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Home , Adam Simmonds, Theresa May, Tom Pursglove

Remembering the D victims of the attack Our Magazine is on Charlie Hebdo published every Feb 2015 - other month and is freely available to Mar 2015 our members www.cenca.co.uk ISSUE 27 Stay ‘In Touch’ with the & E Northants

Published by RM Boyd, 30 Stavanger Close, Corby, NN18 9HT on behalf of the Conservative Party at CENCA, Cottingham Rd., Corby, NN17 1SZ.. Printed by CENCA, Cottingham Road, Corby, NN17 1SZ

Given that Corby is a rapidly expanding town, we need more fire cover, not less.

So, I am campaigning to protect the second fire appliance at Corby Fire Station and believe the introduction of the new Cobra Intervention Vehicle should not be at the expense of existing provision—it should be in addition.

We really must ensure that our brave, dedicated firefiighters have all the tools they Members living in Corby will receive a need to keep local people safe. postcard like this inviting them to give their support to the campaign. photo Library

THE LABOUR MP IS REALLY

HE’S DOING IT AGAIN !!! GETTING DESPERATE AND CLUTCHING AT STRAWS. CORBY FIRE STATION TO CLOSE ! NOW HE SAYS THE A45 IMPROVEMENTS ARE CORBY POLICE STATION TO CLOSE !! NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. THESE ARE JUST MORE HOSPITAL TO CLOSE !!! LABOUR LIES - SEE INSIDE FOR THE TRUTH LEARNING FROM THE PAST

One of the minor superior creatures who derided us and only pleasures of being were interested only in their own a paid- and longevity as MPs? Russell Brand has Conservative Party the same theme, but only tries to force his member is that opinions on those with even less wit than you can often himself. disturb the In fact we get a good number of ministers thinking of your visiting us. Some come to visit old friends in less politically CENCA: some because we have invited Ray Jackson fascinated friends them to speak on a particular issue to do by dropping with Corby: some to see if they can help us names of senior in any way and some who like to attend one politicians who have come to Corby for one of our dignified dinners and brief us on the reason or another. It seems years now state of the Party. They are anything but since 'Dave' came to meet Louise and we exclusive. I do not know the figures, but I all shook his hand and wondered how the guess that when we ask for a particular Coalition would work out. It was fun when speaker we get him more often than not, explained 'doughnutting'. A lot although it is easier to remember those who of my friends still want it clearly explained 'let us down'. to them. The latest icebreaker is 'When I To be successful we have to be firm, get our had tea with recently' timing right and use what oily charm we can It's all good fun and after a few muster. But it works - and would work better introductions the awe and respect lessen if we had a larger constituency of members. and you can hold a welcoming and friendly And it is this shortage of members which short conversation or, if there is an issue may limit our ability in another aspect of which is annoying or irritating you, you can politics. raise it directly. Then you really do feel pleased you gave your £25. We instinctively come together at election times to do all the necessary work. Most of These thoughts cross my mind partly us enjoy it and each other's company and because it really would be good if more of aim to get our Conservative IN and the us committed ourselves to becoming Opposition OUT. But is that all we want? members for a few years and secondly Obviously we want our candidate to uphold because my current hate figure, Russell the great Conservative virtues of Individual Brand, loudly whines semi-incoherently Freedom, Security, Democracy, Smaller about the exclusiveness of our political Government, good standing internationally leaders. and with the Commonwealth and so on. I am as conscious as anybody about the Thanks to the Labour Party has Westminster Castle with its moats and come a little way with us on these big drawbridges. Peter Aborn's book a few issues. But I would like us to rack our brains years ago was, at first, reading quite and find local issues the implementation of depressing on this theme. After years of which we think would really benefit our doorstep canvassing and stuffing community. Have we briefed Tom on our envelopes, had I helped to create a group of political aspirations? Continued>>>>> Ray Jackson—continued of space for burials in 10 or 15 years and this theme is being reiterated by Labour Who said years ago we wanted a new now. Councillors agreed to his ideas but it swimming pool? I was a councillor at the all came to nothing without the drive of the time and cannot identify anyone who we majority party support. I like to think that if could call a local champion. I suspect the we had been in power in Corby we would Labour Party nationally found Corby so have had that crematorium by now. dead, so lacking in initiative and aspiration Today, could we go for an eco-village that the pool was their idea and they told incorporating the latest energy efficiency the local party to get on with it. Money schemes. Lots of brown field sites in the old would be arranged. I suspect the Cube and steel works. Should we think of replacing the Station had similar conceptions. our old 4500 council houses with more Have we Conservatives initiated any bright modern buildings in keeping with our age? ideas in the last 20 years, other than those Could we find an acceptable waste disposal 'newly arrived' Tom spotted? We need new system and become regional experts in that members with £25's worth of commitment technology? And finally, we could again to identify something for for their money exploit our central position in the country and for CENCA. They will form a (30 million people live within 100 miles of 'brainstorming' group: they will dream Corby we used to say) and build a modern dreams. conference centre with a central hall to hold I remember trying to be provocative and 2000 delegates. What an economic boost suggested we build a small nuclear power that would give the Town. station using the cooling water from We need more committed young Eyebrook. It would provide cheap energy for Conservatives to think hard about what they our Industry and bring us all into a new want for their future. Both the people and technology. their ideas will help Tom take his place in Ray Boyd, as a Conservative councillor a Parliament. few years ago tried to get a crematorium built in Corby and did a lot of individual work on this. He forecast that we would run out Ray Jackson

