Experienced
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Thatcher...
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I became interested in politics a few years after graduating from Bournemouth University.
It was the time of the famous Christchurch By-Election, and after a day spent helping local parties, I realised I was a natural Conservative. I also realised that I had been campaigning for causes all my life. |
... to May
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Campaigning
The Government planned to build a Third London Airport in the north of Buckinghamshire, with the main runway being positioned directly over our house.
At the age of 10, and much to the despair of my parents, I formed the CCARA - The Cublington Children's Airport Resistance Association The highlight, apart from helping to stop the airport from being built, was handing in a petition signed by all the local children to the newly elected Prime Minister at No 10, Margaret Thatcher! |
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Standing for Election
I first joined the Conservatives and threw myself into the Poole Association, becoming Vice Chairman and standing as a candidate in the Constituency's most unwinnable ward of Hamworthy.
I became the agent for the first Poole Unitary Authority Elections where I cut my teeth with 39 Candidates... I'm not sure I ever recovered! |
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2015 - 2019
I was a Councillor and the Chairman of the Westbourne and West Cliff Ward in Bournemouth West Constituency.
We had a very lively and enthusiastic committee, and for two years I was the Chairman for the Branch which boasted the largest branch membership of the Association which consistently raises the most funds year on year. 
With Conor Burns on a Westbourne and West Cliff Branch trip to Houses of Parliament in November 2014
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Fundraising
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Without the support of our members, and the funds they bring to our Association, we cannot fight and win elections.
To attract new and lapsed members, we simply need to invite them, and offer them something in return. I put together all the literature for Westbourne and West Cliff Branch, and once a year we post it to all members, following them up with emails from my Mailchimp account. |
Click image to enlarge
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Mutual Aid
The branding I created for Michael Tomlinson's Mid Dorset and North Poole campaign
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I'm a big believer in tactical, targeted and "stealth" campaigning - Mutual Aid is so important in politics and there's nothing I love more than a good "snap" by election!
From early 2013 to the GE in 2015, I volunteered to be the Mutual Aid Organiser for Dorset, to help Michael Tomlinson and the Mid Dorset & North Poole Constituency in their 40:40 campaign.
For over two years, I helped expand the youthful and energetic Campaign Team which turned a 265 Lib Dem Majority into a thumping 10,530 Conservative majority It was my job to recruit then organise the movements of over 550 volunteers from 8 constituencies in Dorset. In Jan 2015, I recruited the largest number of helpers to a CCHQ Super Saturday!
I was also responsible for coordinating then organising all help from the local Hunts and the Vote OK campaign.
I developed the idea of twinning neighbouring Constituencies with the their nearest "patch" in the constituency, offering soup and rolls afterwards. This formed a bond between the volunteers from both constituencies, and ensured that those from "over the border" were familiar with their mutual aid patch. I'm delighted to hear that this campaign techniques was emulated by other 40:40 campaigns around the country.
My role was also to arrange every Saturday's campaigning for those two and a half years, using both Voter ID, "Knock 'n Drop", and wartime campaigning.
I initiated and ran all the Social Media campaigns, including the regular emailing all 550 volunteers, and in the run up to the election, the 2,000 constituents by using Mailchimp.
I also created the campaign 40:40 branding, YouTube / Social Media videos and also the Saturday campaigning plans and schedules for Michael and his team.
In the last three weeks of the campaign, I was pulled from my own constituency of Bournemouth to run the 40:40 campaigns in two of Michael's Borough Wards for 4 councillors also standing for election on May 7th. All were elected, 2 of which became councillors in those wards for the very first time!
Below you can see the report I prepared below detailing the activities I organised.
From early 2013 to the GE in 2015, I volunteered to be the Mutual Aid Organiser for Dorset, to help Michael Tomlinson and the Mid Dorset & North Poole Constituency in their 40:40 campaign.
For over two years, I helped expand the youthful and energetic Campaign Team which turned a 265 Lib Dem Majority into a thumping 10,530 Conservative majority It was my job to recruit then organise the movements of over 550 volunteers from 8 constituencies in Dorset. In Jan 2015, I recruited the largest number of helpers to a CCHQ Super Saturday!
I was also responsible for coordinating then organising all help from the local Hunts and the Vote OK campaign.
I developed the idea of twinning neighbouring Constituencies with the their nearest "patch" in the constituency, offering soup and rolls afterwards. This formed a bond between the volunteers from both constituencies, and ensured that those from "over the border" were familiar with their mutual aid patch. I'm delighted to hear that this campaign techniques was emulated by other 40:40 campaigns around the country.
My role was also to arrange every Saturday's campaigning for those two and a half years, using both Voter ID, "Knock 'n Drop", and wartime campaigning.
I initiated and ran all the Social Media campaigns, including the regular emailing all 550 volunteers, and in the run up to the election, the 2,000 constituents by using Mailchimp.
I also created the campaign 40:40 branding, YouTube / Social Media videos and also the Saturday campaigning plans and schedules for Michael and his team.
In the last three weeks of the campaign, I was pulled from my own constituency of Bournemouth to run the 40:40 campaigns in two of Michael's Borough Wards for 4 councillors also standing for election on May 7th. All were elected, 2 of which became councillors in those wards for the very first time!
Below you can see the report I prepared below detailing the activities I organised.
Here are two of the videos I made for Michael's campaign:
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Candidate
In January 2014, I passed the Conservative's Parliamentary Assessment Board (PAB) and was eligible to stand as a candidate in the 2015 General Election.
