Blog Entries

Labour just doesn't get the City

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

How tedious. Typical Labour cheap populism making headlines this morning on banker bonuses. They're talking about only a couple of hundred investment bankers many of whom are Res Non Dom and not taxed in the UK at all. Granted, they are paid too much but they do create jobs and economic growth, and they help make London the financial capital of the world.

Stupidly, Labour's tax would hit tens of thousands of retail bank staff who get a small bonus which is the discretionary part of the [...]

Standing down from the Party Board - the end of an era

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

We are just two weeks away from the 2011 National Convention meeting in Cardiff, which will mark the completion of my four-year term as a member of the Party’s Board, and the conclusion of a twenty-year involvement in voluntary politics.

Its been a great privilege and a massive commitment to represent hundreds of thousands of Conservative members as, firstly, a vice-president, and over the past year as President of the National Conservativ [...]

Time to Deliver Change

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Sun, 09 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Let no-one doubt the result of the General Election is a massive success for the Conservative Party.

For those thousands of us who delivered leaflets, met voters on their doorsteps and across every community in the land, the result is an undoubted triumph. Together we have all achieved the [...]

New President of the National Convention

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

It was a real honour when, on Saturday, constituency chairmen with Area and Regional officers of the Conservative Party from up and down the country, elected me to serve as President of the National Conservative Convention for the next year.

Its been a big day in politics.

Finally, and somewhat late, Gordon Brown said sorry. He said he was sorry, shocked and angry. Not sorry for his disastrous handling of the economy. Not sorry for raising taxes on the poor by cutting the 10p tax rate. Not sorry for the culture of government that has become so insular and thuggish. But sorry for a scurrilous email that was sent by his most trusted adviser.

The second great st [...]

Music Education Taskforce

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Last summer the Shadow Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt MP, asked me to join a taskforce that would look into the impact that music can have in education and society.

I've been a member of the Board of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for four years, and sing in its Chorus. In fact I've sung in choirs all my life. The sensation of achievement that comes from performance is something that I've long cherished. I've always felt that taking part in a team [...]

No to Heathrow - Its time for a joined up transport strategy

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Anyone who has flown through the fabulous new airports in Kong Kong, Bangkok or Singapore knows that Heathrow is an embarrassment and a national disgrace. Terminal 5 maybe a great shopping mall, and you may now get your bags on time, but you'll still probably miss your flight because you've been stuck in a jam on the M25, or delayed in the oppressive heat of the Piccadilly Line.

And if you live under the flight path, and that's everyone in the west of London and most of the rest of the [...]

The tyranny of Labour

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0100

It is 101 years since Lord Acton wrote of Popes and Kings that "power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely".

Never was that sentiment more true than now when a Member of Parliament is arrested, his property is seized, and his homes searched, all because he was succeeding in doing his job: that is to hold government to account.

Labour does not accept criticism. It believes, like ancient popes, that it is infalliable and right. Notwithstanding its econom [...]

Gordon Brown: Super hero or Socialist villain?

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

So Gordon Brown is being cast as a superhero and saviour of our financial system. Good grief, what short memories we must all have. Granted, Brown may have put together a package that should enable trust to be restored to the banking system. But he has also put our economic freedom into jeopardy and threatens us with a resurgence of socialism.

None of us should ever forget that this is the man whose complete incompetence as Chancellor is illustrated by the disastrous decision to sell the UK g [...]

David Cameron's financial statement to the Party Conference

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Today a statesman addressed his Party's Conference. With the global economy in turmoil and savers and homeowners across the world frightened for their family's security, David Cameron spoke to us and to the whole country to reassure us all and enourage calmness.

If Gordon Brown takes up David's offer for support in legislation, savers frightened for their life savings need not rush to take their cash out of their bank accounts ever again - because even if a poorly managed bank [...]

George Osborne's speech to the Party Conference

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Running a conference session on the economy on a day when a Bank has been nationalised made this morning perhaps the most important session of our week in Birmingham.

Running a conference session on the economy on day when a Bank has been nationalised made this morning perhaps the most important session of our week.

Delegates at this conference are enterprising businesspeople. So when George Osborne said that under a Conservative government, Britain will live within its means, de [...]

Following Boris on stage at the Conference (or how to clear the room)

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Waiting to come on stage to speak to the Party conference does make your heart beat. Especially when you're following Boris Johnson.

The hall had been packed with everyone wanting to hear their new hero. When I was shoved from almost total darkness out of the strange little white door at the back of the stage into the glaring white lights of the conference, the Hall had been full. I seemed to have an amazing effect in persuading everyone to choose that moment to go for [...]

Conference Opens in Birmingham

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Something happened this morning that I don't think has ever happened before. Party conferences are usually about talk. But today something special happened: the Bishop of Birmingham held the conference in total silence.

Coming to Terms with the Conventions of a Convention

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Imagine a rock concert at the NEC, the massing loyal hoards, intense anticipation, and the promise of your favourite act topping the bill at the end of the night. Combine that with all the colour of tribal rivalry of the Villa Blues derby, add a little politics, and you have a US National Convention.

Here in St Paul Minnesota I'm attending the Republican National Convention as an official observer from the Conservative Party. In 2010 I'll chair the Conservative Party conference when [...]

Aston Villa & Acorns Children's Hospice

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The problem with football in England is that the game has been ruined by too much money and too little responsibility.

So I'm really proud that my team, Aston Villa, has announced today that it will not promote a commercial sponsor on its shirts next season. Rather, in what I hope will be a trendsetting move, Villa will promote local children's hospice Acorns on its shirts.

How wonderfully typical of a club that prides itself in social responsibility and good business. Prof [...]

Conservatives Best Election Night in 40 Years

mail@charlesbarwell.com — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Fifteen years ago an election night at Conservative Central Office was marked by donors and politicians watching the results come in to the sound of champagne corks popping and a general party atmosphere.

Last night Conservative Campaign Headquarters was the heartbeat of an efficient business machine auditing the results coming in from its branches across the country. Undoubtedly there was a sense of elation, but the primary function was cool calm professionalism.