For a decade Theresa Villiers worked hard as your MP. She has been a strong local voice for Barnet, standing up for local people on the issues that matter to all of us who live here. Please vote to re-elect Theresa to continue to champion your interests in Westminster and campaign for the best schools, transport and NHS services for Barnet, to support our local high streets, strengthen our local economy and protect our suburban environment.
1) Supporting local high streets and local business
Theresa is a great supporter of local business and high streets in Barnet. She fought to save our historic Market and return it to its newly improved site, and lobbied to ensure that Barnet High Street’s landmark “spires” were not demolished. She has campaigned for our local Post Offices, eg in East Barnet. Under threat under Labour, local post offices have received increased investment under this Conservative-led Government, with improved facilities and services. The Conservatives have given all local businesses a £2000 cut in jobs taxes and they now pay no jobs tax at all when employing under 21s.
2) Better transport
When Minister for Transport, Theresa ensured that the upgrade programme for the Northern Line was secured after it was stalled for years under Labour. This will deliver more frequent services, faster journeys and better reliability. Theresa will continue to campaign against any revival of plans to split the Northern Line.
3) Protecting the green belt and opposing over-development
Theresa has fought successfully for many years to protect the green belt. She has stood shoulder to shoulder with residents to oppose over-development, for example at Cat Hill. She supports new homes, but not on the green belt and only on sites where local services and infrastructure can cope with the development. Theresa was part of the successful campaign against a new waste disposal facility in Pinkham Way.
4) Securing the best schools for Barnet
Barnet has some of the best state schools in the country, with over 90% graded ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Theresa helped our secondary schools gain academy status. She successfully lobbied Government for funds for a major rebuild of Cromer Road School. She backed the new free school in Brunswick Park – the UK's first Greek Orthodox secondary school – and wants more free schools for Barnet. The Conservatives have toughened the curriculum; exam standards are now more rigorous to give young people the skills they need; 2 million apprenticeships have started in this Parliament and the Conservatives will deliver 3 million more if they are the next Government.
5) Championing the NHS
Theresa is a strong supporter of the NHS. She successfully campaigned for a major expansion of maternity, children’s and A&E services at Barnet Hospital and she is backing the £275 million rebuild of Chase Farm Hospital which has been secured under this Conservative-led Government. Theresa fought successfully for the reopening of Brunswick Park Health Centre. She is backing residents in their campaign to get East Barnet Health Centre reopened as soon as possible; a £970,000 refurbishment is underway. If the Conservatives are the next Government, spending on the NHS will rise by £8b a year in real terms by 2020.
6) Working to keep crime falling
Crime is down by a fifth under the Conservatives. In 2010 Theresa called for a reduction in police red tape so they could spend more time on the beat and reforms since 2010 have saved 4.5m hours of police time. Ward police teams in Barnet have been kept, despite Labour’s deficit. Theresa fought successfully to save Barnet Police Station from closure.
7) Pushing BT for faster broadband services for Barnet
Theresa has worked hard to try to get BT to improve broadband services in Barnet. Over 90% of premises in the constituency now have access to fast fibre broadband but Theresa will keep up the campaign to fill the remaining gaps in provision.
8) Justice for Cyprus
Theresa has campaigned for 16 years for justice for Cyprus. She has attended hundreds of Cypriot community events, including every annual Trafalgar Square Rally for 15 years. She will continue to support efforts to find a workable, just and lasting settlement to reunite Cyprus.
9) Supporting our diverse community in Barnet
Theresa has a long record of support for Israel and the Jewish community and opposing anti-Semitism. David Cameron recently announced additional funding for security at synagogues and Jewish schools. Theresa strongly supports the Open Doors campaign to highlight the persecution of Christians around the world. She engages with a range of minority ethnic groups including working with the local Tamil community for a negotiated settlement in Sri Lanka. She spoke out strongly to condemn the disgraceful attack on the Somali-Bravanese Islamic cultural centre last year.
10) Theresa’s track record and experience
When she was an MEP, Theresa fought hard against the Euro when others were backing it. She was appointed to David Cameron’s Shadow Cabinet within 7 months of being elected as MP for Chipping Barnet in 2005, serving as deputy to George Osborne. As Transport Minister from 2010, Theresa had responsibility for delivering the transport needed for the hugely successful London 2012 Olympics.
In September 2012, Theresa was appointed to the Cabinet when David Cameron entrusted her with one of the most difficult jobs in Government as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. She chaired crucial cross party talks which successfully prevented the peace process from being derailed. She also helped deliver a peaceful and successful G8 Summit in Fermanagh which made real progress on ensuring multinational businesses pay their taxes.
As a diligent constituency MP, Theresa ran one of the busiest constituency offices, helping thousands of local residents with their concerns on matters such as housing, welfare, disability, pensions and immigration. Since her records were computerised in 2009, she has dealt with well over 15,000 items of casework. If re-elected she will continue to do all she can to listen to residents, stand up for their concerns and help them wherever she can.
Vote Conservative on 7th May to elect a government with a proven record of fixing the country’s finances, strengthening the economy, and reforming welfare so it pays to work; not Labour who would tax your family home, borrow more, and burden future generations with even more debt.