Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

Crispin Blunt addresses Local Conservatives’ Annual General Meeting Conservatives are preparing for Government – says Blunt

On the evening of Friday 23rd March 2007 Crispin Blunt, MP for Parliament, addressed the Reigate and Banstead Conservative Association a decade since he was first the Conservative candidate. He reflected on the success of local Conservatives as well as looking forward to forthcoming elections. He also took the opportunity to highlight the dishonesty in Gordon Brown’s recent budget:

“What the Chancellor has given with one hand he has taken with the other. Well might he boast that he is cutting income tax by 2p – though not until April 2008 – but he is scrapping the lower rate, so that the poorest will be hit the hardest.”

Mr Blunt went on to say:

“Mr Brown is running scared – why else would he want people to think he is delivering a Conservative, tax-cutting budget. Well, now we have him on the run and it is time to start presenting to the country our alternative vision…It is time to tell the British people that the next Conservative Government will trust them and in turn deserve their trust”

The speech concluded on an upbeat note:

“When I first addressed this AGM in 1997 we were not anticipating a Conservative victory and five more years of Conservative government, however much we whistled to keep our spirits up. But at no time before tonight have I felt so certain that the next election is ours for the taking…This year we have behind us last year’s election results and a consistent winning lead in the polls. Ten years ago we were preparing to lose office. Now we are preparing for Government.”

Speaking after the meeting Crispin Blunt said: “The party is buoyant and looking forward to the local elections – I am sure the hard work of local activists can further improve the position of the Conservatives locally and nationally.”