No More Care Cuts!

3rd November 2007

Today local residents and Conservatives held a protest in Kingston town centre against cuts to Kingston’s mental health services. The protest was organised by Cllr. Mary Clarke and Cllr Ian George, supported by Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Helen Whately. They were joined by regular users and staff from Springboard and relatives of patients in Fuchsias Ward.

 

Under a fuchsia-pink banner calling for ‘No More Care Cuts’ the group handed out leaflets about the threatened services and invited passers-by to sign the petition for an end to the cuts. The response from locals was overwhelming, with many stopping to find out more and expressing outrage as well as concern.

 

The petition was signed by over 600 people in just 4 hours. The campaign will continue throughout the winter with opportunities to sign the petition in New Malden and Surbiton planned. It can also be found on the website.

 

Cllr Mary Clark has been campaigning vigorously  to help those who are at risk of losing their mental health care services. Mary said; “I am truly appalled at the utter disregard for the welfare of Kingston’s mental health patients. The PCT should stop seeing their patients as numbers and pound signs and start celebrating these unique and necessary services.”

 

Helen visited Springboard in August and has pledged to do everything possible to make sure it survives. At Saturday’s protest, Helen said; ” In the last year mental health services have been cut around the country. Now the cuts have arrived here in Kingston. These services are precious and transform the lives of the users and their families. We must rally round and stop the cuts before it’s too late.”

Helen campaigns for a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty

29th September 2007

Helen was out in New Malden today campaigning with our MEP Syed Kamall for a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty, better known as the EU Constitution.

 

In 2005 Labour promised the people of Britain a vote on the EU Constitution, but it was rejected by the French and the Dutch. Now the Constitution is back with a new name the ‘EU Reform Treaty’. The Conservatives believe that you should have the vote that you were promised. The people of New Malden clearly agree, shown by the hundreds of names Helen collected in the space of a few hours.

 

Helen said “I’m campaigning on the EU Reform Treaty because Labour made a manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on the Constitution. This treaty is the Constitution in all but name. Brown should be held to account for the promises he breaks. He says that he will trust people but his actions prove this simply is not true. The EU Treaty would transfer substantial powers from Britain to the EU: a change like this must not be slipped through under the radar.”

Helen speaks to the students at Kingston University Freshers’ Fair

21 September 2007

The local Conservative Future group was at Kingston University Freshers’ Fair this week working tirelessly to promote our candidate Helen Whately. Despite stiff competition from nightclubs, the local cinema and university sport teams the joint Kingston and Richmond Conservative stall received a high number of visitors. From the positive response we got from students we can tell that this year is going to be a good one for Conservative Future. Students were keen to quiz Helen over her priorities for Kingston, discussing issues such as transport, the environment, education and the NHS with students as well as sounding out their views on Boris Johnson for Mayor.

 

Helen said “It’s important for young people to become politically engaged. Decisions made in Westminster impact us not just now but decades into the future. This generation of students will have to live with this government’s mistakes.”