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 Amber Rudd,
who was selected in December 2006 for Hastings and Rye. The seat has been held for Labour since 1997 by Michael Jabez Foster, whose notional majority going into the next election is 1,156. Amber requires a swing of 1.3% to regain the seat for the Conservatives.
Monday 2nd November
My excellent Agent, Terri Lock, has gone on holiday. I tried to stop her going but she insisted - very selfish of her really. So I know I’ve got to keep on top of absolutely everything this week as there is no delegating. On the plus side we have just moved into new offices (pictured below) so at last we have the space to organize ourselves and have our meetings.
The constituency of Hastings and Rye is 80% Hastings, 20% Rye and surrounding villages - which is roughly how I divide up my time. Last week we were unexpectedly dealt a surprise in Hastings as one of our Councillors stood down due to ill health and we are therefore selecting a candidate and planning for the by-election on December 10th. There is no complacency for any Council seats here in Hastings. We fight tooth and claw for every one. Currently we have 15 against Labour’s 13, the Lib Dems' three and one Independent. So winning this by-election is essential. On Monday morning I meet up with the Local Government Selection Committee in the new offices to formally approve the new candidate who was nominated at last week’s Executive. Although there have been various suitors to be candidate for this, I am delighted that our Association Chairman, Simon Corello is to fight it.
Then I am out canvassing with two other activists, for the afternoon in Hollington, one of the most deprived wards of Hastings. I am surprised by how many residents simply declare that they are not interested and won’t be voting. Some of them have never voted, but others are just giving up on politicians since all the expenses saga. They feel bitterly let down by the whole political class.
We urgently need to demonstrate that a new system of regulation is in place, the worst offenders are to be punished and politicians can now be trusted again. It is so corrosive to democracy to have MPs held in contempt, and it is still regularly coming up on the doorstep.
Tuesday 3rd November
I catch an early morning train to London for one of my two days a week I still work – freelance consulting in recruitment. During the journey up, I work on my campaign for better trains for Hastings. Currently, our rail journey to London takes the same amount of time that it did 100 years ago, at an average of one hour and 45 minutes. Sandwiched between Ashford and Brighton, we get the additional costs to support the new fast Javelin trains but are still left with a second rate service.
We have formed a new action group SHRIMP (St Leonard’s and Hastings Rail Improvement) and are busy petitioning Network Rail and raising the issue with other users. We recently went with other South Eastern commuters to visit Theresa Villiers, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, and we have been responding to the Kent RUS, objecting to the proposal for cutting down the London to Hastings service and specifically for stopping the Hastings-Cannon Street connection. This would be disastrous. We have some of the lowest wages in the South East and the Cannon Street commuters are essential to our economy. The regeneration of towns like Hastings would be much more likely with better transport links and rail is the better option than roads.
Wednesday 4th November
In the morning I join the VOSOP (Voluntary Organisations Supporting Older People) conference at the Hastings Centre, on the Ridge. One of the extraordinary things about Hastings is the enormous number of volunteers that step in to help those in need. We have a large elderly population - 26% over pensionable age - and we are also ranked 29th out of 354 on the national borough deprivation league. These two facts combine to make for a large, vulnerable elderly population that really need sympathetic, inexpensive support and care.
The Conference tries to explain the changes coming through with the individual budget scheme for adult social care next year. Some of the voluntary organisations are really concerned that this new proposal will put too much weight on them, as they will have to explain all the choices to the elderly. The concern is that even these new proposals ask too much of the elderly and vulnerable. There is also concern that East County Council (ESCC) has not consulted sufficiently on the temporary closure of one of the Day Centres for the elderly for refurbishment.
That afternoon I speak to a County Councillor on East Sussex County Council and tell him the concerns of the community and feedback their suggestions. I am hopeful he will act on them. In the evening, I am back out canvassing from 4.00pm to 6.30pm.
Thursday 5th November Another day in London, which finishes at 6.00pm at St Stephen’s Club in St James to listen to Michael Gove give a policy speech on education: the secondary schools in Hastings and Rye have had some shocking results up until this year, when some improvement came though under new leadership. In order to find out about our schools I spent a week in one a month ago – Hillcrest School on the Ridge. It was an excellent week and once I got over my nerves I was made very welcome.
But I know that Conservative Government could really transform the education provision and therefore life chances of the young people in my constituency. I particularly welcome the “pupil premium” for pupils from deprived families so that schools will get a larger amount for taking these children. That will work well for us in Hastings as a deprived area and hopefully help to create better schools.
Friday 6th November I join the Rotary Club for our regular lunch at the Royal Victoria Hotel. This week we have an award for 16-year-old Luke Rogers, who has turned his life around, by developing an interest and skill in cooking. He’s a really good example of someone taking responsibility for his life and moving it in the right direction. He has been mentored by the school chef, who I think provided an important male role model for him. His mother beamed with pride as we presented him with his citizenship award.
That afternoon we are in Brede canvassing. This is a new part of the constituency which has been sliced out of Battle and Bexhill and added to us. There are a total of ten of us out, which is excellent as we get a lot done. This time the main issue on the door-step is Afghanistan. It’s the day when we heard of five new deaths. Everyone is shocked. We have somber conversations on the door. Support for the war has collapsed. Like most of the people I speak to I long for a clear exit strategy.
Saturday 7th November
We have a big canvassing day today. We are targeting key potential swing wards in the town and delivering a new leaflet at the same time.
Sunday 8th November – Remembrance Sunday
Our so called day of rest is full of action on this occasion as it is Remembrance Sunday. The day concludes for me with the Festival of Remembrance at White Rock Theatre. Readers, I am finishing this brief diary now so that I am not late for the event, starting in 20 minutes...
Last week's Diary was written by Chris Philp (Hampstead and Kilburn)