Following the declaration of the general election, Michael Fabricant has announced his election pledges for the people of the Lichfield Parliamentary Constituency.

"It’s difficult to encapsulate all that I want to do in a brief statement, but these 6 election pledges are issues that I believe are very important for the people of Lichfield, Burntwood, and the villages that make up my Staffordshire constituency", says Michael. "I hope that on May 5th I will be judged on my record as a constituency MP".

Our Local Environment

The Labour Government has ordered thousands more homes to be densely built in the Lichfield constituency – some on our green spaces and even on large back gardens. A Conservative Government will give full power back to our local councils to decide how many new houses need to be built and when and where. Councils will also be given the power to decide if and where mobile phone masts can be built – at present, councils are not allowed to take factors like health into account. And I would press a Conservative Government to reverse John Prescott’s decision and allow the building of Burntwood’s new retail and entertainment centre.

Crime

There is no substitute for police on our streets. Violent crime has risen by 60% in the greater Lichfield area since 1999. A Conservative Government will increase policing in England and Wales by 40,000. That means an extra 670 policemen and women in Staffordshire and more than 50 extra police officers in Lichfield and Burntwood. And by cutting all the paperwork, police can spend more time on patrol and less on form filling. And the police need greater help from Government in their fight against rural crime including animal rights extremism.

Pensioners

Pensioner households over 65 will receive a £200 rebate on Council Tax in the first year, then a 50% discount (up to £500) on local Council Tax each and every year thereafter. Free local bus travel will be available and an end to means testing of pensioners for benefits. And pensions will be linked to earnings in future resulting in a £7 a week rise in the single state pension and £11 for married couples after 4 years – over and above normal pensions increases.

Health

After the announcement of the closure of the Hammerwich and Victoria Hospitals, we fought long and hard to save the maternity unit, our renal dialysis ward, and the number of in-patient beds. We have lost our day surgery unit. I will continue to keep a close eye on the development of our new hospital on the St Michael’s site. The Conservatives will continue to ensure that the NHS remains free of charge (despite Labour scares to the contrary) and we will invest a further £34 billion to ensure this. And for anyone who chooses to go private for whatever reason, they will receive a 50% rebate.

Education

Staffordshire schools are 145th out of 150 for Government funding for schools – despite Labour’s promise of ‘fair funding’ back in 1997. Just 5 authorities are worse off. I will continue to fight for fair funding for Staffordshire’s schoolchildren. And on leaving school, students are getting badly into debt. A Conservative Government will abolish all university fees and top-up fees introduced by Labour.

My Pledge

Each year I deal with thousands of constituents’ problems taking them up with Government Ministers and officials. I hold regular surgeries. In Parliament I raise matters of concern to those who live in the Lichfield constituency. I am one of the most active MPs in Parliament. I stand for re-election on my record. If re-elected, I will continue to fight for what is right for my constituents.