Ready for Action in Montgomeryshire

August 5, 2010

Last week I was selected as the Conservative Party Candidate to fight next years Welsh Assembly elections in Montgomeryshire.

Over 250 people attended a packed Welshpool town hall last Thursday evening to listen to questions put to myself and two other candidates. The meeting was open to members of the public, you didn’t need to be a party member to attend, and you just needed to be registered to vote in Montgomeryshire.

Interestingly, when former Labour MP John Marek was selected as the Conservative candidate to fight the seat in Wrexham the other day, also one of only three candidates, just 26 people turned up, I would have felt quite disappointed if this was the turnout in Welshpool. That said I of course wish John well and hope that he and I will be working as colleagues next May.

Turnout was high in Montgomershire because all three candidates where local, albeit from different parts of the constituency, and each having friends and family in the community coming out to support. All that said there was much interest, and many with an open mind.

I felt privileged and honored to have been selected. It was a difficult process, when the opposition are also friends who would have made excellent candidates for Montgomeryshire. I am hoping both will have the opportunity as assembly candidates in the other areas.

I had decided that if selected I was intending to fully commit my time to the job of candidate. It is my intention to win next May and to fly the flag for Montgomershire in the Assembly. I am keen to focus on finding solutions to the many problems we face and to listen to peoples concerns.

We need to retain and improve our local services and to find more efficient  ways of delivering services. We need to provide support for local business to combat high unemployment levels. I shall be challenging the Welsh Assembly Government on Montgomeryshire’s poor transport infrastructure, and more importantly on making an announcement on the preferred route and start date for the Newtown Bypass which I believe is crucial to the regeneration of our local economy.

The Welsh Assembly Government has done little for Mid Wales and this needs to change.

4 Comments | conservatives, elections, independent candidates, montgomeryshire conservatives, newtown, transport, welsh assembly, welsh conservatives | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Council tax increase – and I voted for it!

February 4, 2010

Well, what did happen on the council tax increase debate? The answer is that it is going to be an increase of 4.25% and what is surprising is that I voted for it!

One of my reasons for standing for election to the County Council two years ago was due to my frustrations in council and business tax going up each year, but the services we receive going down.

Last year, I voted against the 2.99% council tax increase, and supported the Conservatives proposals for just a 2% increase.

Taking into account that inflation is very low at present, the proposed increase of 4.25% seemed high in real terms. Under normal circumstances, I could never support such a high council tax increase, but at last weeks meeting I did support and vote for the 4.25%. I supported this with difficulty as I do find it hard to justify when people have either lost their jobs or are seeing a small increase in there wage packets.

When the 4.25% proposal was first brought forward a few weeks earlier at the council’s board, I didn’t support the increase.

This year’s council budget does seem to be designed to boost reserves, as the belt tightens on Council spending. To maintain much needed investment in our schools is my main reason for supporting this year’s increase.

Let’s not forget that following the forthcoming general election spending cuts will be inevitable whoever wins, and saving our secondary schools and other services, where we can, appears to me to be a valid cause.

Leave a Comment » | conservatives, council tax, councillors, powys county council, public services, taxes, welsh conservatives | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Happy new year!

December 31, 2009

This year will be an exciting one for those interested in both local and national politics, like me. We will have a general election before July and as a Conservative myself I of course hope we will have a Tory government.

I will also be working hard to get our candidate for the Conservative Party in Montgomeryshire elected, Glyn Davies. I’ve just read Glyn’s new year message and I am particularly happy to see him mention how he will do his best to bring pride, integrity and respect to the position of an MP. No man woman or MP can be perfect, but each can strive to do there best.

Anyway, happy new year. Part of Glyn’s Message is below:

NEW YEAR MESSAGE  from  GLYN DAVIES, Parliamentary Candidate for the Conservative Party in Montgomeryshire.

As I type these words on my computer, our 2 year old granddaughter, Ffion is ‘helping’ me.  In the next room, our week old grandson, Darragh is crying for his mother to feed him. All around me, is the hub-bub of family life.  Inevitably, all this creates context for how I think about the New Year. If all of us are here to celebrate next Christmas together, healthy and content, 2010 will have turned out to be a good year, whatever else may happen.

A General Election will dominate my 2010. The result will be important for the UK, for Wales, and for Montgomeryshire. I hope it brings change. It will also be decisive for Ffion, Darragh and all the rest of us. If I were to be elected Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire in 2010, the responsibility would demand a huge commitment. And it would be given, because Montgomeryshire matters to me. It’s home, and always will be.

