I caught the sleeper train last night but hadn't had time to book a bed. Unusually for a Monday, there were none available tonight which meant patchy sleep on the journey down...
We are running a town centre regeneration summit on Monday the 8th March and Caroline Spelman is coming down. Today I have put a lot of work into developing the programme for the event.
Ten days ago I visited the Redruth Information Exchange where hundreds of local people came in to share their views about the future of the town. I think that getting behind economic regeneration is one of the areas where a local MP can make a difference if they are prepared to apply themselves. To be fair Candy Atherton, the former Labour MP for this area, did her best - but there has been no political weight behind regeneration work since 2005 and I think its time that changed.
Later in the day, my meetings took me to Mabe in the south of the constituency. Afterwards, I popped in to the Seven Stars pub in Penryn. The Soundfm -a student radio station based at Tremough were running a public meeting on an idea they are working on to create a local soap which will run for six weeks during May and June. It was great to see the university engaging the local community in their ideas.
While there I bumped in to Jason Squibb - we used to run together in Cornwall Athletic Club and have kept in touch. He is now a successful director of a local theatre group in West Cornwall and had turned out to offer his support.
The back road journey from Trevaskis to Penryn over Black Rock is a familiar one. Between 1996 and 1999 my main focus in the family business was running the Gabbons Nursery site at Penryn which we rented from the Gambier family. It was the largest glass house nursery in Cornwall with over two acres of heated greenhouses where we used to grow strawberrries hydroponically. It also had a geothermal bore hole - one of the test holes from the old hot rocks project which helped provide heating for the nursery and contributed to ensuring that Cornish strawberries always launched the national strawberry season, filling the supermarket shelves nationally on the weekend before Easter.
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Friday, 19 February 2010
A warm welcome in Illogan on a cold day
I have been spending the last two days canvassing in Illogan. We have our next Question Time meeting here tonight and the response to our invitation has been very good.
I came across a lot of familiar people from my past here. The first door that I knocked on was answered by Shirley who used to be the manager of the Trevaskis Farm shop about fifteen years ago when I was working in the business. A few doors down and I came across someone who said that his mother used to live next door to Trevaskis. Then there were friends of my parents and party members too.
I got invited in by a lot of people today and offered many cups of tea. It is one of the things that happens regularly when you are canvassing in Cornwall. We know how to offer hospitality down here. It also fell suddenly cold at around 4pm so it may be that they felt a bit of sympathy for me too!
But most encouraging of all is the response I am getting. I am regularly coming across life-long Labour voters who say they will vote Conservative this time and lots of former Lib Dems who just can’t face another five years of Gordon Brown and say they will probably back me for this election.
We had a good attendance for the meeting and it was one of our liveliest yet with questions on everything from social care to pensions, prison reform, housing, water rates and whether or not Cornwall should enter its own national team in sporting events.
We also took delivery today of our latest piece of literature. We are gearing up for another campaign day this Saturday to kick start the delivery and tackle another round of envelope stuffing for the latest direct mail campaign....
I came across a lot of familiar people from my past here. The first door that I knocked on was answered by Shirley who used to be the manager of the Trevaskis Farm shop about fifteen years ago when I was working in the business. A few doors down and I came across someone who said that his mother used to live next door to Trevaskis. Then there were friends of my parents and party members too.
I got invited in by a lot of people today and offered many cups of tea. It is one of the things that happens regularly when you are canvassing in Cornwall. We know how to offer hospitality down here. It also fell suddenly cold at around 4pm so it may be that they felt a bit of sympathy for me too!
But most encouraging of all is the response I am getting. I am regularly coming across life-long Labour voters who say they will vote Conservative this time and lots of former Lib Dems who just can’t face another five years of Gordon Brown and say they will probably back me for this election.
We had a good attendance for the meeting and it was one of our liveliest yet with questions on everything from social care to pensions, prison reform, housing, water rates and whether or not Cornwall should enter its own national team in sporting events.
We also took delivery today of our latest piece of literature. We are gearing up for another campaign day this Saturday to kick start the delivery and tackle another round of envelope stuffing for the latest direct mail campaign....
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Progress in Portreath
Julia Goldsworthy, the current Lib Dem MP, has one of her numerous homes along Penberthy Road in Portreath and Joyce Duffin, a Lib Dem Councillor, is just a few doors down.
We didn’t manage to take this ward in the local elections last summer. Portreath and Mount Hawke was one of only two wards in the whole constituency to elect a Lib Dem councillor. That is why driving hard in this area is such a priority because we need those people who voted Lib Dem last year to weigh up carefully whether they want David Cameron as Prime Minister or another five years of Gordon Brown. The Lib Dem candidate has positioned herself as the road block to change - the only candidate who can keep Gordon Brown in power. The battle lines are drawn.
Tomorrow night we have another of our Question Time meetings in the village and I am spending the day with a few other volunteers knocking on as many doors as possible. We started in Forthvean Crescent at the top of the hill. We got a good reception here. I came across one life-long Labour voter who said he would be backing me this time round. Another informed me that he was coming to Trevaskis for a meal at the weekend and said he thought it was great to have a local candidate they could support.
Down on Penberthy Road and the surrounding terraces and streets and the reception was still positive – although admittedly I decided not to knock on either Julia’s or Joyce Duffin’s door! Mount Hawke tomorrow – a village which, due to boundary changes, has no incumbent MP.
We didn’t manage to take this ward in the local elections last summer. Portreath and Mount Hawke was one of only two wards in the whole constituency to elect a Lib Dem councillor. That is why driving hard in this area is such a priority because we need those people who voted Lib Dem last year to weigh up carefully whether they want David Cameron as Prime Minister or another five years of Gordon Brown. The Lib Dem candidate has positioned herself as the road block to change - the only candidate who can keep Gordon Brown in power. The battle lines are drawn.
Tomorrow night we have another of our Question Time meetings in the village and I am spending the day with a few other volunteers knocking on as many doors as possible. We started in Forthvean Crescent at the top of the hill. We got a good reception here. I came across one life-long Labour voter who said he would be backing me this time round. Another informed me that he was coming to Trevaskis for a meal at the weekend and said he thought it was great to have a local candidate they could support.
