On Thursday I put a blog post up about how I felt that Labour had been using taxpayer's money to stop residents attending the David Cameron event in Brigg next week. My criticism related to the use of the taxpayer funded Labour office at the Council and the production of press releases spreading mis-information about the event, despite the fact the visit had nothing at all to do with the Council.

I also mentioned the fact that some of the staff working for a Labour MP wanted tickets too. They were concerned that I was accusing them of wrong-doing. They are entitled to apply to attend, although it is somewhat odd that so many people connected with Labour want to attend! You couldn't get me within a mile of blundering Gordon Brown!

Anyway, I amended my blog post as a gesture of goodwill to make it even clearer that I thought it was wrong for the Council to use taxpayers money to rubbish the event. Then after I amended it I started thinking just how silly the whole thing has become. I also started thinking about an event I attended on Friday night when we heard the story of a 24 year old soldier who lost a leg in Afghanistan but was absolutely determined to get back walking and get back doing what he loves, i.e fighting in the British Army. I also started thinking of the call I received a few weeks back regarding somebody I knew who was killed in an accident and I suddenly realised; it doesn't matter!

In the great scheme of things, Labour trying to crash and rubbish David Cameron's visit isn't a matter of life and death, it wont affect anything much and as such we should just leave them to their silliness.

There are more important things in life. If they want to obsess about us, so be it. At least in the morning we will still be here and in one piece.

I have a rule about not getting too deep on my blog and about keeping it strictly about my political activities locally. I have probably just broken the first part of that rule so I shall stop now!

David Cameron is hosting one of his 'Cameron Direct' events in Brigg on Friday September 5th between 6pm and 7pm. The event is open to anyone living in the Brigg and Goole constituency (as well as elsewhere in North Lincs) and is an opportunity for residents to ask David a question on any subject.

Anyone who wants to attend needs to register by calling 01724 720800 or by e-mailing brigg.goole@gmail.com. We have had a really positive response already so we will be drawing a ballot for tickets next Wednesday. Please feel free to register for the event, this a great opportunity to come and question David Cameron in a non-partisan open forum.

As usual though Labour have been up to their dirty tricks, attempting to rubbish the visit in the local press. Remind me, when was the last time Gordon Brown came to this constituency to answer questions from local residents? That's right, he hasn't been to visit since becoming PM, this will be David Cameron's second meeting with me here in the constituency to discuss local issues. I doubt Gordon could find Brigg on a map!

Labour's behaviour just shows what a disaster they have become locally and how resigned to defeat they are. No doubt we can expect more dirty tricks in the run up to the event itself. We will make sure local people know exactly what they are up to though. It's a shame they are so determined to stop real people from raising their concerns with somebody who could be our next PM. Obviously the concerns of local people are of no interest to Labour, they would rather play childish games instead.

Instead of engaging on the issues, like explaining why their MP supports Post Office closures, voted for new traveller sites and why he supported the abolition of the 10p tax rate, they have decided to try to spoil this event instead. Shame on them!

Residents in Brigg have been left shocked after learning that the current Labour MP for Brigg and Goole voted in Parliament to support a new law which forces Councils to provide new sites for travellers. As a result of this new legislation, North Lincolnshire's Labour Council has proposed three new traveller sites on Station Road, Brigg.

Prospective MP Andrew Percy has slammed the proposals saying, "This location is totally unacceptable and I am working hard to fight Labour's proposals for three new sites in Brigg. Cllr Nigel Sherwood, myself and Cllr Carl Sherwood (pictured in Brigg) decided that we could not just let Labour slide these proposals through and as such we have started to deliver a leaflet to every house in Brigg informing local people of how they can object to these proposals. As usual, it has been left to the local Conservatives to get out there and tell local people what is going on.

"The site in question is totally inappropriate for this sort of development and we do question why Brigg has been chosen to house three new sites. Although the proposals come from the Labour Council, it is important to remember that they really have very little choice in this matter. Changes introduced by the Government in 2004, supported by our MP, actually require Councils to identify new sites.

"Instead of explaining his decision to support this new legislation, our current Labour MP apparently claims to oppose the proposed sites in Brigg! This is an insult to the intelligence of the residents of Brigg and, just like on Post Office closures, proves that our MP says one thing locally, but does something very differently when at Westminster. This sort of hypocrisy explains why so many people are cynical of politicians.

"Our Labour MP should apologise to the people of Brigg for supporting the very legislation that could result in three new traveller sites in the town at what is a totally inappropriate location.

"Residents at least know that the Conservatives will be honest on this issue and we will continue to oppose the proposal."

It's been a while since I updated my blog, largely thanks to the amount of time we have been spending on the streets leafleting and knocking on doors. We presently have two teams out every day in different parts of the constituency speaking to local residents and finding out from local people what their concerns and priorities are. The one message that is coming back very resoundingly is that local people want Labour and Gordon Brown out!

I want to get round as many homes as possible before the election so that people can see that the Conservatives are there for them all year round.

Besides that I had the pleasure of attending an Alzheimer's Coffee morning in South Ferriby recently, meeting with the Goole Carers Group and also attending the meeting on the River Aire Flood Plan which was held in East Cowick on Monday last.

Cllr Caroline Fox and I (pictured on the banks of the River Aire) still have great concerns about this plan which proposes adopting a policy to increase flooding in the Lower Aire region, i.e Snaith, Rawcliffe and Gowdall etc. Because of the way the Government requires these plans to be drawn up, we wont know what exactly they are proposing until the Lower Aire detailed strategy is drawn up.

Quite why the Government is so happy to allow more rural areas and farmland to be flooded I do not know.  I certainly wont be letting them get away with flooding our area easily and so as soon as the detailed strategy is produced, in about 2010, we will study it with a fine tooth-comb and oppose any proposals which would put our area at increased risk of flooding.

Prospective Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy is demanding assurances from our local Hospital Trusts following the release of figures showing that local hospitals have some of the highest call-out rates in the country for pest control.

Figures unearthed by the Conservatives have shown that between January 2006 and April 2008 - 

• The Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital Trust had to call in pest control on 272 occasions, the 15th highest rate in the coutry.
• The Hull and East Yorkshire Hospital Trust had an even worse record with 898 call-outs, the second highest in England.

Andrew Percy comments. "Labour promised cleaner hospitals but have once again failed to provide the leadership needed to deliver this. Vermin and insects carry disease and spread infection and so we should all be very concerned about these figures.

Whilst I accept that not every infestation can be prevented, the huge disparity nationally clearly shows that some Trusts have a better handle on this than others. Some of the examples found nationally are truly shocking including, maggots in a patients slippers, fleas in a neo-natal unit and store for sterile materials infested with mice!

Hospital Trusts are so burdened with targets that you have to wonder whether they have the time to actually sit down and get the basics right."