Just a quick blog after spending the evening working on my leaflet as I attempt to get selected in Plymouth.
Now I am sure a quick google will tell you what a struggle winning either Plymouth seat will be and so you might be surprised that actually quite a few applied for the two seats.
So I was pleased to be shortlisted and was then faced with the task of putting together a leaflet by the deadline. Unfortunately it also tied in with a really busy week in London and a quick trip to Bristol yesterday to do a topographia (no don’t ask ….it involves maps!) so with limited time I turned to my old friend Phil who is a professional graphic designer and who can put these things together in no time at all. So I sent him the word files a couple of pics and an idea of design and surprisingly he did it ready to print in a matter of a few hours ….. great… wonder what the others are like
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Friday, 12 June 2009
Hazel blurrrrrrrrrrrrr
Oh dear poor old Hazel!
Tonight she had to apologies for leaving the government on the eve of poll and being not so nice to Golden Brown ( I am still here so there!)…. Oh and wearing that brooch.
So why now, did she wake up this morning and think “oopps, what was I thinking!”
I don’t think so, more like s###t my local party is holding a no confidence vote better be nice if I want to keep my seat.
For me Ms Blears is everything I hate about self centred politicians from across the hue of parliament who seem to care less about people and more about themselves and what they can get .
So I’ll be hoping that her local party see sense and vote her out …….to be followed I hope, by many more.
For if you want to know who is to blame for the BMP getting in, it was politicians like her who kept voters at home and left democracy in such a sad state of affairs.
Tonight she had to apologies for leaving the government on the eve of poll and being not so nice to Golden Brown ( I am still here so there!)…. Oh and wearing that brooch.
So why now, did she wake up this morning and think “oopps, what was I thinking!”
I don’t think so, more like s###t my local party is holding a no confidence vote better be nice if I want to keep my seat.
For me Ms Blears is everything I hate about self centred politicians from across the hue of parliament who seem to care less about people and more about themselves and what they can get .
So I’ll be hoping that her local party see sense and vote her out …….to be followed I hope, by many more.
For if you want to know who is to blame for the BMP getting in, it was politicians like her who kept voters at home and left democracy in such a sad state of affairs.
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Those bloody expenses!
Like many activists I have been knocking on doors canvassing for the County and Euro elections.
It has been going well and we have been getting good results across the county. But Because of work commitments I haven’t been able to canvas for a few days. So Friday evening was my first opportunity to call on people since most of the stories broke about the MP’s.
To begin with things went okay, everybody were pleasant and friendly as usual and as I made my way through one of the many small villages in my ward. My canvas returns matched previous results and everything remained promising.
Then I moved to a different part of the ward, now it was later, and people were watching the news and then coming to the door. Still it was okay, but now there was defiantly an edge. Most were still okay but other were, well angry ……… and the thing is I can quite understand their point of view because actually I agree with them.
Now as it happens I have been working directly or indirectly for local government most of my working life, and of course I have claimed expenses, mostly travel and overnight stays.
But I didn’t have to be told that I was effectively spending tax payer’s money and I should ensure it was spent wisely and efficiently. So why can’t some MP’s see that too?
Actually you know, I don’t care about how much an MP spent on a sofa, I do mind if an MP flipped their second home to make more money or pay for moats and tennis courts.
I mind if they claimed for both homes because both Husband and wife are MP’s and so apparently can.
I mind if they carry on claiming when they have paid for their home
and I mind when caught out they pay it back and think that’s enough!
Cameron says he will do something about it…….okay but why didn’t he do something about it when he first became leader or is he really telling us that he didn’t know anything about his own party MP’s before last week?
Labour solution is to suspend the worse offenders and “sacked” (sorry that’s ask to stand down), others from Government, although of course they still get to be MP’s and can carry on claiming!
Even our own party has had MP’s claiming when maybe they shouldn’t (no moats or house flipping as yet!). ………..It’s all too much.
I don’t know about you but I feel let down, really, really let down and I know it’s not all of them, never-the-less it’s hard to defend politics on the doorsteps under these circumstances. I just hope there isn’t too much more for this…. But I fear more is yet to come.
It has been going well and we have been getting good results across the county. But Because of work commitments I haven’t been able to canvas for a few days. So Friday evening was my first opportunity to call on people since most of the stories broke about the MP’s.
