The crowds turned out in force yesterday for Remembrance Sunday.

Hundrends upon hundreds of us walked to the Grange Hill War Memorial in West Kirby – for a most moving service conducted by Reverend Dennis Kelly. 

It was a Remembrance service that paid tribute to all the brave people who had fought for our country and those that are fighting today. We prayed for those that had lost their lives and gave thanks for the courage of those who are prepared to face incredible danger to find peace. The last post sounded across a silent West Kirby as we lowered our heads and repeated ‘We will remember them.’

…The Friends of Meols Park for winning the Wirral News Award for community project – Roy Shuttleworth in particular has done a sensational job – and here he is pictured below with the Mayor Andrew Hodson, Alma his wife (and fellow Park helper) and me the Chair.

And what a couple of years it’s been for the park – from no park to thriving park – and last night, care of the Friends: Roy, Mike, Carol, Rachel, Jeremy, Roy (2) and Brian, a fabulous Firework display. Hundreds and hundreds of people turned up for an afternoon and evening of fun and me being the big kid I am took some friends to ooh and ahhh at the fireworks too! Meols was my second firework display of the weekend – Saturday night I popped down to the West Kirby Sailing club to see theirs and to huddle round their giant bonfire, after which Cllr Tom Anderson and myself went to the 1940’s dance at Wallasey Town Hall arranged by the Mayoress and monies raised went to the Mayor’s charity.

Pictured above some of the Wallasey team straight from delivering and canvassing along with helpers from Wirral West for the impending by-election in Moreton West and Saughall Massie.

Last night I scooted up the motorway to be guest speaker at the West Lancashire Women’s Business Network. Clare Joynson who’s the investment centre manager arranges these evenings and  runs the network, and what a dynamic network it is.

One lady I was speaking with told me how tough it is at the moment for her. She owns a large restaurant and she’s seen income along with customers tumble – however she’s  now diversifying and extending what she does to incorporate take away dinners and home catering – not easy she admitted but she knows she’s going to have to in order to survive.  

Meeting the ladies last night I was impressed by how hard working they were and how pragmatic there were too, facing the credit crunch with grit and determination…… oh and a bottle of white and some good friends ….

As many of you know I run a business women’s network called Winning Women. I set it up about 7 years ago now and have watched it flourish and the businesses within it flourish too. I never cease to be amazed by the business ideas people come up with or the enthusiasm and hard work they plough into them.

Last night was no exception when I was invited to open a fabulous new business on Wirral called The Olive Tree based at Brimstage Hall. Julie and Charlotte, the founders, are 2 mums who said they wanted to go back to work but more than that they wanted to combine their love and knowledge of flowers and crafts and turn it into a business.  They started work on their idea only 9 months ago but  with the turn out last night, nearly 300 people, for their official business opening I’m sure The Olive Tree will be a huge success – and seeing what they’ve done it deserves to be.  Take a peek at the website  www.flowersbytheolivetree.co.uk  and be ‘wowed’ with what they’ve created.

David Willetts MP will be visiting Wirral West this Thursday 29th Oct 

I’ll be holding an informal gathering offering you the chance to ask David Willetts questions, offer suggestions and take part in the shaping future Conservative Policy.

If you’d like to attend please call the office on 0151 632 1052

• Date of event : 29th Oct
• Time : 6-8.30pm
• Price : £15 – dinner included

Last night I was part of a panel at the Liverpool Guild of Students Student Council to debate the Future of Politics. The Panel was made up of:

Esther McVey – Conservatives
Stephen Twigg – Labour
Colin Eldridge –Liberal Democrats
Steve Radford – Liberals
Tom Crone – Greens

One of the main issues discussed was the environment and renewable energy – most of the panel believed it to be a vital issue, however, I was surprised to find only I appeared to live by our renewal energy message!

 I installed solar panels several years ago and I can genuinely extol their virtues. They have heated all my water for several years now – I’ve  never needed to use anything else and I think they’re terrific. I also saved up and  invested in a rain harvester for it had always seemed crazy to me to use clean, pure water for toilet flushes, washing the car and watering the garden etc.  I’m a strong believer in alternative and renewable energy sources  and that such development is not only necessary to provide us with  a diverse range of energy sources but also to provide future jobs and opportunities.

ps …I also think it’s important politicians lead by example and live by what they preach!

Last night I was one of the guest speakers for a women’s careers night at Calday Grange Grammar School along with Superintendent Julie Cooke and Jacquie Rogers, General Manager of the BT Convention Centre.

The night was divided into 3 sections discussing; stereotyping, world opportunities and steps  to success with break out sessions after each business guest had spoken.

It was a wonderful night and great insight not only into the different  professions but also into the aspirations and views of the girls who attended the event. Well done Calday 6th Form careers department.

