The fight to be next Rossendale and Darwen MP (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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The fight to be next Rossendale and Darwen MP
10:40am Saturday 1st May 2010 in
-
- By Tom Moseley » Reporter
AT LONGHOLME Methodist Church in Rawtenstall, more than 200 people are drinking tea and talking politics. It is the interval at a hustings debate between the three main candidates.
“I will definitely vote. I always do. But I am finding it really difficult this year,” says a man in his 30s.
“The problem is I don’t want Janet but I don’t want the other guy,” his friend adds.
The bumper turnout at the debate – it had to be moved upstairs to accommodate all 221 people – shows how seriously voters are taking this tight battle between Labour and the Conservatives.
Mrs Anderson is the longest serving MP in the constituency’s 27-year history. Her majority leapt to 11,000 in 1997, but has decreased to 3,752.
But after the national leaders’ televised debates, the bookmakers made the Conservatives the 2/9 favourite to win here. It is now ranked 71 on the Tories’ target list and they are going on the attack.
They have cited Mrs Anderson’s mileage claims which have been among the highest in Parliament, although she points to the amount of driving needed to cover the large, rural constituency – it is an oddly-shaped constituency, where it is impossible to drive from Rossendale and Darwen without crossing Parliamentary boundaries.
But the debate in the Grade Two-listed church auditorium area, was dominated by other issues.
Candidates were first asked how they would protect jobs. Mrs Anderson cited the minimum wage and working tax credits while Mr Berry attacked Labour’s planned National Insurance rise.
All the candidates agreed on the need for a direct rail link with Manchester, and the issue that raises the audience the most is NHS services, including the closure of the maternity unit at Fairfield Hospital, meaning a trip to Bolton for many parents.
Mr Berry brands the valley an ‘A&E blackspot’, but his Labour rival points to Rawtenstall’s new £12million health hub, one of the first of its kind in the North West.
In a seat that contains both affluent rural areas and some of the most deprived housing in East Lancashire, the the Conservatives have key pockets of support in Whitworth, Edenfield and parts of rural Darwen, while Labour is strongest in Rawtenstall and urban Darwen.
Other candidates include two men well known in the Darwen half of the constituency.
Tony Melia, the deputy leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, who is standing for the Impact Party, a collection of independents with a tough line on immigration, and English Democrat Michael Johnson, who has also stood the England First and For Darwen parties.
The Lancashire Telegraph revealed earlier this year that Mrs Anderson had claimed expenses for a barely-used office owned by the Labour Party that was not open to the public for 16 years.
“The whole expenses affair has left a disillusionment with Parliament generally,” she admitted, but said it was not being raised on the doorstep.
“I was quite worried at the start about what people’s reaction would be,” she said.
Mrs Anderson also spoke out last year against Prime Minister Gordon Brown, calling for a leadership election, but now said she was campaigning on his record.
During his campaign Mr Berry, a 31-year-old Liverpool-born solicitor who was installed as candidate in 2007, has tried to attack his Labour rival by linking her to the Prime Minister and the expenses scandal, claiming the big issue at the election will be ‘trust in politics’.
The Lib Dems were hit by the withdrawal of their candidate, Dale Mulgrew, before the Nick Clegg-inspired poll bounce, because he wanted to concentrate on his role with Rochdale Council.
At Longholme Methodist Church his replacement, former RAF man Bob Sheffield, struggles with the detail of his party’s manifesto and is rewarded with applause when he promises to ‘read up on it in time for the next debate’.
But there is no clear winner between the Tory and Labour rivals after the two-hour debate.
Comments(45)
time.team
says...
11:51am Sat 1 May 10
You really must be joking Janet, everybody thinks your expense claims a disgrace for you to have been claiming so much expenses from our pockets. You live in London, even employ your son at our expense and have been the biggest expense claimant just because you were able to do so without us knowing about it until now! However, your ever worshiping supporter ’whereistedward, darwen’ will still vote for you I can only assume!
-
I’m ashamed to admit that I voted for Tony Blair and Janet Anderson thirteen years ago but we can’t afford it any more. The only ones to have profited are the very un-poor Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, John Prescott, Jack Straw, Janet Anderson. To name but a few!
-
But no more will I be doing so. They have all had their chances and blown it all on themselves!
bossindian
says...
2:13pm Sat 1 May 10
A Darener
says...
4:05pm Sat 1 May 10
Private I
says...
5:13pm Sat 1 May 10
In Darwen we have had hundreds of pieces of direct mail and glossy leaflets through our door over the last few weeks with nauseating smiling pictures of Cameron and the local Tory candidate telling us to vote for them.
