03/05/2010 by Steve Barclay.

Bank Holiday Monday and also my 38th birthday.  Out in Withcham, Mepal, and Sutton today delivering leaflets with Karen and my parents in law.  It builds on our constituency campaign day on Saturday where a team of 30 covered Chatteris and Littleport with our final leaflet.  With my brother joining the team on Saturday, my parents helping all last week, and friends heading over, there is a real sense of monentum to the campaign.  3 days to go.

Our message is clear.  The only way to guarantee a change of Government is to vote Conservative.  A hung Parliament risks delay and dither at a time when the economy needs strong leadership.  It is clear on the doorstep that people are fed up with Gordon Brown.  After 13 years the time is up for Labour. 

As for the Lib Dems, their policy to give an amnesty for illegal immigrants resulting in over a million extra people claiming benefits gets short shift.  So too their desire to scrap the pound and give more power to Brussels, abolish jail sentences of less than six months (for offences like assulting a police office, drink driving or domestic violence), and their opposition to welfare reform for those who can work but choose not to.

David Cameron’s strong performance on Thursday night has firmed up support amongst many undecided voters, although a few are still to make up their mind. Lots of emails and calls in to the office which is positive.

We need to deliver a change of Government on Thursday.  Don’t wake up on Friday morning to five more years of Gordon Brown supported by the Lib Dems.  If you can help on polling day please get in touch - 01354  652295.

Posted in General Election, Liberal Democrats, Conservative Party, My Campaign | No Comments »

22/09/2009 by Steve Barclay.

It is really good news to see so many former Lib Dem members now joining the Conservative Party, and a sign of the change taking place in British politics.  Realistically only the Conservatives can end Gordon Brown’s Government.  It makes sense for former Lib Dem members who oppose Labour’s 42 days detection, want to scrap identify cards, and stop a third runway at Heathrow to vote Conservative to make these things happen. 

This shift is also being helped by the Lib Dem Leader himself, who seems increasing confused over the direction of his party’s policy.  At the start of their Party Conference this week the Lib Dem leader said he wanted “savage cuts” on public services and that they would have to scrap their pledge on tuition fees.  Former leader Charles Kennedy contradicted him, as did other senior Lib Dem MPs like Evan Harris.  So now he is saying they may not scrap their pledge on tuition fees after all.  Confused?  If so, don’t try to understand their policy on child benefit - again the Lib Dem Leader said they might introduce means testing of child benefit, before their Work and Pensions spokesman intervened and said there would keep it as it is. 

Unfortunately the Lib Dem leader has form for such confusion over his policy.  After promising a referendum on the European Constitutional treaty in their election manifesto, the Lib Dem Leader then bizarrely imposed a three line whip on his MPs to abstain when the vote took place.  He could not even make up his mind whether to vote yes or no on the most important vote in this Parliament!  Nor is he able to come clean and say what he would do in the future if there is a hung parliament after the next election.  This is the key circumstance when his opinion would really matter, and yet he tells the public it is a secret.  He will decide behind closed doors without telling them before they vote.  How long will it be until the Lib Dem members who are left rebel and install Vince Cable as their new Leader to provide some direction? 

With most current Lib Dem MPs in former Conservative seats, whilst their next generation of Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidates with the best chance of winning are in Labour seats, the tension and confusion over the direction of their policy is likely to get worse.  However after only managing 14% of the vote in the European elections, it is right that Lib Dem members increasingly see the Conservatives as the best way to deliver change on civil liberties, the environment and localism.  These are three key values for many Lib Dem members, and are at the heart of Conservative policy for the 21^st century. 

Any Lib Dem member in North East Cambridgeshire wanting to join us should please get in touch with me.

Posted in Liberal Democrats, Conservative Party | No Comments »

09/05/2008 by Steve Barclay.

Drinking with the opposition might come as a surprise for those who are very tribal about their politics, but I try to get on well with members of other political parties.  Whilst we disagree on a range of policies, we share a common interest in politics and most of us recognise that our own side does not have a monopoly on all wisdom. 

Tonight the campaigning for the London mayor has finished (although I have not had chance to help out as much as I would have liked) and so I headed over to the Young Vic in central London for a beer with Lib Dem Councillor Peter Truesdale.  Whilst I have now moved to Chatteris, I have kept my flat near to the House of Commons and Peter is my local councillor for the ward and used to be Leader of the Council.  It made for an interesting experience to be on the receiving end when Peter knocked on my door to canvass me a few years ago!!!  Polling day is tomorrow so it was fascinating to chat to Peter about his predictions and compare them against mine (we both think Boris will just win it) and talk about the national position (I thought Chris Huhme would have been a better choice for Liberal leader than Nick Clegg).  Peter was excellent company, and a beer and lively debate was a great way to round of the campaign.

Posted in Liberal Democrats, Chatteris | No Comments »