Cannock Chase

Before visiting South Staffs, I spent last Saturday morning and afternoon helping out with Aidan Burley’s campaign in Cannock Chase.

Aidan has clearly built up a great deal of momentum since his selection in mid-2008. We met up at Rugeley Town station and then onto a local estate to deliver his final piece of literature before the Christmas break. Rugeley certainly has more hills than Brent – I spent most of my time huffing and puffing up driveways. Personal thought – must remember where I left my gym membership card…

We took a break at the local campaign centre, which doubles up as a garden store in-between serving lunch to Conservative activists. Ian Collard is Aidan’s capable agent and fought the seat (at short notice) in 2005 – he clearly knows the turf and the people. We met up with several other members of the Cannock Chase Conservatives, including a County Cllr who had been on the sharp end of Lib Dem dirty tricks (see article here). Given that the ‘offender’ in question was a District Cllr, this probably wouldn’t be the last we would hear on this subject…

After lunch, a trip to another Rugeley estate to finish off deliveries and then we ended the day at the Conservative Club in the centre of Cannock. Met up with the Association Chairman Pat Corfield, a cheery bloke, and tucked into some mince pies and rolls courtesy of Aidan’s mysterious supplier.

All in all, a great day. Aidan has got the bit between his teeth here and has built up a highly impressive campaign. The good burghers of Cannock Chase would do themselves a big favour by ‘Backing Burley’ on polling day.

Looking to the next European elections, there can only be one slogan in town – “Cannock, twinned with Innsbruck”… as Ian Collard will surely agree!