ELECTION 2005: MID-WORCESTERSHIRE

AWEEK into the campaign and I think I've visited every corner of the constituency and met a wide cross-section of local people - but there is remarkable consistency of view on the doorsteps of Mid Worcestershire.

People don't like negative campaigning and are anxious to hear what the Parties really stand for. The key word on many lips is "trust", or rather the lack of trust they now have in the Government.

People do feel overtaxed and they are concerned that public services just haven't improved. Worcestershire's rotten deal on school, funding remains a real bone of contention.

It's been especially encouraging how many people have supported our five key messages - more police, controlled immigration, school discipline, cleaner hospitals and lower taxes.

I have realised, though, that we will have to do more to communicate our policies for pensioners; too many of them don't realise we will restore the earnings link, end the scandal of people having to sell their homes to pay for long-term care and offer a huge council tax discount to pensioner households.

There is a real hunger for a change of government and a change of direction.

MATTHEW GREGSON, LABOUR

A LOT of residents have asked me over the last few days about Labour's plans on identity cards.

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.

Identity cards are a crucial part of Labour's action against illegal working and immigration abuse; against the use of multiple identities by organised criminals and terrorists; and against identity fraud and theft. Identity cards will also ensure that free public services are only used by those entitled to them.

Many older people have been telling me about their disappointment at the decision by the Tories on Wychavon District Council to take away travel tokens and concessionary car parking.

Labour, if re-elected, will introduce free local off-peak bus travel for everyone over 60 and all disabled people. One of my personal pledges in this election is to fight for improved public transport for everyone in the constituency, particularly for our rural communities.

MARGARET ROWLEY, LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

THE election campaign started for real for me on Saturday, April 9, when Mid-Worcestershire Liberal Democrats adopted me as their candidate at a meeting in Evesham Public Hall.

Before the meeting, we had met passers-by in the Market Place, giving out our manifesto for the county council elections with balloons and stickers. I found more people than ever before approached us asking for posters and manifestos.

This interest was repeated on the doorstep when canvassing later in the week in Droitwich. We found that many people were as yet undecided and were pleased to have more information to help them make a decision.

People were most concerned about local issues and especially the future of the Lido and the restoration of the canals.

These issues also featured as questions at the Churches Together meeting on Wednesday, along with a question on Fair Trade.

I was able to cast my vote for trade justice at Droitwich's Fair Trade group's stall on Saturday.

I also attended Crowle WI's coffee morning in aid of St Richard's Hospice, where many people asked me questions about the election as they had read my piece in Thursday's Worcester News.

ANTHONY EAVES, UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY

LAST week I spent time in Droitwich and Broadway and was encouraged by the number of people who are aware that we this country is no longer governed from Westminster but that this power has been passed to Brussels.

We had lots of thumbs up and flashing car lights when we travelled in the UKIP Transit van.

Droitwich have a David and Goliath situation with Wychavon over the proposed new Lido in the park.

Our manifesto was released this week.

It contains many good policies to improve life generally and proves we are not a single issue party.

I'm looking forward to our St George's Day parade this weekend. Look out for us in Droitwich, Worcester, Malvern and Evesham on Saturday.

Screen pledge to woo the women

TENS of thousands of suspected breast cancer victims in the South West Midlands will receive screening within two weeks of referral, Health Secretary John Reid has promised.

More than 40,000 women covered by Coventry, Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcestershire Strategic Health Authority think they may have the disease every year. But only urgent cases - about two-thirds - are screened within a fortnight.

In a bid to woo women voters in the May 5 general election, Mr Reid pledged that a third-term Labour Government would ensure every referral would see a specialist within 14 days by 2008.

He said: "I've listened to women tell me that the wait is like putting your life on hold, waiting to get the certainty they need to confront their fears and put an end to the distress of their family and friends.

"Now Labour is acting to put an end to long periods of anxiety and uncertainty for all women referred for possible breast cancer.

"We are confident the NHS can achieve this ambitious goal, because some NHS hospitals are already achieving this, or near to achieving this goal."

It follows Labour's headline pledge on the NHS, that if re-elected no-one will wait more than 18 weeks from seeing their family doctor to starting treatment.

Mr Reid announced at the weekend that women would be able to receive the results of cervical smear tests by text or email within seven days under a re-elected Labour government.

Tory health spokesman Andrew Lansley said faster screening would not improve

waits for treatment.

He said: "Because they are untargeted, the time taken to receive these treatments will slip as resources are pushed to the front end of the patient

journey to meet the Government's target."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Paul Burstow warned that the introduction

of yet another NHS target could lead to other clinical priorities being neglected.

"It's not just a question of getting the tests quickly - it's about getting the result first time, followed by the right treatment," he said.

"The danger with health targets is that they leave behind those with illnesses without a target and stops hard working doctors and nurses from using their common sense and clinical judgment."

Blunkett visit

FORMER cabinet minister David Blunkett was due to visit Worcester today to learn more about computer equipment for the visually impaired. Mr Blunkett - who is blind - was due to visit Dolphin Computer Access, in Blackpole.

Conservation issues 'need to go on agenda'

A CHALLENGE has been issued to prospective parliamentary candidates to ensure that conservation is high on their agenda.

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust has joined other wildlife trusts throughout the country in urging its members to cast their votes for candidates who are committed to the environment.

The trusts are concerned that most politicians still see the environment as separate from factors like economic expansion, transport and housing, while the general public is concerned about issues like climate change.

They want to see the next government placing the environment at the heart of its policies and will report back to members on how many of the candidates take up the challenge.

Health and yob culture go under the spotlight

TONY Blair and Charles Kennedy were due to focus the General Election debate on health issues today - while Michael Howard was set to highlight the drink-fuelled yob culture.

Mr Blair was spelling out proposals for the National Health Service and other government agencies to take a pro-active role in tackling "lifestyle" health problems.

But the Labour Party also used its latest election broadcast to renew its accusation that a Conservative government would undermine the NHS by introducing, under its Right to Choose policy, state-funded subsidies for private treatment.

For his part, Liberal Democrat leader Mr Kennedy was to pledge an extra £350m to speed up diagnosis of serious illnesses and help 500,000 people on "hidden" NHS waiting lists.

Conservative leader Michael Howard was, however, due to break ranks as he tried to shift the campaign on to the law and order agenda.

Mr Howard, a former Home Secretary, set out a five-point plan designed to "get a grip" on binge drinking and the yob culture.

n An NOP poll for The Independent put Labour on 37 per cent down one point since the previous week, with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats unchanged on 32 per cent and 21 per cent respectively.

Better train services must be a priority

TRAIN track improvements must be a priority for the next Government, Worcester's Liberal Democrat candidate has warned.

Mary Dhonau hit out after her party claimed rail passengers have lost a total of 12,000 hours of their lives because of delays since 1997.

"These statistics are appalling. There is clearly an urgent need for improvements to the single-track system and for better signalling to tackle delays," said Mrs Dhonau.

She backed the creation of a new parkway station and refurbishment of the Foregate Street station.

Her party's figures showed Central Trains' performance had worsened the most. In 2004 it was the country's second least reliable operator - behind Virgin West Coast - with more than a quarter of its trains delayed.