An Election Won....

Election day has been and gone..!

I would like to personally thank all those (20,022 people) who voted for me on Thursday. You have put your trust in me as your Member of Parliament and I appreciate your support.

The residents of Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Osterley and Hounslow have voted for change and a new start. I will work tirelessly for everyone in this constituency and do all I can to bring real change that improves life here for us all.

My heartfelt thanks to you all and I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

PS Thanks to my amazing team who worked so hard to get the right result.

Photo 1: Mary with her Campaign Director, Barbara Reid

Photo 2: Mary with her sister Liz at the Count just after results had been announced

William Hague meets Chiswick residents

I was delighted that William Hague, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, spent his Bank Holiday Monday meeting with us, meeting people in Chiswick. He walked the length of the High Road, speaking to local residents.

His message was clear. If residents want a change from Gordon Brown and this tired Labour government, it can only be achieved by voting Conservative at the General Election.

A crowd of local residents gathered at Sir William Hogarth’s statue, and William Hague took to his soapbox to tell everyone listening that only the Conservative Party can deliver the change that is needed for the country. He also encouraged everyone to vote for me!

Every vote counts in this General Election as it is a tight contest between Labour and Conservative. Only by voting Conservative on Thursday will you get a new government that will start to rebuild this country on Friday. A vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote for five more years of Gordon Brown.

Please vote for change.

Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Osterley and Hounslow need change!

With only a few days to go, I wanted to give you a few reasons for why I would like you to vote Conservative on May 6th.

Reason No 1

The Labour government and Gordon Brown have backed a Third Runway all the way. Labour still does. So, returning a Labour government or a Labour-led coalition keeps a Third Runway high on the government agenda. Only a Conservative government will stop the Third Runway and introduce a better transport policy - not just for this constituency but also for London and the UK.

If you want a local candidate who will support local residents on this issue and stop the third runway, then vote for me.

And if you want to know more about our policies in this area click here:
http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Transport.aspx

Other reasons to follow!

The first hustings meeting took place in Brentford last week. I thought it was a good session with some great questions from the floor.

Unfortunately Ann Keen, my Labour opponent, was not able to be there, which was very disappointing. I was looking forward to the opportunity of debating with her. These public meetings are good for democracy and allow local residents to get involved in the political process. It is important though, that all those invited make every effort to be there.

Thanks to Brentford Chamber of Commerce and others who organised the evening.

We now get the chance to VOTE FOR CHANGE

So, we're off.
On May 6th, the voters of Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Osterley and Hounslow will get the chance to choose their Member of Parliament.

I can offer ten good reasons why it is time for change:

1. A Conservative government will say NO to a Third Runway.

2. We will fight crime and control immigration.

3. We will back the NHS

4. We will tackle poverty and support business

5. We will change politics and rebuild trust

6. We will keep council taxes low

7. We will improve safety

8. We will cut graffitti and improve the environment

9. We will increase recycling

10. We will introduce a new free, non-selective Academy school in the borough

VOTE FOR CHANGE!

Photo: Mary at David Cameron's campaign launch today in Westminster

Local Issues by Candidates

ChiswickLife TV asked Ann Keen, Andrew Dakkers and I to come into their studios in Chiswick and answer some questions about our policies. The interviews with Andrew and I are now available on their site:
http://www.chiswicklife.tv/MaryMacleod

Funding the Campaign

I was interviewed by Channel 4 in Chiswick today about how we fund our campaign. Not included in the final film footage were some key points:

1. The Conservative Party is funded by many donors, not just Lord Ashcroft.
2. The election campaign locally is funded by a range of individual donors, as well as receiving some financial support from Conservative HQ.
3. My Labour opponent's campaign is funded by the £10,000 taxpayer-funded Communications Allowance. The Labour Party is also sponsored by the Unions, including the Transport and General Workers Union.

Historic Defeat for Labour

The European results last night were bad for Labour. They slumped to their worst post War election result. In the London region, Conservatives got the most votes and we have kept our three seats. Well done to Charles, Syed and Marina.

