Barlow beats Roberts in 1991 Weatherfield locals

[sirbenjamin]

Classic Coronation Street on ITV3 was quite good this week, with Cllr Barlow losing her seat in St Marys ward back to Alf Roberts, something like 1500 votes to 990, with the Tories and Labour both way back on a couple of hundred each.

But what if Dierdre had held on? Would she have still got back together with Ken? And if Alf's spell as Mayor hadn't happened, would his health have held up better? Would he perhaps still be with us today?

[johnloony]

Jan 13, 2019 1:50:23 GMT sirbenjamin said:

Classic Coronation Street on ITV3 was quite good this week, with Cllr Barlow losing her seat in St Marys ward back to Alf Roberts, something like 1500 votes to 990, with the Tories and Labour both way back on a couple of hundred each.

But what if Dierdre had held on? Would she have still got back together with Ken? And if Alf's spell as Mayor hadn't happened, would his health have held up better? Would he perhaps still be with us today?

If that is the same episode I'm thinking, then it's one which I watched at the time (even though I hardly ever watch Coronation Street), and the numbers were 1515 and 909. IIRC, the candidates' descriptions were both "Independent candidate for St MMary's ward" and I don't remember there being any other candidates.

[andrewp]

Jan 13, 2019 3:32:09 GMT johnloony said:

Jan 13, 2019 1:50:23 GMT sirbenjamin said:

Classic Coronation Street on ITV3 was quite good this week, with Cllr Barlow losing her seat in St Marys ward back to Alf Roberts, something like 1500 votes to 990, with the Tories and Labour both way back on a couple of hundred each.

But what if Dierdre had held on? Would she have still got back together with Ken? And if Alf's spell as Mayor hadn't happened, would his health have held up better? Would he perhaps still be with us today?

If that is the same episode I'm thinking, then it's one which I watched at the time (even though I hardly ever watch Coronation Street), and the numbers were 1515 and 909. IIRC, the candidates' descriptions were both "Independent candidate for St MMary's ward" and I don't remember there being any other candidates.

There were at least 3 other candidates all getting a couple of hundred or less. I don’t think party affiliations were given. You are right with 1515 and 909. 

 Deirdre didn’t get back with Ken until after the quadrennium following that election.

[pragmaticidealist]

Jan 13, 2019 9:02:14 GMT andrewp said:

Jan 13, 2019 3:32:09 GMT johnloony said:

If that is the same episode I'm thinking, then it's one which I watched at the time (even though I hardly ever watch Coronation Street), and the numbers were 1515 and 909. IIRC, the candidates' descriptions were both "Independent candidate for St MMary's ward" and I don't remember there being any other candidates.

There were at least 3 other candidates all getting a couple of hundred or less. I don’t think party affiliations were given. You are right with 1515 and 909. 

 Deirdre didn’t get back with Ken until after the quadrennium following that election.

Yes, and I would assume that those other candidates were from actual parties. It seems absurd that Labour in particular would stand aside for local independents in a ward like that. Roberts seemed like a Tory-leaning type so it's rather surprising that he would win too. 

[andrewp]

Jan 13, 2019 9:13:09 GMT pragmaticidealist said:

Jan 13, 2019 9:02:14 GMT andrewp said:

There were at least 3 other candidates all getting a couple of hundred or less. I don’t think party affiliations were given. You are right with 1515 and 909. 

 Deirdre didn’t get back with Ken until after the quadrennium following that election.

Yes, and I would assume that those other candidates were from actual parties. It seems absurd that Labour in particular would stand aside for local independents in a ward like that. Roberts seemed like a Tory-leaning type so it's rather surprising that he would win too. 

In the previous election in 1987, when Deirdre beat Alf, Labour were named in 3rd place and the Conservatives in 4th

Alf was defitnely Conservative and Deirdre Labour. ( obviously not labelled as such though)

[heslingtonian]

It must have been said before on numerous occasions but of course Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts) is the daughter of a former Conservative MP for Peterborough.

