General Election 2019
Sadly the result of the 2019 General Election was:
Conservative 35,444 (62.7%)
Labour 12,495 (22.1%)
Lib-Dem 5,643 (10.0%)
Green 1,790 (3.2%)
Ind (Shropshire Party) 1,141 (2.0%)
Graeme Currie says "Devastated - Proud - We will dust ourselves down and fight on" CLP Members are sad, but proud of Graeme's campaign, holding on, despite being able to start campaigning so late, as we had warned the national Party, to most of our vote and still the only challenger to Paterson.
CAMPAIGN DAYS
Oswestry - 10-12 Red Square on 20, 23 November, 4, 7, 11 December.
Market Drayton - 2-4 pm town centre, meeting at Library on Cheshire St., 23 November, 7 December.
Wem Town Centre - 10-12.30 on 21 November.
Gobowen Monday 25 November, 2pm - 4pm Door-knocking and leafleting with Graeme Currie.
Ellesmere - 12 noon on Tuesday 26 November: Meet at 12.00 opposite the Co-op for walkabout and leafleting.
Whitchurch - Friday 6 December, 11.00 Tesco car park, 12.00 outside Civic Centre.
Confirmed Hustings to date - Market Drayton 6-9 pm 20 November, Festival Drayton; Environment, East Oswestry Community Centre 7-9 pm 4 December;
Radio Shropshire 5-7 pm 6 December.
For immediate release: 20 November 2019 LABOUR CANDIDATE CALLS FOR MPS TO STOP TAKING MONEY-SPINNING SIDE JOBS
North Shropshire Labour candidate Graeme Currie has called on rival election candidates to end the culture of politicians working second jobs.
Currie said: “I find it extremely surprising that some MPs have time to carry out second or third jobs. North Shropshire deserves a full-time MP who is 100 per cent focused on representing their constituents. That’s certainly what I will do. I’m now asking Owen Paterson (Conservatives), Helen Morgan (Lib Dems) John Adams (Green) and Robert Jones (Shropshire party) to join me in promising not to work any of these ridiculous money-spinning second jobs if they win.”
Currie continued: “If I am elected as North Shropshire MP and find that I have spare evenings or weekends, I will use it to spend more time listening to the people I represent, not trying to pick up another salary. It’s important for MPs to have interests outside of party politics – no one would ever want to talk to us otherwise! – but MPs should not be making a mint from extra work they do. People perceive that MPs are using their position to feather their nests and understandably feel outraged by this.”
Currie acknowledged that some MPs will need to carry out some extra work: “Obviously, MPs from certain backgrounds like nurses or doctors have to keep their skills up and do a few extra hours to keep their certificates. There’s nothing wrong with that, especially where they’re performing a public service. MPs are also often asked to speak to meetings, appear on TV or write in the press, but we should be looking at ways of making sure those appearances don’t carry a financial incentive for politicians. The rules need looking at again. For now though, the public can clearly see the difference between extra work that is fine and extra work that is, to put it politely, taking the mickey. MPs earn a very generous salary already. They don’t need to take on further paid roles.”
Mr Currie concluded: “It’s time for a new kind of politics and a new kind of accountable, dedicated, community-focused MP. I hope North Shropshire’s other candidates will join me in pledging not to waste our constituents’ time by taking money-spinning second jobs. North Shropshire deserves so much better.”
ENDS
5th November 2019: Graeme Currie has again been selected as Candidate for North Shropshire in the General Election.
(Regional Office of the Labour Party.)
https://www.facebook.com/graemecurrie2017/
Graeme Currie selected as Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for North Shropshire 2019 Press Release for immediate use 6 November 2019
Labour candidate vows to fight back against Tory cuts and bring investment to North Shropshire
Graeme Currie has been selected as the Labour Party Parliamentary candidate for North Shropshire in the General Election in December. He was the Labour Candidate in the 2015 and 2017 General Elections and is proud to be running again for Labour.
“I'm delighted to be selected again to represent the Labour Party in North Shropshire. I love living in North Shropshire, I chose to move here 15 years ago with my family, and I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”
Currie believes people are tired of the Brexit chaos and said “This election is about more than Brexit, I want to see a Britain that works for the many, not the few. That a means building a fairer and more just society, tackling poverty, ending the housing crisis, investing in a productive economy, tackling the Climate Emergency, giving schools funding they need, and restoring the NHS to its place as the envy of the world. I believe that this is a once in a lifetime election to make the real change we need.”
