Liberal Democrat Lies Exposed

Leaflet 1

“The Conservatives Have Given Gosport The Highest Council Tax in Hampshire.”

The budget for 2008/9 was set by a Labour administration supported by the Liberal Democrats. Conservative budget proposals included an increase in the council tax of 1.9% which was approved at the budget setting council meeting. At the subsequent tax setting council meeting this was rejected by the Liberal Democrat and Labour groups and an increase of 3.8% imposed on the casting vote of the Liberal Democrat Mayor, making Gosport’s council tax the highest in Hampshire apart from the New Forest.

Leaflet 2

“Plans for a new 10 million Sports & Leisure centre at Holbrook have been announced by a Gosport Council working group chaired by the Liberal Democrats…...Thanks to the success of our Liberal Democrat councillors in persuading major sports centre operators to invest in our town.”

No sports centre operators or developers have shown any interest in Holbrook. We are not aware of any announcement being made by a “Gosport council working group”.

“Conservative threats to close and demolish the Thorngate Halls would leave Gosport with no major ballroom, theatre or meeting hall…….They’ve talk of closing the Thorngate Halls and leaving Gosport with no major hall or meeting place.”

Conservatives have made no statements about Thorngate Halls and have no knowledge whatsoever of any closure threats or proposals. Nor do the management of the Halls.

“The Conservatives have opposed every attempt to bring new life and business into Gosport. They opposed the plans for a new sports and leisure centre at Holbrook.”

There have been no proposals to oppose.

Leaflet 3

“Where your money goes …£400,000 on administration for the Conservative car park charges.”

This statement has no basis in fact and is just misleading. Conservatives are not running the town hall.

“They booze you lose. ……. Public money should be spent on improving public services, not on providing “perks” for top Tory councillors.”

This scurrilous article can only refer to the royal visit of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall to open the new Winchester library. This event took place between 10.30am and 12 noon where only coffee and tea was served. It was attended by all political parties including12 Liberal Democrat councillors.

“Conservatives want to…….start charging people to park outside their own homes.

This is a serious lie that is repeated in many Liberal Democrat leaflets. Conservatives policy has always been to oppose on street parking charges of any kind. A statements made by the Conservative leader at full council made this quite clear before the elections were called.

“Fury at huge Council Tax increase - £50 extra on every bill as Tories empty your pockets.”

This refers to the County Council element of the council tax and thus deceives. Bar one other authority, Hampshire’s County Council’s tax precept this year is the lowest in England.

Leaflets 4 & 5

They (Conservatives) brought in Car Park Charges and now want on-street parking charges as well.”

Conservatives have always been opposed to on street car parking charges and have not on any occasion considered or made any statements to the contrary.

“They’re planning to build 3,000 more flats and houses with no improvements to the A32.”

The numbers of new homes to be built in Gosport were determined by Local Plan government inspectors. The number of homes allocated for the period 1996-2000 was 2,980. This occurred in the early 1990s under a Liberal Democrat administration. A further allocation of just 180 homes was made during the subsequent local plan revue for the period 2001 to 2011. We await the Government’s intentions for new housing, 2011 to 2026. Gosport Conservatives have made no statement of intent to build 3,000 new homes in the borough. The County Council’s forward planning powers were taken away by the Government last year.

“They want to close and demolish the Holbrook Recreation Centre. …. They want to build all over Holbook sports pitches and playing field.”

Conservative policy is to rebuild the Holbrook Recreation Centre to provide modern and improved facilities. There are no Conservative plans to build on the adjacent sports fields. It is Conservative policy to retain green open spaces in Gosport.

“They’ve cut street sweeping and stopped many residents using the council Amenity Tip.”

Conservatives do not control street sweeping in Gosport. Gosport Council is controlled by a Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition. New rules have been introduced by the County Council to prevent the disposal of commercial waste at the Amenity Tip by placing limits on the size of trailers and the issue of permits for residents who only have vans.

“TOWN Hall Tories in fresh sleaze probe”

The following three statements appear under this heading:

“One Tory councillor is facing calls for an investigation into why he was allowed to display goods outside his high street shop for free when other traders are charged for market stalls.”

