Re: Forthcoming Elections-Discussion forum?

[Dave]

Well said Oliver!   

[OliverJohnstone]

Congratulations to Councillor Ingham on a solid victory!

Many thanks to all those who voted for me and supported our campaign.

[admin]

Results:

Marple North, Declared
Wright, C E (Liberal Democrats) 3435 Votes
Walsh, C (Conservative) 2389 Votes
Rowbottom, D E (Labour) 647 Votes
Preston, M (Green) 442 Votes
Minshall, B J (Independent) 233 Votes

Marple South, Declared
Ingham, S A (Liberal Democrats) 3717 Votes
Johnstone, O J (Conservative) 2421 Votes
McAuley, P R (Labour) 612 Votes

Hazel Grove Constituency
Andrew Stunell (Liberal Democrat) 20,485
Annesley Abercorn (Conservative) 14,114
Richard Scorer (Labour) 5,234
John Whittaker (UK Independence Party) 2,148

[Howard]

So I agree with Oliver - it's probably a cock-up rather than a conspiracy  

"Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence" Napolean Boneparte

or a more calloquial version by Sir Bernard Ingham "Many journalists have fallen for the conspiracy theory of government. I do assure you that they would produce more accurate work if they adhered to the cock-up theory."

[Dave]

After what I have just read in the mornings papers about our service men abroad votes being 'delayed' .....I'm beginning to think Britain is no longer a democracy.  Labour will be behind all this no doubt.

Don't know about the bogus voters, but the postal votes for servicemen issue is nothing new, and it's hard to see how Labour or any other party can be held entirely responsible. 

For many years the law has dictated that, for obvious reasons, postal ballot papers can't be sent out until nominations have closed, 11 days before an election.  This was never a problem when our troops were stationed in places like Germany, but it is now that we have some in remote parts of Afghanistan, for example.  We probably ought to have brought forward the closing date for nominations, but that would be a huge change with major consequences.   

So I agree with Oliver - it's probably a cock-up rather than a conspiracy   

[OliverJohnstone]

Seems to me to be the final massive bureaucratic cock-up after 13 years of inefficiency and incompetence.

[Taurus]

After what I have just read in the mornings papers about our service men abroad votes being 'delayed' and a huge surge of postal vote applications for people who don't even exist I'm beginning to think Britain is no longer a democracy. Labour will be behind all this no doubt.

Welcome to the new Zimbabwe.

[Dave]

And if you don't vote at all, then don't complain about anything!.

Well said Alan.  It's amazing how often you hear the idiotic 'There's no point in voting - they're all the same'.  Maybe the numpties who don't appreciate how lucky they are to live in a democracy should be forced to go and live in North Korea for a bit!   

[alan@marple]

Five days to go.

If you vote Lib Dem for the General Election, then don't complain about the hung parliament.

And if you don't vote at all, then don't complain about anything!.

Lets have our own Poll

[Miss Marple]

I seem to remember that Annesley Abercorn chipped in his point on immigration and John Sparrow then skipped a question after all three adressed the subject.

Someone made it very clear what they thought of immigration on the large poster of Annesley Abercorn that was at the bottom of Dan Bank.  The poster had some form of racist slogan put on it late last night, which I noticed  when  driving home, but by around 10am when I was on my way to see Noddy at the Plaza the poster had been removed 

[Lisa Oldham]

didnt the UKIP bloke have his own thing on at the navigation?

[marpleleaf]

I seem to remember that Annesley Abercorn chipped in his point on immigration and John Sparrow then skipped a question after all three adressed the subject.

[marpleleaf]

I wasn't there, but that looks like a very fair and balanced report, Michael.  Did anyone mention the other candidate (UKIP), and explain why he wasn't there?  Was he invited?   

He was invited but had another engagement.

[OliverJohnstone]

Questions were not taken from the floor, they had to be submitted prior to the start of the debate.

[Miss Marple]

I was at the hustings last night and I think maybe the report is a little unfair to the 2 challengers. Oddly there were no questions on immigration or Europe but I would find it hard to believe that no one submitted a question on those topics...

Why didn't you ask