Free Speech 26 November, 2007

Over the past week I have agonised greatly about the Oxford Unions decision to give a platform to two odorous creatures. 

I never for a second considered that they should be invited, I just wanted my conscience to feel I had come to that position out of ideological commitment and after some considered reflection, and not because I was cajoled by the weight of public opinion, or even that I innately knew it was wrong. 

Having joined the Conservative party in Hackney in 1999 it must have been through ideological fervour and nothing else, and contrary to public opinion so do most politicians of all persuasion (LD’s aside). So I was intrigued on Saturday night to learn that Conservative front bencher and MP for New Forest East Dr. Julian Lewis resigned his life membership of the Oxford union is disgust/protest. I surmised and hoped it was not petty point scoring or the leadership trying to catch headlines (us Tories leave that to LD’s). So I was greatly intrigued to hear him appear on Radio 4 this morning debating the issue with Dr. Evan Harris LD MP for Oxford west and Abingdon, one of the few eloquent and thoughtful LD’s It is often a pleasure hearing him on abortion equal rights, despite being diametrically opposed to his views. 

Dr. Lewis opened the debate and his words came out of his mouth dripping in gold and I absorbed them like an ice cream on a hot summer’s day, I do not recall such a considered and rational case being put so beautifully. Dr. Harris sounded like a fish out of water and betrayed his true Yellow colours attempting to muddy the water by politicking it why he quickly realised that his was wrong. Thankfully Dr. Lewis skilfully evaded and left me with a glow all morning. He both crystallised the argument for me and reminding me why in this murky over politicised world I was and am a Tory.  

A very sad weekend 9 November, 2007

At the stoke of midnight this Wednesday the leader of the opposition in Hackney Eric Ollerenshaw OBE resigned. Eric is fighting the marginal seat of Lancaster and Fleetwood in the North West. As ever Eric put the country the people and the party first, as he could very well have done what most other politicians do, stay on till the next election.

Especially considering there is no one in Hackney and few in the party that is as competent as him, Hackney has lost is best statesman (ironically since its last one also a Conservative “Tory Joe” lobenstien) and dare I say will not replace for years to come.

Not only was he liked and respected be friend and foe alike he was also my Mentor and man I leaned most of what I know about politics from and a master tactician.

Ever since I first met him at a husting to select our candidate for Mayor of London in 1999 he impression was instant and his passion oozed from the man and this in a decade which you could say was not his best.

I do not wish to write and obituary yet because arguably his best days are before him, and he would not want or like him, just to say a few things of what he did;

·        1987 Parliamentary candidate Manchester

·        1988-1990 Conservative leader ILEA

·        1990-2007 Councillor/Leader of the opposition Hackney

·        2000-2004 Member and Conservative Leader of the GLA. 

The final chapters have yet to be written, but I know they will be full and glorious, Eric is the best Cabinet Minister we have not had YET!!!

Best of luck Lancaster we are all rooting for you.

Update

• Eric also stood for Heywood and middleton 1992.

Bins – what a load of rubbish 9 November, 2007

Firstly could I say that the conservatives are totally apposed to chips in bins it is anti libertarian and we are categorically apposed to new stealth taxes.If we are to recycle more it is through education not forcing people.It takes me and one other person three days to deliver a leaflet to 4000 properties in Kersal. So why does it take more than 10 council officers two weeks to deliver 2000 full time?Furthermore the letters came we and some people had it shoved into their gates because officers could not be bothered walking up the drives, or in one case putting it an outside letterbox a few yards away what a disgrace! It would be comical if not true the fridge magnet handed out does not even stick.If anything ever typified how incompetent Salford Labour is this does, just look how other Conservative councils are collecting twice and three times the recycling for a fraction of the cost. Suffice to say the complaints are already coming in and this won’t be the last ill have to say on this.

more Labour closures 9 November, 2007

 The other night I met parents and staff of St Gorges High school in Walkden, another good school being closed by Labour. I cannot to obvious reasons repeat what I was told, but suffice to say for me it brought flashbacks of Hackney Labours sweeping closures of good community educational establishments in Hackney over the head of parents and the communities advice. I only hope the tremendous showing and the strength of support will show the folly of their ways and they row back from closure before it’s too late. Not only did my mother-in-law (O I must just add the worlds best teacher) do time there and come out with glowing reports, it is also a well performing faith school that parents are clambering for more of.