tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356873092024-02-20T10:41:01.773+00:00Conservative Women's OrganisationThe Conservative Women's Organisation (CWO) is the Conservative Party's national network for women. We help the Conservative Party win elections at every level, promoting women in becoming candidates and helping regain the women's vote. Writer's opinion are their own and not necessarily the CWO's.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-76749398973813765812013-06-05T00:01:00.000+01:002013-06-04T14:07:16.144+01:00Emily Wilding Davison 1872 - 1913<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHioW7fVvqdIfWAfiJAagmKsosyTZ5qYJeS-RqWbCb6HL4_9Dwl4Tz9cAMhH1XzeJ8dpGRSv8hRVK5B5ZwzRQ4JtqmU_M6X0jp6sZk13oXxv4Z91JR2-PdQvAQJ8HQojcHAq7L/s1600/epsom_emily_davison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHioW7fVvqdIfWAfiJAagmKsosyTZ5qYJeS-RqWbCb6HL4_9Dwl4Tz9cAMhH1XzeJ8dpGRSv8hRVK5B5ZwzRQ4JtqmU_M6X0jp6sZk13oXxv4Z91JR2-PdQvAQJ8HQojcHAq7L/s320/epsom_emily_davison.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Much has been written and filmed about the demise of Emily Wilding Davison but what happened at Epsom Downs on Saturday June 5th 1913 will remain mere supposition, as we have no record of what Emily was trying to do, or why. Was she planning on dying? Did she care if she did? Was she trying to bring the horse down or pin a suffragette scarf to its neck?<br />
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The majority opinion is now that Emily was not trying to kill herself - she was brought down by racehorse galloping at 35mph - although even attempting to curtail a horse at that speed is pretty suicidal. It was a tragedy, whichever way you look at it, and unfortunately did little for women's suffrage - other than possibly expounding the myth that all suffragettes were loons.<br />
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Emily is an enigma: Why would someone with the inspired and quite brilliant idea of spending the night of the 1911 census hiding in a broom closet in the Palace of Westminster, end up broken and dying on a race course two years later?<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Emily_Davison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Emily_Davison.jpg" width="153" /></a></div>
Emily was born on the 11 October 1872 and studied at Royal Holloway College before earning enough as a governess and teacher to study Biology, Chemistry, English Language and Literature at St Hugh's College, Oxford. Women were not allowed to take degrees at the time but she still received first-class honours in her finals.<br />
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In 1906 Emily joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), which had been formed by Emmeline Pankhurst in 1903. These were the militant suffragettes - a different group from the more peaceful suffragists.<br />
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She quickly gained a reputation as a violent campaigner and without WSPU approval, Emily went from disrupting meetings to stone throwing and arson.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.15625px;">In 1909, she was sentenced to a month's hard labour in Strangeways Prison in Manchester after throwing rocks at the carriage of chancellor David Lloyd George. She attempted to starve herself, and resisted force-feeding. A prison guard, angered by Davison's blockading herself in her cell, forced a hose into the room and nearly filled it with water. Eventually, however, the door was broken down, and she was freed. She subsequently sued the wardens of Strangeways, and was awarded 40 shillings. (BBC History)</span></blockquote>
In June 1912, near the end of a six-month sentence in Holloway Prison for arson, she reacted to an episode when she and dozens of fellow Suffragettes were force-fed by throwing herself down a 10 metre iron staircase. Her intention, as she wrote afterwards, was to stop the suffering of everyone else by carrying out this action. As a result she suffered severe head and spinal damage, causing discomfort for the rest of her life. (<i>Higher Magazine</i>, Royal Holloway College, Issue 15, 2011 pp18-19)<br />
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To know what she had gone through in just a few years - plus the ever-increasing hopelessness that some suffragettes believed of their cause - one is able to sympathise with her state of mind when the King's horse, Anmar, raced around Tattenham Corner. It may have been suicidal but when someone has so much passion for a cause, so much hatred for the unwavering "establishment", anger at being tortured and hopelessness that anything will change, a publicity stunt to shadow all others may be all that was left.<br />
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As for suffrage, did Emily's death from her injuries on the 8th June 1913 do anything for the cause? It's doubtful. What did more was the tragic circumstances of the Great War, when women took the place of the men in factories, offices and farms, showing themselves to be perfectly competent to vote and showing the anti-suffrage movement that women had a place in deciding the future of this country.<br />
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Only 39% of women aged 18-24 voted in the 2010 General Election - and only 20% of minority women in the same age bracket. (Ipsos Mori)</blockquote>
When we see news footage of women being killed in Afghanistan, Sudan, etc. for exercising their right to vote, we should remember every woman who has ever died for freedom and democracy and use that right at every chance we have.<br />
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Today, the 5th June 2013, we remember Emily.<br />
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<i>Niki Molnar, Chairman, CWO</i><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11439566984302538730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-81424893728385961422013-01-06T13:27:00.001+00:002013-01-06T13:27:43.677+00:00EVENT: CWO Evening with Maria Miller MP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Monday February 11th<br />
7-9pm<br />
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<img src="http://www.conservatives.com/~/media/Images/Legacy%20Images/PORTRAIT/Miller%20Maria%202.ashx" /><br />
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<b>An Evening with Maria Miller MP </b><br />
You are cordially invited to an evening with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport<br />
and Minister for Women and Equalities, with kind permission of Alison Frost in support of the CWO.<br />
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The venue is in Holborn, London with full details to be disclosed later.<br />
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Advance booking essential. Places are limited<br />
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Tickets £40. Book online at:<br />
<a href="http://www.conservativewomen.org.uk/events.asp?diary_no=426">http://www.conservativewomen.org.uk/events.asp?diary_no=426</a><br />
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Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-39323372335494917302012-12-21T09:21:00.000+00:002012-12-21T09:21:33.069+00:00Real men don't rape<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A lead article in The Times today (21.12.12) discusses the issue of rape in India. A country that is growing in leaps and bounds on other fronts; business, technology, politics, still has an estimated rape count of one every 22 minutes. Yes you did read that correctly. In India rape is considered normal, allowable, and something men need to do. They will blame women for western dress, being out after dark, or having an interesting background - almost any excuse they can come up with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Last week we were training women in Tunisia - helping to get the country into the new world of democracy. Rape came up several times during our workshops. The solutions ranged from 'get everyone married' to having women only groups to support each other and discuss the issue. No. Absolutely not. Rape is not about what women do, wear or talk about. Rape is about men. Its about misogyny. Its about control. Real men can control themselves, real men respect women. Real men don't rape and we need to shout this loudly at every opportunity, and ensure that here in the UK, and around the world that <u>everyone</u> makes a stand against this issue, and to stop considering rape to be something that is the fault of women.</span>Eve Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16093241675580032000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-85632026720167205422012-11-27T11:43:00.004+00:002012-11-27T11:43:59.373+00:00LEADING MEP URGES WOMEN TO CHECK CAR INSURANCE POLICIES<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Vicky Ford, Conservative MEP for the East of England, is urging women to check their car insurance policies and to consider renewing policies before a new EU ruling comes into effect on the 21st December. According to industry estimates younger women drivers in particular could see an escalation in their insurance premiums.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The ruling in the European Court of Justice means that car insurance companies are no longer able to take gender into account as a key consideration when deciding on a person's car insurance premium. This means that in spite of research showing that younger women drivers have fewer accidents than their male counterparts, this will be ignored when calculating insurance premiums from now on. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), women drivers could see their premiums rise by up to 25% after December as a result, with younger women being particularly hard hit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mrs Ford commented: "This rise is expected to hit up to three quarters of all female drivers and I would encourage younger women in particular to check their car insurance renewal dates, and to consider renewing policies before the law comes into effect on the 21st December. As younger women tend to have few accidents than younger male drivers, to date insurers have been able to offer the women lower pricing, reflecting the lower risk. Now insurers will not be able to offer this differentiated policy. There appears to be a general consensus that car insurance prices for certain women drivers will rise significantly as a result. I am concerned that people are not aware that this cut off date is imminent. I don't think the ruling is sensible, it throws into question the whole theory of insurance pricing which tries to match premiums to expected risks. I would be interested in hearing from readers with any feedback on whether the price of insurance premiums have indeed risen and how this ruling has affected them. Check your policy before Christmas." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">-Ends-</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For further information, photographs or quotes please contact Sarah Stamp, Press and Communications Officer to Vicky Ford MEP, on 07584 028671 or at communications@vickyford.org</span><br />
