This morning, first thing, I dropped by the Esher and Molesey Royal Mail delivery office. It's an opportunity to see first hand just how busy our local postmen and women get at this time of year.

Mark Peters, the office manager, showed me round, how the systems work, and the kinds of challenges they have to grapple with - from rotweilers to bad handwriting on envelopes. I met a few of his team in the process. Good luck to all our postmen and women at this festive but hectic time!

Today, I joined Sue Towner and a team from the Federation of Small Businesses in Claygate for Small Business Saturday. We started off at Trew Art, pictured below, and toured the parade. Small Busines Saturday is a great opportunity to hear from small businesses (from art galleries to the local butcher), see what's going on along the high street, and promote local retailers. We discussed issues ranging from off-street parking to devolution of business rates, and it was terrific to see the parade going from strength to strength.

On Friday, I popped in on Venson Automotive Solutions, where employee Steve Wall had organised an in-house 'bake-off' competition to raise money for Children in Need. As pictured below, I joined MD Samantha Roff and Sharon Evans (from the Lime Tree Cafe) to judge the finalists - which, yes, did involve extensive sampling!

Christina (far left) was victorious with an amazing sponge cake decorated with fruit, and the overall standard was amazing. Hats off to Samantha, Steve and everyone at the company for taking the time and effort to put in such a competitive - but equally civic-minded! - effort to raise money for charity.

This week, I met up with Nigel Milton (Heathrow's Director for External Affairs) and Cheryl Monk (Heathrow's Head of Community Relations), along with Molesey Councillor Steve Bax (who sits on Heathrow's local Noise Community Forum). The meeting was part of an ongoing dialogue since last year's highly disruptive flight trial paths over Molesey (and Walton). I live under the path, so I hear the noise first hand. Two interesting points emerged from the meeting in that regard. First, no further flight path trials are (at least currently) planned across the same areas. Second, Heathrow have sought independent verification of the noise levels, using a Dutch firm, given the discrepancy between what some residents are reporting and Heathrow's data. My strong sense is that noise levels have reduced significantly, but there have also been a lot of 'Easterly Operations' lately, which increase noise levels, dictated by weather conditions.

Of course, there is a much bigger issue looming, namely the decision on expansion of airport capacity, following the Davies Report. I have made clear that I am scrutinising the Davies Report carefully, including testing the economic and environmental assumptions - both pros and cons - with business groups, local authorities, and other groups. 

As part of that process, I particularly want to test the assumption that a 3rd runway could be developed in a way that reduces noise levels (affecting Elmbridge and more generally). I want to check the facts and evidence very carefully before coming to a firm view, and I will feed my views, our community's interests and concerns into government, before a decision is taken.

This weekend, after longstanding efforts by local residents and businesses, Mark and Megan George managed to get the farmers' market to come to the George & Dragon pub car park in Thames Ditton. It was fabulous, with everything from jam to gin on sale (as well as the usual farm fare). 

Farmers' markets are a great way to support our local traders and promote village identity, so I wasn't surprised to see how well attended it was. I went along with my 3 year old Peter, and formally opened the market with Tricia Bland and Sue Humphreys (as pictured below). Congratulations to all those involved - the market will return on the last Saturday of every month, so please help to spread the word!

Today, I joined Walton Goose Fayre and Walton Heritage Day for a wonderful celebration of the town. Local businesses and civic groups lined the river and Bridge Road (including Walton Rotary club, pictured below with Mike Brown and Rob Freeman). The Cobham Band were on fine form (as below), and there was a hog roast and homemade cakes on offer. Walton Conservatives were out in force. I joined Barbara Cowen, Racheal Lake and Andy Kelly at their stall by the river (pictured immediately below).

The most poignant moment was putting up a plaque to commemorate Sarah-Jane Shellard, the dynamic head of Walton Business Group, who passed away this year. Her friends and family joined the tribute. Sarah-Jane was an absolute sweetheart of a person. She was brilliant at keeping me in touch with retailers and business sentiment in Walton. A truly fantastic person, we'll miss here dearly and I was proud to see her recognised in the heart of the town. 

With polling day looming, after numerous hustings, public meetings, dawn raids on railway stations, and meeting thousands of residents, I know that both voters and candidates are pretty exhausted with the general election campaign. So, to sum up, as we enter the last 48 hours before voting, I have written a column for Conservative Home, here, on why we need a Conservative government nationally to continue building an opportunity society. Here, in Esher & Walton, there are three reasons I would ask people to consider re-electing me as their MP - whatever their political views. 

First, at a time of apathy if not cynicism about politics, I have behaved with the basic professional integrity people expect. I live and commute from Thames Ditton, so I am immersed in local community life. I had one of the lowest expenses bills in the House of Commons (in the bottom 10%). Tonight will mark the 45th local public meeting I have held since the 2010 election, to ensure that I am constantly accessible and accountable to you. I have also made clear I would not accept the proposed MP's pay rise as long as the rest of the public sector face a freeze or 1% pay cap.

