The Constituency of Durham North West

The worm has turned?

2006-09-05T20:07:00.000+01:00

Oooh err Hilary did you get permision to say that?

Just saw Oor Hilary on News 24 saying that Tony will be gone by this time next year!

Story on the BBC here

Jobs for the Girls

2006-05-05T17:27:00.000+01:00

Right Prescot gets two houses a salary and a car for doing nothing, well other than things with women that he is not married to.

Our MP has been sacked as Chief Whip for being a bit rubbish...

But she gets rewarded with the "CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER" role.

Oh and additional role of social exclusion minister.

Laughing Stock?

2006-04-27T12:34:00.000+01:00

Excuse me I've just spit my coffee over my monitor (Its ok I have 3).

From IcBirmingham:

And then there's Hilary Armstrong, the rottweiler of the Labour Party. As Chief Whip, she should be the Prime Minister's right hand woman - except she's become a bit of a laughing stock.

That's a problem for any member of the Government, but for a Chief Whip it's fatal. Better shoo her away.

A year to the day...

2006-04-24T14:40:00.000+01:00

Since the last bit of "News" from our MP.

I know I don't post much on here but I don't have staff or anything interesting to say really...

See:

http://www.nwdurhamlabour.org.uk/news/news_index.php

I make this point because as I don't read the dead tree press my only source of news from my MP and how I find out what she does for her dosh is from reading her website. Remember that she works for us not the government, Labour party.

It is not difficult to post an article to a website just to give an update, and if it is difficult on her site then I'll build her a website for free as that's what I do for a job (Well I get paid but you know what I mean) that will make it simple.

I subscribe to google news and get an alert when Hilary is mentioned, happens now and again but usually when they are either reporting how bad a job she is doing or when "Dave" points and laughs at her.

She never brings up anything in the house of commons because of her Job.

She does reply promptly to letters, but because of her job/position toes the party line.

Shes coming home, shes coming home...

2006-02-01T13:32:00.000Z

Not posted for a while...but I can't help but laugh.

Seems that I am not the only one who is laughing stop sniggering Tony.

Thanks to Guido for the rather fetching image...

In shock.

2005-05-06T10:55:00.000+01:00

Well no great shock, Hilary is back off to London....66 majority eh that will keep you on your toes!

Turn out was down 0.5% to 58% which is a suprise in such a safe seat.

The great shock for myself is that Alan Ord the missing ~~link~~ man finished second with almost zero campaigning.

Also a shock is that Watts didn't lose his deposit. He polled almost 10% of the vote!

It seems that Watts took a great deal of votes from the Tories with their share dropping to 16.4% down from 20.9%.

Hilarys majority has dropped from 41.6% to 34% with a 6.8% swing of Labour voters to the Libdems. This has to be down to traditional Labour voters not being able to vote Tory as a protest vote.

I think that if Alan Ord had been given the money to campaign I think Hilary could have been in trouble, not beaten but her majority cut like next door in Durham City.

Well this has been fun, I will update this site with any further news as I find it today.

Oh here are the figures:

Hilary Armstrong Labour 21,312 53.9 -8.6
Alan Ord Liberal Democrat 7,869 19.9 +5.0
Jamie Devlin Conservative 6,463 16.4 -4.5
Watts Stelling Independent 3,865 9.8 +9.8
Majority 13,443 34.0
Turnout 39,509 58.0

2001:

Hilary Armstrong Labour 24,526 62.5%
William Clouston Conservative 8,193 20.9%
Alan Ord LibDem 5,846 14.9%
Joan Hartnell Socialist Labour 661 1.7%
Electorate 67,062; Turnout 58.5%; Majority 16,333 (41.6%)
Swing: 5.9% to Con from Lab

I've voted have you?

2005-05-05T11:26:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Justin for the lovely graphic.

Broken promises already Hilary?

2005-05-04T12:52:00.000+01:00

Well not just yet, but I thought I would give those nice chaps at local Labour H.Q. a reminder.

Over at Hilary's official website you get the chance to "Ask Hilary" see...

Throughout the campaign Hilary will be logging on to answer your questions online. If you are a resident in North West Durham and would like to submit a question please use the form below.

Now I submited a question to Hilary, which I got answered in person.

But I am curious as I see no sign of Hilary "logging on to answer" any questions so far.

Is this due to lack of interest in the feature or lack of interest in the campaign?

I would be interested to know if anyone has submited a question, or if someone from Labour H.Q. would like to share how many questions have been asked...

Things to read and do.

2005-05-03T16:02:00.000+01:00

Right first off.

Read this.

Done?

Watch this.

Done?

Right then go and vote for a woman who ~~forced~~ sorry used politicals arguments to make other MPs to vote for the war in Iraq, will ~~force~~ oops ask people to vote for ID Cards (Cost to you only 50 pounds!) and all the other nasty things like the terrorism bill (I could be put under house arrest for doing this)

Or go out and vote for some one else.

Who, my recomendation is Jamie Devlin the only candidate who is really bothering.

Oh but the torries are terrorists aren't they...

Jamie Devlin responds on Jobs

2005-05-03T12:10:00.000+01:00

Now I am no Tory for example...

Cut tax = cut spending = increase in spending from savings

To me is like

Cut pay = cut speanding = means I can buy savers bean rather than Heinz Beans.

I don't mind paying for "stuff" but anyway needed to highlight my non-Tory-ness first.

I got this excelent response to my earlier question on jobs emailed to all 3 candidates (Sorry Watts you missed out as I didn't have your email address at the time...you can email me a response if you like)

As I thought Hilary banged on about the New Deal in her reply.

Jamie does an excelent job of tearing that apart, this is long but if you want an view from the otherside give it a read.

Labour often claim that falling unemployment is a result of their policies but unemployment has been declining since 1993 and has very little to do with Labour - it is a result of the golden economic legacy they inherited from the Conservatives. In fact, since Labour introduced their much vaunted New Deal programmes in 1998, the rate of fall in unemployment has actually slowed.

Worse than this, what Labour are not so vocal about is the 1 million manufacturing jobs that have been lost since 1997, the 1 million people parked on incapacity benefit who want to work, the 1 million young people who are not in education or a job and the 2 million people who are classed as "economically inactive" who want to work but do not appear in the unemployment figures. What has Labour's welfare to work programmes done for these people?

The New Deal is one of the biggest red-herrings of Tony Blair's premiership. Its flagship programme, the New Deal for Young People (NDYP), has failed hundreds of thousands of young people looking for work. Since 1998, 1.1 million young people have been put through the programme, but only 37% have moved into sustained and unsubsidised jobs - and a sustained job is only defined as one lasting for more than 13 weeks. Nearly one third leave the programme for "unknown destinations" and the remainder return to Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or move onto other benefits.

The New Deal 25 Plus (ND25+) was introduced in 1998 and is a voluntary programme for unemployed people who had been claiming JSA for more than 2 years. In the first 3 years, more than 350,000 left the programme but only 17% found a sustained job. An enhanced programme came in which included mandatory participation, but the performance is still dismal. Over 665,000 people have now left the ND25+ 'enhanced' programme, but only 23% have gained sustained jobs. (NDYP and ND25+ Statistical Summary, December 2004).

The New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) is open to all non-working lone parents and was introduced in October 1998. Given that NDLP participation is voluntary, those on the programme are a self-selecting group of some of the most willing to work lone parents. You would therefore expect the results to be impressive. However, the Government's own figures show that only 51% of people leaving the programme have so far left income support for any form of employment - the rest end up back on benefits.

