The Daily Teaser — 5-5-2016: Locally Elected

Right … 

It’s officially Election day, here in the UK: I’ll be off out to vote, at some point today.

Right now?

JUST for a change, I’m thinking of not spoiling my paper: but giving deep thought to voting either Green or Lib-dem.

I really couldn’t vote #Conservative: mostly on principle.   I’m ALSO not voting #Labour.   The local candidate self-identifies as a Christian.

While I’ve no problem with faith, I do think highlighting it in an election context is … distasteful, if not offensive.

Who know’s where my vote will go.

But getting out TO vote … ?

Is the important thing.

~≈Ω≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 6-5-2015: Elected

Right: right now, I’m very aware there’s a few things I’d like to do, today.

Build a shelf unit, for a start.

Get some cleaning and laundry done.

Oh … 

And MAYBE get some Teasers written: along with the appropriate slideshows.

These things, in other words … 

But I’m ALSO aware I’ve STILL got to post up today’s Gazette questions!

Oy veh … !

~≈Â≈~

Cash: Money, Elections and Campaigning like a Trooper.

You know, it’s REALLY not that often I get political, it really isn’t.

Actually … ?

It’s not that often I ask for money, either.

Although I’d say my mother would possibly disagree, there.

At ANY rate, you’ve probably worked out that there’s local elections up and coming in Brentwood, on the 3rd of May.

And that a friend of mine, Karen Chilvers, is standing as a Lib-Dem candidate.

And frankly … ?

Hmmm … How do I this … ?

Needs funds …

Here’s the letter she sent me …

Dear Paul

The night of 5/6 May, 2011 was one of the most difficult of my life. Just after midnight, I learned that I had lost out on being your councillor for another four years. I missed out by just 10 votes.

That result came at the end of the bitterest fight Brentwood has ever seen. The Tories stooped to new lows in their leaflets. They were so bad that they had to publish an apology for what they had said.

I really don’t want to repeat that night. I’m back again, determined to replace that memory with a win on 3rd May, 2012.

People are pleased that I am fighting to stop the Tory-led council allowing excess building in the area. They are also shocked that the council has, yet again, published its accounts late and cost residents thousands as a result. But there is a problem.

My agent, Ian Gale, has costed my campaign, and tells me we are “a little short” of the funds we need to pay for the campaign we have already planned. So I need your help - now.

With your support, we can make sure the Tories don’t buy the result here in Brentwood. They regularly spend twice as much as we do locally.

I’m asking you to give £25 — or more if you can. Otherwise, their is a real danger that we will have to cut back our plans on May 3rd.

Remember: I was just 10 votes short, last year. A tiny swing will win us the election. Every pound you give — or leaflet you deliver — could make the difference.

Thanks, again, for supporting me. We can get the result we want, here,on 3rd May.

With Best Wishes

Karen Chilvers,

Brentwood West Liberal Democrat Candidate.

There …

Now, that’s that letter she sent: and bear in mind here, that she lost the election by 10 votes: I couldn’t help but notice there were 9 people who objected to the Brunel House development, including myself.

Which will hopefully help.

»»·««

At any rate … ?

At any rate, I think I’m actually not going to ask you to give me money: although you’re welcome to, if you want to.

Cash, for preference … !

But on a SERIOUS note

I’m ACTUALLY going to ask you to give Karen your money: if, of course, funding local politics — or a Liberal-Democrat candidate — is something you think you’re comfortable with.

You can drag and drop the form over to you desktop, print it out, fill it out and send it to:

Karen Chilvers,

Liberal Democrats,

FREEPOST,

RLXE-JXLS-YCSU,

Brentwood.

CM14 4XR

Or, if you’re feeling digital, you can visit this link, and make a donation via PayPal.

Have fun.

Adventures in Local Elections: Oh, and an Email …

You know, I’ll be honest …

I’ll be glad when this local election’s over.

One way or the other … !

But possibly no gladder than Councillor Chilvers: after all, it’s her turn for re-election, this year.

But the reason I say that … ?

Is comparatively simple.

It means that, once the counting’s done, over the weekend, we’ll know one way or the other, whether we’re stuck with the First-Past-The-Post system we’ve had for the past few hundred years.

Or end up with the Alternative Vote system that the Lib-Dems insisted on, as part of the coalition government deal, after last year’s general election.

