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.

Nick Hurd MP on Charities and Volunteering

Nick Hurd MP, Shadow Minister for Charities and Volunteering, visited us in Chiswick this week to talk to us about the General Election and about the need for change. He emphasised the Conservative Party's commitment to saying 'no' to a third runway.

Polls are not looking great right now, so there is still a lot of work to do if we want to avoid a hung Parliament. Every vote will count in the next General Election. It will be a vote for change.

Photo: Mary with Nick Hurd MP

The Iron Lady in Chiswick

A crowd of local residents gathered in Chiswick on Saturday to meet Baroness Thatcher. I invited Lady Thatcher and Gerald Howarth MP, the Shadow Minister for Defence (who is also a local resident) to meet people at The Station House in Chiswick.

Lady T is an amazing woman who, in her time as Prime Minister, truly changed and shaped the world. She had courage, determination, a real vision and an inner strength to make difficult decisions.

Naturally, not everyone agreed with everything she did when she was Prime Minister, but I believe she was deeply respected as someone who believed strongly in the United Kingdom, stood up for our country, did what she thought was right and had a profound impact on the world.

We need more people in politics who, like her, speak their mind, who are focused on doing the right things for the people of this country and create a lasting legacy for future generations to come.

If I am given the honour after the next General Election, of being a Member of Parliament, my aim will be to also create a lasting legacy – one of a stronger community, where there is less poverty, more aspiration and hope, where people believe anything is possible, no matter who they are or where they come from.

Photo: Mary and Lady Thatcher in The Station House