New bid to save Haslar backed by Shadow Home Secretary

Chris Huhne, the Shadow Home Secretary and Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, has launched a new Liberal Democrat website, www.gosportfocus.co.uk, and an online campaign to save Haslar Hospital.

Chris Huhne called on Gosport residents to visit the website and to sign the online petition which calls on the MOD to hand over the site to a Council-led partnership which plans to take it over and keep beds and services open. He also warned that the Tories were not to be trusted on health issues.

Huhne said that the Liberal Democrats were now the only party committed to saving Haslar following The News’ report which revealed that the Tory leader David Cameron thought Haslar has no future, adding that Gosport Conservatives cannot even convince their own party leadership to support Haslar. Chris Huhne gave support to the local Liberal Democrats’ efforts to find a viable future for the Haslar site which ensures beds and health services are kept on after the Ministry of Defence leaves.

The Gosport Liberal Democrat plan includes redeveloping part of the site to pay for the cost of keeping 250 beds open plus clinical services and medical research. Gosport Council’s Lib Dem administration has been in talks with developers who are prepared to back the bold plan to keep the historic hospital open, but they say that the public’s support is vital to its success.

Annual Dinner latest

The menu for the Gosport Lib Dems Annual Dinner (see below for detailed post) – at which CHRIS HUHNE MP is guest speaker – reaches us:

Fan of Gallia melon

Chicken wrapped in Parma ham served with vegetables and a white wine sauce

Profiteroles

Tea and coffee

The vegetarian option is mushroom tagliatelle.

The annual dinner is taking place at the Alverbank Hotel on Friday 13 February, at 7.30 for 8 pm. Tickets are available from Bob Forder: r.w.forder@btinternet.com

Chris Huhne MP coming to Gosport

Shadow Home Secretary and Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh CHRIS HUHNE is the guest speaker at the Annual Dinner of Gosport Liberal Democrats, which is being held at the Alver Bank Hotel on Friday 13 February.

Huhne, who came within 500 votes of becoming the Lib Dem party leader when Ming Campbell stood down last year, prompted the recent police investigation into Labour members of the House of Lords who allegedly told undercover Sunday Times reporters they had tabled amendments to legislation for paying clients. Huhne has now asked Scotland Yard to extend its cash-for-influence investigation to cover claims made about four more members of the House of Lords.

The MP for Eastleigh this week said that the loss of 400-500 jobs at the Ford Southampton assembly plant was a "hammer blow" for the workers, their families and the local economy. He added that the latest Ford results showed that the car company was "bleeding cash" and was forced to take desperate measures, which were communicated on Wednesday to the trade unions at the plant. But he blamed the Government for worsening the situation by failing to ensure that there was credit for van purchasers.

"Last week's statement from Lord Mandelson missed the key ingredient, which is the loans that van purchasers need as they do not buy vans and cars with cash up front. A van is an investment that needs to be paid back over its lifetime," said Mr Huhne.
"Ford Credit Europe Bank has been struggling, along with other car company financing arms, to raise the cash to loan to customers. This is a key problem if the market is to be stabilised and jobs are to be saved” he added.

"These are desperate times for the car industry with collapsing sales, restricted credit and now job losses. My sympathies are with the local families whose future now looks so uncertain."

Tickets for the annual dinner are priced £22 and are available from Bob Forder on 023 9252 7965 or at r.w.forder@btinternet.com.