Down on Penberthy Road and the surrounding terraces and streets and the reception was still positive – although admittedly I decided not to knock on either Julia’s or Joyce Duffin’s door! Mount Hawke tomorrow – a village which, due to boundary changes, has no incumbent MP.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
A good education
My meetings this morning took me over towards Four Lanes. I decided to go back the Countryman for lunch.
The Countryman at Piece is a famous pub in the area and Nick Lake has been its landlord for many years. I was a regular back in the 90’s. After training sessions on the athletics track at Carn Brea, every week we used to head up to the Countryman for a drink, a bite to eat and a go at their well attended quiz. The Cornwall Athletic Club team (abbreviated on our quiz sheet to CAC) rarely won but we always thought we might and, trying became a weekly ritual!
I had a good lunch there today before heading down to Trewirgie School for a meeting with head teacher Dave Symons. I have known Dave for over twenty years – again because we were both runners in Cornwall AC. He has been an incredibly successful head teacher at Trewirgie and is hugely respected in Redruth for what he has achieved but he has decided to retire at the end of this year citing the burden of paperwork and bureaucracy as one of the reasons.
I wanted to learn more. I am instinctively opposed to the way trite managerialism, targets and tick box routines have displaced genuine responsibility and accountability in so many areas of our lives today. The primary purpose of testing in schools should be to understand the needs of the individual child so they get the support they need. Once it just becomes a bureaucratic process – where people try to jump through arbitrary hoops so they “look good on paper”, then it’s time for change.
People with a sense of vocation for teaching are motivated first and foremost by the satisfaction they gain from passing on knowledge to the next generation and developing the pupils in their charge. These human values cannot always be measured by some score on a piece of paper. I learnt a lot today – even being taken through various SATS tests today and seeing comparisons with work done twenty years previously.
The Countryman at Piece is a famous pub in the area and Nick Lake has been its landlord for many years. I was a regular back in the 90’s. After training sessions on the athletics track at Carn Brea, every week we used to head up to the Countryman for a drink, a bite to eat and a go at their well attended quiz. The Cornwall Athletic Club team (abbreviated on our quiz sheet to CAC) rarely won but we always thought we might and, trying became a weekly ritual!
I had a good lunch there today before heading down to Trewirgie School for a meeting with head teacher Dave Symons. I have known Dave for over twenty years – again because we were both runners in Cornwall AC. He has been an incredibly successful head teacher at Trewirgie and is hugely respected in Redruth for what he has achieved but he has decided to retire at the end of this year citing the burden of paperwork and bureaucracy as one of the reasons.
I wanted to learn more. I am instinctively opposed to the way trite managerialism, targets and tick box routines have displaced genuine responsibility and accountability in so many areas of our lives today. The primary purpose of testing in schools should be to understand the needs of the individual child so they get the support they need. Once it just becomes a bureaucratic process – where people try to jump through arbitrary hoops so they “look good on paper”, then it’s time for change.
People with a sense of vocation for teaching are motivated first and foremost by the satisfaction they gain from passing on knowledge to the next generation and developing the pupils in their charge. These human values cannot always be measured by some score on a piece of paper. I learnt a lot today – even being taken through various SATS tests today and seeing comparisons with work done twenty years previously.
Friday, 5 February 2010
Back to Lanner
We have the next in our series of Question Time events in Lanner tonight. Mary Anson, her children and some other volunteers in the village have worked very hard getting out invitations to everyone in the village and the response has been good.
Lanner is a bit of a weathervane for the political battle being fought across the new Camborne,Redruth and Hayle Constituency. It has a strong three way mix when it comes to voting intentions. Those in the village who took part in the 2005 election and follow these things say that Lanner voted Lib Dem last time.
I have been here between the showers of rain since Tuesday but today it is fine and so I have the opportunity to really make headway and knock on as many doors as possible ahead of our meeting this evening - stopping only for a fantastic lunch at the Fox and Hounds.
Early on, I came across a wonderful lady who invited me in out of the cold. When I showed her a leaflet, she said “Eustice? Well, you must be from Gwinear then.” She then asked if I knew Ashley, her nephew. We were in young farmers together and I still see him around because he now lives near Trevaskis. It’s a small world.
Further along, I came across a life-long Labour voter who was in her seventies. Could I count on her support? “Nothing personal” she said with a friendly smile, “but I have only ever voted Labour.” I thanked her for her time and turned on my way. “But I will take one of your leaflets” she added. “I have an open mind.”
I have been getting a good reaction here. There is a strong mood for change and many people who said they usually support the Lib Dems previously said that this time they would be voting Conservative to change the government. The latest revelations in the ongoing saga of the current Lib Dem MP’s expenses claims was also front of mind for many people here.
Lanner is the home of the sporty Buzza family. I have known Dave Buzza for years through Cornwall Athletic Club. He was more successful than me and ran for England in the Commonweath Games. His brother, Alan, was a well know rugby player. As I finished the day canvassing, Michelle, Dave's partner, raced past in her car waving -no doubt on the way to work!
Lanner is a bit of a weathervane for the political battle being fought across the new Camborne,Redruth and Hayle Constituency. It has a strong three way mix when it comes to voting intentions. Those in the village who took part in the 2005 election and follow these things say that Lanner voted Lib Dem last time.
I have been here between the showers of rain since Tuesday but today it is fine and so I have the opportunity to really make headway and knock on as many doors as possible ahead of our meeting this evening - stopping only for a fantastic lunch at the Fox and Hounds.
Early on, I came across a wonderful lady who invited me in out of the cold. When I showed her a leaflet, she said “Eustice? Well, you must be from Gwinear then.” She then asked if I knew Ashley, her nephew. We were in young farmers together and I still see him around because he now lives near Trevaskis. It’s a small world.
Further along, I came across a life-long Labour voter who was in her seventies. Could I count on her support? “Nothing personal” she said with a friendly smile, “but I have only ever voted Labour.” I thanked her for her time and turned on my way. “But I will take one of your leaflets” she added. “I have an open mind.”
