We’ve asked the candidates for the Stone constituency for the General Election on 7th May to send us their election pitches. Click HERE for a list of all the candidates fighting the Stone seat and HERE to the pitches. Here’s what SIR BILL CASH, the Conservative candidate, who’s defending his seat,has to say…
[divider]
[dropcap]I[/dropcap] have 31 years of experience as an independent-minded MP in Staffordshire. I put your constituency and country first. I have always fought consistently for you and the country, young and elderly, town and country, businesses and farmers and professional people, winning very many of my campaigns both nationally and locally, without fear or favour, irrespective of party and in the national interest. I have always sought to take the most practical action in line with your interests, combined with fairness, principle and compassion, trust and values.
Locally, I have for example campaigned for Stone station to reopen, now a great success with remarkable growth in its annual passenger footfall figures, almost doubling from 48,000 in 2009/10 to 100,000 in 2013/14. I campaigned to seek retention of the Co-operative bank branch in Stone and in a Commons debate. I opposed wind turbine proposals at Pingle Lane, Stone (success, appeal) and Cotwalton, Stone (success) and successfully argued for the Secretary of State to call-in the Pingle Lane proposals for two wind turbines. I supported North Staffs Rail Promotion Group and have campaigned for Department of Transport officials and the Secretary of State to reopen Barlaston railway station. I have objected to housing proposals at Walton Heath, adjacent to Common Heath, on behalf of Walton residents.
In terms of rescuing your economy, with a Conservative-led Government over the past five years, the economy – virtually destroyed by Labour – has stabilised. Jobseeker claimants are down in Stone constituency to 24th lowest of 650 constituencies. The UK economy had the fastest annual growth among G7 economies in 2014 and strongest annual growth since 2007, consumer confidence is at highest level in over 12 years and living standards are now 2.2% higher than they were before Labour’s Great Recession. The Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast higher living standards in 2015 than 2010. Small and medium sized enterprises are recovering solidly.
That is crucial because the reasonable tax on private enterprise and business pays every penny of public expenditure, including our local NHS services – so we need the growth, enterprise and jobs, which the Conservatives in Government have provided. On the NHS itself, we have increased spending by £12.9 billion and £8 billion more is pledged per year by 2020.
In terms of your businesses and jobs, with a Conservative-led Government over the past five years, 1,000 new jobs have been produced every day nationally since 2010 and 2 million apprenticeships. Two million more jobs are on the way. I have campaigned to improve employment prospects with employers throughout constituency and to protect and promote SMEs. It means an income tax cut for 26 million people – the personal tax free allowance is now £10,600 before paying income tax (and after the General Election, £12,500 is promised). Furthermore, the Conservatives propose a new law to guarantee a Tax Free Minimum Wage.
I work with and support local businesses a great deal – in fact, I played a major role in saving 300 factory jobs down the road in Cheadle last year at Klarius, whose success and expansion grows every month.
Furthermore, on promoting tourism and business, for example, I want to see more brown tourism signs – the white on brown signs – that enable essential directional guidance to attract people into the centre of Stone from the main roads running through the town. I propose to meet and work with Staffordshire County Council’s Highways Team, and where necessary with Highways England, to seek their approval for considering and approving applications for tourism signs in Stone and elsewhere. I have been in discussion with local businessmen putting ideas together for tourism and business rates and will continue to do so.
QUESTION TIME
1.) Stone is a growing town, with thousands of new homes to be built over the next few years. What needs to be done to make sure the local infrastructure can cope?
I work continuously to ensure that the local infrastructure is improved in order to ensure that new homes are adequately served. Our local infrastructure includes transportation, roads, local amenities, water, gas and electricity systems and also GP, medical, health and dental practices, schools, broadband and sewage and waste disposal. That local infrastructure can only be provided for by a sound economy which requires growth and businesses – that means we have to generate growth, enterprise and jobs to pay for it all.
I have continuously sought to facilitate opportunities in tourism and business, for example, by my successfully promoting the reopened Stone rail station with remarkable growth in its annual passenger footfall figures, almost doubling from 48,000 in 2009/10 to 100,000 in 2013/14. On local bus networks, I continue to argue for good bus services which have included the fight for the resolution to the No. 4 bus service concerns, particularly for elderly and disabled passengers and parents with pushchairs. And I continue campaigning for accelerating the rollout of high-speed broadband to Stone and rural areas to provide universal coverage equivalent to urban areas
Through access to health services, for example, on top of the Conservative pledge to improving GP access so everyone will be able to see a GP seven days a week by 2020, I am fighting for the return of 24/7 A&E with paediatrics & consultant-led maternity at our local County Hospital. I was the first in Parliament to call for a full public inquiry on oath under the Inquiries Act on Stafford Hospital, working with ‘Cure the NHS’ and ‘Public Concern at Work’. I successfully persuaded the Conservative-led Government to hold the Francis Inquiry and to legislate to protect whistleblowers. The Inquiry was vigorously opposed by successive Labour Secretaries of State while I fought for improvements in the NHS. The Francis report was accepted by Government and has led to improvements in the NHS. I strongly support Stafford Hospital and its staff and marched with the Support Stafford Hospital campaigners in Stafford.
