Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Election interview: Peter Norman




With just seven days to go before the General Election, Newbury Today is re-running interviews with each of the eight candidates standing for the Newbury seat that first appeared in the Newbury Weekly News.

Today we profile Apolitical Democrats candidate Peter Norman on his policies and his chances in the upcoming May 7 General Election.

Keep an eye on our website in the run up to the election for all of the Parliamentary profiles.

“I WOULD offer an independent voice free of party diktat to speak up for the interests of the Newbury constituency and put pressure on the government of whatever complexion to deal with the big issues facing not just Newbury but the country as a whole.”

That was the rallying cry from Peter Norman, who is standing in the Newbury constituency for the Apolitical Democrats in the General Election, and simultaneously for the West Berkshire Council seat of Falkland.

The growing Apolitical movement will also field Charlie Farrow, Simon Kirby, Mark Knight and David Yates at either the West Berkshire Council district election or at the Newbury Town Council election on May 7.

Mr Norman said that if elected to parliament following the election, he would focus on tackling climate change, re-balancing the economy and investing in education, health and research and development.

On the challenges facing the local area, he said climate change, affordable housing and having sufficient services to support new housing were top of the list.

“Our approach to property in this country has been a disaster for the economy” he said.

“West Berkshire Council have a target of 10,500 new homes by 2026, including 2,000 on Sandleford. The Planning Inspector in 2013 said this target is some 5,500 homes short.

“I want to understand who these homes are for – people who live and work around Newbury or are we to become a dormitory town for London?

“We desperately need new homes that comply with the highest energy ratings and are genuinely affordable.

“The private sector simply cannot meet the housing needs and hasn’t been able to since the 1950s.

“We need to look again as to whether local authorities should bridge the gap. However, the focus should be on brownfield development and bringing empty or under-utilised homes on to the market.”

He said he wanted to keep the country’s health service free at the point of delivery and for the industries who “are the purveyors of ill health” to pay for the “resultant care that is needed”.

He added: “Healthcare needs to be brought under one roof and be able to plan for the long term, free of political interference.

“Education also needs to be free of political interference with long-term funding secured so that schools can plan for the future.”

In its economic policy, the party wants to end subsidies to the property market which Mr Norman said have created “a huge imbalance in investment where housing is now 60 per cent of the net worth of the nation – some £4.2 trillion in value”.

“The money saved I would invest in education, research and development, and in our young entrepreneurs who are the future of the country.”

Asked about immigration, he said: “We need to recognise that freedom of movement creates problems with being able to provide the infrastructure necessary for a transient population.

“We need to work with our EU partners to come up with practical solutions.

“But we also need to acknowledge the skills that this migrant workforce brings to our country, without which many of our service industries, in particular health, would grind to a halt.”

To improve transport on an increasingly strained network, Mr Norman said he wanted to champion a new East Link Road to take traffic away from the town centre and downgrade the A339 to just two lanes to possibly provide room for a cycle and pedestrian route.

He said: “West Berkshire Council are intent on clogging up the main artery through the town which is already the town’s main pollutant. I would also have an integrated public transport system that took traffic to and from the station to all points of the town.”

His added: “As Newbury’s MP I would fight hard for the things that would make a difference and oppose initiatives that threaten disruption, or are the vanity projects of a particular minister.”

Also standing in the General Election for the Newbury constituency is Barrie Singleton (Independent), Andrew Stott (Patriotic Socialist), Jonny Roberts (Labour), Catherine Anderson (UKIP), Paul Field (Green), Judith Bunting (Liberal Democrat) and sitting MP Richard Benyon (Conservative).



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More