Hi Paul
Thanks for your support.
You can see what we have to put up with Labour's toadies posing as community activists.

Best wishes

Peter

Town: peter.franzen@community-action.com

Paul,

I sympathise with your point about the three major parties' negligence.

But whatever makes you think the CAP are the answer?! You say they are "willing to stand up and fight for their communities", but what does this mean?

To me, that's the same empty, lazy, opportunistic and ultimately meaningless language that the 3 major parties are using. IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING. When I hear some concrete policies from the CAP, I'll listen to them. But all I've hear up until now is them slagging others off in a 'ya-boo' adverserial style, exactly like Labour, Tories and Lib Dems do.

In apathetic times like these, it's easy to get people riled up with empty slogans. Come on CAP, where are your solutions?! Do you care about Ashton, or do you just care about slagging of the Labour party? If it's the former, show us how you'll do it and stop hiding behind easy soundbites like the people you propose to oppose.

Matt

I think the Community Action Party are the best thing ever to happen to local politics in Wigan. They are rocking the boat big style and have got all those Labour politicians who have been on the gravy train filling their pockets with our money for years really sweating and shaking in their boots.
If you dont know what their policies are and what they do you should go on their website www.community-action.com and attend the Council meetings at Wigan Town Hall. They are campaigning to save our open spaces, school playing fields and greenfield sites that Labour are selling off to housing developers.
They are campaigning to curb anti-social behaviour and stop drinking on the streets. Already Ashton, Bryn, Golborne and Lowton have seen the biggest fall in crime of anywhere in the Borough. They are campaigning against road schemes that will bring more HGV's into the Borough. I could go on. Remember it used to be the 80% that did'nt vote that allowed Labour to get elected. So not voting is nothing to be proud of.

Paul

Town: theymuststay@hotmail.co.uk

Paul,

Thanks for your reply. I can see that you obviously think a lot of the CAP, and your concerns about your community are genuine. I also agree that Labour (the government in particular) have let us down in some areas.

But I'm concerned about where you're getting your info from. You say Labour have been 'filling their pockets with our money for years'. In what whay? How? What proof do you have? That's a very serious allegation to make. These are the sorts of accusations that opportunists like CAP throw around, and they are usually without specificity or substance.They are as bad as any new Labour soundbite (of which there are lots!). Plus, about crime falling the borough, that is good, but could not that be a result of some of Labour's policies (eg ASBOs, community wardens and the like)? I don't know, I'm just a bit sceptical about CAP alone improving things so drastically in such a short space of time. Remember, we still have a Labour MP, and have had since 1987!

I have taken a look at the CAP website, it tells me nothing. It just shows a few local single issues that they are 'against'. Really read it Paul, and try and extract any concrete, costed policies or commitments other than vague platitudes and popularity politics on single issues.

I will be voting Paul, as I agree not voting is nothing to be proud of. I'm disillusioned with the Labour government and the new Labour spin machine, but I can't find evidence of Ian McCartney being anything other than a pretty decent bloke, despite my disagreements with party leadership and the government. Still, my disagreements are so serious (especially over Iraq and tuition fees) that I don't know if I could vote Labour. We'll see...

I don't vote just on party tickets, I vote on the person as well, and in my view Peter Franzen's actions in the local press and on this forum are that of someone who doesn't take on alternative views and can only respond to disagreements with negativity, attacks and computer graphics. Not a person I believe is suitable to represent our people at Westminster.

I'm not trying to belittle your concerns Peter, they are very real and honourable. And I suppose it is good that the CAP have given Labour a kick up the backside, that way they won't be as complacent in future. But that's not the same as thinking they are suitable for representing us. All I'm saying is that I think the CAP don't have the answer. They just know how to kick up a dirty stink. Think long and hard before you give them your vote, please.

Good luck anyway mate.