Britains Youngest Councillor
 

see below....

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

BLOODY HELL, THOSE LITTLE BOXES TO TYPE IN.... SHOULD READ....

Last night [Thurs] the Labour Party won the Rishton by-election, the Conservatives second safest seat [after Baxenden] in Hyndburn at the last May local elections by just 3 votes after several recounts, electing in the process Britains youngest Councillor.

There was a large 8% swing from the Conservatives who polled 61% in May but only 45% last night to the Lib Dems and Labour. Labour's victory overturning a 400 vote defeat 10 months previous. [Put in perspective Labour safest seat has a winning margin of 400 and would be described at the moment as 'statistically unloseable']

The result was
Bill Greene Lib Dem 139
Claire Hamilton Labour 759
Stan Horne Con 756

turnout 32.5% [historically good for a local by-election]

It was an extra special night that produced 2 hours of high drama & tension in the old church hall at St Peters. The room full of councillors from either side with hopes and expectations. Given the state of the Borough the stakes are so much higher.

It all strated very badly for Labour, the first box opened included the votes of the Esplanade and Blackburn Road area and was predominently Conservative. The first news had 350 Con to 100 Lab and everything looked desperately gloomy. Labour downbeat, Conservatives upbeat. Enter the Leader of the Council Peter Britcliffe at this stage, all smiles and happpiness alongside the candidate to join the 20 odd councillors present, the Tory general election candidate and others of one persuasion or another.

The second box from below the Bridge was mostly Labour, but at 450 Con 350 Labour it still seemed odds on the usual Conservative win. As the third box from Station Rd and around the golf club was opened the unbelievable happened and it was 650 650, neck and neck.

By the last vote it 750 750 in piles of 50's, but no one knew how many were in the last pile for each party. Labour by 6, Conservatives by 20, Labour by 10 Conservatives by 5. A lot of fingernail chewing.

A recount was ordered producing one extra Labour vote and two extra Conservative votes. Candidates were whisked away to be spoken to quietly by election officers, the Labour candidate looked gloomy and the Conservative happy.

Another recount was asked with whispers of a Labour majority of just 3. The Lib Dem votes were rechecked.

As the last recount was taken, no new votes were being found and it was just left to returning officer to announce the result to a very loud cheer and to make that historical announcement. The youngest councillor in Britain has just been elected to Hyndburn Borough Council. Good luck Claire!

The Council is now 19 Con 16 Labour

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

Oh great a world of experience, how can you vote for someone who has no clue, so next on the ballot at this weeks meeting brought up by our newest member is " lets not work on Fridays as I have to get ready to go out"

Congratulations to the Labor party any win is good but lets look at who stands.

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

I'll be voting Labour when they call the eletion,but I'll tell all people your vote matters! so weather your Lab Tory Lib dem Looney Green UKIP etc etc make the effort to vote,if you don't your letting down people who died and sufferd to give us that right,three votes is still a win!!!

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

Lets give her a chance - you might be surprised. A lot of the older Cllr's are out of touch with reality anyway.

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The fact that I find most peculiar is that she is a student of Sociology and Management (2 contradictory disiplines if ever there were). What on earth does a 21 year want to go and put herself in a position where she is attending lectures and seminars during the day and then Council and commitee meetings all evening? In my day no self respectng student would get out of bed before midday and would then spend the hours of 5pm to 2 am, everyday, on the ****.

What does this young girl think she's playing at?

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I didn't say not to give her a chance I ment that she has no experience about life, does she have to find a mortgage every month? has she lived in an area of abject pverty or know someone who has? has she actually debated an experienced council member on topics such as road improvements,housing,what to put on the coppice etc... more then likely not, and she has to attend collage/University, so the council is a part time job :rolleyes: or is she going to be available to answer questions when members of her ward call ,as long as shes not in class or has an exam or other things students do.

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

I would not be surprised if she can debate rings around most of Hyndburns Cllr's.
If you want proof of this just attend a few area council meetings, I have. What a joke. They are every 3 months ish. They decide on nothing and give each over months and months to actually come up with any ideas to problems.

They have two uses - to see what mad ideas the council are coming up with and to assist you in deciding who not to vote for.

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Now look what you made me do. I am defending a Cllr again. Where did I put those big blue pills that calm me down?

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

It just reminds of the Blackadder sketch where Pitt the younger is made PM.http://www.luxweb.co.uk/%7Eaccringt/...lies/smile.gif

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Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

Good for her, it's great to see younger people taking an interest in politics again after years of apathy.

Pushed through my slot this morning Consevative parlimentary candidate James Mawdsleys blurb. lnteresting to see he was photographed with the right wing Catholic anti-abortion posse. So thats the Human Rights he was trying to bring into Burma for which he was imprisoned!

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

I saved the Tories a fortune in printing by posting that twoddle on this forum.

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Good, it's nice to see you out and about beyond the great Rhyddings Street confines :)

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

Hope you are suitably recompensed, whether in this life, or the hereafter!!!!

