Comments on: Open Letter to Margaret Beckett

By: Jack Perschke

Jack Perschke — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:43:53 +0000

Hi Chris,

Easy ones to answer here:

1. They are both right. We are committed to protecting Sure Start but we also haven’t made any announcments about individual budgets. Oliver works on policy and Phillip works on cost reduction. You’re highlighting two different perspectives rather than two different positions.

2. Yes, I will happily criticise anyone that tries to close-down Sure Start but I’m confident that I won’t have to under a Conservative government.

Thanks again,

Jack

By: Chris Furlong

Chris Furlong — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:30:05 +0000

Oliver Letwin at last years conference “Sure Start is a programme we value and one we intend to continue,” he said. “It will not be cut back”

Phil Hammond, two months ago, the Conservative shadow chief secretary to the cabinet when specifically asked about Sure Start “We will be looking at individual projects and workstreams, but we haven’t made announcements about individual budgets yet,”

So which one is right? Also if you do gain power and your party does close it down will you publically critisise your leader?

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:16:04 +0000

I think there’s legitimacy in my position that Margaret Beckett has been an exceptional politician and Derby should be proud of her. However, her time has past and I honestly believe that local democracy and the eventual winner will be stronger if a more modern and in-touch candidate was selected by the Labour party. I’m sorry you disagree.

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:13:14 +0000

Hi Chris,

Thanks very much for your comments. Our view on inheritance tax is that it is a taxing a huge number of people accross the country that have been prudent all their lives and want to pass one some of that success to their children is not good for anyone. The financial turmoil you describe is very real and has been caused by both government and the public developing unsustainable levels of debt. I think that encouraging people to save is therefore a sound approach.

I’m hugely grateful for you raising the Sure Start issues. We will NOT scrap Sure Start. Let me repeat that, we will NOT scrap Sure Start. We are committed to it and want to make it better. Suggestions that we will scrap it are deliberately spread lies designed to scare people into continuing to vote Labour. Click here on this link to read more about our policy on Sure Start.

Thanks again for your comments. I hope you’ll continue to contribute.

Jack

By: Chris Furlong

Chris Furlong — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:46:54 +0000

PS. An open letter to anyone that is shown on peoples website (this use of a letter has been used by other MP’s/wannabe MP’s of all parties and is immature and useless),is a very poor publicity stunt and the use of it is so transparent.Why not send her a letter personally, rather than use it as a pointless PR excersize?Is this the type of actions we will get from you if you are voted in as our MP?

By: Chris Furlong

Chris Furlong — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:38:33 +0000

Jack – Two things that have made my mind up not to vote for you. One is the Conservative position on Inheritance Tax. in a world that is in financial turmoil why is the Conservative Party spending so much time and effort on Inheritance tax whic only effects a very small section of society now.

Secondly, the decision to end The Sure Start. I and many families I know have benefited greatly from Sure Start and I only assume that the reason this is going is due to the fact that I can’t think of any Conservative MP will have had to use the service and the people who do use it won’t vote Conservative anyway.It begs the question to me and many I know, has your party really changed or is it still the party of the few?

By: Tim Mellor

Tim Mellor — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:44:26 +0000

She’s hasn’t got the good grace to give in that easily, more’s the pity. I think she’s done a better job of representing herself rather than the people of Derby.
We’re right with you there Jack!

By: Simon

Simon — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:15:13 +0000

Great letter – fair but firm, and well written. You are an outstanding prospect for Derby, and I hope Derby sees sense and supports you!

By: Tony Stafford

Tony Stafford — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:14:16 +0000

Jack you are so right it is time for this woman to go. When asked about her expenses she answered it in a dismissive manner. She needs to accept that only the stupid would be fooled by her comments.
Her party cost me the job I loved after 24 years loyal service. Browns tax laws passed when he was at No.11 have ruined our country.
It will be a hard job for The Conservatives when the people vote them back to power. Lets hope you don’t get the blame for their mess.
This is going to be a bigger challenge than in 1979.
Good luck Jack, and you will have my vote when the election is called.

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:23:05 +0000

Cheers Phil, good to hear from you after all these years. Have a look at this link for how the BBC covered this. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p003fxlc/The_Colin_Bloomfield_Show_23_06_2009/