conservativehome--2020-01-20--Richard Holden: There’s no time like a Monday afternoon for a Maiden Speech

No one tells you – but it ’ s one of the strangest things that ’ s hit me as a new MP .
You spend a lot of time in Parliament , but you actually would always rather be on the ground , listening to and chatting with your constituents .
Despite working constantly over Christmas , sorting out urgent constituency matters ( such as the closure of a foundry ) , holding a number of surgeries , hosting visits from ministers , visiting local businesses and groups , dealing with urgent correspondence , and arranging meetings and discussions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I constantly have a real feeling of guilt at not being in my constituency enough .
This is despite spending three or four days a week there – and I know most new MPs feel the same .
When you ’ re on either the East Coast Mainline or the A1 ( M ) , you feel utterly impotent as your precious minutes are devoured by the endless travel time – although at least the train does allow you to catch up on the scores if not hundreds of emails that arrive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can do a lot for your constituents in Westminster , there is an instinctive desire to want to be around the people who sent you there .
This is perhaps strongest for new MPs : I know that I feel I want to thank individually the people who have given me the opportunity to serve them in Parliament There are a host of challenges you face as a new MP .
Despite being able to do something for most of the people who come to you for help , there is , occasionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you as their last hope – you are their ‘ Hail Mary ’ – but MPs possess neither a slush fund nor a hotline to the almighty – and truth be told , those who come to you know that too .
The other challenge many new MPs face is Westminster itself and the practicalities .
I ’ m quite lucky in a few areas , not least that I know Westminster a bit .
Some new MPs will have never rented a commercial property , or hired staff , or lived in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be daunting .
There are two things that make being an MP fundamentally different from being just another commentator on politics , and these are the ability to both vote and speak in Parliament .
It ’ s from those two things that the power to help your constituency really flows .
Those two things give you access at all levels .
They give you an ability to convene people , and if you ’ re shrewd , the ability to work with other MPs , organisations and individuals to help change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the lives of people across the country for the better .
As a new MP , speaking in the House for the first time is an extremely important moment and the first national point where you get to set out what you will do for the next five years to improve you constituents ’ lives .
Your maiden speech is unique because it is you , alone , up there for several minutes .
The new MP , uninterrupted ( because no one can interrupt you during it ) speaking in “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak about your constituency and the people you represent and put them front and centre in Parliament .
So , for a moment , you pause chasing down the local CCG to ensure that they ’ re properly consulting on plans for local NHS services or arranging meetings with ministers to talk about how you get better transport links to Consett .
And you introduce your constituency and yourself to Parliament .
For your maiden speech , the “ accepted ” boundaries of precedence and convention are clear : • Praise your predecessor/s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re numpties .
• Five to ten mins – the more concise the better .
• Make sure you ’ re in the chamber for a couple of the speeches preceding yours and after as well as the opening speeches and the closing speeches from both front benches .
• And that ’ s about it .
I ’ m looking forward to helping put some local and national issues on the table later today .
How we deliver more good , well paid , jobs locally and enable businesses to thrive ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the rural villages ; protecting and in the longer-term providing newer NHS facilities in the constituency ; improving transport infrastructure in and around Consett , Shotley Bridge , Burnopfield and Leadgate ; revitalising the town centres of Willington , Crook and Consett and protecting our rural and farming communities .
And I ’ ll be briefly mentioning the national issues or campaigns that I hope to be deeply involved in , from getting affordable bus travel to college for 16-18 year olds nationwide , to cracking down on online gambling companies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate technical and vocational education is available to all .
There have already been some great speeches this session .
Some very funny , some more serious .
But what I ’ ve learnt about a maiden speech is that everything about it reflects the person giving it – from the debate they choose to give it in to the jokes they make , a maiden speech gives you an insight into the MP , how they see themselves and what they plan to do for their constituents and for the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s , Mark Fletcher ’ s and Alicia Kearns ’ s are but a few of the excellent ones I ’ ve been lucky enough to see , all showed this – very different , but all very good and reflecting very well on them .
Much like those of my colleagues who have already delivered theirs and those who are yet to find the right moment , like every maiden speech , mine this afternoon will provide a real window into the political soul of North West Durham and the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .

