Are these the worst election candidates ever? (From Daily Echo)

Are Eastleigh's by-election candidates the worst ever?

9:14am Friday 22nd February 2013 in Editor Ian Murray's Blog Static HTML image By Ian Murray, Editor-in-chief

The press pack in Eastleigh

THERE IS something of a democratic car crash about a by-election.

We all know that democracy is flawed as a system of choosing governments, but generally it is spread around so much that the imperfections are diluted by the sheer scale and majesty of millions of voters making their mark.

A by-election, however, concentrates the act of democracy down to one small geographical plot, one tiny island so to speak, where all the nation’s political bigwigs are drawn to ply their trade, where the effect is less majesty and more emperor’s new clothes.

For this we should, perhaps, be grateful.

Certainly, as we enter the final – thank heavens – stages of the Eastleigh by-election we can consider just how naked democracy can become.

In all this, as the borough and its long-suffering residents undergo the onslaught of the political and media worlds, there is little chance for the poor candidates to hide the odd foible, the longforgotten rash comment, the well-hidden skeleton at the back of the closet. Every word, every gesture, every pose is torn apart under the gaze of the voracious appetite of the national media, ever eager to cheer the un-picking of some scar.

So it is with all this in mind, and writing in this last End of the Week before votes are cast on Thursday, I turn to the candidates themselves at the heart of this tumult.

Perhaps, just maybe, all elections offer the voters such a disappointing cast of characters to choose from. It may be the case that only because of the intensity of the Eastleigh spotlight that we see all.

But then again we may just have unearthed quite the most unfortunate group in a long time.

So, from a purely personal point of view, let me then turn thoughts to those on the hustings...

Maria Hutchings: CONSERVATIVE

TORY candidate Maria Hutchings cannot breathe easy.

Her comments regarding the unsuitability of local schools to educate her son towards his wish to become a doctor seemed like a slap in the face for the local educational world, one where the children of Eastleigh constituents get their education.

The fact mother-of-four Mrs Hutchings already has children attending local schools makes the comment all the more strange, if not rash.

For large parts of the campaign it has appeared as if Tory controllers were reluctant to permit their candidate to even speak to the media.

Her schools remark would appear to underscore their concerns. But yesterday she held firm on comments unearthed from 2011 that called for parents of convicted youth offenders to do time next to their offspring, and her opposition to gay marriage unearthed from her Twitter feed.

And yet silly comments regarding the fact the family Christmas tree is still on display, leaked one presumes to make Mrs Hutchings appear wacko, began to look like nasty bully tactics by her opponents’ camps when it emerged that two of her children are autistic and one child enjoys the
presence of the gaily-lit tree.

If Mrs Hutchings appears at times out of her depth in this most ferocious and febrile of campaigns, then the Tories only have themselves to blame for pushing her forward into the circus.

Mike Thornton: LIBERAL DEMOCRAT

ON the face of it, Lib Dem candidate Mike Thornton has a huge advantage over his rivals.

True there is the need to outrun the memory of the recently departed – towards a prison cell no
doubt– previous incumbent in the post, former cabinet minister Chris Huhne.

But, despite the fact Mr Huhne showed a contempt for honesty that you would think should be a trademark in a politician, I do not believe the local electorate is likely to punish his would-be successor from the same party.

A look at the borough council with its massive Lib Dem majority reveals more than a little inherent support for the yellow hue.

What is more likely to undo Mr Thornton is his stance on a firm promise to keep the bulldozers away from Eastleigh’s green spaces, while at the same time voting through the Boorley Green plan to do just the opposite.

The creation of 1,400 new homes in the teeth of local opposition would seem to give some credence to the Lib Dem’s detractors that they speak one line but act out another.

To be fair, the argument that the borough desperately needs new homes is a fact. It’s just that it seems silly to have planted your flag on green issues when you knew it was likely to be mown down by a mechanical digger.

John O’Farrell: LABOUR

IF Labour’s minders had done their homework on their candidate John O’Farrell’s past and already knew of his penned attack on former Tory PM Margaret Thatcher in which he waxed lyrical on how he wished she had been killed by the IRA Brighton bomb and fantasised about slaughtering her himself with a machine gun, then they were blind or reckless in letting his name go forward.

In fact – and I hesitate to consider how anything could be considered more obscene than wishing death or violence on someone – even worse to my eyes was the fact Mr O’Farrell also wrote how he wished Britain had lost the Falklands War.

Putting to one side the fact defeat had brought about downfall of the vicious Argentinian fascist dictatorship that had been murdering its own people, to lose the war the British armed forces would have had to lose the fight, which meant losing the lives of many more men and women.

Is that really what Mr O’Farrell would have preferred?

That Mr O’Farrell was until recently employed by the BBC as a comedy script writer on Have I Got News For You says all about their research also – or perhaps they knew of his writings and just didn’t care. You decide.

We learnt this week also that Ed Miliband’s first choice for the Labour candidate at Eastleigh was local girl done good Fiona Phillips.

