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Adam Symons News
The Region needs a fairer allocation of national funds
Adam Symons (PPC) speaks out for
Torridge and West Devon
Monday 19 November 2007
“Make the ‘playing field level’,
and we have the resources and skills to be great!” That is the message that Adam
Symons, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Torridge and West Devon, sent to
the Government this weekend.
 Speaking
at the Lib Dems Regional Conference in Plymouth, Adam Symons, the newly elected
Prospective Parliamentary Candidate from Torridge and West Devon, supported a
motion from his constituency that the South West must play ‘a significant part
in a greener, fairer and freer Britain.’
The motion, which was passed by
an overwhelming majority, called on the Government to give the region a fairer
allocation of national funds to take account of sparse rural communities, to
free people up to make more decisions about their local areas, and to help make
us greener by harnessing our renewable energy options.
In his speech, Adam lamented the
fact that people felt disconnected from decision making, but was not surprised
given ‘a voting and patronage system which disenfranchises voters and destroys
the integrity of the political process.’
He stated that unfairness in
taxation was taking money out of the region as ‘Council Tax is crippling
households in an area which had the lowest household earnings in 2005. Similarly
the cutting of the income tax base rate does little to raise take home pay where
the average wage is less than £14,000.’
However, optimistically Adam
identified that ‘We have a wonderful opportunity to utilise our environmental
riches in this region, to add value to our food and drink products, to provide a
truly memorable and sustainable tourism experience, and to provide a focal point
for raising aspiration amongst our young people.’
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