Ian Curtis IS a paper candidate!

A source let me know about this link. On the site for UKIP candidates there is a page for Ian Curtis. Joe Webster, Branch Chairman has stated on the UKIP page:

According to the Joe Webster, Ian is a "Paper Candidate". So what is "Paper Candidate"? The term is used for a candidate who is to put their name on the ballot but doesn't want to win. Therefore there is little campaigning as they don't want to win. This not only applies to General Election candidates but to local election candidates.

A better description is here of what a Paper Candidate is for.

What is UKIP doing?

The UKIP are pushing ahead with putting up more local candidates than ever before in Huntingdonshire. Out of the 17 seats up for election 10 have UKIP candidates. Good for them. When taking a look at where the candidate come from 6 out of the 10 come from the Ramsey area.

I see Ian Curtis is on the list. Is this the same Ian Curtis how is standing for parliament to represent Huntingdon? Very probably!

The intervention of UKIP may have a effect. Some are already predicting a few more UKIP wins. I'm not too sure. This could lead to a few more Liberal Democrat wins.
I believe this could be the case in Eynesbury.

The Ramsey addresses:
Ian James Curtis, 40 Little Whyte, Ramsey, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE26 1DS
Peter David Reeve, 4 Meadow Walk, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1JY
Shirley Joy Reeve, Flat 4, 16 Great Whyte, Ramsey, PE26 1HA
Michael Alan Horwood, 10 Liberator Road, Upwood, Ramsey, Cambs, PE26 2PY
Lisa Ann Duffy, 4 Meadow Walk, Ramsey, Cambs, PE26 1JY
Robert Hamilton Brown, 12 Lancaster Road, Upwood, Ramsey, Cambs, PE26 2PX

Jonathan Djanogly is now on Twitter

Jonathan Djanogly (JDjanogly) on Twitter

I see Jonathan Djanogly, our ex-MP is now on Twitter. Well he was a few days ago! This is good and bad as we can now follow the Conservative candidate around to see his campaign unfold!

Jonathan Djanogly is no longer an MP!

As Parliament is dissolved the MPs are no longer MPs. From 5 pm it is no longer possible to use the term MP on a website or literature.

So why is Djanogly is still using the term on his website?

These changes have been known for years. Why hasn't Djanogly prepared for these changes?

The comparator Conservative, I use, is Grant Shapps. On his website on the entry page I have no doubt he is no longer an MP when I visit his website.

On Djanogly's website I have to search to find this at the bottom of the page:

I have to say I feel this is a lawyers view. I don't feel it is right that Djanogly can still use what has been a publicly funded website with Jonathan Djanogly MP in the website banner.

Martin Land has a go at me - I think!

Martin Land | Campaigning for Huntingdon, St Ives, St Neots and our villages

In a recent entry on his blog, Martin Land says:

"I’m told that somebody who knows far more about politics than me thinks that my being Agent for some of my colleagues and for our Disttrict Candidates compromises my ability to stand for Parliament. But, you see, it’s my job. And like most (though not all) candidates in this election, I have to earn my keep. Actually, when you have 37 years of campaigning behind you, these tasks are relatively routine and don’t prevent me from doing a very serious job as a parliamentary candidate as a some people will perhaps be surprised to see on May 7th."

Martin, you are in charge of 17 local election campaigns in Huntingdonshire. You are also in charge of both the Cambridgeshire North East and the Cambridgeshire South General Election campaigns. One constituency is not for the faint hearted. Two is a lot of work. Anyway, doing a full time job of being the serious candidate should be the only job. Not one of many.

I compare Conservative MP Grant Shapps with Djanogly and found Djanogly lacking. I've found Shapps canvassing list via Twitter. Shapps is a serious candidate. Are you matching his work rate in Huntingdonshire, Martin Land? I doubt it!

Being a candidate at an election is a bit of a gamble. The more likely you are to win, the more likely you are to put more effort in the more likely you see yourself as winning. Keeping the day job means you are seriously hedging your bet and feel you are unlikely to win! What Huntingdon has is a part-time Liberal Democrat candidate who has seriously attacked Conservative supporters. The very people you need to vote for you to win!

Will John Major be campaigning for Jonathan Djanogly?

2 Questions for the Elections on 6th May 2010

On the 6th May 2010 there is very likely to be a combined General Election and Local Elections.

