UKIP Bradford Blog

Geat Horton by-election Result

2011-11-28T16:39:00.001Z

We had a good night on Thursday 24th November, as people went to the polls in Great Horton after a Labour councillor resigned.

UKIP came a very credible 4th place with 8.6% of the vote, just behind the Lib Dems.

Having never stood here before this was a really good start in the ward, especially as we have identified some very strong pockets of support for UKIP.

The full results are:

Lab 1993 58.3% (-17.1%)
Tory 707 20.6% (+5.2%)
Lib 337 9.8% (+0.6%)
UKIP 294 8.6% (+8.6%) - Candidate Jason Smith
Green 73 2.1% (+2.1%)

Rejected 15

Turnout 3417 (27.19%)

2011-10-26T16:20:00.002+01:00

A by-election has been called in Great Horton Ward, Bradford.

Anybody who can come and lend a hand leafleting etc. is most welcome!

Bradford MBC, Great Horton

Election Date: Thursday 24th November 2011

Reason: Labour seat - Resignation

UKIP Candidate: Jason Smith (UKIP Bradford Branch Chairman)

Contact: Jason - jasonsmithukip@virginmedia.com

UKIP on 7%!

2011-09-17T11:49:00.001+01:00

The latest polling data from Angus Reid puts UKIP on 7% nationally.

The poll, which puts UKIP on 7%, asked participants which party they would be most likely to support if a General Election was held tomorrow.

Labour scored 39%, Conservatives 33% and the Liberal Democrats 11%. The SNP polled 5% whilst the Green Party and the BNP were level at 2%.

UKIP Leader Nigel Farage said: "These figures show that UKIP is leaving the other smaller parties behind as more and more voters conclude that UKIP is the political party that is speaking their language on a number of important issues.

"I also believe that many are fed up of the same old faces and empty promises when it comes to so-called 'big three' parties and are looking for a credible alternative.

"Increasingly UKIP is becoming their party of choice."

This is great news for UKIP Bradford going in to the local elections next year - we are all set for some more record breaking results!

UKIP Chairman Jason Smith joins locals for Queensbury smelly truck campaign

2011-07-23T00:42:00.001+01:00

UKIP Bradford Chairman and local resident Jason Smith has helped to start a campaign to stop the smelly trucks travelling through Queenbury!

All credit (and picture!) to the Halifax Courier:

"CAMPAIGNERS are stepping up their fight against the firm behind the gruesome offal spills and foul stench plaguing Queensbury."

"Swalesmoor Action Group has drawn up a list of demands for animal-waste company Omega Proteins after two major spills from its lorries."

"The group has also joined forces with UKIP activist Jason Smith to examine the European laws governing the company’s operations."

"Mr Smith said: “We have contacted our researchers in Brussels who are scrutinising the legislation and we hope to have a clear view of what the legislation allows and does not allow shortly."

http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/local/village_plagued_by_the_pong_steps_up_fight_against_firm_1_3607654

Bradford Labour want taxpayers to cough up for failed policies

2011-07-19T14:39:00.007+01:00

The Labour Council leader appears to not want new tax holding powers for business rates and believes that taxpayers should subsidise their failed policies.

Interesting.

Of course, holding on to business rates would cut a whole swath of bureaucracy and help make national savings (Which we desperately need, lest we end up like Greece) - not to mention simplifying the whole system.

But thanks to successive Labour and Tory councils, our city has been destroyed and businesses driven out.

And who is to blame for that? - Not so much the coalition Mr. Greenwood.

Although UKIP would go further - We support either an enterprise zone for Bradford or giving total control over the setting of business rates, to the council.

The less you tax small business, the more it will either grow or move in to the area, bringing jobs and extra tax revue for public services.

That is one way to create jobs.

Residents protest at developing of Greenfield site and the handling by Bradford Council

2011-06-30T10:13:00.007+01:00

As usual Bradford Council is building on Greenfield sites, no one wants it, and they are ignoring the opinions of locals.

Same old stories I'm afraid.

"Campaigners are angry that a major decision on a 400-home development on green fields near Bingley will be made in Bradford rather than the Aire Valley.

Greenhill Action Group (GAG), which is fighting the proposals, said there had been assurances from the Council that the “hugely important” decision would be made at Bingley Arts Centre."

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/9103746.Anger_at_venue_for_Bingley_planning_decision/

This is exactly the sort of thing that we at UKIP Bradford have been saying for years. "Consultation" efforts are generally pathetic, and there is very little input allowed from concerned local people.

We would revolutionise the planning application process and put power back into the hands of the people.

UKIP would give local areas a vote on major housing schemes and big developments.

This would then force the Council to actually communicate their ideas to local people in an open and frank way, and not hide like they are doing with Bingley.

A major development, especially on a Greenfield site, would be very open to a referendum petition under a UKIP Council. All a local group (or an individual) would have to do is officially sign up 5% of the electorate in the local area (and have the names and addresses confirmed by the authorities at the Council) and that would trigger a local referendum.

We are sick to death of seeing people ignored with planning decisions, and we in UKIP Bradford want to blow the whole process open.

UKIP 3rd party in the North

2011-06-24T07:44:00.011+01:00

Over at the Yorkshire Post, it is reported that UKIP is beating the Lib Dems in the north of England. Good news going for forward for the local elections next year - hopefully we can make more big gains in our target seats in Bradford!

"THE UK Independence Party is now more popular than the Liberal Democrats among voters in the North, according to a stark new opinion poll.

The YouGov poll also gives Labour a commanding 24-point lead over the Conservatives in the North, giving little to cheer for the coalition partners. Nationally, the poll put Labour on 42 points, with the Tories on 37, Lib Dems on eight and UKip on five.
But among Northern voters, Labour is on 53 with the Tories on 29, UKip on eight and the Lib Dems on seven.

The Tories won a string of seats across Yorkshire at the General Election, while the Lib Dems won Bradford East but lost Harrogate and Knaresborough.
However the results of the opinion poll suggest Northern voters are less happy with the coalition than people elsewhere in the country.

Godfrey Bloom, UKip MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “This poll means we are now the third Party in the North and it also demonstrates that the UK Independence Party is way ahead of the Greens and other small Parties.”

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/main-section/ukip_overtakes_lib_dems_in_north_1_3506419

Fed up with U-turns?

2011-06-17T10:00:00.003+01:00

Although welcome, news that the Coalition is shelving its plans to halve sentences for the most serious criminal offenders marks yet another U-turn by the government.

First a hike in VAT provided taxpayers with an unexpected bombshell. Then we find out the Government tried to keep quiet its amnesty for a quarter of a million failed asylum seekers.

On law and order the Government has become a national embarrassment.

Justice Minister Crispin Blunt has bent over backwards to put the rights of prisoners first. Whoever would have thought a Conservative (sic) would dedicate time and resources to organising prisoner parties, IVF treatment for those inside and votes for some of the most dangerous people in the UK?

