Centre-Righter’s block

May 14, 2010 — simonashall

So now Gordon and his merry men are out of Downing Street and DC has become PM, what is there left to write about? It wouldn’t be so bad if I could switch attention onto the Lib Dems but they are now our partners so I can’t write anything about them either (plus they are all such nice people, of course).

Thankfully, Woking Borough Council fires up in six days with the first Muslim mayor of Woking, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, being sworn in. I’ve known Cllr Iqbal for a number of years and he cares about his community. He has worked very hard to bring about positive changes in Maybury and Sheerwater and is a very approachable man with a great sense of humour and humility.

He will make a superb mayor – and it is about time that the Muslim community in our town should be represented among the roll of those who’ve served this town as council Chairman and later Mayor. I’m particularly proud that they should come from the ranks of the Conservative Party, though I know the other parties will share our enthusiasm for this development.

In addition, we wait to see what form the council will take this year. Although the election results produced no net change with 18 Con, 17 LD and one independent, our tenancy of the mayoralty this year means that the numbers are effectively 17-all with Peter Ankers having the casting vote if parties follow the whip. I have my doubts as to how healthy this situation is but perhaps more on this another time.

While I would obviously have preferred to have been sitting in the chamber around the benches on May 20, I was sworn in as a magistrate on Monday afternoon by the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey Sarah Goad, High Sheriff Robert Douglas and Mr Justice Critchlow at Guildford Crown Court in a short but memorable ceremony. I was particularly delighted that my parents were able to be there and I could see Mum welling up as I read the oath!

In all honesty, I have several months of quite intensive training and sitting ahead of me and it would have been ambitious to have combined it with the duties of a councillor. My father thought I was completely mad to have even considered it – perhaps he was right and some things happen for a reason.

That said, I have got a meeting of the Horsell and Woodham Conservatives this evening where I have to explain away our failure to win (joke, they are all extremely supportive) and we have got plenty to do in Horsell to make sure that people’s lives are improved and that they are represented well in council. As I said a week ago, councillor or not, the community is always there to be served.

Posted in Community, Woking Borough Council, news. Tags: , , , , , , , . No Comments »

What you make it

December 6, 2009 — admin

Another furiously busy long weekend. I spent most of Friday working on campaign items, followed by a branch meeting of Horsell and Woodham in the evening. Yesterday, my other half and I spent most of the day in the kitchen – more of which later – followed by helping out and attending the Carol Concert at Horsell Village Hall. Today, we have presented the fruits of our kitchen labours at the Horsell and Woodham Conservatives Christmas Lunch, which as fundraising and membership vice-chairman, I have organised.

So another wonderfully “Horselly” weekend. The Mosaic Choir was absolutely fantastic yesterday evening and sung with great competence and wit. A number of their pieces were modern alternatives to traditional favourites and the version of 12 Days of Christmas was very funny. The event raised a great deal of money for Woking Lions and Horsell Village Hall and we have to recognise the efforts of Dorothy Smith, Penny Kramer and Roger Chamberlain from the HVH side, along with Janice Worgan.

Party events are perhaps slightly less worthy from a general point of view but raise funds for the political process, which however cynical one may be about it is at least better than no political process at all. My other half and I spent yesterday making various desserts to cater for the 35 people who turned up to support us today. Cllrs Anne Murray and Mike Smith provided the main course and Jonathan Lord attended a Horsell event yet again, showing his continuing commitment to support activists at every level as they support him. I’ve said before that I’m lucky to have a great branch behind my campaign – it can’t be overstated.

There isn’t a particular point to this post other than to note what a great pleasure it is to have such a full diary and meet so many good people who support these events – both political and non-political. Where you live is what you make it, something it is heartening that so people in Horsell understand.

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Coffee in Horsell

November 21, 2009 — admin
Fighting for Horsell West - the Conservative team

Fighting for Horsell West - the Conservative team

It’s been a busy day – I was down at Horsell Village Hall at 9am to clear leaves from around the vicinity. Luckily, the strong winds had taken a few of them away but there were still eight bags that we took to compost. The hall is lucky to have a very good team of volunteers and I am by no means foremost among them – we all take pride in making sure the place is as presentable and pleasant as we can possibly make it. A lot of people probably suppose that the trustees hire in gardeners to tend the grounds and sweep the leaves. Not so, we like to spend what money we have on improvements for users and ensuring the hall remains fit for purpose for many years to come.

Then on to the home of Diane and Gary Shepherd for a very successful and well-attended coffee morning for Horsell and Woodham Conservatives. It was superb to see all the Horsell borough and county members there and once again to be in the company of Jonathan Lord, who far from dashing off was pretty much the last person to leave. He gave another upbeat but pragmatic speech on the times ahead before unexpectedly asking me to say a few words.