I have been getting a good reaction here. There is a strong mood for change and many people who said they usually support the Lib Dems previously said that this time they would be voting Conservative to change the government. The latest revelations in the ongoing saga of the current Lib Dem MP’s expenses claims was also front of mind for many people here.
Lanner is the home of the sporty Buzza family. I have known Dave Buzza for years through Cornwall Athletic Club. He was more successful than me and ran for England in the Commonweath Games. His brother, Alan, was a well know rugby player. As I finished the day canvassing, Michelle, Dave's partner, raced past in her car waving -no doubt on the way to work!
Sunday, 31 January 2010
The Camborne Colts of ‘63 are reunited
Today Trevaskis Farm is hosting a sponsor’s day at Camborne Rugby Club. My father played rugby for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle but regards Camborne as his home club and today our family sponsor the great work that they are doing in the community – providing opportunities for boys to get involved in the sport.
For this event, my father has been on something of a mission to reunite as many players as possible from the 1963 Camborne Colts team of which he was a part and which achieved great things.
He got eleven of them to make the journey. Those now living in places like New Zealand were excused!
The weather for the game was excellent. Our family had a slight conflict of interest. Two cousins from the Newquay branch of the Eustice family were on the pitch – for Newquay. But it was a comfortable Camborne win in the end. They are having a good season.
For this event, my father has been on something of a mission to reunite as many players as possible from the 1963 Camborne Colts team of which he was a part and which achieved great things.
He got eleven of them to make the journey. Those now living in places like New Zealand were excused!
The weather for the game was excellent. Our family had a slight conflict of interest. Two cousins from the Newquay branch of the Eustice family were on the pitch – for Newquay. But it was a comfortable Camborne win in the end. They are having a good season.
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Question Time
Tonight we held one of our Question Time events at Mawnan Smith. We had a good turnout of around 30 people.
Questions ranged from Trident to energy security, Afghanistan, the budget deficit, why do you want to be an MP?, Cadbury’s, Home Information Packs, education, health, bureaucracy, infrastructure in Cornwall and many others. It is amazing how much ground you can cover in an hour and a quarter!
We have a dozen or so such events coming up in the next month. Tomorrow is Trevaskis Farm with a similar audience expected from the surrounding villages.
Questions ranged from Trident to energy security, Afghanistan, the budget deficit, why do you want to be an MP?, Cadbury’s, Home Information Packs, education, health, bureaucracy, infrastructure in Cornwall and many others. It is amazing how much ground you can cover in an hour and a quarter!
We have a dozen or so such events coming up in the next month. Tomorrow is Trevaskis Farm with a similar audience expected from the surrounding villages.
Friday, 29 January 2010
Canvassing in Angarrack
The big drive on canvassing continues. Today I started in Angarrack – a village just outside Hayle. The first door I knocked on had an old VW camper van parked outside. I asked whether I could count on their support. “No” was the reply, “that didn’t take long did it?” he added. Indeed it didn’t. Maybe the camper van was called Daisy?
The next door I knocked on, before I could say anything the gentleman said, “I knew your father AND your grandfather.” There was a pause as I waited to find out whether he regarded that as a good thing or bad thing. Luckily it was good news.
A few doors down and I had a discussion with someone who looked familiar but who I couldn’t place. On reading my leaflet, the penny dropped and she ran back out to congratulate me on the marathon run. We had both been members at Cornwall Athletic Club years ago.
The last but one house was answered by Nicola – someone I remember very well from my Young Farmers days twenty years ago. She was a Nancledra member but today has two children and we discussed at length plans for supermarkets in Hayle.
Further down by the river, we got into the James family territory. Geoffrey and Barbara are life long friends of my parents and I grew up with Jonathan, Christopher and Andrew who also all live in the area now. Riverside is also the place where my first girlfriend lived way back in 1987.
Tomorrow we start on Connor Downs...another village close to home!
The next door I knocked on, before I could say anything the gentleman said, “I knew your father AND your grandfather.” There was a pause as I waited to find out whether he regarded that as a good thing or bad thing. Luckily it was good news.
A few doors down and I had a discussion with someone who looked familiar but who I couldn’t place. On reading my leaflet, the penny dropped and she ran back out to congratulate me on the marathon run. We had both been members at Cornwall Athletic Club years ago.
The last but one house was answered by Nicola – someone I remember very well from my Young Farmers days twenty years ago. She was a Nancledra member but today has two children and we discussed at length plans for supermarkets in Hayle.
Further down by the river, we got into the James family territory. Geoffrey and Barbara are life long friends of my parents and I grew up with Jonathan, Christopher and Andrew who also all live in the area now. Riverside is also the place where my first girlfriend lived way back in 1987.
Tomorrow we start on Connor Downs...another village close to home!
Friday, 22 January 2010
Hayle Town Council meeting
I always try to occasionally get along to the Town Council meetings. I think it is really important that we reinvigorate the most local building blocks in our democracy. The Conservatives have led the way when it comes to driving forward the agenda for “localism” which means doing more to empower local communities. All too often people feel fobbed off by sham “consultations” when what is really needed is genuine accountability: the ability to throw people out if they fail.
Tonight I went along to the Hayle Town Council meeting. It was encouraging to see that one of the other parliamentary candidates had also taken the time to attend – Derek Elliott from UKIP.
John Coombe, our illustrious town Mayor, was chairing discussions about a number of supermarket applications for the Hayle area. There does seem to be something of a rush from many different quarters to build a supermarket around the town at the moment. There is also local concern around aspects of the Hayle Harbour project.
I support the idea of regeneration in Hayle but have set three criteria that I would apply to the detail of any development. First we must safeguard local wildlife; second, the plans need to fit together as a coherent whole and third, the project must be something that future generations will be proud of. In the current financial environment, we also need to take a very serious look at how we get things off the drawing board and in to reality. Hayle residents will be following the issue closely in the months ahead.
Tonight I went along to the Hayle Town Council meeting. It was encouraging to see that one of the other parliamentary candidates had also taken the time to attend – Derek Elliott from UKIP.
John Coombe, our illustrious town Mayor, was chairing discussions about a number of supermarket applications for the Hayle area. There does seem to be something of a rush from many different quarters to build a supermarket around the town at the moment. There is also local concern around aspects of the Hayle Harbour project.
