General Election 2010

Seema Kennedy

Seema Kennedy Conservative
Ashton under Lyne Constituency

 

Candidate Pitch

I am Seema Kennedy, and I’m the Conservative Party’s Parliamentary Candidate in Ashton-under-Lyne. I was born in 1974 and went to school in Blackburn, Lancashire. My father had come to Blackburn from Iran in the mid sixties, and married my mum, a local girl. After graduating from Cambridge University, I qualified as a solicitor, specialising in commercial property. I worked for large firms in London on high profile projects such as the Emirates Stadium and the redevelopment of Barts Hospital. I am now a director of our family business which is based in Preston.
I am married to a very supportive husband, Paul, and we have two little boys, aged 4 and 3. I love keeping active by running or playing outside with the kids. My great passion is cooking, and nothing gives me greater pleasure than breaking bread with my friends and family.

Why I got into politics
I started volunteering when I was at school, carried on through university and once I went to work. The main focus of my activity has been with groups which work for disabled children and adults. I am a trustee of an organisation running holidays for children with special needs.

I also spent some time working unpaid giving free legal advice to disabled people. I used to find it so frustrating to work through an issue with a client, and arrive at the correct “legal” answer, but realise that it wasn’t the right solution for them. I would only be able to change things if I was inside the system.

My priorities for Ashton-under-Lyne, Droylsden and Failsworth:

The way to tackle unemployment is by encouraging private enterprise. Ashton-under-Lyne, Droylsden and Failsworth have a proud manufacturing history, and are on the doorstep of one of the finest technical universities in the world. It’s the ideal place for a new generation of green industry. The Conservatives will abolish taxes on the first ten jobs created by new businesses, will reduce corporation tax and freeze council tax.

The NHS has been hampered by a top-down target-led culture for too long. I have met many doctors and nurses from Tameside General who work hard and are well respected, but are dismayed by what is going on with the management of the hospital.

If I were elected, I would push for a complete culture of openness at the hospital, for example holding all board meetings in public.

It is absolutely essential to have more police on the beat rather than in an office if we are to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour. The Conservatives will give local people the power to elect a police chief to do just that.

Vote Conservative on 6 May!
Our country desperately needs change. We need to rebuild our broken society and mend our broken economy. Only David Cameron and his team have got the energy and vision to get the country moving again.

I am the best person to represent YOU, the people of Ashton, Droylsden and Failsworth. I have a breadth of experience – I have lived in the UK, France and Iran, and am used to relating to lots of different people. I have been a solicitor, a businesswoman and a stay-at-home mum. I will speak up for you, and make sure that Westminster hears what’s bothering the people of Ashton.

Tell me what’s on your mind I love to hear from you. You can contact me in the following ways:

Website – www.seemakennedy.co.uk  
Email – seemaforashton@gmail.com  

I’m also on Facebook and Twitter

Votes: 9510