Labour's New Deal has failed to help people get sustained jobs where they can build a career and save for the future. One of the architects of the New Deal, John Denham (former Home Office Minister), is now a fierce critic. In a recent speech to the Fabian society he said: "New Labour's big blind spot may be that plenty of jobs do not mean plenty of opportunities. The demonstrable lack of progress on social mobility remains a scar on the Labour Government." (May 2004)

Help needs to be concentrated on those who need it, rather than those who are likely to find work through their own efforts or general JSA rules. The large number of people facing serious barriers to employment, including the 2 million "economically inactive" people who want to work, deserve a scheme that really gives them the direct help they need. The Conservative Party will deliver radical welfare reform by allowing providers from the commercial and not-for-profit sectors to deliver specialist welfare-to-work schemes that help people into real jobs that last. We will replace the New Deal with two key welfare programmes.

"Work First" will offer a fast-track into work for long-term unemployed people. Jobseekers would be referred to independent contractors who would provide job-matching services in return for fees paid to them by government. Contractors could use the fees to provide the help they feel is best for jobseekers, not the help ministers think is best. For example, personal advisors would have the discretion to provide resources for a new suit or a short vocational training course.

"Opportunity First" will help sick and disabled people on incapacity benefit back to work. This scheme will allow specialist voluntary and commercial organisations to help sick and disabled people on incapacity benefit get back to work. For the first time, fees paid to contractors would include additional funds for medical and vocational rehabilitation for claimants. Again, financial incentives will be available for placements into sustainable jobs.

Hilary Armstrong on Iraq

2005-04-29T14:26:00.000+01:00

Now I am an angry young man, Iraq was two years ago and the Goverment would like it not to be an issue. But in my opinion they didn't listen to 1 million people taking to the streets of London, so this is the time when they should listen to us and this is the time when we make them listen to us.

It is not up to the Goverment to tell us the issues that are important.

The most important issue of this election in my opinion is Iraq and it is my chance to let them know I am not happy about them taking us to a war that was illegal. (Depending on how you read the goverment advice of course).

The only question I really wanted to be answered is one that I have asked Hilary over email so I decided to submit it last night. Now going on what I read on another blog I doubted the people in charge would read my question out, so I submited two others so I at least got a chance to draw attention to myself if I had to shout about Iraq at the end.

Now as I thought my question wasn't read out, so I decided to ask myself. Sadly my timing was rubbish as I opened my mouth the audience all clapped so I was drowned out...so the I word was not heard. I thought I would take a different tact and say that it was a question on the last topic "Truth" but the Chairman was having none of it and Hilary looked a tad annoyed.

Now under a bit of self-induced pressure I wandered up to ask Hilary my question.

Now this is from memory so this is just the "jist" of the conversation.

"Hello Hilary"

"Who are you, you don't sound local" (I think she thought I might be a ringer going by her tone)

"I'm John Wards"

"Where are you from" (Now I guessed the answer she was looking for wasn't "Scotland" as that was a tad obvious)

"Fir Tree"

"What are you doing down here" (Again I assumed she'd spotted I'm Scottish (Got to get up early to catch her out))

"I work in Castle Eden"

"Doing what" (I really think she thought I was a journo or something, as she was quite short with me)

"Web programming stuff" (That got her, "technical job ask no more as I won't understand")

Now I've been "grilled" I got the chance to ask my question.

"Do you feel proud that you voted for the war in Iraq, and as it is your job feel proud that you forced others to do so?"

That got her going

"You don't understand the role of a Chief Whip, I do not force people to vote."

"But the vote was a "three line whip""

"We don't force people to vote, we debate that is called politics"

"Did you not threaten Bob Marshall-Andrews QC, the Labour candidate in Medway, that cabinet ministers would not visit him in the election after he rebelled against the goverment over Iraq" (Now I have added the persons name to this as I actually said a Labour candidate)

"Don't believe everything you read in the Daily Mail"

"Don't worry I don't believe a word the in the Daily Mail, it was in the Independent and the Times"

At this point I think she had had enough of me, fair enough, and started speaking to someone else. She still hadn't answered my question.

Now I've done a little research on the role of the Chief Whip.

The duties of Whips include:
keeping MPs and peers informed of forthcoming parliamentary business
maintaining the party's voting strength by ensuring members attend important debates and support their party in parliamentary divisions
passing on to the party leadership the opinions of backbench members
The term 'whip' also applies to the weekly circular sent out by each Chief Whip to all their MPs or peers notifying them of parliamentary business. The degree of importance is indicated by the number of times that the debate or division is underlined:

items underlined once are considered routine and attendance is optional
those underlined twice are more important and attendance is required unless - in the Commons - a 'pair' (a member of the Opposition who also intends to be absent from the division) has been arranged
items underlined three times are highly important and pairing is not normally allowed.

'Three-line whips' are imposed on important occasions, such as second readings of significant Bills and motions of no confidence. Failure by MPs to attend a vote with a three-line whip is usually seen as a rebellion against the party and may eventually result in disciplinary action, such as suspension from the parliamentary party.

Now the vote in Iraq was a three line whip, so my interpretation of the role of a whip (Hilary being the Chief Whip) is to make backbenchers aware of the consequences of rebelling against the party..such things as disciplinary action, suspension, no help in getting re-elected...or possibly even a word in the ear of a young backbencher suggesting that it wouldn't be too good for his career...

No Hilary it is not your job to force members of your party to vote with the goverment when it is a 3 line whip.

Back to last night

Hilary finished her conversation and walked up to me and said:

"Yes I am proud that I voted for the war in Iraq" (I thought better of pushing the "forcing" issue)

"Even now we know the war was illegal?"

"The advice the Attorney General states that the war was legal"

"I have read the advice and I read it like he thinks without a second resolution that it would be illegal, to be honest the document can easily be read both ways and it seems he is sitting on the fence"

"I have read 100's of legal documents over the years and usually they are open to interpretation" (I concede this point)

Now onto something that was highlighted to me just before I left for the Hustings.

I took a print out of the legal advice the PM received before going to war. I asked if she had seen it. She said no but "I discussed it with Peter Goldsmith loads of times". Same as she said in todays Guardian.

On 20 March 2003, Tony Blair addressed the nation:

“Tonight, British servicemen and women are engaged from air, land and sea. Their mission: to remove Saddam Hussein from power …”

Oh yes Tony...

Finally, and categorically (my emphasis):

“Any force … must be a proportionate response … regime change cannot be the objective of military action. This should be borne in mind in considering the list of military targets and in making public statements about any campaign.”

Now I asked Hilary directly about this, her response was the following:

"It was not the main objective of going to war, if regime change was the sole reason for going to war then it would be illegal. But removing Saddam Hussein was always an objective of going to war"

Now stone me, I can never remember the removal of Saddam as an objective of going to war. It was always about WMDs. Thats the problem though, it was two years ago. How many times since then has Tony and his goverment said that it was an objective since then. If you say something enough for long enough it becomes fact.....it is hard to argue as you doubt it.

I got Hilary to repeat that.

"Yes the removal of Saddam was always an objective of going to war, not the only objective though"

At this point she walked off. I may have come accross a tad short with her, but thinking back she started it ;-)

I do think the goverment have got its way, Iraq is a non-issue to lots of voters. But not this one.

The Hustings report

2005-04-29T11:01:00.000+01:00

Well that was fun.

First off, Alan Ord did not even bother to turn up. What is the point of running, and for us voting for him if he can not even be bothered turning up to the Hustings?

I had 3 questions prepared, on Iraq, Jobs and ID Cards. I got my ID Cards question read out by the Chairman so I had to ask my Iraq question myself..more on that later as that deserves a blog on its own.

