The Bristow Blog

Slaughter will vote for “barmy” Bill on detention

Shaun Bailey - the Conservative candidate for Hammersmith - has called on his Labour opponent to vote with his conscience and oppose the 42 day detention bill that is to come before Parliament in the following weeks.

The revelation that Mr Slaughter secretly opposes the measure comes from a leaked list from the Government Whips’ Office, which shows that as of January, 50 Labour MPs opposed the 42 day plan, and that there were around 50 waverers.

Andrew Slaughter’s name appears as an MP who will vote in favour of the measure, but as one who disagrees with it. Next to his name is the comment “Will support but thinks barmy.”

Shaun said “Mr Slaughter is elected and duty bound to make decisions on behalf of his constituents as he sees best.

He may really think detaining suspects for 42 days without charge is a good thing, and if that’s the case, he ought to support the bill.

On the other hand, he could listen to the former Attorney General, the current Director of Public Prosecutions, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, over 50 Labour backbenchers, as well as senior police officers, and come to the decision that this bill is simply an unnecessary piece of political grandstanding that won’t make  us any safer, but might curtail our civil liberties and isolate communities. If he agrees with this view, then he should oppose the bill.

Where is Mr Slaughter's integrity? How can he back and support a bill that is, as he puts it, “barmy”? Time and again we see him thinking or saying one thing, and doing another, like voting for post office closures whilst campaigning locally to 'save' them. In doing so, he undermines trust in politicians in general and leads people in Hammersmith to question the motivation for why he wants to be their representative.”   

H&F Conservatives nominated for an award

The leader of Hammersmith & Fulham council - Stephen Greenhalgh - has been nominated for an award by the popular Conservative activist website ConservativeHome.  He has been nominated in the "local hero" category designed for hard-working local councillors, activists or social entrepreneurs who are devoted to the community around them.  Reasons for his citation are for reducing taxes and improving services.

Moreover, Hammersmith parliamentary candidate Shaun Bailey has also been nominated for an award in the "One to Watch" category.  This category is for the organisation or individual that may not have reached the top of their field yet, but are well on their way to getting there.  Shaun has been nominated for being a new kind of Conservative candidate with real understanding of poor communities.

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/torydiary/2007/12/your-chance-to.html#more

Both nominations are richly deserved - get voting by clicking here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mlZ7qhCXsDM3oQcCZtoK7A_3d_3d

Labour "dirty tricks" against black Tory

A "dirty tricks" campaign by the Labour Party against the Conservative candidate in Hammersmith - Shaun Bailey - has been exposed on the website 'Black Information Link' - an independent website for black communities.  See here - http://www.blink.org.uk/pdescription.asp?key=15438&grp=66&cat=221

Tha article states that the Labour Party have produced a "dodgy dossier" that tries to smear Shaun Bailey.  The dossier tries to to dig dirt on Shaun and the charity he founded "My Generation" which works with young people in inner city London.  Shaun was born and raised in North Kensington and has tried to positively influence the community in which he grew up.  The Labour Party try to claim that the local Conservatives has no support in these communities.  The selection of Shaun has really worried the local Labour Party.

To undergo this sort of muck racking exercise is very low.  The former Labour leader of the council Stephen Burke has tried to smear Shaun on his blog in the past.  We should be beyond this personal dirty politics which puts voters off.

I rather agree with Shaun - instead of trying to call him names and mis-represent his views, the local Labour Party should engage in an open debate about the issues that matter to local Hammersmith residents. 

Parties engage in Tube warfare

Both the Conservatives and the Labour Party have been busy early mornings at Hammersmith tube stations this week handing out leaflets to local residents on their commute to work.

The Conservatives have been promoting Shaun Bailey - our new candidate for the Hammersmith seat.  It is a postive message explaining what Shaun believes in and what he is up to in the local area.

The Labour Party however are sticking to the theme they have pursued ever since losing the council elections a little over a year ago.  Relentless and aggressive attacks on the new Conservative administration.  They have moved to the far left in personality and message - this negative campaigning turns people off and is damaging to community relations.  Calling one proportion of local residents (homeowners and those that perhaps work in the City and business) fat cats is unhelpful and wrong. 

Nevertheless, I do think that the fact both main politifcal parties in our borough are active (despite the extreme Labour message) is excellent.  It means democracy is alive and well and people are exposed to politics and issues.  Tube leafeting is an effective and different way of getting your message across to a large number of people.

I wonder if this is a tactic practiced by political parties across London or whether it is restricted to Hammersmith & Fulham?

UPDATE - Monday 11th 9.30am

You can download a copy of the Conservative leaflet here - Download sb_calling_card.pdf

An image of the front page of Labour's 'fat cat' leaflet can be found at Andy Slaughter's website - http://www.andyslaughter.com/index.php

Housing Action Day on the White City Estate

Local Conservatives were out campaigning in the White City Estate on Saturday morning.  We were delivering leaflets about H&F Homes - the council scheme that promotes home ownership and helps local people get on to the property ladder.