[sirbenjamin]

Jan 13, 2019 9:13:09 GMT pragmaticidealist said:

Jan 13, 2019 9:02:14 GMT andrewp said:

There were at least 3 other candidates all getting a couple of hundred or less. I don’t think party affiliations were given. You are right with 1515 and 909. 

 Deirdre didn’t get back with Ken until after the quadrennium following that election.

Yes, and I would assume that those other candidates were from actual parties. It seems absurd that Labour in particular would stand aside for local independents in a ward like that. Roberts seemed like a Tory-leaning type so it's rather surprising that he would win too. 

It was discussed on screen during the campaign that Lab and Con candidates were standing, but didn't have much of a chance because 'this ward always votes independent'.

There appeared to be a Green candidate on stage at the declaration.

[Merseymike]

Jan 13, 2019 15:42:52 GMT heslingtonian said:

It must have been said before on numerous occasions but of course Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts) is the daughter of a former Conservative MP for Peterborough.

I recall an interview with her where she said it put her off politics for life and that she doesn't vote

[sirbenjamin]

Jan 14, 2019 0:31:45 GMT Merseymike said:

Jan 13, 2019 15:42:52 GMT heslingtonian said:

It must have been said before on numerous occasions but of course Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts) is the daughter of a former Conservative MP for Peterborough.

I recall an interview with her where she said it put her off politics for life and that she doesn't vote

A similar story to Nigel Havers who, coincidentally, is now appearing in Coronation Street  (I don't watch the new episodes but caught it at mum's house over the Festive season...)

Sue Nicholls would go on to marry (the actor who played) Alan Bradley.

[Merseymike]

Jan 14, 2019 1:33:46 GMT sirbenjamin said:

Jan 14, 2019 0:31:45 GMT Merseymike said:

I recall an interview with her where she said it put her off politics for life and that she doesn't vote

A similar story to Nigel Havers who, coincidentally, is now appearing in Coronation Street  (I don't watch the new episodes but caught it at mum's house over the Festive season...)

Sue Nicholls would go on to marry (the actor who played) Alan Bradley.

I recall him being quite irritated when the Tories added him to their Tory celebrity list. Along with a fair few others....Jenny Agutter and Joanna Lumley both said thwy had never voted Tory!

[The Bishop]

I have seen Lumley cited as a Tory elsewhere, however. Claiming it about Agutter does surprise a bit though.

(back in the 1990s I recall some Tory propaganda effort claiming Darcey Bussell as a supporter - she rather sharply retorted that she wasn't and never would be)

[pragmaticidealist]

Jan 13, 2019 23:46:25 GMT sirbenjamin said:

Jan 13, 2019 9:13:09 GMT pragmaticidealist said:

Yes, and I would assume that those other candidates were from actual parties. It seems absurd that Labour in particular would stand aside for local independents in a ward like that. Roberts seemed like a Tory-leaning type so it's rather surprising that he would win too. 

It was discussed on screen during the campaign that Lab and Con candidates were standing, but didn't have much of a chance because 'this ward always votes independent'.

There appeared to be a Green candidate on stage at the declaration.

Which I suppose makes sense, given how it is an absurdly closely-knitted community in which everyone seems to know each other by name. 

[sirbenjamin]

Jan 14, 2019 10:14:15 GMT Merseymike said:

Jan 14, 2019 1:33:46 GMT sirbenjamin said:

A similar story to Nigel Havers who, coincidentally, is now appearing in Coronation Street  (I don't watch the new episodes but caught it at mum's house over the Festive season...)

Sue Nicholls would go on to marry (the actor who played) Alan Bradley.

I recall him being quite irritated when the Tories added him to their Tory celebrity list. Along with a fair few others....Jenny Agutter and Joanna Lumley both said thwy had never voted Tory!

I used to maintain the 'OnSide' database which was rather dispiriting, though obviously not very much work.

