Friday 30 April 2010

The Tories are a risk to the recovery as secret memo to raise VAT leaked

Conservative economic plans pose a great risk to the recovery according to Yvonne Fovargue following the leaking of a secret memo detailing plans to raise VAT to 19.5% in a future Tory budget.

Yvonne Fovargue said, “The Tories got it consistently wrong during the recession and they are now getting it wrong on the recovery."

“The Tories are committed to an emergency budget within 50 days of the election immediately taking £6 billion out of the economy putting the recovery at risk."

“Today we have learned of a Tory secret plan to raise VAT to 19.5% at that budget and hitting hard working local families and pensioners.”

Yvonne Fovargue believes this demonstrates Tory values and instincts. She added, “Underneath the glossy poster adverts lie the real values of the Tory party. A VAT increase that would hit local people hard in the pocket but a £200,000 tax giveaway to the 3,000 richest estates in the country.”

Tuesday 27 April 2010

One-week cancer diagnosis with Labour

At the heart of Labour’s vision for the future of the NHS is our policy of guarantees. People know they have a right to be treated by the NHS fast – or the NHS will pay for you to go private. One of Labour’s key commitments on the NHS is to guarantee a 1 week cancer diagnosis.

As a result of Labour’s plans, more than 1.5 million people will be seen more quickly and get their cancer test results more quickly. Independent experts have identified that between 5,000 and 10,000 lives could be saved each year through a greater focus on early diagnosis and rapid treatment.

Labour’s Yvonne Fovargue has called on her Tory opponent in Makerfield to back Labour’s one week cancer guarantee. Yvonne said, “With Labour, the NHS already guarantees that if your GP thinks you may have cancer, you will see a specialist within two weeks, and that you will get hospital treatment within 18 weeks. Now, we will go further, and guarantee access to diagnostic tests for cancer, with results, within just one week. That means that 1.5million people will be guaranteed faster access to cancer tests under Labour. Experts say that this will save up to 10,000 lives a year."

“The Tories say they are the party of the NHS but in fact they will scrap all of Labour’s targets and guarantees in the NHS.”

Friday 16 April 2010

Brilliant Britain

Minister hails ground breaking scheme for the joiners and bricklayers of the future

Yvonne Fovargue and Housing Minister John Healey MP visited the Western Skills Centre based in Bryn which will train the construction workers of the future in the trades of Joinery and Brickwork.

Pupils from local secondary schools walking through the Skills Centre’s doors receive specialised training thanks to a unique collaboration between five Wigan High Schools, Wigan Council and Mears, the leading social housing repairs and maintenance provider in the country. At its opening it was believed that this partnership was a first both locally and nationally.

Yvonne Fovargue said, “The Skill Centre is a wonderful achievement and an excellent example of local schools working together. Again Wigan leads the way, providing opportunities for pupils to learn a trade and equipping them with the skills to gain employment in the future.”

John Healey MP said, “No one can afford to overlook young people’s talent and the UK of tomorrow will need the young joiners and bricklayers here today to build the homes of the future."

“Labour is making sure the Tory mistakes in the recessions of the 80s and 90s do not happen again. In the teeth of recession, we supported hard working businesses and struggling families alike. Now with our eyes firmly on growth and economic recovery, it is vital that we keep up investment to create new jobs and pay for apprenticeships for young people. That's why with Labour every 18 - 24 year old who has been out of work for more than six months will be guaranteed a job, training or college place.”

Yvonne is pictured with Housing Minister John Healey, Ian McCartney and Labour's candidate for Bryn Ward, Ann Rampling.

Saturday 3 April 2010

A lovely day for a street stall in Winstanley


Yvonne joined Clive Morgan, Labour's local election candidate for Winstanley and Labour Party members today at the shopping precinct on Holmes House Ave.

Armed with balloons, leaflets and stickers a plenty it was a warm, sunny spring day to talk to voters about Labour's plans to protect frontline public services and secure the recovery.

With important local elections on Thursday, 6th May coinciding with an as yet unconfimed general election on the same date, the election is not just about what happens in Westminster, of equal importance are the issues raised about our local area too.