Always on the run…

Is it a bird?…er yes it is actually…

Election campaigning combined with getting healthy … who says men can’t multi task? The bit the picture doesn’t show you is the bird on the back, alongside the website details. I’ve got some good responses so far - a few hello’s, a couple of car horns tooted and the odd good luck. The people of Ramsbottom are getting used to seeing the giant running bumblebee now… 

The second time in my life I've been dressed as a bumblebee in public. The other story will have to wait for another time...

I’m hoping the press may pick up the story as a bit of light relief from the heavy dredge of the ‘big’ campaigning that people are already beginning to tire of. Below is the text of the release that went out earlier this week. Who knows if they’ll print anything – but why should you all miss on news of my foolishness if they don’t… 

Running for Rammy!  

The election campaign is now fully underway in the general and local elections, but for one local candidate, it really has become a race for office. Paul Jenkins, the local election candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Ramsbottom is attempting to run the length of breadth of the town to try and get his message across to electors. His aim is to run up every street in Ramsbottom at least once before May 6^th. 

Paul, who has been an amateur road runner for ten years and who has completed two Great North Runs and the London Marathon, is really enjoying this new challenge. “I got the idea when I was training for the Sport relief mile with my son” he explained. “Lots of people wished us luck as I was wearing my sport relief socks – so I for figured that while I’m training for the Joe Geeling Fun Run in June, why not advertise something else I’m passionate about while I’m doing it?” 

 “The response has been good so far, with some people even tooting their horns in support as they drive past. My only regret is that some of the ward is at the top of Holcombe Hill – I’m determined to get up there though!” 

Paul is one of four local candidates standing in the Ramsbottom ward and knows that it will be struggle to get his message across. “I’ve been meeting lots of people across the ward, but without the money of the other parties to get  thousands of pounds worth of leaflets delivered in the post, I’ve had to be a bit creative with how I advertise the campaign – at least I’m keeping healthy doing it!” 

The election campaign runs until 6^th May with three other candidates challenging to be the new local councillor for the area. For more details on the campaign you can contact Paul by email paul@burylibdems.net

Roving reporter…

Nick Clegg delivers a rousing speech at conference

On location

Today’s batch of waffle is a bit special, as it’s coming from you on location! Ooooooh! Well, it’s being drafted on location and you’ll get it tomorrow, but the spirit is there nonetheless. I am currently sitting in the reception area at the Lib Dem conference in Birmingham, watching the great and the good go by. It’s kind of like hanging out at the Oscars but the Gucci’s been replaced with fleece.

Nick Clegg is as we speak doing a piece for Channel 4 news about ten feet away to my left, while all around me people councillors, campaigners, MP’s and pressure groups do their bit on the political merry go round. If you’re into this sort of thing, which I clearly am, conference is the place where you feel like a pig in mud.

 Now Chris Huhne’s just walked past. No Prada handbag though…

 It’s my first time at a national conference and I have to say it’s been a very motivating day. From my arrival onwards, I’ve found the whole thing to be wholly professional and very slick, a sure sign that the Lib Dems are aiming for much greater things in this election and beyond.  Let me take you on a tour….

The Conference hall

If you’re right at the back, it’s a very calming place to grab a few z’s, as I found at least one of my elder colleagues doing late in the afternoon session (no names – I’m not that cruel!). If you’re at the front its where the magic happens. Policy debates (we’re one of the only parties that still have them) happen here as well as the key note speeches. So today for example I’ve heard the policies on fair taxation and manufacturing adopted, as well as hearing a speech on Housing from Sarah Teather.

The afternoon session in the hall was given to a Q & A session with the leader and Nick Clegg clearly knows how to handle a room. We’re a friendly crowd but not frightened of asking difficult questions and I quite bravely put my head above the parapet to do so.

Halfway through asking about how the party was going to deal with accountability for head teachers in failing schools, I suddenly realised that a room with all my local colleagues as well as the front bench team (including Vince Cable, Chris Huhne, David Laws &  Ed Davey) were all listening to this difficult bloke from Bury North. It was only when I sat down that I realised how much my heart was  pounding! Good to know that even after years of experience stagefright can still grab you when you least expect it. Keeps me on my toes!

 Fringe events

Lunchtime was going to be filled with an event on the fixing the problems in our electoral system but it was full by the time I got there – which goes to show I think the popularity of Chris Huhne in the party. He may have lost the leadership election, but he still pulls a big crowd. I am however off to a shindig at the BBC this evening, which should be an event in itself as its being hosted by Sue Inglish, head of political programmes. I wonder if she read my last post??!!

