Elisabeth Wilson writes: I have been contacted by a number of voters about the coalition government. If you want to see the full text of the agreement, follow this link:
I am surprised but pleased that some Lib Dem policies I campaigned on will be implemented, especially raising the threshold for income tax to £10,000, which will help the lower paid. I am also glad there will NOT be ID cards.
I received the following email from Baroness Ros Scott, Lib Dem party president:
“You will have seen from the news that the party’s Federal Executive and parliamentary party yesterday approved the coalition agreement negotiated with the Conservative Party.
“Both bodies endorsed it overwhelmingly, by much more than a three-quarters majority. The provisions of the ‘triple lock’ procedure approved by conference in 1998 have therefore been satisfied, and there is no requirement for a special conference to endorse the agreement.
“However, Liberal Democrats remain a democratic party, and we believe it right to consult our membership on this momentous occasion in our party’s history. The Federal Executive is therefore calling a special conference to take place on Sunday 16 May (1–5pm), in the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.
“The only item of debate on the agenda will be a motion to endorse the coalition agreement.”
Elisabeth writes: 8335 thank yous to everyone who voted Lib Dem on Thursday. I increased the Lib Dem vote by over 1000, and showed we are a force to be reckoned with.
We were also very pleased to gain 2 extra seats on the Council. Congratulations to Ashley Evans in Warley, and Pauline Nash in Skircoat. You can contact them as follows:
Elisabeth Wilson and Lord David Shutt talking to a visitor in Shibden Park
Lord David Shutt, better known in Calderdale as a former councillor and popular mayor, was out with Halifax Liberal Dempcrat candidate Elisabeth Wilson and her supporters in Shibden Park on Monday Bank Holiday. This was the third walkabout, following Northowram and Sowerby Bridge on Saturday. Lord Shutt was pleased to meet old friends as well as new faces.
“Elisabeth is a candidate with a breadth of experience as a councillor, health authority member and school governor” said Lord Shutt. “She has proved herself as a very able campaigner previously and will be an excellent MP for Halifax.”
Elisabeth said: “It’s a great way to meet people and chat to them in an informal way. some people just say hello, and others want to ask more detailed questions about Lib Dem policies. The more they find out, the more impressed they are with our messages about fairness in tax, a fair start for children with extra money for schools, and fair approach to the economy and more green jobs, and of course cleaning up Parliament.
Lord Shutt is chief whip for the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords.
Shazad Fazal was selected to appear live on a 3 way digital TV channel, DM Digital.
Putting the case for why voters should back the Lib Dems, he said he believed in fairness and equality. The Lib Dems are campaigning for a fair tax system, a fair start for children with extra money for schools, a fair economy with more green jobs, and a fair deal from politicians.
In relation to Kashmir, he said that the Labour Party had let down voters. They had promised to act and then done nothing. Shazad explained that he had lost faith with the Labour Party under Blair, as they did not listen to ordinary people.
Floella Benjamin and Elisabeth Wilson chat to shoppers in Harveys department store, Halifax.
Popular TV presenter Floella Benjamin visited Halifax on Saturday to add her support to Elisabeth Wilson’s campaign to be MP for the town. They met in Harvey’s department store, where Floella delighted both young and old. Floella talked about the importance of interaction with young children, and the need for high quality TV programmes for children. She also backs Lib Dems plans for extra money for schools.
Floella urged voters to back Elisabeth Wilson for MP. “The combination of Lib Dem policies and Elisabeth’s care for individuals is just what Halifax needs,” she said.
Later on Saturday Lib Dems did walkabouts in Northowram and Sowerby Bridge.
Elizabeth Ward, candidate for Northowram, and Elisabeth Wilson, parliamentary candidate, chat with shoppers in Northowram
Elisabeth Ward, candidate for Northowram, and Elisabeth Wilson talked to shoppers in Northowram.
Elisabeth Wilson and Michael Lumb (centre) with supporters in Sowerby Bridge
In Sowerby Bridge Lib Dems turned out in support of candidate Michael Lumb.
Elisabeth says: “Many people wanted to talk about Lib Dem policies, particularly on the first £10,000 being free of tax, and also our fair deal for pensioners.
” I also had a longer chat with an ex-serviceman who felt that mental health services are not good enough for people like him. It is only by going out and about and talking to people that you find out what is on their minds.
” As I have found throughout this campaign, voters feel Labour has failed, but they are not at all sure they can trust the Conservatives. That is why many tell me they are choosing Lib Dem this time, many for the first time ever.”
The forgotten 1.5m victims of Equitable Life were the subject of a private meeting on Friday with Elisabeth Wilson, Liberal Democrat candidate for Halifax, and Diana Wallis, MEP for Yorkshire and Humberside.
Elisabeth Wilson said: “After this was raised by voters in Halifax, I was shocked to find out that this has been dragging on since 2001, and the Labour government has refused to implement the recommendations of the Ombudsman. It has severely effected many people’s retirement. It’s another example of poor regulation of the financial sector.”
Liberal Democrats have taken action in parliament both at Westminster and Brussels as a team effort. Vince Cable MP, Shadow Chancellor, has pushed the case in London with the backing of all the Liberal Democrat MPs. But in October 2009 the government forced Labour members to vote against the Ombudsman’s recommendations with a three line whip.
Diana Wallis. Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, was a key player in writing a report for the European Parliament. This looked at the failure of Equitable Life in the UK, Germany and Eire. She said: “The Equitable Life fiasco was an early warning that financial regulation was not right. But the Labour government hasn’t accepted responsibility.
“People paid into something which wasn’t properly regulated, and they lost a lot of money.”
Elisabeth Wilson has pledged to support the Equitable Life victims’ fight for compensation.
Liberal Democrats held a meeting mainly for women on Thursday morning at Queens Road Neighbourhood Centre, Halifax. Women who attended were reassured by Elisabeth Wilson, parliamentary candidate for Halifax, that Liberal Democrats are committed to keeping Sure Start and Child Tax Credits. They also welcomed the news that under the Liberal Democrats the first £10,000 of earnings would be free of income tax, which adds up to £700 a year extra. Feeling safe in society was another topic. The meeting welcomed the proposed Liberal Democrat increase in West Yorkshire Police of 109, compared with the recent drop of 54 under Labour.
Fairness in education was raised by Shazad Fazal, when he explained that extra funding would be available to schools under the Liberal Democrats, £90,000 for the average primary school. The audience welcomed the idea of smaller classes, one-to-one tuition, and catch-up classes for those who need them. The need for Halifax High School to have a sixth form was also discussed. Shazad pointed out that only the Liberal Democrats are committed to the abolition of student fees.
Shazad stressed the need to develop a fair and tolerant society where there is equal opportunity and deprivation is tackled. And Elisabeth told the women about plans to give all unemployed young people the opportunity of a job, training, education, and internship, or an apprenticeship.
Women who attended thanked the Liberal Democrats, as no other party has done this. They were also interested to hear about Liberal Democrat’s special initiatives to help candidates from Asian and other minority ethnic bakcgounds.
The meeting was also addressed by Cllr Mohammed Ilyas, and Pauline Nash, candidate for Skircoat ward.
Elisabeth Wilson and Shazad Fazal at Beech Hill School
Michael was born in Bradford and has lived in Elland and Halifax all his life. He is a former Telecoms engineer and manager, and also worked in the printing industry.
His interests are walking and fishing, especially in the Dales and the Lake District.
Michael says: “I was attracted to the Liberal Democrats because of their reliability and honesty. That is why I have offered myself as a candidate for the voters of Sowerby Bridge.”
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