Over the last year I have spoken to people in Derby South at meetings, on their doorsteps and in the street. I’ve had feedback on this website, on Facebook and via email.
I have actively sought to listen to the people of Derby. I’ve disagreed with many of you but the vast majority speak the kind of sensible common sense that this country needs.
On the back of that process I’ve decided that, if you elect me, I will focus every fibre of my being on delivering the following pledges:
1. I’m going to focus on boosting enterprise.
Derby has a heritage of private sector excellence. Big companies ranging from Rolls Royce to Toyota to Egg employ thousands of hard working tax payers. We need more of that, not just for the city, but for the country too.
On top of this, a myriad of entrepreneurs run restaurants, shops and growing technology companies from our city. These guys also need all the recognition and support the government can offer. What I’ve heard is that Labour has forgotten them for too long. To amend this, if you elect me I will:
- Campaign to have corporation tax cut
- Campaign to abolish taxes on the first ten jobs created by new businesses
- Support my party as we strive to reduce Labour’s new tax rise on jobs
- Work tirelessly to see regulations on business reduced to help businessmen focus on running their company instead of filling-in government forms
2. I’m going to help families.
I hear lots of concern about the kids in our city. Gangs, anti-social behaviour and youth unemployment are all damaging our young generation. The government can only do so much to manage this. The very best way to deal with young people’s problems is for parents to be able to provide a safe and loving environment in which kids get the support and advice they need as they set out on life. This is why family is so important to me and my party. Supportive families provide a huge social benefit for all of us. For too long PC-obsessed Labour have made it harder and harder for couples that want to raise their children together to get on. To reverse this I will:
- Support my party as it strives to get marriage recognised in the tax and benefits system
- Campaign to provide extra health visitors for young families in Derby
- Campaign to have the basic state pension raised
- Work with housing associations to dramatically improve Derby’s housing stock
- Work with central and local government to improve the activities available to young people in our City
3. I’m going to make sure we manage immigration better.
I believe that controlled and well managed immigration is good for the economy. When my Great-Grandfather came to this country he brought with him a business, qualifications and eventually job opportunities for British workers. This is the kind of migration that uses the standard of living we enjoy in this country and turns it into an economic asset by attracting talented people from across the world. We need to make sure this is maintained. However, migration that is not managed or controlled can be immensely damaging to the fabric of our society. This is the situation we’ve had under Labour for the last 13 years. Under Gordon Brown’s government immigration has tripled. To reverse this I will work hard to support my party as it tries to achieve the following things:
- Creating an annual limit on non-EU immigration
- Putting transitional controls on new EU migrants
- Creating a National Border Force
- Closing the student visa loopholes
4. I’m going to protect front-line public services
Labour has invested huge amounts of your money into public services. However, because they don’t have what it takes to deliver real reform, most of it has been wasted on managers, tick-box processes and IT systems that don’t work. As we strive to reduce Gordon Brown’s deficit we’ve got to purge this waste out of the system. It will be a hard and painful thing to do but if it’s done properly we can do more with less. To make it happen I pledge to:
- Support a Conservative government as it slashes the amount of reports Derby City Council has to send to Whitehall.
- Give teachers more powers of discipline in schools so that ill-discipline can be dealt with there and then, not via long-winded and time consuming bureaucratic procedures
- Increase spending on the NHS every year but help our medical staff focus on patients not the demands of managers
- Work hard to ensure that, as soon as it is elected, a Conservative government places a moratorium on new government IT spend
5. I want Council Tax frozen in Derby for the next two years
Under labour the average council tax bill has risen by over 100%. We’ve got to stop this. For the economy to prosper and for businesses to start working again, we need to stop taking so much money out of people’s pay packets. A Conservative council in Derby working with a Conservative government in Westminster will freeze council tax for the next two years. We’ll do this by:
- Cut waste out of the syetm at Derby City Council and keep our budget increase down to no more than 2.5%
- A Conservative government in Westminster will then cut spend on advertising and consultants and pass the savings on to councils like ours so that they don’t have to increase council tax
I hope this is a clear statement of my priorities. There’s loads more important stuff that I will work hard to achieve but these are the things you’ve told me you really want me to focus on. If you think I’ve got it wrong then let me know. All my contact details are on this site and I genuinely want to hear your views.
