Liberal Democrat Eddisbury candidate Bob Thompson promises to slash class sizes

Feb 11 2010 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

THE new Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Eddisbury has vowed to cut classroom numbers to 15.

Bob Thompson, also a Hoole and Newton ward member for Cheshire West and Chester Council, said promoting smaller class sizes is vital to raise standards in education.

He said: “If you get that attention from a young age we have a far greater chance of having a better educated generation but also a generation full of hope and ambition.

“If we have a responsibility then it is for the next generation.”

Mr Thompson, also chair of Chester and District Housing Trust, said he would draw on his experience on the CWaC planning board.

But despite recent business growth in rural Cheshire, he added that areas of the constituency needed development.

“If you look at Eddisbury’s economy then it’s not punching above its weight and I think it needs to be,” he said. “There are jobs being created but they’re also jobs being lost. Equestrianism is flourishing but the number of rural jobs is actually diminishing.”

While also claiming that voters would be impressed by Lib Dems’ policies on crime and income tax, Mr Thompson highlighted the issue of European gangs operating in Eddisbury.

He said: “A major issue that affects Eddisbury is that our national borders are not secure. We will work closely with partners in Europe to crack down on gang masters.”