Rupert Matthews November Newsletter
Conservative Candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner for
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Since I last wrote to you, we have been busy taking our campaign to improve local policing to all corners of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Due to the second lockdown,this activity has been mostly online. Advice from CCHQ is still to avoid face to face campaigning, but we are now allowed to deliver leaflets and make phone calls.
Over the weeks to come we will be working closely with our County Council candidates in Leicestershire to help keep our County Council “True Blue” at the elections in May 2021. We will also be working in the City of Leicester and in Rutland to co-operate with our teams there to boost the Conservative cause.
In this newsletter you will find links to articles to read, videos to watch and news of some exciting campaigning activities that you can help with.
I hope to see you on the campaign trail shortly.
Rupert
Articles for you to read
Rupert has written an article about Police Dogs for the Rural Squire Magazine:
Working dogs have been a part of the English countryside for longer than England itself has existed. The less said about the old Celtic battle dogs the better, but herding dogs and hunting dogs are familiar figures as they trot across the English countryside with their humans. Indeed, many of our most popular pet breeds were originally bred for rural work.
You can read more here: https://countrysquire.co.uk/2020/10/09/finns-law-police-dogs/
Rupert has written an article about this year’s truncated Diwali celebrations:
I love Diwali. It is one of those wonderful celebrations that have moved beyond its origins and can be enjoyed by anyone. Like Christmas, it has become a festival that brings joy and spiritual meaning to all, regardless of their faith or origin. The victory of spiritual light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil has meaning to all.
You can read the article here: https://www.rupertmatthews.org.uk/news/how-im-going-enjoy-diwali-2020
Leicester City Council has been given £3million to help find homes for rough sleepers by the Conservative Government. Not that you’d know about it from the Labour Council. Read Rupert’s article on the grant here: https://www.rupertmatthews.org.uk/news/leicester-city-council-receive-ps3-million-provide-permanent-place-live-rough-sleepers
Campaigning Activity
Inevitably the new Lockdown has restricted our street campaigning, but just before the restrictions were announced, Rupert and his team went to North Kilworth to deliver leaflets about Rural Policing. It turned out to be quite an event. You can watch a video about the event, and read my policy on vehicle crime here: https://www.rupertmatthews.org.uk/news/vehicle-crime-north-kilworth
Once we are out of the Lockdown we can get delivering again. If you would like some leaflets to deliver close to where you live, please email Rupert on [email protected]
Another New Team Member
The PCC Campaign Team continues to grow. The latest to join is Oliver Bryan who has taken on the task of organising our Action Days. Over the coming weeks we will be travelling around our City and Two Counties to ensure that our campaign to improve policing in our area is heard everywhere – including somewhere near you! If you would like to join us in our campaigning, please email Oliver with your contact details.
You can contact Oliver on [email protected]
Keyboard Warriors Wanted
We are seeking campaigners willing to take the fight to Labour from the comfort of their own homes, using social media.
Voluntary role overview:
Regularly contribute to assigned Facebook groups, and use your knowledge to decide what content the people in your area will find relevant.
As part of the Digital Activist Team, you will be helping local communities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland hear about what’s going on in their local areas. With the ongoing pandemic and restrictions, it is more important than ever that people hear from Rupert Matthews so they can read his messaging and guidance.
Key responsibilities:
Using your personal Facebook account:
· Join the relevant Facebook groups in your area that are assigned to you;
· Post regular, relevant content into these groups (that you find or that is provided to you by us);
· Start or join debates about issues in the area or more widely in the City & Two Counties;
· Discuss Rupert Matthews’s messaging within groups.
This role will require roughly 2-4 hours per week, and you will need access to a laptop/phone and your own Facebook account.
If you are interested in putting your name forward to be Keyboard Warrior, then please email Oliver Bryan at [email protected]
Social Media
Good News! Leicestershire and Rutland have already recruited an extra 89 police officers since the General Election of last December. Our seven excellent Conservative MPs were elected on a platform of recruiting additional police officers, and now the Conservative government of Boris Johnson is delivering on that pledge. Please find attached a meme to share on your social media.
In the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter at @Rupert_Matthews or on Facebook at @RupertMatthewsPCC. I look forwards to interacting with you on line shortly.
Road Safety Campaign
Keeping our two counties and city's roads safer is a key priority of mine. In the coming months, the team and I will be researching and drafting a road safety campaign with the aim to have a final policy published in mid-February. Key issues such as speeding through rural villages have not been dealt with under Labour’s control. A blinkered city-centred rhetoric is causing rural villagers, in particular, to feel abandoned. I say – no more!
Do you have an opinion? If so, we’d love to hear it! How can we make Leicestershire’s roads safer for you?
Please contact Georgi on [email protected]
Videos to Watch
Rupert recently went to Bottesford, where he got married nearly 20 years ago, and spoke to local councillors and residents about their feelings of isolation. Watch the video and read Rupert’s policy on Rural Policing here: https://www.rupertmatthews.org.uk/news/rural-isolation-bottesford
During a visit to Walcote for a meeting, Rupert found time to talk about Community Cohesion Policing – watch the video here: https://www.rupertmatthews.org.uk/news/community-cohesion-policing-walcote
Rupert recently met with the Diocesan authorities to discuss the theft of lead roofs from churches and the damage that causes. He then went to Diseworth to see the problem for himself. See the video here: https://www.rupertmatthews.org.uk/news/heritage-crime-diseworth
Breakfast Club
Rupert’s #CampaignBreakfast photos have often proved to be among the most popular posts on social media. Do you know a café that serves a top quality breakfast that you think Rupert should visit? Email him about it on [email protected] giving the address and what you recommend he should tuck into.
Rupert would like to thank Cllr Dan Grimley and Cllr James Poland who recommended the Full English at the Church View Nursery in Barkby [above left] and Tom who recommended the black pudding baguette at The Poppy Café in Earl Shilton [above right]
Promoted by Adrian Thompson on behalf of Rupert Matthews, both of LCCA, 18 Pinfold Gate, Loughborough LE11 1BE