Written for our website's new "ViewPoint" section, Richard Mather's brilliant article:

I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen by the Conservative Party to become its leader. I would like to pay tribute to the other candidates during the election campaign, and I would like to pay tribute to Andrea Leadsom for the dignity that she has shown today. During this campaign, my case has been based on three things. First, the need for strong, proven leadership to steer us through what will be difficult and uncertain economic and political times. The need of course to negotiate the best deal for Britain in leaving the EU and to forge a new role for ourselves in the world.

The country has just taken part in a giant democratic exercise, perhaps the biggest in our history. Over 33 million people from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar, have all had their say. We should be proud of the fact that in these islands, we trust the people with these big decisions. We not only have a parliamentary democracy but on questions about the arrangements for how we are governed, there are times when it is right to ask the people themselves, and that is what we have done. We not only have a parliamentary democracy but on questions about the arrangements for how we are governed, there are times when it is right to ask the people themselves, and that is what we have done.

Manchester Conservatives believe in livable and affordable communities, as well as a competitive and dynamic local economy. In this manifesto we set out how we’d help with the cost of living, how we intend to reward hard-working individuals and families, how we hope to protect the most vulnerable, and how we want to make our city more affordable and cleaner.

Dear friends, this is our first challenge of 2016 and I’m calling for your help! Many of you will know that Blackley is in fact the area of Manchester where we as a party have traditionally done well. In the past we have achieved second place and with your help I believe that, whilst difficult, first place is not impossible. The socialist monolith that is the Manchester Labour party takes victory for granted and is totally intolerant of the people it claims to represent. I campaigned on the streets of Blackley in May last year and saw this for myself. So come along and help me rebuild  the Conservative Party in Manchester, right here, right now! 

Life as a Conservative in Manchester can sometimes be tough and this conference was a stark reminder of the behaviour to which some of our opponents will stoop in an attempt to intimidate us.  Even so, I’m pleased to report that despite their threats our Conference Reception was a resounding success and passed off without disruption.

To celebrate the Conservative Party Conference returning to Manchester, the Education Secretary and Women and Equalities Minister paid Manchester CF a visit to thank all our members for their hard work this election season.

People are themselves. They are not objects to be pushed around by the State, which is what the new Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, proposes. This is why the British public shouldn’t be seduced by Corbyn’s vision of economic statism in which individualism, hard work and enterprise are demonised by expensive and controlling government.

"I am pleased to report that since the election there has been a huge upsurge in local membership. With so many new people we are keen to improve our local party and offer more events to members. So if you are new and reading this for the first time I hope that you will come to one of our events soon!" Chairman Manchester Federation

When we launched our General Election campaign six months ago we welcomed no fewer thanseven parliamentary candidates to the Manchester Federation Annual Dinner. The rest as theysay is history. We won all three of the local target seats, a Conservative majority government has been returned for the first time in 23 years and the Manchester Federation is welcoming a huge number of new members! ( Picture - right - an informal new members welcoming event ) To download our latest newsletter, see the full story.