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Eve Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16093241675580032000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-4654365425804969352012-11-20T11:57:00.000+00:002012-11-20T11:57:06.428+00:00International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Lucida Sans','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">CWO are supporting <span style="color: black;">International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25th November. Join us on Twitter and Facebook <u>#endviolenceagainstwomen</u> @UNWOMENUK @cwowomen </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Eve Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16093241675580032000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-901701990592246142012-11-20T11:50:00.003+00:002012-11-20T11:50:27.202+00:00This week in Parliament<br />
Oral Questions to the Minister for Women & Equalities Thursday 22nd November at 1015am. Watch live on <a href="http://www.parliamentlive.tv/">www.parliamentlive.tv</a>Eve Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16093241675580032000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-76748828180227137112012-11-01T13:59:00.000+00:002012-11-01T14:39:39.084+00:00CWO Action Day in Corby, 10th November<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">On Saturday 10th November CWO members will be going up to Corby and East Northamptonshire to support our candidate Christine Emmett. Our help is really needed to knock on more doors, deliver more leaflets and campaign more effectively than the opposition.</span><br />
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If you are coming from London there are direct trains from St Pancras to Corby which take 1 hour and 10mins.<br />
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Please meet us at the Campaign Centre at 10am which is a short walk from the railway station. The address for the campaign centre is: Corby campaign office, Exchange Court, Central business park, Cottingham Road, Corby, NN17 1TY.<br />
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If you are able to join us in Corby next saturday please email <a href="mailto:theodora@conservativewomen.org.uk" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">theodora@conservativewomen.<wbr></wbr>org.uk</a>. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Best wishes,</span><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><br />Theodora Clarke (CWO Head of Communications)</strong><br />
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Future dates for your diary:</h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Wednesday 14th November- PCC & Corby telephone canvassing at CCHQ</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Tuesday 4th December- Christmas drinks party in Westminster</span></div>
Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-80517181678616006882012-10-25T23:41:00.002+01:002012-10-25T23:43:56.663+01:00<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Members of the Conservative Womens Organisation led a meeting of women activists and politicians in Westminster this week with the Global Justice Centre team from the US, to discuss the way in which US law in particular defines gender equality rights very narrowly, including the exclusion of abortion laws from equality scrutiny. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This has a major effect on the treatment of women raped during conflict, and we are have formulated a plan to encourage our Government to add their voice to enforce international humanitarian law and making Security Council Resolutions, such as those that address gender parity in peacekeeping and rape as a weapon of war, legally enforceable rights. Want to know more? Contact us, and take a look at the GJC website</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.globaljusticecenter.net/">http://www.globaljusticecenter.net</a></span><br />
<br />Eve Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16093241675580032000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-26775206199203075542012-10-03T22:52:00.002+01:002012-10-03T22:52:52.633+01:00CWO at Conservative Party Conference 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #505050; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Please find below our invitation to join the Conservative Women’s Organisation</span><span style="color: #505050; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> at our Fringes at the Conservative Party Conference October 7</span><span style="color: #505050; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> – October 10</span><span style="color: #505050; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">.</span></h4>
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<br />Also we can be found on Stand P29/P30 in the Party Zone Hall 3 of the ICC<br /><br />We look forward to meeting and seeing you there.<br /><br /><em>Katy Bourne</em><br />Chairman<br /> </div>
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Dates for your diary:</h4>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;">The Evolving Workplace</span></strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;">Monday 12.30-14.00 in the Hyatt Regency -Scherzo. Speakers Helen Grant MP (Chair), Marina Yannakoudakis MEP and Cllr Katharine Harborne- Richmond Borough Council, Dr Isabella Moore CBE, Women's Enterprise Policy Group.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;">Celebrating Women in The Party and Beyond</span></strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;">Monday 17.30-19.00 in the Hyatt Regency- Fortissimo with Action Aid UK and Dods. Speakers Katy Bourne </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">CWO </span><span style="color: #505050;">Chairman (Chair), Richard Miller Exec.Director Action Aid UK, Margot James MP, Melanie Ward, Head of Public Affairs, Action Aid</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;">Growing A Better Future for Women</span></strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;">Tuesday 12.30-14.00 in the ICC Hall 6 with Oxfam. Speakers Katy Bourne </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"> CWO </span><span style="color: #505050;">Chairman (Chair), Penny Lawrence, International Director, Oxfam, Jeremy Lefroy MP International Development Select Committee, Anna Swaithes, Head of Water & Food Security Policy SAB Miller.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Visit our website for more information <a href="http://conservativewomen.org.uk/events.asp?diary_no=380" style="color: #336699;" target="_blank">here</a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.100000381469727px;">Follow us on twitter</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.100000381469727px;"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/conswomen" style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.100000381469727px;" target="_blank">@conswomen</a><br style="color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.100000381469727px;" /><a href="http://www.conservativewomen.org.uk/" style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.100000381469727px;" target="_blank">www.conservativewomen.org.uk</a></div>
Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-26866456713301938512012-09-17T13:30:00.000+01:002012-09-17T13:30:13.405+01:00CWO support PCC candidates <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">CWO turn out in Guildford, for the action day on Saturday 8th Sept, in support of Julie Iles our Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner candidate for Surrey.</span>
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Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-72385882349270655592012-09-10T11:45:00.001+01:002012-09-25T13:49:02.631+01:00CWO Telephone Canvassing for PCC Finals & Corby By-Election<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px;">CWO are organising telephone canvassing sessions at CCHQ, 30 Millbank London SW1P 4DP on Thursday 27th September and Tuesday 16th October 6.30-8.30 pm. </span></h4>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px;">Please join us.</span></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px;">We are also supporting candidate Chris Emmett in the Corby by-election on Wednesday 24th October 6.30-8.30pm at CCHQ.</span></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px;">You must be a Party member to attend this event.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px;">To register for these specific sessions please email margaret@conservativewomen.org.uk.</span></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px;">Thank you</span></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px;">Best wishes</span></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px;">Margaret Bird (Deputy Chairman)</span></span></h4>
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Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-76367268071087405192012-08-15T19:51:00.002+01:002012-08-15T19:51:34.644+01:00Street Child of Sierra Leone welcomes CWO and Project Umubano by Theodora Clarke<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last month I
flew out from London to Sierra Leone with a team of Conservative Party
volunteers to take part in Project Umubano. For two weeks in July a group of us who are
young professionals and students donated our time to teach at a school for
street children in West Africa. This year we were joined by Baroness Jenkin of
Kennington, who is the Chairman of Conservative Friends of International
Development and founder of Women2Win. It was her first visit to the country and she visited alongside several members of the Conservative Women's Organisation. Later in the week we also
welcomed Stephen Crabb MP who leads Project Umubano in both Sierra Leone and
Rwanda.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The project
is now in its second year and we have volunteers based in Makeni at a centre
run by Street Child of Sierra Leone, a British NGO based in the country.
