Rupert Matthews - A Worker - A Winner - The Conservative Party
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Campaigning

Rupert Matthews is one of the most dynamic
grassroots campaigners in the business

Rupert has a reputation as an active campaigner for the things he believes in. He began by delivering leaflets in the 1979 General Election, spoke against trades union power at union meetings in the 1980s, played a key role in privatising council services when a councillor during the Thatcher years and stood as a Parliamentary Candidate for the Tory Party in 1997 - a lonely task if ever there was one. Most recently he has campaigned against Euro-Federalism and the intolerance of the Climate Change Lobby.

This page contains details of some of his campaigning activity over the past couple of years.

Rupert also offers Campaign Workshops to help candidates and activists. See his introductory video by clicking HERE


General Election 2010

During the 2010 General Election I was active across the East Midlands, spending most of my time working in target seats.

I started in Leicestershire Northwest where I spent hours folding and stuffing in the office before going out to meet our cracking candidate Andrew Bridgen for some delivering.










Lincoln was next on the list where I found candidate Karl McCartney and his team delivering pledge letters, so I joined in and spent a happy day dodging showers and blazing sunshine in the residential streets to the west of the city centre.


I then moved on to Corby to help Louise Bagshawe - like me a professional writer - by delivering a last minute leaflet to one of the lovely rural villages in the eastern part of her patch.



Eve of Poll was spent in Loughborough helping Nicky Morgan by working the telephones to make sure that all our pledges were ready to go out to vote.








Election Day saw me in Northampton North working with Michael Ellis in a tight contest with Labour and the LibDems.




That evening I moved over to Daventry where my old friend Chris Heaton Harris was defending a stonking great majority with great aplomb. The count dragged on, however, for no adequately explained reason. We did not get home until gone 5am.






31 October
Down to Yeovil for the Dinner of the CWO. Another speech on ghosts (second in two days) - well it was halloween.


30 October
I went up to Witney to speak to the Conservative Supper Club on the subject of ghosts and spooks. They had a great Halloween themed restaurant to welcome me. Great fun!

24 October
I attended the Lincolnshire Conservative Conference (left). Great speech by Roger Helmer, plus contributions from Caroline Johnson (PPC for Scunthorpe), Paul Swaddle and others.

16 October
I was the inaugural speaker at the Boston Supper Club with a talk on "RAF Bomber Command in Lincolnshire". I gather a tidy profit was turned and I must say the spread laid on by the Con Club was fantastic.


13 October
I travelled to Wokingham to speak to a Fish & Chip Supper on the subject of "Lost Railways of Berkshire", on which I recently had a book published. Organiser Hilary Pollock kindly sent me an email in which she wrote "The comments I have had about how interesting you made the subject, even though they weren’t train enthusiasts shows your expertise in the art of public speaking." They truend a profit of £300 apparently.

26 September
I spent the day in Louth speaking to a Louth Conservative Lunch on the future of the EU, attending an afternoon tea with local councillors and then speaking to a CF event in the evening.

25 September
I spoke to a local history evening organised by Norwich Conservatives. I spoke about "The Battle of Britain in Norfolk", largely because my dad served with No.105 Squadron at Swanton Morley during the battle.


18 September
I spoke to the Supper Club of the Erewash Conservatives on the subject of RAF Bomber Command  in the East Midlands.
And I found that there were two members of Bomber Command from the war in the audience, who obviously knew rather more about the subject than I did.


13 September
 I spoke to the Haltemprice and Howden Luncheon Club, giving a humorous overview of a lifetimte of political campaigning.


2 September
I spoke to the Buckingham Ladies Luncheon Club on the subject of "How women led society in the days of chivalry", rather apt in Buckingham really. Chairman Sue Renshall (right) kindly emailed me to say "You were brilliant today and everyone thoroughly enjoyed listening to you." What a flatterer.


16 August

I was the guest speaker at a lunch in Deeping St James, Lincolnshire, to raise funds for South Holland and the Deepings Association. The subject of the talk was "Ghosthunting in Lincolnshire".



15 August

I spent a day in Saxilby, Lincolnshire, canvassing for a district council byelection. The sun shone and the candidate rewarded us with tea and biccies when we had finished. A great day out.
And on the following Thursday we won the election!