Hmmm …

Now, I’ll be honest, you’ve probably already guessed I’ve not liked the fact the party I’ve voted for has entered a national coalition, at Westminster.

But, locally, and as I’ve said before … ?

I’m quite happy: Councillor Chilvers has at least knocked on my door, a few times.

Unlike Councillor Holmes, who hasn’t.

And unlike the Labour candidate for Brentwood West.

Whose name, I’ve still not caught.

At any rate, I’ll happily share a secret with you: I’ve voted for Karen. Like I say …

»»•««

But that’s not quite all I meant to tell you …

I’ve been mailing the Gazette, again … !

I’d don’t know if you remember, but a couple of weeks ago, Brentwood’s only Labour councillor, Mike LeSurf, had his photo taken outside Brentwood Town Hall, complete with Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls, making a big noise about saving the Town Hall from demolition.

Which is funny …

As, when he vote about it was held, he voted with the Tories, to allow the plans to demolish all or part of it.

I know we expert politicians to be bend the truth a bit, but that’s a bit bendier than usual. wouldn’t you say … ?

I know, Councillor Chilvers sent in a critical letter, only to get an equally critical one from Councillor LeSurf, this week.

Pointing out the year’s of campaigning they’d done.

Well …

One photoshoot with Ed Balls, for the Gazette, and turning up at the High Street with Harriet Harman … ?

Yeah …

At any rate, I sent this in to the Gazette: here’s hoping … !

Dear Sir,

I’ve GOT to admit, I read Councillor Le-Surf’s letter, this week, and damn near fell of my chair, with laughter.

And a certain amount of annoyance, as well.

Now, I’ve followed Brentwood’s council politics for some time.

And I’m as critical as any of the Liberal democrats, nationally, as anyone: and have made my feelings clear to the local Lib-dems whenever they’ve come a-calling. Karen Chilvers will be able to confirm that: we’ve talked about it in person, when she checks her ward.

That, I should add, seems to be year round, rather than just at election time.

The local tories are a lot worse: I’ve never seen on the beat, but at least take time to answer email.

I’m extremely critical of the local Tories for not knocking my door: Councillor Homes will be able to tell you that, as we’ve we’ve discussed it be email.

But anyone who watched the discussion on the Town Hall’s future — as I have — on the council’s own website will tell you one thing.

Councillor LeSurf voted with Conservatives to demolish the Town Hall.

For him to then dig up Ed Balls, in efforts to save the Town Hall … ?

Well …

There’s a term or two that’ll get me sued if I use them of Brentwood’s only Labour councillor.

So lets just say I think he’s a pot calling the kettle black, if he’s accusing someone else of gutter politics …

»»•««

At any rate, another thing, while we’re being political … ?

I’ll ALSO confess that I voted Yes to AV …

Yes, I know I’ve had my doubt’s about that: chief of which was anger at Nick Clegg for going into the Coalition government in the first place.

But …

I didn’t know if you knew it, but Britain’s First-Past-The-Post system means that Brentwood and Ongar MP, Eric Pickles, didn’t actually get elected by a majority of Brentwood and Ongar’s voters.

No.

He’s just the chap who got more votes than anyone else.

The AV system that’s proposed in this referendum means that whoever gets elected has to get at least fifty percent of the vote.

Which is the point that appealed to me … !

An MP has to WORK at it, come election time … !

As did one other point.

David Cameron, Britain’s Prime Minister has made it plain he’ll be voting No to AV.

A couple of his reason’s sort of grabbed me.

One was that he argued that First-Past-The-Post was simpler to understand.

Hmmm …

I’ve not been convinced by that.

After all, for us end-users, it amount’s to put a 1 — or 1, 2, 3 — on a ballot paper, instead of an X.

The other was expense. I’m personally thinking that’ll correct it self, after a few years of using it: it strikes me the initial set-up’s the costly bit.

The third bit … ?

Is that David Cameron’s said, quite a few times over the past few weeks, that he think’s AV isn’t in the nation’s interest.

Which is presumably why his party used it — or a version of it — to elect him, as party leader.

Obviously the UK’s average voter isn’t bright enough to join the Conservatives …

»»•««

Ahem … !

Now …

What else …

Oh, yeah … !

I was also going to tell you about Archie … Remember Archie … ?

Archie’s the Dell C800 sitting behind me as I speak.

I’ve got to admit, I’ve now update him to Xubuntu 11•04, Natty Narwhal, hence the screen shot.

