Latest leaflet 29 January, 2008
For those that have just our last leaflet I hope you enjoyed reading and we look forward to hearing your views. Shneur
Park Rangers 29 January, 2008
On a recent visit to Salford whilst taking questions from an open audience, my wife asked David Cameron about the security of children and parents in local parks. An instant step change in his answers was noticeable, you could see the passion ooze when responding to it, he never gave an answer he gave a vision how to reclaim our public places, it was pure passion.
He said that he is trying not to begin with the words “lets bring back” but on this occasion had had to say bring back the park ranger etc.
This weekend my family where in Cardiff where we visited some beautiful parks all with rangers on bikes and bright jackets and I cannot tell you what a difference it made, directing people, moving on older children from the kid toys etc.
The more people will get to know Cameron they will find out his has his ears to the ground, o what a ride we are in for.
Mending the broken society 12 January, 2008
Two weeks, two visits from David Cameron to Manchester. First to Stretford to make a landmark speech on the NHS, marking its 60th birthday and setting out the Conservative plan going forward. This week to Salford to set out his vision on the long term solution to inner city crime and the diminution of respect.
I have often mentioned that despite my youth over the last ten years I have been to too many press conferences, set piece speeches, sound bites etc. This was none of the sought, they where thoughtful, well prepared and in depth.
In the unlikely event under our electoral system the Conservatives do get a working overall majority next parliament, I am increasingly confident that unlike Tony Blair David Cameron will not waste it. Blair had the ideas the big “mo” and lacked the backbone to see it through.
The one common threat I detected running though his approach can be summed up with what JFK famously said “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”. We need a renewal in social activism and the redirection of respect away from the gum runner and drug dealer, back to the head teacher and police man. This won’t be accomplished by the state but can be led by it by empowering individuals and communities, by redressing the balance in favor of the third sector – the voluntary sector.
The fact that it will take a generation plus, we have to be both honest and realistic about, and use it as the imputes to redouble our efforts and not be disillusioned.
Shneur
Keeping HOPE 5 January, 2008
This week David Cameron came to make a very unappreciated speech on the NHS. In contrast to PM Brown’s tough talk no action sound bite on employment. DC’s speech I know will prove to be a landmark moment for the NHS when the Conservative get into government, he spoke about the tough long term reform that only a Conservative government can deliver.
For me it is always a pleasure to meet the hardest working shadow cabinet member Andrew Landsley. In passing I mentioned to him that if only half the shadow cabinet worked as hard as he does and where as thorough with their brief the Conservative Party would be far closed to power then they are now. He gave that sly grin that said you’re too right but I could not possibly comment.
I am please to read that DC has pledged to make him Health Minister in his Government, to ensure much lacking continuity in the NHS.
He then explained in some detail why our opposition to the closure of Hope hospital is both practical and principled, and how a Conservative government would keep local services.
I was very much reassured, IDS started it but I never thought id see the day where I could say with some confidence the Conservative party is the party of the NHS.
DC’s said to me in private he must come to Salford again soon as he is a massive Smiths fan. I did not have the guts to tell him I was too young to know who they where, but I most certainly would not pass up the opportunity to have him back, it was so inspirational meeting him.
