Despite being the week of the Lib Dem’s conference, they have dropped 4 points in the latest Mori survey released today. David Cameron’s Conservatives are now very well set to win the next General Election with 52% supporting us, while Labour struggles at 24% and the Lib Dems trail at just 12%.
Following the death Wendy Brown, the Lib Dems jumped in and called the election while many Conservatives were still on holiday. The result was closer than we expected but it was still a victory for Ray Bastin and our Party.
Ray Bastin 849 Votes
Lib Dems 801 Votes
Labour 95 Votes.
The Turnout was 23%
All members welcome at St.Josephs Church Hall, West Street, Havant at 7.30 on the 28th March 2008. Refreshments afterwards. David Willetts MP for Havant and Oswin Hall, Area Chairman will be speaking.
Stealth taxes were one of the hall marks of Gordon Brown. Without a doubt his prodigy, Darling, in the Treasury has learnt well. Three days after the Budget, the Daily Telegraph has noticed in the small print a £500 a year hike in National Insurance for middle income earners. With petrol now retailing at £1.05 a litre , most of which goes to the Treasury, it is hardly surprising that the economy is struggling. People at all levels except the very rich, will be tightening their belts. The government’s much publicised attempt to get back to work, those wrongly put on Incapicity Benefit to lower the damning unemployment statistics, will not start till 2010. Darling has allocated £3.80 per benefit claimant to this initiative. Its worth £60,000 at least to the government to get just one person back in full time work. Unfortunately, half of those that do go back are unemployed once again within six months! Small wonder we are now dependant on half a million Poles to make up the shortfall in our labour force.
The Labour Government has told councils throughout the land that they must provide free bus travel for the over 60’s, as from 1st April. They have provided the sum of £218 million towards the cost. The Local Government Association reports that several councils, particularly those where large numbers of the elderly holiday (Hayling Island?), will have large shortfalls as a result. That means the funding will come out of the Council Taxes that we all pay. As those are capped, do not expect services to improve. Of course, nobody knows exactly what the out come will be. 2009 Council taxes will reflect the real results.
All fully paid up Association members should have received their voting forms by now. If you have not, contact the office on 023 9247 5066 or office@havantconservatives.com . You will be voting for which candidates we will be putting forward in the 2009 EU Elections. As the elections are run on a proportional representation system, the order in which candidates receive votes is also decided by your vote. If you find that confusing, get a Lib Dem to explain it to you. They propose that the system is used in UK parliamentary elections!
Hampshire County Council has proposed one of the lowest rates in the country and at £999 (+4.5%) for Band D, the lowest for any county council in the South East. Havant Borough Council has done well considering central government only increased their grant by 1%, while nationally average wages are going up by 4%. Their increase is 4.9% at £185.58.
The Fire and Rescue service increase is 3.9% and the Police are demanding a whopping 8.1%. This adds £193.77 to your bill. The total council tax for Band D will be £1,378 if the proposals are all approved.
Government is ‘encouraging’ county and local authorities to identify areas where the new homes that this country needs, can go. Havant Borough Council will shortly be circulating an issue of Serving You with details of the plans. To view a copy, click this .pdf file: hbc-local-plan-feb-2008.pdf A six week consultation period commences on 14th March. If you are concerned, contact the Planning Policy Team at Havant Borough Council on 023 9244 6539.
Well done, Jenny Wride and Mike Fairhurst, for the excellent In Touches produced for Bedhampton and Warren Park. They set a new standard which even our opponents admit are good.
