Cameron in the Constituency

It was a great pleasure to welcome David Cameron to the constituency on Monday.

We had a great time being shown around the Fuller’s brewery – one of the constituency’s best known employers and most iconic landmarks.

David also spent time taking questions from staff and talked about how Labour has failed both employers and employees. Under Labour, the state has got too big and the private sector – the wealth creater – has got too small.

When Labour came to power, state debt as a percentage of GDP was just over 40% – but it is now over 53% and STILL growing. The recession simply made things worse, as the country is now saddled with debt which costs more in interest than the education budget. Labour’s plans to tax jobs by increasing the rate of National Insurance contributions rather than making the billions in efficiency savings they admit they could make prove they don’t understand (or care) about the needs of employers. Rather than tackle waste, Labour simply put up taxes instead and go into more debt.

Our message is clear. A Conservative Government will not make it more expensive to employ people, will not increase the cost of National Insurance and will make it easier for employers to employ new staff. We will tackle unemployment - not by politically manipulating figures or through centralised Government schemes, but by setting free businessess and small firms to create new jobs.

Business simply cannot afford Labour’s job tax – and only the Conservatives will protect the interest of the business community, enabling them to create wealth, jobs and prosperity for all.

An Empty Budget

It was incredible this week that the Chancellor announced such a weak and empty budget.

With all the problems that we have right now as a country, there was no sign in this budget of a new vision to boost our economy. We were the last economy out of the recession and we are now facing real issues. The Government is constantly borrowing more money ...but you do not build an economy through continual borrowing. The budget showed that Labour have no plans for how to get us out of this huge deficit problem and what needs to be done to support businesses going forward.

What we need right now is strong leadership and a strong vision. The only Party offering this is the Conservatives under David Cameron.

David Cameron's son Ivan dies

It was very sad news to hear today of David Cameron's eldest son Ivan dying in the early hours of this morning at St Mary's Hospital. Ivan, who was six years old, suffered from cerebral palsy and epilepsy. My thoughts and prayers are with David, Samantha, Nancy and Arthur and the extended family at this sad and difficult time.

Hearing of a death like this, reminds me how important it is that we make the most of each day. None of us, no matter what age we are, know how long we have in this world. Someone once said, "live each day as though it is your last". Sometimes we get so busy (especially me!) that we forget to "stand still and smell the roses" and enjoy each moment. We need to take time for ourselves, time for friends and family and time to reflect and remember how fortunate we are in so many ways.

Day 3 & 4 of Party Conference

Day 3 of Party Conference I went back to work in the city. Given I am a banker and this is the one of the toughest economic periods I have ever seen ...I couldn't really stay away! Then I headed back to Birmingham in the evening.

On day 4 of Party Conference, David Cameron made his main speech. I was sitting on stage along with many of my fellow candidates and members of the Shadow Cabinet. David's speech was detailed, thought provoking and visionary. He tacked the critical issues:

1. The Economy - in this financial crisis, we must put our differences aside and work together with the government in the short-term to ensure financial stability. They have already taken up our idea of increasing the protection for depositors to £50,000.

2. Afghanistan - we back our troops there 100%. We are going to stop sending young men to war without the equipment need and do all we can to keep our country safe.

3. Responsibility - personal, professional, civic, corporate. Our responsibility to our family, neighbourhood and country. Our responsibility is to behave in a decent and civilised way, to help others. We will only be a strong society if we are a responsible society.

4. Experience - Gordon Brown talks about his economic experience. The problem is, we have actually experienced his experience. We’ve experienced the massive increase in debt. We have experienced the huge rise in taxes. We experienced the folly of pretending that boom and bust could be ended. This is the argument we will make when the election comes. The risk is not in making a change. The risk is sticking with what you’ve got and expecting a different result. There is a simple truth for times like this. When you’ve taken the wrong road, you don’t just keep going. You change direction.

5. How we got here - Gordon Brown made two mistakes - he took away the Bank of England's power to regulate financial markets and he became a spendaholic.

6. How do we get out of this financial mess:
a) sound money - rein in government borrowing, review spending programmes, reform inefficient public services
b) low taxes - we will cut taxes when it is responsible to do so and when we've made government live within its means
c) enterprise - it is entrepreneurs who create jobs, not governments. Support business and industry

7. Long term mission is to repair our broken society. When times are tough, its not a bigger state we need, it is better, more efficient government. More than that, we need a stronger society. Trusting people and sharing responsibility.

8. We need to clean up politics and put an end to expenses issues - expenses and allowances that would never be allowed in the private sector. Also put an end to MPs voting on their own salaries.

9. Have a referendum on the European constitution.

10. NHS - we will give patents an informed choice about where to go for their care so doctors stop answering to Whitehall and start answering to patients.

