Tories Step Up By-Election Effort

(left to right) Conservative candidate Kashif Ali, campaign manager and Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson, and party Chairman Baroness Warsi, campaigning in Oldham yesterday.

Conservative Party Chairman Baroness Warsi hit the streets of Oldham yesterday, in support of by-election candidate Kashif Ali. Baroness Warsi told Saddleworth News that Mr Ali was a politician who could help bring people together in our area.

She said: “What you have in the Conservative candidate is a local guy who was born and raised here, continues to live here, he’s a local campaigner, got a great swing at the general election, and continues to fight for the local community.”

The by-election is being held after Labour’s Phil Woolas was stripped of his victory in the general election for lying about his Liberal Democrat opponent. Baroness Warsi commented: “In May what we found was quite a divisive election campaign. And what we have in Kashif, and what we find time and time again from speaking to the various communities in the town, is that he’s a unifying candidate.”

She continued: “I think it’s important that we focus on the future rather than the past. I think the election courts have made their judgement, it was right that the election result was set aside. And I think that every politician has a responsibility not to play politics in a way which divides the very communities that they wish to represent, and that’s why I’m proud to be campaigning alongside Kashif, who does have a unifying effect, and who is actually a candidate who is liked among the different communities.”

Oldham Council is currently battling to make savings of up to £25m from its budget for the next financial year, and it’s feared as many as 800 jobs could go as part of those cutbacks. The coalition government has imposed an 8.2% cut in the amount it gives the Lib Dem/Conservative-run council in direct funding, well above the national average of 4.4%. Services for adults, such as the elderly and those with mental health issues, are expected to be particularly hard hit.

Baroness Warsi said: “I’ve been pleased to read that the borough council is confident that it is actually in good shape to deal with the measures that it’s going to have to deal with. The settlement actually responds to the needs of local communities, it’s not just a block grant based upon the number of people, but actually the amount for example that’s being given to Oldham is higher than the amount that’s being given to Stockport.”

She continued: “That is supported by, for example, a council tax freeze, making sure that people aren’t paying more during difficult times. Central government is funding that. And that’s supported by the Regional Growth Development Fund, which will hopefully allow private sector enterprises to come in and take up that slack.”

Baroness Warsi also defended the government’s decision to scale back the Building Schools for the Future programme, which meant an end to hopes of a new Saddleworth School at Diggle. She said: “The reality is that we inherited an economy with a huge structural deficit… and therefore this government has had to take some very difficult decisions.”

She continued: “Although people are disappointed in relation to BSF, there were huge concerns about the level of bureaucracy and the amount of consultants’ fees that were paid into that programme well before a single brick was laid. But I am confident this government is committed to the schooling of our children, whether that’s in relation to school buildings, support in relation to the curriculum, making sure pupils from deprived backgrounds are given a pupil premium. Everything is pointing towards the fact that this government is wanting an education system which is responsive to the needs of its pupils.”

You can listen to the interview with Baroness Warsi in full here. An interview with her Cabinet colleague and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is here, and one with Labour leader Ed Miliband is here.

Kashif Ali in Oldham yesterday. (picture: Conservatives)

Meanwhile, Mr Ali was quick to dismiss as “preposterous” suggestions the Conservatives haven’t been putting as much national weight into their campaign as the Lib Dems or Labour.

He said: “There is absolutely no truth in that. You’ve seen the number of volunteers out here today, we’ve got the party Chairman visiting, the Prime Minister has said he will visit. We are fighting a hard campaign.”

Mr Ali said there are two central issues at the heart of his campaign: economic regeneration and tackling crime. He said: “This town has serious problems with jobs and many deprived areas, we need to bring jobs in, we need to deal with local public transport.”

He continued: “The other issue is crime and anti-social behaviour, and drug dealing, we’ve had all sorts of problems on that front. And that’s one of the biggest responses we’ve had to our surveys. And of course we’re running an honest, positive campaign.”

Mr Ali also commented on two related issues which have led to a lot of debate in Saddleworth recently, the opening of the new Tesco at Greenfield and the planned parking restrictions in Uppermill.

He said: “I know there has been mixed feelings on the new Tesco. I think what’s absolutely key is local people feeling that they are consulted and part of the decision-making process. There were issues surrounding exclusion, not knowing what was going on with the Tesco project.”

On the Uppermill parking matter, Mr Ali said: “This was an issue where a petition was raised with 750 signatures, but the council accepted the proposals without considering those signatures. That’s when you get resentment and people being very upset. So I think local decision-making has to improve in terms of consultation, and we say there should be more public meetings when things like this are taking place.”

Polling day in the by-election is 13 January. Nominations close later this afternoon, so we should get a full list of candidates shortly after that.

Saddleworth News will be carrying out in-depth interviews with each candidate during the campaign. You can hear from Loz Kaye of the Pirate Party UK here, and Stephen Morris of the English Democrats here.

Aside from Mr Ali, the other candidates we know about so far are Labour’s Debbie Abrahams, Peter Allen of the Greens, Nick “The Flying Brick” Delves from the Monster Raving Loony Party, UKIP’s Paul Nuttall, and Liberal Democrat Elwyn Watkins. The BNP are also likely to stand, although it’s not clear who their candidate will be.

For full coverage of the by-election so far from Saddleworth News, click here.

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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