“The Tories have had three years to get Brexit sorted, and they have failed. Only Labour have the way forward that can unite both Leavers and Remainers, I look forward to putting this case to local people. I believe that only Labour can bring this divided nation back together again. The Tories broke Britain and now can’t be trusted to fix it.”
Curriesaid,“This is a general election like no other.Nine years of Conservative and Tory-Lib Dem government have completely failed the people of North Shropshire and what scares me is things are getting worse. The number of people relying on food banks here in North Shropshire has gone up by 72% in the last three years; Schools across Shropshire have suffered £40 million cuts in the past 5 years. Thankfully, this election gives us a chance to make real change.”
Currie spoke with confidence that Labour can win in North Shropshire. While the North Shropshire seat has historically been Conservative, he said that this could finally change in December.
“Labour can win in North Shropshire. In the 2017 General Election over 17,000 people voted Labour here and the Lib Dem vote collapsed. It’s a two-horse race between the sitting MP Owen Paterson and Labour. Some people tell me that this is always going to be a Tory area, but it doesn’t have to be that way.In the recent past Labour was only just over 2,000 votes away from winning. Almost everyone I meet here shares Labour’s values. We want to help and look out for each other, get treated quickly when we’re sick, make sure our kids get the best education possible, Labour's plans are common sense”.
Currie added:
“If elected I would only have this one job, to work for everyone in North Shropshire as a committed, locally focused MP. I look forward to meeting with and listening to everyone in North Shropshire in the next few weeks. It’s time for real change and a fresh voice to speak up for the people of North Shropshire.”
ENDS
Editor’s Notes
Graeme Currie Biography
63-year-old Graeme is married to Lorraine and has two children Grace 26 who is an Art Student at Chester University and Ethan 23 who works in a local engineering firm.
He lives in Bagley near Ellesmere. He is a Qualified Social Worker and moved to North Shropshire 15 years ago from Manchester. Graeme runs his own Independent Social Work Business. Before he set up his own business Graeme was a Senior Manager in Local Government and the NHS.
In 2017 he increased the Labour vote by 11% in the constituency and came second to Owen Paterson.
General Election 2017
Graeme Currie writes: I want to thank everyone who voted for me and all the brilliant, enthusiastic and committed supporters who worked with me on the campaign. You should be SO PROUD!!!
Owen Paterson Conservative – 33,642
Graeme Currie Labour – 17,287
Tom Thornhill Lib Dem – 2,948
Duncan Kerr Green – 1,722
17,287 votes for Labour in North Shropshire, what an amazing result!!! Two years ago we had 10,547 votes. Our vote yesterday is the best result for Labour in North Shropshire since the Labour landslide year of 1997. Nationally and locally politics has changed. People have voted for hope for the future and for a more fair and equal society. For the Many and Not the Few.
Many Congratulations to Graeme and his Agent Kevin for a fantastic result!
Press Release 31 May 2017: Tory plans to scrap free school meals for 12,646 children in Shropshire
The Conservative’s plans to scrap universal infant free school meals (“UIFSM”) will leave the families of infant children £450 worse off every year, Labour analysis shows.
Labour analysis has shown that there are around 12,646 children in Shropshire who will no longer be eligible for free school meals under the new system, where only those children who were eligible for FSM under the means testing system will still be eligible.
Labour will ensure that every primary school child, whatever their background, have a hot and healthy meal during the school day, by introducing universal free school meals for every primary school child.
Graeme Currie, Labour’s candidate for North Shropshire said:
“These figures show that, under Tory proposals, 12,646 children in Shropshire will no longer be eligible for free school meals.
“The fact that working families, already facing falling real wages under the Tories, will need to find nearly £450 a year to pay the Tories’ lunch tax shows that Theresa May’s Conservatives have no plans to help those who are just about managing.
“Only Labour will stand up for working families, from universal free school meals in primary school, to a real living wage of £10 an hour, as we build a country for the many, not the few.”
Ends
Press Release 26 May 2017: Labour pledges to defend pensioners as Tories ditch the triple-lock and want to bring in new ‘dementia tax’ that will cost West Midlands pensioners over £50k
As Prime Minister Theresa May back-peddles on the Tory ‘dementia tax’ – Labour has pledged to stand up for older people.
