The credit crunch/recession/”downturn”, whatever you want to call it, is now directly affecting politics. More than 10% of the staff at CCHQ is to be made redundant and a pay and hiring freeze is to be introduced as the income stream slows down.

What has happened is that the Conservatives failed to use the donations they were being given in the good times most efficiently, but instead needlessly wasted money. And the Conservatives are affected more than Labour because they rely on individuals donating money, rather than bankrolling by the unions.

It is disappointing that they have not used the money party members, including myself, have donated more effectively. But hopefully they have now woken up to this and will do more so in the future.

I am going to make a donation of as much as I can afford to the Conservative Party so that they can continue to fight Labour and hopefully achieve our aim of a Conservative government after the next election, whenever that may be held.

And I urge you to as well. Donate!