To begin with things went okay, everybody were pleasant and friendly as usual and as I made my way through one of the many small villages in my ward. My canvas returns matched previous results and everything remained promising.
Then I moved to a different part of the ward, now it was later, and people were watching the news and then coming to the door. Still it was okay, but now there was defiantly an edge. Most were still okay but other were, well angry ……… and the thing is I can quite understand their point of view because actually I agree with them.
Now as it happens I have been working directly or indirectly for local government most of my working life, and of course I have claimed expenses, mostly travel and overnight stays.
But I didn’t have to be told that I was effectively spending tax payer’s money and I should ensure it was spent wisely and efficiently. So why can’t some MP’s see that too?
Actually you know, I don’t care about how much an MP spent on a sofa, I do mind if an MP flipped their second home to make more money or pay for moats and tennis courts.
I mind if they claimed for both homes because both Husband and wife are MP’s and so apparently can.
I mind if they carry on claiming when they have paid for their home
and I mind when caught out they pay it back and think that’s enough!
Cameron says he will do something about it…….okay but why didn’t he do something about it when he first became leader or is he really telling us that he didn’t know anything about his own party MP’s before last week?
Labour solution is to suspend the worse offenders and “sacked” (sorry that’s ask to stand down), others from Government, although of course they still get to be MP’s and can carry on claiming!
Even our own party has had MP’s claiming when maybe they shouldn’t (no moats or house flipping as yet!). ………..It’s all too much.
I don’t know about you but I feel let down, really, really let down and I know it’s not all of them, never-the-less it’s hard to defend politics on the doorsteps under these circumstances. I just hope there isn’t too much more for this…. But I fear more is yet to come.
Saturday, 2 May 2009
cornwall canvassing
So here is a snippet of Cornwall canvassing ……
With our local MP we called in on a an elderly woman as she laid tucked up under her crocheted blanket and her feet up, sitting in her living room with her carer tidying up around her.
She explained that she recently suffered her third stroke and although she was recovering well she wouldn’t be able to help us with this election. She told us that she used to help that nice Mr Pardoe (who was an MP in 1966!).
We thanked her for her support and I asked her if she would rather have a postal vote this time, “oh that would be nice” she said ….. I explained she would need to fill in a form, she said she was too ill to do that, but her daughter calls around in the evening and would help her fill it in.
I leave promising to put a form through the next day.
After a successful day canvassing I called again at the lady’s house. As promised I brought with me the form to complete to send off for a postal vote .
I knocked on the door “hang on a minute” I hear her say from inside, a neighbour parking his car near- by shouts over to me that he thinks she is out as she often take herself to Plymouth on a Friday. “surely not” I think to myself “not as she is so ill at the moment”.
The door swings open and I’m greeted with a spritely old lady cigarette in her mouth, pushing her dog back with one leg.
“yes what do you want?”
“Hello” (I smile), “it’s me Phil Hutty I called to see you yesterday…… I have that form for you to fill in”
“What form?”
“Sorry,” (I check her name) “Mrs V ######?”
“yes” she leans forward and fixed me a glare.
“sorry, err…. I called yesterday ….. with the MP?.........We talked about Mr Pardoe?…… I said I would bring this form for you so you can have a postal vote?”
“What for the election in June?”
“Yes” (I felt I was getting somewhere), “you remember I said I would. You told me your daughter would help you fill it in.”
“What the elections! The elections!!!!…….. I don’t think so…. That Mr Brown and Mr Cameron……..oh no I don’t think so!!!!!”
“No, no, I’m from the lib Dem’s “
Clearly that worked…….
She slammed the door in my face!
I moved her vote from the certain to vote for me to the “Probable” line on my canvas card.
With our local MP we called in on a an elderly woman as she laid tucked up under her crocheted blanket and her feet up, sitting in her living room with her carer tidying up around her.
She explained that she recently suffered her third stroke and although she was recovering well she wouldn’t be able to help us with this election. She told us that she used to help that nice Mr Pardoe (who was an MP in 1966!).
We thanked her for her support and I asked her if she would rather have a postal vote this time, “oh that would be nice” she said ….. I explained she would need to fill in a form, she said she was too ill to do that, but her daughter calls around in the evening and would help her fill it in.
I leave promising to put a form through the next day.
