Every
month, City Branch asks leading Birmingham Conservatives 10 frank questions.
In February 2009, we spoke to Cllr Peter Smallbone (a former Chairman of the City Branch) who was elected a Councillor for Quinton in May 2008:
1. Cllr Smallbone, what do you do in the real world?
I’m an IT consultant for a firm based in Coventry. I work with companies to deliver IT solutions that enable, rather than constrain, their businesses.
2. When did you
first get involved with the Conservative Party?
I helped out during my school’s mock election that mirrored the general election in 1992, but due to the demands of my job I wasn’t actively involved again until a few years ago. But this just goes to show that you don’t need a long pedigree of Party involvement to stand for election or to make a difference. You just need to work hard and believe in what you’re doing.
3. Why are you
a Conservative?
I believe in keeping the state as small as possible, individual liberty, the market economy, the importance of family, the rule of law and national self-determination. I guess I believe that if you leave people, families and nations free to choose their own destinies and to go about their business without restraint, you’ll get the best out of them.
4. What is the
best thing about Birmingham?
Aston Villa.
5. What is your
favourite restaurant in the City centre?
I like Chez Jules on Ethel Street, off New Street. The food’s very good and it’s not too expensive.
6. What would
you describe as your worst vice?
Playing Wii Bowling too much.
7. If you could
have any job in the world what would it be?
Government IT supremo..
8. What is your
greatest political success to date?
It has to be last May, when I was elected as a councillor for Quinton, in Birmingham Edgbaston constituency. Labour was desperate to stop us, as all twelve councillors in the constituency would then be Conservatives. We put out thousands of leaflets, I knocked on hundreds of doors and we were successful in taking the seat. I was proud that our message remained overwhelmingly positive throughout the campaign. Anyone who’s been through the process will tell you that it’s a great moment when the returning officer reads out your name.
;
9. Who is your
political hero?
Hereward The Wake. Although most of the stuff you learnt about him in school was probably made up, the guy’s still a legend.
10. How would
you describe yourself?
My own biggest critic. Also I’m taller than most people think.