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VALLEYVIEWSEXTRA .. POLITICS AND ELECTION SPECIAL Write to TheEditor.ClitheroeAdvBrtisBrand Times, Fern Court Business Centre, Castlegate, Clitheroe, BB71AZ, or email duncan.smith1@jpress.co.uk


© Economy now in good shape


ss:* . 'have been on the campaign trail for the past four weeks and have been amazed by the


K numberofpeoplewhohave come up to me in the street


c and reinforced the success of the economy, nationally and here in the Ribble Valley. I have fought nine parlia­ mentary elections and I have


© never fought one where the economic indicators are so strong when compared to the situation five years previously. . Itisapparentthatpeoplehave


’ i' recognised the strength of economic growth and unem­ ployment in our area isjust i%. People have also recognised that low inflation, presently standing at o%, which, com­ bined with low petrol prices, is making a real difference to


v,-/


© people. During the past five years, there has also been a huge increase in the number of ap­ prenticeships, demonstrated by the new £15.6 million train­ ing centre at BAE Samlesbury. This has demonstrated that the Conservatives really are the party of the workers. I am proud to have supported a Government that has been able to halve the deficit, whilst still being able to increase NHS spending, raise the in­ come tax threshold to £10,600 and increase the basic state pension by £800 peryear. I am asking for the continued supportofthepeopleofthe


, Ribble Valley and I know from my conversations with people that the one thing they most fear from this election is a minority Labour government, .|


g. propped up by the SNP, who 9 have no other aim that over- rides their wish to break this country apart. Conservative candidate NigelEvans Clitheroe


* No-one else so


qualified for job I fully understand the reasons


© for the feelings expressed by two correspondents last week' outlining their misgivings about voting again for Nigel Evans. However, 1 feel it only fair to set out a few facts which may address their concerns and hopefully balance the views expressed. First, the role of Deputy


\v -4 Speaker of the House of Com­ mons is a statutory position required by the rules of Parlia-


© ment. It is a post elected by all MPs and carries very demand­


ing duties and responsibilities and is essential to the smooth functioning of Parliamentary business.


,


Whilst the Speaker and Depu­ ties have to remain impartial and therefore cannot vote on Parliamentary motions, they


-f- certainly continue to have


influence on behalf of their constituents and indeed have privileged access to Govern­ ment Ministers as evidenced by Nigel arranging a visit for residents and councillors to meet the then Planning Min­ ister Nick Boles, and then for Nick Boles to undertake an official visit to Ribble Valley to again meet residents and councillors. The position is similar to a Minister who is only allowed to speak on issues relating to his own department. Second, in terms of his experi ence and ability, Nigel is the longest serving Lancashire MP, having served continu­ ously since 1992 in both op­ position and Government and knows the workings of Parliament in great detail. He has taken up hundreds, if not thousands, of cases on behalf of his constituents over the years, very successfully in mostcases. He holds regular surgeries throughout the constitu­ ency and tours the constitu­ ency every summer meeting a large number of residents and discussing their issues or con­ cerns with them. He is always available, either directly or through his offices in London or locally in Clitheroe. I would hope therefore that, in this election, what people take into account are the policies • each candidate stands for, the credibility of those policies, the record of their party in Government and the fact that this election is about which party will best serve thelong- term interests of the country at large. On that basis, I believe the majority will join mein voting for Nigel.


TerryHill, Woodlands Park, Whalley


Brass would be his own man


A recent letter from an un­ named source expressed con-s cerns and requested informa-. tion regarding David Brass’s candidature at the forthcom­ ing General Election. I would like to give my personal opin­ ion through the following ob­ servations. I understand David will soon distribute a leaflet detailing what he stands for. I hope he does not call them “policies” as that isjust an election term for “lies”. On top of that he is accessible daily in his shop or you could ring 07730 411556 and request a visit. 1 agree with your correspond­ ent that “nobody is perfect”, but which of Nigel’s errors • should we forgive: The court case with sordid revelations about his private life, his fail­ ure to represent us between 2010 and 2014 because he chose to increase his income stream by accepting the Dep­ uty Speaker role, or his pitiful


involvement in the new hous­ ing debacle? The concerns over David Brass’s business arrange­ ments and representing the Ribble Valley in Westminster are unfounded as his business is a family affair. This would continue, with family mem­ bers replacing him at the helm leaving David time to concen­ trate on his politicalduties. Nobody can agree with every issue constituents raise, but thejob ofanMPistoseekthe answers to individuals ques­ tions and respond whether in agreement or not. I believe David would be good at this. Finally the unnamed corre- • spondent asks what difference' David’s one vote will make. Well it’s the same vote Nigel Evans has, but there is a dif­ ference. If David is elected he will use the vote for a full five years, not just one year as in Nigel’scase! And what about this for a nov­ elty? If elected David Brass would not be told how to vote fry his political party, because hehasn’tgotone.He would vote in the best interests of Ribble Valley residents - not his own best interests. It is the opinions of many


. Ribble Vdley voters that the . local Conservative Party se­ lected the wrong candidate to represent them in this year’s General Election. David Brass has highlighted that fact and provided an opportunity for like-minded people to agree’ withhim. It is also worth remember­ ing thatsince the last General Election the Conservatives have allocated the Ribble Val­ ley 5i500new houses with no additional infrastructure. Thousands ofvotershave objected to this wanton de­ struction. Sonowisthetime to make our voices heard and David Brass provides a home for this protest. Surprise election results can be achieved. Remember 1990 when Ribble Valley residents voted the Tories out because ofthePollTax.Thisis another time our voices need to be heard. Spread the word. Steve Rush


■ MearleySyke, Clitheroe Brassed off?