I’ve never given a proper speech to activists before and probably fell somewhat short of that but for a piece of rhetoric made up on the hoof I was pleased with what I said. I can’t match Jonathan’s eloquence but got a round of applause anyway, although I suspect that was more sympathy than agreement. Inevitably one ends up thinking of several things one should have said after the event; but that it the beauty of learning and I’ll know for next time.

Into a single coffee morning goes the work of many people – the hosts, the organisers, the bakers of cakes, the collectors of raffle and ticket money, the helpers and those who simply turn up to show their support. Thanks to all of them – they are the people who can win the election for me; I am only able to lose it. Without the support of a great team, a candidate is merely a legal requirement.  

I am very flattered that they have seen fit to advance me as their candidate – I only hope I can  justify the faith placed in me.

Posted in Conservatives, Horsell West campaign, Woking Borough Council. Tags: , , , . No Comments »

A Grand Evening

November 20, 2009 — admin
John Redwood addresses the Woking Conservative dinner

John Redwood addresses the Woking Conservative dinner

I have just got back from a superb Annual Grand Dinner for Woking Conservatives that was not only fantastically well-attended by councillors and party members alike but where there were some star turns too. Obviously none of them were on the record so it would be most remiss of me to report their words on here but it wouldn’t be much of post to talk about nothing so I’ll make some observations to which I’m sure none would object.

I’ll be honest, John Redwood (now added to blogroll) is a very able man but quite a bit to the right of me generally. His views on Europe are very well-documented and it’s no surprise that he kicked off his remarks on this subject. What I was pleasantly surprised at though was the time he took to speak about social issues; perhaps not something he is generally noted for. He spoke about the work Iain Duncan Smith (who spent this evening addressing Harlow Conservatives according to @halfon4harlow) has done and I think has a genuine committment towards opportunity and advancement for people. He’s not quite ready to join the Tory Reform Group yet, but I’ve seen another dimension to his hard-nosed image.

I sat on a table with Nirj Deva MEP and spoke to him and his political assistant at some length about Europe and European issues. I was pleased to discover that he is a big fan of Woking but also to understand a little more about the Conservative stance on the EU within the European group, which often gets overshadowed by Westminster debate. It would be unfair of me to recall the conversation in detail but needless to say the question of committing ourselves to a given position within or outside the current European “bloc” is a good deal more nuanced and sophisticated than perhaps I imagined.

And last of all, there was a very confident and concise speech from Jonathan Lord, who I saw address a large group for the first time since his selection. A few months ago, I said I would never work for a parliamentary candidate who was not local because I couldn’t see how they would know the area well enough to know its people. Apart from the fact that Jonathan is hardly an outsider anyway coming from Guildford, he has totally convinced me that not only is he working hard but enjoying it.

Apart from an engagement last night at Winston Churchill School, the Conservative Dinner tonight, he is at the Horsell and Woodham Branch coffee morning tomorrow morning followed by campaigning in the afternoon. He is getting every bit as stuck in as I hoped our candidate would – and I had pretty high expectations. Keep going Jonathan, you have really spurred on our enthusiasm with your infectious commitment, diligence and clear enjoyment of getting to know Woking and its people. As someone who went through that process myself abeit in a difference capacity seven years ago, I promise that both repay such an approach with interest.

Posted in Conservatives, Roll on 2010, Woking News and Mail. Tags: , , , , , , . No Comments »

Candidate for Horsell West

November 7, 2009 — admin
Jonathan and I this morning in the Red Lion car park

Jonathan and I this morning in the Red Lion car park

Last night, I had the honour of being selected as the Conservative candidate for Horsell West at the next local elections, broadly expected to be on the same day as the general election.

Ever since I was a reporter sitting in the council chamber I have felt that being a part of the democratic process was something that I wanted to do and my employment during the past year has left me free to pursue political involvement. Last night, the Horsell and Woodham branch voted to give me that chance and I won’t forget their support – nor the fact that a team, rather than an individual candidate, wins elections.

So what would I bring to the council chamber if elected? I like to think that I have a good working knowledge of local government having reported on and worked for local authorities. I like to think that I understand Horsell’s and Woking’s issues and am able to work logically around possible solutions. I have strong connections with Horsell, having lived here for five years and am a former editor of The Resident, sit on the Horsell Residents’ Association management committee and am in my second term as a trustee of Horsell Village Hall. I also believe I can bring a fresh and young approach to council work to maintain a balance of youth and experience within the organisation as well as use my relationships within the council and community to deliver results.