As a politician, my aim has always been to reach out across party loyalities. So often we agree about what’s right. My support for our soldiers in Afghanistan, my wish to help the elderly, and those suffering from dementia, from renal problems, from Parkinson’s Disease, my love of Rural Wales, the wildlife with which we share our world, and the Welsh Language, is shared across all parties - as is my determination to always win a fair deal for Montgomeryshire. Most of us want a nation that is fairer, safer, greener, and where every individual matters – even though we may not always agree on the best way to achieve all these things. But most of all, I would do my best to bring pride, integrity and respect to the position of MP for Montgomeryshire.

Leave a Comment » | conservatives, councillors, elections | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Councillor George!

May 3, 2008

It is just now sinking in that I have been elected to represent the residents of Powys and in particular the people of Newtown Central on our local Council. 
 
The count was not taking place until Friday morning.  So although very tired after weeks of hard campaigning, I had little sleep on Thursday night.
 
I stood around the table where the votes where being counted, along with the other candidates, each candidate having friends and party members around them. I’ve never experienced so many emotions in such a short space of time as the votes where sorted into the five trays: nerves, excitement, pride, anxiety, humility and more.

Then the results were declared:
 
BANCROFT, Dougie – Welsh Liberal Democrats – 211 
GEORGE, Russell Ian – Welsh Conservatives – 314 
LLOYD, Robert Alan – Independent – 29 
MCCALL, John Andrew, Independent – 26 
TAYLOR, Reg, Independent – 110
 
The returning officer then announced: “And I do hereby declare that the said Russell Ian George is duly elected Councillor for the said Electoral Division”. I felt very excited to be given this vote of confidence by the people of Newtown Central which I intend to repay by bringing a fresh approach on their behalf.
 
I’ve had many emails, comments and texts congratulating me, which I haven’t yet had time to respond to, so if you are reading this, thank you – I appreciate your support greatly.

3 Comments | conservatives, elections, newtown, powys county council, welsh conservatives | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Newtown taxes to increase for low paid workers

April 21, 2008

I can’t understand how anyone can say that removing the 10p tax band will help anyone. Newtown is one of the lowest paid areas in the UK and those on lowest pay will certainly find themselves paying much more tax.

This is just another way through the back door of taking more money from the average hard working person. When Gordon Brown announced the reduction in the basic rate from 22% to 20% and then abolished the 10p tax band, it was obvious to that everyone would be worse off. But what’s frustrating is that on announcing this he presented it as good for the average hard-working person!

So many people I have spoken to this week have aired there dissatisfaction of Labour, and I’m finding great support with people telling me there going to vote Conservative for the first time.

Council tax is of course another hot issue. The Lib Dems in Powys want to scrap council tax and replace it with a tax-per-person system. If this comes about I fear that the average paid workers in Powys will be paying even more.

The Conservatives pledge to introduce a system that places the control of council tax into our hands. My party will call for a referendum if our council wants to put up council tax by any significant amount. This will effectively make our council have to put forward a strong case to justify any large increase if they want us, the people of Powys, to vote for it.

It’s a disgrace that people who earn next to nothing are going to subsidise the 2p tax cut for people who earn more than they do. We are paying too much tax for too little in return and from the conversations I’ve had with people in Newtown this week I believe the public are finally realising it.

Leave a Comment » | conservatives, council tax, elections, issues, newtown, powys county council, taxes | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

I’m not on my own

April 7, 2008

I left our meeting this morning feeling so glad that I’ve got the backing of my party, the Welsh Conservatives.

I have the constant support of our parliamentary candidate Glyn Davies and our association chairman Simon Baynes who has just been elected (unopposed) to represent his area on Powys County Council and the Montgomeryshire Conservatives.

Walking into the office this morning, there was a real buzz of being part of a strong team. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the many “independent” candidates throughout Powys who don’t have the backing of a strong political party.

It is great to be able to phone up the office and get advice on a particular issue, normally from Pam. And if she can’t help, she’ll know someone who can.

On leaving the office this morning I did feel bad that I hadn’t thanked Pam enough for all she’s doing for each of the candidates. Sometimes when you are totally focussed on the campaign, it is difficult to get a moment to properly say thank you.

Surely it makes sense for a county councillor to be part of a wider group, one that has influence in the Welsh Assembly, in London and in Europe? What can an independent councillor do when they face issues that affect our local area but are decided by bodies outside of Powys?

What is more, as well as offering advice, expertise and resources, I know that the more backing I receive from my party, the more of my time will be freed up to devote to the important issues that matter to you.

If I’m privileged enough to be elected, I’ll feel reassured to know that I’m not on my own.

1 Comment | conservatives, independent candidates, issues, montgomeryshire conservatives, powys county council, welsh assembly, welsh conservatives | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge