Chill Time

Well it's time to relax after a bad day. We just need to get sorted locally as a party. Everything is recoverable and as Cllr Simon King said "we'll be back." National problems on immigration and the economy caused this and we just need to think how we can get it sorted. The electorate had a message to give and they are right we do need these things to be sorted out.

And now for some Jazz.

Massacre

2009 results (stripes are mixed ward)

2013 Results (my awful stripping is mixed ward)

Today the Tory Party in North East Cambridgeshire and Fenland got massacred. My Town and the surrounding villages are now represented by UKIP councillors, who didn't turn up for the count. Fenland and North East Cambs just has a majority of Conservative councillors.

The seats we lost were some of the safest in the entire county, with the exception of Wisbech North. The best councillors sadly went too. Steve Tierney, my now ex-councillor, was amazing. He was opposed to wind turbines, wanted out of Europe and actually did a lot. If UKIP do half as much as him i'll die of shock.

Even those we kept are either still here because there was no UKIP or by luck, there was about 20 votes in most elections. So no more safe seats across the county. 

There are a lot of reasons for this. Fenland is right wing and has lots of immigrants. But as I think this has something to do with the economy too. The Conservatives have yet to show a proper handling with very few tax cuts. There are some other local issues but the main thrust behind UKIP today was because of this. Immigration, Gay Marriage and EU, to a lesser extent. But these only mattered because our economic handling so far hasn't be that good. I hope it improves soon.

Blocked

I found out that I have been blocked by Virginia and Mike Bucknor, the two Independents councillors in Wisbech's Waterlees ward. Virginia is also standing as County Councillor for the area against the cool Conservative Cllr Sam Hoy. I don't know why, I'm not nasty to them and have never tweeted at them.

I follow them because I'm just interested to see what the opposition are doing. But they couldn't have blocked me for that because their accounts are public. I can see what they say.

It must be something to do with my previous Blog Posts criticising them during the campaign (see http://thingselliottsays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/countyelections.html and http://thingselliottsays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/independents-false-claims.html). It's not like I'm lying about them. Nor am I waging a hate campaign against them. I'm a student who gets on with more important things, like drinking and playing games on my computer, but has an occasional interest in politics.

I don't think this is a normal thing to do to those who oppose you politics but not you personally. I follow Dean Reeves, the Labour candidate in the upcoming elections, and we are very pleasant to each other. I've worked with him on the Town Team and although I don't like his politics, and I have criticised that, we are friendly and I follow him on Twitter.

It seems that both the Bucknors are acting in a very bitter way. They don't like what I say so refuse to like me or allow me to follow what they are saying. Not a very decent way to act, especially as both Virginia and Mike are Cllrs who should know better.  This goes completely against what Virginia says she stands for, her Twitter says that she is an 'advocate for non partisan politics'. I think she is being hypocritical.

There is some hearsay that Virginia is being nasty to the electors too. One woman has complained that she had Virginia knock on her door to canvass support but after saying she would vote for Sam was completely disrespectful, to both the woman and Sam. Virginia said that "wow you are the first person to say anything nice about her", when she was told the woman supported Sam because she is hard working. Then Virginia said "I find that hard to believe" then laughed and walked off afterwards.

This is not acceptable really. Elections can do strange things to people but a candidate shouldn't be rude to a future constituent nor lie about an opponent.

Just to correct Virginia, Sam has a lot of support because she is genuinely a nice person and good councillor. Sam has done so much saving the Town Park toilets, getting a multi million pound investment in local drainage and resurfaced Mount Pleasant and Osborne Road. Lazy is not a word that can be associated with Sam. Virginia should not be telling people lies about her, but promoting herself instead. People much prefer positive politics.

Sam is working hard for Wisbech North and has done so much, Vote for her again.

Maybe Virginia's campaign is in disarray and she is panicking? It would explain why she has reduced herself to dirty underhand tactics that only she is using. It may be that Virginia has got a bit of a nasty streak, I hope not. Whenever I speak to her apart from a recent incident (see http://thingselliottsays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/out-and-about-in-waterlees.html) she has been decent. Campaigns can bring out the worst in people, clearly it has done here. But 'by their deeds shall ye know them', and it's likely that under any stress she can be very aggressive. Is that the sort of person the people of Wisbech North want as a councillor? I think not.

