Video of Harlow Election result

The Harlow Star newspaper, have produced a video of the election result.

You can watch the Video HERE.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

A helpful guide before voting

This election will decide whether we get our economy back on track, get lower taxes, control immigration, have more police, and get our powers back from Europe.

So these are the things Conservatives will fight for:

1. Bringing jobs back to Harlow. Cutting National Insurance Contributions. Lower business taxes for small business. Proper job training and support.

2. Helping Families and Pensioners: Supporting couples with a married tax allowance. Stronger support for single parent families. Restoring the pensions link with earnings. Maintaining the free bus pass and winter fuel allowance.

3. Harlow Housing money for Harlow people. Stopping Gordon Brown taking away £13.5 million of OUR housing rent money.

4. Saving our green belt from Brown's bulldozers.

5. An extra by-pass to the M11 from the A414. After 13 years of Labour, nothing has been done.

6. Better education and skills for our young people: 200,000 extra apprenticeships over two years and 1,000 for Essex. 100,000 more College places. Giving parents more choice over schools. Bring back traditional teaching.

7. A stronger NHS. Stopping Gordon Brown's regional cuts to A&E and Maternity Services. Giving patients more choice over their GP and Hospitals and providing the cancer drugs they need. Extra support for Sure Start with 4,200 additional health visitors. GP surgeries open on weekends.

If you don't vote, it means Gordon Brown will win again. If you vote for any other party, Mr Brown will be Prime Minister. Vote Conservative for change.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

General Election Day Twenty Nine: Almost Over

Hard to believe that tomorrow is the last day. It has been a long few weeks. Meeting thousands of voters and handing out thousands of leaflets. Long hours from 06:30AM to late at night. But it has been worth it. The response on the street and the doorstep has been magnificent and we have won many new supporters as each day has past.

Each day has been exhausting but exhiliarating. Tomorrow the voters have their say.


by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

General Election Day Twenty Eight: Schools and P.A.C.T.

In the recent election hustings debate (last Thursday), a main disagreement between myself and the Labour Candidate came over discussion over Conservative Education Policy.

As well as focusing on parental choice, improving standards and giving teachers greater discipline rights, a central plank is to allow parents and charities to set up their own schools. Money would follow parents and pupils, with more cash allocated to deprived areas. My opponents response to this was that no parent in Harlow would want to set up their own schools.

I disagreed heartily, arguing that this view was somewhat patronising. Harlow parents were different to no other parents around the country, and if given the chance would want to establish their own schools. My view was confirmed today by chance, when I met some parents of autistic children in Harlow.

These parents have set up a group called P.A.C.T (Parents of Autistic Children Together). They told me - without prompting - that they would be very keen to set up a school in Harlow for Autistic Children. It was good to meet these parents, and I would welcome the opportunity to assist them in their objectives. If a Conservative Government comes to pass on Thursday, their task will be made that much easier.

P.S. The New Schools Network is already helping parents and charitable organisations set up new schools. You can read more about them HERE.

P.P.S. The picture shows me at Downs School in the New Library at an earlier visit.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

General Election Day Twenty Seven: Grant Shapps and Norman Tebbit

A long campaigning Bank Holiday, as we had two visits from two senior Tories. Conservative Housing Spokesman, Grant Shapps came in the morning to meet shoppers at Broadwalk and then visit Berecroft residents. Grant was well received by residents and managed to convince a number of waivering Labour voters to support us on Thursday.

In the afternoon, we were met by Lord Norman Tebbit and were surrounded by loads of volunteers and supporters, young and old alike. Lord Tebbit was MP for Harlow and Epping in the early 1970s so it was really good to have him back in Harlow. It was quite an exciting occasion, as he gave a morale boosting speech to all assembled. His visit was covered on TV by Anglia and for the Harlow Star. Lord Tebbit was on top form and received huge rounds of applause from all present - especially from a number of first-time voters that had gathered around to take part in the proceedings.

All in all a really busy election day.



by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

General Election Day Twenty Six: Defence and Europe

Gordon Brown's failure in Foreign Affairs has hurt our armed forces and our country. The Labour Government sent our brave soldiers to war, with ill-defined purpose and lack of strategy. Many feel misled about the reasons for invading Iraq. Our army was put to battle without proper equipment and have arrived home lacking the welfare support they need.

