Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg visits Burnley

4:49pm Sunday 2nd May 2010 in News Photograph of the Author By Tom Moseley, Reporter

CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg with party candidate Gordon Birtwistle CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg with party candidate Gordon Birtwistle

NICK Clegg said existing jobs were not under threat by his plans to scrap a multi-billion pound defence contract on a visit to East Lancashire.

The Liberal Democrat leader wants to cancel part of BAE Syst-ems’ Eurofighter Typhoon project, which provides thousands of jobs at the firm’s Samlesbury plant and throughout the region.

Speaking in Burnley yesterday, Mr Clegg said existing jobs would not be affected as the section he would cancel, known as tranche 3b, had not yet begun. Critics however have said the cancellation would mean job losses in the long term.

During the visit, Mr Clegg also insisted the Lib Dems had a ‘firm commitment’ to restoring the blue-light Accident and Emergency facility at Burnley hospital, claim-ing savings could be made elsewhere in the NHS. Mr Clegg arrived in a media scrum at Life Church, Sy-camore Avenue, yesterday morning to be greeted by dozens of party supporters waving banners, as well as rival demonstrations from Tory candidate Richard Ali and a handful of his followers and independent Andrew Hennessey.

The British National Party also circulated the area, broadcasting from a van with a megaphone.

Once inside the church, Mr Clegg made a direct appeal to Labour voters in the audience to switch to the Lib Dems. Burnley is one of the party’s top target seats, with Lib Dem Gordon Birtwistle and Lab-our’s Julie Cooper the front-runners.

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Mr Clegg said: “I know it’s diff-icult, if your family have been voting Labour for generations, to vote for a different party this time.

“But I think you have been let down by Labour... so lend us your support.”

Asked afterwards about the Typh-oon contract, he said projects that had already begun would continue, adding: “This has not been fairly reported. 3b has not yet started. No one who is working with the Ty-phoon project will have their job threatened.”

He said it was not wise to commit billions to the contract with cost pressures elsewhere.

On the hospital he said: “If we make savings we can protect A&E departments and of course reopen the A&E department here in Burnley.”

Comments (15)

5:46pm Sun 2 May 10

Tommy35 says...

Clegg is such a fake. Jobs will be lost under Lib Dem defence plans. As for the A&E 'if we can make savings.'
Clegg is such a fake. Jobs will be lost under Lib Dem defence plans. As for the A&E 'if we can make savings.' Tommy35

7:08pm Sun 2 May 10

MerlinTheVoiceofReason says...

Nick is the breath of fresh air that Burnley needs. Labour is now a fading ember and can no longer represent the working masses. He'll be getting my vote.
Nick is the breath of fresh air that Burnley needs. Labour is now a fading ember and can no longer represent the working masses. He'll be getting my vote. MerlinTheVoiceofReason

7:44pm Sun 2 May 10

Tommy35 says...

MerlinTheVoiceofReas
on wrote:
Nick is the breath of fresh air that Burnley needs. Labour is now a fading ember and can no longer represent the working masses. He'll be getting my vote.
Merlin, eh? When was Ramsbottom in Burnley?
[quote][p][bold]MerlinTheVoiceofReas on[/bold] wrote: Nick is the breath of fresh air that Burnley needs. Labour is now a fading ember and can no longer represent the working masses. He'll be getting my vote.[/p][/quote]Merlin, eh? When was Ramsbottom in Burnley? Tommy35

9:43pm Sun 2 May 10

Akki says...

The Lib Dems have the most fairest policies by far, no tax for earnings under £10k is a no-brainer, and CGT should not be lower than income tax, and the only party from the main three that will scrap those useless ID cards.
The Lib Dems have the most fairest policies by far, no tax for earnings under £10k is a no-brainer, and CGT should not be lower than income tax, and the only party from the main three that will scrap those useless ID cards. Akki

10:01pm Sun 2 May 10

Akki says...

At least Nick Clegg bothered to come to Burnley, cameron and brown have probably never heard of the place and wouldnt ever set foot in it.

Shame on those who will vote for tories or labour in the nationals.
At least Nick Clegg bothered to come to Burnley, cameron and brown have probably never heard of the place and wouldnt ever set foot in it. Shame on those who will vote for tories or labour in the nationals. Akki

7:51am Mon 3 May 10

Tommy35 says...