I would like to see more help for working parents and good quality childcare which is affordable and accessible.
I would like to see the government have more control over private childcare providers in respect of cost and practice.
Also more help getting back to work for single parents.
At a time when the economy and families are struggling, the government should be doing all it can to lift barriers to employment.
Also, bring back the tax allowance for married couples
The first 4 things are aspirations that I entirely agree with. Quite how we deliver them is the tricky bit. I think it’s more about facilitating and encouraging cooperation between parents, childcare providers and employers than it is about more regulation and government intervention. However, I’m ready to be proved wrong. If anyone has thoughts on active measures the government could implement to improve the quality and reduce the cost of childcare provision I’d be really keen to hear from them.
On the 5th point – I couldn’t agree more and it is Conservative policy to recognise marriage in the tax system.
The average going rate per child per hour for a Registered Childminder in Derby is £3.00. Childminders have to follow the Early Years Foundation Stage and are continually updating their training. I don’t see how childcare could be made cheaper than £3.00 an hour without something having to give. Out of that £3.00 a childminder has to pay for equipment, registration, insurance, food, drinks and the large amount of professional stationery now required. Good childcare can never be really cheap unless the quality goes downhill.
Great insight – really helpful. Thanks very much.
If anyone is interested in childcare you can find many providers by searching here using either a postcode or town/city
http://childcarefinder.direct.gov.uk/childcarefinder/
What are you going to do for Deaf people who live in Derby ? do you know what their issues are?
How will you support them ?
The answer is that I don’t know nearly enough about this issue and I’ve just emailed the commentator to ask for more information. If anyone else is facing similar issues, I hope they’ll get in touch too.
I have been Driving in derby for almost a decade now, and have noticed traffic getting steadily worse. Not because we have more cars on the road but because the current administration has reversed the old one way system, and made consistent semi-pointless “improvements” to our cities roads. This has lead to traffic surveys reporting that traffic has grown much worse. This, in turn, has lead to more traffic wardens, more expensive parking in and around the city centre and the suggestion of a congest charge for goodness sake! I also recently witnessed some jumped up little fool from the current administration claiming that the new traffic wardens buzzing around cars with 5 minutes left of free parking on deserted side streets like starving vulture have improved the “traffic problems” which anyone driving now on the roads will witness that things are better than I can ever remember. Now that finally the road works have finished.
I want to know what assurances you will give that no more of these ludicrous so called improvements will be implemented and how you will make it easier for those of us that have no choice but to drive through the city centre on a daily basis. I’ll buy a Prius if that helps?
Thanks for this Daveyb. I want to give you a proper answer which I can’t do without mking sure I’m speaking on behalf of the Conservative group on the City Council. We aim to lead the City Council come May next year so it’s vital that we say exactly what we’re going to do and don’t fall into that politicain trap of making false promises. Please give me a few days to get an answer back from our councillors so that you have a proper team view from the Conservative group.
Jack
Hi Daveyb – please see below a copy of an email sent to me by the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group in Derby City Council in response to your post. I don’t know if it answers all of your concerns but I think it is clear that we’re the party fighting for a bit of common-sense on our highways.
On national policy, I suggest you take a look at this link to see what our national transport plans are.
I hope this is helpful,
Jack
Hi Jack,
The Conservatives were the only party to be fully opposed to the Cities proposed congestion charge and that remains so. We successfully campaigned to have the idea scrapped (with overwhelming public support). At the time we did that as the third party against both the Lib Dems and Labour who agreed to go ahead with CC proposals in full council.
We are also opposed to road ‘improvements’ like Duffield Road and Kedleston Road buslanes that cause more problems that they solve. Were not against buslanes, but just want to make sure they are properly implemented and only in areas that are suitable.
We are also not against the motorist, while understanding that we do need to take steps to reduce congestion and pollution etc. This is in stark contrast to the current administration (Lib Dems) who are seemingly actively taking steps to force motorists off the road and inconvenience them as much as possible.
We also do not support ever increasing parking charges and move towards ever increasing income from fines which links in with the last paragraph.
