Campaigning in Fakenham
- 6 Nov 2004
We had a good team of 7 people out this morning tramping the streets. We covered a huge area of Fakenham. Here's what one voter said: "I was taken in by Norman Lamb last time, but I won't make that mistake again." And here's a comment from a LibDem voter: "I always thought Nor...
A Day of Contrasts
- 1 Nov 2004
I think I can safely say this was a varied day. It started with me attending the first meeting of the Coltishall Task Force, which I have been appointed to. About 20 of us met in the Church Hall at Coltishall to thrash through the remit of the group and map out the way ahead. ...
Speech on the Proposed European Constitution
- 9 Oct 2004
Speech at a debate with Phil Harris, North Norfolk Labour Candidate and Andrew Duff, LibDem MEP at Fakenham. I’d like to thank you for inviting us here tonight to talk about what I think is one of the most important issues of our time – our future relationship with th...
Harvest, Holkham & Holt
- 27 Sep 2004
Whay a typical dingy bank holiday weekend. I'm off to see my parents near Saffron Walden today to help my Dad with the harvest. Weather permitting of course. I'm looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the combine for the first time this year. This weekend in Norfolk ha...
Cheers Charles!
- 25 Sep 2004
It's not often I open the Eastern Daily Press and am left open-mouthed. But today it happened. Their political editor Chris Fisher interviewed Charles Clarke (Labour MP for Norwich South and Secretary of State for Education) in advance of the Labour conference. This is what he...
Buck Up EDP!
- 19 Aug 2004
I banged off a letter to the EDP about their ridiculous editorial yesterday. I honestly despair of them sometimes. Why is it that they sneer at anything a political party proposes, calling it "opportunistic" or horror of horrors "populist". Far be it from a politician to propo...
A Busy Weekend
- 13 Aug 2004
Just got back from the Cley Branch seafood supper at which my old friend Sir Alan Haselhurst was the guest speaker. We had a turnout of more than 100 which was excellent. I've known Alan since I was a 15 year old school kid in Saffron Walden. Interestingly there were quite a f...
House Magazine Article: Summer Reading List
- 17 Jul 2004
So, what books should you take to the beach this summer? Let’s start with those you can safely leave at home. Sometimes you wonder why people bother to write books, and Hillary Clinton’s memoirs (Living History, Hodder, £20) certainly fall into this category. The book is so cl...
Cecil Parkinson Comes to Visit
- 11 Jul 2004
Just got home from the Conservative Summer Fair at Gresham's in Holt to discover in the Sunday Times that I am "much RESPECTed". I guess that's quite good to TROT out on the odd election leaflet! Yesterday I took a carload to help in the Leicester South by-election. We spe...
DD Day
- 3 Jul 2004
It's David Davis Day. Just off to Peterborough to pick him up. David is my best friend in politics so I'm glad we have a good turnout at the two events we have organised today. I think he's doing a terrific job as Shadow Home Secretary. As many people know, had he run for the ...
Publishing News: Autumn Political Books
- 28 Jun 2004
We may have a special relationship with the United States but our bookbuying habits remain a little different. Since the start of the so-called War on Terror political book publishing in the United States has seen something of a resurgence, with sales up 30% year on year. In B...
Lamb Chickens out of Pre-Election Debates
- 26 Jun 2004
Here's a press release I have just issued... LibDem Norman Lamb has snubbed an opportunity to take part in a series of pre-election debates with North Norfolk Conservative Candidate Iain Dale. North Norfolk Radio were prepared to host a series of monthly one hour debates b...
A Day on Planet Boris
- 18 Jun 2004
I really ought to pay more attention to the advice Keith Simpson MP gives me. I saw him at the Lord Lieutenant's bash in Norwich and told him Boris Johnson was coming to North Norfolk today. He chuckled and asked if I had a backup plan and suggested that Boris might not kn...
UKIP & the BNP
- 8 Jun 2004
Sorry about the lack of posting since Sunday. This week has been spent mainly on the doorsteps of North Norfolk. Yesterday evening I went to Happisburgh Parish Council. The Deputy Leader of the local council, Clive Stockton (a LibDem) is the chairman of the council. He owns th...
Compering a Wrestling Match
- 28 May 2004
Well I've just come back from one of the more surreal experiences of my life as a candidate. Eight months ago today I was being selected as Conservative Candidate for North Norfolk at Holt Community Centre. This evening I was also at Holt Community Centre....compering a wrestl...
David Cameron Comes to Visit
- 20 May 2004
A very enjoyable and useful day which was dominated by the visit of David Cameron MP, our local government finance spokesman to North Norfolk. However I started the day off in Norwich doing an interview with Radio 4's Today Programme on political egg throwing. Seemed to go qui...
Seconds Out, Round Three
- 19 May 2004
It's been a great day out on the campaign trail in Corpusty, Saxthorpe and Aylmerton. There really is genuine enthusiasm for the Conservative Party out there now. We had more than a handful of LibDem-Conservative switchers and several from Labour too. I'm hugely encouraged by ...
My Personal Integrity Pledge
- 15 May 2004
Here's a press release I have just issued before setting off to Wells for a campaign day. I'd love to hear comments on this. By the way, my fingers are being crossed for a West Ham win in the playoffs this afternoon! In a speech this evening (Saturday) to more than 120 Bla...
Diggy Loo, Diggy Lay
- 14 May 2004
Thursday is going to be very bitty. Haircut, two new tyres on the car, meetings in London, hosting an evening with Ann Widdecombe in Chesham and then back to Swanton Abbott. Friday I am seeing some very go-ahead graphic designers in North Walsham who have come up with some ver...
Pudding Norton, Sainsbury's & Maggie
- 6 May 2004
I've just got back from Pudding Norton Parish Council. What a truly lovely bunch of people. The meeting took place at Fakenham Race Course, which was different! Earlier in the day I went to have a tour of Sainsbury's in North Walsham, where I was shown round by the very enthus...