Catch up

A bit of a catch up blog this one as have been otherwise engaged these last few days.

Posts a plenty from candidates:

Lots of talk from the Lib Dems about their manifesto release this week: http://broadlandlibdems.org.uk

Several new posts from Trevor Ivory (Conservative, North Norfolk): http://trevorivory.wordpress.com/

Evan Heasley (UKIP South Norfolk) slams the BNP: http://evanheasley-powertothepeople.blogspot.com
 
The candidates pledge to clean fight in Norwich South: http://news.bbc.co.uk/

And finally, 38 Degrees are questioning Danny Alexander, Ed Miliband and Oliver Letwin next monday lunchtime in a live internet/ phone debate. More info here: www.38degrees.org.uk 

My apologies for the link-fest, lots of stuff being released all the time.   

Norwich South Candidate Question Time- 19th of April

Candidate Question Time organised by PCS: Featuring Charles Clarke (Lab), Adrian Ramsey (Green), Simon Wright (Lib Dem) and possibility representation from the Conservatives and UKIP.

Kings Centre, King St. Norwich, Monday the 19th April 18.00-20.00.

Who Exactly Are They- Norwich South

Now to Norwich South which is also subject to some boundary changes this year. The constiuency loses Cringleford to Norfolk South and gains a small area around the fringes of New Costessey. To the north it gains part of Thorpe Hamlet and loses part of Crome to Norwich North.

General Election Results 2005

Conservative: 9567 (22.7%)
Labour: 15904 (37.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 12251 (29%)
Green: 3101 (7.4%)
UKIP: 597 (1.4%)
Other: 770 (1.8%)
Majority: 3653 (8.7%)



Current Incumbent:

Charles Clarke (Lab)


Website: www.charlesclarke.org.uk


They Work For You Profile: www.theyworkforyou.com


He worked as a researcher and then Chief of Staff to former Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock from 1981 to 1992. He was chief executive of Quality Public Affairs, a public affairs management consultancy.
He has been MP for Norwich South since 1997. In April 2006 he offered his resignation over the release of over 1,000 foriegn prisoners who should have been considered for deportation. His resignation was refused, but he was sacked following Labour`s local government election losses in May 2006.

Antony Little (Conservative)

Website: www.antonylittle.blogspot.com 

History teacher. Norwich councillor. Contested Norwich South 2005.

Simon Wright (Lib Dems)

Website: www.simonwright.org.uk 

Simon was brought up on a farm in North Tuddenham near Dereham, Norfolk. He has one brother, Peter, who also lives in Norwich and who is a drum teacher, playing in several local bands. Simon attended a local state school, Dereham Neatherd High, before studying for an honours BSc degree in Mathematics at Imperial College London. After graduating, Simon remained in London for a further year to study at Kings College London, completing a Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) in mathematics.

Simon returned to Norfolk in 2002 and took up a secondary mathematics teaching post. He was elected as a district councillor in North Norfolk. Simon is the Parliamentary Spokesperson for Norwich South Liberal Democrats.

Adrian Ramsay (Greens)

Website: www.adrianramsay.org.uk 

Adrian, who was born and brought up in Norwich and studied politics at the UEA, recently stood down as leader of the Green Party City Councillors in order to focus on the General Election.

Stephen Emmens (UKIP)

No info what-so-ever about Stephen so I'm not even sure if he's running or not






Whilst traditionally a strong Labour seat, as we can see from the small majority held by Charles Clarke and the heavy targeting of this seat by the Lib Dems and Greens this should be one to watch come May the 6th. 
  

Trevor Ivory- North Norfolk (Conservatives)

Trevor posts about the Big Society: http://trevorivory.wordpress.com/

It looks like he's planning on posting every day of the campaign, definitely the most web present of the candidates so far. 

Jacky Howe- South Norfolk Lib Dems

Jacky Howe (Lib Dems South Norfolk) begins her campaign trail:

"My 'Ask Howe' Roadshow will be in Long Stratton this Saturday (10 April) from 9.30am until 1pm. I would really love to meet you and listen to your views so if you spot me, please stop for a chat! We're hoping to set up near The Swan on the main road - look for the green gazebo!"

When campagins go wrong...

Whilst looking through the candidates sometimes highly polished and choreographed election personas it is easy to lose sight of the human candidate beneath the party line. However, Stuart MacLennan, the PPC for Moray has shown what happens when you get a bit careless: www.newstatesman.com

One may ask, what was he thinking? Especially when some high up members of the Labour party are followers on twitter. I've seen a couple of relationships go down the pan due to ill-judged posts on social media but could this be the first twitter induced break up of a PPC with their party? I wonder if Gordon Brown will send him one of 'those' text messages? (Ur Dumped, I wnt my cds bak).

