The results in Ealing Southall and Sedgefield get better and better the more Mark Pack thinks about them
So, another day, another pair of Parliamentary by-elections over, and – courtesy of Ealing Southall in particular - an extra large supply of campaign anecdotes to add to my store. But what does it all mean?
Clearly Labour members and supporters will like having held both seats, but with their majorities halved in both the results rather puncture the Brown Bounce hyperbole about him taking back all the support Labour ... read more
Who are the favourites; who are the dark horses; and what's this about someone losing his head?
The first by-elections of the Brown/Brownian/Brownite era have had quite a buzz around them, in particular in the Ealing Southall race. No disrespect to people of the West London constituency, but there is a larger issue at hand than this who represents them in Westminster. Today's vote will be a help assess the success so far of the new prime minister. More than that it will be a ... read more
Mark Pack enjoys the ins and out of the battle in Ealing Southall
It's rather appropriate that a by-election in Ealing, home of Ealing comedies, has been the site of a by-election that has frequently seemed on the edge of farce.
For the wider world, of course, perhaps the height of farce was the sight of the Tory candidate Tony Lit beaming with Tony Blair at a Labour event where a cheque for £4,800 was handed over (and a further auction bid of ... read more
UKIP candidate in Ealing Southall, KT Rajan, says only his party can address the concerns of voters in the constituency
The constituency of Ealing Southall is a multicultural thriving society and an example of the contribution made by immigrants. One cannot fail to notice the colourful vibrancy as witnessed in Broadway and elsewhere in the Gurdwaras, Temples and Mosques. The various religious factions living in perfect harmony are an example of tolerance and worthwhile copying by others.
My campaign on the streets has enabled me to find out what the ... read more
Affordable homes are a Green priority, not endlessly cramming in new “executive” flats
The by-election was called on 28th June, the day after the funeral of Piara Khabra - who had served as Labour MP for the constituency for 15 years.
Given the very short timescale for the election - a major disadvantage to less well resourced parties - our campaign has been going well, with very good feedback on the streets.
Some of London's leading Greens have been out to help ... read more
The Labour candidate in Sedgefield stresses his local credentials and says despite what he feels are great achievements in the past 10 years there is more to do
It’s been a privilege to stand for Parliament in my home area. I’ve lost count of the people who’ve told me they remember me from school, or knew my dad from the mines, or who have a shared friend.
The mining tradition is still strong here, and gives us a real sense of community. My father was a miner at Fishburn colliery, and speaking at the unfurling of the ... read more
The new Tory talks about how things would be different if he were Ealing Southall's MP
I've worked in Ealing and Southall for years. I care deeply about the area, and I know the problems people face - crime, drugs, congestion and litter on the streets. As a businessman and as a volunteer for Southall Regeneration Partnership, I have a track record of taking action and delivering improvements. Now I want to use that experience to deliver as the local MP.
However, there's a small obstacle ... read more
Tony Blair, even in retirement, conspired to screw up my summer, writes the Green candidate in Sedgefield
After Tony Blair’s prolonged departure as PM, the suddenness of his quitting as MP took many people by surprise. Not least the Green Party.
We should have known better of course and had a contingency plan tucked away somewhere. As it is, our campaign to contest the election - the first time we have stood in Sedgefield - sprang into life on the evening of Blair’s final goodbye to ... read more
The Monster Raving Loonies have become something of a feature of the British electoral scene as American William Hilderbrandt finds out in a visit to Ealing Southall
You wouldn't call John Cartwright a visionary or a trailblazer.
"My mother usually votes for me in local elections, and my father usually says why don't you join a real party?"
You wouldn't call Cartwright a natural-born leader. No, he's rather gentle in manner and speaks far too softly to grab your attention with his voice.
But he will grab your attention in his jester hat, red-tail coat and placard ... read more
Result: the elitist "Green" Party got just 1 % of vote. Despite all the talk of global warming. What a waste of resources.
From soundjat keita, 20 December 16:45
From letters to the editor: The two by elections last week had more implications for Labour than appear at first sight. The disasterous implications for Cameron are clear. While there might...
From Admin, 24 July 11:46
Ah William, did no one tell you never to write off the Lib Dems in a by-election? First rule of politics. Well, maybe not the first, but it's somewhere on the list. Ming's head won't be flying...
From Alexandra Smith, 20 July 11:07
Can the UK achieve it’s commitment to carbon reduction targets by 2020?
RSS
Twitter