In late 2014 and early 2015, I was interviewed to become the parliamentary candidate for the following constituencies:
Unfortunately I was not selected for these seats, but I was however elected on May 7th 2015 to be the Councillor for my own Ward of Westbourne and West Cliff in the Bournemouth Unitary Authority.
Over 20 years I have stood as the Conservative candidate in the following Lib Dem and Labour strongholds to gain experience, to increase our vote and strengthen our branches. Until 2015, I always chose the most un-winnable Wards, because of my employment and military commitments.
In late 2014 and early 2015, I was interviewed to become the parliamentary candidate for the following constituencies:
- Southampton Test, Labour safe
- Caerphilly, Labour safe
- Bexhill and Battle, Conservative safe, I got through to the final 10
- Fareham, Conservative safe, I got through to the final 4
Unfortunately I was not selected for these seats, but I was however elected on May 7th 2015 to be the Councillor for my own Ward of Westbourne and West Cliff in the Bournemouth Unitary Authority.
Over 20 years I have stood as the Conservative candidate in the following Lib Dem and Labour strongholds to gain experience, to increase our vote and strengthen our branches. Until 2015, I always chose the most un-winnable Wards, because of my employment and military commitments.
- 2015 Westbourne and West Cliff, Bournemouth Council
- 2011 Kinson South, Bournemouth Council
- 2007 Kinson North, Bournemouth Council
- 2003 Kinson North, Bournemouth Council
- 1999 Kinson North, Bournemouth Council
- 1996 Hamworthy, Poole Unitary Authority
- 1996 Hamworthy, Poole Shadow Unitary
- 1995 Hamworthy, Dorset County Council By-Election
- 1995 Hamworthy, Poole Borough Council
Association Posts
- 2018 - date Branch Committee Member, Selsey, West Sussex Branch
- 2016 - 2019 Branch Committee Member, Westbourne and West Cliff Branch
- 2014 - 2016 Chairman, Westbourne and West Cliff Branch
- 2013 Mutual Aid Organiser, 40:40 campaign seat of Mid Dorset and North Poole 2015 General Election Campaign Team
- 2008 Both Bournemouth West selection committees for the new Prospective Parliamentary Candidate: Conor Burns MP won
- 2001-2009 Including Secretary, Political Vice Chairman: Westbourne and West Cliff Ward, Bournemouth
- 2001-2004 Executive Committee, Bournemouth West Conservative Association
- 1997 Campaign publicity manager, Robert Syms MP, 1997 Poole General Election. Designed and organised delivery of all the literature, with targeted publicity for each ward
- 1996-1998 Vice Chairman Political, Poole Conservative Association
- 1996 Agent, Poole Unitary Authority. Organised campaign, prepared paperwork & designed literature for 39 candidates
- 1994-1998 Ward Secretary and Agent for the 1996 Elections in the Harbour Ward, Poole
Campaigning
I have campaigned in elections every year for the Conservative Party since 1994, including during those dark days when being Conservative wasn't "the height of fashion"...
2015 - Date
2010 - Date
2005 - 2010
2001 - 2005
1997 - 2001
1994 - 1997
2015 - Date
- Mid Dorset & North Poole, Mutual Aid organiser for all 8 Dorset Constituencies, 2017 General Election
- Bournemouth, 2017 General Election
- North Highcliffe & Walkford, Christchurch Borough Council, By-Election
- Kinson South, Bournemouth Borough Council, By-Election
- Kinson North, Bournemouth Borough Council, By-Election
- Dorset PCC Elections, Campaign and Social Media manager
2010 - Date
- Mid Dorset & North Poole, Mutual Aid organiser for all 8 Dorset Constituencies, 2015 General Election
- Bournemouth, General Election
- Newark, Westminster By-Election
- Rochester & Strood, Westminster By-Election
- Colehill Ward, East Dorset District Council, By-Election
- Whitchurch Ward, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
- Oakley & North Waltham Ward, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
- Burghclere, Highclere & St Mary Bourne Ward, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
- Baughurst & Tadley North Ward, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, By-Election
- Overton, Laverstoke & Steventon Ward, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
- East Woodhay Ward, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
- Winton East Ward, Bournemouth Borough Council, By-Election
- Branksome East Ward, Poole Borough Council, By-Election
- Lytchett Matravers Ward, Purbeck District Council By-Election
- Kinson South Ward, Bournemouth Borough Council
- Colehill Ward, East Dorset District Council
- Wimborne Ward, East Dorset District Council
2005 - 2010
- Bournemouth, General Election
- Mid Dorset & North Poole, General Election
- Broadstone Ward, Poole Unitary Authority By-Election
- Westbourne Ward, Bournemouth Borough Council, By-Election
- Haltemprice and Howden, Westminster By-Election
- Branksome East Ward, Poole Unitary Authority By-Election
- Wallisdown Ward, Bournemouth Borough Council By-Election
- Swanage Town Council By-Election
- Preston Ward, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council By-Election
2001 - 2005
- Bournemouth, General Election
- Shrewsbury, General Election
- Kinson Ward, Bournemouth Borough Council, By-Election
- South West Region, Bournemouth area, European Parliament
- Wallisdown Ward, Bournemouth Borough Council, By-Election
1997 - 2001
- Bournemouth, General Election
- Romsey, Westminster By-Election
- Kinson North, Bournemouth Borough Council, By-Election
- South West Region, Poole area, European Parliament
- Westbourne and West Cliff Ward, Bournemouth Borough Council
1994 - 1997
- Mid Dorset, General Election
- Poole, General Election
- Upton Ward, Purbeck District Council
- Weymouth Town Ward, Weymouth Town Council By-Election
- Hamworthy Ward, Poole Unitary Authority
- Hamworthy Ward, Dorset County Council By-Election
