The only two ways Orwell got it wrong was in the timing, and the extent of "Thought-Crime". It has finally arrived for real.
" So, there were are – "European" justice for you: guilty unless you can prove yourself innocent, guilty of an "offence" even though there is no victim, and prey to any passing race relations industry zealot who thinks they can make a quick buck out of taking you to court.
Lord Denning, I think, will be turning in his grave. "
I can hear Elliot's mind ticking over from here. Our very own race relations industry zealot. And YOU are paying his salary for him to oppress you.
It's not a lot to read so please do go and read it:
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2008/07/blank-cheque-for-race-relations.html
Friday, 11 July 2008
CONGRATULATIONS CHRIS HILTON
Congratulations to Chris Hilton and thanks to our helpers in the Wigan West bye election who put up a creditable fight in spite of the last minute decision to stand in this election.
Of course we are somewhat disappointed not to have attracted more votes but the local elections are to some extent a reflection of national policies and a desire to be rid of this incompetent and uncaring labour administration, hence the increased Tory vote. The CAP percentage continues to decline while as Morgan says UKIP competed for the same votes as us, for even though they have only one policy they come across as a patriotic party.
Although as Morgan says the reduced hold of Labour over national and local politics is welcome I must take issue with my fellow blogger when he infers that an alliance is possible between the non Labour parties. From experience I agree with him that the other candidates and their supporters at the counts are decent people (apart from the uncouth and odious Peter Franzen) who we helped unseat in May, but we have our doctrinal differences. Our job is to convince them and others of the benefits of our views which I believe will become increasingly evident as the economy continues to unravel.
We must show that our policies are much more than halting immigration and that they have a direct relevance to the prosperity of the people of our country, and its future as a united country.
It is pretty certain that the Tories will win the next general election and I hope they do.That is not because I am right wing, I am not, but because their policies are so like the failed ones of this government they will be unable to dig themselves out of the mess.
Thus with the policies of the two major parties discredited we will be able to fill the gap and reverse our national decline. But to be in a position to do this we must keep a presence in as many areas as possible.
That is why I thank you Chris. You have kept the flag flying and although we would have liked to have done better the people of Wigan West know we are not going away.
Of course we are somewhat disappointed not to have attracted more votes but the local elections are to some extent a reflection of national policies and a desire to be rid of this incompetent and uncaring labour administration, hence the increased Tory vote. The CAP percentage continues to decline while as Morgan says UKIP competed for the same votes as us, for even though they have only one policy they come across as a patriotic party.
Although as Morgan says the reduced hold of Labour over national and local politics is welcome I must take issue with my fellow blogger when he infers that an alliance is possible between the non Labour parties. From experience I agree with him that the other candidates and their supporters at the counts are decent people (apart from the uncouth and odious Peter Franzen) who we helped unseat in May, but we have our doctrinal differences. Our job is to convince them and others of the benefits of our views which I believe will become increasingly evident as the economy continues to unravel.
We must show that our policies are much more than halting immigration and that they have a direct relevance to the prosperity of the people of our country, and its future as a united country.
It is pretty certain that the Tories will win the next general election and I hope they do.That is not because I am right wing, I am not, but because their policies are so like the failed ones of this government they will be unable to dig themselves out of the mess.
Thus with the policies of the two major parties discredited we will be able to fill the gap and reverse our national decline. But to be in a position to do this we must keep a presence in as many areas as possible.
That is why I thank you Chris. You have kept the flag flying and although we would have liked to have done better the people of Wigan West know we are not going away.
BY-ELECTION. JULY 10th 2008
Yesterday's by-election in Wigan West produced the following results:
Labour 817 (38.3%)
Conservative 528 (24.8%)
Liberal Democrat 344 (16.1%)
BNP 200 (9.4%)
UKIP 124 (5.8%)
CAP 118 (5.5%)
Overall turnout 21.5%
That last number - 21.5% - is the most important information there, and I will return to it.
Our percentage of the vote dropped by almost the same as the UKIP vote. Ukip have never opposed us before in this ward, so it seems reasonable to conclude that UKIP is taking votes away from us here.
The Labour vote was down, and this is despite having some serious local power out doorknocking: Neil Turner MP and at least four councillors were seen on the streets getting out their vote.
The Conservative vote is up.
As a group, we are going to have to dicuss this. After the count I talked with representatives of the Cap, UKIP, and Lib/Dem parties. We reached a tentative conclusion about the next step we must take, but this public place is not where we should talk about that. We are all agreed - and that includes the Conservatives - that the key task is to break the stranglehold that the Labour party seems to have on the minds of the people of Wigan.
Turnout: this is crucial. Four out of every five potential voters in this ward didn't bother voting. I suspect it wouldn't have been much different in any other ward. I believe this low turnout is a part of that Labour stranglehold on the minds of the people of Wigan that I mentioned earlier.