THE BIG NATIONAL DRAW

George Whittaker was the lucky winner of the House of Commons whisky which was offered as a bonus prize in our big Draw. It was George’s lucky day as he also won the first prize in the raffle at the Annual Christmas Lunch held at Corby Conservative Club. The complete list of winners (14 pages) is held at the office and can be checked by phoning Ann to arrange a date. We would like to thank everyone who bought tickets in the big draw and special thanks to those members who also made substantial donations towards the Fighting Fund. PCC - Creating the Safest Place in Adam Simmonds – Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner

I was pleased that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) first interim PEEL (Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy) assessment found that Northamptonshire Police have made significant progress in the past 12 months in its ambition to become the safest place in England. In addition to this, they found that Northamptonshire Police have been effective at reducing crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) whilst they continues to perform efficiently in a challenging financial climate in which it needs to save almost £23m by 2018. attention so they can be a real part of how our county is policed. The PEEL assessment of Northamptonshire Police’s effectiveness rated the force “good” at In addition to this, we are also undertaking an preventing offending and reducing crime, with intensive study to find out how policing should crime in the county falling at a greater rate than work across Northamptonshire in the future. At the average in over the past the beginning of September, Northamptonshire four years and significantly more in the year to Police launched a new project which will focus March when it fell by 12 per cent. on two distinct areas of the county and see intensive work carried out to both tackle crime It noted a “clear and explicit” drive to improve and improve the quality of life for residents. The the quality of victim care with senior officers pilot project will focus on and its leading from the front when it came to the surrounding villages and the All Saints area of importance of recognising and meeting the Kettering and will see a new style of policing needs of victims. It ranked as “good” the Force’s developed, with extensive community effectiveness in tackling ASB with a clear engagement used to identify people’s concerns investment in resources and training and noted and priorities for their area. Working with Special that specialist teams dealing in areas such as Constables, volunteers and organisations such and sexual offences were as local councils and health bodies, the police providing a good service. will help to improve peoples’ feeling of safety In Northamptonshire, we want to be able to and satisfaction with their area, whilst tackling demonstrate to local communities, and to a problems such as alcohol misuse and road wider national audience, what policing needs to safety issues. look like in the and how we need to Another key component of this pilot will be the do things differently. I have been clear that the introduction of Parish Special Constables who delivery of safer communities is something that will be able to work directly with local should not be left to the police alone; it is communities to address many of their concerns important residents as well as organisations and and issues. It is my ambition that the project will groups such as borough and district councils, the produce a national blueprint to show how health service and farmers and land owners policing can develop across Britain. make a contribution too. In addition to this, we are also recruiting more special constables, Specials are at the heart of my agenda for to expanding Neighbourhood Watch and promoting make Northamptonshire the safest place in Streetwatch to be a real focus for people’s England and my drive to greatly increase the Continued>>>>> >>>>Adam Simmonds—Continued those who may have not considered becoming a special before. For example, in addition to the number of warranted officers on the streets of traditional general duties role, we are now our county was recently recognised by a recent offering several different opportunities such as report which found that Northamptonshire has the Parish Special Constable. This is a new role the highest proportion of Special Constables per giving people the chance to be involved in capita in the country. The county’s force currently making a real difference within their own has a total of 380 Special Constables – 74 per community, reducing crime and anti-social cent above the national average, equivalent to behaviour 0.54 special constables per 1,000 people. This compares with the national average of 0.31. To If you know anybody in your community who may put this achievement into perspective, in 2014, be interested in the role of Parish Constable Northamptonshire’s Special Constabulary would like any further information, please ask contributed over 100,000 policing hours to the them to contact me at: county which is a marked increase from previous years - 70, 510 hours were contributed in 2013 [email protected] and 42,152 in 2012. This time has been spent across a wide variety of policing across the If you would like to receive regular updates via county such as tackling anti-social behaviour and my newsletter, please sign up using the following violence. During the course of their duty, link: Specials made 648 arrests, recorded 1,014 http:/www.northantspcc.org.uk/signup.aspx crimes and made 623 alcohol seizures.