The nasty poster campaign they are running on the hoardings in prominent places is also funded from Ashcroft's dodgy millions.
On the other hand try and ask a local Tory about their policies such as protecting jobs and the local economy and you get silence because all the money in Belize can't explain their lack of commitment to key issues such as those.
workaholic
says...
5:46pm Sat 1 May 10
This whole election campagne has been controled by the media!
And who owns the media!
Don't have to be a genius to work that one out!
Let us hope that there are still a great many people who will see through this and not be brainwashed!
Excluded
says...
10:12pm Sat 1 May 10
I'm trying to think of a good reasone why Janet Anderson (the MP for Rossendale and Darwen) has not been seen on your doorstep or in your part of Blackburn during the election campaign.
I'm sure is a perfectly reasonable explanation, but clearly you can't put your finger on it.
time.team
says...
10:59pm Sat 1 May 10
Councillor Michael Johnson
says...
11:44pm Sat 1 May 10
I contacted all the appropiate people to hold a hustings and they avoided it like the plague, no one wanted to wanted to chair the meeting in Darwen, not the churches nor the radio or the press, No one.
I thought this was a little strange so i asked a few of the people i know in the media and it seems the powers that be in the political dont want their candidates on a political platform in Darwen dut to the fact that they have lost most if not all of their seats in Darwen and i QUOTE:-
They dont think the people of Darwen will stick to the agenda and they will make it all about Darwen and not politics.
What a crock of ....!
They are right of course but thats not the point.
I would have happly sat on stage and answered any question throwen at me on any subject, i allways have.
I had a few questions of my own.
Such as, why do MP when caught defrauding the publics money get accused of causing a scandal?
And if it was me or any member of the public get accused of fraud and go to jail.
Or, Janet how did you manage to accidently forget that you had actually claimed exactly double the maximum allowed amount of money for your 1 office 22 times and only agreed to pay it back when investigated and that was after a deal was attempted to be done with the speaked of the House.
I also want to know why the Conservatives have tried to credit Jake Berry with achievements he has had nothing to do with in Darwen.
They definatly didn't ask Jake before they went to print.
I am sure of one thing, when the votes are counted the main 3 parties will have a shock at how many of their grass roots supportest do not vote for them!
I have been out and about and the word on the street is not good for the big 3.
The fact that they avoided the largest part of the constituancy shows how they feel about the normal man on the street.
whereistedward
says...
1:04am Sun 2 May 10
time.team wrote:You need to get your facts right time.team.
Janet says that her expenses are not being raised on the doorstep? Just which doorsteps have you been standing on Janet? Definitely not mine or the majority around me for sure! You really must be joking Janet, everybody thinks your expense claims a disgrace for you to have been claiming so much expenses from our pockets. You live in London, even employ your son at our expense and have been the biggest expense claimant just because you were able to do so without us knowing about it until now! However, your ever worshiping supporter ’whereistedward, darwen’ will still vote for you I can only assume! - I’m ashamed to admit that I voted for Tony Blair and Janet Anderson thirteen years ago but we can’t afford it any more. The only ones to have profited are the very un-poor Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, John Prescott, Jack Straw, Janet Anderson. To name but a few! - But no more will I be doing so. They have all had their chances and blown it all on themselves!
Janet Anderson MP has not ''been the biggest expense claimant'' at all. And her address is Earnsdale Rd, Darwen. Of course she lives in London during the week (as do all MP's) as it's her place of work !
If the Tory wins in R&D will he do as many advice surgeries in the Constituency ?? If so, how will he get here ?? Will he pay the fares himself ??
Will you apologise ?
whereistedward
says...
1:10am Sun 2 May 10
bossindian wrote:bossindian - you must have been walking around with your eyes closed !!
I must have met Jack Straw at least 30 times at various events over the last 10 years. I have never met Janet Anderson at all let alone seen her anywhere in Darwen. How can she claim to represent the people of Darwen when she keeps such a low profile. Time to go Janet and let a 'worker' in to the Houses of Parliament.
Janet Anderson MP holds 21 walk -in advice surgeries a year in Darwen & 42 a year in Rossendale. Also occasional surgeries in Edgworth & other places in Rossendale.
If you live in Darwen you will have received leaflets detailing these advice surgeries.
Why have you not been along ??
Do you think another MP will do as many ??
whereistedward
says...
1:20am Sun 2 May 10
blackburn south
says...
7:22am Sun 2 May 10
The country is coming out a deep recession you`ll be a fool to jump ship now.
Phil1969
says...