After only a year, the gulf between what the Conservatives say and what they do has become clear for all to see. No one can safely know where the Conservatives stand on anything these days.

With UKIP you know precisely where we stand, our principles abide by what works best through letting the British people have more money in their pockets, more choice in services and the freedom to live in a safe, democratic society.

For example, UKIP believe in letting families have the choice of sending their children to a grammar school as well as giving communities across the country the option to create new grammar schools. But the assault continues in Tory heartlands to phase out the best tool for social mobility the UK has ever seen, with only UKIP committed to defending the institution.

On law and order, UKIP would unravel New Labour’s Human ‘Rights’ legislation that puts the interests of offenders ahead of those who abide by the law and form the overwhelming majority of our society. UKIP would not let a single foreign court or institution instruct a sovereign parliament on what it should or shouldn’t do.

No prisoner votes. No soft sentences. Not difficult, is it?

Finally there’s the pound in your pocket. Britain is in unsustainable levels of debt. But the Coalition is sending more of your money abroad each year and chasing away job creators by hiking taxes.

Over this parliament, we will have spent more on foreign aid and EU membership than the entire government cuts package. In return, the British people get higher bills and more taxes.

A vote for UKIP is a vote to end wasteful spending and a start to digging Britain out of the trench of debt we find ourselves in.

Fed up of U-turns? Vote UKIP and make a real difference.

UKIP backs call for Bradford "Enterprise Zone"

2011-06-10T14:19:00.006+01:00

"Business leaders in Bradford have thrown their support behind the city’s bid for enterprise zone status.
Bradford Chamber of Commerce said an enterprise zone could be the catalyst for major investment, creating jobs and regenerating the city and wider region." - Which can be found in the T&A here and here.

With the farce of regeneration in Bradford and the lack of businesses investing in the city, thanks to the policies of successive Labour and Tory run Councils, Bradford has been left to decay. What we need is to give the local economy a kick start; with so few jobs around we need to make Bradford a place to do business!

According to the reports in the T&A, 5000 jobs would be created and £1 billion could be added to projects in Bradford.

Reducing the costs for business to set up in Bradford will mean new ventures being created and current ones will be able to grow. Both of these result in more jobs.

The Guardian reported that:
"The chancellor also said he would consider enhancing capital allowances for plant and machinery in the zones and announced that, for at least 25 years, all business rates growth within the zone will be retained by local authorities to support their economy."

Of course, this has been UKIP policy for some time as detailed in our local manifesto this year:
"Let councils control their own finances by keeping half of local business rates"
"Replace VAT with a Local Sales Tax, with a proportion going direct to councils"

This proposal would reduce costs for business, simplify planning laws and create jobs across the district. UKIP wholeheartedly supports it.

UKIP Bradford supports Cross Rail Link

2011-06-03T13:21:00.010+01:00

UKIP Bradford has come out in support of the Bradford Rail Users Group call for a cross rail link.

"BRUG Chairman James Vasey met with UKIP Candidate Jason Smith in the Urban Garden (Westfield development site) on Friday evening to discuss plans to develop a rail link across the city.

Mr Smith was impressed by the Cross Rail vision which would help revive the city centre as a cultural tourist destination and attract new businesses to the lower Broadway and little Germany quarter of the city."

See the full story here

Click here to see the story covered in the Yorkshire Post last year.

Strong performance in UKIP target seats

2011-05-27T08:51:00.003+01:00

Some good results for UKIP in Queensbury and Wibsey ward, saw both candidates beat the Lib Dems and double the vote.

Jason Smith - Queensbury - 412 votes (4th)
http://www.bradford.gov.uk/asp/elections2011/index.asp?w=30

Jamie Illingworth - Wibsey - 363 votes (3rd)
http://www.bradford.gov.uk/asp/elections2011/index.asp?w=26

Other results saw Paul Latham in Ilkely get 375 votes and Philip Bird in Shipley with 219 votes
http://www.bradford.gov.uk/asp/elections2011/index.asp?w=14
http://www.bradford.gov.uk/asp/elections2011/index.asp?w=21

Full results of the local elections across Bradford can be found here:
http://www.bradford.gov.uk/asp/elections2011/overall.asp

Scores on the doors

2010-05-12T12:29:00.002+01:00

Well we had a great election in Bradford, fielding a record number of candidates and votes.

General Election:

Jason Smith (Bradford West) - 812 - 2%
Jamie Illingworth (Bradford South) - 1339 - 3.5%
Paul Latham (Keighley) - 1470 - 3.1%

Local election:

Jason Smith (Queensbury) - 383
Jamie Illingworth (Wibsey) - 291
Paul Latham (Ilkley) - 324
John Worsley (Thornton and Allerton) - 297
Michael Feely (Eccleshill) - 264
Jay Sanghaa (Idle and Thackley) - 357
Paul Wright (Bingley Rural) - 629
Hiren Koyani (City) - 64
Philip Bird (Shipley) - 408

Congratulations to all the candidates for running great camapaigns and thanks to everyone who voted for us!

UKIP Public Meeting and Media

2010-04-18T12:40:00.003+01:00

Another full weekend campaigning and canvassing.

On 23rd of April there will be a public meeting at 7:30pm in Queensbury at the Victoria Hall followed by one on at the Central Library in the city centre at 7:30pm on the 29th of April.

The above advert will appear in the Wednesday edition of the T&A in Bradford.

Jason was on radio last night for an hour and I will be on Radio Leeds at 8am on Monday (after the news) for a quick question and answer session focussing on crime.

Campaign Weekend

2010-04-11T19:51:00.005+01:00

Full Weekend campaigning with lots of door knocking and great feedback again in Queensbury.

Also we went to support the Halifax Branch meeting on saturday afternoon, which put in place a full slate of General Election candidates in Calder Valley and Halifax.

Wibsey Leaflet & Queensbury Canvassing

2010-04-02T16:42:00.005+01:00

1000 of the above leaflets with policy booklets were put around Wibsey yesterday, highlighting the pledge not to take any expenses to prove we are not in it for ourselves.

Also been Canvassing around Queensbury today - again a good response on the doorstep!

Campaign Update

2010-04-01T16:34:00.006+01:00

Queensbury Ward has been pretty much leafleted with 5000 of the above leaflet. Also other candidates around Bradford have been using these leaflets, distributing them in their local areas.

UKIP Bradford to Field Record Number of Candidates

2010-02-22T23:05:00.003Z

With the Local elections and General Election this year, UKIP Bradford will be fielding a record number of candidates.

Bradford West: Jason Smith
Bradford South: Jamie Illingworth
Keighley: Paul Latham

And we are in the process of selecting a record number of local election candidates.