19/20/21 July

I spent three days in Norwich campaigning for the Norwich North by-election. Great fun all round, but no raincoat could cope with 8 hours of delivering in the rain so I got soaked on Tusday - a good job that skin is waterproof!
See the Campaigning page for other recent news.


8 July

To Hampshire to help out with the Brockhurst Council By-election. Sadly we failed to win this LibDem seat.






2008 - 2009 European Campaign Diary


In March 2008, I was selected to be one of the European Candidates for the East Midlands Region. On 7 June 2009, the Count took place in Leicester. Not unexpectedly the final result for the East Midlands was:
Conservatives: 2 MEPs elected
Labour: 1 MEP elected
UKIP: 1 MEP elected
LibDem: 1 MEP elected

Unfortunately, being No.3 on the Conservative list, this meant that I was not elected. Mind you, I really enjoyed the campaign over the previous 15 months or so. Set out below are some of the highlights of the campaign, both during the month in the run up to the elections themselves and over the previous 14 months of activity.

First a few photos from the Count.












4 June
Election Day! I spent the entire time in a single room in Matlock engaged in a marathon 12 hour telephone knocking up exercise - oh OK, I took a short break for lunch and another for tea. Otherwise, ear glued to the phone and finger tapping away all day long.




3 June
I started Eve of Poll in north Nottingham deliverying leaflets, then moved on to Southwell in Newark to spend the afternoon delivering eve of poll leaflets.





2 June
I spent the day in Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge, part of the South Holland and the Deepings constituency, fighting hard against a well dug in local independent. Our candidate, Jenny, laid on a tasty lunch in the midst of the 10 hour canvassing shift.




1 June
I spent the day in Melton Mowbray  - of the famous pie - doing canvassing in Melton North and Melton South divisions. We took a break for a bit of flagwaving between the afternoon and evening shifts.

30 May
An action packed morning in Wellingborough, doing delivery of targetted letters in the new estates on the edge of the town.

29 May
I spent the day in Northwest Leicestershire with our cracking PPC there, Andrew Bridgen (see left). We did a lot of canvassing - but I had to retire hurt for three hours in the afternoon due to my ankle (see below) so I did telephone canvassing from the office instead. Then out again for more street canvassing in the evening.







28 May
I went up to Sherwood in Nottinghamshire where we handed out leaflets in Edwinstowe high street (where I found this statue of Robin Hood and Maid Marion) before having lunch with some local business owners and managers. In the afternoon we canvassed in Ollerton - whcih was where I had a tumble over a broken curbstone causing us to stop campaigning at 5pm to patch me (& my trousers) up securely.



27 May
I headed for Market Bosworth to meet Cllr Ivan Ould. We went canvassing in the town, ate lunch at the fantastic Bosworth Battlefield Centre (1485 and all that) then headed on to do canvassing in 3 nearby villages. All very positive and lovely sunshine.




26 May
A full day out in Charnwood. I spent the morning canvassing in Anstey with Cllr Dave Snartt, then moved on to  help Cllr Parul Harley in his patch at Thurmaston. A long day of canvassing, but the results were pretty good.

25 May
A quiet day at home updating websites, catching up on correspondence etc.

22 May
Corby. I went out delivering with a team in Danesholme in the morning and then, after lunch, went canvassing around the villages of Corby Rural. I then spent time telephone canvassing until close of play.

21 May
I began the day in Daventry, canvassing around the village of Pitsford. In the afternoon I moved on to Kettering to do more canvassing and then went to Cottesmore in Melton & Rutland to lend a hand with the council by election there. I spent most of my time in the village telling.







20 May
I spent all day in the new South Northamptonshire constituency. I began by canvassing in Towcester, then spoke to a lunch in a nearby village before returning to Towcester to hand out leaflets to shoppers in the High Street. Then it was off to hand out leaflets to parents at a primary school before more canvassing and finally making a short speech and answering questions at a house party.

19 May
I spent the day in West Derbyshire. I began in Ashbourne, handing out leaflets to shoppers in the market place before doing some delivering around the town. I then moved on to a meeting with County Group Leader, Cllr Andrew Lewin, then an afternoon of delivering. Then I went on to Matlock to spend the evening canvassing.

18 May
I began the day in Derby visiting the Bombardier Factory with Theresa Villiers MP and Stephen Mold. I then moved on to Spondon to do some canvassing and finally to Long Eaton for more canvassing.







