South Shields

[Sibboleth]

Seat has a habit of being represented by high-fliers, of course.

[Tangent]

I do think the more senior Miliband is a talented and serious politician, who would have helped Labour if it returned to government. But there were very little options left to him; he could got back into the Shadow Cabinet, and might even have become Shadow Chancellor - but then he would have had no option but to follow his brother's lead.

[East Anglian Lefty]

Which every other Labour politician has done without complaint, so I don't think there's too much cause for him to feel sorry for himself.

A lot of rubbish has already been said about this vacancy, and a lot more will be said before May 2nd. But some basic truths need to be stated. South Shields is a safe Labour seat and is likely to remain so. It doesn't have enough die hard misogynists for a female candidate to make any difference to this. David Miliband is a talented politician, but he had many chances to lead the Labour Party and he didn't seize any of them. And he's frankly deeply unexciting, so weeping for our lost leader may be an over-reaction.

[Tangent]

Mar 26, 2013 23:52:56 GMT East Anglian Lefty said:

Which every other Labour politician has done without complaint, so I don't think there's too much cause for him to feel sorry for himself.

True - but, if they feel emboldened, now or in the future, to challenge the leadership's policies or the leadership itself, they wouldn't be accused of fratricidal revenge, and that's a big curb for a major politician. Of course, he's not irreplaceable, and life will go on. But Labour needs talent when it gets back into office.

[East Anglian Lefty]

Mar 26, 2013 23:58:06 GMT Tangent said:

Mar 26, 2013 23:52:56 GMT East Anglian Lefty said:

Which every other Labour politician has done without complaint, so I don't think there's too much cause for him to feel sorry for himself.

True - but, if they feel emboldened, now or in the future, to challenge the leadership's policies or the leadership itself, they wouldn't be accused of fratricidal revenge, and that's a big curb for a major politician. Of course, he's not irreplaceable, and life will go on. But Labour needs talent when it gets back into office.

I think we have all the evidence we will ever need that when push comes to shove, David Miliband's instinct is not to challenge the leadership.

[andrea]

Somebody called John Tennant announcing he will apply to UKIP selection. He is an assistant to Derek Clark MEP and stood in Gateshead in 2010. Who else can be interested in the UKIP nomination here and is a safe pair of hand enough to stand in a byelection?

[Richard Allen]

Mar 27, 2013 0:03:53 GMT andrea said:

Somebody called John Tennant announcing he will apply to UKIP selection. He is an assistant to Derek Clark MEP and stood in Gateshead in 2010. Who else can be interested in the UKIP nomination here and is a safe pair of hand enough to stand in a byelection?

There is no obvious candidate for this election but John Tennant is from the North East, is on the approved candidates list and is thought of highly by the leadership so he could well be the candidate. He is relatively young and wouldn't be my ideal candidate but he would probably be a fairly safe choice.

[Richard Allen]

Mar 26, 2013 22:24:18 GMT Pimpernal said:

Mar 26, 2013 22:07:43 GMT Richard Allen said:

Actually my fear is that if this is called for May 2nd we will end up wasting resources here at the expense of our county council campaign.

And that would be a bad thing why?
I used to agree with your viewpoint on this... but since UKIP have been focussing the national team on local elections I have another view on things...

Well I am concerned that activists will be dragged from worthwhile local campaigns into this campaign. I assume that you feel that UKIP Kent would be better off running your local election campaign without any "support" from above.

[East Anglian Lefty]

UKIP have got David Potts as a councillor in South Tyneside. He comes across as a complete nutter, but that didn't stop Winston McKenzie in Croydon North. It would depend what Farage thinks, obviously.

[Richard Allen]

Mar 27, 2013 0:51:44 GMT East Anglian Lefty said:

UKIP have got David Potts as a councillor in South Tyneside. He comes across as a complete nutter, but that didn't stop Winston McKenzie in Croydon North. It would depend what Farage thinks, obviously.

I will make two points.

1. Mr Potts is not currently an approved Parliamentary candidate.
2. He expressed considerable interest in being UKIP's PCC candidate for Northumbria but was not chosen as the candidate.

[johnloony]

Roger Nettleship, who stood as the "For an Anti-War Government" candidate in South Shields in 2010, is a member of the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist). He also stood in Jarrow in 2005 and South Shields in 2001 as a "Safeguard the National Health Service" candidate.

His (and the RCPB(ML)'s) choice to focus on one particular issue for a particular election - and to use a description accordingly - is, incidentally, a good reason to oppose the suggestion made in the Private Member's Bill in another thread which wants to force all candidates in elections to declare which parties they are members of. In some cases it might be more of a distraction and confusion rather than a clarification.

www.rcpbml.org.uk/wdie-10/d10-021.htm#lead

[markgoodair]

Interestingly UKIP did not contest South Shields at the last General election.

