tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post941434730958335270..comments2024-03-01T08:19:54.547+00:00Comments on BobFromBrockley: #Lewisham2014: The Mayoralsbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15439386754907203808noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-72251380474297590172014-06-11T19:37:56.390+01:002014-06-11T19:37:56.390+01:00Thanks Nick. I partially agree with you. The LPBP ...Thanks Nick. I partially agree with you. The LPBP model of a broad-based rather than ideological party has to be the right one. People vote in local elections on local issues, and LPBP has consistently identified the local issues that matter to people and played a part in locally organising around these issues. <br /><br />However, if you look at the TUSC results, while it is true that nationally (and in most of Lewisham) they did very embarassingly, Chris Flood's vote in Telegraph Hill (similar to LPBP's vote in New Cross) suggests that a locally known, locally focused candidate can do just as well under an openly socialist label. <br /><br />Socialist Alliance (whose campaign slogan was People Before Profit) showed that this kind of politics can have some potential, even under an "out" socialist banner. <br /><br />However, the sad truth is, even the high tide marks of an alternative left vote over the past decade or two look pretty pathetic. (Read Red Action in 2010: http://www.redactionarchive.org/2012/03/london-socialist-alliance-election.html ). The LBPB profit share of the vote averaged out across Lewisham must be in single figure percentage marks. <br /><br />I'm pretty pessimistic. bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439386754907203808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-61876753270442444512014-06-11T05:29:18.282+01:002014-06-11T05:29:18.282+01:00LPBP is not a socialist party but does have many s...LPBP is not a socialist party but does have many socialists and communists within it. We are a broad community party and our votes suggest we have a broader appeal than the usual far left, who as we have seen with TUSC got votes in the family and friends range of 1,2 and 3 %. We have members who have come from a broad range of politics, including many independents and community activists. We do not have an agreed position on the EU but would support a peoples Europe rather than a bankers Europe, hence our active opposition to TTIP. Our lively European hustings was an attempt to raise the debate on the issue of TTiP. Nick Long Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-85165105160639006682014-05-21T17:10:48.887+01:002014-05-21T17:10:48.887+01:00Agree with unknown about instant no to council tax...Agree with unknown about instant no to council tax reducers.<br />Sick of seeing "We'll save you £70 a year on your council tax."<br />What, £1.34 a week? I'd rather you spent it more wisely than immediately taking millions of pounds out of the borough's coffers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-42260317175038994732014-05-21T13:42:32.587+01:002014-05-21T13:42:32.587+01:00Brockley maybe? But I still think the loss of Darr...Brockley maybe? But I still think the loss of Darren Johnson's name will be the end for them, sadly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-35059794231541742832014-05-21T10:29:10.947+01:002014-05-21T10:29:10.947+01:00Here's Clare's analysis showing a likely L...Here's Clare's analysis showing a likely Labour sweep of the council elections, leaving just 4 Lib Dems http://clogsilk.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/how-likely-is-it-lewisham-council-will.html There's a comment by Ray saying Telegraph Hill (Hamilton), Ladywell (Helen Mercer) and Evelyn (where PB4P came second in last by-election) as their key targets. <br /><br />Anyone think Greens have a chance anywhere? bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439386754907203808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-33593731140982543122014-05-21T10:20:07.185+01:002014-05-21T10:20:07.185+01:00Thanks for that comment, Only Living Boy. My thoug...Thanks for that comment, Only Living Boy. My thoughts exactly, including same reservations about TUSC. <br /><br />I've already voted now, with a postal vote. I'm going to try to find time to do another #Lewisham2014 post before polls close, including linking to Clogsilk's analysis of the chance of any non-Labour councillors being returned, which is possibly a reason to not vote Labour across the board, and perhaps in particular in the wards where Greens have some chance (Ladywell and Brockley), so that there is some opposition at council meetings. bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439386754907203808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-27555072566438738182014-05-20T23:26:05.895+01:002014-05-20T23:26:05.895+01:00Ray Woolford has done the impossible and made me s...Ray Woolford has done the impossible and made me seriously consider voting Labour across the board. Agree with your point about showing Labour can't take us for granted, may give Chris Flood a vote (but TUSC is such a dreadful platform - still living in the Ted Grant world of 1950s trotskysism where there was such thing as a significant constituency who identified themselves as primarily trade unionists and socialists).<br /><br />Would like to have a credible, principled, left-of-Labour opposition on Council, but People Before Profit sure ain't it. They are an anti-Labour party rather than a socialist one. Picked up extraordinary 'Local Campaigner' publication today from them. Every article slags off Labour Party (sometimes rightly so), but not a single mention of Tories. You would never know there was a Conservative Government (when you know that Ray Woolford used to be a Tory that raises alarm bells). <br /><br />Their posters slag off 'politicians' but they pull every stunt in the book, taking credit for other people's activity, using charity work to boost their profile etc. We Care food bank does good things, but is it an independent organisation, a PBP project, or just Ray & pals?<br /><br />Also there's this strange ego cult. The election issue of 'The Local campaigner' is apparently 'published by People Before Profit' but doesn't even mention their mayoral candidate, John Hamilton. But it does implore us to 'follow ray on twitter' and 'read Ray's Blog'.<br /><br />The 'Raygate' allegations of his business doings are colourful but even without them there is some terrible self-promoting behaviour here. Much as I disagree with Labour nationally joining in with anti-immigration and anti-claimant rhetoric, people like Paul Bell and Luke Sorba (Labour candidates in Telegraph Hill ward) do have a track record as decent socialists and trade unionists. And in any event PBP's opportunist manifesto doesn't mention racism or the hassle migrants living round here face from the state. Interesting they have such a chummy relationship with UKIP who they invited to their hustings last night. Fits in with the 'British Road to Socialism' and/or Reg Birch nationalist anti-Europe history of some of their leading activists. There are apparently some decent people still in People Before Proft - all I can say to them is either get out quick or take control of your organisation.Only living boy in New Crossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-67934227026377490452014-05-20T13:56:56.791+01:002014-05-20T13:56:56.791+01:00Anyone who pledges a reduction in council tax gets...Anyone who pledges a reduction in council tax gets an immediate 'no' from me. <br /><br />Grr. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08533667683530929690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-22413437862983771122014-05-09T13:36:26.328+01:002014-05-09T13:36:26.328+01:00Hi,
We do have some more info about Mike on the w...Hi,<br /><br />We do have some more info about Mike on the website but it is buried in a news story from October. I'm going to set up a page for Mike's Mayoral candidacy early next week.<br /><br />The news item's here: http://lewisham.greenparty.org.uk/news/2013/10/28/2013-10-28-mike-keogh-candidate/<br /><br />Dave Plummer,<br />Lewisham Green Party Press OfficerAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01143416589182912240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10131050.post-33839498984264572522014-05-09T11:27:55.448+01:002014-05-09T11:27:55.448+01:00I'm keen on a non-Labour vote too, and conside...I'm keen on a non-Labour vote too, and considering Green in the council and euros. However, on the mayor I've seen no material other than what's in the booklet we all get and they don't seem that interested.<br /><br />They need to earn my vote, so at the moment I'm tending towards Sir Steve I'm afraid. (I've voted PB4P in other elections, but having seen their recent behaviour I won't be doing so again. And agree about the profile of TUSC.)<br />Clare Griffithshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13851313189672481904noreply@blogger.com