I support the idea of regeneration in Hayle but have set three criteria that I would apply to the detail of any development. First we must safeguard local wildlife; second, the plans need to fit together as a coherent whole and third, the project must be something that future generations will be proud of. In the current financial environment, we also need to take a very serious look at how we get things off the drawing board and in to reality. Hayle residents will be following the issue closely in the months ahead.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Canvassing in Mawnan Smith
With New Year and the bad weather behind us, it is time to really up the pace and start knocking on doors. Last week I was canvassing in Budock Water. Today I was in Mawnan Smith and will be coming back again for the next three days solid to get around as many houses as possible.
We have a “meet the candidate” event coming up here on Friday week. Last Saturday, James (one of our hard working volunteers) and I came down and delivered most of the invites. We have a dozen or so such events in the next four weeks so it’s going to be a busy time.
The first door I knocked, the gentleman invited me in for a cup of tea. He actually said he was a lifelong Liberal Democrat, probably wouldn’t change but wouldn’t mind if I won and said it was good to see local candidates standing down here. Then I met another resident who said he wouldn’t usually vote Conservative but asked whether I was related to the late Eustice Benney. Eustice was a second cousin of mine and the Benneys have been a well known family in Mawnan Smith for generations.
I have been getting a good reaction here today. There is an overwhelming mood for change. Quite a few people pointed out that the local Lib Dems had just put out a leaflet claiming that they were going to scrap tuition fees on the very day that Nick Clegg abandoned the pledge – there was a strong feeling that the left hand didn’t know what the right hand was doing.
But we have a lot more work ahead. I have worked out that I can cover about 700 houses a week if I organise my diary the right way. As the evenings get lighter we will be increasing that to cover as much of the constituency as possible.
We have a “meet the candidate” event coming up here on Friday week. Last Saturday, James (one of our hard working volunteers) and I came down and delivered most of the invites. We have a dozen or so such events in the next four weeks so it’s going to be a busy time.
The first door I knocked, the gentleman invited me in for a cup of tea. He actually said he was a lifelong Liberal Democrat, probably wouldn’t change but wouldn’t mind if I won and said it was good to see local candidates standing down here. Then I met another resident who said he wouldn’t usually vote Conservative but asked whether I was related to the late Eustice Benney. Eustice was a second cousin of mine and the Benneys have been a well known family in Mawnan Smith for generations.
I have been getting a good reaction here today. There is an overwhelming mood for change. Quite a few people pointed out that the local Lib Dems had just put out a leaflet claiming that they were going to scrap tuition fees on the very day that Nick Clegg abandoned the pledge – there was a strong feeling that the left hand didn’t know what the right hand was doing.
But we have a lot more work ahead. I have worked out that I can cover about 700 houses a week if I organise my diary the right way. As the evenings get lighter we will be increasing that to cover as much of the constituency as possible.
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
We should not take democracy for granted
At the end of last year, we ran a survey of local residents in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle on trust in politics and accountability. While not a scientific poll, the survey did give a good insight into how strongly people feel about some issues.
85 percent agreed with David Cameron’s commitment to immediately abolish the £10,000‘Communications Allowance’ which allows sitting MPs to use taxpayer’s money to print promotional literature about themselves.
82 percent agreed with the proposal by David Cameron to cut the number of MPs sitting in parliament to reduce the cost of politics.
84 percent of people thought it was a good idea for parliament to be required to approve any plans to commit British troops to combat.
91 percent agreed with the Conservative policy of returning employment and social laws from the EU to Britain, requiring automatic referendums before the transfer of any powers to the EU and having far more scrutiny of EU laws in parliament. The same proportion of people supported David Cameron’s policy of replacing the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights.
As a new candidate, the message that I took away from this survey is that we all have a role to play in restoring trust in politics. After the next election, a new generation of MPs will have to work hard to sort out the legacy of the expenses scandal left by those before them. Government will have a role: it must make sure that parliament is able to scrutinise legislation properly and make the final decision on our laws.
But voters have a role too. Many people feel disillusioned with politicians today and I can understand why. But we must never, ever take our democracy for granted. Many countries in the world do not have the ability we have to throw governments and MPs out of office when we get tired of them. People gave their lives to safeguard our right to do so. But democracy is a two way process. It is not just about the political parties. It is first and foremost about the public. They must engage, vote, campaign on issues they care about and stand as candidates if they don't think anyone else offers what they want.
A few days ago I was emailed by a local resident who boasted that in the last three elections, he had spoiled his ballot paper because none of the candidates were "worthy" of his vote and that he intended to do the same again this time even though he didn't know all the candidates that might yet stand. I don't agree with that attidude. It is taking our democracy for granted. So I challenged his view and said that if he didn't like any of the candidates standing, then he should stand himself.
His reponse was interesting. The first thing he did was email the other candidates (who he had just said were worthless and didn't deserve his vote) to complain that I had challenged his attitide and ask them what they might do to help him. Then he said his daughter was in charge of the Lib Dems in Camborne and he was going to complain to her and see what she could do for him. So perhaps all us five (so far) candidates in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle are not so worthless after all. He knew who to turn to when he wanted help.
I think its fair to say that this particular voter is unlikely to support me at the next election. But if I have managed to jolt him out of his complacency, understand the value our democracy and perhaps even vote for one of the candidates in this election, I suppose that is better than him just spoiling his ballot paper again!
85 percent agreed with David Cameron’s commitment to immediately abolish the £10,000‘Communications Allowance’ which allows sitting MPs to use taxpayer’s money to print promotional literature about themselves.
82 percent agreed with the proposal by David Cameron to cut the number of MPs sitting in parliament to reduce the cost of politics.
84 percent of people thought it was a good idea for parliament to be required to approve any plans to commit British troops to combat.
91 percent agreed with the Conservative policy of returning employment and social laws from the EU to Britain, requiring automatic referendums before the transfer of any powers to the EU and having far more scrutiny of EU laws in parliament. The same proportion of people supported David Cameron’s policy of replacing the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights.