We have also just re-launched the UKIP Bradford website that will be far more functional in the run up to these elections. You can find it here

If you would like to help out with the branch, stand in the elections or have any questions please do get in touch with Bradford Branch Chairman Jason Smith at:
jsmith@ukip-bradford.org.uk

This will be our biggest campaign ever and with UKIP nationally on it's highest poll rating in the run up to General election, UKIP in Bradford coming 3rd at the elections last year and in the EU elections UKIP took 2.5 million votes, we are set on course for a memorable election campaign.

Come and give us a hand!

UKIP Bradford Branch AGM

2010-01-31T17:55:00.003Z

We will be holding our annual meeting on Saturday the 6th of February.

For more details get in touch with Branch Chairman Jason Smith on:
jsmith@ukip-bradford.org.uk

We will be discussing:
Adoption of PPC's and local candidates
Election strategy
Election of branch committee
Among no doubt many other things!

Hope to see some of you there!

Heritage report on the Odeon

2009-09-23T10:30:00.002+01:00

An article in the T&A tells of several reports concerning the Odeon, that it would be too costly to refurbish.

"A new report into the condition of the derelict former Odeon cinema in Bradford city centre has concluded that it is not economically viable to retain any of it."

"Experts were called in to assess the merits of four options for retaining the Prince’s Way facade and the twin towers but have concluded it is not financially viable and would cost the developers up to £13.9 million."

"The repair work alone would cost about £6 million, it says."

"Dave Rolinson, chairman of Spawforth Planning Consultants, which commissioned the reports on behalf of Langtree Artisan, said: “Given the significant structural, architectural and economic challenges and the excessive costs required to refurbish the building, it is evident that the demolition of the building is justified.” "

That is all well and good, but after leaving the poor Odeon to rot for so long, making a hash of other regeneration in the city, I don't think the Council deserves to be given the decision over wht to do with it.

Yorkshire Forward (Regional Quango) that own the Odeon have wanted to demolish it for ages, despite local oppinion.

I think it's time we the public should decide on this issue, because we clearly can't trust the council on this issue. And please don't tell me there has been extensive "public consultation" because that's absolute rubbish. The best way to get people involved in the city, is to begin to get enthusiasm for our once great city, would be to ask the people what they want.

The Odeon would be a great place to start, and could get a real feel good factor with Bradfordians if we were asked what we wanted. Plus it would mean something could be achieved with Odeon as the Council would have the mandate to act immediately.

"A decision will be made at City Hall at tomorrow’s meeting which starts at 10.30am. There have been more than 1,300 objections in total across both applications, including from the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group. "

Support Grows for Odeon Referendum

2009-09-05T11:56:00.005+01:00

Reading through the letters pages lately has shown that there are people writing in (non-ukip I assure you!) supporting the call for the decision over the Odeon be taken away from the unlected quango Yorkshire Forward and the untrusted Council.

I don't think I can put it in any better way than the following letter:

"It is obvious from the interest being taken in the future of the New Victoria Cinema that it’s destiny is far too important for it to be left in the hands of the seven councillors who form the Planning Committee.

The only way for a truly democratic decision to be made would be for a referendum of all the citizens of Bradford be held.

It is vital that fiascos like the demolition of the Kirkgate Market, Mechanics’ Institute, Central Library and Forster Square not be repeated"

Absolutely spot on Mr. Chappell... have you considered joining UKIP Bradford....?

here are a few more:
The choice is ours
Support the Call
Let the public decide
Poll for a true picture
Quangos must go

UKIP Bradford called for a referendum back in 2007 (Full Article T&A)

Some older letters in support of our call:
Odeon shock
Vote welcomed

There really does seem to be a growing number of people that are beginning to expect to have a vote on at least some project of the "regeneration" in Bradford.

And the Odeon is the perfect place to start.

UKIP Bradford calls for a vote on Odeon plans

2009-08-28T12:05:00.003+01:00

Had a Letter published in the T&A regarding the Odeon and promoting UKIPs policy of local referenda....

Let the public decide

8:16am Friday 21st August 2009

SIR – Regarding the on-going saga and controversy of the Odeon, I think it’s time that a line is drawn under it and something actually achieved.
With all the information and accusations thrown around regarding the Odeon, why not give the decision to the people of Bradford? The Council will then have the authority to act – and act quickly!

There should be a Bradford-wide referendum of maybe three or four options with clear information regarding costs and intentions available prior to this, so we can all vote on which option we prefer.

One of the options must include refurbishment of the Odeon, even if it would be the most costly.
UKIP called for this, which the T&A reported on September 4, 2007, and it should be fully-backed. Why not let the public decide? Then the Council could actually get on with some “regeneration” for a change, with popular approval.

Leafletting with the Chairman

2009-08-20T22:15:00.000+01:00

We are planning another mass leafleting session on:
Sunday 23rd August, 2pm

At: Bradford Bulls Grattan Stadium, Odsal, Bradford
Meeting place TBA

Please let me know if you can make it, will probably be about an hour in total – should be able to shift 1,000s of leaflets if we have a few hands.

Contact me for more information,
Jason

jsmith@ukip-bradford.org.uk

NO2ID Stall in Bradford

2009-08-17T16:31:00.005+01:00

The Bradford NO2ID Group is holding a stall in Bradford and Victoria Hall, Saltaire on Saturday 21st November from around 10am - 4pm - as part of a larger event which is being run there.

UKIP fully opposes ID cards because of the spiraling costs (especially in the current economic climate), the erosion of our civil rights and that they will prove to be another unsafe IT project with our personal details.

UKIP Bradford will be supporting this event and encourage all members, supporters or anyone interested to come long, have a chat and help out!

The UKIP MEP for Yorkshire, Godfrey Bloom, may even pop along to offer his support.

So please come along!

NO2ID Website: http://www.no2id.net/
NO2ID Bradford Contact: bradford@no2id.net

UKIP Bradford Taking Local Elections Seriously

2009-08-06T05:47:00.003+01:00

Next year when the local elections are set to take place, UKIP Bradford will be putting a record number of candidates out.

Although more known for our European Union Policy, UKIP does have a wide ranging set of local policies, from council tax and local housing, to policing and transport.

If you would like to read the current local manifesto, please find it here:
http://www.ukip.org/media/pdf/UKIPlocalManifesto.pdf

On the back of coming second in a national election and third in the Bradford area, we are on the look out for more candidates. UKIP Bradford Branch covers about 30 wards!
The more candaidates we have the more local coverage we get and it shows that we mean business by standing up for the people and issues that concern our local areas.

If you are interested in standing for UKIP (Council elections are free - General elections cost £500) please sign up to UKIP Bradford here:
http://www.ukip-bradford.org.uk/joinukipbradford.pdf

and get in touch with our Branch Chairman Jason: jsmith@ukip-bradford.org.uk

We are planning a big campaign in the run up to next years elections so get involved!

