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Caroline Spelman MP

Voices Support for Our Man in North Down and

Other Conservative Candidates in Assembly Elections

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 A Victory for Common Sense

(And Integrationist Campaigning by The Conservatives)

Vehicle licensing to be Centralised in Swansea

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Sir Eric Anderson on Academic Selection and Northern Ireland

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Statement by David Lidington MP 21st December 2006:

Responding to claims by a spokesman for the Department of Finance and Personnel in today’s Belfast News Letter that rates concessions are dependent on the restoration of devolution, David Lidington MP, shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said:

‘Civil servants are simply wrong to state that the cap on rates and additional relief for pensioners are entirely dependent on the restoration of devolution.

‘Government ministers gave unequivocal and personal assurances to me and other Opposition spokesmen that as a result of our amendment to the rates order approved by the House of Lords that these would go ahead irrespective of whether devolution takes place.

‘The words used by Lord Rooker in Parliament on 7 November when he accepted the Conservative amendment to introduce a cap and extra relief for pensioners “entirely” and “word for word” can only be interpreted in one way. 

‘Clearly both the Government and Opposition would prefer it if the Assembly is up and running after 26 March so that it can decide how to modify the new rates system.

‘But unless these civil servants are now saying that their ministers deliberately misled Parliament they are simply misinformed about what was agreed between the Government and Opposition.

‘The Conservative Party will continue to hold Northern Ireland ministers to account for the personal and public assurances they gave and which, if necessary, we can substantiate.’

In accepting the Conservative amendment moved by Lord Glentoran on 7 November 2006, Lord Rooker said:

‘I am therefore prepared to recommend to my noble friends that we accept entirely the noble Lord’s amendment and attach it to the government Motion. Therefore, the Motion would contain not only my words—one normally says, “Believe the Minister because it is in Hansard”. If we put the Motion as amended to the House, it will become part of the parliamentary process and that will be the Motion which the House passes. It calls quite specifically for a cap. It states that we have to work with the political parties in Northern Ireland and find more money for pensioners at the margin. On that basis, I commend my Motion, with the amendment of the noble Lord, Lord Glentoran, attached to it word for word, to the House’ (Lords Hansard, 7 November 2006, Col 744).
 

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Lady Sylvia Declares Her Love for Labour...

Bob Little on Danny Kennedy of the UUP...

"I want politics in Northern Ireland to be about the real things – schools, hospitals, tax...not about timetables, deadlines and institutional arrangements.  And I want the Conservative Party to be a part of that new politics. We’re moving in a new direction.  Leading the debate.  Pulling ahead of a tired Government.  Developing policies for the future. In doing so, one thing is certain. My Party’s commitment to Northern Ireland, and to all its people, will be whole hearted and unshakeable."

David Cameron MP, Address to the Institute of Directors

Belfast, 26th October, 2006

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Northern Ireland’s MoT system is in trouble.  Vehicle owners were promised that the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract to modernise the test centres, signed in 2001, would deliver a first class service.    Since then we have got long waiting times for an appointment, exemption certificates to keep untested vehicles on the road, and the diesel emission test required under European law has been suspended.

Frustration with the system has led to increasing calls for privatisation and the introduction of the GB system where motorists have the one-stop-shop convenience of dropping their car into a garage in the morning for a service and MoT and driving away with the work completed in the evening.

The Conservatives in Northern Ireland are changing Northern Ireland's political system forever...

We are not claiming to be the biggest party locally.  However, we believe we are the most influential.  What's more, we are growing, have great people and we welcome all.  Regardless of your religion (or lack of it), the colour of your skin, your sex or sexual orientation, we'll make you feel welcome.  All we ask is that you believe in Conservative principles.  In Northern Ireland we need Conservatism to make this place truly great again.  Yes, it's getting better, but we need more enterprise, less reliance on the public sector, more accountable government.  But we also need to keep things - like our wonderful education system.  Join us and help make things better and help kick out this Labour administration that is undermining all that's good about this place. 

Meet the NI Area Executive...