"Compass" calls Norfolk for the Conservatives - with an increased majority - and a near wipeout for Labour

An old colleague of mine - who has decided to call themself "Compass" - has been writing election predictions for my blog for the last 3 years with unnvering accuracy. Despite moving out of the City, to native South Norfolk, "Compass" has penned some predictions for the Norfolk county results. To be honest, there are some I don't agree with and how "Compass" knows about the politics of some of these areas is beyond me, but the form suggests we ought to listen up.

So, "Compass" says ...

... Conservatives to hold Norfolk with an overall majority of 20 ...

... Labour facing near wipeout, fighting it out with the Greens for third place ...

... LibDems a clear second including some impressive gains in North Norfolk & Broadland ...

... Greens to do well in the City ...

Compass says 52 seats for the Tories, 18 for the LibDems, 8 for Labour and 6 for the Greens.

I may have time to publish some of the juicy descriptions later, but some of the seats changing hands are surprising and we aren't talking about simply applying a uniform swing here.

Gove heaps more pressure on the Speaker

On the BBC News moments ago, Shadow Childrens Secretary Michael Gove said that had spoken to his constituents and they wished the Speaker to go, and that he would represent their views to both David Cameron and in the House.

This thinly veiled attack on the Speaker is the first from a member of the Shadow Cabinet and move must make Martin's position weaker yet?

Can Speaker Martin really survive the next few days?

Campaign Election WebSite Launched!

I know that many of you have noted that NorwichConservatives.Com went missing for a while; well we've used this time to sort out some problems we were having with the domain and to get the content and look sorted. It's now back up - not complete but all online for the County elections on 4th June.

Amongst the news stories it covers the launch of our manifesto and today's visit by Jeremy Hunt MP. We'll be doing a lot more work on it over the next week so please keep clicking back!

The Predictions Start Here ...

Is this a cop-out post? I don't know, but after a week of solid campaigning around the City I feel in a better position to start the prediction ball rolling with regards to the county elections at least. The anti-politican feeling is strong; but I think that local politicans are exempt from the feeling - firstly people feel a bit sorry for us doing this against the backdrop of the fiddles from parliamentarians, and secondly the nominations have closed and county elections tend to only have mainstream candidates so there isn't really a protest vote available. I do, though, fear for turnout.

If you want to post and share campaigning stories and predictions please feel free!!!

Best Comment of the Day

Actually from Friday's canvassing:

"I voted Lib Dem last year but these are serious election this year aren't they? I'm going to vote Conservative."

So ... County elections = serious. What does that make City elections? Oh dear!

Telegraph dining out on MPs expenses

The Telegraph - aside from the EEN and EDP, my paper of choice - is getting its monies worth out of the leaked MPs expenses and so they should. What has been going on is a national disgrace. That includes Labour, LibDems and Tories. I still don't think "they're all at it" but certainly now it is clear a lot of them are. So, what to do ...

... we can either sack the lot of them; out they go - Blears, Straw, Duncan, Smith, Barker, Follett et al - and all those who have broken if not the letter of the rules then the spirit ...

... or we very speedily change the system. I have suggested before how we might start this. No second homes allowances, no expenses maybe at all - just a decent wage for MPs (because, yes, we must pay them enough to attract high calibre candidates and make it worthwhile for working people to stand and win) and cut out the rest. Oh, and while we're at it - your main home is your constsituency home, full stop.

Because now the body politic is being damaged; canvassing for the last 3 days, it is clear this is impacting turnout and faith in our legislature. We need to sort this - and fast.

A bit of openess, honesty and simplicity would settle this whole affair.

So how about allowing each MP three members of staff - a secretary in Westminster, a constituency caseworker and a researcher, all employed by and paid for direct by the House of Commons. How about abolishing second homes and providing living accommodation in London for each MP that is paid for and owned by the Parliamentary estate (student halls, anyone?). How about MPs buying their own lunch, sink plugs and mock tudor beams?

Expenses: How weak can the LibDems be?

A reader directs me to the latest example of the weak LibDems in City failing to stand up to Labour. This story, still on ther website, claims in bold letters that the "LibDems vote to reject allowances proposals."

Only when it came to the vote, they did no such thing. They voted - along with Labour and the Greens - to defer the motion until July, when they hope the expenses storm will have died out and the economic situation may have improved enough to vote through massive allowances hikes without getting into trouble.

I wanted to take the vote in March there and then to send a clear message that we would reject allowances hikes. The weak LibDems are quite happy, though, to leave a story on their website that says what people want to hear, whilst voting in a totally different way in the council chamber.

The European Factor

The one thing which is very difficult to determine is how far the European elections are going to impact on the political scene, and the local political scene, after 4th June. Yesterday (Friday) we welcomed two of the people at the heart of the European election to Norwich - Vicky Ford and John Flack, who are third and fourth on the Tory list. If the Conservatives do as well on 4th June as they did in 2004 then Vicky will be elected (a good thing in itself) and if they do better then John will also take a seat - most likely one of those held by UKIP.

First thing we did a walk-a-bout in the City Centre and Market to talk to people and try to raise awareness of the election. It was amazingly successful; I am a veteran of 12 years of these sorts of things and the reception from shoppers and stallholders alike was extremely positive. Many more than I expected were aware of the poll and a great number expected to vote. The distrust of the government was palpable and there is a clear sense that only the Conservatives can sort if out. Certainly no support, that spoke to us anyway, for the weak LibDems or even the Greens. Interestingly the European issue seemed to only be secondary; with most people determined to use this a referendum on Gordon Brown and the government.

After seeing the Hay Hill Art Project (utter waste of cash) and the terrible state of the war memorial (cash starved - QED) we went onto a coffee morning in Thorpe Hamlet to meet around 50 local residents; the questions ranged from MPs expenses to crime and drugs, so a very interesting morning indeed.

So onto today ... and I did campaigning sessions in 4 different areas. The reception around Bowthorpe this morning was outstanding. Lots of people in and very keen to talk with a great focus on local issues. In Eaton, however, the European election did spark some debate on the doorsteps. Finally this evening, in Town Close, people were very forthright on the EU side of the debate, esepcially the referendum-that-wasn't on the Lisbon Treaty. I think, overall, the European elections in bouying support for the Conservatives overall. All of the candidates and campaigners in those areas did very well today and we contacted literally hundreds upon hundreds of people; thank you everyone.

I will leave this thread with one thought; a couple of people said to me that they plan to vote Conservative in the local elections but may use Europe as a chance to back another party (before anyone gets huffy, this includes a lady who admitted to voting LibDem last year). I would urge people to vote Conservative twice as the only way to send a coherent message to Gordon Brown about the way he is running (or ruining) our country.

Moment of the Day

A wonderfully ironic moment today as when I was walking down the Earlham Road, a massive petrol-guzzling estate car pulled out ... proudly displaying its "Vote Green" poster.

My first reaction was to laugh; my second was to wonder what Adrian and Rupert would say; and my third was to think if Green supporters really know what their party stands for.

Third LibDem PPC delivers blow to Clegg

In addition to the news that LibDem candidate for Chelsea has defected to the Conservatives the party faces yet more trouble elsewhere as it seems determined to implode. The LibDem PPC for New Forest East faces calls to quit after being "named and shamed" in parliament for attempting (but failing) to smear his Conservative opponent. And if that wasn't enough, their PPC in Carlisle has quit after it was revealed he was behind a negative attack-site aimed at the sitting Labour MP.

It seems that it isn't only Gordon Brown having a bad week ...

LibDem Candidate: Why I Quit The Party

The author of this letter is a LibDem PPC who has quit and joined the Conservatives. It is a remarkable and frank letter – and a devastating review of the leadership of Nick Clegg. The LibDems on Norwich City Council are a weak opposition and LibDems in parliament, a few issues aside, are largely irrelevant. It is worth reading in full.

Dear Nick,

I writing to you to formally let you know that I no longer wish to be a member of the Liberal Democrats and as a result withdraw as Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Chelsea and Fulham.

I joined the Liberal Democrats when I was 18 years old as a student in my first week of University at the freshers' fair and since then have been actively involved within the party. I was President of the Keele University Lib Dems, have been on various committees including LDYS [Liberal Democrat Youth and Students], WLD [Women Liberal Democrats] and EMLD [Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats], worked as a Parliamentary researcher/assistant including for Paddy Ashdown when he was leader, been in party political broadcasts, and I have also been a PPC in Brent and Battersea.

When I heard you speak at the Operation Black Vote event in the House of Commons a few weeks ago I realised that you as leader and the Liberal Democrats are the not the party I had once believed in and is so very out of touch with everyday life and people in our country. It saddens me to say but that day I lost all faith in you and the party and I can no longer continue to be a part of the Liberal Democrat party of today.

The political party that I want to be a part of would be representative of the people and views of all members of British society and be a modern party both in outlook and its vision in implementing policy. I want a leader who will be dynamic and encourage those people who are feeling disenfranchised to think about politics, participate and join in the debate.

The Liberal Democrats does not do or have any of the above and I am therefore choosing to join the Conservative party which I believe has all these qualities and much more to offer our country today and for the future

Norsheen Bhatti

The Truth About the Play Parks

I was very pleased to note the honesty of Labour's Bert Bremner in the Evening News when he acknowledged that I had voted at council to support Bowthorpe residents with a massive injection of cash into our play parks. I am grateful to Bert, but it is a pity though that this honesty didn't make it into the latest Labour leaflets in the area which make claims about both myself and my colleagues in Bowthorpe. Maybe I could take this chance to set the record straight?

