July 2009 - Newsletter from Margot James
Dear Supporter,
The battle lines for the general election are now emerging.
In fact there are two battles going on about public spending. One within the cabinet and one between the Conservative Party and the Prime Minister.
Within the cabinet, a number of ministers, led by the Chancellor, are arguing for more honesty about Government spending. As the Treasury’s own figures are projecting a collapse in capital spending and a decline in current spending of 7% per annum after 2010, it is simply incredible that Gordon Brown and Ed Balls are maintaining the fiction that only the Conservative Party are arguing for reductions in government spending.
In fact the cuts have started already. In education as I report below Stourbridge College have been forced to abandon plans to build a new site and have had their Train to Gain budgets slashed for next year. And a cut of 4% imposed by the Treasury two months ago on the police, an additional 1% over the original 3% previously agreed, will start to eat in to policing numbers locally.
Our party is being honest with the public about the need for reductions in certain areas of expenditure, as well as the desperate need for far better value for the money spent than has been delivered by this government and its unelected Quangos.
Campaigning
- We campaigned well for the European Elections. At the beginning of the campaign there was considerable support for UKIP as a result of the expenses scandal at Westminster. But this reduced as polling day approached. Results were counted across the metropolitan area of Dudley with no breakdown by parliamentary constituency, so we were not able to access the results for Stourbridge. Although UKIP pushed us narrowly in to second place across Dudley our observers were confident that the votes in the Stourbridge wards put us in the lead.
- We produced a leaflet for the Lye ward and started distribution.
- We held a canvassing session in Cradley & Foxcote ward. We found a good level of support in this Labour held ward and very little support for Labour.
Out and About
- I attended a national seminar on the Learning & Skills Council (LSC) chaired by ex head of the Audit Commission Sir Andrew Foster and reported back to the principal of Stourbridge College. The LSC had a budget for Further Education College capital funding of £2 billion and agreed to £8 billion worth of capital funding bids. Last month I reported on an LSC overspend on the skills training budget. Stourbridge College was informed that their bid, approved in principle by the LSC last year was not now to go ahead, whilst an under performing College in the Labour area of Sandwell got its bid approved. Read more
I attended the Stourbridge College Prize Giving day where I was delighted to speak to the 200 staff and to present the awards.- The residents of Rye Croft in Wollescote were disappointed with the Council’s work on their green space that I had helped to arrange, so I have managed to get the work re-done, this is happening at the moment and I hope it will be an improvement. Read more
I met the RSPCA at Lye Town Football Club to discuss the ‘Animal Action Day’ I have arranged with for July 7th. Pet owners from low income areas will be able to get free pet care advice, free micro-chipping and reduced cost vouchers to obtain neutering for their pets at local vets. Read more- I represented a family with a sixteen year old child with serious learning disabilities. The parents and I met Council officers to discuss transitional arrangements for the child as she approaches adulthood. Many parents in this situation face huge worries and uncertainty at this point in their child’s life. As a result of the meeting Dudley Council are to improve the way they communicate with parents of teenage children with special needs. I was very impressed with the Council officers I met and it is good that Dudley Council have the top four star rating for this crucial service.
- I have also been lobbying for the preservation of an excellent educational service for adults with learning difficulties called the Coach House in Pedmore. The impending demise of the Coach House was brought to my attention by the vicar of St Mary’s. The effort to keep the service open is ongoing but we have had a good reception from council officers so I am hopeful that the Coach House will be able to continue.
- I met Stephen O’Brien MP, shadow health minister, to discuss services for patients with dementia and their carers in light of the Government Green Paper on carers, long delayed but expected before the Parliamentary Recess.
- I hosted a reception at the Paramount Club on the top of the Centre Point building for David Cameron to celebrate Gay Pride 2009. David’s speech was very well received by the 160 people present and I was really impressed with his openness, especially during the question and answer session. The event was attended by Cllr. Liz Walker and Julie Lees from Stourbridge, both of whom were introduced to David Cameron. Read more
Media
- The Stourbridge News reported on my work on skills training and job losses. Read more
- I appeared on the Simon Mayo show (Radio 5 Live) talking about the MPs expenses scandal. Read more and listen
- Releases have gone out about the Stourbridge College funding bid being rejected and the Animal Action day next week. Read more (College funding) Read more (Animal Action Day)
Feedback
Please forward this campaign update on to any fellow Conservatives in our area who you think would be interested. If there is any further information you would like, or if there is something you would like to let me know about, please do get in touch.
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
