Independent
Thank you for asking me to contribute here.
I know about Orchard Park, partly because I am kept well-informed by Cllr. Mike Mason, the Independent District Councillor who has played a prominent part in getting the new community together. Every home in Orchard Park will by now have received one of my Geoffrey Woollard Independent leaflets.
What do I stand for? Much information for those who have an internet connection is on my websites below but I want all of the electors of South East Cambridgeshire to be put 'on the map' and what a turn-up it would be if they returned a truly independent M.P., un-whipped by any party machine? Mr James Paice's predecessors were more independent-minded (Lord Pym, Sir Harry Legge-Burke and Sir Clement Freud come to mind) and I know that our local electors are very independent-minded. Perhaps it's an historic phenomenon of old Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely. Oliver Cromwell was the most eminent Member of Parliament from this part of England and he was always independent.
I want credit to be given where credit is due. The New Labour Governments have done much good. There being little visible difference between the major parties on economic and foreign affairs, voting now may be decided by social and moral issues: I believe that Labour has an edge in this respect. Under Tony Blair's leadership, the class warfare of old took a back seat. Also under Labour, civil partnerships were made lawful and have become accepted. Labour members, with notable help from some Conservatives such as Ann Widdecombe, ensured the passing of the anti-hunting Act, outlawing the awful and abominable 'sport' of hare coursing. These reforms would not have been feasible under Margaret Thatcher or John Major, but they are greatly to Labour's credit.
I want more people to be enthusiasts for Cambridgeshire's Education, probably the finest in the land and working alongside our wonderful Universities. Though I favour freedom of choice, I am less enthusiastic for independent schools; some Conservatives are obsessed with them. I have studied extensively the operation of school vouchers in California and am wholly opposed to them.
My wife and I are users and strong supporters of the National Health Service. We know that many millions of our people could not manage without it and 'going private' is not an option.
And I want our local economy to thrive. I will do all that I can to promote our County's interests, but I also want a slowing down of inward migration to Cambridgeshire and a slowing down of immigration nationally. I am not a supporter of multi-culturalism and I have severe reservations about Great Britain becoming more multi-racial. I have no desire for our country soon to suffer the same race problems as the Americans have in their homeland. Immigration and race relations are rarely mentioned by the major political parties, but they rightly worry our own British people.
Bearing in mind that Labour is a lost cause in South East Cambridgeshire, I urge Labour supporters to vote for me as I am in tune with much of what New Labour is and has done.
Bearing in mind that I rarely agree with what the leading local Liberal Democrats say and do, I urge their activists to vote for their candidate.
Bearing in mind my criticisms of Mr James Paice and the Conservatives and my more independent ideas, I urge his people to vote for me. Any and all others will be wasted votes.
Most of all, I urge electors who are naturally independent - or who are presently undecided - to support me. If elected, I will listen, take advice, think things through for myself and make up my own mind on the important issues of the day, and I will act and vote accordingly, hopefully in the best interests of the whole of South East Cambridgeshire - my life-time home and the home of the ancestors of both my wife and myself. If you, too, prefer to think for yourself and don't desire a perpetual party political person as your M.P., then .......
VOTE GEOFFREY WOOLLARD, INDEPENDENT
Geoffrey Woollard
Independent Parliamentary Candidate, South East Cambridgeshire.
Promoted by Geoffrey Woollard, of Chapel Farm,
River Bank, Nr. Upware, Ely, Cambs. CB7 5YJ.
http://woollard4southeastcambs.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/FENBANK
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/NoToHareCoursing/
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveTheFarmland/
Christian Peoples Alliance
Email invitation sent, candidate's response pending.
Liberal Democrat
As a District Councillor since 2002 I have watched Orchard Park grow from just a planning idea to an emerging community. The last eight years have been a series of ups and downs, challenges and successes. There are problems still to resolve, but it has been so encouraging to see a community emerge. In particular, to see the enthusiasm and vibrancy of so many of the new residents in Orchard Park.
