In a Skipton Armchair

Still here

2008-11-08T23:31:00.002Z

I'm still in my armchair, slightly further from Skipton but still within the Skipton and Ripon constituency.

Now that the excitement of the US election is done with, we have the prospect of the Brown bounce developing into a 2009 election.

I'll still be posting on what's done to attract my vote to the LibDems or any other political party in either the Keighley (solid Labour) or Skipton/Ripon (solid Conservative) constituencies. Last time round, it was negligible.

Dispatches

2005-05-26T02:09:00.000+01:00

Now that all the excitement (ironic face) of the election has died down, we have the dispatches programme on labour's victory

An undercover reporter was part of the machine that convinced the country to vote labour, and exposed their tactics. It clearly showed how, in the era of manufactured consent, democracy is a loose term in modern britain.

Then I started to reflect. Some of the tricks that labour pulled I had seen with the LibDems. Such as the letters.

There was a critism of labour, Party HQ would write letters indicating the party's view of the conservatives or libdems and then send it to party workers to send to their local papers. Only the letters wouldn't say they were labour supporters, they would say "as a former libdem supporter" or "as someone who previously voted conservative" and then launch into labour policy.

I was asked to send such letters, as written by libdem HQ to my local paper. They weren't as bad as the labour ones by any means; but the same tactic was in play.

As a wise man once wrote - if this is reality, I'm so sorry dear; to be a spoil-sport personality for another year.

This will be my last post to this blog, it was intended merely to cover the election campaign, in two seats that didn't really matter. I suppose I have to reflect on Winston Churchill's infamous quote that democracy is the worst of all political systems, except for all the other ones.

Thanks for reading.

BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Weblog | Black and white

2005-05-07T00:56:00.000+01:00

BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Weblog | Black and white: "Eagle-eyed Press Association photographer Phil Noble was at the count for Keighley, west Yorkshire when he spotted this one: A pair of Nike's Stand Up Speak UP anti-racism wristbands - a must-have among teenagers and promoted nationally by Arsenal's Thierry Henry. "

Skipton

2005-05-06T19:33:00.000+01:00

I have no idea why, but we had to wait for Friday afternoon for the Skipton and Ripon declaration. As expected, the Tories walked it. Slightly up for LibDem, a bit more up for Labour.

It struck me looking at the results that there seemed to be few changes of seats, but that's probably because I'm basing my opinions on 1997.

Keighley

2005-05-06T19:30:00.000+01:00

Well Keighley declared about 1.30 (to be honest I can't remember :-) )- thankfully the BNP came last (although with a scarilly high number of votes). The LibDem didn't really stand a chance and the V. tall Conservative candidate cam a way behind the V. small Anne Cryer. It was pointed out that if BNP hadn't been there, and all their votes gone to the Conservatives, they would have won.

The night...

2005-05-06T09:23:00.000+01:00

I did the traditional staying-up until victory of an election night last night. For me it was depressingly dull. The first few seats pointed to large LibDem swings, yet there were legions of Labour Holds for the first few holds, which then turned way to Con Holds as the conservative seats started declaring.

A few v. important victories for the LDs, a few annoying setbacks. 10 more seats than last election, 7 more than when the election was called. A watershed it most definitely wasn't.

Howevera piece of Peter Snow analysis brings hope. Before last night the swings to LibDem required for seats to change hands were huge. Now they are manageable. Assuming LDs hold it together, and the Conservatives don't, 2009 should be the breakthrough year :-)

And today we hear Michael Howard will stand down some time in the next 4 years. When Paddy Ashdown said that after an election, if I remember correctly, the LDs top guns went into a phony war period, and so couldn't capitalise on their successes that election. Let's hope they reenter their habitual infighting.

Ilkley Rocks: (non) Poster Boy

2005-05-03T20:41:00.000+01:00

So this is what Keighley's conservative candidate looks like - Charles Kennedy's evil nephew perhaps?

(From an Ilkley blogger- who has lots of interesting stuff about the people who almost make me want to give up my nationality.)

DeadBrain: Election 2005 - Paxman: The Game

2005-05-03T20:27:00.000+01:00

An amusing concept...

Slow blinking...

