Buckley's Blog

Updating a busy few months

2006-07-30T09:54:00.000Z

Well, it's been a while since I posted anything on here. It's not because nothing has happened worthy of mention it's just that I have been tied up with other stuff (and celebrating my 30th birthday).

I have been trying to put together the next Hurst First newsletter for Ashton Hurst Conservatives. It has taken a while as I required Publisher to be able to design it. I finally managed to get it off my housemate (though it took him over a month to remember he had a copy, even though I had been talking about it all that time). The first draft was completed last week and now Cllrs. Ambler and Kelly are making their adjustments. We are looking for a more positive mood for the back page, but with so much negative stuff being done by the Labour Council in Tameside it is hard.

Firstly, this Labour government has overseen the wholesale destruction of our Post Office network in this country. The latest closure is the main Post Office in Ashton. The greatest irony is the Labour councillors outside the Post Office on a Saturday gaining signatures for a petition. It is a great shame but they are doomed to failure - the post office counters have already been built in WH Smiths. That money and space would have been spent and used if the deal wasn't already done.

We also have the 'big bang' extension to the Metrolink that has turned out to be more of a damp squib. This useless Labour government promised the local councils in Greater Manchester the funding for an extensive increase in the network of the Metrolink rail system. Then, before the last general election, the Labour government reneged on their promise and withdrew the funding. Now we are supposed to be grateful for them giving us a fraction of the original promised millions. This means than in Tameside that the Metrolink will go all the way to... Droylsden. To fund the expansion to Ashton Greater Manchester will have to introduce road tolls. So the motorist will pay ever more and the public transport won't be in place to replace private motoring for years to come. How can we trust Labour ever again when they give and take the money away like candy from a baby?

Now I'm all for greater use of public transport (I don't drive myself and walk and use public transport all the time) but how will we ever persuade motorists out of their cars and into trains, buses and trams without the investment. The poorest members of our Tameside comuunities will be the worst hit. They shan't be able to afford to run their cars any more and yet there will be inadequate public transport provision for them to get to work and do their shopping. The Metrolink is successful and more environmentally friendly than lots of cars on our roads but the government just doesn't seem to care for the environment or the people of Tameside.

I could go on with more problems facing the Ashton Hurst residents thanks to the Labour Council and Labour government but I want to be positive (I shall try and post the finished Hurst First leaflet on here if I work out how to do it and it is possible).

So finally, on a positive note, Ashton Tory councillors, Richard and John, have been telling me all that they have been achieving since the local elections in May. Just one of the many things John has achieved in his first 100 days on the council has been the replacement of a 'No Ball Games' sign. A resident asked the Labour councillor for the ward a year ago to have it replaced. She heard nothing back. She asked Cllr. Kelly and just weeks later she is a satisfied resident. That is how Tory councillors work for you!

Built To Last

2006-06-03T14:05:00.000Z

On Thursday evening I attended the Built To Last (B2L) roadshow as it hit Manchester. Held in the Compass Room of the Lowry Centre at Salford Quays I was surprised as to how many people had turned up. Running a little late, I was rushing in trying to beat George Osbourne into the room.

The evening didn't get off to a great start as it wasn't clearly stated that the cards left on the table were to be filled in before we had hard everything that had been said and handed to one of the helpers so the comments could be read out during the session. One gentleman was quite upset about this and made his opinions felt quite forceably.

George Osbourne, the man sent to defend the B2L document, did a credible job in trying to show what the document is really about. From discussions I have had with members of the party before the event I know there is a great deal of scepticism abou the document and what it really means. After the event many of the people there seemed to understand its true meaning and be, largely, in support. George Osbourne did state that the document as it stands is a draft and that the roadshows were an opportunity for members to contribute to the final draft that will be put to the vote of members later in the year.

Most speakers argued that the Conservatives already stood for what the document spells out and that Conservatives in the northwest already put into practice the eight statements. There were arguements, mainly, for slight changes to the language that was being used in the document, though a small minority of speakers did disagree with some aspects of the document.

My persoanl view of B2L is that it is a good document that reiterates to everyone in the country what the Conservatives are really all about. It states our aims and aspirations for government and shows people what we are really about and not the perceived misconceptions people have about Tories. I do, however, have some changes I would like to add. One gentleman, sat at the side of me and another table, argued the title 'What we're fighting for' should be changed. He said that people don't want us to fight for them but for us to represent people. I totally agree and would change the title to 'What we'll represent you for'. I also argued that there was nothing about reperensting the whole of society, being a One Nation party once again. I think it is a missed opportunity that there is no statement about representing ethnic minorities, disabled people, gay and lesbians and women.

One of the Ashton Hurst members who came along said that she thought a statement like that would be just a gimmick. I couldn't disagree more. Yes, it could sound like a gimmick if it is the only time you say it. However, the more you say something and the more you believe it when you say it the less it becomes a gimmick. When Labour talks about lesbians and gays, for example, they don't sound gimmicky as they are always talking about them, but when the Tories do they sound, to some in society and the press, like they have come up with another section of society with which to have a gimmick to gain votes. The more the Tories say what they will do for the minorities in society the less it will seem a gimmick to talk about it. A statement needs to be included.

