War of words over election dress ‘code’ (From Daily Echo)
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Julian Lewis and Terry Scriven argue over New Forest East election dress code
10:11am Monday 12th April 2010 in News
Terry Scriven in uniform
A WAR of words has erupted between two Hampshire general election candidates over whether one should have appeared in uniform on a political leaflet.
Tory Julian Lewis accused rival Terry Scriven of breaching the spirit of Army rules after his photograph was used on the front of a Liberal Democrat newsletter in January.
But Mr Scriven has described the attack as “absolutely disgusting” saying the newsletter was non-political.
The former Military Police colonel said the picture was taken last October at Totton and Eling branch of the Royal British Legion where he presented the Armed Forces Veterans Badge to 30 men and women.
Mr Scriven, who is standing against Mr Lewis in the New Forest East constituency, said: “There’s no reason why that picture should not have appeared in there. It’s non-political. As a senior officer everyone who is rated above the rank of major is authorised to wear their uniform on special occasions.
“It was appropriate for me to wear the uniform to make this presentation to our local veterans.
“I’ve spent my life looking after veterans and to me this seems to smack of gutter politics. It’s a pity that Mr Lewis is so extremely concerned that he will not win this election.”
Mr Scriven confirmed that he had been contacted by senior Army officer Mike Griffiths warning him not to wear uniform during the election campaign.
Mr Lewis, himself a former seaman in the Royal Navy Reserve, serving on the Southampton-based minesweeper HMS Glasserton during the Cold War, said: “So far as I can tell, pictures of Terry Scriven dressing up in his Military Policeman’s uniform now, when he retired back in October 1998, actually irritate more people than they impress – particularly ex-servicemen.
“What is more worrying is his distribution of posters telling voters to support “Colonel”
Scriven, though he no longer holds that rank.
For some reason, he does not want to use his correct title, which is “Colonel (Retired). I shall be interested to see what eventually appears on the ballot paper.”
New rules brought in on March 31 concerning army dress regulations mean retired officers have now been banned from hitting the election trail in uniform. Prior to the change Mr Scriven said he asked Army bosses for permission to wear his uniform for the presentation, which was granted.
Other candidates standing in New Forest East MP are Labour’s Peter Sopowski and the Green’s Beverley Golden.
Comments(31)
southy
says...
11:44am Mon 12 Apr 10
southy
says...
11:45am Mon 12 Apr 10
Derek of Dibden Purlieu
says...
11:56am Mon 12 Apr 10
southy wrote:How unusual!
"because even more people are voting" should read "because even more people are not voting" i missed out a word
southy
says...
12:19pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Derek of Dibden Purlieu
says...
3:26pm Mon 12 Apr 10
southy wrote:Unfortunately a debate with you entails agreeing with all of the rubbish you regurgitate every time someone offers you an opening. Would you care to debate your proficiency in spelling and grammar?
debate derek and not make sly comments, oh i for got you dont know how to debate
southy
says...
3:36pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Derek of Dibden Purlieu wrote:you just cant keep to the article in question can you, so your showing you cant debate on the subject if politics is not your fortay say so i can under stand. its not to very one liking even lo it effects every one.
southy wrote:Unfortunately a debate with you entails agreeing with all of the rubbish you regurgitate every time someone offers you an opening. Would you care to debate your proficiency in spelling and grammar?
debate derek and not make sly comments, oh i for got you dont know how to debate
espanuel
says...
4:02pm Mon 12 Apr 10
southy
says...
4:17pm Mon 12 Apr 10
espanuel wrote:to be honest espanuel armed service people make the worse politicians
Southy, Everyone's liking. And also that colonel (Retired) will not get in Westminster.
Bartonian
says...
4:22pm Mon 12 Apr 10
southy wrote:The same goes for illiterate socialists.
espanuel wrote: Southy, Everyone's liking. And also that colonel (Retired) will not get in Westminster.to be honest espanuel armed service people make the worse politicians
King Mush
says...
