Chloe Smith MP

Congratulations to Chloe Smith, new MP for Norwich North!

Fabulous result with a 7k+ majority.

Well done to all those who went to help and to Chloe and Theresa May for leading a great campaign. I am not sure how many leaflets we had out in the end (at least 15, I believe) but clearly Chloe will be digging in so she can be an MP for more than a year.

MEPs propose to not sign off the EU Council accounts

So, finally, some MEPs have found some cajones !
Tomorrow the Budgetary Control Committee votes to not discharge the accounts for the EU Council; this follows the decision to postpone discharge a few months ago.
I'm not clear what this will do, though I understand it should have some impact on the EU Council being able to spend its budget. I am sure the Swedes will sort it out soon enough but good on you MEPs - if you vote for it!

Space - The Final Frontier?

No, not in praise of Star Trek but in celebration of 40 years since the first landing on the moon.
I wasn't born when it happened but it was fascinating to see extra footage on TV tonight.
Next steps - Mars? Well, Boris thinks we need to be ambitious and it does seem odd to be heading back to the moon.
I am a bit of a luddite on this - I would rather see everyone in the world have access to the basics of life - clean water and safe sanitation - than spend another penny on space exploration. Not to say it is not valid but I think there are other priorities.

My old company will be enjoying this - last time the UK tried to send a module to Mars, our website was completely overloaded and redirected to delicious products!

New (and old) MEPs start work

I was pleased to see that the new MEPs have largely got onto the committees they wanted - well, the ones I know about anyway!
Vicky Ford and Kay Swinburne both got on the Economic & Monetary Affairs Committee - good news as the EU is tackling financial regulation and Kay & Vicky are both former bankers. Their committee is headed up by Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles - who I have always found to be a good sort, so fingers crossed for positive results.

Emma McClarkin secured Culture & Education (she will be happy), retread MEP Jackie Foster secured Transport & Tourism, while Marina Yannakouadis is on Women. I cannot see what Julie Girling got but Ashley Fox is on the Constitution Committee alongside London MEP Syed Kamall.

For the South East, Dan Hannan has moved (back?) to Legal, Richard Ashworth has switched to Agriculture, James continues on Budgets and Nirj on International Development.

I was truly delighted to see that Malcolm Harbour has secured Chairman of the Internal Market & Consumer Protection committee. Malcolm is experienced, a true Conservative and has always been a great help to candidates - generous with his time and his encouragement.

Keep up the good work, ladies and gentlemen - your country needs you!

President Blair? God spare us!

I was disappointed, though not surprised, to see that Gordon Brown is pushing Tony Blair for the non-post of President of the EU.

Another example of how Labour is doing its best to ruin our chances of restoring our country to being Great Britain rather than Gordon's B******s!

This was a common theme in my speeches to voters and activists during the long Euro campaign - i.e. was it a coincidence that TB had given up most of our rebate, so our net contribution would be doubling just at the same time that a President was required (if Lisbon were passed)?  Dan Hannan takes up the point at his website.

 

Bring on the election so we can get rid of this wretched Government, this wretched Treaty and be able to slay to all the ghosts and nightmares lingering over the corpse of New Labour.

Overseas Aid - let's get to 0.7% as quickly as possible!

A recent poll on ConHome suggested that Overseas Aid should be the first budget to be cut. I don't subscribe to that view and I was pleased with yesterday's launch by Andrew Mitchell and David Cameron.  It is true that we need to spend the money in a results-orientated and valuable way.  I have written a paper on this directed at 6th form students which I will post separately.

 

Therese

Forces Widows - another headline on the horizon?

I discovered this week that widows of our soldiers, sailors and airforce often have only 3 months to leave their base accommodation if their other half is killed in action. If you don't have your own permanent house and need council housing, you have to go back to where you lived before joining the Forces.
I was quite shocked at the speed of all this. I understand that the Armed Forces may not be able to accommodate its wider family in perpetuity but 3 months is such a short time and I can imagine, it's even more disruptive for those with children.
I'm going to find out more about this and report back.

Social announcement: Le Creuset super sale in Andover today

For those who love Le Creuset - the Andover site is its main warehouse and has its super sale today till 3pm.

Go to Livingstone Road in Andover (Walworth estate), SP10 5QZ.

It's still not cheap as chips but a lot cheaper than normal prices.

 

Gosport by-election

Sorry that all the efforts in the by-election went unrewarded. Mind you, I was appalled by the last leaflet put out by the LDs - "Conservatives guilty" in bold headlines. Quite shocking when that party claims to be above gutter politics but then again, you have to remember the real agenda from their election manual - "be wicked, act shamelessly, stir endlessly".

 

By-election in Norwich

Just had a successful couple of days in Norwich helping Chloe Smith. Delivery was the main task but I managed to get a couple of hours on the doorstep with Chloe's team.

Yesterday afternoon, William Hague breezed into town so we joined the walkabout. Rizzo looked quite cute with a balloon tied to her collar.

There is a genuine mood for a change and we identified quite a few switchers.

By the way, what is it about rain and by-elections? I recall the election in Ealing Southall. I was out canvassing with Sir George Young, Cllr Phil North and my mum - what a drenching in all of about 10 yards.. I have never seen rain like it though Norwich has seen a lot recently.