| Author |
Message |
James
Joined 03-04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 May, 2006 - 01:17 pm: | |
Just a quick note to remind you that it is polling day tomorrow.
I have found the discussions on this forum and the others around the borough enlightening, to say the least. I hope that you have found my comments useful and not too intrusive.
I am standing because I love Lewisham and want to see it made better. Although well intentioned the Labour party, both nationally and locally, have failed to bring about real improvement despite their tax increases and spending spree. I have yet to hear any passionate support for them while out and about or reading forums.
Yet, despite this there is a very real chance that Labour will be returned because people either “hold their noses” and vote Labour or poll a protest vote for the Lib Dems, Greens or Independents.
The Conservatives came second last time and we have closed the gap on Labour considerably since then. We represent the best chance of brining about a positive change here in Lewisham (despite what the distorted Lib Dem graphs may imply) but I can only bring about that change with your help.
Tomorrow you have a choice, more of the same under Labour or a step forward with me and a team of hard working local Conservatives.
I hope that you will support me.
Kind regards
James Cleverly
www.jamescleverly4lewisham.com
www.jamescleverly.blogspot.com
Promoted by Brian Chipps on behalf of James Cleverly and the Lewisham Conservatives, both at 244 Brownhill Road, London, SE6 1AU |
Jalapeno
Joined 13-10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 May, 2006 - 02:14 pm: | |
James, could you please explain what you mean about the 'distorted Lib Dem graphs'? I have noticed that both the Conservatives and Lib Dems literature claims that they are the 'real' opposition and that the other party has no chance. Just who is nearer to the truth and what are the figures both claims are made on? |
Les
Joined 28-01-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 May, 2006 - 02:17 pm: | |
By their data ye shall know them!
Its a case of picking your poll - tories did better in the general elections, lib dems in the locals I believe. |
James
Joined 03-04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 May, 2006 - 02:40 pm: | |
Jalapeno,
The graph that adorns almost all the Lib Dem mayoral literature shows Labour and the Lib Dems neck and neck with "others" third and the Conservatives fourth.
They claim that the Conservatives are out of the race and "cannot win here", despite the fact that the Conservatives came second last time and the Lib Dems being knocked out in the first round of voting with the other minority parties.
Their graph is based on a few local by-election results that have been concentrated on a few wards. They are far from representative of the borough as a whole (almost half of the by-elections were in one ward, Lee Green).
Our "claims" are based on the election results, undocterd and unedited, from the last election for Mayor of Lewisham.
There are more details of creative Lib Dem accounting here:
http://jamescleverly.blogspot.com/2006/04/back-to- school-for-lib-dems.html
James Cleverly
www.jamescleverly4lewisham.com
www.jamescleverly.blogspot.com
Promoted by Brian Chipps on behalf of James Cleverly and the Lewisham Conservatives, both at 244 Brownhill Road, London, SE6 1AU |
Michael
Joined 04-03-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 May, 2006 - 02:43 pm: | |
Lib dems did better than Tories across the three Lewisham wards in the general election in 2005, coming second in two of the three wards, overtaking the position of the Tories since the previous general election in 2001. Lib dems already have more seats on the council than the Conservatives, including one in Forest Hill.
Early predictions (i.e. http://www.vote-2006.co.uk/index.php?topic=23.msg7 603#msg7603 ) suggest that Lib Dems are the clear challengers to Labour borough wide for mayor, as well as locally. People would be best to vote for the person they believe would do the best job, rather than 'holding their nose' and voting Tory in a misguided belief that this might unseat Bullock.
Thanks to all the candidates, from all parties, for contributing to the forum during the elections. I hope your dedication to the local area and lively discussion will continue beyond May 4th. |
James
Joined 03-04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 May, 2006 - 03:02 pm: | |
Michael,
While an interesting read Vote-2006 is hardly authoratitive.
I hope people vote for me because they believe that I will do a good job and that I am committed to the area (and not someone who has swept in from outside the borough just to stand as Mayor) and that the Conservatives provide better services, greener councils with less crime and all at lower council taxes.
The (joking) reference to nose holding was that voters should look at the achievements of Conservative councils and the changes that we have made to the party and not be blinkered by their past feelings towards the Conservatives.