Impressions of the candidates:

Alan Ord: Missing presumed "can't be bothered"

Watts Stelling: Good local Councillor, but not sure about an MP. Came across well if a bit repetitive, personally I don't agree with his policies he seems a bit of a cross over of Tory/Labour.

Hilary Armstrong: Shes going to win and she knows it. She said that speaking to the locals makes her more nervous, but I don't know if that is a pre-made excuse for not being a very good public speaker. Lots of ums and ahs, forgetting names and quite a bit of waffling. Very much New Labour.

Jamie Devlin: Now if he was from the area he would do a lot better. Out of the 3 (Alan didn't turn up or did I mention that) he came accross the best. For a 25/26 year old his public speaking confidence was very impressive. Two complaints, I set Hilary up nicely on I.D. cards but he stole my thunder on the "choice" argument, secondly Hilary set the Goverment up nicely going on about truth and honesty and not one dig at back from him!

The audience was very pro-Hilary. At points Hilary threw fish at the crowd and the seals clapped back, if the meeting was in a less biased place it might have been better. We were in Hilary's church right accross the road from her house.

Now from my point of view most of the questions were boring, Pensions, Education and Health.

Hilary and Jamie did have words on the Health issue with Hilary accusing the Tories of counting porters in the statment that "there are more management staff than doctor and nurses" (well it was something along those lines). If I have the time I might check that one out. I did hear a shout from the crowd asking the Chairman to call order during this discussion.

Now on to my question on ID Cards. I asked the candidates what their opinion on ID Cards are and asked Hilary directly how much they would cost us.

Hilary then started her waffle, the basis of her argument was:

New Passports will have to in the future have biometric data on them (Iris, fingerprints, DNA), as will driving licences. The cost of Passports will go up to about £70, that is an increase of £28, and if you have one of these new Passports an ID Card will be in the region of £10-15. So we will take the higher end of that cost as that is usually what the goverment do.

So that is a cost to us of £43.

Now on to the "advantages" according to Hilary.

To fight terrorisim (Will get to that in a bit)
To cut crime/fraud

She doesn't see what all the fuss is about as other countries have them and they won't be compulsory for at least 6-8 years.

Now this is where I wanted an instant come back, as I could see the rather large holes in this..but the Chairman stuck to the rules sadly and let Jamie steal my thunder.

Jamie rightly pointed out that we chose to have a Passport and we chose to drive, he also raised the civil liberty argument.

Watts said he didn't have a problem with ID Cards and would like one card that is his Passport/Driving Licence/Cash Card and Swiss Army Knife (I added that last one). Watts said he has nothing to hide so the has no problem with an ID Card, now I did not raise this point with him at the time. I have nothing to hide in my house so should I just let the police/goverment just wander in when the choose, I have nothing to hide when I make a phone call should I let the goverment tap my phone? It is called privacy and I am quite protective over it.

Now I got my turn to come back at Hilary.

I brought up the choice argument again, I said I did not want to be forced to have an ID Card. She said that we won't be forced for a good few years.....comedy come back time.....with Jamie taking the lead and putting it much better than myself (God I am rubbish at speaking in public looking at the video my work mate took) we highlighted that only the terrorists would be forced to have an ID Card..much laughter etc etc. She then said that in a fast changing world that we need to put such things in place, but if we are not putting them in place for 6-8 years...we are hardly acting fast I responded....

I have to say that was fun.

The meeting was drawn to a close with the candidates being asked a question on Faith, the role of a politics and faith and telling the truth.

I really thought one of the other candidates were going to have word about truth and the liar Blair but they were soft.

The meeting was drawn to a close with out my Iraq question being asked. Not happy I attracted the Chairman's attention stating that I had a question that has not been answered. Hilary looked none too pleased and shook her head. I said it was on the last topic truth, I was told to come up and ask the question to the panel after the meeting...so I did.

That is my next blog, but my fingers hurt so I am off for a rest and a coffee...

Hustings tonight in Crook.

2005-04-28T14:08:00.000+01:00

Tonight 7.30pm at Crook Methodist Church all 4 candidates will be answering questions from the public.

I shall be popping along with a couple.

Most likely it will be the questions I have already asked...here is a little heads up for you.

For Hilary: Iraq
For Jamie: Jobs
For Alan: Did you find Crook okay.
For Watts: What, Who and Why?

Roving reporter reports

2005-04-28T14:00:00.000+01:00

My roving reporter "handily" broke down right next to this rather large Vote Labour poster

Hilary flat screen T.V.s, hospitals and poverty.

2005-04-27T12:04:00.000+01:00

The goverment offered LG Philips a 20 million pound grant to switch to flatscreen production at its plant in Durham according to Hilary Armstrong:

Failed electronics factory LG Philips in Durham turned down a £20m grant for new technology.

The site is set to close in July with the loss of 760 jobs after the demand for tube televisions collapsed.

Now it has been revealed the firm turned down Government cash to move to flatscreen technology in 1999.

Hilary Armstrong, Labour candidate for North West Durham, said: "We offered LG Philips a grant of £15m to £20m to invest and move to flatscreen technology."

Plant manager David Coppock said the grant had been for widescreen sets which involved the same manufacturing process of cathode ray tubes. He said Durham was never chosen by the company to become a widescreen operation.

Hilarys website has also been updated.

The front page has been updated with the following:

Over £22million on new school buildings in North West Durham

Did they save that money from not giving it to LG Philips or is this private money..where companies make a profit out of running a hospital?

Also a new "news" story has been added, not sure why they make the dates up on the stories as because this story was added yesterday or today not on Sunday like the date suggests.

HILARY ARMSTRONG BACKS DRIVE TO “MAKEpovertyHISTORY”

I wonder if they could Pfi that?

Hilary Armstrong loves Newcastle

2005-04-26T10:20:00.000+01:00

It is a wonder Hilary Armstrong has time to fight for her re-election in North West Durham with all her press duties...

Hilary is in the news again today, following on from the city revival story yesterday we have some more quotes from Hilary.

Chief whip and Durham North West candidate Hilary Armstrong said: "It's not just the pretty buildings on the Quayside, although they are magnificent. It's also the determination to make sure, right throughout the city, we are giving people opportunities in their housing, in their jobs and their employment, in their education, in their skill development.
"All of those are part of the renaissance of this city."

Ann Widdecombe in North West Durham

2005-04-25T16:26:00.000+01:00

Holly be-jebus...Jamie is getting some "high profile" support.

Ann Widdecombe was in North West Durham on Saturday have a tour of the area:

Beginning in Lanchester, Ann went on to Consett where she accompanied Jamie on a walkabout in the town centre, meeting stall holders and talking to shoppers. She then went to Stanhope and Wolsingham where she met members of the Weardale MS Society and Wolsingham Community Group.

Ann Widdecombe said:

“I thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many people in North West Durham. With countless broken promises over the last eight years, there is a genuine distrust of Labour in this area and people are willing to listen to what the Conservative Party can offer them at the General Election. If people want action to stop soaring council tax bills, get more police on the streets and see greater choice in their schools and hospitals, they should vote for Jamie Devlin on 5th May.”

Jamie Devlin said:

“I am delighted that Ann was able to visit North West Durham. Everyone we met was extremely supportive and told us how disappointed they were with Tony Blair and his Government. It is clear that the Conservative Party has a set of common sense policies that really do address the genuine concerns of people across North West Durham.”

It is good to see that the Tories are bothering to campaign, unlike Alan Ord (You think we should report him to missing persons?)