Second, I have championed our local community. Let me give just a few illustrations. I have taken up the cases and causes of local businesses - from reforming the local parking regime to promote footfall, to securing the extension of the small business discount under the business rates regime. Crucially, I helped secure a doubling of the capital funding for local schools, and over £200 extra per child per year in the 'per pupil' funding - to fund the school building and extension program underway in Elmbridge. I delivered additional investment in flood defences, and campaigned successfully in Parliament for the continuing availability - through government-industry agreement - of affordable home insurance for those in high flood risk areas like ours. I am working with local clinicians to deliver more health care services - from blood tests to dementia screening - in GP practices and our community hospitals. I have supported local civic groups, from Walton Cadets to Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust. And some of my local cases have led to successful national campaigns. To take just one, my campaign based on the murder of a local waiter from Esher led to a change in the law to make it easier to deport foreign criminals.

Third, I have stood up for what I believe in - above all free enterprise, personal liberty and meritocracy. I have consistently made the case as your national representative for the free enterprise that has delivered 2 million new jobs since 2010, through lower taxes and less intrusive regulation - for example through reports like Ease the Squeeze - Tax Cutting Priorities in an Age of Austerity. As a result, we have cut income tax for 26 million, reformed stamp duty, and - if the Conservatives win - we'll raise the threshold for the 40p tax rate. I have stood up for more meritocracy in our society to boost social mobility, and give youngsters more ladders of opportunity regardless of their background. As a result of Conservative reforms, 1 million more children attend schools deemed outstanding or good by Ofsted compared to in 2010. You can also read my Meritocrat's Manifesto here. And I have made the case for personal liberty, campaigning successfully to scrap ID cards, halve pre-charge detention, de-criminalise mere 'insults', protect trial by jury, and block the so-called Snooper's Charter, because I believe we need to cherish the principle of freedom under the law - which underpins our way of life.

Last week, I joined Ashok Patel, the founder and managing director of pharmaceutical firm, IPS Specials, to launch their new site in West Molesey. It's a fascinating story, another great example of an expanding high-tech small business in the borough. 

For the unfamiliar, 'specials' are unlicensed medicines that need to be made to bespoke standards for particular customers, who can't be treated by conventional drugs. For more background click here. It's a substantial niche market, requiring a combination of technical expertise and personal care. I toured the on-site laboratory, and was struck by the high standards involved.

More broadly, IPS Specials' new site caught my imagination for three reasons. First, it's great to have forty new jobs coming to Molesey, as the business expands. Second, if Britain is to compete in the global race and re-balance the economy, we need to maximise our potential in high-tech manufacturing sectors like this. Third, we don't talk enough about the challenges - and benefits - in small businesses scaling up. On all three counts, IPS Specials struck me as a highly innovative firm, with a really passionate and committed team in place. I wish them well in their new home.

I have written a column for the Yorkshire Post, arguing we need to end the snobbery around the vocational route to success for youngsters.

 

University has a key role to play in the education system. But, it's not the only route to success. If we want to boost social mobility, make Britain more meritocratic, and fill the skills gaps in the UK economy, we need to broaden choices for bright - but not necessarily book-ish - youngsters. You can read the article here. 

 

 

With the Chancellor's Autumn Statement coming on Wednesday, I have penned a column for The Daily Telegraph today. I argue that with voter mistrust of politicians' promises so high, we need more honesty about the cuts to government spending that inevitably lie ahead, whether it's for the purpose of cutting debt, reducing taxes or finding extra money for public spending - or some combination.

You can read the article here.

On Friday, a great crowd turned out to watch Esher's Christmas Tree lights go on.

Smita Mehra and Madelein Armstrong who lead Esher Business Guild organised a fantastic event. David Jensen turned on the lights, and we had wonderful carols sung by Milbourne Lodge School, and various festive treats provided by local eateries. Molesey scouts played the bugle, topping off a great occasion. 

The nominated charity this year was Shooting Star Chase, an inspirational hospice for children, so it was also an opportunity to promote a great local cause. Well done to Smita, Madeleine and Martha Jessop for coordinating everything.

Cobham councillor, Mary Lewis, has been busy, putting together a local coalition of the willing to set up a new bus service for Cobham, Stoke D'Abernon and Oxshott. Elmbridge Borough Council, Surrey County Council and Chelsea FC have put £20,000 each towards the proposed new Cobham Chatterbus. Cargill plc have given £5,000, with local churches and charities also chipping in.

 

The idea is to supplement local transport services with a much needed new service (route map below), which would help children get to local schools, link commuters with local stations, and provide residents with better access to shops (including Brooklands retail park) and leisure facilities, including at weekends. This is particularly important for those living locally without a car, who have found themselves increasingly isolated given the reduced number of bus services (over time) in the area.

The target date to launch the Chatterbus is 7 April 2015. So, please spread the word, as it will only be sustainable over the longer term if enough people use it. Congratulations to Mary - and all those involved - on a great initiative.