As her last local appearance saw her verbally attacking her now 80-year-old former headmaster
without giving him the chance respond and labelling a city shop keeper a “Jimmy Savile-type character”, again with no evidence, we have mercifully been spared that reality TV extravaganza.

Diane James: UKIP

AND then we turn to UKIP candidate Diane James who, no slow build-up here, launched her campaign by promptly laying the blame for a lot of crime on people from Romania.

As platforms for election go it was right up there with France’s hard right nationalist party whose leader Marie La Penn confirmed her connections with UKIP in the week.

But then Mrs James is hardly alone with such slurs.

At least one major national newspaper labelled Romanian citizens as criminals too and should shoulder blame for giving credence to such dangerous rubbish.

I need spare no more time on this candidate.

Some of the Eastleigh by-election candidates

And the rest:

FOR the rest they are a colourful bunch. There are real issues. Doctors do not march through
the region in support of Dr Iain Maclennan, candidate for the National Health Action Party
unless they are concerned.

As for the Elvis Loves Pets and Beer, Baccy and Crumpet candidates… well, I could be convinced.

Perhaps then what we are seeing here is a once in a generation opportunity to witness democracy reduced to its clawing, biting worst.

Under normal circumstances the only spotlight falling on candidates in a general election would be the local press, and even then this paper would have some ten battle grounds to cover.

But Eastleigh, with its fight to the death between coalition partners, a Labour Party wishing to show its mettle and UKIP determined to draw blood, is at the centre of a national political maelstrom.

In such conditions the candidates are treated to the kind of scrutiny reserved usually for party
leaders. Little wonder they appear wanting.

I almost pity them.

Had such probing spotlights been turned against Mr Huhne maybe we would all have seen his
failings long before he was caught in the glare of the speed camera flash.

Comments(28)

stuartjebbitt says...
10:01am Fri 22 Feb 13

Ian, it's not the quality of the candidates that worries me, so much as the obscene amount of money and resources the moneyed parties are throwing at this.
As a resident, I have been inundated with literature, nuisance phone calls, and canvassers. I'm at the point now where I'm ignoring the door and the phone, if I don't recognize the number.
Most of the leaflets just attack the rival parties. i.e. nothing positive to say.
When parties can afford to bus in activists from other parts of the country and also pay them expenses and feed them - how can any smaller parties or independent voices hope to be heard?
Our 'democracy' is not an even playing field. For one, I would seek a legal limit of 3 delivered leaflets per party. I have 7-8 from the 2 coalition partners.

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AndyAndrews says...
10:43am Fri 22 Feb 13

Yes, they are a poor bunch. Maria is indeed out of her depth, her only redeeming quality being her opposition to gay marriage laws. The LibDems have to be punished. I'll be voting for another candidate yet to be chosen, a loser but hey ho, we get the chance to vote all over again in 2015 when it will really count.

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griffon says...
10:51am Fri 22 Feb 13

The electorate are just grist to keep an infernal machine of politics and the media running. Entertainment for ugly and vain people The big beasts have already writen their victory/defeat speeches and as for the rest the £500 experience is one for their granchildren.
By now I imagine alonside the green box for dry recyclables most people have got a brown one to remind them where to put all the election stodge.

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southy says...
11:41am Fri 22 Feb 13

And the only ones that Ian makes his paper avoid is the TUSC, Why that Ian, is it because they are a party for the majority and never for the few.

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kingnotail says...
11:54am Fri 22 Feb 13

Well, as long as none of them end up on the end of a rope, dressed in lingerie with an amyl nitrite-laced orange wedge stuffed in their mouth, they'll be doing better than Eastleigh's last Tory MP..

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illhavemysay says...
1:01pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Eastleigh residents and our country are very unlucky having people like Ian Murray Editor-in-chief of this paper living in our country and having a word on who he thinks is a good candidate or we should or should not vote for, you can tell the type of person he is by the item he has written on UKIP candidate Diane James, no doubt he is in a well paid job,lives in a nice house in a good area and only mixes with "his type" he should spend a few years living in a poor inner-city with no work or min wage and some ailment. UKIP are saying what needs to be said and what is actually going on. our NHS can not cope with all the migrants we do not have enough homes so need to build on green fields our schools are full and as you can see the benefits of the needy are being cut because there is not enough to go round...The Government has to take into consideration migrants and the EU. EASTLEIGH PEOPLE VOTE UKIP GIVE US THE ORDINARY MAN/WOMAN IN THE STREET A VOICE IN PARLIAMENT. and Ian Murry read the reports from France and Germany on crime involving Romanians UKIP tell how it really is people like you tell how you want it

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Paramjit Bahia says...
2:59pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Dear Editor Murray,

If Tory candidate in Eastleigh is expert at putting her foot in own big mouth then you as Editor of Daily Echo are not far behind.

“We all know that democracy is flawed as a system of choosing governments” says Ian Murray (If you look in mirror you may even recognize that chap!!!)

