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Post by tonyhill on Nov 5, 2021 6:45:45 GMT
I don't believe in 'Independent' candidates in local politics and I certainly don't believe in them in national politics. If the three main opposition parties are really having talks about backing a so-called Independent candidate they have taken leave of their senses. The Tatton situation was, as several people have pointed out, completely different, as was Beaconsfield at the last general election. David Davis should not have been given a free run when he resigned to provoke a by-election on whatever self-agrandissing pretext it was, and this vacancy has no special circumstances which would justify the main parties not standing against the Conservative.
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right
Conservative
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Post by right on Nov 5, 2021 7:34:32 GMT
I don't believe in 'Independent' candidates in local politics and I certainly don't believe in them in national politics. If the three main opposition parties are really having talks about backing a so-called Independent candidate they have taken leave of their senses. The Tatton situation was, as several people have pointed out, completely different, as was Beaconsfield at the last general election. David Davis should not have been given a free run when he resigned to provoke a by-election on whatever self-agrandissing pretext it was, and this vacancy has no special circumstances which would justify the main parties not standing against the Conservative. The special circumstances are that an independent candidate has a good chance of winning while none of the main opposition parties (with the exception perhaps of the Lib Dems) has a hope if all three stand. Another special circumstance is that there's going to be a welter of by-elections coming up - and having to work a hopeless seat simply to avoid a humiliating result is a bit of a drag when there are more promising by-elections. |
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right
Conservative
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Post by right on Nov 5, 2021 7:37:57 GMT
Weren't there talks in Peterborough for a Green-Liberal-Remain candidate but they messed up by choosing Femi, who then backstabbed them by saying that they needed to back the not particularly Remainy Labour candidate. Is Femi officially a Labour member yet?
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WJ
Non-Aligned
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Post by WJ on Nov 5, 2021 7:56:23 GMT
If the Lib Dems stand, I'll vote for their candidate. If the opposition parties go for a unified candidate, I'm voting for the Tory.
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ColinJ
Labour
Living in the Past
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Post by ColinJ on Nov 5, 2021 7:58:25 GMT
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Post by tonyhill on Nov 5, 2021 8:27:08 GMT
The desire to take a seat off the government at a by-election is not a 'special circumstance', and reducing the government's massive majority by 2 is no justification for opposition parties to subsume their differences because they don't like the government. All it does is weaken the opposition: they don't get the opportunity to put their case to the electorate; they have less incentive to develop or change their policies; they weaken their organisation on the ground (look what happened to the LibDems in David Davis's seat). Opposition parties have to be preparing for power, or a share of power, at the next election: standing aside for some random individual would be a dereliction of duty.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Nov 5, 2021 8:42:26 GMT
If the Lib Dems stand, I'll vote for their candidate. If the opposition parties go for a unified candidate, I'm voting for the Tory. A unified "anti-sleaze candidate" makes zero sense if the target isn't the opponent. The voters would spot that one a mile off. |
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neilm
Non-Aligned
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Post by neilm on Nov 5, 2021 8:46:22 GMT
Weren't there talks in Peterborough for a Green-Liberal-Remain candidate but they messed up by choosing Femi, who then backstabbed them by saying that they needed to back the not particularly Remainy Labour candidate. Is Femi officially a Labour member yet? Were I in charge of the Labour membership department, I'd reject him out of hand. The guy would be an embarrassment for any party. I expect Majid Majid will try and join Labour at some point as well. |
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WJ
Non-Aligned
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Post by WJ on Nov 5, 2021 9:01:25 GMT
😂
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2021 9:13:37 GMT
Two main problems with the anti-sleaze unified etc etc ticket
# The 1997 example of Martin Bell doesn't apply, as he stood against Hamilton not the Tory Party pre se
# Those who are arguing the case appear to have identified the ideal candidate in a nearby mirror .....
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ilerda
Conservative
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Post by ilerda on Nov 5, 2021 9:18:01 GMT
This has a very strong ring of Esther Rantzen standing in Luton South in 2010. A not particularly notable “celebrity” activist supposedly fighting a disgraced MP who had already announced they were standing down. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2021 9:20:55 GMT
This has a very strong ring of Esther Rantzen standing in Luton South in 2010. A not particularly notable “celebrity” activist supposedly fighting a disgraced MP who had already announced they were standing down. The main opposition parties didn't stand aside for Esther Rantzen in Luton South in 2010 though. |
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Post by matureleft on Nov 5, 2021 9:29:53 GMT
While I'd guess she's no Tory is there any reason to suppose that she wants to waste her time and potentially harm her reputation and appeal as a business angel? |
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ilerda
Conservative
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Post by ilerda on Nov 5, 2021 9:31:47 GMT
This has a very strong ring of Esther Rantzen standing in Luton South in 2010. A not particularly notable “celebrity” activist supposedly fighting a disgraced MP who had already announced they were standing down. The main opposition parties didn't stand aside for Esther Rantzen in Luton South in 2010 though. Nor will they be in North Shropshire apparently. |
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Post by islington on Nov 5, 2021 9:37:48 GMT
Marcus Rashford? Gina Miller?
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Post by andrewp on Nov 5, 2021 9:37:50 GMT
While I'd guess she's no Tory is there any reason to suppose that she wants to waste her time and potentially harm her reputation and appeal as a business angel? She is an arch remainer and anti Tory but I’d be surprised if she wanted to sacrifice any business opportunities. She lives near Taunton in Somerset. |
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WJ
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Post by WJ on Nov 5, 2021 9:45:47 GMT
The suggestions on the thread are unhinged. It's worth a read through for a chuckle. The least mad (but still bonkers) suggestion was Rory Stewart.
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Post by islington on Nov 5, 2021 9:48:47 GMT
The suggestions on the thread are unhinged. It's worth a read through for a chuckle. The least mad (but still bonkers) suggestion was Rory Stewart. I don't think you should assume that all the suggestions are 100% seriously intended.
But Gina Miller would be great, though. Let's see how she gets on with the messy business of actual politics.
Edited to add: I'd suggest Greta Thunberg (she's now turned 18) but she's Swedish.
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Post by carlton43 on Nov 5, 2021 10:01:37 GMT
Marcus Rashford? Gina Miller?
Oh ! Yes please. Either of them would cement the result for us solidly. |
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Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Nov 5, 2021 10:02:42 GMT
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed the Rt Hon Owen William Paterson to be Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.
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