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Andrew Bingham's Blog

Welcome to my blog. Please feel free to email any comments or suggestion that you may have on the blog to hpca@tory.org

I hope that it will give you an insight into my work as the Parliamentary Candidate for High Peak, and also as Councillor for the Chapel West Ward. Also I hope to use it to give you a slightly light hearted look at politics and local Govt. when amusing incidents occur, as they tend to do in life.  

6TH MAY - IS THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG ?

So it looks like it's May 6th for the General Election. Labour minister Bob Ainsworth looks to have let it slip in an interview on Sky today. I expected it to be May 6th so it comes as no surprise - although of coure it could be a double bluff! Either way the sooner we can have a General Election the sooner I hope a Conservative Goverment can start rebuilding the country.

QUIZMASTER - CHARITY QUIZ

I have agreed to set a quiz for Blythe House at The Jolly Carter pub in Chapel-en-le-Frith. We had a good run out with approximately 9 teams taking part. It was neck and neck all the way with rounds on all sorts of subjects. At the end of the night though everyone had enjoyed themselves and we had raised a few pounds for Blythe House.

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE

The latest Questions in the House proved a tough challenge. With many events across the High Peak beign cancelled due to the snow, I was determined that this did not go the same way. So despite the conditions I and my hosts all managed to battle the weather and have a very successful evening. I always promise people that what we discuss in their homes as part of QiH will remain confidential unless they wish to discuss it outside, but we had a really good discusion on a variety of issues that were uppermost in the minds of those present.

BUXTON RETAILERS AGAINST CRIME

I have been invited to a meeting of the above group. I wasn't aware of its existence until recently. Two things surprised me; the level of shoplifting that still goes on and, to their credit, the organised response by this group designed to combat it. I said at the meeting that they should get more publicity as that in itself is likely to act as an effective deterrent.

NEW LABOUR - NEW PROBLEM FOR GORDON BROWN

Yet againd there is a plot to unseat Gordon Brown. This time hatched by Mssrs. Hewitt and Hoon. Whay can the Labour Party not concentrate on running the coutry instead of unseemly squabbles amongst themselves in their desperate attempts to hold on to power. They should go to the country as soon as possible and let us all have a say ion the future of Gordon Brown. The country needs a Government totally focused on the country and its problems, not ripping itself apart by internal warfare !

ISSUES TO RESOLVE

A couple of local issues needed looking at. Firstly with Cllr. Bill Barratt and Cty. Cllr. Pam Reddy, a footpath in ther areas that is in need of attention. We discussed the problem and I feel sure we can resolve ot for them both. Secodnly the issue of some trees in Cote Heath, also Pam's patch. I will look deeper into this as it looks more tricky, although with the snow on the ground there will be little that can be done immediately.

SNOW SNOW AND MORE SNOW

The snow continues to fall. We should have been going to a G&S event in Buxton today. We left it to the last minute but it became clear that the snow was not going to stop and whilst we may have been able to get to Buxton, getting home was by no means as certain which was a real shame.

BLEAKLOW - AIRCRAFT WRECKS

I have heard a lot about the aircraft wrecks on Bleaklow and Kinder but I've never seen them. We arranged weeks ago to take a walk up to look at the sites and the memorials. As the snow began to fall yesterday I suspected that the walk may be off. However Jayne, myself and two friends went up accompanied by a friend of mine from Glossop Mountain Rescue. Without his guidance we would not have gone up due to the inclement weather. We didn't go all the way to the top but we reached the first wrecks. We couldn't see the wrecks themselves due to the snow but we saw the memorial. We then retired to The Wheatsheaf in Old Glossop for some real ale and proper home cooked food. I dont normally do recommendations but I have to say the welcome, the food and the beer was absolutely fantastic.

NFU DINNER

I have been asked to speak at the annual NFU Christmas Dinner in Bamford. I know many of the farmers as I have been to NFU events before, but it is always good to get out into the various areas of the community as much as possible to meet people and listend to the things that are worrying them the most. I mention me Questions in the House events and immediately someone books me in for the New Year. On a lighter note I win a penguin in the raffle, not a real one I hasten to add!

NEWSPAPER ROUND UP

More expenses misery for Mr. Levitt as the Buxton Advertiser reveals he claimed £21.50 for a SINGLE wine glass!! Some of these expenses are ridiculous and in such financially difficut times, in many ways offensive. On this site is my Candidates Contract - in all my years in business and in politics, I have never been a great claimer of expenses, it is not in my nature. If elected next year, I will not change.

FULL COUNCIL MEETING

Tonight was a poignant occasion for me as the Council  appointed a new Mayor to replace Dad. Apresentation of a past Mayor and Mayoress medal was made to Mum. The rest of the Council meeting passed of fairly peacefully with Cllr. Peter Kay invested as the new Mayor and Cllr. Bob Morris as his deputy.

TWO SPEECHES IN THE DAY + 1

My first appointment today was atr a coffee morning in Glossop where I had been asked to speak about the political situation and the General Election that is nowonly a matter of months away.

Secondly I addressed a class of children at Simmondley school. I have  done this for the past few year and thoroughly enjoy it. As ever regardless of age young people are interested in the issues. We tend to assume they dont care - but this is unfair. They have lots of questions ans as in previous years the lesson over runsintobreak time.

Later in the  evening I attended the annual Hope Show Dinner. I attended as a guest but due to an ijury to the President I was asked to stand in as the speaker at the last minute. Fortunately there were several friends also there who I could use as subjects of various amusing anecdotes.

PRE BUDGET REPORT

Yesterday the Chancellor delivered his pre budget report. It should have been re titled the pre election report as the Chancellor usedin unashamedly as an electioneering opportunity instead of taking actions that the country is crying out for. See the news page for more on this subject.

PARLIAMENT BUILDING - BRUSSELS

Today we go to the Parliament building and meet new East Midlands MEP. Emma McClarkin. I know Emma well as she accompanies me on my annual  charity walk. Emma gives us a talk on her new life as East Mdilands MEP. and the youngest British MEP. We also have a guided tour of the building which is enormous.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Every year I take a party from High Peak Conservatives to visit a Parliament building. We have been to London, Edinburgh, Brussels and Strasbourg. This year there will be 27 of us visiting the European Parliament building in Brussels, however we will be staying in  Bruges. An early start travelling by coach, we are looking forward to a good time as Bruges will be hosting its annual Christmas markets.

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