No Ian these may be your own views, you have no mandate to make such silly statement on behalf of us ALL.

You may be in powerful position as your local rag has virtual monopoly in this area, which you appear to be good at abusing, but you have no mandate to say “We All know”.

How can you qualify your claim?

As journo and editor you have tried to dig the dirt about NuLabour’s comedy writer candidate, from his statement of many years ago and have, probably with some justification, criticized the clown for having expressed sympathy for fascist regime of Argentina and accused him of undermining British troops.

But you conveniently appear to have forgotten that you yourself are also against the very democracy our armed forces are supposed to defend. (Let us forget about Iraq at the moment!!! Syria may also become Cameron's Iraq so we will not talk about that either!!!!) So Sir, which way are you doing better than NuLabour candidate?

All the candidates contesting election in East Leigh may not appeal to you as politically biased Echo’s editor. But in fairness to them all by taking part in democratic process they have given the opportunity to people to pick one to represent them in the parliament.

If you are not happy with them why could you not put himself up as Daily Echo candidate?..... Oh, old age is catching up with me; I forgot you have already made your dislike for democracy crystal clear.

Finally my request: You are a very capable person, rather than winding people up please use your paper for providing balanced coverage about ALL the candidates and their policies in this by-election, otherwise people like not only socialist Southy but also NuLabour will be very rightly accusing your rag for political bias.

Kind regards
Parmi Bahia

Dear Editor Murray, If Tory candidate in Eastleigh is expert at putting her foot in own big mouth then you as Editor of Daily Echo are not far behind. “We all know that democracy is flawed as a system of choosing governments” says Ian Murray (If you look in mirror you may even recognize that chap!!!) No Ian these may be your own views, you have no mandate to make such silly statement on behalf of us ALL. You may be in powerful position as your local rag has virtual monopoly in this area, which you appear to be good at abusing, but you have no mandate to say “We All know”. How can you qualify your claim? As journo and editor you have tried to dig the dirt about NuLabour’s comedy writer candidate, from his statement of many years ago and have, probably with some justification, criticized the clown for having expressed sympathy for fascist regime of Argentina and accused him of undermining British troops. But you conveniently appear to have forgotten that you yourself are also against the very democracy our armed forces are supposed to defend. (Let us forget about Iraq at the moment!!! Syria may also become Cameron's Iraq so we will not talk about that either!!!!) So Sir, which way are you doing better than NuLabour candidate? All the candidates contesting election in East Leigh may not appeal to you as politically biased Echo’s editor. But in fairness to them all by taking part in democratic process they have given the opportunity to people to pick one to represent them in the parliament. If you are not happy with them why could you not put himself up as Daily Echo candidate?..... Oh, old age is catching up with me; I forgot you have already made your dislike for democracy crystal clear. Finally my request: You are a very capable person, rather than winding people up please use your paper for providing balanced coverage about ALL the candidates and their policies in this by-election, otherwise people like not only socialist Southy but also NuLabour will be very rightly accusing your rag for political bias. Kind regards Parmi Bahia Paramjit Bahia

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tootle says...
4:31pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Oh Dear. This by election is providing me with some much wanted amusement - fortunately I do not live in the constituency. Why? - because of the "how can we put our foot in it" candidates. My son is updated daily with the latest. Just wish there was some better coverage on local/national news about the fringe candidates. More amusement or a real candidate. Sorry but if I had to vote I'd be hard pushed to raise the energy to vote for the main contenders. As to LibDems living down Huhne - why? - He lied, he cheated, not the party, I have no doubt he lied to them too.

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andysaint says...
4:34pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Well i pretty much agree that these lot are not worth getting out of bed for. Its pretty much a sad reflection on politics in this country that theres not a main political party worth voting for.
Dont be fooled - they care not about the average working man or family or even the average not working man.
They continue to denegrate those less fortunate than the majority who, for whatever reason, dont have a significant amount of disposable income to spend in order to help the economy.
Isnt that the truth of it? On benefits? disabled? young? pensioner? Unemployed? YOUR ALL INSIGNIFICANT TO THOSE IN POWER BECAUSE YOU DONT HAVE MONEY TO PAY TAX.
Our glorious leaders care not about society, about helping those who need help, those that fall ill, those who are born into poverty.
I am referring to all 3 of the major parties - Tory Labour and Lib Dem dont deserve our votes.
Im not going to vote - as someone said on a previous thread - if voting changed anything they would have banned it by now.

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Dresnez says...
4:55pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Paramjit Bahia wrote:
Dear Editor Murray,

If Tory candidate in Eastleigh is expert at putting her foot in own big mouth then you as Editor of Daily Echo are not far behind.

“We all know that democracy is flawed as a system of choosing governments” says Ian Murray (If you look in mirror you may even recognize that chap!!!)

No Ian these may be your own views, you have no mandate to make such silly statement on behalf of us ALL.

You may be in powerful position as your local rag has virtual monopoly in this area, which you appear to be good at abusing, but you have no mandate to say “We All know”.

