Politics Archives

Ming for Speaker?

Iain Dale has revealed an ‘exclusive’ on his blog tonight (although a fair few of us had wind of this a day or so ago) in that Sir Menzies Campbell is mounting a campaign to secure the position of Speaker of the House.

Ming has let it be known that he is willing to be included as a possible alternative to Bercow in an email due to be sent out to all MPs tomorrow morning by Labour MP Kate Hoey and Conservative MP Nadine Dorries.

Will he win? There is certainly a lack of support in the current Speaker, although will the House have the courage to firstly rebel against him (life for any member who does and the bid is unsuccessful would be difficult when the speaker was returned to office) and secondly, does the House want a LibDem as the Speaker?

I certainly would like to see a LibDem as the Speaker of the House, if for nothing more than to redress the balance and provide an opportunity for us to exercise some control over the day to day business of the House.

I for one will be watching the outcome with interest.

Here is a very quick analysis of the voting record for Theresa May (as recorded in Hansard). (clue: her votes are in RED - minority means NO, or in other words, against the bill)

NOT impressive is it?

Even more, if you start looking at where she has voted against the Tory whip, it is even more scary. For instance, she was a rebel against the Tory vote of Aye for reformation of the Upper House.

A more detailed analysis of her voting record will come in a day or so, along with a comparison against the new cabinet, so we can see where they all stand on issues which to LibDems and others, are important!

Commons 22 Jun 1998 Crime and Disorder Bill — Reduce age of consent for homosexual acts to 16 minority Majority (strong)
Commons 25 Jan 1999 Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill minority Majority
Commons 10 Feb 1999 Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill — Reduction in age at which certain sexual acts are lawful minority Majority
Commons 1 Mar 1999 Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill – Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill absent Majority
Commons 10 Feb 2000 Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill absent Majority
Commons 5 Jul 2000 Local Government Bill [Lords] – Prohibition on promotion of homosexuality: bullying minority Majority
Commons 24 Oct 2001 Relationships (Civil Registration) absent Majority
Commons 29 Oct 2001 Adoption and Children Bill (Programme) — Consideration and Third Reading minority Majority
Commons 16 May 2002 Adoption and Children Bill — [2nd Allotted Day] — Applications for adoption minority Majority
Commons 20 May 2002 Adoption and Children Bill — [3rd Allotted Day] — Clause 131 — General interpretation, etc. minority Majority
Commons 4 Nov 2002 Adoption and Children Bill — Suitability Of Adopters minority Majority (strong)
Commons 10 Mar 2003 Local Government Bill — [2nd Allotted Day] — New Clause 11 — Repeal of Section 2A of Local Government Act 1986 absent Majority
Commons 10 Mar 2003 Local Government Bill — Repeal of prohibition on promotion of homosexuality (Section 28) absent Majority (strong)
Commons 12 Oct 2004 Civil Partnership Bill [Lords] Majority Majority (strong)
Commons 9 Nov 2004 Categories of civil partners other than same sex couples absent Majority
Commons 9 Nov 2004 Civil Partnerships Bill [Lords] — Third Reading absent Majority
Commons 19 Mar 2007 Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations absent Majority (strong)
Commons 20 May 2008 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill — Fertility treatment requires father and mother — rejected minority Majority
Commons 20 May 2008 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill — Fertility treatment requires male role model — rejected minority Majority

Jo Christie-Smith

Just heard the voice of another LibDem blogger on LBC (James Whale’s Drive Time Show) and she spoke a hell of a lot of common sense.

Adding you to my blog roll! Like your outlook and perspective!!

Westminster City Council Elections – Church Street

Church Street Ward is one of the most deprived wards in Westminster, accordingly to social/demographic trending and analysis.

In 2008, there was a by-election and the results where as follows

AHMED – Mehfuz The Conservative Party Candidate 955 ROWNTREE – David Alexander De Horne The Labour Party Candidate 652 THOMPSON – Martin Adam Liberal Democrats 176

This meant that the vacant seat went to the Tories.

In 2006, the figures where as follows:

Toki, Abdul A. LAB 1099 Grahame, Barbara J. LAB 1078 Mothersdale, Antony G. LAB 979 Hamid, Abdus S. CON 807 Uddin, Abul F.M. CON 794 Shaw, Alexander S.J. CON 663 Ridley, Yvonne R 565 Castles, Jacqueline M. LD 310 Evans, Paul D. LD 278 Nicolaou, Artemis LD 209

There where THREE Labour Party candidates elected in 2006.

Now looking at the 2010 election, you will see the voting patterns have changed:

Abdel-Hamid Ahmed Gharib The Labour Party Candidate 1920 ELECTED

Ahmed Mehfuz The Conservative Party Candidate 1234

Amieur Mohammed 271

Cuthbertson Peter Malcolm The Conservative Party Candidate 1049

Grahame Barbara Joan The Labour Party Candidate 2138 ELECTED

Hall Christopher Bernard Liberal Democrats 714

Hamood Salahuddin Mohamed Green Party 361

Mourad Fatima The Conservative Party Candidate 921

Thompson Martin Adam Liberal Democrats 625

Toki Abdul Aziz The Labour Party Candidate 1832 ELECTED

In 2006. the Tory’s managed 807 as their top candidate vote, however in 2010, they managed 1234 (this is the candidate who won the by-election in 2008 and stood again, only to be defeated). The LibDem candidates (of which there where three) in 2006 polled a total of 797 votes which amounts to 11.75% of the votes cast. In 2010 elections, there was a much higher electoral turnout (11065 votes cast) and the LibDems (2 candidates this time which perhaps was an advantage) polled 1339 votes which amounts to 12.10% of the votes cast.

Which ever way you look at it, an increase in share is an increase! Considering that the local party had decided to concentrate on two other wards and there was NO (repeat NO) candidate literature for the Church Street Ward LibDem candidates, this is remarkable. I did a lot of work in getting my name known (using social media and networking tools and talking to people in the area) so I am impressed that I actually polled more votes than the other LibDem candidate who contested the by-election 2 years ago.

So what do we do now?

I think that we should concentrate on wards which we CAN WIN and there needs to be a hard look at the voting figures over the past 2 elections and any subsequent by-elections (which I am doing at the moment) and identify trends and patterns, use these and start planning NOW for the next election (which also means we will be in a position to fight any arising by-elections if they occur).

More to come on this as I crunch the numbers.

LBC 97.3 Election Show at midnight tonight!!

A reminder to you all: I am part of a team of 12 bloggers working on the news desk at LBC 97.3 (Londons’ leading speech radio station) going to air with Iain Dale as the presenter.

Join us on 0845 60 60 973 or TEXT us on 84850.

Do you have news or views to share with me and the team?

How are the results going in your area?

Any breaking news?

Stories to tell?

GET INVOLVED!!

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