Tag Archives: Liberal Democrats

Bournemouth stays blue – but the nation holds its breath

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Tory candidates took decisive wins in Bournemouth last week, but five days later the colour of the next government remains a mystery after the election delivered the first hung parliament for thirty-six years.

The Conservatives fought off Lib Dem challengers to hold on to both of Bournemouth’s Westminster seats in with increased majorities, but nationally the party failed to achieve the breakthrough many were expecting.

In Bournemouth East, Tobias Ellwood increased his majority to over 7000 ahead of Lib Dem Lisa Northover.

He said: “I’m delighted, it’s a real honour to be continuing to represent Bournemouth East.  I’ve got an increased majority and I think that reflects the positive campaign we’ve conducted here. But also the message that many people in Bournemouth as well as across the country want to see a change of government and Gordon Brown out of Number 10.”

Even as he celebrated his success, he warned about the indecision of a hung parliament: “I do hope we see some decisive decisions on which way we’re going to go. A hung parliament is dangerous territory; anyone looking at the markets will see things are very volatile. We need leadership, we need direction, we need a change of office in Number 10.”

However, he has since made a statement on his website urging his party to: “put aside party politics and recognise the urgency of providing strong leadership and a clear direction for Britain in order to navigate out of these difficult economic and political waters”.

Northover, meanwhile, used her Twitter account to encourage people to attend an electoral reform rally in Bournemouth on Saturday.

Bournemouth West got its first new MP for twenty-seven years, as Conor Burns received over 5000 votes more than Lib Dem Alasdair Murray.

Speaking moments after his victory was announced, he said: “I’m really looking forward to starting work for the people of Bournemouth West, delivering on the promise I gave them that I would be a hardworking, community-focussed, energetic politician who would take their concerns to Westminster and be a community champion for our area.

“I’m delighted in the trust they have put in me, and I can’t wait to start work tomorrow morning on their behalf.”

The seat was previously held by scandal-hit Sir John Butterfill, who stood down for this election. He had previously been embroiled in controversial expenses claims relating to his Surrey mansion, and was one of four MPs caught in the Dispatches lobbying sting in March.

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2010 North Dorset Election

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As Conservative and Lib Dem leaders continue talks in Westminster, it seems that the outright win Conservative candidate Bob Walter had in North Dorset may leave him closer to his long-term electoral opponent than ever before.

Emily Gasson has fought and lost the seat for the Lib Dems three times and saw Mr Walter poll 27,640 votes in Blandford on Thursday night.

On the night, the Conservative candidate seemed confident as results from across the country came in.
“The message which comes from this result is that there is a time for change, not only a change in government but a change in Prime Minister.” 

He also said that it can only be change for the better, reinforcing the Conservatives’ campaign for change that was held by Mr Cameron on 4th May.

Ms Gasson , however, called for electoral reform, and said it was a shame that many people voted tactically: “We really need to sort out the electoral system.”

The results were announced at 4.30am, with Mr Walter polling 51.05% of votes. 

At points, it appeared that the Lib Dem, who Mr Walter has now defeated in the last three elections, would have the majority. However, by the end of the evening, Conservatives had a lead of 7,025 votes, after Ms Gasson polled just 20,015.

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The Election Night For Me: 85% A True Story

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Usually when you write a story you try and have an angle, this isn’t one of those. Sometimes a mistake or anecdote helps you; I don’t really have that either as I lost my notepad. So without further a do here is a list from my memory.

21:00
Check out my local polling station, Winton East Methodist Church. There were no voters.

21:30
Buy cigarettes and chewing gum from local newsagents in case the Tories get in. Also feel more legitimate as a reporter.

21.45
Get into Daily Echo building after excellent phone work from one of my friends and Tom.

21:46
Andy instructs me to write down everything that happens on the telly and gives me cheese cheddars for sustenance.

22:00
Exit Poll comes in with “surprising” result. Conservatives 305 seats, Labour 255 seats, Liberal Democrats 61.

22:15
Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable tells the BBC that the exit poll result is “very strange”. But he says such polls have been “horribly wrong” in the past, not least in 1992 when a Labour win was predicted but failed to materialise

22:20
Let Becca into the Echo Building, lend her a notepad as I’m a gentleman. Explain what swing and seat voting system are, feel smart.

22:30
It emerges that people have been unable to vote in certain constituencies. Places like Sheffield Hallam, Chesterfield, Leeds and Birmingham have either had to turn people away or lock the door on them.

22:33
One woman says the failure to allow people to vote is disgraceful and makes a comparison to Afghanistan. Bit of an oversell in my opinion.

22:40
One returning general blames the voting fiasco on students turning up without being enrolled, I feel personally attacked.

22:43
Houghton and Sunderland South target declaration time goes by.

22:45
Becca informs me of witty twitter banter from fellow “up to speeders”. I make a note to check it out and to plug it later. Check.

22:52
First result in, Houghton and Sunderland South is held by Labour.

22:55
BBC go to a cruise boat populated by celebrities for their opinion on the result. David Baddiel makes a joke about them being really fast…no one laughed.

23:30
Best news of the night, the pizzas are here. The meat option proves vastly superior to the vegetarian one.

24:00
Northern Ireland results led to confusion over party and place names, sadly not for the last time that night.

00:29
“The one certainty is that Gordon Brown has to be removed from Office” Kenneth Clarke, my local MP tells the BBC what he thinks should happen should Labour fail to win a majority. He later wins back his seat, I didn’t vote for him.

