I was deeply disappointed that our petition for improved road safety measures in Montbelle Road amounted to nothing at last night's Council meeting.  The group of residents I invited along were left puzzled and bemused by the manner in which the issue was (not) discussed and now we've been told we must take the battle to Transport for London.  I have, today, written to TfL asking for an urgent site visit and will keep residents informed.  However, I was delighted that common sense has prevailed in Green Lane where proposals for cycle routes and decreased-on street parking have been thrown out.  Though the new proposals need further work, it is good to see that, sometimes, residents are listened to.

I was delighted that the Shadow Immigration Minister, Damian Green, has just cited my public meeting in New Eltham as an example of how to expose the racism of the BNP.  As he said, I deliberately made sure that my meeting was open to all sections of the community and the BNP naturally wanted to see if it could score some points.  Certainly, some members of the audience on that occasion were leaning towards the BNP until they heard more and more from their representative.  The meeting exposed them for the vile racist bigots they are.  That would never have happened if we had not had a proper public debate.  I do not like the BNP but while so many have lost faith in politicians generally, there will be a temptation to look to the fringes - that is why 2 BNP candidates were elected to the European Parliament.  It is a failure of all the mainstream political parties that has led to this situation.  We must have a proper debate about issues such as immigration in a grown up and sensible manner.  That will strengthen democracy - and I believe it will help the public trust their politicians once again.

Being a parliamentary candidate is never dull!  My doorstep survey continued this weekend with me and my team calling at hundreds of doors in various parts of Eltham and Middle Park.  We stopped for lunch at the New Eltham Conservative Club where a delicious hog roast was being served to the large crowd of locals, many of whom also enjoyed a glass of sangria.  In the evening I watched the new Harry Potter film at the O2 (rather disappointing...) and today enjoyed Tea in the Tarn with many local residents and councillors Glover and Poston.  I've got lots of correspondence to wade through but I think I might have a quiet hour or so before making a start...then its sausage and mash for supper!

Tonight I hosted the latest of my public meetings to enable local people to have their voices heard - this time the subject was immigration, and the Shadow Immigration Minister Damian Green (MP for Ashford) was speaking alongside me.

The meeting was well attended by people from across the constituency - and, in the case of the BNP activist, Bexley.  Despite his efforts to dominate the proceedings there was a generally fair debate - though not everyone was satisfied. One young lady told me afterwards 

she was dismayed by the average age of the audience and considered the debate was not of a sufficient quality.  All I can say is that at least the Conservatives are having a debate, inviting people of all political parties and none, to join us in the discussion.  Damian and I answered questions and comments for 90 minutes and I spent a further hour and a quarter in the bar chatting with a queue of people.  We won't have solved the issue tonight, nor persuaded everyone - some people were not there to be persuaded - but I think there was an acceptance that we are trying to address the problem.  And not branding everyone racist just because they want a proper debate about policy.

I was joined by the Shadow Minister for Communities, Stewart Jackson MP this Saturday as I visited hundreds of homes in Coldharbour & New Eltham with local councillors.  It was interesting to see that despite not meeting anyone owning up to being paid over £100,000 just about everyone agreed the Budget delivered by Mr Darling was a wasted opportunity and a return to the bad old days of Labour mismanagement.

I am pleased to announce that local residents have another opportunity to meet me and their local ward councillors on Thursday 7 May from 6.30-8.30pm at our special Neighbourhood Evening.  It will be held at St Albans Church, William Barefoot Drive and the local police will attend, so it's a chance to feed back to them also.

No need to book in advance, just turn up and have a cup of tea.  We'd love to see you.