|
Richard Balfe, former Labour MEP visits Hove to support Mike Weatherley Richard
Balfe the former London area Labour MEP visited Hove and Portslade to show
his support for Conservative Prospective MP, Mike Weatherley.
After having lunch with party members, Mike and Richard met with
Richard Allden and the Amity Pensioners Group. Richard
Balfe is the son of an Irish immigrant and was educated at a Sheffield
Secondary Modern. His career
includes joining the Civil Service in 1961.
On entering politics Richard was a member of the GLC from 1973 to
1977. He was elected as a MEP in 1979.
Independent thinking Richard was expelled from the Labour Party in
the European Parliament in December 2001 after 41 years association with
the party for defying the leadership's instructions not to stand for
election as one of the parliament's five quaestors - senior MEPs who look
after the interests of Euro-MPs. More
shock was to follow when Richard crossed the floor and joined the
Conservative Party in March 2002. The
first Labour to Conservative defection in 25 years.
On his defection Richard said: “The
growing arrogance and dishonesty of the Blair Government is a further
reason for my decision to join the Conservatives. The Byers affair and the
Mittal scandal are symptomatic of a deeper malaise within the Labour
leadership - a contempt for Parliament, for democracy and, ultimately, for
the truth. Mr Blair and his
Downing Street henchmen believe that the ends (their continuation in
power) justify the means (ceaseless lies and evasions). I deplored the
sleaze of the Major years, but that was largely about the greed and
weakness of individuals. Labour sleaze goes right to the heart of
government and infects everything it does.
“Europe
is not in the forefront of most voters' minds. They are worried about the
state of their hospitals and schools, what sort of journey to work they
will have and whether they are going to have their mobile stolen. After
almost five years, Labour has still not got a grip on public services. “In
the past, too many people who shared Conservative values have not voted
Conservative, let alone joined the party, because they felt that it was
not for them. I was probably one of those people.
The Conservative Party I am joining is one that remembers, with
affection and gratitude, its history, but does not live in it.” In
March 2008 Richard was appointed David Cameron's personal envoy to the
trade union movement. Speaking
during Richard’s visit, Prospective Conservative MP for Hove &
Portslade, Mike Weatherley comments: “I
am very grateful to Richard for taking the time to come to Hove &
Portslade today. Back in 2002 Richard quite rightly observed “Europe is not
in the forefront of most voters' minds. They are worried about the state
of their hospitals and schools, what sort of journey to work they will
have and whether they are going to have their mobile stolen. Labour has
still not got a grip on public services.”
It is unbelievable to think that after 11 years Labour is still no
where near getting to grips with the problems the country faces.
Richard is a man of great principle and here in the Conservative
Party we have open debates about many issues, and it is easy to see why he
feels at home with us. “It
is fantastic news about Richards’ appointment and I congratulate him in
on his new position. I have
no doubt his vast experience will be invaluable as he sets about the task
of building a working partnership with the Unions.
It just goes to show how far the Conservatives have come under
David Cameron and his predecessors. Having
someone like Richard in this job is yet further evidence how seriously the
Conservatives’ are preparing for Government.”
20 June 2008
|