In the Tory party manifesto the Prime Minister laid out plans that would force those who need social care to pay for it with their homes, but just days later she was performing a u-turn which leaves voters none-the-wiser.
The proposals in the Tory manifesto, on average, would ask a West Midlands pensioner to contribute over £50,000 towards their own care costs.
Labour has committed to spend an extra £45 billion on the NHS and social care over five years.
Labour will stand up for older people and has made five key pledges to ensure older people have the security and dignity they deserve:
1. Secure pensioner incomes with the Triple-Lock on state pensions.
2. Protect the Winter Fuel Allowance and free bus passes for pensioners.
3. An extra £45 billion for the NHS and social care.
4. No rise in the state pension age beyond 66.
5. Justice for women born in the 1950s hit by five year rise in pension age.
The Conservative Party manifesto has promised three major new burdens to be placed on older people:
1. Scrapping the ‘triple lock’ on state pensions so that pensioner incomes are no longer protected.
2. Means testing Winter Fuel Payments to remove support to heat the homes of ten million pensioners
3. Forcing those who need social care to pay for it with their homes.
Pensioners would be at least £330 worse off under the Tories’ new Double Lock had it been in place between 2013/14 and 2017/18, compared with the basic state pension being uprated by the Triple Lock. Under Theresa May’s plan, ten million people – five out of six pensioners – are set to lose their Winter Fuel Payments, worth up to £300.
Graeme Currie, Labour’s candidate for North Shropshire, said:
“The Tories really have it in for older people at this election. They want to ditch the triple-lock, take away winter-fuel payments for some pensioners and Theresa May’s been left back-peddling after the announcement of the Tory ‘dementia tax’ in their manifesto.
“But the Prime Minister – despite the U-turn – hasn’t clarified the level of the cap that older people would need to contribute towards their own social care.
“All voters have is what is in black and white in the Tory manifesto. I’ve lost track about how many times the Prime Minster has changed her mind in this election – who is to say she wouldn’t change her mind about a cap?
“The average cost of a house in North Shropshire is £165,000 – that would mean on average, under the Tories’ initial proposals, that a pensioner could be asked to pay up to £65,000 towards their own social care costs. Leaving many previous little of their life savings to pass on to their families.
“Only Labour is standing up for older people at this general election, whilst the Tories are taking pensioners for fools by thinking their votes are already in the bag.”
Ends
Press Release: Labour candidate attacks Tory plans to remove the Winter Fuel Allowances from 22,180 pensioners in North Shropshire
Pensioners have been betrayed by this manifesto, with the Tories choosing to target them with a triple whammy. Older people stand to lose the pension guarantee in the next parliament, the Winter Fuel Allowance is being hacked away at and the Tory social care plans could see those who need support forced to pay for it with their homes.
Labour Party research shows that 22,180 pensioners are set to lose their Winter Fuel Payments in North Shropshire.
Graeme Curie Labour Party Candidate in North Shropshire said:
“Theresa May and the Tories pose a threat to pensioner incomes. Their plans to means-test Winter Fuel Payments could see ten million pensioners across the country lose out.
“In North Shropshire 22,180 pensioners could lose Winter Fuel Payments worth up to £300 a year. People who have worked hard all their lives shouldn’t be forced to choose between heating and eating.
“Labour will protect pensioner incomes by keeping Winter Fuel Payments, the Triple Lock on state pensions and free bus passes.”
ENDS 21 May 2017
PRESS RELEASE: LABOUR’S CANDIDATE FOR North Shropshire SLAMS OUT-OF-TOUCH TORIES AS PM REVEALS THEY WANT TO BRING BACK FOX HUNTING
While ordinary hard working families in North Shropshire are worried about falling incomes, insecure employment and cuts to public services, this out of touch Tory Government have said that they want to bring back fox hunting.
Despite the polls showing that the public do not want a return to fox hunting, the Prime Minister has revealed she intends to lift the ban.
The Labour Party banned cruel blood sports in 1999 and implemented the Hunting Act in 2004. However, Theresa May would reverse the ban on fox hunting by holding a free vote on repealing the Act.
Graeme Currie, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for North Shropshire, said:
“It’s a warped sense of priorities when Theresa May thinks the return of fox hunting is something the majority of people in this country would support.
“It is absolutely clear that the British public do not want to see a return to hunting with hounds. Voters in North Shropshire want their elected politicians to concentrate on important issues like healthcare, public safety and jobs – not on bringing back cruel blood sports.