Should have taken her to the sights and sounds that is Fir Tree, we have 2 pubs and a petrol station you know...oh and a AA 5* B&B and a caravan park.

Ann might seem mad as a hatter but she is high profile and this will done no harm to Jamies campaign.

Watts Stelling

2005-04-25T14:58:00.000+01:00

This is going to be my information page on PPC Watts Stelling, who is running in the general election in the Constituency of Durham North West.

Now as far as I can tell he is a Councillor for Leadgate in Derwentside District Council and is running again as a Councillor for that area. (fall back plan?) I also think that he is a Councillor for Durham Council.

He is also a member of the North East Assembly...not sure what that is though! Even after skiming the "What we do" page...sounds like a qunago to me.

He is also a Lab Supervisor at the University of Newcastle Centre for Environmental Change and Archaeology.

Also a quote from a reader:

"he's a councillor here in Leadgate, and if the state of the roads is anything to go by not a very good one"

I am sure he does good things, I don't know him or his record and I am only posting what I have been sent.

Hilary Armstrong in the news

2005-04-25T13:01:00.000+01:00

She is rather news worthy isn't she...

In a story about Dualing the A1 (Yippie!) Hilary sticks her oar in:

But Labour chief whip Hilary Armstrong said: "The desperation of the Tories is now reaching extraordinary proportions. They have promised new roads and road improvements across the country, none of which they have allocated any money for."

She is also quoted in a story about Students:

Labour's Durham North West candidate and chief whip Hilary Armstrong said more students in the North would be able to go to university because of the abolition of up-front fees.

She said: "It is written into legislation that the £3,000 cap will remain until 2010."

And today she is in Newcastle to launch a document highlighting the regeneration of Britain's major cities, including Newcastle and Gateshead and the wider North East, since 1997.

Weekend roundup.

2005-04-25T11:48:00.000+01:00

Spotted 2 "Vote Jamie Devlin" posters at the weekend, one on the roundabout on the A68 between Crook and Wolsingham. The second on the road to Wolsingham from the A68.

I missed Hilary Armstrong on the politics show on Sunday as I was busy doing DIY. I am not sure what she was fully talking about but I caught a clip on the news with her talking about pensions and OAPs.

The bigger news is that we have a New candidate.

Now I should have been aware of this on the 19th as thats when nominations closed but I just persumed that no one else would bother.

The candidate is called Watts Stelling and he is running as an Independant. From my initial google bashing I have found out that he is a Derwentside Councillor (Again Independant).

This is my new task, to find out at much information about him as possible. What he stands for, the reasons for running and most importantly why we should vote for him.

If anyone knows him, please get in touch.

Hilary Armstrong wants a rise in the retirement age

2005-04-21T15:17:00.000+01:00

In a article in the todays Telegraph it is stated that:

"Council tax is expected to rise sharply after the election following Labour's decision not to raise the retirement age for local government workers from 60 to 65, leaked Government papers revealed last night."

Oor own Hilary Armstrong is given a mention also:

Hilary Armstrong, the chief whip, underlined the need for a rise in the retirement age in a letter to MPs. She said it could not be delayed "without serious consequences building up for the future".

Hilary Armstrong Election material

2005-04-21T12:41:00.000+01:00

Hilary has made one of her flyers avaliable for download from her official site.

It makes much of the economy in our area, something that the other candidates have yet to respond to, and it is a hard argument to fight against.

The tories are going to find it hard to fight against this as the last time they were in power this area was worse off, would we be better off with a Tory goverment? It is a hard case to make and Jamie has yet to respond...and Alan Ord is possibly trying to find North West Durham on the map (Left a bit and up a bit from Durham Alan)

Now I do have to take issue with the better deal for pensioners. Labour are offering a £200 council tax refund..this year only though! Funny that its an election year. Now the Tories are topping that offer with a £500 rebate and I am guessing that doesn't have a time limit on it. With the Libdems basing their council tax on income the pensioners would probably pay nothing at all.

No metion of, ID Cards, the War or even Tony Blair or Mr Brown though.

3 updates in one day...

2005-04-21T11:06:00.000+01:00

(Sing above to 4 seasons in one day, if your daft like me)

Jamie Devlin has updated his website with news. (Still nothing on Jobs in the area and the scraping of the New Deal though....)

I'll list the stories and links below, but heres my run down of them.

(In reverse order)

First off we have Jamie Devlin talking about Rural communities, North West Durham is a strange area in my opinion. (He met the future Queen too, see picture below.)

You have lots and lots of old mining/industrial towns/villages which are traditional Labour areas and I'd guess don't give two hoots about the farmers etc. Then you have wear dale towns such as Stanhope and Wolsingham which are traditional farming areas and Jamie will have a bit of support from these areas. Problem is that the mining/industial voters will out number the rural voters in our area 2 to 1 at least..if not 3-1/4-1. So Jamie needs a high turn out from these voters to make a dent.

Next Jamie was in Newcastle throwing his "weight" behind a homeless charity tour bus (Did it need a push? ;-) Also are their many homeless tour buses? Must be hard to find homes for them, need a big garage...). Now I can comment about the areas I know, thats Crook, Wolsingham, Stanhope..I don't think their is a large homeless problem in those areas....I have asked a workmate who lives in Consett and he doesn't think their is a homeless problem either. Hardly a vote winner, all those floating voters will be rushing to the Tory party to help these homeless people! ;-)

Finally we have council tax, a proper vote winner! Right a couple of flaws in Jamies news release.

Jamie is quoted saying this:

The Lib Dems have also conceded that thousands of hard working families will be worse off under their flawed plans for a local income tax.

Now I have done my own research (well read others) on the Libdems local income tax plans. The institute for fiscal studies have done an analysis of the council tax plans. Which I have given a good read (Download the PDF). Now from this study it claims that only the top 20% earners in the country will pay more per week under this plan. The rest of us (80% of the working population) will pay less per week. I am sorry Jamie but the hard working families thing is rubbish, the LibDems have said that working couples will probably pay more (Roughly £2.50 a week more) but generally working couples have high disposable income, they would have twice as much income as myself for example.

The rest of the population (80%!) will save between £1.43 per week and £6.33 per week (Thats £30+ a month! Which would pay my petrol for a week, ace!)

The second flaw is probably not really a flaw more of a bandwagon. I can not find where it says in the Tory manifesto that they would stop the rebranding process. Howard has only just mentioned it, I am not the only person to notice this and even if you say it lots and lots of times doesn't make it true ;-)

The stories in full..

Rural Communities Let Down By Labour

North West Durham Conservative Candidate, Jamie Devlin, today attacked Labour’s record on rural affairs in North West Durham and confirmed that only the Conservative Party would introduce policies to support our rural communities.
Read what Jamie Devlin had to say here.

Jamie Supports Big Voice Tour

Jamie Devlin, Conservative Candidate in North West Durham, today pledged his support to end homelessness as a priority for the next Government.

Read more on Jamie Devlin and his homeless bus here.

Council Tax Bills Soar Under Labour

Conservative Candidate for North West Durham, Jamie Devlin, today outlined Conservative plans to stop council tax bills soaring even further after the Election.

Read more on Jamie Devlin and council tax here.

Lesson 1, pay attention

2005-04-20T14:59:00.000+01:00

Right I must visit the candidates news pages every morning, repeat 100 times. (Do you still get lines at school..anyway....)

The campaign website for Hilary Armstrong was updated, this week..says the 18th but I am sure I was on the site on Monday and yesterday (I had a slow blogging day yesterday as I had to work so I might have missed it.)

Anyway she was at Durham Castle in the rain to launch the North East Manifesto.

