I am on the knock most days all over N Durham.
On the doorstep, people are raising one issue almost as often as the expenses sleaze and cover-ups of the main parties - and that is our bloody involvements in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Everybody that raises this with me shares the LibDem view that we must pay our soldiers properly - they risk their lives for us - and equip them properly.
Of course we should never have got involved - only LibDems opposed these wars and consistently tried to get the disgraceful sequence of falsehoods used to justify the invasion of Iraq investigated.
Of course local Labour MP's are keen supporters of the war and have consistently voted against an inquiry.
Now we read in the Daily Telegraph that the local Labour mp may have sought to disgrace the leader of our army - for narrow political ends.
This is another shameful disgrace. Lib Dems value our forces - for example; It took the Liberal Democrats
to table a motion in the House of Commons to force a Labour U-turn and stop opposing the nation's wish to allow these these brave soldiers to remain in the UK.”
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Friday, 4 September 2009
Tanfield Lea in the rain
Lovely day leafletting today (well cleared up a bit about 2ish just as had to wrap it so pure leafletting day - no knocking
do i not not like that
do i not not like that
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Because we are determined to see personally as many voters as possible our campaining team will be out most days so yesterday was the same - ie still in Lumley but different streets - ie.RunnymedeStrathmoreTintagelFeatherstonePendragonSherborneMedwaySandbachHigh BarnesBroadviewsRiding HillCranleighFront St (west half)Hazel LeighWinchesterCanterbury CloseSalisbury CloseGloucester CloseExeter CloseWorcester CloseLichfield CloseSt Albans closeNorwich closeCranleighLincoln Walk3 of us pestering this time but same results - issues troubling people were anti-social behaviour, immigration which the current government appears unable to control or even monitor.Lib Dems believe social cohesion depends on us having proper controls of our own borders and ensuring the maximum freedoms for our citizens, within a framework of immigration policies which actually work in practice. The present system is chaotic and widely seen as unfair.In Northumberland, where i am responsible for Community Safety we are dealing swiftly, firmly but fairly with bad neighbourliness and all anti-social behaviour, whilst developing ways of improving the society in the longer-term by improving the ways families and communities work together and improving the choices people make over how they live (healthier, more cooperative lives) ie we are focussing on the well -being of the whole community to achieve "the greatest happiness of the greatest number"
Posted by Ian Lindley at 16:10 0 comments Links to this post
Monday, 24 August 2009
Out and about in Great Lumley
Monday 24 August was spent pounding the pavements of Great Lumley (to be precise:Balmoral, Runnymede, Caledonia, Strathmore, Coverley, Tintagel, Danelaw, Grosmont, Holyrood, Kenilworth, Loefield) and talking to people whilst thrusting a scary paper (with my face on it) to present myself as the Lib Dem representative ("Parliamentary spokesman") as and when the election is declaredSame results and concerns as in Ouston & Urpeth, Chester North, South and West Central - ie Labour has lost touch with the people (I used to be a Labour stalwart myself when the party meant something) and they are sick of the sleaze and punch and judy style of Labour and Tories.We intend to speak to as many people as possible over the next 9 months leading up to the election (probable date!) and continue the dialogue thereafter to ensure that N Durham's needs are actively and comprehensively pursued and the people are not just "consulted" at election time.We will be in Great Lumley all the rest of this week (we work monday - Saturday).So if you want to have a word and live in the area, just give me a call (07795334815) or keep an eye out for a tall, dark, handsome stranger (well a stranger anyway)
Posted by Ian Lindley at 20:59 0 comments Links to this post
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Music and lights
North Durham's Lib Dem candidate (Ian L, spouse of Mrs) relaxing in a sunnier part of the fest.
Mrs L in full festival downpour mode - typically fashionable North Durham Look
Just back from Thursday to Sunday 2 August in CambridgeMy kids bought Linda (mrs L) and me tickets and a camping ticket for the Cambridge “Folk” Festival which was great - it hasn’t much to do with folk in the fingers in the ear high-pitched voices at dawn sense thankfully.Specially enjoyed the Zutons, Saw Doctors, Buffy Sainte Marie (sixties icon up there with Neil Young and Bob Dylan – wrote loads of good songs eg Universal Soldier which she gave to Donovan – listen to it it’s a great song and totally right-on) and a band I’ve never heard of before called Edward II (black and white reggae folk band if you can imagine that – really warm stuff.Got drowned and mud bathed in the traditional festival downpour way on Saturday tea time. It went on until Sunday (from Thursday) but we had to leave (packing a wet tent at midnight on Saturday) cos had a meeting with North Durham campaign Manager (Natalie English – hereinafter referred to as Nat) on Sunday – so got to bed at 6am and up again at 11 to prep for meeting which turned out to be good.We have got a great team of people to win N Durham back from the red hordes as soon as Gordon Brown lets us have a vote.Monday 3 AugustWent to Tyne and Wear Fire Service HQ for an all day session working on getting money to build new Community Fire Stations for the north east, especially 4 new ones in Durham – so people from all the fire services were there. I am responsible for Northumberland’s Fire Service at the moment and am part of the management board for the whole north east including Durham so it’s a great position to be in to help ensure we get the best services in N Durham.It went well but because we have to bid for money from central government credits its very complicated and there is no guarantee of success regardless of need etc – it is a bit of a lottery but we have a fantastic team and if anybody can get the money we canAfter a full day there, booted and suited more or less straight out to a meeting in my local ward – I’ve got housing, regeneration etc round the table with the local people to put together a bid to develop the big ex-council estate to break up featureless concrete and tarmac rat runs into smaller hamlety communities with loads of greenery and nice features. We should get the money as the area needs it.There’s loads of potential in N Durham to put together groups to do the same there is money out there contrary to popular belief.Rest of night 9 – midnight spent pestering people across N Durham about our campaign to win this seat for the Lib DemsPosted by Ian Lindley at 18:24 0 comments Links to this post
