Constituency Boundary

I am often asked about the boundary of the new Rugby Constituency which takes in part of the existing Rugby & Kenilworth and Nuneaton seats. This map from http://www.election-maps.co.uk/ is very useful.

A week to go!

With election day in the County Council and Euro elections less than a week away our activity has been increasing. We have enjoyed the support of a number of our front bench team, the latest being Caroline Spelman who joined us in Long Lawford with candidate Claire Watson and her fellow councillor, Sally Bragg. My impression is that some of the anger about expenses has now abated and people are starting to think seriously about who to vote for. Many remain disenchanted about politicians generally and wont vote and so turnout will be low. There is little enthusiasm for Labour and so I wasn't surprised to see the poll that showed more support for UKIP than Labour for the Euro election. The toughest job in politics right now must be that of the Get Out The Vote man for the Labour Party!

Rugby Town Centre

On our street stall on Saturday morning in Rugby town centre, plenty of people were willing to sign our petition calling for an early General Election. That was once we had encouraged them to talk to us and many wouldn't. More people than I have experienced in a long time simply didn't want to speak to us because, as they see it, everyone involved in politics at any level is the same, and "in it for themselves". When we got to talk to people they tended to agree that giving the people their voice through the ballot box is the best way forward from what is becoming a more difficult situation by the day.

Business Seminar follow up

We held a follow up event yesterday when Philip Hammond, Shadow Secretary to the Treasury joined us. Philip was visiting Warwickshire to support our County Council campaign and having left London early in the moring by train had been at a similar event in Leamington before joining us; after meeting with Rugby businessmen, he and I visited a local manufacturing company supplying the motor industry before joining Clare Watson, our candidate in Lawford & New Bilton on the doorsteps. I then drove Philip over to Nuneaton where he joined their canvassing team before taking the train back to London. At 11 0'clock Philip was on Newsnight debating with Stephen Timms, his opposite number in Government about the downgrading by Standard & Poor of its rating for UK Government debt. I relate this because in the current climate, when MPs as a group are being rightly criticised, many people either are unaware of, or have forgotten, just how much work and commitment is given to their cause by politicians of all parties. Whenever I see the timetable that politicians work to, I am reminded that the role involves long hours and hard work, something that is not always apreciated!
Our seminar was again well attended with people from a variety of local businesses able to put their questions and get answers from a menber of our front bench team. We again spent a fair proportion of out time talking about the banks, the money that has been provided to them by Government and how a more responsive attitude from them would be of great assistence to business during this difficult period.

Bulkington Street Stall

Our street stall in Bulkington on Saturday in support of our County Council candidate, John Ross was inevitably dominated by the MP expenses scandal. There is a real feeling by ordinary people that they have been let down by politicians generally and for many the consequence is that they simply wont vote at all in the June elections. It will take some time to regain their confidence and Parliament needs to get on quickly with the reforms that are needed to achieve that.

Woodfuel & Biomass summit

On Tuesday I took part in a Summit on Woodfuel & Biomass led by Shadow Minister for the Environment, Greg Barker, at Warwickshire College. As someone who burns logs in a woodburning stove and having just planted trees which will provide more logs in the future, I was familiar with wood as a fuel, but was unsure about the biomass part. This refers to living material, usually wood but also straw, which is used as fuel. The wood is generally in the form of chippings or pellets. I learnt a great deal about a small but sustainable industry trying to compete with established “brown fuels” - oil, gas and coal to create heat or power and a combination of both. Massive environmental benefits are available in the form of carbon dioxide reductions but the high costs of capital equipment mean that the fuel needs to be significantly less expensive than alternatives for it to take off. Currently oil fluctuates too much with the price today a third of what it was a year or two ago. Government can influence progress by using a carrot or a stick. It was generally agreed by those present that the carrot in the form of grants, which have become very complicated, is not working and they would rather see a stick in the form of carbon taxes. I pointed out that if they meant higher fuel and energy prices to businesses and householders, they wouldn’t be very popular with voters, although the counter to that is that support should be made available to those least able to meet higher charges and the environmental benefits would be available to everyone. Generally if you put any group of business people together will think that they are not getting a high enough price for their product and this was no exception! I enjoyed meeting several knowledgeable and committed speakers, among them Bruno Prior of Forever Fuels. I shall look at my trees in a new light.

Supporting Jobseekers

In a week when figures were released showing that the number of jobless in Warwickshire has risen by 5% in just one month, I visited the local Jobcentre, This was a part of my activity to see how businesses and institutions in Rugby operate. I had previously used the services of a Jobcentre as an employer when my company was looking to recruit staff, but knew little about the process someone looking for work goes through. The manager showed me how the system works, and the support that is provided. We discussed the sectors that are shedding staff and those that are looking to recruit. Rugby has benefitted recently from the opening in coming weeks of an Asda store in the new town centre development, taking on 350 staff but there continue to be losses from both warehousing and manufacturing, both important forms of employment in the town. I was interested to note that with a larger workload, the jobcentre itself is taking on a further six advisors in the coming weeks.

Canvassing feedback

Two observations from the time I have spent with candidates this week: One is that lifelong Labour voters have no enthusiasm for this Government. Some will do what they have always done, but many will vote Conservative for the first time. There are always converts, but I have never come across as many as I did yesterday in Admirals Ward. The second is the increasing lack of respect for politicians generally, something that can only increase over time as The Telegraph drip feeds the information that it aquired about MP's expenses. Mor and more people are convinced that all politicians are only in it for themselves. I hope that this won't affect turnout for important Euro & local elections.

County Council Elections

Our Party Chairman, Eric Pickles, was with us earlier this week to launch the Conservative Group Manifesto for the Warwickshire County Council Elections which take place on 4 June. The Conservatives are the largest group and provide the Leadership but not currently in control at the county and we aim to pick up extra seats, some of which should be in Rugby. We aim to build on the achievement of the past four years and, despite reductions in funding from Government year on year, provide better services and value for the Council Taxpayer. After presenting the manifesto with candidates to the press at Warwick, Eric joined us in Rugby to visit the Western Relief Road and later knock on some doors. As an experienced canvasser and campaigner, Eric was superb on the doorstep with one or two people surprised when they answered the door to find the media scrum that accompanied him

Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Rugby

I was proud to be a Rugbean this morning as the Fusiliers, who are Warwickshire's County Regiment marched through the town. They were well received and applauded by a large crowd in the town centre who clearly appreciated the work they have been doing in Iraq. I spoke to a good number of people who made it clear to me just how much support there is for our armed forces.