Who Exactly Are They- North West Norfolk

And so to the Conservative held North West...

2005 General Election Results:

Conservative: 25471 (50.3%)
Labour: 16291 (32.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 7026 (13.9%)
UKIP: 1861 (3.7%)
Majority: 9180 (18.1%) 

Current Incumbent:

Henry Bellingham 

Website: www.henrybellingham.com 

They Work for You Profile: www.theyworkforyou.com 

Henry Bellingham has been the Member of Parliament for North West Norfolk since 2001, having also represented the same constituency from 1983 to 1997. He is currently a Shadow Minister for the Ministry of Justice. He is joint secretary of the Lords and Commons Cricket Club, and outside Westminster enjoys country sports and golf.

Manish Sood (Lab)


Website:?



Teacher and lecturer. Leicester councillor. (no more info than that I'm afraid).

William Summers (Lib Dem)


Website: www.williamsummers.org.uk 

William Summers was born in West Norfolk and grew up in the coastal village of Brancaster Staithe. After moving to Australia with his family at the age of 12, William returned to Norfolk four years later and attended Smithdon High School in Hunstanton. He then went on to study Business Economics at the University of Leicester. William now works for a non-profit housing organisation.

Michael de Whalley (Green)

Website: www.greenparty.org.uk 

Self-employed computer support specialist. Aged 42, Michael was educated at King Edward VII School, King's Lynn, and is currently studying with the Open University. He believes in the principles of the NHS and is a regular blood donor. 

David Fleming (BNP)

Website: None specific

Mr Fleming has been a BNP member for just over three years. In that time he has risen to be an organiser and has stood in local and Euro elections for the party.


There is no UKIP representative as far as I can make out in North West Norfolk and the first BNP candidate running in the region.

While I've not enjoyed searching the BNP website I'm concious of the words of Professor Lee Bollinger, that "the free speech principle involves a special act of carving out one area of social interaction for extraordinary self-restraint, the purpose of which is to develop and demonstrate a social capacity to control feelings evoked by a host of social encounters". 

Norwich South

Adrian Ramsay (Greens): 'Help us fill the funding gap - and help Adrian beat Charles Clarke'

http://ow.ly/1v1Xb

North Norfolk

New article posted by Trevor Ivory (Conservative- North Norfolk) entitled "It's Time for Change"

http://trevorivory.wordpress.com

Who Exactly Are They? Broadland

I heard someone mention that there's going to be something happening on the 6th of May- could it be the anniversary of the Channel Tunnel opening? Or 'International No Diet Day?' (http://en.wikipedia.org/).

While I try to find out lets continue with our run down, this time in the newly created Broadland Constituency.


Keith Simpson MP (Cons)


Website: www.keithsimpson.com

They Work For You Profile: www.theyworkforyou.com


Keith was born in 1949. He was educated at Thorpe Grammar School, Norfolk, the University of Hull, and undertook post-graduate research in War Studies at King's College, London. In July 1997 he was appointed to the Conservative Parliamentary Defence Committee. In June 1998 he was appointed a frontbench defence spokesman. From June 1999 to June 2001, he was an Opposition Whip responsible for Treasury, Home Affairs and Health. He was subsequently appointed Shadow Agriculture Spokesman in October 2001. From 2002 to 2005, he was Shadow Minister for Defence; since May 2005, he has served as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs.

 

Allyson Barron (Lab)

Website: www2.labour.org.uk 

Suffolk County Councillor May  2005 to June 2009 . Scout Leader and is currently self employed in a Remedial and Sport Practitioner Clinic.

(not a lot else other than her CV available)

Dan Roper (Lib Dems)

Website: http://broadlandlibdems.org.uk 

Dan Roper lives in the constituency with his wife and young family. He grew up barely three miles from his current home and went to Sprowston High school. He is a manager in the Probation Service and is currently based in a prison.

Susan Curran (Green)

Website: www.greenparty.org.uk 

Susan is a writer who established her own publishing house in 1997 specialising in academic and business publishing. Her own published works include novels and non-fiction, notably “The Environment Handbook.” She is aged 57 and married with two grown-up sons. Susan is a former Labour Councillor in Norwich, one of a number who have switched their allegiance to the Green Party.