Richard Holden is MP for North West Durham.
No one tells you – but it’s one of the strangest things that’s hit me as a new MP. You spend a lot of time in Parliament, but you actually would always rather be on the ground, listening to and chatting with your constituents.
Despite working constantly over Christmas, sorting out urgent constituency matters (such as the closure of a foundry), holding a number of surgeries, hosting visits from ministers, visiting local businesses and groups, dealing with urgent correspondence, and arranging meetings and discussions in Westminster on behalf of my patch, I constantly have a real feeling of guilt at not being in my constituency enough.
This is despite spending three or four days a week there – and I know most new MPs feel the same. When you’re on either the East Coast Mainline or the A1(M), you feel utterly impotent as your precious minutes are devoured by the endless travel time – although at least the train does allow you to catch up on the scores if not hundreds of emails that arrive daily.
Even when you know you can do a lot for your constituents in Westminster, there is an instinctive desire to want to be around the people who sent you there. This is perhaps strongest for new MPs: I know that I feel I want to thank individually the people who have given me the opportunity to serve them in Parliament
There are a host of challenges you face as a new MP. Despite being able to do something for most of the people who come to you for help, there is, occasionally, that person who is coming to you as their last hope – you are their ‘Hail Mary’ – but MPs possess neither a slush fund nor a hotline to the almighty – and truth be told, those who come to you know that too.
The other challenge many new MPs face is Westminster itself and the practicalities. I’m quite lucky in a few areas, not least that I know Westminster a bit. Some new MPs will have never rented a commercial property, or hired staff, or lived in two places at once and the experience can be daunting.
There are two things that make being an MP fundamentally different from being just another commentator on politics, and these are the ability to both vote and speak in Parliament. It’s from those two things that the power to help your constituency really flows. Those two things give you access at all levels. They give you an ability to convene people, and if you’re shrewd, the ability to work with other MPs, organisations and individuals to help change not only the lives of your constituents but the lives of people across the country for the better.
As a new MP, speaking in the House for the first time is an extremely important moment and the first national point where you get to set out what you will do for the next five years to improve you constituents’ lives.
Your maiden speech is unique because it is you, alone, up there for several minutes. The new MP, uninterrupted (because no one can interrupt you during it) speaking in “The Chamber”.
You get to speak about your constituency and the people you represent and put them front and centre in Parliament. So, for a moment, you pause chasing down the local CCG to ensure that they’re properly consulting on plans for local NHS services or arranging meetings with ministers to talk about how you get better transport links to Consett. And you introduce your constituency and yourself to Parliament.
For your maiden speech, the “accepted” boundaries of precedence and convention are clear:
Non-controversial.
Praise your predecessor/s – even if you think they’re numpties.
Five to ten mins – the more concise the better.
Make sure you’re in the chamber for a couple of the speeches preceding yours and after as well as the opening speeches and the closing speeches from both front benches.
And that’s about it.
I’m looking forward to helping put some local and national issues on the table later today. How we deliver more good, well paid, jobs locally and enable businesses to thrive; bus services in Weardale, Tow Law and the rural villages; protecting and in the longer-term providing newer NHS facilities in the constituency; improving transport infrastructure in and around Consett, Shotley Bridge, Burnopfield and Leadgate; revitalising the town centres of Willington, Crook and Consett and protecting our rural and farming communities.
And I’ll be briefly mentioning the national issues or campaigns that I hope to be deeply involved in, from getting affordable bus travel to college for 16-18 year olds nationwide, to cracking down on online gambling companies that exploit the vulnerable, to ensuring first rate technical and vocational education is available to all.
There have already been some great speeches this session. Some very funny, some more serious. But what I’ve learnt about a maiden speech is that everything about it reflects the person giving it – from the debate they choose to give it in to the jokes they make, a maiden speech gives you an insight into the MP, how they see themselves and what they plan to do for their constituents and for the country. Dehenna Davison’s, Rob Roberts’s, Mark Fletcher’s and Alicia Kearns’s are but a few of the excellent ones I’ve been lucky enough to see, all showed this – very different, but all very good and reflecting very well on them.
Much like those of my colleagues who have already delivered theirs and those who are yet to find the right moment, like every maiden speech, mine this afternoon will provide a real window into the political soul of North West Durham and the new Member of Parliament who will deliver for them.


