Tuesday, 28 April 2015

MPs, Hang them all!

A Hung Parliament.  
The Media and the two main Establishment Parties are always seeking one Party Majorities and putting such negative connotations on them, (I wonder why that could be?) BUT
I’m still voting for one!
Hung out to dry;
Hung up to die
Both sound bad but let us not forget that 2000 years ago two establishment forces, The Roman Empire and the Sanhedrin, hung Jesus on a cross to die. BUT none can deny that He was a force for change and good.
Hung Drawn and Quartered……… NOW
That sounds like a good idea to me for the next Parliament. AND
Once the parliament is HUNG……
           Let’s see if it can be QUARTERED

A Healthier Democracy
Just like a Healthy Meal, wouldn’t our democracy be all the healthier if voters were more accurately represented in Parliament, and the Government held better to account by MPs who were more politically diverse?
Rather than calling a Parliament where no one party has an over-all majority ‘hung’, lets call it a ‘balanced’ Parliament instead.
UKIP wants proportional representation; I personally prefer Direct Party Representative (DRS) system. This system has the advantage of being easy to understand, easy to count, inexpensive to implement and still maintains an MP to Constituency link whilst still giving a proper weight to electors votes for a particular party.
Under our present system the Tories need a 10 % lead over Labour in the general polls to have an overall majority. Labour needs just 1-2% over the Tories to have one. UKIP might enjoy 17% of the popular vote generally and yet have only one Westminster seat. The system is hardly fair and, explains why so few people turn out to vote is some constituencies.

Less Flip-Floppery.
In the event of ‘balanced’ parliaments becoming the norm, institutions, civil servants, the media and politicians would all have to act very differently; in fact more responsibly. Politicians would need to act more like political animals than those frightened dogs whipped into obedience which presently are the case. A ‘balanced’ parliament means more stability and better decisions over the long term. Policies would have to be negotiated and compromises made in order to gain a broad consensus before any long term decisions and legislation. The trident replacement, Heathrow enlargement, NHS funding and organisation and, of course HS2 to name but a few!
A strong vote for UKIP may not win a seat in every constituency on this may 7th BUT it will make a massive difference everywhere.

Paul Rogan, UKIP PC, Calder Valley
Office:- 01422 370 849, Mobile:- 07785 220300

Promoted, published & printed by Paul Rogan on behalf of himself & Calderdale Branch  UKIP,

both at 363 Stainland Rd, Stainland, HX4 9HF.

Friday, 24 April 2015

Population Issues

In response to a request to support the Population Matters manifesto. I have responded as follows:-

Dear Elector
Thank you for your email. This is not a matter I have met on the door step but I am pleased to have received your comments and concerns.

Of course I share them.
I am well aware that England is now more heavily populated than The Netherlands. I might just see my time out in a relatively acceptable way, but what about my son (aged 15) and his children?

I have read through your manifesto and frankly, I cannot find anything which is contrary to UKIP policy or views.

Promoted, published & printed by Paul Rogan on behalf of himself & Calderdale Branch  UKIP,
both at 363 Stainland Rd, Stainland, HX4 9HF.

The full text from Population Matters is as follows:-

As a voter in your constituency, I am asking you to promote and/or support action to slow and ultimately reverse UK and global population growth.
I am among the 1 in 5 women of my generation who did not have children. After graduation I spent my career in public service and have recently seen my circumstances devastated by redundandy and redeployment on a salary lower than I earned last century.

Britain, particularly England, is already one of Europe’s more densely-populated countries and the Office for National Statistics projects that the UK population will increase by between four million and 20 million by 2050.

Among the consequences of population growth are rising living costs, increased national debt and tensions and declining green space, employment opportunities and quality of life. Population growth means we need ever more housing, power and water infrastructure, transport facilities, hospitals and schools. This comes at a huge cost; meanwhile, our ecosystems and landscape are negatively affected.

Recent polls have shown that 80 per cent of voters are concerned about our population size and would prefer it to be smaller. Population Matters chief executive Simon Ross has said, “The ever-increasing size of the UK population is increasing our cost of living and reducing our quality of life. Population growth is damaging both the environment and national security.”