Everyday we have been teaching English, Maths and Science working alongside
local teachers to deliver their curriculum. The school where we are based in
Makeni caters for over 250 pupils. The children, both boys and girls, range
from age five to eighteen. Many of them are orphans from the civil war, live on
the street in gangs or work as commercial sex workers and have been out of the
education system for years. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Project
Umubano has expanded this year to several centres. For the first time we were
able to visit some of the remote and inaccessible regions on the border with
Guinea. The Tambakha Chiefdom is the most rural and isolated area in the
northern part of the country. It took us fourteen hours by car on a dirt track
road followed by a dugout canoe with our 4x4 vehicle being transported by a
small ferry across a river for us to eventually arrive in Tambakha. The entire
team were amazed to see whole communities with no access to drinking water and
to visit a region which previously had no schools despite a population of
twenty thousand people. We saw children being taught in ramshackle plastic and
metal structures with only basic resources such as chalk and a blackboard. It
was inspiring to see what an impact Street Child has had in the area where they
have built two primary schools and the first secondary school there. There are
now 25 schools there with 100 teachers educating over 3000 children.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />On the Wednesday evening we all went out at midnight with the social workers to see where our students spent the night. It was shocking to see how our pupils were spending the night sleeping rough at petrol stations, on the steps of shops and on top of metal freight containers covered in rubbish, often in the pouring rain. Everyone was moved to see their students and how they had no homes to go to after being in our classes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">This is the second year of the education project in Sierra Leone and it has been great to return to work with such a worthwhile organisation. The children we are teaching are from some of the most deprived communities in Africa with little access to education or resources. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Street Child is a fantastic organisation which supports
the educational objectives of the most vulnerable children in Sierra Leone. The
whole Umubano team is looking forward to continuing to work with Street Child
in the future and to continue to support their project. Volunteering out here
as also reminded us of why it is important to support international development
in countries like Sierra Leone, especially those with close ties to the UK and
which are in their post-conflict phase. The work that Street Child is doing is
inspiring and we hope by being here that we have made a small difference to our
students’ lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For further information visit:</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Project Umubano <a href="http://www.conservatives.com/Get_involved/Project_Umubano.aspx">http://www.conservatives.com/Get_involved/Project_Umubano.aspx</a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Street Child of Sierra Leone <a href="http://www.street-child.co.uk/">http://www.street-child.co.uk/</a></span>
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Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-82376355067773456492012-08-15T18:34:00.002+01:002012-09-10T09:59:26.666+01:00Forum Report: 'Women in the Justice System'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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26-Jun-2012: The CWO forum on ‘Women In The Justice System’ took place at 30 Millbank, Westminister on the 26th of June 2012.</div>
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The speakers for the evening were:</div>
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Fiona Phillips- QC<br />
Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire- Metropolitan Police<br />
Margaret Vallance- Director- Prisoners’ Families and Friends Service<br />
Julie Iles- JP- Surrey</div>
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CWO Chairman, Pauline Lucas welcomed our guests on behalf of CWO and outlined that the purpose of the ‘Women In The Justice System’ forum was to allow exploration of the reality of being a Woman involved or effected by the British Judicial System.</div>
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The panel was selected to provide insights into: breaking into the male dominated legal arena, female sentencing and rehabilitation and support thereafter and the underlying treatment of woman within the criminal world.</div>
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Pauline Lucas encouraged the panel to discuss candidly their own experiences and also what they were recognising from a wider study of the demographic.</div>
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Fiona Phillips is a highly qualified QC wh was instrumental in the building of Portcullia house. Fiona led the discussion by painting the scene for what it is like being a QC whom has climbed the career ladder in what still is a male dominated profession. Fiona explained that the first set of challenges present themselves when Woman are embarking on the role from a litigation stage. The early stages of law bar exams normally have a 50/50 split between Males and Female uptakes which continues until pupillages when the gender split is around 55/45 in favour of men.</div>
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The real challenges present themselves as Woman work their way up the Judicial system. Woman tend to be overly generous with their time and the work load which they are prepared to take on just to get ahead or on an equal footing as their male counterparts- This can often mean working 18 hour days, 6 days a week.</div>
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The approach to handling cases also varies between Male and Females. Fiona recognises that when she is in discussions with a Female opponent they will be upfront about their angle of defence and stick to that in court. Fiona’s experience is that Men will play games by claiming one position within the consultation and very much change their tact in court.<br />
Overt Sexism is a daily occurrence and upon reaching The Queens Council Woman normally fall into two areas; those whom become deliberately ‘Steely’ to maintain and compete for work and those whom try to balance a family and as a result face ostracism and a diminished workload dictated and enforced by their male counterparts.</div>
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The Lord Chancellor is actively promoting getting more women into the judicial system but whilst Fiona says you often face loyalty from clients, the perils of being within this vocation are the pressures to stay ahead of the competition, win the work and also balance a family.</div>
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Jackie Sebire spoke of her 20 years experience as a Super Intendant investing serious and complex crime including high profile murder cases and paedophilia. In line with Fiona Phillips, Jackie touched upon the idea of having to work above and beyond the recognised standards in order to make a name for yourself and get promoted. Of the Senior Management team at Hackney Constabulary all have chosen to put their careers above starting a family.</div>
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Jackie has extensive experience of dealing with Women suspects, witnesses and victims and the largest area of concern across the UK today is the notable Gang Culture which often results in younger girls and women being introduced to living a violent life of crime and/or becoming sexual abuse victims often at the mercy of the Male gang leaders.<br />
In support of this notion of exploitation, in London specifically, murder is on the decrease but Woman being killed in domestic violence is increasing by 40%. These are grim statistics and on average it takes 35 incidents of abuse for a Woman to come forward and report an issue.</div>
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Jackie feels the only way to combat this issue is to start to work with Woman at a younger age to install a sense of confidence and self respect. In conjunction with this the level of data sharing from force to force needs to become more fluid so the Police can spot patterns emerging.</div>
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Margaret Vallence summarised her career so far by discussing her work within male dominated environments. Margaret explained the resistance she felt when she was asked lead a 40 headcount male team of fraud investigators within the DWP. Margaret acknowledges she had to prove herself to her peers and those in her charge and demonstrated this through increasing the conviction rate bye introducing a more analytically detail focused ethos to a team who previously seems to just ‘Dive In’<br />
Within Margaret’s career she has witnessed abuse of young females and children on a number of occasions. Some of her achievements in combating this were the 1989 Children’s Act which she pushed through the Home Office and the closing down of Banardos.<br />
At all stages victims of abuse, specifically paedophilia are lured in emotionally on a basis of trust from a perpetrator whom is very good at covering their tracks and in a clear position of power.</div>
