It's been a while since I posted, but I have been as busy as ever.
I've had a busy few weeks this spring, fighting a general election, fighting to hold on to my council seat in Calderdale, dealing with the aftermath of both elections.
The general election, as I posted before, was actually quite a good result. We consolidated our third place, we increased our vote and our share of the vote, again!
This needs to be repeated our vote went up to over 7,000, that is the highest for nearly quarter-of-a-century in the heady days of the old SDP/Liberal Alliance.
It was also the third highest vote since the war, at 15%.
Furthermore, while the Lib Dem vote went up nationally by 1%, ours in Keighley went up by three times that.
All goes to show that with the right message, the right team, and hard work we can be successful.
Oh and in my council seat? Well, we managed to turn a majority of just 53 votes into a whopping 1,200.
My 2,775 was the highest Lib Dem vote on the night, and indeed the highest EVER Lib Dem/Liberal vote in the history of Calderdale.
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Thanks for your support
Sorry not to have posted this before, but having been more successful in the Local Elections than the National ones, anyone who knows Local Government will know that I've been busy...
During my campaign, I've been contacted by over 100 different people. A lot of them were simply lobbying for my support, but a significant number of new people offered help.
That is on top of assistance in innumerable ways from people who were there before. It would be invidious or embarrassing to name them, but there has to be one exception, Judith Brooksbank, my agent.
Named or mostly not, I'd like to thank them one and all.
I'd also like them to take pride in their efforts: still third place, but with over 1,500 more votes and a higher share too. In 2005 I was pleased to have beaten the BNP leader into 4th place. I'm even more pleased to have beaten his deputy (and the National Front and UKIP) by an even bigger margin. Last time it was by 12% to 9%. This time it was 15% to 7%, even when you add all those three together.
Once again, thanks to everyone who helped.
During my campaign, I've been contacted by over 100 different people. A lot of them were simply lobbying for my support, but a significant number of new people offered help.
That is on top of assistance in innumerable ways from people who were there before. It would be invidious or embarrassing to name them, but there has to be one exception, Judith Brooksbank, my agent.
Named or mostly not, I'd like to thank them one and all.
I'd also like them to take pride in their efforts: still third place, but with over 1,500 more votes and a higher share too. In 2005 I was pleased to have beaten the BNP leader into 4th place. I'm even more pleased to have beaten his deputy (and the National Front and UKIP) by an even bigger margin. Last time it was by 12% to 9%. This time it was 15% to 7%, even when you add all those three together.
Once again, thanks to everyone who helped.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
The unquenchability of the human spirit
Monday, 3 May 2010
Why you shouldn't vote Tory - 2
A Ribble Valley councillor, sent a racially offensive joke on to a fellow councillor and an ex-Tory parliamentary candidate, who then sent it on to a long list of Tories, including the mayor of South Ribble.
The e-mail, as well as being painfully unfunny, ends with another joke (!?!):"IF YOU DON'T PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS YOU WILL RECEIVE 3 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ABSOLUTELY FREE".
Oh no please stop, it's so rib-splittingly comic. Poor old Bernard Manning must be spinning in his grave.
The e-mail, as well as being painfully unfunny, ends with another joke (!?!):"IF YOU DON'T PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS YOU WILL RECEIVE 3 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ABSOLUTELY FREE".
Oh no please stop, it's so rib-splittingly comic. Poor old Bernard Manning must be spinning in his grave.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Happy Birthday Klapka
Why you shouldn't vote Tory - 1
Although I am well aware of the various theories of Just War, especially St. Augustine's, I am a pacifist through and through.
One of the reasons, oh and there are so, so many, why I could not abide the Tories was their cavalier (and I use the word carefully) was their attitude to war and conflict in general.
In 1982, at the height of the Falklands conflict, the submarine HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano.
Although justified in international law, I thought then (and do so now) that it was morally unjustifiable.