10:16am Sun 2 May 10
time.team
says...
11:49am Sun 2 May 10
-
Unfortunately still sheltering under a ‘New Labour’ canvas originated by Blair & Brown in the early years when the original party was at an all time low. How disgraceful of them to have use an historically known name that used to be regarded as a working class party for their own New Blair & Brown causes!
-
But it’s now time for a change until the rape of the old party name has been purified again. Only the other day it was explained very simply our present finances. Worldwide or not, we are in dept to an amount that can only be imagined due to it’s vastness but was describes as follows: You could stack one pound pieces to the moon and back THREE TIMES!
-
That simple example gives us some idea as to the state of our finances that our present government ‘The Tony Blair and Gordon Brown Party’ have resided over during the past thirteen years. ‘No boom or bust’ was Gordon Browns often spoken words when he was our Chancellor while awaiting his agreed turn as party leader. After missing his turn he fell out with Blair and finally got his wish and our present unelected one has the nerve to say he’s saved the world because of his financial wizardly.
What a joke after sitting on such a huge time bomb for so long with Blair and after such poor financial housekeeping we‘re now being asked to vote for the Tony Blair & Gordon Brown party again. Even Tony Blair is showing his face again to help out. Yes, three houses and goodness knows how much cash ‘New Labour Blair’ is out on the make once again!
-
The ‘Old Labour Party’ no longer exists and it’s time for a change until the party of old reforms. Sorry Janet, our money has run out!
blackburn south
says...
12:53pm Sun 2 May 10
Every time you post a comment Janet Anderson gets another 100 votes.
whereistedward
says...
1:47pm Sun 2 May 10
Every time you post you get more and more facts wrong !!
time.team
says...
2:48pm Sun 2 May 10
In a weeks time after yours, mine and everyone else’s votes have been cast whatever your afraid of may not happen?
blackburn south
says...
3:55pm Sun 2 May 10
MerlinTheVoiceofReason
says...
7:17pm Sun 2 May 10
whereistedward wrote:A Tory and a solicitor? Definitely NOT to be trusted.
And whilst I'm on my soapbox - the Tory candidate has been around for 3 years now. Yet still rents his house in Rossendale. Why hasn't he bought a house in the Constituency in the last 3 years ???
Excluded
says...
8:48pm Sun 2 May 10
However, as the Lancashire Telegraph doesn't seem like it is going to report on this story, they may get away with losing very few votes, as most people won't know.
chrislancs
says...
9:56pm Sun 2 May 10
the best protest is nobody vote for the main 3 parties.
They are calling in the big guns as they realise their support is ebbing away fast. they have treated the public with disdain and shall pay a high price.
Chris Reid PPC
English Democrats
Hyndburn/Haslingden
Mike Sivieri
says...
12:29am Mon 3 May 10
You also wont find my name on my home towns newspaper, the so called rossendale free press. 8 candidates, but somehow my name never gets a mention. They dont reply to emails about it, and when I call they put me on hold for a while before disconnecting me. I am Sooo taking this to the press complaints commission after the election, as when I talk to people in the street I am getting replies like 'I never knew you were standing, why isn't your name in the paper' etc etc.
But all this just makes me more determined that the big boys and girls aren't going to have things all their own way. I think the lib dems have peaked and are on the slide, labour are just going through the motions, and the tories are arrogantly thinking that it's their turn and due now.
But something that the big all three have in common is that they are very good at spending other peoples money. Or if you want to count the number of tory posters blighting the landscape or leaflets through your doors, very very good indeed! But not very enviromentally friendly, methinks. And all to send yet another lawyer to parliament! At least Janet and Bob own houses in the area (who paid for Janets is another matter). Will Jake be willing to put enough roots down in the community by buying a house here if he isn't the winner? (For the record I bought my house in bacup about 23 years ago.)
He even stated at the rawtenstall hustings words to the effect that (if elected) he wouldn't vote against the interests of the people of rossendale (and darwen) even if it meant voting against party lines. 1) I wonder what the party whips made of that? and 2) If he wants people to vote for him on the basis of representing a party that he is prepared to be disloyal to, then how can we be sure just where his loyalties ultimately lie?
(For the record I bought my house in bacup about 23 years ago.)
Mike Sivieri
bossindian
says...
12:15pm Mon 3 May 10
whereistedward wrote:There is more to being an MP than holding advice surgeries in a 'controlled' environment. My main point was that she appears to do very little to support community events by raising their profile with her attendance. I keep a recycling bag hung next to my letterbox for the type of leaflets that you describe. Filled it twice these last couple of weeks!!
bossindian wrote:bossindian - you must have been walking around with your eyes closed !!
