The Bizarre Love Life Of Cllr Sam Fletcher

#ThingsElliottSays' beloved friend Sam Fletcher, the UKIP Keighley town councillor for Bracken Bank and Ingrow ward, has some weird sexual ideas. The worst thing about them all is he makes them public. Cllr Fletcher is the man who described to us in graphic detail his affair with a married woman, how he thought lady areas are like mushrooms and why he cannot countenance anyone being a lesbian. To remind yourself of #FletcherGate click here.

But again 'the Cock of the North', as the Daily Star called him, has been talking about his sexual preferences again. At least this time it's not as graphic. It will just annoy Nigel a lot.

I'm sure this policy on Polish ladies will go down well at the next UKIP conference. Whatever happened to Cllr Fletcher's 'good salt of the Earth Keighley lass'?

Please Help Find Tom

I know this is pretty unusual for a politics blog and all that but can you please keep a look out for my friend Tom Nixon who went missing sometime during Wednesday evening (23rd July) in the Lenton area of Nottingham. I know I have bombarded my Facebook friends and followers on Twitter with this information before but it is really important to me that Tom is found safe and well some time soon. All the information about Tom and who to contact is on the above poster. Please share and tweet this blog post from whatever side of the political line you are. Thanks.

A photo of Tom, myself and a few of my other friends which was taken very recently.

UKIP Candidate Stands For The 'Blonde, Curly Hair, Grey Eyes' Party

As with most by-elections now UKIP are fielding a variety of candidates. Some of them, as have been pointed out in the national media, are a bit stupid and weird. 

I'm sure the residents of Tophill West ward on the Isle of Portland in Dorset are thus very pleased to know that their UKIP candidate in the up and coming by-election could be described as 'a bit stupid and weird'. Tracey Gough, who is UKIP's chosen candidate, has put down that she is standing for the 'Blonde, curly hair, grey eyes' party. Oh Dear.

Photo courtesy of @dbremz.

Breaking News: Sarah Jane Sewell Resigns

Sarah Jane Sewell has resigned as National Deputy (Membership) Chairman of CF.

SJ has written a public letter 'to the Party Board of the Conservative Party, Conservative Party members and Conservative Future Members' on her own blog sewellsaga tendering her resignation as National Deputy (Membership) Chairman of CF.

Sarah Jane has said 'it is, however, with a mixture of relief and regret, that I must tender my resignation thirty one and a half months since the day I was elected to the position of Conservative Future National Deputy Chairman Membership. The next 10 months are incredibly important for me personally given that I am about to commence my third and final year of university, and I need to dedicate my time to my studies as well as seeking gainful employment after.'

Sarah Jane also continues to say 'I will naturally continue to support the Conservative Party in its endeavour to win a parliamentary majority in 2015 and in particular I look forward to working at a local level in my new home of Croydon to help secure the re­election of Gavin Barwell.'

Sarah Jane has previously said she would be standing as National CF Chairman. This subject is not mentioned in her open letter at all but sources very close to her have said she 'obviously' will not be standing.

Jon Boulton, ex-CF Chair at Queen Mary and LUC, has put on Facebook "Andrew Mitchell's resignation from Cabinet: 306 words. This letter quitting from a role as an ineffectual youth politician:1136 words. Still. At least it's over. Now is we could just not elect a replacement I'd be happy."

Harry Cole, Guido Fawkes legend, has also tweeted this:

Student politics at its gloriously naff height: http://t.co/A3GPbC1tpt Possibly the funniest resignation letter ever. Get over yourself...
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) July 25, 2014

Oliver Cooper, National CF Chairman, has said "I thank Sarah-Jane for her service on the National Executive. The Executive is currently discussing a cooption, per the CF Constitution, to help guide Conservative Future going forwards, with particular emphasis on recruitment at university freshers' fairs. We'll be represented at more freshers' fairs than ever before - twice as many as in 2012 - making us the biggest and best party on campus."

A senior CFer who does not want to be named has said "SJ just had some form of cruel psychosis that created this narcissistic desire to constantly be the centre of attention. These party emails were agreed months in advance. The only thing noteworthy about the photo was SJ tried to call CCHQ and get her own email. They refused and she resigned. What a sad end to an already unpromising career"

Exclusive: It Is Sad SJ 'Has Taken To Negative Blog Comments'

Friends of Sarah Jane Sewell have contacted #ThingsElliottSays to try warn her against standing as National CF Chairman. They have told #ThingsElliottSays they have become concerned about Sarah Jane's use of 'negative blog comments' online.

One SJ friend has said to #ThingsElliottSays "Sarah Jane has taken to negative blog comments. Not really something I would do. I will vote for her when there is next a CF election but it doesn't seem like a good decision to stand."

Another one of these friends told #ThingsElliottSays "personally I think the blogosphere may have been harsh on Sarah Jane at certain times but very sadly she has also been extremely negative. Sarah Jane is and is getting some of her friends to post negative comments on blogs about CF to do down the opposition. This is the only campaigning she is doing apart from speaking to the odd person in London. SJ's negative comments really go against everything that she says she stands for."

