By Alex Clarke (Chairman EECF)
For our regular Speaker social his month we welcomed Chris Grayling to talk to us on all areas of the recent emergency budget & coalition agreement, with a special focus on his new brief within the Department of Work & Pensions and the Coalition’s plans for welfare reform. Chris gave us his thoughts, and then opened the floor for general questions and discussion.
The topic of welfare provision brought about great discussion from all members, with everyone enjoying the opportunity to air their views on the developments …

William Hague visited target seats in the North East yesterday in the run up to the general election.  He met with locals from around the region on the street to chat about the change that the Conservatives can bring to the area and the dangers of a hung parliament.  The reception that he received was fantastic with locals stopping to wish him and the party luck and to have a quick snap with him.
When he reached Tynemouth he was greeted with a crowd of local supporters, CF and members of the …

By Ben Mallet

On Tuesday 20th April, Richmond Park’s Conservative parliamentary candidate, Zac Goldsmith teamed up with local residents for a Social Action day.
Following a consultation, Zac and the team met with some residents of Robinson court, in Richmond upon Thames. The residents had suggested that there were two sites in the court that could do with some gardening.
Homebase Richmond kindly donated some plants and volunteers set about digging over the land and planting the shrubs.
Alongside the gardening, local Conservative council candidate, Katharine Robinson had organised and advertised a “bring and …

Over 50 people gathered in the Willow in Winchmore Hill to hear Marina Yannakoudakis MEP and Nick de Bois PPC give a rallying cry for the upcoming local and general elections.
Marina said she was “thrilled at the turnout and enthusiasm” of the candidates and thanked event organiser and council candidate Jason Theo George for putting on a fantastic night.
Jason thanked the guests for their support, commenting that “at such a crucial time for our local and national politics this has been a terrific show of support from local Conservative supporters”.
Enfield …

Not even the driving rain seemed to deter the crowd who packed Milton Keynes Academy on Saturday morning when we gathered for David’s speech.

The address covered many familiar topics, repeated many accepted facts: that we are the party of the NHS, the party of aspiration, the party of change.

But amongst the usual headlines, David, I felt, got to the core of what we encounter so often as activists on the doorstep.

By Chris  Morrall

(from left to right Mark Garnier, Chris Morrall and Becky Vale)
On Monday 8th March I joined the Conservative pre election rally for Mark Garnier at Margaret Thatcher House (MTH). Mark Garnier the PPC ‘electrified the audience’ at the pre election rally and in the process helped motivate the team to get stuck in and campaign hard towards what will be a ‘hardfought’ and ‘much needed’ conservative victory at the General Election.
The event was a resounding success with a packed hall of activists, Councillors and party members. Those present …

Last weekend was the annual Conservative Welsh Party Conference, in Llandudno in North Wales.

Arriving early on Saturday morning for David Cameron’s speech there was a great turnout from the Welsh Conservatives and really impressive atmosphere.

By Chris Morrall

Last week beginning Tuesday March 2nd saw Worcestershire Conservative Future kick off its new campaign at the flagship CCHQ GenEVA callcentre to boost the pledge base of Worcestershire based PPC’s. They began with Mark Garnier, the PPC for Wyre Forest.
We linked up with City future, interns, volunteers to campaign on behalf of Mark Garnier, PPC for Wyre Forest. The Wyre Forest Constituency is famous, being the only current seat to host an Independent MP, Dr Richard taylor elected in 2001.
The three evenings of campaigning proved a resounding success …

Spring Forum was something quite different this year – the atmosphere electric!

The event can be somewhat of a let down compared to Conference but this year was anything but – in fact a prominent member of Liberal Youth even described it as “buzzing” and had chosen our event over a Liberal one!

There have been a few changes in the West Oxfordshire Conservative Future; with new Chairman David Lydiat elected at the December 2009 AGM. David is looking to increase membership, the number of political and social events, hold a fundraiser and of course play a key part in what we hope will be a successful general election this year.
West Oxfordshire Conservative Future (WOCF) had their first event of 2010; a dinner with guest speaker Nicola Blackwood (PPC for Oxford West and Abingdon). The dinner was a success with a good turnout. …