Elections 2024.

4th January, 2024.

11:32

I have a confession to make.

Simply this: that I’ve not spoken about politics on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar for a while.

And never done so on my YouTube channel, @MrCuddy2977.

There’s been — from where I’m sitting? — very little to write about.

However?

I’m writing this at the start of January of 2024.

And I’m very aware there’s a chance of a General Election, this year.

Whilst I’m aware it can be as late as the 28th January of 2025?

I’m also aware it’s more than likely to be this year.

I’m very aware that general elections — and any accompanying local elections — may give us the chance to vote for a suitable candidate.

But?

Radio Four’s Today programme spent time telling us Labour Party leader, Sir Keir Starmer was, is or has, made a speech, today.

In part?   He’s said;

“Do not listen to the siren voices that say we’re all the same.   We’re not, and we never will be.”

I have to say … I think I may disagree.

I’ve always felt that MPs — red, blue, yellow or what have you? — are much of a muchness.

Additionally?

In a speech in Mansfield, today, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tells us his “working assumption” is that there will be an election in the second half of this year.

That means any time from July, onwards.

That gives political parties time to start writing election manifestos: and sling mud at each other.

This gives the likes of you and me a chance to have a good long think about who — if anyone — we want to vote for.

~≈X≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6-2-2018: Votes For Women … !

6th February, 2018.

Right … 

It’s a day when I’m working.

Which … well, you’d possibly figured it was a fifty/fifty chance of it.

At any rate … ?

I’m working today: very much in the awareness that I’ve a hospital appointment, tomorrow.

On practical fronts?

I’ve not managed to book up a bus ticket in advance.

But have got the cash for the tickets.

So the simple practical job of getting there is not something I’ll be worrying about.

When I get to Basildon Hospital’s Chest Pain Unit?

I suspect that’s when the real nerves will start …

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-6-2016

Today … 

It’s raining.

It’s raining, on the morning after some of rather BIG thunderstorms.

It’s also raining — here in the south-east of the UK — on the morning of the vote.

The vote.

The vote on whether Britain’s should remain a member of the European Union.

Quite frankly?

I’m still fairly undecided.

On the one hand?   I know voting Leave will annoy the hell out of Brentwood’s local MP, Eric Pickles.

Annoying a Tory?   The mildly rebellious teenager in me would be happily pleased to do so.

On the other hand … ?

On the other hand, I’m tempted to vote remain: after the death of MP, Jo Cox,

I know the case is still sub-judice. 

But I get the impression — from the media coverage of her death, at the time of her death — that her killer murdered her, in part, because she’d help many refugees.

And partly because she’d been a member of the Remain campaign,

Personally?   My emotional instinct is to vote leave: not because the Leave campaign is making an issue of controlling migration, but because Britain gains more sovereignty as a result.

But I’m ALSO sympathetic to the family of Jo Cox.

And think if her murderer killed, in part, in support of Leave?

I think voting Remain is a good way of showing my sympathies.

~≈É≈~

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 AV Campaign: Oh, A poster …

You know, I’ve GOT to admit, I’m still — still — um’ing and ah’ing about which way to vote in the upcoming elections.

I’ll be honest … ?

I’m fairly sure that I’ll be voting for Councillor Chilvers as ward Councillor.

She does, after all make an effort to bang on people’s doors.

But I’m still having doubt’s about the whole AV thing" mostly, still, on the fact that nationally, my favourite party’s in coalition with the Conservatives.

On the other hand … ?

The simple fact that the BNP — Britain’s own ultranationalist right-wing fascists — are making no bones about the fact they like First-Past-The-Post system has put me off voting against AV.

Which is some form of encouragement, I suppose.

One thing I do know, though … ?

Is that the pictured poster is on display in one or two carparks in Brentwood.

I’d like to ask this …

If that soldier needs money spent on bullet-proof armor, why the hell are we sending ‘Military Advisors’ to Libya … ?

Just a thought …

The Vote …

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’ve had a busy day, today: long story, that I’ll maybe tell you about, another time.

However, I know I’ve had the news on, at various stages of the day.

Complete with the inevitable circus about the up-coming elections: including the various cross-party speeches for both the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ campaigns.

I’ve got to admit, something Labour Leader, Ed Milliband said, in one of those speeches, this morning, struck me as rather silly.

Well …

Not silly, per se.

Just something I think many of us will ignore.

He said “Don't make this a referendum on David Cameron or Nick Clegg or Ed Miliband - make it a referendum about what kind of politics we want in this country.”.

Off the top of me head, I know Councillor Chilvers has made near enough the same point.

The problem I’m having, though … ?

I know there’s a very good point, there: indeed, anyone that’s been to any kind of 12-step group will have be familiar with the 12th Tradition, which states “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities”.

It’s a very good point, I think.

The problem is … ?

I’m sitting here thinking that my first instinct, when Milliband said this … ?

Was to laugh at him for being so naïve.

After all, I’m talking about politics, here.

On a personal level, I am still tempted to vote to keep First-Past-The-Post.

In part, because Nick Clegg — the leader of the party I’ve voted for, for a large part of my adult life — has joined that coalition.

Oh, I know the arguments for and against, I really do.

And intellectually … ?

I’m all for AV.

But on an emotional level, the basic one I find that kicks in, around now … ?

Well …

Lets just say I’m also aware that the 12 Traditions aren’t the first thing I think of, whenever politics gets a mention.

Vote For … Something … !

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve got to confess, I almost forgot to mention in a post, yesterday, that today is your last chance to register to vote for the upcoming election on May 5th.

And that was even after heading into Brentwood, yesterday, just to double check that I was on the Electoral roll!

D’Oh … !

But that’s not necessarily why I was going to post, though …

You see, I’ve got to confess, I just had an idea in the shower …

Ahem!