UKIP Polling 3rd in Bradford

2009-06-11T13:40:00.003+01:00

A breakdown of the EU results has been posted on the Guardian website, listing results by local authority.

The article is here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/table/2009/jun/09/european-elections-elections-2009
The Spreadsheet: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/table/2009/jun/09/european-elections-elections-2009

UKIP are polling 3rd in Bradford!

To say we don't have any councillors or MPs in the area, it shows that there are plenty of voters willing to vote for us. All we have to do is go out and get them!

Bradford Results:

Electorate: 328,345
Votes: 110,869
Turnout: 33.77%

1. Tory 27,233 - 24.56%
2. Labour 24,884 - 22.44%
3. UKIP 16,401 - 14.79%
4. Lib Dem 14,771 - 13.32%
5. BNP 10,330 - 9.32%
6.Green 9,725 - 8.77%

UKIP Come 2nd Nationally and Advance to 3rd in Yorkshire!

2009-06-08T15:03:00.007+01:00

Well it was a very good night for UKIP, beating Labour into 3rd place and picking up new MEPs in Wales and the West Midlands.

More closer to home, Godfrey Bloom retained his seat in Yorkshire coming 3rd and UKIP wasn't that far away from taking a second seat in Yorkshire.

Congratulations to the UKIP national, regional and local teams in rallying such good support and taking one further step towards UK Independence.

Now the long hard work starts towards the local and general elections!

Full Results for Yorkshire:

Conservative 299,802 votes 24.5% (-0.2) 2 MEPs (+0)
Labour 230,009 votes 18.8% (-7.5) 1 MEP (-1)
UKIP 213,750 votes 17.4% (+2.9) 1 MEP (0)
Lib Dems 161,552 votes 13.2% (-2.4) 1 MEP (0)
BNP 120,139 votes 9.8% (+1.8) 1 MEP (+1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Green Party 104,456 votes 8.5% (+2.8) 0 MEPs (0)
English Democrat 31,287 votes 2.6% (+1.0) 0 MEPs (0)
Socialist Labour Party 19,380 votes 1.6% (+1.6) 0 MEPs (0)
Christian Party 16,742 votes 1.4% (+1.4) 0 MEPs (0)
No2EU 15,614 votes 1.3% (+1.3) 0 MEPs (0)
Jury Team 7,181 votes 0.6% (+0.6) 0 MEPs (0)
Libertas 6,268 votes 0.5% (+0.5) 0 MEPs (0)

What a Response!

2009-06-02T14:02:00.004+01:00

Well we had a massive boost to the EU election campaign after holding two stalls in Halifax and Bradford. We handed out thousands of leaflets and got a really good response from the public.

We had many people pledge to vote for us (or had already voted for us - postal votes)

People took leaflets, stickers and policy booklets. Everybody was annoyed with the major parties and were pleased to see us out and about actually talking to people.

The Greens and NO2EU also had stalls when we were there in Halifax, but we were the only ones that stayed all day!

Interesting to see none of the main parties dared to show their face the weekend before the election. If they had, I think they would have been lynched....

Only thing left to do now is....

VOTE UKIP on the 4th JUNE!!!!!

Confirmed Campaigning Days!

2009-05-23T17:46:00.002+01:00

UKIP Bradford Confirmed Campaign Dates!

The below UKIP Euro Election street stalls are now confirmed:

(Bank Holiday) Monday 25th May, outside Zavvi superstor, Tyrrel Street, Bradford city centre.

Between 11am – 3pmSaturday 30th May, Russell Street, Halifax city centre. Between 11am – 3pm

Our Yorkshire & Humber MEP Godfrey Bloom will be attending both stalls and is wanting to see as many members/ supporters there as possible, it is also a good opportunity for you to meet your MEP!Thanks for everybody that has replied so far.

Please advise if you hope to attend, please try and make it, even it is for only a short time.

This is the last big push before the Euro Elections, and every vote could count!

UKIP Bradford on the Expenses Scandle

2009-05-22T00:24:00.004+01:00

Please find UKIP Bradford Chairman Jason Smith's published letters on the current expenses scandle & below what UKIPs proposals are on shaking up the system

"Where are the morals?" (T&A)
//www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/4371026.Where_are_the_morals_/

"A show of inegrity" (T&A)
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/4367467.A_show_of_integrity/

"Do these MPs have any morals?" (Halifax Courier)
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/mailbag/Do-these-MPs-have-any.5275653.jp

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECALL POLICY:

"...this won't solve the problems over the greed of MPs getting their snouts in the trough, the moat cleaning, the houses and the dog biscuits, but it will allow us to do something about it. We'll be able to do something to the people who have done this with our hard earned money that we've had to pay in taxes, to punish them."

"In California for example, if 12% of the voters at the previous election sign a petition asking for a new election then there will be one. There doesn't have to be a specific reason, simply if enough of the voters think that they deserve to choose again then they can indeed choose again."

See the full article:
http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/1046-terminate-sleaze-with-total-recall

SWEDISH EXPENSE SYSTEM:

“In Sweden, second homes in Stockholm for members who live outside the capital are provided by the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) and let to the MPs free of charge”, said UKIP Chairman Paul Nuttall. Swedish MPs who choose to live in apartments they have found themselves receive a flat 7,000 Krona, the equivalent of under £600 a month, and they cannot claim for improvements to that accommodation."

“This system would put a stop to British MPs climbing the property ladder and making huge sums of money at the expense of the taxpayer,” said Mr Nuttall, who is also UKIP’s number one candidate for the European election in the North West.

"Also in Sweden MPs travel expenses are covered by parliament but journeys must be undertaken in the cheapest possible way. And they must be booked through the parliamentary travel office”

See the full article:
http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/1031-ukip-push-for-swedish-style-expenses

UKIP Bradford Facebook Group

2009-05-20T10:53:00.004+01:00

For those of you who are on facebook and interested in the activities of UKIP Bradford, please do join our growing facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=15507&post=193520&uid=6650547193#/group.php?gid=6650547193&ref=ts

If the link dosn't work properly, just use the search box at the top of facebook and type "UKIP Bradford" and we should be the top result.

In our group will be updates of the pub campaign (among others), what our policies are on local issues, what we have had published in the local press and a chance to talk to us!

You don't have to be a UKIP member to join, please feel free to join to find out what we get upto, get invited to events and talk to some of us - although it will be mainly me who runs the group hehe :o)

Also here is the link to the "Official UKIP Group" on Facebook, for more information about the wider party: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=15507&post=193520&uid=6650547193#/group.php?gid=16375642155&ref=ts

We've been having lots of enquiries locally about UKIP Bradford, and membership is beginning to really grow!

We are also planning some campaigning days in Halifax and Bradford, so watch out for them or get intouch to lend a hand!

