Day 5: By elections on Thursday 15th for Sudbury East and Great Cornard South at Town/Parish level meant today was blitz day with a team leafleting in Sudbury East. This ridge of high pressure and associated sunshine has made everyone come outside and do their gardens which means some good chats while going around. What is clear is that too many residents are not used to having their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate on the doorstep! How sad is that.
Highlight of the day, was the car stopping, the window opened and a "I was Labour but voting Lib Dem came with a friendly smile."
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Saturday, 10 April 2010
Surprises
Day4: Sometimes when you're wondering how will that get done, the phone rings and an offer of unexpected help solves it. Rare but today was one of those moments.
Momentum is building and there is a good vibe when out. Former Labour councillor admits they wont do well here to me as I helped deliver his street with our Flying Start leaflet.
Lib Dems will not allow Banks to charge its customers unfairly. Our Consumer manifesto is excellent with proposals on energy prices and water charges. The scandal of the energy you use being more expensive at the beginning and cheaper the more you use is unfair to those in fuel poverty and on low incomes.
Momentum is building and there is a good vibe when out. Former Labour councillor admits they wont do well here to me as I helped deliver his street with our Flying Start leaflet.
Lib Dems will not allow Banks to charge its customers unfairly. Our Consumer manifesto is excellent with proposals on energy prices and water charges. The scandal of the energy you use being more expensive at the beginning and cheaper the more you use is unfair to those in fuel poverty and on low incomes.
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Local development framework creates heat
Day 3: Today was one mainly in the Council Chamber. Important issues on the future of the District Council and working with Mid Suffok District were discussed. The Council is not just considering shared services with MSDC but also a single Chief Executive and Senior management team. Operationally, 2 councils could act as 1 while still being separate constitutionally. The future may bring 1 Council covering both areas. Of course, Unitaries may still reappear but status quo is not an option, the finances will not allow it.
The local development framework was the issue that caused my colleague Martyn Booth to be his impassioned best. Martyn, I and others were not happy that the Regional Plan expects Babergh to put an extra 2416-3561 homes here between now and 2031, 60% were proposed to be in Sudbury and Great Cornard (1446 or 2136 in worst case scenario).
The Government has not invested in the infrastructure and the real concerns lie with the road infrastructure. Though broadband and water/drainage were also raised. We need affordable homes and internal migration will still bring people here. Yet, our main market town struggles now with traffic. Witness the nightmare that was Church St/Friars St while Cross St was closed.
Officers are going away to rewrite the questions for the consultation with the public.
On the doorstep, Newton Green confirmed the disillusionment with Labour here in South Suffolk. It was good to catch up with parents of former students and hear how they are succeeding. A good positive welcome. Though some are really fearing the overdose of media coverage in the next month!
To relax, its time for Outnumbered. Though the line who would you vote for to be PM to the little girl, gets the answer Simon Cowell. This has unnerved me!
The local development framework was the issue that caused my colleague Martyn Booth to be his impassioned best. Martyn, I and others were not happy that the Regional Plan expects Babergh to put an extra 2416-3561 homes here between now and 2031, 60% were proposed to be in Sudbury and Great Cornard (1446 or 2136 in worst case scenario).
The Government has not invested in the infrastructure and the real concerns lie with the road infrastructure. Though broadband and water/drainage were also raised. We need affordable homes and internal migration will still bring people here. Yet, our main market town struggles now with traffic. Witness the nightmare that was Church St/Friars St while Cross St was closed.
Officers are going away to rewrite the questions for the consultation with the public.
On the doorstep, Newton Green confirmed the disillusionment with Labour here in South Suffolk. It was good to catch up with parents of former students and hear how they are succeeding. A good positive welcome. Though some are really fearing the overdose of media coverage in the next month!
To relax, its time for Outnumbered. Though the line who would you vote for to be PM to the little girl, gets the answer Simon Cowell. This has unnerved me!
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Political Reform
Day 2: So the Tories now think, recalling your MP is a good idea and Labour believe fixed terms would be the best. Lib Dems led the way on both, now they follow or do they? Why did the Tories oppose recall? Why have Labour opposed, done nothing on PR till just before an election and then dropped it again?
On political reform, they talk about it but only we can be trusted on it.
On the doorstep, another friendly and good day. More apologetic Conservatives found. Cameron should worry about this. Some didnt even know if their Conservative MP was restanding.