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Today Margaret devotes her time to a Voluntary Organisation called Prisoners’ ,Families and Friends which was established in 1967. The organisation recognised that there was little or no support for the families of those whom were sentenced in prison and as a result families of those convicted were stigmatised and condemned.</div>
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The organisation works at the core of issues surrounding confidence and self esteem, mental well being and relationships. The main completed the idea is that children develop better.</div>
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Some interesting facts support the work of this organisation:<br />
· More Woman than partners use the service.<br />
· Children of offenders are more likely to commit offences themselves.<br />
· All of the Woman within the service suffer some degree of depression and anxiety at some stage.<br />
· 5% of prisoners are female.<br />
· 51% of woman leaving prison reoffend within 1 year.<br />
The aim is to keep families together and reunite them as in Margaret’s word the state is a poor parent.</div>
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Julie Iles sits on the bench for Her Majesties Court and Tribunal System<span style="line-height: 1.5;">, a institution which has been in place as the first point of call for all legal cases for the last 650 years. It is served by volunteers whom wish to engage within their communities to assist with the jurisdiction and enforcement of law. Over the last 20 years being a woman within the justice system has changed significantly with trousers only being acceptable court room attire in the last two decades.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> The scope of influence within HMS is broad with 97 % of all criminal cases starting life in a magistrate’s court. </span><br />
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Decisions as to the granting of bail or remanding someone in custody are often heard in magistrates court and Julie says they are decided by taking a number of factors in to account including the likely outcome of the case, ties to the community, any previous failures to comply with court orders and the nature of the alleged offence. This is to ensure that the community is protected.</div>
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Julie chose to work and specialise within the Youth Court matter sector as she feels that this is highly relevant to making a real difference to local communities as good methods and practises within this area can prevent re-offences and steer the demographic back on the right track. The ethos is the idea of prevention of re-offending rather than criminalisation.</div>
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Julie says one of the challenges is female detention particularly when children are involved. The circumstances must be deemed grave for this to be enforced as emphasis and consideration is made to any remaining children and what would happen to them should their mother be detained.</div>
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Questions and comments from the floor concluded that there needs to be much more groundwork done behind the reasons that Woman turning to criminality and why they may fall victims to abusive situations as a result of being victims of crime. The common thread was that there needs to be a ‘Big Society’ in respect of teaching woman from an early age what they should and how they should expect to be treated. In turn the concept of teaching young men what is acceptable was also discussed. There needs to be more inspirational role models for woman and that it is vital to teach families how to parent in the right ways to break the cycles of abuse and crime from replicating in the future for next generations.</div>
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All of our panel said that at some point in their careers they have had a strong, female mentor whom helped them to learn best practice and that they found motivation from.</div>
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Each of the speakers summarised their final points and the chairman thanked them for participating in what was an immensely informative discussion.</div>
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;">With thanks to: Sophie Stratton, CWO Director of Forums and Charlotte Argyle</em></div>
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<em style="border: none; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://www.cwoforums.co.uk/index.php/archives/238">http://www.cwoforums.co.uk/index.php/archives/238</a>
</em></div>
</div>
Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-64566779194381462592012-08-08T10:54:00.000+01:002012-08-08T10:54:11.494+01:00Support needed for CWO P&CC Candidates!<br />
<h1 style="background-color: white; color: #0281aa; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="color: #272a2a; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;">Date:</strong><span style="color: #272a2a; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"> Thu 15th Nov 2012</span></span></h1>
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;">Location:</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"> National</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;">Many congratulations to all the new Conservative </span><a href="http://www.policecrimecommissioner.co.uk/" style="background-color: white; color: #0000c0; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;" target="_blanK">Police and Crime Commissioner Candidates</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;">.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #272a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify;">They will need all your support and help to get elected on the 15th November, so please help:</span><ul style="background-color: white; color: #3d4142; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
<li class="listitem" style="background-image: url(http://www.conservativewomen.org.uk/images/PostBullets.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.2em 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 26px;">City of York and North Yorkshire - <a href="https://twitter.com/Julia_Mulligan" style="color: #0000c0;" target="_blank">Julia Mulligan</a></li>
<br />
<li class="listitem" style="background-image: url(http://www.conservativewomen.org.uk/images/PostBullets.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.2em 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 26px;">Gloucestershire - <a href="http://www.victoria-atkins.com/wordpress/" style="color: #0000c0;" target="_blank">Victoria Atkins</a></li>
<br />
<li class="listitem" style="background-image: url(http://www.conservativewomen.org.uk/images/PostBullets.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.2em 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 26px;">Surrey - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/julieiles4surreypcc" style="color: #0000c0;" target="_blank">Julie Iles</a></li>
<br />
<li class="listitem" style="background-image: url(http://www.conservativewomen.org.uk/images/PostBullets.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.2em 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 26px;">Sussex - <a href="http://www.katybourne.com/" style="color: #0000c0;" target="_blank">Katy Bourne</a></li>
<br />
<li class="listitem" style="background-image: url(http://www.conservativewomen.org.uk/images/PostBullets.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.2em 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 26px;">West Yorkshire - <a href="http://www.geraldinecarter.org.uk/" style="color: #0000c0;" target="_blank">Geraldine Carter</a></li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.conservativewomen.org.uk/events.asp?diary_no=376">http://www.conservativewomen.org.uk/events.asp?diary_no=376</a>Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-81206579081965256142012-07-23T09:21:00.001+01:002012-07-23T09:21:58.738+01:00Police & Crime Commissioners: CWO's Julie Iles selected for Surrey<br />
<h3 class="entry-header" style="color: #ef047f; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 1px 0px 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></h3>
<div class="entry-content" style="line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px;">
<div class="entry-body">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em><strong><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://conservativehome.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451b31c69e201761635ab97970c-pi" style="color: #006699; float: right; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Julie" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451b31c69e201761635ab97970c" src="http://conservativehome.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451b31c69e201761635ab97970c-150wi" style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; width: 125px;" title="Julie" /></a>Julie Iles on why she is seeking the Conservative nomination for the Police and Crime Commissioner of Surrey</span></strong></em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em><strong><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong></em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Police and Crime Commissioners are fundamental to the Governments’ programme of decentralisation and making the police accountable to the local people. As a candidate for Commissioner I will engage with the public to ensure that I have a strong mandate to drive the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Given the broader remit to ensure community safety, I will </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">have an agenda of protection and prevention as well as first class, front line policing.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />I am an active member of our community in Surrey. I have been a magistrate for ten years, I chair the SE Surrey youth panel and serve on the Youth Justice Advisory Committee. I am also on the Surrey Crimestoppers Committee. This gives me a genuine experience of the criminal issues across Surrey and the effect they have on peoples’ lives...</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Read the full article at Conservative Home</span><br />
