Civil war claim is well wide of mark (From Croydon Guardian)

Civil war claim is well wide of mark

9:56am Thursday 13th November 2008

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It was good of Councillor Tony Newman to wish Andrew Pelling well (Letters, October 29), but the Labour Group leader’s claim that there is a civil war within Croydon Conservatives is the latest example of his penchant for wishful thinking.

Andrew was one of the people that got me involved in local politics. We remain good friends, as Andrew confirmed in his interview with the Croydon Guardian, and it’s great to see him back at work.

I have in no way attempted to install myself in his place.

What I have done since being selected in February is:
❑ sent a survey to every home in the constituency to find out what people are concerned about;
❑ visited as many schools, charities and local community groups as possible;
❑ got involved in numerous campaigns;
❑ set up a social action group to clear up local litter spots;
❑ regularly delivered newsletters to tell people what I am campaigning for;
and
❑ knocked on more than 10,000 doors across the constituency (so far) to introduce myself to the people I am hoping to represent.

Coun Newman clearly takes an old-fashioned view that candidates shouldn’t be doing any of these things, that they should expect people to vote for someone they haven’t met and know little about.

He’s entitled to his opinion, but perhaps if he had spent a bit more time trying to find out what the people he is elected to represent actually want, he would have done a better job of running the council.

GAVIN BARWELL
Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Croydon Central

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