Michael Lumb

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.”

Elisabeth with members of the Dill group

Elisabeth writes: Monday was a busy day.  It started with a school gate visit to Christ Church School Pellon with Cllr Jennifer Pearson.  We are getting a good response from parents to Lib Dem plans for extra money for schools and a fair tax system.

At 10 am I called in at the Dill project, a self help group for men with chronic conditions, invited by My Uddin, who initiated the group. This is self help in action!

Then it was on to Salterlee school, to talk to the top class about Lib Dem principles and policy.  We had an interesting discussion that ranged over how being made to conform to  other people’s expectation was a bit like bullying.  The children welcome the idea of more money for their school. They also raised points about possible unemployment, and liked the “Robin Hood” principle of Lib Dem policies on tax.

Some were interested in joining the Lib Dems, and I explained about how ordinary members could be involved in policy making.

My next stop was another school gate visit, this time with our candidate for Warley, Pauline Nash.

Last, but not least was the open Hustings organised by Churches Together in Halifax.  As a Quaker and Christian in my opening statement I talked about the links between Christian beliefs and Liberal Democrat principles:

First, the need to cherish each individual, and if necessary defend their rights.

Second, caring for creation, which includes caring for the environment as stewards of the earth.

Elisabeth talking to pupils at Salterlee school

Third, the quest for social justice. I pointed out that after 13 years of a Labour government a bright child from a poor home in Britain today is overtaken at school by a less bright child from a better off home. This is unacceptable. And our gap between rich and poor is as big as when Charles Dickens was writing “Hard Times” in the middle of the 19th century.  These would be tackled by Lib Dem policies on extra money for schools, and lifting the limit for paying tax to £10,000, giving most people £700 extra a year.

Questions ranged over Palestine/Israel, asylum seekers, replacing the House of Lords, adult education, buses, tackling the deficit, religious discrimination in the workplace, and climate change.

Altogether a busy and enjoyable day.

Working for you - Nick Clegg supports Elisabeth Wilson's decent homes campaign

I will put local people first. I will be there to help, listen to your concerns and stand up for our community. I will:

have an office in the constituency open at advertised times every week.

let you know how you can contact me with any concerns – by phone, email and by holding regular surgeries in easily accessible places.

ask you every year to complete a survey about what matters to you and report back on what I am doing.

I will make sure your voice is heard – locally and at Westminster. I will be a strong voice for Halifax. I will:

Push for jobs, training, education or internships for all under 25s unemployed for more than 3 months.  Some of these will be new green jobs, such as insulating homes

Work for a fair deal for pensioners

Support reform of the banks

meet regularly with local service providers like the police, health services and residents’ groups.

I will be open and honest about all expenses incurred in representing you. I will:

publish details on my personal website.

answer questions you may have about them promptly.

not profit personally from the use of expenses

pay taxes in the United Kingdom

Elisabeth M.Wilson

Speakers and others at the meeting

Lord William Wallace was the main speaker at a packed meeting at Raven Street Youth Centre, Halifax organized by the Liberal Democrats on Sunday night 18 April, in support of Elisabeth Wilson, candidate for Halifax, and Shazad Fazal, candidate for Park ward.  Lord Wallace is the principal spokesperson on Foreign and Commonwealth affairs for Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords.  He reminded the audience that Liberal Democrats had opposed the Iraq war, and are calling for an agreed date of withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Brought up as a protestant Christian, Lord Wallace welcomed the fact that in Britain today all faiths talk to each other.  He warned about the rise of fundamentalist Christians in the U.S. who want a confrontation with Islam.  Lord Wallace also spoke about areas of concern, such as South Asia, and in particular Kashmir. Last, he welcomed the development of Islamic study centres in UK universities.

Shazad Fazal, candidate for Park ward, talked about the needs of the area. He praised Liberal Democrat plans to invest £12m in Calderdale schools, as a move towards  equality and fairness.  Shazad also talked about the need for affordable housing, more play areas, and a new youth centre to replace Raven Street.

Elisabeth Wilson, Liberal Democrat candidate for Halifax, said she was angry about the £167bn deficit, pointing out it was £13,000 for everyone sitting in the meeting.  Liberal Democrats have a plan to reduce it, including getting rid of ID cards, to which Liberal Democrats are opposed.  She spoke in favour of bank reform, especially as HBoS, a major employer in Halifax, has been taken over by the Lloyds group. She insisted that banks should be smaller and more regionally based, splitting up the ordinary banking from the high risk.

Elisabeth also spoke about the 3000 unemployed people in Halifax, including 900 under 25, and Lib Dem plans to help them back to work.

She told the audience that the Liberal Democrats have a special programme to encourage members from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds to become candidates. Forty three candidates (7%) from BME backgrounds are standing in the general election.