At that meeting we were being asked to vote for a big package of spending which included money for the playparks in Bowthorpe, as well as elsewhere in the City. I had some doubts about the package as a whole but I could not see this vital invetsment into my community be lost. That is why I voted in favour of the investment; in addition I would have spoken up on this too but unfortunately I was not called to speak in the debate despite wanting to.

However Labour seem not to recognise this fact; nevermind that the weak LibDem opposition at City Hall failed to support the money altogether, they must be so worried about the threat that the Conservatives pose that they attack me personally over this issue.

At the time my colleague Councillors were unable to make that vote; it was before the Conservative triumph in the by-election and thus Andrew Wiltshire wasn't elected. Sadly Niki George was very ill on the day of the meeting and wasn't well enough to stay until the end. The fact that Niki dragged himself into City Hall when very ill to oppose Labour's 3.9% council tax hike and rent hikes for council tenants was quite impressive; but still Labour wish to blacken his name by accusing him of deliberately not staying for the vote. You might have thought that given their troubles with Labour trying to smear Conservatives they would have thought this through more carefully.

So I really want the people of Bowthorpe and Earlham to know exactly what their Councillors did and why - honestly and openly. It is sad that Labour cannot find a way to campaign in a positive way; such negative and dishonest attacks only turn people off voting altogether. I want the Conservative campaign in this election to be honest, upbeat and positive about our local communities and what we can achieve together.

Back on the Campaign Trail

The Bowthorpe by-election is hardly behind us and we are already back out on the streets campaigning for the upcoming European and County elections. Our candidates nominations are ready, the leaflets are printed and its time to hit the streets ...

Last night I canvassed in West Earlham and tonight it was Clover Hill; the response was very good for the Conservatives but slightly worrying for politics generally and turnout specifically. A lot of people in the ward groan at the thought of another election and trying to impress the importance is vital. The fact that we have a real local candidate in Bowthorpe has gone down very well and our year round campaigning is appreciated. Early days yet, but it is good to be doorknocking again - a fantastic way to keep up with casework!

In the next few days I am helping out other candidates around the City and will keep you updated with the campaign and the issues being raised.

A Good Day For Democracy

The cause - the rights of the Gurkahs - was a maginificent one, but the glory for today has to go to parliamentary democracy and the House of Commons as a whole standing up to an overly powerful Executive. An amazing day for democrats - well done to David Cameron and Nick Clegg, and to all those Labour MPs who defied the whips.

Labour Member: Morphew Must Go

I am not one to leap up and down demanding that heads roll and resignations must follow each bowt of bad news. However I did, with a lot of media coverage, demand that somebody within the ruling Labour adminsitration take responsibility for the dreadful 0-Star (yes, zero star) rating for Housing. Of course, the weak LibDem opposition are happy to allow Labour to bumble along constantly promising jam tomorrow because they know the state they left the City in was little better.

Interesting that despite Steve Morphew saying that resignations would achieve nothing, today a letter was published in the Evening News (sadly not on-line) from a staunch life-long Labour member in Norwich demanding that Morphew personally should resign to prevent meltdown at the elections and to restore confidence in the council.

When your political enemies slam you, that's the game, when your own members do it ...

How many cars should a Councillor own?

The latest bizarre effort from the "Silent Majority" in Lakenham; which most people have concluded is part of the UKIP effort in the ward; attacks the useless LibDems. However, in its regular politican / councillor bashing, the "Silent Majority" blast:

DID YOU KNOW SOME COUNCILLORS OWN MORE THAN ONE CAR - EVEN GREEN ONES.

Ok, Ok, own up - which of Ramsay's brigade owns 2 cars? We know which one uses short hop flights so we may as well know this too! This could be quite funny I suppose (and for the record I own one car but generally walk everywhere).

However, does anybody have the right to know this sort of information about their elected representatives? I suppose if there was hypocrisy involved (Prescott, Ming Campbell etc) then maybe but I don't see what the hypocrisy is here.

And something worse comes to mind; we already struggle to recruit for politics, especially at local government level. If you thought your personal and financial details, which are totally legal and above board, will be broadcast for ridicule by anybody with a photocopier, who would step forward for election? Won't this put people off standing for election? But, on the other hand, shouldn't we be totally open about this sort of thing - and then let the electors decide? Isn't this just People Power taken to the n-th degree? Would be interested in your views ...

Norwich's new Lord Mayor

This is a very good profile of the new Lord Mayor; aside from being an interesting read, it should also serve as notice of what we could miss if the cuts to Archant's local papers go through. Would we really get this from a London - or Cambridge, or Colchester or Ipswich - based hack?

A good basis to start mending our "broken society"

I have always been a little cynical of the phrase "broken society"; because much of society isn't broken and there are a great number of people who care for their families, their neighbours and act in a decent way. However clearly there are great challenges which need to be addressed in this area. I have said for a long time that we as a party need to "seal the deal" with voters and we could do this with some flesh on the bones of our ideas. I am glad that in recent days we have started to see this. Even if the following isn't made into policy (yet) the speech by Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling about youth crime is a very good set of principles to start from. We should be shouting about these from the rooftops.

1 There have to be consequences for every act of antisocial behaviour;
2 Parents must not be allowed to abdicate responsibility for their children's behaviour;
3 A tougher approach to bad behaviour in schools must teach children the difference between right and wrong;
4 Adults encouraging children to be irresponsible - by selling them drugs or alcohol for example - must be dealt with effectively; and
5 Youth engagement in society must be ensured, not least through support for the voluntary sector groups delivering that process of engagement.

I am fairly sure that even our friends on the left couldn't disagree with most of those.

From a soundbite to principle and now onto policy...

UKIP: LibDems are "importing" candidates

After I have done every other conceivable task in my life, I get around to reading UKIP literature. Their latest effort, though, contains something which might just concern us - and, surprise, surprise, it isn't about Europe.

UKIP claim that the LibDems are "importing" their candidate for this year's elections from outside of Norwich - a claim which wa spreviously laid against the Green Party. Interesting, I thought, and given the sudden appearance of Dave Thomas as Bowthorpe's "campaingner" despite showing zilch interest in the area previously and recently moving in from Thetford, I wondered how many other LibDem candidates were newly arrived in the City.

It will be very interesting to look at the background of the candidates when they are announced; because either the LibDems are going to look very cynical or UKIP are going to be very embarrassed!

Clegg's shift on MPs expenses

I am all in favour of people coming around to my way of thinking, but what has prompted this move from publicity-deprived LibDem Leader Nick Clegg we wonder?

After all, Mr Clegg has claimed the maximum allowance for a second home as recently as last year including the costs of doing it up. No doubt Mr Clegg will be happy to pass the profits to the taxpayers, but would he have been happy to have done that if the storm over expenses hadn't blown up? Discuss.

Worried about repossesion?

This very useful document has been produced which may offer some good tips on what to do. I note that today the debt collectors have given people an extra 30 days to sort out their finances before claims are made. The most important thing is to get advice and know your rights.

Listening to Business

On Friday, I attended a business meeting, courtesy of Conservative Business Relations, for local businesspeople to meet with and discuss future policy with Shadow Business Minister Jonathon Djangoly MP at the City College building in St. Andrews Street. It was great to see such a big turnout of local businesses and clearly a sign that many people see us at a govenrment-in-waiting. I made a few remarks regarding changing educational qualifications - such as the Diplomas and Young Apprentiships - and their impact on business. I also spoke about educational achievement in Norfolk and the skills that school leavers require to add value to businesses. From the feedback afterwards I gather that this struck a real chord with businesses.

In addition there was much discussion about Norfolk's infra-structure, including work on the A11, A47, A140 and A12 and the rail network, the growth agenda around Norwich, red tape in business and support for the tourist industry. The businesspeople there were certainly angry with the government, and felt it was actively getting in the way of business in providing jobs and creating wealth. I was glad to see the Conservatives making promises to, for example, apply business rate discounts automatically instead of making firms apply for them.

Afterwards, along with fellow PPCs George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) and Chloe Smith (Norwich North) we did a video for the Chamber of Commerce about the event and future Tory policies on business which will go up on their website when it is ready (I will provide a link when it is ready).

The most important part of the meeting was listening to what business want and need from a future Conservative government; low tax, simplified regulations and an open market. Many businesses - such as some of the hotel owners from North Norfolk - reported good trading, but mant remain concerned about the future. That is why it is important that we stick together, listen to business and work our way through tough times together.

The Day The Shed Came Down

When you are snowed under with survey canvass returns, leafleting Bowthorpe, canvassing in Eaton and campaign planning, when is there a better time to start dismantling the garden shed? To be fair, like a certain government, it was rotten and - also maybe like the government - was going to collapse fairly shortly of its own accord. Why is this worth blogging? Because the shed is the last part of the original garden that we bought back in 2005 - now it is totally unrecognisable from the day that we bought it. Every room decorated in some form or another; I don't know why, but now I feel the stamp is on the house. I should also record my thanks to Cllr Wiltshire who did somethings with a hammer that ought never to be blogged...

Talking of which, I recieved a very interesting letter from a gentleman living in Thorpe Hamlet who said that he lived in our house in the period 1933-35; This man and his family don't seem to be on any register so it helps to explain a little mystery of who owned the house between it being built, in 1933, and the first registered owners in 1935. I am writing to offer him the chance to come back and see it again if he wishes - and when and if he does then he will see exactly what kind of home we have made in our 4 years in 138 Trafford Road.