After a successful day canvassing I called again at the lady’s house. As promised I brought with me the form to complete to send off for a postal vote .
I knocked on the door “hang on a minute” I hear her say from inside, a neighbour parking his car near- by shouts over to me that he thinks she is out as she often take herself to Plymouth on a Friday. “surely not” I think to myself “not as she is so ill at the moment”.
The door swings open and I’m greeted with a spritely old lady cigarette in her mouth, pushing her dog back with one leg.
“yes what do you want?”
“Hello” (I smile), “it’s me Phil Hutty I called to see you yesterday…… I have that form for you to fill in”
“What form?”
“Sorry,” (I check her name) “Mrs V ######?”
“yes” she leans forward and fixed me a glare.
“sorry, err…. I called yesterday ….. with the MP?.........We talked about Mr Pardoe?…… I said I would bring this form for you so you can have a postal vote?”
“What for the election in June?”
“Yes” (I felt I was getting somewhere), “you remember I said I would. You told me your daughter would help you fill it in.”
“What the elections! The elections!!!!…….. I don’t think so…. That Mr Brown and Mr Cameron……..oh no I don’t think so!!!!!”
“No, no, I’m from the lib Dem’s “
Clearly that worked…….
She slammed the door in my face!
I moved her vote from the certain to vote for me to the “Probable” line on my canvas card.
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Expenses and Gurkhas
So quite a busy few days in Parliament then.
First the plight of the Gurkhas came to the chamber with the government thoughtfully telling us about the apparent cost of 100 of thousands of pounds as the Gurkhas are set to swarm the country.
The fact that only about 1000 or so Gurkhas actually want to come to our country, seem to have missed them. But hey……. let’s not let the truth spoil the governments scaremongering!
Now to be fair I don’t know too much about the Gurkhas , except that they had formed one of the most revered regiment in the army they are still recruited from the foot hills of Nepal and have been part of the British Army for almost 200 years.
I also know we owe them a lot they have been fighting (and dying) on behalf of our nation in some of the major conflict around the world, as a child I remember that they were part of the force that re took the Falkland’s and of course they have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
so I think it was fair to say we owe them. That’s why they have earned the right to move here if they wish. After all if they were commonwealth soldiers with four years service can live here no problem.
That’s why I was proud that the Lib Dem’s used there opposition day debate this and what was more surprising was the fact there motion won. The first time that had happened for twenty years.
Dan (Rogerson MP) was telling me today that he was the teller and was surprised the labour MP’s held their nerve and voted with them. As the MP’s filled past him he suddenly realised he would have to give the result to the Speaker, something he has never had to do and he was a bit worried that he might get it wrong on such an auspicious occasion. Of course he was fine, I bet it was great to be there.
Not so today…… as the MP’s talked around the issue of their expenses.
The BBC reckons that it wasn’t a bad day for Gordon, as although he had to scrape the attendance allowance idea, they did go with researchers being employed by Parliament, having to prove all claims with receipts (welcome to the real world!) and not paying for second homes for MP’s representing constituencies in greater London.
Actually I’m not against them getting expenses and tonight’s changes seen reasonable to me.
I just wonder why suddenly Gordon felt the urge to intervene. What does he know that we don’t? ...... I look forward to the July disclosures.
Rumour has it in Westminster that some MP’s are in deep trouble and maybe three of them may have to resign imediatiely causing by elections……. We shall see.
First the plight of the Gurkhas came to the chamber with the government thoughtfully telling us about the apparent cost of 100 of thousands of pounds as the Gurkhas are set to swarm the country.
The fact that only about 1000 or so Gurkhas actually want to come to our country, seem to have missed them. But hey……. let’s not let the truth spoil the governments scaremongering!
Now to be fair I don’t know too much about the Gurkhas , except that they had formed one of the most revered regiment in the army they are still recruited from the foot hills of Nepal and have been part of the British Army for almost 200 years.
I also know we owe them a lot they have been fighting (and dying) on behalf of our nation in some of the major conflict around the world, as a child I remember that they were part of the force that re took the Falkland’s and of course they have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
so I think it was fair to say we owe them. That’s why they have earned the right to move here if they wish. After all if they were commonwealth soldiers with four years service can live here no problem.
That’s why I was proud that the Lib Dem’s used there opposition day debate this and what was more surprising was the fact there motion won. The first time that had happened for twenty years.