Message from the Chairman - Campaigning Days!

2009-05-16T16:59:00.002+01:00

As the Euro Elections are nearly upon us, I was looking to organise 2 street stalls, one in Bradford city centre and one in Halifax city centre, probably between 11am – 3pm on:

Saturday 23rd May
Saturday 30th May

I would need at least 2 others in order to do each stall, but the more people the better, the more people we have the more people we can talk to!

Please let me know which dates you can help out with, or possibly both – we will advise which date is in which area depending on how many helpers come forward from each area.

With UKIP at 19% in the polls, this is expected to be the best result of all time for us and we could return record numbers of MEPs. Any time you can spare would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jason

UKIP Yorkshire Campaign Launch

2009-05-04T22:50:00.006+01:00

We were in York for the regional campaign launch on Thursday the 23rd of April.

A lovely day in the sun with Godfrey having a good interview with the Politics Show and celebrating St. Geroges Day.

I think we must be the only party for people to drive past, beep and wave support at us during our roadside unveiling of the Churchill billboards.

A very encouraging sign, and i think this election will go very well for us.

Shortly after we visited the pub across the road and found they had the UKIP "save the pub" beermats out and was a great afternoon talking to some of the locals and landlords.

Here is also a video of the launch and other events: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/8022589.stm

You can see me just peeking behind Godders in the photo (the tall lanky lad) and in the video got a prime spot next to Godders on the left, early in the interview on yesssssss :)

Pub Campaign Update!

2009-04-20T17:30:00.002+01:00

Well we were back round the pubs today, picking up lots of full petitions!

We did a re-run of the previous group of pubs around Royds and Wyke area.

We've had new "UKIP Save the Pub" A3 Posters printed and were well recieved, with some publicans putting them up right infront of us! Also the new beermats were given out, which pubs snatched our hands off for.

Chatting with some pubs, we found that since we'd been round before, a few of the pubs were going to close down, obviously we were a bit too late for those pubs with the campaign.

Still, a very encouraging day, many of the landlords/landladies remembering us from last time and had a good chat about the trade and UKIP.

Pubs we Visited:Prince of Orange, New Furnace, Beehive, Waggoners, Kings Head, Drop Kick, Junction, The Crown, Oddfellows Hall, Oddfellows, Brown Cow, The Royal, Mail Coach (closing), Northern (landlady leaving the trade), Cap and Bells* (1st visit), The George (1st visit)

*When we visited Cap and Bells for the 1st time, they had already heard of the campaign and had petitions because a pub we previously visited had passed on our campaign!

UKIP Pub Policy: http://www.ukip.org/media/pdf/pubs.pdf
UKIP Pub Campaign Website: http://www.savethepub.co.uk/

UKIP Speaking at Freedom2Choose Meeting

2009-04-10T22:20:00.002+01:00

UKIP line up for Freedom2Choose Meeting

Members of Northern England Freedom2Choose will be meeting this Saturday 11 April at The Painters Arms Public House, 35 Bradford Road, Drighlington, Bradford, West Yorkshire.

This regular event attracts visitors from throughout Northern England who are concerned with the erosion of civil liberties and choice, particularly in relation to the smoking ban.

MEP Godfrey Bloom (UKIP Yorkshire MEP) will be amongst the speakers attending the meeting, which commences at 2pm, along with Jason Smith (UKIP Bradford) and Nick Hogan (UKIP Chorley) to offer support for the Freedom2Choose national campaign to amend the smoking ban. Godfrey Bloom MEP is expected to speak at 4pm.Pro-choice group Freedom2Choose hold regular meetings throughout the country and now boast over 4.5 million supporters.

Freedom2Choose are a non-political, unfunded, voluntary organisation seeking to demonstrate that suitable alternatives exist to accommodate smokers and non-smokers alike.

John Baker, Freedom2Choose Secretary and organiser of the event states, “The landlords are delighted that Godfrey Bloom continues to take an interest in the draconian smoking ban, as the ban has devastated the licensed trade.

They are interested in hearing the UKIP policy on the smoking ban and are expecting more visitors than usual at this gathering.

All new-comers and guests are more than welcome to attend.”The current smoking ban legislation in force within the UK is one of the most stringent within Europe and Freedom2Choose is campaigning for a reform to place the UK more in line with the majority of the other EU countries.

(Bloggers4UKIP http://bloggers4ukip.blogspot.com/2009/04/ukip-line-up-for-freedom2choose-meeting.html)

Save the Pub Campaign Update

2009-03-22T17:52:00.005Z

We were out an about campaining in pubs today and were visitng pubs in Wyke and Royds among other areas.

Every pub was interested in our new pub policy paper, and we had some very positive feedback.We handed out two different types of beermats, the new posters, policy papers and loads of petitions that people were eager to sign on the spot!

Pubs we visited:
Prince of Orange, New Furnace, Beehive, Waggoners, Kings Head, Drop Kick, British Queen (where we sparked off a lively debate!), Junction, The Crown, Oddfellows Hall, Oddfellows, Brown Cow, The Royal, Mail Coach and the Northern

UKIP Pub Policy: http://www.ukip.org/media/pdf/pubs.pdf
UKIP Pub Campaign Website: http://www.savethepub.co.uk/

Public Meeting on Regeneration

2009-03-14T07:53:00.003Z

"Bradford Civic Society wants residents to become more involved in the regeneration of Bradford city centre.
It wants to hear people’s views on what is good, what is not so good and what they would like to see in the future in terms of regeneration." - T&A

Looks like we'll get a chance to get our two-peneth in with the Civic society at an open meeting.

The event is called "The Regeneration of Bradford City Centre"
at the Impressions Gallery
Centenary Square
Bradford

between noon and 4pm on Saturday, March 21.

Make sure you get there and voice your concerns over the number of craters in the city and the poor odeon!

UKIP Called for sacking of regeneration boss - Yorkshire Post Article

UKIP Called for a local vote on plans for the odeon - T&A Article

Pub News

2009-03-12T10:01:00.005Z

Came across this interesting article from the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Looks like Gerry Sutcliffe (MP Bradford South - Licensing Minister for the country) - could be taking a leaf out of our policy.....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UKIP Says: "...would also allow the designation of established pubs for pub use only in local plans, to avoid closure and conversion into other uses, where there is a strong local desire to retain pubs "

Ministers Say: "Ministers are also looking at beefing up planning rules to prevent former pub buildings being so easily bulldozed."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UKIP Says: "...would cut business rates and taxes on community pubs. "

Minister Say: "WEST Yorkshire pubs that are “centres of the community” could enjoy lower business rates under proposals being examined by the Government."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UKIP Says: "...would reduce both EU derived regulations, and UK regulations and controls, and tone down enforcement regimes, involving variously licences, permits, certificates, surveys, reports, audits, contracts, procedures, assessments and policies."

