A new MP and a new PM!
Nick Boles arrived in Westminster today for the start of his induction as a new MP. "It's been an extraordinary day," he said. "David Cameron came to see all the newly elected Conservative MPs at lunchtime and told us he didn't have anything to do, as he was waiting to see if William Hague and George Osborne had pulled off a deal with the LibDems. By the evening, he was Prime Minister and at 10 o'clock, we all trooped off to a meeting of the parliamentary party to greet the new PM and hear about the terms of the coalition agreement. My only worry is that my first day in Parliament may turn out to be the most exciting one of all!"
Nick Boles elected as MP
Last Thursday Nick Boles was elected as the Member of Parliament for Grantham and Stamford. He received over 26,000 votes and a majority of over 15,000. After the result was announced, Nick said he knew that being elected was "just the beginning of the process of earning the trust of the people who live in south-west Lincolnshire." He paid tribute to the other candidates and promised to learn from the Labour candidate's commitment to "justice for working people in Grantham", from the Liberal Democrat candidate's "passion for Stamford" and from the Independent candidate's "defiance in defense of everything uniquely Lincolnshire."
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Young people get back on their feet
On Tuesday 27th April, Nick Boles visited Grantham Foyer which gives young people, who have been chucked out of the family home or find themselves homeless for other reasons, a place to stay and help getting into employment or training. Nick said, "This is an excellent facility, helping young people, who are going through difficult times, get back onto their feet and build their independence. I am passionate about helping create better opportunities for young people in our area and I think Grantham Foyer is a vitally important part of the solution."
Roger Helmer joins Nick in Dyke
Roger Helmer, a leading Conservative MEP and campaigner for British interests in Europe, joined Nick and local county councillor, Sue Woolley to meet local residents in Dyke on Wednesday. Nick said, "I admire Roger enormously for the way that he stands up for British interests. If I am elected to Parliament, I will follow his example and always put our country first."
Candidates debate in Grantham
A large crowd gathered at Springfield House on Tuesday evening to hear Nick Boles answer questions together with Mark Bartlett, the Labour candidate for Grantham and Stamford, and a local Liberal Democrat at a hustings organised by the Grantham Business Club and the Grantham Journal.
Nick Boles took the opportunity to outline his plan for South Kesteven District Council to transfer powers over truly local issues to town and parish councils and backed the establishment of a town council in Grantham. He also threw his weight behind the plans for an East-West bypass, the partial pedestrianisation of the Market Place and the development of modern offices to attract new businesses to Grantham.
Drinks on the house in Gunby
There's no better way to get an insight into the way British people live their lives than knocking on doors and Nick Boles says that he has seen most things in the last two years as a prospective parliamentary candidate for Grantham and Stamford. But one house in the village of Gunby had a particularly pleasant surprise in store for the Conservative hopeful on Tuesday 20th April: its own fully-stocked bar. The proud owner used to run a pub in Basingstoke and decided that no home would be complete without a little pub in the front room. Enjoying a swift half of locally brewed ale on a warm spring morning, Nick Boles said, "When I walked in, I thought I must have died and gone to heaven. This is definitely going to put tiger in my tank for the rest of the campaign!"
Sun shines on Grantham market
It was a warm, sunny morning in Grantham when Nick and his team set up a stall at the corner of Welby Street and Wide Westgate. "I love coming to Grantham market," said Nick. "But I think it will be even better when they pedestrianise the area around the Market Cross.
If I am elected, I will support the efforts of the local council and organisations like the Grantham Business Club in making the whole experience of coming into Grantham town centre easier and more pleasant for families, older people and teenagers alike."
Nick woos the canine vote
Nick was at Bourne Market on Thursday. He talked to local residents about the need for a new shop to occupy the old Budgens site and revive Bourne town centre. But the highpoint of the morning came when Bertie, the Great Dane belonging to some of the stall holders in the market, agreed to wear the blue rosette and bark Vote Boles, Vote Conservative at passers-by.