We also think that some of the changes to the Cities traffic infrastructure have made congestion worse. Excessive or badly sited / timed traffic lights are an example of this. Some improvements have worked though.
We won’t tick all of the boxes for this resident, but we are by far the closest party to uphold his views and fight for common sense on these issues locally and nationally.
Matt.
Derby South needs a fresh start with a new more dynamic MP.
Margaret Beckett does’nt have an automatic right to her seat just because of her service in this Labour government and high profile roles in the past. She seems to be doing absolutely nothing to try and defend Labour’s record to the many people who have been let down by this government in Derby.
Where is she? – Anyone seen her? – Anyone heard from her?
Moving to become speaker showed that her heart is not in being a local MP anymore.
Good luck to you Jack, listening to what you have to say you are just the person we need to help reboot the City and the Country.
I saw her in sainsbury’s once lol,you have a valid point, but im not convinced that Jack is the man for that just yet.
I agree that it’s time for a fresh face in the area and politics as a whole; I think Jack might well be the right man for the job.
The approach he’s laid out for Derby South seems clear and honest. He’s thinking about real local issues that affect real local people – not like the old cronies only concerned with their expenses.
Where on this website had Jack laid out any pledges or plans at all?!!??! i cant seem to find any or any plan that you speak of, just this
“Shortly I will make five pledges about what I’ll do if you elect me as your MP. But first I want to hear what you think I should do if I become MP for Derby South. Please try to make all suggestions as specific and measurable as possible (make sure you can hold me to them!!). Thanks, I look forward to seeing your suggestions.”
Hi Jatinder,
I’m trying to be a new kind of politcian. for me, that means someone who listens as well as talks.
Come back to me with your ideas for the City and then I’ll have a chance to understand better what people like you would like me to do in their name.
We’ve been allowed to forget for too long that the voters are the boss!
Jack
Oh wait, are you talking about these broad policy areas?!
- Helping parents, teachers and pupils make the right decisions for their schools
- Protecting our historic City centre
- Providing constructive activities for our children
- Empowering our professionals to make decisions about their area of expertise
- Liberating our businesses from Government bureaucracy
hmm I don’t think that qualifies as a “plan” for derby
I firmly believe that a focus on making sure the right decisions are being made in schools is an effective long term approach to improve life in Derby for everyone.
Better education will create better opportunities, and hopefully encourage investment from outside.
Providing local businesses the opportunity to make decisions based on local needs and issues is, for me, central to the growth of this region in difficult financial times.
For me, these messages reflect Jack’s long term interest in Derby south.
Only just stumbled across this site and discussion. I really agree with Jack’s and the Conservatives vision of putting power in the hands of those closest to the the problems. I am really sick of the ‘centrist’ view of politics. It feeds ego and the kind of power broker politics that has so discredited the dying days of this government. Policians become more concerned with power for the sake of it and the perks it brings than power for the people they represent.
How practically would you make this power shift? I would love to be much more involved in helping my local area but am not sure how to do this. I think everyone should have a say in what happens in the immediate tiny local area that surrounds them. In my area some of the things that would make a real difference would be: litter : dog fouling on the street : using our streets as speeding rat runs : repairing roads and pavements : creating a sense of community cohesion by putting on local events : encouraging people to be good neighbors. I think an awful lot of very local communities are quite fragmented and do not have much sense of identity. Any party that could help reverse this would get my vote. If individuals felt that they had a stake in the very small things that affect their daily lives, they would be more likely to identify with bigger issues.
As for Jatinder, come on here with some ideas – criticism is of no use to anyone unless it is framed by some positive suggestions of how to build something better.
What are your views about the mainly Conservative fire authority voting to remove a fire engine and the vital life saving work that it does, from Ascot Drive station, the busiest sation in the City? I personally think it is disgusting.
No reply I see. Clearly Tories have more important priorities than keeping people alive.
Hi Steven,
Apologies for not getting back to you sooner. If I’m honest, I don’t know enough about this particular example. However I do know that Gordon Brown’s failed Labour government has saddled us with the largest debt this country has had in modern history. We will need to make public sector savings just to service the interest – let alone pay it off.
