No sooner then this blog started to probe why a Conservative candidate had not been announced for River Ward, one was duly announced by Medway Council.
The six candidates announced in alphabetical order.
David George Craggs - Conservative Party
Gerry Harrison - Liberal Party
John Alun Charles Jones - Labour Party
Steven Richard Keevil - Green Party
Brian Christian Ravenscroft - BNP
Ron Sands - English Democrat
In reality River Ward is a two-horse race between David Craggs and John Jones.
The other contenders, and noticeably those not present, including UKIP, will not stand a chance of taking the ward.
The Conservative candidate has a connection with this blogger, having been a teacher at Kings School Rochester. He was a very strong and capable teacher and was a popular housemaster for the School House (Boarding facility). David could also be spotted on regular patrol in Rochester Highstreet and according to the Kent Police website is the North Kent organiser for the Special Constabulary. He is also a working head master for Gads Hill School currently.
The Labour candidate formally stood with the blogger in Strood North in the Local Elections in 2007 and has a strong record of delivering for residents as a former Councillor and spokesperson on anti-social behaviour reduction, community cohesion and regeneration. John is also involved in the local community PACT Committee locally. John is also Chair of the Brook Lines Residents' Action Group and a member of the Brompton Residents Association, where he aids in the organisation of local events for residents. He is a well known face on St Mary's Island.
The Liberal candidate has no online profile at all. Though the candidate was clearly on display, it is assumed, last Friday on Rochester Highstreet where he was heckled by local residents (or perhaps they were tourists).
The Green candidate, or better known by his twitter profile @onmejack is according to his profile a former 'Making Life Taste Better' Champion and failed Sitcom writer. He is now an 'FD Media Course Leader, Functional Skils lecturer' and enjoys bridge. He clearly needs to be instructed on basic political etiquette as one of his recent posts included 'Important to remember; Gingers are people to' and clearly has enough campaign time to enjoy a number of DVDs including True Blood - Series 1. This blogger would suggest that perhaps he should continue to immerse himself in other DVDs... (I am a fan of True Blood btw).
The BNP candidate is a martial arts enthusiast and formerly PPC for Gillingham and Rainham. According to his election interview, he has been a BNP member for 10 years and is the “voice of sanity.” According to his interview, his first concern was with “putting the British people first.” The 42 year old is a fan of cheese and marmite sandwiches, and in his spare time he likes to read and go on holidays.
The English Democrat candidate is a former army [officer] who has lived lived in Rochester & Strood all his life, apart from the time he spent in the British Army. Mr Sands, 57, says his main concerns are immigration, getting a devolved parliament for England, and creating local jobs for local people. Soul and Motown fan Mr Sands has been a member of the English Democrats for two years and lists party chairman Robin Tilbrook as his hero. Nice loyalty.
The reality is that this is a two-horse race between John Jones and David Craggs.
It it is perhaps ironic that on the day the government are announcing massive cuts to police force numbers across Kent, and the wider country, that law and order could be considered a strong point for Tories.
Under a Labour Government we saw a massive and significant reduction in crime due to investment in more police.
The Tory agenda of police cuts, forced mergers, and interestingly, elected Police Chiefs, are not well received policies on the ground. The Tories are also cutting investment in Magistrate Services, Criminal Prosecution Services and are putting pressure for more short sentences for criminals.
The issue of anti-social behaviour in the ward will no doubt be a major issue. Kerb-crawling and drug usage blight areas of River Ward. It would be interesting to see what the Tory candidate feels is appropriate, given his ward colleague has a strongly libertarian angle on these issues. In addition, the disgraced former Tory Cllr Brice still remains in the council payroll after having been a kerb-crawler. He has yet to apologise to residents and the Conservative Group still refuse to call for his resignation.
Drunken behaviour also blights areas of Rochester Highstreet on Friday and week nights. Obviously drunken behaviour, and most notably our own MPs 'legless' pursuits will surely come up.
All in all the Tory candidate's justifiable strong points are undermined by Tory colleagues and the Medway Conservative record.
Will that enough for John Jones?
Its going to be close. People on the doorstep are very unhappy with Mark Reckless and his antics in Parliament but they do not see a coherent or cogent Labour Party.
Too close to call, but only two horses are in the race.
Posts
Said 'green candidate' is my tutor at MidKent college, and out of all the political people I've met he's by far one of the most insightful and philosophical people I've ever met, who merely enjoys mocking life rather than moaning about it.
ReplyDeleteSchool ground tatics of 'bitching' aren't going to win any election.
I'd give him my vote anyday.
Keevil is the best canditate there is. He is the most normal person there and tells it how it is. He is intellegent and will do better than anyone else. The infomation about him is not very nice as its quite patronising, well i guess u'll have to be for anyone else to have a chance. Keevil all the way!!
ReplyDeleteThe information comes from his own twitter profile which I have used because I can not find any other sources for information. The candidate may obviously change his profile as a response, which is absolutely his call.
