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<title><![CDATA[Michael Sparling]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/mikesparling/]]></link>
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<description><![CDATA[<p><strong><br /> MICHAEL SPARLING</strong>, 26, lives near Tavistock, West Devon, alongside his family who have lived in this area for four generations.<br /> <br /> One of the main reasons Michael joined the Labour Party was his belief in the guiding principles of fairness and equality and having recently lived in Manchester and London, Michael has seen at first hand the benefits local Labour representation brings.<br /> <br /> He has an Honours degree in Philosophy and Politics, was elected to the executive National Committee of the British Universities North America Club, has worked for a Labour Member of Parliament and is working towards a postgraduate Masters degree in politics, specialising in global development and middle eastern affairs.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Official Labour Party Candidate for Devon County Council local government elections June 2009</strong></p>
<p><strong>(Tavistock Division)</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Official Torridge &amp; West Devon CLP delegate to Labour Conference, Brighton, 2009</strong></p>
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                           <title><![CDATA[FINAL COUNTDOWN!]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[WEll, just a couple of days left now. It is so beautiful here in West Devon right now. A little more ugly is that person or persons unknown have been going around taking down all my billboards. I've encountered some outright hostility. Not pleasant and quite amateur and pathetic. Thank goodness Darren Jones, the PPC, is coming to help deliver leaflets tonight. I'd rather not do it alone! As I've mentioned before, however, it's encouraging to acknowledge the core support that still prevails, even in Torridge and West Devon....]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/mikesparling/26192/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Tue, 2 Jun 2009 14:00:28 +0100</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[CAMPAIGNING, SPLINTERS AND EXPENSES..]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Had a very encouraging day today. There are now numerous red billboards strategically placed on all the trunk roads in out and out of Tavistock. I have the splinters to prove it. So refreshing to see some red alongside the blue and yellow we are so used to down here. That said, the Lib Dems seem to be distinctly lacking a roadside presence. Overbearing pink boards for that other party seem to have taken their place. So heartening to get thumbs up and general support from local people. There really is a base of support here for what we are...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/mikesparling/26191/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2009 22:25:58 +0100</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[FAITH, REFORM and DANGER]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[PUBLISHED AT http://raincoatoptimism.wordpress.com/   There are many things I believe need to be done to confront this latest, dramatic crisis over faith in British politics. Firstly let me say that it is sad that the anger directed at Westminster has had such a negative impact on those at a local level who are out there doing their best for their communities in difficult circumstances. Certainly, Members of Parliament, the institution of Parliament itself and also the party machines have a lot to answer for. Now is not the time for appealing to the status-quo, so here are some of...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/mikesparling/26190/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2009 05:04:03 +0100</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[NEVER BEFORE HAS VOTING LABOUR MATTERED SO MUCH IN DEVON]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA["Never before has voting Labour mattered so much for West Devon" In these tough economic times it is important that we do all we can to support local businesses in our own community. Voting Labour has never mattered so much here in Devon because only Labour are steadfast in this resolve. Labour acted to prevent the collapse of the banks to stop businesses closing and thousands of people losing their jobs. David Cameron has committed the Tories to massive cuts that would threaten key local services like transport, police and school in local communities over the next few years....]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/mikesparling/26189/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2009 12:48:01 +0100</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[YOU ARE ALL JUST JEALOUS OF ME, SAYS DEVON TORY]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[You are all just 'jealous of me' said Devon Tory squire Anthony Steen who was forced to quit in the expenses row yesterday. I think the most shocking part of the interview for me was when the Tory grandee unashamedly blamed the Freedom of Information Act for his downfall and insisted that the public has no right to know how he spent taxpayer-funded allowances, maintaining that such disclosures constitute interference in his private life. What a cheek!  At least most MPs from all sides caught out have put their hands up. This local Tory grandee on the other hand...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/mikesparling/26188/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2009 06:25:47 +0100</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[CONFERENCE 2009 CLP DELEGATE SELECTION]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[I was delighted to have yesterday been accepted by Torridge &amp; West Devon Constituency Labour Party to represent them as their official delegate to the 2009 Labour Party Conference in Brighton this Autumn and am looking forward to attending alongside our Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Darren Jones. It will surely be an important, challenging Conference and I am in no doubt that delegates from the South West region will make a positive contribution....]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/mikesparling/26187/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2009 04:45:39 +0100</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[OKEHAMPTON TIMES report the publication of valid nominees]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Political colours unfurl for county elections Thursday, 14 May 2009 POLITICAL parties are to the fore in the line up of those contesting seats in the Devon County Council elections. One of the largest field of candidates is in Tavistock, where six are contesting the seat. Labour’s standard bearer is Michael Sparling. Full list of candidates is as follows: Tavistock — Alison Clish-Green Liberal Democrat Roy Connelly Independent George Mudge UKIP Debo Sellis Conservative Ted Sherrell Independent Michael Sparling Labour...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/mikesparling/26186/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2009 00:45:05 +0100</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[THE SUN IS SHINING - SOME OPTIMISM PLEASE!]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[As the County Council election draws nearer I should like to highlight that Labour does not have a pessimistic view that runs Britain's local communities down all the time. This country has never been broken. It is not now. Nor will it be. Nationally nearly 3,000 Sure Start Children’s Centres are now embedded in the fabric of local communities. Labour is proud of our country: our communities are getting stronger. So we are optimistic about the future. We are not the broken society the Conservatives claim. There is nothing wrong in Britain today that cannot be put right by what...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/mikesparling/26185/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2009 23:59:42 +0100</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[VENGEANCE ASIDE, THERE ARE REAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR ELECTORS IN JUNE]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Published http://raincoatoptimism.wordpress.com/ Published http://en.wordpress.com/tag/michael-sparling/   I am standing for Labour locally because I believe Labour represents the best chance for this country. Many people will not listen to that at this moment because of what the Parliamentarians have done and that is the tragedy of what has happened. However, I think it is important to focus minds on the fact that this is a local election and it should be about local issues. The scandals of recent weeks are a matter for all kinds of people, from all sides in the political class, who having assumed that they are...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/mikesparling/26184/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2009 23:50:09 +0100</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Devon County Council elections 2009 - MICHAEL SPARLING]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[MICHAEL SPARLING Tavistock Labour Party Torridge and West Devon Constituency Labour Party   The official Labour Party candidate for Tavistock Division - Devon County Council elections   JUNE 04 2009     *Please note that Labour Party members can view comments left on this page by visiting the membersnet version of this blog*...]]></description>
                           <link><![CDATA[http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/mikesparling/26183/]]></link>
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                           <pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2009 17:54:37 +0100</pubDate>
                           
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