Elections 2016

[Dave]

The problem with the libdems is that they are well meaning but for some reason throughout the years they have been proven to have no judgement. From Lloyd George through to David Steel onto Nick Clegg this has proven to be the case. Example after example of their stumbles could be recited

Go on, then - recite them. 

[Hoffnung]

I think it was Theresa May who branded her party as the "nasty party" (better than in the Victorian era when they were branded the "stupid party", which to modern ears sounds just rude) but these are all national monikers.  Nationally the Conservatives (whether on Social Services, Europe, or Forced School Academies) are having big internal difficulties. and this week Labour are having a spot of trouble with anti-Semitism.    But I've never heard anyone call us the nasty party in the Lib Dems.  A first, @Condate !  Any evidence for that?

As you said this is a local election and traditionally that is where we've been strong. 

As Geoff has mentioned National, I'll comment.

The problem with the libdems is that they are well meaning but for some reason throughout the years they have been proven to have no judgement. From Lloyd George through to David Steel onto Nick Clegg this has proven to be the case. Example after example of their stumbles could be recited,but it would serve no purpose and they wouldn't own up to their mistakes anyway, as that is another libdem trait, their blatant self delusion. Councillor Geoff (honest and nice guy that he seems to be) talks of 'internal difficulties' and a 'spot of trouble' in the Conservative and Labour Party. Geoff, you've got 8 MP's, you had 57. That is 86% of you MPs wiped out. You couldn't be any more in trouble Nationally if you tried. Forget the Tories and Labour consider your own position.

Geoff is it true The first libdem was King Canute ?

[JMC]

But I couldn't vote for a local candidate knowing that they support such awful policies eg
 removing benefits for disabled people, dismantling the NHS, denying suffering children into the country, scrapping tax credits for the working poor, nhs bursaries for nurses etc. I have seen the impact in universities and NHS.

Eg let's say I though John Bates was the best locally, as far as I have seen he supports all the above. Never seen anything against it or any social media. I wiuld be more inclined to vote for someone if they were against at least some of these hideous policies! William Wragg voted for all the above too. Therefore, I wouldn't be able to vote for him.

Yes all parties can have awful policies but this lot have been especially nasty and are alienating many of the public. I see many more people put off by them than in the past.

I haven't seen anything nasty from the other parties to the degree of the Tories. So am not sure why there is so much venom against the Lib Dems etc on this site. 

[Dave]

I think it was Theresa May who branded her party as the "nasty party"

.... and they don't get much nastier than this:  http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/refugee-crisis-faces-some-thousands-children-who-have-fled-conflict-zones-1557297

If we still had the 2010 - 15 coalition, those children would be safe by now. 

[CllrGeoffAbell]

I think it was Theresa May who branded her party as the "nasty party" (better than in the Victorian era when they were branded the "stupid party", which to modern ears sounds just rude) but these are all national monikers.  Nationally the Conservatives (whether on Social Services, Europe, or Forced School Academies) are having big internal difficulties. and this week Labour are having a spot of trouble with anti-Semitism.    But I've never heard anyone call us the nasty party in the Lib Dems.  A first, @Condate !  Any evidence for that?

As you said this is a local election and traditionally that is where we've been strong. 

[Condate]

I hope you are wrong. Who keeps voting for such a nasty party?

Nasty party? Oh, you mean the Lib Dems!  Of course which party you consider nasty depends very much on your point of view. Personally, I'd consider the Lib Dems one of the nastiest parties around, although that has little to do with local politics. Obviously there are people who consider the Conservative or Labour parties nasty.

None of this should matter in the local election, as we should be concentrating on what the candidates say. I do wonder how differently the election would turn out if we either got rid of the party labels and nobody knew which party each candidate stood for, of if we randomly shuffled the party labels for the candidates. The views of the candidates wouldn't change, but I expect the votes would. They shouldn't of course, as we should be voting on the views of the candidates; not the party labels.

[JMC]

I hope you are wrong. Who keeps voting for such a nasty party?

[amazon]

Just to let you know I am still here. I've been spending my time talking face to face to residents, and attending a wide variety of volunteer and community groups. I work as a volunteer at 4 parks and help with two others and attend around 4 other groups regularly, some working getting my hands dirty, some on committees. It's a good way to listen to the things people think are important and doing it face to face allows a proper dialogue.  As an observation I see, occasionally only one of the other candidates at any of these meetings and working parties, so we are clearly approaching it from a different angle. I've knocked on doors every week since January, and will continue to do so, and I've had a large number of e-mail exchanges direct from residents, visiting them and happily been solving some of their issues. Two yesterday for example. Most of you will know about the major survey we've done on car parking in Marple Bridge, and circulated some concrete proposals to all who contributed. I personally went to see every business in Town Street and talked to them, and more people besides. I'm leading a lottery grant application for another group. That's why I'm in this; to help local people and contribute to the community in Marple, by actually doing things and by being engaged with all people locally and as much as I can to do that face to face, going to see them. And I still do my Junior cricket coaching and my free maths tuition for GCSE, plus my free employment tribunal and legal advisory work.

And you were a good cricketer yourself .i played with you .

[Hoffnung]

.   This year Malcolm was on the winning team.  (Although he did say "I don't think I contributed much that night.") Is that auspicious @Hoffnung ?
[/quote]

Unfortunately not Geoff as far as being conducive to success, au contraire, it's conducive to self-delusion. The libdems  nationally and locally are bit of a toxic brand at the moment as far as the electorate are concerned and IMHO it is going to get worse before it gets better or I'll eat my hat.

PREDICTION across Stockport for those keeping. gaining losing seats.

For Labour an uneventful night.   

For Conservatives a successful night.

For the libdems  a disastrous night.

