political commentator * author * publisher * bookseller * radio presenter * blogger * Conservative candidate * former lobbyist * Jack Russell owner * West Ham United fanatic * Email iain AT iaindale DOT com
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Oh to be in Eastbourne Tomorrow
I hear a LibDem activist in Eastbourne has been arrested under suspicion of theft and harrassment. Something for Nick Clegg to address when he visits Eastbourne tomorrow at 11am.
Or do I sense a change of itinerary in the air...?
Yeah, that'd be nice of Nick. Maybe then Cameron will comment on the suspension of two councillors sharing racist email jokes? what's good for the goose... wot wot eh?
Duncan, old chap, from hat I hear it's a bit more serious than that.
But you are right, all parties have been guilty of this in the past. In Broadland the Tories and LibDems have shared information to ascertain that UKIP have been vandalising their boards.
So far, this story is only on Sky. How interesting.
And no, it isn't more serious than that - according to Sky, who of course all independent-minded people always trust implicitly, he was arrested for vandalising posters.
I decided to check on this and have phoned East Sussex LibDems. THERE IS NO ARREST ON THEFT CHARGES.
Will you please revise your headline to remove the theft arrest allegation Iain? Thanks.
If Clegg has any sense he'll quietly pull his visit. A local issue like that won't cause a ripple this close to the election, but a visit from the leader could embarrass both the local party and the national one.
Jesus wept. It has been reported on the BBC News Channel and is on the BBC website.Last time I looked the BBC wasn't owned by Murdoch, Ashcroft or the Devil himself.
You're increasingly making a real fool of yourself on this site.
I live in Eastbourne. Every local and general election people do the same thing. Not only to Conservative posters... but usually. Also, the latest 'vandalism' said to vote UKIP. Not really a Lib Dem slogan.
OK, when I checked, it wasn't being carried on the Beeb.
The police are still not saying who he is, so I don't know how the journalists know, but I suppose they must have theor sources.
Looks like someone got a bit politically over-enthusiastic, but I don't really understand how it can be a crime to vandalise Tory posters by any normal international standards of human rights.
@Englishman, I think you'll find if a young Tory does it, it's called "high jinks" or a "jolly wheeze". If one of the oink parties does it, it's called a crime.
Don't let's even get started on what the young Bullingdons got up to in Oxford....
I'm not condoning it, Iain, but which election can you think of where a few posters (of all parties) weren't torn down? It isn't a good thing but... seriously.
DespairingLiberal - it appears to be a particularly LibDem tactic. It may be because they have a disproportionate number of younger student supporters who think it's a good laugh. I see that on ConHome it's noted that Labour don't get up to this sort of thing and even have troubles with the Lib Dems themselves.
The Lib Dems consistently hold themselves up as the shining light of truth, goodness and justice for all in this campaign. The truth is that they are exactly the same as the other parties when it comes to seeking election and the power that leads to.
The fact of the matter is that they are even more dishonest than the others. Smears, lies and now vandalism a perfect set of values for the new messiahs.
Here in Sutton we thought the Tories were nicking our posterboards and the Tories thought we were nicking or vandalising theirs. It turned out to be a UKIP activist who was caught red (or is it blue and yellow) handed.
Odd how both Labour and Conservative bloggers are laying into the LibDems now having pointedly ignored them as far as possible in the run up to the campaign. Are you all feeling a bit threatened?
"Over 300 Conservative posters have been reported stolen in recent days.
Sussex Police said the Eastbourne man - who was a volunteer for the party and who is not Stephen Lloyd - surrendered himself to police in the company of his solicitor shortly after 6pm. "
"Both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have complained of the vandalism and the over night disappearance of prominent posters in the tight race for Romsey and Southampton North. "
"Similar complaints of poster attacks have been made by the Tories and Lib Dems in Winchester."
Iain, I assume, given the glee with which you reported events in Eastbourne, you will also be updating your readers on this - involving a different political party - from Peterborough?
In all three General Elections I agented in Orpington (1987, 1992, 1997) Tories were seen vandalising or stealing stakeboards. Glass houses...
ReplyDeleteYeah, that'd be nice of Nick. Maybe then Cameron will comment on the suspension of two councillors sharing racist email jokes? what's good for the goose... wot wot eh?
ReplyDeleteDuncan, old chap, from hat I hear it's a bit more serious than that.
ReplyDeleteBut you are right, all parties have been guilty of this in the past. In Broadland the Tories and LibDems have shared information to ascertain that UKIP have been vandalising their boards.