Virginia and Mike, please unblock me on twitter, apologise and don't be so nasty. I am only 19, there's nothing to be scared of.

What Has The Government Done For Me?

So you may ask. What has this government done for you? Here are some answers.

Independent's False Claims

Letter to the editor of the Wisbech Standard

“I have watched the Independent Councillor in Wisbech lay claim to policy and action, that has not the faintest to do with her, with some amusement. I have noticed she is claiming to have been some sort of driving force on upgrades to the A47. This could not be further from the truth. This Council’s involvement with the A47 Alliance predates her predatory attempts to claim credit by some years. The A47 became a focus during the Wishech2020 project – again nothing at all to do with her.

It was driven forward by the Council Leader, Nick Clarke, and by the local councillors Samantha Hoy, Simon King and Steve Tierney. The new North Area Highways Committee was proposed by those same local councillors, and the only reason Virginia Bucknor might be invited onto the committee was because those same local members thought that participation by non-Conservatives would help make the issue non-political and drive it forwards faster.

It seems to me that Virginia Bucknor is very good at claiming credit for things other people do.”

Regards,

Ian

Ian Bates

County Councillor Cabinet Member for Growth, Planning & Infrastructure

I've noticed that too Ian.

Cllr Sam Hoy and Steve Tierney are helping upgrade the A47

Out and About in Waterlees

Today I was out with a large part of the Wisbech team for a campaign day. We had many people come, from the very local Sam Clark to Tom Hunt from the other side of Cambridgeshire. Wisbech Conservatives and those from further afield alike came to help the excellent Sam Hoy get re-elected to serve the people of Wisbech North.  At one point we had a team of sixteen people out.  Why do so many volunteers offer Sam their time?  Because she is very good and very nice.

The Team outside the Oasis Centre. Michelle is sporting her great John Lennon look, love it.

We canvassed around The Oasis Centre, a place Sam always supports because it is full of wonderful local people doing great work for the community. A place where Sam successfully campaigned to save the nursery – something which many people remember and mention. We spoke to all sorts and found they were all very nice. Voters were again happy to see that Sam takes a strong stance against Labour’s mindless open-door Mass Immigration and the EU, while recognising that many good people have come here to make their lives better. This is a key issue in Wisbech and for far too long others have ignored it.

 Sam and the Team are coming to a street near you, will you vote for her?

We met the opposition as well today. Dean Reeves the Labour candidate was out with his daughter delivering leaflets, he is very nice but Labour will not help on Immigration or EU issues. They just like to borrow and spend.  We also walked past the UKIP candidate’s house, sadly I don't think he has campaigned at all and in my opinion his lack of interest in getting elected shows. Most people say they only see their councillors at election time, so if they aren't out canvassing when will you ever see them? Though, to be fair, very few people raise that criticism about Sam because she is so active and hard-working.

Our Campaign Team of people from across the County and of all ages.

And then we met the Independent Candidate Virginia Bucknor. Today she wasn't very happy as she accused me in the street of lying about her saying she had everyone on her street voting for her, despite what we had found when canvassing. Of course I pointed out to her that this is what people had told us and nothing more but she just continued to get very angry, not a very professional way to run a campaign. It really made an unpleasant scene considering I was knocking on someone's door at the time. She was taking a 'naughty boy telling off' stance when she was clearly in the wrong. She just didn't like the negative press. I like how she is so pro freedom of speech, she should be implementing the Leveson reforms. I said that if she was unhappy she could sue me however she would have to bear in mind that what she was saying was false.

Canvassing almost every home in the area today, Conservatives try to speak to every single person.

As this began to take place, Cllr Michelle Tanfield said to me that I could just ignore Virginia Bucknor, but Mike Bucknor told her in what seemed to be a very nasty way to “stay away.” Virginia does not seem to have a very high opinion of many of the local Conservatives and I suppose Michelle may be one of those.  For the record, Cllr Michelle Tanfield is great, she has been a councillor for only a few months and yet helped start the citizen patrol in Wisbech and solved big problems in JFK Court.

