THE TYPE OF person that the Thurrock Tories have failed to retain or attract over the past few years is the local businessperson. All over the country, this type of person is the mainstay of the local Conservative association. Perhaps, MP Stephen Metcalfe is the embodiment of that type of person.
With that in mind, it has been good to see former Met police officer and local businessman, Andrew Roast come to the fore and stand in Corringham and Fobbing.
As well as having seventeen years service as a police officer, Andrew runs Play2Learn day Nursery, roastphotography.co.uk. Is a member of the Rotary Club. Indeed, in many ways, he is the type of Tory in Thurrock that has been sorely missing for a long, long time.
YT recalls Thurrock MP opening a new wing of Play2learn day nursery down at West Thurrock and wondered then if that was the type of person they would hope to cultivate.
Of course, the previous councillors, Anne Cheale and Ian Harrison fitted the description as well. But perhaps Andrew will be more on message. He certainly has been on police cuts. A year ago, he spoke to YT and agreed with the closure of the Corringham police station, agreeing with Essex Police’s view that these stations around the county were vastly underused.
Ironically, Theresa Wodehouse is standing for Labour. Ms Wodehouse is the wife of Mike Valente, property developer and a former proposed Conservative candidate in 2007.
Labour gained 666 votes last year, just 243 votes behind the Tories. That’s not an insurmountable lead.
Peter Fox is standing again for UKIP and with momentum, you can imagine UKIP building on the 290 votes from last year.
Prediction: Cons hold: 150
Andrew Roast
Conservative
Kevin Michael Peter McNamara
Liberal Democrats
Peter Michael Fox
UK Independence Party
Theresa Wodehouse
Labour
