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Comstock

LOCATION... Derby

SELF DESCRIPTION... 32, Male, Office clerk, the only leftie in the CH village

POLITICAL BELIEFS... To the left of Blair but somewhat to the right of groups like Respect, I guess I was born too late to be a real old-Labour man. Believe (in the words of Neil Kinnock) "the free-market is a good engine but a lousy steering wheel". Believe taxes on the rich could be raised slightly, but wouldn't return them to 1970s levels.

I see nothing 'left wing' or 'socialist' in tolerating anti-social behaviour or drug dealing and I'm quite socially conservative on these issues. As far as I can see the majority of victims of these things are working class.

POLITICAL HERO... Benn and Bevan would be obvious starting points. Often wonder what sort of PM Neil Kinnock would have made.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... Actually don't read many. Stumbled across this one whilst doing a web search, and ended up staying. You're stuck with me now!

Sean Fear

LOCATION... Kenton, North London

SELF-DESCRIPTION... I am a married solicitor with two step-children.  I am the Chairman of Hertsmere Constituency Association, and a former Hertsmere Borough Councillor.  I stood in the London Assembly Election of 2004, and in Brent in this year's local election.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... My political beliefs were largely formed at University in the mid-1980s.  I believe that the principal role of government is to defend this country, provide internal security, and fight for British national interests abroad.  At home, the government should mainly leave people to their own devices. I believe that hierarchy and inequality are innate to all human societies, and that attempts by governments to alter this fact are futile and counterproductive.  I believe that a government's main responsibility is to its own citizens, so that it is positively immoral for a government to sacrifice its citizens' interests in the name of abstract principles of human rights. If the European Union proves to be incapable of reform, so as to return powers to member states, then I consider that this country would be better off out of it.

POLITICAL HERO... Lord Tebbit.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... Iain Dale, Political Betting, A Tangled Web, UK Polling Report, Sluggerotoole, Guido Fawkes, Conservative Home.

FAVOURITE CH CONTRIBUTOR... James Hellyer

Tim Aker

NAME... Tim Aker

LOCATION... Thurrock, Essex

SELF-DESCRIPTION... Recent graduate of the University of Nottingham with a BA in History and Politics, having also served as General Secretary, then President of the Nottingham University Conservative Future branch.  Unsuccessful candidate for Education Officer at the Nottingham University Students Union, though I polled a morale boosting 899 votes.  Currently looking for work.  I like Dean Koontz novels, a nice round of golf now and then and cooking to relax. I am an Arsenal fan, and have been before the Francophone take-over and my music interests are firmly rooted in the 80s.  I have recently set up a blog: Thurrock Tory.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... Independently-minded Conservative populist.  I've tried to be a neo-con, but it just didn't work, and as such recently I've become a bit of an isolationist.  I favour an independent, sovereign Britain, a strong but minimal state and am relaxed with a moderate centre-right social policy.  I am, however, in favour greatly of education vouchers and grammar schools.  Tax cuts are also a must, combined with an industrial policy that maintains a manufacturing base as well as an economy that is free of painful restraints.  I am pro-Union, but can forsee a day when England stands alone acting as a protectorate of Northern Ireland.  I am against devolution, and would support a platform that abolished the regional parliaments, be it the english regions, scottish parliament, GLA or welsh assembly.  I also believe Stormont shouldn't be re-opened if we are to have a consistent belief in a unitary state at Westminster.

POLITICAL HEROES... Winston Churchill, for his determination and ability to see the gathering storm even though all around had written him off. Margaret Thatcher, for turning this country around, for her strong will and political conservatism. Enoch Powell, for a patriotism that forsaw what the European Union would turn into, although not in complete agreement with some of his other policies.  There will only ever be one Powellite. Patrick Buchanan, for his populism and political guts in challenging George H.W. Bush in 1992.

Chris Hughes

LOCATION... Herefordshire

SELF-DESCRIPTION... Studying Politics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Enjoy my social
life but have been accused of being a computer geek. Beginning to get involved in Conservative politics in Aberystwyth, though thats obviously limited, and here at home in Herefordshire.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... A Meyer "fusionist", with strong conservative and libertarian tendancies sometimes in conflict. A lover of tradition and British culture, but skeptical of old Tory unquestioned loyalty to monarchy and other authority.  A believer in moral values and firmly pro-life while yearning for a limited government to allow people to live whatever life they damn well please. A neo-con on foreign policy, and wildly pro-free market.