As a new candidate, the message that I took away from this survey is that we all have a role to play in restoring trust in politics. After the next election, a new generation of MPs will have to work hard to sort out the legacy of the expenses scandal left by those before them. Government will have a role: it must make sure that parliament is able to scrutinise legislation properly and make the final decision on our laws.
But voters have a role too. Many people feel disillusioned with politicians today and I can understand why. But we must never, ever take our democracy for granted. Many countries in the world do not have the ability we have to throw governments and MPs out of office when we get tired of them. People gave their lives to safeguard our right to do so. But democracy is a two way process. It is not just about the political parties. It is first and foremost about the public. They must engage, vote, campaign on issues they care about and stand as candidates if they don't think anyone else offers what they want.
A few days ago I was emailed by a local resident who boasted that in the last three elections, he had spoiled his ballot paper because none of the candidates were "worthy" of his vote and that he intended to do the same again this time even though he didn't know all the candidates that might yet stand. I don't agree with that attidude. It is taking our democracy for granted. So I challenged his view and said that if he didn't like any of the candidates standing, then he should stand himself.
His reponse was interesting. The first thing he did was email the other candidates (who he had just said were worthless and didn't deserve his vote) to complain that I had challenged his attitide and ask them what they might do to help him. Then he said his daughter was in charge of the Lib Dems in Camborne and he was going to complain to her and see what she could do for him. So perhaps all us five (so far) candidates in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle are not so worthless after all. He knew who to turn to when he wanted help.
I think its fair to say that this particular voter is unlikely to support me at the next election. But if I have managed to jolt him out of his complacency, understand the value our democracy and perhaps even vote for one of the candidates in this election, I suppose that is better than him just spoiling his ballot paper again!
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Pulling together to give Britain the change it needs
Today brought the news that Richard Copus, a leading Lib Dem activist in the Westcountry has decided to join the Conservatives. He had been a very active Lib Dem activist for twenty five years. His move reflects the feelings of many former Lib Dem voters here in Camborne and Redruth too.
Today, it is the Conservatives that are the party of the NHS and it is the Conservatives who are leading the campaign to return more powers to local communities - through legislation like the Sustainable Communities Act which Conservative MPs Oliver Letwin and Nick Hurd initiated.
A lot of people feel that this time round, it is time to vote for a change of government rather than just register a protest vote.
Today also saw a blast from the past. Paddy Ashdown gave an interview in the Western Morning News. He has been asked to come back out of retirement and try to knock the Cornish Lib Dem MPs into shape after years of failure. His interview was slumbering - full of old fashioned rhetoric about "the Tories in the 80's", but nothing of interest to say about the world post 1990. It's as if he is still in the 1992 election campaign.
Paddy Ashdown is not the only one with a problem. Just before Christmas, Nick Clegg (who is the current leader of the Liberal Democrat Party) wrote to residents in Redruth telling them that Cornwall was getting a raw deal and needed political change. As one Redruth resident put it to me, "Doesn't he know that Cornwall has had Lib Dem MPs for the last twelve years? What have they being doing all this time?"
Today, it is the Conservatives that are the party of the NHS and it is the Conservatives who are leading the campaign to return more powers to local communities - through legislation like the Sustainable Communities Act which Conservative MPs Oliver Letwin and Nick Hurd initiated.
A lot of people feel that this time round, it is time to vote for a change of government rather than just register a protest vote.
Today also saw a blast from the past. Paddy Ashdown gave an interview in the Western Morning News. He has been asked to come back out of retirement and try to knock the Cornish Lib Dem MPs into shape after years of failure. His interview was slumbering - full of old fashioned rhetoric about "the Tories in the 80's", but nothing of interest to say about the world post 1990. It's as if he is still in the 1992 election campaign.
Paddy Ashdown is not the only one with a problem. Just before Christmas, Nick Clegg (who is the current leader of the Liberal Democrat Party) wrote to residents in Redruth telling them that Cornwall was getting a raw deal and needed political change. As one Redruth resident put it to me, "Doesn't he know that Cornwall has had Lib Dem MPs for the last twelve years? What have they being doing all this time?"
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Richard Trevithick
While doing some research into science and innovation this week, I came across a great extract from a letter sent by Richard Trevithick, Cornwall's greatest inventor:
"I have been branded with folly and madness for attempting what the world calls impossibilities, and even from the great engineer, the late Mr. James Watt, who said to an eminent scientific character still living, that I deserved hanging for bringing into use the high-pressure engine. This so far has been my reward from the public; but should this be all, I shall be satisfied by the great secret pleasure and laudable pride that I feel in my own breast from having been the instrument of bringing forward and maturing new principles and new arrangements of boundless value to my country. However much I may be straitened in pecunary circumstances, the great honour of being a useful subject can never be taken from me, which to me far exceeds riches".
"I have been branded with folly and madness for attempting what the world calls impossibilities, and even from the great engineer, the late Mr. James Watt, who said to an eminent scientific character still living, that I deserved hanging for bringing into use the high-pressure engine. This so far has been my reward from the public; but should this be all, I shall be satisfied by the great secret pleasure and laudable pride that I feel in my own breast from having been the instrument of bringing forward and maturing new principles and new arrangements of boundless value to my country. However much I may be straitened in pecunary circumstances, the great honour of being a useful subject can never be taken from me, which to me far exceeds riches".
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Gwinear Church
This afternoon, Gwinear Church had their carol service. I promised Margaret Stapleton that I would make this one having been unable to make the Harvest Festival in the autumn.
My family have lived in Gwinear for many generations. It is the church where I was christened and my grandfather once helped raise the money to replace the church bells. Today, a cousin of mine is a bell ringer there.
The turnout for the carol service was good this year. There was a packed programme of readings and all the favourite carols were there.
I also had the chance before the service started to have a chat with George Ansell about some of the work he has been leading to encourage the uptake of the Cornish language. George has lived in the parish for as long as I can remember and has long championed the Cornish language through his work on the Cornish Language Board.
My family have lived in Gwinear for many generations. It is the church where I was christened and my grandfather once helped raise the money to replace the church bells. Today, a cousin of mine is a bell ringer there.
The turnout for the carol service was good this year. There was a packed programme of readings and all the favourite carols were there.