How can you qualify your claim?

As journo and editor you have tried to dig the dirt about NuLabour’s comedy writer candidate, from his statement of many years ago and have, probably with some justification, criticized the clown for having expressed sympathy for fascist regime of Argentina and accused him of undermining British troops.

But you conveniently appear to have forgotten that you yourself are also against the very democracy our armed forces are supposed to defend. (Let us forget about Iraq at the moment!!! Syria may also become Cameron's Iraq so we will not talk about that either!!!!) So Sir, which way are you doing better than NuLabour candidate?

All the candidates contesting election in East Leigh may not appeal to you as politically biased Echo’s editor. But in fairness to them all by taking part in democratic process they have given the opportunity to people to pick one to represent them in the parliament.

If you are not happy with them why could you not put himself up as Daily Echo candidate?..... Oh, old age is catching up with me; I forgot you have already made your dislike for democracy crystal clear.

Finally my request: You are a very capable person, rather than winding people up please use your paper for providing balanced coverage about ALL the candidates and their policies in this by-election, otherwise people like not only socialist Southy but also NuLabour will be very rightly accusing your rag for political bias.

Kind regards
Parmi Bahia

Ian has been impartial. From what I can see he has exposed the warts we all need to see on all the main candidates.

They all promise you a rose garden but fail to mention the thorns.

'please use your paper for providing balanced coverage about ALL the candidates and their policies in this by-election,'

Here I endorse all you have to say Paramjit.

I think we could have far more Daily Echo coverage of the independents. Here is your opportunity to give them some publicity before next Thursday.

The main parties deserve a bloody nose at these elections. I am rather disappointed in the Labour candidate. I expected far more somehow.

'But in fairness to them all by taking part in democratic process they have given the opportunity to people to pick one to represent them in the parliament.'

Paramjit candidates standing in this or any other election are not being altruistic at all but are putting themselves forward out of self interest and we have all seen how vested interests work, the contacts and contracts that follow.

[quote][p][bold]Paramjit Bahia[/bold] wrote: Dear Editor Murray, If Tory candidate in Eastleigh is expert at putting her foot in own big mouth then you as Editor of Daily Echo are not far behind. “We all know that democracy is flawed as a system of choosing governments” says Ian Murray (If you look in mirror you may even recognize that chap!!!) No Ian these may be your own views, you have no mandate to make such silly statement on behalf of us ALL. You may be in powerful position as your local rag has virtual monopoly in this area, which you appear to be good at abusing, but you have no mandate to say “We All know”. How can you qualify your claim? As journo and editor you have tried to dig the dirt about NuLabour’s comedy writer candidate, from his statement of many years ago and have, probably with some justification, criticized the clown for having expressed sympathy for fascist regime of Argentina and accused him of undermining British troops. But you conveniently appear to have forgotten that you yourself are also against the very democracy our armed forces are supposed to defend. (Let us forget about Iraq at the moment!!! Syria may also become Cameron's Iraq so we will not talk about that either!!!!) So Sir, which way are you doing better than NuLabour candidate? All the candidates contesting election in East Leigh may not appeal to you as politically biased Echo’s editor. But in fairness to them all by taking part in democratic process they have given the opportunity to people to pick one to represent them in the parliament. If you are not happy with them why could you not put himself up as Daily Echo candidate?..... Oh, old age is catching up with me; I forgot you have already made your dislike for democracy crystal clear. Finally my request: You are a very capable person, rather than winding people up please use your paper for providing balanced coverage about ALL the candidates and their policies in this by-election, otherwise people like not only socialist Southy but also NuLabour will be very rightly accusing your rag for political bias. Kind regards Parmi Bahia[/p][/quote]Ian has been impartial. From what I can see he has exposed the warts we all need to see on all the main candidates. They all promise you a rose garden but fail to mention the thorns. 'please use your paper for providing balanced coverage about ALL the candidates and their policies in this by-election,' Here I endorse all you have to say Paramjit. I think we could have far more Daily Echo coverage of the independents. Here is your opportunity to give them some publicity before next Thursday. The main parties deserve a bloody nose at these elections. I am rather disappointed in the Labour candidate. I expected far more somehow. 'But in fairness to them all by taking part in democratic process they have given the opportunity to people to pick one to represent them in the parliament.' Paramjit candidates standing in this or any other election are not being altruistic at all but are putting themselves forward out of self interest and we have all seen how vested interests work, the contacts and contracts that follow. Dresnez

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stuartjebbitt says...
5:10pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Things won't improve until there's more stringent limits on election spending and limits to how many leaflets you can deliver and how many times you can call a number. As it stands the parties with the most money get a grossly unfair advantage and can drown out the saner voices.
Most of the campaign is either bold face lies i.e. lib dems "we will protect green spaces" (small print - by building on them) or negative campaigning, i.e. vote for us because the other lot are even more incompetent than we are!
AV would also help as you could vote for what you actually believed in, instead of being scaremongered into voting for the least worse option.
Might also help make negative campaigning less advantageous, as you don't want to alienate folk who might make you their 2nd choice.

