JakeBerry.org

May 1st 2008 - The Results

2008-05-07T14:48:00.003Z

As you may know, I very rarely put pure political statistics up here. I use this blog to let people know what I have been up to, however, the results last week were so remarkable I believe they bear greater scrutiny.

Rossendale

Conservative share of the Vote - 46.8%
New Labour share of the Vote - 29.1%

A great result, and I would like to personally congratulate Cllr. Jason Gledhill (Longholme Ward), Cllr. Nicola May (Hareholme Ward), Cllr. Peter Evans (Helmshore Ward), Cllr. Hazel Steen (Irwell Ward) and Cllr. David Stansfield (Worsly Ward) all of whom won their seats on the 1st of May.

In addition, I would like to congratulate, Cllr. Janet Graham (Cribden Ward), Cllr. Darryl Mark Smith (Eden Ward), Cllr. Lynda Barnes (Facit and Shawforth Ward), Cllr. Gladys Sandiford (Greenfield Ward) and Cllr. Judith Driver (Greensclough Ward) all of whom held their seats.

This is a fantastic result and means the Conservative Party have taken control of Rossendale Council for the next 2 years.

Darwen with Blackburn

Conservative share of the Vote - 26.47*
New Labour share of the Vote - 21.59*

I would like to congratulate Cllr. John Slater (Fernhurst Ward) and Cllr. Colin Rigby (North Turton with Tockholes Ward) both of who retained their seats with thumping majorities.

This again is a brilliant result and means the Conservative Party will remain the largest member of the ruling coalition. We ran a positive campaign in Darwen with lots of people wanting to help us and all our candidates did a fantastic job and made great progress.

Across Rossendale and Darwen constituency, the total vote shares are as follows:-

Conservative share of the Vote - 38%
New Labour share of the Vote - 25%

This was a very strong performance for the Conservative Party with Rossendale and Darwen mirroring the national trend. I believe that we are now well placed to continue to work towards a victory in the general election. It will now be a long and hard fight to the finish, but I hope and believe that the people of Rossendale and Darwen will vote for the change that we need.

*Does not include Blackburn Wards.

Vote Conservative Today

2008-05-01T09:19:00.002Z

Don’t forget to go and vote for the Conservatives today.

The polling stations are open all day……. don’t leave it to others, they may be leaving it to you.

Rossendale and Darwen Conservatives the change Rossendale and Darwen needs

Irwell Vale with Sir Robert Atkins MEP and the team

2008-04-29T12:35:00.003Z

We had a great night last night canvassing with Sir Robert Atkins in Irwell Vale.We had a fantastic response with a clear majority supporting Cllr. Darryl Smith.

We finished the evening with dinner at the White Horse, which has to be one of the best restaurants in the Valley.

How will you mark the day?

2008-04-23T11:23:00.002Z

As I am sure most of you are aware, today is St. Georges Day. I have long believed that today should be a national holiday and we should do more to celebrate this day and England.

To mark the occasion I went to the St. George’s Day Dinner at Whitehall Country Club on Sunday. The event was in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. This is a fantastic cause. My own family has recently been touched by cancer and this and other cancer charities are close to my heart.

The dinner itself was a great success and raised over £1,400.00. The end of the dinner was marked by the singing of the National Anthem, Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia. This is the sort of thing that Margaret Hodge, Minister of State for Culture, Media & Sport, is attacking as not being inclusive enough.

This is complete nonsense; at my table there was a lady from Poland and a lady from Germany, who were just as proud as I was to celebrate this traditional English occasion.

Have you seen this month's pay packet?

2008-04-16T16:07:00.015Z

HOW MUCH WILL YOU BE HIT
BY GORDON BROWN’S TAX
ON HARD-PRESSED FAMILIES?

