Back in 2003, two years before my success in Pan, I lost an IW Council by-election in Newport North by 32 votes on the day the allied forces were occupying Baghdad as part of the massively unpopular invasion of Iraq. I felt like the unluckiest Labour candidate in history, especially when I always opposed that war.
However, the last month has seen my 'unluckiest candidate' crown taken over by the Labour candidate in the Mount Joy by-election, Steve Cooper. For the last month he has seen the world economy crumble around his ears thanks to the greed and incompetence of banker cretins in the USA , UK and elsewhere, who have now taken state bail outs from governments who have still taken all the blame for the crash - whether Labour - or Republican.
Tonight Steve reaped the tail end of the worldwind at the vote counting. Although Labour clearly did not expect to win we expected to poll our usual 15-20% in this ward when the by-election was declared back in August. Sadly our vote crumbled to just 38, or 6%, tonight as the reality of our doorstep experiences over the last couple of weeks hit home.
The Tory won - with 45% of the vote - which tells you everything you need to know about what Islanders are currently thinking about political parties. The Liberals got 25% and the Independent (no school changes) candidate got 24%.
28 comments:
Would Steve Cooper normally expect to win this seat?
The fact is that the greedy and incompetent bankers have been aided and abetted by none other than the current prime minister and his pals.
Tough isn't it? Not as tough as it will be for all those about to be out of a job and home because they can't pay the mortgage.
D.R.
Not really, but we would have expected a vote of 20% in 'normal' times.
I think you we will find that ANY prime minister within the consensus 'neo-liberal' economy we now have would have done what the UK and US government have done in recent weeks. I'm not saying it is right, but it is true.
If it's any consolation to Steve Cooper (and it probably isn't) I polled 12 votes, a good many years ago, when I stood as the token Labour candidate against Steve Ross MP in a county council by election. In that case, I was beaten by a candidate with the wind in his sails. In this case, the economic crisis plus, I have to say, the past conduct of the government, have overwhelmed Mr Cooper and would have done the same to anyone else, if not more so.
Years ago, that irritating little Liberal A...gent, Peter Chegwyn, bounced around County Hall as good Labour councillors fell like ninepins, saying "it's the Labour label". It was, and it is; but if New Labour would insist on claiming the credit for a booming economy, it can hardly be surprised if it gets the blame when things go so badly wrong as they are just now. I know both major parties do it, but this culture of boastfulness and (self) deceit has to stop.
Blame the greedy bankers? You have no shame Lumley. Your governments failure to regulate lending this past 11 years added to its shameful overspending and borrowing has put the UK where it is today. Labour never could manage finances.
As for your candidate I hope you let those who matter monst to you in Millbank know how it went Trust me when your PM has the guts to go to the country you'll be lucky to get 1% of the votes.
All those who claim this was a chance for islanders to show their fury at the school changes were wrong. We need these changes.
I might also add that former Council Leader Smart held this seat recently, she was of course a Liberal.
He has more shame than you pal, who is only prepared to snipe anonymously and inaccurately on behalf of your masters:
Deregulation was brought in by your lot in 1986 - 11 years before this Labour government.
Labour HQ hasn't been at Millbank for the best part of 10 years.
I bet you any amount you like that Labour doesn't get 1% at the next general election ! I'll even give you odds.
Smart did not hold this ward recently. She was elected to the parish council in the Newport South ward.
Four inaccuracies in one comment. Good for even you.
Have you anything useful to add jr?
I AM HAPPY EXPOSING YOU FOR THE TWISTER YOU ARE.
NO POINT IS US DEBATING. WE WOULD NEVER AGREE.
Smart did hold the Mount Joy ward on IWC until 2005. She was elected to Newport Parish in 2008 for Newport South.
Fact: Smart did hold this seat in the last IWCouncil.
11 years not enough time to regulate if that's what Labour believed in?
Who cares if Labour could no longer pay the rent at Millbank? Did you run out of cash when Formula 1 and the Hindujs's stopped bankrolling you?
I'm high profile at County Hall, I can't write my name, wish I could. You lot amuse me, you just don't get it. You've bankrupted Britain, the electorate will show you the door the first chance they get. They wont care if it's Cameron or aliens, you have to be booted out for your lies, war and incompetence.
Dear Tory Twister
Not very professional then are you ? You should be sacked for your political partiality if you really are that 'high profile'. Unless of course you are a Tory councillor, in which case only Pugh is 'high profile'.Whichever, I bet if you were caught they would just slap your wrist if you are indeed a senior officer....
Yes Smart was a councillor in Mountjoy until 2005 when she lost, and last night the Tories were just holding a seat they had won the last time the voters were asked.
This is anonymous here, having a good laugh at all you political nutters swiping at each other.
Robert Jones may be a Labour man but at least he is coherent, intelligent, and thinks about what he says. Someone you could debate with and agree to differ and with a lot more patience than Geoff Lumley (as he so readily admitted).
