Today I shall be mostly helping to canvass for the Tory Party in BN1

[Colossal Squid]

A vote for the Green party surely DOES affect the national agenda in that the two main parties will have to take notice if a seat that has been a relatively safe Labour territory for the last 13 years changes not to their biggest rivals but instead to the Green party.

Both Labour and the Conservatives would need to address the fact that voters had been disillusioned by the offerings of their respective parties and instead went for a party who are more closely aligned to the agendas of local people in the Pavilion ward.

People are obviously not happy with the Labour regime BUT equally have no faith in the Tories and so choose to vote in such a way that neither party can slap themselves on the back and relax.

 

[Mr Everyone]

Labour are out-of-fashion in Brighton and I can't see them winning in Brighton Pavilion. That leaves the voter with a left-of-centre substitute in the Green party. When you look at the Hanover/Lewes Road/central Brighton areas, the Greens must fancy their chances.

Nick Clegg and his Liberal Democrats didn't fare too well in 2005 and they have never seemed to appeal to the pavilion electorate.Despite their resurgence in the polls. I don't see them as a strong contender.

The Conservatives must feel confident in the northerly areas of the pavilion ward, but overall, I see the Greens as being too strong.

 

[The Large One]

Out of interest, Al, why has Labour managed to hold off the Green tide in Preston Park compared to, say, Regency or St Peter's and North Laine? Is it because there are more families in the area?

Good question, and I can't say I have a ready-made answer.

I'll have a punt at it, but I would say I don't know that 'families' is strictly the issue in the split between Labour and Green.

I'd have to spend a bit more time thinking about it, but one thing I think is that it's more that the non-car/anti-car philosophy from the centre of the city/Hanover area (Greens' strongest area) isn't such an issue for the more affluent/aspirational attitude of what is now the Preston Park area.

Should the Green vote get stronger anywhere in the city, it would probably be this area which would be the next to 'fall'. The Greens are getting stronger in this area (which has been fairly strong Labour for about 20 years) now; the Preston Park ward has two Labour and one Green councillor.

The march of the Greens just hasn't completely reached this part of suburbia. Yet.

Around here, I feel that there is quite a sense of community - it's an aspiring but artistic/alternative area, and it ties in with that togetherness and non/anti-competitveness which rejects Conservatism.

It's a tricky one because on the surface, the area - at a glance - has the feel of a true blue area, but this is Brighton, which likes to be different, and which doesn't always behave that way.

 

[8ace]

There's a green poster in my road (not my drum) and I live very near to The Drove.
I shall be voting green though!

 

[Deleted User X18H]

I'd have to spend a bit more time thinking about .

Well that's better than the normal

When you find out, do share.

 

[The Large One]

I know I am far away from ignorance, thank you, it is very kind of you to say that, cheers.

However,in my opinion we all need to vote in relation to the national agenda and get this country back on track .Dr Lucas, however wonderful she might be, cannot do that with one seat in a constituency she doesn't really have a great knowledge of. In my Brighton candidates quiz in which she finished 2nd (and has quoted twice on the hustings) most of her answers were sadly Wiki quotes.

Is that really your yardstick for who the best candidate is - a quiz you wrote in which you got two answers wrong...? Jesus.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

There's a green poster in my road (not my drum) and I live very near to The Drove.
I shall be voting green though!

That's the new house opposite Tammy's on the corner of Compton Road isn't it?

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Is that really your yardstick for who the best candidate is - a quiz you wrote in which you got two answers wrong...? Jesus.

Yep! I didn't get any answers wrong.

Not just wrote, but had published by the leading newspaper in Brighton.Thank you.

 

[The Large One]

Labour are out-of-fashion in Brighton and I can't see them winning in Brighton Pavilion. That leaves the voter with a left-of-centre substitute in the Green party. When you look at the Hanover/Lewes Road/central Brighton areas, the Greens must fancy their chances.

Nick Clegg and his Liberal Democrats didn't fare too well in 2005 and they have never seemed to appeal to the pavilion electorate.Despite their resurgence in the polls. I don't see them as a strong contender.