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MGRA says...
5:40pm Fri 22 Feb 13

kingnotail wrote:
Well, as long as none of them end up on the end of a rope, dressed in lingerie with an amyl nitrite-laced orange wedge stuffed in their mouth, they'll be doing better than Eastleigh's last Tory MP..

you seem worrying obsessed with that sexual practice.... you clearly have a lot in common with him.... missed at your club is he ?

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MGRA says...
5:43pm Fri 22 Feb 13

I have spoken to the three mainstream candidates in person and I would say that Maria is the only one not out of her depth. John seemed like a worried rabbit in head lights and the Lib Dem guy could not explain to me how giving a family on 95K a year all their child benefit when many other familys on 30K less get nothing. He failed to explain how this was a fair system, a pretty basic question. Maria on the other was very articulate...

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one in a million says...
6:07pm Fri 22 Feb 13

try asking the lib dems to stop canvassing (hassling) you and where the got your ex directory number from...youre just ignored!! just like they ignored you before the election was announced. Arrogant so and sos.

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honour says...
6:12pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Once upon a time we had politicians who cared about the people who put them in power.
Now we have a bunch of selfish hypocrites who just look after themselves.

Vote for anyone but the three party system we have at the moment or nothing will change.

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sotonbev says...
6:23pm Fri 22 Feb 13

illhavemysay wrote:
Eastleigh residents and our country are very unlucky having people like Ian Murray Editor-in-chief of this paper living in our country and having a word on who he thinks is a good candidate or we should or should not vote for, you can tell the type of person he is by the item he has written on UKIP candidate Diane James, no doubt he is in a well paid job,lives in a nice house in a good area and only mixes with "his type" he should spend a few years living in a poor inner-city with no work or min wage and some ailment. UKIP are saying what needs to be said and what is actually going on. our NHS can not cope with all the migrants we do not have enough homes so need to build on green fields our schools are full and as you can see the benefits of the needy are being cut because there is not enough to go round...The Government has to take into consideration migrants and the EU. EASTLEIGH PEOPLE VOTE UKIP GIVE US THE ORDINARY MAN/WOMAN IN THE STREET A VOICE IN PARLIAMENT. and Ian Murry read the reports from France and Germany on crime involving Romanians UKIP tell how it really is people like you tell how you want it

Well said!! Vote UKIP, at least Diane tells it as it is, what I want to know is where are all these new immigrants going to live, this Country cant even house our own people, their on waiting lists for years. Our Hospitals are full to the rim, our benefit bill is already in the hundreds of millions, and you can bet that our crime figures will sky rocket. And yet the other parties are saying that immigration is good for the economy HOW i ask.

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derek james says...
7:50pm Fri 22 Feb 13

the government of this country is like a county council in a country of 27 county councils (the country is the eu, the other councils are other so-called countries) they cannot stop immigration,they must let european migrants have access to our health system and other benefits that we have being paying for all our working lives, we can't deport criminals, paedophiles and other undesirables and we must let other countries use our fishing grounds-the most fertile in europe. murray is right about the candidates and the police in this country have said most card "skimmimg" or cloning is by romanian bases gangs.

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Martin Caine says...
7:55pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Interesting that you think the Romania crime worry only gives credence to such dangerous rubbish. France did not have the same restrictions as we have currently got and they put 80% of their street crime down to Romanian immigrants but lets just ignore those facts and vote for the doctors as you say they wouldn't be out marching unless it was for a good cause. Unfortunately that cause is slightly different to the one they shout about. They have no plan nor policy to save the NHS their sole purpose is to split votes in Eastleigh like they plan to do in 50 weak Labour seats in the 2015 election. http://mpswhobetraye
dthenhs.wordpress.co
m/2012/10/09/nha-par
ty-website-now-onlin
e/

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elvisimo says...
7:56pm Fri 22 Feb 13

sotonbev wrote:

illhavemysay wrote:
Eastleigh residents and our country are very unlucky having people like Ian Murray Editor-in-chief of this paper living in our country and having a word on who he thinks is a good candidate or we should or should not vote for, you can tell the type of person he is by the item he has written on UKIP candidate Diane James, no doubt he is in a well paid job,lives in a nice house in a good area and only mixes with "his type" he should spend a few years living in a poor inner-city with no work or min wage and some ailment. UKIP are saying what needs to be said and what is actually going on. our NHS can not cope with all the migrants we do not have enough homes so need to build on green fields our schools are full and as you can see the benefits of the needy are being cut because there is not enough to go round...The Government has to take into consideration migrants and the EU. EASTLEIGH PEOPLE VOTE UKIP GIVE US THE ORDINARY MAN/WOMAN IN THE STREET A VOICE IN PARLIAMENT. and Ian Murry read the reports from France and Germany on crime involving Romanians UKIP tell how it really is people like you tell how you want it
Well said!! Vote UKIP, at least Diane tells it as it is, what I want to know is where are all these new immigrants going to live, this Country cant even house our own people, their on waiting lists for years. Our Hospitals are full to the rim, our benefit bill is already in the hundreds of millions, and you can bet that our crime figures will sky rocket. And yet the other parties are saying that immigration is good for the economy HOW i ask.