Stuart Agnew (UKIP)

Website: www.stuartagnewmep.co.uk 
(technically this is his MEP website, no mention of current Broadland campaign)

Age 60, married. Member since 1999. Public elections contested for UKIP: 2001 General Election (Mid Norfolk), 2004 EU Parliament (Eastern Region No 4), 2005 General Election (North Norfolk), 2007 District Council Election (North Norfolk). Offices held within UKIP: Chairman Norwich & Norfolk Branch 2003-2006, Member of Agricultural Policy Group, Member of Regional Committee 2004 & 2005. Previously a Farm Manager, Soil & Water Conservation Officer in  Rhodesia.

So, that's another constituency done...

Who Exactly Are They? Mid Norfolk

Following a reshuffle of boundaries, Mid Norfolk has been split and redrawn resulting in the new Broadland constituency and the new Mid Norfolk now incorporating bits of the South and South West. The current Conservative incumbent Keith Simpson will be contesting the Broadland patch so I will put his profile there (when I get round to writing it).

2005 General Election Results:

Conservative: 23564 (43.1%)
Labour: 16004 (29.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 12988 (23.7%)
UKIP: 2178 (4%)
Majority: 7560 (13.8%)

George Freeman (Conservative)
Website: www.georgefreeman.co.uk 

George grew up on a farm near Newmarket, and his family have lived in North Norfolk for nearly twenty years. Over the last ten years George has built a career and his own small business working with NHS Trusts, Universities and leading clinical scientists to develop new medical technologies. Selected as Parliamentary Candidate for the new Parliamentary constituency of Mid Norfolk in October 06. In his spare time George enjoys sailing on the Norfolk coast, walking, rowing, wildfowling, and going to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford with his children to watch the Spitfires.

 
Elizabeth Hughes (Labour)

Website: www.labouronline.org 

Brought up in Hounslow, where she currently lives with her husband, 45 year old Elizabeth would move to Norfolk if she was elected. A technical manager with Proctor and Gamble, she has spent time in the region with close family members in north Essex and has family in Swaffham.

Note: Again a non-resident candidate with very little web presence.


 
Timothy Birt (Green)

Website: www.greenparty.org.uk
  
A town councillor in Dereham, now stepping up to contest the Mid Norfolk seat. He is a 44 year old electronics engineer with special interests in buildings and energy and in transport. Tim’s current project is proving the viability of electric vehicles and he has developed a fast electric sports car for the Ecotricity company. Tim has lived in the area for twenty years and his two children attend local state schools.

Richard Coke (UKIP)

Website: www.richardcoke.co.uk

He was born and raised in Weasenham, Mid Norfolk, where he still lives.
After a Short Service Commission in the Scots Guards, Richard worked in the City and then spent some time overseas before returning home to take over the management of the woods and farm at Weasenham. His main interest is forestry.

I've had no joy finding a prospective candidate from the Lib Dems, I can only conclude they're not contesting this area which is odd considering they were serious contenders to beat Labour into third place in 2005. Maybe they're turning their attentions on the new Broadland constituency?

What are they saying

As part of this blog I will be conglomerating posts from the candidates. As I stated earlier I am trying to remain unpartisan. I obviously have my own political views but I think people should make their own minds up and this blog is aimed at giving people the opportunity to make an informed decision. Obviously those parties with the better campaigns and a better web presence will get mentioned more often.

I'll start with a new article from UKIP South Norfolk's PPC Evan Heasley in which he expresses his frustration about wasted money in the public sector and the EU: http://evanheasley-powertothepeople.blogspot.com/2010/04/frustration.html

Who Exactly Are They? Norwich North

Next in our random tour is Conservative held Norwich North, recently changing hands in the 2009 By-election following Ian Gibson's (Lab) resignation during the expenses debacle.

By-election result

Chloe Smith (Conservative): 13591 (39.5%)
Chris Ostrowski (Labour): 6243 (18.2%)
April Pond (Liberal Democrat): 4803 (14.0%)
Glenn Tingle (UKIP): 4068 (11.8%)
Rupert Read (Green): 3350 (9.7%)
Craig Murray (Honest Man): 953 (2.8%)
Robert West (BNP): 941 (2.7%)
Bill Holden (Independent): 166 (0.5%)
Howling Laud (Loony): 144 (0.4%)
Anne Fryatt (NOTA): 59 (0.2%)
Thomas Burridge (Libertarian): 36 (0.1%)
Peter Baggs (Independent): 23 (0.1%)
Majority: 7348 (21.4%)

Current MP:

Chloe Smith (Conservative)
Website: www.chloesmith.org.uk





They Work For You Profile: www.theyworkforyou.com

Born 1982, Ashford. Educated at the University of York. Former aide to Gillian Shephard and Bernard Jenkin, proir to her election worked in professional services. First elected as MP for Norwich North 2009 by-election. Chloe lives in Norwich and enjoys cycling and playing badminton at a city club in her spare time. Chloe passionately enjoys the arts.



