Thirsk and Malton election (postponed)

The Thirsk and Malton election is an interesting side show to the main event. It was even mentioned yesterday by the two leaders. Nick Clegg suggesting that they got out of opposite sides of the car which they would both be using to save on petrol. I feel a tad sorry for the candidates. If the Conservatives lose votes how will this be interpreted. If the LibDems do, what will people make of it? It will be more roundabouts than swings.

The candidates are -

Anne McIntosh - Conservative
Howard Keal - Liberal Democrat
Jonathan Roberts - Labour
Toby Horton - UKIP
John Clark - Liberal Party

I can't find a proper campaign site for Anne McIntosh. Has she got one? She may think she's home and dry. Hope not. I did find this article on the Daily Mirror website. The Mirror's no fan of the Tories, of course, but this sort of incident isn't very good. She was reportedly left soaked in beer following an angry exchange with an irate voter during a constituency meeting in a pub in March. This was probably just before the election was called. From the report there is at least one local issue that is causing concern. It remains to be seen what the voters make of the national topic of the day - the new coalition.

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Sood far and no further?

Manish Sood is the Labour candidate in North-West Norfolk. To hear him speak, one could be forgiven for thinking he was the Tory candidate. He describes Gordon Brown as "the worst prime minister we have had in this country" adding that Mr Brown was "a disgrace". Mr. Sood called Labour ministers "corrupt" and said the party had allowed immigration to get too high. He also said the PM should apologise to the Queen. Wow!

If he carries on like this he might get elected!

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Illegal immigrant on Hazel Blears team!

When Gordon Brown says immigration is a problem he means a problem for him to understand it. He doesn't connect with the people of England over the issue, he doesn't know how many come and go, he doesn't know who has what status. In fact, all he can do is shrug his shoulders.

Being a politician suggests you have one thing going for you. An ability to think about issues and any problems that might arise from them. Hazel Blears has just been caught out having an illegal immigrant working as a volunteer on her election campaign. I don't blame the immigrant except to say "What on earth were you thinking about trying to get "that woman" elected?". (That woman being the new political buzzword). No, I blame Hazel Blears. Surely she hasn't lost all sense of political common sense and nous? Look, if a person she doesn't know, who is from Nigeria (could be anywhere outside the EU), and who sounds eager to help, it beggars belief that it wouldn't pass her brain to think first. "Hey, could this person be an illegal? I'm in enough shit as it is. Better ask her first, before she starts stuffing envelopes".

Hazel never thought for one minute. Kind of cabinet minister you want, really, isn't it? Hazel burbled, "I had absolutely no idea of this woman's immigration status until she informed me... yesterday afternoon. As soon as I was made aware, I took immediate action to instruct her to leave the campaign and I got in touch with the Borders Agency and told them about it (sneakily, no doubt). Neither I nor any candidate from any other party would be in a position to vet the immigration status of the hundreds of people who come in through the door to offer to stuff envelopes or deliver leaflets. I had never met this person before she came in and offered to help. She was not a campaign worker, she was a volunteer and she was not paid."

Poor answer, Hazel. Shows you up as incompetent politically. Immigration is an issue. Your rehabilitation as a politician is an issue. This shows an insight into your rapidly failing political skills. All you had to do is ask the Nigerian woman. Simple, really! It's not racist, it's just practical. If you hired a gas fitter you didn't know, would you just let him get on with the job or ask to see his credentials? This is not about vetting or entering into convoluted correspondence with the Borders Agency. Just ask to see her passport and papers. If you had, you wouldn't have seen her the next day!

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