MPs Expenses: Just Sort Them Out

The continual drip-drip of allegations and snout-in-trough exposures of the recent weeks doesn't damage a single political party - they damage the reputation of politics and with it, democracy as a whole. Voters I have spoken to on the doorsteps in the recent weeks want us to tackle anti-social behaviour, improve school standards, strengthen our society and repair our economy - so the more time we spend on the issue of MPs expenses the less time we are working on the "big issues" and the "tough choices". So come on Gordon, sort it out and do it fast. And to help, beause Gordon is currently keen on advice from the Conservatives, are my plans.

1. Abolish all MPs expenses - don't give MPs a penny more than that which they earn.

2. Cut MPs salaries by 5%, and then link them to the pay rises offered not to a high ranking civil servant but to our nurses and teachers. Might make our MPs think rather more about the impact of their decisions on hard working families rather more.

3. Abolish money for second homes. Parliament - or rather, the taxpayer - ought to buy a big block of flates near to Westminster, do them up and provide them for free to MPs (not unlike Halls for students). There could be larger flats for MPs whose families come and see them during the week. They would all be furnished to a minimum standard (think Travelodge); any extras come from the MP themselves. The flat is owned by the tax-payers and would switch to the new MP should a member lose their seat.

4. Judge the qualification for these flats by the avergae time taken to get to Westminster by public transport (the real journey time, not those claims made by rail companies). Anything up to an hour door-to-door is a reaosnable communte. Anything more qualifies the member for a flat.

5. Put a complete ban - and I mean, complete - on family members working for the MP.

As a Tory, the free market is very much in my thinking; there are no shortage of MPs and there are many, many very good candidates without seats who would do the job. If people don't like the pay and conditions they shouldn't out themselves up for the job. A big bit of being an MP is public service, and that may include taking a pay cut to do the job.

I am a staunch defender of MPs - the overwhelming majority are decent, very hard working and honourable men and women. They deserve our respect as a population and I personally am grateful for the work they do. MPs expenses get in the way of recieveing that respect and should be sorted out as soon as possible.

We don't want to give you that...

Chris Tarrent is ruining my life.

For Mother's Day "the kids" bought Louise Who Wants To Be A Millionaire on the Wii (a joke - of sorts, because we both loved Slumdog, and don't worry there was a better gift inside the box too!) and we haven't really stopped playing it since. I have now won £125,000 but it continues to fill every spare waking moment.

And because you can start again if you get it wrong, it encourages you to be reckless ...

I am even playing it during ad breaks.

I may have to go Cold Turkey.

Working Hard for Bowthorpe - All Year Around!

And that's not just an election slogan! I must admit that I took the weekend after the by-election off, mainly to see my kids again, but this week has been straight back into it. The bizarre twilight world of the by-election meant that a number of other issues took a back seat, but they are all back on the agenda now.

On Tuesday night I attended the Lord Mayor's Business Reception at Norwich Castle which was an excellent event; not only well attended but the quality of the debate - particularly on the round table - was impressive. It became very clear that business wants a low tax, low intereferance attitude from the City Hall; faciliate business, they urged. There was good support for a number of the cultural functions of the council (elephants, ice trail etc) and an interesting split over transport (some for more road closures, others for opening up more routes).

Tonight I did a street meeting with residents about pavement issues in Clover Hill, cyclists on pavements and repairing roads. I met with one of the City engineers to talk to residents abot an action plan and I think everyone left happy; nice to have a bright evening to stand outside and chat! Then I had a Bowthorpe Ward Councillors meeting and onto the Bowthorpe Community Partnership where, amongst other things, we heard a report of the opening of the new Youth & Community Centre and concerns about the state of Bowthorpe Hall Road.

And the rest of the evening has been catching up on correspondance and the like. A busy life ...

I wonder if anonymous will comment again?

This gem of a comment appeared on a previous thread; I wonder if the secretive owner will now post a response? I doubt it, but I can live in hope.

Great real Little - the Dims are going to win Bowthorpe and you know it.They were storming around Bowthorpe delivering egg blue handwritten letters while you guys were pushing out the same crappy black and white rubbish with terrible photos.What will you feel like when Simon Wright's machine gets to work in your little nest egg in Bowthorpe? Looking forward to your election against the type of campaign you've seen in the last 5 weeks? Enjoy your council allowance while you can.

Apparently, anon, people liked the "crappy black and white rubbish" because it featured local issues with real solutions to problems rather than "mass printed to look like handwritten letters" which were strings of meaningless nonsense. I know this because the Conservatives got more votes than the LibDems. The thing is that day after the poll, the LibDem campaigners have all gone home, only here because it was a by-election, whereas everyone involved in our campaign is still here because we were all local. The Norwich Tory campaign team that took on and beat the Norfolk LibDem juggernault is very much ready to go. Quite frankly, if this is the best that Wright and his team can do then I say of the next election - BRING IT ON.

The LibDems can take no comfort from Bowthorpe

I am going to make some early remarks about the by-election; and I stress early because I have been so tired I haven’t really thought through all the angles. I also hope this to be an honest account of what happened.

For those who do not know the circumstances or the campaign on the ground or the local factors this could be a confusing result; on sites like Vote-2007 a lot of people simply applied the polls or the national situation to the result. Many people thought that could lead to a Labour win. I have to say, the one result that – until the day – I thought utterly unlikely was the Labour win. On the day it was clear that Labour was moving its core block-vote and a lower turnout could have meant them squeaking back in. That is why the utterly efficient Tory get-out-the-vote was so important.

It is also important to remember the history of the ward; a factor which is largely ignored in the analysis of the result. Bowthorpe had, for a very long time indeed, been Labour’s safest City berth. The challengers in the ward were the LibDems, and after a narrower result in 2000 – if I recall correctly Labour held on by a couple of hundred – the war settled down into a familiar pattern of results. When I took over as candidate, Labour were polling around 1100, LibDems 750 and Tories 350. In 2003, the year I first stood, it was Labour 1100, LibDems 614, Tories 609. So, remember, this ward has a longer LibDem history and has a big LibDem vote within it; much larger than the natural Tory bloc. The reason that the LibDem advance looked so impressive is that the Conservatives had squeezed their vote so effectively in the 04-08 period and they were starting from an ultra-low base of around 195 votes. So when I see LibDems claiming a hell-of-a-result, I really want to point out that this was exactly the same sort of result they have always got in this ward.

Then there was the campaign itself. The LibDem bandwagon hit Bowthorpe hard; they produced at least 9 A3 leaflets during the campaign, on top of god knows how many more plus direct mail. The LibDems pounced on this ward the day after John died and relentlessly pursued it in the next 7 weeks. The sheer weight of campaign support they received was phenomenal; I have never seen anything like it – something the Tory Party ought to take note of. Nobody could deny the effort that went in; they imported campaign organisers and their Eastern Region Director was here for the whole of the campaign. Labour had, similarly, support from amongst others their London Campaign Director. We had no such support in any way, shape or form.

Given the money, the campaign support, the backing from local MPs it is remarkable that anything stopped the LibDem bandwagon. But when it came down to it, local issues and local candidates matter more than the weight of leaflets you could deliver. I am very proud that local people turned their backs on negative politics and voted for a candidate who offered a positive vision based upon years of getting results. The LibDems will no doubt point to an increase in votes; they should be looking at why their vote share ever fell that low in the first place; their campaign bought them back up to where they were. They should then look to see if their own campaign is what killed their candidate in the end; more of this later.

Sometimes, the thing is not what you have but what you do with it. And I would like to comment on the campaign that each party ran – but that’s for another day (after sleep).

By-Election: Con Hold

More on this tomorrow but this is a fantastic result for us and I will be expecting apologies from various anonymous comment leavers!

Results of Bowthorpe ward by-election - Thursday 12 March

Candidate name	Political party	Votes	Elected
Jo Storie	Labour	761
Dave Thomas	Liberal Democrats	686
Christine Way	Green Party	193
Andrew Wiltshire	Conservative	915	X

Bowthorpe Thread

As you might imagine I am going to be very busy in the next few days, so may not be able to post. However you can use this thread for predictions, comments on the campaign or literature and suchlike.

It will be very interesting if the very negative and very, very intense LibDem campaign pays off; we wonder what the lack of a Green campaign will do to their vote and if Labour can ever recover in this ward.

John Wyatt was a great councillor and I hope the person who replaces him on Thursday is every bit as good - I trust that person is Andrew Wiltshire; local, hard working and the best man to beat Labour!

Latest Norwich South poll

Conservative 33%
Labour 31%
LibDems 24%
Green 13%

According to latest poll of polls here

No matter how many of these we get, the pattern of the seat being a tight Lab/Con marginal remains. A two horse race, anyone?

Bowthorpe Gets Bizarre: Vote Witshire?

The City Council have admitted that they have spelt our candidate, Andrew Wiltshire, wrong on the ballot paper - they have called him WITSHIRE instead. They have apologised but this just gives the impression that the council doesn't have their eye on the ball and can't get anything right.

All postal voters should be aware that the votes will count, including if you have corrected the council's spelling on the ballot paper!