John Cook (Lab)
Website: http://norwichlabourparty.org.uk/johncook/ 
John was born and brought up in Norwich North constituency, in Thorpe St Andrew, attending St Williams Primary and Thorpe St Andrew High schools.
Over the years, John has served the local community as a scout leader, school governor, a Parish, District and County Councillor. John worked closely with Dr Ian Gibson from 1990, and was election agent to both Ian Gibson and Charles Clarke at the 1997 General Election.
Before taking up a paid post with Norwich Labour Party in 1996, John worked as a bank clerk, pensions clerk and Officer of Customs & Excise. He has been a trade unionist throughout his working life and a member of GMB for the past fourteen years.

 
David Stephen (Lib Dem)










Website: ?? Not mentioned on http://www.norwich.libdems.org/

David grew up in Luton and went to university in Cambridge and Essex but he has links with the Norwich area where he spent many holidays after his mother retired here. His eldest son married a Norwich girl, in Norwich, in 2004. If elected, he would move to the area.

(not much of a web presence other than a footnote on the Lib Dem national website).

  
Jess Goldfinch (Green)
Website: www.greenparty.org.uk

Jess is a 43 year old single mother of one daughter and works as a teaching assistant at a High School in Norwich North. She lives on Connaught Road and has been a Norwich resident for 12 years, during which time she was a City Councillor for Nelson ward from 2003 until 2006. A film fan, Jess is also currently writing a fun children’s book series on mental health.

  
Glenn Tingle (UKIP)
Website: www.ukip.org


An ex-Army medic with the Royal Army Medical Corps and runs a local construction company.

 


Bill Holden (Independent) 
Website: http://norwichnorth.com/ 

Educated at the Open University. Contested Norwich North 2005, 2009 by-election.


So that's Norwich North... Nice to see an independent running and this time it's the Liberals fielding the mystery candidate. This exercise is highlighting for me a real gap between the candidates and the electorate. If a reasonably web-savvy person is having problems getting any information about the people who are vying for my X on polling day then how many are voting blind?

I guess we tend to look for the logo rather than the name when we get our slip of cardboard at the village hall. We often cross the box for which party 'feels' right or to punish the party which has irritated us most recently. While MPs don't tend to oppose the party line (with some notable exceptions) I still feel it is worth knowing a bit about the person behind the rosette.

I find personality politics distasteful; voting for someone because they scrub up nice or speak emotively is a poor substitute for considering what they stand for. However the person who wins the seat will be the one you write to when your mum's care home is rubbish or the water company are screwing you for money you don't owe them. This is the person whose constituency clinic you'll be visiting if you're not happy about the bin collection or you want support for your charity endeavour. As such there needs to be a bridge between voters and election hopefuls.

I was impressed by the Green Party's endeavours in Norwich today; opening a mini cafe and ethical goods outlet on Dove St. with the opportunity to chat to the candidates. This kind of initiative, as well as good web campaign, helps to get people interested and makes the voter/ candidate relationship a more informed one.                

Who exactly are they? Part 2: The North

And so to part two of the candidate tour, this time the North currently held by the Lib Dems:

2005 Election Results:

Conservative: 20909 (35.5%)
Labour: 5447 (9.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 31515 (53.4%)
UKIP: 978 (1.7%)
Other: 116 (0.2%)
Majority: 10606 (18%)

Current Incumbent:

Norman Lamb (Lib Dems)
Website: www.normanlamb.libdems.org.uk
They Work For You Profile: www.theyworkforyou.com

Educated at Wymondham College and Leicester University. Employment lawyer. Norwich councillor 1987-1991. Contested Norfolkl North 1992, 1997. First elected as MP for Norfolk North in 2001. PPS to Charles Kennedy 2003-2005, Lib Dem shadow secretary for the DTU 2004-2006, briefly Chief of Staff to Menzies Campbell in 2006 before becoming Lib Dem shadow health secretary in 2006

Trevor Ivory (Conservatives)
Website: http://trevorivory.wordpress.com/

Trevor lives in North Walsham with his wife, Lisa and their young son, Alex. Trevor studied at UEA in Norwich and has lived in Norfolk for over a decade. Trevor works in Norwich as a solicitor.

