In the early hours of this morning, I was honoured to be re-elected as the MP for Esher & Walton constituency with 35,845 votes (63% of the vote share), and a majority of 28,616. (I am told this is the second highest Conservative majority in the UK, and fifth overall. Turnout was 72%, also above the national average.)

I feel truly humbled by this result. I owe a lot of thanks to a lot of people, because both serving as an MP and campaigning in an election is a team effort. But, above all, I want to thank everyone who put a cross by name, and indeed everyone who came out to vote. I will try to repay the trust vested in me. Above all, and more than ever, I will work as hard as I can to serve everyone, across every community, in every corner of this fabulous constituency.

This week was a good week for the Conservative election campaign. Following a clear win for David Cameron in the BBC Question Time Leaders' interviews, the Financial Times and The Economist both backed him to stay PM, a further vote of confidence in our economic record. Ed Miliband's refusal to apologise for Labour's record of excessive government spending jarred, while his shenanigans with the SNP have only heightened the sense of nervousness south of the border. The polls have also been, on balance, more favourable and there is a feeling of positivity amongst troops on the ground.

Locally, across Esher & Walton constituency, we continue delivering leaflets, turning out at train stations, hosting public meetings and generally getting our message across to people on the doorstep. This election campaign has felt like a long slog, because it (unofficially at least) started so early. But, we've some made modest headway this week, leaving us better placed going into the final week of the campaign, when many undecided voters make up their mind.

When it was pointed out that this was particularly offensive to me, given my father fled the Nazis, she stated on a local discussion website: “Let us get a few facts straight. Dominic Raab’s father was Czech refugee who came to Britain in 1938. So, not immediately connected with the horrors of the holocaust”.  You can read these remarks here. (For the record, my father fled to Britain with his parents via a refugee camp in Tangiers, and the rest of his family who didn’t escape, including his grandparents, perished.)

These unsavoury statements cross the line of decency in debate. I’m not prepared to have myself, my Party or my volunteers likened to Nazis. Without an apology, I am not willing to share a platform with Della. She is of course free to say what she likes. I am equally free not to be dragged into gutter politics.

I am only sorry not to have the chance to address those attending. I am hosting a public meeting on Tuesday at 7.30pm at Churchgate house in Cobham, and you would be very welcome. In addition, I would be only too happy to come down to speak to you individually or as a group in Oxshott next Monday or Wednesday evening. Please just drop me an email at dominic.raab@esherwalton.com, if you are interested, and I will make the arrangements.

During a general election campaign, the candidates stand on their party's manifesto and their own local record. But, I also find that I get asked a lot what my personal core convictions are. What drives me personally? What are my priorities as a nationally elected representative participating in writing the laws of the land and setting the national agenda?

The bottom line is that I went into politics to fight for free enterprise, liberty and a more meritocratic society. What does that mean in practice? Here are six of my key priorities to give you a flavour of my own personal vision of a better Britain ...

1. I want lower taxes and less red tape, so Britain creates jobs and prosperity in a competitive world.
2. I want to smash monopolies, so small businesses can compete and customers have greater choice.
3. I want more free speech and less political correctness for a healthier democracy.
4. I want terrorists and criminals under surveillance, not all law-abiding citizens.
5. I want more ladders of opportunity, so youngsters from any background can be successful.
6. I want to strengthen your democratic voice - including more local democracy, a right of recall over MPs, and an EU referendum.

The Conservative Party manifesto was launched today. Key policies include:

• taking the minimum wage out of income tax,
• extending the income tax personal allowance to £12,500,
• raising the 40p income tax threshold to £50,000,
• extending the Right to Buy to social housing tenants,
• making the first £1million of any home exempt from Inheritance Tax,
• freezing regulated rail fares for 5 years,
• free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds up to 30 hours per week, and
• an extra £8billion annual investment in the NHS by 2020, and 7-day per week GP access.

You can read the manifesto in full here.

