Ramsbottom Online

The First Interview With Our New MP

In the early hours of Friday morning, the Conservative candidate David Nuttall was elected as the new MP for Bury North with a majority of 2,243 over Labour’s Maryam Khan. In the first published interview since his election, David spoke to Ramsbottom-based blogger Andy Walker (http://walkersrambles.wordpress.com) for Ramsbottom Online.

So, the people have spoken and electors in Ramsbottom have a new MP in local solicitor David Nuttall. Unsurprisingly, since his victory he’s even busier than he was during the four week election campaign, but he paused for breath to answer a few questions for Ramsbottom Online:

You are now an MP – how does that feel after working for it so long?
I am grateful that the electorate of Bury, Ramsbottom and Tottington have given me the opportunity to serve them in Parliament. There is much work to be done now and I am keen to make a start as soon as possible.

How important was winning the Bury North seat in terms of the overall national position?
As Bury North was one of the seats the Conservatives needed to win in order to secure a Parliamentary majority winning here was clearly very important.

What would you say was the key policy in securing victory for the Conservatives in Bury North?
The Conservatives’ pledge to restore stability to the nation’s finances, because there was a widespread acceptance that we cannot continue as we are with the government being forced to borrow one pound at every four pounds it spends.

How do you think the Ramsbottom Online Big Debate influenced local voters?
I am not sure how many people changed their voting intentions because of the debate, but it did give those local residents who wished the opportunity to hear three of the seven candidates.

It has been well publicised that the next parliament will include some very unpopular policies and budget reductions across the board. How much freedom do you have to really fight on local issues and policies – and ultimately deliver them?
I will always stand up for the residents of Bury North and put their interests first. It is not realistic to promise that every concern of every individual will always be capable of being resolved but I will do what I can to help where it is possible.

Statistics suggest that recent efforts by the police and other agencies have reduced the amount of anti-social behaviour by youths around the Ramsbottom area. However, this appears at odds with the reality of the situation when young people are gathering in very large groups in certain parts of Ramsbottom. What are the Conservatives going to introduce to combat this to ensure that Ramsbottom does not return to the young drinking culture/anti social behaviour culture that it has experienced in the past?
The Conservatives promised to cut the paperwork the police have to do so they could spend more time on the streets dealing with these problems. We also proposed introducing grounding orders to give the police the power to deal with anti-social behaviour without criminalising young people. The Conservatives also proposed doubling the maximum fine for selling alcohol to under age minors to £20,000 and to allow councils and the police to shut down any shop or bar found consistently selling alcohol to children.

There don’t appear to be any secondary schools available for children who require special educational attention in the area, like those with ADHD or Downs Syndrome. How do you plan to address this issue?
There is some provision now available at Woodhey, but it is the case that not every child who has special educational needs can presently be educated locally. The Conservatives proposed ending the bias which favours the inclusion of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools rather than special schools.

How will you make yourself present within the constituency?
As I live in the Constituency I am always present here! I will be holding surgeries at a variety of venues around the Constituency including, of course, in Ramsbottom. People can write to me at 21a Bolton Street Bury BL9 0EY and they can also contact me online through my website at www.davidnuttall.info

2010 General Election Result
David Nuttall, Conservative – 18,070, 40.2%
Maryam Khan, Labour – 15,827, 35.2%
Richard Baum, Liberal Democrat – 7,645, 17.0%
John Maude, British National Party – 1,825, 4.1%
Stephen Evans, UK Independence Party – 1,282, 2.9%
Bill Brison, Independent – 181, 0.4%
Graeme Lambert, Pirate Party – 131, 0.3%