POLITICAL HERO... F.A. Hayek, John Locke, Reagan and Thatcher. My 'hero' though has to be P.J.O' Rourke, never has humour and libertarian principles been combined so well. "Parliament of Whores" is still my favourite book.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... These would have to be the ones I contribute to myself. Ben Huh who is an associate of Seixon, Aberystwyth Conservative Future which I edit, and my own individual blog
Cigars and Chocolate Ale which no-one has or ever will read. Other than that: ConHome, Guido, Iain Dale, Little Green Footballs and Samizdata.

FAVOURITE CH CONTRIBUTOR... Has to be Chad. Never quite sure if he lives in the same world as everyone else in supporting UKIP, but always principled in sticking up for conservatism.

David Banks

LOCATION... Abergavenny South Wales

SELF-DESCRIPTION... 30 year old , single, unemployed, formerly worked in Civil Service and with the homeless & mentally ill,  presently searching for work as a gardener. Have moved around a lot, but most often lived in Manchester or South Wales. Two degrees in Philosophy and a City and Guilds National Certificate in Horticulture.  Passionate Tory , also a Catholic and a Blackpool FC supporter. Love travelling, particularly to far flung family members.  Love London, Manchester and Washington State. A bit green (don't have a car, do a bit of a cycling) but not too green (love flying).

Bob Dylan fan, one of the very few who liked 'Knocked Out Loaded', also Neil Young, Nick Cave. Want to get off benefits and get a good job. Appearance: reasonable to hairy.

 

POLITICAL BELIEFS... Formed by Cold War and Mrs  T. Individualist, anti -statist.  Pro monarchy, pro Union, anti Europe ,pro Cameron, anti Iraq war. Find it stressful that at the same time as the manufacturing base moves to China, the service industry moves to India and the unskilled labour market is flooded by East Europeans. Being unemployed is like being invisible. Want to keep the pound .Want to keep the torch as party logo. Dream of a reunited UK. I am Pro-Israel. I was turned off politics by the Tory Euro wars of the 90's, and devolution has had a big impact on my political thinking

 

POLITICAL HEROES... Churchill , Thatcher, Pope John Paul II

Paul Kennedy

LOCATION... Appleton, in the Cheshire Constituency of Warrington South.

SELF-DESCRIPTION... Born in Oxford in November 1956, (but almost Malta), have lived in Coventry, South Manchester, Chesterfield and for the last 19 years, Warrington has been the family home. Married to Sue with Sons of 9 and 15. Despite having a very good Grammar School education, my academic record was to say the least, not outstanding, and having been rejected for pilot training, quite sensibly on the part of the RAF in retrospect, I entered the world of business on leaving school, at the tender age of 18. Through a combination of guile, good fortune and maybe a little bit of hard work, I found myself relatively soon on the Board of a number of companies and in some cases even as the Managing Director. In 1995 after completing my work at what was South Wales Electricity Plc., I gave up the trappings (and income) of a senior management career to spend more time with my family and to become a full time mature student at the University of Manchester, graduating with a "First" in Business Management & IT. I still have some minor business interests and look after the accounts of a number of organisations. I have in the past, in a voluntary capacity, assisted the Board of a major national housing association, as well as being the Chairman of NHS Complaints Panels. Despite being traditionally a Conservative voter, in the 2005 General Election I stood as the Independent Candidate for Warrington South and appealed to 453, who can only be described as highly discerning voters! I was defeated, but not deflated and even managed a rather good losers speech at 02:30 a.m. It was however a professional campaign with a number of serious messages. I thoroughly enjoyed what was a vigorous campaign and learned a vast amount in the process, as well as becoming fitter with all of the walking involved. Realism, commonsense and the fact that the Conservative party didn't go into self destruct mode meant that I applied to be a member of  Warrington South Conservative Association, was accepted and then selected to fight my home Ward, and Lib Dem stronghold, of Appleton in the recent local elections, didn't get elected but managed to increase the share of the vote from 23% to 29%, so a start. Outside of business and now politics, I'm a great (well I like to think so) DIYer, which has included designing and overseeing the building of our family home, but in reality I will turn my hand to anything and even rebuilt an MGB many years ago. And finally, still believe that my best years lie ahead of me, even though there is no certainty as to what I will be doing.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... Probably best described, I think, as an economic and social conservative, so probably not much hope for me. Don't like debt and a strong believer in; the traditional family and many of our institutions (and am saddened to see how undermined they have become); community; personal responsibility; and last but certainly not least, national sovereignty. Dislike large Government, whether local, national or international, most forms of bureaucracy and complex management structures. Totally against regional assemblies and have yet to see the benefit for their citizens of  the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. Believe in very simple taxation and genuine value for money public services run by professionals without the continuous interference of politicians. Am very concerned that our education system is not enabling our best academic brains to excel, whilst forcing those whose skills and interests lie elsewhere to follow an academic education. Interestingly and maybe surprisingly for a conservative, I don't support private sector involvement in our health and education systems.  View Paul's General Election communication

POLITICAL HERO... Probably a failing on my part, but I don't have heroes, political or otherwise.

