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Paul Bettison hopes to become Bracknell's Tory parliamentary candidate
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Paul Bettison bids to replace Bracknell MP Andrew MacKay

September 04, 2009

Council leader Paul Bettison says he could “bring a lot” to the Bracknell MP job and is “very, very excited” at the prospect of being named the Conservative’s candidate.

Mr Bettison is among thousands of people who have put their name forward to the Bracknell Conservative Association for the top job, which will be vacated by Andrew MacKay at the next election following the scandal surrounding his allowance claims for a second home.

Hundreds apply to replace shamed MP Andrew MacKay

If he is successful, Mr Bettison’s bid to represent Bracknell at Parliament will bring an end to an 18-year career on Bracknell Forest Council.

He said: “I am very, very excited. I see it as a huge challenge, but one I really believe I am up to.”

Mr Bettison believes the local knowledge and successes he has had in Bracknell Forest as a councillor, council leader, residents, businessman and family man make him the right person for the job.

Mr Bettison, who lives in Sandhurst and has a wife, Jean, and two daughters, Emily and Clare, said: “The fact is I understand Bracknell, its people, their aims, their concerns, thanks to the opportunity I have had of being leader of their council.

“I also have a good track record of getting things done and I believe I could bring a lot to the job.”

Bracknell MP Andrew MacKay to step down

Bracknell Conservative Association will now whittle down the number of applications to produce a shortlist of six, who will attend a weekend selection event in mid-October.

The electorate will be able to apply for places at the event and a final candidate will be selected there.

For more see next week's Bracknell Forest Standard.

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well from what im hearing the torys have gone against all public opnion in bracknell, whoever you vote for, and have only chosen people from outside of bracknell to contest the seat...good to see that politicians are doing the same agaian and again, ignoring the electorate and finding jobs for their friends...democracy at its best

ben77
28/09/2009 at 13:02

CrowthorneLad - had you rattled there, but of course UKIP will win and have a Bracknell Forest MP in May 2010. And I should have said EU-phile not Europhile. UKIP want out of the EU, not be part of an oppressive european political superstate, but welcome trade and diplomatic relationships with european soveriegn nations.

VoteUKIP4sure
17/09/2009 at 21:57

i agree with crowthorne lad in that i dont think that ukip will win the seat but i am really encouraged about the debate going on from all parties, a visible hardworking focused candidiate is what we need and deserve, im sure each party will have their own opinions on who it should be, i but as crowthorne lad said, its important that we are engaged in debate, making the candidtates aware that this is not a job for the boys and that our MP should put is first and not politcal careers which takes them away from their constituency, i like MBW and im sure he'd a great job but whoever it is needs to involve the local community more, get them involved make us feel part of the decisions being made on our behalf

ben77
17/09/2009 at 14:34

**is not going to win... (apologise for mistake)

CrowthorneLad, Crowthorne
17/09/2009 at 13:16

Im pretty sure that a UKIP candidate is going to win our elections to be quite honest. I do however, hope that whoever wins the contest will go on and lead Bracknell and have the full support of the constituency! I also believe that our MP needs to live in our constituency and be known to the local people (not just someone who loves a photo op.) As Ben has said, even though what our MP has done in the past, it has brung on a big debate about who, how and why should be our next MP! Lets all make the right choice!!!

CrowthorneLad, Crowthorne
16/09/2009 at 14:31

Never mind all this; Bracknell will have a UKIP MP next May because the modernised Tories are just heirs to Blair and we don't want any more europhile-marxist-socialist-liberalists running the country.

VoteUKIP4sure
15/09/2009 at 19:56

crowthorne lad

i think it is excellent that there is real debate about who we have represent us in the next parliament, there is no need to apologise! you have a preference and so do i, but it is refreshing that there are these differences and encourages people of our town to talk about it, hopefully whatever the outcome of who is chosen,they will be from the area and have some experiences of what is needed to be done, i happen to think marc brunel walker would be excellent and you have youtr opinion which is great, we just dont want a cionservative A lister parachuted in with no interest in our town

keep up the debate, its great!

ben77
14/09/2009 at 13:46

Ben,

Please dont be offended by my comments. This is merely the way that I have seen MBW as. Obviously I do not live in you area and have not seen how visible he has been in your ward. This is just from my personal experience so please do take my comments as a pure personal feeling.

Apologise once again.

CrowthorneLad, Crowthorne
14/09/2009 at 12:39

i think the best candidtae for our area is the way to go forward,i think open lists are a good idea and women and men to apply and the best candidate to be chosen rather than just because of gender, but thats just a personal opinion. im also sorry if i have annoyed crowthorne lad, i think there is no need to insult people as all mouth when i merely mentioned marc brunel walker becuase he was a very visable mayor and i think has been elected twice now to the council, so some of us in bracknell must think he is more than just mouth, i happen to think he would be an excellent local candidate, but also respect freedom of speech and opinion and wouldnt want to use an insult to justify anonther potential candidates chances, i think its good that those of us who live here can finally have a good debate about who we want, thats all, apologies again

ben77
11/09/2009 at 11:28

CMA - As mentioned previously, Sandhurst and Crowthorne are all part of Bracknell Forest and anybody from these towns/villages can become our MP...

CrowthorneLad, Crowthorne
10/09/2009 at 15:18

Marc Brunel Walker to be MP... All mouth and nothing else! You need somebody who has prooved themselves worthy. I think it is also about time we got a woman MP... say Tina McKenzie Boyle (Chairwoman of Crowthorne Council.) She also understands what the people think, what we see and what we want to happen in our area... Paul Bettison really needs to get in the real world. Heaven forbid him EVER being able to become our MP. !

CrowthorneLad, Crowthorne
9/09/2009 at 15:38

i agree that we need someone from the local area, but i also believe that its time we had someone who has not spent nearly 20 years as councillor and only now decides to run, i think that a younger candidate might be better, and i agree it should be someone who has held a regular job in the area, Marc Brunel-walker was our Mayor and he always seemed to be at local functions and im sure he works in the area as well? has he applied, i think he should

ben77
9/09/2009 at 12:13

I guess I'm just quite bitter about a lot of MPs at the moment... but really, Sandhurst is a much nicer area than say, Great Hollands, and I can't say I've ever seen an MP who represents my views...

I also wouldn't know who to vote for as I don't feel I can trust any of the big parties and there isn't enough information about the smaller ones.

CMA
8/09/2009 at 12:21

Interestingly, according to the Wikipedia article on the next Bracknell election (I know, Wikipedia can't be trusted, but I've confirmed the information by following the source cited), Barack Obama's ex brother-in-law, who was cited as a possible candidate, has put his name forward. Somehow I can't see him going far.

For those who are interested, the Wikipedia article is located here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Bracknell_parliamentary_election

Talavera, Little Sandhurst
7/09/2009 at 16:14

I'm amazed I'm saying this, considering I am not going to be voting Tory and especially not for Mr Bettison, but I don't agree with what you have said, CMA. A councillor is elected by the people, and his job is to work on public issues, which alone would suggest he does understand the people of Bracknell constituency a bit more than a regular Joe. As for living in Sandhurst, that town does come under Bracknell constituency, so he is hardly an outsider.

I feel dirty now for defending him. I'm going to have a wash.