As well as this there were numerous training events across the conference plaza – some on campaigning, some on electoral law. If you want to get genned up on your political activisim – conference is definitely your place.

The stalls.

Every man and his dog wanted to be my friend today. I’ve missed a few out here but I’ve had a fair old chat with people from the Agents association, the association of Lib Dem councillors,  Lib Dem LGB, Christian Lib Dems, Secularist and Humanist Lib Dems, the Education branch, Liberal Youth, the European group… I couldn’t find the Lib Dem Jedi branch but I’m sure they must exist. If not, I’ll have a stall next year.

Best of all (sad, sad, sad…) I went shopping at Lib Dem image. New car sticker, new pin badge, new clipboard. I stopped short of a mug with Vince Cable’s face on, or the “Nick Clegg’s Credit Crunch chocolate” which was ironically quite expensive. There’s only so much yellow you can have in your life. Best buy was clearly the key ring for my car keys – no repeat of the dropping them without realising events of two weeks ago! Ha ha!!

Star struck

Saw Floella Benjamin. Nuff said.

A good old social

Luncthime I ran in to the Parliamentary candidate (PPC) from Basildon, Geoff Williams - friend of the family and one of the nicest men in politics. (Last time we saw each other I was in short trousers, crossing electors off the list on polling day – you’re forgiven Geoff for not recognising me!) We caught up, reminisced, shared a few ideas. The evening was also great, sharing a burger and a chat with two of my colleagues from Prestwich (Ann and Andrew – the £10 will be winging its back to you soon I promise!) and the Parliamentary candidates for Warrington, Leeds & Walthamstow. It was a lively evening and everyone was very welcoming. A sure sign that politicians can be personable after all.

I am also reliably informed that there is a ‘glee’ club after hours which delegates flock to make absolute fools of themselves by having a good old sing song. Pre-dating the American sugar coated trite that is currently gracing our screens on Sky (it seems this has a 20 year history at least..), this appears much more rough and ready. From the reports I’ve had it seems like a mixture of overworked politicians,song and red wine - a damaging combination I’ve had experience of before. I escaped though – had a long drive home and just caught a hint of what I escaped on the radio. Discord was definitely the name of the game from the clip that Jon Pinaar was subjected to.

Tired boy

The following day and I’m shattered – an awful lot packed into one day – goodness knows what it must be like for those at the top end of the party who also have to fit in a few thousand interviews with the press and the ‘special interest’ groups who I saw floating about trying to woo political support for their respective causes. But a good day nonetheless and everyone’s now suitably perked up for the election to come. Bring  it on Gordon – we’re ready to rumble

I’m really not a friend of Andrew Neill

Scream

The television is the reason I’m involved in politics in the first place. During the run up to the war in Iraq I got tired of shouting at Blair through the 6 o clock news and did something more practical instead by helping to cause traffic jams by laying in the middle of the road with some other grumpy students. After getting a sore bum and almost getting trampled by a few dozen police horses I felt I had at least achieved something. It didn’t stop a war but it made my voice heard. Albeit briefly.

Now, seven years later and I’m shouting at the TV again. Except now it’s not shouting at ‘the man’ that’s getting my goat. (Metaphorical – I may have moved closer to the countryside but there’s been no acquisition of any livestock at chez Jenkins). No, now I’m shouting at the gogglebox because of the people that put ‘the man’ on a platform in the first place. I’ve been getting increasingly frustrated as we run up to the election with the complete lack of balance shown by our broadcasters towards the political process.

I have come to accept over the years that our commercial broadcasters will always have a leaning towards the right in some way or another and to be honest, that actually makes a little bit of sense to me – well at least I can understand how it would happen. Monsignor Murdoch owns the lions share of the broadcast and printed media in the UK so I would expect that his content would be skewed towards anyone who stands towards the right of British politics. Are you frightened about immigration? – so are Sky news! Are you of the opinion  that all young people are just yobs who are high as a kite on smack while throwing bricks through windows? – ITV news are your guys… These broadcasters rely on advertising for their funding, so it’s inevitable that there will be some sort of sensationalist approach to the news. It has to be exciting or who the hell will watch?

So if you want balance – you’ll have to go to Auntie. The good old beeb. Our national broadcaster, funded by us all and the envy of the world in terms of its journalistic integrity.

Yeah, right.

It’s not easy being green.

I’m not a green voter. I don’t think Caroline Lucas (the leader of the greens) has any real coherent argument when it comes to forming a national government. I can see a glimmer of reason in what the Greens stand for at a local level but their policies on the economy, education and crime do seem to have been tacked on around their central argument of ‘We have to save our floating rock from turning nasty’. I will recycle Caroline, but I’ll never be voting for you.

