Out and about in Maidstone and Larkfield

Great Selfie! Tracey Crouch and the team campaigning in Larkfield on Saturday morning

Maidstone team after leaflet delivery in South ward, with Helen Grant MP
and Council Leader Chris Garland

Sponsored slim - another 3lb off, and a five year low!

Today's weigh-in took my passed a nice psychological milestone - my weight has fallen below 18 stone for the first time in 5 years.  

So far I have lost 2 stone 10 pound since my diet began ten weeks ago.  My target this week is to shed a further 3 pound - bringing me to a 3 stone total loss.  

I am grateful to members of Tonbridge & Malling who kindly added a further £150 to my sponsorship money at their AGM last night.

Localism in Action

Localism in action - Chatham & Aylesford style.

In Tracey Crouch's constituency there is a village called Wouldham. I like Wouldham; it's a quiet, traditional former quarrying village with a mix of terraced and new housing, a successful and thriving primary school, a village store and post office, pubs and a charming church which provides the final resting place of Walter Burke - Admiral Nelson's purser on board HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, in whose arms Nelson died on 21 October 1805. In this painting "The Death of Nelson" Burke can be seen supporting the pillow (in a red waistcoat).

None of the above is relevant, but it is a good example of how we are fortunate to be surrounded by history, which we too often take for granted.

Months ago the local Parish Council let it be known that they were considering seeking planning consent for around 80 new homes on the local allotment site. This was to be done to raise sufficient funds via a Section 106 Agreement to finance the building of a new village hall / community centre, which many previous surveys had indicated that residents wanted.

It is not my intention to take sides or express a view - this is a matter for the villagers, though it is worth noting that the plot of land was not in the Local Development Framework (LDF) and the borough council was not seeking additional local land for development. 

Understandably there was local opposition. With 1,000 homes being built nearby in a long disused quarry, the local residents felt their area was already about to change without yet more new housing and new people. An action group was formed and public meetings were held. Those sympathetic to the development argued that although the 100 people at the meeting were overwhelmingly opposed, that left 900 people who didn't express a view and were therefore either in favour or neutral. Those opposed to the proposals argued that the meeting was a representative cross-section of opinion and most felt the same. It was stalemate and, as inevitably happens, battle lines hardened and the debate perhaps turned too personal. 

This was the point where Tracey Crouch got involved. Having attended one of the public meetings and met with the objectors, she decided to broker a meeting between all interested parties (the Village Committee, Parish and Borough Council) to address a host of concerns. It was also decided for a proper, impartial test of village opinion. Working with the local Conservative Borough Councillors, a letter outlining the position (impartially written) and a ballot paper was delivered to every voter on the electoral roll. I am pleased to have been able to assist with the printing, packing and delivery; all the costs were covered by Conservative funds at no charge to the taxpayers. We put together a team of volunteers and delivered the whole village in an hour. The local shop keeper agreed to host the ballot box on his counter - the ballot was open for a full week. 

For a copy of the letter see HERE

The ballot closed at 5pm tonight and the votes were counted. Independent scrutineers were asked to help - and the Wouldham Village Committee were invited to witness the count taking place.

I am pleased to report that the turnout was over 30% - higher than most recent parliamentary by-elections. No-one can therefore say the result lacked legitimacy. Also everyone on the electoral roll was given a ballot paper and they had a full week to vote.

The result, as Tracey Crouch had predicted, was to reject the plans overwhelmingly, with 243 against and 27 in support.  The second proposition, with the proposed access road through an already residential area, was rejected by 268 votes to 2 !

As soon as the result was known, the count organiser phoned the figures through to my office. Whilst Jon and I printed the leaflets announcing the result, a "runner" set off to collect them. Within 30 minutes the first leaflets were landing on the doormats. 

Well done to Tracey Crouch MP and local councillors Roger Dalton and Dave Davis for really giving people a say in a vitally important local issue. And congratulations to the people of Wouldham for participating in the vote and making their views known.  

Localism in action!  