Janet Battye, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Calderdale council, attacked the Conservative administration for its secretiveness, waste of money and poor performance, particular in relation to vulnerable children.

The main speakers were supported by Cllr Mohammed Ilyas and other speakers from the local community.

Elisabeth Wilson with local health campaigner Bob Heys

Elisabeth writes:  With news breaking that already 225,000 public sector jobs are being axed by councils, the NHS and police forces (see the Sunday Times today),  it is time the Labour government came clean.

Although it is reported that management and administrative workers are more likely to go, cuts are also being made in frontline services that Gordon Brown pledged to protect.  These include nurses and midwives, social workers, teachers and police officers.

So what is happening locally?

I am a member of the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. On 3 February this year I went to a meeting about maternity services when a senior manager said that they were expecting “to get our budgets completely slashed”.  Since then I have heard nothing – no communication, no information, let alone any consultation. So what is my membership worth?

In relation to the police, we know that police numbers dropped by 54 under Labour. I have just looked at the West Yorkshire police website, which is not currently accepting applications for police officers. There are advertisements for civilian jobs only.

Liberal Democrats believe in giving people a say in policing and the NHS. A lot of voters were upset about the wheelie bin contract – but at least you can vote against the current Conservative council. However you don’t get a say in the NHS that could save your life or the police who keep your family safe.

Liberal Democrats will create directly elected health boards and police authorities so these services deliver what you need.

It’s time for a new approach.

Elisabeth Wilson and Lord William Wallace with students from Calderdale college

On Thursday 15 April Lord William Wallace of Saltaire, deputy Lib Dem leader in the House of Lords, paid a visit to Calderdale College with Elisabeth Wilson, Lib Dem candidate for Halifax.  In conversation with Chris Jones, the principal, and Lynne MacKenzie, chair of the governors, William and Elisabeth were impressed about the range of courses offered.  Concerns were raised about recent changes in government funds for the college, which has led to a cut of 9% in the college finances.

William Wallace was interested to learn about the college’s success in engaging younger and older people in returning to learning.  Elisabeth Wilson welcomed the news that the college is to start its first training in solar panel installation.  Elisabeth commented afterwards “Green jobs are a key plank in Lib Dem proposals for tackling unemployment, as they provide work, and help cut fuel bills as well as reducing our carbon footprint.”

Elisabeth Wilson and William Wallace also had the opportunity to talk to a group of students about their current studies and hopes for the future.   “They explained how unemployment has had an effect on part time jobs – they just can’t find any” said Elisabeth. “Nevertheless many of them have ambitions to go on to higher education.”

Elisabeth and William explained Lib Dem proposals to abolish student fees over a six year period. As William said to the students, he got his university education free.

Elisabeth Wilson being congratulated by Lord David Shutt

Elisabeth Wilson was adopted as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Halifax at a meeting at North Bridge Leisure Centre on Monday night. Lord David Shutt presided at the meeting.

Elisabeth Wilson attack the Labour government’s mismanagement of the economy, which has led to a £13,000 debt for every man, woman and child in Britain. She pointed to Liberal Democrat plans to reduce the deficit including getting rid of ID cards, refusing to make a like-for-like replacement of the Trident nuclear missile system, and a £400 cap on public sector pay increases.

She hit out at the arrogance of the banks, especially those part owned by the taxpayer, who refused to lend to businesses.  “The Labour government has failed to get this right. Small and medium businesses employ more people than big companies.  They are the future engine of growth,” she said.

She pointed out that out of 3000 unemployed there were 900 young people in Halifax not in education, employment and training. “Under Liberal Democrat plans all of them would be offered a job, education, training, or a paid internship.”

Elisabeth Wilson also criticized the local Conservative run Calderdale Council for doing very little to help local employment, particularly among the minority ethnic community.

“The Labour government has presided over a public transport system where popular buses, like the 36 in Skircoat, can be withdrawn overnight. Cuts are being planned in local health services, but we have no direct say in what they are.”  Elisabeth Wilson described this as a “democratic deficit”.  Only Liberal Democrats are committed to putting all this right, she added, with their commitment to fair and open government.

Elisabeth Wilson and Hilary Myers at Sowerby Bridge station with a Lib Dem supporter

Elisabeth Wilson, candidate for Halifax, got together with Hilary Myers, candidate for Calder Valley and eager Liberal Democrat campaigners and gave out leaflets to commuters at all the railway stations in Halifax and Calder Valley constituencies, as soon as the general election was announced officially. Travellers on their way home were greeted at Halifax, Sowerby Bridge, Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, and Brighouse stations.

Elisabeth has welcomed the Liberal Democrat announcement on Monday that they plan to switch expenditure from road to rail, and set out radical plans to revitalise the railways by improving and reopening rail lines and stations.

The party will set up a Rail Expansion Fund of nearly £3bn from which councils and transport authorities can bid for money to pay for rail improvement and expansion projects.

Elisabeth said: “Sowerby Bridge Station just isn’t inviting. It would be an obvious station for improvement.”
It would be the biggest expansion since the Victorian age.

Elisabeth on a previous visit to Sowerby Bridge station

In a statement circulated to local media, Elisabeth Wilson, Lib Dem candidate for Halifax, has described the action Alistair Darling proposes in relation to banks as “puny”.

“It has taken till now for the Labour Chancellor to take some action on bank lending to small businesses by the partially nationalised banks. Has he been asleep? As with the bank bonuses given to highly paid people who helped create the banking crisis, the Labour government is out of step with what ordinary people and businesses experience.

“The chancellor’s solution to small and medium companies who are refused credit by the banks – another quango!”

Elisabeth also criticised the Labour Government failure to do something about the problem of bank size, and the mixing up of ‘casino’ and high street banking in the same bank.

“Vince Cable has said frequently that taxpayers should not underwrite high risk casino banking that provides little benefit to the taxpayers” she added. “Smaller regionally based banks would have the interests of local businesses and the local community at heart.”

Press Release: Lib Dems announce four candidates

Halifax Liberal Democrats have announced four of their candidates for the forthcoming local elections.

Pauline Nash

Pauline Nash has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Skircoat Ward. Pauline hopes to become the second Liberal Democrat Councillor in the ward following Cllr Stephen Gow’s victory in 2007. Pauline stood in Skircoat, her home ward, in the March 2009 by-election, when she came just 118 votes behind her Conservative rival.

A former youth and community worker, Pauline, of Heath Road, Halifax, has been a magistrate since 1981 and has served as a member of the Board of the Halifax Opportunities Trust.

Pauline says, ‘On the doorstep people are concerned that their voice is not heard in the right places in the Town Hall and that important decisions, such as the sudden withdrawal of the 36 bus and the proposals for Copley, are being made without consultation. That is why I support the Liberal Democrat plans for a more open council that consults local people properly on the matters that affect them the most.’

Cllr Stephen Gow says. ‘Pauline is known by many people throughout the ward and will make an excellent local ward Councillor. She is a no nonsense character who will work hard for the residents of Skircoat ward.’

Shazad Fazal

Shazad Fazal has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Park ward. Shazad hopes to become the second Liberal Democrat Councillor in the ward following Cllr Mohammed Ilyas’ victory in 2009.

Halifax born and bred, Shazad currently works for the Lloyds group of companies as a customer service advisor.  Shazad has been active in the community, volunteering for the Citizens Advice Bureau and as a governor of Saint Augustine’s school. He is a union member, and vice chair of the Park Kashmir Society.

Shazad says: “People in Park ward feel the Council does not pay them enough attention.  They want basic services from the council – starting with clean streets, and better amenities for young and old.”

Cllr Mohammed Ilyas says: “Shazad is keen, energetic and concerned about all the community in Park. He would be a fighter for the area.”

Elizabeth Ward

Newcomer Elizabeth Ward is challenging council leader Cllr Stephen Baines as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Northowram and Shelf. Elizabeth attended Northowram Junior School and Crossley Heath School before completing her A levels at Greenhead College.

She recently graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in French and German, and is currently working in a pastoral role in a Kirklees school. At university Elisabeth was the Lead Student Ambassador, working in outreach projects to encourage secondary school pupils from under-represented groups to continue to higher education. This is her first council contest.

…….

Elizabeth says: “I was inspired by David Howarth MP in Cambridge, and joined the Liberal Democrats while I was at Cambridge University. Now I want to do something in my own community.”

Parliamentary Candidate for Halifax Elisabeth Wilson says: “Elizabeth is a competent and energetic candidate who would be an asset to Northowram and Shelf. I was elected to the County Council when I was her age.”

Ashley Evans

Ashley Evans has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Warley ward, bidding to join Cllr Jennifer Pearson and Cllr Robert Pearson. He runs a successful retail design consultancy, and has lived in Sowerby Bridge since 1990.

Ashley was Vice Chair of Governors at Crossley Heath until recently, and has been Chair of Governors at Triangle J & I School for many years. He is a member of the Calderdale Schools Forum, an active member of Sowerby Bridge Rotary, and has experience setting up food co-operatives including early involvement with Suma. Outside work Ashley was a keen rugby player and later coach, as well as managing a pop band. Ashley Evans has stood for Ryburn ward previously for the Liberal Democrats.

Ashley says: “I am looking forward to joining the committed and effective Liberal Democrat team in Warley, and working for the communities of Pellon, Mount Tabor and Warley.”

Cllr Jennifer Pearson says: “Ashley brings a wealth of business and voluntary experience that will be a tremendous asset for the people in Warley ward”.