That will mean real and painful reductions in local services. It may also mean exciting opportunities to transform delivery models in an attempt to protect services but save money.
Whatever happens remember that Gordon Brown had sleep-walked us into this nightmare – we need real change and fresh leadership if we’re going to get out of it in a way that puts the public rather than Labour’s vested interests with the unions first.
So you are saying the Tories are happy for people in Derby to die just to save money. You have just lost yourself a vote.
I could agree with that. Lives should come above money saving. and with cutting public services, you cut many people’s job prospects, once again risking larger levels of unemployment. And where else will the cuts go? are you going to cut the local education system, reducing the amount of competent teachers within our schooling system? And what about Winter Fuel Payments for people over the age of 55? (take note, i’m a young man, no older then 22 but having worked as part of the DWP i have an idea how the system works) Are you going to let pensioners go cold in the winter? what about bus services and the police? will the police be privitised? And did i hear something about Child credit cuts, and a rise on the amount before Inheritence tax takes effect? Taking money from those who need it more, yet letting those who have more passed down on a longer leash?
And what about gay rights? Its relatively well known that a large part of the Conservatives are more or less, Homophobes, with one of your shadow secretaries comparing lowing the age of concent for gays from 18 to 16 as “dangerous as fighting on the front lines. And yet, refusing to remove the minister in question, despite causing this what (as far as i deemed) insult? Its sad and upsetting that i concern myself with sexuality, a policy which as far as i care should NOT be touched by the government, yet appears to be disliked by one of the potential parties.
And one last thing i have to ask. What ya gonna do for me in the local area? The bog standard minimum wage worker that the foundations of this country are built on? what you going to do for me, or Camnwisp or anyone else who posts here asking you questions? Were the foundations of this country. and without the foundations, the whole structure comes crashing down
I dont belive the Tories are the correct goverment to run this country. Athough i do not belive the same with Labor. it makes me wonder how a hung paliment for the Tories and Labor would be.
Interesting to say the least.
Kodou’s on the website. its well constructed.
I would like to see more help for mature students, im a 34 yr old mum of 4 who works for the nhs and would like to qualify as a midwife, but, before i can do that i need to do a college course but the college course costs £450 which i cannot afford. My problem with this goverment is that if i was a dole bludger i would get the course for free and then probably never put the qualification to any use, id also get alot better thought of as most dole bludgers do, free rent, council tax, dental care, and now they are even giving away free computers and internet connection, what can the conservatives do to help people like me, this will be the 1st time i have voted how will you convince me to vote for you??
Maybe the best argument I have to persuade you to vote for me is that I was a mature student too.
Aged 29, I started an MSc having left school at 18. I’m still paying off my debts. I know exactly what you’re going through and will do all I can to support you and people like you.
My party is committed to recognising that different people want to learn at different stages in their lives. Why does Labour want 50% of under 20s to go to uni no matter what the course and no matter what the debt they’ll run-up?
Like me, loads of people will be better off going into the workforce first and then coming back to education as and when they’re ready. A Conservative government will recognise that.
Does that help?
Jack
Sorry Jack I won’t be voting for you. A few reasons.
I’d prefer my local MP to be from Derby.
Secondly, I will not vote for ANY of the traditional parties they have proved with expenses and lobbying scandals that they cannot be trusted. They are just in the pocket of big business.
Every party to me seems pro-war and they are prepared to throw money and lives away in Afghanistan when its just making things worse.
and also to reinforce this point that the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal are all same, the parties are ganging up to force through the Digital Economy Bill without as much as a murmur.
I’ll be plumping for an independent or smaller party to register my dissatisfaction with the status quo.
It won’t do any good, but at least my conscience will be clear.
Hi Darren,
Thanks for this. I think you’re wrong to say that it won’t do any good to register your vote with an independent.
Every vote is important and you have perfectly reasonable reasons for choosing to vote in this way.
Maybe the independent you choose won’t win, but mainstream political parties like mine will have to take your message on board if they want to win back your support, so good on you.
There is no doubt that the disgrace of the expenses and lobbying scandals brought shame on all political parties. I happen to think that my party is much more reformed than Labour but then I would wouldn’t I?
