Re-elected to the 1922 Committee

Today, I was re-elected to the Executive of the Conservative 1922 Committee. I was pleased to get support from my colleagues for a second term, having first been elected in 2010. I was proposed by Vice Chairman Charles Walker (neighbouring MP for Broxbourne) and seconded by Damian Hinds MP.

Why does this Committee matter? Well, the 1922 represents Conservative Backbenchers. A kind of Conservative Parliamentary Trade Union.

The 1922 has meetings with senior Cabinet Ministers - and is there to express views from the Parliamentary Party on both politics and direction of policy. It is important that it is used as a conduit, in which MPs can privately express all kinds of views, without there being repercussions.

I do believe that the 1922 should also have an important role in campaigning and supporting MPs in tough marginal seats. For this reason in my first two years of the 1922, I set up a sub-committee on campaigning - which has met regularly to look at best practice in local campaigning, to analyse polling and examine how best to use social media in terms of political communication.

The 1922 has had a refresh with the election of new members - and I am looking forward to working with them. The newer colleagues are balanced by some experienced hands who are senior officers on the Committee, and will ensure that the balance of the Party as a whole is fully reflected.

P.S. The pictures shows me with members of the previous 1922 Committee (2010 to 2012), in a meeting with the PM at Number Ten.

The Conservative record in Harlow - THE FACTS

What is the Conservative record in Harlow?

As we head into the local elections, many residents have asked me: "What is the Conservative record in Harlow? What have you done for the town?"

It is a fair question. Are Harlow residents better off? Here are the facts:

1) A FREEZE IN COUNCIL TAX. Conservatives on Harlow Council have frozen the council tax now for a THIRD YEAR in a row. Saving an ordinary Harlow family around £70 a year.

2) LOWER TAXES FOR LOWER EARNERS. A Conservative-led Government has lifted 2,895 workers in Harlow out of paying income tax altogether. This especially helps part-time workers, and those on the lowest incomes. Plus, approximately 40,000 Harlow workers will benefit from £220 lower taxes each year.

3) HIGHER PENSIONS. In April, the state pension rose by £5.30 a week, for the more than 16,400 pensioners in Harlow. This is the largest increase since 1948. We will NEVER return to the bad old days of Gordon Brown's miserly 75p increase.

4) MORE MONEY FOR SCHOOLS. Essex is now receiving over eleven million pounds this year through the Pupil Premium. £11,306,000 pounds will go to local schools including every single Harlow school, to provide support for children from poorer backgrounds. In schools like Burnt Mill, this is being used to boost literacy and numeracy skills.

5) A GENEROUS RIGHT-TO-BUY. The 11,000 families in our town who rent a Council house will now have a much better chance of owning their home outright. Conservatives have restored the Right to Buy, and increased the maximum discount from £34,000 to £75,000.

6) LOWER BUSINESS TAXES. Our local small businesses have already had their taxes cut to 20%. Now, Harlow's larger employers will see their taxes reduce by 2% this year, to 24%. This will help them to grow, to invest, and to create more jobs.

7) ENTERPRISE ZONE. Next year, an enterprise zone will open in Harlow, with superfast broadband and reinvestment of business rates. This is expected to create more than 5,000 local jobs for Harlow residents, over the next few years.

8) SCRAPPING THE FUEL DUTY ESCALATOR. High oil prices have put real pressure on Harlow families. I have campaigned on this, and the Government has listened. Fuel duty was CUT in 2011, and FROZEN in January 2012. The Government has also SCRAPPED Labour's fuel duty escalator, which was pushing prices up above inflation.

9) APPRENTICESHIPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. There has been a 78% rise in Harlow apprenticeships already, under the Conservatives (bringing the total number of apprentices in our town to 800 a year). The Youth Contract will also now give firms a subsidy to hire their first young apprentice - a cash payment of £1,500 per apprentice.

10) UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL COLLEGES. An extra 24 new University Technical Schools are being set up across the country. We have applied for one to open in Harlow, in partnership with employers such as Princess Alexandra Hospital, Rivers Hospital, Anglia Ruskin University, Harlow College, and other local firms. If we are successful, it will give our young people high-tech jobs and opportunities for the future.

by Robert Halfon MP - Working Hard for Harlow.

Voters want change in Harlow

One of the most encouraging signs about the forthcoming election in Harlow is that wherever I am around and about, voters come up and wish me good luck in the election.

A few days ago, I was at my Dr's surgery waiting to see my GP at the excellent Jenner House in old Harlow. Three people kindly told me that: "I had to get in and that the election could not come soon enough as far as they were concerned".

