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Welcome to michaeldavidrock.com
Introduction
Most people who are aware of this site have met me through political events or connections. Yes, I am a Conservative! And proud to be!
I use this site primarily as a reference point for others who are are interested in understanding who I am little better. To clarify: this is not my campaign site, just a few notes about me, in case Facebook isn't enough...
I do have political ambitions and have always been politically engaged and active. Many people will associate me with my involvement in Conservative Future, my local Conservative association and UCL/ University of London Conservatives. I am active with the Conservative Party beyond the limelight of popular campaigns: the Conservative Party is firmly rooted in localism!
This is merely an introduction: the 'About Me' will give you an overview of who I am, where I'm from and why I am who I am. My 'Opinions' are pretty self explanatory, I hope, just some musings that indicate my position on certain things. My links page includes some groups that I support or have been good to the circles I move in: I know everyone won't agree with all of my views but I firmly believe the Conservative Party is a broad church and should stay that way.
Thanks for visiting, please email me if you'd like to ask any specific questions: michael@michaeldavidrock.com
News from the Rock Blog
I've moved for the rest of the Rock4CF Campaign!
23rd January 2008This site will remain static for the next six weeks or so, as I concentrate on the final stretch of my campaign to become National Chairman of Conservative Future. 
The improved Rock4CF campaign site, is now live. It's been a while since we launched the first version, we wanted to pack in as many new things as possible for a special re-launch, as well as line up a programme of updates, extensions and features, providing more interesting and flexible ways for you to communicate with me, follow my campaign and read up on what I stand for and why I want to be CF National Chairman.
You should now find it easier to navigate, with the addition of tags for blog posts and divided sections for the Manifesto and upcoming Business Plan. Any comment, feel free to leave a comment on this post or contact me at michael@rock4cf.com.
Please explore the new site, the headline features are a full blog (and obligatory RSS feed), Campaign Trail Map and a new, improved, page providing nice, easy, copy-and-paste code to embed support badges in your website!
Shortly, I will launch my Business Plan, laying out in detail how I plan to implement the theories and concepts illustrated in my Manifesto of Principles. The plan will go up in its entirety, but I will be highlighting a section per day, to give as much scope as possible for comment and discussion.
Onwards and upwards!
Michael
Read "I've moved for the rest of the Rock4CF Campaign!" on the Rock Blog
¡Peru Libre!
31st December 2007I'm spending Christmas and New Year in Peru, visitng family and taking my 'summer' holiday. I'm staying in the family house in Arequipa, which is a fantastic city. I should think most people who have visited Peru have been here as it is the second city and a beautiful place.
The Plaza de Armas is stunning, with the cathedral set against the backdrop of Mt Misti. It's somewhat different from my little town in Herts! I've spent nearly three months here over the past nine years, including getting married here, so feel a real affintiy to it; there is a phrase used in Arequipa, 'Mi Tierra Segunda', which tranlsates, roughly, as my second home and is very apt. If you do plan any trips to Peru, you should definitely visit!
Hope you all have a Happy New Year, wherever you are!
Slogan Competition - only a few days left!
30th December 2007
Back in November I launched a competition to come up with a slogan for my campaign - "Come up with a slogan that Rocks!"
Well lots of ideas were sent in and I am now going through and picking the ones I like. I plan to use 5 of the slogans below during the campaign. It is not too late to have yours chosen. You have a few days left to submit your slogan ideas before the 5 'winners' will be announced at the start of 2008!
Visit the Facebook group to submit them, or email them to michael@michaeldavidrock.com
Happy New Year!
Michael David Rock
Candidate for CF National Chairman
Read "Slogan Competition - only a few days left!" on the Rock Blog
Merry Christmas
25th December 2007To all CF members
2007 was a good year for the Conservatives and Conservative Future: I hope 2008 is even better!
I'm visiting family in Peru for Christmas this year and will be away until the middle of January. I would like to thank you all for the support and interest in my campaign and look forward to meeting you all in the coming months. The publication of my 'Manifesto of Principles' has been exceptionally well received and I am looking forward to presenting my 'Business Plan' in January, hopefully to an even better reception!
I hope you enjoy the festive season, have a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2008.
All the very best wishes,
Michael David Rock
Candidate for CF National Chairman
http://www.rock4cf.com/
Free CF Branch Websites: http://rock.cfbranch.com/
Rock4CF Campaign Site: http://www.rock4cf.com/
Manifesto Of Principles: http://www.rock4cf.com/mop/
Manifesto Download: http://www.rock4cf.com/mop/Michael_David_Rock_MOP.pdf
Rock4CF Campaign Launch
12th December 2007
I have now launched my 'Manifesto of Principles' and my official campaign to be the next National Chairman of Conservative Future. The campaign site is Rock4CF.com, where you can browse the manifesto or download the PDF version.
I make no apologies that my Manifesto of Principles is an expansive document. In it I share my views on Conservative Future, where I feel the organisation is now and where it should be going. On the discussion boards in my Facebook group you can comment, and ask questions, about my Manifesto of Principles.
I hope that this document brings a different perspective to this election: I believe an open, fair and lengthy debate will strengthen CF and put our organisation in good stead for the future. I hope it provides some food for thought. My business plan, which will be published in January, will set out, in detail, exactly how and when I expect to implement these solutions.
I genuinely want people to enjoy their membership of CF and, in particular, this election campaign. I want people to join CF because they want to spend time with like-minded people, at enjoyable events and I want everyone to associate us with the positive, progressive aspects of politics. Let's not add to the disillusion that is becoming increasingly prevalent in society: let's focus on getting young people engaged at all stages of the political process!