Won a prize too, a lady in Shimpling Street thought she would go the whole campaign without seeing anyone, day 2 of the campaign and she did. :):)
Day finished with a nice BBC problem.
On political reform, they talk about it but only we can be trusted on it.
On the doorstep, another friendly and good day. More apologetic Conservatives found. Cameron should worry about this. Some didnt even know if their Conservative MP was restanding.
Won a prize too, a lady in Shimpling Street thought she would go the whole campaign without seeing anyone, day 2 of the campaign and she did. :):)
Day finished with a nice BBC problem.
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Sunshine for the start
Day 1 of the real campaign.Lord Andrew Phillips opened the Bury St Edmunds office and 3 PPCs, David (Bury St Edmunds), Belinda (West Suffolk) and I joined in the short speeches and the numerous supporters by the M&S store and the Methodist Church in the centre of Bury. I think Bury St Edmunds could be an interesting result to watch.
Clear message, we've had 65 years of Labour and Tories making the same old mistakes over and over. The choice in this election is more of the same or real change with the Liberal Democrats.
With sunshine, it would be have been wrong to avoid the doorstep! I must admit, it made me feel a tad old when I met 2 former students who are now mums. Came away one proud teacher.
As for the politics, the Tories are not popular, had several "I've always voted Conservative but this time its probably Lib Dem." :)
The fair tax message is going down well.
Finally, I returned to the email correspondence. Protecting the BBC was the new big issue today. The RSPB "Voice for nature" and the POWER2010 continue to bring in the emails. Amazing how close many of these campaigns are to Lib Dem policy and beliefs.
Monday, 5 April 2010
Quiet Bank Holiday
What a quiet Bank Holiday!? As everyone gone away fearing an election tomorrow?
After an hour and a bit driving lesson with youngest daughter around the mini roundabouts of Bury St Edmunds, the day has been one of delivery.
Not only were the roads quiet but hardly anyone was in their garden to chat, say hello to and do a quick canvass. For those who were, they definately don't want Labour back.
Thanks to the man busy with his car who got up, called me back after giving him a leaflet and said, " just realised, you're the guy on the leaflet, you've got my vote."
Today's sample would not be statistically reliable but the big 2 are not popular and MP expenses keep being mentioned very quickly.
After an hour and a bit driving lesson with youngest daughter around the mini roundabouts of Bury St Edmunds, the day has been one of delivery.
Not only were the roads quiet but hardly anyone was in their garden to chat, say hello to and do a quick canvass. For those who were, they definately don't want Labour back.
Thanks to the man busy with his car who got up, called me back after giving him a leaflet and said, " just realised, you're the guy on the leaflet, you've got my vote."
Today's sample would not be statistically reliable but the big 2 are not popular and MP expenses keep being mentioned very quickly.
Sunday, 4 April 2010
1st Question Time at Sudbury Upper School
Wed 31st March saw the start of the campaign minus the UKIP candidate and Tim Yeo MP. Conservative County Cllr James Finch stood in at short notice for Mr Yeo.
The 1st time voters of Sudbury Upper Sixth Form offered a range of interesting questions featuring:
1. How would you keep university open to everyone on cost grounds.
2. Were people of privilege (and leaders such as Cameron) able to relate to people in poverty?
3. Was it right to go to war in Afghanistan and what are the policies for the future on this region?
4. What are your plans for the future of the NHS?
5. Was the recent budget a disaster? What were the main problems with it?
Thanks to the Headteacher Mr Forrest for chairing the Q&A and Nigel Brown, Head of Sixth Form for organising it. The debate was polite, good mannered and the questions were on the whole fully answered. I hope the audience thought so.
Feedback from my daughter has been really positive, her friends were telling her how they would be voting the next day. I'll just :)
The 1st time voters of Sudbury Upper Sixth Form offered a range of interesting questions featuring:
1. How would you keep university open to everyone on cost grounds.
2. Were people of privilege (and leaders such as Cameron) able to relate to people in poverty?
3. Was it right to go to war in Afghanistan and what are the policies for the future on this region?
4. What are your plans for the future of the NHS?
5. Was the recent budget a disaster? What were the main problems with it?
Thanks to the Headteacher Mr Forrest for chairing the Q&A and Nigel Brown, Head of Sixth Form for organising it. The debate was polite, good mannered and the questions were on the whole fully answered. I hope the audience thought so.
Feedback from my daughter has been really positive, her friends were telling her how they would be voting the next day. I'll just :)
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