Compassionate Conservatism is alive and kicking, claims Armitage and Handsacre Lichfield councillor Richard Cox.
The 51-year-old has been a councillor in the area since 2003, as well as being chairman of the Armitage and Handsacre Parish Council.
And he believes the Conservatives have a proven track record of delivery for residents.
He has urged the electorate to base their decisions in district and parish elections on local and not national issues.
Mr Cox said: “If you were to cut me down the middle, it wouldn’t say that I’m Conservative. In fact it wouldn’t say anything in regards to party politics. It would say that I’m Lichfield Hockey Club.
“I’ve been a member since 1976. I’ve been the captain, events organiser, secretary etc and I’ve been asked to manage their men’s first 11s team next season in the national league.
“As Conservatives we’ve a proven track record of delivery locally. A bowling green was talked about for a number of years, and we delivered it – we’ve improved play areas and brought in a pedestrian crossing near the Plum Pudding pub to improve road safety.
“I’ve worked tirelessly to put the issue of housing onto the agenda – I’ve tried to help local people who want to rent a home through a housing association in the area, or elderly people who have raised a family, and who are now looking to downsize, but still want to remain in Armitage and Handsacre – if that is not compassionate Conservatism then I don’t know what is.
“I don’t believe national issues will impact upon how people cast their vote in district and parish council elections on May 7 – it shouldn’t come into consideration anyway as people should vote based on the candidate and not their party.”
Mr Cox revealed what he believes is the key to being a successful councillor and says the district and parish councillors have worked together to help the area’s young people.
He said: “You have got to become involved in your local community. For example, the parish council became involved in a community youth club. As the parish council, we were the guarantors, but we let the organisers run it themselves.
“This may have been a factor as to why we’ve such low levels of anti-social behavior in Armitage and Handsacre, because these free spirited young people have realised they no longer needed the service.
“I feel we’re a young and diverse party and as I’ve already said we’ve a proven track record of delivery. We’ve 27-year-old Ben Rayner standing for us in Alrewas and Fradley for the District Council and for Armitage and Handsacre for the Parish Council.
“I’m pleased that Ben is standing for the Conservative Party and I wish him all the best on May 7.”
Mr Cox has also been a vocal opponent of the controversial HS2 project.
“I’ve given impassioned speeches in council about HS2 and I’ve written repeatedly about the project to HS2 Ltd, but they’ve said they’ve answered my questions and maybe I’m looking for different answers,” he said.
“Michael Fabricant, myself, the parish and district council have all worked together to try and mitigate the impact of HS2 to ensure our community is safe going forward.”
The candidates standing in the Lichfield District Council elections in the Armitage with Handsacre ward are:
- Jack Andrea – Independent
- Richard Cox – Conservative
- Steve Hyden – Labour
- Tom Marshall – Conservative
- Derek Mellor – Labour
- Elaine Moore – Labour
- Martyn Tittley – Conservative
The candidates standing in the parish council elections in the Armitage and Handsacre are:
- Richard Cox – Conservative
- Chris Elston – Labour
- Phil Hamilton-Wright – Conservative
- Steve Hyden – Labour
- Eric Jackson – Conservative
- Gary Jackson-Steele – Conservative
- Tom Marshall – Conservative
- Tim Matthews – Conservative
- Derek Mellor – Labour
- Elaine Moore – Labour
- Ben Rayner – Conservative
- Dave Stanley – Conservative
- Martyn Tittley – Conservative
“I’ve tried to help local people who want to rent a home through a housing association in the area”
Good luck helping people get social housing when your national party gives people the right to buy and moves all the housing stock to the private sector.
The problem is laws are made nationally. So when the Conservatives decide to sell off the Post Office, there’s little Mr Cox can do about it, yet the ramifications of these decisions are felt at a local level.
The same with the decision to reinvent the right to buy scheme, which decimated public housing stock.
There may be compassionate local conservatism, but the big game is played in Westminster and people suffer because of it.
“If you were to cut me down the middle, it wouldn’t say that I’m Conservative. In fact it wouldn’t say anything in regards to party politics.”
So why stand as a Conservative? Why not stand as an Independent, or indeed start your own Compassionate Party?
Pez is right, the Right to Buy scheme is set to ruin the social housing market. The Green Party want to build more social houses, flooding the market with affordable rent accommodation – only then will Right to Buy be a good idea, when the market can sustain selling off old stock.