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A Message from Colin
Dear all,
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
Colin Swindell Criticises MP’s Expenses Claims
(Reported in the Matlock Mercury on Thursday 5th November 2009 – Article here)
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.
Labour’s Colin Swindell Claims Victory in Dales By-Election
Labour’s Colin Swindell has been elected to the Derbyshire Dales District Council, taking the seat from the Conservatives.

Bucking the national trend, Colin and his campaign team achieved an amazing 20% swing from the the Tories to take the Winster and South Darley Ward.
On a turnout of 48.4%, Colin took 426 (63%) votes against his Conservative opponents 255 (37%).
Colin and his team campaigned on a number of local issues, including protecting rural public services, local quarrying concerns, rural crime and road congestion.
On his election to the Council Colin said,
It is an absolute honour to have been elected to represent the residents of the Winster and South Darley Ward.
I will work hard over the coming years to continue campaigning on rural issues, improve the lives of local people and speak-up for them on the District Council.
I would like to thank everybody who put their trust in me and voted for me in the by-election – I won’t let them down. I will take my new responsibilities seriously and start working straight away to resolve the concerns residents have raised with me on the doorstep over the past few weeks.
I would also like to thank my fantastic campaign team, including my agent Fin Bowie, fellow Derbyshire Dales CLP colleagues and local residents who came out to help me secure a great victory. I am indebted to them all.
At the age of 26, Colin will now be the youngest current serving Councillor on the Conservative dominated District Council.
Result
Robin Green 255
Conservative
Colin Swindell 426 *
Labour Party
Turnout: 48.4%
Colin Swindell Speaks to the Labour Party Conference Manchester 2008
Colin Swindell, Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Derbyshire Dales, has spoken to the Labour Party Conference 2008 in Manchester.
Speaking for the first time at conference, Colin raised the issues surrounding rural poverty and assured his electorate that the rural economy was best placed in the hands of a Labour Government.



