Julian Ware-Lane has agreed to sign up to the following pledge:

In order for teachers to deliver first class education they need the support of elected representatives who understand the scale of the challenges teachers face. Putting in place measures to support and improve teacher health, wellbeing and effectiveness should be at the heart of education policy. If elected, I will campaign for this principle to be central to future party and government policy because I believe great teaching is critical to the delivery of a great education.

Teacher Support Network Chief Executive Julian Stanley said: “There is little doubt that teachers hold a very privileged and powerful position in the lives of our children. They have the power to transform lives and inspire generations of young people, both within the classroom and beyond. As education is the key to our continued success it is vitally important that we ensure the wellbeing and effectiveness of our teachers.

“We are pleased that prospective parliamentary candidates are showing their support for teachers by signing up to our candidate commitment. We hope that the next parliament will be 100 per cent committed to improving the health, wellbeing and status of teachers.”

Commenting, Julian said, “I am delighted to lend my support to England’s campaign to bring the FIFA World Cup to England in 2018 and would encourage everyone in Castle Point to sign up to demonstrate their support for the bid.

“If successful, hosting the World Cup will have a lasting legacy throughout the nation as football has an unprecedented power to unite communities and to inspire and engage young people.

“The World Cup would add to England’s proud sporting heritage and would demonstrate the passion for football so evident in every town and city.

“If elected I will continue to support England’s bid to bring the World Cup to these shores ahead of the crucial decision in December and I urge all others to back the bid at england2018bid.com.”

Julian Ware-Lane has been an administrator in the game for over a quarter of a century, being at times a club secretary, referee, and league official. He is still an active referee in local football in south Essex, and is the Minutes Secretary for the Southend Borough Football Combination. Julian has also served on the Southend Charity Competition committee (as assistant secretary) as well as the Sceptre Sunday Football League and South East Essex Sunday League management committees. Julian was the secretary of Southchurch Victoria FC.

Promote the interests of Britain’s pub goers;
Champion well-run community pubs;
Press for reform of beer tie to deliver a fair deal for consumers;
Support the role of well-run pubs as solutions to alcohol misuse.

These commitments are based on a campaign being run by CAMRA, The Campaign for Real Ale which is asking all Prospective Parliamentary Candidates whether they are willing to speak up for Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers. CAMRA’s new Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter sets out a series of options for supporting well-run community pubs, local brewers and consumer rights.

Mike Benner, CAMRA’s Chief Executive welcomed Julian Ware-Lane’s support for the Charter, saying:

“We are delighted that Julian Ware-Lane has promised to work to promote the interests of beer drinkers and pub goers. Well-run pubs make a huge contribution to community life, each of which injects £80,000 into their local economy every year. Amid growing concern over the loss of more than 5 pubs a day, it is now more important than ever to support well-run community pubs, to promote local brewers and to protect the interests of consumers.”

Speaking after signing up to CAMRA’s Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter, Julian Ware-Lane said:

“I am proud to be speaking up for community pubs, local brewers and consumers. Well-run pubs are the bedrock of community life – they are part of the solution to the problem of alcohol misuse and not part of the problem. They deserve our support.”

Julian Ware-Lane has taken part in DEMREF 2010, the non-party election web initiative that allows voters to compare the reform policies of their candidates. He believes that all candidates should put themselves forward for voter scrutiny in this way, in the interests of openness and accountability.

“Voters want to know where all politicians stand on reforming politics following the expenses scandal that has seriously damaged public trust,” Julian said. “I challenge my fellow candidates to take part in DEMREF 2010 so that the voting public can scrutinise our views and make an informed choice about which of us has the best policies for cleaning up politics.”

DEMREF 2010 asks candidates for their views on fixed-term parliaments, free voting, the electoral system, open primaries, voting age, recalling MPs and House of Lords reform. There is also space for candidates to put forward their own favoured reforms.

The Labour candidate for Castle Point has signed up to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s Manifesto for Muscle which asks for backing in six key areas to help in the fight for better muscle disease services.

If Julian is elected he will be a vital link for local patients and families in the fight for better muscle disease services, will raise awareness of muscle-wasting conditions and put pressure on the NHS to improve health services.

So far the support of MPs has been invaluable for muscle disease campaigners. They have given patients and families their backing at meetings with regional health bosses in Parliament and have spoken at muscle group meetings about local campaigning.

Families living with muscle disease in Castle Point are now hoping that, if Julian is elected, they will continue to be supported in their fight for better health services and care, and to raise awareness of these often devastating conditions.

Julian said: “My constituents can definitely count on my support in the campaign for better muscle disease services if I am elected to represent them. I would be proud to back families living with muscle disease in getting the care they deserve.”

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s Director of Policy and Services, Robert Meadowcroft, said:

“We are delighted to be able to count on the support of Julian Ware-Lane in the fight against muscle disease and look forward to working together in the future.”

The six pledges Julian Ware-Lane has made are:

* to join the All Party Parliamentary Group for Muscular Dystrophy which raises awareness of the conditions
* to meet with their local Muscle Group, a campaigning forum for patients and their families
* to meet with their local health bosses and find out what they are doing to improve muscle disease health services
* to support a new All Party Parliamentary Group for Young Disabled People
* to meet with their local Trailblazer ambassador, part of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s young disabled campaigners group, and help them fight to improve access to education, leisure facilities and public transport
* to ensure vital funding for potential new therapies is a high priority for the NHS.

