My political priorities

Healthy and safe communities

We need real action to cut crime and the fear of crime. More police on the beat; not spending billions on a database of all your personal details. Sentences that mean what they say; and stopping ex-prisoners reoffend after they leave prison.

Instead, for 20 years we have had warm words from Conservatives and Labour but little action. The Liberal Democrats have a five point plan to really cut crime. Lib Dem councils across the country are cutting crime in their areas - see www.WeCanCutCrime.com

Stronger communities are also built around healthier communities. We need good, local health services - run by people accountable to Chelmsford residents. Not run by the politicians and civil servants in Whitehall, as under the Conservatives and Labour over the last 25 years.

Read more about our SOS for the NHS campaign.

A sustainable environment

We must take climate change seriously - or Essex disappears under water!

I have been an environmental campaigner all my political life. I was the founding chairman of Epping Forest's Environmental Protection Committee in the early 1990s.

In 1992 there was the Rio treaty and talk of Agenda 21. Well, here we are now well into the 21st century and not much has changed.

Climate change is the single biggest issue facing the planet. It will kill thousands of people EVEN if we change our lifestyle today, and many more if we do not.

Our local Conservatives still refuse to meet this challenge. All they ever want to do is build more roads across Essex. They must ACT green not just talk green.

The world's climate is already committed to change for the worse over the next few decades. Whether it improves when my son and his friends have children depends on decisions we take now.

If I am elected as your MP, I will place this top of my agenda. Read more at http://www.greenerchelmsford.org.uk/

Calculate your carbon footprint here: http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html

Education and information

It's about THEIR future

Information and knowledge is power. It always has been, down the ages. Those who have power rarely want to give it away. But I do.

I want to win power for the Liberal Democrats in order to give everyone - young or old - equal access to information and knowledge, in powerful local communities.

But will you? they say. Wherever I have served as a Councillor I have a track record of doing exactly that. I campaigned for public rights to speak at planning committees and for devolving decision making.

Through my own newsletters and more recently email bulletins, and also pushing for my local councils to do better, I have tried to keep people properly informed.

Stephen Robinson discussing issues with local resident

Education is part of information. Whatever your age you should have the right to improve your education. It is in all our interests that ALL our young people grow up with the best possible education. Unrestricted by their family background or income.

Like all parents, I want the best for my child. But I went into politics because I want the best for ALL children.

Politics is about THEIR future, in a fairer Britain.

So, these are my priorities, amongst much else on which the Liberal Democrats will campaign. I hope you will back me to take them forwards.

Stephen Robinson

More about Stephen's background and family.

More about Stephen's campaigns.

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