I also had the chance before the service started to have a chat with George Ansell about some of the work he has been leading to encourage the uptake of the Cornish language. George has lived in the parish for as long as I can remember and has long championed the Cornish language through his work on the Cornish Language Board.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
David Willetts visit
I always recommend the sleeper train to Shadow Cabinet members visiting Cornwall. Today we had David Willetts with a very busy schedule and we also needed to get him back to London for a speech tonight.
We kicked off with a briefing at the Knowledge Spa in Truro with a group of staff involved in delivering the development of further and higher education provision in Cornwall and a more detailed look at some of the plans for the medical school and Truro College.
Cornwall has developed some very innovative ideas in further and higher education. The Combined Universties for Cornwall is a partnership that includes Exeter University, the Falmouth School of Arts and Plymouth University. It has been successful at increasing higher education provision in Cornwall and is a model that might be worth replicating elsewhere in the country. David Willetts was keen to learn more about it today.
Next up was a visit to the Tremough Campus for a briefing on the research work being done into marine energy and a tour of the design facilities at the Falmouth School of Arts. We held a marine energy summit at Tremough earlier in the summer and so it was useful to get an update on progress with the Wave Hub project.
We finished the morning with a visit to Cornwall College Camborne where David was able to sit in on a seminar for students on a renewable energy course. They were receiving presentations from and the chance to ask questions of recent graduates who were now in the world of work. Top of their concern was whether they too would be able to get jobs after completing their studies and so sessions like this are incredibly important.
The challenge in the last decade has been getting more people into further and higher education. The challenge now is going to be getting people from study into work and Cornwall College has pioneered a number of new ideas to bring their work closer to the world of business.
We kicked off with a briefing at the Knowledge Spa in Truro with a group of staff involved in delivering the development of further and higher education provision in Cornwall and a more detailed look at some of the plans for the medical school and Truro College.
Cornwall has developed some very innovative ideas in further and higher education. The Combined Universties for Cornwall is a partnership that includes Exeter University, the Falmouth School of Arts and Plymouth University. It has been successful at increasing higher education provision in Cornwall and is a model that might be worth replicating elsewhere in the country. David Willetts was keen to learn more about it today.
Next up was a visit to the Tremough Campus for a briefing on the research work being done into marine energy and a tour of the design facilities at the Falmouth School of Arts. We held a marine energy summit at Tremough earlier in the summer and so it was useful to get an update on progress with the Wave Hub project.
We finished the morning with a visit to Cornwall College Camborne where David was able to sit in on a seminar for students on a renewable energy course. They were receiving presentations from and the chance to ask questions of recent graduates who were now in the world of work. Top of their concern was whether they too would be able to get jobs after completing their studies and so sessions like this are incredibly important.
The challenge in the last decade has been getting more people into further and higher education. The challenge now is going to be getting people from study into work and Cornwall College has pioneered a number of new ideas to bring their work closer to the world of business.
Friday, 4 December 2009
Music at Treleigh
The last time I was at Treleigh Church was for the wedding of my cousin. His wife, Debbie, was a teacher at Treleigh School.
I have kept in touch with the work of Searchlight since I met them in Redruth earlier this year and receive their weekly update. Tonight the Searchlight team were giving a performance at Treleigh Church in Redruth along with many others.
The inspiration behind tonight’s event is Kirsty Rowe, a local music tutor who has taught many of those performing. She is raising money for Cornwall Hospice Care. I recognised a couple of the Searchlight team who kicked off the performance. Aaron had been at the first meeting I attended and tonight gave a very impressive performance of “I dreamed a dream” from Les Miserables. Also singing as part of the group tonight was Deanne who, last time I visited, was teaching the younger children in Searchlight about ballet.
There were many performances and all the local schools were involved. Two boys from Hayle School took on the task of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” – a tough challenge but excellently delivered! And there were others, like Sarah, with less natural confidence but who had grown considerably in ability since first approaching Kirsty for singing lessons.
This is one of many Christmas musical events...and tomorrow we have the Christmas lights at Camborne.
I have kept in touch with the work of Searchlight since I met them in Redruth earlier this year and receive their weekly update. Tonight the Searchlight team were giving a performance at Treleigh Church in Redruth along with many others.
The inspiration behind tonight’s event is Kirsty Rowe, a local music tutor who has taught many of those performing. She is raising money for Cornwall Hospice Care. I recognised a couple of the Searchlight team who kicked off the performance. Aaron had been at the first meeting I attended and tonight gave a very impressive performance of “I dreamed a dream” from Les Miserables. Also singing as part of the group tonight was Deanne who, last time I visited, was teaching the younger children in Searchlight about ballet.
There were many performances and all the local schools were involved. Two boys from Hayle School took on the task of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” – a tough challenge but excellently delivered! And there were others, like Sarah, with less natural confidence but who had grown considerably in ability since first approaching Kirsty for singing lessons.
This is one of many Christmas musical events...and tomorrow we have the Christmas lights at Camborne.
Friday, 27 November 2009
Clearing road barriers
Later today I had another meeting with the team at CPR Regeneration. The regeneration work being carried out by CPR is going to have a crucial impact on our area and, in my view, it is exactly the sort of situation where local politicians should be prepared to roll up their sleeves and try to solve problems - however hard they might be.
To give credit where credit is due, Candy Atherton, the last Labour MP for this area, did actually try her best to support the early work of CPR in the time she was there.
Conservatives pioneered the concept of Urban Regeneration Companies and Enterprise Zones twenty years ago and we need to make the most of opportunities now. Today we discussed issues around the Highways Agency and County Highways and how a future government might be able to make coordination between the two better so that regeneration work is not obstructed.
It is so important to get basic issues like this right.
To give credit where credit is due, Candy Atherton, the last Labour MP for this area, did actually try her best to support the early work of CPR in the time she was there.
Conservatives pioneered the concept of Urban Regeneration Companies and Enterprise Zones twenty years ago and we need to make the most of opportunities now. Today we discussed issues around the Highways Agency and County Highways and how a future government might be able to make coordination between the two better so that regeneration work is not obstructed.
It is so important to get basic issues like this right.