Government Chief Whip, Hilary Armstrong was today joined by Labour’s candidates for County Durham to officially launch Labour’s manifesto for the North East.

Hilary was joined on the platform by Kevan Jones (North Durham), John Cummings (Easington), Roberta Blackman-Wood (City of Durham), Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) and former Cabinet Minister, Steven Byers.

"The North – Forward not back" was unveiled at an event a Durham Castle. Hilary Armstrong also unveiled Labour North’s new poster campaign.

Launching the manifesto, Hilary Armstrong said;

“Labour wants to give everyone in the North East the opportunities they deserve. This manifesto is our vision for taking this region forward. Our economic management has but the building blocks in place for a more prosperous future for the North East. Measures such as Working and Child Tax Credits, Minimum Wage and the New Deal are making work pay and giving people a chance to build a more comfortable future for their families.

The choice is clear. We all remember the damage the Tories did to this region especially when they were in office, with cuts to our public services and boom and bust economics.”

I am guessing that this is the "Manifesto for the North"

Families better off
- Unemployment in the North has fallen by 51 per cent since 1997.
- Long-term unemployment has fallen by 88 per cent since 1997.
- Long-term youth unemployment has fallen by 83 per cent since 1997.
- 94,730 people have found employment through Labour’s New Deal in the North.
- Families with children are on average £1,350 a year better off than in 1997.

Every child achieving more
- Standards in the North are up:
- 16 per cent more 11-year-olds are achieving good standards in literacy and the number getting good grades in numeracy has risen by 13 per cent.
- 13 per cent more 14-year-olds are achieving good standards in literacy and the number getting good grades in numeracy has risen by 13 per cent.
- 12.2 per cent more 15-year-olds in the North are achieving five or more good GCSEs since 1997.

Giving every child the best start
- 273,200 families in the North are benefiting from tax credits.
- Already over 65,506 children in the North are eligible for The Child Trust Fund.

Hilary has got a mention in two newspaper articles out of this:

Minister visits factory
North is poor pay relation

The last one I suppose is the Tories response.

Now I am not telling Jamie how to respond/run his campaign, but Hilary has been in the Cronical/Journal 6 times this month and unless Jamie is running adverts in these papers he has not been given a mention.

The Liberals are not bothering to campaign as far as I can tell, Hilary is a headline grabbing name, get stuck into her man.

Lets make this an interesting campaign.

Right I know Tories are mostly pro-war (with only 2 of them voting against the war) and you might be pro-war..but if you say your not (good practice) and start pressing her on it could make for some interesting news.

Go on...or are we living in Fawlty Towers...don't mention the war....

A personal post, my views compared to Hilary Armstrong

2005-04-20T14:00:00.000+01:00

Now using this handy tool, I can compare my views against those of Hilary Armstrong.

For the record:

I am strongly against foundation hospitals
I am strongly against student top-up fees
I am strongly against Labour's anti-terrorism laws
I am strongly against the Iraq war
I am strongly against introducing ID cards
I am neutral/mixed on the ban on fox hunting
I am strongly for equal gay rights

Compare against Hilary and the other parties.

Numbers are from 100% agrees strongly to 0% disagrees strongly.

Issue	Me	Labour	Hilary Armstrong	Tory	LibDem
foundation hospitals	Disagree (strong) 0%	Agree 80%	Agree (strong) 100%	Disagree 14%	Disagree (strong) 6%
student top-up fees	Disagree (strong) 0%	Agree 85%	Agree (strong) 99%	Disagree (strong) 2%	Disagree (strong) 1%
Labour's anti-terrorism laws	Disagree (strong) 0%	Agree (strong) 88%	Agree (strong) 100%	Disagree 15%	Disagree (strong) 4%
the Iraq war	Disagree (strong) 0%	Agree 76%	Agree (strong) 100%	Agree 71%	Disagree (strong) 1%
introducing ID cards	Disagree (strong) 0%	Agree 83%	Neutral 50%	Neutral 41%	Disagree 13%
the ban on fox hunting	Neutral 50%	Agree (strong) 92%	Agree 74%	Disagree (strong) 9%	Agree 63%
equal gay rights	Agree (strong) 100%	Agree (strong) 89%	Agree (strong) 99%	Disagree 37%	Agree (strong) 89%
Comparison with your opinion: 100% voted same as your view 0% voted opposite to your view		Disagree with you 34%	Disagree with you 32%	Agree with you 65%	Agree (strong) with you 93%

Just to highlight Hilary Armstrongs voting record:

Hilary Armstrong is strongly for foundation hospitals
Hilary Armstrong is strongly for student top-up fees
Hilary Armstrong is strongly for Labour's anti-terrorism laws
Hilary Armstrong is strongly for the Iraq war
Hilary Armstrong is neutral/mixed on introducing ID cards
Hilary Armstrong is for the ban on fox hunting
Hilary Armstrong is strongly for equal gay rights

So a vote for Hilary Armstrong is a vote to say yes you are happy with her voting record.

Are these the views of her constituency? Does she care?

Now most things in that list have been and gone, water under the bridge etc.

Except one, ID cards, now the argument that whats the problem with them as if you haven't done anything wrong etc....is a strong one.

But what is being swept under the carpet is the cost, they are going to cost every one of us roughly £55 each.

£55 for something that to me has no value, what is the value of them?

The Tories and Labour would say they will fight terrorism, so does the Chief of the Met. Now not that I don't believe you (Ok I don't) but how is a bit of plastic going to fight terrorisim?

The answer is this:

If "baddie" is asked for ID and doesn't provide ID card is taken down to the police station.

Hold on a minute, what happens if I have lost my wallet, jumped out the house to grab a paper and leave my ID Card at home. I'm off down the police station and have to prove I am not a terrorist just because I am forgetful.

Now, Hilarys voting record says she is neutral/mixed on introducing ID cards, but if you look at her voting record on that she has been absent from most of the votes.

As she is Chief Whip she will be voting with the goverment and forcing others to do so.

If you are planning on voting Labour and do not want an ID card then tell her.

Jamie Devlin on Jobs

2005-04-20T10:22:00.000+01:00

I have been promised a reply to my jobs election issue post by Jamie by tommorow, the email was sent 3 minutes to midnight yesterday so thats either today or tommorow then depending on your clock! ;-)

I guess the Libdems are not bothering, I wish could find out if they are campaigning.

Alan Ord was picked to run again after increasing his share of the vote in 2001, going by his efforts so far was it just a fluke or less people voting Labour.

Conservative election material

2005-04-19T11:12:00.000+01:00

Got a shock when I got home last night.

I had an election leaflet through my door, and this one wasn't requested.

It is just a replication of what is on Jamies website of course but not everyone has a computer, and I doubt the ones that do use it to find out about candidates..they are not as sad as myself!

Anyway a couple of photos of them:

Oh also that Conservative poster I spotted on the rat run (Wish my phone had a zoom):

Election issues jobs. Hilary Armstrong responds.

2005-04-18T13:35:00.000+01:00

In an earlier post I highlighted jobs as an election issue and attempted to get a response from each of our candidates.

Hilary Armstrong has responded on her campaign website.

The news release follows:

Hilary Armstrong has revealed new figures showing that 2830 people in North West Durham have been helped back into work with the New Deal. The General Election gives the British people a clear choice: the New Deal scrapped and back to the bad old days of 3 million on the dole with the Tories; or forward to the future, investing in skills and jobs, with Labour.