Moreover, Mrs Thatcher and the right-wing press headed by Rupert Murdoch's Sun, gloated sickeningly over the loss of life of some 1,000 Argentine sailors.
One of the reasons, oh and there are so, so many, why I could not abide the Tories was their cavalier (and I use the word carefully) was their attitude to war and conflict in general.
In 1982, at the height of the Falklands conflict, the submarine HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano.
Although justified in international law, I thought then (and do so now) that it was morally unjustifiable.
Moreover, Mrs Thatcher and the right-wing press headed by Rupert Murdoch's Sun, gloated sickeningly over the loss of life of some 1,000 Argentine sailors.
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Friday, 30 April 2010
Giải phóng miền Nam
In 1975, I was due to sit my O'levels and the big political story of the time was the conflict in South East Asia.
Throughout the Spring of the year I remember the Americans being supremely confident of being able to prop up the regime in Viet Nam. Then the regime in South Vietnam seemed to collapse in double quick time, under the onslaught from the North Vietnamese Liberation Forces.
I remeber the quite incredible pictures of people scrabbling to get on to the last helicopters off the roof of the US Embassy in Saigon. Incredibly poignant and shocking at the same time.
Throughout the Spring of the year I remember the Americans being supremely confident of being able to prop up the regime in Viet Nam. Then the regime in South Vietnam seemed to collapse in double quick time, under the onslaught from the North Vietnamese Liberation Forces.
I remeber the quite incredible pictures of people scrabbling to get on to the last helicopters off the roof of the US Embassy in Saigon. Incredibly poignant and shocking at the same time.
Faith and politics
I had the unfortunate pleasure (!) of listening to Nick Griffin on Radio 4 this lunchtime.
He came out with the usual drivel, and bandied about the noxious mix of inaccuracies, falsehoods, and downright lies that characterise him and his so-called political party.
I wanted to challenge him as a soi-disant Christian who believes that"Christianity is the tapestry upon which our country's heritage was woven", where is his Christian charity?
After all, according to the Bible, has not God "made all nations 'of one blood'" (Acts 17:26)?
The man is a whey-faced poltroon, a chiselling charlatan, and a craven coward who uses other peoples' faith as a stick with which to beat them.
He came out with the usual drivel, and bandied about the noxious mix of inaccuracies, falsehoods, and downright lies that characterise him and his so-called political party.
I wanted to challenge him as a soi-disant Christian who believes that"Christianity is the tapestry upon which our country's heritage was woven", where is his Christian charity?
After all, according to the Bible, has not God "made all nations 'of one blood'" (Acts 17:26)?
The man is a whey-faced poltroon, a chiselling charlatan, and a craven coward who uses other peoples' faith as a stick with which to beat them.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Judge gets it right
"The precepts of any one religion... cannot, by force of their religious origins, sound any louder in the general law than the precepts of any other. If they did, those out in the cold would be less than citizens and our constitution would be on the way to a theocracy, which is of necessity autocratic.
The law of a theocracy is dictated without option to the people, not made by their judges and governments. The individual conscience is free to accept such dictated law, but the state, if its people are to be free, has the burdensome duty of thinking for itself".
Lord Justice Laws
The law of a theocracy is dictated without option to the people, not made by their judges and governments. The individual conscience is free to accept such dictated law, but the state, if its people are to be free, has the burdensome duty of thinking for itself".
Lord Justice Laws
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
What is it with Tories and gays?
For a party that is supposedly into individual liberty, the Tories seem preternaturally obsessed with peoples' personal lives, especially their sex lives.News that the Tory candidate for Ayrshire North and Arran has got into trouble (again) for saying that he did not "accept that their [gays] behaviour is ‘normal’".
Not bad for a teacher!
This is not the first time this bloke has guffed, a couple of years ago he sang the praises of racist former Rhodesian PM Ian Smith, saying Smith "typified a British hero". He has also said that Enoch Powell's far-right warnings about immigration had "come true".
