We need the Westfield Community Centre!

Proposed funding cuts to Hinckley’s Westfield Community Centre were condemned at a packed public meeting on Thursday, 25 February.

Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bosworth Rory Palmer was one of the speakers at the public meeting. The meeting was held at the Centre which faces devastating cuts following proposals agreed in the Conservative-controlled County Council Budget. Other speakers included representatives from Unison and the Liberal Democrats. Bosworth’s Conservative MP was not present, sending apologies.

In the Budget backed by Leicestershire’s ruling Conservative group, it was agreed that around £140,000 be slashed from the Westfield’s Centre budget. Budget proposals were also backed by the Tories to sell off care homes including The Lime’s in Hinckley and Harvey House in Barwell.

Labour’s Rory Palmer is campaigning against these cuts and is backing other local campaigners including the Hinckley Pensioners Action Group and the Save our Services coalition. He has also called for a cross-party delegation to meet with the Leader of the County Council to discuss the impact of the cuts and to argue for their reversal.

Rory Palmer said:

“These cuts will be devastating for the Westfield Centre. The Centre has a strong history of helping thousands of local people. At the public meeting I called for a cross-party delegation to meet with the Leader of the County Council to argue for the reversal of these cuts.”

“Cuts like this by a Tory County Council are a taster of what a Cameron Government would be like. The Leader of the County Council is reported to be advising the Conservative’s at a national level on their local government policy. It is crucial that everyone works together to oppose these cuts in Hinckley and across Leicestershire.”

Supporting local pubs and communities

A Leicestershire parliamentary candidate has signed up to a national charter to back the pub and beer industries. Labour’s Rory Palmer is backing the CAMRA’s Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter which calls on MPs and parliamentary candidates to pledge their support for local pubs.

CAMRA’s charter calls on candidates to sign up to five key pledges:

1) Promote the interests of Britain’s pub goers

2) Champion well-run community pubs

3) Rebalance alcohol taxation to support beer and pubs

4) Reform the beer tie to deliver a fair deal for consumers

5) Support the role of well-run pubs as solutions to alcohol misuse

Signing the Charter Rory Palmer said:

“Well run local pubs are a key part of community life, especially in Leicestershire’s villages. There are many welcoming pubs across the Bosworth constituency, each with its own unique character. There is also a fine tradition of ale brewing in Leicestershire. I am backing CAMRA’s charter and will always defend the finest traditions of our local pubs and brewing industry. If I am elected as Bosworth’s next MP I will immediately call a local pubs summit to discuss with publicans, breweries and others how to safeguard the future of our local pubs.”

“Locally, CAMRA are an excellent campaigning organisation. Last year’s CAMRA Hinckley Beer Festival was an excellent community event and I am looking forward to this year’s festival.”

Help me win 2010's Battle of Bosworth!

As Gordon Brown got to his feet to set out Labour’s new campaign slogan, Bosworth’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate Rory Palmer was out with his campaign team taking the message straight to the doorstep.

Rory and his campaign team were out knocking on doors in Hinckley, which is just down the road from Warwick University where the Prime Minister launched Labour’s Fairness for All pledges.

Gordon Brown set out four key themes for the General Election campaign.

Labour will:

• Secure the recovery, not put it at risk
• Protect frontline services, not cut them
• Stand up for the many, not the few
• Invest in new industries and future jobs

And today saw Rory Palmer launch his latest campaign leaflet, ‘The choice for Bosworth’. In the leaflet Rory sets out his priorities for Bosworth and urges Liberal Democrat voters not to let David Cameron into Downing Street.

Rory Palmer said:

“Speaking to voters on the doorstep today it is clear that people recognise that it was Gordon Brown’s decisions and action that has got us into economic recovery so quickly. Action to save the banks and keep the economy going was crucial. We must now build on this by securing the recovery and not putting it at risk which the Tories would do.”

“It is also essential we protect frontline services like the NHS, education investment and Sure Start. Here in Leicestershire, the Conservative-controlled County Council tells us all we need to know about what a future Tory government would be like, with their proposals for sweeping cuts including their plans to sell off care homes.”

“Labour is the party for the mainstream majority, for ordinary families and people who want to get on in life, who want a positive future for their children. Our plans are for the many and not the privileged few. Labour’s plans are about fairness for all.”

“In Bosworth it is Labour with the best chance to beat the current Tory MP. Labour has come second here in the last four general elections, in 2005, 2001, 1997 and 1992. The Liberal Democrats have trailed behind in third place. Supporting the Liberal Democrats in Bosworth just makes it easier for the Tories to win here and to get into Downing Street. If you want to back a progressive party and the progressive candidate with the best chance of beating the Tories here, then back me as Labour’s candidate. I will be a strong voice for Bosworth.”

If you would like to share your views or show your support then click here to contact him. If you want to help Rory win in Bosworth then click here.

Get Serious about diabetes!

Rory Palmer, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Bosworth has given his support to a campaign to raise awareness of diabetes.

The Diabetes UK ‘Get Serious’ campaign calls on MPs and parliamentary candidates to make diabetes a priority in their constituencies.

It is estimated that around 3900 people in the Bosworth constituency have diabetes. It is one of the biggest health challenges facing the country today and it is projected that by 2025 over 4 million people will have diabetes.

Diabetes UK has set out a number of priorities for the next Parliament including earlier detection of diabetes; better support for children with diabetes; more support for people managing the condition through self-management; improved emergency care; improved care for older people with diabetes; and more investment in diabetes research.

