GORDON HENDERSON MP

The Editor
East Kent/Sheppey Gazette
(via email)

Dear Madam

Ian Davison took me to task over a number of issues in this week’s Gazette. He appears particularly vexed that I sometimes express views that do not necessarily reflect those of the Conservative Party nationally.

Let me assure him that differing occasionally with my party leadership does not make me any less a Conservative. Indeed, I make no apologies for having a mind of my own and sometimes expressing it!

Parliament and democracy would be much stronger if more politicians cast aside their party political shackles and instead acted in the best interests of their community, which is why, should I be elected as the member of parliament for Sittingbourne & Sheppey at the next General Election, I will always put local people before party politics.

In his letter Ian criticises me for wanting to control immigration, but then tells us that no UK government can do this. That is simply not true. Yes, there is freedom of movement for European Union citizens within the EU, and nothing can be done to change that without leaving the EU, but that does not mean we cannot limit immigration from outside the EU, nor does it mean that we cannot better control our own borders to clamp down on illegal immigration, such as that which takes place via neighbouring countries.

Ian went on to infer that my support for a referendum on EU membership is misguided because the Lisbon Treaty has already been signed. Again he is wrong. It is precisely because Labour reneged on its promise to hold a referendum on what is a European Constitution in all but name that makes me believe the time is now right to give people the opportunity to vote on our continued membership of the EU. Yes on No. In or out. The people will have spoken.

Finally, Ian asks if my support for linking the basic state pension to wage inflation, rather than price inflation means that I advocate a decrease in pensions in times of recession.

No, Ian, that is not what I advocate. I have supported the campaign by pensioners to have the wage link restored since it was cut twenty years ago. I continue to support that campaign.

However, pensioners should not be penalised because of the financial mismanagement of the current Labour government and if the recession does lead to wage inflation being lower than price inflation, then I believe the higher index figure should be used.

Yours sincerely

Gordon
 
GORDON HENDERSON
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate
Sittingbourne & Sheppey