Allan Smith

I have been contacted today about a new report which states the elderly believe the Labour party look after them better than any other political group. I am obviously pleased Labour has been named as the best party for looking after our elderly, after all an extra £11-billion is being spent nationally on pensioners compared to when Labour came to power in 1997.  The basic state pension has increased above inflation since 2000 and I know fellow local pensioners value the annual Winter Fuel Payment to help pay their energy bills.

Locally we have introduced a scheme to allow pensioners to travel on buses for free at any time and in the near future we are looking to allow the elderly to swim in our pools free of charge.  Labour has lifted 2-million people nationally out of hardship since they came to power in 1997.  3.5-million pensioner households are now entitled to free TV licences, while there is a free flu inoculation for everyone over 65. Labour has restored free eye tests for 6.6-million pensioners aged 60 and over and 4.5-million senior citizens aged 75 or over qualify for free passports.

We have done a lot for our elderly but of course there is always more to do and we must not be complacent. The national press today is speculating even more measures will be announced next week and I look forward to the announcement.

I have been following the debate regarding bad eating habits and obesity with interest. However, I was surprised to hear of the Conservatives' plans to hire the head of the company behind Pot Noodle to lead their new national healthy food policy!

Having already announced they will not ban advertising on junk food the Tories have revealed Unilever boss Dave Lewis will write their healthy food policy. This is the man behind a number of not very healthy snacks, such as Pot Noodle.  And the first Tory casualty will be the helpful traffic light system that helps identify which foods are healthy and which are not.

This is further proof the Tories care more about the interests of big business and not ordinary people.  People want more information and more choice, not less! It seems clear to me the Tories want to hide the information to suit the interests of the food industry which is hardly helpful - or healthy!

I see the Tories have retained the motto ‘I'm alright Jack'!  After sitting on their hands for months offering no solutions to world problems the first new policy has been leaked - increasing the threshold for the super rich on inheritance tax. This means families will be able to inherit £2-million tax free.

But it also means some very senior Tories will be about £400,000 each better off. George Osborne, Dominic Grieve and Conservative leader David Cameron are all due to receive a massive bonus if the Tories get their way and push through the new proposals. This means a tax relief for the very rich and when hard working families are facing real pressure, how can the Tories justify tax cuts for millionaires?

Couldn't get any worse?  Now Boris Johnson has announced inflation-busting hikes on charges for public transport in London. It will cost nearly 20 per cent more to get on a bus or tube in the capital under the Tory mayor than under Labour. A party of the people? Not a chance!

Unfortunately Labour members have been barred from questioning Tory leader David Cameron when he visits this week, but if I was allowed to attend I would ask him why the Tories have such a terrible record when it comes to the health of our young people.

Mr Cameron doesn't have a great record when you look at it. He voted against introducing a smoking ban. He voted against introducing foundation hospitals. He is leader of a party which has voted against the ban on tobacco advertising, voted against increases in alcohol duty and blocked improvements for sex education in schools. He is also the leader of a party against single-parent families and has recently criticised hard-working staff at so-called ‘dirty' hospitals.

Not such an impressive record for someone who declares himself a family man is it?  Hopefully someone who has been picked to attend the meeting can find out if he ever has any intention of looking after our young people!