Look a little further than the end of your nose and you may just find out.

Bandwagons are very easy to jump on. Do a bit of research.

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illhavemysay says...
8:06pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Eastleight people listen to UKIP If we do not make a stand now and the LibLabCons are still running our country alone after the next election you will regret not voting UKIP, make history give us our first UKIP MP now and more will follow

read the following links UKIP tell it how it really is Labour ruined our country and the Tories and Lib Dems will only do what the EU want, do not believe them the EU are their masters

Rachel Bull challenged leading historian Mary Beard on the impact of immigration on her Lincolnshire
Mrs Bull – whose grandparents moved to Britain from Poland after the Second World War...
Our town's like a foreign country and locals can't cope with the immigrants, says mother after TV clash with academic on Question Time
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
2264799/Our-towns-li
ke-foreign-country-L
ocals-cope-immigrant
s-says-mother-TV-cla
sh-academic.html

Migrants fuel need for Green Belt homes: Minister's candid admission on housing crisis
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
2241219/Migrants-fue
l-need-Green-Belt-ho
mes-Ministers-candid
-admission-housing-c
risis.html

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illhavemysay says...
8:15pm Fri 22 Feb 13

elvisimo wrote:

sotonbev wrote:

illhavemysay wrote:
Eastleigh residents and our country are very unlucky having people like Ian Murray Editor-in-chief of this paper living in our country and having a word on who he thinks is a good candidate or we should or should not vote for, you can tell the type of person he is by the item he has written on UKIP candidate Diane James, no doubt he is in a well paid job,lives in a nice house in a good area and only mixes with "his type" he should spend a few years living in a poor inner-city with no work or min wage and some ailment. UKIP are saying what needs to be said and what is actually going on. our NHS can not cope with all the migrants we do not have enough homes so need to build on green fields our schools are full and as you can see the benefits of the needy are being cut because there is not enough to go round...The Government has to take into consideration migrants and the EU. EASTLEIGH PEOPLE VOTE UKIP GIVE US THE ORDINARY MAN/WOMAN IN THE STREET A VOICE IN PARLIAMENT. and Ian Murry read the reports from France and Germany on crime involving Romanians UKIP tell how it really is people like you tell how you want it
Well said!! Vote UKIP, at least Diane tells it as it is, what I want to know is where are all these new immigrants going to live, this Country cant even house our own people, their on waiting lists for years. Our Hospitals are full to the rim, our benefit bill is already in the hundreds of millions, and you can bet that our crime figures will sky rocket. And yet the other parties are saying that immigration is good for the economy HOW i ask.
Look a little further than the end of your nose and you may just find out.

Bandwagons are very easy to jump on. Do a bit of research.

elvisimo It is you that needs to Look a little further than the end of your nose and you may just find out. we are losing our country. our country is heading for many conflicts .people like you may not care but at least let us that do try to stop it... in years to come the History books will write of people like you and it will not be good reading for your future generations to read

[quote][p][bold]elvisimo[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]sotonbev[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]illhavemysay[/bold] wrote: Eastleigh residents and our country are very unlucky having people like Ian Murray Editor-in-chief of this paper living in our country and having a word on who he thinks is a good candidate or we should or should not vote for, you can tell the type of person he is by the item he has written on UKIP candidate Diane James, no doubt he is in a well paid job,lives in a nice house in a good area and only mixes with "his type" he should spend a few years living in a poor inner-city with no work or min wage and some ailment. UKIP are saying what needs to be said and what is actually going on. our NHS can not cope with all the migrants we do not have enough homes so need to build on green fields our schools are full and as you can see the benefits of the needy are being cut because there is not enough to go round...The Government has to take into consideration migrants and the EU. EASTLEIGH PEOPLE VOTE UKIP GIVE US THE ORDINARY MAN/WOMAN IN THE STREET A VOICE IN PARLIAMENT. and Ian Murry read the reports from France and Germany on crime involving Romanians UKIP tell how it really is people like you tell how you want it[/p][/quote]Well said!! Vote UKIP, at least Diane tells it as it is, what I want to know is where are all these new immigrants going to live, this Country cant even house our own people, their on waiting lists for years. Our Hospitals are full to the rim, our benefit bill is already in the hundreds of millions, and you can bet that our crime figures will sky rocket. And yet the other parties are saying that immigration is good for the economy HOW i ask.[/p][/quote]Look a little further than the end of your nose and you may just find out. Bandwagons are very easy to jump on. Do a bit of research.[/p][/quote]elvisimo It is you that needs to Look a little further than the end of your nose and you may just find out. we are losing our country. our country is heading for many conflicts .people like you may not care but at least let us that do try to stop it... in years to come the History books will write of people like you and it will not be good reading for your future generations to read illhavemysay

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colorado kid says...
8:43pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Paramjit Bahia wrote:
Dear Editor Murray,

If Tory candidate in Eastleigh is expert at putting her foot in own big mouth then you as Editor of Daily Echo are not far behind.