In Harlow, residents ask why it was necessary for Gordon Brown and Bill Rammell to close our local Territorial Army Centre because of so-called 'cost savings', yet the Government managed to give MoD bureaucrats over £47 million in bonuses. Just a fraction of this money would have kept our TA open.

We desperately need to rebuild trust with our armed forces:

• A strategic review to determine what our armed forces need, so that our brave soldiers always have the proper equipment;
• Doubling the operational bonus for frontline soldiers;
• Establishing a new welfare service to look after Veterans; and
• Higher education scholarships for the children of armed forces killed on active duty.
  

On Europe too, we need radical change. Breaking his Referendum pledge, Gordon Brown signed Britain's powers away, when he joined the EU Constitution. So Conservatives will act to get our powers back from Brussels:

• A renegotiation, to get our powers back on criminal justice and social and employment laws;
• A guaranteed Referendum on any new EU Treaty; and
• A UK Sovereignty Bill so that British Law is paramount, and so that ultimate power always stays in our Parliament, in our country.
  

Restoring trust, giving pride back to Britain, ensuring we get our powers back from Brussels. Conservatives will provide the change Britain needs in Foreign Affairs.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Campaigning around Nazeing

I just thought you might like to see this picture, following my blog yesterday. It is of Council Candidate Yolanda Knight, Cllr. Richard Bassett and myself outside Nazeing School.

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General Election Day Twenty Four: I love Elections - sometimes

I won't say this every day, but sometimes I really do love elections. It is not just the meeting of thousands of voters, its the debate and discussion, the cut and thrust and the twenty-four hour adrenalin. Today was such a day. I started campaigning from 0700 - waving at passing motorists on the A414. After I went to Raytheon, and met with management and employees on the shop floor. It was a good visit - all the more so because so many of the employees have been working there for twenty years plus.

In the afternoon, it was off to Nazeing to canvas, where we had a great reception from residents. Our villages face huge threats from the Government's plans to bulldoze the green belt, so it was good to be able to set out our plans to scrap the Government's East of England Plan.

Later, I attended the major Hustings event of the election campaign - organised by local churches. I think that it was the most packed hustings I have been to - with most of the Pews of St Paul's pretty full. It was good to debate key issues with my opponents, including immigration, housing and the economy and I was really heartened by the support I had received.

I then went home to watch the Big Leaders Debate on TV, having recorded it on Sky+. Cameron got a clear win, which was reflected immediately in the polls.

General Election Day Twenty: Photographs

Another Sunday of campaigning. Its hard to believe that there are just ten days to go. I thought you might like to see the photos of the General Election so far:

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

General Election Day Twelve: Sunshine at last

Having campaigned from the crack of dawn onwards in recent days - and braving very cold weather - it was so great to be campaigning in the sunshine. When the sun comes out everything looks so different and optimism fills the air.

We had a good response from shoppers. It was particularly encouraging being stopped, one by one, by so many members of the public asking for details about various Conservative policies. At one stage even a queue formed. This shows that there is real interest from voters as many want to know how we will change Britain for the better.

It was far removed from the angry apathy of recent days that I have encountered from some - and have written about in a previous blog posting.

I was also delighted to visit Harlow Bingo Club, which I have been closely involved with in recent years. For some reason Labour taxes Bingo disproportionately to other comparable businesses. This is all the more surprising given that Harlow Bingo Club is a real community organisation with more than 40,000 members. Bingo clubs have closed up and down the country because of this heavy and unfair taxation. Like the many thousands of members, we all want Harlow Bingo Club to go from strength to strength so I am glad to give my support.

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General Election Day Eleven: The Team

One of the most heartening things about being a Parliamentary Candidate is knowing that so many in our local party are willing you to win. In fact, much more than willing, they actively work day and night as volunteers, to do their best to ensure victory.

As I left a campaign meeting this evening with some of the team, I went away thinking of those volunteers who are leafleting, canvassing, running the administration, organising the telling, putting up poster boards, stuffing envelopes, helping with the internet and much more besides. To have such a team, and such an array of passionate individuals, works as strong source of encouragement. I am a very lucky Parliamentary Candidate in this way.

