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
I'm born and bred in Stourbridge. It's not Islington. It's extremely socially conservative. I personally don't think that the fact that Margot is a lesbian should matter a jot, but it's not a foregone conclusion.
For a long time, especially in the 80s and 90s, a lot of Tories up and down the country spent a long time stirring the pot on such issues, and they have only themselves to blame if the poor bloody infantry of socially conservative Tory voters haven't chanegd their colours quite as rapidly. As ye sow...
Also, Labour know that Stour is a marginal, and they'll fight it like one. Desperately. Everyone knows that the West Midlands will be a - if not THE - key battleground next time round, and Labour do have some serious people in the area.
Anonymong:"...I personally don't think that the fact that Margot is a lesbian should matter a jot... For a long time, especially in the 80s and 90s, a lot of Tories up and down the country spent a long time stirring the pot on such issues..."
Is 'stirring the pot' some kind of euphemism then? :-)
Nonetheless, I'm sure a prime specimen like 'peter hitchens' can convert Margot to heterosexuality - you know you want to love! :-)
IAIN ANOTHER ALL WOMAN SHORTLIST IN ST AUSTELL AND NEWQUAY.FIONA KEMP AND CAROLINE RIGHTON.BOTH A LISTERS,NOT A MAN IN SIGHT AND AN OPEN PRIMARY ON DEC 15th. DAVID CAMERON WILL BE PLEASED.
It really is socially conservative. Sir John Stokes and Warren Hawkesley are the former Tory incumbents. Stokesy (as he was never called) was an old school, Francoite in the 30s, Bufton-Tufton right-winger. Someone (Hoggart?) said that he gave the impression that he wasn't yet reconciled to the concept of universal suffrage.
Hawkesley was eye-wateringly right-wing, but a really nice chap. Had the misfortune to lose two seats in the Midlands - Wrekin and Stourbridge.
UKIP could well hand the seat to Labour. Stourbridge is on the edge of the Black Country. They don't like immigrants too much, dislike Europe. The Lib Dems are nowhere, much as they are throughout the West Midlands. Not natural Liberal territory.
On the bright side, there are now two lapdancing clubs in Stourbridge, a small-to-medium sized town. Sign of the times.
I wouldn't say that Stourbridge was extremely socially conservative. Just because the seat was previously represented by socially conservative Conservative MPs. It's a fairly typical Black Country seat and most of the people I speak to are mainly worried about public services and too much government interference in people's lives. Margot was extremely good in the interviews and is more than up to the job of beating Lynda Waltho.
Margot James is a great candidate - she'll do well.
The mention of UKIP sent me to their website for a laugh. There's a poll of their visitors showing that when asked "Do you believe CO2 generated climate change is a genuine problem, or a myth?", 75% thought it was a myth.
Mike Wood - perhaps I'm transferring my own growing social conservatism onto my old home town!
I have to say that I think it is pretty socially conservative. It's very ethnically homogenous. It's getting older - families of friends in the town tell me that its age profile is increasing.
A slight swing against Labour on issues like immigration and crime should see the Tories home anyway - for a term or two. But the Margot issue just gives a local candidate like Waltho a chance.
In the unlikely event of the first class candidiate for Stourbridge took up with the late excellent candidiate for Chester would she be known as "Offa's Dyke"
Re. Sir John Stokes, it was also said of him (affectionately, by a centre-left journalist, probably Hoggart or Rawnsley) that he regarded the twentieth century as one enormous mistake.
Mmm...scrummy - is she married ?
ReplyDelete"Mmm...scrummy - is she married ?"
ReplyDeleteOh dear "anonymous" your in for a big let down I'm afraid...
congratulations Margot!
ReplyDeletehttp://vickyford.blogspot.com/2006/12/margot-james-selected-for-stourbridge_07.html
But the people of Stourbridge aren't! At the risk of sounding like Louise B, this is brilliant news. Margot will make a terrific candidate and MP.
ReplyDeleteMargot is one of the nicest people in politics.
ReplyDeleteJust goes to show that the nice people can win.
She just needs to meet the right man.
ReplyDeleteHow much is she worth iain?
"One of the nicest people in politics".
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell does that mean MKPLS??
