HAYLING ISLAND GROUP - GENERAL ELECTION TOP 20 QUESTIONS

Day 3 – Answers to the next four questions:

9. Is the profit motive a requirement for Good Customer Service?

10. At the last election it was vote Clegg, get Cameron - what guarantee has aLib Dem vote not to repeat that debacle?

11. Do you believe that immigration from EU countries, at 228,000 to the yearending June 2014 (ref ONS), is too high? If so, given that freedom of movementis a core EU principle, what should the next government do about it?

12. In the light of Labour stating that a referendum on EU membership wouldcause economic uncertainty and be damaging to business in the UK, do youbelieve that a referendum on EU membership should be held in the nextParliament?

Alan MakConservative Party

9. Is the profit motive a requirement for Good Customer Service?

What is the context specifically? In general, yes it helps, but good customer service alsocomes from pride in doing a good job. In our family’s shop, we thought of good customerservice as standard.

10. At the last election it was vote Clegg, get Cameron - what guarantee has a Lib Demvote not to repeat that debacle?

This election is choice between a strong, competent Conservative government that isbuilding a secure and prosperous future for the country, and turning our economy around –or the economic chaos and instability of Ed Miliband and Ed Balls in Downing Streetpropped up by the Scottish Nationalists.

11. Do you believe that immigration from EU countries, at 228,000 to the yearending June 2014 (ref ONS), is too high? If so, given that freedom ofmovement is a core EU principle, what should the next government do aboutit?

Yes it is too high. We currently have limited room for manoeuvre as regardsmovement of people into the UK from other EU member states.The only solution is to re-negotiate this point (and other aspects of ourrelations with the EU, including clamping down on “welfare and healthtourism”), which we will do if re-elected, and then letting the British peopledecide if they want to stay in or leave the EU by offering them an in/outreferendum.Our current relationship with the EU doesn’t work well for Britain – so weshould get a better deal, or not be afraid to leave the EU if we don’t.

12. In the light of Labour stating that a referendum on EU membership wouldcause economic uncertainty and be damaging to business in the UK, do youbelieve that a referendum on EU membership should be held in the nextParliament?

Yes an in/out referendum should be held, and we have promised to hold one byDecember 2017.I advised and helped James Wharton MP, the Conservative MP who put forwardthe EU Referendum Bill, and I am committed to ensuring we have a referendumto let the British people decide.

Tim DawesGreen Party

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9. Is the profit motive a requirement for Good Customer Service?

No. I was a senior local government officer for many years and always strived for openness and excellence incustomer service. You can find bad and good customer service in all types of organisations. The key to goodcustomer service is having customer-fronting people who really believe in what they are doing. Better stilllocate them in the community they are serving.

10. At the last election it was vote Clegg, get Cameron - what guarantee has a Lib Dem vote not to repeatthat debacle?

You vote for an MP for your constituency not for who forms the government and certainly not for who will bePrime Minister. Voting Lib Dem here, or not, will not make a blind bit of difference. The Tories have held thisseat since they inherited it from the dinosaurs at the end of the Jurassic era. It is said that the transfer ofpower was hardly noticeable. If you are a Tory... so be it. Otherwise you need to decide how best to protest.Few will vote Lib Dem this time because (a) they have lost their way nationally, (b) it's clear they cant win and(c) it's also clear that locally they are not really trying and have a part-time candidate from another part of thecounty who gives the impression he had his arm twisted to do it at all. Those who thing this country needs realchange and are looking for a radical alternative will either vote UKIP (if they are on the reactionary right ofpolitics) or Green (if on the centre or the Left) because that's the way their vote will make the most impact –albeit as a non-winning but perhaps unexpectedly strong representation. Incidentally, I don't believe in tacticalvoting in general elections, but I was interested to see that the most respected tactical voting web site –VoteSwap is advising Labour voters in Havant to vote Green! See - voteswap.org/seat/i65699

11. Do you believe that immigration from EU countries, at 228,000 to the yearending June 2014 (ref ONS), is too high? If so, given that freedom of movement is acore EU principle, what should the next government do about it?

I believe in free movement of people as much as possible. We do need controls in ourdifficult world, but the free movement of people across the EU is a major benefit – notleast for UK citizens. Because of the London factor and the relative health of the UKeconomy at present there are bound to be people coming here from other EUcountries, but it works both ways. In fact there are currently only a very slightly largernumber of EU citizens living here than there are UK citizens living in other EUcountries. And, by the way, figures show that UK citizens living abroad cost their hostcountries much more in health costs than NHS costs of treating EU citizens here.Primarily that is because Brits living abroad tend to be older. So we actually benefitfrom the reciprocal health treatment arrangements the EU gives us. Most of us knowpeople who have moved to France or Spain for the “good-life” in the sun and thosewhose work takes them to Holland or Germany. My own 19-year old nephew is nowliving in Berlin after winning an apprenticeship with Siemens when he left school. Isthat not a good thing? We live in a new more mobile Europe. Let's all welcome theadvantages of that.

