Vote Conservative and get more 5 years of Djanogly!

This is the choice presented by Jonathan Djanogly and the Conservatives. But this is not an argument that I believe doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Whether the Conservatives win in Huntingdon or not will not really effect the formation of a Cameron administration. What could effect a Cameron majority is what goes on up North, in Northern Ireland and elsewhere.

One less seat for Cameron will still mean Cameron will still be able to form a Government. Returning Djanogly will allow Djanogly to throw away his troubles over his expenses. 

I believe that we in the Huntingdon constituency should sent a message to Parliament and the politicians that their conduct is not acceptable. I'm not persuaded by the anti-Conservative rhetoric of Martin Land (Liberal Democrat). Therefore I've voted for the Independent candidate - Jonathan Salt.

Jonathan Salt leaflet delivered by Royal Mail.

I received an A5 leaflet from Jonathan Salt delivered by the Royal Mail. A copy of the leaflet can be obtained here. I've already voted for Jonathan Salt at the General Election. You should do so too!

How I voted at the General Election

Having received my postal votes, although I had tried to cancel this arrangement. So this is how I voted. I have mocked up a ballot paper to indicate how I voted.

As you can see I voted for Jonathan Salt. 

Either Vote For Djanoglys' Expenses or Vote Against.

With the candidates all nominated and accepted I will nail my flag to the mast once more. Generally I would be regarded as a right wing liberal. At this election my mind and instincts are to vote Conservative to get rid of this rotten Labour Government. Normally, I would be very happy too. The MPs' expenses changed all that. 

And that is my problem with Djanogly. I feel if you claim public money you should be accountable for its use. I feel Djanogly didn't want his constituents to know what expenses he claims. Djanogly talks much about Government transparency but when it comes to his expenses and parliamentary office expenses this transparency becomes opaque.

I don't care how wealthy Djanogly is. I don't care whether he lives in a large house or who owns the property.  If he didn't claim taxpayer's money then this should be private. But having claimed taxpayer's money I believe he must be transparent about his secondary home in Alconbury and his primary semi-detached 5 storey house  in an exclusive part of Westminster.

When I did ask him about his expenses I was referred to Legg and the House of Commons authorities. Again opaque and not transparent. He is also not transparent over his living arrangements. When Djanogly says:

".....and live in the constituency together with my son and daughter."

I have to ask what is does "live" mean? In another blog entry I examined this and I do believe it is true to say that Djanogly, his wife Rebecca and their son and daughter do "live" in the constituency. I also found it could equally be said they "live" in London in their primary home and where their children go to school.

If Djanogly had held a public meeting I would have a different view of him. If Djanogly was transparent rather than being opaque I would have a different view of him. My view is very simple. I feel Djanogly is not transparent and is very opaque with Taxpayer's money and as he didn't hold a public meeting to explain his expenses I will not be voting for Djanogly.

This is the only time voters can oust Djanogly from this seat and send a message to Parliament. If Djanogly is re-elected this is seen as a vindication of Djanogly's action over his expenses and wipes the slate clean. Djanogly could then say, quite rightly, the electorate have been given this information and they have re-elected me. 

In protest I will be voting for Jonathan Salt.

Recording of an Election Debate

BBC iPlayer - Andie Harper's Mid-Morning: 15/04/2010

Found this Election Debate from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on the web. Missed the original. This is a debate between Jonathan Djanogly, Martin Land and Anthea Cox with a small bit of additional material from Jonathan Salt. Your need BBC iPlayer to listen to this.

The debate starts at the 1 hour 04 minutes in and continues with breaks to 1 hour 57 minutes.

Supporting Jonathan Salt

Jonathan Salt website

Why am I supporting Jonathan Salt instead of UKIP? I want Djanogly to lose. I feel he doesn't want to be accountable for his expenses claims and for this I will not be voting for Djanogly! The next question I had to ask myself was who to vote for instead. 

Having been insulted by Martin Land and his "Tories are homophones and racists" remarks I won't be voting Liberal Democrat at the General Election. I thought I would therefore vote UKIP. Jennifer O'Dell was the original candidate but she has stepped down. Instead UKIP have Ian Curtis as their new candidate. As he lives outside the constituency I want to find a candidate who lives in the constituency. 

Labour is a no-no. Anthea Cox is representing this rotten Labour Government and lives in Peterborough.

The Greens I just don't agree with. 

This leaves Jonathan Salt. He lives in the constituency, works in the constituency and is known in the constituency. I will be voting for Jonathan Salt at the forthcoming general election. Politics costs. Jonathan is asking for money to support his campaign. He is asking for donations. 

"You can donate on line or you can send a cheque made out to ICH to Maria Green, Treasurer, First Floor, Chapel House, Chapel Lane, St. Ives PE27 5DX."

Jonathan is asking for a £10 minimum donation towards his campaign. I've just sent my contribution off to his campaign.

Website.

Hospital could be election key

St Neots News and Crier - 08/04/2010 digital edition

The front page sets the scene for the General election campaign in the Huntingdon constituency. Labour's Anthea Cox gets a good run out even though her campaign has yet to lift off.

Jonathan Salt is the dark horse in this campaign. With a good looking campaign website this seems to be be more credible than Liberal Democrat Martin Land (Tories are closet racists and homophobes).

It is a great pity that neither Ian Curtis (UKIP) nor John Clare (Green Party) weren't able to respond to the start of the campaign. Not a good start for them.

Jonathan Salt (Independent) campaign is off with a flying start. Good for him.

Just one error is the last sentence of the article. Nominations for local elections close on 8th April. The nominations close for the General Election on 20th April.

And the General Election passes Huntingdon constituency by!

Thought I would take a look at the political party websites. First off the incumbent.

Jonathan Djanogly and The Conservatives. www.jonathandjanogly.com has a piece on the Djanogly's relief at campaign start. Huntingdon Conservatives have no change. The St Neots Conservatives are still stuck in 2009, though it has been said it should be 1909.


Moving onto the main contender to Djanogly, the Liberal Democrats. Looking at Martin Land's website there is no change. The Huntingdonshire Liberal Democrats are stuck admiring Vince Cable. The Liberal Democrats St Neots page is stuck in 2008.

Onto the next contender UKIP. Again you would be pushed to find a general election going on here.

Of the other contenders, The Green Party is still stuck in 2009. The governing party, Labour, can't be bothered to change their local website. Lord Toby Jug hasn't got a website. The Independent candidate - Jonathan Salt has a fine website, which most of the local parties would be proud.

Jonathan Salt - Independent Candidate

I found the best political website in Huntingdon so far. I have to say it is better than Djanogly's. I hope the Jonathan Salt website is the start of a good campaign by this Independent candidate.

Lets see how this goes. If Jonathan Salt puts up a decent campaign I might swap from UKIP to Jonathan Salt.

The BIG Question isn't so Big

The Hunts Post St Neots - 31/03/2010 digital edition

The Hunts Post wants to make this event organised by them on 22nd April 2010 at Commemoration Hall, Huntingdon the BIG Question. (Location here) This will be one of the few opportunities to question the candidates.

This will be the first time that electors can ask questions of Jonathan Djanogly about his expenses claims. Though this will be limited. As to the Big Question most of this will pass the Huntingdon Constituency by.

I hope the electors of St Neots take the opportunity to get to this debate to make our voices heard.

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.