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The General Election here in ultra-marginal North East Somerset: a very close two horse Labour - Tory race

The General Election here in ultra-marginal North East Somerset will give all our communities a vital choice about what we want… and what we don't want.

When you elect your Member of Parliament you expect them to make the best possible choices for you locally and nationally. That's why over the past 13 years as your local MP I have been listening closely to people right across our area - acting on what you tell me to help make communities better and stronger.

At this General Election, here in ultra-marginal North East Somerset, you and your neighbours will either elect a Tory (a London-based banker) or me, Dan Norris, a genuinely local man representing Labour.

The Lib Dems always finish a distant third here and will do so again. So, for us, it is a straight choice and an exciting contest: Labour or Tory. That means a choice between my vision, based on strong communities working together, and the Tories' approach of leaving individuals to fend for themselves - to sink or swim.

I believe the difference was highlighted best by the Tories' response to all the economic problems caused by the selfishness and greed of the world's bankers over recent years.

The Tories would not have stepped in to help the UK see off the world recession. They would have left banks and building societies, like Northern Rock, to go under and so many pensioners and other local people would have lost all their hard-earned savings.

The Tories would have sat back and watched local people lose their homes and businesses - just as they did when they were last in power. How on earth would our families have coped without their savings if the Tories had had their disastrous way? Tory plans for the future are equally as bad. They want to slash public services immediately.

This would hit all but the very richest. We need to take care with public spending, but it's now, more than ever, that we need doctors, nurses, teachers, police, social services and others who do vital work for our communities. And we need to keep people in employment, earning money to keep their families and paying for things that in turn keep others in work.

And while the rest of us battle to make ends meet, the Tories plan an Inheritance Tax cut to help just the super-rich, benefiting the five wealthiest families in each constituency.

And the Tories want to bring back the cruelty of fox hunting. Frankly, obtaining pleasure from inflicting pain on animals is wrong and uncivilised. I strongly oppose re-introducing hunting with hounds.

The General Election here in North East Somerset will also be a choice about the type of person you want to represent you in Parliament - and the values they hold.

Over the last few years I've made myself available at twice-weekly surgeries plus coffee mornings and other events. I've actively sought out residents' views on things that matter, bringing communities together to help solve local problems.

As a truly local man I'm passionate about our North East Somerset communities. I want to carry on making life better for people right across the area where I grew up and where I have lived and worked all my adult life. When the election comes I will be asking you to give me the opportunity to continue working to make our communities better.

Over the next couple of weeks I plan to speak to as many people as possible and I hope that, if I haven't met you personally before, I will do so soon. In the meantime, though, if you'd like to get in touch with me about the election, then please ring my election hotline on 01761 416354 or email dan@dannorris.org.uk

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope you share my passion about North East Somerset's communities and will help to elect me as your Member of Parliament.

With very best wishes

Dan Norris
Labour candidate to be your truly local MP

P.S. Impartial and objective figures from the BBC, which take into account boundary changes here in North East Somerset shows it's neck-and-neck between me and the Tory candidate. The Lib Dems are in a very poor third. Every vote will make a difference in this vital election.