Introducing Deirdre Alden PPC
Deirdre Alden
Conservative Councillor for Edgbaston & Parliamentary Candidate
I’m Deirdre Alden, the Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for the Birmingham Edgbaston Constituency. I fought the seat last time and halved the majority, bringing it down from 4,698 to 2,349. I was re-selected in January 2006 under the fast-track scheme. Born in Buckinghamshire, I came to Edgbaston at the age of 18 as a student – not at Birmingham University, but at the drama school, which in those days was in Church Road, Edgbaston – just along from the University halls of residence. I met my future husband during the time I was a student here and decided to stay.
The Edgbaston Constituency comprises four wards – Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne and Quinton. The Conservatives currently hold 11 of the 12 Council seats in the constituency. I am one of the Councillors for Edgbaston ward. My husband John is a Councillor for Harborne Ward, where we live. John and I have two grown up sons. The youngest, Robert, was at Birmingham University between 2001-2005. He became Birmingham’s youngest current Councillor (aged 23) in May 2006, representing a ward in the north of the city.
The Conservative Party is currently working hard to ensure more women are elected to Parliament in the future. However Edgbaston is unique in that it has had a woman MP continuously since 1953. For the vast majority of that time (1953-1997) it was a Conservative woman MP who represented Edgbaston – which is what I intend it to be again after the next General Election.
Please feel free to leave comments.
Deirdre also blogs here
In 2005, Deirdre achieved a 3.2% swing from Labour which was slightly better than the national average and an especially strong result considering the weaker swings to the Tories recorded in nearby constituencies such as Selly Oak and Northfield. The fact that the majority was halved shows that in spite of the strong local council representation a massive effort is still required to win at the next election. Right behind you Deirdre.
Thanks for adding this Deidre, very informative. Keep up the good work!
I personally welcome Deirdre’s contribution to our site, and hope that the CF group at the University of Birmingham will work closely with her in the coming months.
Having had the pleasure of meeting Deirdre, our Parliamentary Candidate for Edgbaston Constituency, i have great confidence that come the result of the next General Election, we shall have much to celebrate!
I am delighted to endorse Deirdre Alden as the Conservative candidate for Edgbaston, a blog which ties in with the 100th comment and 4000th visitor to our website. Things will only get better.
May I say that I am delihghted to endorse Deirdre as our candidate for Edgbaston.
Having known (and volunteered for) Deirdre for a couple of years now, I doubt that you will find a more hard working spokesperson for a constituency throughout the country. She continues to be a credit to the party, a credit to the area and as long as I live in the area I will continue to offer my assistance whereever possible.
Deirdre’s committment to Edgbaston has been longstanding. It was with a heavy sense of dejection that I came away from the 2005 election count at the NEC. This was because Deirdre had failed to win the seat, despite working her socks off (with a little help off Bobby and John).
However, I cannot think of anyone better prepared or more determined to fight off this disapointment and take the challenge to Labour at the next election, than Deirdre. She already has managed a 3.2% swing. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that after the next election, that she will be able to take her seat in the Commons as the Conservative MP for Edgbaston under a Conservative government led by David Cameron.
I hope everyone within the City and CF at Birmingham University will continue to work hard and assist her to make this a reality.
By the way everyone- I am new to this “blogging lark” so if there are discrepancies (like spelling), it is now because I am illeterate but just because of a lack of practical experience with posting comments.
All the best
MIKE