Conservative Team Breaks UK Poppadom Record!

The 450 Poppadom Tower at Oxford Street's Poppadom Express

Last night Royston Smith and I took on the Southampton Chamber of Commerce in a Poppadom Challenge to raise money for Oxfam and in celebration of national curry week.

With the help of chefs at Poppadom Express in Oxford Street we built a massive 4ft static tower of 450 poppadoms, beating the previous UK record of 282!

UPDATE 11th December:

I have just heard from the founders of National Curry Week that 450 poppadoms is in fact a new world record, beating the Bombay Bicycle Club!

New Housing Scheme Given the Go Ahead

Conservative Party Chairman, Eric Pickles, meets with Thornhill Reisdents to discuss the new scheme.

Conservatives on Southampton City Council are embarking on an ambitious programme to redevelop the city's council housing estates. We hope to create several thousand new homes this way by 2026. They will be mixed tenure, private, affordable for rent, shared ownership and social.

The pilot project is Hinkler Parade in Thornhill in the Southampton Itchen constituency and today this exciting new scheme was given the green line to proceed.

Hinkler Parade's existing 1950s blocks will be replaced by a new, larger, better quality, higher density development. Better design will aim to ensure that crime and disorder are designed out in the new development. A popular community facility, the ‘Natterbox’ will be retained.

The pilot scheme is funded by Southampton City Council, the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) and the Homes and Communities Agency.

The project was recently thrown into doubt when Southampton MP and Secretary of State, John Denham, cut growth point funding to the area. PUSH’s growth point funding was cut from £9.5m to £5m. Despite this we are still moving ahead with the Hinkler Parade project and today Conservative Party Chairman, Eric Pickles MP visited the site to meet with local Thornhill residents and to discuss the scheme.

Shadow Minister Backs Campaign for Council Tax Freeze

Shadow Local Government Minister, Bob Neil MP meets with local Conservatives

Shadow Minster Bob Neil MP paid a visit to Southampton today to meet with local councillors and council officers. Conservatives have pledged to freeze council tax for two years if we win the next election. Mr Neil explained how this would mean extra funding for Southampton from a Conservative Government to keep council tax down. Mr Neil explained that extra money would also be available for Southampton where new homes are built locally and where new businesses are created.