Just what I feared but maybe.........

Well, I tried really hard and came second! I had great support and help from Bob, my agent and Kerri my press officer - no-one could have asked for more.Our party activists did sterling work at HQ - including two ladies in their 90's!! Thanks to all concerned.

What now? Well it's ironical that we have a situation in which, in spite of losing seats, the Liberal Democrats can help this country to get what it deserves - a fair voting system which reflects the votes of the whole population. The price for our support MUST be a referendum so that PR can't be swept under the carpet as it has been before.
I still want to represent Norfolk people and hope to do so in the not too distant future!

Watch this space!

If you're a Tory voter, this is why you should lend me your vote

Take a look:

http://jackofkent.blogspot.com/2010/05/why-this-ex-tory-boy-is-voting-libera
l.html

This letter sums it all up!

I was delighted to recieve this letter the other day:

Dear Jacky,

Yes, you're right: you are the only party capable of beating the Tories in South Norfolk, and we need to clear out the present incumbents so that fresh attitudes can be nurtured. Your letter was well-worded and sensible without any ridiculous promises and the attendant hysteria, and my wife and I shall certainly "lend" you our vote this time.

If the parliament is hung this time - as the whole nation seems to hope - then you must get proportional representation in place BEFORE the next election, which may come very soon.

We really do need a change to the way we are governed. Politicians are public servants - in the same way that teachers, nurses, doctors, police officers,........are public servants: there's pride in that, not shame, but no one in parliament seems to realise it. Even intelligent journalists still talk about "who will be the next boss". We really do need a change of attitude so that we move to what we should be - a parliamentary democracy, not a presidential democracy where a few people make key decisions.

I have voted Labour all my life (except when I have voted strategically) but the Blair/Brown governments have destroyed socialism in this country for the next 10 - 15 years, and this is the moment for a decisive change to the way we elect our politicians.

All the Best, and I hope you get in and make a difference: if so, you'll have my vote for good,

Terry Cant

Thank you Terry. I hope others will read this and feel the same way!

Election address delivery problems

Please accept my apologies that many of you have still not received my key election communication, the Election Address. My election addresses should have been delivered around the 20th April and when they did not appear we made enquiries and discovered that the printing firm had not kept to the Royal Mail's guidelines and as a result the Royal Mail refused to deliver them.

It took a few days of constant wrangling with the printer to get them to accept the blame for this mistake and rectify the problem at their own cost - which they have thankfully now done, but very very late which means that many parts of the district have still not received anything from me just a day before the election.

Please be assured that this was a situation completely outside my control and it was certainly not my intention to make you feel as if I had neglected to communicate with you. Throughout my campaign I have made every effort to meet people and talk to them - through my 'Ask Howe Roadshow' visiting towns and villages across the district, taking part in six election debates (two of them on the radio) and through the Focus and Chronicle newsletters delivered by my supporters.

This is the best opportunity the Lib Dems have had in a long time to change South Norfolk for the better and the failure of the election address delivery has been a huge blow to me.

I hope that the election address reaches you before tomorrow and hope that I can still count on your vote.

I enjoyed my first hustings this week!

As a new candidate, hustings are a new experience for me and over the last week I've taken part in four of them to debate the key issues of this election with the other candidates in the district and give you the opportunity to get to know me better.

I'm not one for nervousness anyway and actually I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The debates took place at Hempnall, Framingham Earl High School and the Langley School Loddon and I also took part in a live radio debate at South Norfolk Youth Alliance Radio.

I was delighted to see how many people came to the hustings and I hope that the excellent turnout was in part due to the massive surge in popularity of the Lib Dems that has really got people interested in this election and given us all the hope of real change.

Questions asked included voting reform and cleaner politics, policies vs personality, immigration, religion, the environment and each party's proposed spending cuts.

You can see the Lib Dems stance on all these issues in our manifesto which can be found at www.libdems.org.uk or post a comment to me here and I will be happy to discuss with you.

Thank you to all those who turned out to take part in the hustings. It's not long now until 6 May and I hope I can count on your vote!

I'm backing the pub

In an area like South Norfolk village facilities are vital for those who do not have a car, for everyday essentials and easy access to goods and services which help communities to thrive. That's why "I'm backing the pub" campaign by the British Beer and Pub Association. See video for details.

Radio Norfolk's election debate

I was delighted to be invited to take part in this morning's election debate on Radio Norfolk. Please let me know what you thought by voting below. Thank you.

Who won the debate? Who won the BBC Radio Norfolk election debate Tues 20 April 2010 Liberal Democrat candidate Jacky Howe Conservative candidate Chloe Smith Labour candidate Peter Smith Green candidate Adrian Ramsey view results

Debate!!

Last night, I took time out of my campaign to sit down and watch the three way debate between Nick Clegg and .....now, remind me!

An outright win for Nick - I didn't need to see the various polls, it was obvious that - given a fair electoral system, this man is a Prime Minister and Vince Cable is a Chancellor.

Come on people - this is your chance - to vote Liberal Democrat IS NOT A WASTED VOTE - you will make a real difference this time. Help me spring a big surprise on the Tories in South Norfolk and, who knows, the needs of vulnerable people in South Norfolk might get the attention they deserve!

My personal contract with the voters of South Norfolk

I want to be the voice for change and fairness and fight for the issues facing those who live and work here.

I feel the country has been let down by Labour and that South Norfolk in particular would suffer under the Tories who are out of touch with the ordinary person on the street. Their policies are all about looking after their wealthy supporters. Their stranglehold on South Norfolk must be ended.