The Conservative agenda in Europe is a positive agenda for change in Europe: to drive forward open markets to help beat the recession, taking action on global warming and cutting the cost of Europe. I know the three London Conservative MEPs will work to deliver that. If you want to read the European Manifesto Conservatives stood on, follow the link below: http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/European_Election_Manifesto.aspx

All in all, then, the last seven days have been momentus for politics. Cabinet ministers coming and going randomly. Local government and European elections and, unfortunately, continuing chaos at the heart of Government. It all underlines the need to get on with a General Election. We need a government which is energised, focussed and disciplined. We need a new approach to the problems we face locally in this constituency and nationally. The Labour Party isn’t focussed, energised or disciplined. It has lost the confidence of (even) its core supporters (look at what happened in Wales) and its MPs are too busy bickering. To hear a more poetic explanation of why we need a general election, listen to Daniel Hannan MEP quoting Dr Seuss in a message to Gordon Brown:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8088562.stm

PS: If you’d like to keep abreast of what I’m up to you can also follow me via http://twitter.com/MaryMacleod4MP or join my Facebook group: http://tinyurl.com/pfnfb3

Time for a General Election NOW!

Today’s Guardian editorial says it all: ‘It is time to cut him [Gordon Brown] loose.’
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/02/editorial-gordon-brown-labour

The government and its leader have clearly lost the plot. In the midst of a deep recession and a crisis of confidence in the political system, we can’t afford a lame duck Prime Minister and government. As the Guardian says of Brown: ‘The truth is there is no vision from him, no plan, no argument for the future and no support.’

That’s why I and other Conservatives want a General Election now. Tomorrow’s local and European elections are a chance to get that message across to the electorate. In the case of Europe, there’s also the chance to demand the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty we have so far (and so shabbily) been denied by the Government (a right that the Liberals would also deny voters).

My hope is voters in Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Osterley & Hounslow will turn out and vote in the EU elections. I (obviously) hope they’ll vote Conservative because I think our policies, our candidates and our approach is the right one (no pun intended). If you’re not yet decided or want to know more, I’d urge you to check out the following links:

Why we need a general election
http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2009/05/Cameron_calls_for_a_General_Election.aspx

Why Conservatives want a European Referendum
http://www.conservatives.com/Campaigns/Give_us_a_Referendum.aspx

Who the Conservative European candidates are
http://www.conservatives.com/People/Prospective_European_Parliamentary_Candidates.aspx

Nearing the end of the year...

It has been great to meet so many people during the past year whilst I have been out and about in the constituency. A way of listening to your concerns.

The strong message I am hearing throughout the constituency, is that it is time for change. As the Government’s disastrous economic policies bite, people are increasingly worried about their jobs, their homes and their families. Like them, I want to see a change for the better and that means a Conservative government. I am ready, willing and able to serve the people of Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Osterley and Hounslow, so let’s have the election now.

As we move into 2009, I want us all to be able to hope and dream of better times. I want to help build a stronger society locally where people work together in communities, sharing responsibility, trusting and supporting each other. I want to create a future where people believe that anything is possible – a future where everyone is given the support, skills and opportunity to be the best they can be. I want to give more people power over their lives, I want to make families stronger and society more responsible and I want to make our community safer and greener.

I wish you all, no matter who you are or how you vote, a very happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year. I look forward to meeting many more of you in 2009 and beyond...

P.S. Thanks for reading my blog!

Good news for Gordon at the Glenrothes by-election

A good result for Labour at the Glenrothes by-election this week... but then it would have been a disaster for them if they had lost. This was on Gordon Brown's home territory and if they couldn't win here, all would have been lost.

So what will the Prime Minister do now? Will he be brave enough to call an election in June 2009?

He has managed to recover a little in the polls over the last few weeks as some people think he has has shown leadership over the economic crisis. But how mistaken they are.

- Public borrowing has gone out of control

- He did not save in the good times so we have no reserves to support us now

- He created the Monetary Policy Committee and the Financial Services Authority but did not give them the power they needed to hold Banks to account

- Pension funds have been raided

- Government expenditure has increased dramatically since Labour came to power

- So much money has been wasted on failed government projects

The British people deserve change ...and a change for the better.

The Result - America votes for Change!

Barack Obama will be the 44th President of the United States of America.

I watched the results as they were coming in and then listened to Obama's victory speech at 5am. I was moved. It felt like a special moment in time. America was making history. Obama had actually defied history, achieved the impossible and made dreams come true. This had been the dream of so many people, including Marthur Luther King when he made his famous speech "I have a dream...". Many thought it would never happen.