2005-05-03T20:21:00.000+01:00

In response to In a Skipton Armchair: "Charles Kennedy has one of the lowest blink rates in the world. "

one fo my commentators has asked what it means - to be honest, I don't think the expert mentionned what it meant, or it must has passed me by. Rapid blinking means (in some people) that they're lying (example was Anne Widdecombe praising Michael Howard) - so hopefully it means that our Charles is a honest guy :-)

BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Weblog

2005-05-03T20:19:00.000+01:00

BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Weblog: "How could a leader who preaches the virtues of playing by the rules ride in a vehicle with no valid tax disc? "

Conservative election broadcast

2005-05-02T23:45:00.000+01:00

I had a holiday in Australia last year, coincidentally during the final build up to their election where John Howard beat someone.

It was interesting to see the Conservative election broadcast tonight as it was virtually copied from the main advert that the same election mastermind organised for the Australian campaign.

Over there you are guarranteed in every advert break to have one or two for both of the major parties. In John Howard's case, you would see a (not very pleasant looking) photo of the opposition, what he said he would do, a newspaper clipping of what someone thought of what he did and then the alternative of what would happen under the "good guys"

Charles Kennedy has one of the lowest blink rates in the world.

2005-05-02T23:42:00.000+01:00

Fascinating programme on tonight by a body langauge expert on the various body language clues given out by our potential leaders.

If Michael Howard pushes his tongue out at you, you're probably saying the right thing :-)

LibDems spotted!

2005-04-28T18:29:00.000+01:00

3 weeks in and this week I'm finally handed a leaflet. A home-county-accented 20 something handed me a brief description of why Nader Fekri, LibDem candidate for Keighley, opposed the war in iraq.

On the back there's a description of him (full marks for his causes - Amnesty, medecins sans frontieres, NSPCC), below a description of a LibDem bigwig from the house of lords who's visiting Keighley that afternoon.

As this has been the biggest that any party has attempted to influence me - so I will be delighted to vote him

EXCEPT - I'm not in his constituency (5 minute drive away).

Is this a good idea?: Are you thinking what we're thinking? No. No I'm not.

2005-04-26T19:12:00.000+01:00

Is this a good idea?: Are you thinking what we're thinking? No. No I'm not.:

A quality rebuttal of the Con-servative posters

We have been contacted

2005-04-23T19:13:00.000+01:00

Finally! We have been contacted by a Skipton candidate.

Well, kind of. We have had our first leaflet from one of the candidates, unfortunatly it's from the Tory who will (unless the libdems get 150 MPs) be our MP once more.

I never saw this leaflet, my girlfriend (a bigger Tory-phobe than me) binned it immediately.

Scary times

2005-04-23T16:20:00.000+01:00

The reintroduction of national service, following which the ex-soldier will be required to keep an assault rifle in their home.

"It's there to shoot burglars with if they want, it's there to shoot people who invade this country if they want, and if in the end a tyrannical government wants to usurp the rights and freedoms of the people it is there to use against the government as well"

Please stop these idiots.

BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Election 2005 | BNP launches election manifesto

Mirror.co.uk - News - TORY CHIEFS TELL CANDIDATES: DON'T PANIC

2005-04-22T20:00:00.000+01:00

TORY CHIEFS TELL CANDIDATES: DON'T PANIC
Tory election chief's desperate plea as polls send morale through floor
By Oonagh Blackman Political Editor
DESPERATE Tory chiefs pleaded with their fed-up candidates 'Don't believe the polls' in a bid to shore up plummeting morale.
Election strategist Lynton Crosby was forced to write a letter warning of a 'difficult period'.
The Mirror has obtained a copy of the letter, which reveals the panic inside Tory HQ.
A senior aide to Michael Howard admitted that Conservatives were being told not to give up but to ignore poll figures."

the Mail online | 10 big names who could lose their seats

2005-04-22T19:57:00.000+01:00

The Daily Mail sums up a half-hearted list of possible election victims

David Davis - possible
Jack Straw - unlikely
Tony Blair!? - Are they quite mad?

Oh yeah, it's the Daily Mail innit.

Are you thinking?

2005-04-22T19:42:00.000+01:00

Conservative slogan has been used previously on
- Australian Childrens TV
- BBC 1's Hustle
- A Winnie the Pooh Toy

BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Weblog | Pooh bare

Tory candidates in marginal seats stir up storm by playing race card

2005-04-22T19:38:00.000+01:00

Schools falling apart? - blame the immigrants
Council Tax rising? - blame the immigrants
MRSA? - blame the immigrants

Tory candidates in marginal seats stir up storm by playing race card

Conservative lose the next election? - they'll probably blame the immigrants.

BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Election 2005 | Hauliers threaten poll disruption

2005-04-22T19:36:00.000+01:00

There may be a repeat of the petrol crisis of 2000. But that took a few days to get teeth in - this time they'll start on 3rd and hope it cripples the country on the 5th.

Isn't it interesting how many people have spoken up about being annoyed with Blair?

Someones watching me...

2005-04-22T19:13:00.000+01:00

Crikey, for the first time in living memory someone has commented on one of my blogs...

Biscit (http://scmj.blogspot.com/) is another LibDem in this safe Tory seat, well they can count on two votes then :-)

He asks "Have you been bothered by Labour canvasssers? Or any canvassers at all?"

I've not seen a single person wanting my vote, either through knocking on my door, putting a poster . In fact, the most I've seen electioneering is the A frame for the Craven Herald talking about the Fifth Candidate (more on him later).

In Keighley it's another matter. Opposite the hospital is a large banner for the Conservative candidate. Makes my hands itch for a bit of subversion every time I go past it.

So I've not been canvassed, not been influenced by the Skipton scene at all. Ho Hum.

How to get rid of Labour canvassers

2005-04-21T22:17:00.000+01:00

BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Weblog:

"A tip from a colleague for getting rid of Labour canvassers. Just tell them: 'I will give you my vote because I so admire Tony Blair's stand on Iraq.' Evidently they back away in confusion, unwilling to offend the nutter. " - Mark Mardell

Blatant hypocrisy from the Conservatives

2005-04-21T22:03:00.000+01:00

Conservatives are employing immigrants for £4/hr to distribute leaflets down South.

Current minimum wage is £4.85.

News

Well, they've got a pretty picture for a badge

2005-04-21T21:55:00.000+01:00

Husband and wife team from the looks of thing.

One of 159 parties standing in England, apparently...

The Electoral Commission : Regulatory issues : Political parties : Registers : Register of political parties

The fifth candidate...

2005-04-21T21:52:00.000+01:00

As the nominations close, Skipton's 3 major party candidates and UKIP is joined by Robert Leakey for the Virtue Currency Cognitive Appraisal Party. Must find out more about them...

BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Seat-by-seat | Skipton & Ripon

BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Election 2005 | 'Islamists' hit Galloway meeting

2005-04-20T17:54:00.000+01:00

At least we're not having any of this around here.

BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Election 2005 | 'Islamists' hit Galloway meeting

The Keighley Situation

2005-04-19T22:08:00.000+01:00

Keighley, on the other hand, is a marginal.

The sitting MP, Ann Cryer, is popular local and stood up against Blair on the Iraq war. She took it from the Conservatives in '97 and has a majority of 4,000 over them. I can't see more people turning to the Conservatives, but it's not a case of gaining support; it's a case of standing still while the Labour vote falls away.

There are two sources that could, if they take enough votes from her, could deliver the seat back to the Conservatives.

Firstly, the LibDems. They're fielding the only Asian candidate in a seat with a 9% Asian population, plus there's the Anti-Blair, Anti-Iraq, Anti-Anti-Terrorism vote.

Secondly there's the extremely repugnant BNP leader standing. BNP represents 2 council wards in Keighley, which they won with about 3,000 votes. Thankfully local people have got together and sent out anti-fascist stuff throughout Keighley.

Keighley's not my favourite town in the country, but I don't want to see the BNP engineering a race riot there.

So the question is whether the Asian vote will go to the LibDem enough and the white moron vote will go to the BNP enough to let the Tories win in Keighley?

Ordinarilly I'd beg people to vote LibDem in Keighley. But if it delivers a Conservative victory replacing an apparently decent Old Labour MP, I'm not sure.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/344.stm

The Skipton Situation

2005-04-19T22:04:00.000+01:00

I will be voting in the Skipton and Ripon constituency.

Skipton may go LibDem, but Ripon is rock hard Tory. Together they make the 92nd Target seat for the LibDems (Labour vote is non-existent).

In other words, if Skipton was to go LibDem, they're looking at winning 150 seats. Looks like the current MP, David Curry is safe for now...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/520.stm

LibDem?

2005-04-19T21:55:00.000+01:00

Well I've always supported LibDem and I can't see that will change.

Will I join or won't I? This armchair is so comfortable...

Hopefully they have just lost Keighley

2005-04-19T21:43:00.000+01:00

I mean how hard is it to get their facts right?

The Conservatives have exaggerated the incidence of MRSA in our local hospital by 15 times. One of many cases of scare mongering?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4459879.stm