FAVOURITE BLOGS...  How could it not be ConservativeHome, although I'm sure others will evolve.

FAVOURITE CH CONTRIBUTOR... Anybody who agrees with me, which probably most of the time is only me!

Simon Newman

LOCATION... Tooting, South London

SELF-DESCRIPTION... I was born in 1972 in Edinburgh.  I grew up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, went to University in England and have lived here ever since. I teach Law, mostly to Postgraduates.  I've been married to an American from Tennessee since 1997, and I follow US politics as well as UK.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... On American-based Internet quizzes I come out as a mild Libertarian, around 60% liberal on both social and economic issues.  In American politics I'm generally a moderate Centrist/Democrat, and I supported the Democrat John Edwards for President in 2004.  This seems to put me somewhere on the right of the modern Conservative party.  Conversely I find that among American Republicans it's often now the "paleocons" who talk a lot of sense, the neocons having apparently abandoned empirical assessment of ascertainable reality.  I have a strong commitment to the scientific method, to empiricism and the truth generally, I don't believe in lies, even 'nice' ones, though telling the truth doesn't mean you have to be nasty about it! I joined the Conservative party after David Cameron was elected.  I'm enthused by his fresh and positive attitude and the possibility of renewal in Britain, whose Constitution and legal system have been seriously damaged under Labour rule.  My fundamental belief is in Liberty and the Rule of Law. This requires an inherently limited State, not an all-powerful State constrained only by bubbles of 'Human Rights' around individuals. I believe people should be equal under the law, and I believe in judging people by the content of their character.  I believe that the English and British common-law legal system as it has evolved is in most respects superior to the Continental systems based on the Codex of Justinian and the Napoleonic Code.  I believe that the European Union is not compatible with this system.  I believe in free speech.

POLITICAL HERO... Winston Churchill would have to be my greatest hero.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... My wife's, and Steve Sailer's controversial human biodiversity blog.

David T Breaker

LOCATION... Near Ashford, Kent

SELF-DESCRIPTION... Starting philosophy, politics & economics in September 2006 at University of Essex. Grammar school student. Steam railway enthusiast. Interested in architecture, gardens and history. I am not a member of any political party and like things to be pragmatic instead of ideological.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... Believer in the powers of individuals, cynic of government and politicians, especially masterplans and announcements resembling “great leaps forwards”. Would prefer a free trade only Commonwealth of Europe to a European Union - against integration, instead favouring voluntary and respectful co-operation. Proponent of free trade and liberal markets - I particularly hate any tariffs or quotas on developing nations, treat others as you wish to be treat yourself. Believes services should be fully controlled by the users to utilise market mechanism of service improvement but state funded for all - therefore the best of both Worlds. Also that you cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. Pragmatism.

POLITICAL HERO... None really, I don’t do heroes. Churchill was great, Disraeli did some good things, and the Thatcher revolution kick started Britain and saved the economy/country for certain. I think the term "hero" is over used. I like people who say what they think, and who stand by convictions even when they are unfashionable (like Churchill before 1939 and Hayek free-marketeers 1945-1979), but also those who can change their minds sensibly when evidence goes against them and can admit a mistake.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... Chameleons on bicycles , Iain Dale, ConservativeHome and Guido Fawkes.

Antony Little

LOCATION... Norwich, Norfolk

SELF-DESCRIPTION... Conservative candidate, aged 27, union hack and public sector grumbler.  Currently working as a teacher in a large City comprehensive in Norwich, where I spend my time attempting to persuade pupils of the merits of studying History.  I also teach A Level politics and am Head of Year 8 (that’s 12 year olds to you and me). I have 205 of them in my care and they keep me busy!  I am married to Louise, also a teacher, with a daughter and another baby on the way!  We live in Norwich City Centre and I was the Conservative candidate in Norwich South at the 2005 general election.  I am also a staff governor at my school and am also my branch representative for the NASUWT teaching union.  I am one of these dreadful people that is involved in nearly every community group going.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... Still consider myself to be a one-nation Conservative – strongly in favour of reformed public services that move towards being taxpayer (consumer) centered.  Favour low taxation, a pragmatic relationship with the EU, a tough stance on crime and social liberalism.  I want to see people take responsibility for their actions and a strong green agenda running through Tory policy.  Also I think that we should abolish more laws than we make each year and that government should be truly accountable to the voters. Strong believer in community, family and the nation state.

