23/10/2009
Robin Walker, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Worcester will tomorrow meet up with Louis Stephen, the Green Party's Parliamentary Candidate and currently the only other selected candidate for next year's general election apart from the sitting MP.
The two PPCs have agreed to sign up to a detailed pledge for a clean campaign and transparency in future expenses. Although the current MP was offered to sign the same pledge, he has declined to do so.
Robin said.
"I want to fight a positive campaign in Worcester and do my bit to restore faith in Parliament. Never have politicians been held in lower esteem than they are today. I think that is a great pity and requires urgent action.
"That means addressing the burning issue of expenses, showing that we're not in this for the money but to do some good. It also means being honest with the public, not using scare tactics or smears on our political opponents. I believe the declaration, we have agreed today is a step in the right direction and I would encourage any other candidates who emerge for this election to sign it."
"If elected I'm not planning to bend the rules or break the law, dodge taxes or take advantage of my position. I will abide by the standards that politicians expect others to live by and stick to the strict rules set out below."
The two PPCs will sign the pledge outside the Guildhall at 2pm on Saturday 24th October. On signing the pledge alongside another party in this way Robin said:
"It is important that people of different views can work together and respect each others points of view. I am proud to represent the Conservative party in Worcester and I want to represent Worcester in the House of Commons, supporting a future Conservative government, but I think it is only right that people of all parties and none should work together to improve faith in our politics. If elected I will abide by this pledge and do my bit to make things better."
The full pledge reads:
We, the undersigned, pledge in the 2010 Worcester City General Election campaign:
To show by our actions that politics need not be a dirty game, but can be a clean and positive activity, engaged in genuinely for the good of all.
To tell the truth about what we stand for and have achieved, and about what others stand for and have achieved.
To refrain from personal attacks.
Not to mislead the public about who is doing well and about who is likely to win in these elections.
To make only honest and reasonable promises.
To fight a clean, positive and honest campaign around the issues that concern the people of Worcester.
In particular, to be honest about public spending, and not to scaremonger in ways that may frighten the most vulnerable members of our society, such as children and elderly people.
To take money only from organisations and individuals whose motives in giving us money we do not have reason to suspect.
And to sign up to the transparency pledge on MPs' expenses below.
If elected, we pledge:
1. To publish online details of all of personal expenses incurred as a Member of Parliament.
2. To publish online details of all of office expenses incurred as a Member of Parliament.
3. To publish online details of all donations of more than £1,000, in line with Electoral Commission rules.
4. To open up the unedited expenses claims to local newspapers at the end of every financial year.
5. To never make any claims that would be considered unacceptable under the terms of the Legg or Kelly Reviews
6. To meet all tax liabilities - such as stamp duty - without claiming them from the taxpayer.
7. To support future Parliamentary reforms of the expenses system to restore faith in politics
Finally, we encourage voters:
- To expect from us the very highest standards of behaviour, as candidates and as their elected representatives
- To ask Parties whether they have signed up to the Pledge or not, and, if not, to encourage them to do so
- To help us enforce this Pledge, by reporting truthfully to us and to the media any apparent breaches of it.
We hope by this pledge to serve as a positive example for Worcester, for Worcestershire and for this nation. | 