As the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate, I am fighting this election on the issues of fairness and change:
Fair taxes - We will ensure no-one pays income tax on the first £10,000 they earn. Most taxpayers will get a tax cut of £700 a year. We’ll pay for it by closing loopholes that unfairly benefit the rich.
Fair start for all our children - We will get every child the individual attention they need by cutting class sizes. We will spend an extra £2.5bn on schools, targeted at children who need the most help.
Fair future with a rebalanced, green economy - We will break up the banks and be honest about where savings must be made in government spending.
Fair deal from politicians – After the anger of expenses scandal, we will introduce a fair voting system. We will take power from Westminster and give it to local communities.
I live in the heart of the South East Cambridgeshire constituency in the beautiful village of Impington. I am married to Doris, who is a Research Nurse at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and they have a young son called Samuel.
I am a Commercial Manager in the rail industry and have held several posts within my career, including Station Manager at Cambridge and Sales and Marketing Manager for Stansted Express. I am currently with Network Rail working on major investment projects in the London area.
I studied Economics, Politics and History at the University of Bradford. Upon graduating I became the first ever Liberal Democrat to be elected President of the University Students' Union. I was involved in several National Union of Students committees and campaigns concerning student finance and housing.
In recent years, I have organised local campaigns on 'Axe the Tax', door-step recycling, improvements to local bus services, reductions in traffic speed limits and many other issues. These have included petitions, High Street stalls, letter writing and local media involvement. I am particularly passionate about transport, education and environmental issues.
I am a fluent French speaker, having spent eight months in Bordeaux. I recently graduated with a Masters Degree (MBA) from Warwick Business School. In my spare time, I am actively involved in my local village church and enjoy cycling, coastal and hill walking - accompanied by my Cocker Spaniel Mostyn. We are also kept busy with our allotment.
With your support, I will be the hard working and effective MP our area deserves. It could be a very close result in this election and your vote is vital.
More information is available at www.secambslibdems.org.uk
Thanks,
Jonathan
Labour
John Cowan, 35 is Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for South East Cambridgeshire he has been active in political life for many years and has been a local Councillor since 1996.
His role outside politics is Team Principal of Spirit Racing a motorsports team which are aiming to gain an entry to the Le Mans 24 Hours race.
John has held several senior roles within the Labour Party and was the Agent for the Party in Norfolk for the 2007 and 2009 Local Elections he also served for 3 years on the Labour East Regional Board.
He lists his interests as canoeing, photography, modern art and getting fit.
John is committed to fighting poverty and opposed to the Tory plans to close Sure Start Centre's like the Ely Children's centre.
It’s his belief that the key to Britain’s future lies with recapturing the Victorian Spirit of enterprise, innovation and a passion to engineer solutions for the future he is a member of EURIM which is an all party parliamentary group on Information Technology.
He has also travelled throughout mainland Europe, Canada, USA and Mexico and following spending time with the Native American community in Khanwake near Montreal converted to paganism.
Reform of the democratic system is something he is seeking to play a part in supporting measures such as reducing the voting age to 16, having a fully Elected 2nd Chamber replacing the House of Lord, Fixed Term Parliaments and a look at relocating the Houses of Parliament from London to a more Central UK venue such as Birmingham or Manchester.
John Cowan
Tel 01603 759425/07899093794
Skype Johntheactivist
Johntheactivist.blogspot.com
Twitter.com/Johntheactivist
A Labour Party spokesperson said: "The allegations that came to light after nominations closed are totally unacceptable and well below what the party expects of our candidates. The General Secretary of the Labour Party has suspended the candidate from the Labour Party and we are taking action to ensure he is never again a Labour candidate. The Labour Party's relevant committees will be asked to consider whether he should be expelled from the Labour Party. We call on David Cameron and Eric Pickles to do the same in the case of the Tory council candidate who was arrested last week after an assault against women."
UK Independence Party
Email invitation sent to branch chairman who has forwarded it, candidate's response pending.
Conservative
Email invitation sent, candidate's response pending.
Green Party
Email invitation sent, candidate's response pending.