Akki wrote:
The Lib Dems have the most fairest policies by far, no tax for earnings under £10k is a no-brainer, and CGT should not be lower than income tax, and the only party from the main three that will scrap those useless ID cards.
Akki, The fairest taxes - I think not. Local income tax, a regional income tax, raising annual car tax to £2000 per car. As for their taxes on business, that way lies more unemployment.

But, if that's what you really want, then go ahead, vote for a party that still wants to join the Euro.

Clegg is nothing more than a hologram.
[quote][p][bold]Akki[/bold] wrote: The Lib Dems have the most fairest policies by far, no tax for earnings under £10k is a no-brainer, and CGT should not be lower than income tax, and the only party from the main three that will scrap those useless ID cards.[/p][/quote]Akki, The fairest taxes - I think not. Local income tax, a regional income tax, raising annual car tax to £2000 per car. As for their taxes on business, that way lies more unemployment. But, if that's what you really want, then go ahead, vote for a party that still wants to join the Euro. Clegg is nothing more than a hologram. Tommy35

8:00am Mon 3 May 10

pendlelad says...

Why did Clegg not visit Pendle ?? Is it because his candidate Afzal Anwar is now disgraced following his children being educated in Pakistan. Clegg should disown this liar
Why did Clegg not visit Pendle ?? Is it because his candidate Afzal Anwar is now disgraced following his children being educated in Pakistan. Clegg should disown this liar pendlelad

8:15am Mon 3 May 10

Flange Bracket says...

It is pretty obvious that the independents are only going to pick up a handful of votes, and that they'll not be that far behind the BNP and Tories.

Nick and the Lib Dems are different and deserve a chance.
It is pretty obvious that the independents are only going to pick up a handful of votes, and that they'll not be that far behind the BNP and Tories. Nick and the Lib Dems are different and deserve a chance. Flange Bracket

10:42am Mon 3 May 10

Akki says...

Tommy35 wrote:
Akki wrote: The Lib Dems have the most fairest policies by far, no tax for earnings under £10k is a no-brainer, and CGT should not be lower than income tax, and the only party from the main three that will scrap those useless ID cards.
Akki, The fairest taxes - I think not. Local income tax, a regional income tax, raising annual car tax to £2000 per car. As for their taxes on business, that way lies more unemployment. But, if that's what you really want, then go ahead, vote for a party that still wants to join the Euro. Clegg is nothing more than a hologram.
No-one will pay tax on the first £10000 they earn, the poor will be much better off under lib dems, everybody knows it.

Labour and cons plan to raise car tax to £3000 per car.
[quote][p][bold]Tommy35[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Akki[/bold] wrote: The Lib Dems have the most fairest policies by far, no tax for earnings under £10k is a no-brainer, and CGT should not be lower than income tax, and the only party from the main three that will scrap those useless ID cards.[/p][/quote]Akki, The fairest taxes - I think not. Local income tax, a regional income tax, raising annual car tax to £2000 per car. As for their taxes on business, that way lies more unemployment. But, if that's what you really want, then go ahead, vote for a party that still wants to join the Euro. Clegg is nothing more than a hologram.[/p][/quote]No-one will pay tax on the first £10000 they earn, the poor will be much better off under lib dems, everybody knows it. Labour and cons plan to raise car tax to £3000 per car. Akki

11:16am Mon 3 May 10

DaveBurnley says...

"Labour and cons plan to raise car tax to £3000 per car."

Where do you get your facts from Akki? The voices in your head?
"Labour and cons plan to raise car tax to £3000 per car." Where do you get your facts from Akki? The voices in your head? DaveBurnley

1:50pm Mon 3 May 10

FREDF2009 says...

What I do not get is on the one hand the Liberals keep going on about devolving power from national government to local yet all the hype about the Liberals has only come about from their leader's performance on the NATIONAL DEBATES nothing dynamic is coming from them locally?
What I do not get is on the one hand the Liberals keep going on about devolving power from national government to local yet all the hype about the Liberals has only come about from their leader's performance on the NATIONAL DEBATES nothing dynamic is coming from them locally? FREDF2009

4:31pm Mon 3 May 10

Wellingtonia says...