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funny i thought viagra had the opposite effect

we are talking about the same large blue pills arnt we .....:confused:

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

I totally agree weebie, YES, she is young and inexperienced but it would be unfair to judge her without a trial. For any youngster to go into politics at her age, there must have been a driving force, perhaps she is idealistic....but just maybe she can scare the "oldies" into action.

I used to have an old dog that was on its last legs and very apathetic, but when I introduced a puppy into the family, my old dog took on a new lease of life.:)

Thank you Graham for a blow by blow account of the Rishtons result!

BTW Graham, rather than reproduce ALLyour report in another post, try using "edit" in the top right-hand corner like what I just did like ;)

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Thats what worries me - he with the forked tail will be waiting for me now.

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I think its great and as mush as i would HATE TO SAY IT, I would have said the same had it been a Conservative. Two main resons. It easy for forty year olds like me to pontificate about kids, but in the end its only fair to have someone from that generation representing that generation. And secondly the youngest councillors currently are Paul Barton [about 36], me [just had my 39th] and [David Myles 38]. After that its into the 50's+. I hope Claire can be role model for other younger people because two or three more out of 35 would be beneficial IMHO so long as they do the work.

I knock on so many doors and the numbers of working 20 year olds who dont care about where they live or anybody else. There is a generation growing up with no attachment it seems to anything other than celebrity and drinking.

So good luck to Claire. I said it would take me 4 years to learn when I was first elected aged 36 and I am now in my third year.

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Its a very good point. I think a lot of women in Hyndburn are going to be offended personally by what is an emotive subject that goes beyond politics. I would only be able to guess on the pro and anti abortion percentages amongest female voters here in Hyndburn but I would think it would be 75:25 in favour of right to choose? I dont know any female that is anti abortion. What do you think?

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Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

No you're wrong Graham, there are lots of women [and men] against abortion. Take a poll outside any Catholic Church any Sunday morning. Abortion is a contentious, emmotive issue. l was just suprised that someone with so little chance of winning this seat should align himself so publicly with this issue, by being pictured with the three people.

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I think you will find that most conservative candidates support this stance, in line with Michael Howard's announcement that a future Conservative Government would seek to reduce the time limit on terminations.

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Interesting Garinda. Wonder what others think. I dont like religion getting involved in politics. Religion is a personal thing because it has no scienticic basis. And just lately religion has stepped up further it attacks on the very sacrosanct cornerstone of British society: namely free speech.

As for my perceptions on abortion, maybe its just the people I come into contact with. I think the current law is about right. ie Pro Choice.

I have yet to meet a friend, relative or aquaintance in Hyndburn that is anti-abortion but clearly the religous fraternity, mostly, will be. Muslims and Catholics particularly I would guess.

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I am against abortion too, in this day and age there is no reason why any woman or girl should get her self pregnant.If you cannot take precautions then keep your legs shut.
One of my nephews is studying government and politics at St Marys College, he is sixteen and will be going to university to get a degree in politics. He says he wants to make a difference to this country, and knowing him he will do.

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What is viagra ?? :confused:

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

Logically yes, but accidents do happen.

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The fragrant Ann Widdicome said on the radio this week that she supports Howards election pledge to lower the time limit for abortions, but she really wanted it made totally illegal. When questioned about rape or the threat of death to the mother or child she stuck by her guns! Just like David Alton, and by association our Tory candidate. Keep this in mind at the ballot box.

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

Now that would give us a very un-biased poll wouldn't it?

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No it was in answer to Graham's statement that he didn't know of any anti-abortionists. All good Catholics go to Church. All good Catholics follow the Vaticans views on abortion. See simple, the logic not you:)

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I would be wary of making such sweeping generalisations. Not every Catholic, good or otherwise, supports the Vatican's view expressed in In Humanae Vitae.

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The use of the word 'good' suggests that the majority of Church going Catholics would support the Vatican's view that abortion is the same as murder.
Of course it doesn't apply to all, l've met many sinners both Church going and 'fallen' Catholics.

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It's a big issue here with having a pro abortionist in the white house, one of the things that the country was built on was seperation of church and state, something I fervently belive in, and something that is rearing its ugly head in the UK. If you are so religious and you belive in an ultimate being so be it, I belive in Liverpool fc winning the european cup I won't be portioning my party member to bring it up in parliment.

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Is there something wrong in the labour camp, headlines in the LET 19th march
Ex-labour leader defects to LibDem
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/la.../NEWSBBN3.html

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No great loss there I fancy.

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He that pays the piper, calls the tune.

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Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

George ran the council for a good few years well before my time. I only ever went to the General Meetings back then and he occasionally turned up. I never agreed with George or understood his thinking. By then he was still being selected at District level but losing. The last time was 2002 I think. He's only 66 but he has given his life to politics and suffered for it.

He had a leg amputation a year or so back but has battled on. He turned up occasionally at General Meetings. The Labour Party however has moved on a long way and George's type just didn't seem to fit in. I gave him several lifts home and he said so. Talking George it was easy to see that we lived in two different Labour worlds. Reality and fantasy.

