Helen Grant - Questions & Answers
Q. What led you into the world of politics and how long have you been in it?
A. I have always had strong views and I have always fought for what I believed in. I believe in individual freedom combined with personal responsibilities, free enterprise and a non-interfering state. I have also always felt strongly about being compassionate toward other people and have held firm opinions on issues surrounding families, women, social justice and social mobility, probably because of my work and my personal background.
My party political awakening came in 2004. My children were no longer babies and were becoming more independent, my business had started to mature, with a good management team in place, and I was ready for a new challenge where I might be able to continue helping other people both as individuals but also on a broader scale. Politics seemed to be the obvious route. I had a brief flirtation with the Labour Party because at the time they were holding themselves out as the champions of social justice, which was important to me, but I quickly realised that they were not. Moreover they were failing to deal with the aspirations of normal people in our country.
When David Cameron became leader of the Conservative party in December 2005 I was instantly attracted and inspired by his views on all of the above issues and I joined the Conservative party shortly after, in January 2006.
Q. What do you think of Ann Widdecombe and what she has done for the world of politics? (for example, making the youth more aware of cultures through documentaries and being in the media.)
A. Ann is a woman of great integrity and strength of character and I respect her enormously. She has shown us that it is possible to speak your mind and act upon your own conscience and still survive as a politician. She has set an example to follow in that regard. She has also shown great aplomb in reaching a wide audience through her various TV appearances, bringing people from all walks a little closer to politics and hopefully helping them engage in our precious democracy a little more.
Q. How did it feel to step into Miss Widdecombe’s shoes?
A. I don’t think anyone will ever step into her shoes – she is unique and we are very different people. I was deeply moved that the Association had entrusted Ann’s legacy to me to defend at the next election.
I still wake up every day full of excitement and amazement that I have been chosen to look after the interests of the people of Maidstone and The Weald, if I am elected at the next general election.
Conservative party members have chosen the parliamentary candidate for Maidstone and the Weald who will succeed Ann Widdecombe.
Q. Can you explain what the process entailed and your feelings throughout it?
A. First of all the Association sifted through all of the CV’s and whittled them down to about 20 from 90+ applications. The 20 were then interviewed after giving a 5 minute speech to the initial selection panel. Of these I recall 9 were selected to attend a Big Event on 20th January where the candidate was to be chosen. In between times we had to go out with association officers on a canvassing session to show them how we could perform on the doorstep, we had to prepare a press release about a local issue, and draft a letter to a constituent about an issue they had raised.
On the day of the final we had to deliver another speech to an audience of about 150 people and then be interviewed by Ian Hislop of 
‘Have I Got News For You’ fame, in front of the audience, to show how we could perform in a media setting. The 9 were then reduced to 5 and each of us remaining then faced a selection executive of some 30 association officers who put us all through a final grilling on our views and policies on a multitude of issues. So after a long day of about 10 hours of activity they then voted for the winner.
Each stage felt a bit like a part of an Olympic decathlon. I was certainly apprehensive at times, especially prior to the Ian Hislop interview, but throughout the entire process I felt that all I could do was to just be myself, stand tall and deliver, and hoped that people would really see me and put their trust in me.
Q. If elected as MP, what will you bring to the county town?
A. There are a multitude of issues that I will campaign for and doubtless continue where Ann will have left off in large part. Indeed I do already. I will also strive to maintain the integrity she has shown in her time as MP and stand up for what is right and just for the people of the whole constituency, that is the county town of Maidstone and The Weald of Kent.
In particular I would like to see Maidstone Hospital put its troubles behind it and regain its position as a hospital at the heart of the community. I would like Kent International Gateway to be defeated to protect our beautiful Kent countryside from predatory developers. I would also like to see us all doing our bit for the rural economy by supporting our local suppliers and producers as much as we can.
This website is promoted, published and funded by Helen Grant, The Old Tithe Barn, 520 Purley Way, CRO 4RE.
Last updated: 6th July 2008