Yes, with Tories I was a little aghast at the let­ ter published on April 9 th headlined “Are you already brassed off”? If one is becom­ ing brassed off, then why not vote for Nigel? I Let’s not forget the current status quo that has prevailed for the past 23 years and the general ineptitude of ourcurrentMP-whohasthe general toughness of a wet let­ tuce, he who would clearly lift . a “and another thing” ranting index finger i f only he had the strength ofintegrity to do so, coupled with the doggedness


of a small lapdog, safe in the knowledge that his pampered lifestyle will carry on regard­ less as the Ribble Valley sleeps its way into the next century. Lacking in foresight, trans- ' parency or any opinion on any real issues that could have any impact on his safe seat. I was delighted last year to see that his “living wage” rose to £66,396, not to mention ex­ penses of £162,356 paid for by the public purse, to bring it in line with David Cameron’s and George’s Osbourne’s “we’re in it together” Austerity cam­ paign and the Big Society, after all the food banks have now become a social gathering- al­ though I must say he will look quite dashing no doubt in his new portrait by a local artist. Let us not talk about the im­ pact our MP has had on any big local issues like the housing - debacle or his anti-fracking stance for there would be very little to say. Let us not forget the Tory party he represents, or their record on tax avoid­ ing the rich list including the elusive large corporations do­ ing business in virtual spaces which are clearly outside the UK borders, or the bankers, and the pure greed of capital­ ism at its best that got us into this mess in the first place. May be all the local shop own­ ers and small businesses need to create a virtual lift to a vir­ tual accountancy world levi­ tating just above their second floor, to an independent tax haven of Utopia (HSBC may have a local branch there) to level the playing field, instead of being discriminated against by big business and the poli­ ticians that sycophantically prostitute themselves to it. Let us not forget the public embarrassments that are Eric Pickles, Andrew Lansbury, Michael Gove and Nicky Mor­ gan, who have excelled in the education department - to mention but a few. These peo­ ple are clueless figures of fun apart from the alarming fact that they actually shape gov­ ernment policy. Election Day is looming, elec­ tion bungs are booming. Pub­ lic apathy is rising! T.R.H.Nevans, Pendleton


We need action,


not just talk I have lived in Barrow for 11 years and when I first came here, there were two pubs, a Post Office-cum-shop and a •Chinese restaurant. The Post Office is now shut andthepub, which was The Dog and Partridge, is now also closed. It was a very good pub and restaurant for people in the village to go for a nice meal, but the people who own it, along with the cottage next door, have closed it and put tin sheets overall the doors and


windows, making it a com­ plete eyesore in such a nice •


village. Nigel Evans is always on about pubs closing down - well, if there is anything about him, he should address this situation, make them take the sheets off and restore the pub and cottage back to their former glory. If it was in his village of Pendleton, it would have been sorted out imme­ diately. He seems to do a lot of talking, but not much action -heshouldgethisfingerout now and address this situation seeing as he is supposed to be our local MP.


D.J, Parker . Trafford Gardens, Barrow All these things


are on my list... Things I will remember come General Election day:


■ 1. Under this Tory govern- ment, our army has been cut from 102,000 to 82,000 with more cuts likely to come. UKIP are the only party prepared to increase the defence budget. Listen to the Green Party, and our borders would be wide open to all and sundry. “I S” terrorists are on the European border and I’d sooner have Trident in my backyard than President Putin. Churchill must be turning in his grave. 2. In 1972, 1 voted for the “Com­ mon Market”. Today, the EU is a safety net for Tory and La­ bour failed politicians. 3. Upon leaving office five years ago, a Labour minister said: “There’s no money left.” Under this Conservative gov­ ernment, our national debt has doubled to £1.5 trillion. Don’t give either another chance on May 7th. 4. Where has all our money gone? The NHS and schools


under Labour and Tory gov­ ernments, the toxic private finance initiative, lias now


reached a staggering £222 bil­ lion. Health tourism cost us, the tax payers, £300 million a


year. When last in power, the Labour party cost us £6 billion over the NHS computer fiasco.


Because of cuts to the social care budget, it was recently re­ ported that hospitals are paid toholdsomeofourelderly' as prisoners on wards whilst hospital trusts take money for them from local authorities. So, once and for all, it’s not our ageing population to blame for problems in the NHS. Political correctness, broken promises, unaccountability,' turning a blind eye, ignoring the evidence, expenses scan­ dals, snouts in the trough, cul­ ture of cover-up. It’s all going on...enoughalready! What we need is certainty -


what we are getting is the op­ posite. I am not a member, but


I shall be voting for the United


Kingdom Independence Party on May 7th.


