Jack Perschke » Guest Blogs

A Letter from Mr Singh

Jack — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:56:59 +0000

A letter written to me by Mr Singh. He’s asked me to publish it and I’m happy to do so.

A Voice of Reason

Jack — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 17:30:10 +0000

A local campaigner posted his views on my facebook account the other day. They’re not all complimentary but I think he speaks for loads of people in our City so I thought I’d publish them on this site along with my responses. Hope they’re of interest.

Campaigner: Sorry to be cynical Jack, but some of us undecided voters want leadership not Gene Hunt as PM. We’re at war and boys from Derby are dying in it. We’re tired of seeing body bags come home. The credibility of Politicians is at an all time low. The economy is a mess, and democracy stands in peril of falling. The poor are getting poorer despite 17 years of labour rule.

The constituency you are fighting for has Gun,Gang crime problems, and terrible deprivation. One of it’s main secondary schools is at the point of closure as despite massive financial investment it is failing terribly. if you were to go out and meet your future constituents you would find they are very scared and nobody seems to be fighting for them. For 14 years we have had an absent landlord MP and it seems politics is getting more and more complacent. If it’s time for a change what change are you going to bring to South Derby because so far we’ve heard no tangible policies and no robust local councillors from the Tory’s. What as a prospctive Tory MP will you be doing for the people of areas like Pear Tree, Osmaston and the Austin Estate. How are you going to tackle our Gun and Gang Crime. What do you propose for Merril College. What do you poropose about some of the worst social housing in Britain. What is your policy on Immigration for Pear Tree School that has 26 differrent nationalities in it and English is a second language. What do you propose we do for Merril Colleges Combined Cadet Force that is a recruiting station for Afghanistan, the only possible way out for young men from deprived areas to avoid Street Gangs. What will you be proposing to do about the 2000 people in Derby who are in Methadone Treatment programmes or the 8000 who are in alcohol treatment.

I live in Osmaston Jack I want robust answers to my communities problems. Labour have shown themselves inneffective at bringing lasting change to my community, are the Tories offerring me Gene Hunt as an alternative.

What we want is radical parliamentry refrom a robust second house that will hold parliament to account. More devolution from Central Governemnt and not a Nanny State. We want charities to be given a hand up to bring change and social entrepeneurs to be bought into deprived communities where local authorities are failing. We want robust leadership in our schools. We want electoral reform. We want an end game to Afghanistan. We want less control from Europe. We want clear immigration policies. We want sustainable energy options to end fuel poverty in deprived neighbourhoods. We want people off the dole and back to work. as a Christian I am sick of labour removing my religious liberties and ethics from public life. I want freedom of speach back. I want the nuclear family and faith school to have the same support and funding as secular schools. Why should the secularists have more rights and impose those rights on me.

Jack is anyone listening ? Have the Tories got a response because I don’t know where to put my vote………

Jack: Alasdair – thank you so much for raising these points. Do you mind if I cut and paste this and put it on my blog?

Despite your cynicism about the Conservative party, I think you’ve just perfectly articulated the case for change. Your final paragraph about what you want could almost come from our manifesto.

More devolved government, radical parliamentary reform, big society (not big state), greater powers of discipline for teachers, less control from Europe (including forming a new party not committed to a federal future), clear points-based immigration policies, getting people out of Labour’s benefit trap and into work and restoring people’s freedoms. These are all central planks of our manifesto. If we haven’t got your vote yet its a matter of communication not policy.

Check out this link to my beliefs that I posted over a year ago to see if some of this resonates with you http://www.newderbymp.co.uk/2009/03/beliefs/

If you’re looking for a clear articulation of our policies, check this out. http://www.conservatives.com/Policy.aspx

Please get back to me and let me know your thoughts. I hope this has helped.

On the Gene Hunt thing, it was a Labour poster idea and my comment was merely that it was such a poor idea for multiple reasons one can see exactly how an organisation this intellectually bankrupt has led our country into the mess it finds itself.

All the best.

Jack

Campaigner: Jack I don’t believe it …… I’m a a a a a a can I bring myself to say it !!! Joking aside facinated that if these policies could be communicated to the public and that the really serious issues could be tackled it would be good, I’m impressed!

I’m not sceptical of the Tory party just a disillusioned Labour Voter who believed things could only get better in 97 and they’ve got worse. I’ve never voted Tory before but I do want to know what they are proposing, thanks for the links to the site. Feel free to copy and paste. There’s nothing there that I haven’t said on BBC Radio Derby. I look forward to seeing you at the hustings.