Never mind the rumour that Azfal Anwar has his kids educated back in the homeland.... is this the chap that lives in three houses knocked together on Manchester Road in Nelson, just by the speed camera that never works... the house at which there are 29 voters registered ?? You want to give this chap a job where you pay his wages....£63 thousand per annum ?? That will certainly pay for a lot of home improvements, will it not ?? Especially in a dead end town where most people are paid minimum wage. ( and that's just the foreigners )
Never mind the rumour that Azfal Anwar has his kids educated back in the homeland.... is this the chap that lives in three houses knocked together on Manchester Road in Nelson, just by the speed camera that never works... the house at which there are 29 voters registered ?? You want to give this chap a job where you pay his wages....£63 thousand per annum ?? That will certainly pay for a lot of home improvements, will it not ?? Especially in a dead end town where most people are paid minimum wage. ( and that's just the foreigners ) Wellingtonia

10:41pm Mon 3 May 10

Mr Hussain says...

Wellingtonia wrote:
Never mind the rumour that Azfal Anwar has his kids educated back in the homeland.... is this the chap that lives in three houses knocked together on Manchester Road in Nelson, just by the speed camera that never works... the house at which there are 29 voters registered ?? You want to give this chap a job where you pay his wages....£63 thousand per annum ?? That will certainly pay for a lot of home improvements, will it not ?? Especially in a dead end town where most people are paid minimum wage. ( and that's just the foreigners )
Yikes it sounds like Mr Anwar has a stalker! Whilst I'm no supporter of him you sound like somebody who seems quite jealous. Maybe your Wellingtonia tree's need some water...
.
I have read your sad and bitter comments on many of the news stories on this website and cannot help but wonder how much of a sad, twisted person you are. It's probably the fact that you're from a horrible, disgusting disease ridden town called Brierfield. You sound like an ex councillor I once spoke to. She seemed very extreme in her views.
.
P.S. Get a job, if you already have one get a life!
[quote][p][bold]Wellingtonia[/bold] wrote: Never mind the rumour that Azfal Anwar has his kids educated back in the homeland.... is this the chap that lives in three houses knocked together on Manchester Road in Nelson, just by the speed camera that never works... the house at which there are 29 voters registered ?? You want to give this chap a job where you pay his wages....£63 thousand per annum ?? That will certainly pay for a lot of home improvements, will it not ?? Especially in a dead end town where most people are paid minimum wage. ( and that's just the foreigners )[/p][/quote]Yikes it sounds like Mr Anwar has a stalker! Whilst I'm no supporter of him you sound like somebody who seems quite jealous. Maybe your Wellingtonia tree's need some water... . I have read your sad and bitter comments on many of the news stories on this website and cannot help but wonder how much of a sad, twisted person you are. It's probably the fact that you're from a horrible, disgusting disease ridden town called Brierfield. You sound like an ex councillor I once spoke to. She seemed very extreme in her views. . P.S. Get a job, if you already have one get a life! Mr Hussain

1:43pm Tue 4 May 10

Law Man says...

Yet again as with Labour Party leader Gordon Brown a planned meeting with Burnley FC officials in the 1882 Suite was evidently canncelled at the last minute.

Is there something happening at Turf Moor which so -called establishment people know about and we dont?
Yet again as with Labour Party leader Gordon Brown a planned meeting with Burnley FC officials in the 1882 Suite was evidently canncelled at the last minute. Is there something happening at Turf Moor which so -called establishment people know about and we dont? Law Man

2:54pm Tue 4 May 10

McAbsent says...

The Lib-Dems would be ideal for mill towns such as Burnley, the reduction in taxes for low earners and no tax on the first 10k you earn, the limit on immigration especially with having a border force, no tuition fees and if you don't like the MP standing for your area you do have the right to sack him... In principal you vote for the party not the man. So those unsure about the MP, vote for the party and sack him if he under performs... Simples!
The Lib-Dems would be ideal for mill towns such as Burnley, the reduction in taxes for low earners and no tax on the first 10k you earn, the limit on immigration especially with having a border force, no tuition fees and if you don't like the MP standing for your area you do have the right to sack him... In principal you vote for the party not the man. So those unsure about the MP, vote for the party and sack him if he under performs... Simples! McAbsent

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