General Elections campaigns at constituency level are not about policy but getting more voters through the polling station door

The general election campaign is almost with us. I was once told that for candidates, election campaign proper are nothing to do with policy.  Leave that to the national leadership.  Nor is it about trying to convince people that they should vote for you.  If you haven’t done that already, you are too late. Election [...]

Charlotte Vere could learn a thing or two from watching the campaigning styles of Nancy Platts and Caroline Lucas

In a comment left earlier, Charlotte Vere says she is not obsessed by her opponents. But it is fascinating to look at how the three candidates in Brighton Pavilion deal with each other, in public at least.  In private campaign teams there is much interest in the every utterance from the opposition camps. But in [...]

Let the phoney war end

The election casmpaigns in Brighton Pavilion, Brighton Kemptown and Hove feel a bit of a phoney war.  The vrious candidates are buzzing around like busy bees, but aren’t yet saying “vote for me, I am wonderful” or words to that effect. We have seen big names coming to Brighton – David Milliband for Labour, Chris [...]

Speed dating with Caroline, Charlotte and Nancy

I enjoyed getting up close and personal with the three candidates at the UCU People’s Panel education speed dating event at the Friends Meeting House last night.  Well not that close, and hardly personal, but it was fascinating to see all three in action, and the intensity with which they engaged with their electorate. It must [...]

A word of thanks to Charlotte Vere

I don’t often have the chance to offer thanks to Charlotte Vere, but she has done something that deserves thanks and praise. Yesterday she tweeted about Caroline Lucas’ appearance on BBC’s Straight Talk with Andrew Neil.  I for one would not have known that Ms Lucas was appearing on this programme, but thanks to Ms [...]

The sleeze allegations against Blairites will stick to Labour unless Gordon Brown does to the the Right what the Right did to the Left

This blog has repeatedly called for tactical voting to ensure that the Tories do not form a majority government after the election.  The recent narrowing of the opinion polls has pointed to a hung parliament, while optimists hope that Labour can pull victory from the jaws of defeat.  The joker in pack has been the Blairites, [...]

‘New’ style Tory candidates are just fresh faces fronting the same divisive, Thatcherite policies

The Guardian Weekend colour supplement has profiles of eighteen ‘new’ Conservative candidates from around the country.  It reflects that amongst the Tory ranks will be more women, gay and non-white MPs.  David ‘Dave’ Cameron points to these candidates to show how much the Tory Party has changed. Amongst those fighting marginal seats is Louise Bagshawe [...]

Caroline Lucas is just not playing fair in Brighton Pavilion

I want to express support for Nancy Platts and Charlotte Vere.  Caroline Lucas is not playing fair in the election in Brighton Pavilion. Watching Question Time tonight, Ms Lucas shamelessly displayed charm, personal authority, clarity of thought, poise, good humour and grace, not to mention a masterclass in articulating clear policies in a convincing and [...]

Dining Clubs, Donations and Distribution of Funds – an unfair basis for a fair election

The Brighton Argus has published details of who is financing the campaigns in Brighton Pavilion, Brighton Kemptown and Hove, with details of donations going back to 1995.  And it makes quite interesting reading, and requires some questions to be asked.  Who, are what, is the United & Cecil Club?  Or The Winston Churchill Dining Club? [...]

Laura Moffatt stands down and effectively hands Crawley to the Tories

I have just heard that Laura Moffatt, Labour MP for Crawley, is standing down for ‘family reasons’.  With a majority of just 37, her decision to stand down at this late hour effectively hands the seat to the Tory Henry Smith. At least her pension and redundancy payments are secured.