I’m giving Janice Small a plug in her bid to win the Calder Valley selection. I know it means the world to her. We met when we both worked as regional press officers during the 2005 general election and her driving passion and commitment to the Conservative Party is second to none.

On the same subject, Tory Radio has the latest insights from Deputy Chairman John Maples on candidate selection.

Welcome to Janice’s political platform, I’ve added a pic of a four leaf clover to mark St Patrick’s Day and bring her extra luck:

Following my successful interviews for the Calder Valley Parliamentary seat, I am now through to the Open Primary which will be held in Elland on 27th March.

I am a fan of Open Primaries as it demonstrates our willingness to engage with local people, rather than just our local activists to select a candidate who is reflective of the wider community’s views.  However, this does leave ‘outsiders’ such as me who do not live in the constituency without the necessary friends and relations to pack the meeting at a disadvantage.  Now, I can hear some of you reaching for your keyboards to say that only local candidates should be considered.  But what we have to remember is that we have to choose the candidate that is right for the job, has the gravitas and commitment to be a Member of Parliament and who, by promising to become local, becomes part of the community.  Being local means living in the constituency, using the local services, the NHS, the schools, helping local voluntary groups, fighting for the things that matter to people and acting as if you are the MP from day one.   I will make that commitment.

I will fight as if I am the MP from day one, engaging with local people, businesses, farmers, the public sector, voluntary groups and campaigning hard to the day of the General Election.  I will engage with the local and national media, I am a professional campaigner – that’s what I do for a living.  I know which doors to knock on and which doors to knock down, whatever government is in power to get results.

What matters to the people of Calder Valley?  It’s not so different from the rest of Britain – a thirty per cent increase in the NHS but only a 5% increase in operations, one of the worst areas for tooth decay in 5-year olds and male life expectancy is below the national average (local Labour MP asks more Parliamentary questions on cross-gender issues and female genital mutilation than she does on the health of the youngsters and men in her constituency).

Education – most schools are below the national average – that’s not good enough for our children.  

 Immigration – a sensible approach to closing our porous borders and assessing what industry really needs and tackling the long term unemployed and NEETs to learn the skills necessary from cleaning our hospitals to building our houses and only then do we look outside for economic immigrants.

Europe – a referendum on federalisation.

Crime – youth nuisance and anti-social behaviour is blighting our towns and villages by feral teenagers whose parents have lost control, violent crime is rising – more police on our streets and less politically correct policing is the answer. 

Family – support for families who have for whatever reason lost control of their children.  Telling families that it is unacceptable to have 12 year olds roaming the streets at 11pm; telling lone parents that it is unacceptable to have babies without two parents and the income to support them; telling teenagers that they have to get jobs – whatever that job may be, to support themselves and that it is unacceptable for people to claim benefits, to rely on the State to support them, unless there is real need.  Sanctions in place to ensure these policies are carried through.

This has to stop.  In the 1980s it took a Conservative government to mend a broken economy, today it is a Conservative government that will mend a broken society.

I hope my no-nonsense, pragmatic approach is what Calder Valley wants and look forward to the Open Primary.