May 2009 - Newsletter from Margot James

Keeping you up to date with my latest activities in Stourbridge. The latest campaigns, letters to the press and events in and around Stourbridge.

 

Dear Supporter,

It is thirty years since the historic election of Margaret Thatcher as prime minister. The country then had endured 15 years of Labour government punctuated for less than four of those years by the ill fated Heath Government of 1970-74.

It seems there is a thirty year cycle. Ten years for the Conservative Party to put right the disasters wrought by Labour on our economy. Ten years and more of growth and prosperity flowing from those Conservative reforms. And then the final demise, yet again under a Labour government, which has this time brought the country to near bankruptcy.

Let us hope the electorate entrusts the Conservative Party with responsibility for the slow and painstaking task of re-building our economy once again.  As this Labour government continues to look at the future through rose tinted spectacles, postponing the painful process of getting public expenditure and borrowing under control for another eighteen months, the election cannot come soon enough.
 

Campaigning

• We delivered nearly ten thousand leaflets last month to homes in Norton and Amblecote. Thank to all the councillors and supporters who helped with this task.  Thanks also to the people who have come in from outside the constituency, from Conservative held seats in Worcestershire who are directing their efforts now in neighbouring target seats like Stourbridge.
• We canvassed homes in Amblecote door to door and by telephone. There is considerable anger at the Government’s mismanagement of the economy but also at all politicians over the abuse of Parliamentary Allowances. We found very little support for Labour and growing support for our party during canvassing.
• Final plans are in place for Campaign 09. We have to maximise our vote in Stourbridge and the rest of the Black Country in the European elections, and give whatever support we can to target county council elections nearby in Worcestershire and Staffordshire.

Out and About

• I met local business people and professionals at the monthly Stourbridge Business Breakfast at Hagley Hall organised by the excellent Lesley Clarke of Talbot’s Solicitors.
• I visited Age Concern, looked in on an exercise class, had a meeting with board directors and then lunched and chatted with many of the older people who use the day centre regularly. Age Concern is a real lifeline to hundreds if not thousands of older people in Stourbridge.  Read more
• Following a survey I did in the new part of our constituency in the Dudley Wood part of Quarry Bank, I spent the afternoon with local police and discussed residents concerns with them as walked round the area. Read more
• I attended the party’s Spring Forum event in Cheltenham. 1800 people were present and it was a good conference. Read more
•  I met Martyn Smith, an experienced journalist on the Stourbridge News, to discuss the crisis in the local newspaper industry. Later in the month I attended a summit in London on the local press organised by our Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt MP. Local papers are really suffering from falling advertising revenues and the growth of alternative sources of local information on the internet.  Local authority publications that compete for advertising certainly do not help.
• We have had a boy on work experience with us for two weeks. Tom Ruff, a year ten student at Pedmore Technology College applied himself well to every task we set him and attended the party’s spring forum.  He enjoyed himself so much he has joined the party and becomes the youngest member of Conservative Future locally.  Welcome Tom. 




• The highlight of my month was the King Edward’s College Spring Concert. I attended with Principal Sharon Phillips, her husband and governors of the College and was tremendously impressed. The music, a varied programme of Motown, Mozart, Elgar and much more was truly excellent, and there were some wonderful individual and group performances.
  




• I attended my monthly board of governor’s meeting at Stourbridge College. The College is one of many Further Education Colleges left hanging in the air by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) over its capital funding for expanded facilities. I have written to the regional chairman of the LSC and others in support of the Stourbridge College bid. It is ridiculous that funding may be allowed for Sandwell’s expansion plans (a college hardly any student wants to go to) and not for Stourbridge, one of the top performing colleges in the Midlands. Let’s hope that does not happen. Read more
• Special congratulations to Cllr. Les Jones (my local councillor in Pedmore) on two counts.  First for the amazing job he has done organising so many volunteers to paint the gates to the Mary Stevens Hospice. The gates to this local landmark now look fabulous in the Stourbridge blue and gold colours.  Secondly on his appointment as deputy leader of Dudley Council.  Good to have Stourbridge representation at that level.
  
  Media
• I was interviewed by ‘The Bridge’ local radio station
• I appeared on the Politics Show (BBC 1) from the Spring Forum in Cheltenham.
• The Stourbridge News featured my support for local shops with the launch of ‘Buy Local’ in our High Street. Stourbridge News
• The Times printed a letter from me and sixty other Conservative women candidates in protest at coverage which appeared after our Spring Forum attacking David Cameron’s record on promoting women in the party. The Times Letters
• The Sunday Times interviewed me for a follow up piece on women and Parliament which appeared in the News Review Section on May 3rd. The Sunday Times

Feedback

Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on the last issue of my e wire.  I have decided to keep the monthly format with occasional special reports in between.

Please forward this campaign update on to any fellow Conservatives in our area who you think would be interested.

If you would like to help the campaign in Stourbridge then please do contact me: margot@stourbridgeconservatives.com. We are always grateful for support.
 

Best wishes

Margot