Dave Smithson

Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable has today written to Lord Mandelson about the takeover of Cadbury by US company Kraft being part financed by the Royal Bank of Scotland.  

Commenting, Vince Cable said: “Cadbury is a national institution which provides thousands of jobs in the UK and there is a real danger its takeover by Kraft will lead to job losses. 

“It is particularly galling then that state-owned RBS should part fund this takeover when it is clearly not in the interests of the UK economy. 

“This takeover also raises broader questions about how hedge funds, out to make a quick buck, can destabilise even the most established companies. 

“We have seen Cadbury shares rapidly bought up by hedge funds that are keen to accept the Kraft takeover regardless of whether it is in the long-term interests of the company. 

“As the City minister Lord Myners himself notes, it is becoming too easy for good British companies to be taken over by foreign predators.”

Halewood Lib Dems have condemned the Knowsley Labour group for opposing calls for a better deal for our Armed Forces.

In a heated debate during a recent Council meeting the Lib Dems had tabled proposals calling for better pay and conditions for the UK Armed Forces.

They had also called for the creation of a Forces Liaison Officer within the Council to help servicemen and women choosing to live in Knowsley to resettle when they return to civilian life.

But Labour councillors amended the proposals and deleted any reference in the final resolution to the poor pay for our soldiers and refused to even consider the creation of a Forces Liaison Officer.

Halewood Lib Dem campaigner Tom Moretta said he was “appalled” that Labour councillors chose to back their failed and discredited Labour government rather than support calls for a fair deal for the UK Armed Forces.

Tom Moretta said: “I was appalled that the Labour group would not recognise the unjust and unfair pay and conditions of our Armed Forces where 13,000 of the lowest ranking personnel earn less than £17,000 a year.

“It cannot be right that young men and women who put their lives on the line day in day out - particularly in Afghanistan right now - are not recognised with better pay.

“A Royal Marine hero has been forced to sell his medals to buy a home for his family while civil servants working in Afghanistan are being paid bonuses twenty times more than front- line troops.

“Every day young men and women are putting their lives on the line, fighting in terrible conditions in Afghanistan.

“What is their reward? Shockingly poor pay that leaves them on the poverty line while their families back at home stay hungry.

“Rather than support our pans for a better deal Labour councillors in Knowsley prefer to trumpet the record of their discredited government who took this country into an illegal war in Iraq and no refuse to even give those troops a fair deal.

“The Labour party in Knowsley should hang their heads in shame.”

Lib Dem Leader Cllr Ian Smith added: “Earlier this year Gordon Brown bowed to pressure over the Gurkhas and only this week performed another u-turn when he scrapped plans to cut the training budget for TA soldiers under pressure from all parties.

“Now it is time we put the pressure on Gordon Brown to give our Armed Forces a fair deal on pay and not leave them on the poverty line any longer.

“But instead of supporting our proposals the Labour group in Knowsley prefer to prop up a government fast heading for the exit and recently spent £37,000 of your council tax money attending the Labour party conference to cosy up to their chums in government, money which could have paid for the new post we were calling for.

“It is time we stopped short-changing our troops and the Labour party backed our plans.”

http://web.me.com/davejgs1959/Dave_Smithson_-_Mayor_of_Knowsley/Blog/Blog.html

Halewood Lib Dems have welcomed the decision by Jaguar Land Rover to invest in 8000 new jobs at its Halewood plant. 

Speaking after the news was announced Cllr Dave Smithson, Leader of Halewood Town Council, said: “This is excellent news for Merseyside and great news for Halewood. 

“At a time when so many people are worried about their livelihoods and jobs being lost – especially in the automotive industries – this is a boost to our local economy that was much needed. 

“The 800 new jobs will provide long term secure employment for many local people in the car industry, both directly and indirectly as other businesses locally benefit from this investment.” 

The news is a double boost as it will also see a new generation of new low-carbon “baby” Range Rover which will according to the company be the smallest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever. 

“This is good news for the environment as well as the economy,” added Cllr Smithson. 

ENDS

Like many political anoraks I’ve been wading through some of the details of the MP’s expenses that have been officially published this week.

Not that they reveal too much of course seeing as most of the details on the claims/receipts are blacked out!!

 Naturally I thought I would look at my own MP’s to see out of curiousity as much as anything else just what he had claimed.

I was very surprised what I found though! Reading the section on Incidental Expenses for 2007/08 the first claim of the 210 pages in this section lists seven (yes 7!!) different mobile phone bills which come to a total of £632.32 (unless I made an error and will have to repay some of this!!).

Similar amounts for numerous mobile phone bills are made throught the year.

As they say it’s good to talk………………..

Now I’m not making any specific point here and certainly not using this for politcal mischieve or gain, I dare say many many other MP’s from all parties have claimed for spurious things and what appears on the surface to be excessive amounts for which there could be good reasons for, I guess it is for the public to make their own judgement abouth their own MP and whether or not he or she was “playing” the system.

But I am concerned though about Mr O’Hara’s plumbing arrangements! In November 2007 a claim of £3539 was made for plumbing services but then on page 62 for August 2007 there is also a claim for plumbing services for £3395 and again on page 96 also during August 2007 another claim for plumbing services was made for £3395……….maybe the way the receipts/claims have been scanned/uploaded to the site makes this look as though it has been paid twice though?

I’ve lost count of the number of computers/laptops that have been bought!! And then there are the light bulbs and tv remote controls…..essential tools for any MP’s parliamentary duties!!

If like me you are really bored and there is nothing on TV (actually it’s a lot better then Big Brother which I can safely say I have NOT watched at all this year!!) then the full details can be seen here http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/edward-ohara/

If you wanted to ask him about these claims yourself you could always look at page 132 though for a number to call………………

Had a fantastic night at the Community Foundation Network’s Spirit of Merseyside Awards at the Anglican Cathedral last night, Stick’n'Step won the Children & Young People’s Award and St Mary’s Day Care Centre in Halewood won the Health & Well-being Award.

Then to cap off a great night Stick’n'Step also won the Project of the Year Award, what a night!!

Cllr Sue Moretta became the new Mayor of Halewood this evening!

We had a very enjoyable lunch with Paddy Ashdown yesterday!