The Rock Blog

I have now launched my ‘Manifesto of Principles’ and my official campaign to be the next National Chairman of Conservative Future. The campaign site is Rock4CF.com, where you can browse the manifesto or download the PDF version.

I make no apologies that my Manifesto of Principles is an expansive document. In it I share my views on Conservative Future, where I feel the organisation is now and where it should be going. On the discussion boards in my Facebook group you can comment, and ask questions, about my Manifesto of Principles.

I hope that this document brings a different perspective to this election: I believe an open, fair and lengthy debate will strengthen CF and put our organisation in good stead for the future. I hope it provides some food for thought. My business plan, which will be published in January, will set out, in detail, exactly how and when I expect to implement these solutions.

I genuinely want people to enjoy their membership of CF and, in particular, this election campaign. I want people to join CF because they want to spend time with like-minded people, at enjoyable events and I want everyone to associate us with the positive, progressive aspects of politics. Let’s not add to the disillusion that is becoming increasingly prevalent in society: let’s focus on getting young people engaged at all stages of the political process!

We need to change CF. Not just the brand but the size, the range of personalities, views and aspirations. We used to be a significant political force; I believe we can be again. The Conservative Party is on the up, this Labour Government is ripe for a beating. I’m frustrated that we are not further ahead in the polls, that we don’t have more members and we are not reaching out to a much wider audience. CF can help change the political landscape.

I am running for National Chair of Conservative Future because I believe the Conservative Party can form the next Government and I know CF can play an influential role in the next General Election. I believe the Conservative Party is the only party that can address the challenges our country face and I know CF can help in that process. Finally, I believe I am the best candidate to lead CF through the necessary changes and I know we can make CF bigger, bolder and better.

Michael David Rock
Candidate for CF National Chairman

rock4cf.com
michael@rock4cf.com

To CF Area & University and Branch Chairman,

Free CF Branch Website - from the Rock4CF Campaign

www.rock.cfbranch.com

I am a candidate to become the next National Chairman of Conservative Future. I take the view of our Party – we can currently run social action projects, events and campaigns because these are methods that can stimulate interest in what we are doing, even whilst in Opposition. The same goes for the CF elections - I want CF to be bigger, better and bolder but we need to stimulate interest in our organisation. As a further commitment to getting all members involved in the organisation, I want to make sure the election campaigns of all candidates is given exposure to as many members as possible.

An organisation’s website is often its first referral point so it needs to be attractive and efficient to stimulate interest. To build and sustain a branch, members and potential members need to aware of news, events and developments within their locality: one of the main drivers for successful Conservative Future branches is communication. As Facebook has become such a success, it is even easier for the Chairman/President to get in touch with his/her members but Facebook is not enough by itself: we need to develop an independent online presence. Therefore, I am launching this offer to setup a free CF website for each and every branch that wants one, needs one or fancies a new design.

CF needs to become a much more professional organisation and the starting point for that is to ensure that every branch has effective communication methods in place. This is why I have already been working with MiLon Hosting who have setup CFBranch.com. They offer free website hosting to all University CF branches and are working with me to set up websites for any branch that wants one. Through this deal, the Rock campaign will setup a website for any branch - not just the Universities. A couple of working examples are Hereford.cfbranch.com
and Tooting.cfbranch.com

Get in touch with me (cfbranch@michaeldavidrock.com) and I will set up a website for your branch plus a Facebook presence if you want it. All the coding and technical stuff will be done for you so can focus on the message that matters in your area: once completed you will receive a link to your new website, plus instructions on how to run it! I ask that you pass this offer onto any branch you know or represent.

Thank you and lets work together to make CF bigger, bolder and better!

Michael David Rock
Candidate for CF National Chairman

CFBranch email : cfbranch@michaeldavidrock.com
rock.cfbranch.com

Personal email: michael@michaeldavidrock.com

www.michaeldavidrock.com

I had the pleasure of a trip to Colchester for an evening with Essex University’s Conservative Society. The night was notionally themed ‘Best of British’ with Michael Champion, a Councillor in Rushcliffe and active Tory, giving a speech on British History and why he was a ‘young’ Conservative, which he described as being intrinsically linked.