But what Barack Obama has done, is given his country renewed hope and optimism. His response to the challenges that lie ahead has been, "yes we can". He has united so many Americans by getting them to believe in themselves, believe in change and believe that they together can make their country better.

America has proven to the world that it is a nation eager for change. We now need to do the same. We need change for the better in Great Britain.

Gordon gloom could spell end for Keen

...this is the headline in The Hounslow Chronicle this week...


Channel 4 News' survey of voters in 60 marginal Labour constituencies found there was a swing of 12% in favour of the Conservatives. The YouGov poll, which did not include seats where Labour's main opposition is the Liberal Democrats, found only 1% of those questioned said they rated the Prime Minister's performance as excellent. A further 59% believe Mr Brown's performance to be poor, bad or dreadful.

Here, we need a 4% swing - so about 3600 additional votes, taking into account some small boundary changes. However, a week is a long time in politics! Anything can happen between now and the General Election and although I find the opinion polls encouraging, I do not take winning for granted. My priority right now is to meet as many local residents as possible, listen to concerns and issues and communicate clearly what the Conservative Party will do for people who live here. It is important that everyone knows what I believe in, what I stand for and what I will do for them.

As I go round the doorsteps meeting people in Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Osterley and Hounslow, they are saying the same things to me - "it is time for a change...and a change for the better".

1. They feel we need strong leadership in these difficult times and Gordon Brown is not providing it. He is indecisive, as was seen this time last year, when he decided not to call a General Election. The country cannot afford another eighteen months of a divided Labour Party, a weak Prime Minister, and a Government driven by self-interest rather than the national interest. We need an election to get the strong leadership and change the country needs.

2. They are fed up with a cabinet and Labour Party that seems to be divided and that has no vision. What we need right now is a clear sense of direction and a Government able to lead us through these difficult economic times.

3. They feel Labour has failed them in not improving education, not improving healthcare and in not taking control of crime. Since the start of the year, 26 teenageers have been murdered in London alone. They have lost the personal details of almost half the population. As taxpayers, we constantly seem to be paying for more and achieving nothing.

4. The more people look at the arguments we are making, the policies we are developing and the vision of the future we are offering, the more they understand the scale of change we will bring. We are setting the political agenda across the board: from our long-term plan to fix the country's finances to our proposals to tackle the causes of poverty and extend opportunity to all school-children. We will
- give people more opportunity and power over their lives
- make families stronger and society more responsible
- make Britain safer and greener

But there is absolutely no room for complacency. I will fight for every vote until polling day, to deliver the change Brentford & Isleworth really needs.

Conservatives 15% ahead

A new ICM survey for The Guardian has the Conservative Party on 43%, Labour on 28% and the tax-cutting LibDems on 19%.

It could be a long time though between now and a General Election... so I will make no predictions on what will happen in Brentford and Isleworth! What it does tell us, is that the public are disillusioned with Labour and Gordon Brown, as they do not have any real vision for the country or any new ideas to resolve the long-term challenges and the difficult time we face ahead.

60% of voters also told ICM that they were planning to cut their own spending. Maybe Gordon Brown should take their advice and instead of continuing to borrow...should try and keep spending under control.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all!

I am not sure what 2008 will bring...hopefully a General Election...but I suspect not. That may not be for some time yet. My hope for 2008 is that you, your friends and your family will have a happy, healthy and successful year. Also, it would be great for me if you could read any leaflets I put through your door!
Anyone who believes it is time for change locally, please do come and join my campaign team. Just email me on mary@marymacleod.com and it would make my year even better!

Lets have a General Election now

We all expected that there was going to be a General Election in November this year. The signs were all there. Gordon Brown had been doing well in the polls, he had invited Baroness Thatcher for tea at no 10, he had moved key meetings forward, he seemed to be hiring people to run a campaign for him. What happened? What he did was to help create a stronger, more united and hungrier Conservative Party!

People liked what they heard at the Conservative Party conference - expecially on inheritance tax and stamp duty. They have also not been fooled by the Labour Party taking on some of these ideas as their own.

As I was going around Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth and Hounslow in September and October, I was listening to what residents were saying. The Labour Party were also listening as they called people in my constituency to see how they would vote at the next election. They did not like what they heard and decided not to call a General Election.

I wanted a General Election now as I believe the people of this country deserve to vote on Gordon's vision. The last election was based on Tony's vision. The residents of Brentford and Isleworth deserve the right to have a choice now.