Cameron sets out his stall

Much clamour today about the publication of David Cameron's fundamental statement of principles, see www.conservatives.com for full details.

Newsnight was getting excited last night about 'Clause 4 moments', 'ditching Thatcherism' etc. and hoping for an instant thunderbolt from the Iron Lady herself, or at least from the High Priest of the Thatcher cult, Lord Norman Tebbit. As DC himself has said, 'we don't have a Clause 4'. The Tory party is also very adaptable. Maybe it is time to redress the balance a little as we have always done from the time of Robert Peel onwards.

Only time will tell whether this latest offering will come to rank alongside the 'Tamworth Manifesto'. Personally I see it as being more in the genre of 'Putting Britain Right Ahead' produced in not dissimilar circumstances by Edward Heath and friends in 1965 (when I was chairman of Lancaster Young Conservatives.) I hope that DC has studied the subsequent history of Edward Heath - and learnt from it.

Surbiton Hospital - the shape of things to come?

The reaction to the PCT plans for the future of Surbiton Hospital, announced at their Board meeting on 30th September last year and further elaborated at a public session on 11th November, seems to have persuaded the members that the Surbiton Hospital site MUST have a future as a healthcare facility for Surbiton, and nothing else.

This point was made by me on 30/9 and by both myself and Nick Kilby on 11th November. I know that Ed Davey MP agrees with our stance, though sadly he was at neither meeting and his Lib Dem councillor colleagues attended only the second one.

Surbiton Conservatives, along with organisations like the Southborough Residents' Association, are developing thoughts about the shape of things to come on the site.

Here are a few thoughts of my own to be going on with.

Essentially I feel we need to look to rebuild as the old 1930s buildings are not really fit for purpose. We need to keep the spacious grounds around the built area, complete with trees etc. It would be good to relocate the three doctors' practices now bursting out of the Oakhill Health centre in less crowded conditions there. As the PCT itself is reducing its admin staff to save costs (lesson here for RBK??) the remainder might move out of their expensive accommodation on Hollyfield Road to a block on the hospital site. There must be outpatient facilities such as x-ray, minor surgery and physiotherapy - why not a gym to extend the physio work? And I believe we must get back the inpatient beds that have always been at Surbiton.

Something really good for Surbiton can come out of what might easily have been a repeat of the fate of the Eye Hospital. But we all need to get involved as a community in the plans for the future.

I have moved

I began blogging on readmyday.co.uk/PaulJohnston or at www.pauljohnston.info , where earlier postings can be seen. Readers can respond either there or here. However I have decided to follow my leader Kevin Davis onto this site as of today.