A few weeks ago I met a number of parents of disabled children. Among them were Kate and Martin whose youngest son is deaf and who have another son with a learning difficulty that gives him problems with communication. They invited me along to a new parents' support group they have helped get going and its first meeting took place today at the Cornwall Deaf Centre in Camborne.
If you want to understand the challenges that disabled people and their families face, you can't beat meeting them. Each case is unique and every one of them has their share of frustration with the system. It can range from a lack of specialist support, like language therapists or signers, to problems navigating the bureaucracy of the benefits system. All of the people I meet would welcome a simplified and more flexible system of support where they have more say over the support that they need and how their budget is spent.
After meeting parents at the Cornwall Deaf Centre, Toby, a regular user of their facilities gave myself and Katy a lesson in British Sign Language. We covered most of the alphabet and a few other words.
Jude Robinson, the Labour candidate in Camborne, Redrtuh and Hayle has come up with the great idea of holding a hustings at the Cornwall Deaf Centre with a signer on hand to do the translation. So I might be coming back here soon.
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Saturday, 27 March 2010
Holman Climax Choir
The place to be last night was Camborne School where hundreds of people packed the main assembly room for a night of nostalgia and entertainment put on by the Holman Climax male voice choir.
It followed the highly successful Holmans reunion which took place earlier this year and featured the recently discovered treasure of old footage and photos from the iconic engineering firm that was once at the heart of life in Camborne and exported world beating air compressors across the globe.
I found the old photos fascinating. I can remember the last days of Holmans at the main works along Wesley Street and also the old Maxam building at Pool.
The Holman Climax Choir, now coached by leading musical director Angela Renshaw, treated their audience to an impressive and often poignant performance and there was plenty of audience participation too. We all took part in old favourites like Camborne Hill and finished the evening with Trelawney, Cornwall's anthem. Singled out for praise was Agnes, who has played the piano for the choir for half its 70 year life. What a commitment.
This part of Cornwall has struggled to regain its footing since the loss of firms like Holmans and it is why I have championed initiatives to bring new industries and new prosperity to our area - such as wave power which would need support industries that play to our engineering heritage and strengths.
It followed the highly successful Holmans reunion which took place earlier this year and featured the recently discovered treasure of old footage and photos from the iconic engineering firm that was once at the heart of life in Camborne and exported world beating air compressors across the globe.
I found the old photos fascinating. I can remember the last days of Holmans at the main works along Wesley Street and also the old Maxam building at Pool.
The Holman Climax Choir, now coached by leading musical director Angela Renshaw, treated their audience to an impressive and often poignant performance and there was plenty of audience participation too. We all took part in old favourites like Camborne Hill and finished the evening with Trelawney, Cornwall's anthem. Singled out for praise was Agnes, who has played the piano for the choir for half its 70 year life. What a commitment.
This part of Cornwall has struggled to regain its footing since the loss of firms like Holmans and it is why I have championed initiatives to bring new industries and new prosperity to our area - such as wave power which would need support industries that play to our engineering heritage and strengths.
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
The Redruth North Partnership
I had arranged to meet Kevin Hawkes and some of the residents of the Redruth North Partnership at their base,the Kabin on Strawberry Lane. As I arrived they were in the process of sorting out some strimmers for the volunteers working on their Green Fingers project - where volunteers look after the grounds locally and learn a skill.
The first person I met was Jack Clemens, one of the residents who has been involved in the Redruth North Partnership from the start. "What relation are you to Skipper?" he asked. Its a long time since I have heard that one. "Skipper" was the nickname given by people locally to my great grandfather and Jack had worked with him at Bezurrel Farm around the time of the war.
The Redruth North Partnership was formed by the merger of several local residents associations and in the few years since it was founded has achieved some fantastic results - ranging from the voluntary curfew to help reinforce the authority of parents, to homework clubs, to their Green Fingers Project. They even saved Close Hill Post Office. They have recently been celebrating their success in securing lottery funding to help support their work for the next three years.
