James Wharton MP

Yesterday I attended a meeting in London and the House of Lords representing Stockton South, along with Greg Clark MP, Shadow Minister for the Tees Valley.  The meeting was followed by lunch at CCHQ and we discussed a number of policy initiatives and their potential impact on the North East.  Some exciting ideas came out of the discussion and I look forward to the next Conservative manifesto containing some policy proposals specifically introduced to benefit the North East and Tees Valley.

This afternoon I visited a number of houses in Thornaby which need their windows replacing.  The Labour MP had been asked to help but, as usual, seems to have done little more than write a few letters.  I raised this issue with Tristar, who in fairness were very sympathetic but explained that due to funding constraints they would not be able to install new windows for a number of years.  It appears that the government funding to bring homes up to a decent standard did not include windows!  Many homes have had new bathrooms and kitchens but cannot get old worn out windows replaced.  This is a typical example of top-down targets and rules causing misery for thousands of people across the area and a more sensible approach must be taken by any future Conservative government.

Today I travelled up to Newcastle to be interviewed for the Politics Show.  I was on with a Labour MP for Gateshead discussing the recent report which shows our society becoming ever more polarised.  It was a good opportunity to debate some important issues about the way our society is changing.

This morning I was on BBC Tees with Mike Barker, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Darlington.  We were discussing voter apathy along with listeners who called in and two other panellists.  Mike stood in Stockton South at the last election and I got to know him then, so it was good to have an opportunity to catch up.  We did not agree on everything, particularly when one listener rang in to discuss proportional representation, but it was a good discussion and everyone agreed that it is a bad thing when people choose not to use their vote.

Over the weekend I joined local Conservatives in Yarm to campaign for the upcoming Town Council by-election.  Mike Hornby and Sarah Sherwood, the two Conservative candidates, have approached the campaign with great enthusiasm and are working extremely hard to communicate with residents in the town.  I have no doubt that, if elected, they will make a superb contribution to the Council.  I hope all Yarm residents will try to find the time to use their vote on 18th December and will support Mike and Sarah, who really do have so much to offer.