My Wouldham referendum result: 90% said no to building houses on allotments to fund village hall. Right outcome. pic.twitter.com/Zg53Q8eELL
— Tracey Crouch (@tracey_crouch) March 7, 2014

An evening with Lord Ashcroft

The Tunbridge Wells Conservative Association was proud to welcome the Rt Hon The Lord Ashcroft KCMG as Guest of Honour at the Annual Dinner last night, held at High Rocks Restaurant.

Lord Ashcroft spoke movingly about courage and his lifelong respect for those who show valour in the face of battle. He had researched and spoke knowledgeably about the ten Victoria Cross recipients who were born or had lived in Tunbridge Wells, and about his collection of Victoria Crosses, which he has bought over 30 years and now displays in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum.

It was a moving, personal and fascinating story, and a pleasant change from the usual political tub-thumping we are normally served at such events. 

Well done to Judith Bullett and her Fundraising Committee for a super night - and £3,100 raised for Campaign Funds. 

 

  

Defected, erected and neglected

The 'great and the good' of Kent's voluntary party gathered in Lenham's Red Lion tonight, for the annual Chairmen's dinner and brainstorming session. The world of international commerce have the Bilderberg Group; this is more like the Iceberg Group. Slow, frozen in time and able to sink anything that comes close by.

Before the formalities began I was summoned upstairs for an important pre-meeting. The Area Treasurer and the Deputy Chairman were already there - with a look of concern. "I'm not sure there are sufficient Chairs" said the Treasurer. I counted them - there were 16. "That's what I made it", said the Treasurer. Just in case neither of us could count, the Deputy Chairman counted them too - and he also made it 16.  The three of us stood there looking at 16 chairs and discussing if that would be sufficient, but given none of us knew how many we actually needed it was all a bit pointless.   After a quick head count it was decided we needed 6 more chairs, but we couldn't fit six more around the table. This necessitated a re-arrangement of the table plan. After much grunting and shunting we had 22 seats - all was well. The meeting could begin.

The new Kent Area Chairman led the charge up the stairs, though "charge" may be a touch optimistic as he is still recovering from a broken leg, sustained last May when he fell over his own dog whilst canvassing. He announced a major political breakthrough which could change the balance of discussion over Britain's relationship with Europe. We looked on agog, breath baited. Apparently he was chairing a Kent County Council Select Committee examining how Kent has benefited from EU funding, and it had found that since 2005 (or maybe it was 2003 or 2008 - he couldn't remember) Kent had received £40 million from Brussels. We all nodded sagely and looked forward to the Telegraph headlines reporting the KCC Select Commiittee's report. 

The meeting commenced with a cursory discussion about Europe. Someone thought that someone from UKIP might be about to defect (or perhaps they had a defect - I couldn't be sure). There was talk of a four paragraph letter. Another man said a 28 meter sink hole had appeared which stopped them campaigning. From one of the additional chairs we had put out, it was announced that the ruling faction of the local Sikh community had fallen-out with Labour following a row. Elsewhere, an MP had erected a banner. And someone else said the safe seats mustn't be neglected. It amused me that we had "defected" "erected" and "neglected" at the same time. How the minutes dragged. This was High Politics, Kent-style.

Finally it was time to go home. The South Zone Oberleutnant was on his feet handing out Euro leaflets to recalcitrant recipients. "They're free, they're free" he kept telling us,  I took a large handful more out of sympathy than enthusiasm.  I wonder how many free Euro Leaflets would be required to fill a 28 meter sink hole?

Our Chairmen Exposed as never before!

Last year I Blogged about a local member who was one of the country's leading criminal graphologists. Now retired, he spends his time using his skills to raise money for charities and good causes. Recently he was performing at a fundraising dinner at the Grosvenor House, and raised £5,000 for the charity concerned.

A year ago he fairly accurately analysed my own handwriting (see HERE) and over the years he has raised several hundred pounds for the party by selling his skills at £20 a time! 

Last week every member received a letter, co-signed by all five West Kent Chairmen, explaining the new office arrangements and asking for support to help refurbish the new office.  This was the cue for our resident graphologist to write and tell me what he thought of our five Chairmen.

See his analysis below. I have redacted the author's contact details and also the names of each Chairman to save his blushes - though I would be interested in hearing your guesses! Three are very accurate!

