On Thursday 25th February 2010 at 7:30pm at the Labour Group Room was the first candidates meeting for the Milton Keynes Council 2010 elections, I met Cllr Kevin Wilson outside the entrance with a big box next to him while he was having a cigarette and also came along Cllr John Goss.
We were the first to arrive and got ourselves comfy when others turned up.
Kevin asked everyone to introduce ourselves and I was quite tired as I had hot footed it to the meeting following a Finance and Resources Committee meeting which I had clerked at the Woughton Community Council offices on Netherfield, and when it came too my introduction I made a slip of the tongue and said hi i'm Brian Barton candidate for Milton Keynes North instead of saying Newport Pagnall North to much laughter in the room I quickly added that I had no designs on replacing Andrew Pakes or getting above my station I said this after making eye contact with his Election Agent Pete Marland, whilst at the same time half closing my eyes hoping the ground would swallow me up! Cllr Rita Venn who sat opposite me kindly muttered I would make a good candidate.
Kevin then proceed to hand round blank nomination forms and was going through each page like the good teacher he was advising what and what not to fill in and gave us the deadline to obtain the ten signatures that are needed and to hand back to him.
He also handed out some glossy general election literature on the theme of a Future Fair To All with nice pictures of people quoting the success of their lives thanks to a Labour Government Pete commented that the typeface of the booklet was all over the place which is a fair comment.
We then split in to two groups north and south so that the candidates could discuss in more detail the campaign organisation of the two constituencies, which were led by the two election agents, Dan the national party organisor depressed me about the voter contact targets which we had to achieve per week (from memory) 2,000 a week and we were at present no where near that.
When we huddled round to hear Pete he certainly was much more upbeat thanking us in the north for all our hard work and the fact we can only do what we can and should not burn ourselves out as if there is a hung parliment there could be another election around the corner and we would need some energy to fight that one as well.
For the rest of the time we just generally talked politics, Pete made a very valid point that win draw or lose there still would be a Milton Keynes Labour Party and we need to plan for the future and increase the size of the Labour Group.
I was getting tired and we all decided to call it a night any way and wrapped up at about 9:30pm, Pete asked for a lift but decided to ask Kevin instead, it would of made more sense for me to drive him home as it would be out of the way for Kevin but I was hungray and just wanted to go home.
When I got to my car I spotted an Easter egg given to me by someone at work and so I eat it all and felt a lot better driving home.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Sunday, 21 February 2010
Parish Councils That I Have Been a Member of
Woughton Parish Council
(Now known as Woughton Community Council and was also known as Woughton on the Green Parish Council)
1991 - 1995 Coffee Hall Ward
1995 - 1999 Netherfield Ward
Campbell Park Parish Council
(Was known as Willen cum Woolstone Parish Council)
2000 - 2006 Oldbrook Ward
2005-2006 Vice - Chair
Grants Committee
Planning Committee (Vice - Chair)
Environment and Allotments (Chair)
ICT Committee
Finance and Administration Committee
Transport Group/Community Bus
Youth Work Group
Outside Bodies Representing Campbell Park Parish Council
Milton Keynes Association of Urban Parish Councils
Parish Assembly
Bradwell Parish Council
2006-2008 Heelands Ward
Bradwell Wildlife Conservation Area Project Working Party
(Now known as Woughton Community Council and was also known as Woughton on the Green Parish Council)
1991 - 1995 Coffee Hall Ward
1995 - 1999 Netherfield Ward
Campbell Park Parish Council
(Was known as Willen cum Woolstone Parish Council)
2000 - 2006 Oldbrook Ward
2005-2006 Vice - Chair
Grants Committee
Planning Committee (Vice - Chair)
Environment and Allotments (Chair)
ICT Committee
Finance and Administration Committee
Transport Group/Community Bus
Youth Work Group
Outside Bodies Representing Campbell Park Parish Council
Milton Keynes Association of Urban Parish Councils
Parish Assembly
Bradwell Parish Council
2006-2008 Heelands Ward
Bradwell Wildlife Conservation Area Project Working Party
Leafleting on Tattenhoe
I arrived as planned at Cllr Nigel Long's house on Shenley Road Bletchley at 10:45am and parked at the Three Trees Car Park nearby another car pulled up and the three most biggest bruisers got out of it (would not like to meet them in a dark alley.)
As I was invited in Nigel's two dogs were all over me very excitable and licking my hands, he has a lovely bungalow and it was the first time I had been inside as previously he lived in Kennet Drive.
We chatted about the polls and the Andrew Marr interview with Lord Peter Mandelson (which he was impressed by) and the health benefits of leafleting and the nightmare of getting in to flats to leaflet, he then took a call.
Cllr Kevin Wilson arrived with my leaflets for Tattenhoe which was in a bundle all trussed up he gave me a map of the roads that needed doing and said to leaflet Emerson Valley North with what was left over and to then let him know the names of the roads I had done, by this time it had started raining and Phillip Turnball and Cllr Gladstone McKenzie were already there in Nigel's driveway waiting to get going canvassing, Dr Phyllis Starkey MP arrived wearing a long red coat and I went on my way as I was driving along Shenley Road I spotted Kevin cigarette in mouth holding the register waiting for the troops with Phyllis running along now wearing a matching red hat and Nigel walking close by.
I parked up at the allotments and started walking to Rosemullien Drive to start my leafleting, one guy was standing in his driveway holding a lighter and a packet of cigarettes in one hand and juggling with the other hand a laptop which was not covered up in the rain he was very friendly asking me how I was (not had that before), another elderly lady doing some gardening was also pleasant and even though it was wet I quite enjoyed the nice atmosphere.
In one road I put a leaflet through a door and as I walked away from the property the door opened and this guy headed for the green compost wheelie bin opened the lid throw the leaflet in the bin and shut it down loudly and walked back in to his house with out a word to me.
Further up the court two boys were kicking a football against a garden wall one lad kicked it high in to the back garden as I walked past they both said hello which cheered me up.
I noticed as I was going from street to street the different stone ornaments in the front gardens like a cat about to pounce and even of a man sitting on a bench which made me look twice.
By the time I finished it was 12:30pm and my hands were black from the print off the leaflets and it stopped raining and the sun came out, and I was hungry and knackered and as I forgotton the demarcation of Emerson Valley North and South by the grid roads as explained by Kevin I decided that it would either be leafleted by me or someone else another time and with that I drove home.
As I was invited in Nigel's two dogs were all over me very excitable and licking my hands, he has a lovely bungalow and it was the first time I had been inside as previously he lived in Kennet Drive.
We chatted about the polls and the Andrew Marr interview with Lord Peter Mandelson (which he was impressed by) and the health benefits of leafleting and the nightmare of getting in to flats to leaflet, he then took a call.
Cllr Kevin Wilson arrived with my leaflets for Tattenhoe which was in a bundle all trussed up he gave me a map of the roads that needed doing and said to leaflet Emerson Valley North with what was left over and to then let him know the names of the roads I had done, by this time it had started raining and Phillip Turnball and Cllr Gladstone McKenzie were already there in Nigel's driveway waiting to get going canvassing, Dr Phyllis Starkey MP arrived wearing a long red coat and I went on my way as I was driving along Shenley Road I spotted Kevin cigarette in mouth holding the register waiting for the troops with Phyllis running along now wearing a matching red hat and Nigel walking close by.
I parked up at the allotments and started walking to Rosemullien Drive to start my leafleting, one guy was standing in his driveway holding a lighter and a packet of cigarettes in one hand and juggling with the other hand a laptop which was not covered up in the rain he was very friendly asking me how I was (not had that before), another elderly lady doing some gardening was also pleasant and even though it was wet I quite enjoyed the nice atmosphere.
In one road I put a leaflet through a door and as I walked away from the property the door opened and this guy headed for the green compost wheelie bin opened the lid throw the leaflet in the bin and shut it down loudly and walked back in to his house with out a word to me.
Further up the court two boys were kicking a football against a garden wall one lad kicked it high in to the back garden as I walked past they both said hello which cheered me up.
I noticed as I was going from street to street the different stone ornaments in the front gardens like a cat about to pounce and even of a man sitting on a bench which made me look twice.
By the time I finished it was 12:30pm and my hands were black from the print off the leaflets and it stopped raining and the sun came out, and I was hungry and knackered and as I forgotton the demarcation of Emerson Valley North and South by the grid roads as explained by Kevin I decided that it would either be leafleted by me or someone else another time and with that I drove home.
Fairtrade Event on Fishermead
I arrived late at the Trinty Centre on Fishermead I was engrossed on the sofa listening to BBC News 24 and the coverage of Gordon Brown's speech at Warwick University launching the new General Election slogan followed by a robust interview with Lord Peter Mandelson.
As everything was set up I spoke first for a long time with Cllr Martin Petchey chiefly catching up on the goings on at Campbell Park Parish Council.
I also spoke with Cllr John Goss who was wearing a union jack t-shirt (the young must have thicker blood as I had to keep my coat on.)
I introduced myself to Cllr Paul Williams who recently has joined Campbell Park Parish Council for the Fishermead ward and is a candidate in the 2010 local Council elections for Linford North ward who was making a cup of tea in the kitchen unaware he was going to give it to a member of the public who had sneaked in and was told by Pete as I was stopping him from speaking to him.
I spoke to Paul later and it would appear he lives in the house that belonged to my best mate at school Steven Saby on Hutton Avenue on Oldbrook I regaled him with my memories of my mis spent youth there including the time that I was sick in the bathroom due to too much alcohol it is a very small world.
Angela Williams (Treasurer of the city Labour Party) popped in as did Cllr Hilary Saunders so it was like a Labour Party social but as Pete quite rightly pointed out the invitations along with a survey was more important in getting voter contact details.