We are all in agreement that everything is Gordon Brown and Tony Blair's fault and the Labour Party is in trouble. The upside of this is, think what fun the Socialists/Marxists/Commies, whatever, will be able to have once the Tories get power at Westminster again. Remember the last time? The shouting went on interminably, the media joined in too, and eventually it won Labour 11, so far, years of power.
Unfortunately it's all gone wrong again (predicably).
Is this the end of our world as we know it? Time will tell.
502 poster. You are right, we deserve your laughter. I can't believe these new Labour types are so proud. Labour's big idea 11 years ago was to pump money into schools and 'ospitals. They did, and the country still went into a terminal slide. Most of us don't believe things got better.
When the dust settles we'll need a new order. I think proper schools, proper hospitals and a return to old values, less credit more work.
The hounsing market boom drove this past 15 years, only 11 of them were Labour controlled. Ken Clarke handed Labour growth and a strong economy. Both parties were wrong. Now that's all over, house prices will be down 50% from the peak 2 years ago, mass unemployment 9 2 - 3 million) we can get back to working for our money not relying on house price inflation. Trouble is real people were conned, taken in by the endless ' no more boom and bust' b/s boasting. We face years of real misery, the little people suffering most as ever. Time to train as a CA volunteeer or Samaritan if you think you can help.
Typical politicians, mostly you care about what's happening to you not the poor ba****ds on the end of all this mess. Us. Homeowners, pensioners, school kids, workers blah blah.
a 'new order'? Now where have I heard that one before?
I think it's the Tories that are Millbank last time I looked.
Are any of you Tories really saying that your party would have regulated the City more robustly than Labour? Cummon...get real. Look back at the speeches of Cammeron and his mini-me sneering side kick and you'll see no mention of tightening control - quite the reverse.
Property prices go up and down - always have, always will. It's the free market idiot. Or are you suggesting that we regulate that too you closet leftie.
By the way, has anyone seen David 'there will be a day of reckoning, but not today' Cammeron's diary? Just wondered when the Tories have scheduled in the big day. Oh, that's right, it was bullshit as usual. Tories settling scores with Bankers - what a laugh. There are not enough lamposts on the Island!
A plague on ALL your houses!
The country is going down the tubes, and all you politicians can do is to spit at each other.
No wonder the public is so heartily sick of politics.
Quite so anon 10.06pm.
Couldn't have put it better myself!
Politicians should develop a sense of duty and a desire to serve.
Civil servants should realise that is what they are there for - to serve the public.
The money men should be made to pay back the obscene payouts of the last few years. What's the betting that GB won't have the b***s to stop it let alone redress any past excesses?
Perhaps then they will all be afforded respect instead of the loathing and contempt that they currently engender.
God help Britain because they won't.
D.R
Geoff,
Excuse my ignorance as I do not know the school situation around Mount Joy. Would you have an opinion on the fact that the 'no school changes' candidate came 3rd? Was it the relative candidate strength, the locality, or would you think this is representative of any SNT-supporting candidates next May?
TIA
I have reproduced below a post in today's online Telegraph in response to a piece by Simon Heffer.
Simon
"I have been amazed and disappointed so many times at the opposition's
supine behaviour in not tackling
Gordon Brown when they could have
crucified him over and over again
with some well chosen facts and
subtle oration. I have been forced to ask myself, am I alone in abhorring what New Labour are doing to our country? In attempting to analyse what is happening I have come to some
general conclusions.
Both the Liberals and the
Conservatives are scared witless of appearing to be against the general mood of soft left socialism which plays on peoples better natures to help others in society.
Many MPs are too concerned with their own self interests and go with the flow so as not to stand out from the crowd and attract unwelcome attention which might jeopardise their chances
of being elected again.
The media, especially the BBC, do not publish criticism of Labour from otherwise valid and enlightened commentators.
The British public are genuinely not interested in what politicians are doing in their name.
I believe our society is broken which allows our politicians to do just about anything they want. Just one example of the state of society is found when all hell is let loose about hunting a fox, but murdering unborn babies with abortion is accepted as a part of standard daily life. Our values as a country are shot and the populace are probably reaping what they deserve.
I pray that there is someone with the intelligence, charisma and principles to lead us in serving for the good of the whole country and not just the partisans of a particular group or party. We sorely need an honest leader to help us out of our present
situation".
Most of the points made above apply in a smaller way to the Island and politicians locally.
D.R.
To go back to the original points in the post, if the other candidates had co-operated they could have prevented the conservative victory.
Are existing and potential non conservative councillors able to set their differences aside to reduce or destroy the conservative majority at County Hall? If not, then don't complain if the electorate fall for their propaganda and vote them back into power next year.
D.R.
Red Squirrel - most voters on Thursday were of the older generation with little reason to worry about education changes. Sadly younger voters - those with young families - do not vote in the same numbers. I think that there would have been a very different result if the turnout had been 100% - probably for the independent. Personally I have always been in favour of compulsory voting......
