Ed Miliband gave Examiner readers his take on tomorrow’s local elections. Now BARRY GIBSON catches up with Prime Minister David Cameron for the Tory perspective
CONSERVATIVES are delivering nationally and locally.
That’s the message from Prime Minister David Cameron to Examiner readers today.
He said: “Tomorrow, Britain goes to the polls for the local elections.
“Right across this part of the country, from Colne Valley to Dewsbury to Huddersfield, people will be voting on the things that really matter to them – whether it’s the schools their children go to, the care services their parents get or the council taxes they pay.”
Mr Cameron called on people in Huddersfield to support his party in tomorrow’s Kirklees Council election.
“Put simply, the Conservatives get the job done,” he said.
“Take what we’ve done from Westminster. In every way we can, we’re helping businesses in Huddersfield to grow and thrive and create new jobs.
“We’ve cut corporation tax, scaled back red tape and exempted small firms from new regulations for three years. A new work experience programme for people who are out of work could benefit 10,400 people in Yorkshire – and our plans to increase personal tax allowance will benefit two million taxpayers in the region and take 26,000 people out of tax altogether.
“Add to this the action we’ve taken to help with people’s cost of living: freezing council tax; postponing Labour’s 5p rise in fuel duty and making an extra 1p cut that is helping families at the pump; and increasing the state pension in line with earnings, meaning someone retiring today will be getting £15,000 more over the period ahead than they would if we had kept Labour’s system.
“All these things are making a massive difference already.”
Mr Cameron added that Tory-run councils were more efficient than Labour-controlled authorities.
He said: “All over the country it’s Conservative councils that consistently deliver the best services for residents at the lowest rates – with Conservative-controlled councils charging £43 a year less than Labour on the average Band D home.
“And I think it’s in these difficult financial times that Conservative councils are really coming into their own. They’re showing that when the money is tight, you don’t have to automatically cut frontline services – you can get more bang for your buck by being innovative and cutting waste.
“Just look across 60 or so miles to Wirral Council. By being careful with taxpayers’ money, cutting waste and reducing the number of senior managers, they have managed to make more money available for Sure Start and local libraries.
“That’s what I mean when I say Conservatives get the job done.
“So if you want to keep on getting good services and real value for money from your local council, make sure you get out to vote tomorrow – and vote Conservative.”