On housing itself, for constituents affected by speculative housing applications in Stone, and where deemed unacceptable by residents, I have consistently objected to such proposals, very recently objecting to housing proposals in Marlborough Road. I have successfully appeared at public Inquiries against housing proposals throughout constituency e.g. in Gnosall, where the proposals were withdrawn.
To improve planning further, I presented my Local Planning and Housing Bill to provide for the improvement of local planning procedures, protect the Local Plan from challenge, protection of greenfield or green belt sites and encourage use of brownfield sites and reviewing Planning Inspectorate appeals. I have argued for the need for effective Neighbourhood Plans and also for the option of ‘calling in’ applications, which I have successfully pursued, for example, in campaigning for the Secretary of State to call-in the Pingle Lane proposals for two wind turbines. I have successfully opposed all other turbines in Stone.
With the increase in housing, it is essential that there is adequate balance elsewhere in local infrastructure. It runs parallel to my other actions on highways infrastructure, which includes objecting to and petitioning the House of Commons against the large number of HGVs using the A519, running through Eccleshall and Woodseaves. I successfully campaigned for the main post office in Stone to be reopened. I have separately campaigned for more funding and better treatment of Stone’s rural roads with the Secretary of State for Transport and Staffordshire County Council – by fresh investment of £4.5 million to help tackle potholes – on top of £2.1 million spent on fixing potholes and surfacing hotspots.
On behalf of residents and for the beautiful rural landscape around Stone, I have voted consistently against HS2. For Stone residents, I petitioned myself and secured my constituents unprecedented petition against the 1st HS2 Bill in Parliament, holding public meetings and demanding proper compensation (Property Bonds) and continue to do so.
2.) What needs to be done to improve the town centre economy to attract new businesses and support existing traders?
I believe in supporting both the Stone town centre and wider rural economy to attract new businesses and support existing traders. That means we need a healthier national economy, as I have described above. In Stone, it means my continuing support and encouragement of high quality retail businesses in addition to those we already have and to continue my campaign for greater fairness in business rates by reducing those rates, comprehensive car parking for Stone and greater local accountability. I have been in discussions with local businesses about a Stone Enterprise Forum and for improving the quality and profitably of the town centre and promoting business start-ups.
Supporting the town centre and rural economy means supporting Stone’s small businesses, jobs and growth and it is notable that by January this year, the Conservative-led Government’s Start-Up Loans were being provided for just that – in the West Midlands, £10,334,845 had been lent to 2,118 people. As I have said, locally, jobseeker claimants are down in Stone constituency to the 24th lowest of the 650 constituencies.
I am continuing to support our local farming businesses around Stone, for example, and I welcome provision in the 2015 Budget for farmers being given more time to average their profits for income tax. I will continue to fight over-prescriptive CAP greening requirements, continue to seek to increase on-farm water storage and reservoir building with financial support and tax incentives, seek to ensure poultry welfare is upheld by continuing infra-red beak tipping, ensure a fair deal is made under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, consistently pursue the campaign for proper compensation on HS2 if it is to go head and other major infrastructure projects. It also means my continuing support for and expanding Defra’s ‘Plan for Public Procurement’. It means my continuing my fight for a proper Grocery Code Adjudicator and a mandatory extension to all links in the supply chain between producers and intermediaries and a clear and unambiguous country of origin labelling on meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, all of which goes a significant way to helping the Stone town centre and wider rural economy.
3.) What’s the best way to improve leisure facilities in the town?
I have always fought and will continue to protect leisure facilities in the town and throughout the wider Stone constituency. Given the proposals for Westbridge Park, these must be proceeded with in a way that will improve the quality of life for Stone residents and for young people in Stone, with facilities such as swimming, gym work outs and general fitness. In terms of leisure centres, I have continuously and successfully campaigned for schools, voluntary organisations and community projects to receive National Lottery funding e.g. Little Stoke Cricket Club to get financial assistance. As for pubs, I very much support the objectives of the Campaign for Real Ale for well-run community pubs and local breweries in Stone. On green sites for leisure, I presented my Local Planning and Housing Bill and have consistently argued for the protection of local greenfield or green belt sites, which enables leisure for local residents. I will continue to seek for the canal walks to be cleaned and kept in good condition in order to attract people to the area and to the Aston Marina area.
4.) How can visitors be attracted to the town and our tourism offer extended?
I continue to very much support the Stone town economy and the tourism which is vital to our town – I am campaigning to put Stone on the map as a rural destination by rail and road. We have a great deal to be proud of, and to protect, in terms of our local rural area, spa facilities in the vicinity and great, rural beauty spots. I consistently promote Stone as a town with good quality, profitable retail businesses of all kinds which in turns acts as a powerful magnet for the town as a tourist and gastronomic destination and to increase hotel occupancy.