A recent poll yougov poll however recently showed that nearly 34% of people would ‘consider’ voting green in an election, suggesting that environmental issues are beginning to find a platform – maybe even giving a wake up call to the ‘larger’ parties in Westminster. But did we hear about it?

At the more distasteful end of the spectrum , there good ol’ Nick Griffin, everyone’s favourite Nazi. The BNP has a support that is growing as steadily as a tenor’s waistline and yet there is little coverage of their political activity unless it is in the courtroom or there are dairy products flying about. Would I LIKE to hear what they have to say? No. It will drive me nuts, but then at least I will be able to see clearly how ludicrous voting for them would be and I can make an informed decision.

We got a glimpse of it on the recent Question time but we’re now back to them being in the shadows, which quite frankly is where they are at their most dangerous. The media torch needs to be back on the party of hate if we are going to be able to show them for what they are. Which is frustrated people desperate for some answers and lashing out because of it. Will that happen? I doubt it.

The same is true for the people in Scotland, Wales and N.Ireland. They have a real argument about the upcoming leadership debates for the Westminster election where they have been clumsily sidelined by all. Its not just the right to decide on education and health spending that’s been devolved. Apparently their voice has been too.

Grumpy Thursdays

Thursday nights for me are becoming increasingly frustrating. Question time appears to be trying far too hard to grab viewers by ignoring the idea of balance entirely and bringing in guests who seem to have no awareness whatsoever of the issues at hand. Occasionally you’ll get a gem like the Eric Pickles event (it still makes me laugh – if you have seen it – it’ll make you chuckle – youtube’s finest) but mostly it’s turned into a ball of political fluff – with little to really write home about.

The nice lady on the BBC complaints line is now used to our Friday morning chats about the imbalance of the previous night’s panel, especially on days when the selection is made up of one red, one blue and a selection of supporters for either side. I’m sure if I made the effort we could be on first name terms now – she probably even has the form filled in for me before I call.

Why am I so bothered about it? Isn’t the argument that if we as LibDems were actually challenging to be the next government then we’d be given more airtime? Well yes, the BBC in particular has an obligation to show a balance according to support at the last relevant election – but surely that only reinforces the status quo? How will we ever get the chance to change our political system for the better unless we know what our alternative options are?

Following question time in the schedule however is the real reason for this posting and the thing that makes my blood boil. ‘This week.’

What you never saw it?

I will admit now that there are probably only about seven people in the entire country who watch ‘This week’ and they are all political nerds like me, but how the format can be justified in any way shape or form I have no idea.

Let’s leave aside the fact that’s its caricature imagery and sweeping populist reporting are a pile of tosh in terms of quality programme making. Let’s forget that its a political comment show scheduled so late that its existence can’t really be justified. And lets leave aside that in Andrew Neill we have the most sycophantic and talentless presenter ever to grace a sunbed. It is a terribly made programme, made on the cheap to make up the quota of political programming and  ticking a box to justify the licence fee to the naysayers who hate auntie.

But to fly in the face of any kind of pluralism in such blatant a fashion shouldn’t be allowed. Labour are represented by Diane Abbott(did she mention she was the first black woman MP in the last three minutes or not – she must be slipping), the Tories have Michael Portillo (the reason I ended up with a hangover on 2nd May 1997). And the LibDems/Greens/UKIP/BNP/SNP/Plaid/Sinn Fein/UUP/DUP/Alliance are represented by…. Oh hold on they’re not. Because apparently UK politics is a two party affair. You’re red or you’re Blue and there’s nowt in between.

If you’re lucky enough to be invited on with your ‘little party’ issue, then you can sit and be grilled by the big boys. But don’t you dare sit on ‘their’ sofa. You’re different to them. You CAN’T be a party of government. Grr.

And Grr again.

How on earth can we possibly pretend we have been suitably informed of our options when our national broadcaster continues to give us this fictional gladitorial battle? It reflects nothing of what we see in the key battlegrounds, the three way marginals and particularly those seats outside England. It’s a ridiculous state of affairs.

This week, every week.

I phoned again this morning, registering my mark on the edexcel spreadsheet of complaints never to be actioned at Auntie’s headquarters. I’ll continue to do so and I urge anyone who gives two hoots to do so as well. Maybe whingeing and whining will get me somewhere – or maybe one week they might just hear me shouting through the TV.

Hello world!

Here we go then…