Poor Duncan did they make faces at you as well. Lot different from this little piece of alledged malpractise
ReplyDeleteWell the LimpDems couldn't let just troughing Lab & Con MPs be charged with criminal activity, could they?
ReplyDeleteSo far, this story is only on Sky. How interesting.
ReplyDeleteAnd no, it isn't more serious than that - according to Sky, who of course all independent-minded people always trust implicitly, he was arrested for vandalising posters.
I decided to check on this and have phoned East Sussex LibDems. THERE IS NO ARREST ON THEFT CHARGES.
Will you please revise your headline to remove the theft arrest allegation Iain? Thanks.
Police in East Sussex are not confirming that he is from any particular political party.
ReplyDeleteIf this is a pre-planned smear by Murdoch press/Tory blogs, it stinks to high heaven.
If Clegg has any sense he'll quietly pull his visit. A local issue like that won't cause a ripple this close to the election, but a visit from the leader could embarrass both the local party and the national one.
ReplyDeleteIt's on the BBC News website
ReplyDeleteMan arrested over election poster theft in Eastbourne
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/england/8661112.stm
Jesus wept. It has been reported on the BBC News Channel and is on the BBC website.Last time I looked the BBC wasn't owned by Murdoch, Ashcroft or the Devil himself.
ReplyDeleteYou're increasingly making a real fool of yourself on this site.
Aren't the Lib Dems expecting to take this seat from the Tories? Can anybody local explain how the Tories cocked this up?
ReplyDeleteI live in Eastbourne. Every local and general election people do the same thing. Not only to Conservative posters... but usually. Also, the latest 'vandalism' said to vote UKIP. Not really a Lib Dem slogan.
ReplyDeleteOK, when I checked, it wasn't being carried on the Beeb.
ReplyDeleteThe police are still not saying who he is, so I don't know how the journalists know, but I suppose they must have theor sources.
Looks like someone got a bit politically over-enthusiastic, but I don't really understand how it can be a crime to vandalise Tory posters by any normal international standards of human rights.
@Englishman, I think you'll find if a young Tory does it, it's called "high jinks" or a "jolly wheeze". If one of the oink parties does it, it's called a crime.
ReplyDeleteDon't let's even get started on what the young Bullingdons got up to in Oxford....
I'm not condoning it, Iain, but which election can you think of where a few posters (of all parties) weren't torn down? It isn't a good thing but... seriously.
ReplyDeleteSo many deluded Libdems here. Cleggy says that he will not insist on PR. These should be hyperventilating now.
ReplyDeleteDont feed the trolls Iain.....`Despairing` seems a pretty apt description to be honest...
ReplyDeleteDespairingLiberal - it appears to be a particularly LibDem tactic. It may be because they have a disproportionate number of younger student supporters who think it's a good laugh. I see that on ConHome it's noted that Labour don't get up to this sort of thing and even have troubles with the Lib Dems themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe Lib Dems consistently hold themselves up as the shining light of truth, goodness and justice for all in this campaign. The truth is that they are exactly the same as the other parties when it comes to seeking election and the power that leads to.
ReplyDeleteThe fact of the matter is that they are even more dishonest than the others. Smears, lies and now vandalism a perfect set of values for the new messiahs.
Here in Sutton we thought the Tories were nicking our posterboards and the Tories thought we were nicking or vandalising theirs. It turned out to be a UKIP activist who was caught red (or is it blue and yellow) handed.
ReplyDeleteOdd how both Labour and Conservative bloggers are laying into the LibDems now having pointedly ignored them as far as possible in the run up to the campaign. Are you all feeling a bit threatened?
ReplyDeleteNow in the Eastbourne Herald
ReplyDeleteLib Dem campaigner arrested over signs theft
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/Lib-Dem-campaigner-arrested-over.6273123.jp
"Over 300 Conservative posters have been reported stolen in recent days.
Sussex Police said the Eastbourne man - who was a volunteer for the party and who is not Stephen Lloyd - surrendered himself to police in the company of his solicitor shortly after 6pm. "
Seems to be everywhere
ReplyDeleteSouthern Daily Echo
Election poster thefts investigated by police
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8135895.Election_poster_thefts_investigated_by_police/
"Both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have complained of the vandalism and the over night disappearance of prominent posters in the tight race for Romsey and Southampton North. "
"Similar complaints of poster attacks have been made by the Tories and Lib Dems in Winchester."
Iain, I assume, given the glee with which you reported events in Eastbourne, you will also be updating your readers on this - involving a different political party - from Peterborough?
ReplyDeletehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/england/8662814.stm