With you...The Magazine for North TynesideAutumn 2012

Labour’s Norma Redfearn:CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE

Inside:

FAMILY FINANCES: Cost of living crisis worsens

EXCLUSIVE: Inteview with Labour’s Norma Redfearn

REAL LIFE: “Tears & heartbreak” as local jobs go

REAL CRIME: Crime fighting duo team up against police cuts

What the papers say: “Our local hero”

Delivered free to North Tyneside residents by your local Labour Party

REAL LIFE

Dear Reader...Well what a summer it’s been. The Queen’s Jubilee, the European Championships and the fantastic Olympic Games in London. Its been great to see North Tyneside join in the celebrations as a community.

Now that the excitement has died down and the nights are drawing in it’s back to reality. Across the borough, thousands of families are just one bill away from real financial hardship because of the double dip recession. These are difficult times, that’s why I’m standing for Mayor. We need someone who is going to stand up for local people, not a cheerleader for an out of touch government.

real lifeWith you...

“Tears and heartbreak” as Remploy jobs goThousands of disabled workers across the UK face a tough future after the government decided to close Remploy factories across the country. Locally that means the end of production at Remploy’s factory at Benton and the loss of around 50 jobs, most taken by disabled workers.

Ken, who worked at Benton plant, said “No words can portray the true feelings of the Remploy Workers who are in tears and heartbroken at this decision, or how scared we are of what the future now holds for disabled people in the workplace. But what makes it worse is the way this government consistently refused to listen to the widespread public support for maintaining Remploy. This makes them callous, unfeeling, uncaring and totally obsessed with their own

party political agendas. These are workers who need help and support not a brutal kick in the teeth.”

Labour’s candidate for Mayor, Norma Redfearn, who visited the factory to meet workers said, “It beggars belief that this Government has chosen the height of recession to close this factory and sack the workforce. It is a shameful decision from a government without compassion.”

“Employees here are very worried about their future in this double-dip recession.” Norma continued,”For many of the Remploy workers it’s about so much more than a wage packet. Their job is their life, it offers them company and fulfilment. The government’s decision to close the plant at Benton is a human tragedy.”

With you...

Norma RedfearnLabour’s candidate for Mayor of North Tyneside

In this edition:

Contact us:

With you...Labour Centre,7 PalmersvilleForest HallNewcastle upon TyneNE12 9HNemail:norma4mayor@gmail.com Telephone:0191 246 5285

Promoted by B Pickard on behalf of Norma Redfearn all at Labour Centre, Labour Centre, 7 Palmersville, Forest Hall, New-castle upon Tyne, NE12 9HN. Printed by Anton Group, Christy Way, Laindon, Essex, SS15 6TR 3

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FAMILY FINANCE:Cost of living crisis continues...

INTERVIEW:Labour’s Norma on why she wants to be Mayor...

CRIME STORY:HUNDREDS OF COPPERS FACE AXE

SCRAPBOOK:WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

North Tyneside families £511 worse off as Tory cost of living crisis worsensNorth Tyneside families are facing a squeeze as the double-dip recession bites and the cost-of-living crisis worsens. Figures produced by the independent IFS organisation have found that that tax changes brought in by the Tory government will cost the average North Tyneside family over £511 a year. Over 3,600 local families face the loss of tax credits whilst long-term youth unemployment has soared by over 200%

Now, Labour’s Norma Redfearn is calling on the government to make a u-turn and come forward with a growth plan for the region. Norma said,

“This is a really tough time for families. Many families are now just one unexpected bill away from financial disaster. The spiralling cost of just living is making life a struggle for too many. The government’s decision to raise VAT, freeze child benefit and cut tax credits, together with higher energy, food and petrol prices is placing a huge strain on people.”

“The government have the wrong priorities. They’ve found money for a tax cut for millionaires and the banks but

at the same time pensioners will lose an average £83 a year. They are out of touch and backing the wrong people.”

“David Cameron needs to do another few of his famous u-turns and take some action now to get our economy going again. If he doesn’t a

whole generation of young people in North

Tyneside will be left cut off from the world of work and

many of our families will be trapped in an awful financial situation. This is a recession made in Downing Street and it’s his responsibility to fix his mistakes now.”

The Tories double-dip recession is placing family budgets under real strain. This recession was made in Downing Street, caused by cuts that have gone too far, too fast and killed off growth. Figures show that the average family in North Tyneside is now on average £511 worse off because of the Tory-led government’s decision.

Labour’s plan to help

families...

mon£y mattersWith you...

✓ Reverse the VAT rise –

putting around £450 back into

families’ pockets. ✓ Tax banker’s bonuses to

fund more jobs for our young

people.✓ Axe the “granny tax”

and ensure over 75s get the

lowest tarrifs from the energy

companies. ✓ Tackle “Rip Off Britain” by

capping the excessive

fees and prices charged by banks and train companies

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How is this recession

affecting you and your family?

Let Norma know. Take part in her family

finances survey on page 11

“I want to bring some life back to the borough.”With you... talks to Labour’s Norma Redfearn about her life, her work and why she wants to be our next Mayor.

It will be a sight that stays with me for ever. I would

stand on the corner of Frank Street in Wallsend, just outside my grandma’s house and watch as the workers streamed out of the shipyards. They were like a swarm of bees as they left for the day.” Norma Redfearn, Labour’s candidate for Mayor of North Tyneside reminisces as we walk down Mason Road and her childhood home. Norma continued, “There was a real vibrancy about the place. The River powered our economy, it was the place things were made. We need to make the River great again.

Norma was the first in her family to leave North

Tyneside for university. “My dad and my uncles all worked in the shipyards or down the Rising Sun pit. We were a Wallsend family through and through but my parents always said education was the way ‘to improve your lot’. I was very fortunate to get into Wallsend Grammar School and it gave me the belief that if you give the opportunities, the support and teach the right skills people can aspire to great things.”