At the same time, a small group of Young Labour activists were delivering literature for Andrew Slaughter MP in what they called a 'housing action day'.  It was quite fun going head to head with Labour and a boost to see we outnumbered them significantly.

Hammersmith is the front line of politics in London.  It was quite a revelation to see the different message both parties were putting out. 

Conservatives - postive message about home ownership and helping local people buy equity in their homes.  We also promoted our candidate in Hammersmith at the next election, Shaun Bailey. You can download a copy of our leaflet. Download homebuyleaflet3.pdf

Labour - their leaflets focused entirely on attacking the Conservative council.  It described the Conservatives as 'fat cats' wrongly claiming we were against more affordable housing in the borough.  It was a very negative and did not say anything positive about Labour or their policies.

I think Labour are on the wrong track with this message.  The public are turned off by negative campaigns and it does not encourage participation and debate.  This also shows that locally Labour have lurched to the left in a big way.  Talk of 'fat cats' is unhelpful and wrong.  It is certainly not the way to promote mixed communities and community cohesion.

Hammersmith & Fulham is a vibrant and diverse community with people from a variety of backgrounds and incomes.  Local Conservatives are committed to promoting this type of mixed community and administering the council on behalf of all local residents.   

Even the Guardian profiles Shaun Bailey

The new parliamentary candidate for Hammersmith, Shaun Bailey, has featured in an article in the Guardian today.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/communities/story/0,,2069623,00.html

The media coverage that Shaun has received since his selection has been considerable.  I hope that he will continue to maintain a high profile throughout the coming years in the run up to the next general election.

While we are on the subject of the Guardian - the dreadful Polly Toynbee again mentioned the council in her column.  If there was ever a signal that the council were on the right track, it would be criticism from Polly.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2069217,00.html

Future MPs

The Telegraph yesterday wrote about twelve Conservative candidates who have been selected for seats to fight at the next General Election.  Check it out - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/29/ntory129.xml&page=1

and a picture of the would be MPs at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/29/ntory29.xml

I know many of these candidates and they will make first rate MPs.  Hammersmith candidate Shaun Bailey was of course included - yet further proof of how highly rated Shaun is, and how crucial the new seat of Hammersmith will be at the next general election.

More on Shaun Bailey

If readers are interested to know more about the Conservative candidate for Hammersmith, Shaun Bailey, they could take a look at this interview with him on the Conservative Home website which was conducted just before his selection on Thursday:  http://conservativehome.blogs.com/interviews/2007/03/shaun_bailey.html

You can also read his pamphlet 'No Mans Land' for the Centre for Policy Studies online at http://www.itzcaribbean.com/shaun_bailey_cps.php.

He has certainly made the news since his selection appearing on numerous blogs and in the Evening Standard.  See him pictured above with David Cameron in Hammersmith with Greg Hands MP and the leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, Stephen Greenhalgh.  Perhaps the most puzzling endorsement comes from the distinctly non-Tory jounalist and Guardian columnist, Dave Hill.  Check out his blog - http://davehill.typepad.com/temperama/2007/04/shaun_bailey_ke.html

If only we could convince Polly Tonybee.

UPDATE - 4th April - An article is in the Daily Mail today explaining why Shaun Bailey represents the re-birth of the Tory Party - it also acts as a review of the selection evening last week -http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=446325&in_page_id=1770&ito=newsnow

Shaun Bailey for Hammersmith

Last night was the 'open primary' selection to choose the Conservative candidate for Hammersmith at the next election.  The contest was won by Shaun Bailey.

Shaun put in a brilliant, honest and charismatic performace and fully deserves to be our candidate.  I think David Cameron himself would have struggled to beat Shaun on the night.  Several Labour figures who attended the event looked pretty uncomfortable when they left after the announcement.

Other candidates also put in spirited performances.  Helen Grant was confident, formidable and will make a brilliant candidate for whichever seat has the foresight to select her.  Kedra Goodall was passionate and had a good story to tell.  Anthony Frieze was extremely polished and funny - it is clear he will end up one day as an MP.

Shaun Bailey is a candidate that Labour will fear.  I just loved his strong Conservative beliefs about hard work, family life and personal responsibility.  He runs the MyGeneration charity that helps disaffected and drug-addicted young people in West London.  He has written a booket called 'No Mans Land' for the Centre for Policy Studies which comments on poor youths in inner city London.  Readers should also check out his recent article in the Telegraph - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/01/19/do1902.xml&sSheet=/portal/2006/01/19/ixportal.html

I know he will hit the ground running and be champion for our community.  He is an inspiration and I look forward to working with him in the months and years to come.