Archive for the ‘Campaigning’ Category

One of the first calls for support I received after my election was from traders and concerned residents in Penmaenmawr. Since early April numerous businesses have closed in the village with other businesses increasingly worried that the loss of a number of independent traders could easily have a dangerous knock-on effect on the surviving traders. The main concern expressed by all the traders whom I met was the extraordinary increase in their business rates valuation.

Consultations with local businesses (a slow process due to Data Protection Legislation) found that the increase in business rates vary from two cases where the increase is 35% and 36% to eight cases where the increase is in the region of 50% (most are at 50.6%). There are then two outliners where the increase has been 111% and 83% respectively. All these businesses are in the central Penmaenmawr retail area and all the businesses will, as a result of the new rateable value, face a real increase in their payments despite the change in the multiplier from 48.9p in the pound to the current 40.9p. When I recall the numerous occasions when Plaid Cymru supporters indicated that the changes in business rates would be ‘neutral’ (as many winners as losers was the claim if I remember correctly)it is difficult to see how this can be the case in view of the evidence collected from 14 businesses in Penmaenmawr.

Why the uniform increase in the context of Penmaenmawr? Is it a direct result of the substantial investment that has been made in the retail area over recent years? It seems almost perverse that public money has been spent by several agencies in order to re-vitalise the commercial heart of the village and their investment is now being undermined through the decisions taken by another government agency to increase rateable values by a margin which bears no relationship to the commercial realities of operating a business in the village.

It should also be noted that two businesses within a walking distance of the centre of the village have suffered rateable value increases of 121% and 309%! Whilst not in the central retail area these businesses have also contributed to the renewal of the commercial potential of the area and there is a real question as to how such significant increases can be justified.

I’m aware that a number of businesses are appealing their valuations due to the commercial impact of such above inflation changes on their businesses. In addition to supporting fully these individual appeals I have written to the Valuation Office requesting an explanation as to why Penmaenmawr has been subject to such huge increases. I have also offered to take officers from the Valuation Office on a fact finding tour of businesses in the village to show them that neither rental charges or the level of trade have increased in any way which could conceivably justify the massive increases in rates identified.

On a final note – if readers of this blog are aware of similar circumstances where all the businesses in an area are losers from the rates revaluation then get in touch. I would be delighted to take issue with the Valuation Office with respect to any area where the vast majority of traders are losers and not winners from the revaluation process.

Guto

The blogging has been sparse due to the excitement of the past week, massive information overload at Westminster and efforts to establish a constituency office.  As I write I feel almost relaxed for the first time in ten days but with London calling again tomorrow I suspect that things will be busy again next week.  Despite my intense schedule I am amazed at the work that David Jones MP will now need to undertake in his much deserved role as Minister of State at the Welsh Office.  Discussing a number of local issues with David on Saturday I was exhausted just listening to his intense workload for the next few weeks.  It’s a good thing that he is so clearly the right man for the job.

Due to the web designer being on holiday this site will only slowly develop into the website of your MP.  It should be sorted by the end of the month but until then blogging will be sporadic.

On a more positive note I went to my first engagement as the Aberconwy MP on Friday attending the re-launch of Llandudno Community Radio at Ty Hapus.  A great initiative which I have been proud to be associated with for months it was a pleasure to be able to accept this particular invitation as my first in the new job.  I will also be undertaking my first constituency surgery next Friday.  Since our new offices are awaiting telephone lines any interested parties wishing to make an appointment are advised to call 01492 583743 for the time being.

Guto

A long day!  Meeting of the 1922 this evening and a warm response to the position taken by the shadow cabinet.  Will it be enough or will the Liberals back Labour?  If they do then we as a country will be in serious trouble.  What we need is a stable administration able to govern for four or five years.  A Lib/Lab/SNP/PC/SDLP/DUP agreement = problems.

We as a party have worked in the interest of the country – will the Liberals do the same?

Guto

I apologise for not writing until this evening (Saturday) but I have been catching up on sleep, dealing with literally hundreds of texts, e-mails and letters of congratulation whilst also keeping in-touch with the Parliamentary Party as the talks progress in London.

The result in Aberconwy was fantastic.  Despite the Plaid claims of being in pole position they came fourth and their so called ‘stronghold’ of the Valley gave me and the Conservatives a clear win.  It’s a pity that the media gave their claims so much publicity.  Labour performed slightly better than anticipated although I had said on numerous occasions since the New Year that they would be second but was ignored by commentators such as Betsan Powys from the BBC.

Mike Priestley campaigned and accepted the result like a gentleman and so did Ronnie Hughes.  Phil Edwards was also gracious on the night but I fail to understand why he and his agent Gareth Jones felt the need to issue so many personal attacks on me during the last week of the campaign.  Accusing an opponent of “lying” is not the behaviour of an honourable political campaign.  To do it on three separate leaflets was shameful.

However, it is clear that the most positive and hard working campaign team in Aberconwy won this election with a message of hope and a real faith in the people of Aberconwy.  For this positive campaign we received the support of a significant proportion of the electorate.  I thank each and every one who supported me and I say to all the people of Aberconwy that I am here to serve you all and I will do this to the utmost of my ability.

For the next few weeks my contact numbers will be the Conservative HQ in Aberconwy or my mobile number which is 07767 493750.  Once we have an office established the contact numbers will be published on-line.