The only ‘Tory’ councillor with a shop in the High Street is Mark Hook the Conservative group leader. The leader of the Liberal Democrat group made the complaint and informed the press that he was doing so. The complaint was investigated and found to have no substance before the above comment appeared in the leaflet.

“Another Tory councillor has been criticised for claiming £15,000 in “special responsibility” allowances without ever providing a singe receipt.”

The only councillor receiving a special responsibility allowance is Peter Edgar who, as spokesperson for the ‘Save Haslar Hospital Task Force” since 1998 (a highly demanding position), was awarded an allowance equivalent to a board chairman in 2004 to compensate for his work. The allowance was unsolicited and voted for by all political parties at full council.

It would appear that the only person to criticise is the author of the comment. There have been no complaints. Receipts are not given for allowances. The comment is libellous.

“A third Tory councillor claimed over £12,000 in allowances without attending a single council meeting for over six months… and then quit the council without paying a penny back.”

This refers to Cllr Mrs Nina Champion who in 1997 became very seriously ill, suffered great pain and was confined to a wheelchair for long periods of time. She nevertheless attended council meetings and undertook her duties most conscientiously. However, in April last year she was no longer able to cope and moved back to her family home in Suffolk. Recognising she could not undertake her duties fully she stopped her allowances. She nevertheless travelled to Gosport for important council meetings, undertook her duties by email, the telephone and letter and did so at no cost to the council. Acting through council officers the Conservative Group made sure that Cllrs Smith and Chegwyn were informed that there was no impropriety. However the leaflet was not withdrawn and it continued to be distributed in the full knowledge that it libelled Mrs Champion.

Leaflet 6

“The Conservatives want to start charging for on-street parking….”

“The Conservatives want to charge more for parking at Stokes Bay and start charging residents to park outside their own homes.”

“The Conservatives could charge residents to support moves up to £250 per year to park outside their own homes if they win Thursday’s election.”

All three statements are completely false. Conservative Group policy has always been to oppose charges of this kind.

“The Conservatives have refused to support moves to improve the A32. The Conservatives seem content to let Gosport stagnate and die.”

Untrue. The Conservative controlled county council (who has responsibility) invested some £7m to provide a £360m light rail scheme to reduce congestion on the A32 (funding was refused by the Government four days after the Olympics bid was won) and with the same objective has invested in plans for an alternative area fast bus scheme totalling £330m. Several local schemes to improve traffic flow on the A32 have also been implemented including a complete rebuild of the carriageway five years ago at a cost exceeding a million pounds.

“Liberal Democrats voted this spring not to increase the Council Tax by more than the rate of inflation.”

In Gosport they voted against a 1.9% council tax increase and then replaced this by voting for a 3.8% increase.

“The Conservatives want to build up to 600 flats on the Holbrook playing fields and also allow development on other green field sites in Gosport.”

Lies. Conservatives oppose green field development. They tuned down a developers plan to build large numbers of homes at Holbrook.

“The Conservatives have more than doubled Gosport’s Council tax over the past ten years.”

During the last ten years the Gosport Conservative Group have led and controlled the council for just two years. Council tax rises for these two years were moderate.

Leaflet 7

“Three Things to Remember….

2. The Conservatives gave Gosport parking charges and the highest Council Tax in Hampshire. They tried to scrap OAP bus tokens, demolish Holbrook Leisure Centre, cancel the Gosport Festivals and build 3000 more flats on green field sites. Now they want to charge Gosport residents to park outside their own homes.”

Apart from the introduction of charges in town centre car parks, all these statements are false.

Leaflet 8

“What use is a Conservative Councillor you cannot find?

The last item under Leaflets 4 & 5 above are also applicable to the disgraceful and inaccurate comments made under this heading.

Leaflet 9

“Three Things to Remember….

2. …. Haven’t the Hooks done enough damage already?”

This statement libels Mrs Hook. She has yet to be elected as a councillor.

Leaflet 10 (Robert Forder letter)

This letter contains several of the false statements - the 3,000 homes, the A32, Council tax bills, Travel tokens and on-street car parking charges already referred to above.

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The above are just the lies they told at the 2008 election. Over the years both Conservatives have been subjected to the lies and distortions that are the benchmark of Lib Dem campaign tactics. These deviations from the truth and their aversion from campaigning on the real issues degrade them and our democracy.