Leeds North West

Not a peep…

Despite repeated attempts to get hold of Julian Metcalfe and Alex Story, so far they have not responded.

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Detailed response from Tim Goodall

1. The NHS.
   I am very proud that Caroline Lucas introduced the bill. Having experienced the horrors of a privatised health system in the US, I am determined to continue fighting for a public NHS in the UK.
2. TTIP.
   TTIP is the biggest threat to our democracy. We must do all we can to fight against it.
3. Fair Asylum Decisions.
   We must start treating asylum seekers with dignity and reverse the changes to legal aid.
4. Trident Replacement.
   I wholeheartedly agree with Green Party policy on this. I can see no reason to have Trident. It is abhorrent and a huge waste of money.
5. Climate Change.
   We are so far behind other countries and we can do so much more. We must start now.
6. Housing And Rents.
   We must provide far more affordable, decent homes and do more to use the hundreds of thousands of homes that are currently empty.
7. Robin Hood Tax.
   Yes, the Green Party has declared its support for a Robin Hood Tax in our manifesto.
8. Benefit Sanctions.
   I have done my utmost during the election campaign to highlight the plight of people who have had their benefits sanctioned. It is absolutely appalling that people with serious illnesses have had their benefits sanctioned.
9. Fracking ban.
   Yes, I agree
10. Arms Embargo Against Israel.
    I agree.

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Detailed response from Mark Flanagan

• Question 3, Fair Asylum Decisions.
  Yes. In fact if elected I would make it my duty to represent my constituents properly. As an MP I would be in a very privileged position to take on all my constituents’ concerns and tackle them head on, regardless of whose nose was put out of joint.
• Question 4, Trident Replacement.
  Yes I would vote against this – but the UK government will never be allowed to give up its nuclear capability by the Americans. It gives us a position as one of five members of the UN Security Council and the USA needs us to help resist the growing political clout of China and Russia.
• Question 5, Climate Change.
  I believe the biggest threat to our civilisation is the unsustainability of our economic system and the chaos that will unfold when the whole thing starts to break down.
• Question 7, Robin Hood Tax.
  Yes. But our three main parties are in the pockets of the banking cartel so I wouldn’t hold out much hope while the Tories, Lib Dems and Labour Party dominate the domestic political scene.

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Detailed response from Alex Sobel

Question 10: Arms Embargo Against Israel

Alex is opposed to the trade of arms to any country involved in military action irrespective of the rights or wrongs of that military action.

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Detailed response from Bob Buxton

1. The NHS.
   I’d like to see dentists, opticians, prescriptions and healthcare for the elderly to be free again, at least for those in the bottom and middle third of income. Scotland has free prescriptions and more free care for the elderly – devolution would make it our choice!
2. Vote against TTIP.
   YES
3. Fair Asylum Decisions.
   Immigration has become a scapegoat – I’m pro-immigration because 40% of NHS staff are foreign born. Asylum seekers are people in need – let’s stop blaming them for our problems and help them.
4. Trident Replacement.
   Honesty before popularity. Russia’s leader is a bit mad, N Korea’s is totally insane. We need a deterrent. It stopped the Cold War becoming the 3rd World War. Too many parties pretend we don’t need it to avoid awkward questions on funding their other policies. I’m honest about it.
5. Climate Change.
   I wrote a foundation degree on renewable energy for Teesside University. Yorkshire does quite well on wind energy (though more could be done on the larger and smaller scale). Wave and tidal are at least 10 years behind – we must invest in research.
   Nuclear fission is better than fossil. One long, long term solution is nuclear fusion – it doesn’t require uranium, it doesn’t create radioactive waste, it’s basically fusing hydrogen to helium. Despite the name, it’s nothing like fission (current nuclear power) and has amazing potential – need to invest in research.
6. Housing And Rents.
   Let’s give incentives to decontaminate brownfield sites; any earnings coming from the sites have tax breaks.
7. Robin Hood Tax.
   YES
8. Benefit Sanctions.
   Warnings followed by ‘one-day’ sanctions are plenty.
9. Fracking.
   Fossil fuels are a backward step.
10. Arms Embargo Against Israel.
    International efforts on arms embargos to various countries need to be increased – not just single out Israel. As a regionalist (Yorkshire First believes in devolution, like Scotland has), I’m not qualified to answer the specifics regarding Israel. If elected, I would research such issues – as a fulltime teacher I must honestly admit I don’t have time to research every non-local issue.

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Detailed response from Greg Mulholland

1. The NHS.
   I am a firm supporter of the NHS and its core principles, and I have worked hard to maintain these whilst in Parliament. I am always keen to support the amazing work that is done by the staff who work so hard to help so many people every year. I voted against the Health and Social Care Act.

   The NHS is a treasured national institution and it is time that. politicians of all parties started accepting the huge challenge we face as a society to ensure that it is properly funded, optimally structured to make it both fit for the 21st century and sustainable going forward. Without oversimplifying the challenges and solutions, we need to properly look at the issues facing the NHS and I believe that a Royal Commission is best placed to do this. To this end, I have tabled a motion in Parliament calling for this to happen as soon as possible after the forthcoming General Election. You can read my motion via the following link, http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2014-15/896. I would support any Bill that then puts this in place and will consider all positive and sensible legislation to that end.

