Campaign blog

Last year we were all disgusted at the behaviour of some of our MPs who seemed to think that expenses were there to enable them to feather their own nests, rather than enable them to better serve their constituents. Many claimed that they had done nothing wrong and were not in breach of the letter of the law, however, many could surely not deny they were in breach of the spirit of the law. In Luton South Margaret Moran tried to claim for a third home, 100 miles away from the constituency and was apparently allowed to do this.

In Mid Bedfordshire our MP claims for a second home and for a long time wasn’t prepared to say where her first home was. Now we discover that her first home is a small one bedroom house in the Cotswolds while her second home, the one we pay for, is a huge farmhouse apparently somewhere in Mid Beds (she has not given her address on the nomination form so we must give her the benefit of the doubt that it is in the constituency). She may not be breaking the letter of the law, but many people I meet on the Mid Bedfordshire doorsteps think she is taking advantage of the system, a system that was designed to enable MPs to do their job, thus recognising many of them could not travel home to their constituency every night.

What is interesting is that it seems the safer the seat the more likely an MP was to have taken advantage of the expenses system. The MP who tried to say his moated mansion was his second home, thus claiming to clean the moat – the MP who seemed to be more concerned with homeless ducks than homeless people – the MPs who flipped their homes in order to make a profit when they sold them. This touched all parties, but sadly also sullied the names of the many decent honest MPs who did not take advantage of the system. It undermined trust in our democracy – a trust that is vital to regain if we are to rebuild faith in our political system.

That is why I have been happy to sign up to the Power Pledge – committing to introduce a proportional voting system – ensuring every vote counts, that there are no longer “seats for life”, that people begin to regain their faith in the political system.

Of course voting reform is not the only thing that needs to happen. MPs need to be accountable to the people who elect them. That is why I am proud to support the Liberal Democrat commitment to introduce a system of recall, so that our MPs’ boss, namely us constituents, can sack him or her. And that is why I am happy to make this pledge to the people of Mid Bedfordshire if I am given the huge privilege of representing them in Westminster – I will continue to live in the constituency, I will not have a second home, I will not employ my children or other members of my family. I will publish all my expenses and always be willing to answer questions, for example being open about where I live.  My first consideration will be my constituents and since I will live here all year round I will be accessible all year round.

On May 6^th the people of Mid Bedfordshire will have a choice, following what was revealed last year that choice is not just about party policies, it is legitimately also about the person they think is best placed to represent them.

We have been blessed with glorious canvassing weather and the warmth of the sunshine has been matched with the warmth of the response on the doorstep as my great team and I have been out knocking on doors across Mid Bedfordshire! Since the first leaders’ debate it has been encouraging to see how many constituents have been impressed with Nick Clegg. Those who before may have been committed Tory or Labour voters are now considering voting Liberal Democrat, those who were uncertain before are promising us their vote.

I have been particularly thrilled at the number of unsolicited emails and telephone calls I am getting from Tory and Labour voters who want to help me. And then there are those who are distinctly unimpressed with our incumbent Tory MP, regardless of their politics and just want to help unseat her.

When I had responsibility for the Youth Parliament in Bedfordshire I worked with many young people across the county with differing political views – so I was particularly touched to receive a message of support from a young man who is a committed Conservative “Whilst on the record I cannot wish you well politically – I would like to briefly say that I wish you all the best for the election. I have found you to be both politically and personally proper in your dealings and I have always valued being able to talk about politics with you. I think you have and will bring many qualities to public life.” 

Labour supporters have also been contacting me with comments such as “As a lifelong Labour supporter I have been totally demoralised by their lack of direction for the first time ever I’m voting for the lib dems I wish you luck.” Or the old work colleague I bumped into at Shefford Farmers Market who told me that she was going to vote Liberal Democrat for the first time in her life and that was before she knew I was standing.

Public meetings are just that- advertised in public places and open to any interested person to come along to. Imagine the surprise when one such resident was attacked when she turned up at a meeting in Turvey hoping to hear what was said by the Tory candidate Nadine Dorries. The attack came from the candidate herself. She lashed out at the resident saying, “You’re not from Turvey. This meeting will not go on whilst you’re in the room.” It then took quite a few minutes to get her to change her mind and continue, with much persuasion from the resident.

The meeting had been advertised at bus stops and on lampposts, etc. and could not be considered anything other than public. It was open to all residents in the constituency.

Judith Cunningham, the local resident involved, as well as being a voter is also a local Lib Dem Councillor for Wootton and Stewartby Ward. Cllr Cunningham said, “I was most shocked to have this tirade hurled at me whilst I was sitting in the audience. As this was a public meeting I was there to hear what the candidate had to say. It took some persuasion from me for her to continue. It is a very sorry state of affairs when a candidate holds a public meeting then tries to shout people out of the room.

“Unfortunately residents in Wootton and Stewartby won’t be able to hear the Tory candidate as she is not visiting our villages so as their representative I thought it important I should hear what she had to say.”

Update : Judith got a message from a constituent who wanted to send her flowers, Judith thanked him but said while she would love flowers would he like to contribute to the party instead, constituent told her he would contribute to the party AND send her flowers – they arrived yesterday and were lovely!

I got my campaign off to a “flying start” by visiting major Bedfordshire employer Easyjet yesterday morning……….it was quite satisfying to know I was there before Boy George O (who incidentally also visited Bedford yesterday – an event I could find no coverage of?). 

Meeting with head of Communications and Public Affairs, Oliver Aust and Communications Manager Andrew McConnell it was enlightening to hear more of the airline that over such a short period of time has become synonymous with Luton. Both were pleased with our Liberal Democrat policy of the polluter pays – hence a per aircraft rather than per passenger tax, they also raised the inequity of the fact that the many private jets using Luton, along with cargo planes, pay no tax at all and yet equally contribute to pollution.

What was really disturbing was to hear of the apparent total lack of imagination of Luton Borough Council in being unable to support the potential growth of local jobs by finding a way to make the passenger levy less onerous.  Of course Luton BC relies on the income from the airport levy, however, I personally cannot see how having a sliding scale (which could still generate as much income), would not work.

Easyjet also recognise the need to cut down domestic flights and support our policy for high speed rail which would complement their service.

There is an uneasy balance to be struck between the need for air travel and the future of our planet but it was encouraging to hear that Easyjet have cut emissions by 25% over the last 10 years and I was pleased to see a model of their proposed new ecoJet which will go even further in reducing emissions.