Newbury Weekly News - May 11th 2017

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Newbury Weekly News

2017GENERALELECTION UKIP voters are being urged to back Benyon

Tactical voting encouraged toensure Conservatives holdoffLibDemchallenge

PEOPLE intending to vote for UKIP in Newbury have been asked to vote for Conservative candidate Richard Benyon instead. UKIP has entered the tactical voting fray in an effort to see Brexit passed. Mr Benyon campaigned for the Remain campaign in last year’s referendum, but has since “supported the will of the people” and voted to trigger the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The chairman of Newbury UKIP, Roy Tubb, said that Brexit was the mainissue facing voters and that Mr Benyon backing the Government over Brexit “may cause some diehard remainers to desert him” . He said: “ Recent electoral history shows that Newbury cannot be considered a safe Conservative seat. “With this in mind, UKIP Newbury has decided reluctantly not to field a candidate, because that would only split the poten- tial ‘Brexit vote’. “The result of the referendum needs to be accepted and supported in Parliament. “We suggest therefore that UKIP supporters consider voting for Richard Benyon, if only to increase the chance of the refer- endum result being properly implemented.” Report by JOHNHERRING email john.herring@newbur ynews.co.uk twitter johnh_nwn

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Lib Dem’s homeless pledge THE Liberal Democrats have committed themselves to ending the “national scandal” of rough sleeping across Britain, including in Newbury and West Berkshire. Latest figures show that 14 people were sleeping rough in the district last autumn – although local charities put the figure at 25 – and Lib Dem The news comes as a coalition of homelessness charities have called on political parties to end rough sleeping in Britain. Mrs Bunting said:“By increas- ing practical support for home- lessness prevention and properly funding emergency accommoda- tion, we can end rough sleeping in Newbury and West Berkshire and across the country. “We will ensure that each local

LibDem Judith Bunting

Torycandidate Richard Benyon

Labour candidate AlexSkirvin

referendum once a final deal for leaving the EU had been agreed. Labour candidate Alex Skirvin said that Labour would seek a progressive deal that would not endanger businesses. He said: “ It goes to show that Richard Benyon supports a hard and dangerous Brexit and that UKIP associating with him goes to show what kind of values are on offer in the election. “There’s a clear choice between progressive values offered by the Labour Party and regressive hard values offered by the Conservatives. “Labour accepts the result of the referendum, but wants to retain membership of the customs union and single market. “I would also say that the elec- tion is not just about Brexit. It’s about schools and local service cuts, which have had quite a devastating affect on the local area and across the country.”

of Mr Benyon was welcomed by Liberal Democrat candidate Judith Bunting. She said: “ It’s not often that I agree with UKIP but in this case I think they’re spot on – this is no longer a safe Tory seat. “The way that Richard Benyon changed his position was very disappointing. I don’t think he has changed his mind, he’s following the party line. “He’s choosing party over the people he represents. “We need representation of the people who live here, not a representative who puts their needs and political party’s needs above those of the area. “To the 48 per cent I say stick with the Liberal Democrats. “We are working in every way we can to stop the destructive hard Brexit course that Theresa May is setting the country on.” Mrs Bunting said that people should have the choice of another

Mr Benyon said: “I think it’s more about the fact they didn ’t have anyone to stand here. “I’ve not had any conversation with UKIP. Undoubtedly they are in trouble in this election and their decision not to field a candi- date in West Berkshire reflects that. “People are more concerned about what Brexit means for West Berkshire and their state- ment rightly says that I campaigned hard for Britain to remain in the EU. “I want the deal that’s reached to reflect the needsof West Berk- shire businesses, many of whom trade with and in the EU.” UKIP finished third in Newbury during the 2015 General Election, with 10 per cent of the votes cast (6,195), close behind the LiberalDemocrats’ 15 per cent (8,605) and beating Labour’s 8.4 per cent (4,837). UKIP’s apparent endorsement

candidate Judith Bunting said: “It is a scandal that so many people are sleeping on the streets in 21st-century Britain. “Here in Newbury, we all know that as well as the people who have been ‘counted’, many more sofa surf or are in insecure accommodation for only the occasional night, and we know we have single homeless people and couples who are sleeping rough. “That is why I welcome this commitment by the Liberal Democrats to end homelessness in the UK.” The series of measures to end rough sleeping, laid out by the national party, include introduc- ing a Housing First provider in each local authority that would put long-term homeless people straight into independent homes rather than emergency shelters.