Last week in the wonderful setting of the Concorde Conference Centre I was part of the International HSBC Business debating panel. The discussion was on business during the economic downturn, fellow panel members were Sir Digby Jones and Dennis Turner HSBC’s chief economist and subjects included; renewable energy, financial crisis opportunity or threat?, the leisure and retail industry, politics and change of government. As you can imagine with over 200 business men and women from the region we had a lively debate and it all took place under Concorde – which in itself became part of the debate!

Sky TV also screened a documentary last week with Jean Taylor – founder of Families Fighting for Justice – Jean talked about her son and daughter who were both murdered and her campaign for greater justice for victims and longer sentences for murderers. I too took part in the documentary having worked with the group for the last 2 years working with them on the legal stance and sentencing of ‘joint enterprise’ – a form of sentence for all involved in group crime.

I attended a sensational night to help raise funds for the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. The night was unbelievable – organised by Margaret Harry and hosted by David Gest with Hollywood Silver Screen legend Jane Russell. Yes The Jane Russell! Jane who hates flying arrived in Liverpool on the Queen Victoria Cruise liner.  Some of those performing included: The Temptations, Ben E King, Connie Lush, Deniece Williams.  

Huge good luck has to go to local business man for opening a new business in Hoylake last week. Ian MacLavery opened a Wealth Managment business on Market St and held a small reception to celebrate. Mayor and businessman Andrew Hodson came to wish Ian and his team well.

A team of us were  our working in Pensby over the weekend  - litter picking in areas and working with the local shops and businesses. Adam Sykes our local council candidate led the action day and here we all are below

Finally we held a local fundraiser for Upton at the Victory Hall – the event was a sell out and wonderfully organised by Geoff Gubb (pictured below) and Cllr Tom Anderson.

If you’d like to get involved with the Conservative Party and help in your local area please call the office on 0151 632 1052

Government figures showed that in September 2009 there were 1,715 people unemployed in Wirral West claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, with 17 job seekers chasing every Job Centre vacancy in Wirral West added to that national debt is forecast to double to £1.4 trillion – equivalent to £22,500 of debt for every man, woman and child in Wirral West.

In light of these figures, Conservative policy is to simplify the numerous, piecemeal Labour work programmes into a single back-to-work programme for everyone on out-of-work benefits. This would be backed up with new and additional work pairings, apprenticeships, further education college places and vocational education for young people. There would also be programmes to support self-employment, work clubs and volunteering opportunities to help people prepare for work and find jobs.

Some of the biggest challenges facing Wirral are Labour’s Jobs Crisis and Debt Crisis. There are already 17 people chasing each job vacancy in Wirral West and we will soon each be burdened with £22,500 of government debt. It is vital we work together to rebuild our broken economy, mend our broken society and fix our broken politics. We believe help should be directed towards those in our society who are most in need and we pledge to reward those who take responsibility, and care for those who can’t.

Community matters – Cllr Tom Anderson and Geoff Gubb abseiled for  Meadowside School last weekend raising over a £1000. Tom said never again – he couldn’t believe we got him to abeseil down the Royal Liverpool, over 200 feet…. smile Tom.

A team of 10 including Tom, Geoff and the acting head Paula Wareing did the abseil – here they are back on terra firma feeling ever so much better!!

I woke to the news that Gordon Brown is to announce the sale of £16bn worth of assets by the government in a bid to shore up public finances.

The prime minister will give details of initial sales today which could raise £3bn. He says these sales are an alternative to immediate cuts proposed by the Tories.

The plan is to sell a “portfolio of non-financial assets” held by Whitehall and local authorities over the next two years. They will include the Tote bookmakers, Dartford crossing, the student loan book, the Channel Tunnel rail link and – having protected national security – the government’s stake in Urenco.

As we all know selling off assets can help in the short-term and, given the state the country is in, is probably necessary but it is no substitute for a long-term plan to get the country to live within its means but with Gordon’s past record – selling gold at an all time low price – questions must be asked – Is now really the time to be selling? It might well be that the sale is necessary – with public borrowing this year at a record £175bn but is Gordon grasping at straws?

George Osborne outlined Conservative ideas at our party conference last week – he spoke about freezing pubic sector pay, cutting the cost of bureaucracy, restricting child credits, limiting state sector pensions and raising the pension age to 66 – Gordon a few days later announces his ‘sale bonanza’ – let’s hope this isn’t a knee jerk reaction to the Conservative well planned reduced spending, if it is, we might see a repeat performance of him selling the country’s gold at rock bottom prices all for the sake of a few headlines and not getting to grips with the real problem Brown and Labour’s irresponsible and unfunded spending.