Karen Wins Redditch
with a Majority of 5,821

I am honoured to have been elected Member of Parliament for Redditch County.  I promise to do my very best to represent all of the people in the constituency.

It has taken a long time and a lot of hard work to reach this point.  There are many people I have to thank for helping me be successful.  In particular I must thank my campaign team who have worked with me for many years and have always been enormously supportive.  I must thank the volunteers who turned out in great numbers during the election campaigns and carried much of the workload.  I must thank the people of Redditch County who voted for me and hoped for a Conservative government.  And finally I must thank my family who put up with me and my political aspirations.  Thank you all so much.
– Karen

Thursday, 6 May

Wednesday, 5 May

The last day before the election and a big push to get out our remaining literature and to identify and encourage our supporters. We’ll all need a good rest on Friday.Tomorrow it is time to make up your mind and for all of us to decide what kind of future we want for our country and for our children.

It is your choice.

It is your vote.

Please use it wisely.

Tuesday, 4 May

Signs are still going up around Redditch.

Not as straightforward as leaflet delivery since they don’t just fit into our cars.

Very welcome volunteers come along with their trailers and then coordinate a rendezvous with helpers to erect the signs in prominent positions around the constituency.

Of course you have to be sure you’ve got the sign the right way round …

Monday, 3 May

Only four days left.  All hands on deck! Time to pull in the volunteers and assign tasks.

Some bundle leaflets.  Some walk the streets delivering. Several thousand leaflets were delivered today alone.

Tony Blair came to Redditch and had a garden party but we weren’t invited – closest we came was watching on Sky…  More Labour posters in the garden than we see on the streets of Redditch.

Sunday, 2 May

Just because it is a holiday weekend there’s no stopping our campaign. We were out today talking to voters urging them to Vote Conservative on Thursday!

Saturday, 1 May

Our last Saturday in the town centre today. So many people came up to wish me good luck. Then it was on to meet the Indian community. What a briliiant time and the food was great!

This afternoon was spent at Tesco where we were joined by Peter Luff and lots of volunteers. I even got to go into Tesco to take advantage of the “25% off all clothes” before Richard picked me up.

Friday, 30 April

Karen and the team were out and about this morning in the town centre handing out David Cameron’s contract with the electorate. This was well recieved especially by the elderly who have been frightened by Labour rumours over bus passes, free prescriptions and eye tests.

Karen then visited Winyates and Church Hill where she spoke to residents about their concerns and just got home before the rain!

Thursday, 29 April

Karen took part in the Hereford and Worcester radio debate with the other two main candidates hosted at Rockline Industries and they managed to cover a wide range of subjects.

Wednesday, 28 April

Today has been another busy day on the campaign trail. Karen was in Lodge Park this morning and met the Sunday Express team in Church Hill this afternoon for a spot of canvassing.

Tonight she was in Crabbs Cross with a huge team including Dr George Lord Leader of Worc County Council and 8 other county councillors.

Tuesday, 27 April

Karen visted Church lench this morning and talked to a meeting of local residents about the proposed wind farm. Karen was able to update herself on developments.

She is committed to helping local residents and can’t quite believe it is 15 months since she visited with Peter Luff at the start of the campaign.

This afternoon saw the vist of Caroline Spellman, Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government.

Karen and Carole were keen to show Caroline the proposed new site for a swimming pool in Redditch.

Despite our schedule we are just time then to pop into the Cedars nursing home for a coffee.

It gives us a chance to meet management and residents and hear their concerns.

Monday, 26 April

Andrew Lansley was our first visitor. He arrived in the very eye-catching “NHYes” bus and we had a trip round the Alex.

Andrew remarked on the changes that he noticed since his last visit.

Our second visitor  of the day was Damien Green, Shadow Immigration Minister, who popped in to visit the Kingfisher Centre with Karen and the campaign team.

He spent plenty of time there answering many questions from shoppers and he enjoyed meeting local residents and hearing their forceful views.

Sunday, 25 April

Today we have been delivering in Church Hill and Crabbs Cross and Karen talked to a Labour voter in Deans Close Church Hill who is determined to vote Conservative for the first time to get rid of this Labour government.

Saturday, 24 April

This afternoon Sayeeda Warsi was with us when we canvassed Smallwood. She is an amazing lady and was really at home chatting on the doorstep.