As a party (just like all the other non-Labour parties if the talk last night was anything to go by) we believe that if you stuck a red rosette on a monkey and held it up on a stick, then the people of Wigan would elect it. Maybe that four out of five who didn't/don't vote believe the same thing ... so don't bother going out to the polling station. Well, all I can say about that is "self-fulfilling prophecy". Would it be more accurate to say that if we stuck a red rosette on a monkey and held it up on a stick that one fifth of the people of Wigan would elect it.
Let's take a look at the 2004 General election. Neil Turner won for Labour with 55% of the vote. However, only 53% of the voters bothered turning out. If you work through the numbers on that, it turns out that the Labour party had the positive endorsement of no more than 29% of the people of Wigan. So Labour is not invulnerable here. And as I said earlier, the most important issue is turnout. I believe that if we - all non-Labour parties together - could persuade the non-voters to turn out then we could finish Labour in this town.
So - how do we increase turnout? We are going to have to discuss this. And that means that whether we like it or not all the non-Labour parties are going to have to discuss this together. In public is not the place to do this - no point tipping our hand to Labour, is there.
I did notice at the count - and I've noticed it at other counts too - all we non-Labour party people get on well with each other, but mostly, the Labour people seem hostile to everyone else - almost as if they see themselves as being at war against the British. But I must give some credit to one Labour councillor: Phyll Cullen made a point of speaking to me. She asked about why Susan wasn't standing, and did seem genuinely concerned to hear about Susan's recent medical difficulties, and wishes all the best to her. Thank you Phyll. We'll remember that.
As for the rest of us - we've got two years to find a way to get the turnout up. I'm personally convinced that the only way to bring Labour to heel is to get turnout up. Ideas folks, ideas. Think. And other parties that read this site - you do the same. Ideas. Mustn't depend on just a couple of people in each party to come up with the ideas. The cleverest thing in the world isn't one or two people - the cleverest thing in the world is large group of people.
Use the comment section. Speak up at meetings. Think.
Labour 817 (38.3%)
Conservative 528 (24.8%)
Liberal Democrat 344 (16.1%)
BNP 200 (9.4%)
UKIP 124 (5.8%)
CAP 118 (5.5%)
Overall turnout 21.5%
That last number - 21.5% - is the most important information there, and I will return to it.
Our percentage of the vote dropped by almost the same as the UKIP vote. Ukip have never opposed us before in this ward, so it seems reasonable to conclude that UKIP is taking votes away from us here.
The Labour vote was down, and this is despite having some serious local power out doorknocking: Neil Turner MP and at least four councillors were seen on the streets getting out their vote.
The Conservative vote is up.
As a group, we are going to have to dicuss this. After the count I talked with representatives of the Cap, UKIP, and Lib/Dem parties. We reached a tentative conclusion about the next step we must take, but this public place is not where we should talk about that. We are all agreed - and that includes the Conservatives - that the key task is to break the stranglehold that the Labour party seems to have on the minds of the people of Wigan.
Turnout: this is crucial. Four out of every five potential voters in this ward didn't bother voting. I suspect it wouldn't have been much different in any other ward. I believe this low turnout is a part of that Labour stranglehold on the minds of the people of Wigan that I mentioned earlier.
As a party (just like all the other non-Labour parties if the talk last night was anything to go by) we believe that if you stuck a red rosette on a monkey and held it up on a stick, then the people of Wigan would elect it. Maybe that four out of five who didn't/don't vote believe the same thing ... so don't bother going out to the polling station. Well, all I can say about that is "self-fulfilling prophecy". Would it be more accurate to say that if we stuck a red rosette on a monkey and held it up on a stick that one fifth of the people of Wigan would elect it.
Let's take a look at the 2004 General election. Neil Turner won for Labour with 55% of the vote. However, only 53% of the voters bothered turning out. If you work through the numbers on that, it turns out that the Labour party had the positive endorsement of no more than 29% of the people of Wigan. So Labour is not invulnerable here. And as I said earlier, the most important issue is turnout. I believe that if we - all non-Labour parties together - could persuade the non-voters to turn out then we could finish Labour in this town.
So - how do we increase turnout? We are going to have to discuss this. And that means that whether we like it or not all the non-Labour parties are going to have to discuss this together. In public is not the place to do this - no point tipping our hand to Labour, is there.
I did notice at the count - and I've noticed it at other counts too - all we non-Labour party people get on well with each other, but mostly, the Labour people seem hostile to everyone else - almost as if they see themselves as being at war against the British. But I must give some credit to one Labour councillor: Phyll Cullen made a point of speaking to me. She asked about why Susan wasn't standing, and did seem genuinely concerned to hear about Susan's recent medical difficulties, and wishes all the best to her. Thank you Phyll. We'll remember that.
As for the rest of us - we've got two years to find a way to get the turnout up. I'm personally convinced that the only way to bring Labour to heel is to get turnout up. Ideas folks, ideas. Think. And other parties that read this site - you do the same. Ideas. Mustn't depend on just a couple of people in each party to come up with the ideas. The cleverest thing in the world isn't one or two people - the cleverest thing in the world is large group of people.
Use the comment section. Speak up at meetings. Think.
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