This is unbelievable really; that there wasn't thorough checking with regards to the spelling of candidates names. I really haven't ever heard of this before; I hope it doesn't confuse and doesn't put anyone off from voting. The council has written to apologise; but as one voters said to me on the doorstep tonight ... and they want unitary status?

Bowthorpe Gets Dirty: Part 3 - LibDem phone canvassing

Next ... a Chapel Break resident raises with me the tactics being used by the LibDems with their massive phone bank effort in this election. Apprently the chap rang to ask who the resident would vote for, bearing in mind that only the LibDems could win in Bowthorpe. When the resident challenged them on local election figures, the phone canvasser paniced and hung up. This is not the first LibDem phone canvassing complaint we have recieved. I have passed this onto the LibDems and asked them to cease this kind of tactic. I know that the people running the LibDem campaign aren't from Norwich, but people here don't appreciate this kind of campaigning at all.

Politics Conference: Post Match Analysis

Today I was in London with 21 (yes, count them, Mr Little, always 21 of them...) students at an A Level Politics Conference. Despite the hard wooden seats it was a good day, and we saw a decent array of politicans.

Caroline Spelman MP - Shadow Communities Secretary - Was nursing a cold and sounded like she did; not a great effort and seemed to stray off the point. Tried to make local government sexy and largely failed. Pity as I think she is usually very good at this sort of event; nearly the youngest speaker and didn't really connect.

Tony Benn - Former Labour cabinet minister - Always good value and the most engaging of the speakers. However he does always remind me of why I vote Conservative. Apparently the world economic slump is dealt with by taxing the rich and building council houses. Also, when questioned directly by the students about interventionism and when it works and doesn't, he failed to answer the question. Got a rousing cheer; couple of good jokes especially about being pleased to recieve a death threat because he knew he could still worry and irritate people. Benn is living more and more on his reputation I would say.

Don Foster MP - LibDem Culture Spokesman - Don was the surprise of the day for me. He was very articulate and answered the questions directly and honestly. However, he did blow a few radical student dogwhistles; plenty of stuff about Iraq and civil liberties to get them clapping. However he spoke in a very accessible way and came across as being very decent.

Alan Duncan MP - Conservative Shadow Leader of the House of Commons - The absolute star of the day; though mainly with good quips and a fantastic Tony Blair impression! He was entertaining and the only one who stuck to the A-Level script about the role of parliament. Best bit was during the questions; when a middle aged Politics teacher got up to challenge him about Thatcher's "dismantling of the welfare state", Duncan replied quick as a shot - "What nonsense and if this is the kind of thing you are teaching then heaven help us." Cue clapping.

Simon Hughes MP - they said he was LibDem President but I am fairly sure he isn't - seemed to have put on a great deal of wait. Spent ages talking about people who knew that had died and films he had seen. Oddest speech of all. Then went on to say that the LibDems got 25% at the last election (not true) and were on the verge of power. Students were actually laughing when he talked of a LibDem government. Very partisan speech and over shadowed by Foster.

Chris Bryany MP - Deputy Leader of the House of Commons - wanted to avoid all mention of his government so spoke for 20 minutes about how he became a Labour MP and the journey he took. It was very interesting - and also very emotional - especially regarding his sexuality and growing up living in Franco's Spain and then in South America. However, he good a rougher ride from the questions but stood up well and earned some respect for that. Came out as good as a government minister could.

Frank Dobson MP - Former Labour Health Secretary & London Mayoral Candidate - joined the other lefties in worrying about the rise of the far right. Did some good old fashioned banker-bashing and, to be fair, some government-bashing too - although he said the government was not really to blame for the economy. He got rugby tackled by a lady about now being able to get on the housing market - but Frank told her to rent instead! This caused some gulps around the room; I think people want to own their own home, so Frank's idea that we all rent went down badly.

So all-in-all some very interesting stuff; the LibDems were the most political of the speakers. I was concerned that 2 of the 3 Labour speakers were "formers" and thus didn't have to defend the government. The left were very pre-occupied with the rise of the far-right and all mentioned the BNP - a genuine concern or, again, student dogwhistle politics? But most of all, the re-occurring themes, through speeches and questions, were foreign affairs, civil liberties and jobs/economy - plus a few on education. Nothing on crime or the NHS. What does this tell us about the future domestic political agenda?

Bowthorpe Gets Dirty: Part 2 - "Rude & Aggressive"

We've now had several complaints about political canvassers in this election being "rude and aggressive". I haven't blogged about it until now, but the most recent contact has been rather bizarre.

A young Mum from Clover Hill got in touch to say she was canvassed by Labour this week; when she said she voted for me the canvasser turned on her, calling her "stupid" and walking away. Is this a moment of anger boiling over or a general campaigning technique? The voter was very angry indeed with that response - we disagree in politics but there should always be courtesy.

This seems to be a reoccuring theme for some in the Labour Party; a certain leading figure crossed the road in North Earlham to barrack Andrew, the Conservative candidate, up a residents pathway with the voter at the door! I've heard of crossing the road to start an arguement but that takes it to new levels. If the voter was wavering on deciding to vote at all, that scene would certainly had put them off. I am glad that Andrew was decent and polite throughout.

This has been a negative by-election; with spin, PR and smears a plenty. I hope local people notice who is doing it ...

Ivan Cameron : An Amazing Life

As the father of two young daughters, I cannot imagine losing either of them, and in that respect I have no idea what David and Samantha are going through. I can but imagine how I might be in their circumstances. Those pictures of Ivan's parents caring for him, touching him and holding him are very special indeed.

I am very rarely moved by the news, but watching the BBC tonight I admit to getting very upset indeed; a child is so precious and so wonderful that losing them at any age must be devastating. David and Samantha should thank God for his 6 years tonight and that they showered him with love and affection during that time. Ivan was in a great deal of pain, but the touch of his loving parents no doubt helped him through those times. But we should also keep Nancy and Arthur in our prayers who have lost a brother they both loved very dearly.

Our families shape us as much as we shape them; Emily and Olivia have changed me and my politics and we have heard today how Ivan changed David Cameron. Few people can ever say they moulded a Prime Minister, but I think Ivan Cameron has done it. He lived a remarkable life and both he and the Cameron family are in my prayers tonight.

Bowthorpe By-Election Candidates

Jo Storie - Labour ; lives in Bowthorpe, former county councillor but has certainly not been involved in any of the community groups since I have been involved.

Dave Thomas - LibDem ; lives on the other side of the City and stood for a seat in Thetford in 2007. Nothing known locally, other than criticism of starting campaign the day after John died.

Christine Way - Green; perenial Green candidate, lives in the City Centre.

Andrew Wiltshire - Conservatives; lives in Bowthorpe and works for Social Services. In his twenties and runs the local CF branch.

Interesting that only 2 candidates live locally; I wonder what people will make of candidates being parachuted in with no track record and claiming to be "local campaigners"?

How genuine is Green pledge on supermarket booze?

The "other" Councillor Little - that is, Stephen who represents Town Close for the Greens - had a rash of excellent press last week that included linking in with the EEN's campaing to support pubs by not buying alcohol in a supermarket for a year (click here for more). Great, you might think - but a click on a different web page makes the story a little less clear. Rather than being a personal crusade, according to pledgebank.com, Stephen writes that:

I will not buy alcohol from a supermarket for a year but only if 500 other people will do the same.
— Stephen Little, Green Party City Councillor

That isn't quite the same thing - and as only 19 people have signed up so far it might seem that Cllr Little is off the hook; so if this is more than just a publicity stunt, no doubt he will be making clear the pledge stands, even if 500 don't sign up...

Can we measure anything by defections?

I have always had a pretty neutral stance on defections; I neither join the clamour for by-elections nor get hot under the collar about who is going where. However, I note that the London Borough of Hillingdon has seen two pretty high profile defections to the ruling Conservative group in recent weeks. Firstly LibDem Roy Chamdal switched to the Conservatives and now Heathrow's Labour Councillor Santokh Dhillon has joined too. This adds to the heafty Tory majority in Hillingdon and also says something about the way the opposition are working.

Interesting to note the way that the party losing the member reacts; Labour in Hillingdon said it was because Cllr Dhillon spent a lot of time in India and was useless, whilst the LibDems said Chamdal wasn't doing any work for them anyway. Do we really need this? Can't you say that they are good people but you respect their decision - the same right any voter has - to switch parties. Is character assassination really necessary? Won't the public be rightly suspicious to find, for example, the LibDem leader advocating their candidate in a by-election one week and stabbing him in the back the day he quits?

Although the wonderous Parliamentary defection hasn't happened yet, these add to a stream of local government / activist defections. People are saying that you can tell a party on the rise because of the stream of defectors. But how far do the defectors recognise a party on the rise? Which came first - the party strength or the defectors?

Maybe all this tells us is what the polls already show - a very likely Tory majority at the next election?

LibDems will scrap plans to dual the A11

Anybody who attended the City Council debate on the subject of dualing the A11 may be surprised by that blog headline, but once again the gulf between local and national LibDem parties is startling.

In order to make his back-on-an-envelope £20bn tax cuts stack up, LibDem Leader Nick Clegg is announcing the savings in dribs and drabs as and when they are dreamed up. Last week this included cutting the road building programme by 90% (yes, ninety percent). This would, inevitably, include the work that is needed on the A11 and the A47.

I happen to believe that this was seen as an easy hit for Clegg; enhances his environmental credentials and provides a serious wodge of cash for his tax cut plans. However the arrogance of the national party means that was never communicated with the local party nor alligned against local priorities.