Regards,
James
www.jamescleverly4lewisham.com
www.jamescleverly.blogspot.com
Promoted by Brian Chipps on behalf of James Cleverly and the Lewisham Conservatives, both at 244 Brownhill Road, London, SE6 1AU |
Michael
Joined 04-03-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 May, 2006 - 03:21 pm: | |
There will be no 'authoratitive' figures until tomorrow evening. But you could at least take account of the last general election where Conservatives were pushed into third place. |
James
Joined 03-04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 May, 2006 - 03:37 pm: | |
Michael,
I wasn't pushed into third. ;-)
Regards,
James
www.jamescleverly4lewisham.com
www.jamescleverly.blogspot.com
Promoted by Brian Chipps on behalf of James Cleverly and the Lewisham Conservatives, both at 244 Brownhill Road, London, SE6 1AU |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 May, 2006 - 08:39 pm: | |
I did think parties were banned from further self promotion under electoral rules about communications. Is that not the case? It seems it is for the Greens and the Labour Party. So how can James write this article and others can't? Hopefully someone wiser than me can clarify. |
Loneranger
Joined 29-10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 03 May, 2006 - 11:57 pm: | |
I think the rule applies to polling day while the polling stations are open. A Lewisham Labour candidate has a later campaign message of 16:22. Maybe it has to be before sunset or when the cock crows 3 times?
The following is from the BBC website...
Please note that in line with the political parties and other UK broadcasters, the BBC will not be reporting the election campaign or offering discussion about the campaign while the polls are open on May 4th on any of its outlets. Our message boards will remain open on Polling Day, we're just asking all users to refrain from discussing the election while the polls are open. |
Deanos
Joined 01-12-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 04 May, 2006 - 09:54 am: | |
A statement that sums up the conservatives for me; "Yet, despite this there is a very real chance that Labour will be returned because people either “hold their noses” and vote Labour or poll a protest vote for the Lib Dems...".
How a vote for the third national political party and one with the most recent success (on a ward by ward level) could be called a protest vote is beyond me. If this is the kind of arrogance that is used in the campaign, god only knows what they'll be like if they win the thing. |
Deanos
Joined 01-12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, 05 May, 2006 - 11:07 am: | |
"I wasn't pushed into third. ;-) "
Last night you were! Don't worry, probably just protest voters, eh? |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Friday, 05 May, 2006 - 11:29 am: | |
Now now. Not very gracious to crow is it. Quite why people voted for B"u"llock again though I can't fathom. What has he actually done? |
Loneranger
Joined 29-10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, 05 May, 2006 - 12:02 pm: | |
The Mayor may have lost a number of councillors their seats? Interesting the 2/3 wards that the previous council said need the new school near them have elected councillors opposed to the chose of site. |
James
Joined 03-04-2006
| | Posted on Friday, 05 May, 2006 - 12:03 pm: | |
Deano,
Hi,
I will try not to be ratty but after a 23 hour day and then only 2 1/2 hours of sleep I might slip a little.
I felt that the Lib Dem mayoral campaign was remarkably negative and opportunistic and his "send a message to Blair and Bush" line clearly indicated that Chris was looking for a protest vote.
To a degree his tactic paid off in that he picked up a number of votes. However, you seem to miss the point that we still have a Labour Mayor so all the work done by opposition candidates at ward level has to a large extent been wasted.
Regards, (and with big bags under my eyes)
James Cleverly |
Deanos
Joined 01-12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, 05 May, 2006 - 12:22 pm: | |
No, James. You've missed my original point which was about the patronising way in which you swept all votes for anyone other than Labour and your lot together as a protest vote. Perhaps you do feel that Chris's campaign was negative, however, I feel that based on what I read on the leaflets posted through my door and what I read on your respective websites, the Lib Dem candidate gave the best policy for what I think needs to happen in Forest Hill and Lewisham. I do agree that we still, unfortunately, have the same man in charge, what has he done? However, you might like to note for future campaigns it might not be a good idea to condescend the electorate by implying that by straying away from one of two parties, we are mere protesters. |
Theotherbrian
Joined 28-03-2005
| | Posted on Friday, 05 May, 2006 - 07:20 pm: | |
Actually James, in the 2005 General Election, in Lewisham West, the Conservatives indeed took third place with 20% of the vote, behind the Liberal Democrats with 20.9%. Also the Conservative vote fell by 2.4% while the Liberal Democrats increased theirs by 7.4%. Sorry to be a bore but I do feel that selective political memory needs a cure. |
James
Joined 03-04-2006
| | Posted on Friday, 05 May, 2006 - 10:45 pm: | |
Theotherbrian,
Your figures are acurate but what I said was that "I" didn't come third in the 2005 general election.
James |
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