conservativehome--2020-01-20--Building the Blue Wall: Walsall North

Building the Blue Wall: Walsall North

Before the General Election , there was much focus on the “ red wall.
” These were the seats in Labour ’ s heartlands .
Traditionally working class constituencies in the North and the Midlands ; many had returned Labour MPs since their inception .
Even during the Macmillan and Thatcher landslides , they proved out of reach for the Conservatives .
Yet despite their deep Labour culture , these are patriotic communities – most of them voted to leave the EU .
Jeremy Corbyn ’ s support for terrorism left them dismayed .
Labour ’ s preoccupation with identity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result , their loyalty to Labour was strained .
Thus there was hope that even if the Conservatives failed in some of the usual marginals in London , even if they lost ground in Scotland , victory could still be secured in this unlikely territory .
Of course , the General Election result offered dramatic confirmation of that .
The question now is whether these places will “ revert to type ” after Brexit is done and Corbyn has gone .
Will the election of a Tory MP prove an aberration ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ building a blue wall ?
One means of ensuring it is the latter , is for Conservatives to become entrenched in these areas with more local councillors , not only an MP .
This week we will be looking at what we can learn from some of the blue wall pioneers .
While the overall result of the General Election in 2017 was very disappointing for the Conservatives in England , there were a few impressive gains .
We will look at some of them and consider what happened next .
We will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won Walsall North for the Conservatives in 2017 with a majority of 2,601 .
Last month he was returned with his majority up to 11,965 .
In other words , it is not even a marginal any more .
It is now Labour ’ s 194th target seat for the 2024 General Election .
( Labour needs to gain 124 seats for an overall majority of one . )
David Winnick was the Labour MP for the seat from 1979 through to 2017 .
The Conservatives had won the seat before that but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier it had been held by John Stonehouse , a Labour MP who spied for the Communists and faked his own death .
This is just about the poorest constituency in the country with a Conservative MP .
That makes fundraising a challenge .
In the local elections last year , the Conservatives gained two seats on Walsall Council , enough to give them overall control .
This was bucking the trend of heavy losses elsewhere .
In 2018 , the Conservatives gained five seats in Walsall .
Cllr Mike Bird , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account for us last year .
He said that Hughes “ was by our side throughout ” the campaign .
Bird says : “ So how did we do it ?
“ In short , hard work and dedication from a committed team of loyal group members with a very able deputy , Cllr Adrian Andrew , who ran an exceptional campaign of targeted issues in all 20 of the wards in the election , and concentrating on the issues that people on the doorstep were raising during the campaign .
“ Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Borough that we knew from previous surveys were the very things people wanted to see delivered with the return of a Conservative administration.
” Hughes , seconding the Loyal Address in Parliament , says that a visiit by Boris Johnson , then a backbench MP , helped : “ The blond bombshell was unleashed on the unsuspecting people of Bloxwich , and the result was truly magnificent to behold .
Everybody who asked for a selfie was greeted with a beaming smile and an occasional tussle of those famous blond locks .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bloxwich showman—the future Prime Minister—obviously pulled a pint of Thatchers Gold .
I know what you are thinking , Mr Speaker : you are thinking , “ So what ?
What was the consequence of this great visit ?
” The consequence for me was that , in those local elections a few days later , we won two more council wards against the national trend and , for the first time in 20 years , the Conservatives took outright control of Walsall Council .
Perhaps that should not have been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , we have had a blue-collar revolution.
” In the Walsall North constituency , the number of Conservative councillors has risen from five in 2017 to ten now .
Conservative Party membership in Walsall North is up from 15 to over 100 .
Hughes is actively involved in recruiting members and encouraging community activists to become council candidates .
He emails a news bulletin to thousands of constituents .
Working hard at campaigning , results in further hard work getting through the resulting casework .
That is due to it being proactive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with problems they wish to highlight .
Hughes does not feel MPs should complain about this .
They are provided with over £150,000 a year in staffing costs .
That means they should provide a good service .
As well as it being accessible that also means pursuing matters that sit with the Council .
Those who have found themselves caught up in a Kafkaesque bureaucratic nightmare and eventually resort to asking their MP for help will be disappointed if the response is : “ That ’ s nothing to do with me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council.
” The public does not delineate in that way .
Of course , there needs to be substance to the message , no matter how well oiled the campaign machine might be .
That does rely on the Conservative Government bringing in changes that have local relevance .
Stronger powers to deal with travellers , and greater availability to see a GP in the evenings and weekends , were examples that had traction in Walsall .
MPs are often offered fees by opinion pollsters to take part in surveys .
Some MPs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refuse .
But there is also the option of taking the survey and then for the fee to be paid direct to a charity .
That is what Hughes does .
£100 from ComRes for this , £90 from YouGov for that , £200 from Ipsos MORI for the other .
He usually takes the call while sitting on a train .
In his constituency he invites groups to ask for this money .
Then he will use social media to publicise the work they do , and that he has handed them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club , angling club , brownies , whatever it might be .
That example strikes me as instructive in terms of being a effective constituency MP in the modern era .
The punters don ’ t want their MP to be too grand ( Hughes will join in groups picking up litter . )
But nor can the MP be shy .
The Conservatives believe , as Margaret Thatcher put it , that “ the state should be the servant , not the master of the people.
” Newly returned Tory MPs who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mind should find they are well-positioned to face the electorate again next time round .

