Voting for Willy Bach as PPC this Thursday!

This Thursday we get our chance to vote for a truly local candidate as Police and Crime Commissioner - a candidate, moreover, who has actual experience of the law and leading big bureaucratic organisations.

Willy is obviously the best qualified candidate - but everyone still needs to vote on Thursday. The PPC elections are not popular but they are important.  Look at what happened last time - police stations closed, only some crimes investigated.  Policing matters and the responsibilities of PPCs are only going to increase, with Theresa May talking about hiving off all emergency services and even the courts.  It's time to make the right decision for everyone in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

If you haven't already voted by post, voting in person is at your usual polling station from 7am to 10pm.

Why do Labour MEPs believe the UK is better off in the EU?

Labour MEPs believe Britain must grow its economy and earn its way to higher living standards.  To achieve this, British businesses need to export more.  The EU is vital.

As part of the EU, British businesses have access to the world's largest single market and can also benefit from EU trade deals with some of the world's largest economies.  With free access to the EU market, the UK is much more attractive to foreign investors too.

Already, 3.5 million UK jobs depend on our relationship with the EU.

With Britain deep in a cost of living crisis, we must not put at risk our access to the world's largest single market.
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The European Elections are on Thursday May 22 2014.  It is not too late to claim your right to a postal vote.  Harborough District Council doesn't make it easy - they haven't even put the election date up yet - but we can cut through that sort of thing.  If you want to claim your postal (or proxy) click here and scroll down the page.  Don't be put off by the bit about "are you unable to attend your polling station?"  It's rubbish.  Anybody can have a postal vote, for one election or forever.  No reason is required.  Any problems, email us at lutterworth4labour@outlook.com.

Thinking about the Euro campaign

It appears the date for the Euro elections is Thursday May 22 2014.  Apparently there are some changes to electoral procedure, due to come into force for the Euros but applicable to all elections, one of which we need to build into our campaign planning.

The key change is that postal votes should now be issued a.s.a.p. after the close of nominations.  Thus people could potentially be casting their vote from the very beginning of the traditional campaigning period.  We have to start canvassing earlier and we need to put together some material, ready to drop through letterboxes, several weeks in advance.

The other changes mainly relate to the technicalities of postal voting and are of no real consequence for us.  One change I find reassuring after the 2010 fiasco is that people queuing at a polling station at 10pm should still be allowed to vote, even though by the time they do so the polls have officially closed.

Deadline for Voter Registration and Postal Votes

The deadline for registering to vote in the County Elections and for claiming a new postal vote is only FOUR working days away - Wednesday April 17 at 5pm.  If you, or any Labour supporter you know, needs to do either of these things, tell them now.  They need to contact electoral services at Harborough District Council (yes, such is the logic of local government that the District runs County elections) immediately.