VOTE INDEPENDENT Vote Micheal Morton

Nearly three years ago, on May 4^th 1997 we were promised things could only get better. But have they?

On May 4^th 2000, we have the chance to give our verdict on whether things have got better. This election can show by using your vote whether you think it has; for by now a Labour Government among others could have given us a benefit system which:

• Raised Pensions for over 66s to £89
• Free Electricity or Gas normal standing charges + 1,500 units pa.
• Free NHS Dental, Optical and hearing tests
• Free rental Telephone standing charge.
• Free Television Licence
• Free UK road travel for Pensioners and those on certain incapacity benefits.

Wishful thinking? No! These are the benefits in Eire that pensioners and those on benefits have received before they joined the European Union.

Why do we not get them here?

Because Labour has followed the accepted establishment political mantra on Europe of integrating the UK economy with that of the rest of the European Union in a Political, Economic and Monetary Union; however much they semantically say otherwise.

The UK is now the fourth largest economy in the world; surely we can afford these benefits for all those entitled, who have earned them by the fruits of their labour.

Don't let the Europhiles say we cannot afford it; we pay at least £20,000 a DAY to the European Union for the privilege of them ruling US. If you do not believe that read the documents of the European system and see how we have been misled for many years. This steadily increasing sum of the years since 1973 could have improved the infrastructure of the country beyond question. New schools, hospitals, roads and railways could have been built creating a virtuous cycle of affluence in the country, but no, it has leaked out of our economy to pay for the EU.

My friends, we need a realignment of politics. Let one party not three, or in Scotland and Wales four, support globalism, free trade and a New World Order where nations are no longer sovereign. Let the real opposition be populist and traditionalist, dedicated to an economic patriotism that puts workers and farmers in the UK ahead of any Global Economy. For the capstone of a comprehensive plan for political reform is a national initiative and referenda. In 1604, the British Parliament declared to James I,

"The voice of the people, in the things of their knowledge, is as the voice of God."

The day to "new model the power of government" has come. While public cynicism runs high, so, too, does the will to reform. People held hostage by the two parties system, in unholy matrimony with special interests, want more than just electoral tinkering. They want more than establishment candidates offering reform rhetoric at the instigation of focus groups. They want authentic reform. Put another way, they want their country back.

For by now the Government could have: -

• Restored the link of pensions with average earnings rather than inflation. If the link had been maintained since the 1980’s then the single person’s pension would be around £90.50, not £67.50.

• Responded to the report a year ago by the Royal Commission on long-term care that called for more funding to reduce the imbalances in services. This would stop the elderly having to sell their houses to pay for rest home care as free hospital nursing care is reduced.

• Restored power to local councils, reversing the recent trend as Sir Jeremy Beecham, chairman of the Local Government Association, recently warned of the "strange death of local government".

• Letting people directly vote on contentious issues by referendum both locally and nationally.

Re-introducing Michael Morton.

As long-term residents of the Western ward will know I have stood for election on three previous occasions, at all times trying to increase the involvement of residents in the governance of the area by parishing the urban area. In involving all those who wish to be involved, and increase confidence in the process for all those who do not wish to be. In February I also put myself forward supporting the Fairness for Pensioners campaign over bus tokens.

Had the local council acted more quickly to reduce car crime at the Oasis, the insurance premiums of local residents would not have been forced up due to being in the same postcode.

If elected as a Councillor, I would like to say at the end of my term that I had: -

• Been involved in starting the building of the long promised new Even Swindon Infant/Nursery School.
• Retained the Ferndale Road college site and playing fields for community use.
• Helped the development of a joined-up integrated local government service by, amongst others, giving Parish Council status to existing Community Councils and creating new ones.
• Introduced the televising of council meetings on cable and the Internet as part of the increasing public access to governance.
• Maintained and expanded the quality of the play areas in the ward.
• Ensured that the Kingsdown Crematorium was tidied up and made pleasant to visit. That donated benches given by relatives are properly maintained in the crematorium and in graveyards throughout the Borough.
• Made free travel within the Borough available to all Pensioners and those on certain benefits.
• Make Council paperwork available on the Internet to move towards a digital Swindon network.
• Investigate the building of a combined heat and power station for the Borough.
• Work towards ensuring that every child in school has access to an individual computer.

I would have voted against adoption of the "cabinet" system with the creation of small, more powerful committees with key decisions taken in secret by people who are not subject to scrutiny until it is too late to make a difference. I want modern, dynamic local government but at the same time want it to be open and accountable.

If you would like to see the foregoing happen on May 4^th vote MORTON and ask your friends and neighbours to do the same. Swindon deserves better than to be kicked around left, right and centre by the Westminster parties, and that is why I am standing, to give residents in Western Ward a choice of something different.

For further information on the election visit: -

http://www.swindon.gov.uk/elections

By The Way
Are you aware that you can get a cheaper day return to London on the train if the train stops at Didcot, by getting a return to Didcot and return Didcot to Paddington? Both are available at the same time from the Swindon ticket office. Source: - Evening Advertiser March 26^th 2000