Before the General Election, there was much focus on the “red wall.” These were the seats in Labour’s heartlands. Traditionally working class constituencies in the North and the Midlands; many had returned Labour MPs since their inception. Even during the Macmillan and Thatcher landslides, they proved out of reach for the Conservatives. Yet despite their deep Labour culture, these are patriotic communities – most of them voted to leave the EU. Jeremy Corbyn’s support for terrorism left them dismayed. Labour’s preoccupation with identity politics left many voters bewildered. As a result, their loyalty to Labour was strained. Thus there was hope that even if the Conservatives failed in some of the usual marginals in London, even if they lost ground in Scotland, victory could still be secured in this unlikely territory. Of course, the General Election result offered dramatic confirmation of that.
The question now is whether these places will “revert to type” after Brexit is done and Corbyn has gone. Will the election of a Tory MP prove an aberration? Or will it be the start of building a blue wall? One means of ensuring it is the latter, is for Conservatives to become entrenched in these areas with more local councillors, not only an MP. This week we will be looking at what we can learn from some of the blue wall pioneers. While the overall result of the General Election in 2017 was very disappointing for the Conservatives in England, there were a few impressive gains. We will look at some of them and consider what happened next. We will start with Walsall North.
Eddie Hughes won Walsall North for the Conservatives in 2017 with a majority of 2,601. Last month he was returned with his majority up to 11,965. In other words, it is not even a marginal any more. It is now Labour’s 194th target seat for the 2024 General Election. (Labour needs to gain 124 seats for an overall majority of one.) David Winnick was the Labour MP for the seat from 1979 through to 2017. The Conservatives had won the seat before that but in the special circumstances of a by-election. Earlier it had been held by John Stonehouse, a Labour MP who spied for the Communists and faked his own death.
This is just about the poorest constituency in the country with a Conservative MP. That makes fundraising a challenge.
In the local elections last year, the Conservatives gained two seats on Walsall Council, enough to give them overall control. This was bucking the trend of heavy losses elsewhere. In 2018, the Conservatives gained five seats in Walsall. Cllr Mike Bird, the Conservative council leader, wrote an account for us last year. He said that Hughes “was by our side throughout” the campaign. Bird says:
“So how did we do it?
“In short, hard work and dedication from a committed team of loyal group members with a very able deputy, Cllr Adrian Andrew, who ran an exceptional campaign of targeted issues in all 20 of the wards in the election, and concentrating on the issues that people on the doorstep were raising during the campaign.
“Our focus was on ten pledges across the Borough that we knew from previous surveys were the very things people wanted to see delivered with the return of a Conservative administration.”
Hughes, seconding the Loyal Address in Parliament, says that a visiit by Boris Johnson, then a backbench MP, helped:
“The blond bombshell was unleashed on the unsuspecting people of Bloxwich, and the result was truly magnificent to behold. Everybody who asked for a selfie was greeted with a beaming smile and an occasional tussle of those famous blond locks. When our tour reached its inevitable destination, the Bloxwich showman—the future Prime Minister—obviously pulled a pint of Thatchers Gold. I know what you are thinking, Mr Speaker: you are thinking, “So what? What was the consequence of this great visit?” The consequence for me was that, in those local elections a few days later, we won two more council wards against the national trend and, for the first time in 20 years, the Conservatives took outright control of Walsall Council. Perhaps that should not have been a surprise because, over the past three years, we have had a blue-collar revolution.”
In the Walsall North constituency, the number of Conservative councillors has risen from five in 2017 to ten now. Conservative Party membership in Walsall North is up from 15 to over 100. Hughes is actively involved in recruiting members and encouraging community activists to become council candidates. He emails a news bulletin to thousands of constituents.
Working hard at campaigning, results in further hard work getting through the resulting casework. That is due to it being proactive: constituents are invited to email back with problems they wish to highlight. Hughes does not feel MPs should complain about this. They are provided with over £150,000 a year in staffing costs. That means they should provide a good service. As well as it being accessible that also means pursuing matters that sit with the Council. Those who have found themselves caught up in a Kafkaesque bureaucratic nightmare and eventually resort to asking their MP for help will be disappointed if the response is: “That’s nothing to do with me. You need to speak to Walsall Council.” The public does not delineate in that way.
Of course, there needs to be substance to the message, no matter how well oiled the campaign machine might be. That does rely on the Conservative Government bringing in changes that have local relevance. Stronger powers to deal with travellers, and greater availability to see a GP in the evenings and weekends, were examples that had traction in Walsall.
MPs are often offered fees by opinion pollsters to take part in surveys. Some MPs accept and take the money. Some refuse. But there is also the option of taking the survey and then for the fee to be paid direct to a charity. That is what Hughes does. £100 from ComRes for this, £90 from YouGov for that, £200 from Ipsos MORI for the other. He usually takes the call while sitting on a train. In his constituency he invites groups to ask for this money. Then he will use social media to publicise the work they do, and that he has handed them a cheque: – the local football club, angling club, brownies, whatever it might be.
That example strikes me as instructive in terms of being a effective constituency MP in the modern era. The punters don’t want their MP to be too grand (Hughes will join in groups picking up litter.) But nor can the MP be shy.
The Conservatives believe, as Margaret Thatcher put it, that “the state should be the servant, not the master of the people.” Newly returned Tory MPs who conduct their constituency duties with that maxim in mind should find they are well-positioned to face the electorate again next time round.