16 May
Rutland and Melton. The Euro Team was out in Oakham and then in Uppingham to hand out leaflets to the shoppers, though rain seemed to keep many at home. The local mummers were out, though. We then went on to the council by-election village of Cottesmore to do some leafletting there.

15 May
Loughborough. I began the day with a visit to Welbeck military college alongside Liam Fox MP and Nicky Morgan, our ppc. I then moved on to Barrow on Soar to do some canvassing in the afternoon, followed by more canvassing in two more villages in the later afternoon and into the evening.

14 May
The Euro Team met in Grantham with Mark Francois MP to launch our campaign in Lincolnshire. We could not miss a photo opp outside Mrs Thatcher's birthplace and old home. I then moved on to Louth & Horncastle for a couple of meet and greet sessions and an extended leaflet delivery session in Tattershall.











13 May

The Euro Team met in Northampton with Mark Francois MP to launch our campaign in Northamptonshire . I then moved on to Daventry join Mr Francois in a series of community meetings with members of the public - including the colourful Flores Flags Event.
 



12 May
The Euro Team met in Rushcliffe to launch our campaign in Nottinghamshire before going to West Bridgford to hand out leaflets to shoppers. I then went to Broxtowe to do some canvassing, then more canvassing in Gedling until into the evening.

11 May
The Euro Team met in Matlock to launch our campaign in Derbyshire. I then moved on to Bakewell to tour the livestock market and do a walkabout in the town market. I then moved on to do some leafletting.

25/26 April
I attended Conservative Party Spring Forum in Cheltenham - see Conference Page for details.


23 April
I went to Derbyshire Dales to the pretty village of Over Haddon to speak to a St George's Day Lunch. Guess who turned up!
After lunch I went to Erewash to help in the Long Eaton council by election, but victory was not to be and unfortunately Labour pipped us to the post.








18 April
I spent today in Louth & Horncastle to help with the CF Action Day, also part of the national campaign on Savers and Pensions. This involved handing out leaflets in the streets of Louth  and of Horncastle and speaking at a lunch. There was also time to tour around the town centre of Louth talking to market stall holders and shopkeepers. Great stuff.

17 April
I went delivering in Loughborough, followed by helping out in Thrapstone (part of Corby constituency) to help with the national campaign on Savers & Pensions. In the early evening I attended a drinks and nibbles event with Mark Francois MP (Shadow Minister for Europe) in Northamptonshire, then dashed off up the A1 to a supper club in Grantham constituency where there was a smashing meal.

16 April
I spoke to a supper club in Belper on the subject of "Bonnie Prince Charlie in Derbyshire" - nothing about politics for once.



28 March
I spent the day in the new parish hall at Ashover for the Derbyshire Conservative Conference. The venue was packed and we had key note speeches by Jeremy Hunt MP and Patrick McLoughlin MP. I gave the reply speech to the EU debate. Great fun.
I attended and was guest speaker at the Northampton South Conservative Association AGM.

27 March
I attended and was guest speaker at the Wellingborough Conservative Association AGM.

23 March
I attended and was guest speaker at the Daventry Conservative Association AGM.

20 March
I attended a business lunch in Uppingham (Rutland & Melton) today, then went on to Grantham for a supper club evening.

19 March
This evening I was guest speaker at the Corby and East Northants Conservative Association AGM.

6 March
I attended and was guest speaker at the Melton and Rutland Conservative Association AGM.


24 February
The day began at a coffee morning at Revesby, in the Louth and Horncastle constituency. I had a lovely time, and bought a wonderful fruit cake to take away. I visited the Stickney Primary School to see their latest improvements. I then moved on to a meeting in Market Rasen (Gainsborough constituency) before heading to Greasley in the Gedling constituency to help at a council by-election campaign. The vote was on Thursday and we won, which was good.





25 February
I spent all of this day in Lincoln, guest of the Lincoln CF branch. We began by handing out leaflets and such in the high street, then moved on to the covered market to talk to stall holders. After lunch there was a debate at the University, in which I took part. Then I had a meeting with the Student Union president, Daniel Hutchins, before joining the CF branch and others for a drink at the SU bar.

26 February
This evening I was in Northampton for a dinner with David Davis MP, who gave a cracking speech on the theme of Liberty.