After a lot of chatting with everyone my throat was sore and I was having a dizzy spell which I get every now and then which feels like your going to collapse and to cure it I started to put tables and chairs away Pete was having problems putting the legs down of the table so I showed him the knack of doing it which he was impressed by and I said it comes from going to too many meetings and socials.
Martin asked for help washing up and so I volunteered, everyone was still chatting away and I looked at my watch and saw it was 4:00pm so I said my good byes as I had lots to do when I got home.
As I got to my car a couple were arguing as they got out of their car.
As everything was set up I spoke first for a long time with Cllr Martin Petchey chiefly catching up on the goings on at Campbell Park Parish Council.
I also spoke with Cllr John Goss who was wearing a union jack t-shirt (the young must have thicker blood as I had to keep my coat on.)
I introduced myself to Cllr Paul Williams who recently has joined Campbell Park Parish Council for the Fishermead ward and is a candidate in the 2010 local Council elections for Linford North ward who was making a cup of tea in the kitchen unaware he was going to give it to a member of the public who had sneaked in and was told by Pete as I was stopping him from speaking to him.
I spoke to Paul later and it would appear he lives in the house that belonged to my best mate at school Steven Saby on Hutton Avenue on Oldbrook I regaled him with my memories of my mis spent youth there including the time that I was sick in the bathroom due to too much alcohol it is a very small world.
Angela Williams (Treasurer of the city Labour Party) popped in as did Cllr Hilary Saunders so it was like a Labour Party social but as Pete quite rightly pointed out the invitations along with a survey was more important in getting voter contact details.
After a lot of chatting with everyone my throat was sore and I was having a dizzy spell which I get every now and then which feels like your going to collapse and to cure it I started to put tables and chairs away Pete was having problems putting the legs down of the table so I showed him the knack of doing it which he was impressed by and I said it comes from going to too many meetings and socials.
Martin asked for help washing up and so I volunteered, everyone was still chatting away and I looked at my watch and saw it was 4:00pm so I said my good byes as I had lots to do when I got home.
As I got to my car a couple were arguing as they got out of their car.
Fairtrade Event on Great Linford
I arrived at Fulwell Court, StLegers Drive, Great Linford on Saturday 20th February 2010 after 11:00am but nearly managing to go in to the St.Andrews Church fund raising event instead.
Luckly Peter Billups managed to stop me, Andrew Pakes and Pete Marland had gone to the Co-op store across the road to use their vouchers to get the Fairtrade coffee chocolate and biscuits, literature was around on the Co-op Party along with various publications and very attractive banners rather like the one that the Stony Stratford and Two Mile Ash Labour Party Branch I saw at an event in the Central Library when the author Tristam Hunt spoke about his book on Engels for the Literary Circle .
I was hanging around for a bit and had a cup of tea and sat at one of the tables with the Bretts a nice elderly couple who are heavily involved with the Church and long came Cllrs Norman Miles and Janet Irons nice to have a catch up with them athough a bit differcult for Janet to hear the conversation (she still has forgotton to give me the letter from Cllr Debbie Brock it gets more interesting it will be mundane when I eventually get it i'm sure).
I was summoned by Pete to help in the kitchen making teas and coffees and the washing up of the cups and saucers in dribs and drabs had a long chat in between with him and Rob Marris on a range of topics such as the unveiled General Election slogan and how he felt it should have an apostrephe in it! it appears he works at the House of Commons for Natasha Engel MP and not the disgraced Kitty Ussher MP any more just as well as she plans to leave at the General Election he was telling me about her child care arrangements and the fact the children and their friends were coming into the office over the school half term.
It started getting more busier only because we sussed that the crafty elderly ladies when discovering that they could get a free tea or coffee as the church event was charging 15p a cup.
I also played waiter and served some cups of tea and coffee and amazingly remembered if they wanted milk or sugar.
I have to say I availed myself of the choclate chip cake as I was getting very hungrey very nice.
Rob Marris took some photographs of the event after getting more confident in using the camera but complained that Norman's head was getting in the way!
A nice lady returned to me Andrew's survey as she could not answer it online which I handed on to him later, we finished at 12:30pm and cleared everything away but we think Pete has broken a part of the Co-op banner when getting it in its case and asked Andrew if he could take him home to get an allen key to repair it before having to return it.
I declined going for lunch with them to the Cafe in Wolverton as I wanted to go home and chill for an hour before the next event.
Luckly Peter Billups managed to stop me, Andrew Pakes and Pete Marland had gone to the Co-op store across the road to use their vouchers to get the Fairtrade coffee chocolate and biscuits, literature was around on the Co-op Party along with various publications and very attractive banners rather like the one that the Stony Stratford and Two Mile Ash Labour Party Branch I saw at an event in the Central Library when the author Tristam Hunt spoke about his book on Engels for the Literary Circle .
I was hanging around for a bit and had a cup of tea and sat at one of the tables with the Bretts a nice elderly couple who are heavily involved with the Church and long came Cllrs Norman Miles and Janet Irons nice to have a catch up with them athough a bit differcult for Janet to hear the conversation (she still has forgotton to give me the letter from Cllr Debbie Brock it gets more interesting it will be mundane when I eventually get it i'm sure).
I was summoned by Pete to help in the kitchen making teas and coffees and the washing up of the cups and saucers in dribs and drabs had a long chat in between with him and Rob Marris on a range of topics such as the unveiled General Election slogan and how he felt it should have an apostrephe in it! it appears he works at the House of Commons for Natasha Engel MP and not the disgraced Kitty Ussher MP any more just as well as she plans to leave at the General Election he was telling me about her child care arrangements and the fact the children and their friends were coming into the office over the school half term.
It started getting more busier only because we sussed that the crafty elderly ladies when discovering that they could get a free tea or coffee as the church event was charging 15p a cup.
I also played waiter and served some cups of tea and coffee and amazingly remembered if they wanted milk or sugar.
I have to say I availed myself of the choclate chip cake as I was getting very hungrey very nice.
Rob Marris took some photographs of the event after getting more confident in using the camera but complained that Norman's head was getting in the way!
A nice lady returned to me Andrew's survey as she could not answer it online which I handed on to him later, we finished at 12:30pm and cleared everything away but we think Pete has broken a part of the Co-op banner when getting it in its case and asked Andrew if he could take him home to get an allen key to repair it before having to return it.
I declined going for lunch with them to the Cafe in Wolverton as I wanted to go home and chill for an hour before the next event.
Friday, 19 February 2010
Milton Keynes Labour Executive Committee Meeting
I attended my first Milton Keynes Labour Party Executive Committee Meeting on Thursday 18th February 2010 (since being appointed at the annual meeting of the party) 7:30pm at the Labour Hall, Newport Road, New Bradwell.
It was very well attended and again a good atmosphere and very business like.
Cllr Kevin Wilson and Pete Marland as Election Agents went through the logistics of the next General Election and showed mock up election addresses and a leaflet for Dr Phyllis Starkey MP (which incidentially I am featured in a photograph in a group chatting to Phyllis.)
Finances as always remain differcult but it appears that Nicky Gavron (Former London Deputy Mayor to Ken Livingstone) has come to the resue to help finance Andrew Pakes's campaign.
The meeting agreed on myself to be the candidate in the 2010 local Council elections for Newport Pagnall North and Cllr Martin Petchey for Newport Pagnall North as Andrew Pakes had drawn a blank in obtaining local party members to fill the slots.
Discussions also centred on how to address the running of the Labour Hall in the Event of both seats being lost in the General Election it was agreed that a Finance Sub Group be formed to write a paper on any options available Cllr Camilla Turnball is to chair the group.
The Executive Committee will be meeting any how after the General Election to discuss the lie of the land.
Cllr Norman Miles (Leader of the Labour Group) addressed the meeting on the activities of the group and recent meetings with the leaders of the Liberal Democrat Group.
The meeting ended at 9:00pm and I managed to drive home before the snow later on.
It was very well attended and again a good atmosphere and very business like.
Cllr Kevin Wilson and Pete Marland as Election Agents went through the logistics of the next General Election and showed mock up election addresses and a leaflet for Dr Phyllis Starkey MP (which incidentially I am featured in a photograph in a group chatting to Phyllis.)
Finances as always remain differcult but it appears that Nicky Gavron (Former London Deputy Mayor to Ken Livingstone) has come to the resue to help finance Andrew Pakes's campaign.
The meeting agreed on myself to be the candidate in the 2010 local Council elections for Newport Pagnall North and Cllr Martin Petchey for Newport Pagnall North as Andrew Pakes had drawn a blank in obtaining local party members to fill the slots.
Discussions also centred on how to address the running of the Labour Hall in the Event of both seats being lost in the General Election it was agreed that a Finance Sub Group be formed to write a paper on any options available Cllr Camilla Turnball is to chair the group.
The Executive Committee will be meeting any how after the General Election to discuss the lie of the land.
Cllr Norman Miles (Leader of the Labour Group) addressed the meeting on the activities of the group and recent meetings with the leaders of the Liberal Democrat Group.
The meeting ended at 9:00pm and I managed to drive home before the snow later on.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Leafleting On Oldbrook
Overslept so rang Cllr John Goss to say I would be late to collect the personalised letters and arrived at his house on Shackleton Place Oldbrook at 11:20am, when he opened the door his lovely Cocker Spaniel Dog called Poppy leapt up and wanted to be made a fuss of and would not let go, he gave me a pile of letters as he said for my old stomping ground of Trueman Place, Edrich Avenue and Statham Place.
Nipped in to the local newsagents for a newspaper and lo and behold the same owner of the shop was behind the counter I don't think he regonised me as he never made any small talk, with that I drove to Trueman Place and parked outside my old house of no 9, I started leafleting from no 1 and worked my way up I noticed that my old neighbours at no 7 must of moved out as the name was different on the letter and a little asian boy came out to take the letter off me, I then went and put a letter through my old house door very weird I notice that both houses have had the hardwood windows and door removed and replaced by horrible white UPVC windows why they had to do that when the old windows were perfectly good enough I don't know they also had ripped out the flower beds and were in the middle of putting down block paving even though the old wooden garage doors have not been replaced, the same neighbour at no 11 is still there.
