Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2015 22:48:14 GMT
And the nominations are....? I'll go with Jix or James Chuter Ede. Chuter Ede is on my shortlist at the moment. |
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Post by anthony on Jun 15, 2015 6:45:33 GMT
It is true to say a lot of converts to the lib dems from 2005 were socialists. I think that's fair enough, but I wonder how many of those really hung around under Clegg and then coalition. I think there's a fair few in all major parties who could happily sit in other parties. I'm fairly aware that whilst I'm happiest in the Lib Dems, I could probably (sans Blair/Brown) be in Labour, or as a sensible Green  I might even make an incredibly wet Tory, although I think that would probably be very difficult for me. |
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Post by marksenior on Jun 15, 2015 7:28:03 GMT
It is true to say a lot of converts to the lib dems from 2005 were socialists. I think that's fair enough, but I wonder how many of those really hung around under Clegg and then coalition. I think there's a fair few in all major parties who could happily sit in other parties. I'm fairly aware that whilst I'm happiest in the Lib Dems, I could probably (sans Blair/Brown) be in Labour, or as a sensible Green I might even make an incredibly wet Tory, although I think that would probably be very difficult for me. It is not correct to describe a lot of people in this country as "socialists" . It is a sign that those doing such describing are right wing nutters just like those on the neocon wing of the Republican Party in the USA who froth at the mouth and call Democrats such as Obama "Socialists" or even worse " Liberals " |
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ColinJ
Labour
Living in the Past
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Post by ColinJ on Jun 15, 2015 10:44:30 GMT
The Observer story struck me as rather 'thin', so I spent 20 minutes or so researching Mr Wharton. Wharton had been Secretary of Watford Liberal Democrats and was Vice-Chair of their constituency party only last year. He has stood for election four times (three times for Watford Borough Council and once for Herts County Council) but was beaten by Labour on each occasion. He campaigned quite energetically but many felt he was left much to his own devices. Despite this handicap, he managed to get within 41 votes of winning on one occasion. Mr Wharton caused controversy in one Watford Council election campaign when he professed on a leaflet how much he wanted to be a councillor and represent local residents while, at the same time, his Twitter feed spoke of his desire to be an MP miles away! He also claimed in a leaflet that his son went to school locally, but despite there being four schools in the area in which he was standing, the boy went to none of them. (His son went to a school on the other side of Watford where Mr Wharton was a governor. I guess it all depends on your definition of 'local'.) In 2011 Dennis Wharton was forced to resign as Chair of a non-political residents group when he breached the group's politically neutral stance: in fact he drove a "coach and horses" through it by penning a letter, as Chair, to the Watford Observer attacking a Labour councillor. At that time the Lib Dem Mayor praised him for "only being honest". One suspects she will now be less impressed with his honesty! |
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Khunanup
Lib Dem
Portsmouth Liberal Democrats
Posts: 11,997
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Post by Khunanup on Jun 15, 2015 16:07:18 GMT
The Observer story struck me as rather 'thin', so I spent 20 minutes or so researching Mr Wharton. Wharton had been Secretary of Watford Liberal Democrats and was Vice-Chair of their constituency party only last year. He has stood for election four times (three times for Watford Borough Council and once for Herts County Council) but was beaten by Labour on each occasion. He campaigned quite energetically but many felt he was left much to his own devices. Despite this handicap, he managed to get within 41 votes of winning on one occasion. Mr Wharton caused controversy in one Watford Council election campaign when he professed on a leaflet how much he wanted to be a councillor and represent local residents while, at the same time, his Twitter feed spoke of his desire to be an MP miles away! He also claimed in a leaflet that his son went to school locally, but despite there being four schools in the area in which he was standing, the boy went to none of them. (His son went to a school on the other side of Watford where Mr Wharton was a governor. I guess it all depends on your definition of 'local'.) In 2011 Dennis Wharton was forced to resign as Chair of a non-political residents group when he breached the group's politically neutral stance: in fact he drove a "coach and horses" through it by penning a letter, as Chair, to the Watford Observer attacking a Labour councillor. At that time the Lib Dem Mayor praised him for "only being honest". One suspects she will now be less impressed with his honesty! # Sounds like his modus operandi is anti Labour when all is said and done. I'm sure he'll continue to lose elections as a Tory... |