I know Mr Champion from Conservative social events and we are both proud patriots and Monarchists: I am helping in a small capacity to promote his charity event to celebrate 300 years of the British Empire next May. I’ll post more details in the coming weeks.

It was good to see a thriving, engaged branch and I was pleased to hear that my vision for CF is shared by so many involved with the wider CF movement.

Having been born with a distinctive surname, I’ve become used to an array of nicknames and insults revolving around ‘Rock’. I enjoy banter as much as anyone and actually think CF should be enjoyable! I’m hoping a light-hearted competition might inject some humour and creativity into what is going to be a long and, at times, heavily politicised election campaign.

So I’ve invited friends and CF members on facebook to come up with a slogan for my soon-to-be-officially-launched CF campaign. The notion is to play off the ‘Rock’ and so I want all the slogans to contain that great word! Have some creative fun - the possibilities are endless! You can also submit images for the slogan. A prize will be given for the chosen idea!

To submit a slogan leave a comment below, email me (michael@michaeldavidrock.com) or join the Facebook group here.

I’ll be launching my Manifesto of Principles in early December, giving my views on the state of organisation and an indication of how I plan to make CF bigger, bolder and better. I think it is too easy to lose sight of the things that matter in CF: that members feel involved, want to be a part of the organisation and enjoy their membership! Enjoy!

I went back to my old stomping ground in the North East of England to help out with a social project and attend a debate with some CF members in the Tynemouth. Having lived and worked there for three years, I understand not only many of the social problems the Nort East suffers from but also the relative isolation that many Tories can suffer.I’m glad to see there are so many target seats that we are fighting hard for in the region. Wendy Morgan, PPC, and Matthew Page, of Consult, led the debate which covered a range of topics that affect young people. The usual issues of interaction, drug abuse and a lack of aspiration came up.

The North East is an interesting area as there are pockets of staunch Tories. We’ll know we have a chance of forming a Government when we win seats outside of our traditional areas.

Thanks to Bethany Lightley for all the work she put in to arrange the day and for her CF work in general.

Well done to the King’s Conservative Society in organising a very-well recieved Boris Johnson event. What struck me was how much more serious Boris has become. I was a chatting with a friend about this and about how Boris seems to have taken a stepback from the limelight: my theory is he is distancing himself from the joker role and is now focussing on the serious task of taking office as London Mayor. Guido posted something along those lines the earlier.

I think Boris is the one man in the Tory party that can match Ken in terms of personality, individuality and media presence. He hadn’t changed his delivery but seem far more determined to actually address direct issues, even though I didn’t agree with all of them.

As I don’t live in London, I can’t vote but I will be out campaiging for Boris as soon as it re-starts. I think the Oyster Card holders are superb and even non-voters were taking them when I was helping out at Oxford Circus!

Went across to Cheltenham on Saturday to do some leafleting with Bristol and Gloucestershire Conservative Future. They have a very strong group building up over in the South West and Nick Webb is quite rightly re-standing for election as Area Chair.

I genuinely enjoy visiting different seats, it is always re-assuring to see that we have such a great national coverage, supported by hard working local teams.

Michael Lunn has already made a positive impact to CF and today saw the new, improved site launched at http://conservativefuture2007.blogspot.com/. It is a work in progress, I understand, but it is a tremendous improvement on the last site!

For those of us at the YBF conference at the weekend, the announcement of the election schedule wasn’t a surprise.

A point related to that is that, yes, I intend to run for CF National Chairman. Sam ‘outed’ me on CF Diary some weeks ago but I won’t launch my campaign until my nomination is confirmed. I have some sound, sensible ideas that have much more of professional, business approach to CF than we have seen for many years. The roles and organisation of CF are changing so much that a credible, defined strategy is needed to deliver real results over the next elected period.

I’ll keep you posted!