He was a member of the Young Conservatives in the 1980s, at a time when they used to sport "Hang Mandela" badges.
Even peachier, he is an advocate of nuclear power who believes that people promoting wind farms as a sustainable energy source are only in it for the money. So much for the Big Society.
The Tories... "plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose".
Not bad for a teacher!
This is not the first time this bloke has guffed, a couple of years ago he sang the praises of racist former Rhodesian PM Ian Smith, saying Smith "typified a British hero". He has also said that Enoch Powell's far-right warnings about immigration had "come true".
He was a member of the Young Conservatives in the 1980s, at a time when they used to sport "Hang Mandela" badges.
Even peachier, he is an advocate of nuclear power who believes that people promoting wind farms as a sustainable energy source are only in it for the money. So much for the Big Society.
The Tories... "plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose".
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Betty Boothroyd
Back in 1992, Betty Boothroyd becames the first woman to be elected Speaker of the House of Commons in its 700-year history.
It was (and remains) quite an achievement for a local Yorkshire lass from Dewsbury.
I had the pleasure of hearing her address the Slovak Parliament in September 1996 when I was lecturing at Comenius University.
If I remember correctly, the gist of what she was saying was that government and opposition recognise each other's rights, the government's to govern and the opposition's to oppose.
The quote of her's that I remember was, "Governments must have their way. But, oppositions must have their say".
Happy anniversary Betty.
It was (and remains) quite an achievement for a local Yorkshire lass from Dewsbury.
I had the pleasure of hearing her address the Slovak Parliament in September 1996 when I was lecturing at Comenius University.
If I remember correctly, the gist of what she was saying was that government and opposition recognise each other's rights, the government's to govern and the opposition's to oppose.
The quote of her's that I remember was, "Governments must have their way. But, oppositions must have their say".
Happy anniversary Betty.
Monday, 26 April 2010
Guernica!
We are fighting for the essential unity of Spain. We are fighting for the integrity of Spanish soil. We are fighting for the independence of our country and for the right of the Spanish people to determine their own destiny.
In 1937 the Luftwaffe and the Italian Fascists bombed the Basque town of Guernica, causing widespread destruction and civilian deaths during the Spanish Civil War.
The raid killed more than a thousand civilians and was a horrific example of terror bombing and was to presage the targeting of civilians not only in that conflict but in the Second World War.
Ultimately, however, after four long decades, democracy won through.
Viva La Republica.
In 1937 the Luftwaffe and the Italian Fascists bombed the Basque town of Guernica, causing widespread destruction and civilian deaths during the Spanish Civil War.
The raid killed more than a thousand civilians and was a horrific example of terror bombing and was to presage the targeting of civilians not only in that conflict but in the Second World War.
Ultimately, however, after four long decades, democracy won through.
Viva La Republica.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
"I've really only got one story - mine"
Just heard of the death of Alan Sillitoe which saddened me a little.
Sillitoe wrote one of my favourite short storie namely The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, and the character of Colin Smith, so beautifully played by Tom Courtenay in the film of the same name.
In a memorable quote Smith says, "Do you know what I'd do if I had the whip hand? I'd get all the coppers, governers, posh whores, army officers, and members of parliament and I'd stick them up against this wall and let them have it 'cause that's what they'd like to do to blokes like us".
After the expenses scandal of so many Tory and Labour MPs last year I'm sure that many folk felt the same.
Ironically Sillitoe couldn't stand the present New Labour government famously saying "I've voted Labour all my life but I couldn't bring myself to do so this time. They are incompetent and want too much control. I abstained instead".
Again, many people feel exactly the same given the betrayal of so many hopes and ideals over the past dozen years.
Sillitoe wrote one of my favourite short storie namely The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, and the character of Colin Smith, so beautifully played by Tom Courtenay in the film of the same name.
