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> Hustings for local MP candidates
Iommi
post Apr 25 2010, 09:32 AM
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Brian Burgess, Labour’s Hannah Cooper, the Green Party's Adrian Hollister, Conservative Richard Benyon, Apolitical Democrat David Yates, UKIP’s David Black and Liberal Democrat David Rendel were asked...

  1. Whether it is morally right to sell weapons abroad
  2. If no party has a majority in parliament, will that be “hung”, or “balanced”?
  3. Do the candidates support the Westminster Declaration? If not, what do they disagree with?
  4. Is it right for government policy to enforce detention of asylum seekers’ children?
  5. Nuclear weapons, and in particular the candidates position on Trident
  6. Approach to farming in the UK and food security
  7. As MP, what would you change in or about Newbury, if it were in your power.


I went last night.

I thought all candidates spoke well. Some were I little short on firm, composed policy, but for me the questions were a little contrived. That is to say, there was a lot of opportunity for broad agreement.

Rendel did make a popular comment about building on brown fields before green, but whether that was practical, I'm not sure.

David Yates's opening speech was brought to an end by the chair, but it was quite a fascinating (albeit a little long winded) insight into the financial predicament this country is in.

At the end, the candidates were asked a 'surprise' question from the chair that was along the lines of, 'As MP, what would you change about Newbury if it were in your power.'

Brian Burgess was caught flat footed and was given no time to think before being asked first, what he would do. Benyon wished that he could get Parkway finished sooner. Like I said, Rendel would propose a bill to mandate business to give over empty property to housing. Or words to that effect.
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GMR
post Apr 25 2010, 10:31 AM
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I was asked to go last night but, sadly, I couldn't make it.
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Ozzy
post Apr 26 2010, 04:04 PM
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What did Hannah Cooper say?
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Iommi
post Apr 26 2010, 04:13 PM
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QUOTE (Ozzy @ Apr 26 2010, 05:04 PM) *
What did Hannah Cooper say?

All affiliated candidates pretty much followed the party line.
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Jim Millen
post Apr 27 2010, 10:59 AM
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I went on Thursday and blogged about it here, with a few pictures.

I took a lot of notes so if there's anything in particular you want to know, just shout and I'll make a further post about it. smile.gif
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Ozzy
post Apr 27 2010, 12:09 PM
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QUOTE (Jim Millen @ Apr 27 2010, 11:59 AM) *
I went on Thursday and blogged about it here, with a few pictures.

I took a lot of notes so if there's anything in particular you want to know, just shout and I'll make a further post about it. smile.gif


A good blog and much appreciated. You have obviously been as fair as possible in your write up.

I wanted to attend but couldn't in the end due to other priorities.

Who proposed the questions? I ask because I just don't see the relevance of 'Whether it is morally right to sell weapons abroad'. It's an interesting question but what on earth does it have to do with the General Election and more importantly what is going on locally.

Can someone answer me why Benyon and Rendell have such a hold of the votes locally? Why has Labour never even got close? I would have thought it would have been a wider spread than it seems to be.

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Jim Millen
post Apr 27 2010, 12:22 PM
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QUOTE (Ozzy @ Apr 27 2010, 01:09 PM) *
Who proposed the questions? I ask because I just don't see the relevance of 'Whether it is morally right to sell weapons abroad'. It's an interesting question but what on earth does it have to do with the General Election and more importantly what is going on locally.


The questions and who posed them are on the CTNA blog here. I think the moderator on the night was paraphrasing to some extent - the arms question certainly was phrased more concisely!

Regarding the relevance of the question, I felt that with the audience & the event being hosted at a church hall, morality was quite a big concern - same with the question about the Westminster Declaration. Taking the moral high ground certainly went down well with the audience!

Now, how much that reflects the views of the average voter in this constituency is a good question...

QUOTE (Ozzy @ Apr 27 2010, 01:09 PM) *
Can someone answer me why Benyon and Rendell have such a hold of the votes locally? Why has Labour never even got close? I would have thought it would have been a wider spread than it seems to be.


