Joined: Jun 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 21 Location: Canterbury
Tough on the causes... « Result #1 on Jul 17, 2005, 2:22pm »
Why should young men, brought up in a faith that teaches it is wrong to kill innocent people, as British citizens in a multicultural society, be persuaded to carry out such an atrocity?
We all condemn their actions, but that is not enough. We need to discover what it is that led them to this action. We may appreciate that, in Palestine, young men and women who see themselves as having no future could think of sacrificing their own lives in a greater cause. But here...?
The answer is, as many have said, a political one. We must find it. But where?
Joined: Jun 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 21 Location: Canterbury
Election Postscript « Result #3 on May 8, 2005, 12:05pm »
Thanks to the 13,642 people who vored Labour in Canterbury, to Alex for his enthusiasm and hard work, to all who helped in the campaign. We didn't make it this time but we held our ground in the face of the national trends and can be proud of our efforts.
In her speech after the declaration, the Lib Dem candidate commented on the friendly spirit between the candidates and I applauded her observation that it was not necessary for the campaign to degenerate into dishonest and unpleasant squabbling.
It is sad that her local party seems not to share her view. This is a direct quote from their post-election web site:
BATTERED LABOUR REEL FROM BALLOT BOX SHOCK
Labour vote down in all elections Labour's "local candidate" Alex Hilton returns home to Ilford on the first train - he doesn't even stay for the County Council results. We say good riddance. Labour's third place in Westbay means no Labour Lord Mayor
[One wonders, who is their enemy? Have they given up all hope of defeating the Tories in Canterbury? Where did their "local candidate" come from? They could equally well have said: "Tory win in West Bay means the end of the Labour/Lib Dem partnership's control of the City Council" or even: "Defection of Lib Dem Councillor costs them Council Leadership."]
LibDems Celebrating
Jenny Barnard-Langston increases LibDem vote
(of couse, we wouln't expect them to comment that she still came third) Martin Vye storms to County Council victory (Fair enough, one is pleased for him but "storms"? His majority was nothing exceptional) LibDems increase share in County votes across district (Moe or less inline with national trend - they don't say they still have only one seat of eight in Canterbury and only 6 of 84 county-wide) Thank you to everyone who voted for us!
We all try to present the best case for our party (when othrs do it, we call it "spin") but I hope our web site tries to present all the relevant information in a reasonablt balanced way. (I did add a bit after reading the Lib Dem comments!)
Joined: Jun 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 21 Location: Canterbury
Re: Election Debates « Result #4 on Apr 23, 2005, 2:54pm »
You may have spotted on the web sote home page that there are to be several hustings meetings with all six candidates. In case you nissed it, here is the list:
Monday 25 April 4:00pm - Christ Church University College, Students' Union Thursday 28 April 7:00pm - St Alphege Church, High Street, Whitstable Friday 29 April 7:00pm - Lecture Theatre, Old Sessions House, Longport Sunday 01 May 6:30pm - St Mary Bredin Church, Nunnery Fields
Candidates will also be appearing at the Simon Langton Boys' School on Thursday but this event will not be open to the general public.
Joined: Jun 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 21 Location: Canterbury
Election Addresses « Result #5 on Apr 19, 2005, 4:32pm »
Just been reading some of the other parties' election material. Sad, I know, as if there wasn't enough other stuff to do but there you go...
The Greens' front page says, "We all have a right to local services within walking distance of our homes" under a picture of a sign post showing distances to Hospital, School, Corner shop, Dentist, Post Office and Station.
The Tory candidate still seems to be unable to distinguish immgration from asylum seeking. He promises 24 hour surveillance at ports, apparemtly without realising there are over 600 of them or saying how he is going to pay for this on a reduced budget.
Nothing yet from the Liberals but on their web site, they are up to their old tricks again. They are quoting the number of seats they hold on the city council and votes in a local by-election in a ward they have always contested with the Tories, in an attempt to show they are second to the Tories and repeat the familiar lie that only they can win. They do not quote the 2001 general election when they came a very poor third with less than 18% of the vote.