So local LibDem Chiefs will be left to answer to local people about why the A11 won't be dualled under the LibDem spending plans.

This decision couldn't have come at a worse time for business in Norwich and Norfolk; and again demonstrates why the LibDems can't be trusted with the big decisions.

Are there 10 LibDems in Bowthorpe?

At the last election there were 195 votes for the LibDem candidate; and they came in last place. This obviously isn't a fantastic result (despite the claims that only they can win here!) but doesn't explain their apparent desperate efforts to get their nomination paper signed for the by-election. Let me explain.

The nomination paper requires 10 signatures from local people - we usually ask either our members or keen supporters. There is never a shortage in Bowthorpe; however in wards where you are not so strong it can be a challenge.

Having said that, I don't think we've ever had a situation where the candidate and his team have to go door-to-door begging for signatures. I know the LibDems have precious little canvassing for Bowthorpe (usually not bothering at all with the ward) but they must know 10 people locally to sign ... or do they?

I was contacted by a gentleman from Three Score most put out that a young man bowls up on his doorstep asking him to sign. The resident - who was a little frail and veryanxious by this visit - asked for ID but non was forthcoming. The canvasser keeps pushing the man to sign, apparently getting more and more determined. The resident, though, refuses and finally the canvasser goes on his way. This made the resident feel very worried and insecure indeed. The resident also told me that the canvasser didn't even identify the party he was representing.

I note from the statement of persons nominated that the LibDem candidate has his signatures from trawling around Three Score; could they be the mystery party desperate for signatures? If so, it shows that no matter how many nasty and negative leaflets you deliver the public will always back a positive, hard working and year-round team.

If - and we aren't sure it was the LibDems but the evidence points that way - it was them, then any party struggling for nomination signatures ought to be very worried indeed.

Bowthorpe Gets Dirty: Part 1 - the LibDem Campaign

If anybody thought that the by-election caused by John's death was going to be a gentleman's affair then this weekend will surely have made them think again.

The LibDems kicked off their campaign the day after John died; hardly showing a great deal of respect. When this was reported to the media (incidently, not by me) instead of their Group Leader or PPC leading from the front, a junior spokesman was wheeled out to give their excuses. Aside from smearing me, they said this was part of thier normal campaigning in Bowthorpe. Hmmm, that would be the same normal campaigning that hasn't seen a single non-election leaflet delivered in the last 3 years? The LibDems are noted for their utter lack of respect around by-elections and their negative tactics. I haven't been disappointed.

The second LibDem leaflet attempted to link the Greyhound Opening scandal with the decision to appoint the next Lord Mayor. Apparently we have "gone easy" on Labour and, oh, by the way, Tories and Labour are discussing plans for the new Mayor. Now, these would be the same discussions that started last October (before Greyhound Opening) and in the presence of LibDem Leader Brian Watkins who knew all about it. Hardly secret and not at all linked to Greyhound Opening. But don't let any facts or honesty get in the way of a LibDem campaign; smear and innuendo are all that matter to them.

And then to this weekend ... the usual part of any LibDem campaign is the famous bar chart. Up to this point they had been using the last constituency results - but apparently voters were actually laughing at the claim that only the LibDems or Labour could win in Bowthorpe, so they switched to only the LibDems or Conservatives this weekend. The LibDems came last in 08 with just 195 votes. I wonder if the LibDem agent would like a £50 charity bet with the Conservative agent that says the LibDems don't come in either of the top 2 positions? Maybe I should write!

The Labour campaign will gets its own blog post later, but the attitude and conduct of the LibDems has been reprehensible. How long ago was it that then-LibDem Leader Hereward Cooke had to apologise for their election tactics and admitted lying on their leaflets? I think the same thing may have to happen again. Either way, if Brian Watkins wants a working relationship left with any of the other parties he better start showing some leadership and take a grip of the campaign rather than letting the electorally-militant wing of the LibDems take over again.

Normal Service to be resumed ...

After a short break from blogging, due to various factors, I am going to get back into it; with a by-election in Bowthorpe, the council budget and unitary delayed there will be plenty to talk about!

Nick Clegg vs. the Norwich LibDems over who is more arrogant

We're all used to the hypocrisy of the LibDems, but even this takes the biscuit; just as they are claiming to be a joined-up party!

As part of an interview with the BBC (more here) Nick Clegg came out with this line:

Asked who he might support in the event of a hung Parliament, Mr Clegg said it was "arrogant" to second guess voters.

Apparently it is, according to Mr Clegg, arrogant to assume who people will vote for. So how does he square that with the usual utterings of his local parties:

Conservatives out of the race ... its so close here ... our next MP will be LibDem Simon Wright or Labour's man Charles Clarke - no other result is possible

How arrogant does that make the Norwich LibDems? To tell local people that no other result is possible other than the choice the LibDems give them. Aren't they second-guessing the voters in a big way?

Nick Clegg may like to use that line to get out of a hole with regards to which way they would jump in a hung parliament, but when his candidates up and down the country are being as arrogant as to assume they know the way people will vote means either they are in direct conflict. So that leaves us with 2 scenarios:

Either Clegg is ignored by his local parties; or they know what they are doing and are trying to decieve the electorate. I'll let you decide.

Hat-tip to regular contributor EGL Resident for this one!

John Wyatt 1938-2009; A True English Gentleman

It is with much regret that we announce the sad news of the death of Councillor John Wyatt. Cllr Wyatt, 70, has died after a long illness battling cancer. He died at his home in Trafford Road will his wife of 44 years, Eileen, by his side. Cllr Wyatt was elected to serve Bowthorpe Ward in 2007. John was a former salesman – most notably for Goodyear tyres – and was a keen cricketer. John spent time volunteering for many gardening groups and, until recently, was an allotment holder in Norwich where he grew organic fruit and vegetables.

I am so saddened with the passing of John Wyatt; I have not just lost a colleague, but a neighbour and a dear friend.

John entered politics in the 1960s standing for the Earlham area – a community he had a great affinity for and where he finally won many years later. John was a great community politician and a champion for people against the bureaucracy, the petty administration and the dominant political class. He loved to challenge authority and stand up for ordinary folk against the powers-that-be. Even in his last months he attended to his council work diligently; my only regret is that our community was only represented by John Wyatt for a few short years.

To those of us who knew John as a friend, know what a fantastic gentleman he was. Unfailingly polite, decent, caring and always interested in you and your problems. During his illness he seldom complained even when in great pain; that is a mark of the man he was.

John wasn’t Norwich City Council’s man, nor even the Conservative Party’s man – he was Norfolk’s man. I am deeply proud to have known John, to have worked alongside him and to have considered him a friend.

I am devastated by his loss, our thoughts and prayers are with Eileen and all those who loved John. But I pay tribute to this remarkable man for all those lives he touched. John Wyatt was a true English gentleman and will be missed so much.

UPDATE: One other thing needs to be noted about John; I have never seen such emotion at the death of a local politican. I have been recieveing emails, texts and phone calls all day from local residents, party members, the opposition, council employees and party workers all very shocked and saddened. One word keeps coming up time and time again - gentleman; which I think very aptly sums up John.

John Wyatt was one of the very few, if not the only person, to have faith in me to stand again in 2006. Without John's encouragement and support in that election I think I would have walked away. Just weeks before the poll at which I became a Councillor I had decided not to stand - it was John, in hiw own special way, who used a long car journey we took together to give me the confidence and self-belief to carry on. He was an amazing man who has done more for my family and I than he would ever know - much loved and much missed.

Cameron's Reshuffle: Round Pegs in Round Holes?

The key to any reshuffle, particularly when in opposition, is trying to get the right shaped pegs to fit the right shaped holes. This task isn't as easy as you might think; you have to work with the pegs that you have and those who are willing to be put into holes. You have to consider the wishes of the pegs and the importance of the holes. Then there are the skills of the pegs - in parliamentary terms, within the party or on the media perhaps. You need a balance of certain shapes to keep the party happy and the relationship between pegs.

So the remarkably smooth reshuffle and the shadow team which is now in place in even more astonishing given those restrictions.

The one casualty of the reshuffle is the very low key Peter Ainsworth; he's a good guy but really lacked the pro-activity which was needed. His Environment brief goes to Nick Herbert; a good choice, a sound Cameronite and will work well with Shadow Energy Secretary Greg Clark. Herbert's old Justice brief goes to Dominic Grieve. Grieve stepped in at very short notice to replace Shadow Home Secretary David Davis when he quit last year; Grieve's forensic intelligence will be put to better use against Jack Straw and I look forward to their clashes.

The Shadow Home Secretary job goes not to David Davis but to Chris Grayling; a great new Tory media star who has real political pitbull tendencies. He will really tear into Labour and Jacqui Smith should feel very vulnerable tonight; he has a great record of chasing Ministers from office. I had never really linked Grayling with the Home Affairs brief; so a very good if unexpected move from Cameron there.

Grayling's old job as Shadow Work & Pensions Secretary goes to Theresa May; this is certainly the most puzzling of today's moves but in many ways a good one. Theresa has for many years been pigeonholed as a female member of the frontbench; she's held such jobs as Shadow Families Minister - I think this may give her the chance to really get her teeth into a meaty job in government and show what she can do. I've always rated May and think she has to show her readyness for government in this position.