Nursery nurses will pay £154 more per year. Bar staff will
pay £67 more. Catering assistants will pay £161 more.
Retail cashiers will pay £185 more. Sales assistants will
pay £227 more. Library clerks will pay £203 more.
Hairdressers will pay £198 more. Receptionists will
pay £167 more. Home carers will pay £157 more. School
secretaries will pay £140 more. Cleaners will pay £45
more. Cooks will pay £136 more. Dental nurses will
pay £132 more. Typists will pay £110 more. Call centre
operators will pay £103 more. Bakers will pay £89
more. Florists will pay £79 more. Caretakers will pay
£78 more. Veterinary nurses will pay £128 more. Farm
workers will pay £75 more. Legal secretaries will pay £71
more. Hospital porters will pay £56 more. Van drivers
will pay £51 more. Road sweepers will pay £49
more. Pub managers will pay £48 more.

Security guards will pay £21 more.

Labour have over-spent and over-borrowed, and as a result the public finances are in a mess. That is why Gordon Brown is putting up taxes, and kicking people when they are down.

The Conservatives have specific proposals to help hard-working families:

• We will oppose Labour’s plans to double the 10p tax rate.

• We will use direct democracy to control council tax bills. We will give power to the people, through local referendums, to stop large council tax rises.

• We will raise the threshold for inheritance tax, taking 98 per cent of family homes out of it altogether.

• We will abolish stamp duty, the tax on house purchases, for 9 out of 10 first-time buyers, helping people get onto the housing ladder.

• We will end the couple penalty in the tax credits system. Taxes and benefits should encourage families to stay together, but the current system actually pays couples to live apart.

• We will reform the administration of tax credits to make the system simpler and fairer.

• We will help people into jobs and cut benefits for those who won’t work.

Sir Robert Atkins MEP Speaks at The Rossendale and Darwen Society Annual Drinks Party

2008-04-16T15:53:00.003Z

On Saturday Sir Robert Atkins MEP came to speak to the Rossendale and Darwen Society at our annual drinks party. This was a bit of a double celebration for the engagement and went fantastically well. Charlotte once again pulled off a masterful stroke with the nibbles.

Robin Hood’s Well, a Grand National win and an Engagement

2008-04-09T14:38:00.001Z

Charlotte and I had a very happy day on Saturday. The day started with my advice surgery in Belmont with Colin and Jean Rigby. I put a picture of Belmont Church on this blog a few weeks ago and received loads of emails saying what a beautiful building it is. I agree Belmont as a whole is a very picturesque village.

When I got home Charlotte was on her way out to put a small bet on the Grand National. I chose Bewleys Berry (for obvious reasons) Charlotte backed Compile or Die. As any of you who watched the race will know Charlotte backed the winner with Bewleys Berry limping home.

Later that day I suggested to Charlotte that we go for a walk up to Robin Hood’s Well and over Musbury Tor. When we arrived at Robin Hood’s Well, I asked Charlotte to marry me and I am delighted that she said yes. I thought at one point that the Rossendale weather was going to let me down but just as we reached the top the sun came out. All in all it was a perfect day.

Stubbins Primary School – Visit

2008-04-04T08:18:00.000Z

I had the pleasure of being invited to Stubbins Primary School to make a presentation to their assembly on Monday. The school children are learning about different countries across the globe as part of World Awareness Week.

Having been able to visit Kenya a few weeks ago I was happy to come and talk to the school about my experience. This is a fantastic school with hard working teachers who achieve great results.

I am returning to the school today to finds out what the children have learned. I will be paying special attention to year three who where studying Kenya!!

Abolition of the 10p rate will have massive impact in Rossendale and Darwen - Press release

2008-04-03T16:54:00.000Z

Commenting on the doubling of Income Tax rates for the low paid on Sunday April 6, Jake Berry, prospective Conservative MP for Rossendale and Darwen, said:

“We are all seeing the cost of living go up – whether in higher Council Tax or rising fuel and energy bills. I am staggered that the Government has therefore decided to double the rate of Income Tax on the lowest paid and on part-time workers. On Sunday April 6, Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are scrapping the 10% starting rate of Income Tax.

“It seems the people who have the least are the ones who will be paying the highest price for the Government’s bungled budget. This tax rise may have little impact in the South of England where wages are higher but average wages in Rossendale and Darwen fall well below the national average and people have contacted me to say the this doubling of their tax bill will squeeze them further just when they can least afford it.”