On anther note, I met hundreds of voters today, moving around the Constituency - starting from 06:45am. Not many had seen the TV Debate - and were more worried about the state of the economy, unemployment, immigration and the NHS, than who had said what and when.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

General Election Day Ten: Optimism and angry apathy

We had a big visit to Harlow today, from Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling. He was here to go to Occasio House and meet with staff and youngsters. It was good to talk with some of the young people who have benefited from this Foyer Project and have been given the help and support they need. This isn't just because they have been given a roof over their heads, but also the added value mentoring, careers advice and medical support, all based on the premises. Foyer is a long established charity, that helps youngsters with disadvantaged backgrounds - and homelessness - up and down the country. Our proposals as a party are to build and support charities - especially those at the grassroots, so it was important that Mr Grayling was able to see Foyer at work. There was a good atmosphere at Occasio House and I was struck by the optimism of some of the youngsters we spoke to.

This optimistic note continued at Staple Tye, accompanied by National Conservative Vice Chairman Richard Spring, where I was genuinely encouraged by the good wishes and support from so many. From former Labour voters coming over us, to diehard Conservatives -there was a real feeling that "Brown must go".

There was one disappointing note from some: Angry apathy. I have on the campaign trail met a number of people, who are not just apathetic, but angrily apathetic. This time, there are significant numbers of people who are so very disillusioned with politics and hugely upset about MP's expenses. I am glad as a Candidate to be able to tell these individuals that I get no taxpayer expenses, but there still remains unchecked anger about what went on that has not abated amongst some voters. It is my job over the coming days to try and persuade them otherwise.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

General Election Day Eight: Photographed, Debating and Campaigning

Very tired today, so won't be writing so much. Save to say that our day started at the crack of dawn being photographed by a House of Commons appointed photographer. Harlow is one of the constituencies chosen for the election campaign and the pictures will be shown in a special exhibition in Parliament, in June. I was quite proud that Harlow was picked. We were also interviewed by Anglia TV about the photographer and I have to say, I really enjoyed both the interview and the photography - it felt like we were a very small part of election history. I look forward to seeing the pictures when they are published.

It was then straight to Halyday House to answer questions from senior citizens. Myself and my opponent debated issues from defence to immigration: - the latter, a subject, that comes up frequently on the doorstep.

A whole afternoon of leafleting was followed by canvassing commuters at Harlow Town Station and then canvassing with John Steer, our excellent Council Candidate for Harlow Common.

So now you know why I am looking forward to a rest.... after of course, I have caught up with our exciting new Manifesto.

P.S. Really pleased to welcome a new volunteer today via Facebook. It was good to meet Karina and her daughter Dakota over a coffee break, and we are very glad to have her on board.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

General Election Day Seven: Its a beautiful country...

So said a Lady to me when campaigning around Bush Fair today. It got me thinking, yes there are some terrible things going on, and we have a broken society, yet there are still wonders to behold. Our countryside, outstanding landscapes, wildlife, natural habitat, great buildings, monuments, art and culture. Yes, Britain is a great place to be. I admired this lady's optimism and good heart, even though she was angry at how our country had been governed over the past few years.

I went to visit a number of small businesses as well (such as Joy's Flowers), as I wanted to find out what they thought of the economic situation. Their answers were somewhat gloomy. Accompanying me was, Dan Lucia, Conservative caseworker for Bush Fair, and Council Candidate. Dan's indefatigable cheer was a great lifter of spirits and I was glad to go canvassing on Bush Fair doorsteps later. He is getting a lot of support. I was really struck by what one resident said on the doorstep:

"I don't mind so much what the policies are, as long as politicians are honest".

His concern was more that I would be an an honest MP if elected, than what was in the Tory Manifesto. He added that if he voted for me, and I let him down, he would chase me up and down Harlow. I have no doubt that he would too. Its definitely true that elections bring out the wisdom of the people. Once every few years, the public have power in their hands to say yes or no. Campaigning and canvassing is a good reminder of who are the servants and who are the masters. The problem with Mr G. Brown, is that he and his Government has forgotten which is which.

P.S. As the picture shows, I was pleased to go to the excellent Cafe Pizzeria and have a good chat, with owner Mehmet. I also enjoyed an excellent mushroom omelette.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

General Election Day Six: Touched by the kind words of a Labour voter and unveiling our Battle Van

The Picture says it all. We had so many volunteers who came to campaign today and, to launch our Battle Van. My Campaign Song is "I'm still standing", by Mr Elton John. I thought this would be apt, given it is my third time standing for Harlow as Prospective MP.

A really excellent day knocking on doors and leafleting - and in the sunshine too.

The nicest moment for me came when a hardened Labour supporter, said that although he would never vote Conservative, he really respected me and thought I would make a good MP for Harlow. He said it in such a moving way, that I was really touched.