Candidates debate with NFU
The Grantham branch of the National Farmers' Union hosted the first debate between the Conservative and Labour candidates at a meeting in Boothby Pagnell on Tuesday evening. Nick Boles told local farmers of his own farming background - his family has a small sheep farm in Devon - and asserted his commitment to improving Britain's food security. Nick said, "It is crazy that Britain, a country with some of the best grass land in the world, imports milk. A Conservative government would help British farmers compete, by stopping people passing off foreign produce as British and making our schools, hospitals and armed forces buy only food that meets the animal welfare and environmental standards that British farmers have to meet."
Tory hopeful flips his first Big Mac
On Monday 12th April, Nick Boles visited McDonalds in Grantham to meet staff and learn how to make a Big Mac. "What Grantham needs is jobs," NIck said. "McDonalds employs 90 people in Grantham so they make an important contribution to the community. The last thing Grantham needs is a hike in national insurance which will make it more expensive for firms to employ people ands stop them creating new jobs. I really enjoyed learning how to make a Big Mac. But I am afraid the branch manager wasn't very impressed by the results and advised me not to give up the day job. So I can reassure the people of Grantham that, whatever happens in the election, their Happy Meals are safe from me."
Posters kick off election campaign
Posters have been springing up all over south-west Lincolnshire, as Nick Boles kicked off his campaign to be elected Member of Parliament for Grantham and Stamford. Nick said, "People need to know that Quentin Davies isn't standing again and that they have a chance to elect a new Conservative MP - one who will remain loyal to Conservative principles and represent the views of local people."
The posters have gone up alongside most of the main routes in and out of Grantham, Stamford and Bourne. NIck said, "I am just hoping that they don't all share the fate of the poster in Manthorpe Road, which, within 12 hours of going up, saw me growing an extra appendage in the middle of my forehead!"
Back Lincolnshire farmers
I'm proud to be a farmer's son. If you elect me, I will fight to stop foreign produce being passed off as British by introducing honest labelling of food. A Conservative government will give British farmers a level playing field when bidding to supply our schools, hospitals and armed forces.
See
http://citizen2010.wordpress.com
You may want to respond to the Independents..?
Rob
- Rob Shorrock
Save our local services
We marched and signed petitions, but couldn't stop Labour closing many of our post offices. If you elect me, I will fight to save our local hospitals, pubs, surgeries and shops and keep our towns and villages alive. A Conservative government will give local communities the right to take ownership of vital local facilities such as parks, community centres and playing fields.
Vague, simplistic and simply not true...
The tories inability to represent the people of this constituency has been demonstrated time and time again. Lincolnshire has been under funded, under represented, and growth towns such as Grantham, Bourne and Stamford have seen lack of investment by the current tory administrations at local level. What makes you think that you will be any different! You do not understand the people in our communities, you are not one of us. Stop pretending to understand, and demonstrate what you will actually do to represent our needs on a National Level!
- Sceptic
Help local businesses create jobs
I've run my own business and I know it can be tough. There are some fantastic businesses in our area. If you elect me, I will fight to keep taxes down, cut regulation and open up new international markets. And a Conservative government will scrap Labour's job tax and pay for it by cutting some of Labour's waste.
What this will actually mean is this:
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/tory savings 8216could mean 40000 job cuts8217/3607087
- Public service
Follow the Red Rhino
The future is bright for British engineering. This is the discovery that Nick Boles made on 22nd January when he visited Winfield Engineering, manufacturer of Red Rhino Crushers and winner of the Grantham Journal's 2009 award for Business Excellence. Winfield Engineering is a family business whose highly skilled employees pride themselves on being able to produce a wide range of fabricated metal products ranging from crushers to cherry-pickers and agricultural machinery.