Labour's Hilary Armstrong said:

"With more people in work than ever before, Conservative plans to scrap the New Deal can only be described as sheer madness. I'm proud that Labour's New Deal has ended the mass unemployment that blighted Britain when Michael Howard and his Thatcherite friends were last running the show.

"In North West Durham, over 2830 people have got back into work through the New Deal. Both the Tories and the Lib Dems are pledged to dump the New Deal. They would take us back to the bad old days of economic failure and people being paid to remain on the dole without any help to get back into work or training.

"Record numbers of people in work has meant big savings on unemployment benefits. And that's freed up extra cash to go straight into Labour's number one priority - our public services.

"I believe people in North West Durham deserve every chance to make the most of their skills and that's why Labour are the only party who will take North West Durham forward at the election, not back to the bad old days of long term unemployment under the Tories."

Now I don't know if I was just lucky and asking the question 2 days before a planned release..but its a slight victory to the small guy.

I will update my older post with the Libdem policy on jobs, and then do an indavidual post if I get any official response.

The new deal and employment does not effect me in anyway, I work outside the constituency and doubt that the New Deal would help me if I was ever unemployed.

Think for my next "issue" I will try and pick something that effects my life in the constituency. (Council Tax is a good one ;-))

Tory poster spotted in North West Durham

2005-04-18T13:05:00.000+01:00

I will pull over on my way home to get a photograph of this momentus occasion.

Now its taken me all morning to figure out if it actually was in North West Durham, using http://www.election-maps.co.uk I found out that it is right on the border with Bishop Auckland but on our side.

The poster was in the front padock of Red Barns farm on the Toronto round-about.

Oh by the way..you only have until the end of play tommorow (19th of April) to register as a candidate, anyone interested in standing for this lot?

The War. A personal post.

2005-04-16T19:54:00.000+01:00

I make no apoligies for this post, it is a personal post and if you don't like it tell me I am big enough to cope. I am contactable by email over on the left, or post a comment to this post.

Hilary Armstrong voted for the War in Iraq, but not only that it was her job to force others to do so as it was a three line whip.

Just to remind readers what this lead too I have a link for you to look at.

Now I must warn you this presentation contains graphic and disturbing images of death and trauma. It is not suitable for children, mothers-to-be or those of a sensitive dispositon.

Watch it, remember it when you vote. Share it with others, make people watch it.

Hilary Armstrong is backing blair. Are you?

Libdem poster spotted in Fir Tree

2005-04-16T15:55:00.000+01:00

Yes that is right, you are not miss reading the title...a Libdem poster was spotted this morning in Fir Tree.

On my kitchen table...

Now I would put this up in my window, why I requested it, but the "winning here!" is just plain wrong and would be look silly.

I also have a letter saying that Alan Ord will be sending me leaflets for delivering around Fir Tree, I did reqest these as I am a Libdem supporter.

Now I've been in two major towns of North West Durham today, Wolsingham and Crook.

The only posters I saw was one building near crook market, either it was Labour H.Q. or someone has ran out of curtians..shame I forgot my camera.

Hilary Armstrong in the News.

2005-04-16T15:45:00.000+01:00

Labour's leaflets are a Tony-free zone

In a story about Tony being missing from some leaflets, I wonder if he is in ours..yet to see any, Hilary Armstrong is given a mention.

Bob Marshall-Andrews QC, the Labour candidate in Medway, a Labour marginal, has a photograph of himself with Gordon Brown on his website.

Mr Marshall-Andrews was a leading anti-war campaigner and after he rebelled against the Government in the last parliament, the Chief Whip, Hilary Armstrong, threatened that cabinet ministers would not visit him in the election. He told her he wanted a guarantee they would not visit.

I'm sorry that last bit made me laugh out loud...I'll repeat it just for "effect"...

He told her he wanted a guarantee they would not visit.

North West Durham Seat predictions

2005-04-15T17:22:00.000+01:00

Some data from the nice folks over at Electoral Calculus now they use a universal swing calculation to work this out, plus local factors if any, hence why they have included "other". As far as I am aware no "other" parties are running...unless I start a "None of the above" party that is!

MP Hilary Armstrong (LAB)

Electorate	67,062	Turnout	58.49%
	2001 Votes	2001 Share	Prediction
LAB	24,526	62.52%		56.68%
CON	8,193	20.89%		23.35%
LIB	5,846	14.90%		16.43%
OTH	661	1.69%		3.54%
LAB Majority	16,333	41.64%	Pred Maj	33.32%

This will probably by about right with the usual +/-2% error factor, unless the other parties get their fingers out and get some serious campaigning done.

Election Issues: Jobs

2005-04-14T15:59:00.000+01:00

The first in a series focusing on the core election issues, and where our candidates stand on the issue.

Unempolyment has fallen in the last few years in our area like accross the country but still the North-East has one of the worst economic activity rates, with 26.5pc of the working population classed as inactive compared to 17.9pc for the South-East.

I would like to know what our candidates are planning on doing to improve this in our area.

I will try and get a response for each of the candidates, or if not put words in their mouth by looking at each of the parties policy if they have one...or asking an active member in a near by constituency their opinion if I can't find a satisfactory answer.

Jamie Devlin on Jobs:

Jamie responds on jobs.

Hilary Armstrong on Jobs:

Hilary Armstrong has responded to this on her official website.

Alan Ord on Jobs:

Looks like Alan can not be bothered running let alone respond to my email....

Now I am really struggling to find out what policies libdems have on this, the problem is that our area is quite unique and to find a Libdem actually trying in an area like ours is hard, Durham City do not count as Durham City is quite affulant. The closest I come to finding "local" policy on this is on Jody Dudds website for her election campaign in Hartlepool.

The only thing I can find so far is: "real jobs for the people of Hartlepool"

Righty ho then what a policy that is.

To the candidates, think of this as door stepping me but with time to respond. (Plus the few readers I am picking up..I am getting somewhere with search engines now...see not bad for a week old site)

Black hole engulfs debate

2005-04-14T13:05:00.000+01:00

Black hole engulfs debate

Ah ha..found her.

Durham North West Labour candidate Hilary Armstrong, the party's chief whip, said the effect would be soaring interest rates and cuts to public services - a claim strongly denied by the Tories.
She said: "The Tory promises are hollow and cannot be paid for from their own figures - no new schools, no new hospitals, no new police, as these are completely uncosted and depend upon fantasy economics.

"These are the same plans John Major tried and led to yet another Tory recession that devastated lives across the North - that is why it is important that the Tories come clean and admit that their plans mean the North would go back to the bad old Tory days of repossessions, high unemployment and misery."

We also have a rebuke from the Tories, but its not our Jamie, it is the Hexham Conservative candidate Peter Atkinson..how odd.

But Hexham Conservative candidate Peter Atkinson said: "Hilary Armstrong's negative distortions are just claptrap.

"Mortgage rates will continue to be decided by the independent Bank of England, the only cuts to public services will be to the back room boys and the bureaucrats that would never be missed.

"We Conservatives have fully costed our tax and spending plans and have found ways of putting taxpayers' money into the people's priorities. For example, we'd cut the democratically rejected North-East Regional Assembly, freeze civil service recruitment, and reform or abolish 168 quangos.

"Labour will say anything to distract from their woeful record of 75,000 manufacturing job losses in the North-East, 66 tax rises, people dying of infections caught in hospital and chaos in the immigration and asylum system."

Should it not be Jamie doing the responding to Hilary?

Hilary Armstrong in London yesterday.

2005-04-14T11:38:00.000+01:00

~~Now a bit of an educated guess this one.~~ Yes Hilary was in London yesterday for the manifesto launch and returned to the constituency in the afternoon (Thanks Neil)

No mention of it on the official site, I'll probably give her Campaign Co-ordiantor an email to confirm.