Ministers Say: "Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe said planned action includes simplifying minor changes to licences and helping pubs stay open when the licence holder dies."

"She (Treasury Minister Angela Eagle) rejected calls for lower alcohol tax for pubs compared to supermarkets, saying it would be illegal under EU law."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looks like Gerry and chums are taking pages out of our book! ... and yes, according to the Treasury Minister, EU rules are stopping us from looking at potential alternatives!
UKIP spot on again ;)

UKIP Pub Policy: http://www.ukip.org/media/pdf/pubs.pdf
UKIP Campaign Website: http://www.savethepub.co.uk/

Another "Hole in the Heart"

2009-03-11T06:05:00.003Z

The T&A reports more of Bradford City is centre is demolished in a £45 million pound scheme.

"McAleer & Rushe, a leading construction and development company in Northern Ireland, has applied for planning permission for a 200-bed hotel, to be run by the Jurys Inn chain, and 13,500 square metres of offices."

The T&A also reports the demolition has taken place before any kind of planning application has been approved. There are also reports that the area is a conservation area, which makes the whole process rather bizarre.

10's of millions of pounds wasted on what could be another Broadway fiasco, and looking at how long the recession maybe, the companies may go bust before completion.

"The Park in the Heart" is set to cost a fair amount, as well as the (never appearing) Westfield Development. The Odeon is another contentious issue.

Don't get us wrong, we want to see Bradford as a modern, enticing place to do business and live. But the amount of money thrown at these big city demolition jobs, and the lack of progress at a time when we need to be bringing in business to provide jobs in the recession is incredible.

The Council would do better using money to give the people of Bradford a Council Tax freeze instead of putting it up to pay for all these failed projects. We need to get people spending again and help them pay the bills instead of raising taxes every year.

What we really need is to have a council that can control its own business rates, look to lower them so Bradford can be a competitive place to do business. - We need to encourage businesses to set up shop!

Local Pool Consultation

2009-03-06T16:46:00.003Z

Bradford Council have launched a "district-wide" consultation on swimming pool and sport facilities in Bradford reports the T&A.

There is an online survey asking for your thoughts on the Bradford Council Website:
Click here to take the survey: http://www.bradford.gov.uk/sfs/

It seems very quiet on the Bradford Council website, with no news release about it, except a solitary link on the left of the main page, without much explanation.

After the outcry against possible closures of local communinty pools last year, it comes as a bit of a relief that the public will be consulted. However, there seem to be no other ways the consultation process will be undertaken. For people who aren't IT savy probably won't be able to find out about the consultation.

UKIP Bradford supports the maintenance of local community pools and fully opposes possible plans to close them in favour of one central pool in the city centre.

The man to contact about the consultation is:
"If you have any queries please contact: John Coulton on 01274 438795 or email john.coulton@bradford.gov.uk"

Pub Pressure steps up

2009-03-04T21:29:00.003Z

T&A have now reported local publicans in Bradford are speaking out against the declining pub industry.

The report highlights that "Government figures show that 52 pubs have been lost in Bradford in four years."

"William Wagstaff, licensee of the New Beehive Inn in Westgate, will celebrate 20 years there next Sunday and says things have never been worse for the British pub.
“I have certainly weathered a few storms, and this is by far and away the worst the situation has ever been,” he said."

The pressure will be mounting on local Bradofrd MP Gerry Sutcliffe, as he is the licensing minister for the country.

UKIP Bradford will be kicking off their "save the pub campaign" to help focus a local voice for more help in the pub industry and bring pressure on MP Gerry Sutcliffe.

UKIP propose to cut duty/taxes on traditional draught beers such as real ale, ciders & some lagers

UKIP propose to allow the council to cut business rates on important community pubs (not just single, rural pubs of small rateable value as now)

UKIP would help finance nationally the excellent 'Pub is the Hub' initiative, which assists pubs in diversifying and encouraging social enterprise

UKIP would work with Sky TV to provide a fairer, non-monopolistic pricing structure

See the full UKIP Pub Policy Here: http://www.ukip.org/media/pdf/pubs.pdf
See the UKIP Camapign Website: http://www.savethepub.co.uk/

Pub Closures in Yorkshire

2009-03-03T18:33:00.004Z

Yorkshire Post have a piece on the problems facing local pubs in Yorkshire....

The report suggets 300 community pubs have closed their doors in Yorkshire in the past four years.

"Campaigners have pledged to making saving the nation's pubs as big a political issue as the fight to preserve post offices last year as 36 close their doors every week."

This couldn't have been better news for us in UKIP as we have recently produced a "pub policy" which we will be kicking off a campaign with in Bradford.

"figures released by the Commons all-party beer group...reveal 311 Yorkshire pubs have closed since the last General Election in June 2005"

UKIP Bradford will be targetting it's campaign in Bradford South, as that is where sitting MP Gerry Sutcliffe is also "Licensing Minister" for the country. We hope to gather loads of signatures and landords/ladys support upto the next general election, to put real pressure on him to help out instead of persecute our declining pub industry.

Watch out for UKIP beermats, petitions, posters and pub policies in your pubs around Bradford in the coming months! We will be aiming to meet every Landord/lady in Bradford South and have a good chat, and hopefully roll the campaign out around Bradford.

See the Campaign Website: http://www.savethepub.co.uk/
See the UKIP Pub Policy: http://www.ukip.org/media/pdf/pubs.pdf

Going, going...not yet gone....

2009-03-02T20:28:00.003Z

News on the Bradford Odeon!

Let's see.......ahhh, more hold ups.

A report from the T&A reveals there maybe "revisions" to the plans of demolishing the current Odeon which could trigger another public consulatition. Not that the council will listen as they ignored the "hug the odeon" event, the setup of the rescue group and the numerous petitions handed to them.

We must'nt forget that it is YORKSHIRE FORWARD that owns the property. A "regional development agency" that has a budget of millions, no accountability and are a symptom of the lack of transparency in local decision making.

These regional bureaucratic quangos must be abolished, freeing up more money for local services and handing more decision making back to local people.

Are we seeing another Westfield development? A multi-million pound, big project that will take years before anything happens and get any benefits from. Not to mention the demolition of the Odeon is widely un-popular.

UKIP Bradford Supports BORG (Bradford Odeon Rescue Group)

UKIP Bradford called for a local vote over the different plans for the Odeon

Did we really expect anything more?

2009-02-28T10:29:00.003Z

"Construction work on Bradford’s £320 million shopping centre will definitely not start this year, its owner has revealed. "

Yep, that huge crater in the centre of our city is DEFINATELY NOT going to be worked on this year according to the T&A and Westfield.

I've lost count about how many years its been since the bulldozers came in, i think I've been to university (with a year out) in the time it's taken to get things moving. (and in fact i think it maybe longer!)