“It just shows how utterly out of touch the Tories are that this is their priority. Only Labour can be trusted to fight for working people on the issues that matter. I’m asking everyone in North Shropshire to sign Labour’s petition against bringing back fox hunting and send a clear message to the Tories.”
Ends 21 May 2017
Graeme Currie selected as Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for North Shropshire 2017;
Press Release for immediate use 3.5.17
Graeme Currie has been selected as the Labour Party Parliamentary candidate in North Shropshire. Graeme Currie was the Labour Candidate in the 2015 General Election and will be running for Labour again in this June’s snap General Election.
Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for North Shropshire, Graeme Currie said:
“I'm delighted to be selected again to represent the Labour Party in North Shropshire. Theresa May has called this election to force through her own version of a one party state. This is not good for Britain and it is not good for North Shropshire. I look forward to meeting with and listening to the people of North Shropshire in the next few weeks. The Tories are failing in their last election pledges. Labour offers popular policies and a vision for a fairer and more equal Britain. I look forward to putting forward the Labour plan for a better Britain, a country less divided with opportunities for all and not just the privileged few. We need a new broom and a new fresh voice to speak up for all the people of North Shropshire”.
Owen Paterson Conservative – 33,642
Graeme Currie Labour – 17,287
Tom Thornhill Lib Dem – 2,948
Duncan Kerr Green – 1,722
17,287 votes for Labour in North Shropshire, what an amazing result!!! Two years ago we had 10,547 votes. Our vote yesterday is the best result for Labour in North Shropshire since the Labour landslide year of 1997. Nationally and locally politics has changed. People have voted for hope for the future and for a more fair and equal society. For the Many and Not the Few.
Many Congratulations to Graeme and his Agent Kevin for a fantastic result!
Press Release 31 May 2017: Tory plans to scrap free school meals for 12,646 children in Shropshire
The Conservative’s plans to scrap universal infant free school meals (“UIFSM”) will leave the families of infant children £450 worse off every year, Labour analysis shows.
Labour analysis has shown that there are around 12,646 children in Shropshire who will no longer be eligible for free school meals under the new system, where only those children who were eligible for FSM under the means testing system will still be eligible.
Labour will ensure that every primary school child, whatever their background, have a hot and healthy meal during the school day, by introducing universal free school meals for every primary school child.
Graeme Currie, Labour’s candidate for North Shropshire said:
“These figures show that, under Tory proposals, 12,646 children in Shropshire will no longer be eligible for free school meals.
“The fact that working families, already facing falling real wages under the Tories, will need to find nearly £450 a year to pay the Tories’ lunch tax shows that Theresa May’s Conservatives have no plans to help those who are just about managing.
“Only Labour will stand up for working families, from universal free school meals in primary school, to a real living wage of £10 an hour, as we build a country for the many, not the few.”
Ends
Press Release 26 May 2017: Labour pledges to defend pensioners as Tories ditch the triple-lock and want to bring in new ‘dementia tax’ that will cost West Midlands pensioners over £50k
As Prime Minister Theresa May back-peddles on the Tory ‘dementia tax’ – Labour has pledged to stand up for older people.
In the Tory party manifesto the Prime Minister laid out plans that would force those who need social care to pay for it with their homes, but just days later she was performing a u-turn which leaves voters none-the-wiser.
The proposals in the Tory manifesto, on average, would ask a West Midlands pensioner to contribute over £50,000 towards their own care costs.
Labour has committed to spend an extra £45 billion on the NHS and social care over five years.
Labour will stand up for older people and has made five key pledges to ensure older people have the security and dignity they deserve:
1. Secure pensioner incomes with the Triple-Lock on state pensions.
2. Protect the Winter Fuel Allowance and free bus passes for pensioners.
3. An extra £45 billion for the NHS and social care.
4. No rise in the state pension age beyond 66.
5. Justice for women born in the 1950s hit by five year rise in pension age.
The Conservative Party manifesto has promised three major new burdens to be placed on older people:
1. Scrapping the ‘triple lock’ on state pensions so that pensioner incomes are no longer protected.
2. Means testing Winter Fuel Payments to remove support to heat the homes of ten million pensioners
3. Forcing those who need social care to pay for it with their homes.
Pensioners would be at least £330 worse off under the Tories’ new Double Lock had it been in place between 2013/14 and 2017/18, compared with the basic state pension being uprated by the Triple Lock. Under Theresa May’s plan, ten million people – five out of six pensioners – are set to lose their Winter Fuel Payments, worth up to £300.