“We all know that democracy is flawed as a system of choosing governments” says Ian Murray (If you look in mirror you may even recognize that chap!!!)

No Ian these may be your own views, you have no mandate to make such silly statement on behalf of us ALL.

You may be in powerful position as your local rag has virtual monopoly in this area, which you appear to be good at abusing, but you have no mandate to say “We All know”.

How can you qualify your claim?

As journo and editor you have tried to dig the dirt about NuLabour’s comedy writer candidate, from his statement of many years ago and have, probably with some justification, criticized the clown for having expressed sympathy for fascist regime of Argentina and accused him of undermining British troops.

But you conveniently appear to have forgotten that you yourself are also against the very democracy our armed forces are supposed to defend. (Let us forget about Iraq at the moment!!! Syria may also become Cameron's Iraq so we will not talk about that either!!!!) So Sir, which way are you doing better than NuLabour candidate?

All the candidates contesting election in East Leigh may not appeal to you as politically biased Echo’s editor. But in fairness to them all by taking part in democratic process they have given the opportunity to people to pick one to represent them in the parliament.

If you are not happy with them why could you not put himself up as Daily Echo candidate?..... Oh, old age is catching up with me; I forgot you have already made your dislike for democracy crystal clear.

Finally my request: You are a very capable person, rather than winding people up please use your paper for providing balanced coverage about ALL the candidates and their policies in this by-election, otherwise people like not only socialist Southy but also NuLabour will be very rightly accusing your rag for political bias.

Kind regards
Parmi Bahia

Souds like the labour candidate will get 2 votes,your's and the candidate,no I am wrong he does not live in the area so cannot vote,so that looks like he has only your vote. What a shame.

[quote][p][bold]Paramjit Bahia[/bold] wrote: Dear Editor Murray, If Tory candidate in Eastleigh is expert at putting her foot in own big mouth then you as Editor of Daily Echo are not far behind. “We all know that democracy is flawed as a system of choosing governments” says Ian Murray (If you look in mirror you may even recognize that chap!!!) No Ian these may be your own views, you have no mandate to make such silly statement on behalf of us ALL. You may be in powerful position as your local rag has virtual monopoly in this area, which you appear to be good at abusing, but you have no mandate to say “We All know”. How can you qualify your claim? As journo and editor you have tried to dig the dirt about NuLabour’s comedy writer candidate, from his statement of many years ago and have, probably with some justification, criticized the clown for having expressed sympathy for fascist regime of Argentina and accused him of undermining British troops. But you conveniently appear to have forgotten that you yourself are also against the very democracy our armed forces are supposed to defend. (Let us forget about Iraq at the moment!!! Syria may also become Cameron's Iraq so we will not talk about that either!!!!) So Sir, which way are you doing better than NuLabour candidate? All the candidates contesting election in East Leigh may not appeal to you as politically biased Echo’s editor. But in fairness to them all by taking part in democratic process they have given the opportunity to people to pick one to represent them in the parliament. If you are not happy with them why could you not put himself up as Daily Echo candidate?..... Oh, old age is catching up with me; I forgot you have already made your dislike for democracy crystal clear. Finally my request: You are a very capable person, rather than winding people up please use your paper for providing balanced coverage about ALL the candidates and their policies in this by-election, otherwise people like not only socialist Southy but also NuLabour will be very rightly accusing your rag for political bias. Kind regards Parmi Bahia[/p][/quote]Souds like the labour candidate will get 2 votes,your's and the candidate,no I am wrong he does not live in the area so cannot vote,so that looks like he has only your vote. What a shame. colorado kid

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Sir Ad E Noid says...
1:48am Sat 23 Feb 13

southy wrote:
And the only ones that Ian makes his paper avoid is the TUSC, Why that Ian, is it because they are a party for the majority and never for the few.

Complete load of ****. Southy, have another go. This time talk sense.

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Sir Ad E Noid says...
1:52am Sat 23 Feb 13

colorado kid wrote:

Paramjit Bahia wrote:
Dear Editor Murray,

If Tory candidate in Eastleigh is expert at putting her foot in own big mouth then you as Editor of Daily Echo are not far behind.

“We all know that democracy is flawed as a system of choosing governments” says Ian Murray (If you look in mirror you may even recognize that chap!!!)

No Ian these may be your own views, you have no mandate to make such silly statement on behalf of us ALL.

You may be in powerful position as your local rag has virtual monopoly in this area, which you appear to be good at abusing, but you have no mandate to say “We All know”.

How can you qualify your claim?

As journo and editor you have tried to dig the dirt about NuLabour’s comedy writer candidate, from his statement of many years ago and have, probably with some justification, criticized the clown for having expressed sympathy for fascist regime of Argentina and accused him of undermining British troops.