Specials have played an important part in Yours, Adam Simmonds policing for many years but since 2012, the Force has become more flexible in its approach Police and Crime Commissioner to training and the role itself, opening it up to

RAY BOYD ON THE DOORSTEP—CANVASSING CAN BE FUN

Last issue I reported on fun takes the leaflet and then related the tale to the other on the doorstep. This time I proceeds to tear it into a canvassers. have more news to relate: dozens of pieces before ‘Well, I suppose we should be throwing it at me, saying Case 1: I knocked on the grateful that these people are ‘Clear Off’. Again I judge him door. No answer. Waited 20 not on our side,’ laughs Rob. to be ‘Against’. seconds and then pushed the Seriously, it is not all bad and leaflet through the letterbox. Case 3. A slight variation this you do meet some really nice As the leaflet goes in it is time. The door opens as people on the doorstep. grabbed from the other side soon as I knock. I start to Even some of the Labour and the door opens. A introduce myself only to be supporters have a smile and wizened old man stands interrupted by a loud ‘GO a chat. They often say when there, holds out the leaflet AWAY — I AM NOT TELLING asked if they would support and then screws it up and YOU HOW I VOTE!’ and the the Conservatives that they throws it at me with a scowl. door slams in my face. are sorry but they are Labour, I mark him as ‘Against’. So I guess that this is another and I usually reply, with a Case 2. Very similar to case ‘Against’. smile, that they don’t have to

1 but this time the fellow I couldn’t help laughing as I be sorry really. A45 LABOUR SCARE STORIES REFUTED BY MINISTER