Off to shine my snake skin boots and get surrounded by Armed B’stards…….. Yeah was fairly spectacularly stupid but with a month to go to the elections I’m keen to see the real issues get talked about.

Jack: Nice one – always a pleasure to debate with you.

Can you do me a favour? Margaret Beckett is trying to duck out of hustings organised by business, church and campaign groups. I’m desperate to make them happen and challenge her on the issues.

As a swing voter, pressure from you to make sure she takes part in the democratic process would be really appreciated.

Thanks,

Jack

Campaigner: Will try but how do you actually communicate with her she doesn’t do electronic?

A New Year Message from David Cameron

Jack — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:56:38 +0000

Dear Voters of Derby South,

2010 will be election year. After all the false starts and speculation, now we know for sure that the country will have a chance to vote for change this year. Within days, the gloves will be off and the arguments will begin. But as we enter this year of intense political activity, I think it’s important for all politicians to remember something. While those in the Westminster village might eagerly be limbering up for a frantic few months of speeches and launches and strategies and tactics – and all the hoopla of today’s politics – most people in the country will be contemplating the prospect of months of electioneering with emotions somewhere on a scale between indifference and dread: and that is something we need to change. But we’ll only do that if we recognise the reasons why politics is broken.

Click Here to see David on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYa6PRgzNbI

First and foremost it’s because the expenses scandal is not a chapter that comes to a close as we move into a new year. It is an ongoing reminder of a deeper breakdown in trust between politicians and the public. And this has many causes. Politicians who think they have the answer to everything and just can’t bear to leave people alone to get on with their lives. Politicians who can’t bring themselves to recognise any good in their opponents and refuse to work together to get things done. Politicians who never admit they’re wrong and never acknowledge that they’ve made a mistake. A sense that Westminster has become so much about point-scoring, positioning and political dividing-lines that people and their real-life problems are completely left out. These are some of the reasons that politics is broken.

I’m sure I’ve been guilty of these offences on occasions, and no doubt will commit them again. But we shouldn’t stop trying to get it right just because we don’t always succeed. Over the past few years, we’ve tried in the Conservative Party to do things differently. We voted for Tony Blair’s school reforms because we agreed with them even though we could have inflicted a damaging defeat on the Government. We’ve encouraged our parliamentary candidates to set up social action projects in their communities. We’ve opened up politics through open primaries to select potential MPs and held open Cameron Direct meetings all over the country where people from all parties and none can come and ask me questions. We took swift action on expenses and were the first to pay money back where that was the right thing to do. And we’ve consistently pushed for TV election debates, whether we’ve been behind in the polls or ahead in the polls. But there’s a huge amount more to do if we want to rebuild trust. So let’s try and make this election year the moment to start fixing our broken politics. Let’s bring real change to Westminster and the whole political system. A big part of that is about policy: policies to reform expenses and the way Parliament works; policies to redistribute power from the political elite to the man and woman in the street; policies to make government more transparent and accountable.

But it’s not all about policy. It’s also about character, attitude and approach. It’s about how political leaders actually behave, the example they set and the lead they give. It’s about doing as well as talking – real social action in our communities, not just pontificating from an ivory tower. And my resolution this new year is to work harder for a new politics in this country. I don’t want to mislead people: there’s an election campaign coming, and I think it’s reasonable for political parties to point out the consequences of their opponents’ policies, records and judgments as well as the benefits of their own. The House of Commons – particularly on set-piece occasions like Prime Minister’s Questions – is an adversarial place. But let’s make sure the election is a proper argument about the future of the country, not some exercise in fake dividing lines. Let’s at least recognise the good intentions of our opponents. Let’s be honest that whether you’re Labour, Conservative or Liberal Democrat, you’re motivated by pretty much the same progressive aims: a country that is safer, fairer, greener and where opportunity is more equal. It’s how to achieve these aims that we disagree about – and indeed between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats there is a lot less disagreement than there used to be.

Of course the area where there is greatest and most sincere agreement between political parties is our shared support for our mission in Afghanistan. I know that we will never take for granted the bravery of our armed forces, and as we prepare to fight the political battles at home, we will keep in mind constantly the humbling courage of those who fight the real battles for us overseas.

So let’s make 2010 the year for a new politics. Let’s be positive about our own policies as well as pointing out the consequences of our opponents’ policies. But above all, let’s be honest about the problems facing the country and how we can solve them. Yes, there will be an election this year: that much is certain. And we can be certain too that the arguments will be fierce. But let’s make it a good clean fight. And once the battle is over, we will need to rise above our differences and come together because that is the only way – strong, united leadership is the only way – we will sort out Britain’s problems, halt our decline, and give this country the success that I know we can achieve.