The voluntary curfew at Redruth was a great success. Sometimes it is misunderstood. This was not like all those headline grabbing "crackdowns" or "initiatives" which Tony Blair used to announce all the time and then forget. It did not require government to do anything and it did not require any new laws.
It was a simple case of the police and the community setting clear boundaries which helped to reinforce the authority of parents. It is not always easy for parents with teenage children. Peer pressure starts to take hold and making sure their children get back home in good time at night is easier said than done in some cases. But what if everyone's children had to be back home at a particular hour and the police made sure it happened? You soon deal with the problem of peer pressure and strengthen the authority of parents. Once you establish new social norms and give new authority to local communities and parents, then it lasts. So the voluntary curfew was run during the summer of 2008 but has not been needed since.
The Redruth North Partnership is about to evolve into a fully fledged social enterprise and aims to take over grounds maintenance contracts and other services from the local authority so that it becomes self funding and can return even more benefit to the community.
This is one small example of a process that needs to take place across our whole society.
The first person I met was Jack Clemens, one of the residents who has been involved in the Redruth North Partnership from the start. "What relation are you to Skipper?" he asked. Its a long time since I have heard that one. "Skipper" was the nickname given by people locally to my great grandfather and Jack had worked with him at Bezurrel Farm around the time of the war.
The Redruth North Partnership was formed by the merger of several local residents associations and in the few years since it was founded has achieved some fantastic results - ranging from the voluntary curfew to help reinforce the authority of parents, to homework clubs, to their Green Fingers Project. They even saved Close Hill Post Office. They have recently been celebrating their success in securing lottery funding to help support their work for the next three years.
The voluntary curfew at Redruth was a great success. Sometimes it is misunderstood. This was not like all those headline grabbing "crackdowns" or "initiatives" which Tony Blair used to announce all the time and then forget. It did not require government to do anything and it did not require any new laws.
It was a simple case of the police and the community setting clear boundaries which helped to reinforce the authority of parents. It is not always easy for parents with teenage children. Peer pressure starts to take hold and making sure their children get back home in good time at night is easier said than done in some cases. But what if everyone's children had to be back home at a particular hour and the police made sure it happened? You soon deal with the problem of peer pressure and strengthen the authority of parents. Once you establish new social norms and give new authority to local communities and parents, then it lasts. So the voluntary curfew was run during the summer of 2008 but has not been needed since.
The Redruth North Partnership is about to evolve into a fully fledged social enterprise and aims to take over grounds maintenance contracts and other services from the local authority so that it becomes self funding and can return even more benefit to the community.
This is one small example of a process that needs to take place across our whole society.
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Lobbied by the Lib Dem lobbyists
Guidance issued by the Lib Dem Party to local activists orders them to "Be wicked, act shamelessly, stir endlessly...don't be afraid to exaggerate...positive campaigning will not be enough to win."
It's advice that has been practiced with zeal by Lib Dems here in Camborne and Redruth and has undermined their credibility locally. Last year, Julia Goldsworthy's office sanctioned a bitter and twisted leaflet which described the Mebyon Kernow candidate as a "greasy haired tw*t."
Earlier this year, local Lib Dems attacked me for having a real job in the private sector with Portland Communications - and even attempted to claim that I had been "parachuted in" from London. This week while canvassing I came across one former Liberal voter who said she was so disgusted at this negative campaigning that she emailed Julia Goldsworthy to complain. Julia's response was to blame her agent, saying that she had not seen the leaflet before it went out.
This week local Lib Dems have returned to the same old theme. Terrye Teverson, wife of the failed MEP, has claimed that I did not disclose the fact that I had worked for Portland. Her allegation is completely false. The day that I joined the firm at the end of March 2009, a press release was issued and there was widespread media coverage at the time and since.
Portland is one of the UKs leading communications agencies and it supports the industry's voluntary code of practice so is transparent about its clients. They range from firms like Coca Cola, Vodafone and Apple to leading charities, particularly in Africa, such as Kofi Annan, the Tutu Foundation, the Africa Progress Panel and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation - which works for better governance in African countries.