POLITICAL HERO... Iain Macleod, Margaret Thatcher, Michael Howard and Disraeli (all for very different reasons)

FAVOURITE BLOGS... Iain Dale, ConservativeHome, Guido Fawkes, PoliticalBetting and mine.

FAVOURITE CH CONTRIBUTOR... A H Matlock

Richard Robinson

LOCATION... Surrey & London

SELF-DESCRIPTION... I was an Investment Manager first with the Coal Board Pension Funds and later for the Kuwait Government and a director of property and industrial companies in United States, Canada and Europe. In 1989 I set up my own investment company, which specialises in financing small businesses in Europe.

I attended Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School in Rochester, the University of Salford (BSc Economics) and Birkbeck College London (MA Renaissance Studies).

I’ve been involved in Conservative politics since 1968, as a ward chairman and borough councillor in Rochester and more recently Chairman and President of Surrey Heath Conservative Association. In 2004, I was a candidate for the European Parliament for the South East Region. I’m currently Chairman of Surrey Conservatives and Deputy Coordinator for the Southeast Region.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... Libertarian, localist, eurosceptic.

Graeme Archer

LOCATION... Hackney E9 (and counting). Our manor is bound by Broadway Market to the west, Victoria Park to the east and Bethnal Green tube to the south. Former locations: Bow E3 (hence fan of pie and mash); Harlow, Essex (hence fan of all things white-van-ish); Ispra, northern Italy (hence fan of Europe-not-run-by-Europe); Glasgow University (the best days of anyone's life, this government will burn in hell for what it's done to good universities and the chances of working class people attending them); formerly of Ardrossan, Ayrshire (hence love of drab wet days and allergy to sunshine).

SELF-DESCRIPTION... I'm remarkably fond of cats, is that telling? I have a Ph.D. in Bayesian inference, which is why I'm always grumbling about the "poll of polls". Work in early-phase Psychiatry Drug Discovery for a major pharma. Mid 30s. Essex boy at heart, I should have been born there. Keith Pannell is the centre of my life. Vegetarian, one of those ridiculous teen-age decisions that stuck, see my website for the best vegan lasagne recipe on god's green earth. Would like to be Anglican, but just can't manage it. Biker (ZX6R) with silly tattoo to prove it. These things are happiness: Sunday morning in bed with the papers and Marks and Spencer porridge, with chopped almonds; a train journey somewhere new; sweat-drenched aftermath of a Belle and Sebastian concert; running three times round Victoria Park without collapsing; Andrew Boff winning the Queensbridge by-election last year; gin and tonic with Keith while dinner's cooking after we've done a good day's work AND been to the gym!

POLITICAL BELIEFS... You don't get anywhere by being unpleasant. It's nearly always better to trust people to make their own choices. Religion is not an excuse for forcing life choices on others. Belle and Sebastian are a force for good. I'm much more right-wing than you think at first. Politics is not mathematics, and obsessives who try to use ideological axioms to "prove" that any one policy is optimal are not only barking, they're on a hiding to nothing, although their youthful exuberance is sweet.

POLITICAL HERO... Andrew Boff, for living a life that visibly demonstrates that the point of being a Tory is to care about helping others. Benjamin Disraeli, how I forced myself through those dreadful novels when I was a student, second only to Virginia Woolf for unreadability to be honest. Not a hero but I usually agree with Rod Liddle, which I sometimes worry about.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... this one, and mine! And of course the Hackney Conservatives website - join the revolution to Get Labour Out Of Hackney!

FAVOURITE CH CONTRIBUTOR... I like reading everyone, even the people I really, REALLY disagree with.