The Transport Minister, the Rt. Hon John developed by Highways England during Hayes MP, has today (5th January 2014) the first Road Period, which runs from further refuted Labour's A45 scare story 2015/16 to 2019/20, but may not enter claims, in a Written Parliamentary construction until the next Road Period Answer, where he said: as the environmental sensitivities of the site are recognised by the Department "The Government is committed to for Transport. It is important that we get upgrading the A45 from Thrapston to this right. Stanwick which is why the scheme is named in the new Road Investment Evidence gathered as part of the Route Strategy. The previous administration Strategy process was used to inform the failed adequately to improve development of the Road Investment Northamptonshire’s infrastructure when Strategy (RIS). The investment they had the opportunity, despite holding commitment in the RIS provides funding a number of parliamentary seats in the for the development of a scheme to county for all or part of the 13 years upgrade the existing single carriageway from 1997. section of the A45 between Thrapston and Stanwick so the A45 can provide a The proposals to improve the A45 continuous Expressway between the A14 between Thrapston and Stanwick will be and the M1. Continued>>> >>> A45 Report—Continued As I have said previously, it is a real In committing to develop schemes for shame that Labour have chosen to talk the next RIS period we have been clear down this very welcome investment in that the design of the proposal may be our area – indeed, when they were in complex, and in relation to the A45 power, improvements to the A45 and the scheme, it will be necessary to ensure Chowns Mill Roundabout were not even a that the proposal carefully manages the priority, nor did they make any money interaction of the road with the Stanwick available to fund such work. Lakes SSSI and the wider Nene Valley. What is clear is that Conservatives both While it is too early to set out the locally and nationally, are making this detailed arrangements and a timetable project happen and I am very grateful to for development of the proposal, we do all those local people who have, and know that delivery will require the continue to, support the Listening successful completion of the necessary Campaign on this. In contrast, Labour statutory planning processes, which simply seek to scaremonger. include public consultation. Yours By naming the A45 in the first ever Road Tom Pursglove Investment Strategy this government has shown its commitment to Our webpage at www.cenca.co.uk Northamptonshire and will continue to contains the latest news about our press ahead with improvements to this Association. important artery. This comes on top of Our Parliamentary candidate, Tom the £20.5 million investment towards the Pursglove, has his own website: cost of the A43 Corby link road which www.votepursglove.co.uk and you can opened in 2014 and up to £25 million catch up on his latest news directly on his that has been allocated for pages. improvements to the Chowns Mill Thank you for watching. roundabout as part of the RIS.

By contrast the previous administration Copy for the next issue must be received by dropped several schemes in 10 th March please. Contributions and letters Northamptonshire from the national road from members are welcome but some editing building programme in 1998 including may be necessary by the editor. You can email the editor, Ray Boyd at the A43 Moulton-Broughton [email protected] improvement; the A43 Geddington bypass; as well as the A45 Weedon, Flore and Upper Heyford bypass. Contact details:

At the time of the publication of the RIS Tickets for all events can be ordered through the the Department set out the expected Conservative Association Office (Ann) cost category for each of the investment Phone: 01536 200255 Email: [email protected] commitments, with the A45 Thrapston to Mail: CENCA, Cottingham Road, Corby, NN17 Stanwick scheme falling in the £100 to 1SZ £250m cost category." Web: www.cenca.co.uk , MEP

