Tonight Pitsnpots met James Rushton Conservative PPC for Stoke South. We asked him a range of questions about what he would do for the people of Stoke South should he be elected in May 6th.
Topics covered were jobs, education, the economy, Senior Citizens having to pay for residential care, The changing face of the Conservative Party and James’s vision for the city. you can hear what he had to say by playing the MP3 files below.
Commenting on the preliminary GDP figures for the fourth quarter 2009, published today by the Office of National Statistics, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Stoke Central, Norsheen Bhatti said:
"The figures published today are positive but not so great and well below expectations of many economic analysts; we are far from being out of the woods. Coming out of recession also doesn’t mean that our debt crisis is over – far from it. Labour’s debt crisis is the biggest threat to our recovery.
The report published today by the House of Commons West Midlands Regional Committee tells us that even though the regional economy is expected to ‘technically’ move out of recession, the downturn will continue to have an impact on people’s lives for some time to come."
The report also highlights concerns that some areas that would most benefit from additional government funding may not have the capacity to bid for it and may be losing out, especially in relation to housing and activities around learning and skills.
Norsheen said:
"Our main aim now in Stoke-on-Trent must be to ensure that there are opportunities for all and regeneration projects will benefit everyone in the city. I am especially concerned as figures show that 1 in 5 of the city work force is out of work that’s the highest proportion of working age people out of work in the West Midlands. We must ensure that our young men (16 – 24 age group) are not forgotten and provided with skills and training,
We must also make sure that people whom are facing debt and are having difficulties paying their mortgage or rent have access to the appropriate and adequate support and advice. "
STORY NOW UPDATED!
In a shock announcement this evening, I can confirm that David Jack, the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Stoke-on-Trent, has resigned.
Mr Jack has also resigned as Chairman of the Stoke-on-Trent Liberal Democrats.
He had cited professional and personal issues as the reason for his decision. But more details are now emerging.
Mr Jack is known to be locked in a legal dispute with a number of companies after exposing a story on his Stoke North Liberal Democrats website.
It seems that Mr Jack has been embroiled in an email exchange with another party where racist and abusive language was allegedly used by Mr Jack.
Mr Jack denies that he sent the emails. Tonight he claimed that he ‘was out on the lash’ with twenty other individuals at the time when the alleged emails were sent.
He also claims that he is a victim of a smear campaign in relation to a upcoming court hearing to be heard in the Royal Courts of Justice on March 24th.
Mr Jack claims that there are a number of companies that have acted illegally with regards to consumer debt.
He said that he makes no apologies for protecting the interests of consumers.
Mrs Christine Grocock is likely to replace him as local party chair. There has been no further announcement regarding who will replace Mr Jack as PPC for Stoke-on-Trent North.
According to Channel 4 news’s Political Reporter, Cathy Newman, the Liberal Democrats have launched an investigation into the matter and are not ruling out further disciplinary action at this stage.