I am guessing that as a member of the Cabinet she is one of the Ladies on the stage:

But it is hard to tell from my maths there are 22 members of the Cabinet but I count 21 heads on stage. I think Milburn is missing from my squinting at that photograph.

Who should I vote for..

2005-04-14T10:10:00.000+01:00

Thought I would share this little gem and my results (Basically my children should be running around naked while I hug trees):

Who should I vote for?

Your expected outcome:

Liberal Democrat

Your actual outcome:

Labour -16
Conservative -77
	Liberal Democrat 110
UK Independence Party -20
	Green 33

You should vote: Liberal Democrat

The LibDems take a strong stand against tax cuts and a strong one in favour of public services: they would make long-term residential care for the elderly free across the UK, and scrap university tuition fees. They are in favour of a ban on smoking in public places, but would relax laws on cannabis. They propose to change vehicle taxation to be based on usage rather than ownership.

Take the test at Who Should You Vote For

I was right, not a suprise but hey..

2005-04-13T17:16:00.000+01:00

When I said the Hilary Armstrong campaign

Achivements page seems a little "copy & paste" with enter constituency here and enter local figures here...

I didn't think I would actually find this to be true, probably because I forgot to look..but it is true.

Its not copy and paste though, its a New Labour generate achivements gizmo.

Here is our version:

#2218 North West Durham

And some more..just change the id:
#2216 Easington
#2210 Penrith & the Border

Hardly earth shattering I know but it just feels that very little effort went in to Hilarys achivements page...feel to me like:

Hilary: "Right what did I achive in my Constituency again"
Campaign Co-ordinator: "Hang on..what is our constituency id again"
Hilary: "Erm...is it 2218?"
Campaign Co-ordinator: "Thats it!"
etc

God I'm a cynical ~~old~~ young sod.

The man on the street.

2005-04-13T13:47:00.000+01:00

Now I thought I would do a vox pop while walking my dog on the campaign in our area North West Durham.

Or actually, ask my neighbour as it was 10pm and its usually only me and him out and about at that time of the night....

Anyway, I asked him if he could name the Tory or the Liberal candidates. After much thought he said he could not.

Now he is a 58 year old steel worker, lived in Fir Tree for 30+ years and has met Hilarys dad on a few occasions when his work was threatened with closure so he is political.

He is a traditional Labour voter, and is looking forward to Hilary Armstrong popping by Fir Tree so he can tear a strip off her about the state of the pensions.

I didn't ask him who he is voting for, none of my business but if he can't even name the other candidates there is not much hope for them!

Hilary Armstrong campaign material

2005-04-13T13:45:00.000+01:00

Right not to be left out, oor Hilary...

Alan Ord campaign material

2005-04-13T13:21:00.000+01:00

Thought I'd help out the Liberals with some material.

Some Labour campaign material

2005-04-13T12:11:00.000+01:00

Ok it is not really Labour campaign material but I thought it was amusing.

Jamie Devlin Campaign Material

2005-04-13T10:40:00.000+01:00

Sorry Jamie its just easy to make them...not picking on you honest ;-)

Right that is my first go...more to come thanks to this site

Another day another quiet one.

2005-04-13T10:33:00.000+01:00

No news updates on the two official PPC sites, It takes me a couple of minutes to do this it is not rocket science.

Anyway, other than the updates from Hilary Armstrong yesterday it is all quite from the other two.

I have decided I will help out and make some campaign material, starting with Jamie Devlin...as it is nice and easy to do that...stay tuned.

Excuse me while I eat my words...

2005-04-12T19:37:00.000+01:00

...Hilary Armstrong has responded...or should I say her Campaign Co-ordiantor has...to my request for information.

Today Hilary was in Crook market (just over the hill from me) with their own Stall.

Well I am not sure if Hilary was there herself, any one care to confirm, but that is where todays campaigning was focused.

Good to see that they are putting in the effort.

Hilary targeted by New Statesman

2005-04-12T13:47:00.000+01:00

It seems that oor Hilary (Like Oor Willie) is being targeted by the New Statesman.

In an article How to give Blair a bloody nose it wants us voters to vote Liberal to cut Labours majority and get rid of "blairites"...and "poor" Hilary has been picked...

Shame that the Liberals don't want to play ball up here, and the New Statesman don't recommend voting for the Tories either.

This is like the "backing blair" campaign that I am interested in..but they recomend voting for the party with the most chance of beating (or getting close to) Labour...which at the moment is the Tories.

Jamie Devlin in a previous life?

2005-04-12T13:27:00.000+01:00

Right something to amuse myself during my lunch break, using google to find out more about our PPCs.

I thought I'd pick on Jamie Devlin first as he is the same age as me, does that make me old enough to run for Parliament or Jamie a bit young, and is young enough (not old yet) to have grown up with the internet...

Now it seems that Jamie has a liking for Japanese anime but as that Jamie says he is from Texas maybe a case of mistaken identity.....

On to some other finds:

It seems that Jamie once stood as a prosepctive Conservative Maidstone Borough Councillor in 2003 losing out to the Liberals by 470 votes, fat chance that happening here!

It also seems that a Jamie Devlin is a director of a scottish pest control company. Argh, I'm Scottish....

Not as interesting as I would have thought, kept me amused during my lunch break though.

News from the front lines...

2005-04-12T12:30:00.000+01:00

..there seems to be none.

No updates on the either Hilary Armstrongs website or Jamie Devlins..and Alan Ord doesn't have one. (Still a bit peeved off about that one).

What did they do yesterday, any one know (I am starting to get people searching on google now so I have some visitors and I am no longer talking to myself).

Spot the candidate would be a good game to play, if you have a photo camera handy take a shot of one of our PPCs and email it to me and I will post them up here.

I have spotted my first Labour poster on the rat run last night in Bowburn, so thats probably 20 Liberal ones and one Labour one...

NW Durham Conservative Future

2005-04-12T11:36:00.000+01:00

On my "leg work" I found this site.

The current site is a bit odd, nothing really on it I can see as its all protected but...more leg work..

I found this which is an old snap shot of the site and it says the following:

This site has been built by group of young people, with the aim of giving those living in the Wear-Valley a chance to voice their personal thoughts about issues that are close to their hearts, and then hopefully we can get the message across to the people that can do something about it.

Robin Oliver

And also says this:

North West Durham has been a labour constituency for years, and despite my young age, I have seldom witnessed changes for the better. I fear that unless something changes now, we will continue to drop from the priority agenda, and we will continue to be ignored.

When have we ever been asked what WE want for OUR constituency without terms and conditions?

Now you have the opportunity to discuss what you need. The Conservatives want to listen.

This isn’t about politics, its about finally getting what we, as a constituency, deserve.

Rebecca Brunskill

Now this seems like a campaign...where are they now as those are old quotes.

I'm off to do some more "leg work" on these two to see what they are up to.

Update- ~~Rebecca Brunskill seems to be a Hypnotherapists~~Rebecca Brunskill seems to share the name with a Hypnotherapist, every PPC fighting in a safe seat should have one though, "Now repeat after me 'I can win' "

Right I am being ignored, not a suprise.

2005-04-12T11:28:00.000+01:00

Now after my initial success of getting replies back from the Tories, and also the Labour party I am now being ignored.

I am more supries that they replied to me in the first place to behonest.

Looks like I will have to do all the leg work and try and find out what our PPCs are up to.

I have google news alerts on the go, links to the left if you want to use them, to keep me notified if any of our PPCs turn up in the news websites.