In Church Langley Tesco this week, about to buy some Roast Chicken (an excellent bargain as you can buy two whole roasts for just six pounds), a man stopped me in the aisle and said: "when are you going to get rid of this awful Gordon Brown"?

On Facebook, I was recently contacted by a Harlow Student, who is very supportive and wants to help me on my campaign.

Even today at a van rental garage, the manager said to me that for the first time, people he knew were talking politics. They were fed up with Labour and wanted a change of Government.

Now of course, after ten years of being a Parliamentary Candidate for Harlow and fighting two elections already (losing by 97 votes last time), I know that the work is never completed and there is still so much to do. I have to continue to campaign day and night and prove to people that I deserve the chance to serve as Harlow's next MP. That is why I have made it my business to campaign, to fight and work hard for Harlow, week in week out, month in month out, year in year out. I don't believe you achieve anything in life without hard graft.

Nevertheless, I am greatly heartened with the support that I am getting wherever I go - not forgetting the warm response on the street and the doorstep. It is at a much warmer level than what I received in the previous elections of 2001 and 2005. At those elections, the public still trusted Blair and Brown.

Now, most people have had enough of Labour: the high taxes, the high debt, the high unemployment. They also don't like all the squabbling amongst senior Labour politicians, who seem more intent about watching their own back than solving the country's problems.

There is a real feeling out there: a deep yearning for change and for a better future. It gives me some comfort as to what may lie ahead. It will be an interesting few months.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Family, Community, Country

I have just come back from the Conservative Conference in Manchester and it was a long drive from the North West back to Essex. But it was well worth it. I have been there since last weekend, to attend as a representative from Harlow Conservatives, and as the Parliamentary Candidate. It was quite a sober week. Although the Conservatives are way ahead in the opinion polls, the party leadership refuse to be complacent. Everyone knows that whilst the sun is shining in the distance, there is still a huge mountain to climb.

That is why I was particularly pleased with David Cameron's speech today. Not only did it set out a guiding philosophy for the party - helping the vulnerable, supporting family and community, and strengthening our nation -but the Tory Leader showed that he was not afraid to duck hard decisions on the need for public expenditure cuts - because of the deep economic crisis caused by the Government.

This could have been a conference, in which the Conservatives pledged anything and everything to try and please everyone. Wisely, they did not go down this path. Most voters are fed up with big promises which are never delivered. Much better to set out things as they really are , than to over promise, and disappoint later on.

P.S. You may be interested in this article from Tory Policy Chief, Oliver Letwin, which summarises Conservative policies if we were to be elected to Government.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

We need a General Election now

Given the events of recent weeks, I have come to the view that the only way to assuage public anger about the expenses scandal and broken economy is for a general election to be held now.

Like most people in Harlow and the surrounding villages, I felt a sense of trepidation and outrage when I read all the stories about the expenses of elected Parliamentarians from all Parties.

As prospective candidate I don't get any wages, allowances or expenses from the taxpayer. Even worse than the abuse of expenses is the virtual fraud that has been perpetrated on the taxpayer from MPs allegedly claiming for mortgages that have already been paid. This scandal has done so much to add to the ever-increasing contempt felt by people towards politicians of all colours.

When I go out and about on the doorsteps in Harlow and the villages, some people say to me that 'politicians are all the same' and "if voting changed anything, they would abolish it.

As someone who is standing for a third time in Harlow, I am working hard to prove otherwise. Nevertheless it is going to take a long time to repair this damage and rebuild trust between politicians and the public.

The great tragedy of all this is that there are many honest and decent politicians out there who do work hard in Parliament and for their constituencies, yet they are lumped together with all the rotten apples.

As I have said before, I am pleased that Conservative Party leader David Cameron is taking a strong stance on the expenses saga.

Not only has he ordered any Conservative with questionable expenses to pay the money back, but he has warned that they will be sacked as Conservative MPs if they refuse to do so.

Moreover, Mr Cameron has guaranteed that every Conservative MP should publish all their expenses on-line- something I will be sure to do if elected.

This is a necessary step. The Conservative Party is changing. No individual should be allowed to hold us back from being a proper political movement based on decent values - one which leads by example.

The only way for the situation to be resolved is for a General Election to be called now so people can throw out those who have abused the hard-pressed taxpayer.

I f you agree with me and want an early election, please sign the online petition at http://www.conservatives.com/Campaigns/Sign_for_Change/Petition_Item.aspx

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device