conservativehome--2020-01-20--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee

Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee – and more

Seven years ago , the TaxPayers ’ Alliance reported that “ in the last year , five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories ” .
Since then , the figures have varied , and some Conservative members or supporters have been selected to fill important posts .
Nonetheless , it remains the case that , since it took office in 2010 , our Party has punched beneath its weight when it comes to public appointments .
One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply don ’ t apply in the same number as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , every week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies , so that qualified Conservatives might be aware of the opportunities presented .
“ Parliament ’ s Information Authority is seeking to recruit a Non-Executive Director to join them for meetings related to the Parliamentary Estate , our building information and data , and the Restoration and Renewal programme .
It is expected that the successful candidate would attend up to 15 meetings per year , including quarterly Authority meetings , additional Authority meetings related to the programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associated discussions as required .
The 15 days to include all preparatory work for those meetings.
” “ The Greater Lincolnshire LEP works with the public , private and voluntary sectors to drive sustainable economic growth .
We help our businesses increase productivity and innovation , create new employment opportunities , and develop infrastructure solutions that support this .
We are the voice of the local business community , ensuring that the economic interests of the area are properly represented .
We believe that Greater Lincolnshire is alive with opportunities and a truly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do business and is emerging as the intelligent choice for investors.
” Time : Around four days per month .
“ CITB is the statutory skills body for the construction industry in Great Britain and its purpose is to make better provision for the training and maintenance of skills in the industry .
CITB raises around £200m annually via a training levy , and works closely with employers and the Government to ensure national construction skills needs are met .
CITB seeks to create the culture and conditions that will deliver new ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating a demand in construction for more skills , new skills and higher level skills .
CITB aspires to be at the forefront of effective commissioning and grant practice and is undertaking a high-profile transformational reform programme in order to achieve this.
” “ The Chair will be responsible for the proper running of the Homes England Board .
They will guide and influence the Agency at a strategic level providing confident , clear and consistent leadership .
They will also lead the Agency ’ s relationship with the Secretary of State for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who they will meet on a regular basis .
The Chair will act as an ambassador for the Board and for Homes England , helping to build and develop collaborative strategic partnerships that support and promote Homes England ’ s core mission .
The successful candidate will influence and network with key decision makers and stakeholders and explain how the organisation is transforming… ” Time : Up to two days per week .
“ The Northern Ireland Office ( NIO ) is seeking to appoint a Lead Non-Executive Director to its Management Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Board Member , the role of the Lead Non-Executive Director is to chair the Department ’ s Audit and Risk Committee .
The successful candidate will be expected to take up the position in May 2020 .
Non-Executive Directors provide a key role in the strategic and operational leadership of the Northern Ireland Office .
They complement the balance of skills and experience of Government Ministers and officials by bringing independent advice , support , constructive challenge and a fresh external perspective to help shape a department ’ s work.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Chair who is an influential local leader and who can bring energy and passion to act as a champion for the area ’ s economic success .
The Chair requires sufficient standing to be able to convene the local business community and public sector stakeholders , while having the insight to oversee the development of an economic strategy and the relationship skills to work effectively with government .
We want you to have a voice , make a difference and give something back to the region .
The Chair must come from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be classed as private sector if their organisations do not appear on the Public Sector Classifications guide which can be viewed on the Office for National Statistics website ) .
” Time : Minimum one day per week on average .
“ The Chair of the MAC is appointed by the Home Secretary to oversee the operation of the Committee .
The Chair has overall accountability for the MAC ’ s work and is responsible for overseeing the operation and output of the Committee , in collaboration with the Home Office Secretariat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ hands-on ” in its analysis and interaction with the Secretariat .
The Chair is responsible for establishing effective working relationships within the Committee , across the Secretariat and with government departments.
” “ The Tees Valley Combined Authority and Local Enterprise Partnership ( LEP ) are looking to recruit a new LEP Chair and new LEP members from the private sector to deliver our ambitious economic plans .
The Combined Authority and LEP strive to ensure an equal and diverse membership , and through this latest round of appointments , have committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the LEP board in 2020 .
Due to the current LEP Chair coming to the end of his term , we are looking to appoint a new LEP Chair who has a strong private sector background , experience of building effective organisations and has the motivation to fully commit to and represent the LEP on a local and national scale .
”