Interesting point - hard for me to judge as I'm new to the area, but I'd guess it's just the demographics. Newbury's relatively affluent, semi-rural, probably quite a high proportion of people in mid to high income range - tends to point to either Tory or LD votes. That's just my guess though - I'd be interested to learn more but polling & research down at the constituency level is hard to find...

PS Meant to add, thanks for the kind words about the blog - much appreciated! smile.gif
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user23
post Apr 27 2010, 12:29 PM
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Interesting to see that "Burgess and Black both supported our maintenance of a nuclear deterrent".

Given Newbury was supposedly once main target for the Russians due to the proximity of the Air Base and probably still is due to AWE you'd link that all candidates who put Newbury first would opposed this.

Perhaps it's a case of profit over people for these Right / Far Right candidates?
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Ozzy
post Apr 27 2010, 12:40 PM
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QUOTE (Jim Millen @ Apr 27 2010, 01:22 PM) *
Interesting point - hard for me to judge as I'm new to the area, but I'd guess it's just the demographics. Newbury's relatively affluent, semi-rural, probably quite a high proportion of people in mid to high income range - tends to point to either Tory or LD votes. That's just my guess though - I'd be interested to learn more but polling & research down at the constituency level is hard to find...

PS Meant to add, thanks for the kind words about the blog - much appreciated! smile.gif


I couldn't make the debate so your blog was really helpful, so you deserve the thanks.

I too assume that the majority of Tory/Lib dem support was down to the demographics (mid-high income) etc. I was just really surprised by the really low levels of support labour had. I would have thought given their stance on support for those on low incomes they would have had a little bit more. Benyon and Rendell have been around for quite some time as well which probably helps.

QUOTE
Interesting to see that "Burgess and Black both supported our maintenance of a nuclear deterrent".

Given Newbury was supposedly once main target for the Russians due to the proximity of the Air Base and probably still is due to AWE you'd link that all candidates who put Newbury first would opposed this.

Perhaps it's a case of profit over people for these Right / Far Right candidates?


The whole Trident Nuclear debate is a difficult one to call. By not investing do we leave ourselves unarmed and save money? Or do we invest and stay strong internationally at quite substantial cost? Tricky.

Flip a coin?
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blackdog
post Apr 27 2010, 12:41 PM
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QUOTE (user23 @ Apr 27 2010, 01:29 PM) *
Interesting to see that "Burgess and Black both supported our maintenance of a nuclear deterrent".

Given Newbury was supposedly once main target for the Russians due to the proximity of the Air Base and probably still is due to AWE you'd link that all candidates who put Newbury first would opposed this.

Perhaps it's a case of profit over people for these Right / Far Right candidates?


Labour support Trident - does that make them Right/Far Right too?

I haven't seen anything from BB that suggests he is particularly right wing - more of a conservative with a small c.
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Iommi
post Apr 27 2010, 12:44 PM
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QUOTE (user23 @ Apr 27 2010, 01:29 PM) *
Interesting to see that "Burgess and Black both supported our maintenance of a nuclear deterrent". Given Newbury was supposedly once main target for the Russians due to the proximity of the Air Base and probably still is due to AWE you'd link that all candidates who put Newbury first would opposed this. Perhaps it's a case of profit over people for these Right / Far Right candidates?

It might also have something to do with AWE being the biggest local employer. Ridding ourselves of the nuclear weapons could put a lot of local people on the dole. As for what is best for Newbury, perhaps if a nuclear war kicked off, the best place to be might be underneath one of the wretched things.
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user23
post Apr 27 2010, 12:56 PM
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QUOTE (blackdog @ Apr 27 2010, 01:41 PM) *
Labour support Trident - does that make them Right/Far Right too?

I haven't seen anything from BB that suggests he is particularly right wing - more of a conservative with a small c.
Do you think producing and researching Nuclear weapons in the constituency is in the best interests of Newbury?

