Not very...few Tories make themselves known round here!
These "voting" threads stupidly show who last voted in the "last action" field in the list of threads. So if you happened to have noticed the totals beforehand then you see one of the choices has increased by one and no one has added an actual comment to the thread, then that person obviously made that vote.
These "voting" threads stupidly show who last voted in the "last action" field in the list of threads. So if you happened to have noticed the totals beforehand then you see one of the choices has increased by one and no one has added an actual comment to the thread, then that person obviously made that vote.
I think he is trying to suggest that Labour won't get in. I am confident we will win seats in the election, the question is how many. That will depend largely on how much the AV referendum increases turn out (if at all) and also on how much the national situation affects the Lib Dem vote.
I think he is trying to suggest that Labour won't get in. I am confident we will win seats in the election, the question is how many. That will depend largely on how much the AV referendum increases turn out (if at all) and also on how much the national situation affects the Lib Dem vote.
If they don't, would you say the campaign had been a failure?
I'm not really into gambling, but if I was I'd have a sneaky each way bet of Labour getting control. Can you imagine what odds they would give you? Nowhere near as high as what they would have given you a day after the general election!!!
I'm not really into gambling, but if I was I'd have a sneaky each way bet of Labour getting control. Can you imagine what odds they would give you? Nowhere near as high as what they would have given you a day after the general election!!!
You're obviously not a gambling man if you think you could get an each way bet on an outcome with only two possibilities.
Presumably that's a yes then, if Labour don't win a seat you would say the campaign had been a failure?
I'm not really into gambling, but if I was I'd have a sneaky each way bet of Labour getting control. Can you imagine what odds they would give you? Nowhere near as high as what they would have given you a day after the general election!!!
You are the campaign manager for the local Labour party & even you would only want to have an each way flutter?!??!?
You are the campaign manager for the local Labour party & even you would only want to have an each way flutter?!??!?
Considering Labour's recent history in the area I admire the confidence anyone prepared to bet on them in any way - though I might question their sanity.
You're obviously not a gambling man if you think you could get an each way bet on an outcome with only two possibilities.
Presumably that's a yes then, if Labour don't win a seat you would say the campaign had been a failure?
We will win seats, it's a case of how many. Newbury is one of the fastest growing branches of the Labour Party, and the party are simply looking for an increase in votes. I think we have already won a moral victory in terms of becoming a contender again.
You are the campaign manager for the local Labour party & even you would only want to have an each way flutter?!??!?
Only because we have to win 27 out of 29 we are standing in. The good news is that we have a chance in every seat we are standing according to our returns, so it is a possibility!!!
Considering Labour's recent history in the area I admire the confidence anyone prepared to bet on them in any way - though I might question their sanity.
Not anymore. There is a very strong anti Lib Dem voice in West Berkshire now, it will be interesting to see if that translates at the polling station. Personally, I'd like to see 29 Labour and the rest Lib Dems!!!
Strong anti Lib Dem faction = More votes for the Conservatives.
I think less Conservative voters will turn out, some Lib Dem voters will vote Labour and some will vote Tory and some won't vote at all. Graham Jones and the council are not popular with the Conservative supporters, what is Conservative about this Conservative council??? Long term debt doubled, debt interest out of control. Everyone had a pop at Gordon Brown for trying to spend our way out of recession, but the Conservative have ramped up debt making required cuts deeper than they would have been.They talk of being the "big society", but in reality they are slashing key services. Six schools have fallen into special measures under their control. They have allowed unelected officers to railroad developments through and dictate the agenda of the council. And to top it all off, they try to deflect all criticism of the council by restricting contact with the officers and elected members. How many people are on the black list now? One for asking a question of his local council about planning control, another about the Priory in Hungerford. These people were trying to have a say about local issues (which is being encouraged by Pickles and |Cameron), yet locally these people are punished for trying to get involved. If anyone else is on that list by the way, please email me info@richardgarvie.com.
No people have had a go at Gordon for ramping up debts in "the good times" rather than being prudent and reducing it.
Thanks for confirming that Labour still haven't got a clue about either finances or the electorate's concerns.
For the record, Labour were spending 3p in the pound on debt interest prior to the financial collapse even after rebuilding schools, hospitals and such like. What was it when Major left office? 8.5p!!!
You have just confirmed that youi are regurgitating nonsense fed to you by Cameron and his spin doctors!!!
The fact is, we had one of the strongest recoveries in the world at the general election, and the shift in policy has killed growth and possibly taking us back to recession. In America and Germany, they are reducing the deficit slower but their growth is still strong. One would think Labour were in fact on the right track to getting us out of the mess the banks caused.
On the other hand, Graham Jones has doubled long term debt in six twelve months, debt interest locally is out of control. £7.4m of the £8.2m budget cuts in West Berks have hit the most vulnerable in societry. Way to go Graham!!
For the record, Labour were spending 3p in the pound on debt interest prior to the financial collapse even after rebuilding schools, hospitals and such like. What was it when Major left office? 8.5p!!!
You have just confirmed that youi are regurgitating nonsense fed to you by Cameron and his spin doctors!!!
The fact is, we had one of the strongest recoveries in the world at the general election, and the shift in policy has killed growth and possibly taking us back to recession. In America and Germany, they are reducing the deficit slower but their growth is still strong. One would think Labour were in fact on the right track to getting us out of the mess the banks caused.
On the other hand, Graham Jones has doubled long term debt in six twelve months, debt interest locally is out of control. £7.4m of the £8.2m budget cuts in West Berks have hit the most vulnerable in societry. Way to go Graham!!