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Khunanup
Lib Dem
Portsmouth Liberal Democrats
Posts: 11,997
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Post by Khunanup on Jun 15, 2015 16:23:05 GMT
It is true to say a lot of converts to the lib dems from 2005 were socialists. I think that's fair enough, but I wonder how many of those really hung around under Clegg and then coalition. I think there's a fair few in all major parties who could happily sit in other parties. I'm fairly aware that whilst I'm happiest in the Lib Dems, I could probably (sans Blair/Brown) be in Labour, or as a sensible Green I might even make an incredibly wet Tory, although I think that would probably be very difficult for me. I couldn't be in any other party, they've all got major turn offs for me (structurally and individual-wise), even if view wise I've got things that would fit in the three you mentioned. |
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Post by East Anglian Lefty on Jun 15, 2015 16:43:12 GMT
At the last debate I attended before the elections, one of my campaign team got chatting to a woman in the audience and asked her if she was thinking of voting Labour. She indignantly responded, "No, I'm a socialist!" It turned out she was the Lib Dem agent. So it may not be typical, but it's not unknown by any stretch of the imagination.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2015 16:50:40 GMT
There are reasons agaisnt me being in any party. 2007 to 2015 I could envisage tactical LD voting. Presuming its a Farron leadership, id rather vote ukip or even labour and tory is easily the best option.
Oddly, of the major 5 parties, id probably 2nd pref labour if Kendall were to win the leafershi contest.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2015 16:55:26 GMT
The Observer story struck me as rather 'thin', so I spent 20 minutes or so researching Mr Wharton. Wharton had been Secretary of Watford Liberal Democrats and was Vice-Chair of their constituency party only last year. He has stood for election four times (three times for Watford Borough Council and once for Herts County Council) but was beaten by Labour on each occasion. He campaigned quite energetically but many felt he was left much to his own devices. Despite this handicap, he managed to get within 41 votes of winning on one occasion. Mr Wharton caused controversy in one Watford Council election campaign when he professed on a leaflet how much he wanted to be a councillor and represent local residents while, at the same time, his Twitter feed spoke of his desire to be an MP miles away! He also claimed in a leaflet that his son went to school locally, but despite there being four schools in the area in which he was standing, the boy went to none of them. (His son went to a school on the other side of Watford where Mr Wharton was a governor. I guess it all depends on your definition of 'local'.) In 2011 Dennis Wharton was forced to resign as Chair of a non-political residents group when he breached the group's politically neutral stance: in fact he drove a "coach and horses" through it by penning a letter, as Chair, to the Watford Observer attacking a Labour councillor. At that time the Lib Dem Mayor praised him for "only being honest". One suspects she will now be less impressed with his honesty! # Sounds like his modus operandi is anti Labour when all is said and done. I'm sure he'll continue to lose elections as a Tory... Given your absymal performance in Watford thats a brave call. |
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Khunanup
Lib Dem
Portsmouth Liberal Democrats
Posts: 11,997
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Post by Khunanup on Jun 15, 2015 17:05:31 GMT
# Sounds like his modus operandi is anti Labour when all is said and done. I'm sure he'll continue to lose elections as a Tory... Given your absymal performance in Watford thats a brave call. Not really. This is as good as it will get for the Tories in Watford what with the GE election turnout etc. They might just win one ward next year on the borough if they're lucky. That's the problem when you hit a peak, especially on a general election day, it's very difficult to sustain because the wins have very little to do with the quality or otherwise of local campaigning (especially close gains). |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2015 17:15:42 GMT
Dennis Wharton @dawharton May 7 If Tory majority, we mean we will have massive cuts to our public and welfare services, and uncertain future for NHS Dennis Wharton @dawharton Jun 1 The @conservatives are committed to creating a truly 7-day a week NHS: betterfutu.re/1GRizwU |
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Merseymike
Independent
Posts: 40,402
Member is Online