There seems to be perception being pushed by sections of the Wisbech opposition that the Conservatives are saying nasty things about them on the doorstep. Well I’ve been with them on the doorstep and I’ve heard nothing of the sort. In fact, people on the doorstep are telling us that the opposition have been practising the negative campaigning. Apparently Sam “does nothing”, “is lazy” and "only ever toes the party line". All of these are horrible lies. I wonder whether these rumours of a dirty campaign are actually being spread by the people who are doing in order to cover their tracks? 

After some more successful canvassing we stopped for Lunch and in true Big Cheese Barlow style I took a photo of my huge burger.

Le Grand Fromage will be jealous

.

Vote for Cllr Sam Hoy.

Back In Wisbech North

We were out and about again in Wisbech North yesterday with Cllr Sam Hoy who wishes to seek re-election. We went to canvass parts of Clarkson Ward and Kirkgate where the voters responded to Sam well.

The highlight of the day was convincing several young girls who had never voted before too come out and vote Conservative. They were very impressed by Sam's expertise in the town yet being a very young face. She will represent Wisbech North very well if elected again.

One of the things we pointed out is that Sam had saved the Wisbech Park toilets. Fenland District Council had wanted to close these down as part of savings but Sam and Cllr Carol Cox, another Tory from Clarkson ward, put pressure on FDC and saved the toilets by getting the Town Council to buy them. This is a very good thing considering the high usage of the Park which is always full and hosts festivals every year. Wisbech Park is great.

Geoffrey Van Orden MEP also came to help out Sam yesterday as he believes she is a good Tory Councillor that needs to be supported. Geoffrey was also good in answering questions around the EU and immigration by explaining how he and the Party are making a real difference having cut immigration by 1/3 last year and standing up for the national interest in Europe. Sam herself wants to have an EU referendum now so that the country can take back control of its borders and to stop silly laws from Brussels. Many Conservatives wavering because of this national issue were convinced that Sam is in line with their views unlike the Labour and Independent Candidate who want uncontrolled immigration and closer integration with the EU.

Wisbech North, please re-elect Sam. 

In other news this is the front of my house. I hope Steve is happy.

#CountyElections

Well it's that time of year again and we have to make sure we get our Tory Councillors re-elected to their seats. I am helping out Sam Hoy and Steve Tierney, in Wisbech North and Roman Bank and Peckover respectively. They are both great Councillors always in contact with the locals and getting things done for them.

 Steve canvassing in Gorefield

Yesterday I was first out in Gorefield and Leverington in the morning canvassing and delivering leaflets for Steve. Steve does excellent work as a councillor holding surgeries every month and getting issues sorted. His most recent spate of local successes have been over children's play equipment and roads, which are in dire need in of more funding.

We got a very good response on the door with lots of Cs, a few Ps and only 1 S and W. We also managed to talk around Tories who at first said they'd be voting UKIP, I believe 'ex-Torys' wish to vote for them grudgingly. Steve shows a real Conservative edge of wanting to leave the EU and have a referendum now, stopping the migrant and Brussels problem in one.

Steve Barcaly helping both Steve and Sam in the heart of Wisbech North

Later that day we were joined by our MP Steve Barclay to help in Waterlees, in Wisbech North. Sam Hoy is facing a 4 way duel between Labour, UKIP and Ex Labour but now 'truly Independent' Virginia Bucknor in the ward.

We wanted to test out the alleged claim that Virginia seems to believe that she had 100% support from the streets nearby her house. So Steve Barclay and I paid a visit to these streets, the results were good. There were some Independent support but there was none on two roads and only a few on one. I was very pleased with that result with more Conservatives than Independents, it looks like the Conservatives have more votes than the all the opposition. I think Sam can win this and it is nice to see her MP thinks she is so good that he will personally come out and help. It will still be a tough fight though and I recommend to Wisbech North to vote for Sam.*

Inside the Imperial

To end the day I decided to get fish and chips. Where from? Well good old NUCA Tresurer's, Jenny Who Jenny's, Imperial Fish an Chips. Her Parents even put up a poster. Your parents say 'Holla' Jenny.

Jenny is voting for Steve, are you?

* The Independent Candidate has got very upset because we have said something that she does not like and so has tried to censor me. What a bastion of free speech she is. I would like to say that all the opinions on this blog are mine (obviously) and any claims on this Blog are either mine or that of residents in the County Division (not local Tories).