Graeme Currie, Labour’s candidate for North Shropshire, said:
“The Tories really have it in for older people at this election. They want to ditch the triple-lock, take away winter-fuel payments for some pensioners and Theresa May’s been left back-peddling after the announcement of the Tory ‘dementia tax’ in their manifesto.
“But the Prime Minister – despite the U-turn – hasn’t clarified the level of the cap that older people would need to contribute towards their own social care.
“All voters have is what is in black and white in the Tory manifesto. I’ve lost track about how many times the Prime Minster has changed her mind in this election – who is to say she wouldn’t change her mind about a cap?
“The average cost of a house in North Shropshire is £165,000 – that would mean on average, under the Tories’ initial proposals, that a pensioner could be asked to pay up to £65,000 towards their own social care costs. Leaving many previous little of their life savings to pass on to their families.
“Only Labour is standing up for older people at this general election, whilst the Tories are taking pensioners for fools by thinking their votes are already in the bag.”
Ends
Press Release: Labour candidate attacks Tory plans to remove the Winter Fuel Allowances from 22,180 pensioners in North Shropshire
Pensioners have been betrayed by this manifesto, with the Tories choosing to target them with a triple whammy. Older people stand to lose the pension guarantee in the next parliament, the Winter Fuel Allowance is being hacked away at and the Tory social care plans could see those who need support forced to pay for it with their homes.
Labour Party research shows that 22,180 pensioners are set to lose their Winter Fuel Payments in North Shropshire.
Graeme Curie Labour Party Candidate in North Shropshire said:
“Theresa May and the Tories pose a threat to pensioner incomes. Their plans to means-test Winter Fuel Payments could see ten million pensioners across the country lose out.
“In North Shropshire 22,180 pensioners could lose Winter Fuel Payments worth up to £300 a year. People who have worked hard all their lives shouldn’t be forced to choose between heating and eating.
“Labour will protect pensioner incomes by keeping Winter Fuel Payments, the Triple Lock on state pensions and free bus passes.”
ENDS 21 May 2017
PRESS RELEASE: LABOUR’S CANDIDATE FOR North Shropshire SLAMS OUT-OF-TOUCH TORIES AS PM REVEALS THEY WANT TO BRING BACK FOX HUNTING
While ordinary hard working families in North Shropshire are worried about falling incomes, insecure employment and cuts to public services, this out of touch Tory Government have said that they want to bring back fox hunting.
Despite the polls showing that the public do not want a return to fox hunting, the Prime Minister has revealed she intends to lift the ban.
The Labour Party banned cruel blood sports in 1999 and implemented the Hunting Act in 2004. However, Theresa May would reverse the ban on fox hunting by holding a free vote on repealing the Act.
Graeme Currie, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for North Shropshire, said:
“It’s a warped sense of priorities when Theresa May thinks the return of fox hunting is something the majority of people in this country would support.
“It is absolutely clear that the British public do not want to see a return to hunting with hounds. Voters in North Shropshire want their elected politicians to concentrate on important issues like healthcare, public safety and jobs – not on bringing back cruel blood sports.
“It just shows how utterly out of touch the Tories are that this is their priority. Only Labour can be trusted to fight for working people on the issues that matter. I’m asking everyone in North Shropshire to sign Labour’s petition against bringing back fox hunting and send a clear message to the Tories.”
Ends 21 May 2017
Graeme Currie selected as Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for North Shropshire 2017;
Press Release for immediate use 3.5.17
Graeme Currie has been selected as the Labour Party Parliamentary candidate in North Shropshire. Graeme Currie was the Labour Candidate in the 2015 General Election and will be running for Labour again in this June’s snap General Election.
Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for North Shropshire, Graeme Currie said:
“I'm delighted to be selected again to represent the Labour Party in North Shropshire. Theresa May has called this election to force through her own version of a one party state. This is not good for Britain and it is not good for North Shropshire. I look forward to meeting with and listening to the people of North Shropshire in the next few weeks. The Tories are failing in their last election pledges. Labour offers popular policies and a vision for a fairer and more equal Britain. I look forward to putting forward the Labour plan for a better Britain, a country less divided with opportunities for all and not just the privileged few. We need a new broom and a new fresh voice to speak up for all the people of North Shropshire”.