Sarah Jane has posted before on Facebook statements against negative campaigning and has also similarly said in her last election campaign 'don't trust words, trust actions.'

#ThingsElliottSays was told by Sarah Jane's friend that "I really do not think it would be a good idea for her to stand as it would be the end of her in politics. Certainly the negative campaigning she has done de-legitimises any moral case she has to stand. I'd never back away from my friend, but sometimes it is best to guide them in the right direction if they are being stubborn."

Exclusive: 'Road Trip Is The Future' - Senior Conservatives

The Conservative Party has always had a problem with campaigning. It is often done slightly dysfunctionally and in the safest areas. But the highest level of the party have now come to realise that 'Road Trip is the future' as it has transformed the orthodox view on campaigning.

#ThingsElliottSays sources have reported that senior officials in the Conservatives are impressed with the revolutionary RoadTrip2015. The phrase of the month is 'Road Trip is the future'. 

Road Trip in Harlow with the legendary Rob Halfon MP.

It is not hard to see why this is. No other campaign organisation can get at least 100 activists to travel to any part of the country. No other campaigning organisation is 100% grass-roots organised, a political parties dream. No other campaign organised has such success in changing the minds of voters. If you want evidence of the impact of RoadTrip2015 look to the marginal seat of Great Yarmouth where polling shows the Conservatives are now first on 34%. And this poll was carried out around a month after Road Trip went to Great Yarmouth. It's more than co-incidental. 

Road Trip in Great Yarmouth

But RoadTrip2015 does still face some problems according to those at the top of the Party. RoadTrip2015 attracts a lot of activists, far much more than the 6-20 people Labour have been getting on their centrally planned 'national campaign days'. But there is potential for RoadTrips to double or maybe even triple the number of attendees. Road Trip is mainly made up of CFers and yet out of the thousands of them of them up and down a country only the most active fraction ever attend. No one can expect everyone in CF to go on Road Trips but CF as an organisation with the ability to contact thousands of people up and down the country hasn't really been pushing RoadTrip2015. 

The Conservatives are out campaigning Labour by far.

Understandably the party wants this to change. The Party is looking for CF to evolve to work with RoadTrip. They want the head honchos of CF to be an integral part of RoadTrip2015. These top level Conservatives are absolutely right for once. We need to win the general election and the best weapons we have must be used. Working with Road Trip will also be very easy. Road Trip campaigns, parties and helps people get experience with the Tories. Everything CF should be doing but at the moment isn't covering all bases.

If we want CF to do its job and not become an irrelevance we need to embrace the future and make sure the CF executive is totally behind those helping RoadTrip2015.

Road Trip in Enfield.

Exclusive: Nadim Muslim Stands Down As Trent CF Chairman

Chairman of Nottingham Trent University, Nadim Muslim, has announced that he has stood down. Nadim set up Nottingham Trent CF branch and has had a very successful time when running it for two non consecutive terms.

Nadim said in a letter of resignation that "Albeit reluctantly, I am sad to be leaving this great branch behind due to graduation today (23/07/14). The society has grown from strength to strength since I founded the association with help from great members. It has been an honour to work with such talented and passionate people."

Nadim out with NUCA and Andrew Lewer MEP during the Newark by-election.

Nadim has been at the forefront of campaigning and has set up great speaker events and pint and policies. He has managed to forge a good relationship with Trent CF and Emma McClarkin MEP, who he helped out massively to get re-elected. Nadim has also been very helpful in the election campaign of Jane Hunt, the Conservative MP candidate for Nottingham South. Jane said to Nadim that "Congratulations upon your graduation yesterday Nadim and many, many thanks for all you have done for the Conservatives in Nottingham."

Nadim at the funeral of Baroness Thatcher.

Nadim's presence will also be missed by those in NUCA. Nadim has forged a 'special-relationship' between NUCA and NTUCF and this will certainly continue into the future. Nadim has said exclusively to #ThingsElliottSays "I've had some amazing experiences with some great people, especially from NUCA. Definitely enjoyed the port!" #ThingsElliottSays very much enjoyed Nadim's presence at Port and Policies but does  remember the time he argued to 'deport Jordan Brown.'

Alex Bright the NUCA President has said "As well as being a true friend, I would like to thank him on behalf of NUCA for playing a crucial role in building and strengthening a strong working relationship between the two societies, which I'm sure will endure. Nadim, you'll always be welcome at NUCA and we hope that you'll continue to join us at our events throughout the forthcoming year."

Nadim, Emma McClarkin MEP and Clara

Nadim thanked all those who had helped him and Trent CF over the years. James Poland, Amy Atkinson, Luc Chignell, Ben Howlett, Clara Boyland, Ollie Saddington and Giuliano Pisarski all got a special mention is Nadim's letter.* He will be missed, although #ThingsElliottSays still expects to see him around.

Ollie Saddington takes over as interim-chair of Trent CF.

*Shame there wasn't a mention of the TCO for Nottingham South.