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My Blog
World’s first-ever TWAG’s get-together
Wednesday evening was an historic event as I got together with Christine Hunt and Marina Hall for the inaugural meeting of TWAGs, at The Prince Albert pub, Bexleyheath.
TWAGs means Tory Wives And Girlfriends, but also includes TBAHs - Tory Boyfriends And Husbands. We are the partners of Conservative Party activists and our purpose, as a group, is to meet socially, network with other TWAGs and generally have a twagulous time.
We chose Wednesday evening for our first gathering, as our partners - all councillors on Bexley Council - were all in Full Council. So, while Cllrs James Hunt, Joe Pollard and Steven Hall sat through a lengthy annual budget meeting, we were having a few drinks and a good chat in the delightful ‘pots and pans’ pub close by.
Our TWAGs’ assembly was part compensation for all the times when our partners have abandoned us for meetings, canvassing and other Party activities. Then there are the other burdens we have to bear, such as public appearances with our partners at election time and attending Association dinners. Add to that the general challenges of being a politician’s partner, such as coping with their inflated and deflated egos, their political anxieties and their evasive language and we certainly have common cause.
Of course, most of the things mentioned above are not unique to the partners of Conservative Party activists, but are shared by LWAGs (Labour/Liberal Democrat Wives and Girlfriends) and others.
Anyway, Wednesday was great fun and we found we had quite a few TWAG experiences in common, so it was good to share these. I can see us being a bit of a support group.
We also talked about writing the TWAGs’ Handbook, for which we have 18 chapter headings already. More of that to come elsewhere.
I can’t disclose too much of what we plan to do from here, as it is TWAG business, but this is only the beginning!
Wednesday, 4 March 2009