It’s only been a few months, but now I’m their new best friend

IT IS virtually inconceivable for me to think that only nine months ago I was a Political non-entity. Sure, I was a member of the Conservative Party, but nobody had asked for help, nobody had wanted my assistance.

One quiet Sunday in November 2006 changed all that, however, when a fairly short, Asian Councillor knocked on my door asking specifically to speak to me. Instantly I was blown away by his charisma and ability to actually answer a posed question, rather than skirt the issue like most other Politicians.

In the past nine months I have been reborn. From the moment Councillor Chishti planted the first seeds of my Political activism, to the moment just two weeks ago when, for the first time, I was able to canvas solo and the flower blossommed, I never ceased to learn incredibly vital nuggets of information and advice about local politics – and how to successfully campaign.

My step into the Political arena was fuelled by my inquisitive nature, and, by researching Rehman Chishti, stumbled accross the fascinating world of Political blogging – particularly ConservativeHome. So on December 12, this website was born.

It was still fairly primitive when I was dutifully informed by Reh that his researchers had discovered my blog and my articles about Reh Chishti’s Christmas Party and my first assessment of Paul Clark’s failures were the most prominent. Even when I wrote the article back on December 17, I stated that:

…we have a lot of key target seats in Kent, and Reh is someone who can contest them.

And win.

Although I admittedly omitted my lengthy discussion with some guy called Vaughan as I, in my fresh Political naivety, considered him a non-entity, going nowhere in the Political world. Sorry, Councillor Hewett – fortunately we all make mistakes.

In February I took my first giant leap. Inspired by a comment Reh made whilst addressing my Politics class (as it transpired, it was my penultimate lesson with Mr De Groot), I participated in a Street Stall in Gillingham High Street (a particularly nerve-wracking experience for a first-timer like me, if I remember correctly) and decided to bite the bullet that afternoon by accompanying Reh as he canvassed (I seem to remember hearing many complaints about the Howard School students on the doorsteps, so nothing new there!).

That is how the next few months continued. I stood by Reh’s side as he dealt with many awkward and varied complaints and questions, guaging his reaction and attempting to learn as much as possible.

In March another giant leap was made. I was asked by someone called Brigita Amey (now where have I heard that name from?) – who was, at the time, intending to stand for the position of Chairman of Gillingham and Rainham Conservatives – if I would consider setting up a Conservative Future Group here in Gillingham and Rainham. My answer was of course yes, and the process is still on-going.

Then came my first formal dinner with the Association. The guest speaker was the then Chairman of the national Party, the Rt Hon Francis Maude MP – and Brigita, who had been elected Chairman of the local Association the Friday before, described me on numerous occassions as the Party’s new best friend (I had only the day before taken editorial control of the Association’s website).

April brought more leafletting, more canvassing and more challenges as the election drew ever closer. The day before I flew out to Florida for the Sun ‘n Fun fly-in, I accompanied Reh and various other Councillors in escorting Peter Ainsworth MP on a tour of our green spaces (particularly Capstone Valley being overlooked from Kingsway).

The day I returned from Florida I leafletted (after nearly 36 hours without sleep) and was initially welcomed by my invitation to attend the local election count that Thursday evening – which I, of course, did.

After the count came letters to the paper on various subjects and, more importantly, our Parliamentary Candidate selection. Just six months after my first Association function, I was asked to be part of the selection panel for interviews with twelve short-listed candidates – an invitation I was only too happy to accept.

Reh being elected our Parliamentary Spokesman almost completed the process of rebirth for me. It meant that I was to be an integral part of the campaign team: being young, enthusiastic and jobless. I was raring to go when the canvassing of Watling started and I knocked on the door of number (actually, I can’t remember the number now, but it is unimportant) Beechwood Avenue, musing to Caroline (who stood at the next door along) that this was my first time solo.

At last I feel that I have a purpose, I not only feel wanted but needed as well. I cycled through the northern part of Watling ward on my way home from a morning’s work in the Constituency Office and saw for myself the deprevation afforded by this Labour Government. I could stop where I was and take it all in – the graffitti, the boarded-up windows, the neglect.

It filled me with a sudden realisation of why I wanted to get into Politics in the first place – to change the world, to make it a better, wealthier, more prosperous place to live in. Seeing through my own eyes the state of some of the properties in Watling ward served only to fuel my determination.

I wanted to enter Politics to change people’s lives – and the people of this Association gave me the headstart most in my position nine months ago could only dream of. It is a golden opportunity to start to make a difference – and I promised myself, as I promise you today – an opportunity which I will not permit to pass me by.