27 February
I spent most of today in meetings regarding the coming Euro Elections. In the evening I was at Ashby de la Laune for the Sleaford and North Hykeham Association Dinner, with Anne Widdicombe MP as the speaker. Lovely roast beef and a fascinating speech.


6 February

I went to High Peak to attend a dinner in Buxton at the Grove Hotel. Smashing food it was too.






7 February

I spent the day in Mansfield. While there the local Conservative team kept me busy. We began with a radio interview, then moved on to the town centre for a walkabout, handing out leaflets and so forth. Then I had a chat with some of the market stall holders. Finally there was a tv shoot on the steps of the town hall.

In the evening I went to Newark for a dinner.







1 February
I spent the morning delivering leaflets in the snow in Northampton South for a council election. By gum that wind was chilly.









31 January
The day began with a visit to a butcher's shop. Then I went on to the Regional Conservative Conference. In the afternoon I spent 3 hours canvassing in the Thringstone council by election with our cracking candidate for Leicestershire Northwest, Andrew Bridgen. Then it was on to Loughborough for their Conservative Annual Dinner. For a change there was no speech billed, but there was a wonderful group of singers to entertain us. Then our candidate there Nicky Morgan made a short speech and I said "a few words'.


30 January
Today I attended the Corby Conservatives Annual Dinner, with our excellent candidate there Louise Bagshawe (another writer). Francis Maude MP gave the speech, and jolly amusing he was too.

18 January

I began the day in the village of Saxilby, in Gainsborough Constituency, where I helped Giles McNeill deliver leaflets around the village.
Giles runs a Blog on:
http://gilesmcneill.blogspot.com/



We then went on to visit the HQ of the Lincolnshire police and other sites in the area before heading into Lincoln to visit the hugely popular Cafe Aroma, which is suffering problems with changes to health and safety legislation due to an EU regulation.

17 January

I spent most of the day at the Lincolnshire Conservative Conference, where I spoke on the tactics for the upcoming European elections.







In the evening I went on to Louth where I was the speaker at the launch event for the Conservative Future branch in the town.


16 January

I attended a meeting in Wellingborough, then went on to Northampton South to help deliver leaflets for a Council by-election.



Friday 12 December

Corby
I began the day with another council by-election campaing, this time delivering leaflets in a bitterly cold, drizzling rain. Yuk. Still, we did manage to get a load of leaflets out.

Market Harborough
On to speak to a Christmas lunch at the Foxton Locks Inn. Another lovely Christmas lunch with turkey & all the gtrimmings. Lovely grub.


Thursday 11 December

Sherwood
I went to help out at a district council by election and spent some happy hours pounding pavements knockingup our pledges. Sadly we did not win - well maybe next time.

Loughborough
In the evening I went to Barrow-on-Soar to speak at the Loughborough Association Westminster Supper Club. A cracking evening, great discussion and a lovely curry.

Sunday 7 December

Harborough
This day I had a lovely lunch courtesy of the Meadowcourt Branch. Smashing stuff.


Saturday 6 December

Charnwood
I started a busy day at the Rothley Xmas Fayre. Jolly good fun it was too, even if I did not win the skittles. I did come away with a pot of jam and another of fig pickle. Yumm.

Loughborough
I spent the afternoon delivering leaflets with Nicky Morgan and her team in the southern part of the town. We then moved to Barrow-on-Soar to meet Santa and watch the village's Xmas lights being switched on. I also had a chat with the Town Crier.

Wellingborough
The day ended with a wonderful dinner of roast beef, followed by a hugely entertaining speech by Roger Helmer MEP. Fantastic.


Friday 5 December
Mid Derbyshire
I spent a very enjoyable evening at a farmhouse tricked out in the most beautiful Christmas Decs with our cracking candidate in Mid-Derbyshire, Pauline Latham, and some of her team.


Monday 1st December
Rushcliffe
I spoke to the Rushcliffe Luncheon Club about the undemocratic nature of the EU and afterwards drew the raffle. Here I am meeting Cllr Barrie Cooper, Mayor of Rushcliffe. It was a cracking lunch - roast turkey and all the trimmings.



Friday 28 November 

Today I got a Thunderbirds poster from Lincoln CF. Try to spot me!