the East Midlands. "I am often asked by residents - and by I tried, with a Party Members in particular - across the particular focus East Midlands region: What do people upon regional actually get from the EU? development Tough question, not easy to answer (and funding, with mixed beware of anyone who says it is!). A results. significant problem with the EU is the lack of clarity about how much it costs – and Firstly I thought I would ask the EU Commission if it could equal vagueness over the benefits it brings. provide a ball-park figure for the amount of There are our national contributions, the funding East Midlands counties receive British rebate and sudden surcharges on annually from the EU. the one hand. And there are farming subsidies, research and development This was their reply: "It is difficult to put a figure on how much individual counties funding, educational exchange programmes (notably Erasmus+), social- might receive, even a rough figure. Even a complete picture for the East Midlands fund payments and regional development grants on the other. overall is not a simple matter. Recent figures for the ERDF and ESF can be readily Throw in the various contentious figures for be found, but finding and apportioning how much the Single (or 'Internal') Market receipts from collaborative research is benefits our exporters - perhaps the single more complicated. The fact that a large best part of the EU for British interests - proportion of EU payments are made in a and an already confused picture becomes decentralised way (roughly 80% of the EU clear as mud. budget) means that the UK Managing One thing you can be sure of – the cost of Authorities are the best placed to provide the EU is nothing like so high as UKIP the detail." pretend. Their much-vaunted figure of more There followed a list of links to various than £50 million a day fails to account for Government websites. These showed the rebate or any of the payments Britain grants running over different time spans, receives. It overstates the net cost often without specifics about where the considerably. spending would take place, and thus made Equally, there are Euro-fanatics out there getting any kind of a picture of annual prepared to pluck figures from the air for benefit impossible. the benefits the EU brings and the If the EU Commission does not know economic damage an exit would cause, where the money is going, what chance do such as the 3.3 million jobs that Liberal we stand? Democrat Minister has More broadly helpful was a recent claimed would 'go' if the UK left the EU. As if business and trade is somehow a reward Westminster Parliamentary answer which revealed that £223 million in European from trading partners, rather than the result of hard-headed financial decisions! Regional Development Funding has been drawn down in the East Midlands from But if the figures are hard to pin down 2007 to 2013. nationally, have a go at finding them out for Continued>>>>> Andrew Lewer MEP - continued>> Easy to blame the EU and the EU Commission in particular for this and they do indeed deserve some of the blame - as Although the Government, Local was the theme of my maiden speech to the Government or LEPs across our country do European Parliament last year - but only not always go out of their way to make it some and far from all of it, quite a bit is clear when money they are allocating home grown. comes from the EU or not (and, yes, it all As for the other funding sources – who ultimately comes from the taxpayer!), notes knows? And if we do not know our share, on most LEP websites do divide up the EU how can we know if it is fair? money coming to each through the European Regional Development Fund and That makes a sensible, informed debate the European Social Fund, plus some about our place in Europe very smaller amounts for rural support and difficult. That is bad for democracy and deprived area support... but, I find, only ultimately bad for the EU itself. when you know where to look. However, the And that is why Europe has to change. If problem of overlapping LEP areas, which we are to remain members, I say the EU affects a large chunk of the East Midlands, has to be made more flexible, more open plus on-going and utterly confusing and much more upfront about what it is negotiations between the EU Commission, doing with our money. The East Midlands Whitehall, the Local Government deserves no less. Association and LEPs about future spending programmes make working out Yours who gets what and when all the more Andrew Lewer MEP difficult. New Cinema plans for Corby At long last Corby Borough Council have decided to approve the plans of Helical Bar to build the second cinema in Elizabeth Street. The preparation of the site was put on hold for many months while the council decided what to do. Helical Bar have worked very hard to deliver a magnificent new shopping centre for Corby and they deserve to be allowed to complete the project. Interestingly, Labour councillors Judy Caine, Mary Butcher and Ann Brown spoke against the new cinema plans and abstained in the final vote. One wonders why they didn’t support the town centre plans. Borough Councillor David Sims says that he fully supports the redevelopment of Corby Town Centre and strongly believes Tom Pursglove is seen here at the Vue that market forces will determine the future of such projects. site with County Councillor Stan Heggs and candidate Christopher Woolmer.

Our ‘Political Life’ Our magazine is available as a small printed booklet. For some time now issues have also been made available in a format suitable for reading on ipads and this version is emailed to members. Circulation is restricted to members of the Conservative Party. Non-members who would like to receive our magazine regularly will need to join the Association. Please contact Ann at our office by email at [email protected] or telephone 01536 200255. Our address is CENCA, Cottingham Road, Corby NN17 1SZ Thomas Pursglove Conservative Parliamentary Candidate @VotePursglove Corby &

