A Promise of More Action

If elected as MP for Thornbury and Yate, I will:

Assist local residents with problems with tax credits, child support, pensions and benefits

A regular feature of my work is supporting local people in their battles with bureaucracy.  Two of the worst culprits are the Child Support Agency and the Tax Credits system, both of which too often make people's lives a misery with their inefficiency and complexity.  I will continue to use my expertise about the system to support local residents in their dealings with government bodies, to aim to reach a satisfactory resolution.

Support local schoolchildren

I will fight for a fairer deal for South Gloucestershire schoolchildren, who get less money per head for their education than almost anywhere else in Britain. I am also campaigning for a change to the Council's school admission rules, which can deny a younger sibling a place at a school, even if they already have an older brother or sister there.

Protect the Green Belt and tackling climate change

I am campaigning to protect our countryside from massive over-development.  The Lib Dems would scrap the rules that allow Whitehall to tell people how many houses must be built in our area.  The Executive Director of Friends of the Earth described me as "a principled and determined champion of the environment.  Protecting the planet will always be a top priority for me.

Campaign for better public transport, especially trains and buses.

Many local residents have contacted me about the state of the local public transport networks. There are great concerns about exorbitant fares, and unsatisfactory timetables and routes. I have secured an extra rush hour train from Yate, an extra carriage on another rush hour train and played a key role in saving the X27 bus service. The fight for further improvements goes on.

Continue to speak out at Westminster on the issues that matter to local people.

In the last few years, I have called debates in Parliament on many local issues, including the local NHS, local planning conditions, jobs at Airbus, First Great Western, local prisons and power generation on the River Severn. I will continue to speak out at Westminster on the issues that concern and affect local people.

Work for a fairer Britain with the Liberal Democrats

I will campaign for fairer taxes that put money back into your pocket (pay no tax on the first £10,000 you earn); a fair chance for every child (smaller class sizes, more cash for schools, abolish university tuition fees); creation of jobs by making Britain greener (investment in public transport, renewable energy and energy efficient homes); and a fair deal for you from the politicians (make politicians more accountable).