On the Campaign Trail

The first week of the election campaign has gone. It started on Tuesday, attending the David Cameron's campaign launch at County Hall and since then we have been at tube stations, train stations and on the streets to meet local residents.

The next four weeks will be the chance for each politician to put their manifesto to the British people. We do not know what the result will be ...but people will have their say at the ballot box.

This is your opportunity to vote for change. Change the Economy, change Society and change Politics. Your vote matters, now more than ever. Your vote can change the local Member of Parliament and can also change the government of this country.

Photo: with supporters outsideTurnham Green tube station

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

At the Boat Race in Chiswick

The Boat Race is always a great day and this year was no exception.

There was an excellent atmosphere at Chiswick Pier, as Oxford and Cambridge battled it out on the Thames, cheered on by locals. Thanks to the residents who offered me a glass of wine as I passed with a mass of blue balloons!

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

Brentford School for Girls

London Mayor Boris Johnson visited the constituency again yesterday. He did a Question & Answer session with pupils at Brentford Girls School, yesterday, which I had the pleasure to be at along with members of Housnlow council.

It was a typical energetic performance from Boris, who answered a bag full of questions from the smart, well behaved girls at the school: the Olympics, food, cycling, trains, buses, walking and crime all came up. My only surprise, given last week’s High Court decision, was that there were no questions on Heathrow!

Education is a key policy area for a potential Conservative administration so if you want more details see here: http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Schools.aspx

A victory on Heathrow

Congratulations to everyone involved in the campaign to stop the third runway at Heathrow. Friday's decision at the High Court shows clearly that Labour's transport policy is now in tatters. The decision is one I welcome as I have been part of the team fighting against a third runway for the last three years.

Labour should stop and listen to local people. The majority of residents are against the third runway and so they should take account of what they say. Within hours, transport secretary, Lord Adonis, was quoted by the BBC saying "Today's judgement marks no change whatsoever in the policy on Heathrow." This government has clearly been in power too long. It has lost touch with the electorate.

As long as Labour remain in power, a third runway remains a real threat. A vote for Ann Keen is a vote for a third runway.

PS

If you haven't read details of the decision yesterday, this article from the Independent covers it well. In the picture, you'll also see Barbara Reid, a local Conservative Councillor, on the far right waving the judgement papers along with Justine Greening MP.

http://bit.ly/9yJn0k

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.