We need to change CF. Not just the brand but the size, the range of personalities, views and aspirations. We used to be a significant political force; I believe we can be again. The Conservative Party is on the up, this Labour Government is ripe for a beating. I'm frustrated that we are not further ahead in the polls, that we don't have more members and we are not reaching out to a much wider audience. CF can help change the political landscape.
I am running for National Chair of Conservative Future because I believe the Conservative Party can form the next Government and I know CF can play an influential role in the next General Election. I believe the Conservative Party is the only party that can address the challenges our country face and I know CF can help in that process. Finally, I believe I am the best candidate to lead CF through the necessary changes and I know we can make CF bigger, bolder and better.
Michael David Rock
Candidate for CF National Chairman
rock4cf.com
michael@rock4cf.com
Hereford Campaigning
10th December 2007I went over to Hereford for the day to do some canvassing for Jesse Norman, who is the constituency's PPC. We were also gathering signatures for a petition to keep local Post Offices open, which was a popular cause and something that resonates well on the door step (even if you no idea where the nearest Post Office is!)
I missed out on the curry and drinks at night but have been assured that it was a splendid evening!
YBF Drinks
8th December 2007I like the concept of the Young Briton's Foundation and am pleased to see how well 'Comrade' Blaney has done over the last year! (If you don't know Donal, he's little bit to the right of centre!)
2007 has been a great year for them and to celebrate, Donal invited all the attendees of this year's YBF Conference for mince pies and mulled wine. I hate mince pies, btw, revolting things, and mulled wine isn't much better :P
But it was a very jolly evening and the East India is not too shabby a venue at all. It was almost enough to get me in the Christmas spirit...
Free CF Branch Website - from the Rock4CF Campaign
7th December 2007To CF Area & University and Branch Chairman,
Free CF Branch Website - from the Rock4CF Campaign
www.rock.cfbranch.com
I am a candidate to become the next National Chairman of Conservative Future. I take the view of our Party – we can currently run social action projects, events and campaigns because these are methods that can stimulate interest in what we are doing, even whilst in Opposition. The same goes for the CF elections - I want CF to be bigger, better and bolder but we need to stimulate interest in our organisation. As a further commitment to getting all members involved in the organisation, I want to make sure the election campaigns of all candidates is given exposure to as many members as possible.
An organisation's website is often its first referral point so it needs to be attractive and efficient to stimulate interest. To build and sustain a branch, members and potential members need to aware of news, events and developments within their locality: one of the main drivers for successful Conservative Future branches is communication. As Facebook has become such a success, it is even easier for the Chairman/President to get in touch with his/her members but Facebook is not enough by itself: we need to develop an independent online presence. Therefore, I am launching this offer to setup a free CF website for each and every branch that wants one, needs one or fancies a new design.
CF needs to become a much more professional organisation and the starting point for that is to ensure that every branch has effective communication methods in place. This is why I have already been working with MiLon Hosting who have setup CFBranch.com. They offer free website hosting to all University CF branches and are working with me to set up websites for any branch that wants one. Through this deal, the Rock campaign will setup a website for any branch - not just the Universities. A couple of working examples are Hereford.cfbranch.com
and Tooting.cfbranch.com
Get in touch with me (cfbranch@michaeldavidrock.com) and I will set up a website for your branch plus a Facebook presence if you want it. All the coding and technical stuff will be done for you so can focus on the message that matters in your area: once completed you will receive a link to your new website, plus instructions on how to run it! I ask that you pass this offer onto any branch you know or represent.
Thank you and lets work together to make CF bigger, bolder and better!
Michael David Rock
Candidate for CF National Chairman
CFBranch email : cfbranch@michaeldavidrock.com
rock.cfbranch.com
Personal email: michael@michaeldavidrock.com
www.michaeldavidrock.com
Read "Free CF Branch Website - from the Rock4CF Campaign" on the Rock Blog
An English National Anthem
5th December 2007I joined anthem4england many moons ago as I think England should have its own national anthem, with my personal preference being Jerusalem. Some fine fellows have lodge a petition:
Anthem - epetition reply
16 November 2007
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to initiate a Parliamentary debate on the adoption of a national anthem for England that is distinct from the British national anthem."
Details of Petition:
"The British anthem - God Save the Queen - should not be sung by the English as an English anthem. It is disrespectful to England, Scotland and Wales to conflate England with Britain in this way; for England is a nation every bit as much as Scotland and Wales, and those Scots and Welsh that still consider themselves British are now obliged to boo their own anthem for fear of being regarded as traitors by an increasingly nationalistic tendency. http://anthem4england.co.uk/."
* Read the petition
* Petitions home page
Read the Government's response
There are currently no plans to introduce an official English anthem, but the Government recognises that the constituent parts of the United Kingdom may quite properly have national songs for which they have a particular attachment. However, the choice of anthem at sporting events is entirely a matter for the sport concerned. The English Cricket Board, for instance, made the decision to play 'Jerusalem' when the team took the field. Any such suggestions are best addressed to the relevant sport's governing body.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, the response is a cop-out. Alfie is on the case however...
I am proud to be British, I'm a Unionist, a Monarchist but I'm also English. I'm a fan of 'God Save the Queen' but it should be cherished as the UK's national anthem, perhaps then there might be a strengthening of bonds between our increasingly dis-united Kingdom.