Seven years ago, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reported that “in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories”.
Since then, the figures have varied, and some Conservative members or supporters have been selected to fill important posts.
Nonetheless, it remains the case that, since it took office in 2010, our Party has punched beneath its weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply don’t apply in the same number as Labour supporters.
To help remedy this, every week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives might be aware of the opportunities presented.
– – – – – – – – – –
Information Authority – Non-Executive Director
“Parliament’s Information Authority is seeking to recruit a Non-Executive Director to join them for meetings related to the Parliamentary Estate, our building information and data, and the Restoration and Renewal programme. It is expected that the successful candidate would attend up to 15 meetings per year, including quarterly Authority meetings, additional Authority meetings related to the programme or associated work and to join other associated discussions as required. The 15 days to include all preparatory work for those meetings.”
Time: Up to 15 meetings a year.
Remuneration: £9,000 per annum plus reasonable travel expenses.
Closes: 19 January
– – – – – – – – – –
Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership – Chair
“The Greater Lincolnshire LEP works with the public, private and voluntary sectors to drive sustainable economic growth. We help our businesses increase productivity and innovation, create new employment opportunities, and develop infrastructure solutions that support this. We are the voice of the local business community, ensuring that the economic interests of the area are properly represented. We believe that Greater Lincolnshire is alive with opportunities and a truly great place to live, work and do business and is emerging as the intelligent choice for investors.”
Time: Around four days per month.
Remuneration: None.
Closes: 20 January
– – – – – – – – – –
Construction Industry Training Board – Board Trustee
“CITB is the statutory skills body for the construction industry in Great Britain and its purpose is to make better provision for the training and maintenance of skills in the industry. CITB raises around £200m annually via a training levy, and works closely with employers and the Government to ensure national construction skills needs are met. CITB seeks to create the culture and conditions that will deliver new ways of working, embracing new technologies, creating a demand in construction for more skills, new skills and higher level skills. CITB aspires to be at the forefront of effective commissioning and grant practice and is undertaking a high-profile transformational reform programme in order to achieve this.”
Time: Around 16 hours per month.
Remuneration: Expenses.
Closes: 28 January
– – – – – – – – – –
Homes England – Chair
“The Chair will be responsible for the proper running of the Homes England Board. They will guide and influence the Agency at a strategic level providing confident, clear and consistent leadership. They will also lead the Agency’s relationship with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who they will meet on a regular basis. The Chair will act as an ambassador for the Board and for Homes England, helping to build and develop collaborative strategic partnerships that support and promote Homes England’s core mission. The successful candidate will influence and network with key decision makers and stakeholders and explain how the organisation is transforming…”
Time: Up to two days per week.
Remuneration: £95,000 per annum.
Closes: 31 January
– – – – – – – – – –
Northern Ireland Office – Lead Non-Executive Director
“The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is seeking to appoint a Lead Non-Executive Director to its Management Board. In addition to his/her responsibilities as a Board Member, the role of the Lead Non-Executive Director is to chair the Department’s Audit and Risk Committee. The successful candidate will be expected to take up the position in May 2020. Non-Executive Directors provide a key role in the strategic and operational leadership of the Northern Ireland Office. They complement the balance of skills and experience of Government Ministers and officials by bringing independent advice, support, constructive challenge and a fresh external perspective to help shape a department’s work.”
Time: Approx. 20 days per annum.
Remuneration: £12,500 per annum plus expenses.
Closes: 03 February
– – – – – – – – – –
Solent Local Enterprise Partnership – Chair
“The Solent LEP is seeking to recruit a Chair who is an influential local leader and who can bring energy and passion to act as a champion for the area’s economic success. The Chair requires sufficient standing to be able to convene the local business community and public sector stakeholders, while having the insight to oversee the development of an economic strategy and the relationship skills to work effectively with government. We want you to have a voice, make a difference and give something back to the region. The Chair must come from the private sector (Individuals can only be classed as private sector if their organisations do not appear on the Public Sector Classifications guide which can be viewed on the Office for National Statistics website).”
Time: Minimum one day per week on average.
Remuneration: ‘Reasonable expenses’.
Closes: 29 February
– – – – – – – – – –
Migration Advisory Committee – Chair
“The Chair of the MAC is appointed by the Home Secretary to oversee the operation of the Committee. The Chair has overall accountability for the MAC’s work and is responsible for overseeing the operation and output of the Committee, in collaboration with the Home Office Secretariat. To date, the MAC has operated “hands-on” in its analysis and interaction with the Secretariat. The Chair is responsible for establishing effective working relationships within the Committee, across the Secretariat and with government departments.”
Time: Two days per week.
Remuneration: £40,000 per annum.
Closes: 17 February
– – – – – – – – – –
Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership – Chair
“The Tees Valley Combined Authority and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) are looking to recruit a new LEP Chair and new LEP members from the private sector to deliver our ambitious economic plans. The Combined Authority and LEP strive to ensure an equal and diverse membership, and through this latest round of appointments, have committed to achieve 50% female representation on the LEP board in 2020. Due to the current LEP Chair coming to the end of his term, we are looking to appoint a new LEP Chair who has a strong private sector background, experience of building effective organisations and has the motivation to fully commit to and represent the LEP on a local and national scale.”
Time: 6-8 days per month.
Remuneration: Travel and subsistence expenses.
Closes: 29 February


