Mike Hancock CBE - Liberal Democrat MP for Portsmouth South

1A Albert Road
Southsea
Hampshire
PO5 2SE

Tel: 023 9286 1055
Email: email@mikehancock.co.uka>

 Working for You - Always Putting Portsmouth First

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Mike Hancock puts fairness at the heart of the Liberal Democrat campaign

11 January 2010

The Liberal Democrats have announced they will fight the General Election on four key principles, designed to make Britain a fairer place. Mike Hancock (Lib Dem - Portsmouth South) set out his campaign priorities as:

  • Fair taxes
  • A fair start for every child
  • Fair, clean and local politics
  • And a fair, green economy with jobs that last.

 

Mike Hancock said: "I have been amazed at some of things that Labour MPs have supported in recent years. They have shut local post offices. They have supported budgets that have seen a growing tax burden for ordinary people while the wealthy are let off the hook. And they have been too slow to act on cutting carbon emissions. Labour are a let down but the Conservatives with their wealthy backers, offer little for hard-working people in Portsmouth. I am going into the election with a clear direction and a manifesto that is short, direct and to the point.

"We will introduce fairer taxes by closing loopholes for the richest, introducing a tax on mansions and tax cuts of £700 for everyone else. If your child is at school in Portsmouth, we can promise investment to help reduce class sizes, improve discipline and develop one-to-one tuition.

"We would also give you the right to sack your MP. The Liberal Democrats are the only party committed to real change of our political system, flushing out big money and corrupt donors and reducing the number of MPs by 150.

"And we will rebuild the economy in every part of Britain in a way that promotes green technology and creates lasting jobs. We will put an end to casino banking, bring back competition and support local entrepreneurs to make sure businesses in Portsmouth can find the money they need to grow. The coming months are a crucial time for politics and I will be using them to focus on these four priorities and delivering real change for Portsmouth."

In his speech this morning (Monday), Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg said: "David Cameron and Gordon Brown are playing the politics of the airbrush and the focus group. One doesn't know what he believes. The other doesn't know what to do with the power he clings to so desperately. I believe the country wants something different. The Liberal Democrats are different. We offer credibility where it's needed. And hope for our common future."

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01 February 2012
The ASA ruled that the image used in an advertisement for L’Oréal Paris’ Revitalift Repair 10 was altered to change Rachel Weisz’s complexion, making it appear smoother and more even. It was judged to be in breach of industry code and “misleadingly exaggerated” the performance of the product.

The advertisement has been banned in its current form and the ASA has warned L’Oréal not to use digital retouching to misrepresent the effect of their products.

Commenting, Jo Swinson said:
“The beauty and advertising industries need to stop ripping off consumers with dishonest images. 

“The banning of this advert, along with the previous ASA rulings banning heavily retouched ads featuring Twiggy, Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington, should act as a wake-up call. Thankfully the advertising regulator has again acknowledged the fraudulent nature of excessive retouching.
 
“The Royal College of Psychiatrists has spoken out about the harmful influence of the media on body image and has highlighted the airbrushing and digital enhancement used to portray physical perfection as an area of concern.
 
“There needs to be much more diversity in advertising – different skin colours, body shapes, sizes and ages.  Studies show that people want to see more authenticity from brands.  Images can be aspirational without being faked.

“The Campaign for Body Confidence challenges the narrow ideal of beauty perpetuated by the media and other industries. Tonight the All Party Parliamentary Group on Body Image is hosting a screening of the documentary Miss Representation which explores the impact on society of such an intense focus on women’s appearance, instead of their achievements. 

“The film shows how media misrepresentation and under representation of women results in a leadership gap and the silencing of difference.”