Charles Hodgson

LOCATION... Aberdeen, Scotland

SELF-DESCRIPTION... 16 year old student.  I was born in Kew, London and have lived in Paris, London, and for the past ten years, Aberdeen.  Just beginning to get involved in Conservative politics (although Aberdeen isn't exactly a hotbed of Tory activity). I am finishing school in spring 2007 and I hope to go on to study either PPE at Oxford, York or Warwick, or Philosophy and Economics at LSE or UCL.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... Libertarian... Pro-free market and civil rights but anti-EU, advocate of transatlantic co-operation (i.e: pro "war on terror").  Small government, local descision making, anti-government controlled NHS, pro-selection in schools.

POLITICAL HERO... Disraeli, Churchill, Asquith, Thatcher, Boris Johnson.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... ConservativeHome, PoliticalBetting.

Patsy Sergeant

LOCATION... Sussex within sight of the Southdowns.

SELF-DESCRIPTION... Member of the University of the Third Age - U3A.  I was a nurse for the first adult decade.  In the civil service for 10 years, where I learned Russian.  I lived in Malaysia for 10 years under Mahathirs rule, bringing up my step children, their father died in 1990 not long after we retired to UK.  The last significant decade I spent with someone I regarded the love of my life, and he died very suddenly two years ago.  I am just now 'moving on'.  He was a Guardian reader and I am a lifelong Telegraph reader, politics came up in conversation daily.  He became increasingly disillusioned with this goverment, and very depressed. I am a painter and also a silversmither and also a passionate rose grower amongst other flowers - I love colour.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... I believe in the rule of law, but I am not very impressed with SOME lawyers.  I think everybody should take responsibility for their own actions and not immediately blame other people.  Like others on this website I believe in smaller more localised and perhaps more accountable government.  These elephantine regional mechanisms have no incentive to care about anyone other than themselves, and who they are instructed to care about!

POLITICAL HEROES... Disraeli, Churchill, William Hague (whom I would like to meet!).  And nowadays Tony Benn because although I do not agree with his political ideas much, he has integrity and it shines these days.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... Guido Fawkes - I spent part of the war evacuated to Coughton Court Castle, one of the places where the Gunpowder Plot was plotted, so it always signified perhaps more to me than to the average person!

FAVOURITE CH CONTRIBUTOR... William Norton,  John Hustings and of course Annabel with her jaunty posts!

Annabel Herriott

LOCATION... Huddersfield West Yorks - in the Colne Valley bit.

SELF-DESCRIPTION... Retired Health Visitor (also have general nursing and midwifery qualifications). Semi detached. Partner Edward lives at his and I live at mine - 2miles apart! I do the tea. He washes up. Comes for weekends, and we go on holiday. Perfect for a couple of stubborn old people. Life long Tory. Was YC branch secretary in Macmillans time. Based in a pub. Brandling Arms, Jesmond, Newcastle/Tyne.

Came to West Yorks in 1969 when my ex got a promotion. Acquired three little kids of 7, 8, and 9 when their remaining parent died, so never returned to the North East. Just drive up every month for lunch with my R.V.I. gang. Always been a pompous bubble pricker. Always hated NHS management. Our stars have just set in motion a plan to pretty well shut down Huddersfield Hospital. Will have to trail to Halifax for midwifery and others. Lousy road between as well. I was apparently sadly missed at "unit meetings" after retirement in 2000, as I could be relied on to open my mouth when others dare not!!

What else... I do gardening, sewing, tapestry, hate housework, love astrology. Passed the certificate of the faculty of astrological studies in 1993. Serious minded Health Visitors are allowed to have an esoteric hobby, I'd seen a client doing a chart and got hooked. Special love - political astrology. Some of the time you can see what's coming, and the rest of the time you can see why. Also, what makes them tick. I love my PC but am a total technophobe, can't even change my own ink. Good old Edward! 80 in April and he has the thing cracked!!

POLITICAL HERO... Several - each in their own era and zeitgeist. Churchill. Thatcher. Hague. Boris. DC.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... Only just discovered them during the leadership campaign, so CH.com. Also, NHS blog doctor.

FAVOURITE CH CONTRIBUTORS... William Norton. Kingbongo. My fellow ladies - A-Tracey and Patsy Sergeant.

Oberon Houston

NAME...  Oberon Houston

LOCATION... Marylebone, London

SELF-DESCRIPTION... Aged 36 and raised on a small upland farm in the North of Scotland. I went to the local state school where I did moderately well academically, but only excelled at middle-distance running. I initially worked on a local construction yard that made large oil rigs for the North Sea. After a few years there, I went to university to study Civil Engineering. After graduating I returned to the company that owned the construction yard in Scotland, but now worked as a Structural Engineer designing North Sea oil platforms in Wimbledon.