“The Government has confirmed that around 5.3 million families will lose out. 26 Labour MPs have signed a motion calling on the government to reverse the budget tax hike on low income earners. I support their motion and hope that this badly thought out tax plan will be scrapped.”

New Labour NOT running here

2008-03-29T16:08:00.001Z

Last night Charlotte and I had the pleasure of attending the Edenfield Race Night at the Cricket Club.

Another brilliant night with lots of money raised for the Primary School. As with the race night we went to last week, we sponsored a race as did Cllr. Darryl Smith. I seem to have lost my lucky streak with race nights and came away having not won one race.

I am pleased to say the Cllr. Smith had more luck than we did winning £22 and a bottle of Champagne. I hope he carries on his winning from until May 1st.

As with the last race night I attended the Labour MP, did not attend. It seems the New Labour is not a runner in Rossendale!

New Labour MP’s Hypocrisy on Post Office Closures Revealed - Part II

2008-03-20T17:42:00.001Z

Labour MPs should be ashamed after they failed to oppose the Government on the latest round of Post Office closures.

In East Lancashire, 24 branches face the axe. In the House of Commons yesterday the Conservatives called for the closures to be suspended and put the issue to a vote as part of an Opposition Day debate.

The vote to suspend closures was defeated by 268 to 288.

Despite recently opposing some of the closures within Rossendale and Darwen Janet Anderson towed the Government line and voted against the proposal.

The Labour MPs who voted with the Government have been slammed by opposition MPs and even Labour councillors. Labour MPs in Westminster have voted consistently for policies to close post offices and are then photographed outside them protesting about the closures.

Visit to Nairobi Street Children Orphanage

2008-03-18T18:03:00.002Z

Just adding a couple more pics from my trip to Nairobi. When I was there I went to the Street Children Orphanage. This was one of the most harrowing visits of the trip. There were 10 children per bed with some new born babies who had been abandoned at birth. I hope the few hours we spent there brightened up the day for the children. They seemed more impressed with the sweets than my football skills though.

Health Check in Darwen

2008-03-18T18:02:00.000Z

I went for a health check in Darwen on Saturday. There was a mobile health unit set up in the town encouraging people both young and old to have their blood pressure checked, plus taken and weight checked.

The unit was run by “let’s get healthy” with funding provided by the Conservative led Blackburn with Darwen Council. For anyone who is interested my plus was 65bpm (resting rate), Bp 123/80 but I am not prepared to disclose my weigh (I am working on it).

This was a fantastic initiative with over 200 people per day having a health check and one I hope will be taken up by other councils in the area.

Kikuyu Eye Hospital - Kenya

2008-03-14T08:32:00.001Z

You may remember that at the start of this year I was due to visit Kenya to distribute spectacles that I had been collecting. Sadly, at the time of my trip the country was undergoing significant political upheaval and on the advice of the Foreign Office I cancelled the trip.

I am delighted to say that after the signing of the peace accord between the two major political parties (brokered by Kofi Annan) the country is now safe to visit. So on Saturday morning, I boarded a flight and flew to Nairobi with my Brother-in-Law.

The main purpose of our trip was a visit to the Kikuyu Eye Hospital. I was greeted by Doctor Walia, who gave me a full tour of the facilities. Dr. Walia was delighted with the spectacles we had collected. The glasses will be reconditioned; new lenses will be added and they will then be distributed free to patients of the hospital. To put things in perspective, a tailor whose sight becomes impaired cannot work. These free glasses will enable him to keep working and supporting his family.

Dr Walia also talked to me about the fantastic work the hospital is doing on juvenile cataracts. The hospital performs free operations at a clinic in the bush once a year. These clinics are funded through local business and charity. A cataract operation costs £40.00 and will restore a child’s eyesight permanently. I also had the opportunity to witness the pre-operative stages of the operations.

It seems amazing to me that for the price a meal for two in a restaurant in Britain, a child can have its sight restored. I hope to return to Kenya next year to continue to support the work of Dr. Walia and the Kikuyu Eye Hospital.

Conservative Future Action Day

2008-03-03T19:17:00.004Z

We had a brilliant day on Saturday, after a late night on Friday at the Rossendale Rugby Club. We had our first Conservative Future (CF) Action Day.