(PS - they are not in alphabetical order, in case you were wondering!)

My secret links with Mossad - the truth must be told

Earlier today I answered the phone. The caller kindly introduced himself by name, before commencing his rant. 

Apparently the situation in Ukraine was "all part of an evil Capitalist worldwide conspiracy". It was "yet another example of weak British governments dancing to the tune of Zion."  David Cameron and Barack Obama were both "puppets of worldwide Jewry, controlled by their Tel Aviv puppet masters". Did I know that the situation in Ukraine was clearly an attempt by "Western Imperialists to rain death upon innocent children and start another World War" with the aim of "diverting attention from corrupt Jewish bankers and the economic collapse which is threatening the capitalist hegemony". Even I, a humble party hack from West Kent, was apparently part of the problem..."you are nothing more than a mouthpiece, apologist and propagandist for those who seek to impose a New World Order."   

It was like a game of Conspiracy Theory Bingo; Bilderburg Group (tick), Zionist (tick), State Department (tick), MI5 (tick), Mossad (tick), Common Purpose (tick). MI6 (tick), Israel (tick), World Government (tick).  I was waiting on the Opus Dei for a full house. 

When he finally stopped for air it was my turn. 

"I suspect we are not going to agree on this, but given your history and background, that's hardly surprising.."

Unsurprisingly, this set him off again.  "What do you mean 'my history and background' what information do you have on me? This is an outrage."

"Let me see - (tap tap tap on keys). Not much really. I see you are a member of the Green Party. You attended the anti-globalisation protests two years ago, you have been to Balcombe to protest against fracking. Twice. You subscribe to 38 degrees......"

This sent him off the scale. "I knew it, I knew it. What's the world coming to when even someone like you can access my security files. It's a ******* disgrace."  Click.

I could have added, "and those electric blue swimming trunks you wore in Ibiza last year really suited you and that scorpion tattoo on your tummy is quite sexy" but had I done so it might have given the game away. My secret Mossad files were nothing more than his publicly available Facebook profile. 

Now, I wonder if our printer could fit mouthpiece, apologist and propagandist on my new business cards? 

What makes us Conservatives!

I don't often reproduce what I have read elsewhere - but this deserves a wide audience!

With a hat-tip to my friend John Strafford who runs the Campaign for Conservative Party Democracy, on whose own excellent blog I read this a few moments ago!


Labour or Conservative

One of my friends told me the following:

 

Recently, while I was working in the flower beds in my front garden, my neighbours stopped to chat as they returned home from walking their dog.

During our friendly conversation I asked their little girl what she wanted to be when she grew up. She said she wanted to be Prime Minister someday.

Both of her parents, Labour Party members, were standing there, so I asked her, "If you were Prime Minister what would be the first thing you would do?"

She replied... "I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people."

Her parents beamed with pride!

"Wow...what a worthy goal!" I said. "But you don't have to wait until you're Prime Minister to do that!" I told her.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

So I told her, "You can come over to my house and mow the lawn, pull out the weeds, and trim my hedge, and I'll pay you £50. Then you can go over to the shop, where the homeless guy hangs out,

and you can give him the £50 to use toward food and a new house."

She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked,

"Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the £50?"

I said, "Welcome to the Conservative Party."
Her parents aren't speaking to me anymore.

Something to look forward to on Monday morning

And this is just one of our email accounts - there are 7 more!

A share of the Goulash !

Last November I blogged that I had joined a 'collective' which is trying to buy Soho's wonderful Gay Hussar restaurant. It is a strange collection of Lefties - with Iain Dale, Lord Ashcroft and me flying the flag for the Right! 

See: http://votingandboating.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/the-goulash-collective-count-me-in.html

At the moment the directors are still negotiating with the Japanese investment company which owns Corus Hotels, who presently own the lease and operate the restaurant. It's a slow process.

Today, however, our share certificate arrived; and what a delight it is! Unlike most formal share certificates, this one is a special commissioned and signed Martin Rowson cartoon (Martin's cartoons of the leading politicians of the 20th Century adorn the restaurant's walls). I suspect the certificate will become a collectors' item in its own right regardless of the success of our venture!