Remember, yesterday, that I’d written, briefly, about how I’d come to feel that a ‘None Of The Above’ option could be a good thing: and that more could be done to improve voter turn-out.

Something literally occurred to me in the shower.

I live near a station.

Well …

I live not far from my polling station …

And not far from Brentwood railway station.

I’m sort of lucky, in that regard.

But that got me thinking.

In the past, one of the reasons I skip voting, some years, is because the polling stations are out of my way.

But it occurred to me that would still be the case if I were commuting into London.

Unless the polling station was at the railway station.

That way, commuters could vote on their way home, and not have to worry about going out — to somewhere inconvenient — just to do a chore.

OK, you’d probably need to organise something along the lines of the current Postal Voting registration: in other words, you register, in advance, that you’ll be voting at Commuter Polling Station A, rather than Regular Polling Station B.

And, granted, the people that run polling stations will have an extra amount of stations to run.

But …

Well …

MPs of all political stripes have been saying that one or another form of vote is ‘Fairer’ than others.

But also have a chance — during parliamentary or council votes — to abstain.

Not something, thus far, politicians seem willing to grant to you and me.

Is that fair … ?

The Flats …

Well, I never …

Talk about your Town Hall Politics … !

I’m just thankful I was wearing brown underwear, tonight, let’s put it that way …

Now, as you’ve probably guessed, there’s been quite a bit of fuss about the flats that Taylor Wimpey were — were, I should stress — planning to put on Saint James Road.

Notice I said were … ?

Because I was at the meeting of Brentwood Council’s Planning meeting, tonight, along with both Movie Night Adrian, and another neighbour and one or two of the neighbours, as well …

As it turns out, the various rules and regulations of the Planning Committee meeting debates of these things allow for a person objecting to the any such plans — as well as someone in favour of them — to speak for three minutes on why they think the plans are a bad move.

Or a good idea, depending.

Guess who volunteered to speak as an objector … ?

I’m a tart for the attention, aren’t I … ?

And, yep, that was me that volunteered to speak against the plans.

Not for very long, granted, but I think I managed to make my point.

Or points …

You only actually get three minutes to speak, and I don’t actually think I used all of them: I know one of my next door neighbours managed to do an audio capture of the relevant part of the meeting, but I’m not sure I timed myself: I do know I felt nervous.

And, yes, I know that many of my neighbours who were there told me I did fine.

And, yes, I also know I ran pub quizzes for six years.

But that doesn’t exactly stop stage-fright!

‹‹‹◊›››

At any rate, the initial procedure — for me — was sort of fascinating to watch. Although I think I’d be bored out of my skull having to do that all of the time.

None the less …

Hmm …

The whole thing opened with the Planning Committee’s chairman — Councillor McCheyne, if I’ve got this right — making some basic opening statements, introducing the various councillors involved, and — in the case of the Saint James Road site — telling us all that it had been recommended for refusal.

Which I’am assuming is on the basis of the various petitions — like the one organised by Councillor Chilvers, pictured — and objections already received.

But the fact that someone was there to object — and no-one was there to seemingly speak in favour?

Hopefully that helped!

Councillor McCheyne also — in his introduction — also told everyone about exactly which committee members could and couldn’t vote on each application. I’m not too sure if I got the straight of that, but — if I’ve understood it correctly — it appears that any councillors who’ve already spoken out about an application are assumed to be already biased for or against: I’m hoping that Councillor Chilvers — and Movie Night Adrian, who was there, and quietly disagreed about that, afterwards — will leave a comment or two.

Actually, Councillor Chilvers was one of the Committee members who had her vote on the application disallowed: on that very rule.

However, both her and Councillor Holmes*, who’s one of the other two Councillors for the Brentwood West ward, did have a chance to speak about this: both against, I should add.

(Before I forget, we also had some explanatory comments from one of Brentwood Council’s officers, detailing the various clauses in the application, and a question from Councillor David Kendall, the Lib-Dem Essex Council member for the area, asking if he could be allowed to speak.)

‹‹‹◊›››

So …

With all of the talk … ?

(Very tempting to use the word verbiage, there, but never mind …)

Well …

I’m hoping I’ve got something of a scoop, here …

But the net result of all of the talk … ?

Is that Taylor Wimpey’s plans to build 71 flats on Saint James Road have been — wait for it — REFUSED!!

Phew!!

‹‹‹◊›››

The big question … ?

The big question, of course, is what happens next.

To be frank … ?

I’m not too sure.

I do know that there was a heck of a lot of comment from various Committee members that made a lot of the fact that Taylor Wimpey and Crest Nicholson had — as part of the planning application that got Rollason Way originally built — agreed to build some sort of amenities area, something I know I wasn’t aware of.

In fact, one Councillor, whose name I didn’t catch, was insistent that some sort of play area’s be built: his word’s were that not to have them was “sullying the memory of Helen Rollasonº”: who he’d known personally, and after whom Rollason Way was named.

Well …

Let me re-phrase that earlier phrase to ‘it’s something I was reminded of’: I can dimly remember the signs up for ‘The Base’ — Crest Nicholson’s name for the bit of the estate that they’d constructed — that promised a certain amount of park. There’s none of that visible from my front or back windows.

Unless you count Brentwood Station’s car-park, over the road, but I don’t think that’s what meant.

At any rate, I do know me and the neighbours got nattering on the way back. To a man, we all agreed that — hopefully — that patch of grass should either be kept as a patch of park.

Or maybe have a community hall built on it.

Here’s hoping …

* Councillor Holmes isn’t on the Committee: but had the chance to speak as one of the Councillors representing the area.

º Sports reporter, Helen Rollason lived in Brentwood up until her death in 1999: Rollason Way is named after her, and all of the flats along it are named after various sportsmen and women.