As for war, as a former soldier and someone who has spent years in war-torn countries I can assure you that I don’t have Mr Blair’s appetite for armed conflict.
Thanks for getting in touch with your thoughful comment – however you decide to cast your vote make sure you stay in touch join the growing number of people I’m encouraging to hold me to account if I win.
Jack
Will your party also be sorting out childcare problems? I have 4 children, when i want to start my course in september, 2 will be in full time education, 1 will be in pre school nursery so i will have to find childcare for my newborn son, there is no creche at the new derby college, will the conservatives do more to help with childcare costs for older students, younger students and unemployed get all the help they need, but i feel like us older mums get penalised, i go to work, pay my taxes and cant get any help in return. There is a national shortage of midwives but there isnt the help for older people to train to do the job.
Jack
I won’t be voting for you, on the basis that I just don’t believe in the Tories economic philosophy. However, I do want to compliment you on the quality of your website. Too many political websites are difficult to navigate, with the information on specific policies hidden away. Yours, on the other hand, presents your policies and beliefs in a clear and coherent way, and that should be applauded.
Cheers
Carl
Thanks Carl. I’ll keep trying to persuade you to change your voting intentions but, in the meantime, do point people who are undecided on which way to vote to this site. I hope it’ll help them decide.
I really don’t understand why some people still question the economic competence of the Tories; however I will concede that the Labour spin-machine is effective at presenting disinformation.
The facts are simple – history repeats itself. Remember the economic chaos of 1979! Essentially there is no difference between 1979 and 2010. Between 1979 and 1997 the Tories got the economy working efficiently…and then Labour get re-elected and makes another unholy mess.
The Labour propaganda machine is literally Orwellian. The real issue is not the economy, but how Labour Lies have devalued our precious democracy.
Ask Gordon Brown the gold price when he sold our Reserves at under half the present market value.
Ask Gordon Brown about the 100 billion in taxes he has put on our Pension Funds
Our economy was hugely in debt before the Banking Crisis, and Labour are now brazenly decieving the Public
I wouldn’t normally consider voting Tory- I’m a Guardian-reading primary school teacher (all you need to know really!) and I’m not sure about all the Conservative policies, especially those regarding changes to the school curriculum and inheritance tax.
However, Jack seems like a decent guy who is genuinely trying to listen and act on local issues and that’s got to be worth something. It seems to me it is better to have a local mp who’s going to act on behalf of Derby, rather than what is there at the moment. Derby needs someone young and energetic, so good luck Jack.
We are proud parents of a fine young man who has seen the real world and seeks to use his experience to help others.He’s Derby winner!!
Hi Jack,
I have seen you working hard in Derby South, that i have no doubt you will win this election. according to the last local election in Derby South, Labour is 38% and conservative is 32%, and Lib Dem’s is 29%. As you know, Margaret Beckett has been claiming money for the mortgage, when the house was free of mortgage, also recently she has misused tax payers money, and will have to eventually pay back some of it. It is more disappointing that the three Labour councillors who were charged with fraud, to do with taking tax payers money. Sadly, they were granted legal aid, we could not understand how this happened. Could you please tell me when you are elected, will you do the same thing like Margaret Beckett did, and what would you do to stop this from happening again, so people will have faith in their local MP’s.
I am puzzled. During the Expenses Scandal I looked-out for Mrs Becketts accounts, but never saw them. I was under the impression that she had somehow managed to prevent them being published, which intrigued me. Reading Dhamrait’s email it now seems her accounts were published and I had missed them. Can anyone please briefly summerise what her accounts said, or point to where I can read the details for myself. Thanks.
You can contact local news paper Evening telegraph they have all the details.
Hi, thanks for this.
I can assure you and everyone else that I will be a totally different MP from Margaret Beckett.
I’m a totally different person and have utterly opposing values, styles and aspirations.
I want to be totally engaged with the community and utterly transparent in the way I work on behalf of my voters.
Tools like this blog that let people engage with me and understand my views are just the start. Letting people see my office, meet my staff and see every penny of their money that I spend is the only way we can start to regain trust in politicians.