The two detached houses no's 13 - 15 were also still there as the new owners put a planning application in too knock them down and replace them with flats I had meetings in my house with residents planning how too stop them I even got in the local papers with the campaign and made a speech in the Council Chamber which persuaded members of the Development Control Committee to overturn the Planning Officers recommendation to accept the planning application my finest hour!
The sheltered housing scheme across the road had replaced their windows and doors with the same UPVC white windows and patio doors too (must be the fashion.) so many memories but I am proud of myself as the emotional person I am although we were the third family to move in to Oldbrook on September 12th 1980 and moved out in 2006 when my Mum ran off with the lodger and divorced my Father, after growing up on Trueman Place I still have no desire to move back on to Oldbrook besides it is so much quieter on Heelands.
As I was delivering I was also looking to see if there were any names I remembered but there was only one household that I know who still keep in touch and visit my Dad any way I guess thats what happens as the years go marching by too quickly.
I noticed in Edrich Avenue the No Ball Games Sign I got installed when I was Vice - Chair of Campbell Park Parish Council following a petition presented to me by the residents, it was not only still standing but had no graffetti on it too.
I finished after about an hour and used the pathway from Statham Place to Trueman Place hopping through the dog shit back to my car, I was half an hour late to visit my good friends Deb Wade and Alan Cook at Douglas Place but I guess they were used to me being so late as I have been over the years.
Debs was full of cold but it was nice and relaxing and had Pepporoni Passion Pizza with Garlic Bread and a range of dips as I left though I felt I was going down with her cold but it is proberably all in my mind as now I am back at Heelands I am starting to feel a litter better whilst writing up this blog.
Nipped in to the local newsagents for a newspaper and lo and behold the same owner of the shop was behind the counter I don't think he regonised me as he never made any small talk, with that I drove to Trueman Place and parked outside my old house of no 9, I started leafleting from no 1 and worked my way up I noticed that my old neighbours at no 7 must of moved out as the name was different on the letter and a little asian boy came out to take the letter off me, I then went and put a letter through my old house door very weird I notice that both houses have had the hardwood windows and door removed and replaced by horrible white UPVC windows why they had to do that when the old windows were perfectly good enough I don't know they also had ripped out the flower beds and were in the middle of putting down block paving even though the old wooden garage doors have not been replaced, the same neighbour at no 11 is still there.
The two detached houses no's 13 - 15 were also still there as the new owners put a planning application in too knock them down and replace them with flats I had meetings in my house with residents planning how too stop them I even got in the local papers with the campaign and made a speech in the Council Chamber which persuaded members of the Development Control Committee to overturn the Planning Officers recommendation to accept the planning application my finest hour!
The sheltered housing scheme across the road had replaced their windows and doors with the same UPVC white windows and patio doors too (must be the fashion.) so many memories but I am proud of myself as the emotional person I am although we were the third family to move in to Oldbrook on September 12th 1980 and moved out in 2006 when my Mum ran off with the lodger and divorced my Father, after growing up on Trueman Place I still have no desire to move back on to Oldbrook besides it is so much quieter on Heelands.
As I was delivering I was also looking to see if there were any names I remembered but there was only one household that I know who still keep in touch and visit my Dad any way I guess thats what happens as the years go marching by too quickly.
I noticed in Edrich Avenue the No Ball Games Sign I got installed when I was Vice - Chair of Campbell Park Parish Council following a petition presented to me by the residents, it was not only still standing but had no graffetti on it too.
I finished after about an hour and used the pathway from Statham Place to Trueman Place hopping through the dog shit back to my car, I was half an hour late to visit my good friends Deb Wade and Alan Cook at Douglas Place but I guess they were used to me being so late as I have been over the years.
Debs was full of cold but it was nice and relaxing and had Pepporoni Passion Pizza with Garlic Bread and a range of dips as I left though I felt I was going down with her cold but it is proberably all in my mind as now I am back at Heelands I am starting to feel a litter better whilst writing up this blog.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Leafleting on Bradwell Common
I parked behind Norman who was much amused by the last three letters of my number plate MUD.
Alan put the map and leaflets on my car bonnet I was alarmed as the car was so dirty, and as we gathered round Pauline amused us all with a story that all her Children were concieved around her ex husband's birthday, Norman told us the tale of Cllr Janet Irons who had a 65th Birthday Party and rang him Friday morning to say Norman I have overslept and so will miss doing the surgery with you and he replied but Janet it is Friday morning not Saturday morning (their normal surgery time) must of been a good Birthday Party fair play too her.
Norman took his bundle of leaflets and went across to one side of the street and the rest of us the other, it was very cold so managed to move quickly to keep warm, Pauline made the comment that Les Munn and the late Harry Kilkenny were great Bradwell Ward Councillors I had to remind her I to represented Bradwell and did worry that I might or might not have done something to the electors as when my term of office ended a Labour Councillor has not been ever elected since.
We then spoke about the high vote of the Tory candidate at the last ward elections in 2008 (who incidently was Shouket Mirza a former Councillor on Woughton Community Council who was disqualified due to non attendance of meetings and at the next meeting of Council a co-option to fill his seat on Beanhill will be taking place. His son is also a reporter on the local news programme BBC Look East )
Later on I was paired with Norman we chatted about my job on Woughton Community Council and what was involved in passing my CILCA Qualification (Certificate In Local Council Administration), he told me about his bad back which prevented him doing much campaigning and about his daughter going to University and now having empty nest symdrome, he also asked why I left the Council as I brought to his attention that Bradwell Common was part of my ward.
After an hour we all met up, Alan asked if we wanted to leaflet one more street I made the excuse I was going too call it a day as I would be leafleting on Oldbrook tommorrow and apologised to Pauline as I did not want her to think I was skiving, she was very sweet and understood and was grateful for all my help (I was embarressed to say I really needed to go as I needed to have a wee) and Norman had to go as he had a family engagement.
We both walked together back to our cars and he was again amused about my number plate!
Alan put the map and leaflets on my car bonnet I was alarmed as the car was so dirty, and as we gathered round Pauline amused us all with a story that all her Children were concieved around her ex husband's birthday, Norman told us the tale of Cllr Janet Irons who had a 65th Birthday Party and rang him Friday morning to say Norman I have overslept and so will miss doing the surgery with you and he replied but Janet it is Friday morning not Saturday morning (their normal surgery time) must of been a good Birthday Party fair play too her.
Norman took his bundle of leaflets and went across to one side of the street and the rest of us the other, it was very cold so managed to move quickly to keep warm, Pauline made the comment that Les Munn and the late Harry Kilkenny were great Bradwell Ward Councillors I had to remind her I to represented Bradwell and did worry that I might or might not have done something to the electors as when my term of office ended a Labour Councillor has not been ever elected since.
We then spoke about the high vote of the Tory candidate at the last ward elections in 2008 (who incidently was Shouket Mirza a former Councillor on Woughton Community Council who was disqualified due to non attendance of meetings and at the next meeting of Council a co-option to fill his seat on Beanhill will be taking place. His son is also a reporter on the local news programme BBC Look East )
Later on I was paired with Norman we chatted about my job on Woughton Community Council and what was involved in passing my CILCA Qualification (Certificate In Local Council Administration), he told me about his bad back which prevented him doing much campaigning and about his daughter going to University and now having empty nest symdrome, he also asked why I left the Council as I brought to his attention that Bradwell Common was part of my ward.
After an hour we all met up, Alan asked if we wanted to leaflet one more street I made the excuse I was going too call it a day as I would be leafleting on Oldbrook tommorrow and apologised to Pauline as I did not want her to think I was skiving, she was very sweet and understood and was grateful for all my help (I was embarressed to say I really needed to go as I needed to have a wee) and Norman had to go as he had a family engagement.
We both walked together back to our cars and he was again amused about my number plate!
Milton Keynes Labour Party Annual General Meeting
Attended the Milton Keynes City Labour Party Annual General Meeting held at Conniburrow Meeting Place, Conniburrow Boulevard, Conniburrow today at 10:30am.
The Chair opened the meeting thanking Cllr Norman Miles for attending General Committee meetings, Cllr Kevin Wilson for his administration duties stepping in to the shoes of Deb Shann who has left, his experience was gratefully recieved, and the Executive and Officers of the General Committee.
The election of officers for the city party were as follows brackets denote the branches that nominated each candidate:
Chair: Cllr Peter Billups (Linford/Bradwell, West Bletchley, Milton Keynes West, Wolverton, Hanslope)
Two (2) Vice - Chairs:
David Newens (Linford/Bradwell)
Cllr Camilla Turnball (West Bletchley, Milton Keynes West)
Secretary: Cllr Pauline Wallis (Linford/Bradwell, Milton Keynes South, West Bletchley, Milton Keynes West, Wolverton)
Treasurer: Angela Sullivan (Linford/Bradwell, Wolverton, Hanslope)
Youth Officer: Rob Middleton (nominated at the meeting)
Womens Officer: Cllr Hannah O'Neill * (nominated at the meeting)
Membership Secreatary: Vacancy
Trade Union Liaison Officer: Cllr Reg Edwards (Linford/Bradwell, Milton Keynes South, Wolverton, Hanslope)
Annual Conference Delegates
Milton Keynes North: Cllr Hilary Saunders (Wolverton)
Milton Keynes South: Cllr Hannah O'Neill (nominated at the meeting)
Two (2) Auditors:
Philip Turnball (Linford/Bradwell, West Bletchley, Milton Keynes West, Wolverton, Milton Keynes Labour Party Executive Committee)
Cllr Brian White (Linford/Bradwell, Milton Keynes Labour Party Executive Committee)
Executive Committee Branch Section nine (9):
Brian Barton (Linford/Bradwell)
The following were nominated at the meeting:
Cllr Hilary Saunders Cllr Mike O'Sullivan, Cllr Martin Potter, Colin Lund, Cllr Nigel Long, Pete Marland, Cllr Jess Holroyd
Executive Committee Trade Union Section six (6): Alan Williams
Executive Committee Other Affiliated organisations two (2): Cllr Veronica Belcher
* Cllr Jan Lloyd made her yearly point about having a Womens Officer as why not a Mens Officer as well, Cllr Camilla Turnball as usual disagreed saying that due to the unequal pay of women in the workplace there was still a need for such a post. Cllr Hannah O'Neill made an excellent point about having an Equalities Officer instead (Dan Simpson City Party Organisor said that that may be differcult and an approach may have to be made to the NEC as that post is in the party's constitution.)
