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Martin became a member of the Conservative Party's Parliamentary Candidates List in September 2005 and is currently looking for a constituency to select him as a parliamentary candidate.
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On This Page | Martin's Background | Political Interests and Priorities | What Non Conservative Voters Say About Martin | Other Web Pages |Links | Martin is a family man, married to Lesley a former nurse tutor and health visitor who originally trained in the QARANC, they have two children aged 10 and 8. Martin grew up in Suffolk and Norfolk. After studying Geography at Hull University, he worked as a Geography teacher in an East Anglian seaside town, before working overseas in Pakistan, then Afghanistan. Martin has now returned to his native Suffolk and currently works as Head of Faculty in a comprehensive school. He is also a published author and writes regularly for publication particularly on Islamist extremism and terrorism both in the UK and overseas, as well as on sea defence issues. * Overseas aid worker - From 1995-2005 Martin worked without a formal salary to set up a development project in a remote mountainous region of Afghanistan, including several years working in Afghanistan itself. Despite having to negotiate with the Taliban and other radical Islamic groups, Martin made initial contact with this remote people living high in the mountains more than a week's walk from the nearest road and was almost certainly the first westerner ever to visit some of these villages. He established a community development dialogue, started to analyse their unwritten language in order to produce an alphabet and set up a literacy project. He then recruited a team of specialist expatriate staff to whom he has now handed over the work.
(Martin - centre right - carrying out a child health survey in a remote area of Afghanistan) While working overseas Martin was also a member of the NGO committee that functioned as the national education committee for Afghanistan during the Taliban era, served for a while on the board of another NGO and was involved in general management for the NGOs he worked for. Martin was also involved in assisting the persecuted church in Afghanistan - including during the Taliban era when a number of Afghan Christians were executed for their faith. Prior to working in Afghanistan Martin spent a year as principal of a further education institute in Pakistan. He was also a member of the managing council of a Pakistani education centre that oversaw the management of a number of educational institutes, including a technical college, high school with boarding house and over 40 village primary schools. * Expert on Islam - Martin has a PhD in Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, which was the first academic study that helped the persecuted church in Islamic countries to express their beliefs in non western ways. This has been published as a major academic book in the USA. He learnt Urdu and Persian while working overseas. He has also been an expert witness for the Asylum Appeal Tribunal concerning genuine threat to life/abuse of human rights in Afghanistan. He writes a regular articles for Conservative Home on Islamic extremism and terrorism and Foreign Affairs. He has been at the forefront of exposing the previous Labour government's partial appeasement of the agenda of radical Islamist groups in the UK, including their introduction of 'sharia compliant' legislation into the UK. * Teacher in UK secondary modern and comprehensive schools - Martin taught Geography in secondary modern and comprehensive schools in East Anglia before going to Pakistan to become principal of an English Language Institute. After returning from aid work in Afghanistan, Martin spent a while setting up his own business, before deciding to return to teaching. He has taught in a pupil referral unit for children excluded from mainstream schools and been in charge of education in a children's home. He is currently Head of Humanities Faculty at a comprehensive school in Suffolk. * Specialist knowledge of environmental issues. You don't need to question Martin's green credentials - he spends his working life teaching our children about environmental issues! Martin has a particular interest in sea defence and flood protection, both areas that he undertook specialist study of at university. He has contributed a number of detailed responses to shoreline management plans for both Suffolk and Norfolk. * Martin has also been a regular writer for Conservatism Magazine, the Difference Magazine and now writes a regular column on Islamic extremism and terrorism for Conservative Home's Centre Right section He has also written articles on sea defence, flood prevention and education (see speeches and articles section). * Campaigner to clean up politics - Martin has campaigned against MPs' abuses of the expenses system and exposed individual abuses (see the clean up politics section of the speeches and articles page).
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Personal political interests and
priorities
- Tackling Islamic extremism/terrorism both in the UK and overseas, especially Afghanistan. - Sea defence and flood protection as well as other environmental issues. - Getting a fair deal for rural and coastal communities. But above all - local issues! Political books that have inspired Martin Gary Streeter, MP (ed) There is Such a Thing as Society - 12 Principles of Compassionate Conservatism (London: Politico's Publishing,2002). - a collection of essays on social justice issues by leading Conservatives including Iain Duncan Smith, Oliver Letwin and David Willets. John Pollock Wilberforce - God's Statesman (Eastbourne:Kingsway,1977,2001). - biography of the nineteenth century Conservative MP who led the campaign to abolish the slave trade. William Hague commented on this book that 'Wilberforce modelled a combination of Christian principle and tactical genius that is as relevant in the 21st Century as in his own time'. Sue Palmer Toxic Childhood - How the Modern World is Damaging Our Children and What We Can Do About It (London:Orion,2006) - actually this isn't really a political book - but I believe strongly that politician's need to have a life outside of politics (!) - and this IS a book every politician should read. Ex Primary School head teacher Sue Palmer describes the effects of a combination of family breakdown, technology, lack of outdoor play and abandonment of much previous experience of what actually works in bringing up children (some of these promoted by the government!) have made toxic what should be the best time of our lives. She also suggest what parents and government can do about it! You can already see much of its influence on Conservative policy - such as our Childhood Review and campaign for more open spaces and play areas for children... a MUST read book! Douglas Hurd Choose your Weapons. The British Foreign Secretary- 200 years of Argument, Success and Failure (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2010). - Excellent analysis by a former Conservative Foreign Secretary of what does and equally importantly doesn't work in foreign affairs. Amongst other things he argues that sometimes cannot actually intervene to correct an injustice elsewhere in the world as 'attempting what is right would cause more suffering than already exists'. Looking back on Tony Blair's ill judged decision to go to war in in Iraq that sounds incredibly wise... * * *
What non Conservative voters say about Martin
If Martin was standing in my constituency I would vote for him (and I usually vote Lib-Dem). Dr P Williams (GP in Derbyshire).
I have yet to vote Conservative but have become increasingly dissatisfied with the alternatives. This country needs politicians like Martin with personal integrity, a passion for social justice and practical experience in international development. Martin's professional insight and intellectual expertise would prove an invaluable voice in parliament and aid the formulation of effective government policy. If he was standing in my local constituency Martin would unreservedly get my vote.
Dr. S. Wheatley Price,
As life long Labour Party supporter, I would now seriously consider voting for Martin, He's a top bloke! Mike Rimmington (Melton Mowbray)
The last time I voted Conservative was under the premiership of Mrs. Thatcher. If Martin was elected as a candidate, I for one would return from the wilderness! Dave Robinson (Wigston).
We sometimes vote Conservative, but
if someone Robert and Sally Radford (Leicester)
Having known Martin Parsons for a number of years, I would have no hesitation to vote for a man of such integrity. Carl Meachem (Church Minister, Newark on Trent).
Clear Blue Water Policy issues - One Nation Conservatism Social Justice. - Housing - Safeguarding Our Free Democratic Society National and International Security. - Make Poverty History - the Conservative Way! - Tackling Global Poverty. - Saving our Green and Pleasant Land and Sea - and the livelihoods of those who work there - Environment, Rural Affairs, Farming and Fishing. - Building a Strong Economy - lower taxation = higher investment = more jobs. - Public Services - Education and Health - Britain in Europe - Participant in a Common Market or Region of a European Super State? Speeches and articles
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