To find out more about the work of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign go to www.muscular-dystrophy.org

Now that the date for the General Election has been confirmed, Castle Point’s Parliamentary Candidate, Julian Ware-Lane, is looking forward to the contest.

“I was selected nearly three years ago,” said Julian “and have been actively campaigning since.”

Julian Ware-Lane believes that two key issues will decide the election.

“This country has just come out of the deepest worldwide recession in sixty years. Our response to this crisis asked the most difficult questions since the Second World War. The Labour Government’s response, mirrored by all the major economies in the world, has been proved to be correct.”

“The Conservative Party got this most important of issues wrong.”

Julian also believes that recent scandals have cast a cloud over our democracy. “I am a member of the Electoral Reform Society and believe the best way to restore trust in politicians is to radically reform the way we elect our MPs”.

Julian Ware-Lane said: “I’m proud that Labour supported pensioners through the recovery, getting help to those who needed it when they needed it most.

“Now, as we come out of recession, it’s vital that we carry on helping pensioners in Castle Point. So I’m particularly pleased that the Chancellor announced that this year, pensioners will receive the additional payment alongside the Winter Fuel Payment – just like last year.

“This additional payment is worth £100 to households with someone over 80 and £50 to households with someone aged over female state pension age.

“This is on top of the Winter Fuel Allowance, worth £300 to households with someone over 80, and £200 to households with someone aged over female state pension age.

“I am also pleased that the Budget increases the basic state pension by 2.5% from April 2010. That’s £97.65 a week for single pensioners and £156.15 for couples. Overall, the average state pension rises by 2%, more than average earnings.

“And from April 2011, we’re also making the Working Tax Credit available to people over 60 who work at least 16 hours a week, rather than 30 hours as currently. This is a real boost to people who want to carry on working.”

Julian Ware-Lane added: “I want every single pensioner in Castle Point to know about the various benefits they are entitled to. They have earned the support they get.”

Julian Ware-Lane said: ‘As a candidate in Castle Point I am supporting the NSPCC’s new campaign to ensure protecting children is a political priority: I Stand for Children.’

The NSPCC’s campaign is calling on candidates to commit to a range of child protection measures including:

* Making the internet safer for children
* Continued funding of helpline services for children and for adults concerned about the safety or welfare of a child
* Tackling domestic violence from a child’s point of view
* Ensuring that vital child protection reforms are fully implemented and resourced, following the death of Baby Peter and other child deaths since
* Provision of resources for vital therapeutic services for children who have experienced abuse
* Strengthening the role of the children’s commissioner in England to act as a genuinely independent voice for children.

The charity’s Diana Sutton, head of the public affairs and campaigns unit at the NSPCC, said: ‘We need to make sure that the next elected Government keeps child protection high on its list of priorities. By signing up to our campaign, candidates in this next general election can help. The public can play their role by letting the politicians know what they want done.’

This development is proposed by InterGen, the owner of the existing Coryton Energy Power Station located on The Manorway.

InterGen is planning to develop the 900 megawatt natural gas-fired power station, called the Gateway Energy Centre, within the London Gateway site which is on previously developed land on the north bank of the River Thames. The power station will be situated approximately 4 kilometres to the south east of Corringham, and approximately 1 kilometre west of the existing 800MW Coryton plant.

This power station is sited on Thurrock’s eastern geographical boundary. This boundary is also Castle Point’s western boundary.

Throughout the year the prevailing winds are westerlies 70% of the time – this means that any airborne pollution will, for that 70% of any normal year, be carried into Castle Point.

Is this another example of Thurrock sighting an airborne pollution hazard to their eastern geographical boundary?

Thurrock will benefit from the development; Castle Point could get the pollution.

This proposal follows the crematorium as an airborne pollution source and the container port for unwanted traffic.

The Castle Point Labour Party wants assurances that Castle Point Borough Council had input to the planning procedure for this power station.

Julian Ware-Lane, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Castle Point, said: “I am aware that in the previous decade we had a refinery closed in this area but that is no reason to accept new unwanted sources of pollution without putting up some comment.”

“This is not NIMBYism, just a hope that the council stood up for its residents and ensured that Castle Point wasn’t being worsened by this proposal. Unfortunately it would seem that the council have form when it comes to not voicing the concerns of residents in Benfleet and Canvey.”

Labour Parliamentary Candidate Julian Ware-Lane said “this is a moment of personal sadness – progressive politics has lost a great champion.”

Michael Foot, born in 1913, led the Labour Party from 1980 to 1983.

“He was a large figure in my early political education” added Julian. “I liked his style, where policies more than personalities mattered. He was a principled man.”

“Rest in peace seems more than appropriate for a man of peace, although one should remember the courage of this man who volunteered in the Second World War, despite being unwell and therefore rejected for service.”

Michael Foot is a much-quoted politician. For instance, in reference to Margaret Thatcher he said: “She has no imagination and that means no compassion.”

Michael Foot leaves a large volume of writing and a healthy Labour Party as his legacy.