I should really be encouraging you all to buy a copy of the FT this weekend as we have a decent spread in the magazine. However, my commitment to libertarianism, as documented in the following, convinces me to provide this link!
FT Article: A rhapsody in blue
East Midlands?! East Midlands?! Outrageous!
A good article overall, we must be in a strong position if the ‘pink’ is not being negative…

I thought nothing could ever top the effort that CF put into the Boris campaign but in Crewe and Nantwich the CF effort far superseded even the best of our expectations when going in there.
Weekday Campaigners
I would like to thank the following people for moving up to Crewe with me for the two weeks that CF was campaigning in Crewe.
The Honour Roll (in alphabetical order) is:

Edward Hallam
Ben Howlett
Alexandra Swann
And Peter Smallwood

All of the above showed their dedication to the party and to Conservative Future making personal sacrifices to make the …

Perhaps this isn’t something I should shout about but I genuinely woke up Friday morning having had a nightmare that we lost Crewe and Nantwich. Luckily, and partly due to the hard work of CF and the incredible campaigning that has gone on over the past 2 weeks this was not the case and the people of Crewe and Nantwich sent a message to Gordon Brown by choosing the Conservative candidate Edward Timpson over the Labour Tamsin Dunwoody with a massive 7,860 majority!!
Having spent over a week in Crewe myself …

The last full day of campaigning ahead of polling day saw us making final rounds of canvassing. Whilst people are somewhat overwhelmed by the amount of literature, visits and calls they have received from all the major parties in this election, they remain upbeat and determined to secure the change they desire. Perhaps fittingly I bumped into a team of lost Labour canvassers this afternoon. Dithering and confused in their own backyard, turning to the Tory for guidance – how terribly apt!
This evening, after we’d finished canvassing for the day …

As the campaign enters its closing days there is a visceral buzz on the streets of Crewe and Nantwich. It is rare to be cheered on the streets simply for being a Tory at the best of times, and yet time and again this is what is happening – people are stopping us in the street and telling us how much they hope Edward Timpson wins, and telling us on the doorstep how disgusted they are with Labour’s campaign. That Edward is the local candidate is ingrained in peoples’ minds. …

Spot the National Campaigns Director, with other CF members, on a Channel 4 video:

CF members with David Cameron:

David Cameron & Edward Timpson during the walkabout:

Another day up in Crewe & Nantwich – and another visit from David Cameron. On the back of his superb speech in Birmingham DC was up doing media interviews and a walk, with Edward Timpson, through Crewe town centre. He chatted with local residents and once again received the warm welcome we have all been getting throughout the constituency.
CF members with Lord Ashcroft:

CF members with Michael Fabricant MP:

CF members including a group from Herefordshire & Mark Clarke PPC:

The early …

The CF weekend in Crewe was an outstanding supplement to all the hard work that CF members have put into the by-election so far. We were spread far and wide across the constituency, mostly delivering leaflets in the morning and canvassing in the afternoon.
Even the presence of Jack Straw and Vince Cable hasn’t seemed to stem the flow of support towards Edward Timspon and the Conservative Party!
A successful and productive Saturday was followed up by an immense presence on Sunday, with CF members coming from afar as London, Leicester and …

Some images from day 5 of the campaign. This is not meant to be a “look who we have met”, but rather a “look at all the fun you are missing” – we still need people for the final week!
It’s all about the name:

With Eric Pickles MP & Baroness Warsi: 

With George Osborne MP:

With Daniel Kawczynski MP & Julie Kirkbride MP:

With the candidate Edward Timpson:

Today saw many members of the Shadow Cabinet – including George Osborne and Sayeeda Warsi – arriving to do their part on the streets of Crewe. Darling’s fumbling tax con has not blunted the desire of the people of Crewe for change one iota. As we knock on doors we continue to be greeted with the same message – it’s time for a change, it’s time for the Conservatives. Many older residents are telling us they have already cast their postal ballots for our candidate, Edward Timpson, and are relishing …