James Wharton

Yesterday I was in Stockton helping to deliver the latest edition of my regular intouch newsletter.  It was a good chance to speak with local residents and much of the feedback was very positive.

I have also now started receiving requests from schools for support in their mock elections, Yarm School in particular appears to be starting early and have called their mock election already (do they know something I don’t about the date of the real election!?).

There are rumours in the press that Gordon Brown may call the election tomorrow, I still think May 6th will be the date personally, but whenever he calls it we are ready…

I have been in London this week, only getting back today (the 6.15am train!)

It was a good opportunity to meet up with a number of people and raise issues which are important to Stockton South.  One highlight was an evening reception with Sir John Major, who was kindly supporting efforts to raise funds for target seats.  Now that the election is looming campaigning is becoming all the more active and, since the Conservatives do not receive union funding like Labour and I do not use taxpayers money on campaigning unlike the Labour MP in this area, every penny really does help!

Last night we had our last big fundraiser before the election.  Around 150 supporters came to Wynyard Hall where William Hague spoke about the coming election and the work that needs to be done.  It was a great event, bringing everyone together before the election campaigner proper.  Unlike Labour we do not receive funding from the unions and whilst the Labour MP uses taxpayers money to promote herself with unsolicited letters everything I do is paid for by our members and supporters.

In Stockton campaigning all afternoon, an extremely positive response and another area’s intouch delivered.  Other political groups seem to have started doing the odd thing around the area all of a sudden, I am sure this has nothing to do with the coming election.  Unlike some local Conservatives are here all year round.

This lunchtime I spoke to the Stockton Conservative Ladies’ Luncheon Club.  This organisation has been going for many years and has raised thousands for the local Party.  I spoke about the coming election and the challenges we face as a country, certainly if Labour do leave office the legacy they will leave behind is not a good one.