There then followed Merit Award Certificate presentations to Cllr Camilla Turnball (Whaddon Ward) and Cllr Roger Bristow (Denbign Ward) who both will be standing down from Milton Keynes Council this year after many years service.
The Leader of the Labour Group Cllr Norman Miles said that Cllr Camilla Turnball was a very good Labour Group Chair who made meetings more business like and unconfrontational, she was someone who gave good and strong advice and if you asked her to do something she either said yes or no if it was yes you knew the job would be done, and he was upset to see her go when her husbands job moved to Fuji (she returned back to Milton Keynes and won the Whaddon By - Election in 2008 following the resignation of Cllr Nigel Long who due to his job was barred from being a member), she also held a differcult portfolio on Childrens and Schools as a Cabinet member.
Cllr Norman Miles paid tribute to Cllr Roger Bristow who had been on Milton Keynes Council since 1981 with a short break and returned in 1996, he too valued his advice and memory in debates which served the Labour Group well and his vast experience on planning and licensing , when Cllr Miles first was elected on to Milton Keynes Council in 1990 he was asked by Cllr Kevin Wilson to be a member of the Planning Committee and he recalled how long the meetings were as Roger wanted to ensure the right decsions were being made, and the fact when he campaigned he never let go until he had succeeded and often clashed with Officers such as John Best and even telephoned Cllr Miles to say he had resigned from a committee due to his principles. Cllr Miles said that whenever he opened a local paper his photograph would be on quite a few pages and he must hold the record of undertaking the most engagemets as Mayor in 1989/1990.
Cllr Miles said Roger's leaving the Council will created a massive hole to fill which he said that was not a good term of phrase to much laughter!
Cllr Brian White said that the nation and Milton Keynes owes Roger a great debt for saving Bletchley Park from being demolished and built over which was going to happen before he managed to get the buildings and huts listed, even though he could be a pain when he was MP and to his wife who was his Secretary.
Cllr Kevin Wilson said he remembers that he and Roger took their young daughters swimming at Bletchley Leisure Centre and a Citizen Photographer was tipped off and took a photograph of them leaving the changing room luckily the picture never got in the paper, but some weeks later the photographer met Roger in the Street and set I can sell you the negative but I have still got copies at the office but even now he wonders if that picture will ever surface.
Cllr Kevin Wilson even mentioned the campaign Roger did in logging broken paving slabs in his ward and waged a campaign with officers and the Conservative Administration to get them repaired, unluckily he very badly injured himself on one some weeks later when he made his compensation claim Milton Keynes Council (of which he was a member) defended themselves by saying he should of known he could trip as he had made a list but he replied how could he remember as it was some months ago he submitted said list! he eventually got his claim sorted by the time he was Mayor, he could never work again as an Ambulance Worker.
Cllr Roger Bristow replied by thanking everyone on behalf of himself and his wife Ruth who he valued her support over the years for this award he was soon to be a Grandfather and may soon move out of the area as his wife wanted to live near to their daughter, he also was sad his son James would not replace him as a member due to the fact he was so busy with his business.
He said that Bletchley Park saved the Country that was three (3) weeks from surrending and the freedoms we all take for granted would have been taken away from us, he had spoken recently to a group of workers who informed him of underground networks of tunnels, he spoke also to Cllr Sam Crooks (Leader of Milton Keynes Council) and Brian Sandom (Environment Director - Milton Keynes Council) who has promised to allow use of infrared equipment to find these tunnels and £10,000 is being sought to contiune this work. Bob Reid (former Milton Keynes Partnership Committee Chair) toured the site with Roger who was appalled of the condition of the buildings and wanted to help even by shamining the owners by going to the press.
He also said that he was advised by George Conghie to do his maiden speech at his first Council meeting and that he would write him a question regarding the proposed development on a park in Bletchley of a huge office block to the then Conservative Leader of the Council Cllr David Lee who was equally opposed but the question unearthed the fact that it was the Milton Keynes Development Corporation who were making the proposal of which he was on the board then all hell broke loose but he was glad of the support of fellow Labour Councillors such as Cllr Cecil Bowden and Cllr Frank Atter.
His final tale was how he hated Margaret Thatcher so much for what she had done to the Country and how he would of loved to strangle her, he nearly got his wish when he stood near to her when she opened the Shopping Centre in 1979 and thought how history could of changed if he took a lunge at her how we all agreed in the meeting that we wished he had done so.
There then followed speeches from Cllr Norman Miles as the Leader of the Labour Group praising the hard work of his members who were punching above their weight when a few were very ill and he was pleased how united the group were compared to the splits in the Liberal Democrat Group and felt lucky he was not in Cllr Sam Crooks shoes.
Dan Simpson Organiser spoke on the fact that due to the boundary changes of both the constituencies they were now super marginals and Milton Keynes South is on the Tories top twenty (20) list of target seats.
Andrew Pakes said there is 90 days left to the General Election and there is a lot of work ahead of us and the seat is winnable.
At this stage the Chair Peter Billups had to leave to attend another meeting and gave way to the Vice - Chair Dave Newens who said he was pleased to see fifthy (50) delegates in attendance and how the party was growing in strength, he then opened the meeting to any questions.
Cllr Reg Edwards was concerned about a leaflet put out by the Tories about the Labour Group working with the Liberal Democrat Administration, Cllr Nigel Long said he campaigned against the Liberals in Hackney in the 1970's and did not like them he said the Leadership of Cllrs Isobel McCall and Sam Crooks was a disater for Milton Keynes.
The Meeting was then closed.
Cllr Janet Irons approached me to say she had forgotton to bring a letter from home to give to me from the Deputy Mayor Cllr Debbie Brock (Conservative - Olney Ward) I wonder what that could be about?
Also Veronica Belcher gave me a pile of 2010 Calendar's and contact cards for Dr Phyllis Starkey MP for the Woughton Community Council Offices.
I spoke to Cllr John Goss and said I would be at his house for 10:30am tommorrow to collect some letters to deliver on Oldbrook before going to my friends house who also lives on Oldbrook.
With that I was off to Bradwell Common to do some leafleting and meet up with Cllr Norman Miles, Cllr Pauline Wallis and Alan Williams.
The Chair opened the meeting thanking Cllr Norman Miles for attending General Committee meetings, Cllr Kevin Wilson for his administration duties stepping in to the shoes of Deb Shann who has left, his experience was gratefully recieved, and the Executive and Officers of the General Committee.
The election of officers for the city party were as follows brackets denote the branches that nominated each candidate:
Chair: Cllr Peter Billups (Linford/Bradwell, West Bletchley, Milton Keynes West, Wolverton, Hanslope)
Two (2) Vice - Chairs:
David Newens (Linford/Bradwell)
Cllr Camilla Turnball (West Bletchley, Milton Keynes West)
Secretary: Cllr Pauline Wallis (Linford/Bradwell, Milton Keynes South, West Bletchley, Milton Keynes West, Wolverton)
Treasurer: Angela Sullivan (Linford/Bradwell, Wolverton, Hanslope)
Youth Officer: Rob Middleton (nominated at the meeting)
Womens Officer: Cllr Hannah O'Neill * (nominated at the meeting)
Membership Secreatary: Vacancy
Trade Union Liaison Officer: Cllr Reg Edwards (Linford/Bradwell, Milton Keynes South, Wolverton, Hanslope)
Annual Conference Delegates
Milton Keynes North: Cllr Hilary Saunders (Wolverton)
Milton Keynes South: Cllr Hannah O'Neill (nominated at the meeting)
Two (2) Auditors:
Philip Turnball (Linford/Bradwell, West Bletchley, Milton Keynes West, Wolverton, Milton Keynes Labour Party Executive Committee)
Cllr Brian White (Linford/Bradwell, Milton Keynes Labour Party Executive Committee)
Executive Committee Branch Section nine (9):
Brian Barton (Linford/Bradwell)
The following were nominated at the meeting:
Cllr Hilary Saunders Cllr Mike O'Sullivan, Cllr Martin Potter, Colin Lund, Cllr Nigel Long, Pete Marland, Cllr Jess Holroyd
Executive Committee Trade Union Section six (6): Alan Williams
Executive Committee Other Affiliated organisations two (2): Cllr Veronica Belcher
* Cllr Jan Lloyd made her yearly point about having a Womens Officer as why not a Mens Officer as well, Cllr Camilla Turnball as usual disagreed saying that due to the unequal pay of women in the workplace there was still a need for such a post. Cllr Hannah O'Neill made an excellent point about having an Equalities Officer instead (Dan Simpson City Party Organisor said that that may be differcult and an approach may have to be made to the NEC as that post is in the party's constitution.)
There then followed Merit Award Certificate presentations to Cllr Camilla Turnball (Whaddon Ward) and Cllr Roger Bristow (Denbign Ward) who both will be standing down from Milton Keynes Council this year after many years service.
The Leader of the Labour Group Cllr Norman Miles said that Cllr Camilla Turnball was a very good Labour Group Chair who made meetings more business like and unconfrontational, she was someone who gave good and strong advice and if you asked her to do something she either said yes or no if it was yes you knew the job would be done, and he was upset to see her go when her husbands job moved to Fuji (she returned back to Milton Keynes and won the Whaddon By - Election in 2008 following the resignation of Cllr Nigel Long who due to his job was barred from being a member), she also held a differcult portfolio on Childrens and Schools as a Cabinet member.
Cllr Norman Miles paid tribute to Cllr Roger Bristow who had been on Milton Keynes Council since 1981 with a short break and returned in 1996, he too valued his advice and memory in debates which served the Labour Group well and his vast experience on planning and licensing , when Cllr Miles first was elected on to Milton Keynes Council in 1990 he was asked by Cllr Kevin Wilson to be a member of the Planning Committee and he recalled how long the meetings were as Roger wanted to ensure the right decsions were being made, and the fact when he campaigned he never let go until he had succeeded and often clashed with Officers such as John Best and even telephoned Cllr Miles to say he had resigned from a committee due to his principles. Cllr Miles said that whenever he opened a local paper his photograph would be on quite a few pages and he must hold the record of undertaking the most engagemets as Mayor in 1989/1990.
Cllr Miles said Roger's leaving the Council will created a massive hole to fill which he said that was not a good term of phrase to much laughter!
Cllr Brian White said that the nation and Milton Keynes owes Roger a great debt for saving Bletchley Park from being demolished and built over which was going to happen before he managed to get the buildings and huts listed, even though he could be a pain when he was MP and to his wife who was his Secretary.
Cllr Kevin Wilson said he remembers that he and Roger took their young daughters swimming at Bletchley Leisure Centre and a Citizen Photographer was tipped off and took a photograph of them leaving the changing room luckily the picture never got in the paper, but some weeks later the photographer met Roger in the Street and set I can sell you the negative but I have still got copies at the office but even now he wonders if that picture will ever surface.
Cllr Kevin Wilson even mentioned the campaign Roger did in logging broken paving slabs in his ward and waged a campaign with officers and the Conservative Administration to get them repaired, unluckily he very badly injured himself on one some weeks later when he made his compensation claim Milton Keynes Council (of which he was a member) defended themselves by saying he should of known he could trip as he had made a list but he replied how could he remember as it was some months ago he submitted said list! he eventually got his claim sorted by the time he was Mayor, he could never work again as an Ambulance Worker.
Cllr Roger Bristow replied by thanking everyone on behalf of himself and his wife Ruth who he valued her support over the years for this award he was soon to be a Grandfather and may soon move out of the area as his wife wanted to live near to their daughter, he also was sad his son James would not replace him as a member due to the fact he was so busy with his business.
He said that Bletchley Park saved the Country that was three (3) weeks from surrending and the freedoms we all take for granted would have been taken away from us, he had spoken recently to a group of workers who informed him of underground networks of tunnels, he spoke also to Cllr Sam Crooks (Leader of Milton Keynes Council) and Brian Sandom (Environment Director - Milton Keynes Council) who has promised to allow use of infrared equipment to find these tunnels and £10,000 is being sought to contiune this work. Bob Reid (former Milton Keynes Partnership Committee Chair) toured the site with Roger who was appalled of the condition of the buildings and wanted to help even by shamining the owners by going to the press.
He also said that he was advised by George Conghie to do his maiden speech at his first Council meeting and that he would write him a question regarding the proposed development on a park in Bletchley of a huge office block to the then Conservative Leader of the Council Cllr David Lee who was equally opposed but the question unearthed the fact that it was the Milton Keynes Development Corporation who were making the proposal of which he was on the board then all hell broke loose but he was glad of the support of fellow Labour Councillors such as Cllr Cecil Bowden and Cllr Frank Atter.
His final tale was how he hated Margaret Thatcher so much for what she had done to the Country and how he would of loved to strangle her, he nearly got his wish when he stood near to her when she opened the Shopping Centre in 1979 and thought how history could of changed if he took a lunge at her how we all agreed in the meeting that we wished he had done so.
There then followed speeches from Cllr Norman Miles as the Leader of the Labour Group praising the hard work of his members who were punching above their weight when a few were very ill and he was pleased how united the group were compared to the splits in the Liberal Democrat Group and felt lucky he was not in Cllr Sam Crooks shoes.
Dan Simpson Organiser spoke on the fact that due to the boundary changes of both the constituencies they were now super marginals and Milton Keynes South is on the Tories top twenty (20) list of target seats.
Andrew Pakes said there is 90 days left to the General Election and there is a lot of work ahead of us and the seat is winnable.
At this stage the Chair Peter Billups had to leave to attend another meeting and gave way to the Vice - Chair Dave Newens who said he was pleased to see fifthy (50) delegates in attendance and how the party was growing in strength, he then opened the meeting to any questions.
Cllr Reg Edwards was concerned about a leaflet put out by the Tories about the Labour Group working with the Liberal Democrat Administration, Cllr Nigel Long said he campaigned against the Liberals in Hackney in the 1970's and did not like them he said the Leadership of Cllrs Isobel McCall and Sam Crooks was a disater for Milton Keynes.
The Meeting was then closed.
Cllr Janet Irons approached me to say she had forgotton to bring a letter from home to give to me from the Deputy Mayor Cllr Debbie Brock (Conservative - Olney Ward) I wonder what that could be about?
Also Veronica Belcher gave me a pile of 2010 Calendar's and contact cards for Dr Phyllis Starkey MP for the Woughton Community Council Offices.
I spoke to Cllr John Goss and said I would be at his house for 10:30am tommorrow to collect some letters to deliver on Oldbrook before going to my friends house who also lives on Oldbrook.
With that I was off to Bradwell Common to do some leafleting and meet up with Cllr Norman Miles, Cllr Pauline Wallis and Alan Williams.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Leafleting with Andrew Pakes on Bradville
Arrived first at the Labour Hall and about ten minutes later Andrew Pakes arrived, he said he was feeling a lot better from his cold I said I was feeling totally better, and he opened up the Labour Hall to collect the newly printed leaflets for the Stantonbury Ward (incidentially learned that you have to wait for the leaflets when printed to dry as they stick together theres a useless fact for you).
I handed over too him the left over bundle of leaflets from yesterday.
Alan Williams arrived followed by Pete Marland with a very bad cold who decided quite rightly to go home met Cllr Jess Holroyd at the car park, myself and Alan went in Andrew's car with Jess following behind to Bradville.
Weather started off very cold and by the first hour brightend up, Jess went off leafleting on her own and the rest of us carried on together, I keep forgetting my trusty Tribune satchel which I use to keep leaflets in as I am walking around, instead I was given a carrier bag and found it a problem putting leaflets through letter boxes holding a carrier bag felt like I had one hand tied behind my back so asked Andrew if I could put them in his satchel and instead nursed bundles of leaflets in one hand which I found more comfortable (note to self remember my satchel as it is the second time I have forgotten) another problem as I was walking around Bradville which is a bit enbarrassing to admit was that I had not tightened my belt up correctly and my jeans felt like they were falling down when I was walking which hampered my progress wanted to stop and put my belt on another notch but was paranoid that the moment I stopped and did so someone would walk around the corner or look out their window and think I was a flasher and call the Police, so decided against it and periodically kept tucking my shirt and pulling my jeans up very annoying.
Anyway I digress, we got to Bridle Close where my late Grandparents lived they bought 10, Bridle Close brand new in 1981, when my Grandmother died in 1985 my Grandfather sold up in 1986 to move to Dexter Avenue (a shared Ownership bungalow for the over 55's) round the corner from where we lived in Oldbrook, that is not all of the story next door I spotted my retired Headteacher Pauline Irons helping her mother out of her car and heaving out a bag of manure to boot (she was Headteacher at Meadfurlong School in Fishermead which opened in 1980 and I attended at the age of 11 on the first day of opening, also I became a School Governor there in her last year before retirement.) I introduced her to Andrew and we talked about old times and she asked if I was still involved in Council work, the Close looks so established now No 10 has new windows and the garden is so different where are the years going?
We met Rob Marris at the top of the Close after chatting to him it would appear that two weeks ago he was elected chair of Wolverton Branch nice that young people are replacing the old guard always good to have fresh blood to revitalise the Party but I feel like the old guard myself these days.
Had the company as well of Alan when leafleting one street telling me his amusing stories as election agent in the 2005 general election and with Andrew who showed me a large modern detached dwelling in the new estate built only a few years ago I guess, when he canvassed it the owner said he would not vote Labour as it was too right wing however it turned out he was a Tube Driver and official of the RMT Union I guess nothing is too good for the workers how these people forget their roots.
Andrew also told me about the new legislation on HIMO's (Houses in Multiple Occupation)effectively any property where three or more live in a property and are not related the landlord will have to register I said this would be a great help to John Goss campaigning in the Campbell Park Ward where a lot of HIMO's are based in Fishermead.
Andrew felt it would be a good idea to get the Housing Minister John Healy to come and speak to residents on this with perhaps using the Woughton Parish Council Meeting Room as a venue.
We also spoke about the Labour Group and how it would be good to increase its number including a better gender and age balance I feel for our youngest member Cllr Hannah O'Neill as it cannot be much fun being on Milton Keynes Council at the moment.
The first surreal moment of the pre campaign as I put it was seeing a large dog with his/her tail which was dyed pink along with the mane near its head the owner was a hippy type so might explain everything and was following Rob for a while whilst barking all the time can't help thinking what the RSPCA would think of this?
Once we got to Andrew's car he showed us a screwed up leaflet which was done in front of Andrew by a angry resident outside his house Andrew cheekily asked for it back which I thought was great.
We said goodbye to Rob as Andrew was going to drop myself and Alan back at the Labour Hall, Andrew promised to meet Rob at a coffee shop in Wolverton (wonder what they are planning?) it would seem Rob has offered to be a leaflet co-ordinator and get more involved generally which will take the pressure off Andrew a bit good news.
All in all a good two hours solid work and covered a good area of Bradville.
Once I got back to my car I felt exhausted and my foot hurt like hell but drove off to the evil Tesco in Wolverton to do my weekly shopping.
I handed over too him the left over bundle of leaflets from yesterday.
Alan Williams arrived followed by Pete Marland with a very bad cold who decided quite rightly to go home met Cllr Jess Holroyd at the car park, myself and Alan went in Andrew's car with Jess following behind to Bradville.
Weather started off very cold and by the first hour brightend up, Jess went off leafleting on her own and the rest of us carried on together, I keep forgetting my trusty Tribune satchel which I use to keep leaflets in as I am walking around, instead I was given a carrier bag and found it a problem putting leaflets through letter boxes holding a carrier bag felt like I had one hand tied behind my back so asked Andrew if I could put them in his satchel and instead nursed bundles of leaflets in one hand which I found more comfortable (note to self remember my satchel as it is the second time I have forgotten) another problem as I was walking around Bradville which is a bit enbarrassing to admit was that I had not tightened my belt up correctly and my jeans felt like they were falling down when I was walking which hampered my progress wanted to stop and put my belt on another notch but was paranoid that the moment I stopped and did so someone would walk around the corner or look out their window and think I was a flasher and call the Police, so decided against it and periodically kept tucking my shirt and pulling my jeans up very annoying.
Anyway I digress, we got to Bridle Close where my late Grandparents lived they bought 10, Bridle Close brand new in 1981, when my Grandmother died in 1985 my Grandfather sold up in 1986 to move to Dexter Avenue (a shared Ownership bungalow for the over 55's) round the corner from where we lived in Oldbrook, that is not all of the story next door I spotted my retired Headteacher Pauline Irons helping her mother out of her car and heaving out a bag of manure to boot (she was Headteacher at Meadfurlong School in Fishermead which opened in 1980 and I attended at the age of 11 on the first day of opening, also I became a School Governor there in her last year before retirement.) I introduced her to Andrew and we talked about old times and she asked if I was still involved in Council work, the Close looks so established now No 10 has new windows and the garden is so different where are the years going?
We met Rob Marris at the top of the Close after chatting to him it would appear that two weeks ago he was elected chair of Wolverton Branch nice that young people are replacing the old guard always good to have fresh blood to revitalise the Party but I feel like the old guard myself these days.
Had the company as well of Alan when leafleting one street telling me his amusing stories as election agent in the 2005 general election and with Andrew who showed me a large modern detached dwelling in the new estate built only a few years ago I guess, when he canvassed it the owner said he would not vote Labour as it was too right wing however it turned out he was a Tube Driver and official of the RMT Union I guess nothing is too good for the workers how these people forget their roots.
Andrew also told me about the new legislation on HIMO's (Houses in Multiple Occupation)effectively any property where three or more live in a property and are not related the landlord will have to register I said this would be a great help to John Goss campaigning in the Campbell Park Ward where a lot of HIMO's are based in Fishermead.
Andrew felt it would be a good idea to get the Housing Minister John Healy to come and speak to residents on this with perhaps using the Woughton Parish Council Meeting Room as a venue.
We also spoke about the Labour Group and how it would be good to increase its number including a better gender and age balance I feel for our youngest member Cllr Hannah O'Neill as it cannot be much fun being on Milton Keynes Council at the moment.
The first surreal moment of the pre campaign as I put it was seeing a large dog with his/her tail which was dyed pink along with the mane near its head the owner was a hippy type so might explain everything and was following Rob for a while whilst barking all the time can't help thinking what the RSPCA would think of this?
Once we got to Andrew's car he showed us a screwed up leaflet which was done in front of Andrew by a angry resident outside his house Andrew cheekily asked for it back which I thought was great.
We said goodbye to Rob as Andrew was going to drop myself and Alan back at the Labour Hall, Andrew promised to meet Rob at a coffee shop in Wolverton (wonder what they are planning?) it would seem Rob has offered to be a leaflet co-ordinator and get more involved generally which will take the pressure off Andrew a bit good news.
All in all a good two hours solid work and covered a good area of Bradville.
Once I got back to my car I felt exhausted and my foot hurt like hell but drove off to the evil Tesco in Wolverton to do my weekly shopping.
Friday, 5 February 2010
Leafleting with Andrew Pakes on Springfield/Woolstones
I had to kill a few hours so made myself something to eat and rested as still felt unwell with this cold and felt wiped out from the mornings activities.
I was reading what I call my guilty secret a book that I have found differcult to put down by the former General Secretary Peter Watt called Inside Out you know when you are getting old when the General Secretary is a month younger than yourself and earning £100,000 a year a figure I can only dream off! not good timing dishing the dirt near to a General Election but so interesting to read of the workings between 10 Downing Street and the Labour Party Headquarters at Victoria Road, London and the battles between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
The other book is the Total Politics Guide to the 2010 General Election by Iain Dale facts and figures on each constituency which I could not get enough of.
I had a good chat with Liberal Democrat Cllr Rex Exon of Bradwell Ward on the doorstep as he was leafleting tried to get out of him their plans for the election he said that St.Albans may be the nearest target to campaign at as he admitted the Liberal Democrats do not stand a chance wining either Milton Keynes seat and felt his group will find it differcult to hold on to some of their target seats, a nice chap who I have a lot of time for, said I had better let him get on with his leafleting (was surprised he handed me a leaflet not sure I would be so generous if it was the other way round?) hope he did not think it was a ploy to delay him as this is a tactic applied by party members who are canvassed on the doorstep during an election campaign from one of the opposition parties.
I recieved a text message from Andrew Pakes to meet him at 2:00pm at the Springfield Local Centre and not as planned the Stantonbury Local Centre as appparantly that leaflet had not been printed yet.
I arrived twenty minutes early (seem at the moment that I am arriving to everything early as I am usually late for everything), I found it differcult to park as I soon realised that it was the ending of the Friday Muslim prayers and they all spilled out from the Springfield Meeting Place in their colourful dress with their numerous children.
Andrew Pakes pulled up with his Election Agent Pete Marland and Cllr Jess Holroyd (formally a Councillor for Wolverton Ward and was beaten at the 2008 Council elections by Mike Galloway of the Liberal Democrats, and now a member of Wolverton and Greenleys Town Council), then to my surprise George Conghie turned up we were both elected on to Milton Keynes Council in 1996 he was Chair of the Community Care Committee and I was his Vice - Chair I like to think we worked well together I have a lot of time for George (he represented Loughton ward and lost his seat in 2000 to Conservative Andy Dransfield) sadly like a lot of party members he resigned over the Iraq war but is still heavily involved with the Co-op Party I did not have the heart to ask him if he had rejoined but I guess as Andrew Pakes is a Labour and Co-op Party candidate he felt he should campaign for him.
As I was informed by Dr Starkey when it gets nearer to a General Election former party members come out of the wood work as they realise that the thought of a Tory Government is too much to contemplate.
Andrew Pakes was full of cold and coughing and I wished him a Happy New Year and handed him a copy of the Liberal Democrat leaflet (which he said was being delivered in Newport Pagnall) and the survey's from Cllr Kevin Wilson, he asked if myself and George could leaflet a section of Woolstones while they leafleted a section of Springfield.
As I went in George's car it reminded me of old times when I did not have a car and when we went to meetings he would collect me from my house on Oldbrook.
We leafleted separate sides of the road at one Cul - De - Sac I thought there was mainly carports and back gardens it was not until George joined me that he pointed out the front doors were acessed along pathways from the carports I felt a right plonker!
At one house I was about to put a leaflet through the door when it opened quickly and made one pretty young mum holding her baby in a carry cot jump as she was obviously about to go out and I thought she saw me walk up the pathway and was opening the door for me.
At one road my mobile phone rang it was Andrew Pakes asking about our progress I said we were going to leaflet one more street and we would be finished I did say that I thought I was sweating out my cold but he was very charitable and said that the sun was out and it was getting warm!
We lasted an hour and a half and I was dropped off back to Springfield to collect my car and took our leaflets which I am to give back to Andrew Pakes who I will be seeing tommorrow to do yet more leafleting.
I was reading what I call my guilty secret a book that I have found differcult to put down by the former General Secretary Peter Watt called Inside Out you know when you are getting old when the General Secretary is a month younger than yourself and earning £100,000 a year a figure I can only dream off! not good timing dishing the dirt near to a General Election but so interesting to read of the workings between 10 Downing Street and the Labour Party Headquarters at Victoria Road, London and the battles between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
The other book is the Total Politics Guide to the 2010 General Election by Iain Dale facts and figures on each constituency which I could not get enough of.
I had a good chat with Liberal Democrat Cllr Rex Exon of Bradwell Ward on the doorstep as he was leafleting tried to get out of him their plans for the election he said that St.Albans may be the nearest target to campaign at as he admitted the Liberal Democrats do not stand a chance wining either Milton Keynes seat and felt his group will find it differcult to hold on to some of their target seats, a nice chap who I have a lot of time for, said I had better let him get on with his leafleting (was surprised he handed me a leaflet not sure I would be so generous if it was the other way round?) hope he did not think it was a ploy to delay him as this is a tactic applied by party members who are canvassed on the doorstep during an election campaign from one of the opposition parties.
I recieved a text message from Andrew Pakes to meet him at 2:00pm at the Springfield Local Centre and not as planned the Stantonbury Local Centre as appparantly that leaflet had not been printed yet.
I arrived twenty minutes early (seem at the moment that I am arriving to everything early as I am usually late for everything), I found it differcult to park as I soon realised that it was the ending of the Friday Muslim prayers and they all spilled out from the Springfield Meeting Place in their colourful dress with their numerous children.
Andrew Pakes pulled up with his Election Agent Pete Marland and Cllr Jess Holroyd (formally a Councillor for Wolverton Ward and was beaten at the 2008 Council elections by Mike Galloway of the Liberal Democrats, and now a member of Wolverton and Greenleys Town Council), then to my surprise George Conghie turned up we were both elected on to Milton Keynes Council in 1996 he was Chair of the Community Care Committee and I was his Vice - Chair I like to think we worked well together I have a lot of time for George (he represented Loughton ward and lost his seat in 2000 to Conservative Andy Dransfield) sadly like a lot of party members he resigned over the Iraq war but is still heavily involved with the Co-op Party I did not have the heart to ask him if he had rejoined but I guess as Andrew Pakes is a Labour and Co-op Party candidate he felt he should campaign for him.
As I was informed by Dr Starkey when it gets nearer to a General Election former party members come out of the wood work as they realise that the thought of a Tory Government is too much to contemplate.
Andrew Pakes was full of cold and coughing and I wished him a Happy New Year and handed him a copy of the Liberal Democrat leaflet (which he said was being delivered in Newport Pagnall) and the survey's from Cllr Kevin Wilson, he asked if myself and George could leaflet a section of Woolstones while they leafleted a section of Springfield.
As I went in George's car it reminded me of old times when I did not have a car and when we went to meetings he would collect me from my house on Oldbrook.
We leafleted separate sides of the road at one Cul - De - Sac I thought there was mainly carports and back gardens it was not until George joined me that he pointed out the front doors were acessed along pathways from the carports I felt a right plonker!
At one house I was about to put a leaflet through the door when it opened quickly and made one pretty young mum holding her baby in a carry cot jump as she was obviously about to go out and I thought she saw me walk up the pathway and was opening the door for me.
At one road my mobile phone rang it was Andrew Pakes asking about our progress I said we were going to leaflet one more street and we would be finished I did say that I thought I was sweating out my cold but he was very charitable and said that the sun was out and it was getting warm!
We lasted an hour and a half and I was dropped off back to Springfield to collect my car and took our leaflets which I am to give back to Andrew Pakes who I will be seeing tommorrow to do yet more leafleting.
Photos with Dr Phyllis Starkey MP Around Woughton Ward
Got up today still not feeling well but glad I forced myself out of bed and arrived at Cllr Kevin Wilson's house on Truby's Garden, Coffee Hall at 8:50am with ten minutes to spare.
Cllr Wilson was trying the batteries out in the digital camera (which always helps) and were just charged up, a slight worry at one stage as he put the batteries in the wrong way round and so the camera did not start!
He also gave me some returned survey's to give to Andrew Pakes and to tell him that someone in the Broughton area was willing to give some help which is also welcome.
Opened the door to Cllr Martin Potter as Cllr Wilson had gone upstairs and chatted a while after Cllr Wilson contacting Dr Starkey it appeared she was going to drive straight to our next venue so we went in convoy to Chervil Beanhill to see Cllr Margaret Roberts.
We were expecting Cllr Tina El-Shabrawy but she did not turn up so I got in the picture, Dr Starkey took charge as she thought that one chair should be moved closer in to the other settee to give the impression of an animated conversation I was tasked in sitting in said Chair while we play acted talking about the Tories lies of the crime statistics (which involved Milton Keynes North East MP Mark Lancaster who in his leaflet said violent crime had risen by 239% in Milton Keynes and was mentioned in yesterdays Guardian Newspaper) while Cllr Wilson clicked away.
Then we left to have photograph's taken of Dr Starkey on her own at the new affordable housing being built on Wastel, Beanhill next to Bracken House and the new Ashlands surgery, I nearly run over Cllr Wilson while trying to find a parking space amongst the builders cars and vans.
As Dr Starkey was crossing the road to have a photograph taken outside the surgery she quickly asked if I would hold on to her handbag, which I did whilst chatting to Cllr Martin Potter his street cred vanished as we were getting funny looks from blokes in cars driving by with me holding a handbag chatting to a shaven headed young guy (Cllr Potter).
Next stop the new Milton Keynes Academy on Leadenhall we all tried parking and was approached by a steward who let us use (for five minutes only he said) the disabled parking, Myself and Dr Starkey stood in front of the Academy and was asked to look at each each other but look past each other all to get the right effect and was told to get very close which with my cold I felt uncomfortable and sorry for Dr Starkey as I did not want to past my germs on I felt we were acting as close lovers with the closeness and the looks she told me to do the buttons up on my long coat and apologised for being so bossy but I found it amusing and took no offence.
Then back in our cars to Milton Keynes General Hospital on Eaglestone and had no choice but to use the visitors car park thankfully the first 15 minutes are free I do get angry that Hospitals charge for parking I wish the Labour Government would ban this as I am sure it would get us some more much needed votes.
I felt a spare part as Dr Starkey was photographed outside the main entrance next to what she called the two fat ladies statue on the roundabout.
Last stop was Netherfield and to the local centre on Farthing Grove, and Leaf It Out run by Cllr Donna Coventry and Ann Scott while Dr Starkey was being photographed with them amongst their flowers I was asked by Dr Starkey to hold her hand bag again guess I have found my niche in life!
Escorted Dr Starkey in to the Woughton Parish Council offices so she could use the facilities and then walked with her to the Subway to join Cllrs Kevin Wilson and Martin Potter for coffee (I was very good declining a doughnut while they tucked in to the choclate ones) where she made the comment to me how Netherfield had improved since she had been elected as an MP in 1997 and how wrong the Tory Leader David Cameron was to talk about a broken Britain.
We sat down and I sat next to Dr Starkey while she took a phone call on her mobile from Theresa who works in her Westminister office and then told us about the £53,000 the Government had given for a Lettings Officer and her annoyance about the Liberal Democrat Administration carping about the lack of money allocated to Milton Keynes Council.
She told us about her spat with the Tories Local Government spokeswoman Justine Greening the member for Putney, and lectured her about how Local Government finance worked as she was clearly out of her depth and how other tory members left her in the chamber clearly embarrassed, and that the Independent Conservative for Croydon Central Andrew Pelling who normally sits near to the door, when rebuffed by Justine Greening to make a intervation from the floor of the chamber upped sticks and sat on the Labour side of the chamber, Dr Starkey said how she was rebuked from the speaker John Bercow for speaking on Tory policy and not on the main debate.
With that we all said our goodbyes and I went to go home to Heelands to get something to eat and get ready to meet Andrew Pakes for leafleting in the afternoon.
Cllr Wilson was trying the batteries out in the digital camera (which always helps) and were just charged up, a slight worry at one stage as he put the batteries in the wrong way round and so the camera did not start!
He also gave me some returned survey's to give to Andrew Pakes and to tell him that someone in the Broughton area was willing to give some help which is also welcome.
Opened the door to Cllr Martin Potter as Cllr Wilson had gone upstairs and chatted a while after Cllr Wilson contacting Dr Starkey it appeared she was going to drive straight to our next venue so we went in convoy to Chervil Beanhill to see Cllr Margaret Roberts.
We were expecting Cllr Tina El-Shabrawy but she did not turn up so I got in the picture, Dr Starkey took charge as she thought that one chair should be moved closer in to the other settee to give the impression of an animated conversation I was tasked in sitting in said Chair while we play acted talking about the Tories lies of the crime statistics (which involved Milton Keynes North East MP Mark Lancaster who in his leaflet said violent crime had risen by 239% in Milton Keynes and was mentioned in yesterdays Guardian Newspaper) while Cllr Wilson clicked away.
Then we left to have photograph's taken of Dr Starkey on her own at the new affordable housing being built on Wastel, Beanhill next to Bracken House and the new Ashlands surgery, I nearly run over Cllr Wilson while trying to find a parking space amongst the builders cars and vans.
As Dr Starkey was crossing the road to have a photograph taken outside the surgery she quickly asked if I would hold on to her handbag, which I did whilst chatting to Cllr Martin Potter his street cred vanished as we were getting funny looks from blokes in cars driving by with me holding a handbag chatting to a shaven headed young guy (Cllr Potter).
Next stop the new Milton Keynes Academy on Leadenhall we all tried parking and was approached by a steward who let us use (for five minutes only he said) the disabled parking, Myself and Dr Starkey stood in front of the Academy and was asked to look at each each other but look past each other all to get the right effect and was told to get very close which with my cold I felt uncomfortable and sorry for Dr Starkey as I did not want to past my germs on I felt we were acting as close lovers with the closeness and the looks she told me to do the buttons up on my long coat and apologised for being so bossy but I found it amusing and took no offence.
Then back in our cars to Milton Keynes General Hospital on Eaglestone and had no choice but to use the visitors car park thankfully the first 15 minutes are free I do get angry that Hospitals charge for parking I wish the Labour Government would ban this as I am sure it would get us some more much needed votes.
I felt a spare part as Dr Starkey was photographed outside the main entrance next to what she called the two fat ladies statue on the roundabout.
Last stop was Netherfield and to the local centre on Farthing Grove, and Leaf It Out run by Cllr Donna Coventry and Ann Scott while Dr Starkey was being photographed with them amongst their flowers I was asked by Dr Starkey to hold her hand bag again guess I have found my niche in life!
Escorted Dr Starkey in to the Woughton Parish Council offices so she could use the facilities and then walked with her to the Subway to join Cllrs Kevin Wilson and Martin Potter for coffee (I was very good declining a doughnut while they tucked in to the choclate ones) where she made the comment to me how Netherfield had improved since she had been elected as an MP in 1997 and how wrong the Tory Leader David Cameron was to talk about a broken Britain.
We sat down and I sat next to Dr Starkey while she took a phone call on her mobile from Theresa who works in her Westminister office and then told us about the £53,000 the Government had given for a Lettings Officer and her annoyance about the Liberal Democrat Administration carping about the lack of money allocated to Milton Keynes Council.
