Bill Rammell to not stand for Harlow again

Bill Rammell the former Labour MP for Harlow, beaten by Robert Halfon earlier this year has announced to the Harlow Star today here that he has decided that he will not be standing for parliament again.

I have to say, I think that's a real shame. I am obviously no supporter of Bills politics, having worked flat out to beat him and get Rob elected in his stead, but no one can question that Bill was not only a very good and conscientious MP he also enlivened the political landscape of Harlow.

His excuse that he will be too old in five years time at 55 frankly does not hold water, given the age of many MPs who have served with distinction to much greater ages.

Bill is reported to have told the Star that "it was time for a new candidate to spearhead the fight to wrestle control of the town back from the Conservatives" now obviously I am biased but I have fought Harlow Labour Party since 1998 at every election and during "peacetime" and I have to say I am not aware of anyone with a fraction of Bills talent to take over his mantle.

And in that I am happy. Bill was a well liked, well known and hard working MP who was difficult for Rob and the team to unseat, I don't see an unknown outsider coming into Harlow having much chance of beating Rob Halfon at the next election.

Mrs J's Birthday

It was my wife, the other Cllr Johnson's birthday today.

So of course I spent the day treating her to breakfast in bed and bowing to her every whim? Nope - haven't you heard.... there is an election campaign on.

By 08:30 I was in the party office making sure that our delvivery and canvass teams had everthing that they needed for the day. Meeting with Russell the "agent" for the general election; I am agent for the local election and deputy chairman political of Harlow Conservatives so there is quite a bit of crossover in our roles so we keep in touch regualarly during election time to ensure everything runs smooth.

After that was finished we had a visit from my friend Peter, who helps me with anything stats and new media related. We had a very interesting discussion about how to use facebook to get our message to people, particularly those in the 18-24 year old age bracket.

Being very willing to pitch in, after our meeting Peter came out delvivering leaflets with me in and around Tye Green Village, one of the original villages that Harlow was built on top of and now is part of the Bush Fair ward that Dan Lucia is trying to win from the Lib Dems in the local elections. It was a warm morning and delivering with Peter, being able to chat as we went was nice.

The day was very successful in terms of outside help. Our MEP and good friend of Harlow Geoffrey Van Orden came to help campaign with Rob and James Cleverly the London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley came over to help too! Many thanks to Geoffrey and James!

I finally left the party office about an hour ago.

So the Conservative Party has had my day, but the evening belongs to my wife. Her friends are all almost here and we are off out for a surprise... I wont say here in case it ruins its for her.

Ending the week with some crisps

A busy day at work, followed when I got home with an urgent call from a resident with an issue of someone blocking their driveway. We managed to find the owner of the car and get it moved but the resident was obviously not happy.

After that I spent some time writing the last of some leaflets that I had been working on for our local election candidates.

Since it is the other Cllr Johnson's birthday tomorrow we have a house guest this weekend, and so with my wife and her best mate on the couch chatting and watching trashy TV I took the opportunity to head over to Robert's house in New Hall (just round the corner really) and meet up with the core campaign team.

We like to get together during election time at times when it wont impact on canvassing or delivery time so Friday night is an oft favorite.

First order of business Crisps - special ones that had been sent to Rob.

I think the thing that most amazes me about Rob's campaign team is that its so young! Four of the seven people in the room were under 33, which by most Conservative Associations is very good, but I suspect is reflective of our new town demographics.

The advantages of this are that nothing is done "just because its the way it has always been done" which makes the team innovative and dynamic.

I am TIRED!

Today has been more tiring again. I think sleep deprivation may be catching up on me. The problem is that I already work full time in the NHS in a busy job, am Leader of Harlow council which is effectivly a second full time job and on top of that have been helping in the election campaign as much as possible in the few spare moments I do get. I sometimes wish we had 36 hour days, as I would be able to get more done!

So... can I look forward to good rest at the weekend? Of course not - weekends are the busiest times for election campaigners and not interrupted by work!

I have however been encouraged by the sheer number of volunteers that have descended to Harlow to help us try and win the General and Local elections. Thanks to all those people who are coming to Harlow to help out.

The election kicks into gear

If there are two things I can say about election campagins it is that they are fun and they are exhuasting.

Spent the evening after work delivering leaflets to Church Langley, the ward I represent, about the election being called and the good work Rob is doing in Harlow.

But it was all done in good humour with the team I was working with. Everyone is in good spirits.

Finally!

The general election has finally been called.

In many ways this is no surprise. We all knew it was coming and most people had been saying that it would be May 6th for quite a while now. I know all of that but it does not stop the slight butterflies in my stomach as we launch our general election campaign.

In Harlow there will of course be two elections as 11 council seats are up for grabs too.

So we are now electioneering again, and I can look forward to some very busy days and some very late nights. I hope that my wife (the other Cllr Johnson) will continue to be as understanding as always!

Please excuse the lack of blogging.......

At the moment, those of you who follow this blog will know that there is a by-election campaign going on in the ward of Staple Tye in Harlow. The election is on Thursday (30th).... so thats about 42 hours til polls open. Which kind of explains why I have not been blogging much in the past week. Apologies.

My days have been mostly:

Go to work (for those who don't know I work in the Health Service as a Business and Performance Manager for a large London hospital trust, mainly looking after contracts with a lot of PCT's and trying to get as much money for the trust to work on as possible)

Get home and spend a precious half hour or so with my daughter

Go out and knock on doors / deliver leaflets

Get home and eat

Then help write more leaflets / phone people to get extra deliverers/canvassers/organise other events.

In the odd gaps that can be found in that I have been doing my role as leader of the council and answering emails/calls through the day on my blackberry.

Most nights with all the council emails etc I have been getting to bed vvvvvery late.....

The thing is, I do actually enjoy it. I will however be looking forward to the Bank Holiday weekend as a relaxation post by-election and before the County Council/Euro election month hits us!

If you are in or near Harlow on Thursday and want to help the conservative party win a by election please do get in touch.

By-election

A by-election has been called in the Staple Tye ward of Harlow. A notice of casual vacancy for the ward was published yesterday, following one of the Councillors for the area not having attended a meeting for six months.

Well known local campaigners Lee and Sarah Dangerfield, immediately delivered letters to the Council calling for an election, which the Council has now announced will be held on the 30th April.

Lee told me after calling for the election "I have called for the by-election because the Independent councillor has not taken part in council meetings for six months. Staple Tye deserve a councillor who works hard to represent them. The Conservative party really cares about what happens in Staple Tye, which is why I work so hard here."

With the three seat ward having one Conservative Councillor and one Liberal Democrat Councillor already, with the Labour Party having an active campaigner in the ward, it's sure to be an interesting and close race.

I will keep you informed of developments and bring you details of and an interview with the Conservative candidate shortly.