I make no apology for having done real jobs in the real world. I think one of the weaknesses of our current Lib Dem MP is that she has only ever worked in politics and has no life experience. The jobs I have done range from back breaking work on the farm in the worst weather Cornwall can throw at you, to working on a nursery in Worcester that raised trees and roses, to being Press Secretary to David Cameron and, yes, working in the commercial world helping firms with issues like Corporate Social Responsibility.
It is easy to forget that most candidates in this contest are unpaid volunteers and the majority also have to work for a living - Nick Clegg worked for a lobby firm while a candidate. Of course, this is not a problem that Julia Goldsworthy herself has because she claims over £159,000 a year from the tax payer in so called "expenses." The real scandal is not that volunteer candidates have real jobs in the real world. It is why the Lib Dem MP thinks it is OK to claim £400 a month from the taxpayer for extra food without even submitting receipts.
It's advice that has been practiced with zeal by Lib Dems here in Camborne and Redruth and has undermined their credibility locally. Last year, Julia Goldsworthy's office sanctioned a bitter and twisted leaflet which described the Mebyon Kernow candidate as a "greasy haired tw*t."
Earlier this year, local Lib Dems attacked me for having a real job in the private sector with Portland Communications - and even attempted to claim that I had been "parachuted in" from London. This week while canvassing I came across one former Liberal voter who said she was so disgusted at this negative campaigning that she emailed Julia Goldsworthy to complain. Julia's response was to blame her agent, saying that she had not seen the leaflet before it went out.
This week local Lib Dems have returned to the same old theme. Terrye Teverson, wife of the failed MEP, has claimed that I did not disclose the fact that I had worked for Portland. Her allegation is completely false. The day that I joined the firm at the end of March 2009, a press release was issued and there was widespread media coverage at the time and since.
Portland is one of the UKs leading communications agencies and it supports the industry's voluntary code of practice so is transparent about its clients. They range from firms like Coca Cola, Vodafone and Apple to leading charities, particularly in Africa, such as Kofi Annan, the Tutu Foundation, the Africa Progress Panel and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation - which works for better governance in African countries.
I make no apology for having done real jobs in the real world. I think one of the weaknesses of our current Lib Dem MP is that she has only ever worked in politics and has no life experience. The jobs I have done range from back breaking work on the farm in the worst weather Cornwall can throw at you, to working on a nursery in Worcester that raised trees and roses, to being Press Secretary to David Cameron and, yes, working in the commercial world helping firms with issues like Corporate Social Responsibility.
It is easy to forget that most candidates in this contest are unpaid volunteers and the majority also have to work for a living - Nick Clegg worked for a lobby firm while a candidate. Of course, this is not a problem that Julia Goldsworthy herself has because she claims over £159,000 a year from the tax payer in so called "expenses." The real scandal is not that volunteer candidates have real jobs in the real world. It is why the Lib Dem MP thinks it is OK to claim £400 a month from the taxpayer for extra food without even submitting receipts.
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Canvassing in Redruth and Hayle
I have spent much of this week canvassing in Redruth. We now have teams out every day. The reaction has been good - a strong mood for change with both life long Labour voters and former Lib Dem voters saying they are going to unite behind the Conservatives this time to give the country the change it needs.
We have the next wave of Question Time meetings coming up - where we invite local residents to come along and throw any question they like at me. I really enjoy them and always learn something new myself.
Next up is Hayle with Camborne and Redruth following soon afterwards. On Saturday we switched our canvassing efforts to Hayle with a team of eight working hard across the eastern end of town. My family have deep roots here and we came across a number of people who had links with Trevaskis Farm or knew the family for other reasons. "What relation are you to...?" was a question that came up several times.
Hayle has previously voted strongly for Andrew George - but people understood that he had now decided to leave the town and go to Penzance due to new boundaries and were looking for someone else from Hayle to stand up for them. The issue of expenses being abused by local Lib Dem MPs was also front of mind for many.