12. In the light of Labour stating that a referendum on EU membership would causeeconomic uncertainty and be damaging to business in the UK, do you believe that areferendum on EU membership should be held in the next Parliament?

Yes, providing the popular interest in that continues (I sense it is waning a little).Democracy cannot take second place to short term market factors. I fear theimplications were the UK to vote to leave the EU, but I think the people have the rightto discuss the issue and ultimately to decide.

Dr Graham Giles

Labour Party9. Is the profit motive a requirement for Good Customer Service?

Absolutely not! Good management and accountability are essential whether a company is private or public.Many charities and social enterprises have excellent business models, they are not driven by corporatehegemony or share-holders demands. It’s erroneous to equate profits with good customer service. Making aliving does not mean that our businessmen and women are not motivated by a pride in their products andservices. I strongly support local family businesses and entrepreneurs. They know that to survive and thrivethere must be a good balance between product quality, customer service and turnover.Regarding the local tax burden on retailers in Hayling and Havant I would work with Councillors and MPs of allparties to reduce business rates and increase incentives for new investment.

10. At the last election it was vote Clegg, get Cameron - what guarantee has a Lib Dem vote not to repeatthat debacle?

As they’ve been serving as ministers the Tory government for the last five years, the Liberals may wellsupport Cameron again if given the opportunity. Based on current opinion polls the next government willeither be Labour or Conservative. We can have no assurance that the Lib-Dems will not opt again to join aright-wing administration intent on doubling the impact of austerity. Clegg has arrogantly declared that theTories are “the scarecrow without a heart”, Labour “the tin man without a brain” – to follow his ‘Wizard ofOz’ analogy that makes the Liberals “the lion without a roar !” Polling consistently shows Lib-Dems pollingwell below UKIP, which makes their stated ambition, to provide compassion in a Tory coalition or ideas in aLabour administration, pretentious and unlikely. Perhaps the really scary scenario is ‘vote Cameron getFarage’?

11. Do you believe that immigration from EU countries, at 228,000 to the year ending June 2014 (refONS), is too high? If so, given that freedom of movement is a core EU principle, what should the nextgovernment do about it?

Immigrants have made a huge contribution to our economic and social life. The Treasury estimatesthat 0.6% of GDP is generated by migrants – more than the total economic growth in our economy.40% of workers in the NHS are migrants and a significant number of EU and non-EU doctors. WithLabour, migrants from the EU will not be able to claim benefits until they have lived and worked herefor at least two years. A Labour government will make it illegal to undercut the minimum wage byexploiting migrant workers. Everyone who works in our public services will have to speak English. Wewill work again with minorities to strengthen integration within our neighbourhoods.In discussions about European migration, the larger number of UK citizens living abroad is rarelymentioned. If we leave the European Union, as UKIP and some Tories want, this would not “solve” theimmigration problem at all. Moreover, it is highly likely that an equal number of British citizens livingabroad would be forced to come home as generous health and public services in EU countries would nolonger be available to them. This would clearly exacerbate the English housing crisis, caused by lack ofleadership and investment in NIMBY construction and infrastructure.Neither the coalition nor UKIP are willing to raise an even more complex matter, the scandal of illegalimmigration and human trafficking into Britain. Tory cuts and attitudes have compromised our capacityto reduce this growing threat. Only close cooperation between well-resourced police, border agenciesand intelligence services alongside our EU counterparts can stem this organised predatory crime. It hasbeen estimated that 30,000 modern day slaves have been smuggled by brutal gang-masters intoEngland. Reducing illegal migration into this country can only be achieved by a strategicinterdisciplinary collaboration inside and outside our borders. Unfortunately, Britain is losing itsinfluence and reputation in Europe. UKIP are viewed as objectionable and the Tories as awkward. Imaintain high level contacts with justice and interior ministry leaders in Central Eastern Europe. Weestablished reforms, Master degree programmes and on-line training together. The time is right tostrengthen not weaken collaboration with our neighbours if we want to avoid the road, rail and aircorridors of Europe being highways for predators.

12. In the light of Labour stating that a referendum on EU membership wouldcause economic uncertainty and be damaging to business in the UK, do youbelieve that a referendum on EU membership should be held in the nextParliament?

