Thirteen young Conservative Party supporters braved the dismal weather to attend the launch in the surroundings of historic Medway, in the shadow of Rochester’s Cathedral and Castle.

Greeting Ms Crouch was the Chairman of the new branch, Joe Armitage, who thanked everyone for their attendance and said that he looked forward to campaigning and socialising with everyone over the coming months.

For more information, please visit www.medwayconservativefuture.co.uk.

Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless has welcomed a refurbished branch of Barclays Bank in Chatham High Street.

The atmosphere in the High Street was buzzing, with performances from dancers, sword swallowers and other artists, as Mark and Chatham and Aylesford MP?Tracey Crouch officially opened the branch.

Residents and shoppers were also given the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the Barclays Premier League Trophy.

Speaking after the event Mark said:

“I was delighted to open this exceptionally well-refurbished branch. It?s important that companies continue to invest in Chatham High Street and Barclays has done just that.

“It was a particular pleasure to open this branch from the Premier League sponsors, and with Tracey, who has successfully coached a girls? football team herself.”

Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless has explained his reasons for voting against the government in the controversial tuition fees debate, saying he cannot justify the “suddenness” of the increase.

Before the crucial vote to increase fees from just over ?3,000 per year to ?6,000, and, in some cases, ?9,000, per year, Mr Reckless met students from the University of Kent, and said he “was enormously impressed by the students who put their case to me”.

“They?asked?me why they should?have to?pay so much when Welsh and Scottish and in many cases EU students did not have to pay at all.”

Mr Reckless was explaining to residents and students on his website why he voted against the coalition’s proposals, which were won by 323 votes to 302.

“I found it particularly difficult to justify the suddenness of the move with one student required to pay only around ?3000 but then another student, potentially a sister just one year behind at school, expected to pay two or three times more with very little warning,” Mr Reckless said.

“I also believe that as MPs we should make decisions and whenever possible try and explain those likely decisions before an election, rather than use a report from someone who is not elected, however distinguished, to justify a decision (the Browne Report).”

Drawing comparisons with other aspects of the UK budget, Mr Reckless added “I then?showed David Willetts, the universities minister,?detailed statistics showing that 46% of EU students due to repay a loan from the British taxpayer were in default.

“I have also asked?govenment ministers?how thay can?justify an 80% decrease in grant to universities?in the context?of a 60% increase in?our net?payments to the EU.

“I cannot justify it, and voted accordingly.”

Mr Reckless was one of just six Conservative MPs to vote against the proposals, whilst a further two abstained. On Thursday, Alan W Collins published Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch‘s reasons for abstaining.

Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti voted in favour of the proposals, saying during the debate that “One has to consider the overall package rather than single elements for its progressiveness, fairness and justness.

“As well as there being no up-front fees, the increase in the threshold from ?15,000 to ?21,000 has to be a good thing. There will be a cap at ?6,000 and then at ?9,000, linked to exceptional circumstances. Some of the highest-performing universities will have to go out and ensure that students from less privileged backgrounds take part.

“That is absolutely right and fair.”

The Conservative?backbencher, who was first elected in May, said that she was not in principle opposed to tuition fees, but pointed out that, for example, if the number of students at the Universities at Medway rises to 10,000 in 2012 as expected, then that one intake alone could rack up a debt of ?270m, if fees were all ?9,ooo per year, and “a quarter of which will never be paid back and picked up by the taxpayer”.

Miss Crouch said “I have, after much consideration and discussion with Ministers, decided not to vote for the Government?s proposals to treble tuition fees.

“Once upon a time I was opposed to tuition fees but their introduction by the last Labour Government fundamentally altered the way higher education is funded and therefore the debate on whether higher education should be free is over. The debate today is what the fee should be and I personally do not agree with the cap being raised to ?9000, especially as it is a fee that will be inflationary so will continue to rise over time.

“To put this in a local perspective, in 2012, the number of students attending the Universities at Medway is estimated to rise to 10,000; if each student is charged 9K per annum for their course, graduates from Chatham Maritime will owe ?270million worth of tuition fee debt, a quarter of which will never be paid back and picked up by the taxpayer.