conservativehome--2020-01-20--Brady re-elected Chairman of the 1922 Committee

Congratulations to Sir Graham Brady , the Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West , who has been re-elected Chairman @ @ @ @ @ It is a post he has held for ten years .
Sir Graham was challenged @ @ @ @ @ Conservative MP for North Herefordshire .
Bob Blackman , the MP for Harrow East , @ @ @ @ @ MP for Mid Derbyshire , were elected Joint Secretaries .
William Wragg , the MP @ @ @ @ @ not elected .
There was more background to the contest from Paul here and here @

Congratulations to Sir Graham Brady, the Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West, who has been re-elected Chairman of the 1922 Committee. It is a post he has held for ten years. Sir Graham was challenged by Bill Wiggin, the Conservative MP for North Herefordshire.
Bob Blackman, the MP for Harrow East, and Pauline Latham, the MP for Mid Derbyshire, were elected Joint Secretaries. William Wragg, the MP for Hazel Grove, was not elected.
There was more background to the contest from Paul here and here.


conservativehome--2020-01-21--James Frayne: Ten errors that Conservatives must avoid making about the new working class voters who

James Frayne: Ten errors that Conservatives must avoid making about the new working class voters who backed them last month

James Frayne is Director of Public First and author of Meet the People , a guide to moving public opinion .
Because few Conservative strategists supported the Party ’ s working class provincial pivot , there ’ s a dearth of decent advice on “ what next ” , and a great deal of bad advice .
Listening to conversations in Westminster in recent days , I fear that a number of misconceptions will drive bad decision-making .
Here ’ s a brief summary .
• None Thinking working class people want to be “ like them ” .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admirable , but the way in which many Conservative MPs talk about it winds people up .
It sounds like they ’ re saying ordinary people have crap lives and could “ do so much better ” ( maybe their kids could even live in Surrey if only they ’ d give them more self-confidence and get them volunteering ) .
Most people are basically happy with their lot and want to stay living in their local communities with their families .
• None Assuming they ’ ve taken on new troops for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s true most of the working class voters that came over to the Conservatives are small-c conservatives , they aren ’ t potential activists in a culture war .
They ’ re mostly totally unbothered by social change .
They ’ re opposed to the metropolitan excesses of the Corbyn left and will react to those excesses when exposed to them , but they don ’ t want the Government to lead them into a cultural conflict .
I suspect this will change within a decade as the British left continues its journey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that ’ s not where they are now .
• None Mistaking concern about immigration for an obsession with it .
There ’ s no denying that working class voters are partly driven by concerns about immigration .
But they are , for the most part , largely worried about border control , which they want established by leaving the EU .
Queasy Conservative politicians should relax .
New voters don ’ t want politicians to “ talk tough ” , nor do they want some great focus on illegal immigration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligent and discerning system that determines who should receive visas .
• None Thinking the working class are all poor .
Most new working class voters – and basically all lower middle class voters – aren ’ t in poverty , don ’ t live in terrible estates and don ’ t have “ troubled families ” .
Posh Tories have a terrible tendency to want to “ help ” poor provincial people to escape from their hell holes ; as such , they focus massively on the urban poor and largely forget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just get by .
Emphatically , that ’ s not to say the Government shouldn ’ t worry about those in poverty , but the mass of “ ordinary voters ” have different concerns .
• Thinking specifically about policy , one of the biggest mistakes I can see emerging is backing off welfare reform – driven by misplaced fear such reform will be hitting their new voters .
Wrong .
Those most pumped up for welfare reform are those that live cheek by jowl with those on welfare – who go mad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up at the crack of dawn to get to work every day .
The Conservatives bottled welfare reform during the election campaign – fair enough – but should return to it in this Parliament .
• Many Conservatives have been persuaded working class people are hostile to big business .
