Labour calls on all Cornish MPs to reject “Devonwall” Bill

Cornwall Labour Party is challenging the county’s Conservative and Lib Dem MPs to vote against the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, because the Bill as it stands will inevitably result in a Cornwall-Devon constituency.

Launching an online petition against the cross border constituency, Jude Robinson, Cornwall Labour Party Chair said: “The coalition government is pushing through major constitutional change without proper parliamentary scrutiny which WILL result in a cross Cornwall-Devon constituency.

“The Labour Party believes the government is wrong to mix the issues of Electoral Reform and Parliamentary Boundaries and is playing politics with the integrity of the historic county boundaries of the UK including the Cornish border for perceived party political gain.”

Leadership contender Ed Miliband launched the campaign during his recent visit to Cornwall and meeting with Labour members at the Eden project. The petition is available at here.

Labour calls on Cornwall’s Lib Dems to vote against VAT rise

Cornwall Labour Party is calling on Cornwall’s Lib Dem MPs to vote against plans to increase VAT to 20%.

Jude Robinson, Chair of Cornwall Labour Party said: “Low paid people and pensioners in Cornwall will be hit hardest by the increase in VAT to 20%. Pensioners are also hit by changes that will give them lower increases in pensions over the next two years and this VAT rise will cost them an average of £500 per year.

“In Cornwall, the three Liberal Democrat MPs would not have won their seats without thousands of Labour voters, who believed their pledges on keeping the Tories out of power and supporting fair taxes.

“It is within the power of the Liberal Democrats to stop this unfair tax that will hit the poorest and pensioners hardest. The Lib Dems opposed the VAT increase and they should keep their election promises now.”

A vote in the House of Commons to approve an increase in VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent is expected on Tuesday 13th July.

Osborne’s Budget is bad news for Cornwall

The coalition government announced its first budget today.

The budget included plans to:

* freeze pay for Cornwall’s four out of ten workers employed in the public sector;
* cut housing benefits which helped many people in Cornwall keep their homes during the recession;
* cut funding for child benefits, Sure Start, and the disability living allowance;
* review transport and other investment plans which are important for Cornwall’s economy in the Autumn.

Labour spokesperson Charlotte MacKenzie said: “This budget is bad news for people in Cornwall.

“Many people here will be worse off as a result of today’s announcements. Many local workers now face pay freezes alongside bigger bills.

Coalition’s broken election promises mean cuts in Cornwall

Cornwall’s economic progress could falter as Lib Dem and Tory MPs break the promises they made to voters in the county, says Labour spokesperson Jude Robinson, in response to the threatened cuts from the coalition government.

Jude said: “The Conservatives are now reverting to type and sharpening their axes but it is also appalling how easily the Lib Dems have abandoned their principles and election promises.

“All the pledges made the the Tories about ‘green’ jobs and new industry for Cornwall have been abandoned. Cuts to investment could set our economy back as renewable energy projects like the wave hub are threatened by cuts.”

The Lib Dems’ promised to bring extra funding to Cornwall but have entered coalition with the Tories and support the swingeing cuts. Vince Cable, Lib Dem Business Secretary has said he plans to protect other areas of the country from the worst of the cuts, which will mean the South West could face huge funding problems.

Lib Dem leaflet lies challenged in Cornwall

Jude Robinson is challenging Lib Dems in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle on claims in their election literature.

Julia Goldsworthy is claiming to have won £94 million extra for Cornwall’s NHS. This the amount Labour has allocated to Cornwall’s health service over two years 2009-10 and 2010 -11. The regular and independent review of the Market Forces Formula has provided some uplift to Cornwall’s NHS allocations (and Lib Dems along with politicians of all parties have supported Cornwall’s case) but the bulk of this is Labour investment in the NHS.

Health campaigner Graham Webster said: “the Labour Government reviewed the funding formula as a matter of course and agreed to the extra funding commitment for Cornwall. They (the Lib Dems) have got a bloody nerve for now laying claim to it.”

Other exaggerated claims: The Labour activist Mr Buckley, is claimed to have switched to the Lib Dems, but is unknown to the Labour Party in Cornwall and has not appeared on any membership list in the South West.

Charlotte MacKenzie supports British Youth Council manifesto

Labour’s candidate for Truro and Falmouth Charlotte MacKenzie has added her support to a youth manifesto giving politicians five policies that are important to young people.

The youth-led British Youth Council has created a General Election Manifesto ‘Our Parliament, Our Vision’ that outlines five actions Parliament must take to improve the lives of young people in the UK:

* Support a National Youth Transport card that offers 16 to 25 year olds a third off public transport fares.

* Reduce the voting age for parliamentary and other public elections to 16 years.

* Create an equal National Minimum Wage for everyone aged 16 and over.

* Keep the promise to end child poverty by 2020.

* Invest in comprehensive mental health services for young people.

Charlotte MacKenzie shares the British Youth Council that it is crucial to engage young people and listen to their opinions during this election.

Labour offers Cornwall Council new homes deal

Charlotte MacKenzie welcomes Labour’s shake up of funding for council homes.

Housing Minister John Healey MP announced Labour will give Councils new freedoms to fund and run their local housing stock. Cornwall Council already has some Labour Government funding to build new Council homes. The new system will release at least 10 per cent more money to build new council homes.

Tenants – like those in Carrick Housing – whose homes have been upgraded through the decent homes programme will have guaranteed future funding to maintain high standards backed by a new national regulator, the Tenant Services Authority.

Charlotte MacKenzie said: “These proposals are exactly what Cornwall Council needs to make the most of its existing housing stock and to invest in more new homes to meet local housing need.

Labour’s pubs plan supported by CAMRA

Pubs minister John Healey MP last week announced 12 business support measures to help community pubs.

Charlotte MacKenzie, Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth, said: “Cornwall’s pubs can be the heart of their local community, and the steps announced today are designed to help keep them open. A fund of £3.3 Million pounds is being provided to support community ownership of up to 50 pubs through the Plunkett Foundation. And the demolition of pubs is to be controlled to allow for community intervention.”

CAMRA has lent it’s support to the Labour Government’s action, saying: “This is a great day for people who care about the future of our community pubs. This inspired action plan could offer a lifeline to thousands of pubs and help communities stave off pub closures which threaten their quality of life and community well-being.

‘Be the Boss’ – new business start-up scheme to help Cornwall’s veterans

Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth, Charlotte MacKenzie, has welcomed a new scheme to provide ex-service personnel with loans and grants to help them start up their own business.

The Labour Government has announced the “Be the Boss” enterprise scheme which will be delivered by the Royal British Legion throughout the UK.

Charlotte MacKenzie said: “Veterans in Cornwall who have bravely served their country deserve help to get a business going. This scheme will take business ideas off the drawing board and made into reality.

“I would urge veterans who might be thinking of setting up a business to get in touch with the Royal British Legion to see what support they can access.

Truro and Falmouth Labour welcomes jobs news

Labour’s prospective MP Charlotte MacKenzie has welcomed news that unemployment is starting to fall.

The figures published yesterday for February 2010 show that, in Truro and Falmouth constituency, unemployment continues to be below the UK average.

Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“It is great news that jobs figures nationally are on the upturn. Despite the recent recession, the number of people working in Carrick continues to be encouraging, because unemployment is below the UK average. As local people remember, this is the opposite of the jobs position when Labour was elected in 1997.

“There is always a significant seasonal element to employment in Cornwall. The local figures show that the number of people looking for work has not increased this month. We are not yet seeing a local fall in the number of people seeking work, but normally there is an upturn here after Easter because of seasonal working.