Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

I think it means, that one could possibly vote Labour in the local and another party in the General election, may be wrong but thats how it comes across.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

I can understand that bit by voting for different parties at different levels, but overall how does that help you when your government isn't the one you want but your local candidates are, they're tied to what they can do because the Government are a different party and certainly won't help them out.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

It's a fine balancing act.

The abilities of a particular candidate, versus the policies of the party they represent.

To further illustrate the point. When a certain person announced their intention of seeking selection in the forthcoming General Election, we had a thread about it. In this thread quite a few people, who in the past have said they have no strong political allegiance, and have indeed voted various ways in the past, stated there was no way on earth they'd vote for this particular person.

So it obviously does matter which candidate people want to represent them.

If it didn't, the local Conservative party wouldn't be having the reported trouble over their selection short-lists, and they could just put forward a monkey with a blue rosette pinned to his monkey jacket, to stand for them.

(An idea that they've probably considered, as long as the monkey is a local primate.)

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Until there's proportional representation, and something that's more akin to democracy, this is a problem we have to deal with.

Personality of individual regional politicans, weighed against the policies of national party politics.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

I'd say it's a bit more than a fine balancing act, you've got the high wire, trapeze and clowns thrown in there as well. It does seem like a whole lot of hassle.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

The only possible way to vote in a General election is to vote for the party you think is right for the country.. unless any potential local candidate is expected to be a minister in a Government or could have a influence in national policy..Boris Johnston and Ken Livingstone are examples.. but they are the few... Ken Heargreaves the Tory MP for Accrington hated Thatchers Government but he had little influence on policy.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

A lot of clowns prefer to join a travelling circus, so they're hardly any bother to us back in the U.K.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Ken Hargreaves was a Thatcherite right down to his cotton socks, so I don't know where you got that wild idea from.

People prefer, given an option, a local M,P, which Hyndburn has had since 1983, and is presumably why the local Conservatives are so keen on another, even if they've been twice rejected already, rather than some hug-a-hoodie toff, sent by Cameron.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Greg Pope wasn't a member of the Cabinet, yet he was elected as M.P. for Hyndburn four times, and even with the government's unpopularity, was odds on to win the sat a fifth time.

The majority of people liked him. Liked him for being local, and understanding of issues that are relevant to Hyndburn. They like the fact he was his own man, not afraid to speak out against party policy and rebel, which he did over the proposed tax changes.

Like it or not, the abilities and personality of prospective candidates do matter to Joe Bloggs.

Speaking personally I'd vote for Rosemary West, over Hazel Blears, everytime, if they were standing here in Hyndburn.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

I'm sure the local Labour party appreciate everything you personally do to help promote the cause you believe in.

Conservatives are all Thatcher's Devil spawn.

Labour is good.

That's on a balanced day.

Sometimes, on a bad night, the name calling gets much worse, really vile and nasty.

I'm sure local party activists appreciate you reaching out from your London Manor, and helping them in their cause, to retain Hyndburn as a Labour seat.

You might even be honoured for all the work you do.

The Conservatives have their woeful handicaps on here, and the opposition is similarly weighed down.

Ying & yang.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Well I'll take your word for it.. but I did hear different..Ken has gone down in my estimate but then I never voted for him.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

I don't rely on hearsay, I know so.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Though on some issues, abortion for instance, I think old Thatch was a bit too much of a liberal lefty for his liking.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

That's very touching, but I don't think any "activists" of Labour appreciate what I say or take a blind bit of notice..as you say it is more likely a hanidcap.. but it's a cross I bare.:rolleyes:

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

...or a cross they have to bear.

Ying and yang.

Jaysay and andrewb bringing ridicule to the Tory camp, and as a counter balance, there's your support for Labour.