<a href="http://conservativehome.blogs.com/localgovernment/2012/07/making-surrey-even-safer.html"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://conservativehome.blogs.com/localgovernment/2012/07/making-surrey-even-safer.html</span></a>Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-1791279798297937922012-07-22T17:51:00.000+01:002012-07-22T17:51:17.838+01:00CWO North-East region hold summer party<br />
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrss-8iMubjlt4u50U1kQRRKQZ2cA3Vk7wJWfl1u4mehu_wd0g1p4juUcFF_RGEfy9x_OqFaOZocfKeuvp6qa3NDofJBXTcS89wjG3ucHhNL27_0LUoXLPekDwBOPbexejbg/s1600/2.+Mrs+Jenny+Hardy(Joint+Deputy+Chairman)+&+Mr+Nigel+Evans+MP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrss-8iMubjlt4u50U1kQRRKQZ2cA3Vk7wJWfl1u4mehu_wd0g1p4juUcFF_RGEfy9x_OqFaOZocfKeuvp6qa3NDofJBXTcS89wjG3ucHhNL27_0LUoXLPekDwBOPbexejbg/s640/2.+Mrs+Jenny+Hardy(Joint+Deputy+Chairman)+&+Mr+Nigel+Evans+MP.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"> Mrs Jenny Hardy (Joint Deputy Chairman) & Mr Nigel Evans MP</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From Christine Hanley, Vice Chairman North-East Region CWO
</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our regional Summer Party held in Eaglescliffe on Saturday 23rd June was a great success.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Over a hundred Guests were able to enjoy a dry evening catching up with old friends, looking round</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the garden and sampling the wide variety of finger food provided by the Committee.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvh-tIEzlWnOrSLJlW3uoGPnzemEgY07knmdJX-wxNtVIpbZE3Lt_Ahyphenhyphen9BRr-oKe8CfKgdGwUiIoCWhulnu-dvmQW2JYcvkHh_5U6rrD82RBooVpjEaUBXRr2wPXWaM40RQ/s1600/5.+Attentive+crowd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvh-tIEzlWnOrSLJlW3uoGPnzemEgY07knmdJX-wxNtVIpbZE3Lt_Ahyphenhyphen9BRr-oKe8CfKgdGwUiIoCWhulnu-dvmQW2JYcvkHh_5U6rrD82RBooVpjEaUBXRr2wPXWaM40RQ/s640/5.+Attentive+crowd.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Summer Party North-East Region CWO</span>
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our Guest Speaker Mr Nigel Evans MP & Deputy Speaker in the House of Commons mingled with</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the crowd before entertaining us with an account of his duties in Parliament which of course included</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a few amusing anecdotes.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Oap1N7EAHS-QIXdK-l68TVKzZaWyxKATNmbojqlmGWpaAUVYo-065HuKja4HmgnEDq6U2kDn0kgYfyAgap00Mr8gpAgkvMB7IGzN0bWvqG3G-EyGIaS4RiuBenxpx9E4wg/s1600/3.+MrsTess+Galletley,+Mrs+Amy+Gibb,+Mr+Ian+Galletley+&+Dr+Kathleen+Irvine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Oap1N7EAHS-QIXdK-l68TVKzZaWyxKATNmbojqlmGWpaAUVYo-065HuKja4HmgnEDq6U2kDn0kgYfyAgap00Mr8gpAgkvMB7IGzN0bWvqG3G-EyGIaS4RiuBenxpx9E4wg/s640/3.+MrsTess+Galletley,+Mrs+Amy+Gibb,+Mr+Ian+Galletley+&+Dr+Kathleen+Irvine.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Mrs Tess Galletley, Mrs Amy Gibb, Mr Ian Galletley & Dr Kathleen Irvine</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-62085818430955890912012-07-03T12:44:00.000+01:002012-07-03T12:44:12.886+01:00EUW Conference: On the Arab Spring, July 5European Union of Women<br />
British Section<br />
Mini-conference<br />
<b>'On the Arab Spring'</b><br />
Thurs 5th July 2012 at 1.45pm<br />
Trevelyan Room, St Matthew's Conference Centre, Great Peter Street, Westminster, SW1<br />
(nearest tubes St James Park/Westminster)<br />
<br />
Speakers:<br />
<b>Alistair Burt MP</b><br />
Further speaker/s and panel to be advised.<br />
<br />Tea and coffee will be served at 1.45pm<br />
Cost: £15 per head<br />
Enquiries to euw@euw-uk.co.uk or telephone 0207 924 4124<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.euw-uk.co.uk/2012-diary-of-events/">http://www.euw-uk.co.uk/2012-diary-of-events/</a>Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-35695389615959384062012-06-27T11:35:00.000+01:002012-06-28T11:53:57.818+01:00CWO hosts summer drinks party in Westminster<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiRTfaVKjIBNgFfV30bQaksjxQ2zTh5Zkehdo07Zl6og1XXggISQwqxMtDaNJ4CYF7shnDoTxgdL04obqKUDKVP08BZydJC4YipNJtRBXMlNofPmMKQTq1h2zVpLNfwoZRQ/s1600/IMG_7369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiRTfaVKjIBNgFfV30bQaksjxQ2zTh5Zkehdo07Zl6og1XXggISQwqxMtDaNJ4CYF7shnDoTxgdL04obqKUDKVP08BZydJC4YipNJtRBXMlNofPmMKQTq1h2zVpLNfwoZRQ/s1600/IMG_7369.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Sarah Woolaston MP and CWO Chairman Katy Bourne, CWO Summer Drinks Party <b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">©</span></b><span style="background-color: white;"> Annabel Yates Photography</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On Wednesday June 20 the
Conservative Women’s Organisation hosted a summer drinks party. The event took
place in the garden at Conservative Central Headquarters in Westminster. Over
seventy people attended the event and we were joined by four female MPs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Katy Bourne, CWO Chairman,
welcomed the guests and asked Helen Grant MP to select the winning ticket for
the raffle. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The event was a huge success and many guests stayed on till late to enjoy
the good weather and to catch up with other members.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Several members of the CWO Executive from
across the UK were also present following their meeting earlier in the day. We
were joined by representatives from as far afield as Devon, East Midlands and
even Scotland. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ArSO-7MjggLiqtdMB5qARjuM8yT5igxRo7s-z4IqDcgJvVIsFztzEfUTyh1faP79TVvQ4hMjwZeOvp0K5OnBFGY2fOJYMAogkEfWSQTqKRc1ySI9eoHsCb7F2ZEUKrmibw/s1600/IMG_7379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ArSO-7MjggLiqtdMB5qARjuM8yT5igxRo7s-z4IqDcgJvVIsFztzEfUTyh1faP79TVvQ4hMjwZeOvp0K5OnBFGY2fOJYMAogkEfWSQTqKRc1ySI9eoHsCb7F2ZEUKrmibw/s1600/IMG_7379.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Theodora Clarke, Julie Iles and Helen Grant MP<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">, </span></span>CWO Summer Drinks Party <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><b>©</b></span><span style="background-color: white;"> Annabel Yates Photography</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Katy Bourne said: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"Thank you to all those who attended and supported our
event on Weds. It was good to see many familiar faces and to welcome so
many new members. Particular thanks to Helen Grant MP, Harriet Baldwin
MP, Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, Fiona Bruce MP and the team at the Candidates
Department who came to support us and were so generous with their time."</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Helen Grant MP said: “I was delighted to attend the Conservative Women’s Organisation’s summer reception. It was very good to meet with so many women actively engaged with politics. Several of those I met have been short-listed for the new Police & Crime Commissioners and they will certainly bring a new perspective to local policing should they go on to be elected in November. I also met the CWO Senior Officers who give a great deal of voluntary time to train and support other women taking up roles in public life. Many thanks for the invitation – and keep up the good work.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Harriet Baldwin MP said:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">“It was</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"> a pleasure to meet so many interesting and impressive women who are considering getting more active in Conservative politics. I was delighted to offer advice from my own experience and am always happy to be a mentor to help women negotiate the process.”</span>
</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Fiona Bruce MP said: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“It was great to meet so many enthusiastic CWO members
of all ages, already making a real and positive difference in politics in many
different ways- and keen to do more.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3Nkvn_z-VZB2woENgLPLyA_COVAvDdzVbGFEeUw3S0HdDtUseFJ4FAHEsPiz7tWaXtj-sJuRXRybnyK4FZR4oY6H_2HZnH6ZOTZYs8DGwMx30KN0NNvHpvqML5kUReTG2w/s1600/IMG_7358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3Nkvn_z-VZB2woENgLPLyA_COVAvDdzVbGFEeUw3S0HdDtUseFJ4FAHEsPiz7tWaXtj-sJuRXRybnyK4FZR4oY6H_2HZnH6ZOTZYs8DGwMx30KN0NNvHpvqML5kUReTG2w/s1600/IMG_7358.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harriet Baldwin MP, CWO Summer Drinks Party <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><b>©</b></span><span style="background-color: white;"> Annabel Yates Photography</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr Sarah Woolaston MP said: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“It was great to meet so many women who are getting the
Conservative message through and getting things done in their own communities.
