A brief history....
Blackpool's Future is Your Future
Blackpool
under the leadership of your Labour Council came on leaps and
bounds when Labour took over the reins of office in 1991 after 115
years of Tory Rule going back to 1876.
The stagnation, the
neglect, the running down of the town's infrastructure, the loss of
quality skilled industrial jobs as our factories were allowed to close
with no effort to save them, the demolition of theatres, swimming
pools, facilities for young and old, a desperate sense of despair that
anything could ever get better - all this stopped just sixteen years
ago when Labour was elected to office with a mission to make Blackpool "A great place to visit - an even better place to live".
With
the final end of Thatcherism and the grey days of Majorism, only ten years
ago - when Labour was elected to power in Westminster, real change was
coming.
But only since Blackpool once again became
self-governing as a Unitary Authority - only a short time ago - have
the possibilities for dramatic happenings come alive.
Since
then, every school in Blackpool has had around a million pounds
invested in its buildings, lots more teachers are employed, standards
in education performance are shooting up.
Social Services have
been transformed with a vast increase in resources to recruit key staff
at all levels and make life more meaningful for the vulnerable among
our residents.
Leisure and recreational provision is remarkable
with a whole range of new experiences available to us all - Blackpool
Sports Centre was the first major initiative for Labour in 1991. Now
we have the £8 million Palatine Leisure Centre as well. The Libraries
provide a modern service in buildings which are attractive and full of
surprises every time they are paid a visit.
The Masterplan is a reality with hundreds of millions being committed by the Government to make Blackpool prosperous again.
In
partnership - Labour in Blackpool and Labour in Government - with the
needs of our town being discussed directly with Ministers by our two
Labour MPs, our town's legacy from the Tories of indifference and decay was just an angry memory of the past.
Now the wheel appears to have turned somewhat - and the Tories have managed to get themselves back into office here in Blackpool. We intend to fight hard to make sure their tenancy is as short as possible - whilst at the same time ensuring that we continue to send two Labour MPs to Westminster.
We have a long way to go. But your Labour Councillors are showing the way, and making things happen.
Labour. It isn't for the richest of us. It's for all of us.