This belief and vision carried on throughout Norma’s

teaching career. “I started teaching in schools in some fairly affluent areas but I soon came to the decision that I wanted to work in communities that faced greater challenges. There is so much untapped talent within our children. I wanted to make sure that every child felt supported to achieve their potential.” Norma won national plaudits as a headteacher and

was even branded one of the new breed of ‘Super Heads’. “It was never about titles, for me it was about fairness and equality.”

This desire for fairness was what brought Norma into

politics and eventually the race to be our next Mayor. “Regardless of their politics and where they live people deserve fairness from their local council. I’m not sure that is happening at the moment. We need to bring some life back to the borough. We need to make things happen. I also think the Council needs to work smarter, aspire to greater things and support our local businesses more.

The most important thing is that a Mayor listens to the

people, all the people, regardless of politics and I can assure people I will be doing a lot of listening.”

Norma outside her childhood home on Mason Street

interviewWith you...

6Have a look a

t Norma’s scrapbook

on page 10

CRIME STORYWith you... CRIME FIGHTERS! VERA & NORMA TEAM

UP TO FIGHT THE POLICE CUTS

WHAT IS A POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER?

Police & Crime Commissioners will replace Police Authorities.

The Commissioner will set priorities for Northumbria Police & prepare the police & crime plan.

The election for Northumbria’s first PCC will take place on November 15.

The cost of holding these elections - £125m - could be spent on 3,000 more police officers.

SHOCKING figures have revealed the true impact of the government’s police cuts in North Tyneside.

Figures from the Home Office have revealed that Northumbria Police have lost 266 police since the last general election, many of them emergency 999 first responders since the and up to 730 are forecast to be lost before 2015.

Now two Tyneside campaigners

are joining forces to protect our Police. Vera Baird, with over 30 years experience of working with police, as a campaigning lawyer, in parliament and as Solicitor General is standing as the Labour candidate in the first ever Police & Crime Commissioner elections on

November 15th.

Meanwhile, Norma Redfearn, Labour’s candidate for Mayor will be joining Northumbria’s Police & Crime Board to represent North

Tyneside’s communities.

Vera Baird said, “Our police services are under threat from the Tory-led Government cuts. It is essential that we elect a

Labour Commissioner to stand up for our police and to keep our communities safe. This is a new post and I am proud to be the Labour candidate. I believe I have the experience, knowledge, skills and vision to deliver the strong police and community services demanded by our community and to properly support victims of crime.”

“I have a record as a fighter and the tenacity needed to protect the front-line and fight against this government.”

Labour’s Norma Redfearn said: “The effects of these cuts are already being felt here in North Tyneside. Local people are telling

me that they are seeing less of the local PCSO and neighbourhood bobby. The Chief Constable is doing her best but she’s been put in an impossible position. I agreed to go on this new Panel because I

want the concerns of North Tyneside people to be heard by the new Commissioner. I also won’t stand by and cheer as the government ploughs ahead with these cuts. I’ll fight them every

step of the way.”

To support Labour’s campaign against the cuts to the police visit labour.org.uk/police

“Our police services are under threat from the Tory-led Government cuts.”

“Local people are telling me that they are seeing less of the local PCSO and neighbourhood bobby.”

Norma Redfearn & Vera Baird

scrapbookWith you...

Labour’s Norma Redfearn has dedicated her life to

improving education on Tyneside. She’s turned around

schools and now she’ll turn around our borough!

[Norma Redfearn] has brought life, hope and energy back into a devastated community.” Times Educational Supplement

The Tory double-dip recession is hitting families hard. Norma wants to hear your experiences. Please take a few moments to complete the survey below and help Labour fight for fairness in North Tyneside.

1. Is the rise in the cost of living affecting you?❍ Yes❍ No❍ Don’t know

2. Have you or your family been affected by redundancy?❍ Yes❍ No❍ Don’t know

3. Are your wages keeping up with inflation?❍ Yes❍ No❍ Don’t know

4. Have you had to cut back spending at the supermarket?❍ Yes❍ No❍ Don’t know

5. Do you think energy prices are too high?❍ Yes❍ No❍ Don’t know

6. Are you doing less miles in the car or switching to public transport?❍ Yes❍ No❍ Don’t know

At a general election, I would support:❍ Labour ❍ Conservatives❍ Lib Dems❍ Other

Yes, I'll be supporting Norma for our next Mayor❍ Send me details on how to vote by post❍ Count me in as a supporter!

Name:Email:Address:

Postcode:Mobile:

Please return to Norma Redfearn,North Tyneside LabourFREEPOST NEA4534Newcastle upon TyneNE12 9BAInformation supplied by you may be used by Norma Redfearn and the Labour Party to contact you in the future, if you don’t want this to happen please write to the Labour Party, Labour Central, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6PA. Promoted by B Pickard on behalf of Norma Redfearn all at Labour Centre, 7 Palmersville, Forest Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE12 9HN. Printed by Anton Group, Christy Way, Laindon, Essex, SS15 6TR

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Facebook.com/NormaforMayorTwitter:@NormaRedfearn

PUZZLE CORNERWith you...WORD SEARCH: We’ve hidden ten names

of famous sons of North Tyneside below. Can you find them?

SUDOKU:

WHERE ON EARTH:Identify this well-known North Tyneside location.

Solutions can be found online at Norma’s facebook page facebook.com/normaformayor or in the next edition of With you...

STING, RIDLEY SCOTT, ROBSON GREEN, PETER HIGGS, TOM HADAWAY, JOHN MIDDLETON, STAN LAUREL, COLLINGWOOD, STEVE WATSON, IAN LA FRENAIS