Thank you to the<span class="apple-converted-space"> CWO". </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was great to see so many members from across the UK
from Area Chairs to students who have recently joined the CWO. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We look forward to seeing our members at future events including our fringe panel discussions at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham and forums later in the year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Theodora Clarke, CWO Director of Communications</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Follow us on twitter @conswomen</i></span></div>Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-54105606731515466722012-05-11T10:38:00.002+01:002012-05-14T12:25:31.879+01:00CWO Report: Forum 'Business Budget 2012'<b>24-Apr-2012:</b> The
CWO forum panel on the ‘Business Budget 2012’ took place in a committee room of
the House of Commons on Tuesday 24<sup>th</sup> April.<br />
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The speakers for the evening were:</div>
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<b>Andrew Tyrie</b> MP for Chichester and Chairman of the
Treasury Select Committee.</div>
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<b>Susan Hayes </b>Head of Business Banking, Barclays</div>
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<b>Gillian Cardy</b> Managing Director of the Independent Financial
Adviser (IFA) centre.</div>
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CWO Chairman, Katy Bourne welcomed our guests on behalf of
CWO and outlined that the purpose of the ‘<b>Business
Budget 2012’ </b>was to allow exploration of the impact of the recent budget
announcements on small businesses. Katy
encouraged discussions around the role of women in business and in what ways
the budget will have an impact on economic growth for all demographics. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbJ91s15skspeB6CbicDlV9iPbqfsbOp_C8zoU8McK-qbyus9meh2KFQVKisiMwiLzfDHCIAEMiODmWcGfQVz_C3IV4P3rX4UCnavHmIHDohhJctWttTm9d8LVqaeqLlzDw/s1600/IMG_7116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbJ91s15skspeB6CbicDlV9iPbqfsbOp_C8zoU8McK-qbyus9meh2KFQVKisiMwiLzfDHCIAEMiODmWcGfQVz_C3IV4P3rX4UCnavHmIHDohhJctWttTm9d8LVqaeqLlzDw/s400/IMG_7116.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CWO Forum: Sophie Stratton, Gillian Hardy and Susan Hayes</td></tr>
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<b>Sue Hayes </b>led the
discussion by explaining her role as Head of Business Banking at Barclays and
went on to discuss how and why banks are making a concerted effort, through
their growth agenda to help small businesses.</div>
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Currently 50 % of start-up businesses fail within their
first three years; Sue discussed the challenging conditions that a start-up
company is likely to face based on her assessment of the core issues she sees
arising daily within her client’s environment. The three main reasons she identified for the
failure of new businesses are: the economic climate and reduced demand, the
competitive landscape and cash flow issues.</div>
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Sue observed that
there is a general feeling of uncertainty around the regulations in respect of setting
up a new business which serve to deter people from venturing into this
territory due to a lack of confidence and understanding of the basic logistics
involved in setting up a new business.</div>
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Homing in on the budget, Sue thought that there had been modest
changes but nothing which would make a substantial difference to promote entrepreneurial
growth. However, the reduction in the
higher rate of personal income tax and the increase in personal allowance would
mean that greater disposable income could potentially have the effect of
stimulating consumer spending, albeit not aiding initial investment.</div>
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Sue went on to explain how banks can help to stimulate
confidence via a number of fiscal initiatives and support services such as;</div>
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-The National Loan Guarantee Scheme which creates lower interest rates for
lending and gives a percentage of cash back to the applicant.</div>
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-Business support units and seminars proactively
advising business on any issues they are experiencing and discussing ways to
increase revenues for a new business. E-commerce
for example, if conducted internationally, gives a business a fourfold chance of
being successful in the critical 36-month window.</div>
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-Networking forums to link customers and business
together. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVBwiDG8PLYVT0xZUjJGLE5yEOg-OKSj6emQZT3LKEFMsLHs3FqzN2bNJG5CCoeFjXajZJQSMGq7utYBtehCqE5-h9i65DNKKIGENkYo1SBDDczJBSfqot3dJPqqcXTMjvQ/s1600/IMG_7123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVBwiDG8PLYVT0xZUjJGLE5yEOg-OKSj6emQZT3LKEFMsLHs3FqzN2bNJG5CCoeFjXajZJQSMGq7utYBtehCqE5-h9i65DNKKIGENkYo1SBDDczJBSfqot3dJPqqcXTMjvQ/s1600/IMG_7123.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CWO Forum: Susan Hayes, Theodora Clarke, Margaret Bird, Pauline Lucas, Gillian Cardy and Katy Bourne</td></tr>
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The overall message was that
banks do want to loan to businesses to aid the UK’s economic recovery. Last year alone £4.7bn was invested by
Barclays into small businesses and Barclays hit their Merlin targets. Given the current economic situation today
around 42% of people will have to rethink their retirement plans and 25% of
people will have to work over the age of 65.
Barclays wants to encourage a stimulus for growth to give people greater
flexibility over their retirement options.</div>
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<b>Gillian Cardy</b> spoke about her role as Managing Director of the IFA
centre and how she perceived the budget would have an effect on the financial
planning strategies of individuals and businesses alike.</div>
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Gillian sees the budget in its
current form as having only nominal changes which directly affect the role of
an IFA in giving client advice. In her
view, present regulations need simplification to stimulate economic growth as
the increased complexity of rules around taxation are making it challenging for
both employers and employees to understand their responsibilities and, as a
consequence, more costs are being incurred by businesses.</div>
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Prohibitive costs make it more
challenging for new business to flourish.
An example of these increasing costs for employers is the new National Employee
Savings scheme which all business must start to contribute to.</div>
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An example of change suggested by Gillian was
in regards to rules around National Insurance; she suggested a revision of the
current 13.8% which has to be paid even into retirement.</div>
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To summarise, Gillian brought the
discussion to an employee level and discussed the current missed opportunities
for road-mapping a real savings plan and taking advantage of tax free opportunities
such as ISA’s and personal allowances.</div>
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Finally<b> Andrew Tyrie </b>discussed how he saw the budget from his perspectives
as an Economist, an MP and as the Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9Dx1_8wJ1rzJaFqhiMCwAiBllB7Bv_DcdNpYQzcOQqlUnnwRqIypS8q8Pb6H5odvf8XQ83TSuQVwNXONs1AmHZ60fOQqdJzuUB9FoIs5oyKPt7l6u7cawZbXiuOwW8gdiw/s1600/IMG_7111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9Dx1_8wJ1rzJaFqhiMCwAiBllB7Bv_DcdNpYQzcOQqlUnnwRqIypS8q8Pb6H5odvf8XQ83TSuQVwNXONs1AmHZ60fOQqdJzuUB9FoIs5oyKPt7l6u7cawZbXiuOwW8gdiw/s400/IMG_7111.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CWO Forum: Andrew Tyrie MP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Andrew supported the defining strategy of the
budget which is a deficit reduction programme to deal with the current economic
conditions. He believes in turn this
will promote confidence from the markets. The budget has been set by the Chancellor with
little scope for manoeuvre as there are real fiscal targets to be met and the
government is in the early stages of implementing a long term strategy to
restore economic growth rates to 2.4%. Andrew is confident that this coalition
budget will prevent a UK replication of crises seen in Greece and other
Eurozone countries.</div>
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In line with his co-speakers,
Andrew agreed that an overhaul of regulation in certain areas affecting
business is overdue and that a simplification of employers’ legislation and a
focus on making it easier for sole traders to create the jobs, are needed to boost
the economy.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7qpl7DJz-5hEKu20VF35n1Jv2rACMasWOLgGbhxMKLYF3xI3yaFrmbM43gHcMRxKxFerP5EQL62Tj9b95lTr71UVrTfuFrzW-ptyd1x0DFAH4nlSe2bCfhqjMuBXL3RJ8w/s1600/IMG_7118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7qpl7DJz-5hEKu20VF35n1Jv2rACMasWOLgGbhxMKLYF3xI3yaFrmbM43gHcMRxKxFerP5EQL62Tj9b95lTr71UVrTfuFrzW-ptyd1x0DFAH4nlSe2bCfhqjMuBXL3RJ8w/s320/IMG_7118.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CWO Forum: Theodora Clarke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In agreement with Gillian Cardy,
Andrew went on to say that the British taxation system is one of the most
complicated taxation systems in the world. There are issues around tax avoidance which
could be addressed by less ambiguity on the subject and clearer tax
models. Tax cuts at the top end of the
market are designed to retain wealth within the UK and avoid overseas
relocation in line with Laffa principles. In addition to this, improvements via the Loan
Guarantee scheme will serve as a much needed catalyst for bank and consumer lending
and UK entrepreneurialism.</div>
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<b>Questions and
comments</b> from the floor examined issues such as: why has the tax code not
been simplified since the 1980’s; why income tax has not returned to the previous
40% level and will there be more efforts put in place to incentivise start up
businesses and support their growth? Each of the speakers summarised their final
points and the Chairman thanked them for participating in an informative panel
discussion on the budget.</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>With thanks to: Sophie Stratton, CWO Director of
Forums and Charlotte Argyle.</i></div>