We have been going through unprecedented government austerity in responseto the worldwide recession. A crisis caused first by collapse of the unregulatedUS economy which torpedoed the European and British banking systems withsub-prime loans. Financially, this country is not yet out of the woods. Manybusinesses (including indigenous UK companies) remain located here ratherthan continental Europe or elsewhere in the world, only because we belong tothe European Community. There is a debate to be had about Europe but this isnot the time to threaten our fragile economic recovery. A Tory governmentwould plunge us into a potentially destructive two-year debate on our future inEurope, which would have a damaging impact on our economy. Now is not thetime to create uncertainty for investment and jobs based in Britain whichdepend on our EU membership.Moreover, it is important for British working people to recognise thatCameron’s renegotiation of our EU membership is not to protect theirinterests. He unambiguously wants to ‘free’ Britain from the human rights,health & safety regulations that protect individuals but add costs tobusinesses. Also, the main activity of the UK coalition government in Europehas been to defend millionaire Bankers’ bonuses, resist financial regulationdesigned to stop another global crisis, and to block an EU ‘Robin Hood Tax’ onfinancial transactions.

Steve Sollitt

Liberal Democrats

9. Is the profit motive a requirement for Good Customer Service?

Having worked in several customer service areas in both profit and non-profitorganisations a profit motive should not be a requirement for good customer service.

10. At the last election it was vote Clegg, get Cameron - what guarantee has a Lib Demvote not to repeat that debacle?

It is very clear that unless something changes quite dramatically in the next two weeksthat there will not be a majority government. The public decided through our presentvoting system at the last election that not one party would have a mandate on their ownand so we ended up with a coalition. This is likely to be the outcome this time tooalthough clearly I have no idea if the Liberal Democrats will be part of that. Ironically arecent poll suggest that the public would prefer us in that position again if there was notan outright winner. I am very proud that the Party took that step and helped establishstable government that has survived five years. The Party grew up and became part ofGovernment. If the public don’t vote for a majority government then I feel it’s vital to tryand establish stable government

11. Do you believe that immigration from EU countries, at 228,000 to theyear ending June 2014 (ref ONS), is too high? If so, given that freedom ofmovement is a core EU principle, what should the next government doabout it?

I feel that free movements of EU citizens is a good thing and helps topromote vitality and diversity of our country. There is significantmovement both ways and being part of the union has been an asset TheLiberal Democrats have introduced measures to ensure that EU migrantsmust wait three months before claiming out of work benefits EUMigration benefits our economy hugely and they contribute more in taxesthan they take in benefits

12. In the light of Labour stating that a referendum on EU membershipwould cause economic uncertainty and be damaging to business in theUK, do you believe that a referendum on EU membership should be heldin the next Parliament?

The first ever government containing Liberal Democrats has also been the firstever government to set out in law the requirement to hold a referendumwhen there is a proposal for a further transfer of power to the EU When thatreferendum comes we would want that to be an “in/out” referendum

John PerryUnited Kingdom

Independence Party

9. Is the profit motive a requirement for Good Customer Service?

Good Customer Service results in satisfied customers who spread the word andbecome loyal to the supplier. I disagree with the statement, I would say “Is themotive for Good Customer Service a requirement for profit”, with the answer,yes.

10. At the last election it was vote Clegg, get Cameron - what guarantee has aLib Dem vote not to repeat that debacle?

We in UKIP are hoping that voting for UKIP gets UKIP. UKIP gained 38% of thevote in Havant in the European Elections last year, beating the runners up by8%. With the help of the electorate, we could repeat or beat that poll resultand lead to UKIP influencing policy of the major party in government.

11. Do you believe that immigration from EU countries, at 228,000 to the yearending June 2014 (ref ONS), is too high? If so, given that freedom of movementis a core EU principle, what should the next government do about it?

ONS data currently shows gross immigration of 624,000 and net immigration of298,000 over the past 12 months. This is far too high. UKIP would implement anAustralian style points system for immigrants and cut net immigration to under50,000 immediately. Whatever the Conservatives state, their leader in the EU,Jean-Claude Juncker has stated that the free movement of people in the EU isnon-negotiable. Cameron made a pledge to cut immigration to a 1/10 in 2010,but it has increased; any further pledges would be false. UKIP encouragesimmigration into the UK of people with the skills the UK needs, we believe thateveryone outside the UK should have an equal opportunity to come here.

12. In the light of Labour stating that a referendum on EU membership wouldcause economic uncertainty and be damaging to business in the UK, do youbelieve that a referendum on EU membership should be held in the nextParliament?

UKIP and I believe it should be held immediately with only British citizens votingand EU and foreign visitors denied a vote. UKIP trusts the people; Labour will notgive Britons the opportunity to vote as they cannot be trusted and theConservatives cannot be trusted to keep their word since they denied us theirpromised vote on the Lisbon Treaty.

That’s it for Day 3The next four questions will

be answered tomorrow

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