A February Election?

The papers are full of a snap election in February. I have been warning my colleagues for some time of this possibility on the basis that if the PM thinks he will win, but knows his Labour Party members won't lift many fingers to help him campaign, why not call an election at a time which you know will cause maximum inconvenience to your opponents? I never thought I would say this but I really do think it's time we had a debate on Fixed Term Parliaments. Why should the PM have this power to call an election on a whim? A wicked thought comes to me. What if he went to the Queen and she said no?! She would be within her constitutional rights I think, as you really do need a good excuse to have an election before the end of the fourth year of a Parliament. Thoughts?

Canvassing in Cromer

This afternoon we did three hours canvassing in Cromer. We deliberately picked an area not known for its habit of voting Conservative and I have to say it was an interesting, if sometimes depressing experience. I say depressing not because we weren't getting support, but because of the huge number of people who said they would not vote. Admittedly some of them hadn't voted for sometime anyway, but I have never had a canvassing session where so many people were quite happy to say it. And it's the way they say it. There's very little anger, just a sort of resignation that voting can't change anything. It just shows what an awful lot of work there is to do to restore the trust in politics and politicians which has been eroded in recent years. On a more positive note, we got four new poster sites! And also many people said they had filled in my survey.

With the North Norfolk Harriers

Yesterday lunchtime I met up with the North Norfolk Harriers at Aldborough for their first meet of the season. I'm pictured here with the Master, Roger Bradbury. It's terrible to think that this might be their last season, but I assured him and his colleagues of my support in their fight against the government's pernicious Hunting Bill.  

Rebecca House Petition

We started our petition to keep Rebecca House open today in the marketplace at North Walsham. In two hours only 1 person refused to sign. And not a single person hadn't heard of the plans to close it.  

Ode to a Wheely Bin

A constituent sent me in this little poem. Thought I'd share it with you.

The Government has done it again
Rushed a decision to give us all pain.
Wheelie bins are really ugly receptacles at best
And for many there is nowehere for them to rest.
What we want is a common sense poloicy to apply
Because with the objective we all want to comply.,
For those who are happy with bins that is good
For invalids and those with no access there should
Be the alternative of the bags as we have now
We will sort them effectively; we know how!
The choice should be ours to make
Not a bullying tactic for goodness sake.

Andrew Motion, watch out? Or not?

Busy day

An early start to attend the North Norfolk District Concil planning meeting on the future of the TETRA mast at North Walsham Police Station. It was quite heated. The Council decided to enforce a STOP notice but give O2 7 days to respond to a letter. I then drove down to Briston to meet a local farmer who has problems with free range pigs roaming over his land. It was then off to North Walsham to visit the Salvation Army (see below) before driving back to Cromer for a meeting with my Campaign team. Tomorrow I have a mountain of letters to reply to and phone calls to make. In the evening I'm in Fakenham attending a Meet the Candidate evening, which is open to all, organised by Fakenham Conservatives.

Visiting the Sally Army

This afternoon I visited the Mildred Duff Eventide home in North Walsham to be briefed on their plans for a new building. The home is run by the Salvation Army. Unfortunately North Norfolk District Council turned down their planning application for a new home on the existing site this week. Councillors described the design of the new building as 'alien to North Norfolk'. Having seen the plans I can't understand it and am going to take it up with them. We can't afford to lose this facility. They have 22 residents and have plans to take 40, including a special unit for 10 dementia sufferers. With Rebecca House closing it is vital the planners find a way through the present situation. 

This made me laugh..

Just to prove Tory candidates do have a sense of humour... I got this from my Agent today on the Joys of a Helpdesk.

Helpdesk: What kind of computer do you have?
Female customer: A white one...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi, this is Celine. I can't get my diskette out.
Helpdesk: Have you tried pushing the button?
Customer: Yes, sure, it's really stuck.
Helpdesk: That doesn't sound good; I'll make a note ..."
Customer: No ... wait a minute... I hadn't inserted it yet...it's
still on my desk... sorry ....
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
Helpdesk: Click on the 'my computer' icon on to the left of the
screen.
Customer: Your left or my left?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
Helpdesk: Good day. How may I help you?
Male customer: Hello... I can't print.
Helpdesk: Would you click on start for me and ...
Customer: Listen pal; don't start getting technical on me! I'm not
Bill Gates damn it!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi good afternoon, this is Martha, I can't print. Every time I try it
says 'Can't find printer'. I've even lifted the printer and placed it
in front of the monitor, but the computer still says he can't find
it...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
Customer: I have problems printing in red...
Helpdesk: Do you have a colour printer?
Customer: Aaaah....................thank you.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
Helpdesk: What's on your monitor now ma'am?
Customer: A teddy bear my boyfriend bought for me in the supermarket.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
Helpdesk: And now hit F8.
Customer: It's not working.
Helpdesk: What did you do, exactly?
Customer: I hit the F-key 8-times as you told me, but nothing's
happening...

There's more, but I think I'd better stop here!

Rebecca House in the House

I'm watching the Parliament Channel as Norman Lamb has an Adjournment Debate on Rebecca House in a moment. It seems proceedings are being held up by Points of Order. I'm glad Norman has got this debate as he will hopefully be able to hold the Minister to account. Richard Bacon will also be speaking about a simialr facility, Cygnet House in Long Stratton, in his constituency which is also facing the axe.

RAF Coltishall

Here's a short press release I just sent out.

Iain Dale is to join a Task Force set up by Norfolk County Council to examine the future of RAF Coltishall, which is set to be closed. Dale lives almost at the end of the Coltishall runway at nearby Swanton Abbott. The Task Force meets for the first time on Monday under the chairmanship of cabinet Member Tony Tomkinson. Local MPs Keith Simpson and Norman Lamb are also on the Task Force.