We have decided to hold our Redruth Question Time meeting in the heart of the community in the Redruth North ward and I spent all day today delivering invitations around Murdoch Close, Montague Avenue and Close Hill. This is an area that has its share of deprivation and needs a helping hand. The current Labour government have had good intentions when it comes to tackling poverty, but have made very little impact. It is not enough to treat the symptoms of poverty. I believe we need to tackle the causes of poverty: educational disadvantage, family and social breakdown. Today it is the Conservative Party that has the answers to helping the least well off in our society and it's why I regard this part of the constituency as an important priority.
We have the next wave of Question Time meetings coming up - where we invite local residents to come along and throw any question they like at me. I really enjoy them and always learn something new myself.
Next up is Hayle with Camborne and Redruth following soon afterwards. On Saturday we switched our canvassing efforts to Hayle with a team of eight working hard across the eastern end of town. My family have deep roots here and we came across a number of people who had links with Trevaskis Farm or knew the family for other reasons. "What relation are you to...?" was a question that came up several times.
Hayle has previously voted strongly for Andrew George - but people understood that he had now decided to leave the town and go to Penzance due to new boundaries and were looking for someone else from Hayle to stand up for them. The issue of expenses being abused by local Lib Dem MPs was also front of mind for many.
We have decided to hold our Redruth Question Time meeting in the heart of the community in the Redruth North ward and I spent all day today delivering invitations around Murdoch Close, Montague Avenue and Close Hill. This is an area that has its share of deprivation and needs a helping hand. The current Labour government have had good intentions when it comes to tackling poverty, but have made very little impact. It is not enough to treat the symptoms of poverty. I believe we need to tackle the causes of poverty: educational disadvantage, family and social breakdown. Today it is the Conservative Party that has the answers to helping the least well off in our society and it's why I regard this part of the constituency as an important priority.
Friday, 5 March 2010
Who said apathy?
Today myself, Julia and Jude are all taking part in a hustings as part of a cultural diversity week being organised by Cornwall College.
Chris Price had asked us all to meet him outside the main reception at 2.15. At just after 2.15, I got a call as I was getting out of my car to check I was on the way. Anyone who has ever organised a political meeting knows that feeling - 15 minutes to go - where are they?!
We waited another ten minutes for the other two candidates who had actually gone straight to the lecture theatre - and there were concerns too about how many students would actually turn up. But concerns that there might be apathy among the students proved completely wrong.
The lecture theatre was packed with standing room only. Sometimes people say that young people don't care about politics but this group certainly did. There were searching questions too - on everything from immigration policy to the Educational Maintenance Allowance, MPs expenses and the Human Rights Act. Julia Goldsworthy was there for the first half an hour but the event kept going for almost another hour after she left.
The issue of cultural diversity and commumnity cohesion is an important but sensitive area. I think we can gain strength from diversity and we can learn from other cultures but it is also crucial that we celebrate the values that unite us all as a British nation: tolerance and freedom under the rule of law.
One of the last jobs I did for the Conservative Party involved building stronger links with the muslim community. That year, I probably had more Christmas cards from muslims than I did from christians. The vast majority of muslims take their own religion seriously and respect other religions too. But we cannot ignore the threat to community cohesion posed by political Islamism - a distorted and extreme strand of Islam which does not respect the rule of law or our democratic institutions. Striking a balance that faces down those extremists without alienating other muslims is an important task in which we all have a role: politicians, the media and the public.
Chris Price had asked us all to meet him outside the main reception at 2.15. At just after 2.15, I got a call as I was getting out of my car to check I was on the way. Anyone who has ever organised a political meeting knows that feeling - 15 minutes to go - where are they?!
We waited another ten minutes for the other two candidates who had actually gone straight to the lecture theatre - and there were concerns too about how many students would actually turn up. But concerns that there might be apathy among the students proved completely wrong.