Some of the names were highly dubious, but weirdly, whenever the agents got in touch to request that their client be removed it always seemed to be the ones that had been pretty solid, unambiguous supporters in the past.

[Merseymike]

Jan 14, 2019 11:31:01 GMT The Bishop said:

I have seen Lumley cited as a Tory elsewhere, however. Claiming it about Agutter does surprise a bit though.

(back in the 1990s I recall some Tory propaganda effort claiming Darcey Bussell as a supporter - she rather sharply retorted that she wasn't and never would be)

I think it all stemmed from that initial list. She's a longstanding Green - I suppose the colonial background and cutglass accent leads to assumptions.

[finsobruce]

Jan 14, 2019 14:39:51 GMT Merseymike said:

Jan 14, 2019 11:31:01 GMT The Bishop said:

I have seen Lumley cited as a Tory elsewhere, however. Claiming it about Agutter does surprise a bit though.

(back in the 1990s I recall some Tory propaganda effort claiming Darcey Bussell as a supporter - she rather sharply retorted that she wasn't and never would be)

I think it all stemmed from that initial list. She's a longstanding Green - I suppose the colonial background and cutglass accent leads to assumptions.

presumably explains her enthusiasm for the garden bridge white elephant.

[AdminSTB]

Jan 13, 2019 9:13:09 GMT pragmaticidealist said:

Jan 13, 2019 9:02:14 GMT andrewp said:

There were at least 3 other candidates all getting a couple of hundred or less. I don’t think party affiliations were given. You are right with 1515 and 909. 

 Deirdre didn’t get back with Ken until after the quadrennium following that election.

Yes, and I would assume that those other candidates were from actual parties. It seems absurd that Labour in particular would stand aside for local independents in a ward like that. Roberts seemed like a Tory-leaning type so it's rather surprising that he would win too. 

There has been a long standing working class Tory element to some Corrie characters, however. Quite a few business people.

Having said that, IIRC Leonard Swindley (played by Arthur Lowe of Dad's Army fame) stood for election in 1962 for the Progressing Property Owners and Small Traders Party and came a distant third. I think Labour was the clear winner.

[pragmaticidealist]

Jan 14, 2019 18:57:37 GMT AdminSTB said:

Jan 13, 2019 9:13:09 GMT pragmaticidealist said:

Yes, and I would assume that those other candidates were from actual parties. It seems absurd that Labour in particular would stand aside for local independents in a ward like that. Roberts seemed like a Tory-leaning type so it's rather surprising that he would win too. 

There has been a long standing working class Tory element to some Corrie characters, however. Quite a few business people.

Having said that, IIRC Leonard Swindley (played by Arthur Lowe of Dad's Army fame) stood for election in 1962 for the Progressing Property Owners and Small Traders Party and came a distant third. I think Labour was the clear winner.

Ken has probably been the most outspokenly left-wing of the long-serving characters (ironic of course, given William Roache's real-life views). I think Swindley was jilted at the altar by Emily Bishop, another likely Tory. I could imagine Blanche voting UKIP had she lived to see their 2012-2016 peak period. 

[Deleted]

I think Norris would be an active member of his local Conservative association.

[sirbenjamin]

I recently found a dump from the OnSide database, timestamped 2002.

There are some absolutely fucking ridiculous names on there. Damon Albarn?!? Charlotte Church!?! Whatever possible reason could anyone have had for putting them on the list, even under the 'speculative' or 'ex' categories?

Also interesting to note how many of the living supporters on the list are now dead.

[johnloony]

Jan 18, 2019 3:52:35 GMT sirbenjamin said:

I recently found a dump from the OnSide database, timestamped 2002.

There are some absolutely fucking ridiculous names on there. Damon Albarn?!? Charlotte Church!?! Whatever possible reason could anyone have had for putting them on the list, even under the 'speculative' or 'ex' categories?

Also interesting to note how many of the living supporters on the list are now dead.

What does all of this mean? What does "a dump" mean? What is "the OnSide database"? What list? And what has any of that got to do with Coronation Street?