I must have met Jack Straw at least 30 times at various events over the last 10 years. I have never met Janet Anderson at all let alone seen her anywhere in Darwen. How can she claim to represent the people of Darwen when she keeps such a low profile. Time to go Janet and let a 'worker' in to the Houses of Parliament.
Janet Anderson MP holds 21 walk -in advice surgeries a year in Darwen & 42 a year in Rossendale. Also occasional surgeries in Edgworth & other places in Rossendale.
If you live in Darwen you will have received leaflets detailing these advice surgeries.
Why have you not been along ??
Do you think another MP will do as many ??
Andy B
says...
2:12pm Mon 3 May 10
How many did she actually attend in person?
How many were scheduled and then duly cancelled?
The period from May '09 - April '10 will be fine.
amazed
says...
2:13pm Mon 3 May 10
Janet Anderson has milked the system and anyone who has any sense knows it - the rst have their eyes closed. She could not "remember going to Thailand", she had to quietly pay back £6,000 and "don't mention the petrol" If she hold so many surgeries a year here when does she attend Parliament? Talking of which, what has she down when she has been there? I'm interested and no doubt "whereistedward" has copies of Hansard which will tell him - oh no, all the records of her activities will be already on his own files - I think they call it fan mail.
whereistedward
says...
3:24pm Mon 3 May 10
Andy B wrote:I have no idea the answer to your question. However I do know that the media occasionally publishes the wrong dates of the surgery !! I am pretty sure that she attended the vast majority in person.
A question for WhereisTedEdward - How many did she actually attend in person? How many were scheduled and then duly cancelled? The period from May '09 - April '10 will be fine.
I agree with bossindian though, there is more to the role of MP than advice surgeries. I can think of loads of events that Janet has attended. Jack Straw (or whoever is the MP for Blackburn) has the 'luxury' of representing one main town - Blackburn. Janet Anderson (or who-ever the MP is for Rossendale & Darwen) has to cover a vast area covering Darwen, Bacup, Rawtenstall, bits of Haslingden, Helmshore, Waterfoot, Whitworth, Belmont, Chapeltown, Edgworth, Tockholes, parts of Blackburn, properties near the Chorley border (part of Abbey Village !), Bury border, Rochdale border, etc etc. Darwen only makes up about one third of the constituency.
And unlike many other parties, Labour do actually put out leaflets other than at election time, - these advertise the MP's surgery dates.
blackburn south
says...
4:06pm Mon 3 May 10
amazed wrote:It was meant to be a joke you idiot.
You say that Janet will get 100 more votes from people reading this column - how childish!! Janet Anderson has milked the system and anyone who has any sense knows it - the rst have their eyes closed. She could not "remember going to Thailand", she had to quietly pay back £6,000 and "don't mention the petrol" If she hold so many surgeries a year here when does she attend Parliament? Talking of which, what has she down when she has been there? I'm interested and no doubt "whereistedward" has copies of Hansard which will tell him - oh no, all the records of her activities will be already on his own files - I think they call it fan mail.
JA doesn`t earn much more than a dentist so why are you so obsessed with expenses which were brought in
to cover up a politically damaging pay rise for MPs?
why don`t you concentrate on policies and grow up?
blackburn south
says...
4:24pm Mon 3 May 10
amazed
says...
5:19pm Mon 3 May 10
amazed
says...
5:37pm Mon 3 May 10
time.team
says...
5:59pm Mon 3 May 10
Quote: Two thirds of the electorate do not want the Conservatives to win he says! Obviously trying to incite a message that the majority will not be voting Conservative. He’s obviously assuming that all three main parties are equal so could have also said that two thirds don‘t want new labour to win or that two thirds don‘t want the Lib Dems to win. He just thinks we‘re all so thick to be mislead so easily with his ever so silly remarks that he hopes will mislead.
They all think the electorate are gullible with everything they say. No boom or bust they told us!
-
Would you vote for Peter Mandelson?
Well, he‘s the mouthpiece that‘s been controlling the show!
Mike Sivieri
says...
6:13pm Mon 3 May 10
blackburn south wrote:Pardon? what's that supposed to mean, and how does it relate to what I've said?
Mike Sivieri thanks for your your contribution but if people don`t want to pay taxes I suggest they go and live in Somalia not vote for you. because taxes=civilization. Neither of which can be found there.
Mike Sivieri
Excluded
says...
8:54pm Mon 3 May 10
Like everyone else if the value of her house goes up, she keeps the profit and if the value goes down she makes the loss. If she had 'traded up' in 2007 and lost her seat she would lose money.
blackburn south
says...
