The Ups and Downs of the Campaign Trail

The last week has been another full week on the campaign trail. As always we made our priority to give as much time as possible to be out meeting people, listening to the things that matter to you and answering your questions. We have visited streets in most of the communities in the constituency. It is such a pleasure to be out meeting people like this and we are getting such a positive response – it is clear that people believe it is time for change, both nationally and here in mid-Cornwall.

We have had two visits from members of the Shadow Cabinet this week. On Thursday Chris Grayling, Shadow Home Secretary, came to Newquay. This is the 2nd time Chris has visited Newquay in the last 12 months. We are all aware of the challenges Newquay faces and it was good for the Police to be able to talk to Chris about what things are really like ‘on the ground’. I know Chris found the visit useful and yet again Cornwall was given the opportunity to inform national policy making.

Then on Saturday Jim Paice, Shadow Agriculture Minister, paid a visit. He visited a farm in St Dennis and we gathered a group of local farmers to ask questions. I always love meeting with farmers – they are so honest about what they think and have a real understanding of the real issues and what they want from their politicians. They were able to ask Jim about important issues such as TB, EU regulations, Single Farm Payments and GM crops. Jim was able to demonstrate to the farmers how supportive he and a Conservative Government will be to farmers and how we will cut much of the unnecessary red tape they have been burdened with by this Labour Government.

Another highlight for me this week was to be able to speak at the Incinerator Inquiry. This issue has taken up much of my time as a candidate and I am pleased I was able to speak up for the local people in opposing this proposal. I have received lots of messages of appreciation and support since.

The down side of this week has been that my political opposition is increasingly playing dirty and making their attacks more and more personal on me and my family. It is somewhat ironic that their leaders keep appearing on TV talking about cleaning up politics, but anyone who has to deal with them day to day in this constituency knows that they need to talk to their own party members before lecturing other parties. I have been appalled at their behaviour and tactics. But my commitment has always been to fight a clean, honest and positive campaign and although our natural response would be to fight back, I am determined not to descend to their level and to stick to my principles.

We now enter the final full week of this election campaign. This is such an important election for our new constituency of St Austell and Newquay. Many people are waking up to the fact that we have been failed by the Liberal Democrats. Both in Westminster and County Hall they have not delivered what they have promised and played politics with Cornwall’s future. My team and I will be working as hard as we can in the final days of this election to positively get our message across. That message is increasingly getting a positive response on the doors. We all know it is going to be a close call and every vote will count, but we are confident that I can win and be elected as your MP and provide our communities with the strong and influential voice in Government this constituency deserves and has missed for many many years.