Each week a different PPC provides us with an insight into life as a candidate and gives us a flavour of their own campaign and interests. If you are a candidate and are keen to be featured, please email Jonathan Isaby.
This week’s diary is written by Lee Martin, who is PPC for the newly-created seat of Sunderland Central. The sitting Labour MP for Sunderland South, Chris Mullin, has already opted not to defend the seat's notional majority of around 9,000 in the wake of considerable Conservative successes in local elections - where Lee is Leader of the Opposition on the council."In the past I have to admit to being ever so slightly irritated by the diaries of those candidates lucky enough to be able to devote themselves full-time to their campaigns. However, having juggled being candidate for the newly-created Sunderland Central seat with working full-time heading up the CRM account for mobile phone giant Nokia at a Leeds-based marketing agency for the last 18 months, I too am now a full-time candidate (at least when not leading the now 22-strong Conservative opposition on the city council). Here's my diary of the week..."
Monday 14th September
Had planned to start the day delivering some of the ‘donate a fiver’ letters we’re sending out to pledges but drizzled off so head into my office at the Civic Centre calling at Sainsbury’s on route for healthy sandwiches. I’m on a diet. Look through my morning post. I’ve been sent the latest annual report from Urban Regeneration Company, the Sunderland Arc. Looks expensive. Even feels expensive. They have a ‘this is’ theme this year. I turn to the page about the city centre wilderness that is the Vaux site. ‘This is Vaux’ says the headline above an artist’s impression that none of us think will never be realised. ‘This is Vaux’. No it’s not, I think!
I’ve got an hour or so before Ram from Young Asian Voices comes in to meet Tony Morrissey, my council ward colleague, and me so check my emails. Emails from parking campaigner Neil Herron saying that the Council might have breached EU procurement regulations by failing to properly transfer their contract with NCP and from some of my councillors telling me about a BBC article asking whether bringing Nissan to Sunderland was Margaret Thatcher’s greatest legacy. I can’t resist forwarding the BBC story to all Sunderland councillors. Chaos ensues as councillors re-fight the battles of the 1980’s.
Meeting with Ram, Jay, Maz from Young Asian Voices goes well and Tony and I agree to help them with a bid for funding to build on the work they already do to give local kids, Asian and white, something better to do than hanging around street corners. I also promise to use my work contacts at the English Cricket Boards’ Chance to shine project to see if they can help out. Brightened up a bit outside so stop off to deliver some of our pledge letters on the way to the gym.
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