11:19pm Mon 3 May 10
If you had more furniture upstairs you wouldn`t concern yourself with such trivia.
And while I`m on Gordon Brown has been commended throughout the world for his part in bringing the world out of economic recession at a time when Cameron and Clegg didn`t have a clue.
blackburn south
says...
11:32pm Mon 3 May 10
Mike Sivieri wrote:Mike nobody will vote for you because you haven`t got any policies just like Amazed its all negative stuff.
blackburn south wrote: Mike Sivieri thanks for your your contribution but if people don`t want to pay taxes I suggest they go and live in Somalia not vote for you. because taxes=civilization. Neither of which can be found there.Pardon? what's that supposed to mean, and how does it relate to what I've said? Mike Sivieri
time.team
says...
11:32pm Mon 3 May 10
> Janet Anderson lives in Lewisham, south London.
> Claimed for her second home in Darwen the following:
2002 - £11.192
2003 - £19.722
2004 - £20.333
2005 - £20.902
2006 - £21.632
2007 - £22.110
2008 - £23.039
2009 - Not known?
> Exposed for over-claiming the controversial "petty cash" allowance.
> claimed enough petrol money from the taxpayer to have driven almost twice round the globe in a year. Was paid £11,996 for 41,984 miles, the biggest mileage claim of any MP. This was the equivalent of 91 round trips to her constituency, or five round trips for each week that parliament sat.
> Allowed to secretly repay almost £6,000 last year for over-claiming “petty cash” on her taxpayer-funded expenses.
> Claimed double the permitted £250 a month expenses on 25 occasions since April 2004, her documents show.
> Employs her middle son David who manages her House of Commons office.
-
Please note: The above information was taken from ‘The Telegraph‘ website.
http://parliament.te
legraph.co.uk/mpsexp
enses/expenses/Janet
-Anderson/mp-10012
-
Not all are ‘New Labour’ over claimants but a disgrace from within a party that I used to be foolish enough to have voted for until the moment that Blair & co decided to rule the world in Iraq with the help of Gordon Brown, Geoff Hoon and Jack Straw. Loosely described as the illegal war that is still going on today in many forms and costing us all money and valuable lives lost!
blackburn south
says...
11:47pm Mon 3 May 10
Do you honestly think Cameron wouldn`t have taken us to war?
time.team
says...
12:19am Tue 4 May 10
-
However, it will all soon be over and whatever happens we will all have to put up with whatever follow. Whoever we vote for will make no difference because it’s going to be hard no matter who wins and I feel sorry for the party that wins really because they will be getting all the stick. The others can just sit back and complain. It’s all just a sick game that our so called human race take part in!
We’re now broke but one thing is for sure. They will be all right thank you very much because they are professional politicians and nothing else. Dodgy salespersons on the make for what they believe in at our expense.
-
Goodnight and please keep well. Tomorrow’s another day!
Mike Sivieri
says...
12:30am Tue 4 May 10
blackburn south wrote:No policies? Go take a look at them on my hustings profile at http://www.hustings.
Mike Sivieri wrote:Mike nobody will vote for you because you haven`t got any policies just like Amazed its all negative stuff.blackburn south wrote: Mike Sivieri thanks for your your contribution but if people don`t want to pay taxes I suggest they go and live in Somalia not vote for you. because taxes=civilization. Neither of which can be found there.Pardon? what's that supposed to mean, and how does it relate to what I've said? Mike Sivieri
com/mike-sivieri
Thats been up since the day I announced my candidacy. Just because I haven't got a party machine to get my message out as far and wide as the other candidates doesn't mean that I don't have a message or policies. What I don't have is a fortune to spend on hundreds of posters and hundreds of thousands of leaflets. (each mailing in the constituency represents approximately 45000 leaflets, the biggest majority of which make a short final journey straight from the letterbox to the bin.) So go take a look. Then tell me I have no policies and its all negative stuff.
.
Mike Sivieri.
Putting my money where my mouth is. Anyone else care to do the same?
blackburn south
says...
12:40am Tue 4 May 10
Mike Sivieri
says...
12:49am Tue 4 May 10
Mike Sivieri
blackburn south
says...
9:38am Tue 4 May 10
Mike Sivieri
says...
10:07am Tue 4 May 10
Mike Sivieri
lizziechick
says...
2:28pm Wed 5 May 10
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What's on says...
10:57am Sat 1 May 10
On a point of order Janet's majority is 3,676.
What about the other candidates who are standing? They don't get a mention.