00:49
The first big casualty of the night Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson is defeated by a very excited middle aged woman.

01:35
Gordon Brown manages to hold onto his seat in Kircaldy. One of the guys standing there is running for the “land is power” ticket, he dominates Brown’s speech by holding his fist up in a “black power” way. He generates much laughter in the newsroom.

02:00
It becomes increasingly clear that my place name pronunciation is terrible. Andy, the Editor cheekily suggests geography lessons.

02:25
Speaking of cheeky, Lembit Opik loses his seat in Montgomeryshire with the 13% swing to the Conservatives being described as “a asteroid hit” by the BBC’s Nick Robinson

02:30 to 03:50
Results come in thick and fast making me develop Adhesionoteletophobia, more commonly known as a fear of post it notes.

04:00
The paper deadline draws upon us cue a lot of frantic copy and pasting from titanic post-it monsters. In all likelihood we probably over ran this but I’m prepared to give people the benefit of a doubt.

04:10
Sugar is delivered into the newsroom in the form of donuts and sweets leading to a violent frenzy.

04:15
I talk to Jack Quaddy about his night. The two things I remember from the chat was that he was covered in Jelly Baby dust and that he was angry at the Oxford Liberal Democrat’s loss as he had contributed a fiver to his campaign.

04:45
Walk back home with Becca, discussion covers rape alarms, Zoe’s failure to text Becca back and the fact that Becca’s mum once dated Jeremy Paxman and that her dad reads his books in bed.

05:15
Turn on laptop.

05:52
Caroline Lucas wins Brighton Pavilion for the Green Party giving them their first ever seat in the House of Commons. I wonder if she’ll make a difference.

06:00
Stay up to make sure Nick Griffin doesn’t get in for the BNP. Labour hold onto Barking with 24,628 votes. Labour lady says something witty about packing your bags.

06:10
Go to bed…Knackered.

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Is the Election Affecting Property Sales?

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House sales in Bournemouth are have recently been sluggish according to several town based estate agents.

Goadsby Sales Coordinator and Trainer, Cheryl Johnson believes that the impact of the election really depends on the area.

“Generally property owner want to hold fire until after the elections, due to the changes that may be occur, such as that to the Energy Performance Certificates,” she said.

The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have both pledged to abolish Home Information Packs and the Conservatives have been vocal about their desires to turn Energy Performance Certificates into an opportunity to support a greener approach to home energy consumption.

According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors there has been a noticeable increase in house sales over the last year.  However, some businesses fear that a hung Parliament will cause indecision within government, resulting in a negative effect on house sales.

According to Russell Cruwys, the Branch Manager from Alan and Bath, Hinton Road, the property market appears to have slowed over the last two weeks.

“Generally there is a mixed reaction.  There are fewer properties available, which could account for a rise in sales.  However, people are seeing what happens in the election”.

Mr Glynn Evans, the Associate Director of Savills in Old Christchurch Road thinks that the housing market is an equity rich market which is driven by lack of stock.

“The Bournemouth market is comfortable at the moment.  People always need to move and as the market is currently weak it is uncertain whether the election will substantially affect it,” said Mr Evans.

The economic disaster of the 1974 hung Parliament, during which time the stock market and the pound collapsed, is hard to forget.  It seems everyone will be waiting for Thursday’s result with baited breath.

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Nick Clegg Meets The People

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Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg MP travelled to  Corfe Hills School in Broadstone, Poole last night to give the people of Poole the opportunity to quiz him on his policies, personality and predictions for the next General Election. The evening was entitled; Nick Clegg Meets The People. The Liberal MP for North Poole and Dorset, Annette Brooke introduced Mr Clegg.

Mr Clegg faced a hall of over 200 members of the public and press, to answer questions on a number of topics including: a proposed referendum on membership to the European Union, “serious” tax cut plans, MPs’ expenses reforms, health care, defence budget spending, climate change to council tax and improved security for students and young families.opportunity for the people of Poole and Bournemouth to quiz Mr Clegg on his policies, personality and predictions for the next general election.

To provide an idea of the general feeling of the audience after the meeting, Poole People asked; would they vote Liberal Democrat in the 2010 elections?

Mr Tim Spencer

Tim Spencer, 46, a software engineer, said: “I shall be voting for Annette Brooke, not because she’s Liberal but because of the great work she does in the constituency.

“She genuinely helps the constituency.”

Mr Bob Williams

Bob Williams, 67, a retired electrician from Broadstone, said: “I will be voting Liberal, yes.”

Mr Williams said that he had been a member of the Liberal party for 25 years, adding: “They have always had a positive view on Europe, the environment and constitutional reform and always supported them.

“They will get my vote.”

Rosa and Stephen Foster

Rosa Foster, 58, a former school teacher from Christchurch, said: “Yes, there’s a certain integrity to the Liberals and it’s to be respected.”

Mr Randolf Meech

Randolph Meech, 74, a retired Counsellor, who served for the Liberal Democrats for 23 years in Poole and is one of its past Mayors, said: “They want to increase the threshold for tax to £10,000 a year per person. I’m happy with that.”

Cllr Tony Trent, Poole Council

Speaking about Mr Clegg’s performance, one current Liberal Democrat Counsellor for Poole, Cllr Tony Trent, 57, who has lived in Poole all his life said: “His showing was excellent. I didn’t vote for Nick in the party elections. I voted for the guy who came second, but seeing him speak I see he was the best man for the job.

“He was strong on everything.”

“I was very encouraged by some of the changes, for example the reform on income tax.”

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