What one voter wants from his MP

Jack — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:34:35 +0000

When people write to me I appreciate the effort , the passion and the involvement that shows.

Even when those letters, emails or blog comments may be critical, I’m much happier hearing peoples views than being blind to what people are thinking about, worrying about or hoping for.

Below is an email I recieved earlier. If you’d like to add to it, counter it or change it please email me at mail@jackperschke.com and I’d love to hear your views.

Jack

Dear Mr Perschke,

These are the things I’d like to see from you:

1. A referendum on the Lisbon Treaty – no “if’s”, “but’s” or “we’ll see after the election”. Better still a referendum on EU membership after an informed debate.

2. Pressure on the Government (whichever Party) to create a sensible industrial strategy to create a foundation for our future prosperity. No party in the last 60 years has had the intelligence or foresight to do this, hence our impoverished state today.We should be free to target and invest in strategic sectors no matter how much it upsets our EU so-called partners. The voice from Derby South should be clear and loud on this topic and you will be judged by how much more of our proud economic potential isallowed to seep away to China, India or Eastern Europe.

3. A zero-based approach to Government expenditure. No expenditure unless it can be shown that it is “wholly, necessarily and exclusively” for the benefit of the British people. For example, as an ex-military man, can you tell me why we still have thousands of troops and their families based in Germany with all the attendant inefficiencies and costs inherent in any overseas posting?

4. Equality for England within the UK – why do the Scots & Welsh have free prescriptions, the Scots have free nursing care for the elderly and no tuition fees? When can we English have our own Parliament? Yourprospective constituents are losing out every day because of the freedoms granted elsewhere in the UK but denied to us.

5. Finally, a commitment that you will not be a Party drone – Derby has enough of those already. Can we the electorate have more chances to see and questioin you face to face, and not just by email, or just at election time? Can we be assured that you will be active and innovative in seeking your constituents’ views, and vote against your Party when its policies are inconsistent with your constituents’ needs.

Yours sincerely,

Derby Hippodrome Restoration Fund

Jack — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:30:01 +0000

The damage to the Grade II listed Derby Hippodrome that occurred on 28 March 2008 prompted the national organisation, The Theatres Trust, to say it ‘represents the worst case it has encountered since the Trust was established by Parliament in 1976.’

As of 17 July 2009, the Derby Hippodrome Restoration Fund has been established with the purpose of seeing the Hippodrome rebuilt and restored to use. The Fund is being helped by professionals in the entertainment, planning, historic buildings and legal industries. The immediate objective is to persuade the Councillors on the Planning Committee that the building has a better future for all as a theatre rather than a car park, which is the proposal they are considering.

The Chair of the Fund says: “The 58 objections posted on the council planning website against the proposal to convert the building into yet another car park give an idea of the strength of feeling among local people who want to save this important building. There would be many more objections if people hadn’t been misinformed that it was either too late or the cost too prohibitive to restore. We say it’s not too late, we don’t need another car park, but we do need a large theatre. The City Council is prosecuting the owner for damaging a listed building without authorisation, but we urge the Authority to be mindful of Government expectations to use its powers to protect this and all listed buildings.”

Derby is missing out on offering the complete cultural experience to local people and visitors to the City by not having its own major theatre capable of staging, in the right environment, plays, touring musicals, concerts, operas and ballet. Instead people travel to Nottingham and even Buxton to see what they cannot have in Derby. The City is losing huge cultural and financial investments.

The Derby Heritage and Environment Association for Residents and Traders, derbyHEART ”welcomes the restoration of the Hippodrome as a positive step in maintaining our heritage. It will form an essential beacon for the redevelopment of the Becketwell and Green Lane areas as well as providing an indispensible cultural centre for the City.” The Hippodrome was fortunately not “destroyed” by the damage done to it in March 2008 and much of it is perfectly sound. The Fund has calculated that the cost of restoration will be substantially less than that of a new building.

The immediate need is for the building to be protected against another winter, something that is neither complicated nor too expensive. We will be urging the Council to appeal to the relevant national external organisations to help carry out this urgent work.

For further information on the Hippodrome see: www.derbyhippodrome.co.uk Email us at: action@derbyhippodrome.co.uk Write to us at: PO Box 7824, DERBY, DE1 0TQ