Not a Disaster, Just a Catastrophe!

Had we joined the euro, the British economy would now be a catastrophe according to David Davis MP, Conservative (Haltemprice & Howden), who wrote in yesterday's Evening Standard, speculating about the economic state in which we would find ourselves, had Britain signed up to the Euro. He wrote:

"Our already damaged economy would have been crippled by a fixed exchange rate set by the so-called 'successes' of the financial sector. Instead, when our financial sector collapsed, the pound fell. Outside the euro, sterling has been trading at a competitive level in global currency markets. British exports remained at attractive prices while euro-denominated goods raced to all-time highs against the pound and the dollar in 2009. This is the main reason we had a record manufacturing upturn in January, and without the beginnings of that upturn we would have still been in recession. In Greece, Ireland and Spain, all in the eurozone, manufacturing is struggling. The biggest of these, Spain, is unlikely to see an economic recovery this year.

"So managing our own currency is critical to our ability to compete. Giving up our currency would also have meant giving up to the European Central Bank our ability to control interest rates. The ECB has kept interest rates significantly higher than rates in the UK. The Bank of England has kept our rates low and pumped money into the economy, allowing companies to absorb the shock of recession and start to recover. None of this would have been possible had we joined the euro."

It should not be forgotten that whilst the 1990s were not the Conservative Party's finest hour electorally, the party's campaign against British membership of the Euro was utterly in tune with the view of the British public, at a time when both Labour and the Liberal Democrats would have ditched the Pound if they thought they could have got away with it. Without the Conservative Party's determined opposition to the Euro during William Hague's time as leader of the party, Tony Blair would have been able to abolish our currency and the consequences would have been dire.

Campaign Diary - Wednesday 9th April 2008

I was very pleased to receive David Davis' endorsement earlier today. It was a real honour to know that people like David are taking an active interest in the problems that local residents report to me.

When we met we discussed issues of crime and anti-social behaviour that affect rural communities like Nettleham, Greetwell, Grange-de-Lings and Riseholme and what could be done to improve our communities. Local people know that they need a safe pair of hands for a secure future and that what I'm offering. A Conservative government will deliver neighbourhoods that we feel safe in by cutting paperwork and getting more police out on the streets fighting crime. Through my active engagement with the Key Individual's Network we have influenced the local Community Panel to make Anti-social behaviour, Underage Drinking, and Graffiti in and around Mulsanne Park a priority.

I was out canvassing yesterday evening in Nettleham and recieved positive welcomes on the doorstep from local residents. Time and again I heard voiced concern about development in and around the village. Nettleham residents care that the village's services are not stretched to breaking point, they care that development does not increase flood risk and they care that we keep a village community feel to Nettleham.

Certainly the expansion of Nettleham in recent decades has changed the village significantly. The 2001 Census records a population of 3,514. I am increasingly convinced that Nettleham does not want or require further large-scale development and that 400 new homes is not what residents want - regardless of the carrots that may be attached to the stick. Such an increase to the village would add around a third again to our population and make Nettleham more like a town, or worse a suburb of Lincoln.

Shadow Home Secretary supports Nettleham Ward Candidate

The Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, today added his support, to that of a growing number of local residents who want change, change that will improve their lives, by supporting Giles McNeill in the local elections to West Lindsey District Council on May 1st.

David commented:

"I am pleased to support Giles McNeill as your Conservative Candidate in the elections on May 1st. Giles is an exceptional individual who understands that everyone wants to live in a safe community free from anti-social behaviour."

Above:
Giles McNeill with Shadow Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon. David Davis MP

Giles said:

"I am standing as a Conservative, as only the Conservative Party represents the change, on so many issues, that we desperately need. I am from our local community and have lived in Nettleham village for eighteen years; I will be local people's champion on West Lindsey District Council. In Grange-de-Lings, Greetwell, Nettleham and Riseholme: it is time for change. I want to be that change – change that will improve all our lives."