The General Election

The political parties have decided the Huntingdon constituency is a safe Conservative seat and won't be doing much here. There is bigger constituencies to win elsewhere. So Huntingdon isn't on any target list.

The Conservatives will come up with the argument that winning Huntingdon is essential for a Cameron win. Huntingdon isn't essential for a Cameron win. Not winning in Huntingdon will mean Cameron will be a seat down. This is two down in a majority. The one question in the General Election is:

Do you want Djanogly to represent the Huntingdon constituency?

If the answer is YES then you are forgiving Djanogly for his part in the MPs' Expenses scandal.

If the answer is NO then great. Now choose which other candidate you will vote for. I'm voting for Ian Curtis, the UKIP candidate.

So lets vote to change Djanogly and the Conservative administration at HDC.

The Local Elections

There will be many facts, figures and promises made in these elections. Before you believe in any of them there is only one figure that you need to remember. This is £6.1 million - the size of the deficit. Because until the political elites decide how this deficit is going to be tackled any promises are worthless. Extra spending will add to the deficit. 

Now it is the Conservatives who got us into this mess. So I feel it is up to the Conservatives to specify where the cuts could fall. It is not up to the opposition parties to specify but they should give some idea where the cuts will fall. So the one question for the local elections is:

How will you deal with HDC £6.1 million budget deficit?

Martin Land - Multiple Agent

"that the Tories remain a coalition between the blatantly self-interested, closet racists, and homophobes.."

Whilst Martin Land has an Agent for the Huntingdon general election, there is nothing stopping Martin from being an Agent to other Liberal Democrat candidates. Martin Land is Agent to other parliamentary candidates: Lorna Spenceley and Sebastian Kindersley. It makes me wonder whether Martin Land has got enough time to be the Liberal Democrat for Huntingdon!

The Evidence

North East Cambridgeshire

Website

Fenland Liberal Democrats

Website

South Cambridgeshire

Website

Ramsey

Website

It should be noted that Martin Land lives at 11 Chandlers Wharf.

Question on Freedom of Information for Martin Land

I have a question for Martin Land, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Huntingdon. The question is:

Do you believe in Freedom of Information?

If the answer is yes I have another question.

St Neots Town Council is withholding a report into the Christmas Lights accident despite Freedom of Information requests. Do you feel it is right for the Town Council to withhold this information?

Independent is standing at General Election

I see that we have an Independent candidate, Jonathan Salt, standing for "Save Hinchingbrooke Hospital from franchising". This could prove interesting as it will allow many disenchanted Labour voters to vote. This could cause problems to The Green Party and Labour Party vote.

I hope Jonathan Salt makes it over to St. Neots.

Some analysis of the latest Liberal Democrat figures

"that the Tories remain a coalition between the blatantly self-interested, closet racists, and homophobes.."

I thought I would take a look at the Liberal Democrat figures. After the Euro/County results I did a bit of analysis of these results. This showed the Liberal Democrats second at the local elections. At the Euro elections the Liberal Democrats had a disaster and fell back to third place. Second place went to UKIP.

The problem with the numbers given is they only show the Liberal Democrat v Labour vote. The Conservative share of 51% in 2005 and 52% in 2009 are not shown. Even then the Conservative column is partially rubbed out.

What came out of my analysis is many local Liberal Democrats voters switched to UKIP at the Euros. To my mind this part of the leaflet is aimed at Labour voters. What Martin Land needs to do is aim at those voters who vote Conservative/UKIP. I think he blotted his copy book there!

UKIP changes candidate

I see UKIP have changed the their Parliamentary candidate. Gone is Jennifer O'Dell.

Not the Jennifer O'Dell

In comes Ian Curtis.

OK. I'm waiting on some biog and photo and will update when received. Until then a link to his page.

The curse of Djanogly?

A couple of weeks ago Jonathan went along to visit Lola. 

Now Lola is shedding 29 jobs.

Djanogly drops his expectations!

Jonathan Djanogly's re-election campaign has got off to a bumpy start. With the new website up and running badly I thought I would check up to see how it is going. I find that someone has donated £15 to this multi-millionaire's campaign. Not only that but Djanogly's expectations of financial support has dwindled. Initial the amount he was looking for was a paltry £1,000.

Now it is dropped to £500.

It just wonder what sort of conversation there is between Djanogly and his backer David Cameron.