Supporting families affected by disability
I started the day with a meeting with Janice Jenner and Liz Farmer for a briefing on the work (and some of the frustrations) encountered by 'Contact a Family' – a social enterprise that supports and provides advice to families with disabled children.
When I worked for the Conservative Party as the Head of External Relations, one of the groups that I worked closely with was the Conservative Disability Group which developed thinking to help support disabled people in our community. It was Margaret Thatcher who introduced the first Disability Services Act in 1986 which required local authorities to think more about the responsibility they had to help ensure people with impairments could take their place in society and we can be proud of what has been achieved.
Today, one of the issues that needs to be looked at is how we help those who care for others. There are often issues with child carers who have to look after parents suffering from illness or disability. More often, families with disabled children need emotional and often financial support to help them care for their children and siblings can be affected too.
Many parents in this situation find themselves confronted with a barrage of bureaucratic processes - with seemingly endless, spirit crushing forms to fill out to get anywhere. I have always been quite attracted to some of the ideas practiced in countries like Sweden and actually piloted in some local authorities in Britain, where you simplify the process, have a single assessment of need and then give more power to families to determine how their budget is spent.
The thing about disability is that each and every situation is unique and so the system needs to have plenty of flexibility to respond to differing needs. All too often it fails to do that. There is no shortage of government guidance piled layer on layer from above but the system just doesn’t respond adequately to the unique needs of the individual case.
That is why I think there is a lot of potential for social enterprises in this field – because they can offer support which is more personalised.
When I worked for the Conservative Party as the Head of External Relations, one of the groups that I worked closely with was the Conservative Disability Group which developed thinking to help support disabled people in our community. It was Margaret Thatcher who introduced the first Disability Services Act in 1986 which required local authorities to think more about the responsibility they had to help ensure people with impairments could take their place in society and we can be proud of what has been achieved.
Today, one of the issues that needs to be looked at is how we help those who care for others. There are often issues with child carers who have to look after parents suffering from illness or disability. More often, families with disabled children need emotional and often financial support to help them care for their children and siblings can be affected too.
Many parents in this situation find themselves confronted with a barrage of bureaucratic processes - with seemingly endless, spirit crushing forms to fill out to get anywhere. I have always been quite attracted to some of the ideas practiced in countries like Sweden and actually piloted in some local authorities in Britain, where you simplify the process, have a single assessment of need and then give more power to families to determine how their budget is spent.
The thing about disability is that each and every situation is unique and so the system needs to have plenty of flexibility to respond to differing needs. All too often it fails to do that. There is no shortage of government guidance piled layer on layer from above but the system just doesn’t respond adequately to the unique needs of the individual case.
That is why I think there is a lot of potential for social enterprises in this field – because they can offer support which is more personalised.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Remembrance Sunday
Today I attended the Remembrance Sunday parade and service at Camborne. The attendance was higher this year than for many years previously - almost certainly linked to the fact that the difficulties and the casualties our forces are suffering in the current mission in Afghanistan has had an impact on the whole country.
The parade started at 10.30 from Camborne Community Centre. There had been concerns about the weather. It was breezy to say the least but the rain held off which was what mattered. As well as many local forces veterans, there was a strong turn out from the cadets, the Scout movement and the Brownies. Following behind the veterans were representatives from local politics and business: the chambers of commerce, councillors and the candidates from the three political parties.
The mission in Afghanistan would be the gravest responsibility of any future government and Prime Minster. I travelled with David Cameron to visit British forces in Afghanistan in July 2006 when I was his Press Secretary. I saw first-hand the work that our troops were doing in Kandahar, Camp Bastion and Lashkar Gah. The fighting was intense even in 2006 and then, as now, there were issues around equipment and support – particularly helicopters.
Our armed forces have a “can do” attitude and get the job done without complaining. But I feel very strongly that government has a duty to do its bit to ensure that, if we ask our forces to put their lives at risk, then we must do all we can to ensure they are properly equipped and that their families are supported and that if they should be wounded they are properly looked after. It is because they don’t complain that we should all take extra care to make sure they are not taken for granted.
After that visit to Afghanistan in 2006, David Cameron set up a commission to look again at the “Military Covenant” – the unwritten agreement between society and the forces which says that, in return for taking extraordinary risks on our behalf, we will do our bit to see they are looked after. The Commission took a detailed look at conditions for our forces today and it came up with a raft of proposals to improve the way they and their families are treated. It would be an important step forward.
The parade started at 10.30 from Camborne Community Centre. There had been concerns about the weather. It was breezy to say the least but the rain held off which was what mattered. As well as many local forces veterans, there was a strong turn out from the cadets, the Scout movement and the Brownies. Following behind the veterans were representatives from local politics and business: the chambers of commerce, councillors and the candidates from the three political parties.
The mission in Afghanistan would be the gravest responsibility of any future government and Prime Minster. I travelled with David Cameron to visit British forces in Afghanistan in July 2006 when I was his Press Secretary. I saw first-hand the work that our troops were doing in Kandahar, Camp Bastion and Lashkar Gah. The fighting was intense even in 2006 and then, as now, there were issues around equipment and support – particularly helicopters.
Our armed forces have a “can do” attitude and get the job done without complaining. But I feel very strongly that government has a duty to do its bit to ensure that, if we ask our forces to put their lives at risk, then we must do all we can to ensure they are properly equipped and that their families are supported and that if they should be wounded they are properly looked after. It is because they don’t complain that we should all take extra care to make sure they are not taken for granted.
After that visit to Afghanistan in 2006, David Cameron set up a commission to look again at the “Military Covenant” – the unwritten agreement between society and the forces which says that, in return for taking extraordinary risks on our behalf, we will do our bit to see they are looked after. The Commission took a detailed look at conditions for our forces today and it came up with a raft of proposals to improve the way they and their families are treated. It would be an important step forward.
Friday, 6 November 2009
Let local communities make decisions on housing
You can judge politicians by the consistency of the position they take on contentious issues. One of the things that irritates people about some MPs today is the sense that some of them change their tune on difficult issues depending on who they are talking to and so it is difficult to work out where they stand and whether they can be trusted.
