Peter Tyzack, Liberal Democrat candidate for Filton and Bradley Stoke (FABS), called into town on Saturday on a charity walk spanning the breadth of the constituency that he hopes to represent in the next parliament.
The event, ambitiously titled ‘Walk to Westminster’, saw Mr Tyzack set off from Severn Beach at 9am and arrive at Staple Hill by 2:40pm – after passing through Pilning, Easter Compton, Cribss Causeway, Patchway, Bradley Stoke, Frenchay, and Downend.
Some elements of the media are said to have called FABS the ‘mystery constutuency’ because people don’t relate to the name. Prior to embarking on the walk, Mr Tyzack said:
“We are finding residents who insist that they are not part of Filton or Bradley Stoke, so the intention of the walk is to draw attention to the extent of the constituency by walking from one end to the other. My hope is that the media will show a map to help the voters identify with the new area that they are part of. I hope to meet and talk with residents along the way.”
Mr Tyzack was accompanied on the walk by his daughter Rowena and, for the first mile out of Severn Beach, Steve Webb MP.
The walkers made a collection for Bristol Haematology & Oncology Centre’s CaRE appeal along the way.
Mr Tyzack, currently ranked the 6/1 second favourite for the FABS seat, added:
“If I am successful in the election and become the first Member of Parliament for the new constituency then I shall walk the rest of the distance to Westminster over the summer, again collecting sponsorship.”
“I believe politics has to get back in touch with people, and after the shameful way some MPs have behaved over their expenses, the public needs reassurance that they have some idea how the rest of us live. It is no good MPs sitting in their offices in Westminster, they have to go to the people and walk in their shoes. MPs are elected by the people; they need to show that they will work for the people.”
Asked for his most notable memory of his ‘taking politics back to the people’ walk, Mr Tyzack, who is also a member of South Gloucestershire Council, told The Journal:
“After appreciating the trees all coming into leaf and the spring flowers blooming, it was the amount of litter at the side of the road – fast food wrappers and drinks containers clearly ejected from passing cars. People complain that the Council should tidy up, but why do people spoil their country in this way?”
Photo (R-L): Sachin Singhal welcomes Peter Tyzack and daughter Rowena to Bradley Stoke.
Related links:
- More photos of the walk: album; slideshow (PicasaWeb)
- Filton and Bradley Stoke – General Election 2010 (The Journal)
We missed the meeting at the leisure centre last Thursday: didn’t know it was happening. We should like Peter Tyzack to tell us more about the bit in the Lib Dem manifesto about not restricting entry to Faith schools on the grounds of Faith. Already of course the local Catholic schools accept non-Catholic children, but this is when there are the spaces after the local Catholic parents have applied for places for their children. We don’t know the exact figures of course, but as all Catholic parishes, (and thus all Catholics who go to Mass and put into the collections each week,) contribute towards the cost of their parish schools we are dismayed that we may be denied the right to give priority to our own children. Obviously the government contibutes a great deal of money towards the running of each school, but they are very much OUR schools where we think it is important to support parents, as the first teachers of our children, by having Catholic Schools.
We’ve not had anything through the letter box as yet from the Lib Dems.
Best wishes
Pip and John Knight
Whilst I wasn’t involved in the writing of this particular policy (in the LibDems the members are involved in policy development) and I have not been able to check with the Education team before replying to you, my interpretation of the wording is that this suggests a framework of principle on which the detail would be worked out carefully with those involved.
The statement in the manifesto book refers to ‘faith-based schools within the state-funded sector’ then speaks of ‘an inclusive admissions policy’. I read that as a statement that public funds should be used fairly across the wider community and only in exceptional cases used for a separate group. ie. the broad principle that public money should be spent on faclities that are accessible to all.
I am a governor at an Anglican-Methodist primary school, so I feel that I understand your concern. I don’t believe that the writers of this phrasing would have any intention of it being interpreted that genuine RC pupils should be excluded in order to create some notional balance to the school intake, rather that there should be an open door policy to those of no faith.
The admissions policy operated in South Glos grew from that set up in the former County of Avon, and is perhaps an example to other parts of the country, which this wording is possibly trying to address. I don’t believe what is written in the manifesto should be read as implying that we would need to change our procedures in this area, but if I turn out to be wrong in this, I shall undertake to argue this position.
Best wishes,
Peter Tyzack