But you conveniently appear to have forgotten that you yourself are also against the very democracy our armed forces are supposed to defend. (Let us forget about Iraq at the moment!!! Syria may also become Cameron's Iraq so we will not talk about that either!!!!) So Sir, which way are you doing better than NuLabour candidate?

All the candidates contesting election in East Leigh may not appeal to you as politically biased Echo’s editor. But in fairness to them all by taking part in democratic process they have given the opportunity to people to pick one to represent them in the parliament.

If you are not happy with them why could you not put himself up as Daily Echo candidate?..... Oh, old age is catching up with me; I forgot you have already made your dislike for democracy crystal clear.

Finally my request: You are a very capable person, rather than winding people up please use your paper for providing balanced coverage about ALL the candidates and their policies in this by-election, otherwise people like not only socialist Southy but also NuLabour will be very rightly accusing your rag for political bias.

Kind regards
Parmi Bahia
Souds like the labour candidate will get 2 votes,your's and the candidate,no I am wrong he does not live in the area so cannot vote,so that looks like he has only your vote. What a shame.

Titter, Titter.

[quote][p][bold]colorado kid[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Paramjit Bahia[/bold] wrote: Dear Editor Murray, If Tory candidate in Eastleigh is expert at putting her foot in own big mouth then you as Editor of Daily Echo are not far behind. “We all know that democracy is flawed as a system of choosing governments” says Ian Murray (If you look in mirror you may even recognize that chap!!!) No Ian these may be your own views, you have no mandate to make such silly statement on behalf of us ALL. You may be in powerful position as your local rag has virtual monopoly in this area, which you appear to be good at abusing, but you have no mandate to say “We All know”. How can you qualify your claim? As journo and editor you have tried to dig the dirt about NuLabour’s comedy writer candidate, from his statement of many years ago and have, probably with some justification, criticized the clown for having expressed sympathy for fascist regime of Argentina and accused him of undermining British troops. But you conveniently appear to have forgotten that you yourself are also against the very democracy our armed forces are supposed to defend. (Let us forget about Iraq at the moment!!! Syria may also become Cameron's Iraq so we will not talk about that either!!!!) So Sir, which way are you doing better than NuLabour candidate? All the candidates contesting election in East Leigh may not appeal to you as politically biased Echo’s editor. But in fairness to them all by taking part in democratic process they have given the opportunity to people to pick one to represent them in the parliament. If you are not happy with them why could you not put himself up as Daily Echo candidate?..... Oh, old age is catching up with me; I forgot you have already made your dislike for democracy crystal clear. Finally my request: You are a very capable person, rather than winding people up please use your paper for providing balanced coverage about ALL the candidates and their policies in this by-election, otherwise people like not only socialist Southy but also NuLabour will be very rightly accusing your rag for political bias. Kind regards Parmi Bahia[/p][/quote]Souds like the labour candidate will get 2 votes,your's and the candidate,no I am wrong he does not live in the area so cannot vote,so that looks like he has only your vote. What a shame.[/p][/quote]Titter, Titter. Sir Ad E Noid

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Stu.me says...
9:39am Sat 23 Feb 13

Seems to me that within all this bickering you are missing a crucial point -

Why an earth would you vote for a candidate that doesn't live in the constituency and is only using this election to further their own political career and agenda or act as a puppet for the bigger political figures??

Someone that doesn't live in the locality will have little or no vested interest in the wellbeing of those that voted him or her into office and will only ride into town when they need their next bit of political propaganda in the news.

That's going to rule out a fair few of them and make your decision a little easier in my opinion.

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colorado kid says...
11:30am Sat 23 Feb 13

Just a thought,I might become a member of the Liberal Democrats,it would appear you need the following credentials,which are either a sexual predator,an expense cheat or a perjurer,what a shame I do not qualify to be a member.

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Inform Al says...
3:30pm Sat 23 Feb 13

Well, I thought I would grit my teeth and read all the posts. Bl00dy hard work, not surprisingly all the usuall party sheep were blindly bleating for their candidates who, like Ian Murray, I can find no reason to vote for . Worryingly I am aware of at least one UKIP locally and one Labour possible candidates I would consider worthy of merit so I am puzzled at just what criteria the big 4 are using to select their candidates. Of course, and I could be wrong here, it may just be that none of the half decent possible candidates fancied being elected by the comedians who voted in the last member. So glad I don't live in Eastleigh.

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philgcdr says...
6:30pm Sat 23 Feb 13

"UKIP (UKIP.org) SURGE IN EASTLEIGH

This morning’s Populus poll bears that out. They are in third place with 21 per cent, with the Tories second on 28 and the Lib Dems ahead with 33. But, as the indispensable UK Polling Report points out,if you don’t reallocate some of the undecides to the party they voted for last time, UKIP are doing even better. The numbers then are UKIP 25%, Tories 26% and Lib Dems 31%"

From: Specatordotcodotuk

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