“The United Kingdom is the most successful political and economic union in history. Together, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are safer, stronger and more prosperous. For more than 300 years, our people have built this great country together. And we believe our best days lie ahead.” (2019 Conservative & Unionist Party Manifesto, pp.44f)
CDG Members will discuss the advantages of the Union with CDG Parliamentary Champion in the Scottish Parliament, Jeremy Balfour MSP and CDG Member David Nicholson. The event will be Chaired by Harry Newton, a member of the CDG Executive and Programme Lead.
Jeremy Balfour was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament in May 2016. He is a member of the Scottish Parliament Social Security Committee and is the Scottish Conservative Party Spokesperson for Social Security and disability. Born and bred in Edinburgh, Jeremy was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and went on to study Law at Edinburgh University and Theology at the London School of Theology.
Before becoming an MSP Jeremy worked in the legal profession and latterly as a Tribunal Member for DLA/PIP Tribunals and a number of faith-based roles including ministry work and the Scottish Churches Housing Action. A lifelong Conservative, Jeremy was elected as an Edinburgh City Councillor in 2005, representing Corstorphine/Murrayfield Ward. He stood down as a councillor in May 2017.
He joined the Executive of the CDG in the Summer of 2018 as the Parliamentary Link for the Scottish Parliament and was a Founder member of the Scottish Conservative Disability Group (SCDG). He is married to Jude with twin girls. In his spare time he enjoys travelling, watching sport and reading.
More information can be found on Jeremy's website and his Twitter account.
David Nicholson is 31 years and was born and brought up in Fife, Scotland. David was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at the age of 18 and has been a passionate campaigner for issues around autism since then. He has had the pleasure of being a Youth Patron for Ambitious about Autism during 2012-15 and continues to support the charity alongside the work of the National Autistic Society and Scottish Autism.
David attended his local Primary School and Secondary school before doing his final year of schooling at The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music based at Plockton High School. He then went on to study Law and Politics at Stirling University where he gained a 2:1 Honours degree. David spent time afterwards in London working as a Parliamentary Assistant as part of the Speakers Parliamentary Placement Scheme.
David has a huge passion for politics. From 2007-13 he was a member of the Labour Party before deciding leave to the party because it did not represent the rural world (of which he is passionate about), aspiration, responsibility and sound running of the economy. Since 2013 he has been a member of the Conservative Party and has been hugely inspired by the politics of the late Iain Macleod, the late Baroness Thatcher, Ruth Davidson and David Cameron. David is also a passionate advocate for the countryside and is a member of the Countryside Alliance and been involved with his local Young Farmers club. David is also a keen musician who plays with the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra.
In his spare time David spends time at his family smallholding, walking, reading and spending time with his family.
David's Twitter Handle is: @MrDMNicholson
About Harry Newton - Harry is a 30 year old gregarious West Yorkshire lad who now lives in a beautiful part of rural South West Wiltshire near Salisbury with his parents. He was born with cerebral palsy from birth and is permanently in a wheelchair. For some 12 and a half years he was a member of the Labour Party, but due to their policies he found himself marginalised.
He has a particular interest in paid employment for people with disabilities, empowering individuals and removing barriers and obstacles. Due to his condition he has found this area sadly lacking and paid employment opportunities difficult to find - this has led him to seek voluntary opportunities. These were with local not for profit organisations called Swan Advocacy Network, TheShaw Trust and Scope. He has a keen interest in social issues regarding disability, the homeless and the marginalised. He is also a regular blogger about his daily life.
His charismatic Christian faith keeps him grounded. Attending a local church on the Salisbury Plain his charismatic faith is fundamentally important to him.
He is keen on all sports and achieved grade 1 cricket umpiring. He is an executive member of Hampshire Cricket at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
He completed a long distance politics OU course by going back and doing an access to FE course. While attending a non-maintained boarding school and college outside of Alton in East Hampshire. A relatively new party member - Harry joined the Party in October 2019 - he has wasted no time in getting involved with various groups across the Conservative Party. These include the Conservative Christian Fellowship (CCF) and his local hub of the South West Conservative Policy Forum (CPF) and at his local association level.
Harry also has a passion for supporting the Blue Wall 2019 Conservative Intake through his grassroots membership of the Southwest regional Blue-Collar Conservatives hub and he is also a member of the Tory Reform Group (TRG). He is also a member of the Executive of the Conservative Disability Group (CDG) and a regular participant at the CDG's events.
Some of his other interests are food, real ale and he is a member of CAMRA, the campaign for real ale. He loves to socialise with friends which unfortunately has been put on hold since March. Thank goodness for Zoom. He has been involved with non league football since 2008 and and has attended over 600 matches both home and away some as far as Southport and Grimsby. He joined Liberate dance group during shielding and goes now on most Saturday afternoons to Winchester.
Harry's Twitter Handles are @Wheelchairchap1 and @HumanDisabled Harry's website can be accessed here.