tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post117000719712301961..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Tories Obey Electoral Law ShockerIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170116601184408582007-01-30T00:23:00.000+00:002007-01-30T00:23:00.000+00:00I stand corrected. However, I saw the newspaper st...I stand corrected. However, I saw the newspaper story while I was at News 24 the previous day and had intended to write about it anyway. But as you say, I am normally punctilious about linking to people!Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170116028801428942007-01-30T00:13:00.000+00:002007-01-30T00:13:00.000+00:00Iain, you sent your comment to me at 5.36 pm, but ...Iain, you sent your comment to me at 5.36 pm, but your story to your blog was posted at 5.54 pm. I'm not that hurt but it's unlike you not to credit getting an idea for a story from someone else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170104016473448702007-01-29T20:53:00.000+00:002007-01-29T20:53:00.000+00:00i think i wrote this before i saw the story on you...i think i wrote this before i saw the story on your blog. as you know, i always link when i should!Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170103743973779182007-01-29T20:49:00.000+00:002007-01-29T20:49:00.000+00:00Iain, you comment on my story about this on my blo...Iain, you comment on my story about this on my blog, but offer no link. What's going on ? I always link to you in such cases !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170024694321594592007-01-28T22:51:00.000+00:002007-01-28T22:51:00.000+00:00With respect, Iain, I'm an Independent candidate w...With respect, Iain, I'm an Independent candidate who had to contend with Michael Howard - during a local council election - sending a personal letter to the electorate in contested wards suggesting that a vote for anyone but the Conservatives was a vote for nulab. Yet I came second, knocking nulab into third place. <BR/><BR/>I adhered to the election rules so could not afford to send a letter replying to Howard's letter.<BR/><BR/>If this is how the big three parties carry on during a council election, God help an Independent or smaller party candidate during a general election.<BR/><BR/>Money doesn't buy votes, eh?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170019977736990192007-01-28T21:32:00.000+00:002007-01-28T21:32:00.000+00:00Never mind the Times fairy tale, are we too assume...Never mind the Times fairy tale, are we too assume that the conservatives have finally stolen a copy of Rennard's election bible and "nicked" the best bits?<BR/>If so, excellent and may the best party win. Play nicely boys and girls, but not too nicely that we let those pesky Libdems win.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170016327977185222007-01-28T20:32:00.000+00:002007-01-28T20:32:00.000+00:00Might a jury find that article lbellous?A substant...Might a jury find that article lbellous?<BR/><BR/>A substantial award might look good in the party coffers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170013435467583752007-01-28T19:43:00.000+00:002007-01-28T19:43:00.000+00:00More ...In Manchester Withington the comrades were...More ...<BR/><BR/>In Manchester Withington the comrades were over confident and got beaten by Lib Dems thanks to their fibs and a further Tory collapse. But also thanks to a huge discrepancy in the amount of print produced and the amount of phone calls and targeted letters etc etc.<BR/><BR/>Their expenses return showed a variety of different printers and some incredible items. Nothing for web. Next to nothing for post. £17 for 'phones.<BR/><BR/>They had three landlines in their HQ and loads of mobiles and they did a hell of a lot of phoning.<BR/><BR/>At Brighton Conference 2005 as well as having a bit part in Waltergate I asked the EC if they monitored returns for patterns and to followed up those which spent markedly different from the norm, The PR people said they would check and email me. But nothing came.<BR/><BR/>Rather like analysis of MPs exes now proposed.<BR/><BR/>My impression is that party managers from all three parties go easy on complaints against opponents as they all have skeletons in closets.<BR/><BR/>Paid workers as some say LDs had in MW are another area of overspend and rarely appear on returns I have seen from any party.<BR/><BR/>Tories seem pretty foolish to produce manuals like the one referred to and to discuss local campaign costs at £40,000.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170012948062756842007-01-28T19:35:00.000+00:002007-01-28T19:35:00.000+00:00There are associations that have raised more than ...There are associations that have raised more than £5000?!<BR/><BR/>I feel lonely :(Machiavelli's Understudyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150445761766304667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170011702220809322007-01-28T19:15:00.000+00:002007-01-28T19:15:00.000+00:00How much you betting that this is going to be the ...How much you betting that this is going to be the lead story on Newsnight tomorrow?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170011418531700422007-01-28T19:10:00.000+00:002007-01-28T19:10:00.000+00:00does the dirty digger not own the sunday times??does the dirty digger not own the sunday times??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170010695565237502007-01-28T18:58:00.000+00:002007-01-28T18:58:00.000+00:00Are people really not aware that the Times and the...<I>Are people really not aware that the Times and the Sunday Times are different newspapers?</I><BR/><BR/>Yes...separate newsrooms, separate buildings, separate ownership....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170010653991052972007-01-28T18:57:00.000+00:002007-01-28T18:57:00.000+00:00Mmmm. Well, first off I think there's some conflat...Mmmm. Well, first off I think there's some conflating of the limits for Westminster and Local Govt Elections. For Westminster the limits were in the range between about £7000 and about £11000 I believe. But they should be more uniform after the boundary review. National spend and a certain amount of targeting of that - hoardings and so on - is not included in the constituency total.<BR/><BR/>As the piece says the local limit for a council ward is around £1000 and is doubled for an all out with three seats contested.<BR/><BR/>Anonymous 6:12 is right. The ability to declare and spend outside the limit before the trigger date is an innovation which does not help.<BR/><BR/>My beliefe is that all the major parties defening and attacking known marginals sometimes overspend. And sometimes overspend massively.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170009326994983412007-01-28T18:35:00.000+00:002007-01-28T18:35:00.000+00:00Are people really not aware that the Times and the...Are people really not aware that the Times and the Sunday Times are different newspapers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170008820299861122007-01-28T18:27:00.000+00:002007-01-28T18:27:00.000+00:00Yes indeed Iain Dale ,44, right of centre politica...Yes indeed Iain Dale ,44, right of centre political commentator, author, publisher, radio pundit, Rick Stein look and sound alike , TV presenter, blogger and former Conservative candidate.<BR/> Good spot.<BR/>I usually rather like the Times actually I wish the Telegraph came in a handy commuter pack as wellAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170007958873404602007-01-28T18:12:00.000+00:002007-01-28T18:12:00.000+00:00This story does, however, highlight the ridiculous...This story does, however, highlight the ridiculous situation where 'candidacy' officially begins only after the end of closure of nominations for the election proper - you can now spend thousands on an openly-declared candidates, before the opening of formal nominations, with total impunity. This was not the case in the 'good old days'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170007905499973992007-01-28T18:11:00.001+00:002007-01-28T18:11:00.001+00:00At lewast they are not offering honours for their ...At lewast they are not offering honours for their fundraising unlike some. Alegedly of course.........Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170007899442336512007-01-28T18:11:00.000+00:002007-01-28T18:11:00.000+00:00The Times is a tabloidThe Times is a tabloidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1170007743174364102007-01-28T18:09:00.000+00:002007-01-28T18:09:00.000+00:00Then of course there are always those who raise £1...Then of course there are always those who raise £15,000, declare expenditure of £5,000 and actually spend £20,000!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com