It does show that there are some people who are utterlyt decent and put people before politics. This chap was a world removed from the kind of Labour activists who thrive on the politics of fear and put out leaflets scaring people about Tory policy on cancer treatment, or alleged 'cuts' to vital social services.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

General Election Day Two: A V-Sign from an Old Lady - and winning over two new voters

This is my third election as Harlow's Parliamentary Candidate and its par for the course that you get both abuse and plaudits.

Today, as I held my huge poster board sign, semi-sitting by a road side this evening, an old lady, in a smart dress coming past in the front seat of a car gave me the V-sign. Well, as they say, you can't win them all. This particular episode was somewhat unusual - in that normally the abuse comes in the shape of loud swear-words, shouted from the cars driven by very young men with very short hair cuts.

But, despite the actions of this particular senior citizen, I wasn't too upset. I generally meet abuse with humour and usually wave and smile back. Besides, there were so many motorists - including significant numbers of pensioners - honking their horns and giving the thumbs up, my morale was considerably boosted.

It was good to see that yet more business men have said that Mr Cameron is right to want to oppose Labour's National Insurance rises and unsurprising that Mr Brown said all these business men were 'deceived'. Everyone is wrong, except of course the man who gave us the biggest debt of developed countries,, lost millions selling our gold, destroyed our pensions and ruined our once bright economy.

Today, a man who never normally voted, asked me if we would reintroduce the marriage tax allowance and control immigration. I was pleased to answer yes to both. Another gentleman wanted to know what we would do about Islamist extremists. I told him that Mr Cameron had said he would drain this poison from our country. His response was that he had always been a Labour voter, but he was seriously considering voting Conservative this time. Change is in the offing.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

General election Day One : Frantic

As expected it was a really frantic day as we were all rushing around. Our first task has been to get a leaflet out to residents which involves a huge number of volunteers delivering and knocking on doors in and around Harlow. With my volunteer Agent I had to sort out final arrangements for our 'Battle Van', which we will unveil over the next day or so.

This evening I was on the A414 holding up a Bill Board alongside former Liberal Voter Colleen Morrison. The response we had from motorists was magnificent with loads of thumbs up and hoots galore. There is a real feeling that change is in the air. David Cameron's speeches today, represented the politics of hope against the politics of fear. I have a strong feeling which kind of politics will triumph.

After I was pleased to meet with a number of child-minders from the Harlow Child-minders association. We discussed everything from youth and pension facilities, the NHS, GP surgeries, child-care, and Sure Start centres. I was glad to have the chance to reassure everyone, that Conservatives will NOT be closing Sure Start centres, and will in fact be adding extra health visitors to help parents further. For some reason, Labour are putting out misleading information about our plans for Sure Start. What was that about the politics of fear?

I am looking forward to tomorrow.

P.S. For more details about Sure Start, please see HERE.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

The Whistle is almost about to be blown

So here goes. After many years, months and days campaigning, working hard to serve as Harlow's MP, the waiting is almost over. Mr Brown is to go to the Queen tomorrow and the election date will be announced for 6 May 2010.

I have always thought that politics is a little like football - in that its never over until the final whistle. It's also as unpredictable - one minute your ahead, then the other team score a goal in injury time. One week your team is up, the next week its down.

One lesson I have learnt over the years - particularly after losing by 97 votes last time - is that you can never take anything for granted. You have to fight every minute of every day to prove your worth to the Public.

That is why, it will be good to be out and about over the next few weeks all day long around the Constituency - meeting thousands of voters. Although I have been doing this week in week for a number of years, an election campaign is that much more intensive. Early starts at dawn and late bed-times beckon.

It will be exciting yet tough, it will be gruelling, and it will be somewhat nerve-wracking. But I am convinced it will be worth it in the end.

I hope to use my blog over the coming days and weeks just to set out what its like on the campaign trail. Happy reading!

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Voters will not be hoodwinked: There is nothing British about the BNP

I have been asked by the local Press today, what my views are about the BNP standing in Harlow for the General Election.

What I said was that the truth is that there is nothing British about the BNP and it is no wonder that senior British Army officers have condemned the organisation. The BNP is a National Socialist Party (Nazi) which seeks to exploit disharmony for their own ends.

I do not believe that they will hoodwink Harlow residents, who, whilst outraged at Gordon Brown's failure to get to grips with immigration problems, are determined to vote in a Government which will do something about it, rather than opt for an extremist fringe movement that will make matters even worse.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

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.

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