In a memorable quote Smith says, "Do you know what I'd do if I had the whip hand? I'd get all the coppers, governers, posh whores, army officers, and members of parliament and I'd stick them up against this wall and let them have it 'cause that's what they'd like to do to blokes like us".
After the expenses scandal of so many Tory and Labour MPs last year I'm sure that many folk felt the same.
Ironically Sillitoe couldn't stand the present New Labour government famously saying "I've voted Labour all my life but I couldn't bring myself to do so this time. They are incompetent and want too much control. I abstained instead".
Again, many people feel exactly the same given the betrayal of so many hopes and ideals over the past dozen years.
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Keighley Churches Together
We had a terrific q&a session in Keighley last night.
So firstly, thanks to Churches Together for organising and hosting the event.
Secondly, thanks to all the more than a hundred people who turned up to hear the candidates. The questions were wide-ranging and thought-provoking covering topics such as abortion and euthanasia to the economy and Lib Dem tax policies.
With the announcement that two far-right parties have joined the fray, I am more than glad that they weren't there last night. They are vile and obnoxious and not at all welcome in Keighley or anywhere else.
Especially as yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Blair Peach in 1979.
Peach was a New Zealand-born teacher and a committed anti-racism activist, who died as a result of police action on an Anti-Nazi League march against the racist National Front.
More than thirty years on, no-one has been charged with his murder, although there were at least eleven eyewitnesses.
We want justice.
RIP Blair.
So firstly, thanks to Churches Together for organising and hosting the event.
Secondly, thanks to all the more than a hundred people who turned up to hear the candidates. The questions were wide-ranging and thought-provoking covering topics such as abortion and euthanasia to the economy and Lib Dem tax policies.
With the announcement that two far-right parties have joined the fray, I am more than glad that they weren't there last night. They are vile and obnoxious and not at all welcome in Keighley or anywhere else.
Especially as yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Blair Peach in 1979.
Peach was a New Zealand-born teacher and a committed anti-racism activist, who died as a result of police action on an Anti-Nazi League march against the racist National Front.
More than thirty years on, no-one has been charged with his murder, although there were at least eleven eyewitnesses.
We want justice.
RIP Blair.
Friday, 23 April 2010
St George's Day
I love the 23rd of April, St George's Day, Shakespeare's Birthday, and World Book Day (to commemorate Cervantes'passing away).
A veritable triple whammy.
I know there's the whole Julian/Gregorian calendar thing going on, but I'll let it pass.
Anyway hope you can make it to the candidates' debate in Keighley tonight organised by the Churches Together. It promises to be fun.
A veritable triple whammy.
I know there's the whole Julian/Gregorian calendar thing going on, but I'll let it pass.
Anyway hope you can make it to the candidates' debate in Keighley tonight organised by the Churches Together. It promises to be fun.
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Strange Fruit
Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black body swinging in the Southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
Pastoral scene of the gallant South,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh!
Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black body swinging in the Southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
Pastoral scene of the gallant South,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh!
Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.
Monday, 19 April 2010
Alienation not Immigration fuels the BNP
A fascinating, and I believe hugely important, new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) concludes that it is not immigration but alienation and an inability to overcome social challenges such as isolation and low skills which are the main drivers for BNP support.
This is something that I have been saying for a long time, backed by my experiences trudging the streets in the more deprived parts of West Yorkshire.
The finding contradicts the argument that immigration is to "blame" for pushing voters into the arms of the BNP.
If anything, the opposite is true, namely where folk have experience of living with migrants they are LESS likely to vote to the BNP.
It is also axiomatic of a wider political and social truth, the more we have an opportunity of getting to know each other, the more our lives overlap, whether at school, at work, or even at leisure the more we can understand and appreciate each other and realise that there is much more that unites us than divides us, and indeed often learning to celebrate that diversity.
The report can be downloaded from here http://www.ippr.org.uk/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=742
This is something that I have been saying for a long time, backed by my experiences trudging the streets in the more deprived parts of West Yorkshire.