I ask you to support these policies:
1. Make sex and relationships education statutory;
2. Make reducing unplanned pregnancy at all ages a goal;
3. Limit child-related payments or tax reliefs to the first two children per household for children conceived after the policy comes into force, while ensuring that children are protected from poverty;
4. Promote the benefits of small families;
5. Prevent net migration from fuelling national population growth; and
6. Increase the proportion of foreign aid spent on family planning services and women’s empowerment.
These policies are detailed in Population Matters' manifesto.

Cycling.

In response to a number of emails on cycling and safety matter for bike riders, i have sent the following reply

My wife and me are keen Motorhomers and travel with a bike rack and 2 bikes.
Due to my previous injuries, mine is electric assisted; my wife's is pure pedal power.

There is nothing we enjoy more than to park up and ride into a town, city or other point of interest. Sadly most city P+R do not permit this (you have to use their buses) and we have to find alternative parking in order to ride our cycles.

We are often delighted to find dedicated cycle tracks and saddened that they come abruptly to an end meaning we have to join main traffic highways, often incredibly dangerous.

In the unlikely event that I would be elected, UKIP are presently only running at 14% in the local polls, you can be assured I would champion the issues raised by cyclists.

I hope we can count on your support on May 7th. I believe you have 3 votes, General, local and Tod Town Council


Paul Rogan, UKIP PC, Calder Valley
Office:- 01422 370 849, Mobile:- 07785 220300 www.UkipCalderdale.uk 
Promoted, published & printed by Paul Rogan on behalf of himself & Calderdale Branch  UKIP, both at 363 Stainland Rd, Stainland, HX4 9HF.



-----Original Message-----

As a constituent in Calder Valley, I would be interested to know your views on these five cycling subjects.
·         Leadership and ambition to increase cycling levels.
·         Sustained funding commitment from the national transport budget
·         Cycle-friendly design standards for all new highway and traffic schemes.
·         Improved safety for cycling through strengthening road traffic law and revisions to the Highway Code
·         Positive promotion of cycling including funding of cycle skills training

To submit your views and to view additional information on these cycling topics, please head to:

-----

Please head to http://votebike.org.uk/respond/?cid=349057 to submit your views and to view additional information on these cycling topics.


Huddersfield Examiner

In response to a request for information i have submitted the following:-

Short Biography

I have lived in Calderdale all my working life, since 1981 in Stainland. Now self-employed, I have always been involved in the carpet and carpet yarns industry, starting as a junior at Crossley Carpets at Dean Clough. I have served as a local Councillor for Rastrick putting residents interests first, often in conflict with the local authority.
Too many odds are stacked against us in the north generally and in Calder Valley particularly. We need fresh ideas, plain speaking and determined people to fix this; people like you who will support us; people who will stand up for UKIP’s common sense policies.

(102 words)

Local pledges and core policies

Parents are best placed to care for their children; the same principle goes for the Government of Britain, it is best done by us. That is why UKIP seeks to leave the EU and bring our laws and government back home. This not only enables us to decide upon our own laws but also allows us to be in control of our borders and our territorial waters in addition to saving vast sums of money which can be better spent looking after our sick, elderly and disabled.

Scrapping HS2 means we can use this money to improve the infrastructure and transport links which the North so badly needs. This type of investment will really help to make the North a ‘power house’ once again.

Having control over our borders means we can end immigration for the next 5 years for those seeking low wage jobs. This will help wages for own workers to rise which, when coupled with raising the tax allowance for those on the minimum wage, means a better standard of living for Britons.

UKIP believes we should become less dependent on imported and subsidised energy. Any income from ‘fracking’ will be invested in a fund to pay for care of the elderly.

UKIP is committed to spending a total of £12 billion more on the NHS in England. We believe in keeping the NHS free at the point of need for UK citizens. Visitors from other countries will be required to pay for any health treatments or medicines. This is our National Health Service, not an International Health Service.

We believe in Britain and her people. We will always work to protect our values, our countryside, our living standards and our health service. In short our way of life. It makes common sense.

