UNITED KINGDOM INDEPENDENCE PARTY
JOHN MANDER
'Bramrigg', Howgill, Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5HY website tel: 01539 620905 No email

Introduction:

Age 66. 3 boys 22, 30, 32. Born Ambleside. MA Geography, Oxford. Teacher 28 years. Author, Publisher, Auctioneer 1989-2001 - came back to Lake District, live in Howgill, Sedburgh.

What's the best thing about the area?

The tranquility of the Wyre countryside villages and small towns.

And the worst?

Uninteresting nature of the city shops followed by the sadness of areas like Skerton.

What local issues do you consider the most pressing at this time?

The great historical buildings seem not to fit with the rest of the modern urban area. Almost anomalous.

Do you support plans for the Northern Bypass?

No.

What are your feelings about the plans for a gas storage facility being built in the Wyre?

They are certain to be opposed in a big way by the local people. Need for a referendum on such a controversial issue.

What one policy change do you think government should make that would most benefit local residents?

There are many large areas of very attractive housing so much effort is needed to improve the worst 'social housing' areas.

Our council seems to be making a lot of cuts in services but council tax still rises. Do you think council tax is a fair way to generate local tax revenues and if not, what should take its place?

UKIP policy is to cut Council Tax in half for everyone, funded by Central Government borrowing and to funnel Business Rates into local control.

What other ways could government better aid local services?

Please see item 6

There is talk of cuts to free bus school services. What is your position on public transport?
Has privatisation of buses and trains worked?

Much evidence that the services are worse despite £6 billion public subsidy. Free bus service should NOT be funded. Privatization has hardly diminished the rise in private cars.

What do you feel are the major issues affecting the region as a whole?

The City is very different from the Wyre. I do not think there is a major issue for the 'whole'; the main issues affect the city.

What is your position on the war in Iraq?

Any Prime Minister leading his country into a foreign war on a false pretext should resign.

The Lancaster and Morecambe area has a large number of students. Given the decline in the number of people voting at elections, how would you try to get them involved in the democratic process?

As they all receive a major element of public funding still, voting should be compulsory as a condition of that.

How do you respond to the challenge of far right parties such as the new England First Party and the BNP in the area?

Destroy much of their propaganda by controlling UK borders again by ourselves (not the EU), refusing asylum from seekers via safe countries, no special rights to seekers from E.U.

Mental illness is on the rise but Mental Health services have been drastically cut in this area - acute admission wards at the Ridge Hospital were closed without consultation, resulting in already disoriented patients now being routinely shipped off as far as Barrow for lengthy in-patient stays. A garden centre scheme providing employment for learning-disabled people is also under threat of closure for the same reason - the land is being sold off for redevelopment. How do you view the future of health resources in this area, and what action, if any, would you take to improve them.

UKIP would scrap most Government 'targets' and restore decisions to local level where they belong. We would scrap Strategic Health Authorities. We believe if such actions as you describe were put to public vote, they would be turned down.

Hilton Dawson has been very accessible to constituents, helping many individuals obtain crucial services and opportunities. His predecessor Elaine Kellet-Bowman was rarely to be seen. If elected, how accessible do you plan to be to your constituents?

Any MP must hold regular (weekly?) meetings to hear his/her constituents. I would do so.

According to the government's scientific advisor, global warming is more of a threat to the country than terrorism - how do you expect it to change our lives and how do you plan to help us minimise the damage and prepare best for these changes?

A very major air polluter is the army of cut flight planes. The public cannot have the best of both worlds. There should be a substantial tax on such flights.

Fox-hunting and hare coursing - for or against?

Fox hunting: yes. Hare coursing: strongly no.

What one thing do you personally hope to achieve should you get elected as MP?

I would use every opportunity to oppose the tyranny of Brussels and restore traditional liberties to the British people.

What one thing irritates you most as a person...

People saying 'I mean' and 'You know'.

- And what one thing makes you the happiest?

Bluebells (at the moment) and Birds and Music.