Goerge ran a political elite back in the 90's. He would consult with only 1 or two people on every decision whilst having at times 40 Labour Councillors doinmg very little. Many packed up because of George. Factions developed and from what I can gather it wasnt a good party to be in back then under George. George used wander off into long monologues about the deepest and most irrelavant aspects of Socialism and only his voice was ever heard. A throwback to the days when 90% of the electrorate voted and people had never had it so good.Sadly every year George was Leader of the Council Labour lost seats yet listening now to those who supported George, he was a fantastic leader who won every argument against Peter Britciffe and transformed the Council against all odds including rate capping. What they did was in fact sell off gernerations of assets gathered by and for the people of Hyndburn.

By contrast everyone acknowedges how open and friendly it is now under Councillor Battle and the contrast makes it unfamilar & unhappy territory for old the Labour guard with exception of County Councillors who probably didnt have to engage under Georges leadership at District Council level.

In the end George was kicking up at County where he still held the seat but whe he came for reselection he was deselected by the party. Geoege always announced himself as a firm socialist, attacking the Lib Dems and Conservatives mercilessly. One would have thought he would have accepted the the deselction decision however painfuil standing by the decades of scocialist principles that he used to speak about so passionatly.

In the end he decided thaqt he was not going to lose his seat and if he was not reselected he would simply join 'the enemy'. He knows full well it will damage the Labour Party and make winning Gt Harwood much more difficult. He also carefully planned his decision to go on the day of the Rishton by-election to put off Labour voters from voting for young Claire Hamilton as one final swipe for being deselected which was dispicable as Claire doesn't even know George.

In the end George showed his true colours IMHO. That it was always about George and not the Borough or the Labour Party. I know if I had been a councillor back then I would have been a critical opponent of most of what George did and stood for. I can't stand big egos and political elites.

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I've tried to have a conversation with the man, and been completely flumoxed by his answer. It's possible that in his day he was a great intellect and could run rings round everyone else but now he just loses the thread himself when he tries to give an answer. I think the Labour party is better off without him.

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

Re: Britains Youngest Councillor
 

>>Quote: Graham - What they did was in fact sell off gernerations of assets gathered by and for the people of Hyndburn.<<

>>but may be he has still something to offer even though he is 66 years young.<<


Yeah, mate. Just what the borough needs. A one legged geriatric narcissist who is slightly to the left of Josef Stalin. We could add him to the cerebrally challenged narcissist, slightly to the right of Lady Thatcher, who is currently in control. They would make a lovely pair. And then the borough could march bravely forward into the procedural and budgetary wasteland they would create for us. I can hardly wait.

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I don't think anyone should be cast off purely because of their age - experience counts for a lot. But I do think that political parties tend to need candidates who, at the very least, appear to be clutching hold of their marbles.

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I don't think a councillers diasability, or in deed narcisism should have any bearing on their abilities to do the job. Rather, as with the case of the recently elected counciller, lets hope greeness behind the ears in this case, equals freshness, honesty and a desire to listen to her ward rather than use the position as a political springboard to greatness.

Will Georges expences from his new party be paid as thirty pieces of silver? Funny the cost of principles.

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As Graham says, George Slynn is a creature out of Labour's socialist past. Now that New Labour is in so many ways more Conservative than the Conservative Party, it should come as no surprise that they would regard him as an embarassment and want to get rid of him. I am surprised at the Liberal's accepting him though.

However, his administration was a disaster for the borough and it looks as though the current idiot in chief is following his lead. Stupidity, lack of imagination and mendacity observe no political boundaries.

I seem to remember, at some time in the early seventies, George Slynn campaigning for election to HBC in the Springhill Ward as a Liberal Candidate. Perhaps someone would be kind enough to either confirm or refute this notion.

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George should have gone gracefully. It was bad enough trashing the people who had either supported you over many years or others and the party for whom he had claimed to be great passionate leader and intergral part of.

However to target the release of the information to undermine tactically Claire Hamilton on the day of the Rishton by-election, a 21 year old he has never met, was dispicable. [George timed his press release so he grabbed the front page on the night voters went to the ballot box]. You couldn't possibly print what I actually said down the pub.

He was always as long as I knew him and spoke with him, a dillusional walter mitty character who thought he walked on water and who he thought would be remembered as a great visionary of Hyndburn.

Even as socialist thinker I would caution anyone facing the onslaught of Blairites to see George as something alternate from the past. In my view he wasn't a socialist, or a labour man, or any other tag he is identified with. He was just a muddled thinker who believed in no one else but himself and always judged everything he did as brillant and that the other 40 Labour councillors then should be grateful for his brilliance.

As for Labour now in Hyndburn its neither old labour and definately not new labour bob. I think you'd find it pragmatic labour in line with what most residents are thinking because most of us live in houses in the poorer areas of Hyndburn and have a healthy relationship with daily reality.