On being g shown round Winfield Engineering's state-of-the-art plant in Alma Park, Nick Boles said, "It is fantastic to see world class products being made on our doorstep here in Grantham and being exported all around the world. Winfield Engineering is holding its own against competition from India and China and showing what British engineers can achieve. We need the next generation of British engineers to follow the Red Rhino!"
Going for growth in Grantham
The Xmas rush was hotting up at Asda in Grantham when Nick Boles went to find out how the town's biggest employer has weathered the recession. Nick met with a group of local employees and they had a lively discussion about plans for new housing, the bypass and the local hospital. Nick said, "Growth in Grantham is essential if we are to get high quality public services and revive our town centre. Some Asda colleagues were worried about the effect of a big increase in the town's population on our infrastructure - if I am elected as Grantham and Stamford's MP, I will work with the local councils to ensure that the town gets the facilities it needs to support a larger population."
Trees bring jobs to Grantham
Londonthorpe Wood near Grantham was the setting for a meeting between Nick Herbert, the Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Nick Boles and Sue Holden, the chief executive of the Woodland Trust on 30th October.
Nick Herbert praised the work of the Woodland Trust in preserving Britain's ancient woodland and encouraging the planting of new woods to benefit local communities, wildlife and the climate. Nick Boles emphasised how important the Woodland Trust was to Grantham, not just for its trees but for the jobs it provides local people.
Stamford salutes Sir John Major
The Stamford Welland branch of the local Conservatives welcomed former Prime Minister, Sir John Major, as the guest of honour at its annual dinner on 23rd October. Sir John addressed a packed marquee at the Lady Anne's Hotel, covering the war in Afghanistan, the state of the economy and the chances of England retaining the Ashes in Australia. After the dinner, Nick Boles commented, "Sir John has reminded us that it is possible to have a Prime Minister who is sensible, decent and honest. The next election will give the British people a chance to restore these values to our government, by electing David Cameron to No. 10."
Hi tech harvest for local spuds
Lincolnshire farmers are wrapping up the potato harvest and, last week, Nick Boles joined the Levertons, who farm in the fens near Dyke, as father and son managed the harvest of a good crop from a field in Witham on the Hill. "The technology is highly sophisticated," said Nick, "with a screen in the tractor cab showing a real-time video of the spuds passing through the harvester and being gently shaken free of earth. It is a delicate job. With the ground so dry, there is a big risk of damaging the crop. I am always keen to lend a hand but somehow I don't think that the Levertons will be offering me a job next harvest time!"
Surgery Dates
STAMFORD
Stamford Arts Centre, St Mary's Street, Stamford
Friday 4th June - 5pm to 7pm
BOURNE
Conservative HQ, 62 North Street, Bourne
Friday 11th June - 5pm to 7.30pm
GRANTHAM
Venue to be confirmed
Friday 2nd July - 5pm to 7.30pm
If you are one of Nick's constituents, and would like to discuss an issue with him in person at one of these surgeries, please call Andrea Webster on 01529 240748 to book an appointment.
From someone who was there watcning, I think it is a slight exaggeration to say he "threw his weight behind" these ideas. His exact answers were I'm not going to sort your problems out for you... and I can't believe this hasn't happened yet, referring to the east-west bypass. Both of these statements are a shocking indictment of the current Conservative administration of SKDC which operates a Bourne centric approach to development within SKDC. Nick also said if you were to introduce car parking charges into Bourne, Bourne would simpy fall apart. I find that truly amazing considering that Bourne has been at the centre of a growth and development plan by SKDC for over 5 years. Bodes well for the Grantham growth project don't you think?
- skeptic
In addition to this, a Grantham town council will not be created whilst a Conservative administration remains at SKDC, as the current administration is overwhelming opposed to it.
- skeptic
Note that Nick has cropped the Lib Dem out of the picture... wishful thinking?! We loved the slip up in the debate where Nick promised "You're electing me to rape...to errrr... represent" the constituency.
- Eye witness