Interesting Campaigning Strategies

I was out canvassing in Chatteris yesterday for the Fenland District Council elections. It seems that our rather unusual Lib Dem candidate has adopted a strategy of riding around on his bike, finding out where we are working and then rushing ahead to deliver an incredibly negative leaflet (which has now been torn up and thrown in a bin in front of me at least 3 times!!).

Compare that to something of this quality.

But it could be worse, he could be bribing unknown children to deliver his leaflets - a policy that is, I believe, still endorsed by the Lib Dems

Four Years On....

I found this link to a BBC article from the local elections 4 years ago, highlighting the number of uncontested seats in Fenland. Despite our local media speculating that the situation might be different this time round, we have 18 Councillors unopposed.

This is caused by total inactivity from the other major parties over the last 4 years. No doubt they will then claim they deserve votes just to ensure oppostion. Maybe they ought to do something to earn votes first.

Mixed Feelings

I found out yesterday that I am to be unopposed as a candidate in the District Council elections in May. It is something I have genuine mixed feelings about. I am obviously chuffed to bits at the opportunity to represent Kingsmoor Ward for the next 4 years, and for the opportunity to help take Fenland even further forwards.

But it is another sad day for our democracy. Even before a vote is cast in Fenland the Conservatives are guaranteed a majority because of the lack of candidates. That is not down to National politics, it is down to the failure of the two othe major political parties in Fenland to do anything to engage with the people of Fenland, despite a similar situation at the election 4 years ago.

It would not surprise me if the few opposing candidates in Fenland used the "vote for me, Fenland needs opposition" argument. It would not be valid, Fenland needs opposition that cares for the people of Fenland and has a proven commitment to them - they have totally failed to do that; the massive improvement that has been achieved in the area over the last 4 years has been achieved without decent opposition.