As a European Parliamentary Candidate for the South West and being Gloucestershire based in the Forest of Dean, I was extremely excited about the Spring Forum coming to the beautiful Regency spa town of Cheltenham.
Things actually kicked off for me last Friday with a delivery session with our dedicated Parliamentary Candidate Mark Coote and local Conservatives. We were supported by Mark Francois MP, the Shadow Minister for Europe, who spent time visiting businesses in the town. As we finished the day, we looked forward to a busy weekend.
During Saturday afternoon, I attended a briefing session for all candidates on issues ranging from Europe to Public Services. The afternoon proved invaluable. With the European Parliamentary elections only six weeks away, the focus for MEP candidates was obviously the campaign ahead. Spirits were high.
The regional campaigns are in full swing and candidates have been working tirelessly – criss-crossing regions, campaigning hard and listening to the views of local residents and activists, businesses and community and other interest groups. Spring Forum was to provide the final push and a rallying call but to be honest, we’ve been raring to go from Day 1.
The highlight of the day was a rousing speech by William Hague. He once again set out the Conservative vision for Europe and reminded everybody in the room just how critical the elections in June will be. It will be a campaign about trust.
The British electorate deserves a referendum on the renamed Constitution or Lisbon Treaty that was promised by all three major political parties and which only the Conservative Party is still committed to delivering. We must send a clear message to Gordon Brown that we never let up the fight to hold that referendum. We must ensure that as many Conservative MEPs are elected to Brussels as only our Party has stood up – and will continue to stand up – for British interests and for reform in the EU.
On Sunday, there was one slot in the conference agenda that every MEP Candidate was eager to hear: the speech by the excellent Dan Hannan MEP. As always, his speech didn’t disappoint. Conservatives are not obsessed with Europe, he said, but with Britain and its democracy. Absolutely.
Within twelve months time, this country will head to the polls in one of the most important general elections in post-War history: an election in a time of unprecedented Government debt; an election where only one party, if elected, will put Britain first and continue to fight the huge transfer of powers set out under the renamed Constitution that will erode our sovereignty. We will help our cause greatly by performing well in the European Parliamentary and local elections in June.
We are campaign ready. We are ready for June, and ready for whenever Gordon Brown calls the general election.
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