Rushton Says, “Time to Discuss Stoke-on-Trent’s Real Issues”

James Rushton, the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Stoke South has today said that it is time to debate the real issues that face Stoke-on-Trent, and stop focusing on distractions.

“We have some real challenges ahead as a City, and need to be careful not to blight the area by voting for the BNP or other far right parties.  I believe that Stoke-on-Trent is in danger of being stuck in a vicious circle of the BNP deterring outside investment that then leads to further unemployment and more racial tension.”

James believes that the surge in popularity of right wing politics within the City has been exacerbated by the failure of regeneration efforts to deliver new jobs to the City.

“This City has a disproportionately high level of highly skilled workers that are unemployed and who can currently see little prospect of finding work and improving their lot.  When people are in this situation they begin to blame people who are different."

James believes that the vast majority of people in Stoke-on-Trent want change and realise that they are not going to get it from Gordon Brown’s Labour Government, however they have had a tough deal when compared with other regions of the United Kingdom.

“It is time that we really stood up for Stoke-on-Trent and promoted the area to attract external investment.  The failure of our City's Labour MPs to attract this investment was one of the key reasons why I decided to stand for parliament."

“Only the Conservative Party can offer the people of Stoke-on-Trent the change they need in improving the City's prospects and stopping the potentially damaging impact of the BNP.”

He added:

 “The BNP are a one trick Party, what the people of Stoke-on-Trent.  Whilst I am more than ready to debate with the BNP on their one issue, it is time to take action on the issues that people really care about.  We need a real debate on real issues – education, the NHS, regeneration creating real jobs, improvement in transport infrastructure and reducing anti-social behaviour on our streets.”

James Rushton launches “NEXT STOP STOKE-ON-TRENT!! Bring the trains to bring the jobs...” petition, to get high speed rail to Stoke-on-Trent.

The Government has set up a company, HS2 Ltd, to look in to the feasibility and to plan a route for a multi billion pound high-speed rail network that is capable of carrying passenger trains at speeds of upto 400km per hour.  The company plans a full public consultation on the recommended route from London to the West Midlands, to start in autumn 2010.  HS2 is now starting to work on potential route options for high-speed lines from Birmingham to Manchester, and from Birmingham to Leeds, for consultation later.

James Rushton is spearheading a campaign to make Stoke-on-Trent the next stop, after Birmingham.  James, who is also a partner with Baker Tilly, Accountants and Business Advisers on Festival Park, has the backing of a number of business leaders.

In Friday’s Sentinel, Bryan Carnes, Chief Executive of the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, “High speed rail will be extremely important in developing the national economy over the next 20 to 30 years.”

"North Staffordshire needs to ensure that it features strongly in the high-speed rail route network, otherwise the region will fall even further behind the major conurbations like Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds."

James said, "I'm calling on the people and business leaders of Stoke-on-Trent to unite so that we can make the best possible case for Stoke-on-Trent.  I see getting Stoke-on-Trent on the high-speed network as a vital element of regeneration”.

James launched a petition at Stoke Station on Thursday morning and obtained more than 100 signatures at the station.

He will put the campaign to the Government's petitions website after Easter.  The petition is also available for signing at WATERWORLD on Festival Park and PRUNERS BARBERS in Longton.  James will send the list of signatures to the Secretary of State for Transport and HS2.

Rushton Calls For More To Be Done To Help City Through Recession

Responding to this year's Centre for Cities report, which shows that the recession has widened the gap between UK cities economies, James said:

'I am saddened by the recent figures released in the Centre for Cities report. They are even worse then we possibly imagined and show the true extent of the damage done to Stoke-on-Trent by Gordon Brown's recession. But it is young people who are bearing the brunt of the current job crisis and the Conservatives will work hard to give them every opportunity to get into work. The Conservatives have a bold plan for the West Midlands, which would create 55,000 new training places and jobs, including 22,500 new apprenticeships, all aimed at opening up new opportunities across the region.'

'These new jobs and training places will be funded by refocusing the Government's employment and training programmes, including Train to Gain and the various New Deals, and reducing the benefits of Incapacity Benefit claimants found to be fit to work. We will also abolish tax on the jobs created by new businesses in the first two years of a Conservative Government, by ensuring they will pay no Employer National Insurance on the first ten employees hired during their first year.'

Conservative plans to Get Britain Working will create 55,000 new training places and jobs in the West Midlands, opening up new opportunities for people across the region. They are committed to creating: 

• 22,500 new apprenticeships in the West Midlands 
• 11,000 extra training places in the West Midlands 
• 9,000 new work pairings in the West Midlands
• 5,000 new jobs in start-up businesses in the West Midlands by abolishing the national insurance they pay on new employees 
• 4,000 new young apprenticeships in the West Midlands 
• 3,500 new opportunities for self-employment in the West Midlands 
• 1,000 new university places in the West Midlands