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<title><![CDATA[Michael Edwards for South Derbyshire]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/michaeledwards/]]></link>
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<description><![CDATA[<p>I'm Labour's candidate for South Derbyshire, following in the footsteps of Mark Todd MP.</p>
<p>I've been helping in South Derbyshire since 1992, both at General Elections and at by-elections in Melbourne (2000), Hilton (2005) and Church Gresley (2007).</p>
<p>I'm a Nottingham City Councillor, having retained the Mapperley ward in 2007's elections for the sixth time. (The ward once covered the 3rd most Tory part of Nottingham City.)</p>
<p>The pressure was on us in 2007.  And I hope the stories conveyed during the campaign period were of interest. </p>
<p>I use this blog to tell stories of general political interest. </p>
<p> </p>]]></description>
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<lastBuildDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:31:14 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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                           <title><![CDATA[Social Housing safe in Labour's hands]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[I&rsquo;m pleased to see that Labour Councillors have been able to progress two projects for social housing in South Derbyshire, on matters that Conservative Councillors could not vote on. - South Derbyshire District Council appear to have been so wrapped up in the negotiations for 2 social housing projects, that they've omitted to tell the public that progress has been made.  So I'm pleased to be able to announce that the council has indeed made progress 2 social housing projects -- &ldquo;1. ... mixed affordable housing at Wilmot Road on [South Derbyshire District Council] land; &ldquo;2.  ... the...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/michaeledwards/27100/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Thu, 4 Mar 2010 14:16:03 +0000</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Tory Prospective Parliamentary Candidates do not appear to be talking]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Tory Prospective Parliamentary Candidates do not appear to be talking.  The Tory PPCs for North West Leicestershire and Derby North both called for their opponents to stand down from positions of special responsibility from the councils they serve, with immediate effect.  Seemingly, they did not appear to consider the position of the Tory candidate for South Derbyshire, who after a question was placed by Labour Leader Cllr. Kevin Richards, has declared she will step down from serving as Council leader, but only when the election was formally called.  - There's more information available at the Burton Mail...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/michaeledwards/27099/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Thu, 4 Mar 2010 11:13:03 +0000</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Michael Foot]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[In remembering Michael Foot, let us celebrate what he achieved.  A man with a great mind, who held senior posts in newspaper publication, politics and government.  Inspirational in his words and speeches, generous to many including people from all sides of the political debate.  I met him at Shrewsbury Railway station when he was travelling back from a Shrewsbury vs Plymouth match, sometime in the late eighties.  Then old yet unaccompanied, he was secure in the love of the people on the platform around him, who even then wanted to meet and greet him.  He...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/michaeledwards/27090/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Wed, 3 Mar 2010 12:46:30 +0000</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[There's a plan?]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[The latest Conservative poster cites a member of the public saying - "... but I like their plans for families". As Captain Blackadder said in "Goes Forth" - There's a plan?  The voter is from Llandudno.  The SureStart there provides - Parenting courses/ parent and toddler groups Baby massage Storytimes Cooking skills Citizens Advice Bureau/ Relate/ Credit union The Tory party says they'd rather SureStart was just for the families that need it most.  (Contradicted by the aspiration for Sure Start health vistors to serve all parents.)  Instead all funding for early intervention and parenting support...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/michaeledwards/27025/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:07:28 +0000</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Tears]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[News broke last week that Gordon Brown had cried on televison whilst being interviewed on television.  And it was a topic of conversation on the doorsteps this morning.  Some fear that this was a new level of spin.  In fact, the spin turned out to be that he had cried on television.  There might have been a slight catch in his voice, and a moistening of the eyes, but not actual tears.  No doubt, the story that he cried was put about by the programme's presenters to get more people to watch.  Now that's...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/michaeledwards/27021/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:15:15 +0000</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[full and proper consideration given]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[The South Derbyshire Conservative Councillors application to vote on a matter on which they have a prejudicial interest has been declined by a meeting of the District Council's Standards Committee.  The Committee voted 7-1, allowing them to speak on the matter but not to vote.  http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/politics/Council-s-Tories-banned-votes-land-connected-party-donor/article-1832110-detail/article.html  Despite their members declaring a prejudicial interest, South Derbyshire Conservatives are saying they don't really have one, because all the donations from this particualr donor went to the purposes of the General Election.  But it's not clear from any of the evidence submitted to the Electoral Commission that they've ring-fenced...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/michaeledwards/27012/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:56:36 +0000</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[full and proper consideration required]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[One MP protested on Wednesday about the influence of money in elections in marginal seats from certain individuals.  Q6. Mr. Gordon Prentice (Pendle) (Lab): Has my friend visited gordonprenticemp.com today to see how the next election in my constituency is being bought by a tax exile?  Does he agree that he needs me here, and that Pendle is not for sale? The Prime Minister: The Conservative party cannot talk about new politics or transparency unless it answers the central question about the tax status of its chief fundraiser, Lord Ashcroft. The Information Commissioner has already said that the...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/michaeledwards/27000/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:06:33 +0000</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[care for the elderly]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[I was pleased to be able to take part in a health debate on Monday.  Celebrating an increase of average lifetimes of 4 years in the last 10 years.  A public consultation event on reducing smoking and healthy eating found people calling for a range of measures including better communications and better labelling of food.  Better labelling is something Glenis Willmott MEP is working on now. The nature of ill health being treated is changing.  Dementia is becoming more common.  There is a demand for more research into the condition.  We have to plan...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/michaeledwards/26999/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:04:54 +0000</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Labour's budget for Derbyshire]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Having received front-page coverage for the announcement of the roads mtce. programme in Derbyshire, South Derbyshire Tories then voted down a package of measures including &pound;500,000 for tackling potholes across the county.  Instead, the Tories pressed on with a budget that included &pound;4 million for moving an existing library in the Tory leader's own ward.  And despite public pleas for investment in school buildings from their portfolio holder, Tories also voted down the provision of two temporary science classrooms for William Allitt school in Swadlincote. DERBYSHIRE'S LOST OPPORTUNITY BUDGET There were angry exchanges in the council chamber at...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/michaeledwards/26981/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Sun, 7 Feb 2010 00:22:40 +0000</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Council rents increases kept down by Labour]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Labour&rsquo;s Housing Minister John Healey today confirmed a good deal for council tenants after he announced the halving of guideline rent increases for the 2010/11 financial year. In doing so, John Healey emphasised that he remained committed to ensuring rents remain fair and affordable, and that the reduction would not lead to steep increases in future years. The move means that for the second year running, the Government has taken steps to keep down council tenants&rsquo; rents....]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/michaeledwards/26980/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Sun, 7 Feb 2010 00:16:18 +0000</pubDate>
                           
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