Thank you once again for all your continued support for the election.

Tomorrow (Thursday) is polling day and for those of you in the Derbyshire Dales, I hope you will consider giving me your support at the ballot.

In me, you will get a candidate who is passionate and cares about the Derbyshire Dales, is local and knows the issues affecting the area and a candidate who will always put people before party politics and stand up for local jobs.

Above all, you will elect a principled candidate who is honest, trustworthy and ready to work to restore your faith in parliament and the democratic system.

REMEMBER – voting Liberal Democrat in Derbyshire Dales only helps the Conservatives. If you want the Tories out, vote Labour.

But I hope that I will earn your vote on personal merit, not tactical voting!

Best wishes,

Colin Swindell

Local

27 years old, born, brought-up, educated and worked in the Derbyshire Dales all his life.

In-touch

A District and Parish Councillor and a community activist, Colin shares and understands the aspirations and concerns of local people.

Active

Colin is a campaigner on the big issues, including, Post Office closures, healthcare services, jobs and public transport. Spoke out against increases in car park charges.

Fresh

A young, enthusiastic and principled candidate, Colin is untainted by the expenses scandal and will provide the fresh start we need.

“Working for a better Derbyshire Dales”

Colin writes;

Over the past few weeks I have been touring the constituency and meeting as many voters as possible.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank the electorate for being so positive and welcoming.

But one thing that has been made quite clear is voter’s disenchantment with the current state of politics – and it’s not surprising!

I pledge to make restoring your faith in politicians a top priority, remaining 100% transparent and accountable at all times.

I want to serve your interests, not my own!

Vote for Colin to get the Tories out!

FACT - At the last general election in this area, Labour came second behind the Conservatives.

Together we can do it!

Derbyshire Dales Labour is pleased to be supporting, Colin Swindell as their local Parliamentary Candidate.

He had this to say to kick off his campaign!

“It is an honour to have been selected to stand as a candidate in this election for my home constituency, Derbyshire Dales.

On polling day voters will be faced with a choice; four more years of Tory domination across the constituency or a fresh start with a new MP.We need an MP who is in touch with local people and understands their everyday concerns and I believe I am the candidate with the renewed energy, vision and determination we need.

Having grown up, been educated and worked in the area all my life, I am ready to represent the Derbyshire Dales and take on the challenges faced by our rural communities and market towns.

I look forward to meeting as many voters as possible over the coming weeks to discuss the issues that are important to you.”

Along with this Colin has outlined 7 key Pledges hoping to put the Derbyshire Dales first!

* Support the local economy, jobs and industry.
* Sustain our rural villages, communities and market towns.
* Promote the need for decent, affordable housing.
* Improve access to GP surgeries at evenings and weekends.
* Campaign against Post Office Closures
* Encourage the uptake of clean, alternative source of energy.
* Engage with young people to prevent them turning to crime, alcohol and drug abuse.

Charges are set to increase by ten per cent at council-run car parks, with traders fearing the price hike could deter shoppers.

Derbyshire Dales District Council hopes £148,000 will be generated by the proposed increases as it bids to balance the council revenue budget – but business bosses say the move will affect tourism and trade.

Shirley Johnson, secretary of Matlock Business Group, said: “We need all the help we can get at the moment and we certainly don’t need a price increase. This would not be helpful for traders.”

Roger Lownsbrough, chairman of Bakewell Chamber of Trade, added: “This will be greeted with amazement and disappointment. I think it speaks volumes about the imagination and understanding that the council have got about the problems we face.”

District council officers are recommending new fees are brought in from April 1 to keep pace with inflation. Charges were due to be increased last year but because of the financial climate that increase was deferred. Charges were last increased in 2006.

Traders have also called for more short-stay parking fees in a bid to to increase the turn-over of shoppers.

District Councillor Collin Swindell, who is manager of Cornerstone shop, in Bakewell, said he had received complaints from concerned traders.

He added: “Everybody is literally crying out for a break. This is just another blow.

“It’s not just traders I’ve had complaints from, customers have said it is easier to go to Peak Village or Meadow Hall where there is no charge. It is deterring tourism and deterring trade.”

The review of charges is set to be discussed in Matlock Town Hall on Thursday, January 14.

WEST Derbyshire Patrick McLoughlin MP has been accused of “taking advantage” of the expenses system, by paying his wife Lynn up to £39,999 a year.

Colin Swindell, Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate for the [Derbyshire] Dales, made the comments while discussing Sir Christopher Kelly’s review of Parliamentary expenses, prior to its publication yesterday, after the Mercury’s deadline.

The widely-leaked report, which leaders of all three main parties have stated they will back, will recommend a ban on MPs employing relatives. Sir Christopher was expected to call for his plans to be introduced without delay.

Mr Swindell said: “I welcome this review and hopefully it will bring back trust into politics through more transparency.

“Employing relatives is a very sensitive issue. I appreciate that for lots of MPs it can be a lonely life and relatives can also provide trustworthy members of staff.

“But I think Patrick has taken advantage of that by paying his wife nearly the top amount available.”

Mr Swindell, from Elton, added there was a “big gap” between what Mrs McLoughlin received from Westminster and what she would get “in the real world”.

Mr McLoughlin, who is Conservative Party Chief Whip, has been unavailable to speak to the Mercury during the past week, despite repeated attempts to contact him.

But he has defended his right to employ his wife – who The Daily Telegraph revealed in July to be paid between £30,000 and £39,999 – during previous interviews.

Unfortunately, the Chair of the Housing debate neglected to chose the best speaker, and Colin refocused his speech towards the Communities debate, set for Wednesday morning.

After the morning session ended, the hall was emptied in preparation for the leaders Speech. Huge queues formed in the Brighton Centre with everyone buzzing with anticipation for the speech.

Gordon delivered.

In a fantastic fightback speech, Gordon laid out important future policies for the next manifesto but also reassured everybody that the fantastic work the Labour government has done in the past 12 years will be maintained. Ensuring that the ‘green shoots’ of economic recovery would be nurtured and made safe, Prime Minister Brown invigorated the room making everyone want to go out and take the fight to the Tories.

The Prime Minister outlined interesting plans;

• Change for a new society, with measures to tackle anti social behaviour, offer of new social care for elderly people and additional funding for local authorities to keep them in their homes.
• Change of new politics, with any MP guilty of gross financial misconduct are recalled and a modernisation  of our democracy with a new voting system.
• Change for a new economy, with tough new rules for bankers and a new legal obligation for fiscal responsibility.

Colin made his live television debut speaking to The Daily Politics show before and after the Prime Minister’s key note speech, giving his honest and forthright opinion on the Prime Minister’s performance and Labour’s plans for the next parliament.