Remeberance Sunday

The sacrifice given by so many, so that our values and beliefs can endure and survive was so clear today in the Service I attended in Holywell. It is always with a sense of shock that I listen to the sheer numbers of those that sacrified their lives in both the first and second world wars, for our freedoms. Those sacrifices go on today, and I remember and salute both the injured and those who have laid down their lives for us.

Supporting jobs

Today it was great to see David Cameron in Holywell, there was real excitement that he was coming to talk to local businesses about how they could support jobs in Flintshire and how the Welsh Conservatives would support them. This is the third time that David Cameron has been in Flintshire and the second time this year. In May he spoke to 40 students from the Mold Alun school, today it was local businesses which spanned all sectors from manufacturing to tourism, construction to accountancy. David Cameron had visited Airbus in Broughton, but went on to talk to local businesses from Holywell, Mold, Flint and Deeside. What was so important about this visit was the fact that as well as visiting Airbus, he also took the time to meet people from all sectors of the economy, and to see how we can keep Flintshire working.

Afghanistan

The huge sacrifice made by Soldiers in Afghanistan continues, I heard the following passage on the Radio yesterday, it stopped me in my tracks. Having heard the email earlier in the week written by the Welsh Guardsman Rupert Thorneloe talking about the shortage of helicopters in Afghanistan the words of Siegfried Sasson seemed particularly relevant. The £121 million refurbishment of the Ministry of Defence's offices shows just how wrong this Government's priorities have been.

By SIEGFRIED SASSOON

I am making this statement as an act of willful defiance of military authority, because I believe that the war is being deliberately prolonged by those who have the power to end it.

I am a soldier, convinced that I am acting on behalf of soldiers. I believe that this war, upon which I entered as a war of defense and liberation, has now become a war of aggression and conquest. I believe that the purposes for which I and my fellow-soldiers entered upon this war should have been so clearly stated as to have made it impossible to change them, and that, had this been done, the objects which actuated us would now be attainable by negotiation.

I have seen and endured the sufferings of the troops, and I can no longer be a party to prolong these sufferings for ends which I believe to be evil and unjust.

I am not protesting against the conduct of the war, but against the political errors and insincerities for which the fighting men are being sacrificed.

On behalf of those who are suffering now I make this protest against the deception which is being practiced on them; also I believe that I may help to destroy the callous complacence with which the majority of those at home regard the continuance of agonies which they do not share, and which they have not sufficient imagination to realize.

Siegfried L. Sassoon, July 1917

The Leader - Political row brewing over Airbus Broughton

The Leader - Political row brewing over Airbus Broughton

Following the leader article today over the Broughton plant, about which so many lies have been told there have been some instructive comments on the Evening Leader's website. Some of the comments are as follows. "Mr Tami knows well that he is part of a totally discredited Labour Party...so anything goes...all of a sudden we have claims made that can only lead to the undermining of confidence in Airbus and worse causing worry to the workers and families...and he accuses the Tories of using spin!!"

That quote and others in the thread show that Labour's scare tactics are not washing with the voters in Flintshire.

This quote also was on the website "Seems like New Labour will try anything apart from the truth to gain votes...I honestly hope on a single Labour MP gets elected....".

The tide is turning against Labour in Flintshire. Voters are not willing to accept dirty tactics from Labour anymore, and will want to see some honest debate. Labour's record isnt good. 400,000 more children in child poverty. Mass immgration that Britain was not prepared for, when all our european neighbours took steps to limit the impact of a bigger European Union. The 10 pence tax increase. Motorists being hit every day in the pocket, and talking down the manufacturing business we have here in Flintshire.

Welsh You Gov Poll

Todays You Gov Poll is good news for Conservatives in Wales, but shows that there is no room for complacency. Manufacturing here in North East Wales has been hard hit by the downturn and Labour's immigration policy is blamed by the voter. It is clear that the open door policy of the Labour Government over more than a decade has caused a crisis of confidence in local communities. In her appearance on Question Time Sayeeda Warsi rightly pointed out that not enough resources have been targeted at communities where immigration has had very real impact. There can be no doubt that a cap on the numbers coming into the UK and tackling illegal immigration must be a priority. However this needs to go hand in hand with policies to ensure our children have the best education and become the next generation of engineers, and scientists with the vision and skills to grow the UK economy.

PMQs and Constitutional reform

PMQs today

Observations of Gary Gibson political commentator and blogger for Channel 4 News "The Prime Minister temporarily forgot himself and attacked David Cameron for talking about namby pamby (my phrase) constitutional stuff when the voters were really interested in public services and the economy....shortly before launching into an hour long statement on the Constitution." Hmmm

It is interesting that following a complete drubbing in the elections GB has suddenly found his passion for Constitutional reform. GB said the Govt was dealing with issues like "housing". In Wales Labour's record on social housing is totally dismal with less council housing being built in the years of devolution than under Mrs Thatcher.

European Elections Frank Field's Views

The following extract was posted by Frank Field today

"Labour supporters claiming that the European results were not a catastrophe for the party can only do so by inventing a new meaning for the word catastrophe. Whether one looks at them on a national, regional or local level the picture is pitiful.

The results reflect the collapse of support for the Government in the country. They also ring a clear verdict on the EU......

Don't let anyone kid themselves that this was an unimportant election where voters felt they could make a clear protest vote. Unless something changes significantly on a national level these results would be reproduced at a general election.

Labour cannot win with the present Prime Minister. I was one of the seven who would not support his coronation after Tony Blair was shoehorned out of Number 10. But even I didn't think a Brown administration would be as inept as this one.

The Brownites are attempting to terrorise Labour MPs into inaction. If they succeed then we deserve our fate."

In Delyn Labour got 18.7% of the Votes with the Conservatives on 27.2% share it would appear that voters in Delyn agree with Frank Fields assessment that the Brown Administration is totally inept