ReplyDeleteIf you do have a more objective profile, always happy to link to it.
My piece was suggesting that comments on 'gingers' may not be not the wisest of remarks for an aspiring candidate and were in no way attacking his character. I doubt it will feature too heavily on the doorstep...
The public have a right to read his twitter musings and make their own judgement on suitability.
Always pleased for opposition supporters to post on my blog and shout out for there candidate.
I think this will be a tough fight for Labour.
ReplyDeleteThe Green's, BNP and English Democrats will take votes away from Labour, aided by a lower turnout - will make life difficult for you. Nationally the Conservatives are still 7 points ahead in the polls and David Craggs is a very good candidate
I predict a Conservative win....with a similar majority!
Al
This is an absolutely pathetic blog post, from the Labour supporter. Steven Keevil is a better choice than any of the other candidates, it shows the kind of politics that Labour rely on, when their supports resort to picking small pieces of text to discredit decent rival candidates.
ReplyDeleteSteven's politics are a lot more sound than any of the main parties' candidates (and especially the BNP and the right-wing nut jobs that are the English Democrats), but you decided to weigh into the candidate for a reason best known to yourself. That is why there are people here defending Steven Keevil. He is a good man and has good politics, but you've decided to dish out a hefty argument in his direction, whilst digging up no dirt whatsoever on the other candidates.
This is yet another thing that can annoy us about Labour. With all of their problems, you'd at least expect them and their supporters to act with respect.
This is an embarrassment to Labour, quite frankly. Not that they need much more embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteAl - Appreciate you wise words. I clearly favour a small Labour win but with a small turn out (and turn out is key) it could be interesting to see which of the two candidates draws out the largest vote. Both the two main candidates have the strongest local identity.
ReplyDeleteThis election from all accounts will be lower key then L&W last year which also turned out to be a two horse race.
I note that St Mary's Island did go heavily Conservative in the election from surveys on the boxes. However, locally the Council is unpopular and traffic and congestion have caused major problems for residents.
Either way, it is a two-horse race, though it seems the Green candidate has a lot of anonymous backing.
You never know...
Anon - this blog is the opinion of a Labour activist and is not part of the campaign.
Tristan, I've been involved in educational, creative and community activities with the Greens' Steve Keevil and I think the bloke is a genuine ispiration. If he were standing for election in my ward I would vote for him. There's a groundswell of support for Steve because he's not a career politician, he's a community player, a great teacher and an unsung catalyst for good.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, the emergence of a Green presence in Medway that is prepared to challenge Medway Council over its lack of public consultation (in a way that Labour frankly hasn't) is a welcome thing.
This isn't a two horse race.
Phil, thanks for posting, appreciate you are a strong voice of sense and I am a regular reader of yours !!
ReplyDeleteI am not doubting any individual for their conviction or denigrating careers. I have met many Green party members and do believe they have good judgement of character. Though you must expect a bit of campaign banter for a by-election. This is after all a competitive election.
On trying to source information I have tried to find available facts on each candidate online and came across the twitter profile of the Green candidate. That biography I have used. The ginger remark was made by the candidate, and I think has been now deleted, was more tongue in cheek... but be aware members of the public will now be reading and the candidate has to expect that such remarks could be flagged.
I would obviously challenge the fact that Labour has not fought for residents. We have not sought to make partisan the campaign groups we have supported but we do regularly work with residents across the borough to fight against cuts. Appreciate that we may not be good at emailing the press and getting our pictures into the paper, but rest assured we are working on the ground and are meeting people on the doorstep. Highstreet stalls and campaign petitions on abstract issues are of course one form of visibility campaigning. We will see the result at the byelection.
The basis of my two-horse remark is that the none of the minority party candidates have had a presence of fighting against Tory cuts in the ward, and do believe that voters will respect the work undertaken by Bill Esterson who was a popular Labour Councillor.
I stand by my judgement that it will be a two horse race.
Tristan, what do you mean by "abstract issues"?
ReplyDeleteIssues which do not directly, physically and actually affect or impact people in their daily lives at work, at home or amongst friends.
ReplyDeleteGood to see Tristan Osborne reaching out and alienating voters right across the political spectrum. With friends like this, John Jones sure doesn't need enemies. Go Keevil!
ReplyDeleteThe English Democrats offer a unique opportunity to abandon the 'left-right' see-saw and aim for pride in England, through real democracy
ReplyDeleteIt won't make any difference who gets elected. We will still get traffic chaos, a loss of public open space, loss of historic buildings, more overcrowding and a declining city centre that just attracts crime. And all the time the council treat us like an inconvenience, but don't mind taking our money whenever they can.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the comments. Perhaps I am just the eternal optimist when it comes to people in their communities standing up to try and do good.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that we in Medway have suffered from a lot of poor policies and a lack of control over policy from our current masters in Gun Wharf.
Look elsewhere at competent run administrations and local government can do immense good.
There are fundamental differences between the parties. But please do vote, even if is to spoil the ballot.