Sunday 23 November

High Peak

I braved the snows to go to Hope Valley for a truly splendid lunch with the High Peak Conservatives. This was my first Christmas lunch of the season, and very tasty it was too.


Saturday 22 November

Blaby

I began the day with a hugely enjoyable Coffee & Mince Pie morning in Foxton. The event was held in a cosy and warm house in the village, which was lovely and prepared me for:



Leicestershire North West

A freezing cold canvassing session in Ibstock, where there is a council by-election going on. I think we did quite well, but by the end of the session my fingers were almost dropping off. 



Leicester University CF

It was back into the warm for a Question and Answer session with the Conservative Future branch at Leicester University. James Deighton organised it splendidly and had the good sense to choose a bar as the venue.


Friday 21 November

Nottingham

I began today delivering leafelts in Woolaton as part of the Nottingham Conservative Team's "Big Delivery Weekend". It was great until the rains came.


Louth & Horncastle

I spent the evening in Spilsby enjoying a slap up feed of Lincolnshire sausages and mash. Fantastic stuff!




Sunday 16 November

Grantham & Stamford

I had lunch in Bourne with the Grantham and Stamford luncheon club. I gave a talk on Hitler's Secret Weapon of the Battle of Britain.




Saturday 15 November

Derby North

In the morning I went out canvassing with our cracking candidate for Derby North, Stephen Mold, and his team. Great fun.





Friday 14 November

Uppingham

I began the day attending a lunch  for local business people.

Corby

In the afternoon I went on to Corby to take help deliver a Crime Survey to houses in the town.




South Holland & The Deepings

In the evening I enjoyed a slap up feed at the Bourne Supper Club. John Hayes MP gave the speech - and jollly good he was too.


Sunday 9 November

Daventry

I attended the Remembrance Sunday Parade in the village of Pitsford and laid a wreath at the war memorial, along with Chris Heaton Harris MEP, on behalf of the Conservative Party


Saturday 8 November

Kettering

I spoke at the Kettering Conference for Conservative councillors and activists on the subject of the 2009 elections and on the EU generally


Thursday 6 November

Daventry


In the afternoon, I visited the Naseby Battlefield to meet the representatives of the Naseby Battlefield Project to discuss their exciting plans for the future preservation of the battlefield and its use for educational purposes. 

Leicester

I then went on to Leicester to join NIck Herbet MP at a reception. 


Charnwood

IN the evening I attended a dinner at the Park Hill Golf Club organised by the Charnwood Association, with Caroline Spelman as the main speaker.


Monday 20 October

Northamptonshire

I attended the meeeting of the County Council Group of Conservative Councillors.


Friday 3 Octrober

Charnwood

I spoke to a lunch on the subject of Halloween - seemed to go down well.

In the afternoon I went on to Gainsborough to campaign in the Middle Rasen council by-election, where we are in a 2 horse race against UKIP.





Sunday 28 September to Wednesday 1 October

Conservative Party Conference.

See "Conference" page for details.

 

Sunday 21 September
Melton
I popped in to the studios of 103FM the Eye community radio station to give an hour long interview about both my work as a writer and my opinions as a politician.

Saturday 20 September
Wellingborough
The day began with a packed coffee morning in Rushden where I was able to meet many of the local branch members.
Loughborough
I then moved on to Loughborough to help canvass for our candidate in a local borough by election that is taking place.
Rutland
In the evening my wife and I went to the Rutland "Picnic Ball" - a truly cracking event that was held only a few hundred yards from where we used to live in Bottesford.


Friday 19 September
Lincoln
I started the day giving an interview to the Lincolnshire Echo, then moved on to talk to a lunch in the St Mary Wigstaff church hall to the Lincoln Conservative luncheon club. I talked about the reality - or otherwise - of UFOs and aliens. Then I went on a walkabout in the market to talk to stall holders and shoppers.
Grantham & Stamford
In the evening   I went to Bourne to canvass for our candidate in a council by election.








Saturday 6th September
Nottingham
I spent the morning helping to man the Party's stall in Bulwell Market. It was a bit damp, but we had great fun meeting and greeting the passing public.

Friday 5th September
Kettering
After a couple of meetings in the morning, I went to Kettering to help with leaflet delivering.

Nottinghamshire
In the evening I attended and spoke at the County Councillors' Group Dinner at County Hall in Nottingham.

