12 March 2010 - Three parliamentary candidates face questions from local employers
Local employers and Folkestone and Hythe’s three main Parliamentary candidates engaged in a lively and wide-ranging exchange of views on employment and training at a special question time event in Elham on 12 March 2010.
Damian Collins (Conservative), Lynne Beaumont (Lib Dem) and Donald Worsley (Labour) were invited by Employment Relations Solicitors of Elham to speak at their monthly breakfast forum held in the village’s Rose and Crown pub.
Questions ranged from the achievements and failures of the Blair and Brown years to education standards and selective education, the high levels of unemployment in Shepway, sex discrimination, gang master licensing and the employment of migrant workers in the care industry.
Whether to keep grammar schools, the achievements of the new academies and the apprenticeship scheme were hotly debated. All agreed that regulations imposed by new employment laws had been beneficial in protecting workers, but could also cause major economic difficulties for SMEs.
Dealing with Shepway’s high unemployment figures and changing attitudes of welfare dependency were high on everyone’s agenda.
Re-engaging voters and encouraging them to vote after what has been a difficult two years for the House of Commons was also a major challenge, but one which could be overcome by being honest, listening to the voters in order to develop strategies.
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Inquiries
Tony Bertin, Employment Relations Solicitors 01303 840001 tonybertin@employment-relations.co.uk
Anne Leva, Employment Relations Solicitors 01303 840001 Anne@employment-relations.co.uk
www.employment-relations.co.uk