Phil Harris (Labour)
Website: ?? 

All we know is that he was a former Norwich counsellor... No online presence whatsoever which is a bit odd within a month of a general election...


 
 

Andrew Boswell (Green)
Website: www.greenparty.org.uk 

Trained as a biochemist, Andrew, who is 53, worked at UEA for many years in scientific computing. He was first elected as a County Councillor in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009 with 64% of the vote. He is now Leader of the seven Green Party County Councillors – the third largest group at County Hall. He has been a columnist for the EDP and is a governor at Avenue Junior School.

Michael Baker (UKIP)
Website: www.ukipeast.com

Michael Baker was born and brought up in North Norfolk attending Gresham's School in Holt before attending university in London. In 1973 he returned to Holt to take the reins of the family business. He was elected onto the Holt Town Council in the mid '70's and the North Norfolk District Council in 1981 He joined UKIP in 2007 in protest at the leadership of the Conservative Party no longer representing the true values of its members and David Cameron's strong pro EU position.

While undertaking this trawl for candidates I have stumbled across the excellent work undertaken by www.chrisbardell.com who has had an in-depth look at the web campaigns being (or not being) run by each of the candidates. The people of North Norfolk will it seems have to sit like Vladimir and Estragon until election day to see if there is a Labour candidate on their ballot.    

Who exactly are they? Part 1: South Norfolk

I will begin this series by looking at the constituency in which I live as I've already done some of the research. I will begin with the current MP and then proceed the usual order:

Richard Bacon MP (Conservative)
Website:www.richardbacon.org.uk
They Work For You Profile: www.theyworkforyou.com
Entered Parliament on 7 June 2001
Majority: 8,782 votes


Mick Castle (Labour)





Website: www.southnorfolklabour.com

Between 1994 and 1998 Mick was full time Secretary and Agent of South Norfolk Labour Party. He then went on to work with the Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth.


Jacky Howe (Lib Dem)
Website: http://iwantyourvote.blogspot.com/

Jacqueline took early retirement to nurse her late husband in 1996 but continued in voluntary and political work. She currently runs her own direct mail and fund-raising consultancy. She has been a District and a County Councillor.


Evan Heasley (UKIP)
Website: http://evanheasley-powertothepeople.blogspot.com/

Evan lives in Diss and is aged 39. A professional firefighter and father of 3.







Jo Willcott (Green)
Website: www.greenparty.org.uk

She has been a gold and silver medal winner in major martial arts tournaments in China and now runs a business with her husband teaching Tai Chi and Kung Fu.



My apologies to anyone I've left out but Google didn't know who you were. I will continue my run down of the candidates over the weekend.

Welcome

Welcome to Norfolk UK Politics. Over the coming month I will predominately be following the candidates during the run up to the 2010 elections. I will providing independant information and links to what the candidates are up to and what they're about. I am not affiliated with any of the parties running and will try to provide a critical but unpartisan record of what is going on.

Why Bother?

Voter Turnout By Constituency, 1997 General Election

Norfolk Mid 76.3%
Norfolk North 76.3%
Norfolk North West 74.7%
Norfolk South 78.4%
Norfolk South West 73.3%
Norwich North 75.9%
Norwich South 72.6%

Voter Turnout By Constituency, 2001 General Election

Norfolk Mid 70.15%
Norfolk North 75.05%
Norfolk North West 66.16%
Norfolk South 67.62%
Norfolk South West 63.11%
Norwich North 60.89%
Norwich South 64.74%

Voter Turnout By Constituency, 2005 General Election

Norfolk Mid 67.0%
Norfolk North 73.0%
Norfolk North West 61.6%
Norfolk South 68.7%
Norfolk South West 62.5%
Norwich North 61.1%
Norwich South 59.9%

Source: www.ukpolitical.info

As we can see there is an overall downward trend in voting across the county and there is no reason to believe this won't continue in 2010.

I believe strongly that we should not become complacent and that we should exercise our hard won right to vote. Many in the political sphere have not done much to make us feel that they're worth our attention. People are understandably angry and weary of the scandals and the childish yaaa boos of the House of Commons. People feel that their views are unrepresented, their concerns unheeded and their taxes frivolously spent. However, as George Jean Nathan states: “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.” Disengagement is not the answer; it leaves those who least represent the majority but who shout the loudest to decide who governs us all. There are many millions more of us than there are those who are meant to represent us; by getting involved and engaged they've got no choice but to listen....