Happy New Year! 2010 is at last Election Year!

Only one month in, and Gordon Brown has already been challenged for his leadership. Closer to home, the snow spared us a visit from Gordon Brown, although he could have used the train as they were mostly running on the day in question.

I am hoping that we have now seen the last of the snow. It has been fun in parts but it has also caused all sorts of problems for businesses and vulnerable residents.

It was a reminder of the importance of local shops. As the shelves at Tescos and some other supermarkets were raided of bread and milk in panic buying, our local butcher and baker stayed open throughout the bad weather.

I am particularly grateful to our excellent local butcher, Paul in George St who stayed open throughout the cold, snowy and wet weather!

Disaster Struck In Haiti

Last week disaster struck in Haiti. The reality of the consequences of the earthquake are slowly making their way through to our consciousness. It is true devastation. This weekend I joined other Rotarians to collect to provide help for Haiti from our local Sainsbury’s. Everyone gave really generously when they realised what we were collectin for.

(Image: Amber at Sainsbury’s with Marcus and Hellie Honey )

Hastings Crime Survey

We have been collecting the enormous responses to a crime survey I sent out before Christmas. We have had nearly 500 replies and the conclusions have been fascinating:
+ 17% have been a victim of a crime in the past 12 months
+ A whopping 41% did not report the crime to the police
+ 94% support the Conservative pledge to free up police officers from paper work to give them more time to spend out in the community .

Supporting Local Business

Supporting local business remains a priority to me. I have been continuing my campaign to support our local private sector and this month I have particularly been lobbying both the County and Borough Council to freeze parking charges in Hastings. I have also been to see Rod Chapman at Rye Wharf. We both agree that the current Government’s empty property business rates are ruinous to businesses in this recession. They need to be reduced or abolished!

(Image: Amber with Rod Chapman at Rye Wharf)

Looking forward..I believe that a Conservative Government would be good for the residents of Hastings and Rye. Our policies on education, on health, on welfare, on stimulating jobs would bring better services and more opportunities in our area. That is why I am going to be campaigning in the next few months to get this message across to local residents. If you’d like to help our campaign and bring about the change that we need, please contact me on amber@amberrudd.co.uk.

Meanwhile – please do forward my newsletter to anyone you think might be interested, and encourage them to sign up to receive their own copy.