This has meant, on promoting tourism and business, for example, I want to see more brown tourism signs – the white on brown signs – that enable essential directional guidance to attract people into the centre of Stone from the main roads running through the town. I have been in continued and ongoing discussion with local business people on tourism, business rates and focusing on the use of the town centre and will continue to do so. Stone has a very serious and strong tourism potential and our rural tourism can embrace enhanced opportunities for hotel occupancy in the town, a rebalancing to the town’s economy to bring in retail businesses of all kinds and good restaurants adding to very good ones we already have. This is key because 2013 in particular was a record-breaking year for international tourism. Overseas visitors made a record 34.8 million trips to the UK and spent a record £21.7 billion whilst here – proof of the tourism strategy working for the Conservatives in Government. Stone must be a continued and valuable part of that drivetoward our town becoming an ever-more vibrant tourist and gastronomic centre of excellence – with our superb farmers market, the Stone Food & Drink Festival, with Stone in Bloom winning the town its eighth Heart of England in Bloom gold medal in a row last year, amongst many other achievements.
In terms of our region, last year alone almost 25 million people, from home and abroad, enjoyed day or overnight trips to Staffordshire. This helped generate over £1.1 billion in direct spend on accommodation, entertainment, travel, shopping and food and drink. In addition to this, the tourism sector in Staffordshire supports over 28,300 jobs and generates an additional £500 million of associated spend in the sector. Local tourism businesses in Staffordshire are bringing in £96 million a month for the local economy and sustaining tens of thousands of jobs and I will continue to campaign to ensure that tourism in Stone is recognised as being of such vital importance, by continuing to put more emphasis on our effectiveness to generate trade and businesses.
5.) How would you seek to boost inward investment?
Inward investment into Stone goes hand in hand with a wider, healthier and growing economy with an effective tourism policy. Regionally, I have done a great deal, for example, by cooperating with many partners to facilitate the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – the Partnership for the Stone constituency – to obtain the Growth Deal funding of £97.7m. The Growth Deal will greatly support businesses and infrastructure in the Stone constituency, including Stone town, helping to create jobs and support businesses and developing trade and opportunities through Staffordshire for small businesses as well as the business parks in and around Stone town. It helps to secure a better future for the hardworking people of Stone.
Both locally and nationally, manufacturing remains a strong part of our economy and recovery and the successful action taken by Conservatives in Government to boost manufacturing – by unlocking business investment and investing in schools and further education – is helping to boost growth and create more jobs. Britain is making things again. We are selling more things to fast growing countries like China and South Korea.
On those jobs being created, it is vital that Employment Allowance has cut the jobs tax of every business by up to £2,000 – 450,000 small businesses will pay no jobs tax at all in 2014/15. I have consistently called for freezing of fuel duty – and since 2011, fuel duty cut and frozen, saving a typical motorist £675 by end of 2015-16. And it is the Conservative-led Government that already banned abusive zero hours contracts – whereas Labour presided over zero hours contracts with no safeguards for 13 years. (Blair promised to ban them). On top of that, the Conservatives will pass a new law to guarantee a Tax Free Minimum Wage, given that Labour burdened hardworking people with too much tax, and many of the lowest paid were amongst the hardest hit by Labour’s Great Recession.
6.) What do you see as the main issues facing Stone in 2015 and what do you see as the best way to address them?
I have fought and will continue to take fundamental steps to improve and grow the local economy with businesses and jobs. I campaign on an ongoing basis for a fairer funding system for Staffordshire schools. I continue to back farmers and am opposing, voting consistently and petitioning against HS2. As Stone grows, I will continue to work to ensure that the local infrastructure, including Stafford Hospital services, roads, planning rules, the local GPs and Stone station are improved and enhanced in order to ensure that new homes in Stone are adequately served.
To support Stone town centre and the wider rural economy to attract new businesses and support existing traders, I will not only actively seek to protect a healthier national economy, as I have described, but if elected in Stone, continue to support and encourage high quality retail businesses in addition to those we already have and to continue my campaign for greater fairness in business rates in terms of reducing the rates, greater local accountability and seek for local businesses to organise a Stone Enterprise Forum and for improving the quality and profitably of the town centre and promoting business start-ups.
To protect leisure facilities in the town and throughout the wider Stone constituency, given the proposals for Westbridge Park, I will seek to ensure they are proceeded with in a way that will improve the quality of life for Stone residents and for young people in Stone, with facilities such as swimming, gym work outs and general fitness. I back well-run community pubs and local breweries in Stone. I continue to fight for the canal walks, the protection of the local greenfield and green belt sites, and sites such as Aston Marina for the leisure of local residents.
I continue to very much support the Stone town economy and the inward investment into Stone and increasing our tourist potential is vital.
For all these reasons, I hope you would be good enough to re-elect me as your MP on 7th May because I have experience as an independent-minded MP in Staffordshire, and since 1997 in Stone, have shown by my efforts and my commitment a record of delivery for my constituents. I will put your constituency and country first.
