City of Salford Conservatives

Leader comment by Conservative Group Leader Cllr Karen Garrido - originally published by the Salford Advertiser.

As I sit down to write my first article of the New Year I recall watching with unbelievable sorrow the killing of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan and the mass killings in Kenya, all because of one election and the result of another. I think how fortunate we are that we live in a true democracy and are able to express our opinions freely. As politicians we must always remember how fragile democracy can be and how brave people are who stand up for democracy around the world.

Last week David Cameron visited Salford and gave a keynote speech in the Civic Centre on crime. He spoke about the need to end the culture of violence and “reclaim the streets”. Citing James Brokenshire’s review of Labour’s RESPECT action plan, David attacked the Government for abandoning their “respect agenda” and allowing gun crime and anti-social behaviour to increase. He argued that both Government and society have roles to play in reclaiming the streets:

• The Government in making people responsible for their own actions with punishment and deterrents, getting police officers back on the streets
• Society in helping to stop crime by reporting offenders and helping to steer others away from crime

If you wish to read or listen to a full copy of his speech, visit the Conservative Party website or contact me c/o Salford Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, M27 5AW.

During his visit to Salford, David visited the Salford Lads Club where he met some of the volunteers who help run the club and heard about the work they were doing with young people and some of the problems facing the area.

To the two men who stood outside with their placards I would like to say - firstly - that as we live in a democracy you are as entitled to protest as David Cameron is to visit. Secondly, there are no “no-go” areas in Salford, nor will there ever be as far as the Conservatives are concerned.

However, perhaps the Labour activist and maybe future Labour candidate should listen to the Channel M interviews with local people. A local resident, when asked if David Cameron was welcome, said “yes, because Labour is doing nothing for this area”. Another resident, when asked about the “Tory not welcome here” banners, said “I think the banners are disgusting, you have to give other people a chance, they cannot do any worse than Labour”.

Once again, Labour are taking for granted Salford people, with the Labour activist insisting that this was “a staunch Labour area” with the presumption that they would always vote Labour. I think they are in for a shock.

Let us just look at what has happened only since Christmas. We have had two crushing blows from this Labour Government.

The first is the very poor grant settlement which resulted in a worse deal for Salford than many other Greater Manchester Councils. This means we may all have to pay a higher Council Tax this year or lose much-needed services.

On top of this we find out that the Labour Government has clawed back the coming year’s “new business” rates, which means that the £24m that is to be paid to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra will now have to be met by Salford taxpayers who are now facing with an extra bill of two million pounds for 2008/9 - the first instalment.

What is totally unbelievable is this decision, one would presume, would have been made with the full knowledge and agreement of the Minister for Local Government, Salford’s MP Hazel Blears - once again Hazel you have let Salford down. Our other two local MPs should step up and condemn what their Labour Government is doing to our City.

Surely we have all had enough - we cannot allow the Labour Government and this Labour-run Council to keep financially mismanaging this City. We have been here before - remember 1999 and 2000 when Labour Councillors were thinking about closing nurseries, swimming pools and libraries?

Labour - had enough of them yet?