Jonathan Todd

I have signed up to the CAMRA pledge. Pubs are often vital community institutions.  There are some great pubs in Westmorland and Lonsdale.  I recently enjoyed a visit to the Church House in Torver, which is a fantastic pub with a great menu.

Many people in Westmorland and Lonsdale are concerned about litter and other aspects of their environment.  These are issues upon which SLDC has failed.  Labour wants to do better and is the only fair choice on these issues.  Along with Labour SLDC council candidate Kieran Roberts, I explain this in the video below.

Jonathan Todd, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Westmorland and Lonsdale, has joined forces with the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). He wants to promote the interests of Britain’s pub goers, champion community pubs, press for reform of the ‘beer tie’ to deliver a fair deal for consumers and support the role of well-run pubs as solutions to alcohol misuse.

These commitments are based on a campaign being run by CAMRA, which is asking all Prospective Parliamentary Candidates whether they are willing to speak up for beer drinkers and pub goers. CAMRA’s new Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter sets out a series of options for supporting well-run community pubs, local brewers and consumer rights.

Mr Todd said:

“CAMRA is a fantastic organisation, with a strong campaigning platform that would bring positive change not only to pubs and their drinkers and communities, but also to public health. CAMRA’s proposals will make it more likely that people drink in the safe, regulated environments of pubs, rather than buying alcohol at rock bottom prices in supermarkets. Buying alcohol from supermarkets in this way tends to fuel unhealthy binge drinking and anti-social behaviour. This is something that I will work to change.”

Mike Benner, CAMRA’s Chief Executive welcomed Jonathan Todd’s support for the Charter, saying:

“We are delighted that Jonathan Todd has promised to work to promote the interests of beer drinkers and pub goers. Well-run pubs make a huge contribution to community life, each of which injects £80,000 into their local economy every year.  Amid growing concern over the loss of more than 5 pubs a day, it is now more important than ever to support well-run community pubs, to promote local brewers and to protect the interests of consumers.”

Eric Martlew, the outgoing MP for Carlisle and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the West Coast Mainline, was welcomed to Oxenholme train station last week by Jonathan Todd, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Westmorland and Lonsdale.

Mr Martlew is backing Mr Todd’s campaign to make sure that Oxenholme is a high speed rail stop.

Mr Martlew said:

“Having led the campaign in parliament for the high speed line, I know that the Labour government’s proposals offer the only chance of getting a high speed rail stop in Cumbria. The Tories want the high speed route to turn right at Manchester and go to Leeds. I don’t think it is realistic for every high speed train to Edinburgh or Glasgow to stop at Oxenholme, but there is a very strong case for some trains to make this stop.”

Mr Todd said:

“It was great to welcome Eric to Oxenholme. He is an authority on rail matters and a big hitter. It is excellent to have his backing for a high speed rail stop at Oxenholme.

“This stop would reduce travel times for firms and workers in Westmorland and Lonsdale. It would also make it easier for tourists to reach the area.

“So, it would be a boost to our economic prospects, and it would make it easier for locals to enjoy trips away and holidays. These are major benefits to locals that only Labour government will bring to Cumbria.” 

The Committee for Standards in Public Life has recommended that candidates at parliamentary elections should publish a declaration of interests. Consideration is being given to whether this should be a statutory requirement at future elections. For the 2010 General Election the Ministry of Justice has been required to produce guidance for the voluntary publication of such a declaration. This guidance from the Ministry is available here. The Labour Party supports the publication of such a declaration by its candidates. My declaration of interests is as follows: