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?