If the Council had not been so incompetent with the building contracts, we would have had this shopping up and running well before the recession which would have come as a relief to everyone and providing much needed jobs for the area, AND actually bringing in new businesses.

As it says in the report, it is no surprise that Westfield are not going to crack on with the expensive building work, especially with the recession worsening.

But what can the Council do to bring businesses back to Bradford to provide jobs? It would be UKIPs policy to return control of business rates to local councils, handing back some of the power from central government, which would allow us to control direct taxation on businesses.

Bradford is going to close down unless we get new businesses to move in, but there is little the council can do to encourage this. Bradford is losing custom to Leeds and Halifax and winning it back is going to be hard, especially in a recession.

Bradford Tory Tax Rises Again

2009-02-25T19:50:00.004Z

The T&A have reported that the Tories have reached a deal in which they can raises tax again this year.

In a deal struck with the Lib Dems and Greens the rise will be 2.5%

At a time when its harder to pay the bills, when food prices are going up, when we need people to start buying again to kick start the economy, the Tories decide to increase taxes again.

What have we seen over the past year with our taxes?

Local swimming pools under threat
Post Offices Closing
Poor road maintenance/patchy gritting
The multi-million pound crater on Broadway
The proposed demolition of the iconic Odeon

UKIP is the only local party that would vote against any further rises in Council Tax, expose the waste of the region and council, and pump more funding into frontline services.

Branch chairman on local Radio

2009-02-25T01:08:00.004Z

Tune in to hear Branch Chairman and MEP Candidate for Yorkshire Jason Smith on BCB Radio Friday 27th February.

The discussion will be the 57th anniversary of the abolition of wartime identity cards and other No2ID business.

Tune into 106.6 fm at 11:45am on Friday.

Labour to Privatise Royal Mail

2009-02-23T17:28:00.004Z

A report by the BBC has highlighted the looming vote on further privatization of Royal Mail.

Not only has Labour adopted the rules that have allowed foreign and private companies cherry pick the profitable parts of the postal service from Royal Mail, leaving it unable to sustain the service and Post office network.

Not only have Labour voted to continue the Post Office closure programme despite a wide-spread public backlash.

Not only has Labour withdrawn services from the Post Office and is unable to help sustain the network due to "State Aid" rules.

Now Labour wishes to sell off more public assets to the private sector. 30% of Royal Mail will be sold off to the Dutch firm TNT. No doubt the local Bradford Labour MPs will enthusiastially vote in favour of further privatization of what used to be a sustainable and profit making service.

Labour can't be trusted with our vital public services and will continue to sell out the country and our public services for a quick buck.

UKIP Bradford will be watching how our local MPs vote and make sure it is known by the public.
Click HERE to find out more about how Labour is destroying our Royal Mail and Post Offices.

More Job losses, More loss of Royal Mail?

2009-02-08T12:35:00.001Z

Well the ongoing complaint continues, Tory Council Tax goes up, Bradford services are cut.

In this case, the Bradford Royal Mail sorting office is under real threat of closure. 700 jobs are on the line. The work maybe transferred to Leeds, but it is a testament to the Tory led decline in Bradford, that services and vitality of the city declines a big step each year.

We need jobs in recession, and putting more workers on the dole doesn’t help anyone, these kinds of public service jobs need to be safeguarded, because if we wait for a new shopping centre to be built or new businesses to move in to provide jobs, we'll be waiting a long time!

Of course before 1997, Royal Mail was an efficient and profit making service, in which the profitable parts of the service (e.g. business mail) helped pay for the unprofitable parts (e.g. Post Offices)

But then Labour got their hands on it, forced privatisation by opening the service up to competition, which has meant Royal Mail is now in decline.

The EU Postal Directives allowed the private companies to cherry pick the business mail and profitable parts of the service, while Royal Mail was left supporting the unprofitable bits and rural routes.

The Bradford Labour MPs will cry foul no doubt, but do nothing, just as they did when they voted to continue the Post Office closure programme, and their parties support for the EU rules crippling Royal Mail and the part-privatisation of Royal Mail itself.

Full liberalisation of the postal service by the start of 2011 – There will be nothing left of Royal Mail to compete

UKIP to help local Pubs

2009-01-29T17:01:00.005Z

First of all, apologies for not updating the blog recently. Ive been helping in the redesign of the UKIP Bradford website, had uni exams over the last few weeks and been campaigning.

The national party has produced a policy paper regarding pubs.
Find here: http://www.ukip.org/media/pdf/pubs.pdf

I'm sure publicans and customers won't find any proposals more attractive than these from the other parties.

After the successful launching of a pub campaign last May in Queensbury, we distributed UKIP beermats, posters and petitions garnering much interest and response. Now with much more resources and help from the national party, we should be able to roll this campaign out around Bradford.

It is also interesting to point out the Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe is the licensing minister for the country. Some of his past comments can be found here: http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/59415?Ntt=sutcliffe&Ntk=All&PagingData=Po_0~Ps_10~Psd_Asc

We've got a real chance to send Gerry a message that damaging legislation and rises in alcohol duty only costs jobs and much like the closure of Post Offices, destroying what can be the hub of a village.

Also worth of note is that the Queensbury BNP Councillors currently do not take their seat they can have on the licenscing committee, so there is only UKIP standing up for our local pubs!

The Campaign (Save the pub) website can be found here: http://www.savethepub.co.uk/

Tory Tax Rises

2009-01-20T14:13:00.000Z

The BBC reports that Council Tax will be rising by 3.5%

“A 3.5% increase in April would take the average bill for 2009-10 to £1,421.
This would be a rise of £48 over the year, or 92p a week.”

The Tories of course are crying foul of tax hikes at a time when it’s becoming harder and harder to pay the bill, and as people are losing their jobs.

However, no doubt the Bradford Tories have other ideas. Year on year they have raised Council Tax, and put more pressure on the elderly and the hard working families of our district.
With these rises we have also seen cuts in services, bus fares increase and we still have a crater in the middle of our city.

With the recession, if we should have to tighten our belt, so should government. How about making savings by abolishing the regional quangos the Regional Assembly and Regional Development Agency that cost us tens of millions every year?

UKIP Bradford is the only local party that will vote against any more Council Tax rises and actively seek more Council Tax relief, especially those in immediate vulnerable circumstances.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7836327.stm

Fuel Poverty

2009-01-17T12:32:00.005Z

An interesting piece in the T&A regarding fuel poverty, and upcoming legislation.

Instead of creating more complicated rules and regulations (and thereby making the whole process more expensive), I think the following proposals would be good to debate.

Scrap VAT on energy
Raise the tax-free personal allowance to £10,000
Freeze Council Tax rises

The energy companies are making millions out of us, at a time when it's becoming harder and harder to pay the bill. We need more than a one off payment, we need lasting lower prices and help paying the bill. (Labour want a one off windfall tax payment by the energy companies)

We need to help out the lower earners with a higher personal allowance.
We should at least freeze Council Tax as it is this that really hits the elderly hard.
Scrap VAT on energy thereby lowering prices for everybody.