Iain says: “I know from talking to my neighbours in Swanton Abbott and people on the base what a devastating blow it was to hear of the base’s impending closure. It’s important that we all come together now to see what can be salvaged. I would like to think there might be a continuing military use, but with the appointment of Defence Estates to look at disposal of the site this seems unlikely. I am particularly concerned about the many local businesses – pubs, shops etc – who rely on the base for their trade. The role of the local planning authorities will be crucial in any plans the Task Force comes up with and I am sure they will all play a constructive role.”

Let's have Fewer MPs!

I understand the Conservatives will have a manifesto commitment to reduce the number of MPs in Britain from 659 to 550. I would fully support such a move. It'd mean each constituency would have 100,000 voters instead of the current 70,000 (although North Norfolk is currently 82,000) but Andrew Turner on the Isle of Wight already has 100,000 and is regarded as a good constituency MP. I would also like to see a cut in the number of government ministers from 100 to about 75. I doubt whether we would have any worse government! I'd be interested to hear what others think about this.

Where are you on the Left to Right Scale?

CLICK HERE to take the Political quiz, which tells you where you are on the Left/Right scale. I came out as a Libertarian Conservative. No surprise there then.

Liberal or not?

I was interested to read in this week's LibDem News (part of my staple reading) that Norman Lamb's agent Simon Wright has been tio Germany to campaign for the FDP, who camopaign under the banner of 'Die Liberalen'. I hate to tell Simon but the FDP are to the right of the Conservative Party and run on a very Thatcherite economic agenda. A strange bed partner for a Liberal North Norfolk Distrct Councillor I would think. Perhaps he's thinking of defecting to us? Perish the thought.

On the Radio

Typing this at the BBC. Just about to go on 5 Live for two hours, so if you're here between now and 1am tune in to Radiuo 5 Live on 909 or 693! We're discussing why anyone would want to go into politics. Quite!

Old Man In a Hurry

There'll be more on yesterday's events tomorrow, but I am in a rush as I am off to Cambridge to the Thatcher Archives to a seminar on the 1979 election. Yes, I know it's a bit anoracky, but there you go.

Today

I'm typing this at North Norfolk Radio while my colleague David Ruffley MP does an interview about the effect of fuel duty on rural areas. We're off to Binham in a minute and then to a lunch in Wells. Later on I'm meeting St John's Ambulance and then heading off to Sidestrand Parish Council.

Boris Johnson. Dear oh dear oh dear.

Her Mother's Daughter

Carol Thatcher and me at our fundraising lunch at Pinewoods. She's a reet laff, as a northern acquaintance of mine might say. 

Bleary eyed

I overslept today - very unlike me. I opened my eyes to find the clock saying 8.58. Aaaagh! Spent the day in the office. Not much to report. Just one of those typical Mondays. Tomorrow I am going to a PCT meeting about the new hospital in Cromer. We also have a lunch with Carol Thatcher.

Fathers for Justice

On Friday evening I met a couple of guys in North Walsham who are members of Fathers for Justice. Their stories really moved me. They want nothing more than to be involved with the upbringing of their children, yet our legal system seems to be totally biased against them. Each of them are allowed 5 hours supervised access every month - not every week - every month. I told them that I could not condone some of the more extreme campaigning tactics used by F4J but it is clear to me that there is something deeply flawed in our child protection system if fathers like these are denied proper access to their children. The guiding light in any system of family law must be the welfare of the children. But no one is telling me that children are better off without the full involvement in their upbringing of their father. I don't doubt that there are many terrible circumstances where it is not possible to have two parents with equal access but that does not mean that we shouldn't look at reforming the law so the rights of access for fathers is strengthened. Here's a press release I have just issued. If you'd like to visit the F4J East Anglia website
CLICK HERE

IAIN Dale, North Norfolk's Conservative Parliamentary Candidate held talks this weekend with representatives of North Norfolk Fathers for Justice in North Walsham. He told them he endorsed calls by Conservatives nationally to review family law and give divorced parents greater rights of access to their children. Today divorce affects almost 150,000 children every year, more than two-thirds of whom are under the age of ten.

Iain Dale explained:

"When relationships break up, too many children become unfairly cut off from one of their parents, as well as grandparents and other close relatives. The current legal system isn't working, trapping many families for years in the courts running up massive legal bills."

Under the three-point plan to guide a review of family law by Conservatives:
· There should be a strong presumption in favour of equal rights for parents to have an influence on the upbringing of their children.
· Mediation should as far as possible always be the first step - taking matters to court should be the last resort for parents who separate.
· The procedures and powers of the family courts should be much more open and fair.

Iain added:

"The current system is hugely expensive, inefficient, unfair, insensitive and often, fairly chaotic. All of this causes resentment, frustration and anger in families across North Norfolk. I believe there should be a presumption that the extended family has a crucial role to play in the upbringing of children."

"Fathers for Justice exists because many fathers have been excluded from their children's upbringing by a legal system which often acts against them. However, I must be clear that while I support many of the aims of F4J I do not condone some of their campaigning tactics. There is a fine line between a harmless stunt and an act of dangerous irresponsibility."

Have a BREAK

On Friday I spent a very informative and enjoyable morning with BREAK in Sheringham. Break is a charity which runs several children's homes and provides holidays for children with learning disabilities. I toured their Sheringham holiday home and then met some of the people at DAYBREAK, the day centre.
They do a fantastic job in providing superb facilities. I even took a dive in a ballbath.