Exclusive: Incumbent Backs Armstrong As He Releases His Manifesto

Sam Armstrong has received a key nomination today from Richard Harris the incumbent East Midlands Chairman. This comes at the same time as Sam released his manifesto for a better CF to fight the ground war against Labour, UKIP, and what is left of the Lib Dems.

Richard is standing down after serving a single term as East Midlands Chairman. During this time he had success with the East Midlands Conference and inspiring CFers, mainly in his home county of Derbyshire. However, Richard needs to stand down for his council campaign in 2015 and so has exclusively told #ThingsElliottSays he will back Sam as the Chairman for the East Midlands and encourages everyone else he knows in CF to do so.

Sam has told #ThingsElliottSays "I'm delighted that after such a short time I'm already attracting support from right across the region. Richard has served CF loyally as the incumbent Regional Chairman and I'm delighted that he is supporting me."

Dave is supporting Sam, are you?

Sam has also launched his manifesto today for "more members, more action, more branches, more socials, more campaigning."

Campaigning is of course the first concern for everyone in CF now, so in his manifesto Sam says that "the East Midlands is the front line in politics. I will make sure every week there is an email sent out letting everybody know what campaigning is going on. I will also organise action days for any CF candidate standing in council elections." Sam also wants more action telling everyone that "CF right now is gearing up for a war. I will arrange transport for every #Roadtrip2015 and secure funding to subsidise this. I am proud to be the last person in the country to have been to the Party’s hallmark campaign days, and if elected I will make sure EVERYONE in the East Midlands gets the opportunity to do the same."

Sam wants more branches in the East Midlands saying "I am 100% committed to the goal of a branch in every target seat and in every university by the General Election. I will support Area-chairman in doing this and if necessary start branches myself as I have in Nottinghamshire to achieve this. It’s a tragedy that Universities like Loughborough and DMU have no Conservative presence - if I’m elected I’ll do everything I can to rectify this." Linked to this Sam wants to "increase membership of CF in the East Midlands. No excuses."  But a balance must be stroke and this Sam thinks "CF absolutely has to work hard, play harder. I’m always up for a night out and I’ll make sure every CF event I organise ends in an absolute banger."

Sam has some really interesting ideas for the East Midlands and #ThingsElliottSays will keep you posted on what happens next. Sam is by the far the bookies favourite at this point.

Sarah Jane Gives Kiss Of Death To CF Election Hopefuls

Not content with staying quiet after she resigned as Deputy Chairman (Membership) and failed to become National CF Chairman, Sarah Jane has come out and endorsed candidates for the CF elections. I hope the CF election hopefuls she has backed realise that this is the kiss of death to their campaign. 

Sarah Jane on her blog today announced she would be backing Jonathan Levy in the North West, Isaac Duffy in the North East, Jacob Wilkinson in the East Midlands, and Luke Springthorpe in London. She also said on her blog that she would back these candidates despite her intention "to keep well out of publicly supporting and endorsing in the Conservative Future elections as a matter of principle from my resignation."

#ThingsElliottSays finds several of these things puzzling. Firstly, although she has clearly lost all influence in CF, SJ believes that she still should back candidates. It is almost as if she thinks CFers will have forgotten her appalling past record. Secondly does she not realise that Jacob Wilkinson is standing as National CF Chairman? I'm sure he will be very pleased with being endorsed for a position he stood for last time around. Lastly she must also realise that these endorsements are the kiss of death to the candidates she has come out to support. Who would trust the word of someone widely considered to be the worst member of the CF exec in all of its history?

But the candidates named need not despair. A simple thanks, but no thanks to SJ's endorsement should cause them no problems over the election period. It's not like anyone will be putting 'endorsed by SJ' up on their Facebook page or website claiming they are proud that a disgraced former exec member is backing them. It would be like an endorsement by Ed Miliband.

Update

Sarah Jane has just removed from her blog piece all of her endorsements. Maybe she read my article and didn't want to disadvantage the candidates.

Exclusive: Harley Steps Down For Annabel

Simon Harley, naval expert and well known CFer, has decided to withdraw his nomination as Best Practice Officer for the CF Elections and back Annabel Shaw instead. Simon ran to be Best Practice Officer in the last CF elections but has decided to pull out this time because he has 'broad sympathy with her [Annabel's] ideas'.

Harley has exclusively told #ThingsElliottSays "I would like to take this opportunity to state that I will not be formally running for the position of Best Practice Officer. Since last Friday, when a draft of my manifesto was leaked to The Blue Guerilla's excellent blog, I have received numerous messages of support from CFers across the country. However, I am afraid to say that for various reasons I am unable to run this time around.

