I am the second Conservative Councillor to have won a district council by-election against a Lib Dem incumbent in Horsham this year and I think that is a trend we are seeing across the country.
This result shows that even in Labour’s strongest areas, Conservatives can get stuck in with high energy, data driven campaigns featuring local issues and ultimately win.
In some rural parts of East Yorkshire, there are villages which only see one bus a week while even getting a train to somewhere like Leeds is often impossible let alone travelling further afield.
Every Saturday morning and afternoon, I was immensely fortunate to have a group of probably 15-20 out with me canvassing, including more often than not Sir Phillip May.
The Conservatives gained a seat from Labour in Dudley. Reform UK gained a seat from Labour in Swale.
We proved that a campaign built on hope and hard work can succeed – even in a ward Labour had held for nearly three decades.
Too often, councils have got into financial trouble safe in the knowledge they can get an exemption from this rule.
The increasing local objections, in addition to those from statutory bodies such as Royal Palaces and most of all the police, must surely cause the Secretary of State to consider this very carefully.
There is a risk if we do not claim the optimistic vision of conservative environmentalism, we will leave the British people to Labour’s statist and unpopular policies — and then we all may wish to glue ourselves to the road for a very different reason.
Reform UK gained a seat from Labour in St Helens.
Lancashire County Council schools outperform those run by Blackpool or Blackburn with Darwen, the county’s two existing unitary authorities.
There is undoubtedly a generation divide which we need to bridge. For older groups there is mainly only downside. We must keep it as palatable as possible for the non-users and do everything we can to mitigate their concerns.
Crime is through the roof. ULEZ has caused chaos in Hatch End. I have started a petition to protest at this proposal for such a misplaced honour.
A mission built on Faith, Flag and Family. A strategy based on the idea that we all must play our part. An attitude of ‘I can, and I will, with no excuses.’
The Conservatives gained a seat from Labour in Wokingham and a seat from an independent in Fylde