The Conservatives must feel confident in the northerly areas of the pavilion ward, but overall, I see the Greens as being too strong.

I spoke to Nancy Platts (the Labour candidate) this morning.

She is getting a bit embarrassed about her party's negative campaigning against the Greens - the negative messaging she wanted to leave to Charlotte Vere. She wants to portray a more positive message. She is also convinced the Greens won't win Pavilion because she thinks there is not enough of the left-wing vote to go around.

I told her that in my opinion I think that there is enough of the left-wing vote to go around (look at the majorities David Lepper enjoyed), but that it was no reflection on her personally - more of the perception of the dis-illusionment of the Labour Party nationally - that the left-wing vote won't necesarily be going to her.

 

[The Large One]

Yep! I didn't get any answers wrong.

Not just wrote, but had published by the leading newspaper in Brighton.Thank you.

And that makes you an authority on Brighton (ha, ha) and local politics?

That scraping is getting louder and louder.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

And that makes you an authority on Brighton (ha, ha) and local politics?

Looks like it!

 

[Mr Everyone]

I spoke to Nancy Platts (the Labour candidate) this morning.

She is getting a bit embarrassed about her party's negative campaigning against the Greens - the negative messaging she wanted to leave to Charlotte Vere. She wants to portray a more positive message. She is also convinced the Greens won't win Pavilion because she thinks there is not enough of the left-wing vote to go around.

I told her that in my opinion I think that there is enough of the left-wing vote to go around (look at the majorities David Lepper enjoyed), but that it was no reflection on her personally - more of the perception of the dis-illusionment of the Labour Party nationally - that the left-wing vote won't necesarily be going to her.

Indeed, don't most people vote on a national level ignoring their would-be-local MP? As a Labour voter, I feel sorry for Platts; she just happens to be the Labour choice at the wrong time.

Incidentally, do you know much about the Socialist Labour candidate, Ian Fyvie? His name rings a bell and I wonder if he is from the Brighton area?

 

[Gwylan]

Yep! I didn't get any answers wrong.

Not just wrote, but had published by the leading newspaper in Brighton.Thank you.

You got at least one answer wrong ... as I pointed out to you (and you admitted you made a mistake)

 

[The Large One]

Indeed, don't most people vote on a national level ignoring their would-be-local MP? As a Labour voter, I feel sorry for Platts; she just happens to be the Labour choice at the wrong time.

Incidentally, do you know much about the Socialist Labour candidate, Ian Fyvie? His name rings a bell and I wonder if he is from the Brighton area?

He has stood before.

Aside from that - nada.

 

[Bozza]

I'm intrigued - how does one become a canvasser for a major political party?

Presumably you approached your local Conservative party office or similar Tim? When was that and what happens next? How do they vet you to make sure that...

a) You really are 'on side' (i.e. not a member of the opposition out to scupper your rivals).
b) You are considered to be a good face for your chosen party in the face of the electorate at large.

 

[8ace]

That's the new house opposite Tammy's on the corner of Compton Road isn't it?

No it's a gaff on Tivoli Crescent, upstairs window old boy.

 

[Colossal Squid]

Also, don't you need to be a paid up member of the party?

 

[Dandyman]

I'm intrigued - how does one become a canvasser for a major political party?

Presumably you approached your local Conservative party office or similar Tim? When was that and what happens next? How do they vet you to make sure that...

a) You really are 'on side' (i.e. not a member of the opposition out to scupper your rivals).
b) You are considered to be a good face for your chosen party in the face of the electorate at large.

Double-Agent Timmy's mission to scupper the Tories election hopes is now well underway. What could possibly go wrong?

 

[NMH]

I would have thought that any clown can canvass for any party in this free country, and perhaps even make efforts to 'scupper' the opposing parties.

 

[WATFORD zero]

I'm intrigued - how does one become a canvasser for a major political party?

From what i have seen, to become a Tory canvasser you have to prove yourself too stupid to be a parliamentary or council candidate mixed with a natural cap toffing inferiority complex. For most people, this could prove quite a challenge, but Timmy was born to it.