There was talk of Labour looking into raising the personal allowance to £10,000 which is good news. But I seriously doubt the Bradford Tory Council will resisit putting up Council Tax again this year. As for scrapping the VAT, we couldn't do that because we are in the EU. (Well UKIP could but none of the other parties can!)

T&A Report: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4055182._Solve_fuel_poverty_for_12_000_people_/

Labour Hipocrisy Over Royal Mail Privatization

2009-01-14T16:42:00.004Z

Bradford Labour MPs are crying foul over Gordon Brown bringing in Dutch owned TNT to begin the creeping privatization of our Royal Mail.

This is just symptom of much wider problem. I'm sure these local MPs would be shocked to learn that there must be full liberalisation of postal services by 2011!

Due to EU regulations Royal Mail has been forced to compete with private and foreign postal services. These other providers are only interested in the profit, and so only operate on the profitable parts of the service and business mail, while poor old Royal Mail has to keep the rural routes and less profitable parts going. Of course this is un-sustainable.

Labour is running the Royal Mail into the ground due to this unfair competition.

If the Labour MPs really cared for our public services they would demand Royal Mail be brought back into public ownership and given the sole monopoly to operate as it did pre-1997, as an efficient, profit making service which put people before profit.

Of course, the only way that is going to happen is to ignore the rules or leave the EU, which Labour MPs will not dare do. So Labour MPs which is it? You can't have your cake and eat it.

T&A Report: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4047377.MPs_fight_Royal_Mail_privatisation/

Quango has the Power

2009-01-11T20:26:00.005Z

Reported has been the stimulus of £10 billion by Gordon Brown to help create jobs.
All very nice to hear and much needed too, but no doubt we won't be getting a Council Tax cut from whatever money is trickled down to the Tory Bradford Council.

What is made clear in the report is that the Regional Development Agency (Yorkshire forward) holds the power of attorney over how much money will be given to Bradford.
This is a regional quango much like the Regional Assembly an un-elected, unaccountable, middle man wasting tax payers money when it could be spent on better public services.

The money will be poured into the city centre, withough any thought to the needs of the towns and villages of the district where most of the councillors actually hold their seat - and we all know how big city centre projects are managed!

An interesting quote at the end of the report:“...the EU heads of state, then announced a £12 billion fund to help small businesses deal with the financial situation...We still haven’t seen a mechanism for that. There’s a lot of rhetoric but no delivery.”

So, all talk and no money from the EU. The money we would get from this EU fund is a lot less than we put in, as we pay billions for this foreign bureaucracy. And apparently we can't even get our hands on that EU money. Sounds about right for the EU, why do we put up with it? I’m sure the French businesses get our money easy enough.

T&A Report: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4038170.___City_is_ready_for___10bn_cash_boost___/

Goodbye Greenbelt

2009-01-08T15:30:00.004Z

It is being reported that Bradford is going to have to add to the 50,000 homes its already being forced to build. Bradford will be taking extra housing that was allocated to the rest of the region, and i'm sure we all know where this housing is going to end up being built on.

The Regional Assembly is overseeing this Regional Spatial Strategy, an unacountable, bureaucratic and very expensive talkingshop which can tell elected councils what to do. (Much like the Regional Development Agency and the Odeon fiasco)

Of course the Conservative led council won't stand up to the regional bodies for the people of Bradford or for our greenbelt, and must have a hand in these rules because Tory leader Kris hopkins gets a nice little earner for sitting on the Regional Assembly.

So thanks to Labour not being able to control migration to the country (especially EU migration which is unrestricted), more houses are needed and guess what it's going to be built on? Our already disappearing greenbelt.

T&A report: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4030891.Thousands_of_homes_threat_to_greenbelt/

The not-so-Liberal Democrats

2009-01-06T14:06:00.004Z

Astonished is the word I’d use at what the Liberal Democrats said about the Conservative Bradford Council using anti-terror laws to secretly spy on the public.

The T&A reported: "Bradford Council has secretly monitored members of the public and its own staff more than 500 times in the past five years"

Of course the Conservatives were defensive over using this (so much for the new face of Camerons Conservatives defending our liberties)

Labour brought in these powers in 2003, so of course the leader of the Labour councillors couldn't bring himself to criticise.

The reaction of the Lib Dems was extraordinary. The leader of the liberal group said:"I think it is right and appropriate that the Council uses the power to investigate people who are fly-tipping and people who are involved in illegal activities"
So the Lib Dems support the Council secretly monitoring citizens of Bradford whether rightfully or wrongly. I think a lot of Lib Dem members need to take a long hard look at themselves.

T&A Report: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4014406.Council__spying_powers__used_500_times/

Forgotten Queensbury?

2008-12-17T12:39:00.006Z

City Hall Ok'd Tesco, but the Bradford South Area committee said no.

The main issues were the possible traffic problem, the creation of jobs, proximity to other super markets, keeping the village feel to Queensbury, possible impact to the enivronment.

While i broadly agree with not letting Tesco in, I think it should be with conditions.

I really think calling Queensbury a "thriving village" is quite a way off the mark, and allowing the monopoly of the pricey and rundown co-op to continue just isnt acceptable. Also the services in the village are not of a good enough standard at all.

What we need is a regeneration plan. Councillors are happy to throw hundreds of millions into failing city centre projects, while forgetting the wards and villages they are meant to represent. I think it's time we had some of our hard earned money back.

T&A report: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/3982453.Queensbury_Tesco_store_plans_rejected/

The Broadway Crater

2008-12-15T12:53:00.009Z

Why do we still have a massive hole in the middle of the city?

There still dosn't seem to be a date that we can expect to see the grand plan come good.
The Westfield development site are still trying to contact businesses in the hope they will jump on board, but as we move into a recession, this maybe rather difficult. How many years have they had with which to get these comittments?

Also there are serious hints at staff cutts, again thanks to the recession. The T&A reported an industrial magazine; "The magazine said it “understood” Westfield had put back the start date of three UK schemes, including the £320m Bradford development"

Even if it's not true, it's still bad news for Bradford and not exactley inspiring confidence in the project.

The Tory council have messed this entire project up from the begining, it's cost 100's of millions, an eyesore and a waste of our taxes, with no discernable progress for years.

The fiasco continues.........

T&A Report http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/3976733.Broadway__delay__rumours_denied/

Off The Mark

2008-12-10T11:04:00.003Z

Well, this is the first blog i've ever done so we'll see how it goes.

Hopefully I'll be able to bring you the unique UKIP view on the Bradford Council, local/regional news and of course...... a bit of EU bashing while we're at it.