COTSWOLD CAVALRY RIDE INTO TOWN

Gloucester Citizen – 3 June 2009

TORY parliamentary hopeful Richard Graham has literally called on the cavalry to help fight this week's elections.

A memo to Party HQ from the prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) which was leaked to The Citizen, gives a fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into local politics.

In the memo, Mr Graham reveals that he has called on members of the Heythrop Hunt to help canvas support on the doorstep in Gloucester.

Heythrop – famous for including Otis Ferry and David Cameron in its ranks – have been bussed into the city to deliver leaflets to drum up support for local Conservative candidates.

"I just wanted to write and thank all those in the Heythrop, and those without a Heythrop link who've come from far away, for all your help so far in the run up to the county and European elections," he wrote.

 "It's a long way to come for you all, and I'm sure there are times when people wonder what on earth this is achieving."

He then goes on to attack his political opponent in Gloucester – sitting Labour MP Parmjit Dhanda.

"The other issue is that my opponent loves talking about the Cotswold cavalry, cantering into town in pink chinos and Barbours, while his door knockers are Gloucester born and bred.

"It's not true, and it shouldn't matter where door knockers are from anyway, but it's probably best not to give the prejudice more chance to resonate than it deserves."

Mr Graham, who recently hit the national headlines when he inadvertently called Mr Dhanda a four-letter swear word, denied he had done anything wrong.

He confirmed that members of the hunt had been enlisted to help with the campaign, saying: "We have got county council elections coming up, and it seems sensible that, wherever you have friends dotted around the county, you enlist their help.

"There are only a few remaining Labour pockets in the county, and our friends in safe Conservative seats in the Cotswolds wanted to come here to help us.

"I think it's a good example of Conservatives in the county working together."