Margaret Beckett embodies the old ways, I’m afraid we need urgent and drastic change in Derby’s politics and I’d like to be the one to bring it.
Thank you Jack I am happy with your response you will have my and my family’s vote.
To All
I’ve met Jack last Friday who came to the Deaf Club to answer questions put to him by deaf people living in Derby. Another conservative, 1 labour, 1 Lib Dem and 2 independent candidates made the effort. Margaret Beckett wasn’t there as if deaf people votes doesn’t matter to her.
I never did get to ask any questions due to a time limit. However i met him walking along my street yesterday and took the opportunity to ask some questions.
I brought up issues relating to discrimination and the number of disabled people out of work that rose by 2 million under Labour. Discrimination by public sector and private sector are to blame, the number of immigrants are also to blame.
I also mention that each immigrant would to pay £13,000 in taxes to keep each disabled person out of work. This doesn’t happen so the cost falls onto the state. The state then have to keep raising taxes from hard working people and business to pay for the welfare state keeping 3 million disabled person out of work, costing over £30 billion. This is utter madness. Disabled people have a right to a fair chance in life to gain employment without discrimination by private sector and the Labour government. As for me i studied business, accounts, marketing, computing and MBA, yes i been to university twice paid for by the state and now the state waste even more money on my benefits in the last 20 years as no one would give me a job.
There is nothing more sickening than the Labour government using lack of skills or qualifications in this country as an excuse to allow all those immigrants to come into this country. Pathetic business leaders and organisations who moan about the lack of education such as poor reading, writing and maths in this country while discriminating against intelligent disabled or deaf people like myself.
Other issues were discussed between me and Jack. One thing that impressed me as we were walking down the street while i spoke, when he spoke he stopped and turn round so i could lipread him, speak slower etc. Secondly if he didn’t know the answer to a question he would say so, the same as this website. That is refreshing different from the current MP’s in this country who automatically thinks they know everything, especially Dictator Dear Leader Gordon Brown who seems to think that he and only he is right and has all the answer and everyone who opposed him is a bigot.
Is this enough for me to vote for him. Put it this way, there are 3 main issues for me.
Firstly and most important is the economy simply because the economy provides the money to pay for the education, NHS etc. With no economy there is no NHS, educations, childcare etc, full stop.
Labour have utter failed the economy and wrecked it in 13 years.
Secondly is the level of immigrants that has a huge negative effect on the economy, schools, NHS, welfare state and 6 million unemployed in this country. I propose a simple system. All new jobs both public and private that advertised for workers should carry on as normal. If they can not find any British people or legal refugees then they must advertised and apply to the job centre. The job centre then look at all those people out of work and find someone who capable of doing the work. If the job centre can not find anyone with the right skills etc to do the work then the company may employ an immigrant. Simple and fair. Labour have failed.
Thirdly as i am deaf, issues of discriminations etc towards disabled people concerns me more than other issues. Labour have betrayed the disabled people with their patronising handout and discriminations and leaving 3 million of us out of work.
Labour won’t be getting my vote especially Dictator Dear Leader Gordon Brown becoming Prime Minister after 3 years of dictatorship.
The conservative will sort out the economy and stopping the national insurance from going up next year is very very important. Getting rid of all the silly petty regulations that cost business £80 billion is important as it allows business to use that money to invest in new job, also it allows business to operate in this country cheaper and stop them moving jobs abroad.
The Lib Dem attitude to our defence is appalling, their love of european superstate that will wreck our economy and it is madness and has no appeal to me. Their decision to allow immigrants amnesty is a direct discrimination against disabled people and should never be supported. The Lib Dem does not get my vote and should not get yours if you are intelligent enough to understand these issues.
One thing that never been raised in the election campaign is what will all 3 main parties do for disabled people despite the fact millions of us have the right to vote.
However because David Cameron had a disabled son, that was far worse to deal with compare to being deaf, and since passed away. I am betting that he will have a better understanding of disability issues and have a better attitude compare to any previous Prime Ministers in history of Great Britain. Jack presented himself yesterday very well with no gormless fake smile unlike Dictator Dear Leader Gordon Brown.
The conservative get my vote.