[simonesaffron]

Just to let you know I am still here. I've been spending my time talking face to face to residents, and attending a wide variety of volunteer and community groups. I work as a volunteer at 4 parks and help with two others and attend around 4 other groups regularly, some working getting my hands dirty, some on committees. It's a good way to listen to the things people think are important and doing it face to face allows a proper dialogue.  As an observation I see, occasionally only one of the other candidates at any of these meetings and working parties, so we are clearly approaching it from a different angle. I've knocked on doors every week since January, and will continue to do so, and I've had a large number of e-mail exchanges direct from residents, visiting them and happily been solving some of their issues. Two yesterday for example. Most of you will know about the major survey we've done on car parking in Marple Bridge, and circulated some concrete proposals to all who contributed. I personally went to see every business in Town Street and talked to them, and more people besides. I'm leading a lottery grant application for another group. That's why I'm in this; to help local people and contribute to the community in Marple, by actually doing things and by being engaged with all people locally and as much as I can to do that face to face, going to see them. And I still do my Junior cricket coaching and my free maths tuition for GCSE, plus my free employment tribunal and legal advisory work.   

Perhaps you might consider going for Pope instead of Councillor, Malcolm.

[Malcolm Allan]

Just to let you know I am still here. I've been spending my time talking face to face to residents, and attending a wide variety of volunteer and community groups. I work as a volunteer at 4 parks and help with two others and attend around 4 other groups regularly, some working getting my hands dirty, some on committees. It's a good way to listen to the things people think are important and doing it face to face allows a proper dialogue.  As an observation I see, occasionally only one of the other candidates at any of these meetings and working parties, so we are clearly approaching it from a different angle. I've knocked on doors every week since January, and will continue to do so, and I've had a large number of e-mail exchanges direct from residents, visiting them and happily been solving some of their issues. Two yesterday for example. Most of you will know about the major survey we've done on car parking in Marple Bridge, and circulated some concrete proposals to all who contributed. I personally went to see every business in Town Street and talked to them, and more people besides. I'm leading a lottery grant application for another group. That's why I'm in this; to help local people and contribute to the community in Marple, by actually doing things and by being engaged with all people locally and as much as I can to do that face to face, going to see them. And I still do my Junior cricket coaching and my free maths tuition for GCSE, plus my free employment tribunal and legal advisory work.   

[CllrGeoffAbell]

I agree with Nick, er, John.  It will be surprisingly close.  I was fortunate enough to be elected (as a newbie) in 2014 in spite of the national picture.  We tend to concentrate on improving local things.  To be fair to John, he has turned up at the odd event that Malcolm or myself have gone to.  (We do have a lot of really good groups in Marple and the surrounding areas.)  I hope that whoever wins, both candidates continue to support these organisations.

Last year, our new MP went to the Mellor-Society-AGM quiz and was on the winning team.   This year Malcolm was on the winning team.  (Although he did say "I don't think I contributed much that night.") Is that auspicious @Hoffnung ?

[JohnBates]

Marple North

 John has placed 91 posts about a multitude of issues, he has become involved, helpful and informative       

Glad that is how it is perceived, at least by one fellow poster 

Marple North
PREDICTION: My heart says Councillor Kev, but my head says Conservative John. Forget it Malcolm, you don't even need to turn up, no offence intended, but so far you haven't anyway.               

Hope you are right, but I suspect Malcolm will be closer than that. Kevin certainly adds an interesting dimension to proceedings, and as you say where he takes his votes from may be decisive. Not long before we find out the reality....

[Hoffnung]

Marple North

The most interesting one for me but that's probably because it is where I'll be voting.

Earlier this year it looked like a straight toe to toe slugging contest between début candidates John Bates and Malcolm Allan, the Conservatives coming in with a 300+ votes advantage from last year. This advantage was easily reversible. However what has happened since then is that John Bates has emerged as a forthcoming candidate who is prepared to engages on any issue, whereas Malcolm, unfortunately for him, has not emerged at all. Websites don't win elections (not yet anyway) but if this website is anything to go by, John has placed 91 posts about a multitude of issues, he has become involved, helpful and informative whereas Malcolm has placed 4 that have really been the opposite of this .

There is also an x factor here that isn't present in any of the other elections in the borough an independent candidate. Normally independent candidates can be summarily dismissed with a "bless em" and a consolation vote of 50/60 votes.

Not this time, this candidate is Kevin Dowling, local author, local hotelier, reality TV star and well known Marpleista. So what you may say? Well that gives him name recognition, a big factor in local elections. Furthermore there is no doubt that he is actually running a campaign as  good as both the Tories and the libdems and he has a personal following which the other two don't have. He came into a busy pub that I was in last week and he knew everybody in the place and they knew him - Councillor Kev as they still call him and the whole pub seemed to be saying that they would vote for him. He'd certainly put some colour into Marple politics.

It is inconceivable that an independent candidate first time out, from a standing start can win this, - but is it? What is certain is that he will get votes and it won't be 50 and the critical factor in this election might be - where he takes them from. 

PREDICTION: My heart says Councillor Kev, but my head says Conservative John. Forget it Malcolm, you don't even need to turn up, no offence intended, but so far you haven't anyway.               

[Hoffnung]

Marple South

Essentially a contest between experienced former councillor and ex labour mayor Colin McAllister, now a lib dem and young sprog Tom Dowes. The High Lane Tory enclave forms a large chunk of this ward and they are notorious for staying at home during local elections.  The Conservatives have either shot themselves in the foot here or played a master stroke with their choice of candidate. If Tom can get his vote out and he has the advantage of young legs to do it, then a 628 vote advantage from last year and all its implications should be just too much for the wily McAllister.

Prediction: Conservative gain but with a reduced margin.