(296 words)
Paul Rogan, UKIP Candidate for Calder Valley, GE15. 
23rd April, 2015.

Paul Rogan, UKIP PC, Calder Valley
www.UkipCalderdale.uk, Office:- 01422 370 849, Mobile- 07785 220300

Promoted, published & printed by Paul Rogan on behalf of himself & Calderdale Branch UKIP, both at 363 Stainland Rd, Stainland, HX4 9HF.



Thursday, 23 April 2015

Non Binary Rights

In response to an email requesting my support on comments on this campaign, please find the information exchange as follows:-

Dear Jess
Thank you very much indeed for your personal response.
I really appreciate this, as I am sure you can imagine, I receive many hundreds of emails per day since I have declared as a Parliamentary Candidate.
I do try to answer each email (or other contact) and many times this has to be in a ‘standard’ form.

Much as would like to support your cause generally I am sorry to say I cannot give such blanket support as you are asking.
I have much sympathy with your views and could support some of the issues you are campaigning for.
My over-riding difficulty is that I am very much against more functionaries and more rules and more administrations of all of our lives.
The British People have to carry too many of these ‘facilitators’ who, after a very short time, start to extract expenses, allowances and other costs which taxpayers must bear.
Much of what you seek will mean more ‘officers’, cost more money and require more (hated) administrators and consultant generated guidelines.

Why can’t we all live together in concert and at peace with each other without all this costly bull###t.?

I am really not against the freedoms and liberties you are calling for; I just think today’s world is a complicated one and we should try to find ways forward rather than play the age old ‘political’ game of ‘thrones’ which the ‘establishment’ parties force us all into fighting.

Come the ‘People’s Revolution’, we will all sit down together and common sense will prevail.

Best wishes
Paul

  
From: UK Trans Info [mailto:info@uktrans.info]
Sent: 21 April 2015 20:11
To: 'Paul Rogan'
Subject: RE: Support non-binary rights by making our pledge!

Dear Paul,

Many thanks for your email. I can understand why you may feel that us contacting you is “a bit tongue in cheek” but I can assure you that is not the case. We are contacting every single candidate that we are able to, regardless of party. We’ve currently had 574 pledges – that’s 14% of all candidates -  many from candidates who also feel that they are unlikely to win. At time of writing we have had pledges from ten UKIP candidates. You can see a party breakdown here: http://ppc.uktrans.info/parties.php

We don’t believe that it is pointless for candidates with a slim chance of winning to make our pledge. Every person who makes our pledge is helping to raise awareness. When we try to get these issues dealt with in the next five years we can point back and show people that 14% of candidates made our pledge, or 25%, or perhaps even more and that will have an impact especially given cross party support. It also gives people from throughout the UK a rough idea of how the party as a whole handles these issues.

Therefore, even if it is unlikely that you will win, please will you make our pledge?
I pledge:
  • to support expanding the definitions in Equality Act 2010 to ensure all non-binary people are protected.
  • to support reviewing the Gender Recognition Act, with a view to bringing the UK in line with the statement on Identity Recognition issued by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) in January 2015.
  • to support the introduction of non gender-specific X passports, and removing the requirement for a doctors letter when changing the gender marker on a passport.
These changes should be made in full consultation with trans and non-binary people, as well as others who may be impacted by these changes such as intersex people.
Best wishes

Jess
UK Trans Info – http://uktrans.info

Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/UKTransInfo
Follow us on Tumblr - https://tumblr.uktrans.info
Follow us on Ello - https://ello.co/uktransinfo

From: Paul Rogan [mailto:rotexco@tiscali.co.uk]
Sent: 21 April 2015 19:34
To: 'UK Trans Info'
Subject: RE: Support non-binary rights by making our pledge!