Democracy Club

I thought I would join Democracy Club. They have a section for those of us who live in the Huntingdon constituency. Go on give it a try. http://www.democracyclub.org.uk/constituencies/huntingdon/

A Party Political Broadcast on behalf of Lord Toby Jug

Click here link to blog page

Should Djanogly stand for Westminster North?

As Joanne Cash has resigned as the Conservative candidate for Westminster North, I thought I know the perfect candidate for this seat. Our MP Jonathan Djanogly! He has many qualifications for standing for Westminster North. These are:

1. He and his wife have their main home in the constituency.

2. He is a former Westminster City Councillor.

3. Jonathan and his wife Rebecca are well known in Westminster.

4. Their kids go to school in London.

5. He is an experienced MP who will be a Minister.

Other reasons why this would be a good idea!


For Djanogly:

1. He isn't that far from work.

2. Very likely to be an overnight count.

3. He could sell the house in Alconbury.

4. He would be living near the rest of his family and parents in London and Marlow.

5. His family wouldn't have to travel up to Alconbury each weekend.

For the constituency:


1. HCCA could make more money.

2. John Major could be seen out with the new Conservative candidate.

3. Might get some activists out to campaign for the party.

For me:

I can vote Conservative at the General Election rather than using my vote to protest against Djanogly.

Loony ideas

In a letter in the News and Crier Lord Toby Jug outlined loony ideas which have made the political mainstream. As follows:

Though if you have enough policies some are bound to make it to the mainstream - sometimes.

Is fighting Huntingdon at the General Election the best use of time and resources?

One reason the General Election will pass the Huntingdon constituency by as there are far better opportunities for electoral gains around the Huntingdon constituency. I'll be using figures from UKpollingreport.co.uk.

The Conservatives: Whilst Djanogly has problems with expenses, the problems could arise in the constituency of Cambridgeshire North West. Conservative MP Shailesh Vara is now facing a problem with an organised UKIP which did rather well at the County/Euro elections.

The Bedford Constituency is a Conservative target seat 67. Whilst the Liberal Democrats did well and won the Mayoral race last year, the constituency boundaries are within the Bedford Borough Council boundary.

Cambridgeshire North East looks very safe for the Conservatives. Cambridgeshire South is less safe and is number 60 on the Liberal Democrats target list of seats. Peterborough is Labour Target seat number 48. With  Labour finding it hard to hold onto safe seats this target list can be disregarded.

Mid Bedfordshire is also an outside possibility of not being safe as Nadine Dorries is getting into trouble over her second home allowance claims. North East Bedfordshire looks safe for the Conservatives.

The Liberal Democrats: The Cambridge Constituency is the premier seat the Liberal Democrats need to keep. As there are better prospects in Cambridgeshire North West, Cambridgeshire South  and Bedford it is unlikely the Liberal Democrats will flock to campaign in Huntingdon.

Labour: Won't be fighting much here. On the Labour website I find the Huntingdon CLP is twinned with Bedford CLP. In all likelihood Labour activists will be encouraged to go and fight to save Bedford for Labour.

Apart from a long trek to Buckingham where could UKIP campaign effectively for Nigel Farage, UKIP coudl campaign locally. I see Peter Reeve is UKIP candidate for North East Cambridgeshire. With a basic organisation in North West Cambridgeshire it would be easier to campaign there rather than anywhere else.

In conclusion: If I was in charge of each party I would be looking to maximise my resources by aiming activists to where the numbers say they should go. The Conservatives should be looking at North West Cambridgeshire and Bedford constituencies. The Liberal Democrats should be aiming for Cambridgeshire South and Bedford. Labour activists should be travelling to Bedford. UKIP should be fighting in North West Cambridgeshire. Whatever happens it is likely the General Election will pass Huntingdon by and the political parties have already decided this.

Anthea Cox can't spell her own name correctly!

I found this on Twitter:

"Another letter from the office of the Labour PPC for Huntingdonshire. Among the usual mistakes, this time she's spelt her name wrong."

Spelling her own name wrong! Is Anthea actually writing her own letters? I feel we should be told!

I thought I would look at the local Labour Party website to see what Anthea is up to. What did I find? Nothing! Link to Labour website. Is this the BEST Labour can do?

I feel Labour will be competing with OMRLP to see who will come last at the General Election. And Labour is trying very hard win this fight and come last.