholme Ward), Cllr. Nicola May (Hareholme Ward), Cllr. Peter Evans (Helmshore Ward), Cllr. Hazel Steen (Irwell Ward) and Cllr. David Stansfield (Worsly Ward) all of whom won their seats on the 1st of May.

In addition, I would like to congratulate, Cllr. Janet Graham (Cribden Ward), Cllr. Darryl Mark Smith (Eden Ward), Cllr. Lynda Barnes (Facit and Shawforth Ward), Cllr. Gladys Sandiford (Greenfield Ward) and Cllr. Judith Driver (Greensclough Ward) all of whom held their seats.

This is a fantastic result and means the Conservative Party have taken control of Rossendale Council for the next 2 years.


Darwen with Blackburn

Conservative share of the Vote - 26.47*
New Labour share of the Vote - 21.59*

I would like to congratulate Cllr. John Slater (Fernhurst Ward) and Cllr. Colin Rigby (North Turton with Tockholes Ward) both of who retained their seats with thumping majorities.

This again is a brilliant result and means the Conservative Party will remain the largest member of the ruling coalition. We ran a positive campaign in Darwen with lots of people wanting to help us and all our candidates did a fantastic job and made great progress.

Across Rossendale and Darwen constituency, the total vote shares are as follows:-

Conservative share of the Vote - 38%
New Labour share of the Vote - 25%

This was a very strong performance for the Conservative Party with Rossendale and Darwen mirroring the national trend. I believe that we are now well placed to continue to work towards a victory in the general election. It will now be a long and hard fight to the finish, but I hope and believe that the people of Rossendale and Darwen will vote for the change that we need.

*Does not include Blackburn Wards.

Vote Conservative Today

Don’t forget to go and vote for the Conservatives today.

The polling stations are open all day……. don’t leave it to others, they may be leaving it to you.

Rossendale and Darwen Conservatives the change Rossendale and Darwen needs