Barry Kaye, of Hometeign House, Salisbury Road, Newton Abbot, press officer Newton Abbot Labour Party, writes:
I was rather bemused at the statement made by Anne Marie in paragraph three of her 'advertisement' on page two of the MDA.
She states the biggest concern of the 2,000 businesses she had surveyed that hindered their success was fuel, water and energy costs, and over 90 per cent stated that that was their biggest burden.
In particular South West Water rates were too high (hopefully soon to be reduced) and should be addressed in Parliament.
Either Anne Marie is being disingenuous or simply ignorant of the fact that these were the very industries privatised by two previous Tory prime ministers – the sainted Margaret Thatcher and the grey man, John Major – sold to the lowest bidder, and now much of it in foreign hands (South West Water). The Pennon Group is entirely French owned, creaming off the profits to the French shareholders.
The story is similar to the gas and electricity producers, in which not only are the 2,000 businesses having to pay far too much in energy costs, but many thousands of low income families across the Torbay and Teignbridge, and the south west in general.
The scandal of overpayment by those on low incomes to the power companies is only just coming to light, with the industry regulator Ofgem at last shaming the power companies into recognising their responsibilities.
I would suggest that Anne Marie study the recent history of the Tory party before making such fatuous remarks, and leave it to those who know of such things, and not burden us with pointless 'surveys'.