“The Government is due to conduct a review of higher education next year which will look at the size of the university sector, alternatives to HE such as further education and vocational education. In my view it would have been better to conduct that review first and decide what the tuition fee structure should be after. In many respects today?s vote is like making the icing for a cake that has not yet been baked.

“Since I don?t disagree with tuition fees, nor do I necessarily agree with increasing fees per se, I have decided to abstain rather than vote against. ”

Carrying the comments on his KentOnline blog, the Kent Meseenger‘s political editor Paul Francis said that “it is refreshing to see one of our newly-elected MPs prepared to stand up for what they believe in, regardless of whether you agree with her case or not.

“She may take some flak from the Whips. She may have irritated ministers. But at least she hasn’t just parroted the party line and as Ann Widdecombe demonstrated, the public rather likes politicians who speak their mind and are prepared to say what they believe.

“Parliament needs more independent voices and fewer political careerists.”

The debate has already begun in the House of Commons today, and Sky News are running rolling coverage of the debate inside the chamber, and the reaction outside the chamber.

It is not presently clear how Medway’s other MPs will vote, although Medway Council last month resolved to write to all three and urge them to vote against the proposals.

Update @ 18:50

According to the Financial Times, Tracey Crouch did indeed abstain and Mark Reckless (Rochester and Strood) voted against the proposals. There were only six Tory rebels and two abstentions, meaning Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) supported the proposals to raise fees up to a maximum of ?9,000 – a vote that was won by 323 to 302 votes.

MPs, including Chatham and Aylesford’s Tracey Crouch and Rochester and Strood’s Mark Reckless, have already met with Charles Horton, Southeastern Train’s Managing Director, and are now going to speak to the Minister of State for Transport about continuing to allow Southeastern to raise fares by July’s RPI +3, whilst the rest of the country only face RPI +1 increases – an increase sanctioned by the previous government.

Mark said “I want Theresa Villiers to understand how unhappy many of my constituents are with Southeastern Trains and the last government singling us out for bigger increases than anywhere else in the country.”

If you would like to contact either MP with your opinion, you can do so by emailing Mark (mark.reckless.mp@parliament.uk) or Tracey (tracey.crouch.mp@parliament.uk).

A Conservative campaign to save Capstone Valley, supported by by-election candidate Tashi Bhutia, has reached 20,000 members.

The campaign, organised by Chatham Conservatives, aims to protect Capstone Valley from the building of 9,200 houses.

Of the 20,000 supporters:

• Over 7,000 people have signed and returned ‘Save Capstone Valley’ postcards delivered by Chatham Conservatives to every Chatham home last month;
• An additional 8,000+ have joined the Save Capstone Park Facebook group; and
• More than 3,600 residents have signed the online petition.

Thousands more residents have signed a further petition organised by neighbouring Gillingham and Rainham Conservatives.

Tracey Crouch, who is the Conservatives’ Parliamentary Candidate in Chatham and Aylesford, said ‘I am delighted that local people are as firm as ever in their opposition to these awful plans. Medway Council has rejected these proposals twice already with local Conservatives leading the campaign.

‘The responsibility for this coming back clearly lies with the government who have introduced new laws and regulations forcing Medway to hold yet another public consultation.

‘A Conservative government will return planning control to local people rather than unelected and unaccountable Regional Government and faceless bureaucrats.’

Tashi Bhutia, who is campaigning hard to beat Labour’s Sam Whittington in the Luton and Wayfield by-election on 3 September, added ‘Capstone Valley borders Luton and Wayfield at the junction of Ash Tree Lane.

‘The preservation of this green space is a primary concern for local voters and is coming up time and time again on the doorsteps.

‘I am delighted to be working closely with Tracey Crouch and Chatham Conservatives in leading the opposition to these proposals.’

To join the campaign in opposing the building of 9,200 houses at Capstone Valley, sign the petition here.

Even before his opposition candidates have been announced, Tashi Bhutia launched his by-election campaign in Luton and Wayfield with a massive campaign day.

The Conservative candidate employed a large campaign team to deliver his first targeted leaflet to voters in the ward, whilst he and the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Chatham and Aylesford, Tracey Crouch, canvassed voters.

