On Saturday 9 November I took part in the #FreezeThatBill campaign day, joining our campaign teams in Leicester and Loughborough. It was good to be joined by Shadow Cabinet Member Vernon Coaker MP at the campaign session in Loughborough.
To find out more and support Labour's #FreezeThatBill campaign see: http://action.labour.org.uk/page/s/energy-calculator/
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| FreezeThatBill campaigning in Loughborough. |
During November I spoke at several meetings and events about next year's European elections including Charnwood Constituency Labour Party; Nottinghamshire Fabian Society's AGM; Glenis Willmott's East Midlands Labour European Forum; and Northampton University Labour Students with our Parliamentary Candidate Sally Keeble.
I also attended the East Midlands Labour Gala Dinner which was addressed by Ed Miliband. It was also good to welcome Tom Watson MP to the annual Leicester South Christmas Curry earlier this week.
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| At the East Midlands Labour Gala Dinner with friends from North West Leicestershire Labour Party including our candidate Jamie McMahon. |
Saturday 7 December was the first Small Business Saturday UK. This was an excellent opportunity to celebrate the important contribution small businesses make to our high streets and communities. I wrote a column for the Leicester Mercury which can be read here.
On Small Business Saturday itself I started the day at the home of many excellent small businesses and independent traders, the famous Leicester Market. I also visited Welbeck Farm Shop in North Nottinghamshire, which is also home to the Welbeck Brewery. The previous Sunday I visited the popular Clarendon Park Christmas Fair on Leicester's Queens Road.
I have written previously about the special food heritage and industry we have here in the East Midlands. If I am elected as an MEP working to promote this industry will be one of my top priorities. In November we saw lots of local producers showcased at the Leicester Market Winter Food & Drink Festival. This event featured local producers like Woodhouse Farm in Hinckley and Coalville's Long Lane Brewery.
I have signed up to support an NUS campaign to champion postgraduate students. Postgraduate study is vital to the UK in terms of research and innovation. I want to see a fair funding settlement for postgraduate students at our region's universities. Find out more here.
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| With Leicester University Students Union officer Michael Rubin and Jon Ashworth MP signing up as a Postgraduate Champion. |
Congratulations to Labour's Parliamentary Candidates that have been selected since my last update blog, Kevin McKeever in Northampton South and Cherly Pidgeon for South Derbyshire. It has been a busy few weeks but it was good to find time to see Billy Bragg perform here in the East Midlands at Derby Assembly Rooms.
Thank you to everyone who is campaigning across the region ahead of next year's elections.
Remember, you can also follow me on Twitter @Rory_Palmer.
