Each week a different PPC provides us with an insight into life as a candidate and gives us a flavour of their own campaign and interests. If you are a candidate and are keen to be featured, please email Jonathan Isaby.
This week’s diary is written by Victoria Ayling, who was selected in February 2009
for Great Grimsby, where she is mounting an energetic challenge against the veteran Labour MP, Austin Mitchell. A qualified barrister who has also worked in the sale and marketing of fish oils, she has served as a parish, district and county councillor and needs a swing of 11.6% to gain the seat. Read more about her and here campaign on her website or her blog.
Victoria writes: Since I got selected on Valentine's Day 2009, I have put my heart and soul into campaigning to win Great Grimsby. It has become a way of life and my whole family and many friends are giving me enthusiastic support. With a great campaign team and Campaign Manager it is looking very good for the General Election although every vote counts and we will not stop until the polling booths close!
Saturday I have a regular monthly stall in Freeman Street Market which means that I can listen to peoples’ concerns. Employment is the main issue in Grimsby followed by anti-social behaviour. These issues have come up time and time again at the 25 public meetings I have held around the constituency and are the main topics of discussion on my stall. Along with Phil Dumbrell, the ward Candidate, we attract a lot of interest, and our site adjacent to the serving hatch of the Pea Bung chippy is very popular - a bit too popular with me! I adore fish and chips and my visits to this wonderful serving hatch are a bit too frequent. Memo to self: next month only two visits allowed and only one portion of chips and cheese.
On my way home I asked the family what they wanted for supper... ah well, another visit to the chippy didn’t hurt anyone.
SundayAs a family we often leaflet together. Hunter, our youngest (8) who has Aspergers, fortunately loves letter boxes and enjoys pushing the leaflets through, while I hold the flap open. He loves to comment loudly sometimes, usually about nothing much, but at one house today he utters the immortal words: "man without hair in house mummy!" Pity my leaflet hit the floor at the same time...
We finished distributing my end of year leaflet. With my campaign team we have managed to blanket the whole constituency. These would have been out much sooner but for the snow which made the pavements treacherous. The last thing I want is any of my team or family injured whilst delivering for me!
Finishing the day I cooked a traditional roast meal then enjoyed the delights of the mountain of ironing.
Monday
This morning I visited three care homes in Park ward which is one of our target wards having three Lib Dem councillors. I spoke to staff and residents of the care homes and left my leaflets designed for pensioners. One old lady was over 100, and had plenty to say on many subjects. I wondered if the candidates' list had an upper age limit for applicants as she was brilliant.
Many residents in Park ward complain that their issues relating to road safety and parking have been ignored. Having held two public meetings there, we are on top of the issues and recently, with my help, we presented a petition to the Council about these issues.
I then went to Havelock Academy, to meet David Ross who had funded the huge improvements to the school buildings. Havelock used to be a failing school, but is now a huge success and the leadership of the head, staff and Governors is an inspiration.
I then went to the Grimsby Telegraph Offices to support their Literacy Campaign. Discussions were about how to encourage adults who were not literate to come forward to get some tuition. There are many adults who for whatever reason have difficulty reading, or who cannot read at all, which leaves a huge gap in their lives, both for employment and pleasure.
Back home I was reading the bedtime story to Hunter with more clarity than I usually did, after being told how this could help his reading skills.
Tuesday
The morning was spent writing my General Election material which is already at the proofing stage. I then made my way to the neighbouring constituency, Cleethorpes, a key marginal, to speak at their Conservative Ladies' Luncheon Club and help Martin Vickers, the PPC there. I spoke about what made me a Conservative and then threw it open for a lively question and answer session. Everyone seemed fired up when I left. Gordon Brown’s ears must have been really burning!
I then met my campaign manager Steve Norton and others in my team for a campaign meeting. We are more than ready for the General Election now and are raring to go.
Wednesday
The retrospective port rates hikes is a malicious tax implemented by the Labour Government, no doubt in an effort to get as much cash in as possible to pay for their irresponsible spending. The result is that many firms based on the docks have been faced with huge bills, which could threaten their very existence and cause hundreds of job losses.
Working with Lord (Michael) Bates, I went to a meeting at the House of Lords, with my Cleethorpes counterpart Martin Vickers, to continue our work to block this tax. We were joined by heads of Port-based firms who were keen to see us succeed in our efforts.
I was invited to an event afterwards where shadow cabinet members were present along with Margaret Thatcher before returning to Grimsby in the early hours. It is on these long drives late at night that I can catch up with my friends using my hands-free mobile. Many are also involved in the Conservative Party so work odd hours like me and it is nice feeling to know that you are never alone in politics.
Thursday
My husband Rob enjoyed the delights of the school run whilst I went to a breakfast meeting with local business people. Being in business myself, I understand a lot of the problems experienced, not only with keeping people employed during a recession, but coping with the stealth taxes and red tape imposed on us all by this Labour Government. I got a very warm reception and spent so much time chatting that I did not get to eat any breakfast!
I then went to a meeting about the Regeneration of Freeman Street. There have been many schemes for many years, but nothing has happened. I just hope this one leads to some outside investment. AFter that it was off to the West Marsh Community Centre to meet up with those involved in the running of this great facility. Many events are run from here which I have attended, including the young Stroke Association and race nights. There is also a busy cafe which has become a popular meeting place and where I finally had breakfast at 2pm.
In the evening I went to a Federation of Small Businesses event in the E-Factor on the Willows Estate. They were a completely different group of people here from those at the morning meeting, but all involved in business. Business is the life blood of the community as this is where jobs come from. Then back home for an early night after supper with the family.
Friday Visit by Richard Benyon, the shadow fisheries minister. Grimsby means fish, and there used to be 40,000 in the area employed in the fishing industry. Over the year, due to the Cod Wars and Europe, the numbers employed locally have gone down to around 5,000. Fishing, however, is still a very important source of employment to Grimsby and there is potential for growth.
Meeting at the Fish Market, Richard listened to important players in the local fishing industry, both processing and catching sectors. I know that should the Conservatives win the next General Election that the Grimsby fishing industry will definitely benefit from our policies.
In the evening, after helping Hunter with his maths homework, sorting out a computer glitch on our other son’s computer then dropping the eldest off at a Cadet camp, Rob and I went out for dinner. Great to unwind for a while ready for the next day!