More than eight out of ten people It is evident from who returned our ballot paper in the result of the ballot that there North Northamptonshire want to is now a clear Tom Pursglove leave the EU. majority of As you know, for the last two years, I people in North Northamptonshire who have been running my Listening to want to leave the EU. It is also very Corby & East Northamptonshire clear that there is a real appetite for a Campaign . Every week, along with your national in/out vote. All three of us are help, through the Listening Team, I have pledged to vote to leave the European knocked on doors across our bell- Union superstate. weather constituency. The three things Indeed, Peter, Philip and I, are so that come up on the doorstep, time and grateful to everyone who helped deliver time again, are European immigration, the ballots – it was a mammoth job, but the economy and our membership of we got there in the end, so ‘thank you’! the . In our letter to the Prime Minister, we Last May, along with MP have also made it clear to him that, if and MP, I launched the we are returned as Members of North Northamptonshire EU Parliament at the General Election in Referendum . This is the biggest vote on May, we will only support a government the UK’s membership of the European that promises an EU in/out referendum Union since the 1975 nationwide referendum. The question on the ballot paper was: ‘Should the be a member of the European Union?’ Recently, the three of us delivered the result of the referendum to Number 10 . Having delivered 100,000 ballot papers across the three constituencies, whilst 150 ballots were spoilt, the result was as shown in the table below: Staying in 2,725 votes 18.9% Leaving 11,706 votes 81.1% Totals 14,431 votes 100% Continued>>>>> by the end of 2017 - indeed, this mirrors How to get in touch with the words of the Prime Minister who has said “I will not become prime minster Tom Pursglove unless I can guarantee that we can hold that referendum”. In other words, if Online events demanded it and there was not Votepursglove.co.uk an overall Conservative majority, we would not support a coalition agreement Email that did not include an EU Referendum, [email protected] no later than by the end of 2017. Over the phone Of course, it is only the Conservative 01536 200255 Party that guarantees an in/out vote and Write to him that is why the three of us are working CENCA, Cottingham Road, flat-out, with your help, to return David Corby, NN17 1SZ Cameron as Prime Minister and the Follow on Twitter head of a Conservative majority @VotePursglove government. Prior to now, we have just had opinion polls, focus groups and pundits, guessing what people in Middle England think about the EU. Now, we have real hard, concrete evidence, through an actual vote, identifying how people feel - it is quite clear what Middle England thinks! Tom Pursglove

TWO PLANNING VICTORIES

At the Corby Borough Council Planning meeting held in January two controversial planning matters were discussed.

The first was to make a decision on the proposed building of 57 homes in Cottingham. This was vigorously opposed by our local candidate, Bob Rutt, and our Conservative councillors.

The second was to discuss expansion of the proposed Gretton Brook waste plant with the installation of a huge incinerator. Conservative candidate Kevin Watt and Borough councillor Rob McKellar are shown here at the site.

Thankfully commonsense prevailed and the plans were rejected.

LABOUR WILL KEEP ON MAKING THE SAME PROMISES AND THE SAME MISTAKES. Do you remember during the last Labour government how hard it was to get to see your doctor? Surgeries wouldn’t make appointments beyond 2 days so that they could meet Labour’s targets. Well, the latest Labour leaflet delivered in our constituency promises to return to those bad old days. They say ‘guaranteed appointments within 48 hours’. And they are going to put wings on pigs too! LET’S HIT THOSE WEALTHY PENSIONERS I had an interesting chat with a lady who works in GENERAL ELECTION the private housing sector. We got on to the subject of benefit cuts, etc and she commented CAMPAIGN that it was unfair to hit the young people with these cuts and they will never be able to get on the We have a small team of housing ladder. (My comment was that it has never been easy to buy a house) . She said that if a canvassers who have been young woman can’t get housing benefit then she will simply go out and have babies so that she doing wonderfully well over qualifies. So the answer is, according to her the last 6 months. We are thinking, that we should hit those rotten wealthy pensioners who are drawing huge pensions, going collecting around 1,000 bits on foreign holidays, getting free prescriptions and are often living in 4 bedroom houses when they of information every single don’t need them. (Just a minute - didn’t these week and this intelligence pensioners work for 40 odd years of their life to get a pension?) will help us win. But we She thought they should lose any benefits and be need more help—so please forced to move via higher taxes into single bedroom bungalows and thus release the big let the office know if you houses for young families. can give some time to our I had three comments: campaign. We need 1. Where are these bungalows? 2. How do you qualify who is a wealthy canvassers, envelope pensioner? and, stuffers and deliverers. 3. Did she actually know what the state There are lots of ways you pension was? Her answer was: ‘No’ - to all three. can help. But this got me thinking - this comment about Phone Ann 01536 200255 to wealthy pensioners seems to be occurring more frequently now, especially amongst the Labour volunteer. supporters. has pledged to protect pensions but make no mistake, if Labour get control they will hit pensioners hard. The The Head of the International Monetary heating allowance, bus passes and TV licences are Fund heaped praise on the in Labour’s sights. The hoary old question of why Government’s economic record two does the Queen need a bus pass is often quoted. But the only cost to the taxpayer is when the pass weeks ago. Christine Lagarde said, ‘The is used and when did she ever get on a bus? UK is leading in a very eloquent and The answers to the questions, by the way, are: convincing way in the European Union.’ 1. They don’t exist. The Prime Minister responded by saying, 2. The obvious way to assess someone is ‘I was delighted by what Christine through the tax system so if the income is Lagarde said. It’s testament to the fact taxable, i.e. above the tax threshold that the British economy is growing (currently £10,000 pa) then identification strongly.’ as wealthy is easy. So tax them more says Labour. retorted that Britain still had “stagnant living standards”. 3. About £113 a week for a single person. Ray Boyd CORBY CUBE COSTS APPROACH £48M AND RISING The Corby Cube building opened in November 2010 and has been plagued with problems every since. The planned cost was £35m but after opening it has cost a further £13m in alterations and repairs. The roof garden and planned roof top restaurant are no longer viable. A helical staircase which had been Councillor David Sims, leader of the described by building inspectors as Conservative opposition on Corby Borough “dangerous, like a helter skelter” has also Council, said “the building was “pleasing to been repaired at a cost of £27,000. the eye” but has been a "poorly managed, Work is still needed to bring the top floor of waste of taxpayers money". the Cube up to standard, including installing However Councillor Tom Beattie, council a curtain wall and re-roofing. leader said it was a “fantastic iconic Editor: There is no doubt that the building building”. He continued: “the building is a looks good but it is rapidly turning into a major part of the regenerated town centre, money-pit which we, our children and our which the people of Corby can be proud of”. grandchildren will be paying for over many Work to the roof garden was completed four years. years after opening at an extra cost of Source: BBC News £322,000 but it is now unusable. REMEMBERING AN UNFORGETTABLE POLITICIAN