Rory Palmer said:

“With record investment in the NHS over recent years diabetes care has improved greatly. However, we should always be looking to do more and that’s why I am supporting Diabetes UK’s Get Serious campaign. Diabetes effects thousands of families in the area and projections show this will increase in future years. We need excellent health services to meet this need and to be providing the best possible care and support for people with diabetes.”

“If I am elected at the general election I will be meeting with Diabetes UK to make sure local health trusts are providing the best possible services and to raise awareness of diabetes in the constituency.”

Bosworth candidate appears on national radio phone-in

Rory Palmer, Labour’s challenger in the Bosworth constituency, was a guest panellist on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Up All Night political phone-in on Friday 12 February. The show, which is presented by Dotun Adebayo, gives listeners the chance to quiz candidates from each of the three main parties on the issues of the day.

On the show Rory was up against Tory candidate for Camborne and Redruth and former David Cameron advisor George Eustice, and the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hammersmith in London, Merlene Emerson. Rory was able to speak up for the people of Bosworth and Hinckley and discuss national and issues.

Speaking after the show Rory Palmer said:

“It was good to be able to respond to Five Live listeners and to debate the big issues of the day with George and Merlene. We had the chance to debate issues including Europe, MP’s expenses, how to deal with terror suspects and the NHS. As we work to change politics in the country we need to see more good and honest debate between the parties and their candidates and Friday’s show was an example of that.”

Standing up for a traditional election night

Labour’s challenger in Bosworth for the General Election is appealing for local officials to reconsider their decision and to save the traditional election night count.

Despite a vote in the House of Commons and widespread cross-party support across the country for traditional election night counts officials at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council appear to be sticking to their plan of starting the constituency’s election count on the morning after polling day.

Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate Rory Palmer said:

“I think all candidates and our campaign teams understand the importance of accurate counting and the need to comply with important requirements to ensure ballot security. However, there can be no denying that the drama and excitement of election night is a much valued British tradition.”

“I am appealing for the local officials in Hinckley and Bosworth to reconsider and to plan a traditional election night count.”

Labour’s Rory Palmer has first hand experience of the frustration of having to wait until the day after polls had closed for the count to begin and result to be declared:

“When I was elected as a councillor the count was done on the Friday after voting had ended on the Thursday, whilst I was of course delighted to have won the drama and excitement was not the same as a traditional election night.”

Supporting Kinship Carers

Rory Palmer, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bosworth, is supporting a local action group calling for more support for Kinship Carers.

Rory Palmer met recently with Sandy Chamberlain who is organising a support group for kinship carers in the Hinckley area. Kinship carers provide care for family members, often children and young people, without the financial and practical support available to foster carers.

A petition has been set up on the Downing Street website calling for more support and Rory Palmer has given his backing to the petition campaign.

It is estimated that there are around 200,000 young people being cared for by family members, known as kinship carers.

Rory Palmer said:

“It is essential more support is made available for kinship carers, which should be on a parity with the support available for foster carers. I want to see fairer financial support but also more practical support through local councils and other agencies.”

“Kinship carers do an invaluable job, without them many young people would not have the chance to be brought up and cared for in a family home. After meeting Sandy Chamberlain in Hinckley I am convinced of the need for more support for kinship carers and that’s why I am backing the Downing Street petition.”

“I am looking forward to working with Sandy and her colleagues to raise awareness of this campaign and get better recognition locally and nationally of the work kinship carers do.”

Local kinship carer and campaigner Sandy Chamberlain from Hinckley said:

“There are over 200,000 people like me in the country, we are called Kinship Carers, we do the same job as Foster Carers but because it is for a family member we do not get treated the same, in fact Kinship Carers are not even treated equally from County to County. I was so frustrated at not being able to talk to other people in my position that I set up Hinckley ROCKS, a support group specifically for Kinship Carers.”

“I am at present involved in raising the profile of Kinship Caring, nationwide. I am grateful to Rory for his support and for getting involved and helping me to raise awareness of our online petition and our plight in general, and for his support for Hinckley ROCKS.”

Shout Out for Sure Start!

Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bosworth, Rory Palmer, has given his backing to a national campaign celebrating the success of Sure Start.

The Shout Out for a Sure Start campaign was launched this week and sets out a pledge to defend Sure Start and to recognise the difference it has made to thousands of children across the country. The campaign is backed by trade union Unison and charity 4children. Celebrities including former Mum of the Year Melinda Messenger and children’s TV character Peppa Pig are also supporting the campaign.

Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bosworth signed the Shout Out for a Sure Start pledge this week and announced it on his twitter webpage.

The pledge states that:

I pledge to shout out for a sure start for children in my community by spreading the word about the great work of Children’s Centres.

After signing up his support for the campaign Rory Palmer said:

“I have seen first hand the excellent work done at Sure Start Children’s Centres. The Sure Start approach has fundamentally changed how we see early years care and support for children and parents. I want to see many more generations of children benefit from Sure Start and that’s why I am pledging to defend Sure Start and to spread the word in the community about the truly excellent work done at our Children’s Centres.”

“Sure Start has made a real difference to families across Hinckley and Bosworth and with a new Sure Start on the way in Bagworth we will see even more families benefiting. Labour is committed to Sure Start and we will deliver a Sure Start facility in every community.”