Stanbrook Abbey in Callow End was the scene of former Chancellor of the Exchequer’s first public engagement since leaving office in June 2016.
Speaking to members and guests of the West Worcestershire Conservative Association on Thursday 8th September 2016, George Osborne MP urged his audience to support the new Prime Minister, Theresa May, as she leads the country in the coming years. Whilst he had campaigned with all his energy for the “Remain” campaign, he said that the democratic decision of the British people to leave the EU should be respected and that Britain should seek to leave on the best of terms and to capitalise upon the new opportunities that now lay before our great trading nation.
Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire and a former Treasury Minister, thanked her distinguished guest and former boss reminding the audience of the enormous debt of gratitude we owed to a Chancellor who, when arriving in office in 2010, inherited a set of circumstances that he had been able to turn around highly successfully in his 6 years at Number 11, Downing Street.
Martin Page, General Manager of Stanbrook Abbey, Worcestershire’s newest leading hotel, was delighted to welcome George Osborne MP to the hotel and used the opportunity to request a signed photograph to be displayed in the hotel’s cocktail lounge - aptly named “George’s Bar”.
Stuart Speight, President of Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, observed that: “Mr Osborne was an engaging speaker who gave business people a keen insight into how he believes Brexit will affect local businesses and his strong belief in free trade; it’s always good to hear first-hand want parliament are thinking”
Harry Tanner, West Worcestershire Conservative Association President, commented that it is thanks to Harriett Baldwin’s popularity at Westminster that she is able to attract such well known and high profile speakers to speak at Association events. The Home Secretary Amber Rudd MP will be Harriett’s next guest and details of her visit can be seen on the West Worcestershire Conservative Association website www.wwca.org.uk .
Michael Hodges, West Worcestershire Conservative Association Chairman, noted that: "This superb dinner with an historic speech from the former Chancellor kicks off an exciting autumn season of events. We've seen a surge in our membership since Theresa May became Prime Minister and there's a new buzz about being involved in politics in these exciting times."