NO2AV

Karen is supporting the No2AV campaign and recently published the statement below along with a number of other Members of Parliament.

December 2010

“As new MPs we like to feel we bring a fresh perspective to politics. We are diverse both politically and in terms of the constituencies we represent. We are all agreed on the need to rebuild trust between the public and the politicians who represent them.

When we were campaigning during the last election we met and talked to thousands of voters. Their concerns were many and varied: the economy, jobs, immigration, housing, crime.

There were many areas where our constituents identified a need for change. But if we are being truthful, change in our voting system was not one of them.

Our country faces significant challenges. We have our differences on how they should be tackled. We are united, however, in our conviction that those challenges will not be overcome by wasting time, energy and resources on dismantling our voting system are replacing it with a complex alternative that nobody wants.

There are some for whom voting reform is a long cherished dream. We respect their views, but we do not believe our constituents will thank us if at this crucial time we turn our back on the issues that matter to them to debate issues that matter primarily to a small political elite.

We will rebuild trust in our politicians and our politics by showing we are in touch with the people. Their priorities must be our priorities. Scrapping our voting system is not their priority. Nor is it ours.

That’s why we will be voting NO on 5 May.”

Signed…
The 20 signatories were: Stuart Andrew (Con), Guto Bebb (Con), Jake Berry (Con), Nick Boles (Con), Thomas Docherty (Lab), Julie Elliott (Lab), George Eustice (Con), Yvonne Fovargue (Lab), Zac Goldsmith (Con), Julie Hilling (Lab), Tristram Hunt (Lab), Kwasi Kwarteng (Con), Karen Lumley (Con), Michael McCann (Lab), Priti Patel (Con), Toby Perkins (Lab), Dominic Raab (Con), Gavin Shuker (Lab),  Karl Turner (Lab), Chris Williamson (Lab).

Karen Speaks out about the AV Referendum and Constituency Boundaries

The proposed changes to the electoral system in the UK were laid out in the Parliamentary Voting and Constituencies Bill that was introduced into Parliament on the 22nd July 2010. This Bill has set in motion the referendum due to take place on the 5th May, which will give the public the chance to decide whether we vote using the current First Past the Post (FPTP) electoral system or change to one based on proportional representation under the Alternative Vote (AV). I am strongly in favour of keeping the system as it is. This is not only the view of a significant number of the Conservative Party but is a cross party position supported by many in the Labour Party and a few Liberal Democrats.

I personally believe that there is no need to change an arrangement that has worked in Britain for over a century to one that will most likely never produce a stable majority government. Coalition governments could become the norm in the UK with the third party holding the balance of power. This also requires policy compromises where parties pick and choose between which manifesto pledges to include in a coalition agreement, where the policies you voted for may not be implemented.

Furthermore, this Bill will reduce the number of MPs by around 8% and ensure that each constituency is the same size electorally. Not only will this save tax-payers money by reducing the number of MPs to 600, will also ensure that every person’s vote is of equal weight. Estimates have shown that changing the electoral system through a referendum could cost in the region of £90 million.

For these reasons, I have joined the ‘No to AV’ campaign along with many Labour and Conservative Party supporters and politicians.

Fairer Education Funding

On a per child basis Worcestershire suffers from some of the lowest funding in the educational system. The F40 organisation is a joint campaign by the poorest funded educational authorities in England to rectify this appalling situation.

Karen is working with Worcestershire Conservative MPs and fellow Prospective Parliamentary Candidates to highlight the lack of support for Worcestershire children.

In July 2010 the new coalition government announced a review of school funding.

Alexandra Hospital – NHS

Demand better NHS services and help prevent the Alexandra Hospital from being downgraded.

Worcester Hospital works on a PFI contract that forces all Worcestershire budget cutting health measures onto our local Alexandra Hospital. Redditch residents think this is not fair and have campaigned strongly against any removal of services from their local hospital.

Karen maintains an active interest in all decisions affecting the Alex.