Cllr James Hockney LLB (Hons)

Urmi and I really enjoyed catching up with many Conservative friends and groups like
Conservative Friends of Bangladesh and Conservative Way Forward.  Considering that we had just had a General Election over 100 activists turning out to support Peter Golds was a great showing.

It is clear that the area needs a strong voice to stand up for the best interests of Tower Hamlets and it is clear that Peter Golds has a conviction and experience for the role.

He offers a platform featuring three key issues; Tackling mismanagement and corruption, Schools which prepare children for the future and No to over-development in Tower Hamlets.

Election day is fast looming and will await the result with interest later in the week.

In the meantime to find out more about the campaign visit www.going4golds.com

Before the by-election has even begun there has been intrigue that only UKIP seems capable of – and not for the rights reasons.

With Farage and Carswell, there is the man in the middle, in the form of Roger Lord, who has been the proverbial fly in the ointment of UKIP’s announcement.

Mr Lord was only selected a few weeks ago as the UKIP Parliamentary candidate for Clacton. Yet no one thought to pick up the phone and to work out a way forward. So there now is the ‘two into one’ does not go standoff that is taking place.

For any of you that have seen or heard Roger Lord being interviewed this is not a man for turning, for going quietly or ‘rolling over‘. There can be some sympathy with his position, having given 17 years of service to UKIP including fighting three parliamentary campaigns, it would be reasonable to presume his Party would be behind his fourth run, standing in Clacton. Clearly not.

This all creates the reverse picture that UKIP want to portray. Consider that they are supposed to be the Party of freedom, democracy and taking fight the establishment – now drops the democratically selected candidate in favour of a bigger name.

The latest development is that Roger Lord refused to rule out that he could stand for another party in the by-election. Every by-election is described (unfairly) by the media as a ‘circus’, then this by-election has the hallmarks of the ‘Cirque du Soleil’ of by-elections.

What is the real shame is this by-election did not have to happen. The Conservative Party is the only mainstream party that can deliver a referendum on the EU. Which is why there has been such dismay at Carswell’s decision. Where he says he wants change faster, well that change will go backwards if there is a Labour or Labour/Lib-Dem government.

When the by-election does start I will have my bucket and spade packed to campaign for a Conservative MP to be returned to Clacton on the journey to see a Conservative majority government. As only the Conservatives are delivering the policies to take our country forward.

I was delighted to help today in the East Cambs District Council by-election in town of Soham – close to the City of Ely where I was born and grew up.

Soham is a growing community where infrastructure is a major issue. Conservatives are working hard to secure the A142  Ely by-pass and re-opening Soham’s train station. Vital for the economy – to bring jobs and investment.

Hamish Ross is a strong local candidate – living in the ward, already a town councillor and working locally.

Certainly I very much hope that Hamish is elected on Thursday.

Following my visit to help campaign in Newark on Thursday, I also helped with telephoning residents in Newark from our Campaign Centre at Conservative Central Office in London on Monday.

The campaign overall has clearly been going well with the most recent Lord Ashcroft poll showing the Conservatives in the lead by 15 points in Newark.

That said we are not complacent and will be pushing for the line!

It certainly has been a busy, busy month. Finishing off the 2nd year of my Law Degree and campaigning hard in the Euro and Local Elections. A brief breather and into the Newark by-election!

Pleased to be joined by MEP Candidate Cllr Tom Hunt for the journey up from South East Cambridgeshire. One might be forgiven for thinking a mid week visit would be quiet. Think again. As we arrived at the campaign centre (one of five no less) the car-park was full to over flowing. Inside the office were sign-in sheets on the wall for MP’s – a veritable whose who of the Conservative Party. Clipboards, pens, stickers, canvass sheets were swiftly handed out with a campaign manager joining us to visit residents. Just as we were about to leave, ‘JAMES!’ I turned round and there were two fellow Eastern Region campaigners – Heidi Allen and Colin Barker.

Out on the door there was a great response (I think many residents are enjoying the excitement of the by-election), strong support for Robert Jenrick and the Conservative Party. It was quite clear travelling around the area that we were the ones putting in the most effort. This has been recognised by the media – www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27626889 blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/05/tories-tories-everywhere/

On Saturday should be an even greater show of Conservative effort – including the excellent RoadTrip 2015 project that will bring in 200+ activists alone!

I was pleased to go and help Kevin Cuffley who is the Conservative Candidate for the Sawston SCDC by-election. This was due to the current Independent Councillor standing down. Kevin is a great candidate and the only one who actually lives in Sawston. More than that he has run a local business for 34 years – as old as me! I very much hope to see Kevin win and join the Conservative team at SCDC. Pictured with Kevin and East Cambs Cllr Tom Hunt.