John Wardle MBE

The passing of John Wardle at the age of 86 on 29th May signifies the end of an era in the politics of Worcestershire and Wyre Forest. John had been Chairman of Hereford and Worcester County Council from 1991until 1995, Chairman of Wyre  Forest District Council, and Wolverley and Cookley Parish Councils and Kidderminster Rural Council.

He was made Deputy Lieutenant of Worcestershire in 1994 and was a former Chairman of Kidderminster Magistrates from 1981 to 1986. John also stood for Parliament as Labour Candidate for Kidderminster, achieving a high vote though he was not successful. He was a former member of West Mercia Police Authority and made Honorary Alderman of Wyre Forest District Council in 2005.

John was an engine driver throughout World War Two and retired as Deputy Station Master at New Street, Birmingham. He had been an active Trade Unionist and served on Kidderminster Trades Council. Last year I was very pleased to have been able to present John with a commendation from the National Labour Party for sixty years continuous membership.

John was a very effective politician and took the issue of elections extremely seriously. He will be sadly missed by the Labour Party and many local people for whom he gave over six decades of public service. We wish to extend our condolances to Margaret and her family at this sad time.

Road Speed Review

Is it possible to reduce speed limits on our local roads and create a safer environment for drivers and pedestrians? Yes it is, and we now have the opportunity to begin the process. Worcestershire is beginning a Review of 500 miles of A and B roads throughout the County, and I am going to lead the Review in Wyre Forest.

I need your help! I do indeed know all of the roads in our District, but I would like the public to forward information to me about the problems in the localities experienced on a day to day basis.

I want to REDUCE SPEED LIMITS wherever I can.

I need evidence of locally speeding traffic where drivers regularly break the speed limit, of accident black spots, roads that are almost impossible to cross without improvements being undertaken, such as crossings or flashing light speed indicators. (Vehicle Activated Signs).

I intend to forward your comments to County Hall for consideration and implementation. There will be police and public consultations and I am particularly determined to get 20 MPH Speed Zones outside every school in Wyre Forest. These challenges are not party political, but do require political determination to slow down traffic and help prevent road accidents.

Big Blunder Number One From Boris – The Elderly Suffer

Voters in London are reaping the whirlwind because of the election of Tory Mayor, Boris Johnson. Already the elderly and vulnerable have been hit hard with the cancellation of up to 250,000 subsidised travel cards because Boris cancelled an agreement with the Venezuelan government over transport advice.

This would be a classic funny episode from the waggish buffoon, if it didn’t have such serious consequences of impacting on the elderly and disabled.   He’s a character isn’t he?

This is a small taste of things to come from the Tories and a model for what we can expect if a Tory government is elected at the next election.

Nice one Boris, London is really proud of you!

 FOR MESSING UP PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED

Polyclinics – the reality check starts here.

Given the political situation in Wyre Forest regarding health and the NHS, can we expect more from the non-Labour political parties than merely more political ranting and anti-Government bashing with specific reference to Polyclinics?

The Tories on Worcestershire County Council (8th May) carried a motion (supported by Liberals and Health Concern but not Lib Dems) condemning the Government for alleged proposed changes to the GP Service in Worcestershire.

In Wyre Forest, Health Concern spokespeople scaremonger about Polyclinics in an attempt to frighten local people and continue their anti-Labour rant.

Polyclinics are slowly being established in areas particularly where single GP Practices exist.  54% are single practices in London – source: Alan Johnson BBC1 Andrew Marr Show 25th May 2008.

Worcestershire is comprised mostly of multi-partner GP Practices, as is Wyre Forest. The idea is to improve health care for NHS patients in areas where Primary Care needs to be improved.

In Wyre Forest, it is likely that two GP Practices will be moved onto the Kidderminster Hospital site. But this is apparently with the approval of everyone concerned. We also have our excellent Minor Injuries Unit, our Treatment Centre (cost £26 million) and our Urgent Care Centre.

Why is it that Labour’s opponents never or rarely give support for what we have, rather than belittle and scaremonger? Our local GP Practices give excellent service to NHS patients. I would not anticipate Polyclinics would be on our Agenda in the forseeable future. A Polyclinic would only be introduced if that is what local people and the NHS Trusts want.

