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News
Archive
22nd
May 2005 |
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Barry Calls
For All Party Approach to Stafford's Homeless Problem |
 Barry
Stamp has called for an all party approach to providing a hostel
for the homeless in Stafford.
Barry made the call following a desperate attempt at headline
grabbing by his Conservative opposite number who has called for
the town's Bethany Project to be closed.
"It is all to easy to make bold statements which show little
understanding of what is really happening in the town",
said Barry Stamp. "Over the past few weeks some very misleading
statements have been published in the local press that are nothing
more than fanciful urban myths dressed up as hard facts. What
I am really concerned about is that given this relentless onslaught
the Bethany Project will be forced to close and there will not
be a replacement to take the homeless people who currently live
there. In an attempt to ensure proper provision was made for
the homeless in Stafford I wrote to both David Chambers and David
Kidney asking them to join with me and the Bethany Project to
ensure a first class service was provided in the town. High on
my agenda was trying to get the funding in place to allow new
hostel facilities to be built in Newport Road, along with a review
of the current management plan. David Kidney replied immediately
that he was willing to help, but David Chambers refused point-blank
to get involved!"
"I am really pleased that my position on this issue has
won widespread support. I would like to thank everyone who has
contacted me to offer their support and encouragement. Closing
the Bethany Project without a replacement being in place, will
only mean that many vulnerable people will be thrown out onto
the streets," said Barry Stamp. |
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Barry Visits
Staffordshire General Hospital |
Barry is picture with the Hospital
Trust Chairman Toni Brisby
and David O'Neill the hospitals Chief Executive
Barry Stamp recently visited
Staffords main hospital on Weston Road to discuss the problems
facing the NHS with senior members of the management team.
Barry took the opportunity to talk to Chief Executive David O'Neill
and Trust Chairman Toni Brisby about the way the hospital provides
services to the local community and their plans for future developments.
High on the agenda was the lack of funding currently being experienced
by the hospital, along with the Governments unfair inspection
regime which recently resulted in the hospital loosing its three
star rating.
"The meeting proved extremely useful as it helped me to
clarify my thinking about the future of NHS hospitals. David
and Trish were open about the problems the hospital faces but
I came away thing that the organisation could not be in safer
pair of hands. Its clear that something must be done to give
more funds to hospitals like Staffordshire General, as extra
cash would make its running so much easier and would ensure even
better services are provided for local people," said Barry.
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Charles Kennedy
Supports Barry Stamp |
Charles Kennedy is supporting
Barry Stamp to become the next MP for Stafford. Barry recently
met Charles Kennedy in his private office in the House of Commons
was was able to tell him about some of the problems being faced
by local residents.
On the agenda was the Liberal Democrat's proposal to replace
Council Tax with a fairer Local Income Tax, the provision of
free care for the elderly, and the scrapping of top-up fees for
students.
"I was able to tell Charles that many local residents had
told me they were sick and fed up with the way the Conservative
run Stafford Borough Council keep raising charges and cutting
services, while at the same time saying they are doing a wonderful
job because they are not increasing Council Tax more than the
rate of inflation. We also discussed the way the elderly were
being unfairly treated by this Government when they were made
to sell their homes to pay for care in their later years. Charles
agreed that local residents deserved better and committed himself
to helping me become the next MP for Stafford so I can fight
for a better deal," said Barry Stamp.
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Stafford Young
Voters Back Barry Stamp |
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First time voters have given
a big thumbs-up to Barry Stamp and the Liberal Democrats.
Barry was recently invited, along with a representative of the
Labour and Conservative Parties to Walton High School to take
part in the 6th Forms Citizenship Day. The day started with the
three candidates giving a brief presentation of their party's
policies and then answering questions from the students. There
then followed various "political" activities and discussions,
and finally all the students voted in a mock election.
The outcome of this election was:
| Conservative |
16% |
| Labour |
25% |
| Liberal Democrat |
51% |
| Spoilt Papers |
8% |
During the question and answer
session the students raised, amongst other things, the issues
of student top-up fees, Iraq, and the environment - all of which
the Liberal Democrats have well throughout policies on.
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