Let’s give ’em a chance. BertHardwick


Station Road, Whalley No more o f ‘Air


Miles Nigel’! Nigel Evans tells us he has lived in the Ribble Valley for 24 years. But has he? When the expenses scandal broke, Nigel demanded that almost every address be blacked out. Why? Because he was abroad on free


junkets. He even managed to get himself on the committee that dished them out, but still managed to get his photo in the local paper every week as if he was here. “Air Miles Nigel” they dubbed him. Was he vot­ ing for us? Nigel is a born and bred Welshman, a previous Welsh secretary and a self- declared 100% Welshman. If he is re-elected and a law is brought in where only the English can vote on English Laws, where would that leave us? Once more without a vote. As for David Cameron, he had the sheer audacity without any discussion, debate or men­ tion in a manifesto to trample on the Holy Bible and all those with faith to implement a law to make marriage lawful for homosexuals. Most ofwhom didn’t want it as they already had legal status. He also increased taxpayers money for overseas aid while we have foodbanks and the homeless, plus reduced de­ fences of our own country. D. Dyson (Ex-Tory voter) Sabden


Scary revelation


oh fracking! Fracking developments in Lancashire appear to be on hold until after the General Election. However last week there was an interesting revelation at an election hustings meeting in Sussex which has implications forusall. When the candidates were asked if they were for or against fracking, Sir Nicho­ las Soames (Con) said he was all for it. But he added that it would be “silly” for it to take, place in a “heavily populated” place such as Sussex. Instead he recommended that frack­ ing should go ahead and be tested for safety in the un­ populated Trough of Bowland where “it wouldn’t trouble people”.


.


Do our Ribble Valley constitu­ ency candidates agree with his suggestion? The video extract can be found on Youtube by searching “Soames fracking Lancashire”. To hear responses from the other candidates search. “fracking question haywards heath”.


MurielLord, ' Chipping:


Motors www.ciitheroeadvertiser.co.uk/motors ROAD TEST: NISSAN QASHQAI


ALL-ROUND GOOD BUY


B y R o b A u c h t e r l o n i e . Motoringwriter


So, what's the mostsuccess- fulcarofrecentyears?


MINI'must b e a contender. Smart may be an off-the-wall suggestion for promoting city cars. But I offer you a surprise option: Nissan Qashqai. Nissan’s vehicle popular­


ised the crossover concept to such an extent that every ma­


jor manufacturer either has a contender in this field, or very soon will have. ’ Crossovers - vehicles


which mix styles, in this case SUV and estate - suit our life­ styles. Qashqai, for example, may be used as a family shop­ ping car, a leisure vehicle and as a long-distance motorway cruiser. It was launched in 2006 as


a replacement for the Terrano and quickly became the great allrounder. It even replaced the Primera as Nissan decid­ ed that old-fashioned saloons were, well, old-fashioned. Qashqai, built'in Sunder­


land, has proved a global hit because of its versatility. I t1 is capable of handling some rough terrain but is essentially


a family runaround with ex­ cellent on-road handling and lots of convenience features. Tested here is the ‘n-tec’


version, one of the better- equipped models. Among its' features are a set of 360-de­ gree cameras. It means i f you are parking the Qashqai you get an overhead view on a large screen on the dashboard.


This aerial shot helps pre­


vent car park scrapes and, more importantly, from hit­ ting pedestrians. Car design­ ers talk about ‘surprise and delight’ features. Well, this certainly surprises and de­ lights. How the cameras com­ bine to create one clear aerial image is amazing. OK, so the Qashqai has one


or two shortcomings. At three years or 60,000 miles, the war­ ranty is short compared with some rivals. And I found the ride a little too wallowy for a car which is expected to be on the road much more than farm tracks or fields. And I’m not a fan of the


push-button handbrake. Give me a proper handbrake


any day, one you can be sure is applied. That said, the economy is


impressive and the emissions figure is below the magic ioog/ km figure. Incredible for such a substantial car. The boot is pretty big,


though. It holds 430 cubic feet rising to more than 1,500 cubic feet with the seats down. The ‘n-tec’ model is im­


pressively equipped. You might expect Nissan’s partic- ularlygood satellite navigation system and the i-key keyless entry system (just press a but- ton to start the engine). But some of the other hi-


tech features may surprise you. There is a lane departure' warning system which sounds if the car 'thinks’ you’re wan­ dering too much; the auto­ matic high beam dips if it ‘sees’ cars approaching; the car ‘rec­ ognises’ road signs; and the car will brake i f it feels you are about to hit the car in front. - Add those to more conven­


tional features such as an AUX socket for MP3 players, anti­ lock brakes, stability control . andBrake Assist,andyouhave a pretty intelligent and well- equipped car. Luxury features include


silver roof rails, alloy wheels, chrome trim, leather trim, powered mirrors, cruise con­ trol and a good stop-start sys­ tem whichhelpskeep economy up and emissions down.


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk Thursday,April 30,2015 I Thursday, April 30,2015 www.clitliaroeadv8rtiser.co.uk CUTHEROEADVERTISERSTIMES


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