7.30pm - Walton public meeting: Ashley C of E Primary School,  Ashley Road, Walton-on Thames, Surrey KT12 1HX


Tuesday 28th April
7.30pm - East Molesey public meeting: St Lawrence School Church Rd, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9LH 

7.30pm - Cobham public meeting: Churchgate House Centre, Downside Bridge Road, Cobham KT11 3EJ

I am participating in as many election hustings and public meetings as I can across the constituency during the forthcoming general election campaign.

As well as events at Sunrise of Esher care home, Esher College, Rydens Enterprise School and some other local town hall meetings (to be announced), I am participating in the following hustings:

• Wednesday 8 April, 7.30pm: Esher Business Guild, at Esher Civic Centre (for further details, contact Madelein Armstrong at madeleinarmstrong@gmail.com).
• Thursday 16 April, 7.30pm: Holy Trinity Church, Claygate (contact Janet Watkins at the parish office on 01372 463 603 for further details).
• Friday 17 April, 7pm: St Christopher's Church, Hinchley Wood (contact the parish office on 0208 398 9095 for further details).
• Wednesday 22 April, 7.30pm: East Molesey Methodist Church (contact the parish office on 0208 979 6939 for further details).
• Thursday 30 April, 8pm: St Andrew's Church, Oxshott (contact the parish office on 01372 842 071 for further details).

After the turbulent impact of UKIP on the mainstream parties, I have written a column for the Sunday Express on the challenges for the Tories at the 2015 election - and what we need to do to win an outright majority.

The column was requested based on my remarks at a Conservative Home conference panel debate last weekend. You can read the article here.

The results for the European elections are now complete. Predictably, UKIP captured the anti-politics mood and did well across the country. All the mainstream parties took a hit, although the Lib Dems fared worst losing all but one MEP. Nick Clegg and Tim Farron hit the airwaves to suggest this was the price of a brave, principled, stance. Or, maybe, it's a sign their uncritical stance on EU integration wrong.

Most pundits felt David Cameron would be under acute pressure after these elections. In fact, the rumblings of discontent are far louder in Labour's Shadow Cabinet and amongst the Lib Dem's grassroots and candidates.

Nevertheless, it is right to pause to look at how the Conservatives can emerge from these elections to chart a course to victory in the general election, less than a year away. I have penned a column for The Guardian, assessing the way forward. You can read it here.

I have written an article for The Times tomorrow looking at the threat from UKIP, in the aftermath of the local elections.

I argue that Conservatives need to focus on economic growth, common sense policies that support the 'little guy', and not shy away from the debate on immigration.

You can access the column here.

Over the last month, I have attended the local selection semi-final and final for the Conservative candidate to be Surrey Crime and Police Commissioner. Julie Iles won convincingly, amidst a competitive field. She explained how she would use her business background to get more law enforcement bang for the taxpayer's buck, and what she had learnt about our criminal justice system from ten years working as a magistrate. For me, what stood out about Julie was how she would bring her professional experience to bear on the actual job of being commissioner.

The role is an important part of the agenda to strengthen local democracy and give communities a direct say over local law enforcement priorities. Julie is a strong candidate and I am sure she would do a great job. You can read more about Julie and her priorities on her website here.

The Conservatives had a good result at the local elections. Bearing in mind the tough economic climate and the difficult spending decisions that have been made, we gained two seats - including Geoff Herbert's nail-biting victoty in Claygate, with a majority of 3 votes (it was just 1 after the first count)! Congratulations to all those who won election, and the Association for its tenacious campaign - we had higher turnout than was expected.

I was particularly delighted to see so many new faces getting involved, including candidates who didn't quite make it this time, but put in a tremendous amount of hard-work - like Steve Bax, PJ Warren, Lewis Brown and Jake Delaney. Well done - you did us proud.

At the same time, Elmbridge joined the country in delivering a resounding NO to AV. In fact, Elmbridge voted 'no' by 73%, higher than the 68% nationwide average.