Conservative with a small c is Right Wing too, just as liberal with a small l tends to be Left Wing which is why being a liberal in the US is associated with Socialism or even Communism. You can't possibly dispute that UKIP are Right Wing.
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Jayjay
post Apr 27 2010, 05:15 PM
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QUOTE (Ozzy @ Apr 27 2010, 01:09 PM) *
Can someone answer me why Benyon and Rendell have such a hold of the votes locally? Why has Labour never even got close? I would have thought it would have been a wider spread than it seems to be.


Vote has always flipped between Liberal and Conservative in Newbury. Traditional Labour voters think voting Labour would be a wasted vote so tactically vote to get the least liked party out.
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user23
post Apr 28 2010, 08:58 AM
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QUOTE (Jayjay @ Apr 27 2010, 06:15 PM) *
Vote has always flipped between Liberal and Conservative in Newbury. Traditional Labour voters think voting Labour would be a wasted vote so tactically vote to get the least liked party out.
True. There's no traditional support for Labour in Newbury as it's been mainly a Middle Class constituency.
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TallDarkAndHands...
post Apr 28 2010, 09:05 AM
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The Liberal Democrats want PR. I don't mind this at all being of 'right wing' views. The balance of power could be held in a future goverment by the likes of UKIP.

Lets face it, how many more votes would the likes of UKIP and other right wing parties get if a voter thought that a vote for them would not be a wasted vote but a vote to put bums on seats in the discredited House of Parliament.

Remember guys - you reap what you sow......
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Jayjay
post Apr 28 2010, 04:27 PM
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QUOTE (TallDarkAndHandsome @ Apr 28 2010, 10:05 AM) *
The Liberal Democrats want PR. I don't mind this at all being of 'right wing' views. The balance of power could be held in a future goverment by the likes of UKIP.

Lets face it, how many more votes would the likes of UKIP and other right wing parties get if a voter thought that a vote for them would not be a wasted vote but a vote to put bums on seats in the discredited House of Parliament.

Remember guys - you reap what you sow......


The Labour left may get a few more in Newbury as well. tongue.gif
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TallDarkAndHands...
post Apr 30 2010, 03:48 PM
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QUOTE (Jayjay @ Apr 28 2010, 05:27 PM) *
The Labour left may get a few more in Newbury as well. tongue.gif


I did not realise there was a 'Labour Left' anymore. It's hard to distinguish between any of the parties.

I wished we did have a left wing party, a right wing party and a party in the middle.
Sadly this era passed with the coming of 'Blair'

Do any of you trust anything a Politician from Labour / Conservative / Liberals has to say? Be honest. You most probably don't.
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Iommi
post Apr 30 2010, 04:03 PM
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No, and it's not strictly their fault. Every time they speak about immigration, their real-time popularity falls, as happens when they start to speak negative. Our politicians behave, in part, because of the way we, the electorate, and the media, treat them.

If the three main parties stepped up and said, we have to put VAT to 20%, boom goes their chances of winning.
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Guest_Newbury Expat_*
post Apr 30 2010, 04:40 PM
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QUOTE (TallDarkAndHandsome @ Apr 30 2010, 08:48 AM) *
I did not realise there was a 'Labour Left' anymore. It's hard to distinguish between any of the parties.

I wished we did have a left wing party, a right wing party and a party in the middle.
Sadly this era passed with the coming of 'Blair'

Do any of you trust anything a Politician from Labour / Conservative / Liberals has to say? Be honest. You most probably don't.


I bolded some superfluous words laugh.gif

But in answer to the question, no, not really.

It's actually fairly easy for a UKIP/Green/Other politician to score local campaign points because they will never actually have to follow through with their promises (many of which are practically unfeasible but sound great). But where they have real use is to raise important issues and make it awkward for the main parties and force them to address the issues they'd probably prefer to shove under the carpet.

And who knows over time as anti-major party sentiment increase, they'll become more than just irritants to the big 3, they'll become true rivals, which would certainly be interesting.
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