January 2015 marks 50 years since the death of Sir (1874–1965). Though best known today as Britain’s great wartime leader, Churchill led a long and eventful life during which Parliament played a central role.

Churchill described himself as ‘a child of the House of Commons’. Born in the same year that saw his father, , first elected as an MP, he was exposed to parliamentary life from an early age.

Beginning in 1900, Churchill’s own Commons career spanned 64 years, the longest in the 20th century. During this time he sat for two parties, represented five constituencies and contested twenty-one elections. In government, he held numerous ministerial positions and served as Prime Minister twice.

Following his death at the age of 90, Churchill received the rare honour of lying-in-state in Westminster Hall. Though this marked the end of his lifelong relationship with Parliament, Churchill’s unforgettable speeches continue to be quoted regularly.

JUST A THOUGHT: ‘Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery’— Winston Churchill When we came into office in 2010, Britain was on the brink of bankruptcy. People were losing their jobs and families were worried about the future.

So we took difficult decisions to get our economy back on track.

Five years later, thanks to the measures we've taken and the hard work of the , the deficit has been halved, new businesses are opening up across the country, and there are a record number of people in work, with the security of a pay packet.

Our plan is working - and we need to stay on the road to a stronger economy

Britain has come a long way in five years. We can't go back to Labour's way of more borrowing, more debt and higher taxes. Instead, let's stay on the road that has brought us this far - the road that is securing a better future for everyone in our country.

HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A COUNCILLOR?

We are looking for personal satisfaction can be our candidates in place soon Conservative supporters enormous. You will also be so please apply now if you who would like to stand for giving your fellow residents would like to be considered. their local council in next a say in the running of their The Executive Committee year’s council elections in town. has now confirmed the list Corby. of candidates for the 2015 Contrary to expectations If you think you are made local elections.. There are the financial rewards are of the right stuff then some vacancies for the not great and you will be contact Ann at our office on Corby Borough Council giving up a lot of your 01536 200255 and she will election and members and leisure time to attend let you have more details. supporters are invited to apply. meetings, etc., but the We would like to have all NE L MAGAZI E OUR FUL N RECEIV ERVATIVE YOU CA CAL CONS G THE LO BY JOININ ION. ASSOCIAT DETAILS 0255 FOR 01536 20 CONTACT