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Christian Vassie - My Manifesto Over the past twelve months, the Liberal Democrats have been right time and time again as to what this country needs. We have led the way on: • scrapping ID Cards • nationalising the banks • treating the Gurkhas fairly • calling for troops to be better equipped • questioning a failed government policy in Afghanistan • sacking the Speaker of the House of Commons • calling for the Iraq Inquiry to be held in public • reforming tax to help the poor • creating a green jobs revolution • signing up to the 10:10 Campaign to cut CO2 emissions. I have supported all these campaigns.
The expenses scandal in Parliament has heightened everyone's awareness of the problems with our democracy. As a long-standing member of Charter88, I want to revitalise our nation's democracy by creating a written constitution including: • a Bill of Rights, • an independent and reformed judiciary, • legal remedies for abuses of power by the state and by officials of central and local government, • a fair electoral system • an elected House of Lords • the Executive under the power of the rule of law
The key to our nation's future lies in responding to the challenges of our age. We must show the courage and vision to move on from the Fossil Fuel Age and create a new energy economy. We must transform the way we generate, distribute, and use energy. This transformation will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, break our reliance on fossil fuels, and reduce our dependence on the often troubled nations that produce them. I believe it is right that this nation must be at the heart of Europe. Our capacity to respond to a changing world relies on our working with others to find and enact solutions to the challenges and opportunities that face us all. This is true for our security, for jobs, for the environment, and for our civil liberties. We need to be on the stage if we want our voice to be heard. We have to tackle climate change. This is not a burden but an opportunity to reinvent ourselves and to ensure a secure future for our nation and our planet. In tackling climate change we have an opportunity and a duty to help the developing world leapfrog the polluting technologies of the 20th Century and go straight to using greener and cleaner infrastructure and energy sources. We have to protect the biodiversity of our planet, both because it is morally right and because it is in our own interest to do so. The Liberal Democrats believe that it is a mistake to commit over £80billion [around 10% of the entire defence budget] to renew the Trident nuclear deterrent system because the world has moved on. We, and the wider world, have many more pressing challenges than keeping fixated on the mindset of Cold War. find out more Neither Labour nor the Conservatives appear willing to contemplate real change. Simply propping up the banks and hoping for a return to business as usual is a dereliction of responsibility by the current government. This nation's economy will not thrive into the future by relying on an unregulated banking industry. I believe that the Liberal Democrats have the ideas, vision, and talent to govern Britain.
What I will do for the city York is a fantastic place to live and work. For centuries the city has thrived because it has shown the capacity to reinvent itself. We need to do that again now to respond to the challenges of our age. If elected to be your MP, I will work focus on the following areas: Development and employment The York Central site beside the station and the old British Sugar site offer us the opportunity to create the greenest inner city development site in the country. Investment money goes to bold, exciting and inspirational schemes. I will work with others to help shape those plans. This will create a development that is not based around the car. It will create new jobs, an new energy network, affordable housing, and reduce CO2 emissions. Developers will earn their return by creating a landmark development that everyone wants to visit, and not just something that would look OK in the middle of Leeds.
Transport We need to show the vision to transform our public transport and cycle network. Imposing a congestion charge without providing people with a workable alternative is utterly pointless. The York Central and British Sugar development sites offer the city the chance to develop a lightrail, monorail, tram or other public transport revolution for the city. We must not let this opportunity pass us by for another generation. In the UK 1.3% of all trips are by bicycle. In the Netherlands the figure is 27% Why? Because they have dedicated cycle tracks that dramatically improve safety. I will work with the council to develop a dedicated cycle track network here in York
Housing We all know that building more and more houses in York will never satisfy local demand. I will play my part to ensure that local people have access to affordable housing.
Climate Change Tackling climate change is not a burden but a fantastic opportunity to create jobs and to secure our future and that of our children. Developing the York Central site as the most exciting and green inner city development in the UK will create jobs, reduce pollution and CO2 emissions, and, at the same time, create a fantastic place to live and work. It will also generate a fresh wave of tourists and visitors.
Art and Culture York needs to create and welcome new attractions to encourage young and old to visit the city. I will work with the regional development agency and the city to help make this happen. We need to celebrate the talent and skills of our community and encourage the students who come to York to study to stay and make their lives here in the city.
Health Care At a time when there will be cuts, I will work with the various health agencies to ensure health care provision is maintained and improved. In particular, I will work to ensure that mental health services are not marginalised and that the work of carers in the community is supported.
Business and Investment I will work to bring inward investment to the city, both from within the UK and also from Europe and beyond. For our futures and that of our children, we need the courage and self-confidence to enjoy and celebrate our beautiful historic city and develop a thriving 21st century city. As someone who has run his own small business for twenty years, I will be a strong voice in Parliament for small businesses, the key role they play in the local economy and their importance to the nation's financial well-being.
Education I will support the excellent educational provision in York and help to ensure that it continues. I support the Liberal Democrat commitment to scrap tuition fees as soon as the resources are available, as I do not believe that it is right that young people should start their careers in massive debt.
Christian Vassie March 2010
Published and promoted by Christian Vassie, 10 Blake Court, Wheldrake, York YO19 6BT
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