4:46pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Bartonian wrote:Cheap shots at Southy
southy wrote:The same goes for illiterate socialists.
espanuel wrote: Southy, Everyone's liking. And also that colonel (Retired) will not get in Westminster.to be honest espanuel armed service people make the worse politicians
Likewise- DerekDibden:
"Would you care to debate your proficiency in spelling and grammar?"
If anyone is a long term reader or contributor then you would think that a degree of tolerance and courtesy might prevail when responding to 'prolific' posters such as Southy. Admittedly he does tend to go down the usual political path but he writes with conviction and does make a lot of sense- even if not perhaps being educated to university level as many of the pompous pedants appear to be spouting.
Mangled grammar never stopped John Prescott from attaining high office a few years after serving drinks on the liners out of Southampton!
southy
says...
4:54pm Mon 12 Apr 10
King Mush wrote:and it never stop king john becoming king and he could not even sign his own name let alone read and write.
Bartonian wrote:Cheap shots at Southy
southy wrote:The same goes for illiterate socialists.
espanuel wrote: Southy, Everyone's liking. And also that colonel (Retired) will not get in Westminster.to be honest espanuel armed service people make the worse politicians
Likewise- DerekDibden:
"Would you care to debate your proficiency in spelling and grammar?"
If anyone is a long term reader or contributor then you would think that a degree of tolerance and courtesy might prevail when responding to 'prolific' posters such as Southy. Admittedly he does tend to go down the usual political path but he writes with conviction and does make a lot of sense- even if not perhaps being educated to university level as many of the pompous pedants appear to be spouting.
Mangled grammar never stopped John Prescott from attaining high office a few years after serving drinks on the liners out of Southampton!
King Mush
says...
5:07pm Mon 12 Apr 10
"and it never stop king john becoming king and he could not even sign his own name let alone read and write."
Aha- so the Magna Carta is invalid? Is it time for legal action to throw it all out so that we can start all over again?
If retrospective legal compensation claims can be made against the banks (PPI etc) then maybe we can appoint a 'No win- No Fee' firm to prove that the document was not actually read or explained before my ancestor scribbled his cross at Runnymede?
Or maybe the island was under the protection of another country at that time so actually instigated on foreign soil?
Is there any proof that King John was the rightful heir to the throne? I have been fighting for my proper place in the Monarchy for years and am not a Pretender to the Throne that is rightly mine!
Gotta go now - nurse is bringing my medication..........
southy
says...
5:24pm Mon 12 Apr 10
king john agreed to the magna carta by stamping the crown seal on it
King Mush
says...
5:50pm Mon 12 Apr 10
PROVE IT!!!!
;o)
southy
says...
6:02pm Mon 12 Apr 10
King Mush wrote:well go to runnymede and/or winchester cathedral and ask to see the crown seal that is stamp on the magna carta and the names of the barons under the seal, then go to westminster cathedral and ask to see the book on all crown seals designs. each crown seal is designed and made by the church and are different for each crown, and the list where the crown seal is used. (when a crown head dies his/hers crown seal is destroyed and never repeated or copied.)
king john agreed to the magna carta by stamping the crown seal on it
PROVE IT!!!!
;o)
now can i see your crown seal. :-)
Brite Spark
says...
7:03pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Sir Ad E Noid
says...
7:43pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Brite Spark
says...
8:00pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Owl
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8:11pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Linesman
says...
8:57pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Owl wrote:Maybe he should have them 'airbrushed' !
It's not a very flattering picture of the Colonel - his teeth are the same colour as the scrambled egg on his cap!
It worked wonders for Fred Dinenage's daughter on her election posters!
Miles Way
says...
10:33pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Should realise the general public don't really give a rats ar5e and trying to score petty points like this is stupid.
clausentum
says...
10:59pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Derek of Dibden Purlieu
says...
11:42pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Sir Ad E Noid wrote:In order to make a statement about a murderer, I don't need to be one myself. If the old fool is hoping to impress by parading around in an old army uniform, we'll see if he's duped enough people within the next few weeks.