May's old berth, as Shadow Leader of the House, goes to Alan Duncan and far from just being pleased he kept a job in the top team, I am pleased he has been given a serious job. Duncan is a good performer and this position will give him plenty of scope in both the House and in the media.

And, of course, the Shadow Business post goes to former Chancellor Ken Clarke. As keener readers will know I am very pro-Clarke and backed him for leader numerous times. He is a bruiser and an effective political player. He reaches to parts of the country that not even Project Cameron can. Even as a Euro-Sceptic myself I am perfectly happy that Clarke can work within the party and deliver a powerful message on the economy. The team that Cameron has now put together in the economic portfolio is, indeed, the best in the country. Just a shame Clarke and Mandelson will never meet across the dispatch box ...

And finally is the job swap between Caroline Spelman and Eric Pickles as Party Chairman and Shadow Communities; I hope people give them both time to settle into what are going to be very tricky jobs. Spelman will have the whole unitary debacle to deal with; but I have great faith given her strong performance in the role a few years back. Pickles is certainly the grassroots favourite and he will have great expectations on his shoulders. He needs to talk to members, pick up on their concerns and act.

In short Cameron has indeed created a strong team - most of which are actually unchanged - and you can see this team moving forward into government. I would argue that we still have to find strong roles for David Davis and IDS; and Cameron must also offer the chance of real progression to the upcoming talent such as Justine Greening. He must also consider the enhanced role Damien Green may soon be playing.

But this must be one of the most dramatic - and important - reshuffles in many years.

Homage to my Twenties

Well, that's it folks ... I'm just hours from my birthday and from being 30. Goodbye to my youth and hello to ticking those boxes that say "30 to 39" on forms. People tell me your thirties are like your twenties but with money; but those people are all old themselves. As I sit here tonight, I wonder what happened to the last 10 years, and then I realised.

Age 20, in 1999, I was in my second year of my History Degree at UEA, living in Southwell Road in Lakenham, single and jobless. Later that year I met a beautiful young lady called Louise Cowan and spending most of this decade with her has been the best thing about it. At the end of the year Louise and I spent time in California together; an amazing holiday wit great memories.

Age 21 (2000) I got my 2(i) degree from UEA and got a place to study a PGCE in Norwich; by now I was living in Grove Avenue, Norwich, and worked at both M&S in Rampant Horse Street and McDonalds on Westlegate. I started work at Aylsham High School in that October.

Age 22 (2001) I worked at CNS, Eaton Road, and completed my PGCE. I left Norwich to work at Douay Martyrs High School in Ickenham - a wonderful school and with colleagues that I am proud to still call friends. The kids were rough, tough, challenging and thoroughly fun, decent and satisfying to work with. At Christmas I proposed to Louise and she ageeed to marry me

Age 23 (2002) I was promoted at school to being Assistant Head of Year 9; a job which gave me a passion for Pastoral Work in education. I spent a lot of this year saving and planning a wedding (OK, Louise did most of the latter). I spent a lot of time commuting between Ickenahm and New Malden.

Age 24 (2003) we married in July in what still remains the most amazing day of my life; everytime I think about it a smile still creeps across my face. We had a stunning honeymoon in Italy (again, all Louise's choice - I wanted Mexico, but she was right). In August we moved house and bought our first home - a one bed bungalow in Three Score, Bowthorpe. Moving in was no problem as we had very little stuff; I remember driving there in just my Fiesta! It was a small place but had a lovely garden and we had brilliant neighbours. It was ours. That September Louise started work at Poringland Primary School and me at Notre Dame High School as Head of Year 10. I'm not sure I was what they were expecting! It was the most hectic year of our lives! Oh, yes, and I started blogging!

Age 25 (2004) and my first major launch into politics. In the February I was selected as Conservative candidate for Norwich South - a deeply lonely experience in an association with active members you could count on one hand (how things have changed). Later in June I failed to be elected for my home ward of Bowthorpe by just 14 votes - a defeated that shaped me in so many ways. Firstly not to allow Labour to make me feel like that again, secondly about the type of campaigning people respond to and thirdly the importance of a track record of success. In the June of that year we discovered some shocking news - we were expecting Emily, just 5 years ahead of schedule! Louise's pregnancy was bad and that summer I spent most of the time with a sick wife and thus our tour of America was cancelled.

Age 26 (2005) saw yet more great changes. First of all where we lived. Mardle Street was just too small for us. We had bought a place on Alexandra Road, Norwich, which feel through on the day of exchange. Thus, with a 7 months pregnant wife we panic-bought a bigger house - a destroyed shell of a property on Trafford Road. With the amazing support of our family we did it up slowly and continue to do so. I have never felt more at home anywhere than I do in Trafford Road. We became very strong friends with our neighbours John and Eileen Wyatt (now Cllr and Mrs Wyatt) who remain the best, if nosiest, neighbours around! There is a great community feel here and I never regretted the move; although as Louise stood crying in the garden on the day we moved in because of what it state it was in I'm sure she did! In March that year our beloved Emily was born - after a very long hard labour. She was beautiful with long dark hair. And such an alert baby! Sleeping wasn't great but without her picture on my desk, working wouldn't be worth doing. In the May I was defeated by Charles Clarke at the election but it made me want to do politics even more. Contrast that with, in August, my year group getting record exam results for the school.

Age 27 (2006) and two more significant events - firstly my successful campaign to be elected in Bowthorpe. Really that campaign was run by 2 people and I owe my entire political career to John Wyatt. I won by 139 votes defeated Labour's former Lord Mayor Ron Borrett. I was then thrown into the world of local government and straight into the party leadership, and only the work of Eve Collishaw in introducing me to the right people and translating the local government speak could I have survived! This evening I helped someone with some casework and I still get the same buzz from helping people that I did back in 06; long may it last. In the September we very suddenly lost my Uncle Johnny who was only in his 40s. He was a larger-than-life character who enjoyed his life from beginning to end and in that respect he remains an inspiration to me. Growing up he was more of an older brother than an Uncle (mainly because the things he did were stupider than the things we did) and, apparently, we looked very much alike. I still miss him now as much as I did then. In April of that year we discovered that, again, Louise was pregnant and that Olivia - our super Libby - was due and sure enough she arrived in December. Looking like Emily but a lot easier to deal with! I remember one cold day in December the four of us falling asleep together on our bed; Libby on me and Emily in Louise's arms.

Age 28 (2007) This was a year for growing - watching Emily and Libby grow into their characters and watching the Conservative Group on the Council grow, as Eve held her seat in Catton Grove and John gained a seat in Bowthorpe from Labour's Chrissie Rumsby. Blair left office and I started teaching my first set of A2 Politics students. For the first time I was elected as the local Tory Chairman in my own right; I had done an Acting Stint in both Uxbridge and in Norwich South, following Trevor Ivory's resignation. We lost my Nan this year, after a long illness - we all went to see her and I got pictures of her holiday Libby with Emily dancing in the foreground of the photo. I am glad we did because I got to say thank you for her part in bringing me up.

Age 29 (2008) And I finally got to tick off one of my wish list - we went to New York on a very long weekend, something I have always wanted to do. Once again we made gains (Niki George defeating Brenda Ferris in Bowthorpe and John Fisher winning Catton Grove from Juie Westmacott) and I was re-selected as Conservative candidate for Norwich South, having another go at Charles Clarke! I stepped down from the Tory Chairmanship and was pleased to do so but still very much remain linked with the association. We finally extended the house, a conservatory was build and finished in November.

And now I spend my last few hours of my Twenties blogging; and what a good use of time its been. Tomorrow is going to be hell on earth but the last ten years have changed and enhanced my life in so many ways. I am a far better person today than was I was the day I turned 20 and I have so much to look forward to in the next 10 years; especially my 2 beautiful little girls, my loving wife and a career that I still enjoy and find challenging in equal amounts. And then there are my friends - the people who use their own insanity to keep me sane. I have a feeling my Thirties won't be as eventful as my Twenties but my God do we plan to have some fun ... so look out Life!

Administration Councillors make the best opposition

In an otherwise docile Scrutiny Committee the highlights came from Labour's Lakenham Councillor Keith Driver, who (wittingly or unwittingly) asked some of the best questions and tackled Executive Member Alan Waters a treat; especially asking if the council ever achieved its budget aims! Someone that remark from an opposition councillor would have looked cheap but from a member of the ruling party it came across being classic.

Reshuffle fever and Reshuffle nonsense

Nick Clegg should stick very closely to a very boring script because everytime he utters in public he makes a prize mistake - either about women, the pension or his shopping habits. So when he came out with this line:

"I am proud to lead the best front-bench team in British politics, a team which has consistently been ahead of the curve on the big debates that matter to the British people."

...he can't of possibly thought he would get away with it. The Cult of Vince aside (a viewpoint I happen to challenge as it happens) the LibDem frontbench is utterly devoid of talent; Ed Davey verus William Hague, for example. The art of fibbing is that the fib should be believable. Spouting this nonsense ... honestly!

As for the other reshuffle story - the continued Tory speculation, I have to agree with Iain Dale when it says that Cameron must either now act or announce he won't reshuffle because the rumours could start to be damaging. For what its worth I am very relaxed about the return of Ken Clarke and if he does the right job he could prove to be a serious thorn in the governments side. Equally though I think Alan Duncan deserves to keep a serious frontbench position. Mind you, Cameron can't possible make a stupider comment than Clegg!

Over at my other place...

