Victory for Lib Dems in Brent east election

[Snotty]

Yeah, Youre most likely right. Its still a good boost for us, and gets us more firmly into the public eye, that is something this war has given us in spades. The tory bird did quite well considering she seemed to be following the party line of 'do everything you can to not be elected' as she admitted twice there was no way she could win.
And if anyone can hold that seat its Teather. Men would vote for her simply because shes got pretty massive tits

[CerberusIV]

Story on BBC Ceefax this morning that IDS will speak to the Scottish Conservative Conference (now that's what I call a minority interest) claiming the seat was won by Lib Dem lies and tricking the electorate.

You can almost smell the desperation.

Labour will take the seat back easily IF Brent council get their act together and deliver a reasonable quality of local services. If not then the LD's have a (slim) chance of holding it.

[*End Is Forever*]

Story on BBC Ceefax this morning that IDS will speak to the Scottish Conservative Conference (now that's what I call a minority interest) claiming the seat was won by Lib Dem lies and tricking the electorate

Last time I checked the Scottish Tories were still more popular than the Scottish Liberal Democrats... and you can call it desperation all you like, doesn't make it any less true!

Which political party advises its members to "be wicked, act shamelessly, stir endlessly", and tells its activists "don't be afraid to exaggerate"? This isn't the advice of a government spin doctor, but the official Liberal Democrat local campaign handbook, Effective Opposition, co-written by the Lib Dem leader of Islington council.
There is no doubt opinion polls reflect Labour's most difficult period since 1997. But those considering a switch to the Liberal Democrats ought to think carefully. They are not a progressive alternative to Labour. There are strong signals that they are redirecting their tactics - and the Brent East byelection is a pointer to where they are going.

As a voter in this election, my letterbox has overflowed with negative Lib Dem propaganda. They've told the voters that the Labour candidate was pro-war, when he voted against it in the European parliament. They have lied that their candidate is a "local campaigner". They've attacked the Labour council for increasing the council tax when they've raised Islington's by the same amount. They have derided local recycling when their record in Islington is worse. Their Brent East campaign, one of the most negative and misleading I have seen, could even deter enough Labour voters to hand victory to the Tories on a small turn-out.

The relationship between the Lib Dems and the other two parties is at the heart of the strategic choice they face. In the run-up to the 2001 general election, I was approached by a senior London Liberal figure on behalf of the party. I was asked if I would put my name to a London Lib Dem leaflet in those marginal seats that were a straight fight between Lib Dems and Tories.

They asked if I would urge Labour voters in such seats to vote tactically to keep the Tory out. I put it to them that this could only work if a senior London Lib Dem figure wrote to Lib Dem voters in marginal seats where the main fight was between the other two parties, urging their voters to switch to Labour to keep the Tory out. The senior Liberal never came back. This anti-Tory position went as far as getting Labour supporters to vote tactically for the Lib Dems, but no further.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,9115,1044437,00.html

[Snotty]

Its unsuprising to see such a bitter piece come out of Ken. After all his home constituency was about to be lost. It looks very much like a desperate smear to me.

This made me laugh:-

Their Brent East campaign, one of the most negative and misleading I have seen, could even deter enough Labour voters to hand victory to the Tories on a small turn-out.

Make sure you come and vote for us or else even the evil tories might get in!!

They have lied that their candidate is a "local campaigner". They've attacked the Labour council for increasing the council tax when they've raised Islington's by the same amount.

by the same amount, or to the same amount? Its all the way you spin it. The labour candidate may well have told the voters the opposite, but we all know labour lie right?
As for how local she is, shes NW2, Brent is NW10. They are right on top of each other, no distance to travel at all.

Which political party advises its members to "be wicked, act shamelessly, stir endlessly", and tells its activists "don't be afraid to exaggerate"?

I imagine ALL political parties advise their members to do the above things, or at least imply that they should. We are obviously the only ones to bother putting it down in print.

[Snotty]

Just found this. This was before the election. The rats abandoning the sinking ship? Or is this more of our lies?

CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR REJECTS TORIES TO JOIN LIBERAL DEMOCRATS IN BRENT EAST
01/09/2003
Less than three weeks before the Brent East by-election local Conservative Councillor Carol Shaw has defected to the Liberal Democrats.

Carol Shaw said that division and extremism within the Conservative Party had driven her out. The Liberal Democrats’ energy, commitment and ability to deliver for local people are the factors that persuaded her to join the Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Carol Shaw said:

"I have become disenchanted with local Conservative campaigning and the Conservative Group on Brent Council since the Council Elections. The Group Leadership is stale and lacks fresh policies to improve the local area for local people.

"Nationally, under Iain Duncan Smith's weak leadership the Conservatives have become more divided and extreme, and I have found myself increasingly uncomfortable with being a member of his party.

http://www.libdems.org.uk/index.cfm/page.homepage/section.home/article.5183

[Zulu Elephant]

*End is Forever*

If the Liberals only won by courting the "hard-left" vote then why have the "hard left" socialist parties dotn do badly?

Unless you think that everything left of New Labour is "hard left"...The centre is left of Labour for gods sake!



5/2 Liberals dont hold the seat - Thats quite possible

5/2 Conservatives lose the next two general elections

The Tories, despite Labour being in more political hot water than they've been in since Blair became leader, are STILL 2 points behind Labour in the polls.

According to MORI, a two point lead, given the nature of the marginal seats, would STILL give Labour a majority of about 100 seats at a general election.

[lightblue]

It is not the fact that they lost (the lib Dems put an awful of lot of ground work in), but rather the 29 point swing which should worry Labour. The whole situation is not helped by Labour backbenchers starting to see Blair as a hindrance rather than an electoral asset ( though I have to disagree, he's by far the best campaigner out of all the three parties and any likely Labour sucessors).