North Middleton by-election - Rhoda Morley 'pitch'

Rhoda Morley

With the North Middleton by-election just weeks away, on Thursday 29 November, Rochdale Online has given each of the candidates the opportunity to address the electorate and 'pitch' for their votes. First off the mark to explain why she thinks that North Middleton residents should vote for her is Liberal Democrat candidate, Rhoda Morley.

"I am a local businesswoman and have been an active member of the community for many years.  Locally, I am a member for the Middleton Active Drama Group and also enjoy modern sequence dancing and regular walking.  These days, my walking is more like delivering leaflets and knocking on doors for several hours a day, which I do regularly. I like to think that I have a record of action and not just words. 

"I have stood for the Liberal Democrats before, last May where I stood in the East Middleton Ward.  I am pleased however to have been selected for this by-election, a little closer to home.

"My priorities for Middleton are to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, campaign to save our Post Offices, keep Middleton tidy and help local community groups. I support devolution to Middleton and I'm keen to get more power from Rochdale to local people. I am particularly keen to get police and community groups working together to achieve more neighbourhood policing. I think crime should be tackled from the community up in co-operation with PCSOs and police. I am also part of the campaign against Labour cuts to our police service and I want to see more frontline bobbies on the beat in Middleton with full powers of arrest. I support the Lib Dem low council tax increases and I am particularly interested in helping older people and those who feel left out of our community.

"I have always put people before party politics and, as an avid walker, I meet many local people like myself to chat and share their concerns. What I have discovered is that we both share the same concerns for our community and want to achieve the same goal of a safer, greener, cleaner, more prosperous Middleton. 

"I am a hard-working local resident and believe I would make an excellent Councillor. I am determined to make Middleton Township work for everyone in Middleton and will always put our area first. A vote for me is a vote for a hard-working community activist who will work for you all year round.  More importantly, a vote for someone who keeps in touch all year round – not just at election time!"