The following is my personal contract with the people of South Norfolk and, whether you vote for me or not, please hold me to it if I am elected as your Member of Parliament.


I will put local people first.

I will be there to help, listen to your concerns and stand up for our community. I will be a strong voice for South Norfolk.

I will continue to campaign for better care for the elderly, disabled and vulnerable.

I will fight against education budget cuts to ensure every child gets a fair start in life.

I want more of South Norfolk’s empty homes brought into use to cut down the massive waiting list for housing.

I will fight to protect our precious countryside – there are many sources of renewable energy that can be harnessed as an alternative to wind farms.

I will stand alongside the county’s fire fighters in protesting against service cuts.

I will fight for better infrastructure, in particular road and rail, as I believe this is essential to our future economic prosperity and I want to see better job opportunities and our market towns thriving again.

I will be honest, open and available to talk to.

I will not make promises I cannot keep.

I will publish every expense I claim.

Our manifesto

Follow this link to see the Lib Dem's manifesto in detail. I'll be publishing my own pledges for the people of South Norfolk shortly so watch this space...

http://www.libdems.org.uk/our_manifesto.aspx

Next stop Long Stratton

My 'Ask Howe' Roadshow will be in Long Stratton this Saturday (10 April) from 9.30am until 1pm. I would really love to meet you and listen to your views so if you spot me, please stop for a chat! We're hoping to set up near The Swan on the main road - look for the green gazebo!

My response to the budget on YouTube

The Government's budget was a case of too little too late for the thousands of people who have been suffering under Labour's broken promises for the past decade. Vince Cable remains the only politician who predicted the mess we're in now and has created a safe, sensible, affordable plan to put us back on track.

You can view my response to the budget here:

Please support your local market towns

On Saturday I launched my 'Shop Local' campaign in the thriving market town of Harleston to encourage people to make local towns their first port of call for everyday goods and services.

My campaign is supported by Robin Twigge, Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses in South Norfolk, who met me there to discuss ideas to help the district's small businesses thrive.

Harleston is a fantastic market town with lots of independent shops, innovative businesses and new businesses investing here. I'd like other towns and large villages in the district to be able to follow in Harleston's footsteps by encouraging residents to buy local and use the great services that are right on their doorstep.

Some towns in South Norfolk are seeing a decline in trade with empty shop fronts appearing along the High Street. We mustn't let our local centres die but need to offer support now to ensure they are vibrant places that people want to visit.

The Liberal Democrats' key pledges to maintain vibrant local high streets are:

Ensuring a long term future for the Post Office by developing new services such as a PostBank

Direct help for businesses by reforming business rates, reducing employment taxes as soon as possible and cutting red tape

Providing fair access to credit by getting the banks to lend again and creating a more diverse financial infrastructure

Creating a fairer marketplace by ensuring sustainable retail development and taking a more localised approach to competition

Help me support and protect our local goods and services by shopping locally whenever you can.

Norwich's Unitary Status is a mistake - press release

South Norfolk parliamentary candidate, Jacky Howe, has blasted the decision to make Norwich a Unitary Authority as ‘leaving the people of South Norfolk with no say in their city’s affairs’.

Jacky, who is hoping to be elected as MP for South Norfolk in the next General Election, fears that people in South Norfolk, many of whom have close connections with the county’s capital through work and leisure activities, will be prevented from having any say in its future.

Jacky comments, “The news of this decision is breathtaking in its arrogance and cynicism. While I do support the idea of Unitary Authorities for counties, my opinion on the decision for Norwich is if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This decision has cut off the county’s epicenter and has wasted huge amounts of public money.”

Jacky was the County Council Member for Melton Constable in May 2008 when she formed part of a cross-party group to lobby the Minister Phil Woolas MP against the proposals for Norwich at Westminster.

She comments, “In discussions at County Hall, most of the group wanted to keep the status quo. The alternative is to make the whole county a Unitary Authority, thereby sensibly getting rid of a tier of local government, making it easier for people to understand who is accountable for the provision of their services.”

She continues, “I would love to know how other people in South Norfolk feel about this decision.”

Full of enthusiasm!

There's something about the start of a new year isn't there? I don't mean the inevitable resolutions, which come from eating and drinking too much usually, or the more general "will be nicer" one's which come from the guilt enduced by cards from people you have forgotten - I mean a sense of opportunities to come - this year more then ever!

As a Parliamentary Candidate, I am now receiving e-mails asking about my specific views on an enormous range of issues. People want to know what makes me different from other candidates in this constituency and, if elected, how I would vote. It's interesting, as a person with experience of campaigning at Westminster on a limited range of issues - green energy and electoral reform mainly - how different styles of campaigning affect one's response. There is the bullying approach - blitzing with hundreds of identical e-mails - the personal story/issue which brings tears to the eyes - the commercial approach.....the list goes on!

Although there are some matters on which I am very clear - my party's policies for example, there are some answers which require mature reflection and political debate. The UK's debating style of Government, while not flawless, does at least allow for all views to be heard (eventually!) and I look forward to hearing those views before making my mind up about how to best represent the view of South Norfolk's inhabitants, should I be elected.

Over the next weeks I will be discussing, through this medium and on doorsteps, the burning issues for the constituency and really look forward to hearing what people have to say!

Times are hard for a lot of us but, all the same..

A Very Happy 2010 to everyone - whatever your political colour!!!

Jacky