I am really interested in the "effort" our PPCs will put into getting votes.

From my first few days I get the feeling:

Labour know they are going to walk it and are just doing the motions.
The Tories are giving Jamie a test run, so he is putting in some effort but knows he is not going to win.
The Liberals don't have enough money to fight the Tories for second place and are not bothering.

You wonder why people can't be bothered to vote!

A request to the candidates.

2005-04-11T12:52:00.000+01:00

I have emailed all 3 candidates asking them to provide me with a campaign diary (even if its delayed by a day or so) and all campaign material.

This is so I can share it with the people who have missed it and also give it critique on here.

It would also be interesting to know where our candidates are going or have been to get an idea of what they see are key battles in the area.

The Tories: Online update

2005-04-11T12:24:00.000+01:00

As Jamie promised the website for the Tories campaign has been updated.

Good to see that Jamies name is a little more obvious than it was before, I'm helping the Tories..what ever next voting for them, we will see.

Right then, lets get to the meat of his campaign...his election policies.

Again it seems a bit cut and paste, but I guess this is how things are in a general election. I do have to say that it has more of a personal touch to it compared to Hilarys "achievements" page.

Now this, look at what we've done...no look at what we could do, they are rubbish..tit for tat stuff reminds me of a little flash cartoon, now if you don't like bad language then don't click.

Labour: Online update

2005-04-11T11:10:00.000+01:00

Well Hilary Armstrongs campaign website is live and it is very slick and to the point.

Nice up to date news page, hopefully this will be kept up so I can track her campaign more easily.

Now I know this is not a local election and I guess this is how a general election works but the:

Achivements page seems a little "copy & paste" with enter constituency here and enter local figures here, I may have a root around a few other Labour PPC's websites to check that one out...probably is and we shouldn't be suprised I suppose.

A nice Action Centre area where you can Volunteer to help etc good touch.

A profesional well thought out job, and in terms of a campaign tool/website it is slicker than Jamie Devlins very good website...and the Liberals don't have one...I am working on that one!

The offline campaign update.

2005-04-09T10:22:00.000+01:00

Well it is the weekend and I'm sittting in my car while the wife shops, I am now in the hartlepool constituency and the lack of posters is shocking, when mandy left for europe the Liberals were all over this place!

Spotted some more Liberal posters at the Tinford roundabout on the rat run.

Wonder if there is an ink/paper shortage?

While it is quite, a personal thought/ramble.

2005-04-08T17:37:00.000+01:00

Just a personal thought while waiting for the "games to begin"

We all know who is going to win this seat, Hilary and it is a bit boring really.

Thats probably why I've started this blog, to at least get some interest out of the election from a personal point of view.

This is my first election as a tax payer, which I thought might change my mind slightly on who I chose but nope in my heart I am a Liberal Scottish nationalist living in England.

What might change my mind to vote for Jamie is not his policies but if I think he has a chance of making a good dent in Hilarys majority. I am backing blair you see, and I am not voting Labour.

The thought about voting for the Tories makes me feel funny, its my up bringing and I possibly would be cast out of my family for even thinking about it, but if it gets rid of Blair then so be it.

But I am pretty sure that thought is the same as many traditional Labour supporters who don't like Blair, they would probably rather cut their arm off than vote Tory...ok maybe not that far..they'd rather not vote.

But at this minute, the Liberals are not impressing me enough to vote for them and I will never not vote.

The Liberals: Online Look

2005-04-08T16:22:00.000+01:00

Now heres a story which might change.

Alan Orr has no online presence other than his profile page.

I am shocked at this, but I am willing to change this for them.

I have emailed the Durham City campaign offering to run and host a site for him if they provide me with the news, no charge. I have left a voice mail message on the number provided on Alans profile page.

This was yesterday, I was told last night that my email will be passed on to the regional branch.

Oh I have also offered to hand out some posters, stick a poster up and do any computer/clerical work on the regional site.

The regional site is an dogs dinner of a website it has to be said, the only saving grace is that the Durham City site and our MEP site both look good so they must have the skills somewhere. Also the Durham City one has at least been updated this month!

Labour: Online Look

2005-04-08T16:10:00.000+01:00

Now Hilarys website is not yet live, but I have been told that it will be live on Monday once her MP website is closed down.

The reason her MP website is closing is because she can't call her self an MP once parliament is dissolved on Monday due to Electoral Commission guidelines...I emailed her website team just to remind them yesterday...what a minx I am.

I will comment on her old site first and then update this on Monday.

Now from a website point of view her site is fine if a bit brochure-ish, but if the number of updates on it are anything to go by then its the same as the Tories. The last press release was in January and the last news item was the 4th of Febuary.

I keep getting this sinking feeling we're being forgoten and taken for granted...but best hold back on that until Monday.

The Tories: Online look

2005-04-08T15:54:00.000+01:00

For my sins I am a web site developer, see I run this one, so I am very interested in what our local PPC's are up to online.

I nearly fell off my chair when I saw this effort by the tories, I am very impressed it looks great and is well organised.

I do have to say one thing about the front page though, not until the 3rd paragraph is Jamie Devlin mentioned and that is the only place on the front page Jamies name is mentioned! From a search engine point of view thats not very good, and from the all important punter point of view it takes a bit of reading to find out who the Tory PPC is.

To the issues/campaign points highlighted on the site.

Hilarys absence is mentioned from the off right on the front page, something that bothers myself as a voter also.

In the news section we have the following issues:

Jamie Supports Weardale MS Society

and

Jamie Supports Local Hunt

One thing that I have just noticed, the latest news item was added on the 19th of March..hello? Are we not in the middle of an election or is it just me?

From a good first impression things have gone a bit downhill, what is Jamie campaigning for in Durham North West? Just that Hilary is never here, to behonest I'd rather have her living in 9 downing street that someone with no issues.

Come on people...

UPDATE - I thought it would be fair to email each PPC, well I would if I could get an email for Alan Orr...but any way, Jamie replied back to me in 7 minutes (Slow day jamie or just caught you at your desk ;-)).

Jamie is updating his site over the weekend - " it will be updated with full list of policies /
election material over the weekend!"

Good on you Jamie, right you Liberals answer your emails please.

An offline look at the campaign so far in Durham North West.

2005-04-08T15:20:00.000+01:00

Now on my rat run from my home in Fir Tree to my work in Castle Eden I travel through 4 constituencies.

Those are:

Durham North West
Bishop Auckland
Durham City
and Sedgefield

All very safe Labour seats, all so safe its wonder any party are trying...bar Sedgefield of course.

In total from going through all these areas I have seen some by the road posters by the Liberals in Durham City (On the A181) and a "Labours working don't let the tories reck it" type billboard poster in Wingate, which is in Sedgefield.

And thats it!

Of course its early days but come on! Are we not even bothering? If the parties are not bothering trying to get my vote how do they expect the voters to be bothered to vote for them.

Just asked around at work, one other rat runner lives in consett and again the only posters hes seen are the lib dem ones.

The hello world post.

2005-04-08T14:20:00.000+01:00

Hello world.

Not sure if this is going to work but hey its worth a try.

I am going to try and blog the campaign in North West Durham.

Any one willing to help my email address is to the left.

Cards on the table first off, I am a Liberal supporter I have donated to them in the past. My own thinking for this election is to vote for the party most likely to beat Labour in N.W Durham but with Hilary having such a huge majority fat chance of anyone beating her.

What I am interested in though is the campaigns each party try and put together in such a "safe" seat...I have a feeling of defeatisim from the Liberals already..but I'll get to that later on.