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<br /></div>Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-85633404139443066552012-05-08T13:29:00.000+01:002012-05-08T13:29:35.233+01:00Project Umubano 2012: Volunteer for Conservative Social Action<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Volunteers for Conservative social action project</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEwkAFS2WvY_CderM2iuRLbjDB-zD1Os8uliS5eg-oXxAPn8z3NQG51KZ6_6ETJEoxOoVAuYSwECMHMthY4WBWUeA-OLv1mMeTSQZXaSZrDEAL-zEQV4x5T1QjbV-vFn3Yg/s1600/project+umubano_rwanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEwkAFS2WvY_CderM2iuRLbjDB-zD1Os8uliS5eg-oXxAPn8z3NQG51KZ6_6ETJEoxOoVAuYSwECMHMthY4WBWUeA-OLv1mMeTSQZXaSZrDEAL-zEQV4x5T1QjbV-vFn3Yg/s320/project+umubano_rwanda.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Project Umubano</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Location: Rwanda and Sierra Leone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Voluntary project: 2 weeks in July 2012</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do you have the passion to volunteer in two of the world’s poorest countries? Can you contribute your skills to helping in Africa? Do you want to develop your skills whilst experiencing a new culture?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Project Umubano is recruiting volunteers for the last remaining places on our projects in Rwanda and Sierra Leone. This is a great opportunity for Conservatives who would like to help make a lasting difference in Africa.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">About Project Umubano</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv66Uq7LZq-4MktTCmC1jdl3Lvq2MR-N7s9IGYt2FpVTta-ciSyll2dlXYme0sQERwocdnnKHGJLZFTDG-GquErbVe43E9Koc1TAj6B7PPuGNdQemA4AtV47Rax2DF2fP8mQ/s1600/project-umubano-600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv66Uq7LZq-4MktTCmC1jdl3Lvq2MR-N7s9IGYt2FpVTta-ciSyll2dlXYme0sQERwocdnnKHGJLZFTDG-GquErbVe43E9Koc1TAj6B7PPuGNdQemA4AtV47Rax2DF2fP8mQ/s200/project-umubano-600.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Project Umubano is the Conservative Party's social action project in Rwanda and Sierra Leone. Umubano means ‘friendship’ or ‘co-operation’ in Kinyarwandan, the mother tongue of Rwanda. The work that our teams do in Rwanda and Sierra Leone is driven by specific needs identified by our partners on the ground. In that way, we hope that our work will continue to have a lasting benefit long after we return home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEwkAFS2WvY_CderM2iuRLbjDB-zD1Os8uliS5eg-oXxAPn8z3NQG51KZ6_6ETJEoxOoVAuYSwECMHMthY4WBWUeA-OLv1mMeTSQZXaSZrDEAL-zEQV4x5T1QjbV-vFn3Yg/s1600/project+umubano_rwanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our volunteers</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Volunteers join Conservative MPs, councillors and activists for two weeks in either Rwanda or Sierra Leone, working in teams in locations around each country.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Education Project in Sierra Leone</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmOeqbmibsFkZaEBfUN6LkqSVEHRWQtwDzvQ4ZuLuOsg8GvpH9g63wcgFr6LlwIzGVsHI1FAUVDtvNp96t180_Hp-WXlADbTHL_y75OsOa8-W-KNMTmqsNf9_QcEdMFhylA/s1600/umubano+teaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmOeqbmibsFkZaEBfUN6LkqSVEHRWQtwDzvQ4ZuLuOsg8GvpH9g63wcgFr6LlwIzGVsHI1FAUVDtvNp96t180_Hp-WXlADbTHL_y75OsOa8-W-KNMTmqsNf9_QcEdMFhylA/s1600/umubano+teaching.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Theodora Clarke, CWO Director of Communications, will be leading the education project out in Sierra Leone. She is currently looking for volunteers who are interested in teaching children at a local school. Any experience teaching would be helpful but is not required as all volunteers will undertake TEFAL training. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She said, "I went last year as a volunteer and was so impressed by the project that I decided to come back again to help organise the education project. We are partnered with a local NGO out there called Street Child of Sierra Leone which do invaluable work with orphans and children who have never been to school. We are delighted to return this year to expand the project and to help teach at SCoSL's local centre in Makeni."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Info here </span><a href="http://www.street-child.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://www.street-child.co.uk/</span></a><br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Project Umubano is also looking for volunteers with specific training or skills in one or more of the following project areas:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">health</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">sport</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">business</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">community (helping charitable organisations)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">law</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">politics</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">education</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Closing Date: 28 May 2012</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Interview/Start Dates:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Informal interviews are held in the Westminster area or over the telephone. Please note that we may recruit before the closing date.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Job Contact:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For more information please visit www.projectumubano.com and sign up by completing the electronic form on the ‘Join Us’ page. When applying, please specify your desired project area from the list above and include any qualifications, skills or experiences relevant to your field. If you have specific questions about the education project in Sierra Leone then please get in touch with theodora@conservativewomen.org.uk. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You may also email your information to projectumubano@live.co.uk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Website: http://www.projectumubano.com</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-45416322369912681992012-05-03T12:33:00.000+01:002012-05-03T12:33:22.953+01:00Vote for Boris: Taking Greater London Forward<br />
<i>A message from Boris Johnson:</i><br />
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The Mayoral election today comes when we have been going through the toughest times that anyone can remember.<br />
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The big question is therefore blindingly simple - who has the best plan for the jobs and growth that will help bring prosperity to all?<br />
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It is about who will deliver the investment from central government that will take London forward.<br />
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It is about who you can trust to spend that money wisely – and who will be honest with you about where the money is coming from, and how it is spent.<br />
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I believe my 9 point plan is right for the future of the greatest city on earth. It secures Greater London's future by cutting waste at City Hall, reducing council tax, creating 200,000 new jobs, protecting green space, investing in transport, cutting tube delays and ensuring a true Olympic legacy.<br />
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My ambition is to make London ever safer, greener, cleaner and more attractive to live, work and invest in.<br />
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By managing our budgets responsibly, we have abandoned the grandiose and wasteful approach of the previous mayor. This has allowed me to keep my promises to London over the last four years:<br />
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I have put 1,000 more police on the streets and now we are taking officers out of backroom jobs – putting 2,000 officers in Safer Neighbourhood Teams.<br />
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I have delivered a 24 hour Freedom Pass – and we will now make sure that everyone gets it as soon as they turn 60, and we will negotiate to put it on overground rail as well.<br />
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I got rid of the Western Extension Zone of the Congestion Charge, because it was imposed in defiance of people’s wishes.<br />
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I banned alcohol on public transport and put another 697 uniformed officers on the buses and Tube.<br />
I have got rid of the bendy bus and introduced a new Routemaster-style bus for London, built in Britain, creating jobs in this country, the cleanest new bus in Europe – and each of them costs no more than a current hybrid bus.<br />
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I have saved billions in unnecessary expense at TFL, disposed of 23 buildings and 25% of the directors. I have sold two police flats and cut bonuses across the board.<br />
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And it is this relentless efficiency with your money that has allowed me to freeze the Mayoral share of council tax for four years. Now I am promising to cut it by 10%.<br />
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The choice is clear today.<br />
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It is between a Mayor who invests in our future – not the irresponsible proposals from Ken Livingstone that would put that investment at risk.<br />
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I know I am best placed to get the funds our city will need. I will use that money well – not waste it on schemes of no economic benefit to London.<br />
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I want to unite London – not try to divide one group from another.<br />
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I want to take London forwards – not back to the 1970s.<br />
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I believe I am best placed to lead London out of recession, to get real and lasting value from the Olympics, and to lengthen our lead as the greatest city on earth.<br />
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I hope I can count on your vote today. For Greater London. For the future.<br />