If I make any major changes — or manage to persuade anyone else to try it, beyond Dr Kevin — I’ll let you know …

The Politics Of Libraries ...

You know, I've got to admit, the kitchen table isn't necessarily the best place to write a blog post, is it ... ?

Especially when you consider that the height of the table relative to the height of the chair isn't exactly a good match.

But as Bruce - capable multimedia box of tricks that he is - is currently exporting the next few days Teaser slideshows, whilst playing some songs in iTunes, and juggling three active chainsaws in his other USB ports ...

I thought I'd use Archie to write this post up ...

I think he's struggling, but game: after all, Archie - a Dell C800, running Xubuntu 10.10 - was designed back when 20 gigabytes was a BIG hard drive for a laptop ...

But, at any rate, that's not quite what I was going to mention ...

‹♦›

First off ... ?

I'm blowed if I can remember if I told you or not, but Councillor Chilvers asked me if I minded being quoted on the local Lib Dem's newsletter.

As it was her ... ?

Of course I didn't.

Well, that newsletter is now out ... !

Here's the quote I gave her for it ...

"I know I've expressed my reservations with the Lib-Dems at a national level: however, locally, Karen and the rest of the team are the only ones I've seen to not only a) help residents on a one to one basis, b) notify us residents on stuff that directly affects us - the Saint James road planning application is a great example - and c) - and most importantly - knocked on our doors to actually ask how councillors can help".

I think I can honestly say I still stand by that.

The local Lib Dems are the only party, locally, to do that!

Lets move on, shall we ... ?

Yes, lets ...

‹♦›

Something I thought I'd chase up - while I was in Brentwood Library, scanning that leaflet in - was whether the copy of Debbi's book, Identity Crisis had actually turned up.

After all, it has been a while: about a month, after all, if I've got the dates right.

Guess what ... ?

It hasn't ...

Hmmm ...

I was a touch put out, to say the least.

The first thing I did ... ?

Was obvious, really.

Ask a librarian.

According to the lady I asked, there's usually a delay between the warehouse despatching a book - or a set of books, as she rightly pointed out that these things are usually done in comparatively big batches - a library actually getting them, and the book concerned hitting their shelves.

Her suggestion ... ?

Was a fair one, under the circumstances.

Come back in another week, and see if it had turned up.

I think I will.

After all, I've been looking forward to this, ever since Debbi started commenting, here ...

Fairer Voting …

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve GOT to admit, Adrian, bless him, has a very good point that’s occurred to me to ask about.

One I’m fairly certain’s going to be argued about, by ALL shades of politician.

And one I’m not sure will boost voter turn-out, either, but that’s possibly a whole other issue.

Actually, that possibly is: I’m sure you — as I — have seen or heard all sorts of stories in the news about low voter turn-out at elections, voter apathy, and how shows like Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor regularly get better turn-outs.

And I’m sure you’re also aware that last years General Election saw such a huge number of people wanting to vote, that polling stations couldn’t cope.

God, there’s probably all sorts of answers, there.

But maybe insisting that Polling stations open for half an hour longer would help, there.

And maybe having more of them is another: I know there’s plenty of times I’ve simply not bothered, purely on the basis that the station concerned was out of my way.

««•»»

But, at any rate, the one thing I know Adrian’s always mentioned — half-jokingly, but in the tone of voice that suggested there’s a serious point to think about* — is something the pair of us first saw on the film, Brewster’s Millions.

A ‘None Of The Above’ option.

Seriously, nobody campaigning for or against AV, on May 5th, has mentioned it.

I can’t see why, instead of politicians complaining about voter turn-out, we have the option of formally abstaining.

After all, when you think about it, politicians are applying — to us, their bosses — for a job.

We can either let one politician per ward or constituency have have it.

Or, with a None Of The Above option … ?

Force a re-run, with a fresh set of candidates, if we don’t like the ones standing.

Fairer votes, anyone … ?

»»•««

Just as a quick thought … ?

I actually went ask used Facebook’s Question feature: I asked “Should Britain have a ‘None Of The Above’ option, whichever voting system it chooses on May 5th?”.

So far … ?

Of the 10 people who’ve answered the question — six of whom aren’t known to me — 8 have gone for ‘Yes’.

They’d go for it, in other words.

Nice to know.

* Which is possibly the point of a good joke: that there’s a serious point to consider, sneaked into your thoughts, along with the punchline …