A personal take on the selection of Robert Jenkins

I found Robert a reasonably charming man. (more charming than the other two candidates anyway, and he managed to disagree with the old guard while maintaining their support) He was obviously intelligent although he seemed too be deliberately holding back when in discussion with members although threw this he was clearly gauging the members with which I have no qualms with. Unlike some people he had a generally optimistic take on the future rather than managing decline, he seemed pragmatic and not ideologically fixed on the right of the party although several of his views were in tune with that segment of the party. He had a lot less experience in the real world than the other candidates although that’s a given being 15 years their junior. Although a lawyer he comes from a business family which perhaps is the best of both worlds, the gift of the gab and an understanding of how the economy woks. A man threw his words has contacts high in the party as well as the offer to help finance his own campaign shows his commitment. A very good candidate, the best on the day but like William Hague he has come too soon and I would have preferred to have had him 4 to 8 years older, but as the best candidate on the day I thought he was the choice we had to make.
Danny Worley

We're Back!

Hello All,

It's been a while but with the brand new semester well under-way (and essays are looming!) it's time to provoke some debate. So this week's question is:

"With the recent election of Robert Jenrick as PPC for Newcastle-Under-Lyme, how did you feel being part of the selection process? And what do you think we need to do to beat Paul Farrelly in the run up to the next General Election?"

Thoughts?

NME Events

With the National Conservative Future elections due to get underway very soon, NKCF is getting into the election spirit!

Friday 25th January 2008 – 8:00pm
Michael Rock – NME chairman candidate – will be attending our usual Future Friday meeting. There will be a Q & A session after our meeting to allow people to ask questions about his ideas, policies and beliefs as he attempts to win over the NKCF cohort. - Conservative Future members at other branches are welcome!
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=9551789523

Don’t forget to book your place by signing up on Facebook.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to visit us here in Newcastle-under-Lyme, please get in touch with our Deputy Chairman (Political), Matthew Jones – political@newcastlecf.co.uk.

The Dinner Party

It was probably the best programme I’d seen over the Christmas period, and yet it was made and first broadcast over ten years ago. What am I talking about? The Dinner Party.

Over the past few weeks (and indeed the next few weeks coming up), Channel 4 are slowly releasing their archives of comedy, documentaries and drama to the world for free. All through a nifty little program called 4oD. One of these programmes is called The Dinner Party, a programme made as part of the ‘Cutting Edge’ series by a film-maker called Paul Watson. It’s 1997, on a cold night in East Anglia. The cast? A group of Conservative voters, contemplating the prospect of the end of an 18-year-old Conservative government. Set in the comfortable surroundings of a well-furnished candlelit dining room, the group touch upon the topics of the day.

What amused me whilst watching this programme was not the nature of the comments made by a few of the guests. Not the fact that you couldn’t actually broadcast some of the things said any more. Nor the fact that a couple of the guests were rather entertainingly rude. It was the fact that the issues being discussed were rather the same as the issues we’re talking about right now.

Immigration. Education. Sleaze. Things don’t really change, do they? Should we be placing limits on how many people are coming into the country? Can we really trust a new government to make real and significant improvements in education? What part do private schools play in today’s society? What is the effect of sleaze on a government and is it right for them to get away with things?

The guests are outspoken, the wine is flowing and the discussion is relevant. Watch it, you will not be disappointed.

Click here to download 4oD – www.channel4.com/4od.

Celebrity Cabinet

Sky News has released the results of their poll today on which celebrities you’d like to see in the Cabinet. Surprisingly, Sir David Attenborough topped the list as Prime Minister, with Jamie Oliver nestling in as Health Secretary. 2,226 responded, and the winners are:

Prime Minister: Sir David Attenborough

Chancellor: Carol Vorderman

Foreign Secretary: Sir Michael Palin

Justice Secretary: Robbie Coltrane

Home Secretary: Judge John Deed (Martin Shaw)

Defence Secretary: Andy McNab (ex-SAS/novelist)

Scotland Secretary: Billy Connolly

Health Secretary: Jamie Oliver

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Nigella Lawson

Department of Trade and Industry: Sir Alan Sugar

Minister for Women: Jo Brand

Work and Pensions Minister: Victor Meldrew (Richard Wilson)

Wales Secretary: Catherine Zeta-Jones

Secretary of State for Transport: Jeremy Clarkson

Communities Secretary: Sir Bob Geldof

Chief Whip: Simon Cowell

Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families: Supernanny (Jo Frost)

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport: Steve Redgrave

Northern Ireland Secretary: Eamonn Holmes

Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills: Prof. Stephen Hawking

What do you think? Jeremy Clarkson for PM? Maragaret Thatcher for Pensions? Or how about Rob Brydon representing the Welsh? Let us know by leaving a comment.

Matthew Jones
Deputy Chairman (Political), NKCF

Staffordshire University Caves To Conservative Pressure

Staffordshire University has conceded to calls from Conservative Future to open up the University to democratic activity and allow political parties onto the university campus.

Conservative Future will be on the University campus in Stafford on 11th February, and Stoke-on-Trent campus on 12th February, promoting the Conservative Party and youth politics, as well as inviting students to join the Party.

This is a really welcome decision, and thankfully the Students Union have agreed to hold the 'Who's Speaking For You?' event in February (originally promised for the first semester) after much pressure from CF over the past 6 months, and extensive press coverage. However, it is very disappointing that it has taken this long for the University and Students Union to understand the importance of political freedom and democracy to Staffordshire students.

There is however disappointing news from the University that accompanies this success. In a written statement from the Students Union they state "We ask that you bear in mind that this invitation onto campus is to attend the fair and Question Time events and that canvassing on areas of the campus outside these events is not permitted."

This is extremely disappointing. Although we have made a breakthrough, Staffordshire University Students Union, presumably supported by the University, is still banning legitimate political activity and freedom on the campus. A campus where many students are resident, and therefore entitled to vote. Restricting political activity at all times except these two days is still unacceptable, and CF will continue to push for complete political freedom in Staffordshire University.

Owen Meredith
Area Chairman for Staffordshire CF
Social Secretary, NKCF

Christmas Comes Early...

It's very early on a Sunday morning only one week before Christmas. I'm hearing word through the blogs that an truly staggering poll will be revealed later today. YouGov's research for the Sunday Times should reveal a Conservative lead of a massive 13 points. The Liberal Democrat lead isn't yet around (from what I can see), but topline voting intentions for the main two parties are LAB-CON-32%-45%.

What does this bring up?

• We've made significant progress since the previously concerning/static 40% mark was reported. No more worrying?
• We have made no major announcements but have gained. The main thing? Europe.

Are we about to see the Lisbon Treaty's impact on the Labour Party? Could a Conservative announcement regarding a retrospective referendum boost our ratings even further?

The highest Conservative rating ever recorded by YouGov. What a Christmas present for Conservatives across the country!


Matthew Jones
Deputy Chairman (Political), NKCF