Dear Elector,
Thank you very much for emailing me. I really do appreciate just how many people are engaged in the democratic process generally, a subject so very dear to my heart, and the upcoming election in particular.
UKIP are presently averaging 14% of the popular vote and, whilst this is a wonderful increase on where we were at the last General Election, we all know this not likely to translate into very many Westminster seats under the present voting system. So, let’s all take a reality check.
I am very unlikely to win in Calder Valley. Whilst miracles do happen and, whilst I think I would be a much better Constituency MP than all of my opponents, we must both accept that your particular email to me is a bit tongue in cheek and therefore my response must reflect the unlikelihood (sadly) that on 8th May I will not be able to put my shoulder behind your particular campaign or cause, even if I wanted to.
As a student of history, I find the 8th of May a particularly interesting date when, after what will have been a hard fought election campaign:-
One, two, three or even more Parties will be haggling over a coalition agreement (pact or whatever you want to call it), which can only at best ‘mirror’ the inadequacies of the Treaty of Versailles.
Please, therefore allow me to make a few personal points about why I am standing, and putting myself in the firing line for UKIP.
1.      Our Hearts are true
2.      Our Policies are sensible and predicated on the best interests of our fellow citizens
3.      Our resources are limited (very limited)
4.      We are not professional politicians
5.      We may sometimes get things wrong, but will always admit our mistakes
6.      We are people just like you; with passions, opinions and concerns
7.      We are trying to make a difference; the ‘Establishment’ is our adversary and they are strong.

I have considered and included specific answers to the many and various issues, like yours, which have been brought to my attention during the campaign. They are to be found on my public blog site, Political Eye. (http://ukipcv.blogspot.co.uk/)

I would really welcome any and all comments or thoughts on this discussion forum. If your specific concern has not already been addressed, please ‘wrap my knuckles’ and I will attend to it immediately.

Whilst our battle against the Establishment will not be easy and, you may not agree with me or with UKIP on every issue, may I please never the less seek your support on 7th May. With luck we will get a ‘Hung Parliament’ and therefore a better chance to see a better democracy in our Country. Unless you are entirely happy with the status quo, the best chance for change is to support UKIP.

As at April first, and this is no joke, I have received leaflets from the ‘Establishment’ as follows:-
Labour                                5
Conservatives                    3 plus 1 advert in a local magazine
Lib-Dems                            2

Where does all the money come from to fund such mass infiltration of our letter boxes?
Doesn’t the piper always call the tune? Isn’t it really dishonest to tell us that he doesn’t?

With kindest regards and thanks for your contact

Paul

Paul Rogan, UKIP PC, Calder Valley
Office:- 01422 370 849, Mobile:- 07785 220300
Promoted, published & printed by Paul Rogan on behalf of himself & Calderdale Branch  UKIP,
both at 363 Stainland Rd, Stainland, HX4 9HF.


From: UK Trans Info [mailto:info@uktrans.info]
Sent: 21 April 2015 19:05
To: paul@UkipCalderdale.uk
Subject: Support non-binary rights by making our pledge!

Dear Candidate,
Non-binary is an umbrella term for people who don't identify entirely as only male or only female, including non-gendered people. Despite roughly 1 in every 250 people being non-binary, there is very little protection for them. That's over quarter of a million people in the UK being treated unfairly by the law.
UK Trans Info have joined up with eight non-binary organisations to ask that candidates in this year's general election acknowledge this and start making changes by taking the following pledge.
I pledge:
  • to support expanding the definitions in Equality Act 2010 to ensure all non-binary people are protected.
  • to support reviewing the Gender Recognition Act, with a view to bringing the UK in line with the statement on Identity Recognition issued by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) in January 2015.
  • to support the introduction of non gender-specific X passports, and removing the requirement for a doctors letter when changing the gender marker on a passport.
These changes should be made in full consultation with trans and non-binary people, as well as others who may be impacted by these changes such as intersex people.
There are three easy ways to register your pledge:
Option 1: Simply reply to this email confirming that you make the pledge and with any short comment you want to make, and our administrators will display your pledge on our website as soon as possible.
Option 2: If you are on Twitter, send a tweet to @UKTransInfo confirming that you want to make a pledge. Your tweet(s) will be displayed on our website once they have been processed by an administrator.
Option 3: Visit our campaign website at ppc.uktrans.info and make your pledge there. You will then need to make sure you click the link in the confirmation email.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this and considering supporting our campaign. We are more than happy to engage further if you have any questions or concerns.
Kind regards
Beyond the Binary, Mx ActivistMx It UpNonbinary Inclusion Project. Non-Binary ScotlandNon-Binary South WestNon-Gendered, Practical Androgyny and UK Trans Info


This is a one-off email from UK Trans Info that has been sent to you as our records indicate you are a Potential Parliamentary Candidate in this year's General Election. You do not need to unsubscribe as this is a one-off email. 