Thank you to everyone fowho supported us during these important elections. Now, back to the serious business of driving economic growth, and delivering on the coalition's reform agenda.

As the policy wonks, commentators and public digest the coalition programme for government, there will be a lot of carping. I was not enthusiastic about a full 5 year coalition. But having joined it, we must make it deliver. The programme is not perfect. It reflects compromise. But let’s not lose sight of the positives, including:

On the Economy …
• Recognising deficit reduction as ‘the most urgent issue facing Britain’, starting to cut it immediately, and prioritising spending cuts ahead of tax hikes.
• Creating an Office of Budgetary responsibility – an independent warning siren on government spending and debt.
• Publishing online government spending over £25k, salaries of senior civil servants and council spending over £500.
• Improving the flow of credit to small business.
• Bank of England control over debt bubbles.
• Staying out of the Euro.
• A ‘one in, one out’ rule for new business regulation, along with sunset clauses.
• Commitments to scrap the IR 35 and make business rate relief automatic, as part of a wider review of tax on small business.
• Reversing Labour’s NI hike (the jobs tax).
• Cutting corporation tax – to make Britain the most competitive regime in the G20.
• Part-privatisation of Royal Mail.
• Ending gold-plating of EU rules – so Britain is not the only country implementing EU regulations to the letter.
• Freezing council tax for 1 year, and aiming for a second.

Defending our freedoms …
• Scrapping ID cards.
• Outlawing the finger-printing of children in school without parental permission.
• Ending police retention of innocent people’s DNA.
• Strengthening jury trial.
• Restoring the right to non-violent protest and strengthening free speech.
• Limiting the use of RIPA (surveillance legislation) to serious crimes.
• Reviewing UK extradition rules

Strengthening local democracy …
• Reviewing local government funding, giving back more of the revenue raised locally.
• Scrapping the South East Plan (and its arbitrary housing targets), strengthening local conttrol over planning policy, and maintaining the Green Belt.
• Giving communities a greater say over decisions on frontline services (like our community hospitals).
• Putting directly elected representatives on the Boards of Primary Care Trusts – one Lib Dem policy I am delighted we are signing up for.
• Directly elected police commissioners.

The best of the rest …
• Schools reform – so parents, teachers and charities can set up new schools (with state funding, without the bureaucracy).
• A Lib Dem pledge not to block plans for nuclear power – to meet our energy needs, whilst protecting the environment.
• A re-affirmed commitment to welfare reform.
• A pledge to ‘stop foreign healthcare professionals working in the NHS unless they have passed robust language and competence tests.’
• A Cancer Drugs Fund and more dementia research.
• Protections for pensioners – including restoring the earnings link to the basic state pension, and compensating Equitable Life victims.

It is a tremendous honour to be elected as MP for Esher and Walton. I have just got back - a bit bleary eyed - from the local elections count, where we have added a seat to our majority on the borough council and watched Tony Samuels elected to the county council. I am absolutely delighted that we have managed to strengthen our local and Parliamentary majorities.

You can see the results for the Parliamentary seat here. My thanks to everyone who voted - turn out was 72% - and I am now thoroughly looking forward to serving the constituency. My thanks also to our terrific team, especially the volunteers who worked so hard and those council candidates who fought valliantly but didn't quite make it ... this time!

So polling day is here. Today, I will be covering the whole constituency, starting in Claygate, as we encourage as many people as possible to vote in this pivotal general - and local - election.

We have a terrific team of volunteers and supporters, who have worked incredibly hard. Over the last month, I have:

• campaigned 7 days a week.


• posted 29 comments on this blog on local and national issues.


• received over 7,000 hits on my website and blog.


• answered hundreds of emails and letters.


• met commuters first thing at our 9 railway stations.


• held 6 open public meetings with local residents across the constituency.


• debated in 4 election hustings.

We have taken nothing for granted - working flat out for the clear change of direction Britain needs, and only a Conservative government can deliver!