Patrick Davies, Labour, Winchester

Name: Patrick Davies

Candidate for: Winchester

Party: Labour

Votes: 3,051

Profile:

LABOUR'S Winchester candidate Patrick Davies is hoping to become the city's MP at the fourth attempt.

He said as city councillor and school governor he knew the local people and issues well which would give him a "valuable understanding" of what needs to be done at Westminster for Winchester.

He said: "I firmly believe that the role of our MP is to be at Westminster unlike the present Lib Dem MP who has missed 70 per cent of the votes in the present parliament.

"From my personal involvement I have seen the tremendous progress in our schools and the provision of Sure Start centres, newly established throughout Winchester."

He said his role as chairman of Stanmore School governors, and one of the Lanterns Nursery School governors and the Carroll Sure Start Partnership Board, showed his commitment to improving local public services.

He warned the city and country faced a "dangerous untried Tory Government, with possible Lib Dem support".

And he said only a Labour vote would ensure the Tories do not destroy the "real progress" made over the last decade.

He pointed to "significant improvements" in the lives of those on pensions with winter fuel and cold weather payments and free bus passes.

And welcomed Labour Government's commitment to the NHS which now guarantees a maximum two-weeks for cancer referrals and a maximum of 18-weeks for hospital treatment.

Mr Davies added: "When the economy was hit by the global economic crisis the Labour Government fought back in contrast to the Tories who have been shown to be wrong on the recession and wrong on the recovery. The Tories threat of immediate cuts would choke off recovery, costing jobs and making the deficit worse."