Well Derek, I take it from your post that you served your country with distinction, and you are now qualified to call Mr Scriven an old duffer!! No I didn't think so. “Colonel” Scriven should move on from his army service, and any pictures, at any time, to promote him, should not be in uniform. As is his right, he is allowed to carry the title “Colonel”, some times it can grate, but he earned, no not purchased, his rank. Saying that he was a redcap!!
soton-mike80
says...
11:45pm Mon 12 Apr 10
warness
says...
12:17am Tue 13 Apr 10
It aint half hot mum?
Or is looking normal not his Fortay?
southy
says...
1:54am Tue 13 Apr 10
Linesman wrote:and on cameron the wana be pm.
Owl wrote:Maybe he should have them 'airbrushed' !
It's not a very flattering picture of the Colonel - his teeth are the same colour as the scrambled egg on his cap!
It worked wonders for Fred Dinenage's daughter on her election posters!
southy
says...
1:56am Tue 13 Apr 10
Miles Way wrote:the very same one miles mr dr lewis of politics but dont know how to do things him self, let other people do the work then claim he done it
Mr Lewis is worried about him using the title "Colonel"? Is this the same Mr Lewis who prefers to be addressed as Doctor (of politics I think)?
Should realise the general public don't really give a rats ar5e and trying to score petty points like this is stupid.
Derek of Dibden Purlieu
says...
10:54am Tue 13 Apr 10
southy wrote:Just to correct both of you, one was a Colonel when he was in the army many years ago and at best is now Colonel (retired) The other will be entitled to the prefix of 'Doctor' in the same way that any other University gained qualification is earned and that's for as long as he lives.
Miles Way wrote:the very same one miles mr dr lewis of politics but dont know how to do things him self, let other people do the work then claim he done it
Mr Lewis is worried about him using the title "Colonel"? Is this the same Mr Lewis who prefers to be addressed as Doctor (of politics I think)?
Should realise the general public don't really give a rats ar5e and trying to score petty points like this is stupid.
southy
says...
11:44am Tue 13 Apr 10
Derek of Dibden Purlieu wrote:yet he tryed to bandy his dr around has if it was a dr of some sort of health care with out saying it. when ask at a meeting not so long ago whitch dr of medicine are you he diverted and gave a true answer but a misleading one. it took another member of public at this meeting to stand up and say he was not any kind of dr of medicine but a doctor of politics and a poor one at that, has any one knows to get a dr of politics is one of the easiest doctor titles you can get. most people in the uk could get this title very easy and dont need to go to uni to get it, it is that easy to get yet this guy needed to go to uni to qualify. little foot note for you mr lewis was that bright he made it has edh in the fleet reserve at hms wessex so i wondering if there a bit of jealousy going on there.
southy wrote:Just to correct both of you, one was a Colonel when he was in the army many years ago and at best is now Colonel (retired) The other will be entitled to the prefix of 'Doctor' in the same way that any other University gained qualification is earned and that's for as long as he lives.
Miles Way wrote:the very same one miles mr dr lewis of politics but dont know how to do things him self, let other people do the work then claim he done it
Mr Lewis is worried about him using the title "Colonel"? Is this the same Mr Lewis who prefers to be addressed as Doctor (of politics I think)?
Should realise the general public don't really give a rats ar5e and trying to score petty points like this is stupid.
Brock_and_Roll
says...
2:19pm Tue 13 Apr 10
Lewis' vote has actually been quite solid (after all the kind of tories you get in this seat are the kind of tories that have always voted that way not mondeo men, but blue rinsed rotary club members!!).
If people's objective is to get rid of the current government then the Labour vote may drift but as they only got 5,000 votes there are not enough votes for the Lib Dems to pick up. Furthermore, people will be well aware that voting Lib-Dem, even if it suits their personal politics runs the risk of letting Labour in again on a national basis. Better to vote green if you have an axe to grind, and it is at least relevant to the New Forest!
Derek of Dibden Purlieu says...
10:29am Mon 12 Apr 10