News from Greater Manchester and other thoughts

Ladies and gentlemen, if you are wondering, the polar vortex in the USA is still ongoing, as are flood warnings within England. 

As for political news, the first local by-election of this year concluded as follows:

Salford, South Swinton: Lab 661 (45.1%), Con 298 (20.3%), UKIP 215 (14.7%), Green 196 (13.4%), English Democrats 54 (3.7%), TUSC 43 (2.9%).

It is rather unfortunate that our candidate, Joe O'Neill,slipped from second place in 2012 to fourth here, partly due to the intervention of UKIP (who will still be able to hoover up anti-LibLabCon protest votes locally) and also TUSC; the latter party frequently splits our votes in metropolitan areas.

Also, the Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, Paul Goggins, has sadly died, aged 60, a week after he collapsed during a run. Many have paid tributes to him for his kindness and hard work during the nearly 17 years he spent as MP.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill is being read at report stage today in the House of Lords, so please persuade peers you know to stop this dangerous bill. It is wrong in principle-watering it down will do no good ultimately.

Alan.

UPDATE: The House of Lords defeated the aforementioned Bill by 306-178. A victory for common sense!


Comments

  1. davidhenry16 February 2014 at 09:31

    Hi Alan,

    I'm the branch secretary for Salford Green Party and have worked with Joe O'Neill for many years since he left the Lib Dems about 5 years ago, it's always interesting to read others thoughts on our local happenings.

    Joe O'Neill is a shining example of a dedicated local activist who has maintained his connections to the community despite the betrayals of his former political affiliations. Swinton is mostly a suburban middle class area but not typically a Green stronghold until the formation of the local party in 2010. He also stood for elected Mayor in 2012.

    I sigh at the situation with T.U.S.C, and completely agree with you in regards to the splitting of the left vote. I stood as a a T.U.S.C candidate for the Salford and Eccles constituency at the General Election (although I was and still am a Green Party member) and there was no Green candidate.

    We achieved something remarkable here since we somehow managed to bring the whole left-of-Labour together, something that has often resulted in self-destructive sectarian war-games else where. It would be a tall order to attempt a repeat of that unity we achieved in 2010 but it's certainly in our interests to do so.

    Perhaps it is the shared interest in the campaign to oust Hazel Blears MP that did the trick, but also the attitude to let sleeping dogs lie and turn over a new leaf amongst those figures on the left who for so long have been at war but fighting the same fight. RMT union made a donation via two branches and RESPECT raised funds for the campaign via a comedy night with Mark Steele. The local Green Parties were all very supportive too (despite criticism from others from out of town)

    http://davidhenryppc.wordpress.com/election-campaign/

    ReplyDelete

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