authority has at least one provider of Housing First services, to allow long-term homeless people to live indepen- dently in their own homes. “The evidence suggests that supporting people with a long- term, stable place to stay is far more successful in tackling homelessness than constantly moving them through the chain of different temporary accommodations. “Under this Government, homelessness has soared and young people are being stripped of housing benefit, threatening to make matters even worse. “This election is a chance to change the direction of this country and stand up for a can-do Britain that is open, tolerant and united.”

Greens warn of funding crisis in schools WEST Berkshire parents have beenwarned of a “fund- ing crisis” in schools – and Green Party candidate and headteacher Paul Field has said it will cause “dreadful damage” to children. ity of schools continue to have rising budgets, some of them don’t,” he said. nance allowance scrapped in 2010. The policy would be paid from £20bn by reversing cuts to corporation tax introduced by the Conservatives. Mr Skirvin said: “The

“In one sense ,it’s good news that there’s very low levels of deprivation in West Berkshire. “In terms of school funding, high levels of deprivation have seen very large increases in some areas. “In West Berkshire they have seen small decreases.” Mr Benyon said he thought that schools could survive the funding arrangements, but the impact of increases to wages, national insurance and changes to pensions and the apprentice- ship levy was causing concern. He pledged to support local schools in parliament if he was re-elected as MP. The Labour Party announced their education policy on Tues- day, promising to increase school funding by £4.8bn and introducing free, life-long education in colleges. Labour candidate Alex Skirvin said concern over education was an issue with voters. He said: “Education matters to me because it was my pass- port to a more secure, skilled and prosperous life. “I’m proud to have attended a state school and been the first person in my family to attend university.” He backed Labour’s educa- tion planannounced by shadow education secretary Angela Rayner, which includes restor- ing the educational mainte-

In a letter sent to parents, 53 West Berkshire primary school headteachers said that changes in the way the Government funds schools “will not bring the benefits that we had hoped to see for West Berkshire chil- dren”. The headteachers say they will raise their concerns with West Berkshire Council, local MPs and the Government. The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) says more than half of school leaders in England andWales feel their budget will be “untenable” by 2018/19. Spending on education as a percentage of the country’s GDP has fallen every year since 2010. The Green Party’s general election candidate for Newbury, Paul Field, is also the head- teacher at Basildon Primary School and is one of the 53 local primary head signatories. A former chairman of the PrimaryHeads Association and current president of the local NAHT branch, he attended the NAHT conference in Telford. He said: “The current fund- ing crisis will be familiar to many local voters. “For a Government to delib- erately mislead people with

parents we’ve talked to say that we should be spending more on education rather than wasting it on pursuing an obsession with grammar schools. “I’m a firm opponent of the Tory grammar schools agenda. “Every child has a right to a quality education – not the right to sit a single, life-defining exam at the age of 11.” Liberal Democrats broke their pledge to oppose an increase in fees when they entered a coalition with the Conservatives in 2010. The Lib Dems plan to invest £6.9bn into schools to protect pupil funding. Candidate Judith Bunting said that West Berkshire schools would benefit from an additional £28m from her party’s policy. Mrs Bunting, who has worked in education and as a science and medical journalist and broadcaster for more than 20 years, said: “Education is at the heart of everything we believe in and everything we do. “When headteachers write to parents like this it’s time to be worried. We must protect the education of kids.” n Primary school headteachers’ letter – see page 16

statements about funding being better than it has ever been is outrageous. “They know that in real terms schools will lose £3bn by 2020 and their dishonesty is an insult to both the electorate and the professionalswho serve our communities. “The consequences of this current policy will be devastat- ing and wide ranging. “They will cause dreadful and permanent damage to our schools and the futures of our children. “Education is at the heart of any civilised society and impacts every one of us.” Conservative candidate Richard Benyon said he had held frequent conversations with headteachers and minis- ters about the issue. “I know that while the major- Green Party candidate PaulField addresses theNational Association ofHeadTeachers conference

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