On another issue that seems to have emerged here over the last 24 hours - the local 'politicians' that I know in the Labour Party are also people on the sharp end of the economy - ordinary people, with families and jobs, who want to make a small contribution and don't care about being rewarded for doing so. I myself use the allowance I get as a councillor to free me from from full-time working, but I still go to work for most of the week. None of us are full-time politicians.
Cllrs Pugh and Wells earn £35,000 pa. The last CE Joe (can't remember his name,the commuter) earned £150,000 pa didn't he? This was before going to London to earn even more. Which one had the real power, which would most of us rather be?
Local politics is almost certainly a complete waste of time and certainly money. Because all 'they' really care about is themselves (officers) or getting re - elected (councillors.) Not much if anything is actually achieved.
It may be an old t-shirt/bumoer sticker joke but if voting really changed much they wouldn't allow it. No wonder Cllr Geoff wants it made compulsory. He's probably right. If you had to do it people would take more interest in who they elected and what they were doing.
Sadly people care most about themselves. My job, my car, my holiday, my pension, my school, my fire service, my road, my dustbin.
The wind turbine issue is a great example. The makers want only the fat profit and silly subsidy. Their motive is naked greed. The opponents,(locals) care most about the value of their property and visual intrusion. Anyone else just isn't interested, until it affects them directly. The millions in subsidy affects all of us but is nicely hidden. Whatever the merits or otherwise of wind energy the only comments you'll read or shouting you hear comes from vested interests.
Until people care more about the big picture nothing will change. The meltdown in the global economy will change everything. Most people won't see this until it bites them on the ar5e!
I think much of the problem is that people don't see how they can make a difference, and at the same time believe the old politics isn't going to solve our problems. I take the point made earlier, & have made it myself in the past; the left of centre could have got together to prevent the right winning the recent by election. Undoubtedly true; but whether you'd have got the candidate you wanted, someone who would have got into County Hall and then remembered what he/she was there for.... well you probably wouldn't. Consensus tends to produce the bland. Frankly, we had years of that; the Liberals on the island were always a coalition of genuine Liberals and people who would "have been Labour anywhere else", and we all saw the result.
If politics can't re-establish its connection with the people, we're going to suffer an ever-increasing gulf between government and governed. All the recent history of the Labour Party has been a process of centralization, a shrinking away from engagement with real people. However hard you try locally, this contraction of political debate into public relations pap, spin, boasting, arrogance from the very centre of the party makes it virtually impossible to connect. Labour Party members gave up so much of their power to change their own party to Tony Blair, and they need to fight to get it back. The tragedy is that the luxury of time is no longer available; we are in economic crisis - complacency and greed have led us there, and it will take more than a restoration of "confidence" to bring us out. But do please bear in mind that it's not just Britain in crisis.... whole countries are going bust, and New Labour, old Labour, Transitional Tories or Traditional Tories could have done nothing to prevent it because it just wasn't within their power. Unfortunately for them, they try to pretend that it is; time the pretence was dropped.
I would welcome seeing electoral reform which allowed you to cast one vote, positive or negative so that you could either vote for someone you were ideologically in line with, or against someone you desperately wanted not to win. That way every vote [b][i]would[/b][/i] count.
Re Red Squirrel's question about voters and schools issues, I don't know how aware Mountjoy voters were as a whole about the proposals for school changes, or what they're thinking, but it has struck me in recent days how ill-informed many parents are generally about local politics and council business.
The formal consultation on school reorganisation finished on Friday 10 October (ie it was the deadline for written representations), but that was news to most parents I've talked to in the last few days. Most seemed to think the informal consultation earlier in the year was what counted. Deadline? What deadline? was the reaction when I mentioned it. How that will affect the final outcome I don't know, but it certainly reminded me how much info even the most apparently clued-up parents miss when they're busy with jobs and family life.
when do we get to know the result of the consultation?
The snag with proportional representation is that you would need compulsory voting to make it work; otherwise, you get a ludicrous confusion on the basis of a microscoping turnout, and the election of someone whom the majority even of those voting didn't want. Paddy Ashdown used to speak of "fair votes"; trouble was, it was obvious that what he meant by that was votes that were fair (in other words, advantageous to) the Liberals. That didn't seem to be quite the point to some of us.
But that's not to dismiss the idea: I rather like "radical's" forumula, and having lived with the consequences of government by landlside for so long, the one thing we know is that it doesn't produce good government, but political tribalism.
Incidentally, couldn't agree more with wendy v. Without information, you don't have democracy - it's strange that in this age of the internet, people seem less well-informed than they were 40 years ago..
Even "microscopic turnout".... the old eyes ain't what they used to be.....
Robert Jones may be a Labour man but at least he is coherent, intelligent, and thinks about what he says.
Good grief! Is the old buffer still alive? I remember years ago when the IW Liberal Agent Peter Chegwyn used to run rings round young Robert. He hated it then and still can't take criticism today. Time he was put out to grass. Labour don;t need him.
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