New website launched

We have today launched our new website. That means the end of this blog for the moment but we hope to add a different style of blog to the new website.

Please visit at: www.westmidlandsconservatives.com

Birmingham Conservatives website launched

Party Chairman, Francis Maude, checking out the new site.

Conservatives in Birmingham have today launched their new website. Visitors will be able to read about Conservative successes on Birmingham City Council, find details on councillors, candidates in the forthcoming elections and what Conservatives have been doing to improve quality of life in your part of the City. There is also an opportunity to ask Andrew Mitchell questions in his role as Shadow Minister for Birmingham.

Shadow Minister for Birmingham, Andrew Mitchell MP said, “We are delighted to launch this website to promote the Conservative Party in Birmingham. Conservatives are now the largest political Party on Europe’s largest local authority; Birmingham City Council. It is our aspiration to continue to lead Birmingham forward: for a city that is cleaner, greener and safer. A city that is confident of its direction. A city that believes in itself and fulfils its potential as one of the world’s leading cities.”

Leader of the Conservative Group and Leader of Birmingham City Council, Cllr Mike Whitby added, “After over 20 years of Labour failings - when even the Government said Birmingham was dangerously underperforming in key areas - we now have caring and competent Social Services, warm and decent homes for our residents and a regime of good money management and fiscal discipline. Birmingham now has the most comprehensive recycling programme ever seen and after being recognised as the “Cleanest City” in the UK, we will further invest in our Cleaner, Greener and Safer agenda. We hope this website will allow residents to communicate with us and understand the hard work Conservatives are undertaking in Birmingham.”

The website can be found at: www.birminghamconservatives.co.uk

West Midlands pensions victims to meet Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary

Victims of a collapsed pension scheme in Birmingham, who lost approximately half of their pensions when their employer went out of business, will tomorrow receive a visit from the Conservatives’ Pensions spokesman, Philip Hammond.

Mr Hammond will be in town to see first hand the effect that losing pension savings has had on people’s lives. He will meet with former employees of printing firm Kalamazoo, which went into liquidation several years ago. Deferred members of the pension scheme have lost up to half of their expected pension.

Approximately 2,000 Midland workers overall have been affected by the pensions scandal.

At the meeting, Mr Hammond will explain how he wants the Government to introduce a new ‘Lifeboat Fund’ which will top up the pensions of workers whose pension schemes have failed.

The Conservative proposals, tabled in the form of amendments to the Pensions Bill, have the support of the Liberal Democrats and a number of influential Labour backbenchers.

The proposals have since been passed by the House of Lords with a large majority. But Mr Hammond will tell the pension victims that Labour MPs will try to overturn the proposal again when the Pensions Bill returns to the House of Commons next month.

Mr Hammond will tell the workers to bombard their local Labour MPs with emails and letters over the next few weeks to persuade them to drop their opposition to the Tory proposals. Mr Hammond is currently touring the Midlands in a bid to keep the pressure on.

Commenting, Mr Hammond said:

“I wanted to come to Birmingham to see for myself how Gordon Brown has ruined the retirement prospects of people like who have saved hard all their lives only to see their pensions disappear.

“Over the next few weeks, we must do all we can to persuade Gordon Brown to drop his stubborn opposition to our proposals for a Lifeboat Fund.

“We will do our best to help the pension victims in Parliament but we also need their help - they must put the pressure on Gordon Brown and their local Labour MPs to stand up for their constituents’ interests.”

Shadow Culture Secretary admires Solihull development

Hugo Swire MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport accompanied Maggie Throup, Solihull’s Conservative Parliamentary Candidate to see the progress of a new state of the art leisure centre.

After a tour of both old and new facilities Hugo Swire said: “These new facilities have been well planned around the needs of the Solihull residents. Incorporating the adjoining park into the design and linking together the existing facilities of indoor tennis and the athletics track will provide outstanding sports and leisure facilities for many years to come.

“Replacing outdated and quite ugly facilities with modern, well thought out ones and at the same time investing in the region of £2million in park improvements is a major achievement for Conservative-controlled Solihull Council and they are to be congratulated.”

Maggie added: “I am sure these new facilities are going to make every one in Solihull really proud. I cannot wait to be able to use them myself.”

Pic shows Hugo Swire with Maggie Throup and Cllr Stuart Davis, Association Chairman

Robin Walker - “One thousand stand up for Post Office”

Worcester Conservatives, have been campaigning outside Foregate Street Post Office against plans to downgrade the city’s crown Post Office and move it to the first floor of WH Smith on the High Street. They were flooded with offers of support and received 615 signatures in the space of their two hour protest. This follows on from the 400 collected the week before. Robin Walker, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Worcester and fellow campaigners, including Sheila Clarke of the independent Worcester Older People’s Forum were flooded with offers of support for their petition, signing up more than 5 people per minute.

Robin will now send on the 1,000 signature petition to Post Office Limited and to the DTI, urging them to reverse the decision, which has been overwhelmingly rejected by people in Worcester.

Robin Walker said: “We could not have a clearer sign that people in Worcester reject the arguments put forward for moving the Post Office from its well located, purpose built ground floor site, to the first floor of a crowded high street store. The thousand signatures that we have gathered in such a short space of time show that there is overwhelming support for keeping the Post Office open.”