Thank you all for your support and for everyone who contributed to the encouraging turnout of 67% here in Aberconwy.       

Guto

Good team out on Monday and again today.  The response is improving every day – great boost to me and the team.

We are now 3/1 ON with Paddy Power and Ladbrokes with Plaid and the Liberals drifting.  As a keen horse racing fan I am fully aware that bookmakers can be wrong but the odds move because punters are placing their bets.  Interesting!

It’s also great to see BBC political pundit Vaughan Roderick calling Aberconwy for the Conservatives.  Don’t place too much emphasis on this however, he called it a dead heat between me and Plaid last year and that was hardly an accurate analysis of what I was seeing on the ground.

Our Get Out The Vote efforts kicks off tomorrow – over 100 in the team and a final leaflet to be delivered to our 18,000 target voters. 

It has been a great campaign –thank you all for your warm welcome.  My next posting will be on Friday morning!  

Guto

Friday and Saturday were busy canvassing days with the focus on Llandudno all day Friday with Capelulo and Dwygyfylchi being the focus of our Saturday efforts.

The sessions in Tudno ward (Friday morning and afternoon) were excellent.  I had no idea how popular Mr Hughes is in his own ward!  We picked up pledges in all parts of the ward with many direct converts from Labour and a family with seven voters transferring their support from Plaid.  All very encouraging.  The evening session was spent mopping-up Craig y Don completing a 100% canvass of another of our key wards.

Saturday saw a team of 14 in Dwygyfylchi and Capelulo visiting households who were out when we last canvassed and also a few areas where we had not been since the autumn.  A very good response especially compared to our 2007 and 2005 canvass returns. 

Guto

Llanrwst, Melin y Coed, Betws, Nebo, Capel Garmon and Ysbyty Ifan were the destinations today.  The response was excellent.  The theft and damage to our posters, each and every one on private land and erected with permission, has badly damaged Plaid.  On one Llanrwst estate there was a single Plaid poster and three for me.  Capel Garmon resulted in fourteen people at home of which 11 were solid Conservative pledges.  These figures were replicated in Maes yr Eryr, Melin y Coed and Nebo where we had a 100% canvass (but to be fair only found five voters!).

However, the Conwy Valley is claimed by Plaid as their stronghold.  Not so, it was a personal vote for Elfyn and not Plaid from what I can see and the status of Elfyn has fallen in a dramatic fashion due to the exposure of his tax free food claim – even in Ysbyty Ifan an upset voter noted her displeasure at his claim to be whiter than white.  It was also shocking to be told in Ysbyty Ifan that they had yet to see the Plaid team.  Where are they?

The evening session saw the team in Llanrhos and Conwy and again a very pleasing result.  All to play for in the leaders debate but it’s increasingly clear that in Aberconwy some parties who have claimed to be in the race have failed to even reach the starting post.

Guto

A local Plaid blog, ‘Hen Rech Flin’, has posted a comment describing me as a ‘cachgi’ which can be translated as a cowardly shit.  Charming people these Plaid bloggers!

My offence it would appear was to highlight the expenses claims of part time Plaid MP Elfyn Llwyd and not publish the petulant response of ‘Hen Rech Flin’ to my comments.  The truth is that HRF published his blog posting before I had even read his comments in response to my posting.  However, truth be told I would not have published it on this blog since I see no reason why a website paid for by Conservatives in Aberconwy should include some rather nasty comments from an avowed Plaid supporter.

Furthermore, the main thrust of HRF and his attack on me was that my unwillingness to publish his comments was an affront to free speech.  Rather silly in view of the reluctance of the Plaid Candidate, HRF’s chosen candidate, to engage his right to express his views to the people of Aberconwy on Sunday night when at the Llandudno combined churches event he opted to send his agent to speak on his behalf.  No rude comments from me,  I am more than happy to face the local electorate which is more than can be said for the preferred candidate of ‘Hen Rech Flin’.

 Guto

Conwy was the focus today.  This morning we had members of the Conservative National Convention with us and they were great.  We got through a huge part of Conwy in two and a half hours with their support and the response was very good.  A lifelong Labour supporter I met wanted to vote Plaid but has sent in a Postal Vote for me following the ‘Pawb a’i Farn’ broadcast.  In her view any party justifying a claim of £400 per month whilst the MP was earning £65k and working as a barrister are not fit for support.  Plaid blogs are now stating that Elfyn Llwyd and his claims were within the rules!  I think that we have heard that before…..

The afternoon and evening session were again in Conwy and surprisingly the afternoon session was extremely good despite not being in what would be regarded as a traditional Conservative area.  It should also be noted that we finally saw another party on the campaign trail this evening – take a bow Mike and team (although there was no sign of Mike!!)

Guto

Further to the theft of some 25 of my large signs in the Conwy Valley over the weekend we managed to get some 30 back in place today.  This included two farms that had Plaid posters on their land which had not even been offered approval!

By 10pm this evening five of these sites had again been subjected to vandalism and theft.  With a candidate who is a former police officer you would expect better but he is probably too weak to control his members.  However, I do resent paying tax for Gareth Jones to take time out of the Assembly to run a campaign that is more intent on breaking the law than winning votes.

Plaid = a desperate party here in Aberconwy.  The big question is will they be third?  Plaid blogs in Cardiff are stating that central support to Aberconwy is being withdrawn.  No surprise in view of the campaign being implemented by Gareth Jones and his team.

Guto