In 1999 I obtained a Masters Degree in “Petroleum Engineering” from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, and after working for a number of years for BP, I moved to London to work for an American Oil Company called ‘Amerada Hess’ where I work as a Senior Reservoir Engineer. I am married with one son who is 16.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... Most easily described at a traditional “Centrist Tory”. I have a distain for political ideology and a strong ‘what works’ ethos. Although not adverse to change, I am instinctively skeptical of radicalism, from either end of the political spectrum. I believe that people are happiest when they have freedom to live their lives responsibly as they wish, feel part of a strong family, strong local community and country. I believe this is prevalent in a society that is inclusive, one that has a celebrated past and shared values and a society that promotes individual achievement. I believe in a Conservatism that promotes these ideals, and adapts to support their long term existence.

POLITICAL HERO... Robert Walpole. For a leadership that allowed Britons to become world-class achievers and his distain for the war-mongering.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... ConservativeHome.com

FAVOURITE CH CONTRIBUTOR... James Hellyer because we argue so much!

Donal Blaney

NAME... Donal Blaney

LOCATION... Headcorn, Kent and the City of London

SELF-DESCRIPTION... Christian; Chief Executive & Co-Founder of the Young Britons' Foundation and dedicated promoter of the need for a vibrant conservative movement in the uk; offshore litigation and tax planning attorney; fanatical supporter of Liverpool FC.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... Common sense Thatcherite. Favours EU withdrawal, a flat tax, personalised social security & pension accounts, vouchers for education & health, the abolition of inheritance tax & capital gains tax, the doubling of the state pension for the wartime generation that sacrificed so much for us to be free (paid for by cutting handouts for the work-shy and radically reducing the size of government).

POLITICAL HERO... Margaret Thatcher, Enoch Powell, & Norman Tebbit in the UK; Jesse Helms, Barry Goldwater & Ronald Reagan in the USA.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... ConservativeHome, Iain Dale, The Drudge Report and
my own impending blog "Enough is Enough".

FAVOURITE CH CONTRIBUTOR... Dan Hannan MEP.

Richard Bailey

LOCATION... Bit of a nomad. Landed in Huntingdonshire – work from home (lucky me!).

SELF-DESCRIPTION... 34 yrs old. Married to Lara with two sons 8 & 7.  Run my own rural planning and development public relations business called Countryside Communications (.co.uk).   Spent 8 years as an Army Officer, served in NI, Bosnia, Kosovo and Germany. Became an Army PR spokesman in final service years.  Looked after Sky News and BBC News teams in Kosovo.  (Kate Adie was formidable!) and have pursued it ever since.  Ran the Lockerbie Trial press office, worked at CCO in 2001 general election, ran the Hutton Inquiry and Soham Trial press arrangements.  Countryman really and have left Westminster for the Shires. Local Branch Chairman. Candidate for District Council in 2004 – lost with a 21% swing in my favour. Standing again this May. Just 90 votes to overturn.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... Small government; low taxes; education, education, education; zero tolerance policing; talk softly, carry a big stick; family and community building blocks; the monarchy.

POLITICAL HERO... Trite but true… Churchill and Thatcher.  Not for everything they did but for their courage and conviction in capturing the moment and changing things for the better – permanently.  It’s integrity that I admire most, so if the cap fits, wear it.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... My blog. ConservativeHome (obviously),  Iain Dale's Diary, Tommy G, Once More, Burning Our Money, Guido.

James Maskell

NAME... James Maskell

LOCATION... Margate, Kent

SELF-DESCRIPTION... 22. Brought up in Thanet. Former FE Governor. Margate FC fan. Chessplayer.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... Libertarian. Small government, low taxes, Grammar School supporter, Eurosceptic. Conservative Party member, but definitely not a cheerleader.

POLITICAL HERO... Thatcher, Churchill

FAVOURITE BLOGS... Conservative Home, Thanet Life.

Julian H

LOCATION...London (near Putney)

SELF-DESCRIPTION...Young, good-looking, disturbingly intelligent and refreshingly modest.

POLITICAL BELIEFS... Classical liberal, advocate of localism. Regarding EU – anti-federal non-isolationist.

POLITICAL HEROES... Winston Churchill, Boris Johnson, Alan Clark, William Gladstone, David Cameron, A.H. Matlock. From the Enemy - Robin Cook.

FAVOURITE BLOGS... Liberal Views – cross-party liberalism discussion, Political Betting.