The finding contradicts the argument that immigration is to "blame" for pushing voters into the arms of the BNP.
If anything, the opposite is true, namely where folk have experience of living with migrants they are LESS likely to vote to the BNP.
It is also axiomatic of a wider political and social truth, the more we have an opportunity of getting to know each other, the more our lives overlap, whether at school, at work, or even at leisure the more we can understand and appreciate each other and realise that there is much more that unites us than divides us, and indeed often learning to celebrate that diversity.
The report can be downloaded from here http://www.ippr.org.uk/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=742
Saturday, 17 April 2010
The RN recruiting illegally?
One of the more astonishing claims by Dave "Man of the People" Cameron on the TV debate on Thursday, was this gem:
I was in Plymouth recently, and a 40-year-old black man made the point to me. He said, "I came here when I was six, I've served in the Royal Navy for 30 years..."
Now bear with me on the maths, but if this bloke was 40 and had been in the Navy for 30 years, then he would have to have been 10 when he joined, MAX.
Far be it from me to imply that Dave made this encounter up, that would be verging on the libellous!
I can only conclude that this "black man" was a fantasist, and DC was just too polite to point it out, in which case why did he repeat it in front of 10 million people?
I was in Plymouth recently, and a 40-year-old black man made the point to me. He said, "I came here when I was six, I've served in the Royal Navy for 30 years..."
Now bear with me on the maths, but if this bloke was 40 and had been in the Navy for 30 years, then he would have to have been 10 when he joined, MAX.
Far be it from me to imply that Dave made this encounter up, that would be verging on the libellous!
I can only conclude that this "black man" was a fantasist, and DC was just too polite to point it out, in which case why did he repeat it in front of 10 million people?
Friday, 16 April 2010
Note to Brons: Six million DID die
Nothing is going to put me off my game, I am in incredibly high spirits after last night's TV debate and Cleggy's bravura performance.
All afternoon people have been coming up to me saying things like "your man did well", "I was going to vote Cameron, but Clegg clinched it last night", "I was really impressed by his [Clegg's] performance, he seemed the most human".
Earlier today, however, another candidate of immigrant stock has joined the race to represent Keighley, one Andrew Brons MEP (German dontcha know, which you would have hoped would have stopped any neo-Nazi sympathies) has declared his hands.
I beat his loony leader five years ago, I intend to beat his sorry racist hide just as decisively this time round.
I'll be honest, I'll need ALL the help I can get, and if you can help (or know anyone who can) in any way that you can, please, please help.
I'll be even more honest. Without financial support from either Big Business, or the Unions, we have funding issues: we have to concentrate on the places where we have a real chance to win. Near here, that means Bradford East. But ALL help EVERYWHERE is more than welcome.
Perhaps the Leaders' Debates might change the electoral landscape, local Lib Dems are indeed receiving unprecedented levels of offers of support, so don't feel shy come and give us a hand.
Thank you in advance.
All afternoon people have been coming up to me saying things like "your man did well", "I was going to vote Cameron, but Clegg clinched it last night", "I was really impressed by his [Clegg's] performance, he seemed the most human".
Earlier today, however, another candidate of immigrant stock has joined the race to represent Keighley, one Andrew Brons MEP (German dontcha know, which you would have hoped would have stopped any neo-Nazi sympathies) has declared his hands.
I beat his loony leader five years ago, I intend to beat his sorry racist hide just as decisively this time round.
I'll be honest, I'll need ALL the help I can get, and if you can help (or know anyone who can) in any way that you can, please, please help.
I'll be even more honest. Without financial support from either Big Business, or the Unions, we have funding issues: we have to concentrate on the places where we have a real chance to win. Near here, that means Bradford East. But ALL help EVERYWHERE is more than welcome.
Perhaps the Leaders' Debates might change the electoral landscape, local Lib Dems are indeed receiving unprecedented levels of offers of support, so don't feel shy come and give us a hand.
Thank you in advance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)