CF is open to all under 30, who want to get involved with the Conservative Party (I am glad to say that I still qualify). Members from both Rossendale and Darwen CF attended and after a hard mornings work the team came back to my house in Helmshore for some lunch and a chat about the campaign. Charlotte had cooked a chilli for us. After several monster portions there is still some left. So it chilli jacket potatoes in the Berry household for the rest of the week.

Rossendale Shop Local Campaign – Design the Bag and win an I-Pod!

2008-03-03T18:53:00.004Z

Rossendale Conservatives have teamed up with local community website http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/ to promote the Rossendale Shop Local Campaign.

As part of the campaign we will be producing re-usable shopping bags to promote Rossendale Shop Local. We are inviting readers of the this Blog and local schools to get involved by designing a logo for one side of the bag. The logo must be in no more than three colours and represent the Rossendale Valley.

I am delighted that we have formed a partnership with aboutmyarea.co.uk to promote the local shops in Rossendale. Christine Smith, Site Editor for aboutmyarea.co.uk has had some fantastic ideas with both the shopping bag and promoting our campaign.

I hope the campaign will catch the imagination of local people and this competition is their chance to get involved. I think the I Pod is a fantastic prize, but the real prize will be to see your design on thousands of reusable shopping bags across the Valley.

To enter the competition please send your design to rossendaleanddarwen@hotmail.co.uk or by post to 4 Mount Terrace, Rawtenstall, BB4 8SF
Designs must be submitted by Thursday 27th of March and the winner will be drawn on Friday 28th of March.

Designs must be in no more than 3 colours, and include the words “Rossendale Shop Local”

You Can Get it you Really Want

2008-03-03T18:38:00.003Z

Today I launched the Conservatives new poster campaign in Rossendale.

I think this is a really positive campaign which is also running on Facebookand I hope it will catch the imagination of disillusioned voters fed up of the same old type of politics.

In changing society where people are not as ready to become “members” of political parties, it gives people the opportunity to become a “friend” of the Conservatives and show your support.

Let me know if you spot were the posters are. Free bottle of wine for the first person over 18 to get them all!!!

The Conservative Vision for Britain

2008-02-28T16:47:00.009Z

I met with George Osborne MP in Manchester today to help launch a new poster campaign for the Conservatives (examples above). These posters set out a no nonsense new approach for Britain under a Conservative Government. I know from the work I do in Rossendale and Darwen that these ideas reflect the concerns of the people in my area.

I want a change for the better and to deliver on the issues that really matter to people. If you like me feel that after years of New Labour things are just not getting better in this country, join us in working for a change for Britain.

Jake Berry speaks out for Shop Local Campaign at Party Conference

2008-02-26T09:58:00.003Z

Jake Berry, Parliamentary candidate for Rossendale and Darwen got further support for his Shop Local campaign at the North West Conservative Conference held over the weekend at the Bolton Reebok Stadium.

Jake was asked to speak to over 400 delegates about the Shop Local campaign in Darwen and recently launched in Rossendale.

The campaign also received further high profile backing from the Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague MP.

Jake Berry said “This was a fantastic opportunity to show the North West what a difference this campaign has made and many people came up to me afterwards to ask for more details. Shop Local is about supporting our local traders and businesses and reminding people about the benefits of shopping locally and the great offers that are on their doorstep accross Rossendale and Darwen”

Jake Berry joins fight to save Axo Nobel Jobs in Darwen

2008-02-25T15:27:00.001Z

Jake Berry, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Rossendale and Darwen joined Akzo Nobel workers at a protest outside Darwen Town Hall over the proposed job cuts.

Earlier this month, bosses of the Dutch firm announced that 109 jobs were to go at the Crown House, Hollins Road, site which employees 600 and that production of its industrial paints division was being moved abroad.

Jake Berry commented “I was pleased to be the one of the first names on the petition and to show that although the Conservative Party and Trade Unions may seem unlikely bedfellows, that this is not a time for political arguments. The loss of over a hundred jobs is a serious blow to Darwen and we need to look at ways to support these workers”

“I was shown a copy of a letter sent to workers on the 17th of January 2008, promising that there would be no change in working conditions. So I can fully understand the frustrations of the staff when they heard just weeks later about these job cuts.”