One such issue is housing. In Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, we have a local need for some additional housing. A report by the former Kerrier Council suggested that there was a need for perhaps an additional 2000 homes in the Camborne and Redruth area over the next ten years or so. The problem is real. There are many families where young couples are unable to leave their parents’ home to have a place of their own. “Sofa surfing” is the term used to describe those who have to rough it at the homes of friends and family and it affects many in our community.
But what should have been a straight forward response at the local level to this problem has been turned into chaos by a crazy plan from the Labour government started by John Prescott. Rather than allowing local communities to decide what their local needs were and build what was required, instead they created a national “target” and set up a so called “Regional Assembly” that dictated from the centre that Camborne and Redruth must build 11,000 new homes, irrespective of local need. We only have 18,000 homes in Camborne and Redruth now, and so a two thirds increase of 11,000 homes is clearly barking.
There are three things I believe and I have been consistent from the start. Firstly, decisions should be taken locally and so I am absolutely opposed to the crackpot, centrally imposed government targets that have been forced on us. A future Conservative government would abolish the Regional Planning Bodies and the Regional Spatial Strategies and return decision making to local communities. Secondly, we do have a local need for some new housing in our area but the figure is way, way below what has been set out in the government target. Finally, I believe that we have a number of brown field sites in Camborne and Redruth and that should be where any new developments are built so that we protect our green spaces.
I have been saying the same three things to everyone, whether they are struggling to find a home or whether they are worried about over-development. In Cornwall we are fortunate in having the Trelawney Alliance to coordinate the campaign against mass house building targets and I supported their rally in the spring. The two strengths of the Trelawney Alliance are that they are not party political so are open to people of all political persuasions but they also take a balanced view and accept that there is a need for some new housing for local needs.
I don’t usually use this diary to comment on my opponents, but the twists and turns of the local Lib Dem MP on this issue have been truly bizarre. She says one thing in London and another thing in Cornwall.
First she said in parliament that she “fully supported” plans for mass housing in Camborne and Redruth and that her only worry was whether there was enough capacity in the building industry to lay the concrete fast enough. Then, in the face of local opposition, she claimed she had changed her mind and was going to oppose the central targets after all. Then, just weeks after pledging to support the Conservative policy on abolishing targets, she attacked the same Conservative policy in the Daily Mirror and said that Conservatives were “in denial” by opposing central targets. Now the Lib Dems have put out a leaflet stating precisely the reverse – and falsely claiming that the Conservative policy of sharing the benefits of new housing development would mean mass house building. The Lib Dems are all over the place.
I have always felt that one of the problems with our planning system is that there are too many win-lose scenarios. If a developer gets his plans through, he makes a good profit but the community can often feel that it is worse off and is paying the price with additional pressures on services. That is why the Conservatives have been looking at ways to make the planning system fairer and less confrontational and to share the benefits of small scale new developments. This means giving financial help to those communities who decide that they do need more housing to help cope with the requirement for additional services that comes with new developments.
It is an approach that is based on carrots rather than sticks and it makes a lot of sense. Local communities will have the final say but they will be supported and the financial benefits shared. Anyone who actually believed in liberal values and sustainable communities would support it.
One such issue is housing. In Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, we have a local need for some additional housing. A report by the former Kerrier Council suggested that there was a need for perhaps an additional 2000 homes in the Camborne and Redruth area over the next ten years or so. The problem is real. There are many families where young couples are unable to leave their parents’ home to have a place of their own. “Sofa surfing” is the term used to describe those who have to rough it at the homes of friends and family and it affects many in our community.
But what should have been a straight forward response at the local level to this problem has been turned into chaos by a crazy plan from the Labour government started by John Prescott. Rather than allowing local communities to decide what their local needs were and build what was required, instead they created a national “target” and set up a so called “Regional Assembly” that dictated from the centre that Camborne and Redruth must build 11,000 new homes, irrespective of local need. We only have 18,000 homes in Camborne and Redruth now, and so a two thirds increase of 11,000 homes is clearly barking.
There are three things I believe and I have been consistent from the start. Firstly, decisions should be taken locally and so I am absolutely opposed to the crackpot, centrally imposed government targets that have been forced on us. A future Conservative government would abolish the Regional Planning Bodies and the Regional Spatial Strategies and return decision making to local communities. Secondly, we do have a local need for some new housing in our area but the figure is way, way below what has been set out in the government target. Finally, I believe that we have a number of brown field sites in Camborne and Redruth and that should be where any new developments are built so that we protect our green spaces.
I have been saying the same three things to everyone, whether they are struggling to find a home or whether they are worried about over-development. In Cornwall we are fortunate in having the Trelawney Alliance to coordinate the campaign against mass house building targets and I supported their rally in the spring. The two strengths of the Trelawney Alliance are that they are not party political so are open to people of all political persuasions but they also take a balanced view and accept that there is a need for some new housing for local needs.
I don’t usually use this diary to comment on my opponents, but the twists and turns of the local Lib Dem MP on this issue have been truly bizarre. She says one thing in London and another thing in Cornwall.
First she said in parliament that she “fully supported” plans for mass housing in Camborne and Redruth and that her only worry was whether there was enough capacity in the building industry to lay the concrete fast enough. Then, in the face of local opposition, she claimed she had changed her mind and was going to oppose the central targets after all. Then, just weeks after pledging to support the Conservative policy on abolishing targets, she attacked the same Conservative policy in the Daily Mirror and said that Conservatives were “in denial” by opposing central targets. Now the Lib Dems have put out a leaflet stating precisely the reverse – and falsely claiming that the Conservative policy of sharing the benefits of new housing development would mean mass house building. The Lib Dems are all over the place.
I have always felt that one of the problems with our planning system is that there are too many win-lose scenarios. If a developer gets his plans through, he makes a good profit but the community can often feel that it is worse off and is paying the price with additional pressures on services. That is why the Conservatives have been looking at ways to make the planning system fairer and less confrontational and to share the benefits of small scale new developments. This means giving financial help to those communities who decide that they do need more housing to help cope with the requirement for additional services that comes with new developments.
It is an approach that is based on carrots rather than sticks and it makes a lot of sense. Local communities will have the final say but they will be supported and the financial benefits shared. Anyone who actually believed in liberal values and sustainable communities would support it.
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