Not a linear comparison though is it.
Interest rate at Labours demise 0.5%
Much higher when Major left.
Also Major hadn't had such a long period of growth to reduce the debt!
Why not? The fact is that Labour had less debt before the banks collapsed than when the Conservatives left office, even despite the high public spending.
Interest rate at Labours demise 0.5%. Much higher when Major left.
I thought you were supposed to be making a case against Labour? Low interest rates were part of a catalyst for growth that also included a one year period of reduced VAT helped growth too, the scrappage scheme. What did the Tories do? Increase VAT, which hits the poorest hardest!!!
Also Major hadn't had such a long period of growth to reduce the debt!
How long were the Tories in Government versus how long Labour were in power? Maybe it says something about economic policy? Labour: Growth, employment, less debt, public spending and protection of NHS and Education. Conservatives: flat growth, unemployment is higher, more debt as a result of less taxation / higher welfare payments due to unemployment, cuts to services, less spending on health and education.
I'm not twisting them. We had a strong recobvery under Labour, and since the general election everything the Tories have done is put that growth in decline!!!
What about our dear leader Jones? What about his economic policy?
Why not? The fact is that Labour had less debt before the banks collapsed than when the Conservatives left office, even despite the high public spending.
Strong anti Lib Dem faction = More votes for the Conservatives.
When it comes to NTC the Conservatives couldn't even find enough people willing to stand for election. As a result they are bound to have fewer seats in St John's Ward as they are only fielding 3 candidates despite winning all 4 seats last time.
Not anymore. There is a very strong anti Lib Dem voice in West Berkshire now, it will be interesting to see if that translates at the polling station. Personally, I'd like to see 29 Labour and the rest Lib Dems!!!
Richard, you keep avoiding the question so I'll rephrase it.
You mention 29 Labour councillors there, but what figure or less constitutes failure? 20? 15?
I want to win control of the council. If that doesn't happen I will be upset, but it won't be a failure. I remember people telling me in October that Labour had no chance of winning a seat. We have come a very long way, and have already gained a moral victory by becoming a serios contender again. It's will only be a failure if we got less votes than 2007, and that won't happen!!!
I want to win control of the council. If that doesn't happen I will be upset, but it won't be a failure. I remember people telling me in October that Labour had no chance of winning a seat. We have come a very long way, and have already gained a moral victory by becoming a serios contender again. It's will only be a failure if we got less votes than 2007, and that won't happen!!!
Surely if you don't win a seat, that's a failed campaign then?
You're predicting somewhere between 29 seats and more votes than last time to achieve 0 seats, which seems to suggest you don't actually have much of an idea how many votes you'll get.
I just want him to stop avoiding the question and give me an answer.
What number of seats constitutes a failure?
Yeah right!
You are being unfair with the question as well as loaded, it impossible to answer correctly. What does failure mean? Spinning it on its head, I'd say Labour winning a seat would be remarkable; Labour getting fewer votes than the last local elections would be a failure.
You are being unfair with the question as well as loaded, it impossible to answer correctly. What does failure mean? Spinning it on its head, I'd say Labour winning a seat would be remarkable; Labour getting fewer votes than the last local elections would be a failure.
Exactly, we will only fail if we get less votes. How many people would have even considered voting Labour this time last year? We have made huge progress, but let me be clear User. Anything less than control of the council will upset me personally. The response on the doorstep is huge, but will that transfer at the polling booth? We will continue to fight for every single vote, and on the day if the actual vote reflects the kind of numbers we are seeing on our return sheets, I will be a very happy chappy on the 6th May when the results are published!!!
Newbury is very Conservative. I'd be surprised if Labour made a significant impact on the council. Judging by people's inability to deal effectively with chuggers, I'd suggest a lot of apparent doorstep Labour support is in truth, deference.
Exactly, we will only fail if we get less votes. How many people would have even considered voting Labour this time last year? We have made huge progress, but let me be clear User. Anything less than control of the council will upset me personally. The response on the doorstep is huge, but will that transfer at the polling booth? We will continue to fight for every single vote, and on the day if the actual vote reflects the kind of numbers we are seeing on our return sheets, I will be a very happy chappy on the 6th May when the results are published!!!
So your target is 27 seats. Glad we cleared that up.
The Labour Party target from HQ is a rise in the number of votes we get...
I would imagine you'll probably get that. But I wouldn't go expecting a massive swing toward Labour if I were you. As others have said, folks on the doorstep will tell political parties whatever they want to hear to get rid of them.
If we must mark out what constitutes a "failure", then I'm not sure. But I do remember you mentioning on several occasions that you are expecting an "upset" at the polls. I would think that if you don't get it then you have to question how effective your approach has been.
Comparing the poll on this site to the NWN site, it would show that you can't trust figures to mean anything.
It's ludicrous to attempt to predict the result based on a poll of 20 or so voters - it's not the figures that are wrong it's simply that the sample size is far, far too small to be meaningful.
As it is I voted differently in the two polls since the candidates I will be voting for do not represent the same party.
It's ludicrous to attempt to predict the result based on a poll of 20 or so voters - it's not the figures that are wrong it's simply that the sample size is far, far too small to be meaningful.
As it is I voted differently in the two polls since the candidates I will be voting for do not represent the same party.
I don't think anyone is suggesting this will be anything like the final result, however it's interesting to see the difference in the political leanings of the two forums.
It's certainly going to be interesting, whatever the outcome. Response on the doorstep tonight was strong in Clay Hill for both Labour and the Conservatives, but the feeling against the Lib Dems was stronger than support for anyone else.
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