"I will be supporting Annabel Shaw for the position of Best Practice Officer. I'm in broad sympathy with her ideas and I have absolutely no doubt that if elected she'll give the position the time and effort it so sorely deserves. I can recommend her to anyone who wants Best Practice and Conservative Future as a whole taken seriously."

Annabel, who is a member of Team Paterson, has also said to #ThingsElliottSays "I'm thrilled to have the backing of Simon and am so glad that the #TeamPaterson vision for CF and his match so well. It's yet another example of our ambition to make the CF National Executive a broad and inclusive group focused on building a CF that works for the future."

Alexandra Paterson also spoke to #ThingsElliottSays "I'm delightful that Simon Harley is backing Annabel Shaw, the #TeamPaterson candidate for Best Practise Officer. I'm sure Annabel, once elected, will be able to rely on Simons's wealth of experience and his fantastic drive to achieve meaningful change within CF, it's constitution and the way it functions combined with own hard work ethic.

"CF should work hard – and play hard. That’s what I’ll bring to the table as CF Chairman and that's why I want you to join me as a launch my campaign." You can join Team Paterson's campaign launch here.

Breaking News: Sam Armstrong To Run As East Midlands Chair

Sam Armstrong, the Deputy Chair for Nottinghamshire CF, is set to run as the East Midlands Chairman. Sam has decided to stand with only one purpose. To make sure the Conservatives are on top form in 2015.

Matt Riley, who was leading the CF ground war in the Newark by-election, has told #ThingsElliottSays "Sam is the one to back for the CF elections if you live in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland. There is no one more dedicated to campaigning than Sam and no one more able to get everything set up beforehand. There is a reason why Sam was selected to help manage the key Bingham office during the by-election in Newark. I'm sure he will be key also amongst the regional Conservatives by helping in 2015. But to see him in full swing he must be elected."

Sam with NUCA, Trent CF and Andrew Lewer MEP.

Sam is tipped as the leader by #ThingsElliottSays in the race to become the next East Midlands Chairman. He has shown competence in organising campaigning not just in Newark but getting a coach load of students up from Nottingham to campaign in Lancashire for the day. Indeed Sam has helped in a plethora of 40:40 seats across the country from Chester to Croydon or Rosendale and Darwen to Sherwood.

Sam has told #ThingsElliottSays "I'm looking forward to the campaign, I have a background in putting the hard yards campaigning on the doorstep for candidates right across the East Midlands and beyond and I'm looking forward to bringing that experience, vision and drive to East Midlands CF."

Sam with Loughborough MP and Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan.

Sam is the bookies favourite to win the election in the East Midlands in a CF Elections that has been dominated by decent candidates wanting to campaign hard for 2015.

#ThingsElliottSays will bring you more information  on the elections in his home area of the East Midlands. You can see what Sam is up to on his Facebook page here.

Cllr Sam Fletcher 'Not A Politician'

Cllr Fletcher has been making his electors, members of CF and his UKIP collogues laugh again by proclaiming "I am not a politician" on a status about attending the YI conference. 

I'm sure the councillor for Bracken Bank and Ingrow ward would like to take a look at the dictionary and see that he is a politician. He is someone "who is professionally involved in politics, especially as a holder of an elected office."

Just remember this next time Cllr Fletcher when you want to go on about your love life.

Exclusive: KCL Conservatives Back Kude

The Kings College London Conservatives have come out and backed Charlotte Kude to be Chairman of London CF.

The Vice President, Josh Boyle, on behalf of the society has told #ThingsElliottSays "King's College Conservatives are delighted to announce their endorsement of Charlotte Kude as London CF Chair. She has some very sound ideas, and we look forward to working with her closely should she be elected."

Charlotte seems to have gained a lot of support during her time as North-West London CF Chair and this has turned into on the ground support from major hitters* in the capital. She has told #ThingsElliottSays that the support she is getting from KCL's Tories "is fantastic news, the support of KCLCS will be vital to my campaign and I look forward to working closely with them if elected as London Chair."

*Major for CF anyway.

Excluisve: Team Paterson Launch Party

Team Paterson are having a launch party onboard the good ship Tattershall Castle, on the Embankment. The party kicks off at 6:30pm on 5th August, all are welcome and you can join in here. Oh yes and there is money behind the bar, so get in there quick.

Alexandra has told #ThingsElliottSays "I am delighted that we are launching the #TeamPaterson campaign at Tatershall Castle. It's going to be a fantastic evening, all welcome. We kick off at 6.30 and there will be money behind the bar. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!"

#ThingsElliottSays can reveal that Oliver Cooper will be hosting this party for Alexandra and her team. Oliver Cooper is backing Team Paterson in the CF elections as they are best placed to continue on with his good legacy.