Fair Fuel

In response to a circular email from the Fair Fuel campaign, http://www.fairfueluk.com/

I have sent the following response:-

Of course I support a fairer fuel taxation.
I have been a commercial traveller all my life and I know that the cost of fuel to visit my customers is a massive expense.

I do not agree that UKIP does not support motorists.
We have stated that speed cameras should only be used for road safety and not for cash generation.
UKIP will end road tolls wherever possible
We oppose ‘pay as you go’ road charging systems
We would support British HGV drivers by charging foreign lorries extra to use our roads.
UKIP would roll back the VED exemption for classic vehicles to 25 years.

We are seeking to reduce energy bills generally by supporting ‘fracking’.

I hope I can count on your support on May 7th.
The other Parties have turned their back on motorists for decades. Isn’t time to give some one else a chance?

We believe in Britain.

Promoted, published & printed by Paul Rogan on behalf of himself & Calderdale Branch  UKIP,

both at 363 Stainland Rd, Stainland, HX4 9HF.

The full email is as follows:-

I, and 1.1m supporters of the FairFuelUK Campaign, simply do not know why your Party has not mentioned any positive policy news for 32m motorists in your Party's Manifesto. From your Party's silence, I can only assume your Party if elected will indeed be increasing Fuel Duty on top of the highest tax take in the EU that we already now pay to the Exchequer.

FairFuelUK has shown to the Treasury that stable pump prices, cutting duty and recent fortuitous lower global oil prices has put £10bn back into consumer spending power. Jobs are increasing, GDP is up and inflation almost zero. It's no coincidence that these welcome economic benefits have taken place with fuel prices considerably lower than 12 months ago and with Labour's previously planned fuel tax hikes being stopped. So, please tell me what is your Party's position on the future of Fuel Duty levels and also what is your own personal position when it comes to supporting motorists and commercial drivers in your constituency?

I also want to know why your Party has not supported FairFuelUK's call for a full and transparent CMA inquiry into pricing at the pumps. We continue to fleeced by unknown commercial bodies when oil price changes are not accurately reflected both in terms of timing and fair amounts. I really do appreciate your time to answer these questions.

Please let me know your answers to my questions as soon as possible, as how you respond may well influence the way I vote on May 7th.


Lawrence wrote:- Thank you for your prompt reply, however you have completely failed to answer any of the questions which were contained in the original e.mail, those being future duty levels, and an enquiry into pricing at the pumps. I am very interested in a direct reply to these points instead of replying with other points your party supports.
I replied:- I support your aims in principle, as I have said in my opening remarks.
I am unable to give specific support to any campaign proposals which have not been fully costed and incorporated into our budget and fiscal plans.

I am sure you agree aware that it is very unlikely that UKIP will win in Calder Valley, we are presently running at only 14% in the polls. However, I am sure you will appreciate that any promises we make are ones we can deliver.

Unlike my opponents who promise everybody what they want and then, in my view, will not be able to deliver on their promises!

Wednesday, 22 April 2015

Farmers, there are problems ahead

In response to a question to MEP Stuart Agnew I have received the following reply.

Beef farmers are under a real threat from the Mercosor and TTIP trade deals being made by the EU with South and North America respectively. The EU wish to export high tech goods from Eurozone countries and will allow cheap beef in, in return. The UK will have to go along with whatever the EU negotiates on our behalf.

Leaving the EU will allow us to negotiate our own trade deals with the Americas, where our own food security will be considered. We will also negotiate a trade deal with the EU. We have a very strong hand to play here as we are their biggest single customer. They want to sell us cars and wine. We want to sell them lamb, etc.