Dear Constituents,
The General Election is barely seven months away and I am delighted to announce that I will be standing as the Conservative candidate for the East Worthing & Shoreham constituency in May of next year. It has been an honour to serve the people of Adur and Worthing since 1997 and life now seems busier than ever. I am kicking off my campaign by asking every constituent to take part in my Europe survey, to find out what you want out of any renegotiations on membership (or whether you just want out), which you can find here - www.telltim.co.uk/surveys/europe
There are many issues, local and national which I know are of great concern. I only have to open up my email box and go through the average of 200 missives I receive every day to see that. I have been spending a lot of time getting feedback from constituents on the importance of getting our finances back on track through our long term economic plan or key constitutional issues like our future relationship with Europe, the accountability of MPs and now particularly how we handle ‘English votes for English MPs’ in the wake of the Scottish referendum. Locally, the implications of Adur’s Local Plan, the congested A27, the safeguarding of the Airport, the regeneration of Lancing and Southwick centres, traveller incursions and the Worthing Hospital services will all continue to headline my local work.
I will be stepping up the public meetings I hold around the constituency in addition to the very popular street surgeries which I hold most Saturdays with local councillors. I also intend to use the ‘NoteMyVote’ facility to hold flash polling of constituents on key topical issues and report back through my monthly e-newsletter and my website www.timloughton.com I actually have another website www.TellTim.co.uk where you will find a number of interesting video podcasts and surveys, TellTim is dedicated to allowing you to have your say on topical issues. Other social email services are also available and do sign up to my Twitter (@timloughton) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/timloughtonmp) if you have not done so already!
As I mentioned, I am kicking off the campaign with an important survey on our future relationship with the EU. Whether you want to come out straight away or think we can negotiate a much better deal to enable the UK to stay in to our advantage then it is crucial people have their say on what reforms we need to achieve. And then it is even more important to put it to the test with a straight in/out referendum by 2017 when the people, not the politicians, can have their say and put the issue to bed once and for all. Do please look at the survey on www.TellTim.co.uk/surveys/europe and paper copies will be distributed door to door as well.
It is important that MPs address the issues that really do concern local people. I hope that even political opponents will acknowledge that it has always been my absolute priority to engage local people in this process as much as possible. Politics in Adur and Worthing is certainly not some distant Westminster bubble. I hope you will continue to work with me and tell me your priorities over coming months so that I can insure I am addressing your concerns and those of your friends and family as we approach a key election choice next year.
I would be grateful if you could share this message with your friends which you can do by clicking the forward button below.
With best wishes as always,
Tim Loughton MP