[Deleted]

David Miliband has sent the following letter to Alan Donnelly, Chair of the South Shields Constituency Labour Party:


Dear Alan


I am writing after a great deal of thought to explain that I have been approached about, and accepted, the post of President and Chief Executive of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a global humanitarian aid organisation based in New York that saves lives and protects people around the world. This means that with real sadness I will in due course be resigning my seat as MP for South Shields. I wanted to set out the reasons for this difficult decision.



In every job I have done, in and out of Parliament, I have sought to make a difference to the disadvantaged and vulnerable. The IRC does this on a daily basis and a large scale for some of the most desperate people in the world. Its 12 000 staff work in over 40 countries to help millions of people who have been displaced by civil conflict or climate stress and have no place, and in some cases no country, to call home. Its work from Mali to Pakistan to Jordan, as well as in the US, represents the best of humanitarian innovation and ideals. The organisation was founded at the suggestion of Albert Einstein in the 1930s for those fleeing the Nazis, so given my own family history there is an additional personal motivation for me. I feel that in doing this job I will be repaying a personal debt. It is a strong, innovative and inspirational organization, with the potential to change lives and help shape the global conversation about the growing challenge of displaced people around the world. Starting in September, this job brings together my personal story and political life. It represents a new challenge and a new start.



Of course it is very difficult for me to leave Parliament and politics, friends and colleagues. As you know, I see every day the damage this shocking government is doing to our country, and passionately want to see Labour back in power. After the leadership election, I felt I could be most helpful to the party on the front line, in South Shields and around the country, rather than on the front bench in Parliament. I felt this gave Ed the space and at the same time the support he needed to lead the party without distraction. He has done so with real success, leading a united team that has taken the fight to the Tories. I am very pleased and proud that our shared goal of making this a one-term government is achievable.


I have had the extraordinary privilege to represent my constituents in Parliament; to lead major change in schools, local government and environmental policy; and, for three years, to represent our country in the wider world as Foreign Secretary. I will always be committed to social justice in the UK, and I am determined to continue to support the work of Movement for Change, which is already making a difference in communities around the country. I will forever be Labour. But after writing two election manifestoes in 1997 and 2001, and serving as a Minister for eight years, I now have to make a choice about how to give full vent to my ideas and ideals. I hope you will understand that the opportunity to lead the IRC represents a unique chance to put my experience into practice on behalf of some of the least fortunate people on Earth.


It has been a genuine privilege to represent the people of South Shields in Parliament since 2001. The town is justifiably proud of its spirit, achievements, attractions and political history. It is a community I have come to know, respect and admire, and a place where I feel at home. There have been big changes in the last twelve years. When I walk into our new schools and see inspiring teaching and learning, I know what difference a Labour government makes. The reductions in crime have been real and improvements in housing pathbreaking. The vision for renewal of the local economy, despite the recession and its aftermath, holds out great promise for the future. The values and determination of local people have been an inspiration for all of my time as their MP. For Louise and the boys, as well as myself, South Shields and its people will always be a special part of our lives. It has been a home and a safe harbour, where we have made lifelong friendships and put down roots that will endure.


I am grateful for your support over the last decade. I look forward to discussing with you and the party the precise timing of my departure. I am writing to party members today, and will, of course, arrange to hold a meeting to thank them profoundly for their support.


Yours,


David

[oldhamexile]

Mar 27, 2013 6:48:17 GMT markgoodair said:

Interestingly UKIP did not contest South Shields at the last General election.

Or the one before.

The only GE that UKIP has ever contested in South Shields was 2001, polling 2.3%, though a Referendum candidate saved his deposit in 1997.

But in by-election circumstances there should be decent prospects for UKIP here:
- an MP choosing to walk away from his job, which traditionally boosts the protest vote
- a solid Conservative vote (certainly by North East standards) but not even a remote prospect of a Tory victory, making traditional Tories likely to lend their votes to UKIP
- a fairly strong BNP vote, 6.5% in 2010, which with the former BNP regional organiser and most of his team since having quit Griffin's dying party, should be vulnerable.

[oldhamexile]

Mar 26, 2013 22:34:08 GMT andrea said:

In Oldham Debbie Abrhams beated Riaz Ahmed and Abdul Jabbar (she tied with one of them. Can't recall which one and won selection because she was ahead in first preferences).
In Feltham & Heston, there were 2 men and 2 women.

That was about divisions within Oldham's Asian community between Pakistanis and Bangladeshis.

Presumably Cllr Jabbar (whose Coldhurst ward is within Oldham West & Royton) will be a strong contender if/when Michael Meacher retires.

[Deleted]

I doubt it. Not really necessary in South Shields.

[Pete Whitehead]

A distant second seems likely, but since we already achieved this at Rotherham, I don't think UKIP is going to make any headlines here. We should concentrate on the local elections and on another potential byelection 1,000 miles round the coast

[Deleted]

I doubt it, if anything it may have been timed to keep gossips busy over easter.

[markgoodair]

Last years local election figures
South Shields
Lab 11960 56.1%
Ind 4432 20.8%
Con 2118 9.9%
Prog 1420 6.7%
BNP 653 3.1%
Lib 617 2.9%
Grn 113 0.5%

[Deleted]

Constituency Map