Thursday 4th September
Rutland & Melton
I spent the day helping out at a District Council by-election. Sadly we did not win, but our share of the vote was good in a difficult ward.



Sunday 17 August
Corby
After a campaign meeting in the morning, I went on to the Oundle Branch Summer Lunch, part of Corby constituency, where I had a smashing meal - for which I was expected to perform by answering questions about the EU. I was delighted to meet Louise Bagshawe, a fellow writer who is our superb Parliamentary Candidate for Corby. We got a picture of ourselves with the books we had brought along to help raise funds for the party.


Saturday 16 August
Lincoln
The main event of the day was a campaign day out on the street of Lincoln where I helped other party workers hand out leaflets and pens to the happy shoppers of Lincoln. Then I went on to Louth for a tasty supper.










Saturday 10 August
Kettering
I began with a cracking coffee morning in Burton Latimer that raised some much needed money to help our campaign in the constituency of that excellent MP, Philip Hollobone.

Northampton South
This afternoon was spent delivering leaflets to a very soggy area of central Northampton South. It's being so cheerful as keeps me going.



Friday 9 August
Northampton South
I began the day with Roger Helmer MEP and County Cllr Andre de Savage at the Delapre Abbey where we met with the Delapre Abbey Trust Chairman to discuss the state of the battlefield that lies to the south of the Abbey grounds. The Northampton Town Council own the land, but have allowed some awful works and developments to take place on it. Shocking.

Loughborough
In the afternoon I went to Loughborough to join a team delivering the estate around Manor Drive. Nice sunny weather, too.

Rutland and Melton
In the evening I attended a garden party in Old Dalby attended by over 100 people. I made a speech, but kept it short as they all seemed to be enjoying themselves and I didn't want to ruin things.


Friday 24 July
Gainsborough
My wife and I went to the Gainsborough Conservative Ball. They asked me for a speech at the last moment, so I spoke for a full 59 seconds - well they said to keep it short!

Sunday 20 July
South Northamptonshire
A fantastic barbeque at a great venue in Castle Ashby with Andrea Leadsom and her team. There was even a swimming pool - if only I had remembered by trunks.


Saturday 19 July
Nottingham
The day began at the Hemlock Stone pub car park where I met Eileen Morley, our candidate in the Woollaton West council by election and her team. Then we went out canvassing. I baked a cake to keep all the party workers happy. Great fun.

Derby
Moving on to spend the afternoon in Derby delivering leaflets for the council by election going on there. It rained - just like the last time I was pouding pavements in Derby!

Rushcliffe
The evening saw me at the Ruschcliffe 200 Club supper in Long Clawson where I did the Prize Draw and made a short speech on UFOs. No really.


Friday 18 July
Gainsborough
We began in Langworth, where our ecellent local Cllr Meg Davidson took me to the Post Office, that is under threat of closure, and then on to view the local beck that flooded badly last year - and where the government is conspicuously not doing the work needed to stop a repetion.

Boston
I then moved on to go out canvassing in the Coastal Ward of Boston Borough where a hard-fought by election is going on.

Daventry
The day ended with a fantastic dinner in Daventry where Patrick McLoughlin, the  Conservative Chief Whip in the House of Commons, gave a cracking speech
.


12 July
South Leicestershire
I went to the Party Barbeque in Ashby Parva. Sadly I got there a bit late, but the grub was fantastic.

Left: Scoffing up at the BBQ (from left to right) Mike Hill, Roger Helmer MEP, Fiona Bulmer, me.








8 July
Leicestershire
I attended a meeting of the Conservative Group of Councillors on Leicestershire County Council.

Sherwood
I visited Ollerton to view the traffic problems on the old roundabout caused by increased traffic flow from the new industrial developments.


21 June
Henley. I spent the morning in Henley helping to deliver stuff for the by-election. And we got a cracking result when it came through on Thursday.



18 June
Linconlshire
I spent the day helping to man the Conservative Party stand at the Lincolnshire Show - along with various other party supporters. Douglas Hogg MP dropped by, among other elected Conservatives.. A great day out for all the family.


10 June
Gainsborough. I went to the village of Keelby to meet our active local councillor Owen Bierley. Owen showed me around the village, highlighting local issues. Fascinating stuff.