As Labour’s PPC I would only support changes to our local NHS if proposals were fully supported by local people. At the moment, no such change is proposed

The Crewe by-election and the 10 pence fight back

The Labour Government has had a very rough few weeks and that has resulted in very bad results for the Labour Party at the local elections on 1st May.
The media is filled with propoganda which is anti-Governemnt and anti-Labour Party. The only pro-Government newspaper seems to be The Daily Mirror.
Labour’s “own goal” of the 10 pence tax band abolition for low income earners was yesterday addressed by the Prime Minister with a £120 payment to those adversely affected.

Certainly, it is vital that Labour wins the Crewe by-election, and todays pronouncement of an early legistlative programme could be a turning point.

But the pro-Cameron media onslaught will continue – but Cameron is all talk and no policies. Labour has rebuilt public services, education and the NHS.
The Tories would cut public services. Labour has an excellent record on creating more jobs and putting more police on the beat.

Mistakes have been made, but in Wyre Forest, a vote for the Conservatives means that public services will be cut and the NHS will be put under threat.

From today, Labour begins its fight back under the leadership of Gordon Brown, and I fully support that strategy to take our Party to victory at the next General Election. I will be working in Wyre Forest to achieve that result.

Listening and Fighting to Win – 50 Reasons to Vote Labour

The recent council elections were not good news for Labour, but we will learn from them. Perhaps voters would like to be reminded of 50 of Labour’s achievements since 1997 which are ALL at risk if the Tories win the next general election.  

1. Longest period of sustained low inflation since the 60s.

2. Low mortgage rates.

3. Introduced the National Minimum Wage and raised it to £5.52.

4. Over 14,000 more police in England and Wales.

5. Cut overall crime by 32 per cent.

6. Record levels of literacy and numeracy in schools.

7. Young people achieving some of the best ever results at 14, 16, and 18.

8. Funding for every pupil in England has doubled.

9. Employment is at its highest level ever.

10. Written off up to 100 per cent of debt owed by poorest countries.

11. 85,000 more nurses.

12. 32,000 more doctors.

13. Brought back matrons to hospital wards.

14. Devolved power to the Scottish Parliament.

15. Devolved power to the Welsh Assembly.

16. Dads now get paternity leave of 2 weeks for the first time.

17. NHS Direct offering free convenient patient advice.

18. Gift aid was worth £828 million to charities last year.

19. Restored city-wide government to London.

20. Record number of students in higher education.

21. Child benefit up 26 per cent since 1997.

22. Delivered 2,200 Sure Start Children’s Centres.

23. Introduced the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

24. £200 winter fuel payment to pensioners & up to £300 for over-80s.

25. On course to exceed our Kyoto target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

26. Restored devolved government to Northern Ireland.

27. Over 36,000 more teachers in England and 274,000 more support staff and teaching assistants.

28. All full time workers now have a right to 24 days paid holiday.

29. A million pensioners lifted out of poverty.

30. 600,000 children lifted out of relative poverty.

31. Introduced child tax credit giving more money to parents.

32. Scrapped Section 28 and introduced Civil Partnerships.

33. Brought over 1 million social homes up to standard.

34. Inpatient waiting lists down by over half a million since 1997.

35. Banned fox hunting.

36. Cleanest rivers, beaches, drinking water and air since before the industrial revolution.

37. Free TV licences for over-75s.

38. Banned fur farming and the testing of cosmetics on animals.

39. Free breast cancer screening for all women aged between 50-70.

40. Free off peak local bus travel for over-60s.

41. New Deal – helped over 1.8 million people into work.

42. Over 3 million child trust funds have been started.

43. Free eye test for over 60s.

44. More than doubled the number of apprenticeships.

45. Free entry to national museums and galleries.

46. Overseas aid budget more than doubled.

47. Heart disease deaths down by 150,000 and cancer deaths down by 50,000.

48. Cut long-term youth unemployment by 75 per cent.

49. Free nursery places for every three and four-year-olds.

50. Free fruit for most four to six-year-olds at school.