The Conservatives are back in Government

An update from David Cameron on The Blue Blog here

The text of the Coalition Agreement

You may have already tracked this down but if you wish to see a copy look below.

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Saturday Morning 6 am

Woke up with a start. First thoughts "where are we today?" Then sat back and relaxed and thought about the last three days.

Local elections are one of the points in time where people make a decision to play their part in helping make our democracy work, this year with the added drama of a General Election the people of Pontefract voted in one of the highest turnouts for a local election in WMDC’s 36 year history and at just after 10am on Friday the result for Pontefract South was confirmed.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the public who on May the 6th voted at the ballot box, or by post, in the district council elections. I would also like to give a personal thank you to the election personnel manning the polling stations for a 16 hour shift who worked so hard and the counting agents who laboured through the night to make the local election work.

Finally a special thanks to those across the ward who supported our campaign and helped get our key messages across to the electors, in the months and weeks leading up to the election.

I look forward, having been re-elected, to working with my other Conservative colleagues, Philip, Mark and Phil to continue the fight to get more of a say, defend the interests and to work to improve the quality of life for the people in our part of the world.

The other piece of outstanding business has been played out over the last five days and we now know that a coalition has been forged between us Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

I sincerely hope that those involved work to give their best efforts to making a success of government. We need to see things coming back under control and there will be clearly significant challenges ahead.

Normal local service will be resumed shortly but I will also be posting up more information as I find it about our new government.

Geoff

Thank you!

Having undergone three recounts and achieved a majority of 205, I would just like to say thank you to the people of Pontefract South who voted in yesterday's local elections. In going out to vote or mailing a postal vote you allowed the democratic process to work.

Pontefract South
Name Party Votes %
WALSH, Geoff The Conservative Party Candidate 2,978 39.1
KERSHAW, Jack The Labour Party Candidate 2,773 36.4
RUSH, Chris Liberal Democrats 1,333 17.5
HADDLETON, Matt Independent 275 3.6
FRANKLAND, Neil Green Party 221 2.9

Majority 205 2.7
Spoiled Votes 32
% turnout 63
Total Votes 7,612

I would like to congratulate Elizabeth Hick who becomes our newly elected member for Horbury and South Ossett.

I would also like to welcome Ian Bunney to the Council for Ossett.

Finally a thank you to those members of the public who encouraged and supported me and the many who helped with my campaign over recent weeks. You know who you are and I aim to catch up with you over the next few days.

Geoff

Over to you then

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So here we are the night before the General Election and pretty much every door has been knocked on or had one of a series of leaflets pushed through it. I guess all the candidates have put out their manifestos and told people what they stand for. Today started with another session in the Market Place in Pontefract and additional information for those as wants it.

On from there some quite specific drops of information to people who have expressed a special interest and the same process has been played out around the country.

In the area covered by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council and the four parliamentary constituencies candidates will be preparing for a last push. In our case as Conservatives we wish to see a way forward that will put this country back on its feet. In NPC we want to see a Conservative MP for the first time. We want to see a Conservative District Council for the first time in 36 years (did I tell you that we came within 27 votes of shifting the Labour Council in 2008).

So I just want to take the opportunity to remind my readers of the Conservative choices for the local elections that start at 7am in the morning:

Don Marshall in Ackworth, Mellissa Wan in Airedale and Ferry Fryston, David Rudge in Altofts and Whitwood, Eamonn Mullins in Castleford & Glasshoughton, Ian Sanders in Crofton, Ryhill and Walton, Mike Ledgard in Featherstone, Philip Davies in Hemsworth, Elizabeth Hick in Horbury & South Ossett (Stick with me folks we have 21 candidates) Jon Wadey in Knottingley, Jean Molloy in Normanton, Ian Bunney in Ossett, Carl Milner in Pontefract North, Geoff Walsh (that would be me then) in Pontefract South, Chris I'Anson in South Elmsall and South Kirby, Richard Wakefield in Stanley & Outwood, Anthony Bracewell in Wakefield East, Gareth Hunt in Wakefield North, June Drysdale in Wakefield Rural, Nadeem Ahmed in Wakefield South, John Stone in Wakefield West and Betty Lisles in Wrenthorpe and Outwood West.

All of whom have grafted like gooduns to give people a real Conservative option.

For the Parliamentary Elections: Alex Story for Wakefield, Dr Ann Myatt for Hemsworth, Antony Calvert for Morley and Outwood and Nick Pickles for Normanton, Pontefract & Castleford.

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I guess that it is over to you from there. For those who have already voted by post thank you, for those who will be voting tomorrow thank you.



In 2008 thanks to you we saw a significant shift, here is hoping we see the big change that many in the district are crying out for.

I guess at some point on Friday morning I will be updating you all with what happened. For those of you who have followed my blog since 2007 thanks and stick with it.

I will.

Geoff

A Contract between the Conservative Party and you

David Cameron's broadcast today.

What do you think? Its your chance on Thursday, give us a chance to work to put the country back on its feet and hold us to account if we do not deliver.

I've never voted Tory before... Hector's story

Have a look and listen to Hector's reasons for being a first time Tory voter.



For those that are thinking about voting on Thursday here are ten good reasons, please click on the image.

A new welfare contract

Nick pickles has details of our approach to welfare and getting people back to work.

"It’s one of the biggest issues facing Britain, and something I know people across the constituency are concerned about. How will a Conservative government tackle the benefits culture Labour have burdened us with?"

Have a look at the document, click the image below.

13 Years of Labour

To quote William Hague.  "It feels like a long time since Labour came into power - I first challenged Tony Blair at the despatch box thirteen years ago - but we must never forget their record of failure. New Labour: this is your life..."





And now times are changing in this part of West Yorkshire.

The Morley & Outwood constituency is a classic example of how times are changing.

Ed Balls back in 2007 was given a potentially safe seat with an estimated majority of 9000 votes now his new seat is in jeopardy and Antony Calvert a former council colleague of mine looks to be set to give Ed his very own Portillo moment on the 6th of May. Have a look at this news clip from Channel 4



Good luck on the 6th Antony!

If a similar swing took place in Normanton Pontefract & Castleford we could see Yvette Cooper the Minister of Work and Pensions experiencing jobcentreplus from the other side of the table. We will know what people have decided by Friday morning.

Vote for Nick Pickles on Thursday and help make change happen here.

Delivering the Conservative Party Contract in Pontefract

This morning in the Market Place in Pontefract a group of us including Nick Pickles our Parliamentary Candidate for Normanton Pontefract & Castleford, myself, Cllr Simon Wilson the NPC Conservative Agent, Jon Wadey our Council Candidate for Ferrybridge & Knottingley and Mark Crowther our Conservative Group Leader on WMDC, delivered copies of the Conservative Party Contract a document that David Cameron wants the electorate to see to be aware of our intentions and to allow people to hold us to account if we receive the mandate to form a Government on the 6th.

To see it click on the link which will take you to your own copy.

The Conservative Party | Policy | Contract

We also provided copies of our NHS document in light of the PGI situation and where appropriate provided copies of our local manifesto document about our plans for WMDC if we receive a mandate in the local elections.



Many people were very supportive and pleased to get their copies, on a personal note, I met a number of people who I have had dealings with over the last four years and got a lot of positive encouragement and pledges for Thursday.