The lecture theatre was packed with standing room only. Sometimes people say that young people don't care about politics but this group certainly did. There were searching questions too - on everything from immigration policy to the Educational Maintenance Allowance, MPs expenses and the Human Rights Act. Julia Goldsworthy was there for the first half an hour but the event kept going for almost another hour after she left.
The issue of cultural diversity and commumnity cohesion is an important but sensitive area. I think we can gain strength from diversity and we can learn from other cultures but it is also crucial that we celebrate the values that unite us all as a British nation: tolerance and freedom under the rule of law.
One of the last jobs I did for the Conservative Party involved building stronger links with the muslim community. That year, I probably had more Christmas cards from muslims than I did from christians. The vast majority of muslims take their own religion seriously and respect other religions too. But we cannot ignore the threat to community cohesion posed by political Islamism - a distorted and extreme strand of Islam which does not respect the rule of law or our democratic institutions. Striking a balance that faces down those extremists without alienating other muslims is an important task in which we all have a role: politicians, the media and the public.
Monday, 1 March 2010
A night at the Penventon
As I finsihed last Friday meeting shop keepers in Redrtuh, I stumbled across Father Peter Fellowes - the inspiration behind Searchlight, a fabulous voluntary group linked to the church which provides activities for local children in Redruth. Some of the Searchlight team were putting together a disco dancing performance at a Variety Show event at the Penventon Hotel and they were meeting early at the Regal Cinema.
The event is in aid of the Handstand Appeal - a local charity set up to help baby Marshall, a local boy who lost both his hands and his legs after being struck by a particulalry severe strain of meningitis.
Katy and I decided to go along. There was an incredible turnout - probably over 250 people. Father Peter was the compere for the night and the other performances ranged from Mark Kaczmarek doing a stand up routine to the Charity Singers local male voice choir, the bell ringers from St Euny Church several dance groups and a finale provided by Redruth Town Band.
We ended up bidding (successfully) on a child's bike which has been riding around in the car with me for the past two days!
The event is in aid of the Handstand Appeal - a local charity set up to help baby Marshall, a local boy who lost both his hands and his legs after being struck by a particulalry severe strain of meningitis.
Katy and I decided to go along. There was an incredible turnout - probably over 250 people. Father Peter was the compere for the night and the other performances ranged from Mark Kaczmarek doing a stand up routine to the Charity Singers local male voice choir, the bell ringers from St Euny Church several dance groups and a finale provided by Redruth Town Band.
We ended up bidding (successfully) on a child's bike which has been riding around in the car with me for the past two days!
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Regenerating our towns
This morning we put the finishing touches to our latest direct mail campaign. Last Saturday, local volunteers stuffed around 5,500 envelopes. Our key focus at the moment is on persuading people who might have previously supported the Lib Dems to weigh things up carefully this time. Because unless the Conservates win seats like Camborne, Redruth and Hayle then Gordon Brown will cling to power an no one will be able to stop him.
Later this morning I got back out on the road. We have our town centre regeneration summit in less than two weeks and I want to try to engage as many local shop keepers as possible, so my aim is to get around every shop in the constituency. Whether or not they are able to take the time away from the business to attend the summit we are holding, I want to get their views.
I covered most of Camborne today. Issues raised ranged from business rates to pavements to anti-social behaviour, parking and the one way traffic system. These are all points that I will take to the summit on their behalf.
Hayle and Redruth tomorrow....
Later this morning I got back out on the road. We have our town centre regeneration summit in less than two weeks and I want to try to engage as many local shop keepers as possible, so my aim is to get around every shop in the constituency. Whether or not they are able to take the time away from the business to attend the summit we are holding, I want to get their views.
I covered most of Camborne today. Issues raised ranged from business rates to pavements to anti-social behaviour, parking and the one way traffic system. These are all points that I will take to the summit on their behalf.
Hayle and Redruth tomorrow....
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Drama at the Seven Stars
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.
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.
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?"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)