Mike Hancock News
Mike Hancock welcomes start of General Election campaign
Mike Hancock, Lib Dem MP for Portsmouth South has today welcomed the start of the General Election campaign.
Portsmouth South will be one of the "battleground" seats in the election - a Lib Dem-Conservative marginal. Labour have come third in the seat for the past 27 years. Mike Hancock will be the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate.
The Lib Dems are in a strong position in Portsmouth and South Hampshire. They have tripled the number of their councillors on Portsmouth City Council from 8 in 2001 to 23 now. As a university city with over 10,000 student voters the Lib Dems in Portsmouth are likely to benefit from their policy to scrap university tuition fees. The Lib Dems and Mike Hancock also oppose any rise in the fees, while Labour and Conservative have hinted that they want to put the fees up to £7,000 a year. And there is a cluster of Lib Dem held seats in South Hampshire - along with Portsmouth South, they also hold Winchester, Romsey and Eastleigh.
Battle will be joined in earnest later on today in the city at the first hustings organised by Portsmouth Pensioners Association.
Mike said: "Unfortunately we have waited far too long for this election. Labour have been a let down for the people of this country and the people of Portsmouth. But they are already third here in Portsmouth South. And the Conservatives are not the answer. I remember how they let down the country and the city - devastating the NHS. And the leopard has not changed its spots. The Tory Euro-MP for the South East has called the NHS a "60 year mistake". The Tories cut the link between the earnings and the state pension - meaning that we have one of their worst pensions in Europe. And the Tory instinct in taxation is to let off the wealthy but tax ordinary people hard.
"I will be campaigning at this election for a fair deal for local people. Fairness in taxation - a £700 tax cut for the average earner. Fairness for schools - £10 million extra for Portsmouth schools' through the Lib Dems' pupil premium. Fairness in jobs - a "green road" out of the recession through investing in renewable energy. And fair and accountable politics. All MPs share some responsibility for the problems that grew up over expenses but we must now reform the political system."
"Knocking on doors in recent days, I have found considerable disillusionment with both Conservative and Labour. After 65 years of failure, we are dubbing them the "Labservatives" - each as bad as the other. People want to see a stronger Lib Dem presence in Parliament. Here in Portsmouth South we have won in the past and can do so again.
"I welcome the opportunity to put forward the Lib Dems policies to the people of Portsmouth. Having lost by 205 votes in the past, I am never complacent but I am optimistic and hopeful as we put the strong case for the Liberal Democratss in Portsmouth. If re-elected I will continue to work as hard as possible for the people of the city. Campaigning to safeguard and attract jobs. Making sure that we get a fair deal for our schools and hospitals. Speaking up for our armed forces. Getting a better deal for pensioners and getting the earnings link with the pension restored. Campaigning for university tuition fees to be scrapped and voting against any increase in them. And working for better animal welfare and opposing any move to lift the ban on hunting of foxes with dogs."
Mike Hancock, as a leading member of the Defence Select Committee has spearheaded the cross-party campaign to help save Portsmouth Naval Base. He has campaigned successfully with local people for the Government to take less money from council tenant's rents - meaning that they are now paying less rent than they would otherwise. He is an award-winning campaigner for animal welfare rights in Parliament - having won a "Proggy" award as the most progressive politician on animal welfare from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). And is currently demanding an investigation into the appalling conditions for monkeys exported from South East Asia.
The General Election comes at a good time for the Liberal Democrats. They are up 4% in the most recent ICM poll for the Guardian from 19% to 23%. And the Lib Dems' Vince Cable is widely seen has having won the "Ask the Chancellors" debate on Channel 4 last week. The Independent Newspaper gave Vince Cable 4 stars, the Conservatives' George Osborne, 1 star.
The Conservatives have selected Flick Drummond as their candidate for Portsmouth South. She contested Southampton Itchen at the last election and suffered a slight decrease in her vote. She is a former Winchester City Councillor. According to the ConservativeHome website she was subsequently on the shortlists as the Conservative candidate for Bath, Meon Valley, East Hampshire and Gillingham and Rainham.
Mike Hancock stormed to victory in Portsmouth South in a by-election 1984 for the then SDP, the Liberal Democrats' predecessor party. He lost narrowly by 205 and 242 in 1987 and 1992 but regained the seat in 1997.
Notes: There is a small change in the boundaries for Portsmouth South with approximately 2/3rds of one ward, Baffins going into Portsmouth North (1/3rd was already in Portsmouth North) and 876 electors going into Portsmouth South from Portsmouth North (the top of Charles Dickens ward).
The number of councillors on Portsmouth City Council is at: http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/yourcouncil/1455.html
The results in the last three elections in Portsmouth South were:
|
Election |
Electors |
T'out |
|
Candidate |
Party |
Votes |
|
% |
Ch.% |
|
1997 |
81,014 |
63.8 |
|
M.T. Hancock |
L Dem |
20,421 |
|
39.5 |
-2.5 |
|
2001 |
77,095 |
50.9 |
|
M.T. Hancock |
L Dem |
17,490 |
|
44.6 |
+5.1 |
|
2005 |
69,539 |
58.1 |
|
M.T. Hancock |
L Dem |
17,047 |
|
42.2 |
-2.4 |
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