All of my political press releases as Conservative PPC for Norwich South can be found at my campaign website (click HERE for more) - in case either you or a CCHQ secret-agent needs to know!

Let's start holding the hacks (and their bosses) to account

With the apparent revelation that Tory Chairman Caroline Spelman is to be cleared by the Parliamentary Watchdog for a misuse of public funds, there might be a case for looking at how such a claim came about - a kind of accountability equivalent of "wasting police time".

The story was broken by Michael Crick, a man for whom you may remember I have very little time or faith in (a low regard for which only one other figure in the media shares, in my opinion). On the night that Crick may have to eat humble pie, he then releases a massive non-story about CCHQ "watching" Tory candidates. The shock might of been that CCHQ wasn't watching candidates and I am sure both Labour and the LibDems do the same. The vehemently anti-Tory Crick is using one non-story to cover up the failure of another.

As I keep saying, politicans of all parties and at all levels are held accountable when they make false allegations or get things wrong. Why are hacks, policemen, school governors and the like not treated the same?

Cameron has another "moment"

I am starting to strongly believe that Cameron's leadership is marked by a number of significant moments - things that define him to the general public and, so far anyway, they are greeted with opinion poll bounces. The Inheritance Tax announcement was one such "moment", as was his 07 conference speech (the one without notes). Today, although events elsewhere mean it won't get as much attention, we may have seen another moment - on tax on savings.

Savers have been affected by the necessary reductions in interest rates whilst pensioners have suffered from a decade of Gordon Brown's tax raids. They are currently being championed by, amongst others, the Daily Telegraphy who should warmly welcome Cameron's pledges.

As well as supporting pensioners and savers during this turbulent time of financial turmoil, the Conservatives will take further economic measures to help the victims of Gordon Brown's recession.

The Conservatives' proposals include improving the flow of credit and saving jobs with a £50 billion National Loan Guarantee Scheme, freezing council tax for two years by cutting wasteful government spending, encouraging companies to hire again through a tax break for new jobs, reducing employment costs for small businesses by cutting National Insurance and helping them with cashflow by delaying VAT bills for six months.

Labour's tax and debt bombshells are taking Britain to the brink of bankruptcy. Their answer to the debt crisis is yet more borrowing. It is clear that the longer Labour is in power, the worse the economic situation will become.

Only the Conservatives can make the long-term decisions to get the public finances back under control with the proposed National Loan Guarantee Scheme and an Office for Budget Responsibility which would ensure that no Labour Government could bankrupt the country again.

It's a good plan and Cameron has announced it well.

We'll see how significant a "moment" it is and largely that will depend on the media coverage.

Happy New Year!

I know its a bit late, but hey ... I got a Wii for Christmas so the chances of me having any time for blogging are now very slim. Or indeed, working, campaigning or talking to my children! Having an amazingly good time with it. I can see the statement now; Conservative candidate steps down to spend more time with his Wii.

I'm sure the novelty will soon wear off...

p.s. Am 30 in exactly one week - so may have to do something reckless whilst I am still in my twenties.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a fantastic time tomorrow; we're just back from Mass at St. John's and went to see Panto at the Theatre Royal on Monday - both events that really make Christmas, but particularly this year for Emily. I really know what they mean when they say Christmas is about children.

Enjoy the Yuletide season!

VAT to NSPCC

I've done it!

Since the Chancellor cut the rate of VAT, I have always thought that the "pence" savings were never going to add up to much and although collectivly it was a large tax cut people wouldn't necessarily feel the benefits (unless you bought something huge - which I rarely do). I thought that it wouldn't bring confidence or extra spending into the High Streets or net shops.

So I have been keeping a mental tally of my VAT savings on all of the bills and spending that I have personally done; and I am pleased to announce that I have now saved, thanks to Darling, my first £10 (yes, ten pounds!). Saved mainly through various utility bills and shopping at DIY stores, I was pushed over the edge of the tenner mark by a 7p saving in Tesco's this morning.

Fantastic - now I just need to decide what to do with the money I have saved!

Simple answer for me really, I've just donated £10 to the NSPCC via their fundraising web page. Normally I tend to donate to the BHF or Cancer Research but the NSPCC have been forced to make some pretty deep cuts in Norwich recently and for some kids Christmas isn't the time for joy it should be.

Charity is one of the biggest losers of recessions; and I am pretty sure that donations will be down across the board ironically at a time when we need them the most. I am a great supporter of charitable works because of how it fits in with my political beliefs; to mis-quote Hoover, "one dollar given in charity is worth ten dollars given by the state".

So my VAT cut has gone to charity; maybe the government will be upset with me that it isn't going directly into the tills?

UPDATE: The BBC is reporting that the IMF has said that the VAT cut will not impact consumer spending. There's a shock!

GTC Update: the lights are on but nobody's home...

Following my post below about the GTC, I set about as this mornings task to settle the dispute regarding my lack of membership and thus my illegal teaching in England (well, I wouldn't want to waste any more time marking and lesson planning if I am about to be sacked).

However on calling the GTC I was told by by an autumatic machine that their office hours are Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 6.30pm and Fridays 8.30am to 5pm. Said machine then put the phone down on me with a characteristically rude click.

Hang on, hang on. A few checks here.

It's between Monday and Friday - check.

It's between 8.30am and 6.30pm - check.

It's not a bank holiday - check.

So where are you GTC? I guarantee you the Education Department in Norfolk County Council are working (I phoned to check) as are the Advisory Service in the PDC (ditto checked). So where is our alleged professional body for teachers?

The message didn't even tell me when the GTC would be open for business again; and the letter tells me I must have this sorted by 16th January. I tell you, the stress may well get to me.

Rupert Read Apology Watch: Still no sign

Various letters to the local paper and this blog have all called upon democratically elected Green Party Cllr Dr Rupert Read to apologise for backing the utterly illegal actions of the "Plane Stupid" group who bought havoc to Stansted recently.

Judging by this post on his blog it isn't coming anytime soon.

It is a disgrace that any man who seeks power via the ballot box should endorse those who seek influence via direct, destructive and undemocratic means.

My experience, from the media and the doorstep, is that most people are very unhappy with his public stance on this. It is a shame that when Ramsay has worked so hard to make the Green Party electable and decent in Norwich and beyond, that Read is undoing all that work along the political fringes. I don't know why Ramsay continues to tolerate him - unless he agrees with him?

Police & Politics

There is a reason why civil servants, including senior police officers, are instructed to stay out of politics. The Met's Bob Quick has just found out why. (More here).

Quick's apology should draw a line under the matter and hopefully the investigation can continue.

However one more thought springs to mind.

I remember a school governor once accusing David Cameron of lying about a boy who turned up drunk to a GCSE exam; when Cameron was proved right, we never found out if the governor apologised for the misguided attack.

If people are going to enter the world of politics they ought to take on the politicans rules; which is that if you are wrong you should, at least, apologise as publicly as you made the original statement and retract. I am glad Quick did this, whilst the governor still hides; Quick may yet still come out of this with his reputation intact or even enhanced.

The GTC - Pointless and Wasteful

Norfolk Blogger may be totally off the mark when it comes to politics, but he continues to hit the right notes when it comes to education; and in fact serving teachers of all parties do seem to be coming together on a bit of a consensus when it comes to edcuation policy - we just need this to filter up to the political parties themselves.

In this particular case, NB puts the spotlight on the GTC (General Teaching Council) which he asks what it has achieved in the last 9 years apart from threatening to rob teachers of their QTS over drunken behaviour and the like. Since when did the state control us like this? Anyway ...

... Although I would agree with every word, it isn't the utter pointless nature of the GTC which irritates me. I could just about handle a government created body which had no point but discharged its duties in an effective and efficient manner. The trouble is that the GTC is neither.

I recieved a letter from it this week.

It told me that I am not registered with the GTC and I must be; OK but here are the facts.

I am a qualified teacher in my 8th year working at my 2nd school. I am in my 6th year at Notre Dame High School.

They are writing to me at my home address; how did they obtain this if I wasn't previously registered.

I have voted in pointless GTC elections in the past.

I have done all this - apparently - without being registered.

I have been teaching in schools - apparently - without being registered.

So there is one of two explanations:
1. I have been registered all this time and the letter is a total waste of my time and my taxpayers money.
2. I have not been registered and have illegally been teaching for many years. All those grades will have to be annulled. Those kids in universities shall have to be withdrawn. I shall have to stop marking this GCSE coursework. Oh well!

The GTC says everything about Labour - a giant, monolithic organisation with no purpose or sense of good about it. It wastes money, creates pointless paperwork and most of all, has no impact on my life, my teaching or most importantly my pupils lives.

I trust that when Mr Gove is looking for savings to be made - the £33 registration fee per qualified teacher comes from the government remember, because tecahers complained about having to pay it ourselves - in the Education Department this is first on the list.

The GTC? Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.

Greens knew about Greyhound Opening 18 months ago ... but said nothing

Personal statement by Councillor Steve Morphew, Leader of Norwich City Council and Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Brian Watkins, Leader of the LibDems and Councillor Antony Little, Leader of the Conservatives.

Steve Morphew, leader of the council, said: “I have every confidence that the inquiry is dealing with this seriously and thoroughly and will report fully at the earlier possible opportunity. The final report will be made public, along with any lessons that need to be learned.

“I am as concerned as anybody about this as it clearly raises important issues and I also want to be reassured that proper procedures are in place and being followed.

