Fib Dems lies will cost them dear

Was it me or did Clegg just lie about two of his policies live on TV. He suggested Lib Dems did not want to join the Euro and do not want an amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Lets just be clear what the Lib Dem manifesto says, and I quote: “We believe it is in Britain’s long-term interest to be part of the Euro.” So if that isn’t a statement of intent what is?

And of course later on in the debate he admits to wanting to offer an amnesty.

I wonder if the papers will pick up on the Fib Dems porkie pies?

Hooray for hustings?

I have to say the 2 hour hustings which went from 8:00pm until 10:00pm yesterday wasn’t the most entertaining 2 hours of my life. The fact that the local churches who organised the event gave over half of the time to church questions made it less of a public hustings and more of a lobbying exercise on behalf of religion.

What was interesting to me was the answers that some candidates give in hustings. Over the last two days I have heard a Labour candidate say Labour purposefully increased the deficit. Nice! I have had a Green who repeatedly said they were for progressive taxation admit that their plans to increase tax on petrol is indeed regressive. But best of all I had a Lib Dem say they don’t want to join the Euro and want to keep the Pound? Really?

Latest Seven Days Show podcast now online

Following last weeks break, The Seven Days Show podcast is back!

In the show this week (episode 21) we discuss the impact of the TV debates on the campaign, including why it can be annoying to party activists; why it’s easier to debate when you have never been in Government; whether the rise of the Lib Dems means the minor parties will be squeezed, and much much more,

Parental advisory. This week we have a competition to find the funnie street name that has been leafleted or canvassed so far. And we want the photographs to prove it. My best one is Tom Tit Lane.

To listen to the podcast click the play button above.

Spare a thought for those mad souls

If I hadn’t been pounding the streets in the election there would have been a good chance I’d be pounding the streets of London. The last two years I did (not particularly ran) the London Marathon.  Four times entered, four times finished and all for good causes.

I would have jumped for joy today when I saw that it was raining instead of the scorching sun that was predicted.  So if you are in London do pop down to the course and cheer them on.. particularly those stragglers at the back!

PS:- I have applied for a ballot place already for next year – but don’t tell Mrs Tory Radio who thinks unfit 35 year olds should retire from all the nonsense!

Feet hurting from campaigning

Today my Iphone and Nike+ have told me that Ive walked over 10 miles delivering leaflets. OK – so not as far as the marathon runners will have to do tomorrow – but hey, I’ve done that for the last two years so I deserve to take it a little easier.

What better way to make your feet happy than pulling on a pair of new socks – and show your support for the party with these Tory socks from My Favourite socks. I wonder if the sales of socks for the respective parties are indicative of what the result will be come polling day.

We may well have a pair to offer as a prize on the Seven Days Show which I wil hopefulloy be recording on Sunday.

Light relief from the campaign trail

Funniest street sign so far….. Tom Tit lane…. now would you really want to have that as your address?

Made me snigger like a school boy anyway.

Latest from the doorstep

So how many days until polling day? Each day seems to blur into one – but campaigning is always good fun although it does feel a little strange doing it for someone else when you’ve been a candidate the last couple of times.

If someone asked me how it was going I’d say very well. There is scant evidence of any activity from the opposition in this neck of the woods. Part of me always thinks you can put huge amounts of effort in – but what effect will it really have. 250,000 bits of literature didn’t increase my vote one jot in 2005 when compared to the 2001 election. Yet the Lib Dem candidate who didnt put a piece of paper out bar an election address or knock on a door increased his vote by 20%.

What I like about is elections is some of the anecdotes you pick up on. This election has been no different.

First there is the chap who when I gave him a leaflet asked don’t MPs and candidates canvas anymore. I pointed out yes of course although there are less people involved in political parties; there is 1 candidate and 65,000 voters and we were doing our best. Then I asked if they had seen anyone from the other parties – No – not seen anyone for 20 years.  So the result being we got it in the ear for being the ones who ARE active. You can’t please everyone eh.

Then we did a whistle stop tour to a little village and the candidate introduced themselves to lots of people including someone who worked in a famous High street chemist (you know – where I used to work). We initially got the “all politicians are the same” which we countered. Then we were told the first time the lady in question was able to vote she went to the ballot and because there were other parties she hadn’t been made aware of, she came out and didn’t vote. So lets get this straight. We are doing the right thing by introducing the party and the candidate, but are getting moaned at because when she once went to the ballot – there were other parties she wasn’t aware of, and that was the our fault.

That is what is called democracy I guess.

So how is campaigning going?

There has always been one problem when you are on the campaign trail. Twice I’ve been a candidate in parliamentary elections and now I’m helping a good friend in their campaign. In all three instances if you are campaigning from early morning until late at night you see (well at least I do) to get removed from what the days news is.

Some may say I should perhaps schedule time to flick through the days newspapers. A little hard when you start early in the morning to hit one of the many commuter stations in the constituency – and finish late at night helping to deal with the vast amount of correspondence.

With that in mind I ask a question to all the lovely readers and listeners out there. Just how is the campaign going in your patch? Is it all positive on the doorstep, or are there alot of people who are very much undecided. Are you hearing the minor parties may pick up some sort of protest vote or is the puboic determined to vote Conservatives and to also vote the current Government out?

Maybe tonight I’ll allow myself a couple of hours off and watch the TV debate. Oh I know how to treat myself don’t I!

Seven Days Show Election Special

The latest edition of the Seven Days Show (episode 20) is now online.

In this week’s episode we concentrate on the election which is now in full swing. To hear our tips for first time candidates, what is dominating the news agenda and much more click the play button above.

Poor attempts at lobbying

I have been a parliamentary candidate twice and have worked in lobbying. For that reason I think (though may be wrong) that I can see both sides of the argument with regards lobbying. I actually think campaign groups and lobbying enhance democracy as they can lead to better legislation.

At the last election in 2005 after a long days campaigning what I found frustrating was an endless stream of emails from people supposedly well versed in public affairs asking me to read their briefing or sign up to their campaign.

This election I have seen the inbox of a parliamentary candidate that has been in situ for a number of years. They haven’t just been selected. Yet many organisations think it is an effective use of their money to inundate a candidate with emails at probably the candidates busiest time – namely the election.

Some have asked whether this will be the internet election. No – it will be the media election. But where the internet and indeed email is perhaps not helping democracy is the seemingly held view by some organisations that long emails and long briefing papers hitting a candidates inbox with less than a month to polling day is going to be productive.

If I were the CEO of some of these organisations I may well be asking why, if theire cause is so important haven’t they engaged with the MP and indeed PPC if there is a chance they might win long before the election was called.