2. TTIP.
   I do have serious concerns about the Investor State Dispute Settlement, a mechanism which enables private companies to challenge the decision/policies of a national government and seek compensation, and support calls for it to be removed. If the serious concerns that have been raised so far are not addressed, especially regarding the NHS, I would oppose it. It is important that TTIP is discussed in detail in Parliament before any final decision is taken, a move that I supported in the House of Commons. Any decision regarding this trade agreement needs to open, honest and fully debated.
3. Fair Asylum Decisions.
   In my ten years as an MP, I have stood up for asylum seekers fleeing persecution and conflict and for the UK being a country that has a proud record in offering asylum to those who need it. I have worked with constituent asylum seekers and have been successful in challenging and overturning some decisions that have allowed people to stay in the UK and rebuild their lives. I would certainly support measures to improve the decision making process within the asylum system. All too often initial decisions are taken without properly examining the evidence. I have represented many people who have experienced such problems, and, if I am re-elected, I will certainly call on the Home Secretary to ensure improved decision making, so that fair decisions are made the first time.
4. Trident Replacement.
   We need a better, more up to date approach to Trident. The Liberal Democrats remain wholly unconvinced that the UK needs to renew its current system on the same scale as the Cold War system designed in 1980. Under our approach we will keep the United Kingdom secure whilst keeping cost down through having a sensible and pragmatic approach to our independent nuclear deterrent. We will have a policy which is based on contingency planning rather than a continuous at sea deterrent. We will take a step down the nuclear ladder by ending 24-hour patrols of the high seas and producing fewer submarines. This is a sensible approach that I believe reflects our defence needs without needless posturing and unnecessary expense. Of course, like everyone else, I look forward to the day when we can be a world free of nuclear weapons but alas we are not there yet, so I do think the UK Government must fully and actively participate in multilateral disarmament talks and work with other nations to reduce and ultimately eliminate nuclear weapons.
5. Climate Change.
   Climate change remains the biggest single threat to the world and should be higher on the political agenda. I was pleased to support the Climate Change Act and have supported further measures in the last Parliament. The Liberal Democrats have ensured that the Coalition has delivered key environmental measures from the launch of the world’s first Green Investment Bank to record investment in railways and renewable energy, we have taken a personal responsibility for protecting our environment. The previous Government failed to achieve their target for renewable energy production of just 10%. This target has now been reached and surpassed by the Coalition with the 20% target for 2020 already in sight as we have recently passed 18%. The Liberal Democrats have set the target of a zero carbon Britain by 2050, decarbonising energy production and supporting renewable energy – so I certainly support this.
6. Housing And Rents.
   I have called on Leeds City Council and the Government to bring empty properties back into use, and will continue to do so. I have called on Leeds City Council to use powers they now have, brought in by the Coalition Government, to buy social houses in LS6, which would deliver much needed social houses and also help bring families back to the area. They have so far refused to do this despite having the power.

   I oppose the Tory proposed right to buy social housing policy.

   Under Liberal Democrat manifesto plans, young people will be able to buy their own home without needing a deposit. Instead the Rent to Own scheme will help first-time buyers onto the housing ladder by allowing them to build up a share in their home through renting. This is a revolutionary shift in housing policy that will give young people caught in ‘generation rent’ a chance at home ownership.

   The Lib Dems have also announced plans to build 300,000 more homes a year and ensure everyone has a decent place to live.

7. Robin Hood Tax.
   I certainly support calls for a Robin Hood Tax, and have signed EDMs to this end during the last Parliament. I will certainly continue to support calls for such a tax, if re-elected.
8. Benefit Sanctions.
   I have helped many constituents who have experienced first-hand the problem with benefit sanctions, and raised concerns with ministers.

   We have always had a benefits system that requires obligations for those in receipt of our work benefits (e.g. losing money for not signing on) and all parties agree that there needs to be responsibilities on those who are fit and able to work. The concerns then are that benefit sanctions are hitting those in most need of support, with the 14 day rule leaving people penniless and having to visit food banks.

   Clearly I do believe that the most vulnerable people should not be sanctioned unfairly, and I am therefore very pleased that the Liberal Democrats have committed to reforming the sanctions regime imposed on jobseekers, in addition to reforming the incredibly poorly carried out, fit for work tests.

9. Fracking ban.
   I voted for a moratorium on fracking, although unfortunately this did not go through. I will continue to support a moratorium on fracking whilst there are concerns about the risks to the environment.
10. Arms Embargo Against Israel.
    The situation between Israel and Palestine is one of the most troubling in the world and there are many ways in which the Palestinians are being unfairly treated and oppressed. The UK Government has been a very strong voice and has criticised both sides, including Israel, when it has needed to do so and I welcome that and believe that the UK and the EU must continue to lead calls for fairness, stability and peace. I can understand concerns regarding the UK’s export control system and the recent sales to Israel and have raised my concerns on numerous occasions with Ministers regarding the UKs policy in this area. I do believe that we should not sell arms to any other nation if there are conflicts that involve breaches of international law by that nation.

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