Why I support Andy Burnham for Labour leader.

According to the media and many within the party, there are only two possible winners in the Labour leadership contest. Our next leader will be either Mr E Miliband or Mr D Miliband. We've been led to believe these are the only two credible candidates for the Labour leadership. Surely voting for anyone else would just be a wasted vote? Or would it?

I myself fell into the same trap when the leadership contest began. I publicly backed Ed Miliband, feeling he was the better of the two credible candidates. I now realise I was completely wrong.

This is a crucial moment for our party. The wrong choice could mean many years of opposition, powerless to stop the Tories making savage cuts to our public services, leading us back into recession and high unemployment. We must choose wisely. I choose Andy Burnham.

Andy Burnham is a credible Labour leader. He has the necessary experience, having been in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Health. He has performed well in debates on the future of our NHS, opposing Tory plans to scrap PCTs and privatise healthcare provision. He has put forward sensible policies on a variety of issues. He favours a Graduate Tax, in place of tuition fees. He proposes a Land Value Tax, to replace the unfair Council Tax system currently in place. He has proposed building more Council houses and a change in how they are allocated, ensuring those who contribute most to society are given priority.

He also believes in a tough but fair immigration system, recognising there are benefits to immigration. He believes in greater protection for agency workers, a review of Trade Union legislation and fair pay to bring about a more equal society.

Most importantly, Andy Burnham is a realist not a populist. He indentifies many of the positives of New Labour, while recognising the need to stick to core Labour values. I feel this balance is best demonstrated by Andy Burnham's promise to tackle antisocial behaviour through compulsory purchase of problem properties, while at the same time offering adequate mental healthcare for young offenders. He has also proposed a sensible approach to cutting the deficit, promising to lay out an alternative deficit reduction plan, while opposing the savage Tory cuts currently being implemented.

As for renewing the Labour Party, I am delighted that Andy Burnham would lower the party membership fee, making it far easier for people to join up and get involved. We should be a community organisation, not an exclusive club. I also welcome Andy's promise to use new technology to get more members involved in developing policy.

An Andy Burnham leadership would be a decisive break from the past. This is a crucial moment in our party's history. Let's vote for an end to the factional politics of the past. Let's vote for a New Labour with old Labour values. Let's vote for Andy Burnham as our next leader.

Follow the link to read Andy Burnham's manifesto http://andy4leader.com/2010/08/aspirational-socialism-the-manifesto/

Milton Keynes Local Election Results

Just a quick post to let people know how the local elections went in Milton Keynes. Results were as follows.

Bletchley and Fenny Stratford

Angela Kennedy (Con) 2894 - 44.9% ELECTED
Rita Venn (Lab) 1993 - 30.9%
Susan Burke (Lib) 833 - 12.9%
Catherine Kitchiner (UKIP) 466 - 7.2%
Catherine Scanlon (Green) 253 - 3.9%
Michel Nelson-Peppal (CPA) 7 - 0.1%

Bradwell

Robin Bradburn (Lib) 2101 - 38.7% ELECTED
Adejinmi Macaulay (Con) 1416 - 26.1%
Pauline Wallis (Lab) 1369 - 25.2%
Edward May (Green) 251 - 4.6%
Michael Maylam (UKIP) 218 - 4%
Doris Amartey (CPA) 75 - 1.4%

Campbell Park

Isobel Mccall (Lib) 2437 - 42.7% ELECTED
John Goss (Lab) 1467 - 25.7%
Festus Akinbusoye (Con) 1115 - 19.5%
Kenneth Webb (UKIP) 331 - 5.8%
Carol Barac (Green) 192 - 3.4%
Michael Johnson (CPA) 170 - 3%

Denbigh

Nigel Long (Lab) 1329 - 37.4% ELECTED
Reginald Chopra (Con) 1130 - 31.8%
Edis Bevan (Lib) 486 - 13.7%
Francesca Hill (Green) 309 - 8.7%
Christopher Tett (UKIP) 302 - 8.5%

Eaton Manor

Reginald Edwards (Lab) 1493 - 49.3% ELECTED
Samantha Browne (Con) 752 - 24.8%
Alfred Vella (Lib) 351 - 11.6%
Kieren Trent (BNP) 222 - 7.3%
Arnold Leeming (UKIP) 107 - 3.5%
Paul Bowler (Green) 86 - 2.8%
Charles Nti (CPA) 19 - 0.6%

Emerson Valley

Stuart Burke (Lib) 3003 - 38.7% ELECTED
Neil Warden (Con) 2796 - 36%
Sairam Reddy (Lab) 1459 - 18.8%
Sarah Murphy (UKIP) 352 - 4.5%
Philip Buckley (Green) 155 - 2%

Furzton

Jennifer Ferrans (Lib) 1669 - 39.8% ELECTED
Margaret Geaney (Con) 1284 - 30.6%
Robin Francis (Lab) 925 - 22.1%
Graham White (UKIP) 189 - 4.5%
John Creaser (Green) 72 - 1.7%
Linda Chestney 51 - 1.2%

Linford North

Christine Zealley (Lib) 1771 - 39.6% ELECTED
David Tunney (Con) 1499 - 33.5%
Colin Lund (Lab) 759 - 17%
Roger Nye (UKIP) 205 - 4.6%
Peter Edwards (Green) 153 - 3.4%
Anita Rose (Ind) 90 - 2%

Linford South

Richard Brackenbury (Lib) 1612 - 35.6% ELECTED
Catriona Morris (Con) 1489 - 32.9%
Paul Williams (Lab) 893 - 19.7%
Caroline Lancaster (Green) 267 - 5.9%
Ronen Ghose (UKIP) 229 - 5.1%
Heather Botchway (CPA) 42 - 0.9%