I’d like to see council tax kept to a minimum to help those who have seen their household incomes drop and costs rise. I am concerned that in the new Local Development Framework there should be scope to maintain the character of villages such as Horsell and protect them from inappropriate development. I would like to see measures introduced to kerb speeding on many of Horsell’s roads, particularly those off the High Street. And I want to work with the police to ensure that they are given the best possible support in dealing with anti-social behaviour in the village and its outskirts. In addition, I favour scoping options for investment in Horsell’s community infrastructure to provide the best possible village facilities for young people and adults alike.

Nationally, I am a liberal Conservative who cares passionately about education, opportunity and social mobility both in Woking and across the country. I believe in the ability the of the free market to deliver prosperity but also in a market that is regulated to ensure it remains a competitive, ethical and reasonable force. You could describe me fairly accurately as a Cameron Conservative.

But in a sense what I think isn’t the point; I’m not the kind of politician who believes that election is merely a mandate to enter a democratic forum and put their personal views forward. Be assured that I have views of my own – don’t we all? – but I would happily put the views of residents first; the job of an elected representative is to represent their electors and their community, not themselves. In other councils, I have experienced the disconnect between local authorities and the people they serve. All to often, members are forced to chose between professional relationships with officers and the views of their electors. Where they choose to go is entirely their own business – but I know where my loyalties would lie.

Finally, I’m not under any illusion about the task ahead. Horsell West is a ferociously marginal seat and whoever the opposition is, it will be very hard work and victory is ultimately in the hands of the voters. I know that I’ve got a great team in the Horsell and Woodham branch behind me and I look forward to working with them to try and convince the voters of Horsell West that am a worthy proposition to represent them in council.

Posted in Horsell West campaign, Woking Borough Council, elections. Tags: , , , , , , . No Comments »

Supporting Jonathan Lord

October 17, 2009 — admin
Jonathan addresses Horsell Conservatives last week

Jonathan addresses Horsell Conservatives last week

Jonathan Lord’s core campaign team met today formally for the first time, although the campaign has already begun. Although it was by no means the only thing that we discussed, social media is going to be an important focus for me and a new Facebook campaign has been started to get things rolling.

Meanwhile, Jonathan himself was out in Horsell today with good results and I’m sure we will be hearing a lot more from him in the future.

Posted in Conservatives, Roll on 2010, Woking PPC. Tags: , . No Comments »

Voice of experience

October 11, 2009 — simonashall
Jonathan Lord

Jonathan Lord

Last week, my post on Jonathan Lord’s selection was taken down by someone hacking into my WordPress account. Very petty. It also raised hackles that I appeared to “forget” that there was an election for us to fight if he was to become the next MP for Woking. No, I haven’t forgotten that, hence my many, many posts on the next election. The point about elections, for those who haven’t forgotten that they are happening but have perhaps forgotten how to win them, is to convince as many people as possible that a candidate is the person who will best represent their views and interests.

I am confident that in Jonathan, we have a candidate who is experienced in campaigning, who is an excellent performer on the doorstep and who talks with people easily and fluently about the issues that concern them. Hence, I believe he will be the next MP for Woking – if you can’t say that about the candidate you are campaigning for, why on earth would you be campaigning for them?

Today I went to a very enjoyable lunch event at the house of Cllrs Michael Smith and Anne Murray, which was well-attended and at which Jonathan spoke eloquently and spontaneously about the challenges we face as a party and a country. It reminded me again of the reason that he was selected – at the Open Primary he captured the imagination and support of the hall and was a clear winner on the night.

His CV is impressive – he has been a deputy leader of Westminster City Council, one of the country’s foremost local authorities and ran Anne Milton’s successful campaign to re-capture Guildford in 2005. All the evidence based on recent electoral history told us that the Liberal Democrats should have held onto Guildford – but they didn’t because of Jonathan’s excellent campaign and those involved in it. In June, he was heavily involved in the Guildford county campaign where the Liberal Democrats were pushed out of two Guildford seats and a third, Worplesdon, was turned from a marginal into a safe seat.

He is a proven campaigner, a superb speaker and is excellent one-on-one with people. He is local – I know that won’t stop his opponents trying to place Guildford as 40 miles away instead of four – and he will become more so as the campaign progresses. We know that the Liberal Democrats are targetting Woking, having given up in Guildford not in small part due to Jonathan’s efforts. I don’t blame them – but we will be ready with a candidate who they are going to have to work harder than in Guildford and South West Surrey combined if they are to beat.

Today, the Horsell and Woodham branch that saw Ben Carasco elected in Horsell pledged it was 100% behind Jonathan Lord in Woking and I am confident that with a smart strategy and dedicated teamwork we will be able to put Woking out of reach of the Liberal Democrats. But whatever the result, it should be one hell of a campaign and I for one am looking forward to it.

Posted in Conservatives, Woking PPC, elections. Tags: , , , , , , , , , . No Comments »
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