This is a fiction ; as I ’ ve written here before , working class people understand big businesses provide jobs and wages and need to be supported ( polling I did for the Taxpayers Alliance showed that working class people were much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle class voters , for example ) .
• None Accepting the false choice between tax cuts and better services .
For most of the last two decades , Conservatives have accepted the idea working class voters are happy to pay higher taxes to “ ensure ” better services .
It was never this simple , but more and more working class voters are becoming exasperated with higher taxes while waiting times for GP appointments lengthen , and while crime rises .
The Government ’ s recent announcement on cutting waste was met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have completely bought the idea that waste – particularly in the NHS – is endemic .
They ’ re ready to hear a more nuanced message on tax .
• None Thinking everyone wants to do all their shopping on the high street .
The Conservatives are right to worry about how to improve town centres , but too many think they all want the traditional high street defended or rebuilt .
It ’ s not this simple .
People like the convenience of massive supermarkets and internet shopping , and they despair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the minimal range of good available at high prices .
People want vibrant town centres where they can spend time ; they don ’ t want to return to the 1980s where they do all their shopping there .
• None Forgetting that public transport is just viable for vast numbers of people .
It ’ s reasonable to try to improve public transport across provincial England .
More people would get the bus and train to work if they could .
But people in Westminster still forget that vast numbers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near a train station , but they also don ’ t live near a bus stop .
How many people in London would change their commute if it even meant adding 30 minutes a day to their travel time ?
Why on earth would people outside London make decisions that were going to add an hour ?
• When Nick Timothy was Chief of Staff to Theresa May , he articulated an approach which was heavily influenced by the West Midlands .
This was useful because it made Southern Conservatives think in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he talked of somewhere where unemployment was low , where many businesses were growing , and where people were natural Conservatives .
Now the Conservatives have won so much of working class Northern England , there ’ s been a shift back towards lumping basically anywhere north of Bedford into “ the North ” and a corresponding loss of nuance about provincial life .
The party risks thinking about cloth caps and whippets again .

James Frayne is Director of Public First and author of Meet the People, a guide to moving public opinion.
Because few Conservative strategists supported the Party’s working class provincial pivot, there’s a dearth of decent advice on “what next”, and a great deal of bad advice. Listening to conversations in Westminster in recent days, I fear that a number of misconceptions will drive bad decision-making. Here’s a brief summary.


conservativehome--2020-01-21--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee


conservativehome--2020-01-21--Today, we publish our latest guide to the new generation of Tory Parliamentarians

The Queen ’ s Speech was approved yesterday evening in the Commons by a majority of almost a hundred .
@ @ @ @ @ bad moment to launch our latest guide to the new generation of Conservative MPs .
@ @ @ @ @ together on the two predecessor volumes – Cameron ’ s Children and May ’ s @ @ @ @ @ third piece of work is all his , for which very many thanks .
As @ @ @ @ @ at the new MPs ’ background , including former candidacies , work , local government @ @ @ @ @ where it can be found ) .
With over a hundred members , this intake @ @ @ @ @ its two immediate predecessors – over a quarter of the whole Parliamentary Party .
It @ @ @ @ @ impact on the outlook and culture not only of Tory MPs but of Parliament as @ @ @ @ @ just because of its shift northwards .

The Queen’s Speech was approved yesterday evening in the Commons by a majority of almost a hundred. So this seems not a bad moment to launch our latest guide to the new generation of Conservative MPs.
Henry Hill and I worked together on the two predecessor volumes – Cameron’s Children and May’s Men and Women. This third piece of work is all his, for which very many thanks.
As ever, the guide looks at the new MPs’ background, including former candidacies, work, local government experience, and education (where it can be found).
With over a hundred members, this intake is larger than either of its two immediate predecessors – over a quarter of the whole Parliamentary Party.
It will therefore have a huge impact on the outlook and culture not only of Tory MPs but of Parliament as a whole, and not just because of its shift northwards.