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<br />Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-30842353380548437722012-04-28T15:54:00.001+01:002012-04-28T16:29:43.539+01:00Conservative Women's Organisation supports Boris<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Back Boris team were supported by a large number of Conservative Women's Organisation members on tuesday night at the Conservative Party's central headquarters in Millbank. The telephone canvassing session for Mayor Boris Johnson was held in conjunction with a candidates evening organised by Melanie Hampton.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We were joined by Dr Phillip Lee MP who talked about his experiences as a working doctor, issues facing his constituency Bracknell and current health care discussions in Parliament. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W2daCj7p1fe5MycPk_OVOC1B_G3gEcICRxaS2Xh7WneQjU5BI7b9mFUksp6jpr8yd3zOqrwb2VbloSFm92I380PP3AYAEWKX_oItfa7MxNojIZV0p2JyEchMmPS2miPTpg/s1600/292555_316639181740786_100001841199679_761209_1297204986_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W2daCj7p1fe5MycPk_OVOC1B_G3gEcICRxaS2Xh7WneQjU5BI7b9mFUksp6jpr8yd3zOqrwb2VbloSFm92I380PP3AYAEWKX_oItfa7MxNojIZV0p2JyEchMmPS2miPTpg/s320/292555_316639181740786_100001841199679_761209_1297204986_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The team spent the evening manning the phones and calling voters across London. Telephone canvassing is proven to be the quickest, easiest and most effective form of campaigning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">CWO Chairman Katy Bourne attended the evening and answered questions from Conservative party activists about the CWO and the campaign. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg7ZwCMB0DAtIJDNM_ZL5sooHRoqAZU4ch3_WWEr1uHP19h3gT-93oI2GipiQJU4pAmESIpqmkDoTeN1s0svfn_qqd1kusRxHKXbY_x3sTMaMnVpCoA98v4ucn8UGac_86A/s1600/529698_316643335073704_100001841199679_761222_1850827156_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg7ZwCMB0DAtIJDNM_ZL5sooHRoqAZU4ch3_WWEr1uHP19h3gT-93oI2GipiQJU4pAmESIpqmkDoTeN1s0svfn_qqd1kusRxHKXbY_x3sTMaMnVpCoA98v4ucn8UGac_86A/s320/529698_316643335073704_100001841199679_761222_1850827156_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Theodora Clarke, CWO Director of Communications, who helped organise the evening said: “This was our first CWO telephone canvassing and it was great to have such a good turnout in the evening after work. CWO members have been working hard to support Boris in this final critical stage of the mayoral campaign.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Melanie Hampton said "Many thanks to the CWO and their dynamic new team for coming to help telephone canvass for Boris".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Baroness Warsi, Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, and James Cleverly AM, Leader of the Conservative Group on the London Assembly, also stopped by to lend a hand and support Boris.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You can follow the Conservative Women's Organisation on twitter @conswomen and RSVP to our next events on Facebook and here http://www.conservativewomen.org.uk/events.asp</span>Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-41165850344123614012012-04-28T15:26:00.000+01:002012-04-28T15:26:42.381+01:00BackBoris: For Greater London. For the Future<br />
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A message from the BackBoris team:</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Over this crucial final week the BackBoris team and Conservatives across London are calling supporters to urge them to vote on 3rd May. And with Ken and Labour pulling out all the stops and spending seemingly limitless amounts of trade union money, Boris is counting on supporters like you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With just five days to go to polling, we need your help to secure Greater London's future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next week voters will face the choice of a better future - or a return the past.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Boris Johnson's 9 point plan to secure Greater London's future cuts waste at City Hall, reduces council tax, creates 200,000 new jobs, protects green space, invests in transport, cuts tube delays and ensures a true Olympic legacy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Over these crucial final days we have millions of leaflets to deliver and hundreds of thousands of people to call, explaining why every single vote counts and why Boris needs their backing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The man himself will be at the Millbank call centre this weekend and it would be great if you could come along too. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And he’ll be on the campaign Battle Bus too both days too if you're able to join him. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sign up here: www.backboris2012.com/events/category/joinboris</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And it’s not just Boris you can meet if you come along to make calls. There are also chances to join members of the Cabinet calling for Boris next week. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Michael Gove, Caroline Spelman, Justine Greening, Andrew Lansley and many more Cabinet members will be joining us to make calls for Boris. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For more information and to register for one or more of our 'Calling with the Cabinet' sessions, please sign up now: www.backboris2012.com/events/category/phonecanvassing</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This election is going to be really close. Every call we make counts, so please come along to make calls, join the Battle Bus or help out in your local area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Your help is absolutely vital to our Get Out the Vote effort, so please sign up now to help: www.backboris2012.com/GOTV</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thank you for all you've already done for the campaign.</span><br />
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<br />Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-42825609092476842402012-04-19T11:23:00.000+01:002012-04-19T11:23:05.642+01:00The biggest campaign fight yet: Ken vs Ken<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">If you thought the "Rift in the Lift" was big news, get ready for the biggest campaign fight yet: Ken vs Ken! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Watch the latest video from the BackBoris 2012 team where Ken Livingstone battles it out (with himself) over whether he can cut fares. </span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Ken as candidate makes sweeping claims about fares cuts and where the money would come from, but as Mayor he says he's unable to do the exact things he's now saying he can.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<br />Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35687309.post-62471999154219698222012-04-17T02:00:00.000+01:002012-04-17T02:00:01.141+01:00Back Boris 2012: Countdown to the Mayoral Election<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A message from Theodora Clarke, CWO Director of Communications:<u></u></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #00b0f0;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back Boris 2012 – Countdown to the Mayoral Election<u></u></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are less than three weeks before Londoners head to the polls to choose their Mayor and the stakes in this election are high. If Ken takes London and welcomes Ed Miliband into City Hall we will find attaining a Conservative majority in 2015 much harder.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the last four years Boris has delivered his promises to turn around the mess left by Livingstone and Labour for Londoners. He has:<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tackled Crime</b> by increasing the number of police on the streets pushing crime down by 10.8%.<u></u><u></u></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kept London Moving</b> by making public transport we all rely on more reliable and efficient and by working to smooth London’s traffic flow.<u></u><u></u></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Made City Hall Leaner and More Accountable</b> by ruthlessly cutting out waste, making decisions more transparent, increasing efficiency in London with everything at City Hall driven to deliver more for less.<u></u><u></u></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Fought London's Corner</b> by constantly banging the drum for investment in London and working for a fairer deal from central government to create the most competitive environment for business.<u></u><u></u></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Improved Quality of Life</b> by investing in parks and squares using the best design and removing unnecessary and ugly clutter and by reducing London’s carbon emissions, not only protecting the environment but also saving Londoners millions of pounds in energy bills.<u></u><u></u></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Worked to make the Most of the Olympics</b> by bringing the Games in on time and within budget and by working to achieve a legacy that will last for generations.<u></u><u></u></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Delivered Youth Opportunities</b> by working to increase opportunities for young Londoners despite the worst recession since the 1930s, which has driven up youth unemployment to well over 15%.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This month at the official launch of his campaign, Boris set out his vision for securing Greater London's future. (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LmONVlMkCbU" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">watch the video here</a>)<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But there is more to do and to accomplish it Boris needs your help. CWO supporters are the backbone of Boris’ campaign and your commitment is critical to getting out his message across the capital.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is why today we are asking you to volunteer, if you haven't done so already. With your help we can reach even more Londoners in these final three weeks.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teams of volunteers have already been working hard across London for months leafleting stations, knocking on doors and phoning voters.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Battle Bus will be continuing its tour of the outer boroughs and Conservative activists are out in them every weekend from now until polling day. Our call centres will be open every afternoon and evening with Monday nights being the dedicated CWO session with visiting MPs.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The choice on 3rd May is very clear – between lurching back to the high-taxing, discredited and divisive approach of Ken Livingstone, or going forward with four more years of sensible, responsible and cost-effective government in London with Boris.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for your continued support and dedication to the campaign and if you feel that you can do more please contact the BackBoris2012 campaign.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.backboris2012.com/volunteer"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.backboris2012.com/volunteer</span></a>
</div>Theodora Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127891996713315673noreply@blogger.com0