(Poli - as in many, tics - as in nasty little insects that bite you)
I'm born and bred in Stourbridge. It's not Islington. It's extremely socially conservative. I personally don't think that the fact that Margot is a lesbian should matter a jot, but it's not a foregone conclusion.
ReplyDeleteFor a long time, especially in the 80s and 90s, a lot of Tories up and down the country spent a long time stirring the pot on such issues, and they have only themselves to blame if the poor bloody infantry of socially conservative Tory voters haven't chanegd their colours quite as rapidly. As ye sow...
Also, Labour know that Stour is a marginal, and they'll fight it like one. Desperately. Everyone knows that the West Midlands will be a - if not THE - key battleground next time round, and Labour do have some serious people in the area.
All to play for!
Anonymong: "...I personally don't think that the fact that Margot is a lesbian should matter a jot... For a long time, especially in the 80s and 90s, a lot of Tories up and down the country spent a long time stirring the pot on such issues..."
ReplyDeleteIs 'stirring the pot' some kind of euphemism then? :-)
Nonetheless, I'm sure a prime specimen like 'peter hitchens' can convert Margot to heterosexuality - you know you want to love! :-)
Second-home grey panthers from Brum - they're going to vote for Cameron's Gals?
ReplyDeleteI thinky notty.
"It's extremely socially conservative."
ReplyDeleteMust tell my friends in UKIP...
The print on that dress looks c.1995
ReplyDeleteIAIN ANOTHER ALL WOMAN SHORTLIST IN ST AUSTELL AND NEWQUAY.FIONA KEMP AND CAROLINE RIGHTON.BOTH A LISTERS,NOT A MAN IN SIGHT AND AN OPEN PRIMARY ON DEC 15th.
ReplyDeleteDAVID CAMERON WILL BE PLEASED.
I think there should be more women candidates than men.
ReplyDeleteBecause I like discrimination in favour of the less able.
Doom.
It really is socially conservative. Sir John Stokes and Warren Hawkesley are the former Tory incumbents. Stokesy (as he was never called) was an old school, Francoite in the 30s, Bufton-Tufton right-winger. Someone (Hoggart?) said that he gave the impression that he wasn't yet reconciled to the concept of universal suffrage.
ReplyDeleteHawkesley was eye-wateringly right-wing, but a really nice chap. Had the misfortune to lose two seats in the Midlands - Wrekin and Stourbridge.
UKIP could well hand the seat to Labour. Stourbridge is on the edge of the Black Country. They don't like immigrants too much, dislike Europe. The Lib Dems are nowhere, much as they are throughout the West Midlands. Not natural Liberal territory.
On the bright side, there are now two lapdancing clubs in Stourbridge, a small-to-medium sized town. Sign of the times.
I wouldn't say that Stourbridge was extremely socially conservative. Just because the seat was previously represented by socially conservative Conservative MPs.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fairly typical Black Country seat and most of the people I speak to are mainly worried about public services and too much government interference in people's lives.
Margot was extremely good in the interviews and is more than up to the job of beating Lynda Waltho.
Margot James is a great candidate - she'll do well.
ReplyDeleteThe mention of UKIP sent me to their website for a laugh. There's a poll of their visitors showing that when asked "Do you believe CO2 generated climate change is a genuine problem, or a myth?", 75% thought it was a myth.
What a bunch of dopes.
you would!
ReplyDeleteLabour will hold the seat. Anon 12.34 clearly knows the place AND THE PEOPLE.
ReplyDeleteMike Wood - perhaps I'm transferring my own growing social conservatism onto my old home town!
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I think it is pretty socially conservative. It's very ethnically homogenous. It's getting older - families of friends in the town tell me that its age profile is increasing.
A slight swing against Labour on issues like immigration and crime should see the Tories home anyway - for a term or two. But the Margot issue just gives a local candidate like Waltho a chance.
In the unlikely event of the first class candidiate for Stourbridge took up with the late excellent candidiate for Chester would she be known as "Offa's Dyke"
ReplyDeleteRe. Sir John Stokes, it was also said of him (affectionately, by a centre-left journalist, probably Hoggart or Rawnsley) that he regarded the twentieth century as one enormous mistake.
ReplyDelete