Last night, I joined the Esher and Walton Conservative Association (EWCA) for our annual AGM. This year’s meeting was held in Molesey, a ward where the Conservatives have won two new seats on Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) since 2010. It was good to catch up with grassroots members, as well as our local Conservative councillors, many of whom are standing again when the whole of EBC is up for re-election in May this year.
I talked about my priorities for Esher and Walton, including improved rail services to London provided by Crossrail 2 (which the Chancellor announced funding for in this week’s Budget) and providing more school places to alleviate pressure across the borough. I outlined the other Budget announcements which will benefit Elmbridge, including permanently doubling small business rate relief, and an income tax cut which will benefit 57,000 people locally.
I also talked to EWCA about the upcoming EU referendum, in which I am campaigning to leave. There’s a broad spectrum of opinion across the Tory party membership, nationally and locally, and I reiterated the importance of a respectful debate from all sides, in the run up to 23 June.