Mike Penning today played host to an old friend, Sir Teddy Taylor.

Mike Penning today played host to an old friend, Sir Teddy Taylor. Sir Teddy, who first became an MP 41 years ago, has decided not to stand for re-election in his Southend constituency and instead help four candidates that he particularly respects. Sir Teddy has known Mike Penning, Conservative candidate, for many years and recollected: “I employed Mike as a researcher in the grim period when I and seven others were thrown out of the party for our anti European Union views. Mike was loyal to me and gave me his support and help in this difficult period.”

Sir Teddy joined Mike and others this morning canvassing door to door in Bennetts End. Sir Teddy thoroughly enjoyed it and commented: “There was so much anti Tony Blair feeling. A lot of the public have switched off of politics because they don’t believe a word the politicians say. Mike is the ideal man for people such as these. He cares for the individual, is a great fighter and will be a strong constituency MP.” When asked what he thought Mike’s greatest asset was he simply said, “He just tells people the truth as he sees it, a quality often missing in today’s politics”.

Photo: Mike welcomes Sir Teddy Taylor to Hemel Hempstead.