[Neil]

I received a Tory leaflet this morning. You know one of those that go straight into the recycle bag. I opened it and noticed this statement "Housing Can Be Improved". I have attached the leaflet below, sorry it is a little large. Another statement says "As a Conservative MP, I will fight for our housing in Hyndburn to be improved and brought up to a decent modern standard". Read the whole thing for yourself so I cant be accused of just quoting bits of it like the newspapers do.

What I want to know is, when did the up keep of residential/comercial property become the responsibility of the government and/or council? Is it not the responsibility of the property owner to keep his property in a well maintained condition. Take the Phoenix Project as an example. The owners who have neglected there homes get paid above market value for them. Is this the way we encourage people to maintain property. These rewarded home owners will now move elsewhere and neglect another property. That area will become run down and we are back to square one. The government/council should be pro-active for a change. Fine people for the state of there homes not reward. If the property is unsafe/uninhabitable it should be taken from them, not bought from them. Punish not reward is the only answer.

What next? Get stopped by the police for driving a dangerous car and be given a nice new one as a reward!

Reading the rest of James's leaflet he appears to be a very decent person who is prepared to stand up for his beliefs. I think he needs to think about what is right and not what will win votes for his next leaflet. He may be surprised and find the two things will go together.

Read it and post your comments.

I suspect a Labour one will appear soon as well - lets see what bull they will try and woo us with. No doubt plenty of Tory bashing etc etc