Labour’s manifesto for Leicestershire and the East Midlands launched by Ed Balls

Rory Palmer, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bosworth, yesterday joined Labour candidates from across Leicestershire to launch the party’s manifesto for the East Midlands.

Cabinet Minister Ed Balls officially unveiled the manifesto, which sets out Labour’s plans to secure the economic recovery and protect frontline investment in communities across Leicestershire.

Rory Palmer said: “The choice is becoming ever more clear at this election. There is a choice between Labour’s plans to secure the recovery, protecting frontline investment in schools, Sure Start, the NHS and the police, or Cameron’s Conservatives who will bring devastation to our communities putting thousands of jobs at risk.

“Labour will put in the investment needed to drive the recovery, creating jobs for the future in new industries. Ed Balls made clear the choice facing people in Leicestershire and the East Midlands: a future fair for all with Labour or a future for the privileged few with Cameron’s Conservatives.

Palmer pledges to do his bit for Armed Forces family

Rory Palmer, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bosworth, has pledged to do his bit for the British Armed Forces family.

Rory Palmer has signed the pledge which can be found on the Royal British Legion’s website: www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk

The website features the British Legion’s general election manifesto, which sets out priorities for the next Government to improve conditions for Service Personnel and their families, the bereaved, veterans dependants.

Kevin Shinkwin, the Legion’s Head of Public Affairs, said: “We’re really grateful to Rory Palmer for pledging to do his bit. The entire Armed Forces family needs the support of politicians from all parties, and our manifesto outlines practical ways the next government can help.”

Rory Palmer said: “The Royal British Legion do a really important job and play a crucial role in highlighting the needs of the Armed Forces family.

Hinckley community centre cuts condemned by Labour at public meeting

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

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.

Leicestershire Labour candidate backs local pubs pledge

Palmer commits to call pubs summit on future of local pubs.

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.

Voters urged to back Labour in this year’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, 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.

Labour candidate pledges to ‘get serious’ about diabetes

A Labour parliamentary candidate in Leicestershire 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. Labour’s candidate for Bosworth Rory Palmer is backing the campaign.

It is estimated that around 3,900 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.

Labour’s Bosworth candidate appeals for 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.

Midland Mainline electrification recommendation welcomed

Rory Palmer, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bosworth, has welcomed today’s report from the House of Commons Transport Committee recommending electrification of the Midland Mainline.

The House of Commons Transport Select Committee has recently completed an inquiry exploring priorities for rail investment and has recommended that full electrification of the Midland Mainline, which connects the East Midlands and Yorkshire with London, should be a major priority.

Labour’s Rory Palmer has campaigned in support of electrification of the Midland Mainline for a number of years and has welcomed today’s report.

Rory Palmer said: “It is a number of years since I first lobbied for the Midland Mainline to be fully electrified.

Better Kinship Carers support is backed by Bosworth candidate

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.

Bosworth’s Rory backs national Sure Start Campaign

Bosworth Labour’s 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.