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If, as has been rumoured, Local Government reorganisation in Norfolk and Suffolk, does not, after all, go ahead in the light of the worsening economic environment, County Council elections will take place in Suffolk on 4th June 2009. This is a month or so later than usual so that they can co-incide with the elections for the European Parliament.
With this in view, a large contingent from South Suffolk Conservative Association yesterday made their way(being careful to share transport where possible), to a conference marking the launch of Campaign 09 in the Eastern Region.
The day was good fun, not least because the venue at Chilford Hall Vineyard (barn pictured above) near Cambridge was very attractive, and easily accommodated the 300 or so people present.
During the course of the meeting some interesting facts emerged. East Anglia is in fact the most ‘Conservative’ (with a large C) area of the UK, with about 75% of parliamentary seats held by the Party. It is (very probably as a result of this) the most hard done by when it comes to central government funding- despite the fact that it is by no means the wealthiest. This fact probably explains our terrible transport infrastructure etc. etc. and is a very good reason for people in the area to actively work for a change of government at the next general election!
Eric Pickles, the Shadow Minister for Local Government reiterated the pledge I have heard him make on a previous occasion that a new Conservative Government would do away with what he called the ‘alphabet soup’ of unelected quangos that have proliferated at the rate of about one a month under this Labour Government. In the East of England alone these absorb literally billions of pounds, and from observation I can tell you that they often duplicate each other’s activities, spend a lot of time talking rather than doing, and usurp the powers of the elected representatives of the people.
If the Conservatives have their way power will be returned to local councils, which will mean that it will be even more important to elect the right people into office in the future! I expect that I will return to this subject at a later date.