Joined: Jun 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 21 Location: Canterbury
Re: Election Debates « Result #6 on Apr 16, 2005, 4:08pm »
OK - we now have the starting signal and things are moving! Alex and colleagues are out on the doorstep, leaflets are being labelled and the first are delivered already.
The first "Any Questions" style forum has been arranged by Churches Together in Whitstable for Tuesday 26 April at St Alphege Church in Whitstable High Street. Doors open at 7:00 for a 7:30 start. Formal business will end at 9:00 but some of the candidaes will be around for an informal chat afterwards.
People will be invited to hand in questions beforehand and put them in person if selected.
Should be a good evening!
If you enjoy this kind of event, the Jonathan Dimbleby Programme is looking for audiences for their Sunday shows from 10 April to 10 May. If you are interested you could email jd@itv.com or ring 0207 261 3784 for details. Audience members must be over 18 and produce photo ID.
Joined: Oct 2003 Gender: Female Posts: 7 Location: Canterbury, England
Re: Howard's hypocrisy « Result #8 on Apr 8, 2005, 10:37am »
Funny how things don't change, isn't it? My boyfriend bought one of those horrible tabloid things the other day on a whim, and I wanted to yell at the paper editors for getting half their facts wrong concerning all these things.
And what's with him blaming Labour for MRSA increase when it was a) something that started to spread in Tory years and rose (I believe) 15%, whereas it rose only a further 10% (roughly) in Labour years and has been panning out, etc? Grah. </rant>
Joined: Oct 2003 Gender: Female Posts: 7 Location: Canterbury, England
Re: Donations for Phone Calls in Marginal Seats « Result #9 on Apr 8, 2005, 10:28am »
I've not been called myself, but seeing as how I'm not old enough to vote (I miss the election by 12 days, how frustrating is that?! Can't they postpone the election two weeks, just for me?) this is unsurprising.
My initial reaction to cold calling to ask for donations is negative, and I am quite sure that many people would react the same way - it's about as attractive as those students in garish clothes who attempt to waylay you on the high street to ask you to donate £5 a month to some obscure charity.
Actual telephone canvassing, however, might yield some positive results. Finding the time to phone as many telephone numbers in your potential constituency, from, say, 11am to 8pm (think of those people who don't get in form work until 6 or 7...) could prove beneficial, especially if your area is more rural and you can't even find the d**n house, let alone wade through all that countryside to go up and knock on the front door. It would also save on petrol costs, travelling time - there are all sorts of benefits as regards that sort of thing.
But, similar to the "Would you like to leave a donation to the Labour Party in your will?" sort of phone calls (Oxfam threatened to do that to my dad the other day, cheeky sods), they can be seen as intrusive and unwelcome. But then, I suppose that is the case with all forms of canvassing - you're essentially trying to slot yourself into five minutes (or so) of someone else's time without asking them first! A telephone call is less disruptive to one's everyday life compared to having to get up to answer the door (I'm looking at it from the lazy person's point of view here).
A relative of mine who is a councillor in Wellington initially approached telephone canvassing with some trepidation, only to discover that people were generally either not offended, or actually quite willing to have a chat on the phone, approaching election time.
Regarding public speaking, as you mentioned, Gareth, I'm not so sure. To me, public speaking is pretty impersonal; it feels largely to me like spouting of party rhetoric: all the main party leaders (I'm thinking Our Tony here, amongst others) seem to be full of cliche and are generally unbelievable. Speeches often seem like rehashes of earlier speeches, making me gradually less and less inclined to listen to what they have to say.
I think it's hard to get the balance right. As a generally lazy student, I'd prefer a phone call than having to get up, look vaguely respectable, answer the door, think of things to talk about on the spot whilst still half asleep/incoherent... you know? But I am also more than able to understand the more personal, I-care-about-you-so-I-came-to-your-house side of things.
Either way, cold calling to ask for money = in general.
Donations for Phone Calls in Marginal Seats « Result #10 on Apr 7, 2005, 7:18am »
Hello all,
I was called by the Labour Party on Tuesday and asked to give a donation to support the phone call costs for marginal seats. They intend to call as many people as possible to get their support.
Is this a good thing in respect to being cold called or are we better off visting in person / public speaking?
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