Loughton Park

Andrew Dransfield (Con) 3224 - 40.9% ELECTED
Martin Potter (Lab) 2233 - 28.3%
Christopher Thompson (Lib) 1647 - 20.9%
Adrian Pitfield (UKIP) 389 - 4.9%
Michael Lovell (Green) 295 - 3.7%
Karel De Heer (CPA) 103 - 1.3%

Newport Pagnell North

Derek Eastman (Lib) 1854 - 47.6% ELECTED
Jeannette Green (Con) 1300 - 33.4%
Brian Barton (Lab) 525 - 13.5%
Trevor Kirby (UKIP) 213 - 5.5%

Newport Pagnell South

Andrew Maric (Lib) 2064 - 51.9% ELECTED
Jennifer Sharp (Con) 1218 - 30.6%
Martin Petchey (Lab) 500 - 12.6%
Raymond Denman (UKIP) 178 - 4.5%
Agnes Effah (CPA) 17 - 0.4%

Olney

Deborah Geary (Con) 3243 - 62% ELECTED
Valerie Menzies (Lib) 1267 - 42.2%
David Jones (Lab) 526 - 10.1%
Judith Green (UKIP) 194 - 3.7%

Stony Stratford

John Hawthorn (Con) 2415 - 20% ELECTED
Philip Wharton (Con) 2349 - 19.5% ELECTED
Jessica Holroyd (Lab) 1729 - 14.3%
Arshad Majid (Lab) 1344 - 11.2%
Adrian Dnes (Lib) 1294 - 10.7%
Tahl Macnair-Kay (Lib) 1040 - 8.6%
David Tavener (UKIP) 543 - 4.5%
Thomas Bulman (Green) 503 - 4.2%
David Alexander (UKIP) 491 - 4.1%
Geralder May (Green) 345 - 2.9%

Walton Park

Subhan Shafiq (Lib) 2510 - 37.9% ELECTED
Edward Butler-Ellis (Con) 2456 - 37.1%
Moriah Priestley (Lab) 1092 - 16.5%
Robert Wardale (UKIP) 279 - 4.2%
Katrina Deacon (Green) 199 - 3%
Suzanne Nti (CPA) 78 - 1.2%

Whaddon

Gladstone Roy Mckenzie (Lab) 1587 - 39.6% ELECTED
Arthur Norton (UKIP) 892 - 22.3%
Sacha Nitsche (Lib) 822 - 20.5%
Beverley Caprice (Green) 674 - 16.8%
Uche Okoronkwo (CPA) 29 - 0.7%

Wolverton

Norman Miles (Lab) 2402 - 37.2% ELECTED
Patrick Mcquillan (Lib) 1889 - 29.3%
Shouket Mirza (Con) 1307 - 20.3%
Vincent Peddle (UKIP) 448 - 6.9%
Alan Francis (Green) 361 - 5.6%
Soloman Brobbey (CPA) 46 - 0.7%

The end of Paxo?

Anyone who watches Newsnight, will be aware of Paxman's harsh interview technique. However tonight's interview with Lord Adonis was quite astonishing.

It's become normal for journalists to berate people regularly during interviews. Journalists seem to think this makes them look edgy, tough and consequently watchable. However sometimes it makes them look incredibly foolish.

Lord Adonis was questioned about the aftermath of the volcanic eruption, an event nobody foresaw! However he was also being criticised for the imposing of a no fly zone, over Britain. This, I felt was bizarre! When all the experts are claiming it would be unsafe to fly in the volcanic ash, would it not be astonishing for the Government to demand our airspace remains open? When several countries across Europe have taken the same measures, is it not bizarre to claim the British Government should have acted differently? Most importantly, is it not irresponsible to put pressure on ministers to make rash decisions and putting passenger safety at risk?

Perhaps the BBC will start to rethink conducting such irresponsible journalism. However I somehow doubt it.

A Vote For Change?

The Tories have announced their campaign slogan. "A Vote For Change". This sums up the Tories' lack of substance, giving people no hint of what kind of change we may see.

The Labour slogan will be "A Future Fair For All".

Here's my own, rather crude, take on the two slogans.

Why I support Labour

To some it's obvious, to others less so. Why do I support the Labour Party? It's a question I've been asked since 2001, when I first started door knocking when not studying for A Levels. My parents had never been strong Labour supporters and my friends weren't particularly political. However I felt compelled to join Labour in 2001.

The main reason I joined the Labour Party is, quite simply, that I felt Labour values matched my own. I was inspired by the words of Tony Blair, promising sweeping changes to bring about a much fairer society. Since 1997 a lot has been achieved.

The National Minimum Wage (opposed by the Conservatives) has helped millions of people, together with child benefits and tax credits.

The NHS (a 60 year mistake according to Tory Dan Hannan MEP) has seen waiting times cut dramatically, thanks to Labour investment. Cancer patients are now seen within two weeks of their referral.

The opening of over 3,000 Sure Start Centres, has benefited 2.4 million families across the country. Many of these Sure Start Centres are expected to be closed by a Conservative Government.

These are just some of the achievements which could only have been accomplished by a Labour Government.

However it was my time working for Labour MP Sally Keeble, which had the biggest influence over me. I saw how Sally Keeble worked tirelessly for all sections of the community, not simply to win votes but because she cared passionately about improving the lives of her constituents. It's this passion which defines what the Labour Party is truly about, people coming together to bring about a fairer society. Without the Labour Party, there would have been no NHS, no welfare state and no minimum wage.

Despite all of Labour's achievements there is still a lot left to do. Hopefully the good work of our Labour Government will continue after the election. However whether in Government or in opposition, I am proud to be a member of a party which strives to better the lives of every person in society.