Political fall-out since the local elections

2006-05-14T17:04:00.000Z

Its been over a week now since the local elections and it has been interesting to see the reactions to the results from the each of the parties.

Firstly, Labour.

Well the Prime Minister had a complete panic on the Friday morning when the full disaster was apparent for the Labour Party. An immediate cabinet reshuffle was inacted to try and deflect attention from how much Tony Blair has become an electoral-liability to the Labour Party. A botched attempt, he showed how much authority he has lost as Prime Minister. After two weeks of trying to keep hold of his Home Secretary, and professing his complete confidence in allowing Charles Clarke to fix the mess the Home Office is in, suddenly Blair finally sees what everyone has been telling him for weeks - Charles Clarke has to go. However, Blair's arrogance means Clarke is offered another cabinet position (we mustn't be seen to punish incompetance too much or else most of the cabinet are in a perilious state). Clarke tells Blair where to go - it's the Home Office or nothing - and then spits his dummy out to the awaiting media. Prescott, another electoral liability, has to go too, but where? He can't be removed as DPM otherwise a leadership contest is triggered and Blair could lose, so he keeps him on as DPM but strips him of any authority. (Now, I am torn between jubilation that Prescott now can't do any further damage - Pathfinder springs to mind - and disgust that we are paying that joke for doing nothing). Hewitt has to stay at Health, as can't let the nurses win, and who else would do it? Kelly has to be moved though, but to where? A great idea springs to mind in Blair's head. Kelly can do Prescott's job (but not get the perks). She can be Minister for Equality too - never mind she holds views that may be seen to be homophobic and anti-equality. The rest was just re-arranging the deck chairs in a way that would annoy Gordon Brown enough, but not too much just in case he grows a spine and does decide to challenge Blair.

Secondly, the Lib Dems.

Ming the Merciless was to be the saviour of his party after the disaster that was their leadership contest. Some say he is too old, many are now saying he is too ineffectual. The Lib Dems have capitalised on Labour unpopularity in the past few years whilst the Tories have been in disarray. This time they made no progress, gaining just two councillors, net, all night. To compound the poor show Ming then makes a complete balls up at PMQs this week, and with the PM on the ropes takes a swing and punches himself on the chin. The resultant whispers have already begun in the Lib Dem party - after only a few weeks of Ming's leadership. It must be a record.

Finally, the Tories.

Cameron and the Tories had a very good night but they didn't do as well as perhaps they could have done. In the northern cities and towns they barely made any breakthrough and Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle are still without any Tory councillors. However, Tory high command seem to have understood that the great results they achieved were tempered in that the gains were largely in the south and east. They have a long way to go to turn enough parts of the north and west blue to win a general election. Putting George Osborne as shadow Minister for Manchester was a shrewd move and shows that the Tories are serious about our cities and wanting to revitialise the communities within our northern urban areas. We are assured that the Tories are going to appoint shadow ministers for all our major cities in the north and I await with great interest who will fulfil those roles. As the Cameroons have said - a great start but a long way to go yet.

Local elections

2006-05-06T23:48:00.000Z

Well, what a week it has been! It were the local elections this week and I have been heavily involved with campaigning for the Tories in both the City Centre ward of Manchester City Council and Ashton Hurst ward of Tameside Council.

Personally for me it has been a mixed week of success. Jake Berry, the excellent City Centre candidate put in a lot of hard work, effort and time on his campaign. However, he was unsuccessful but got a swing towards him from the Lib Dems. I live in the ward and am disgusted how little the Lib Dem councillors have done in the ward for the past two years. They constantly put out newsletters claiming credit for, or promising to do, things but I never see the fruits of these labours. They did a survey earlier this year asking for our opinions. I complained about the lack of recycling facilities in our apartment block. Result: a standard letter thanking me for my opinions and they will work hard to try and work for the poeple of the ward. Result: still no recycling facilities in our apartment block. I hope that Jake will stand again next year and continue to press the Labour council and Lib Dem councillors to do more for the ward.

However, we had great success in Ashton Hurst. I am ward chairman over there and we fought a great campaign, getting on the doorsteps and listening to what people wanted. After a lot of very hard work by the candidate and all our helpers we gained the seat from Labour with a majority of just 19. This was the only Conservative gain in Tameside and means that the Tories have two councillors in Hurst ward for the first time ever. I can't thank our members and helpers enough for all their hard work and I am sure that Cllr. Kelly will prove to be a great councillor for the area and will continue to put 'Hurst First'. We worked so hard for that victory that i'm sure many of us have the blisters and sore legs to prove it and are enjoying a much deserved rest this weekend. However, we can't rest for too long.We need to be out on the doorsteps listening to the people of Hurst again soon and doing our best for them. Our Hurst First leaflet will also continue to be published on a regular basis and the two councillors will be holding their regular surgeries.

After a hard week of campaigning and a tough few months, David Cameron's message of a Conservative Party that is changing is slowly getting through to the electorate. We have achieved a lot this week but there is still a very long way to go, but for now we will be celebrating a historic victory in Ashton Hurst.