Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Debate in Holt on Friday

Just a reminder that my first debate with Phil Harris, the Labour Candidate will take place at Holt Community Centre at 7pm on Friday. Let's hope we get more than three men and a dog!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

H have just been browsing through your blog and links ...it's interesting although you must spend an awful lot of time on it! I cannot go to the meeting in Holt but would have been quite interested. Perhaps I can ask you a couple of questions? Where did you live before moving to Norfolk and how do you earn your living now you are here? If I'm not supposed to ask these things tell me! Also, as there seems to be so much talk about an election this year, if you lost would you stay here and fight again?

Iain Dale said...

H have just been browsing through your blog and links ...it's interesting although you must spend an awful lot of time on it! I cannot go to the meeting in Holt but would have been quite interested. Perhaps I can ask you a couple of questions? Where did you live before moving to Norfolk and how do you earn your living now you are here? If I'm not supposed to ask these things tell me! Also, as there seems to be so much talk about an election this year, if you lost would you stay here and fight again?

I was brought up on a farm near Saffron Walden, spent most of the 1980s in Norfolk, before moving to London. In 1997 I moved to Tunbridge Wells. I bought a house here, as I promised to do, exactly a year ago and now live in Swanton Abbott. Being a candidate has become more or less a full time job but I still have my bookselling business from which I eke out a meagre existence. I'm glad that you recognise a candidate still has to earn a living - most people assume we get paid or at least get expenses. Neither is true. As to your final question, I came here to win. I do not contemplate defeat. I wouldn;t have applied to be the candidate if I didn't think I was either capable of winning it back. Nothing has caused me to alter that view. My opponent took three attempts to win it, but I hope it won't take me that long. If you'd like to attend any of the other debates, here are the details.

Friday 21 January North Walsham Community Centre
Friday 28 January Sheringham Community Centre
Friday 4 February Stalham Community Centre
Friday 18 February Cromer Parish Hall
Friday 4 March Fakenham & District Community Centre
Thursday 24 March Wells Community Centre

All debates start at 7pm

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the dates .(I'm the one who was asking yesterday...) I may be able to get to the one in Sherinbgham instead. In case I can't tho'can you tell me why you want to represent us here in North Norfolk in particular. Did you want to stand in Kent? Do you still have a house there and if you lost here, would you not want to go back there? What are the qualities that you feel you can offer to us as a representative. It may seem an odd question but I feel that the character of the individual person is actually really impportant rather than the party they stand for sometimes. Thanks!

Iain Dale said...

When I first went on the Conservative Candidates list in 2002 Gillian Shephard asked me which seat I most wanted. I replied North Norfolk. She seemed surprised that I hadn't said a safe Conservative seat. I explained that I knew the seat, had links with the area and believed I could win it. I have no affinity with Kent and did not apply for any seats there. I answered the point about losing in my previous email. As to my qualities, without entering into a lot of self analysis, I am a very determined individual who speaks his mind (sometimes not a good idea!) who has experience of running (and winning!) high profile, successful campaigns. I would be a very vocal MP who would not hesitate to speak up for his constituents and campaign to improve their lives. I have made 10 pledges to the people of North Norfolk, which I list below. I am, so far as I am aware, the first Candidate of any Party to do this. I am quite happy to be judged by them.

* I will always put the interests of North Norfolk above my own or my Party's

* I will continue to live in the constituency, among the community I serve

* I will serve ALL my constituents, regardless of their politics

* I will never promise what I know I cannot deliver

* I will never knowingly claim credit for something when the credit is not mine

* I will act with honesty, integrity, openness and candour at all times

* I will tell people my real views, even when I know they will disagree with me

* I will be a full-time MP with no jobs outside politics

* I will NEVER vote for Britain to join the euro or sign up to the European Constitution

* I will publish in detail all expenses reclaimed in the pursuit of my parliamentary duties

I make these pledges so people can see that I intend to be honest and transparent. As public figures our conduct not only has to be impeccable, it has to be seen to be impeccable.

Westbury-on-Trym Lib Dems said...

Although also in the interests of transparency, you did only get the North Norfolk seat after being turned down for the safe Conservative seat of Chipping Barnet in London, didn't you?

Iain Dale said...

Yes, and despite your insinuation, I have never hidden it. The North Norfolk selection kept getting delayed and I wanted some interview practice.

Westbury-on-Trym Lib Dems said...

You said in your earlier comment, "I have no affinity with Kent and did not apply for any seats there." In my view, you strongly hinted that you only applied in Norfolk, which is obviously not accurate.

What is your affinity with Chipping Barnet and are you seriously saying you wouldn't have stood (and dropped your North Norfolk application) if asked? Saying it was "interview practice" is, I think, hugely disingenuous.

You have also not answered Anonymous' question as to whether you still have a house in Kent.

Westbury-on-Trym Lib Dems said...

I also note that your pledge has changed since last discussed (in June?). You now say, "I will be a full-time MP with no jobs outside politics".

At the time, I think we came to the conclusion that your pledge meant that you would not accept new appointments but would retain your existing involvement in Politicos. Has the position changed so that you are now pledging to relinquish that role too?

Iain Dale said...

James, Perhaps like me - and unlike Norman Lamb- you might like to move to North Norfolk.

Iain Dale said...

James, stop trying to be clever. My pledge means exactly what it says. And frankly, as you don't live in North Norfolk I'm not sure how it is relevant to you. Before we go any further in our correspondence I think it is about time you revealed just exactly who you are. Presumably your address is 4 Cowley Street, London, SW1.

Westbury-on-Trym Lib Dems said...

I think you are the one who is trying to be clever, Iain.

From any early stage in the life of your blog and at your (very reasonable) request, I was clear that I do not live in North Norfolk (though I used to) and that I support the Lib Dems. I am happy to add that I am not a Lib Dem employee (or candidate or whatever) having chosen a more respectable profession than politics! So obviously my address is not 4 Cowley Street (if only I did own property in a desirable part of central London!)

My contact details are clearly not relevant to your readers as I am not standing for public office. You (and Norman Lamb, of course) are.

One of the reasons why I (and many others) chose not to be professionally involved in politics is that I want to retain a level of personal privacy and posting my personal details on your website clearly breaches that. Therefore, I have no intention of doing so.

To be honest, I seriously think you owe me an apology for demanding that I post personal details on your blog. As I say, I am more than happy to post relevant information to help your readers to assess my contribution (and I have in the past and above done so) but frankly I see no reason why I should go beyond that as a private citizen.

Iain Dale said...

You are making an unfortunate habit out of demanding apologies, James. I seem to remember I did apologise or seomthing several months ago but can't for the life of me think what it was about. I really don't think one is in order here! You do your best to wind me up/make mischief and I don't blame you for that, but remember I have a choice here - I can either reply to your posts or not.

Westbury-on-Trym Lib Dems said...

...And people can draw their own conclusions over your decision not to answer my questions or those of Anonymous (who, from what she/he said does appear to live in North Norfolk) and others.

Now, as requested by Anonymous above, do you still own a house in Kent? There are also outstanding questions from me above but you have made it pretty clear you can't be bothered answering them.