‘Out of a whole morning of canvassing we only found one person who said they were a solid Labour voter,’ Miss Crouch wrote on her blog.

‘There were a number of people who had previously voted Labour who were highly unlikely to do so again and some were very clear as to why – they don’t like Gordon Brown, they are fed up with uncontrolled immigration, they were finding things difficult financially, and they certainly didn’t like the way Labour treated the Gurkhas!

‘The message on the doorsteps this morning was clear – people felt let down and want a change. We are going to campaign hard to bring change to Luton & Wayfield locally, and then we are going to campaign hard to bring change nationally by winning Chatham & Aylesford at the next General Election.’

? John Ward was also involved in the campaign today, and provides his own account of the day on his own blog.

? Photograph: The Day’s Campaigners. Tracey Crouch.

2009 By-Election
September 3, 2009

Born in 1955, Tashi followed his family tradition by joining the Gurkhas. And while serving in Hong Kong, he met his wifem who was serving in the Royal Navy.

After they married, they were posted to Chatham Dockyard in 1980 and have lived in Chatham since. Tashi still works in the defence industry as a technician for BAE Systems at Rochester.

In a statement to the press, Tashi Bhutia said:

Whoever is elected to represent Luton and Wayfield needs courage and determination to tackle the problems which often blight this proud community. Combating anti-social behaviour, including drug abuse, binge drinking and the ?yob culture?, will be my priority. I will work with anyone, regardless of political party, to do what is right.

Chatham has a proud military history as was demonstrated at the recent Armed Forces Day celebration, and that includes a long standing connection with the Brigade of Gurkhas. I am therefore deeply saddened that our Labour MP put his Party above his constituency when he chose to vote with Gordon Brown against the pension and residency rights for retired Gurkhas.

Tracey Crouch, the Parliamentary Candidate for Chatham and Aylesford, added:

I am delighted to endorse Tashi Bhutia and look forward to working with him in this campaign. Labour have taken urban areas like Luton and Wayfield for granted for far too long. This is a chance for local people to send a message to Gordon Brown: It?s Time for Change.

The Conservatives are the first party to openly announce their Candidate. Labour, who have a notional hold on the ward, are expected to run their internal selection process over the course of the next two weeks. Other parties are yet to confirm whether or not they are running, or who their candidate is to be.

Tashi stood in River ward in 2007, coming a close fourth, far ahead of fifth place, and in Chatham Central in 2003:

2007 Election Results
River, May 3, 2007

2003 Election Results
Chatham Central, May 1, 2003

http://www.viewfrommedway.co.uk/2009/01/12/david-cameron-meets-party-members-in-medway.html http://www.viewfrommedway.co.uk/2009/01/12/david-cameron-meets-party-members-in-medway.html#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:09:38 +0000 Alan W Collins http://www.alanwcollins.co.uk/2009/01/12/david-cameron-meets-party-members-in-medway.html

I am currently at Lordswood Social Club having just met David Cameron.

Mr Cameron, the Leader of the Conservative Party, was here meeting members of the party from the three Medway constituencies, before heading off to a Cameron Direct event in Chatham.

Update @ 23:30

Over 100 people (rough estimate) were present at the event organised by Chatham and Aylesford Conservatives. Among those present were several local councillors and the three Medway Parliamentary Candidates, Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham), Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Aylesford) and Mark Reckless (Rochester and Strood).

Mr Cameron went round and spoke to everyone in the room before briefly addressing everyone collectively. Even whilst still sounding slightly hoarse (anyone who had seen him on Andrew Marr yesterday morning (video/transcript) will know what I am talking about), Mr Cameron spoke confidently in a display which boded well for his subsequent Cameron Direct event.

Update @ 23:36

It appears that Iain Dale was at the Cameron Direct event, live-blogging it here. His report is here and Tracey’s is here. I shall link to the webcast as soon as it is made available.

Update 13/01/09 @ 00:58

A selection of photographs have now been uploaded to my Flickr account, in the photo set “David Cameron Visit“. They are also embedded in a slideshow below.

]]> http://www.viewfrommedway.co.uk/2009/01/12/david-cameron-meets-party-members-in-medway.html/feed 9