Shadow Ministers Greg Clark (left), Andrew Mitchell (centre left) and Greg Barker (centre right) asking Watford residents about their concerns.

On Monday, Watford residents were given the chance to let MPs know what they think. More than thirty Conservative MPs came to Watford to listen to local people’s concerns.

The group of parliamentarians walked the streets of our town, knocking on doors to engage with local people on the issues that matter to Watford residents. Amongst the group were Question Time regulars such as Dominic Grieve, (Shadow Secretary of State for Justice), Greg Clark (Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change), and Andrew Mitchell (Shadow Secretary of State for International Development).

I was so glad that local people got the chance to express their views to so many MPs.  It can be difficult for people to get their voices heard in Westminster, so this was a great chance for Watford to be listened to.

Watford is important for the Conservative Party as it is a place we need to win to make sure we don’t have 5 more years of Gordon Brown.  That is why the central party is listening carefully to the concerns of Watford residents.

People were genuinely interested to hear how we would do things differently if elected.  Knowing that we back the NHS and will attack the budget deficit before it spirals further out of control is important to people, as is our commitment to giving greater power to schools and teachers.

Richard emerging from his exhausting night shift at Watford General Hospital

NHS staff ‘inspirational’

System ‘too target-focussed’

Richard Harrington, recently put in a gruelling 10 hour night shift at Watford General Hospital.

Richard had previously asked the hospital’s chief executive if he could shadow doctors and nursing staff in order to give himself a valuable and first hand insight into what really happens in the Accident & Emergency and Acute Admissions Units.

Emerging from his close hand experience he had nothing but praise for those who work for the NHS, from nurses and junior doctors to senior consultants.

Dedication

“I was really impressed by what I saw and the dedication of frontline staff was inspirational. They took immense pride in what they did.”

However, Harrington said that despite their positive outlook, their work has hampered by ‘target culture’ where management’s needs to meet targets proved a distraction.

Too Many Targets

“The message I got was that the current system is too target focused. Staff are always worried about moving people to beds in the four hour limit which leads to constant bed juggling to fit people in. It becomes frustrating for them, as they often have to move people from A and E, who have nothing wrong with them medically, to an acute bed, thereby diverting the beds from those who really need it.

But overall Harrington was still upbeat about the NHS: “I really believe that the NHS is the best thing about this country.

NHS Top Priority

“David Cameron will make the NHS his top spending priority if he becomes Prime Minister.  If elected, our local NHS services will also be at the top of my agenda.”

Richard said:

“It is inconceivable that Watford General would close under a Conservative Government. If I am elected as MP for Watford I will fight at the highest level in the interests of Hospital and will back it unreservedly. I fully support the hospital and will work to bring the positive changes that are needed to ensure it work’s at its best.

“This week I will be completing a 12 hour night shift at the Hospital, shadowing junior doctors and nurses. For me it is very important to gain firsthand experience so I can better understand the needs of staff and patients.”

Richard Harrington has said:

“Watford has taken yet another blow from Gordon Brown’s recession. I was hoping that we would see a significant drop in unemployment but this Government has totally failed to create the jobs in Watford that people desperately want.

“The sad fact of the matter is that these figures barely scratch the surface. It is still the case that around one in ten adults in Watford are utterly dependent on state handouts. This is the sad legacy that Labour will leave Watford.”

Richard has vowed that if he is elected as Watford’s next MP, it will be one of his top priorities to bring business and jobs back to Watford.

If I am elected to be MP for Watford I will continue these meetings so that constituents can question my decisions, expenses and voting record. I feel it is important for politicians to hear local concerns and answer people’s questions directly, it will also bring a greater deal of transparency to politics.

If you would like any further information about the meeting please email enquiries@watfordconservatives.co.uk or call 01923 296790

Richard Harrington welcomes Shadow Business Sec. Ken Clarke

Ken Clarke MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, came to Watford recently to addressed an audience of local business leaders with prospective Conservative MP Richard Harrington.

Mr Clarke, who held the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1993 and 1997, spoke at a lunch meeting of the Watford and West Herts Chamber of Commerce at the Park Inn, St Albans Road.

The big-hitting Tory, MP for Rushcliffe, spoke on a range of subjects from public sector pensions to getting the credit markets working again.

When introducing Mr Clarke, Richard also spoke of his own desire to simplify the complex web of regulations that small businesses have found themselves entangled in over the last 13 years. Speaking from his own experience of running a business Richard said, “If we are to pay for things like our hospitals and schools, the government needs to help businesses generate the wealth that will allow investment to continue. If we continue to choke businesses, before long we won’t be able to afford to make improvements to healthcare and schools.”

Mr Clarke echoed Richard’s sentiments and made clear that any future Conservative government would place itself firmly on the side of small businesses, freeing them from some of the “well meaning but overbearing” regulations they are currently forced to adhere to.

He said: “We’ve got to be the most business friendly government since the war. We will get nowhere unless British business succeeds and we will do our best [to make this happen] if the responsibility is loaded upon us in a few weeks time.”

The event was a great success with over 200 people attending. David Gauke MP  gave a great speech on National Conservative policies and on how important it is that Watford turns Conservative if the country wants David Cameron to replace Gordon Brown.

We have achieved a great deal in the last 12 months but with less than 100 days until the most likely date for the General Election we still have much to achieve.

If you would like to get involved with our fantastic Campaign Team please visit myconservatives.com or click here for further details.

I really enjoyed meeting the students, taking part in lessons and answering the many questions of the Sixth Form students.

What I saw at Francis Combe is a perfect illustration of how schools can prosper and develop with a greater level of freedom for the Head to run the school with a great deal of involvement from parents and governors.

The Community Support and Education Trust is the charitable group working with Watford Football Club to deliver many projects within the community. The trust works with everyone from young footballers, school children and young people on community and education projects.

They are a wonderful organisation and I feel that Watford is very lucky to have such an organisation giving so much to the community. If I am elected as MP for Watford I will do all I can to promote and support the trust.

The magnitude of the destruction that has hit Haiti is almost indescribable. Even though this disaster is over 4,000 miles away, we can still help from here in Watford.

Therefore I urge people to donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal, which will raise money for leading British NGOs to carry out their vital emergency aid work. The priority now is to get the essentials of clean water, medicine and shelter through to the people who need them. It is possible for us to help save many lives.

To make a donation to the DEC appeal, people can call 0370 60 60 900 or send a cheque made payable to

DEC HAITI EARTHQUAKE and send it to:
DEC HAITI EARTHQUAKE, PO BOX 999, LONDON, EC3A 3AA.

Or to donate online click here