The Importance of Getting Involved in Politics

After yesterday's blog post about the importance of getting involved in politics, today's blog is about getting involved. As soon as the General Election is called there is one thing we can all do to engage in politics - VOTE!

The Importance of Political Enthusiasm

Today the Margaret Thatcher Foundation website have gone live with an amazing resource - the full database of speeches and public statements Margaret Thatcher gave from 1990.

As the expenses scandal rumbles on I note a speech she gave in 1968 where she asked 'Why the present distrust?' Her answer resonates as much then, as it does today. She believed 'there is too great a reliance on statistical forecasts; too little on judgment.' She concluded by encouraging people to vote, explaining the importance of people power in times of distrust, and said 'No great party can survive except on the basis of firm beliefs about what it wants to do. It is not enough to have reluctant support. We want people's enthusiasm as well.'

A Round Table Discussion

The other day I attended a round table discussion with other Conservative female PPC's from all over the country. We had been invited to discuss women's issues. By the end of the day we had also shared many campaign stories and I wanted to thank them all for making it such a successful day:

Kemi Adegoke (in photo), Hannah Foster (in both photos), Joanne Cash, Tracey Crouch and Keely Huxtable. Good luck girls at the General Election!

Great Northern Food

On a cold wet day there really is nothing better than delicious hot food. As a result, I would highly recommend Bradley Burn farm shop and cafe in Weardale. Not only does the food taste amazing, but it's also locally produced. My tip is the scrumptious traditional roast every Sunday.

Cycling the Conservative way

In the telegraph newspaper today it was suggested that if the Conservative's win the General Election they are thinking of reducing the number of cars for government work and buying bicycles instead. This seems an excellent way to help reduce the carbon footprint whilst decreasing time wasted stuck in traffic. The telegraph went onto ask why don't MP's bring their own bikes to work? It seemed like a fair question to me, and I thought I'd answer by agreeing that I already have my own bicycle.

A Campaign Song!

With the election now fast approaching it is wonderful that a member of the North West Durham Conservative team has already composed our very own campaign song. The lyrics just highlight how much fun we are going to have during our General Election campaign trail. How exciting!

VOTE FOR MICHELLE - COS SHY BAIRNS GET NOWT

Get plodging lads and lasses in your wellies join the crowd.
Give us the job, we want the work, we’ll turn it all around.
We are canny, loyal and true, and you know we get things done.
Bold, bright and strong and brave, you know we’ll have our say.
Don’t take us for granted – because we can lead the way.
Get plodging lads and lasses now - cos shy bairns get nowt.

Vote 4 Michelle she is the lass, she will look after you.
Working hard on your behalf, we all need something new.
Give us your vote to save your jobs, protect your hospitals.
Michelle’s the one for you and all your bairns in all their schools.
Making sure you’re deal is fair, cause we are no ones fools.
Get plodging lads and lasses now - cos shy bairns get nowt.

Our Northern countryside is great; we want to praise it loud.
We’re all for one and one for all, a trusting faithful crowd.
Pleased for all our talents now, we help our fellow man.
We are the best you know - listen to others as we go round.
Our sense of humour gets us through and nothing gets us down.
So I say to you lads and lasses - now is the time.
Plodge away - Vote 4 Michelle - cos shy bairns get nowt.

General Election Date

The Labour Party entrust Bob Ainsworth MP to be the Defence Secretary and make decisions regarding our heroic armed forces. However, yesterday he could not even keep secret the date of the General Election. He publically let it slip that the 6th May will be Election day.

Responsibility

Here David Cameron is explaining how the Conservatives are on a quest to allow people to take responsibilty for their actions.

Consett - The Place to Be.

Cleaners Worth More Than Bankers?

It was reported by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) that 'hospital cleaners are worth more to society than City Bankers.' The NEF devised new methodology to calculate the social value of different jobs. They concluded that 'hospital cleaners create more than £10 in value for every £1 they receive in pay.' And that 'bankers who earn over £500,000, destroy £7 of value for every £1 they create.' When I told Ethel, a hospital cleaner whose worked on the same ward for over thirty years, she replied 'that information is worth far more to me than any City bonus!' One thing I know for sure - Ethel, you're one in a million.

Local Hero

This blog is dedicated to Corporal Lee Brownson, 30, from Bishop Auckland, who was sadly killed in a bomb blast near Sangin, in Helmand province, on Friday. The blast also claimed the life of Rifleman Luke Farmer, 19, from West Yorkshire.

Corporal Brownson leaves widow, Leeanne, who is expecting the couple’s third child this summer, and daughters Ginalee and Morgan. My thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with his family and friends at this sad time. The deaths of the two men take the number of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in 2001 to 249. May their sacrifice never be forgotten.

The Big Thaw

The snow has started to melt.

We all like chocolate

Speaking as someone who likes chocolate, I was interested to read a post written by Robert Halfon, the PPC for Harlow, about the take over of Cadbury.

Thank you

During this episode of winter snow I wanted to say a special big thank you to all community workers. I have personally watched ambulance drivers work tirelessly in all weather conditions to ensure our emergency service remained fully operational - well done.

Hewitt

There have been many posts on this blog about Patricia Hewitt, examples such as this. During the time that she was Health Secretary, I heard many health professionals say 'we can't go on like this'.