Election 2005

Questions possibly on a burning topical issue, manifesto policy, something that may have made you angry or which you simply wanted explained.

There were questions on a variety of topics sent in - relating to the council tax, income tax, the arms trade, crime, education, health, immigration, the war in Iraq, ID cards, and another which posed the question - 'Why do commentators place so much emphasis on General Elections in the UK when an overwhelming majority of life here is determined by European Union commissioners nominated by individual states?'

But the two topics which topped the questions poll were unsurprisingly - the Council Tax and Immigration/Asylum.

Here you can read what the four Mid-Worcestershire candidates - Tony Eaves (United Kingdom Independence Party), Peter Luff (Conservative), Matthew Gregson (Labour) and Margaret Rowley (Liberal Democrats) - have to say on these election issues...

Tony Eaves (United Kingdom

Independence Party)

IMMIGRATION/ASYLUM: The first responsibility of a British government is to it's own population, not to those who would like to settle here.

UKIP would - Adopt a points system for evaluating applications for work permits based on an identified need for specific skills and other tests of suitability. Applicants from other EU countries to be treated in the same way as those from any other country.

Stricter control of residence rights granted because of family connections and reinstate embarkation controls to check those entering and leaving Britain. It is essential to keep proper records of those crossing our borders.

'Britishness' tests to encourage those settling here to acquire knowledge of our language and culture and to assimilate fully into our society.

Set our own criteria for those deemed to be refugee's. No refugee status to be considered for asylum seekers who arrived via some other 'safe country'. Also more rigour in deporting those who are refused the right to stay. All those entering Britain with the intention of staying to be subject to health checks for certain communicable diseases.

COUNCIL TAX: Besides restoring power for governing Britain to our own elected Parliament, UKIP will return local government to local control. County and borough councils need to answer to their local communities rather than obey orders from central government.

Councils need more control over their own budgets. At present, 80 per cent of our councils budgets is funded by grants from central government. Underfunding by government has been the cause of the massive increases in council tax. We will reverse this by transferring business rates and transfer duties on houses to be paid into local council budgets rather than to government.

We intend to cut council taxes by a half for all householders, not just pensioners.

Peter Luff (Conservative)

COUNCIL TAX: The most punishing of all Labour's stealth taxes has been the Council Tax. But I believe in rewarding families who work hard and do the right thing.

So Conservatives will stop Mr Blair's revaluation stealth tax. Liberal Democrats voted in Parliament to support the revaluation - only Conservatives voted against. We will also help hard pressed pensioners, by halving the council tax bills for households aged 65 and over, up to £500 a year.

Liberal Democrats would also hit hard working families with a new local income tax, costing the typical working family over £600. In Worcestershire people will have opened their latest council tax bills with horror.

My message to them is clear: if you vote for Mr Blair's Labour candidate or the Liberal Democrat, you are sending a message that you want higher taxes. If you vote Conservative, you're saying that you want lower taxes and a fairer deal for our county. It's that simple.

IMMIGRATION: We have five key pledges - cleaner hospitals, school discipline, more police, lower taxes and controlled immigration.

Of course I welcome people to Britain who will work hard and make a positive contribution to our country. We have all gained enormously from the many talented and enterprising people who have made this country their home. We must also offer sanctuary to people genuinely fleeing persecution, but immigration has to be controlled.

How will a country the size of Britain cope if its population increases by five times the size of Birmingham in just over 30 years? That's why we need substantially to reduce the numbers settling here. So we offer an action plan to control immigration - an annual limit on the number of people who can settle in Britain, 24-hour security at our ports, a British Border Control Police Force and an Australian-style points system for work permits.

Margaret Rowley

(Liberal Democrats)

COUNCIL TAX It's unfair. It hits pensioners and people on low or fixed incomes. We would abolish council tax and replace it with a fair tax system, based on ability to pay, cutting the typical family's bill by around £450 a year.

Local Income Tax would be run through the existing Inland Revenue Income Tax mechanism, saving hundreds of millions of pounds by abolishing Council Tax administration. Local Income Tax is supported by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and used by countries as diverse as America and Sweden.

Millions of families will have to pay more council tax if Labour and Tory plans to re-band properties, based on current property values, are allowed to go ahead. Introducing a fair local income tax means we can scrap arbitrary re-banding and save money too.

IMMIGRATION: Managed immigration is good for our economy and enriches our society. Our public services could not function if it wasn't for the contribution made by migrant workers. The vast majority of immigrants are decent and hardworking people who want the opportunity to live and work in the UK.

We believe in clear rules on immigration which are efficiently and effectively enforced. We would commission an on-going independent assessment of the level of need for migrant workers and set quotas based on this. This would provide a clear, accurate and readily understandable measure of the level of planned labour migration which would be transparent and open.

The government has not done enough to tackle illegal immigration. We would improve the way the Home Office inspects and prosecutes employers of illegal migrants. Border security would be improved through the creation of a National Border Agency.

Matthew Gregson

(Labour)

IMMIGRATION: Labour understands that people have real concerns about immigration and asylum. Protecting Britain's borders is one of Labour's key priorities.

On asylum, people who are genuinely fleeing persecution will be able to find a safe haven in this country but we will be tough on those trying to exploit the system.

We have moved our border controls to mainland Europe to prevent illegal entry and brought in high tech scanners to detect people trying to cross the Channel illegally.

On immigration, Labour will ensure we let in migrants with the skills and talents to benefit Britain. We will introduce a new and fair points based system for migrants.

Identity cards are a crucial part of Labour's action against illegal working and immigration abuse.

Labour's bill to introduce identity cards was blocked by the Tories the week before last. Labour is committed to introducing identity cards in the next Parliament.

COUNCIL TAX: Labour recognises the concerns which have been raised about the level of Council Tax.

We will not hesitate to use capping powers to protect Council Tax payers from excessive rises in council tax. The Tories have opposed capping.

We have invested record amounts in local government and will continue to invest in local services with year on year increases in grants to local councils.

Labour is committed to reforming council tax and we have set up a review into local government finance headed by Sir Michael Lyons.

It must be remembered that in 2004/05 average council tax per dwelling where there are Tory Councils is £200 a year more than where there is a Labour Council.