Last Wednesday the main candidates in the Lancaster & Fleetwood ward took part in a question time organised by PCS in the Milto Street Centre. The following is a selection of their answers to a few questions:Question 1: With all the main parties advocating cuts in public services, what assurances can you give me that I will still have a job in 12 months time?
Conservative:
· No party can make ultimate commitment to job security.
· Pay freeze in public sector over £18k
· Committed to stopping NI increase which would severely impact on NHS wage bill.
· Public Services need to be more efficient.
· There is a budget deficit crisis that needs dealing with.
Lib Dem:
· Wage bill majority of public spending.
· Look at where services are delivered and cut jobs strategically through voluntary redundancy.
· Senior Mgt reduction undertaken through negotiation with interested parties.
· Pay restraint of 2.5% or £400 per annum across the board.
· Public sector wages are an essential part of this constituencies economy, have been keeping it afloat in the downturn.
Labour:
· NI increase would mean that the govt can maintain investment in public services.
· Direct threat from Conservatives as they would not implement this.
· TUs should be included and negotiated with on all proposed changes to public services.
· As a trade unionist candidate, Civil Servants in this constituency should be assured that I will be looking out for their interests.
Green
· Raise taxation on the rich and large corporations.
· Cutting public services harms the most vulnerable in society.
· The low tax burden on the rich under this govt has led to public services being under-funded.
· Anyone earning over £110k would face a 50% tax rate.
· Impose an environmental tax to raise funds.
· Scrap Trident and ID cards to raise funds.
· Ordinary people are paying for financial sector mistakes, this should not continue.
· Leading economists are advising against the other parties approaches as could lead to a double-dip recession.
Question 2: What would the parties do to address the impending oil crisis outlined in the J.O.E report?
Labour:
· Will look at renewable energy including nuclear, wind farms, tidal barrages.
· Need to reduce carbon emissions.
· No clear answer but can’t afford to rely on fossil fuels.
· These new energy sources would see jobs being created in the constituency and 1.2million jobs nationally.
Conservative:
· Agree with Labour candidate.
· Shortage of fossil fuels and dependency on countries such as Russia are not helpful.
· Nuclear provides a secure option.
· Support investment in electric cars etc to reduce dependency on oil.
Green:
· Against nuclear power as it is dangerous and still no clear plan as to how to dispose of waste.
· The Green new deal would see investment in renewable energy and is a jobs rich policy.
· Would create 1m new jobs in this area.
· Supports our tax gap pledge in order to generate revenue, an easy win.
Lib Dem:
· Vitally important that public sector react to energy crisis to ensure sustainability.
· Support 10/10 Friends of the Earth initiative and has implemented it in his role on city council.
· Initiatives like 10/10 improve working conditions, bring savings and improve services for the public.
· Reducing energy consumption in public sector is essential and works.
Question 3: Do the candidates feel there is an increased apathy among the electorate?
Lib Dem:
· Not seeing apathy on doorstep.
· Leaders’ debates have seen a surge in interest especially among young people.
· Did see apathy around the time of Euro elections though as MPs expenses scandal broke in the right wing press and democracy suffered as a result.
· Would bring about electoral reform through single transferrable vote option.
Conservative:
· Real cynicism among electorate.
· TV debates have lifted the situation and more people getting involved as a result.
· Does not feel there will be as low a turn-out as expected.
· Need for meaningful Electoral Reform – constituent representation.
Labour:
· Recession and expenses has caused disengagement in electorate, the lowest point being during European elections.
· Economy has improved and changes to expenses procedure been implemented to improve transparency has improved things.
· TV debates has grown enthusiasm.
· Electoral Reform is essential and included in Labour manifesto, they will abolish House of Lords, form a second chamber which will be proportionally representative and hold referendum on constituency reform.
Green:
· Feels people are despairing and are looking for change.
· Green Party should have had a platform within Leaders debates.
· In 1997 public were excited by Labour landslide but have been let down.
· Green Party would see electoral reform through proportional representation which the Conservative party are against.
Question 4: Do GM crops cause more problems than they solve?
Green:
· GM crops causing serious problems not a solution.
· Seeds are being patented which is having a devastating effect on Farmers.
Conservative:
· Agree with Green Party.
· Need to improve food labelling to make it clearer.
Lib Dem:
· Agree with all of the previous candidates.
· Need to move towards more locally sourced food.
Labour:
· Agree with all the other candidates’ points.
· Need to ensure we know our food sources.
