Ruth Smeeth is Labour candidate for Burton. She's a plucky lass. She announced she was spending 10 days walking across the constituency, visiting villages and meeting charities. You can even check out the videos of the 'walk' so far with the 'Ruth Responds' page link (sadly no permalink on the page).The videos are hilarious.
Her walk didn't get off to a very good start when she injured her ankle, and was forced to use crutches. That meant she couldn't join the YMCA for the sponsored walk. She then actually forgets where the village of Church Leigh is. What kind of candidates posts a video of her failing to identify where a village is in relation to the constituency she's trying to win? She then turns up in Withington to go to the pub but finds it is closed. She then admits "there is very little going on" in Stramshall. The Croxden Abbey video doesn't work. She gets chased by geese outside JCB and turns up in Rocester, the village next to the JCB factory, which is solely inhabited by JCB workers, during the factory fortnight shutdown meaning there isn't a sole about and says "there is very little to be doing".
Genius!
It shouldn't happen to a parliamentary candidate. At least not on video.
I have met her, she made a very good impression. However, she is quite the patrician.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't expect a sole so far in land ;)
ReplyDeleteWhy would you have fish in a JCB factory!
ReplyDeletePerfect planning prevents piss poor performance!
ReplyDeleteAnd this is not an example of perfect planning, rather an example of a publicity stunt gone badly, badly wrong!
But maybe this is 'reverse psychology' on the 'vote for me, because I'm honest enough to tell you all the bad stuff, as well as the spin..'
ReplyDeleteGive her a bit of a break, Mr Dale - this is the sort of enterprising approach young Tories should aspire to..
wordver - sledger !!
What a muppet - why post videos of yourself demonstrating your ignorance of the people that you want to vote for you?
ReplyDeleteBizarre.
"which is solely inhabited by JCB workers, during the factory fortnight shutdown meaning there isn't a sole about"
ReplyDeletePerhaps it was a walkout?
On the upside, she isn't spinning her trips or trying to cover up the negative aspects.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that might win her a few converts who are tired of watching politicians on TV refusing to answer simple questions with honest replies.
All part of the rise of the 'proffessional' politician
ReplyDeletehttp://socialpoliticsuk.blogspot.com/
Crap party sniping.
ReplyDeleteThis has made my day. Almost tempted to go and campaign for her, but maybe not.
ReplyDeleteThere is a permalink... http://iwc2.labouronline.org/168977/ruth-responds-tour
ReplyDeleteBless her. At least she is trying and I do like her idea.
ReplyDeleteShe needs help and so I'll oblige.
ReplyDeleteRuth, go back to the JCB plant(Hauge airways) and google the Midlands Industrial Council (MIC).
Then,invite the press to an 'emergency' release of your findings.
David Cameron will resign before sunset.
Ah, bless. What a gal!
ReplyDeleteinteresting choice of blogs iain
ReplyDeletewhile most newspapers are headline splashing that the economy is coming out of recession you don't even make comment on this fact.
Your blog your choice but interesting none the less.
Oh, dear.
ReplyDeleteAnd Harriet is doing no better, either...
Thursday morning update. Harman, it's like shooting fish in barrel
there isn't a sole about
ReplyDeleteUnless the village is underwater, why should there be a sole about?
Unless the village is underwater, why should there be a sole about?
ReplyDeleteCobblers?
It's a bit weird seeing this today. Uttoxeter is my home town and Stramshall was the village I lived in until I left for University in London. Her comment about nothing happening in the village is, sadly, pretty accurate.
ReplyDeleteMy Mother was the Tory Mayor of Uttoxeter until she passed away in 1990. Today is her birthday and I was thinking about her just before I loaded the site.
Also, one of the people in the video is Bob Ivinson - my old art teacher.
Apart from the unexpected trip down memory lane for me, the blog is not a bad idea but is very poorly executed.
Her biography implies she is a local girl but not with that accent...
golden balls said
ReplyDeletewhile most newspapers are headline splashing that the economy is coming out of recession you don't even make comment on this fact.
...............................
And andy coulson's still got his job !
aint life a bitch. goldenballs....boo hoo :(
If she is supposed to be running a national campaigning body, how come she is so awful on camera?
ReplyDeleteHer item on, erm, pubs, was, erm, a bit, well, like that, really.
She looks and sounds as if she needs media training.
She is quite fit, though, isn't she?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Rod Liddle has this to say about Caroline Flint
Carolline Flint is 'as Fit as a butcher's dog' But it's in context, honest!
Had she been elected last time around her ignorance and ineptitude probably would have ensured a seat in a New Labour cabinet.
ReplyDelete(Wonder what Harriet makes of her performance so far.)
Believe it or not but her day job is in communications/lobbying!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.uttoxeteradvertiser.co.uk/uttoxeteradvertiser-news/displayarticle.asp?id=237865
Mike Hunt I think you'll actually find Golden Balls said was:
ReplyDelete"Whine, whine, bitch, moan I don't like you or your blog Iain Dale but I persist in reading and commenting as it gives me a momentary sense of importance"
Hey, at least she's in the constituency for a bit!
ReplyDeleteThe Labour candidate in our marginal Tory seat was selected two years ago, never turns up for public meetings, and certainly never gets down and dirty pounding the streets.
She's inaugurated about 3 meetings in that time, but held them all in the nice safe Labour seat next door!
I'm getting pretty tired of seeing all so many young women being put forward as PPCs. (And I'm female).
ReplyDeleteI can't help thinking that they're all being nominated as female window dressing (to use a recent phrase) and are going to be compliant lobby-fodder for their party leaders.
I'm starting to long for a grumpy old man to be selected as PPC for somewhere (anywhere). Someone who has lived long enough to qualify as a GOM is going to have some experience to bring to Parliament and won't be so inclined to do EXACTLY what his party tells him.
"The videos are hilarious.
ReplyDeleteHer walk didn't get off to a very good start when she injured her ankle, and was forced to use crutches."
Hilarious Iain. Hilarious.
Thatsnews said...
ReplyDelete"She is quite fit, though, isn't she?"
No. A truly ugly slob.
A fitting replacement for Janet (only women were allowed to apply) Dean.
She seems rather decent and too sincere for the sleazy old Labour party. The same party as that pig Brown for god's sake!
ReplyDeleteShe's a bloody site better than Labour candiates I've met.
Someone should make these videos into a tv programme, it is an all time comedy classic. What we have here is Diary of a Nobody for the 21st century ... Charlotte Pooter
ReplyDeleteSPELLING!
ReplyDeleteSOUL OR 'SOLE'?
N00B
What a complete idiot.
ReplyDeleteIf Burton elects her as their MP then they truly deserve to be ridiculed.
I thought the videos were endearing. At least she seems like a real person, unlike a lot of other ultra-groomed candidates. And as a constituent of hers - unlike, I'm sure, most of you - I can confirm that there really is nothing to do in Stramshall!
ReplyDeleteShe'd be out of her depth in a tear drop.
ReplyDelete