Parmjit Dhanda announces his pledges to the city
Gloucester Citizen - Monday 19 April 2010

Parmjit Dhanda has launched his election battlebus and announced his pledges for Gloucester.

On the day he took to the road in a big red bus he also attacked David Cameron's speech to the city.

Mr Dhanda, who is running for MP in the May 6 election, spent the weekend touring the city in his red battlebus – complete with music from musical Summer Holiday.
The Labour candidate, who also spent some time volunteering at the PDSA store in The Oxebode last Friday, said: "The bus is a great way to remind people, particularly the disabled and people over the age of 60, that we've done a lot for them including concessionary fares across the county for pensioners and the disabled.

"If the Tories are planning billions of pounds of cuts, they really risk breaking our investment for free travel for those who need it most."

He pledged to keep investing in Gloucester's regeneration, to support the Cancer Guarantee that promises a diagnostic test within one week of visiting a GP, to build on children's future by offering an education or training place to everyone up to the age of 18, to fight for dignity and support for pensioners, particularly free personal care at home for those with the highest need, and to increase recycling and say no to incinerator plans.

He said: "During the last decade we have seen a great deal of investment in Gloucester and I want to continue this throughout the next Parliament.

"We need a future which will see continued regeneration in our city, more support for our families and more security for our pensioners."

He also hit out at the speech given by David Cameron to a crowd in Gloucester on Saturday morning.

He said: "David Cameron likes to talk about change, but the truth is the Conservatives represent a change most of us here in Gloucester can't afford.

"He opposed all the measures Labour took to get us through the recent downturn, and his irresponsible policies remain a threat to our economic growth.

"Labour has achieved real change here in Gloucester with a rebuilt hospital, Sure Start Centres across our city and a new police HQ.

"Instead of investing in our frontline public services, the Conservatives want to bring in cuts at the worst possible time.

"They were wrong on the recession and they are wrong on the recovery."