Cleethorpes. In the evening I spoke at a dinner in Immingham for the Cleethorpes Conservatives and their fantastic candidate Martin Vickers.


6 June
Nottingham. I took part in the Conservative Councillors Association annual meeting. A very interesting and well organised affair. Fascinating.

Henley. I spent the afternoon and evening in Henley helping to deliver stuff for the by-election. Sounds like we have a cracking candidate.

5 June
Newark. Today I spoke at and took part in the Nottinghamshire County Local Leaders Conference - a top level strategy meeting for leading Conservatives across the county to plan to party's activities over the coming year.

27 May
Leicestershire. Today I spoke at and took part in the Leicestershire County Local Leaders Conference - a top level strategy meeting for leading Conservatives across the county to plan to party's activities over the coming year.

19 - 21 May
Crewe & Nantwich. An enjoyable 3 days in the by-election campaign. Mostly delivering letters & leaflets, but also a bit of knocking up to vary the routine. Great fun, but my feet did hurt a bit by the end.


17 May
Rutland & Melton. An early start with a packed coffee morning at Chris Emmett's wonderful hilltop house. Fantastic rhubarb cake!
Corby & East Northants. Then on to Corby for some relaxing leaflet delivering during a rainstorm in a newly developed part of town.


16 May
Lowdham. The day began with an EUW coffee morning in Lowdham, where I made a short speech and answered questions.
Loughborough. On to Loughborough to have lunch with our excellent candidate there, Nicky Morgan. Then we led a team out to do some daytime canvassing in the town centre.
Sutton Coldfield. The day ended with a fundraising dinner at Sutton Coldfield at which I was the guest speaker, on the topic of Usurpers and Kingmakers.


2 May
The final results across the East Midlands were fantastic.
Amber  Valley saw one gain in Langley Mill and Aldercar ward
Derby saw us gain in Chaddesden and Chellaston
Lincoln saw us gain in Castle Ward
West Lindsey saw 4 gains in Welton, Cherry Willingham, Market Rasen, and Gainsborough North. We now control West Lindsey again!
Bassetlaw saw gains in East Retford South and in Worksop North. We also held Worksop  NE which we had lost last year. We now have 30 Conservatives on Bassetlaw to Labour’s 16 and two Independents.
NE Lincolnshire saw a gain in Immingham
Only Daventry saw no changes.


1 May
Daventry. Up and out early for a "Dawn Raid" with pledge leaflets. Then a break for breakfast before a full day of telling, knocking up and general election day activity. I ended at the count which went on until around 1am, then off to find a television to watch the Conservative victories come rolling in.

30 April
Derby. I spent most of the day pounding pavements in a safe Labour ward delivering last minute pledge leaflets. Cracking stuff, helped to tie the Labour types down and open the way for success elsewhere.
Daventry. By the evening I was in Daventry to deliver some pledge letters in the rain. Ick.

29 April
Bassetlaw. Off to Worksop North ward to do some final week delivery in a good area of the ward. We went on to take the ward on the Thursday. I was initiated into Bassetlaw's Black Hand Gang for the day.
Amber Valley. The evening found me in Heanor where we did a last minute hit on good roads. Sadly, it was not enough to win the ward - but full marks for trying.


28 April
Lincoln. I spent most of the day in Lincoln working with David Denman. David got 49% of the vote in his ward. What was a safe Labour seat two years ago doesn’t look that way now. Turnout was 31.16%. We knocked off a Labour councillor in a "safe" labour seat so the Conservative Group increased its majority. We also came within 12 and 30 votes of defeating labour in two of their "safest seats".
Gainsborough. In the evening I went on to help canvass in Gainsborough constituency for Lindsey Council - where we regained control. A good day all round.
 

5 April
Derby. This morning I went to Darley Ward to deliver leaflets opening our campaign for the local elections in May. I never mind delivering in the rain, but the faceful of sleet rather took me by surprise.

4 April
Spalding. This evening I went to the heart of Spalding to speak to the Conservative Supper Club about Hitler's "Wunderjaegar" - the top secret Luftwaffer fighter that had the RAF really worried during the Battle of Britain.

27 March
Wellingborough. I spent today in Wellingborough helping the Polling Day team to deliver letters and knock up our supporters. A cracking day and a cracking result - we won!

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