Women campaign for Men’s Health at Three Counties Show

Harriett Baldwin, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for West Worcestershire was on hand this weekend at the Three Counties Show to join other women campaigning for Men’s Health.

Harriett Baldwin and volunteers marked Men’s Health Week by handing out a range of leaflets on cancer screening for men. Harriett Baldwin said, “I am very lucky. I have a healthy father, a healthy husband, a healthy son and a healthy brother. I want them to stay that way and I want all men to know what to look for in terms of screening.

Pauline Cooper, health campaigner added, “I lost my husband to male breast cancer. Last year saw a 100% rise in the number of men dying from male breast cancer, and yet still so many men are unaware of the disease. It is good to spread the word here because it could save lives.”

Lib Dem councillor defects to Conservatives

Francis Maude MP, Chairman of the Conservative Party and Shadow Minister for Wolverhampton, yesterday welcomed Councillor Geoffrey Martin of Cannock Chase District Council to the Conservative Party. Cllr Martin represents the Western Springs ward and has crossed the floor to the Conservatives from the Liberal Democrats. Francis Maude, Chairman of the Conservative Party said, “I am delighted to welcome Geoffrey to the Conservative Party. He joins a hard working and committed Conservative group of councillors in Cannock Chase and I wish him well.”

Councillor Geoffrey Martin said, “Over recent months I have become convinced that it is the Conservative Party that has the most effective policies for Cannock Chase and for rejuvenating Rugeley in particular. Whilst the decision I have made has not been an easy one, I realised that if I was to serve Rugeley as I wanted to then I had to make the move to a party that had a firm eye on the future.”

Chairman of the Cannock Chase Conservative Association, Ian Collard, added, “I am particularly pleased that Cllr Martin has decided to join the Conservatives. He is well-respected councillor, who is renowned for his commitment to helping Rugeley develop.“

“Picking up on the lead set by David Cameron , over the past 18 months we have been determined to end the bickering style of politics that has held back this area for too long. Instead, we have presented distinctive and constructive Conservative policies for the District, and it is encouraging that a dedicated councillor, such as Geoff, has decided to put his weight behind our efforts.”

Agent Advertisement - West Worcestershire Conservatives

Position: Conservative Party Agent

Description: Applications are invited for the new position of full time Agent in the West Worcestershire Parliamentary constituency.

West Worcestershire is a key seat at the next General Election, with the aim of rebuilding the Conservative majority in the face of the strong Liberal Democrat challenge over recent elections. The constituency itself covers a very large geographical area, comprising a beautiful rural heritage and a number of thriving and expanding townships.

The Association is strong and ambitious, with a vision to considerably increase its membership, promote a constructive and relevant political agenda and deliver effective campaigning at all levels. The successful applicant should therefore have a proven track record in all the current professional activities of modern day campaigning, together with skills in promoting fund-raising and the productive involvement of volunteers.

A salary in accordance with the scales published by the Party Board in January 2007 will be paid together with a pension and expenses. Interviews will be held in July.

Interested applicants should contact the Chairman of the Association, David Watkins, on 01684 573469 or email office@wwca.org.uk for further information.

Closing date: 30th June 2007

Robin Walker rejects Whitehall plan to gag communities on planning issues

Robin Walker, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Worcester today criticised new proposals from the Government to change planning rules and weaken the say of local communities. The policies were unveiled by Whitehall ministers in their latest Planning ‘White Paper’.

However, Robin welcomed proposals to make it easier for households to build an extension – provided that neighbours were still given the opportunity to object if it affected their property or local amenity.

Robin said:

“After ten years of Labour, the number of people who own their home is now falling. Labour’s regional planning red tape and Whitehall targets have snarled up the planning system, whilst restricting the say of local residents. Ever-higher stamp duty and soaring council tax have made it harder for people in Worcester to get a foot on the first rung of the housing ladder.”

“Gordon Brown has shown his control freak instincts by backing moves to strip local communities of their say over incinerators, rubbish dumps and sewage plants. Labour has sided with large developers, rather than the people. At the recent local elections we had a lot of scare-mongering by Labour candidates about plans for a waste plant at Sixways, even though there were no such plans, their own party’s white paper is now suggesting that decisions like this could be forced through without local consultation. Labour is in disarray on this issue.”

“We all know that the planning system needs reform and we need to build more homes. But the voice of local communities must be preserved and a democratic, accountable process must be maintained.”

Deirdre Alden gets a taste of Europe in Harborne!

It’s not long since Birmingham’s Conservative-led Council put in place a Village Centre Manager for Harborne and as a result one of his first initiatives - a European Market in Harborne High Street.

For three days there was an exciting taste of the continent on Harborne High Street. The market featured stallholders from countries such as France and Italy, selling goods including wines, cheeses, bread, cured meats, biscuits, sweets and gifts.

There was a fantastic atmosphere! Harborne’s special three day European Market follows hot on the heels of the monthly Farmers’ Market. They are all initiatives to help Harborne High Street remain a vibrant shopping area. If the European Market is a success, it’s hoped to make it an annual event.