Aqila's Press Releases
13 November 2009
Aqila angry at Labour government’s withholding jobless fund from Leeds
“It is disgraceful that the Labour government is withholding its extra Working Neighbourhood Funding from Leeds, when unemployment in our city continues to rise,” says Aqila Choudhry, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Leeds North East, responding to the government’s announcement today, Friday 13 November, of extra Working Neighbourhood Funding for deprived areas. Leeds is not among the 61 local authorities (including Manchester and Bradford) chosen by ministers to benefit from the fund.
“Not two days ago new government figures showed joblessness in Leeds in October 2009 is 24,000, up 60% from a year ago,” continues Aqila Choudhry. “Particularly hard hit are working age adults, the people who may head families with young or teenage children.”
“Leeds is the second largest local authority outside London and one of the UK’s main manufacturing areas. The Liberal Democrat-led coalition in Leeds is working hard to put people back to work and to restore the city’s economy after the banking crisis. Yet, the Labour government constantly undermines these efforts and damages the prospects of every woman, man and child in our city,” adds Aqila Choudhry.
“It’s time for the Labour government to get behind the council’s efforts. Or, has Labour given up on Leeds?” asks Ms Choudhry.
Yours sincerely,
Aqila Choudhry
Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary
Candidate for Leeds North East
Ends
10th November 2009
Dear Editor,
Victims of the Equitable Life crash deserve and need justice from the government. It is long overdue. People lost life savings because of government failures. Successive enquiries have said the government should pay up, yet Labour and Conservative
governments have wriggled out of their responsibilities.
The Liberal Democrats' motion in Parliament last week would have given the victims the redress they are owed. It called on the
government to obey the ruling of the Parliamentary Ombudsman. The Conservatives supported it. Labour MPs of integrity supported it. Fabian Hamilton MP did not. Fabian Hamilton MP helped the Labour government defeat the Liberal Democrat proposals, despite being joint chairman of Parliament's all-party group on justice for Equitable Life policyholders.
What bare-faced hypocrisy!
Only Liberal Democrats will give justice to Equitable Life policy holders and other victims of this Labour government's
failures.
Yours sincerely,
Aqila Choudhry
Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary
Candidate for Leeds North East
Ends
6th November 2009
Dear Editor,
It is appalling that David Cameron and the Conservatives have chosen to break their links with mainstream opinion in Europe and be allies with a party in Poland whose leader has not denied allegations of anti-Semitism and homophobia and a party in Latvia whose leaders pay homage annually to the Waffen-SS.
By snubbing the mainstream of Germany's Chancellor Merkel and France's President Sarkozy, David Cameron has ensured that if he were Prime Minister Britain would be isolated in Europe and unable to get support in the European Union for the things that matter to this great city and the United Kingdom as a whole.
What have the Conservative Parliamentary Candidates in Leeds said about this?
A Liberal Democrat governed United Kingdom would have allies across the European Union and be a powerful force for change and for good, fighting the evils of anti-Semitism, racism and homophobia.
Will the Conservative Parliamentary Candidates in Leeds make the same commitment? Will they disown the Conservative Party's embrace of anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic allies? If not, their silence will be deafening.
Yours sincerely,
Aqila Choudhry
Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary
Candidate for Leeds North East
Ends
15th October 2009
Dear Editor,
According to the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats can win Leeds North East from Labour. The Conservative's Parliamentary candidate in Leeds North East has circulated a letter to households showing that the Liberal Democrat vote in the constituency is increasing. Clearly, therefore, Liberal Democrats can win the seat.
Many thanks to him for his generous and unexpected boost to our campaign. All we ask is the chance to serve the people of this great city.
Yours sincerely,
Aqila Choudhry
Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary
Candidate for Leeds North East
Ends
28th September 2009
Mulholland and Choudhry attend meeting with Pakistani High Commissioner at Conference
Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West and Aqila Choudhry the Liberal Democrat candidate for Leeds North East both attended a meeting with the Pakistani High Commissioner whilst at the Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth last week.
Commenting Greg said:
“This has been one of the more important meetings of the conference, Pakistan is an important ally in Britain’s efforts to defeat terrorism.
“There is also an important domestic Pakistani community and it is important to recognise the vital contribution they, as well as other minoritiues make to our society.”
Aqila added:
“We are engaged with the Pakistani and Indian high commissions as a party and have a two fold commitment to Indians and Pakistanis in UK and their links in respective countries.
“We recognise the conflict over Kashmir is a long standing one and are committed as a party to finding a peaceful resolution.”
Yours sincerely,
Aqila Choudhry
Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary
Candidate for Leeds North East
Ends
