Happy new year and time for a change!

January 1, 2011

For me, the next four months will be largely dominated with my campaign in the run up to the Welsh Assembly elections which take place on May 5th.

Last July as I was selected as the Conservative candidate for Montgomeryshire for the Welsh Assembly elections. It was a privilege to have been selected by the 300 odd people who attended the public meeting and put their faith in me.

During 2010 I was heavily involved in the General election campaign, playing my part to help Glyn Davies get elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament,  In Montgomeryshire decades of Liberal Democrat representation at Westminster came to an end.

On the 5th May it will be up to the 49,000 people who live in Montgomeryshire to have their say again, and I of course hope they too will put their faith in me. I’ve been involved in standing up for issues important to Montgomeryshire and Mid Wales for some years, so it would be a privilege to serve the people of my home constituency in the Welsh Assembly -  my aim to fly the flag for this part of Wales which has been overlooked for too long.

Wales needs a change this year. In my view, the Welsh Assembly Government has never worked well for Wales or Montgomeryshire. My hope is that 2011 will bring the change we need.

Wales remains the poorest nation of the UK and lags behind other developed nations educationally. We have had twelve years of Labour domination in the Welsh Government and this has not led to improvements in our public services or our economy.

We also need to see Mid Wales recognized. The Welsh First minister was recently asked how many times since taking up his position he had visited Mid Wales. Carwyn Jones replied: “This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost”.

This response just shows what the First Minister’s attitude is towards Mid Wales. This is not a difficult question which requires a load of paper work, it just demonstrates a worrying attitude towards the area of Wales in which I have lived all my life.

If David Cameron can find the time to visit Montgomeryshire on a number of occasions, surely Carwyn Jones who has been First Minister for over a year should be able to be aware of when and why he has visited Montgomeryshire. Surely this is not too much to ask for, and anything less is gross neglect of our region.

As the Welsh Assembly government are not prepared to come to us, I will take our views to them!. This year I intend to take my Newtown Traffic Petition to Cardiff, to present the views of thousands of people from Montgomeryshire to The Minister. The traffic situation in Newtown which affects the majority of our County is a disgrace and needs to be resolved with serious commitment to reducing the current problem and bringing forward the finance for the Newtown By-Pass.

We have so many pressing issues in Montgomeryshire that need addressing; We need to retain and improve our local services and support local business which help create local jobs.

2011 will bring a number of opportunities for people in Wales to have their say. On the 3rd March, we will have a referendum regarding granting more powers to the National Assembly. On 5th May, we will not only have The Assembly elections, but a further referendum on changing the voting system for Westminster elections.

From my own point of view, I of course hope people will have confidence in me this May and that I will be elected the next AM for Montgomeryshire.

The New Year can be hard for many, so I would like to send my best wishes – things will change! To all the people of Montgomeryshire I wish you a happy and prosperous year.

2 Comments | montgomeryshire conservatives, newtown, welsh assembly, welsh conservatives | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Empty shops, premises and industrial units in Montgomeryshire

November 2, 2010

Small and independent businesses have been let down by the Welsh Assembly Government. In my view, the WAG have failed to help businesses through the recent recession. It’s disappointing that measures to help small businesses have just not come forward.

I believe that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I was part of an announcement today by my party in Wales announcing some news to help businesses. The proposals by my party in Wales would mean that 5,383 small business properties in Powys would pay no business rates at all, thus encouraging local enterprise.

Under the new proposals, businesses with a rateable value of up to £12,000 would not pay any business rates. Rates would be tapered for small businesses with rateable values between £12,001 and £15,000, thereby reducing bills for a further 251 small firms in Powys.

The Welsh Conservative proposals to cut business rates will help our small businesses ride out the current economic downturn and encourage small business start-ups by giving people the confidence to invest. These proposals would provide a considerable boost to the local economy and help fill empty shops and industrial units in Welshpool and Newtown. Of course, for this proposal to come into being, the Welsh Conservatives need to get into government next year in the Welsh Assembly.

2 Comments | business, conservatives, council tax, employment, montgomeryshire conservatives, newtown, shopping, welsh assembly, welsh conservatives | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

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

Making friends

May 12, 2008

I attended County Hall for the first time this week, where on Tuesday I had an induction course which was interesting, but did feel like information overload.

On Friday, I had training on Code of conduct. The speaker made a very good job of making a boring subject very interesting. The session lasted all morning, but if I had to sum it up, it would be “How to stay out of jail”.

The Code of conduct is excellent, and its quite right that if councillors break this code, they should be disqualified from their position. It does however concern me – for example, will I genuinely forget to declare a conflict of interest? – but it is correct, and I would hope that the consequences for not heeding the code would make all councillors take it seriously.

I should also mention the other new Newtown councillors, of which there are five:

Newtown East – Richard John White (Liberal Democrat)
Newtown Llanllwchaiarn North – Francis Torrens (Welsh Conservative)
Newtown South – Robert Mills (Independant)
Newtown Llanllwchaiarn West – Peter Harris (Welsh Conservative)
Newtown Central – Russell George (me) (Welsh Conservative)

I know Peter Harris and Frank (Francis Torrens) and both are good friends. I have got to know them even better this week as we have shared a car from Newtown to Llandod a few times. I probably got to know Frank the best, simply because he doesn’t stop talking - from the point of getting in the car untill we arrive at our destination!

I had heard a great deal about Bob Mills during my own campaigning, people I spoke to either really disliked him or really liked him. I met him properly this week. Bob had invited me to a meeting to save Garth Owen post office, so I was able to form my own opinion of him. I found Bob to be very hospitable, passionate about standing up for his ward and very good at arranging and chairing the meeting he organised.

Bob also called me this week on a planning issue on my ward and was a big help.  From what I now of Bob, he’s a good councillior and I think he will be a good friend and ally. I also met Richard White this week.

Leave a Comment » | councillors, issues, newtown, post office closures, powys county council, training, welsh conservatives | 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

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

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