We were in the town centre this morning and right next door to the Labour stall. We had lots of questions and support. I love this time when we get to meet everyone

Friday, 23 April

Karen was out and about today in Abbey ward and Lodge Park in the lovely sunshine. Tonight was great as Karen was able to share a Chinese meal with Richard and Chris  and the food was excellent as always.

Thursday, 22 April

Karen was out and about in Studley Road today where she met a couple who are voting Conservative and who wanted posters to put in their window and garden. They are voting for change!

Karen has also been enjoying the sunshine in Central ward and is looking forward to a trip to the Snooker club later …

Wednesday, 21 April

Karen welcomed leading American Political Consultant Tom Edmonds to her office.  He is touring Britain helping out and learning how things are on the ground.

It was also a pleasure to see her old campaign director Richard Murphy (right). Karen didn’t just let them talk – she had them stuffing envelopes!

Tuesday, 20 April

As part of the Conservative action day Karen got her hands dirty planting trees in Feckenham to offset the carbon footprint of her election campaign.  Peter Luff was also there earlier.

Monday, 19 April

Karen met with some Equitable Life representatives who came to her office this morning.

David Cameron has said that he will support proper compensation for the victims of Equitable Life.

Karen is fully behind that pledge and believes they should be treated fairly.

Karen also enjoyed some David Cameron crisps in the sunshine. They are really tasty and were sent to her by her cousin Jane’s husband.

Sunday, 18 April

Today we have been out delivering leaflets and meeting people in Church Hill, Central and Hanbury. Karen has also been at the Jinny Ring talking to shopkeepers and shoppers.

This afternoon, for the first time this week, we sat down to a family meal with Chris our son to catch up on the week’s events.

Coverage of Redditch today in the Sunday Times following Ron Liddle’s visit here on Wednesday.

Seems he didn’t run into the opposition but the opposition almost ran into him …

But we Conservatives have to stay focused on getting out our vote.

Saturday, 17 April

Saturday saw us in the town centre meeting the voters of Redditch. The only party not to be represented among the bustle of shoppers were the Liberal Democrats. Wonder why?

Then it was off to Webheath to talk in the lovely spring sunshine to local residents.
My brother-in-law was due to go back to Dubai yesterday but has been told it will be Wednesday soonest before he can fly.

Great – any excuse will do to get another pair of hands on the campaign trail!

Friday, 16 April

Today we have been in Stock and Bradley Green, Feckenham, Oakenshaw and Matchborough.

We have been out and about meeting and talking to the residents of these areas about the issues facing them at this election.

There are always helpers to come along and join us – there are lots of houses to visit and you can’t get to them all.

Thursday, 15 April

There’s always a lot of work to be done before you even hit the streets.

We have to sort and bunde all our literature to make it easier for delivery.  The office gets pretty snowed under in leaflets sometimes.

Today we spent time getting things ready for all our volunteers who help us enormously by delivering in their areas and taking some pressure off the the candidate.  We are grateful for what they do.

We’re not a newspaper and we’re not Royal Mail – so we’re not always as efficient at collating as they might be!  Most of this is going to Central Ward.

Wednesday, 14 April

Dominic Grieve dropped by to support us and we went along to talk to people at the YMCA where there was plenty of interest and lots of things discussed.  He got to see Redditch in the sunshine.

Ron Liddle also came to see how we were doing and followed us around as we canvassed.

Here he is with Cllrs Philip Gretton and Juliet Brunner and Karen.

I hope he enjoyed meeting us as much as Philip enjoyed meeting him!

Interestingly we bumped into the opposition.  Wonder what he’ll write in the Sunday Times?!

Tuesday, 13 April

Karen visited Woodrow, Crabbs Cross and Inkberrow to meet and talk to the residents of Redditch County .

We had another good day of canvassing and listening to people’s opinions.  Time and time again the economy was mentioned as was David Cameron’s message for change.

Karen looks forward today to meeting residents in Matchborough and Web heath to hear their views.

Monday, 12 April

Today parliament was dissolved. Karen and her team have been out and about now for many months but today visited Woodrow, Inkberrow, Greenlands and Astwood Bank. What a lovely day to be out and about too.

Pictured is the eveining team and what a great response we got. We want to meet as many people as possible in this campaign.  If you want to speak to Karen, call her on 01527 591334.

We’re Off …!

Tuesday 6 April

Karen and her supporters were immediately out campaigning in Redditch …

Senior Conservatives Asking Redditch to
Vote for Change