Anne Marie is a brilliant campaigner, and we have had a great response when we have taken past trips. Pleased to be heading back en masse. Full details on the Team Oppy site
Showing posts with label Anne Marie Trevelyan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anne Marie Trevelyan. Show all posts
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Berwick Action Day later this week - come along
Anne Marie is a brilliant campaigner, and we have had a great response when we have taken past trips. Pleased to be heading back en masse. Full details on the Team Oppy site
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Open Primaries are picking some great Conservative candidates
Open Primaries to select candidates are the way ahead: I have been involved, in a very small way with candidate selection and candidate help for parliamentary seats for the 2015 election. I know many of the candidates very well, some only by reputation: Nusrat Gahni is a charismatic Muslim lady with great intelligence, and a great track record before getting involved in politics; last Thursday, she persuaded an open primary in the leafy sussex seat of The Wealden to choose her; she will not let them down.
The nature of an open primary is that ANYONE who lives locally in that constituency can come along - whatever their political views or persuasions and select the candidate. This means that local councillors from all persuasions can come along and question the candidate.
Or take Mid Worcestershire: Nigel Huddlestone, the chosen candidate to take over from Peter Luff is a breath of fresh air: his mum works for Asda and his dad in a factory, while he was the first graduate from his state school to get to Oxford. Similar comments apply to down to earth long term local councillor Ranil Jayawardena, the deputy leader of Basingstoke Council, who was selected in North East Hampshire two weeks ago. Also this last weekend Lucy Fraser was chosen in South East Cambridgeshire, to take over from Sir Jim Paice, and the Sussex health worker and local councillor, Maria Caulfield, was chosen in Lewes. In Northumberland Anne Marie Trevelyan was chosen at an open primary earlier this year to fight Berwick on Tweed against Sir Alan Beith. Anne Marie fought Sir Alan in 2010, dramatically cutting his majority. He has now decided he has had enough, and I believe AM's 8 year campaign to win the seat will be successful in 2015.
Quite rightly the papers are applauding the fact that this process is happening in the Conservative Party.
It is a far cry from the Labour process - whether it be the shenanigans in Falkirk [where does one start / finish?], or hilarious epsiodes in the past like Jack Dromey [Harriet Harmans husband] who was the first man to be selected from a proposed all woman shortlist for a seat in Birmingham in 2010. More details here: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peteroborne/100249778/well-done-mr-cameron-open-primaries-are-here-to-stay/
The nature of an open primary is that ANYONE who lives locally in that constituency can come along - whatever their political views or persuasions and select the candidate. This means that local councillors from all persuasions can come along and question the candidate.
Or take Mid Worcestershire: Nigel Huddlestone, the chosen candidate to take over from Peter Luff is a breath of fresh air: his mum works for Asda and his dad in a factory, while he was the first graduate from his state school to get to Oxford. Similar comments apply to down to earth long term local councillor Ranil Jayawardena, the deputy leader of Basingstoke Council, who was selected in North East Hampshire two weeks ago. Also this last weekend Lucy Fraser was chosen in South East Cambridgeshire, to take over from Sir Jim Paice, and the Sussex health worker and local councillor, Maria Caulfield, was chosen in Lewes. In Northumberland Anne Marie Trevelyan was chosen at an open primary earlier this year to fight Berwick on Tweed against Sir Alan Beith. Anne Marie fought Sir Alan in 2010, dramatically cutting his majority. He has now decided he has had enough, and I believe AM's 8 year campaign to win the seat will be successful in 2015.
Quite rightly the papers are applauding the fact that this process is happening in the Conservative Party.
It is a far cry from the Labour process - whether it be the shenanigans in Falkirk [where does one start / finish?], or hilarious epsiodes in the past like Jack Dromey [Harriet Harmans husband] who was the first man to be selected from a proposed all woman shortlist for a seat in Birmingham in 2010. More details here: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peteroborne/100249778/well-done-mr-cameron-open-primaries-are-here-to-stay/
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Report on Open Primary to be Berwick upon Tweed candidate
Anne Marie Trevelyan deservedly won the open primary that took place on Friday night in the Assembly Rooms in Alnwick. There were around 300 people there - from all across the Berwick constituency, to see 3 excellent local candidates answer questions both from the moderator, my colleague James Wharton MP, and from the floor.
All candidates were asked the same first few questions, as to why they would be the best candidate, where they would live if selected, whether they would rather be a rebellious backbencher or supportive Minister, what were their strengths and weaknesses, and then a variety of questions on wind farm policy, the PM's approach to Europe, and around 8-10 further questions from the floor on everything from broadband to same sex marriage. Both Chris Galley and Lucille Nicholson spoke well and demonstrated a good grasp of issues, but Anne Marie was a deserving and very popular winner, backed by both the Conservatives in the room and the neutrals who came to take part in a Primary. Alan Beith will have a fight on his hands. She is a tireless campaigner, and leads our march for both better broadband and academy schools. She will be an excellent MP.
As to the process it is clear that a Primary does widen the scope of the selection procedure of candidates. I had hoped for even more to attend but it genuinely was standing room only at the back. Full credit to everyone who organised the event.
All candidates were asked the same first few questions, as to why they would be the best candidate, where they would live if selected, whether they would rather be a rebellious backbencher or supportive Minister, what were their strengths and weaknesses, and then a variety of questions on wind farm policy, the PM's approach to Europe, and around 8-10 further questions from the floor on everything from broadband to same sex marriage. Both Chris Galley and Lucille Nicholson spoke well and demonstrated a good grasp of issues, but Anne Marie was a deserving and very popular winner, backed by both the Conservatives in the room and the neutrals who came to take part in a Primary. Alan Beith will have a fight on his hands. She is a tireless campaigner, and leads our march for both better broadband and academy schools. She will be an excellent MP.
As to the process it is clear that a Primary does widen the scope of the selection procedure of candidates. I had hoped for even more to attend but it genuinely was standing room only at the back. Full credit to everyone who organised the event.
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