Rugby Myton Hospice

Yesterday I was shown around Rugby Myton Hospice where I met one of the nurses there, Ros. The Hospice was opened in 2002 after a greal deal of hard work to raise funds and provides a high level of care on a day patient basis. I was shown around the facilities on site and saw the various activities that take place. I even joined in breifly with a quiz that was taking place. I left with a sense of a tranqil place where people are given a sense of ease at a very difficult time of their life.

Overslade Canvassing Team

Last week we had a great team out visiting residents in Overslade ward. We met plenty of people and received a positive response on the doorstep

McDonalds visit

Today I joined Franchise Holder, Glyn Pashley at his Rugby town centre store where I learnt about his business. This is a sector I am already familiar with as when I was in business we supplied to the independent catering sector. I have also been a fairly regular customer as someone often in a hurry and taking my children when young for a treat. This was however my first "behind the scenes" and I saw the production of burgers during a busy lunchtime, met the staff and was shown the training courses they receive. I have always been impressed by the professionalism of the McDonalds operation and the influence they have on the labour market with so many young people gaining their first experience of work with them.

The Internet Election?

Much has been made about the new campaigning techniques facilitated by the internet, used extensively by Obama in 2008 and being taken up by the parties here. I have been runnig this blog for a good while and have recently revamped my website. However, I've long felt that there is no real alternative to meeting potential voters face to face and so I was interested to read this article by Andrew Rawnsley in today's Observer in which he concludes "success will belong to those who...pound the pavements, knock on doors and get among voters in the real (world)." As a candidate for three and a quarter years, with twice weekly phone or doorstep canvassing sessions, out on doorsteps every Saturday, making visits to local businesses and organisations, and with a regular town centre stall, I reckon to have made contact with around 15,000 of the voters in Rugby constituency - an average of 90 voters a week over 165 weeks. Over that time I've spoken with people about a huge variety of issues both local and national and I've seen attitudes change as the news agenda has changed. I believe this contact with people individually has given me a good understanding of people's priorities and what they expect from their next MP.

Overslade Community Centre Grand Opening

On Saturday afternoon I joined Rugby Borough Council candidate Mathew Francis at the opening of the extended and refurbished Community Centre on Overslade Estate. This is an excellent facility for an area of Rugby which will benefit greatly from these facilities and many people worked incredibly hard to secure the funding to get it in place. I look forward to visiting again soon.

Pavillions Estate Canvass

On Saturday morning our canvassing team led by County Councillor Claire Watson was on the Pavillions Estate, part of New Bilton Ward. This is recently completed housing and I was keen to visit for two reasons. The first is that there are a large number of new voters there, recently added to the electoral roll who we may not have previously seen. The second was a front page headline in the Rugby Advertiser a month ago "Living in Fear" and giving an account of "gangs of nuisance youths...who run wild" on this Estate. The matter was discussed at the Commity Forum I attended on Wednesday and I wanted to see whether local residents thought that this description of their area was a fair one. I spoke to many people, all of whom said that that there had been the occasional instance of youths making a noise and riding motorcycles, but nothing untoward. I met one lady whose husband had given an account of the area to the Advertiser which was printed on page 8 this week stating that the portrayal of the estate was wrong and that in two years they had never experienced any trouble. It seems most residents agree. So was the paper being sensational and has their report caused the area to be given a wrong reputation? If so, it's not the only area of Rugby where that has happened recently. An arson attack on the mobility scooters of two elderly residents in sheleted housing in Bilton led to their death, and was rightly a serious matter for the Police who have apprehended two teenagers. This reasonably made headline news in national newspapers, but the Daily Mail painted a picture of Rugby that nobody who lives here would recognise. If we are not to see areas "talked down" in this way, it is important that those reporting such instances ensure that there is a sense of balance.

Mill Green Residential Care Home Visit

Today I visited Mill Green Residential Care Home in Newbold, where I was able to chat both with residents and Manager Lyn Mills and her staff. Mill Green provides personal care and support for people with physical disabilities across a wide age range. We had a wide ranging discussion, including MPs expenses, and the broader issues of funding social care and the recent disagreements between the parties. The home is spacious with accommodation on the ground floor and well laid out grounds. One of the residents described it to me a a real "home from home". I have visited a number of care homes over recent weeks and have built up a good understanding of the sector and the challenges it faces over coming years.

Bulkington House Meeting

Throughout my time as a candidate, I have been meeting groups of residents in someone's home to hear views and answer questions. Yesterday James who is spending a couple of weeks with my campaign as part of his work experience, and I met residents in Bulkington. We covered a huge range of topics starting with the issues relating to illegal traveller encampments which has been a feature of the village in recent years. MPs expenses is a topic I am regularly questioned about and that together with proposals for dealing with the deficit took up a large part of our discussion. I learnt a great deal from those present who told me how very clearly they see things. I was most encouraged at the end when I was asked by one person if they could join in our campaign to win the seat and look forward to being out on the doorsteps there soon!

Binley Woods Memorial

I spent this morning meeting residents in Binley Woods, the village where I grew up. We visted the occupants of houses on the site where I went to primary school and where there is a new memorial to the 6 servicemen from Binley Woods who lost their lives in WW2 and had not previously been honoured. More details from the villages excellent website here.

Rugby Credit Union AGM

I am now in my fourth year as a candidate and find I am attending many annual events in the Constituency for the second and third time. Yesterday I attended my second AGM of Rugby Credit Union and I was pleased to be there to support the work they are doing to provide affordable loans to people who would otherwise be forced to use exhorbitantly expensive sub prime lenders. There was a stimulating discussion about the providers that many people are forced to use and how the Credit Union can can ensure that the help it offers is more widely known about. Those running the organisation, who are all volunteers giving up their free time, deserve our thanks for making an alternative available.

National Campaign in Rugby

It's pretty clear that the General Election date will be 6 May and locally we have been planning for that date for some time. The national campaign is also gearing up and we have benefitted from the party nationally taking billboard poster sites with two in sucession along Corporation St. The theme is demonstrating how many people will be first time Conservative voters and the policies that attract them which is consistent with what people are saying to our team out on the doorsteps.

Male Teachers in Primaries

I am interested in the BBC news item here that, as a consequence of the recession, there has been a 50% rise in applications by men to become primary school teachers. I beleive that men in primary schools are important role models for boys, where a significant proportion are now being brought up by their mothers alone. I hope larger numbers of men in the classroom will help provide a better balance to our youngsters in their formative years.

Question Time 2, 3, 4, 5, ...

Already I have taken part in two local question time events with other candidates as well as appearing together on the local BBC Politics Show. The most recent event was earlier this week and organised by a new business breakfast group "Rugby does Breakfast" when we were once again put through our paces by an informed audience. Already there are 3 other such events in my diary between now & the expected election date and I know of a couple of others still to fix a date. As a candidate in 2005 elsewhere, I debated with my opponents only twice during the entire campaign and on each occasion the candidate from one of the parties failed to show at all! Does this mean that there will be increased interest in this years election? I hope so, although I am finding that the proportion of electors saying that they won't vote is as high as previously. I do think that those intending to vote are more interested in calling to account those who seek to respresent them, with more detailed questioning. Looks like a lively few weeks ahead.

Getting ready

The window for a General Election on 26 March has now passsed and it is likely that it will be held on 6th May, the same day as local elections to Rugby Borough Council. 6 May is just 6 weeks away and our preparations are starting to be put in place. One includes signing up my car and I hope people now won't be able to miss me as I make my way around the constituency!