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 Simon Reevell, who was selected in February 2009
for Dewsbury in West Yorkshire. He is a barrister who was
chairman of Beverley and Holderness Conservative Association prior to his selection. He is challenging Labour MP Shahid
Malik, who will defend a notional majority of 3,999, meaning that Simon needs a swing of
4.5% to win the seat, which last had a Tory MP between 1983 and 1987.
Monday 15th February
The week begins with the newspapers full of talk of an ‘early’ General Election by which they seem to mean March 25th. This seems to be on the back of opinion polls which may not have changed if you allow for their inbuilt margin of error and which certainly ignore the fact that Northern marginal seats are running ahead of the national figures. In Dewsbury we are ready for the election whenever it is called. In fact there is that feeling of having done the revision and just wanting the exam to begin. Spending this afternoon writing to thank people who have offered to display posters brings home the fact that whenever the election is it will be soon!
This evening was the Mirfield Branch’s regular meeting. The Chairman, Patricia, is an ex-Labour councillor who became disillusioned with Labour and joined us. Mirfield provides some really committed volunteers; in the last three weeks they have delivered nearly 8,000 pieces of campaign literature. We discuss the details of a linked General and local election campaign assuming 6th May.
Tuesday 16th February
I spent this afternoon dealing with some delay in compensation payments following a disruption in the gas supply, for up to a week in some cases, in part of the constituency over New Year. It is the usual tale of recorded messages and call centre staff who can only work to their script. Eventually I get to speak to someone who can make a decision and some progress was made.
This evening I attended a presentation by the Army at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. Defence and in particular the way the Armed forces have been treated since 1997 got me into politics (search my name and ‘Blaymire’ on a full web search and see if you still think Chilcot has unearthed anything new!!). The presentation was impressive and it whilst was good to hear re-assuring comments about kit, it is a disgrace that it has taken so long.
Wednesday 17th February The day began with an announcement from the local PCT that a specialist cancer facility would not now open at Dewsbury Hospital. Apart from the obvious benefit of such a specialist facility it also appeared to offer significant guarantees about the future of the site more generally. The coverage seemed to suggest that this was a decision about a ring-fenced project and that it will have no impact upon facilities such as A and E and maternity cover. However it does represent the continuation of a worrying trend on the part of the PCT to move things away from Dewsbury. I really dislike the way some politicians exaggerate possible problems with the closure of local facilities and so do not want to exaggerate this but on the other hand it is really important to preserve the hospital's existing facilities. Huddersfield and Wakefield may not look very far to some PCT planner but they are difficult to get to for those without the use of a car with Halifax further still.
Tonight I joined the telephone canvassing team for another session and then Mark and I nipped next door for a pint and a look through some campaign literature. Afterwards I dropped off a full DIY canvassing kit to one of the team who has offered to canvass his part of Dewsbury.
Each week I send a ‘Monday message’ to all those who are involved in the campaign. This week has been hectic and so the message and an apology go out before bedtime!
Thursday 18th February
Today was a day away from the constituency as I travelled with my parents to a family funeral in Cambridgeshire. The journey down was broken by an interview with the local paper about the decision of the PCT. The journey back was interrupted by a blizzard!
Friday 19th February
The gentleman who was promised at least some compensation from the gas company has phoned. At last a letter has arrived but it states that he will not receive anything. I call him and in the meantime another letter has arrived with a cheque – scope for efficiency savings!! In the afternoon I go with Jim Dodds for some photos. He is the leader of the Kirklees Conservative Group and is up for re-election. Luckily it’s a nice day but I wish I had known we were going up a muddy hill to a BMX track! Good job it’s a head and shoulder shot!
Afterwards I went to look at what I hope will become our home in the constituency. The stumbling block has been the dogs but I am sure that they are too cute to cause a real problem...
This evening Louise and I went to a curry quiz night at the Old Colonial pub. Tim the landlord not only did us proud but also gave us a minibus! It will be the campaign battle bus and then hopefully after the election community groups can use it. A regular at the Old Colonial is a soon-to-be Colour Sergeant from the Mirfield detachment of the Cadet Force. Although the Government reduced the cuts in the TA budget, they did not reverse the cuts to the Cadet Force. The ACF does a brilliant job of installing discipline in young people whilst introducing them to outdoor pursuits, first aid and many other activities. I promise to do everything I can to raise this issue.
It’s been a great evening especially as my team won the quiz!
Saturday 20th February Today has seen the best ever turnout of volunteers (no, they didn’t know that I would be writing this!) We ran out of clipboards in the morning as helpers arrived from East and North Yorkshire as well as from within the constituency. It was worthwhile as we canvassed nearly 66% support. Some of us stayed out for lunch and then in the afternoon we moved to an area where we expected to encounter less support but it was still at 50%. Elsewhere we have another canvassing team out. We have been in a rural area whilst they have covered part of the town of Dewsbury. Their results reflect ours. We rarely canvass below 42%. After dropping off leaflets to a new deliverer Louise and I headed home.
Sunday 21st February
Today I woke up to headlines in which the Prime Minister denies actually hitting his staff. There was a time when you would have taken for granted that the British Prime Minister doesn’t hit his staff. Today it is not only suggested but has to be denied! Louise and I head off in another blizzard to see the constituency from a whole new angle, in fact from underneath, as we are guests of the National Mining Museum. Its site straddles the constituency border and it is amazing to go 400 odd feet underground and see the conditions in which men, and earlier women and children, worked. My granddad and many of my uncles were miners in Yorkshire and I came away even more in awe of what they did.
> Last week's Diary was written by Victoria Ayling, PPC for Great Grimsby