Dan (Rogerson MP) was telling me today that he was the teller and was surprised the labour MP’s held their nerve and voted with them. As the MP’s filled past him he suddenly realised he would have to give the result to the Speaker, something he has never had to do and he was a bit worried that he might get it wrong on such an auspicious occasion. Of course he was fine, I bet it was great to be there.
Not so today…… as the MP’s talked around the issue of their expenses.
The BBC reckons that it wasn’t a bad day for Gordon, as although he had to scrape the attendance allowance idea, they did go with researchers being employed by Parliament, having to prove all claims with receipts (welcome to the real world!) and not paying for second homes for MP’s representing constituencies in greater London.
Actually I’m not against them getting expenses and tonight’s changes seen reasonable to me.
I just wonder why suddenly Gordon felt the urge to intervene. What does he know that we don’t? ...... I look forward to the July disclosures.
Rumour has it in Westminster that some MP’s are in deep trouble and maybe three of them may have to resign imediatiely causing by elections……. We shall see.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
wet delivering
After a frustrating week away from Cornwall, working.
I returned last night to carry on my campaign so today I spent a fair portion of the day delivering soggy newspapers in the villages and collecting names for my nomination paper.
Lots of people out and long drives to walk up in the rain with, and maybe this is a Cornwall thing, no post box!
… no really they simply don’t have one, your just expected to open the door (not locked of course) and throw the mail in !
At one point with the rain pouring down and the wind chucking it all into my face I thought “is this worth it?” ……. I’ll let you know
I returned last night to carry on my campaign so today I spent a fair portion of the day delivering soggy newspapers in the villages and collecting names for my nomination paper.
Lots of people out and long drives to walk up in the rain with, and maybe this is a Cornwall thing, no post box!
… no really they simply don’t have one, your just expected to open the door (not locked of course) and throw the mail in !
At one point with the rain pouring down and the wind chucking it all into my face I thought “is this worth it?” ……. I’ll let you know
Monday, 6 April 2009
Cornwall canvassing
Over the last few days I have been out conducting a resident’s survey in one of the nearby villages. Of course all of Cornwall is fab (err that’s why we live here!) but this village is quite idyllic. It has a village green, a pond with ducks, a village shop with post office (and it’s not even closing!) a small community centre, primary school and of course a pub.
But things aren’t a rosy as you would expect, for this village is in fact two villages separated by a field, and each holds tight to its identity. One householder refused to fill in the form because it had the other village name on it (which also gives the name to the ward). Another blamed their biggest problem (which is parking at school pick up and drop down time) to those from the other village who won’t walk up the hill with their children. (Odd really because many a time I have passed through the village on my way to work seeing children and parents walking upwards the school). One neighbour spoke to me at length about Dog poo on nearby Kit Hill. Did you know 61000 dogs visit the hill every year? No I didn’t either, but this potential voter seemed very sure of her facts.
Anyway I have to say I love it, knocking on doors is great, especially when they haven’t had a visit for over ten years. One man says to me as I thrust a survey into my hands.” Oh you don’t want to give me that I’m right of Ghengis Khan” I retort that even Ghengis Khan is entitled to a voice about where they live, later I retrieve a completed form.
In it he has said the he might vote conservative but also might also vote lib Dem.
I’m sure the tyrant of the ancient world would have approved!
But things aren’t a rosy as you would expect, for this village is in fact two villages separated by a field, and each holds tight to its identity. One householder refused to fill in the form because it had the other village name on it (which also gives the name to the ward). Another blamed their biggest problem (which is parking at school pick up and drop down time) to those from the other village who won’t walk up the hill with their children. (Odd really because many a time I have passed through the village on my way to work seeing children and parents walking upwards the school). One neighbour spoke to me at length about Dog poo on nearby Kit Hill. Did you know 61000 dogs visit the hill every year? No I didn’t either, but this potential voter seemed very sure of her facts.
Anyway I have to say I love it, knocking on doors is great, especially when they haven’t had a visit for over ten years. One man says to me as I thrust a survey into my hands.” Oh you don’t want to give me that I’m right of Ghengis Khan” I retort that even Ghengis Khan is entitled to a voice about where they live, later I retrieve a completed form.
In it he has said the he might vote conservative but also might also vote lib Dem.
I’m sure the tyrant of the ancient world would have approved!
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