Local Road Safety Success

2008-02-05T14:50:00.001Z

Residents of Yate and Pickup Bank has been plagued by Heavy Goods Vehicles using Long Hey Lane. This road, leading to Hoddlesden, is frequently being used by HGVs following their satellite navigation systems trying to avoid the weight restriction on the Grane Road.

After a long campaign headed by Yvonne Booth (Chair of Yate and Pick up Bank Parish Council), with the support of Local Conservative Councillor Julie Slater and Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Jake Berry, new warning signs for HGVs have now been erected at the turning off the Grane Road and in Hoddlesden, and road improvements have been started.

Councillor Slater commented “Jake and I have been working on this since last year and arranged the meetings with Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen’s Highways Department. It is too early to say what impact the signs and road improvements will have. We are continuing to monitor the situation and I will ensure that any further measures which may be required to improve the lane are implemented.”

Jake Berry commented “It has taken some time to get the new signs, drain clearance and road works agreed. Yvonne and I even went out with the contractors and marked the pot holes with white paint.”

Cllr Julie Slater further commented “I have had a close relationship with the Parish Council since being elected. This is a real victory and shows what happens when local people work together”

Rossendale Shop Local Campaign

2008-02-04T15:58:00.000Z

Today, Rossendale and Darwen Conservatives Launched its Shop Local Campaign.

Caroline Spelman MP (Chair of the Conservative Party) joined me and a team of local Councillors to launch the campaign. Bacup has some fantastic local shops but trade has been suffering because of the road works in the Town Centre. There is also an issue with parking; however, the council is committed to getting more short term parking spaces in town. Our Shop Local campaign is not about stopping people from using Super Markets but is to remind people what great local shops are available in Rossendale.

The Conservatives are committed to supporting local businesses and will be following up the campaign across the Valley. The campaign will be run in conjunction with the campaign we supported last year in Darwen.

If you are a local business in Rossendale or Darwen and would like to get involved please contact me through my blog, or by visiting http://www.rdca.co.uk/

Is Rossendale and Darwen the most picturesque constituency in the UK?

2008-02-04T11:30:00.000Z

On Saturday morning I woke up and lookout of my bedroom window to see several inches of new fresh snow. We had an Action Day planned delivering 2000 local residents surveys. This looked unlikely to happen given that the roads were in some places impassable.

As the Action Day was off, I thought I would use the opportunity to take a few photos of Rossendale and Darwen on my way to my advice surgery in Belmont.

I think you will agree that Rossendale and Darwen is the most picturesque constituency in the UK.

Valley Residents Data Lost Again!!

2008-01-28T16:50:00.000Z

PRESS RELEASE

Valley Residents Data Lost Again!!

Jake Berry, 29 Parliamentary Candidate for Rossendale and Darwen has written to the new Work and Pensions minister to demand an explanation as to how personal details of hundreds of Valley residents were found on Burnley Road East in Water.

Jake Berry commented

"Peter Hain may only have just left the Dept of Work and Pensions but his replacement James Purnell must be held to account over this serious breach of security. To find details of resident’s National Insurance Numbers and how much they earn lying on Burnley Road East is simply not acceptable. I have written to the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to demand an explanation. "

“This comes only a few weeks after 21,790 Valley family’s details were lost in the post. Families across Rossendale and Darwen are rightly concerned about their personal security; not least their bank details potentially getting into the hands of criminals and fraudsters.. I would advise all potential victims of these scandals to monitor their bank accounts closely and to immediately alert their bank to any unexpected transactions.

“This latest fiasco proves, yet again, that the Government has no ability to run their proposed national ID card database.”

William Hague and William Roache Come to Rossendale

2008-01-28T09:40:00.000Z

Last Thursday we held a fundraising dinner in Whitworth Civic Hall hosted by Sir David Trippier and attended by William Hague and William Roache.

I would like to thank the staff at Whitworth Civic Hall for all their hard work on the night. Additionally, I would also like to thank the Whitworth Brass Band for providing the music. The evening was a fantastic success.