“I would like to make it absolutely clear that I did not know properties were being offered to Green Party councillors. I have reported the matter to the council’s standards committee as this is clearly a serious allegation.”

Brian Watkins, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “I am very concerned that it appears a councillor knew what was happening 18 months ago, and that he did not go through the proper procedure, which would have been to report it to the council. There appears to have been a serious lack of judgement from the Green Party and also from their leader.

“I am reassured that the investigation is proceeding as quickly as possible, but there are clearly important issues that need to be addressed. When the inquiry is finished, that will be the time to comment further.”

Antony Little, leader of the Conservative Group, said: “There has been a great deal of public speculation about who knew what. It is clear that some Green Party councillors knew this was going on but did not see fit to report it, as is their statutory duty.

“The Green Party has been calling for a full investigation and now it appears they have information that may be critical to that inquiry.”

“We have a responsibility to act in the best interests of the people of Norwich and it needs to be clear who knew what and why they did not bring it to the council’s attention sooner.”

It's got Brown, it's got Cameron but no Clegg ... what does this tell us about LibDem literature?

When a lady in Thorpe Hamlet waved a political newspaper at me, all I could see was Gordon Brown's head. Then on turning to the inside there was David Cameron (both deliberately unflattering pictures I should add). On searching through, I discovered that it was a LibDem newspaper yet nowhere could I - or the householder - find a picture of Nick Clegg (who aparently leads their party). The lady was most put out - not because she was a Tory and wanted to attack the LibDems but because she likes Nick Clegg and was outraged they could show their 2 main opponents but not their own leader. Her killer line to me was a good one. Why should we trust a party that won't even advertise their own leader? Any ideas on why they did this would be welcome; it seems to break the political rules of not giving your opponents free advertising?

Not good looking enough for a noticeboard

We are currently delivering 2009 calendars that include key contact phone numbers for local services and also websites. Needless to say it does include a picture of me ... and then this appeared in my inbox.

"I am writing to thank you for the calendar which has just been delivered to my house. It shows great innovative thinking not shown by the local Conservatives in many years. Well designed, well produced and exremely impressive. I am sure a lot of my neighbours will be pleased and it demonstrates how seriously you are taking this area for the next election."

So far, so good ... we are impressive, serious and innovative ... and he goes on ...

"The only trouble is that I cannot possible look at you for the next year and so have sliced your picture off the side of the calendar."

Lovely. I might be the serious choice to replace Charles Clarke but not apprently fabulous enought to adorn a noticeboard for a whole year.

This made me laugh - but Louise laughed longer and louder!

It's freezing cold and raining ... let's go out leafleting!

The planning stage was a nightmare, actually doing the delivery seemed like a sort of bizarre punishment but the end result did make us all feel good - yesterday and today, teams have been out delivering across the City in Thorpe Hamlet, Lakenham, Bowthorpe, Earlham, Eaton, Wensum, Mancroft and Nelson. Amazing level of activity in the constituency at the moment and I really do have to thank all those who are really making politics interesting in Norwich South at the moment. The thing that distinguishes this campaign from the last is the sheer number of people getting involved - without them, politics and the democratic process wouldn't work. I extend this thanks to all those across the political divide who give up cold weekends for political activity.

Today we also found time to go Christmas shopping to Norwich where the crowds seemingly failed to be. In the closing down sales - particularly in The Pier outside Chaplefield - it was pretty busy but the rest of the City was seemingly quite slow. After that it was off to see Santa at Notcutts - but only to fnd he was very busy! Well, it is that time of year ... we've said we'll take the girls to see him when there isn't a 90 minute queue (yes, ninety - our girls are good at standing in line, but not that good!).

I suppose I should mention reality TV too; X-Factor finally after many years got the right result - Alexandra Burke is amazing and talent-wise in a different league from the others. I am slightly disappointed in the choice of debut single but I am sure she'll have an amazing career. So too will JLS but I have this feeling Eoghan will die off into cable TV obscurity. The one thing ITV does very well is X-Factor finals.

Shame the same thing cannot be said for the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing last night - not my cup of tea but Louise and the girls like it. I did however watch the results show and if I had of voted last night (which I didn't) then I would have been mightly annoyed with the decision to put all 3 couples through; the BBC should have thought twice about that.

Anyway, I have a couple more blog posts to publish then I'm off out again in the cold ... all for democracy.

Greens will never say "sorry"; so why should anyone who has ever flown vote for them again?

Predictably, Green Party poster-boy Rupert Read leaps on the bandwagon and backs the borderline-illegal behaviour at Stanstead today.

I feel very very sorry for the passengers whose flights have been cancelled by this irresponsible action. The Green lobby needs to campaign through the democratic process and legitimate, peaceful means rather than this.

For those people hoping to see family at Christmas, travelling on business or going home after studying in the UK, this is not something they can forgive.

This total disregard for travellers and their lives says a lot about the protestors and the contempt in which they hold people. I hope the leaders of this protest - and their supporters - apologise for their frankley quite distrurbing and very disruptive actions, but I very much doubt they will.

And if you have ever flown - think on ... this could have been your flight. How would you have felt? And it could yet be any flight you take in the future.

Any party which supports this doesn't deserve support at the ballot box - because they themselves ignore the ballot box as a means of achieveing their aims.

Are web stats linked to the paper campaign?

The patron saint of blogging, Iain Dale, is often bemoaning politicans who don't take advantage of e-campaigning either to keep in touch with constituents or to get elected in the first place. With a blog (this one), a website, a regular e-newsletter and more to come I'd like to consider myself somewhere in the top half of candidates when it comes to using the net. But one moan of MPs and the like about online campaigning is there is little evidence about the actual impact it has; and a recent statistic I have come across may help to flesh this out a little.

My campaign site - www.electantonylittle.com - is run using wordpress which has a much clearer and easier stat counter than most providers. You can see on a graph how many unique visitors you have and it is therefore easier to correlate this against other campaigning activity.

If the site it linked to by another big player - either Dale or ConHome - then you get a spike in visitors. Similarly if it gets a name check in the local press or even sometimes this blog can push visitors over to it.

I don't see e-campaigning and traditional campaigning (posters, leaflets et al) as mutually exclusive and thus we spend a lot of time in Norwich South out delivering and door knocking. The website has featured in the latest leaflet which is currently being delivered.

And with each big delivery session ... yes, you get "the peak" too; so last weekend we delivered thousands of leaflets in Thorpe Hamlet, Lakenham, Town Close, New Costessey, Bowthorpe and Earlham - and yes, the site got its biggest day of traffic. Yesterday we splurged in Eaton - another spike - and today in Town Close - and, yes, a smaller but very clear spike.

Because this happens everytime we do a major leaflet drop and there being no other explanation the web stas have to be linked to the paper campaign; if people like what they read or want to know more they can go online.

So yes I believe the future of politics is online and the visitors on sites like this are increasing all the time. But many candidates will wonder how to develop an audience; and here we come to a chicken and egg situation. You have to run a good paper campaign to establish your online presence - but when you have and people return time after time, then the internet comes into its own.

Statement regarding "Times" report on Norwich City Council Housing Department

Joint statement on behalf of Cllr Steve Morphew, Leader of the Council and Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Brian Watkins, Leader of the LibDem Group and Cllr Antony Little, Leader of the Conservative Group:

"Senior officers are carrying out a rigorous investigation. Leaders of all political groups on the council have been briefed and have passed on the position to councillors in their groups. All councillors already know there is an investigation taking place and so to call for something they know is happening is deliberately misleading. We will not allow the investigation to be compromised."

"We have a responsibility to the council and the people. Making irresponsible comments about an investigation they already know to be thorough and rigorous smacks of councillors playing politics when the city expects and deserves more. If there is an investigation into allegations about the standards of behaviour then councillors should be setting an example by letting that happen rather than making it more difficult."

A Great Parliamentary Moment ... and the Queen's Speech

The Queen's Speech is usually one of the highlight's of the parliamentary year - but this year it seemed very slimmed down (and as a small state Tory I have no problem with that) but the relative lack of business does demonstrate a certain lack of focus and direction on the part of the government. However, whatever Brown's last full parliamentary year hailed, it was unlikely to beat the statement by Speaker Martin, which really did give us a marvellous parliamentary occasion.

It wasn't really much to do with what he said - although the revelations about the police not having a warrant may cause problems for the Acting Commissioner - but the tone and manner of the Point-of-Order contributions that followed it. What followed was a general cross party debate, where party advantage wasn't pressed and where the primacy of the Commons was at stake. MPs of all sides showed the dignified and serious response that this situation demands. The contributions from former Tory Leaders Michael Howard and Iain Duncan Smith, former LibDem Leader Sir Ming Campbell, former Minister Denis McShane, former cabinet minister Douglas Hogg and Tory grandee Sir Patrick Cormack delivered well presented, relevant and forensic insights into the current problem - demonstrating why our parliamentary democracy needs former frontbenchers to stay in the House to use their wisdom and experience in such a way. And when Ashford MP Damian Green spoke it was to deliver a perfectly crafted and devasting attack on the whole affair.

This clearly isn't the end of the matter and it will go on; however I think a competent performance by Speaker Martin may guarantee his job for a while yet. However if this gets worse then he could yet be in trouble.

What made me smile was the govenrment mortgage plan; not in the Queen's Speech but announced today, knocking the Green affair off the top media slot. Deliberate? From Brown? Hasn't he given up spin?