Posted by Ian Lindley at 16:10 0 comments Links to this post
Monday, 24 August 2009
Out and about in Great Lumley
Monday 24 August was spent pounding the pavements of Great Lumley (to be precise:Balmoral, Runnymede, Caledonia, Strathmore, Coverley, Tintagel, Danelaw, Grosmont, Holyrood, Kenilworth, Loefield) and talking to people whilst thrusting a scary paper (with my face on it) to present myself as the Lib Dem representative ("Parliamentary spokesman") as and when the election is declaredSame results and concerns as in Ouston & Urpeth, Chester North, South and West Central - ie Labour has lost touch with the people (I used to be a Labour stalwart myself when the party meant something) and they are sick of the sleaze and punch and judy style of Labour and Tories.We intend to speak to as many people as possible over the next 9 months leading up to the election (probable date!) and continue the dialogue thereafter to ensure that N Durham's needs are actively and comprehensively pursued and the people are not just "consulted" at election time.We will be in Great Lumley all the rest of this week (we work monday - Saturday).So if you want to have a word and live in the area, just give me a call (07795334815) or keep an eye out for a tall, dark, handsome stranger (well a stranger anyway)
Posted by Ian Lindley at 20:59 0 comments Links to this post
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Music and lights
North Durham's Lib Dem candidate (Ian L, spouse of Mrs) relaxing in a sunnier part of the fest.
Mrs L in full festival downpour mode - typically fashionable North Durham Look
Just back from Thursday to Sunday 2 August in CambridgeMy kids bought Linda (mrs L) and me tickets and a camping ticket for the Cambridge “Folk” Festival which was great - it hasn’t much to do with folk in the fingers in the ear high-pitched voices at dawn sense thankfully.Specially enjoyed the Zutons, Saw Doctors, Buffy Sainte Marie (sixties icon up there with Neil Young and Bob Dylan – wrote loads of good songs eg Universal Soldier which she gave to Donovan – listen to it it’s a great song and totally right-on) and a band I’ve never heard of before called Edward II (black and white reggae folk band if you can imagine that – really warm stuff.Got drowned and mud bathed in the traditional festival downpour way on Saturday tea time. It went on until Sunday (from Thursday) but we had to leave (packing a wet tent at midnight on Saturday) cos had a meeting with North Durham campaign Manager (Natalie English – hereinafter referred to as Nat) on Sunday – so got to bed at 6am and up again at 11 to prep for meeting which turned out to be good.We have got a great team of people to win N Durham back from the red hordes as soon as Gordon Brown lets us have a vote.Monday 3 AugustWent to Tyne and Wear Fire Service HQ for an all day session working on getting money to build new Community Fire Stations for the north east, especially 4 new ones in Durham – so people from all the fire services were there. I am responsible for Northumberland’s Fire Service at the moment and am part of the management board for the whole north east including Durham so it’s a great position to be in to help ensure we get the best services in N Durham.It went well but because we have to bid for money from central government credits its very complicated and there is no guarantee of success regardless of need etc – it is a bit of a lottery but we have a fantastic team and if anybody can get the money we canAfter a full day there, booted and suited more or less straight out to a meeting in my local ward – I’ve got housing, regeneration etc round the table with the local people to put together a bid to develop the big ex-council estate to break up featureless concrete and tarmac rat runs into smaller hamlety communities with loads of greenery and nice features. We should get the money as the area needs it.There’s loads of potential in N Durham to put together groups to do the same there is money out there contrary to popular belief.Rest of night 9 – midnight spent pestering people across N Durham about our campaign to win this seat for the Lib DemsPosted by Ian Lindley at 18:24 0 comments Links to this post
Tanfield
This monument in Fence Houses for WWI & II war heroes.
These were supposed to be the wars to end wars...
We need to defend our country but invading Iraq and Afghanistan isn't the way.
lashing rain today did not deter your intrepid hero in bracing Tanfield Lea, where the welcome was warm despite the weather in Parkside area.
I'll tell you what though there's some seriously scary dogs around there.
"Enter at your own risks, German Shepherds loose" being one of the gentler signs. Having said that once inside people were nice and no fatal injuries sustained. Couple of letter box grazes though.
Tuesday and wednesday (1 n 2 sept) we were in Tantobie, white le head, Tanfield itself and Sleepy Valley again dead nice welcome (around 65% support) and usual (guess) issues, what's been coming up these last days has been the shedding of our blood and money in these dreadful foreign wars so beloved of Labour.
I'll tell you what though there's some seriously scary dogs around there.
"Enter at your own risks, German Shepherds loose" being one of the gentler signs. Having said that once inside people were nice and no fatal injuries sustained. Couple of letter box grazes though.
Tuesday and wednesday (1 n 2 sept) we were in Tantobie, white le head, Tanfield itself and Sleepy Valley again dead nice welcome (around 65% support) and usual (guess) issues, what's been coming up these last days has been the shedding of our blood and money in these dreadful foreign wars so beloved of Labour.
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