11. Social reform - we currently have a broken society. 2m children are brought up in households where no one works. Some housing estates in Britain have a lower life expectancy than in the Gaza Strip. 27 kids murdered on the streets of London this year. A gun crime every hour. A serious knife crime every half hour. A million victims from alcohol related-attacks. To resolve this, it needs:
a) families - support flexible working, back marriage in the tax system
b) schools - can help give children a second chance so we will establish 1000 new Academies and allow for new schools to be set up

12. Welfare - we will end the something for nothing culture. If you don’t take a reasonable offer of a job, you lose benefits. Go on doing it, you’ll keep losing benefits. Stay on benefits and you’ll have to work for them.

We will give hope, broaden the horizons and build aspiration of the poor and the marginalised. It will be Conservative means that will fight poverty, extend opportunity and repair our broken society.

We are a changed and a united Party.

We will get through these difficult times due to the work you do, the families you raise, the jobs you create, your confidence and your determination. We can bring the country together, in the hope, belief and knowledge, that better times lie ahead.

Cameron Direct in Brentford

David Cameron visited us on Monday at Brentford School for Girls.

It was great that local residents were given a chance to meet the Leader of the Conservative Party and ask him questions. Lots of questions were raised by the audience of over 200 people. They quizzed him on Heathrow, MPs allowances, crime, ID cards, fuel prices, polyclinics, inflation, schools, Iraq, Zimbabwe, prisons and which Labour front bencher he most admired!

During the question and answer session David Cameron commented, “I’m here to show you that politics can make a difference, that we do want to listen, to understand what’s important to you and to show you that with your help we can make a difference.”

I was delighted that David came to the constituency. It is not often that people get the chance to question a future Prime Minister and find out what he really thinks and feels. Lots of great questions were asked and he answered them with passion and honesty, showing clearly what he believes in and what he is going to do for the country.

Cameron Direct in Brentford

DAVID CAMERON ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

Come to Brentford School for Girls, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, TW8 0PG on Monday 7th July, 7.45pm-8.45pm and put your questions direct to David.

To book your place, please email office@brentfordandisleworthconservatives.com

The event is free but places must be booked in advance. Everyone who lives in Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Osterley and Hounslow are invited to apply.

1st birthday present for Gordon Brown

A fantastic result yesterday at the Henley by-election!

The Conservative candidate, John Howell, won with 19,796 votes, with a 10,116 majority - a 3.5% swing to us.

A win here was expected ...but what wasn't, was Labour losing their deposit! On Gordon Brown's first anniversary in Downing Street, Labour come in a disastrous fifth, behind the British National Party and the Greens.

70% of the British public are now dissatisfied with Gordon Brown's performance, according to polls. David Cameron commented "All sorts of people are looking at the Conservatives and saying 'yes, this is an alternative to the government that we can believe in. There will be no complacancy, no triumphalism. We could argue forever about the disasters and incompetencies of the last year of government but what's important is that at a time when British families are facing high prices at the fuel pump or everytime they do a family shop the government isn't helping. I think the most important thing about the Prime Minister is that he was in charge of the econonmy for ten years- he didn't put money aside so now during the bad times the cupboard is bare."

How long can the Prime Minister last?

Another bad day for the PM

Yesterday, the Prime Minister had another bad day!

It was PMQs in the Chamber and Gordon Brown had thirty minutes of misery as he tried to rebuff questions and argue his point without much success. Cameron attacked him on his home territory - taxes - but Brown did not seem to know the answer. It was a perceived strength being neutralised.

Why is it that some politicians are arrogant enough to believe they can lead when they obviously cannot? A leader is someone who not only has the intellect and experience to lead, but also has presence, passion, vision and an ability to inspire. Gordon Brown has none of these qualities.

The real question for Labour MPs is ....should he stay or should he go?

Domestic violence - a local issue

I was at a conference last week with David Cameron and Michael Gove, on 'How to Mend a Broken Society'... and 'Strengthening Families'.

The floor opened to questions after the first half of the session and Sandra Horley (CEO of Refuge) asked a question about domestic violence - "was it right for women (typically) to stay with a partner or husband if he was abusing her?". Michael answered very clearly, that it was healthy relationships that the Party were encouraging to stay together, not abusive ones.

This reminded me of a situation, when I was campaiging in Hounslow Heath a few months ago and some teenage boys, who were hanging around a street corner, asked me what I was doing. I stopped and spoke to them and asked them what they felt the most important local issues were. They looked at me, straight in the eyes and immediately said without hesitation - domestic violence.

Domestic violence kills two women per week in England and Wales. It is an issue that we must address and give those who are abused as much support as possible. Violence in a relationship is completely unacceptable. The difficulty is that many people do not report it as they are afraid of what might happen to them or their partner. It takes immense courage to walk away from that type of abusive relationship....but important to do so, especially when there are children involved.

Chiswick was the first location in Europe (and even perhaps the world) to have a women's refuge. I intend to speak loudly against domestic violence, not just because I hope to be the next MP for Chiswick, but because I believe it is a major issue in our communities and I believe it is wrong.