She told us about her spat with the Tories Local Government spokeswoman Justine Greening the member for Putney, and lectured her about how Local Government finance worked as she was clearly out of her depth and how other tory members left her in the chamber clearly embarrassed, and that the Independent Conservative for Croydon Central Andrew Pelling who normally sits near to the door, when rebuffed by Justine Greening to make a intervation from the floor of the chamber upped sticks and sat on the Labour side of the chamber, Dr Starkey said how she was rebuked from the speaker John Bercow for speaking on Tory policy and not on the main debate.
With that we all said our goodbyes and I went to go home to Heelands to get something to eat and get ready to meet Andrew Pakes for leafleting in the afternoon.
Milton Keynes Labour Party General Committee Meeting
Yesterday I attended the Milton Keynes Labour Party General Committee meeting at Conniburrow Meeting Place.
As soon as I arrived Cllr Kevin Wilson asked if I would be photographed with Milton Keynes South West MP Dr Phyllis Starkey outside the new Milton Keynes Academy on Leadenhall, as a former Sir Frank Markham School pupil and could I arrive at his house on Coffee Hall at 9:00am this was for the Election Communication leaflet distrubuted free by Royal Mail.
I said of course no problem even though getting up early at any time is differcult but on my annual leave from Woughton Parish Council would be a challenge but a good one.
It was great to see Alan Williams who was the Election Agent for former MP Brian White (Milton Keynes North East) in the 2005 election, who had not been involved for a few years he was given a hearty handshake and welcome from Cllr Kevin Wilson he was such a hard worker and I like him a lot he will be a good asset in the coming General Election.
Apart from the housekeeping agenda items the main and most interesting agenda item was the General Election Agents presentations.
Cllr Kevin Wilson was of course the first to kick off and I have to say I found it very inspiring and put the fire in my belly, and I felt that I was at the starting gate for the General Election and therefore the reason why I have started my General Election Diary Blog now rather than as planned once the General Election had been called by the Prime Minister.
Cllr Wilson thanked all those for their help so far and the generous finiancial contributions from members as all election campaigns need money!
On a positive note Cllr Wilson informed the meeting that Dr Starkey was squeaky clean as regards the expenses scandal in Westminster which is a good morale booster it must be very differcult as an activist campaigning and defending your Labour MP on the doorstep if they have been caught with their snouts in the trough glad I am not put in that position as I dought I would bother going on the campaign trail even though obviously I would not wish to see a Tory MP and Government elected.
Plans include to send out Chinese New Year cards by Dr Phyllis Starkey MP the obvious point was made that as always telephone canvassing and copious amounts of leafleting needs to be done and due to the nature of Milton Keynes the electoral register is continously growing by the thousands each month and need to be contacted by the Party.
Cllr Wilson's view was that the General Election was likely to be held on Thursday 6th May 2010 along with the local Council Elections, this has good and bad points as bigger turnouts will effect Council Candidates, could be good news for Labour's candidate Cllr John Goss in the Campbell Park Ward as Labour has always lossed by 100 or so votes.
For me the the rousing part of Cllr Wilson's speech was that he understood that people due to work, family committments and health and or disability issues can only do so much but ask yourselves in the words of Neil Kinnock in his leadership speech in 1983 that on the morning of 7th May 2010 and Dr Phyllis Starkey MP loses by say 800 votes and Andrew Pakes Labour's Milton Keynes North candidate loses by 120 votes did I do all I could to try and defeat the Tories instead of thinking I wish I had done more to win both Parlimentary seats for Labour.
Then Cllr Wilson went through possible cut off dates to sign up for postal votes (due to the large number of present postal voters the election could all be over technically by mid April) and the various messages to engage the voters with and for the submission of local Council Election Candidates papers.
What was interesting was the fact that due to the tasks to be undertaken for postal vote verification the count will take place the following day for the first time in the Ballroom at the Milton Keynes Stadium.
Pete Marland Election Agent for Milton Keynes North said he wanted echo what Cllr Kevin Wilson had said much to the relief of every one in the room as the night was getting long.
There were no reports from Dr Phyllis Starkey MP and Andrew Pakes as they were not present (I gave his apologies as he had asked me too via the medium of Twitter!).
After the meeting I felt it necessary to give my whole hearted support to Cllr Norman Miles Leader of the Labour Group as it is not much fun being the third party with only ten members with a few members who were not in the best of health.
Outside I spoke to Cllr Jan Lloyd as I noticed she was hobbling using a stick and was concerned about her welfare it would appear she has been suffering her own ill health such a shame but still full of vitality as always, she had set off her alarm when she opened her car door (she has a lovely new racing green Jaguar car very envious still one day I can live in hope.)
Had a nice welcoming hug and kiss off her and another hug from Cllr Hilary Saunders (nice to be popular with the ladies of the Milton Keynes Labour Party!) who informed me that Sally Wheldon (Clerk to Wolverton and Greenleys Town Council) had noticed my photograph with Cllr Kevin Wilson (Chair of Woughton Parish Council) and Linda Carter (Chief Executive Officer) of Woughton Parish Council) being presented with my CILCA certificate in the BALC Newsletter.
Then off home to bed as I had an early night tommorrow!!!!!! and as since my annual leave I have been under the weather with a minor cold which thankfully is not full blown but feel a bit wiped out need to look after my health if I am to survive the General Election so resolve to eat healthfully and smoke less how long will that last I wonder?
As soon as I arrived Cllr Kevin Wilson asked if I would be photographed with Milton Keynes South West MP Dr Phyllis Starkey outside the new Milton Keynes Academy on Leadenhall, as a former Sir Frank Markham School pupil and could I arrive at his house on Coffee Hall at 9:00am this was for the Election Communication leaflet distrubuted free by Royal Mail.
I said of course no problem even though getting up early at any time is differcult but on my annual leave from Woughton Parish Council would be a challenge but a good one.
It was great to see Alan Williams who was the Election Agent for former MP Brian White (Milton Keynes North East) in the 2005 election, who had not been involved for a few years he was given a hearty handshake and welcome from Cllr Kevin Wilson he was such a hard worker and I like him a lot he will be a good asset in the coming General Election.
Apart from the housekeeping agenda items the main and most interesting agenda item was the General Election Agents presentations.
Cllr Kevin Wilson was of course the first to kick off and I have to say I found it very inspiring and put the fire in my belly, and I felt that I was at the starting gate for the General Election and therefore the reason why I have started my General Election Diary Blog now rather than as planned once the General Election had been called by the Prime Minister.
Cllr Wilson thanked all those for their help so far and the generous finiancial contributions from members as all election campaigns need money!
On a positive note Cllr Wilson informed the meeting that Dr Starkey was squeaky clean as regards the expenses scandal in Westminster which is a good morale booster it must be very differcult as an activist campaigning and defending your Labour MP on the doorstep if they have been caught with their snouts in the trough glad I am not put in that position as I dought I would bother going on the campaign trail even though obviously I would not wish to see a Tory MP and Government elected.
Plans include to send out Chinese New Year cards by Dr Phyllis Starkey MP the obvious point was made that as always telephone canvassing and copious amounts of leafleting needs to be done and due to the nature of Milton Keynes the electoral register is continously growing by the thousands each month and need to be contacted by the Party.
Cllr Wilson's view was that the General Election was likely to be held on Thursday 6th May 2010 along with the local Council Elections, this has good and bad points as bigger turnouts will effect Council Candidates, could be good news for Labour's candidate Cllr John Goss in the Campbell Park Ward as Labour has always lossed by 100 or so votes.
For me the the rousing part of Cllr Wilson's speech was that he understood that people due to work, family committments and health and or disability issues can only do so much but ask yourselves in the words of Neil Kinnock in his leadership speech in 1983 that on the morning of 7th May 2010 and Dr Phyllis Starkey MP loses by say 800 votes and Andrew Pakes Labour's Milton Keynes North candidate loses by 120 votes did I do all I could to try and defeat the Tories instead of thinking I wish I had done more to win both Parlimentary seats for Labour.
Then Cllr Wilson went through possible cut off dates to sign up for postal votes (due to the large number of present postal voters the election could all be over technically by mid April) and the various messages to engage the voters with and for the submission of local Council Election Candidates papers.
What was interesting was the fact that due to the tasks to be undertaken for postal vote verification the count will take place the following day for the first time in the Ballroom at the Milton Keynes Stadium.
Pete Marland Election Agent for Milton Keynes North said he wanted echo what Cllr Kevin Wilson had said much to the relief of every one in the room as the night was getting long.
There were no reports from Dr Phyllis Starkey MP and Andrew Pakes as they were not present (I gave his apologies as he had asked me too via the medium of Twitter!).
After the meeting I felt it necessary to give my whole hearted support to Cllr Norman Miles Leader of the Labour Group as it is not much fun being the third party with only ten members with a few members who were not in the best of health.
Outside I spoke to Cllr Jan Lloyd as I noticed she was hobbling using a stick and was concerned about her welfare it would appear she has been suffering her own ill health such a shame but still full of vitality as always, she had set off her alarm when she opened her car door (she has a lovely new racing green Jaguar car very envious still one day I can live in hope.)
Had a nice welcoming hug and kiss off her and another hug from Cllr Hilary Saunders (nice to be popular with the ladies of the Milton Keynes Labour Party!) who informed me that Sally Wheldon (Clerk to Wolverton and Greenleys Town Council) had noticed my photograph with Cllr Kevin Wilson (Chair of Woughton Parish Council) and Linda Carter (Chief Executive Officer) of Woughton Parish Council) being presented with my CILCA certificate in the BALC Newsletter.
Then off home to bed as I had an early night tommorrow!!!!!! and as since my annual leave I have been under the weather with a minor cold which thankfully is not full blown but feel a bit wiped out need to look after my health if I am to survive the General Election so resolve to eat healthfully and smoke less how long will that last I wonder?
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