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Post by Merseymike on Jun 15, 2015 17:27:36 GMT
Franco? Far too moderate. At least Mussolini. Actually Roy Jenkins was the best home secretary we have ever had. Yes, but a crap Chancellor. Probably. I am not remotely interested in economics |
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Post by East Anglian Lefty on Jun 15, 2015 17:44:32 GMT
Given your absymal performance in Watford thats a brave call. Not really. This is as good as it will get for the Tories in Watford what with the GE election turnout etc. They might just win one ward next year on the borough if they're lucky. That's the problem when you hit a peak, especially on a general election day, it's very difficult to sustain because the wins have very little to do with the quality or otherwise of local campaigning (especially close gains). I'm not sure this is true. If you start electing councillors, it's easier to get tactical votes, you're more likely to get new activists and councillors will have more time to devote to campaigning. It's perfectly possible to squander this, but even if you win by luck, that gives you a platform to improve your campaigning from. |
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The Bishop
Labour
Down With Factionalism!
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Post by The Bishop on Jun 15, 2015 17:53:04 GMT
Not really. This is as good as it will get for the Tories in Watford what with the GE election turnout etc. They might just win one ward next year on the borough if they're lucky. That's the problem when you hit a peak, especially on a general election day, it's very difficult to sustain because the wins have very little to do with the quality or otherwise of local campaigning (especially close gains). I'm not sure this is true. If you start electing councillors, it's easier to get tactical votes, you're more likely to get new activists and councillors will have more time to devote to campaigning. It's perfectly possible to squander this, but even if you win by luck, that gives you a platform to improve your campaigning from. Locally speaking, though, the Watford Tories have been a well known basket case for a while - so it remains to be seen how they make use of this windfall. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2015 7:18:03 GMT
Its surely going to get to the point where paper candidates will win.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2015 7:21:29 GMT
Its surely going to get to the point where paper candidates will win. Think at least a proportion of the SNP Westminster bunch were paper candidates. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2015 7:36:28 GMT
Its surely going to get to the point where paper candidates will win. there are at least 2 surprised & annoyed B&NES paper candidates who are now B&NES councillors .... |
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Post by anthony on Jun 16, 2015 8:02:58 GMT
I couldn't be in any other party, they've all got major turn offs for me (structurally and individual-wise), even if view wise I've got things that would fit in the three you mentioned. Oh, I agree. I'd also struggle to be in either Lab or Tories locally - they don't like me much (although I think a few years ago Labour did make ovatures through their organiser who's a friend of mine, although she could just have been free-wheeling). The local Green Party have no organisation worth speaking of, make idiotic campaigning decisions, and seem to imagine that because some of them work it justifies their inability to do anything. |
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wallington
Green
The Pride of Croydon 2022 award winner
Posts: 1,322 
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Post by wallington on Jun 16, 2015 12:41:15 GMT
I couldn't be in any other party, they've all got major turn offs for me (structurally and individual-wise), even if view wise I've got things that would fit in the three you mentioned. Oh, I agree. I'd also struggle to be in either Lab or Tories locally - they don't like me much (although I think a few years ago Labour did make ovatures through their organiser who's a friend of mine, although she could just have been free-wheeling). The local Green Party have no organisation worth speaking of, make idiotic campaigning decisions, and seem to imagine that because some of them work it justifies their inability to do anything. (Insert joke about being just like my local party)  |
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Post by gwynthegriff on Jun 16, 2015 21:21:57 GMT
At the last debate I attended before the elections, one of my campaign team got chatting to a woman in the audience and asked her if she was thinking of voting Labour. She indignantly responded, "No, I'm a socialist!" It turned out she was the Lib Dem agent. So it may not be typical, but it's not unknown by any stretch of the imagination. Perhaps she's a socialite? |
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