Political threads
 

Roy, I wonder, with the elections looming, whether it might be an idea to open a section purely for political threads. Obviously, I'm on here, as is Graham to answer for Labour and now the Lib Dem representative is hanging around it might prompt a Conservative to join in. Could lead to some interesting debates. Also, would mean that anyone who wasn't interested could avoid the whole thing.

Re: Political threads
 

yep your right gayle! dont want to be apart of anything political but at the end of the day could you see yourself being a two faced arsehole that promises everything and gets nothing..................thats what its all about and i dont even know politics.............:)
you are a lovely person from what i have seen and do you really want to do this (being 2 faced ....t) as all politicians are?:(

Re: Political threads
 

Thank you, I think! :o I'm doing this because I felt I had to - I couldn't stand by and let the current situation carry on. Someone had to stand up and be counted because things need to change.

Hopefully, one of the things that will change will be the openness, I couldn't be two faced if I tried, I tell everyone everything and believe that information needs to be out there as much as possible. :D

Re: Political threads
 

Why spoil a good forum with politicians?
Maybe you could use HyndburnLife for political stuff.
Anyway Graham usually does a disappearing act around election times.

Re: Political threads
 

Could be a good idea, although I think it's a good thing if people who wouldn't normaly get involved in politics read a thread and contribute, which they wouldn't do if it had a forum of its own..

However i'm a person with a view that everyone should vote, even if they're just going to the polling station to spoil their vote :)

Re: Political threads
 

That's precisely why I was suggesting putting us all in a seperate area.:p

Re: Political threads
 

I hope your not suggesting that you all lick each other.

I personally think a policital forum could very quickly become chaotic. I suspect that is why you don't find many Councillors on here. If you need the assistance of your Councillor, then phone him/her.

Re: Political threads
 

I wasn't suggesting that only Councillors or candidates could post, just thought it could be a place where all political subjects could be discussed by everyone.

If people don't think it's a good idea we can just keep posting stuff in General Chat but I thought it might benefit the people who weren't interested because they'd be able to avoid it all.

Re: Political threads
 

Top Idea IMHO

I am...eeerm a bit oldish.. I have never voted in my life... On the govermant I was once told by my mother (rip) that "It doesn't matter who you vote for.. Its just like swapping deckchairs on the Titanic"

Uninterested in who runs the country.. But at local level I could be persuaded to vote but have no idea whats what... That self satisfying greg pope needs turfing out of his comfy chair.. Is that what we are voting for next? I dunno

Anyways whatever the votes far its the personal touch and I would vote for Gayle purely from what I ahve seen on here rather than someone who knocks at my front door once in there lifetime and promises me the world :)

Re: Political threads
 

Re: Political threads
 

I think it's a great idea, but it won't just be confined to local politics, will it? I'm often on here knocking the present government (as, indeed, I would be if the Tories or Lib-Dems were in power) and I find it frustrating that no Labour party members will take me on! Maybe that will change if we have a political thread!

Re: Political threads
 

A lot of them aint got the bottle regardless of what level of polotics they are at. These people shouldcome on and read what we have to say as I reckon there is a lot of voters with broad political beliefs of all colours. Get tehm hear and lets see if they have backbones like iron rods or the backbone of a jellyfish.

Re: Political threads
 

Does this only apply to local issues, Gayle? There is frequent criticism of the present Labour government on this site, yet it is invariably greeted with a resounding silence from both yourself and Councillor Jones! Why do you not want to defend your party's policies on national issues?

Re: Political threads
 

I am fighting a local election on local issues, I will talk about them until the cows come home. I'm simply not qualified enough to answer or defend questions on national issues.

Re: Political threads
 

A very good politician's answer, Gayle! :) However, you are a member of the Labour party and, therefore, you must have strong views on national political topics. I accept that you are perhaps caught between a rock and a hard place...defend the policies of this government and you risk alienating potential voters, criticize the government's policies and you risk being regarded as "off-message" by the party bigwigs.

Nevertheless, it is a pity. A lot of the threads which criticize the government on here simply end up as a series of posts agreeing with each other. It would have been interesting to hear the opposite point of view. Perhaps, after the election, you may be persuaded to enter the cut-and-thrust of national political debate?

Re: Political threads
 

I know what you mean but really you would need someone who understood the national issues far better than I. For instance, there are a couple of quite big issues that I disagree with Greg Pope's stance on but he is our MP and I respect him on other issues and as a person. I could publicly state which issues I oppose and which I agree with but ultimately I would not be able to let you know why the government made the decisions it did and what the detailed ins and outs were.

I will stick to the local issues because that's what's important to me and as far as the forthcoming elections are concerned they are what matter.

Re: Political threads
 

I am totally apposed to Greg Pope because he publicly stated that his vote on the war with Iraq was what he wanted to do.. He was quoted in the observer as saying he knew it was against what the poeple of hyndburn wanted but he had to do what he thought was right...

funny but I thought he had to do what the people who voted him in wanted... see I know so little about this game :)


I cant even remember or care what his vote was or anything to do with the subject.. my point being he spends a lot of time swanning about the world on fact finding missions and all in the name of hard work.. then ignores the people of hynburn to have his own say.


ADDY ON BIT : To that end.. calling him "our MP" is a bit ..well you know..




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Re: Political threads
 

Fair enough Gayle, I regret your decision not to make a foray into the arena of national politics, but I respect your reasons for not doing so.

Re: Political threads
 

So forgive my ignorance Gayle. What are you standing for... a councilor perhaps... what area?

Re: Political threads
 

I'm going to be standing for local Council - St Andrew's Ward, Oswaldtwistle.