Liberal Democrats panic

Hi Victoria , in by-elections Labour and Lib dems seem to think telling lies is acceptable , well its not and the people of Crewe & Nantwich have put them firmly in there place , the negative campaigns have got worse and worse in recent years but i think the public proved last night we are sick and tired of cheap shots we want real action to resolve our issues.

People did not care about Edwards back ground , as long as he is a law abiding citizen and interested in community matters nothing else is of importance they want someone looking out for them .

You would have thought of the current economical turmoil of our country and people really finding it tough to keep there heads above water , that Labour would be trying to tackle the issues instead of mud slinging / character assasination , i thought Tamsin Dunwoody was a disgrace ,and from all i have heard and read her Mother was a fine MP , she certainly was not a chip off the old block !!!

People need serious politicians who are going to put them First .congratulations Edward

Hi, you two! There speak the voices of experience -- and yes, I've been there too. Even as recently as our own council by-election, just a month ago, Labour lies were so blatant that even the LibDems campaigned against them. Indeed, one of our activists reports the spectacle of placard-waving LibDem people (protesting against "Labour lies") being escorted from the vicinity of one of the polling stations on the day. Desperate or what?

They still came third -- though not too far behind Labour. Who knows? They might even come a very poor second next time...

I agree dirty tactics are not just the mark of the Lib.Dems. look at the desparate measures Labour have gone to to in Nantwich and Crewe, regardless of their nepotism.

I think the next general election will result in a lot of dirty tactics from the Socialists and Lib. Dems. Both are busted flushes and neither have a clue on policies.

What’s the legal position?

In private life, I would have thought that any publication that was made about me, that was malicious or blatantly untrue, then, I could resort to legal action to restore the balance.

Surely, those in public life (either as an individual or a group), have a greater responsibility to ensure that material that enters the public domain is both honest and not demeaning. For instance, I’m sure that BNP is restricted in what it publishes and distributes, ensuring that it does not incite race hatred.


So I guess this is a mini appeal to cease and desist from this type of campaigning, as I have no wish to be associated with those I class as morally bankrupt.

I don’t think that I’m a lone voice in the wilderness here. The general public too, have had enough.

So let’s make it loud and clear, those that publish articles in which material is clearly
untrue, can expect to receive an invitation to explain and justify their actions before a magistrate.

Well said. It is very frustrating when an opponent makes unsubstantiated claims and there is very little which can be done. Legal action could be taken, being a Barrister I know this. However by the time any such action is taken the election will be long over and done with and the damage done.

As we know resorting to insulting an opponent is a tactic used by those with no policies and often no intelligence. I think the electorate are now wise to this. However I agree that campaigns should be fought in a professional manner.

Gary & Victoria , what can one say , is it any wonder that the public feel a total disconnect with politicians , Politicians talk about trust etc then blatantly lie in there literature , its important we keep on message talk about the things that really matter to peoples every day lives ,not slagging off a opponent .
i had in last years by election , the labour machine put out a leaflet calling me a PLAYBOY , Micahael Crick from newsnight picked up on this and investigated the matter, apart from my family friends feeling extremley upset that they were being quizzed about my personal life by newsnight , when Crick came to the conclusion there was no base to such a slur , he asked the labour representative what they meant by calling me a playboy , the spokesmans answer was , we did not mean playboy in the literal sense but a playboy as playing politcs !! Crick went onto say this was the most slanderous leaflet he had seen in a by-election .As you quite rightly say Victoria the damage is done as this was two days before polling . This is Great Britain , we do not want to become like American politics which during election time does become as Gary says morally bankrupt.

Tony

Not on such a grand scale as yours, but my opponent locally put it about that with a child with special needs I could not do a proper job on the Council!

How low is that! He has aspergers and there are many parents with children with special needs who have full careers. Just look at the Camerons.

My opponent lost her seat, but wish she had left my children out of it. Its bad enough when they attack us as candidates but really despicable when they try to bring our children into it.

Never mind, our son did enjoy delivering my leaflets which lost her the seat!

i have a correction to make , in my last posting i said as Gary says what i meant was , using Gary's Term morally bankrupt !!

Victoria good on you and your son .

It is certainly a good point that legal action takes too long to be an effective counter during an election campaign, and will be time-consuming and possibly costly if (say) through some technicality the case isn't won by the complainant.

However there is some mileage in at least considering such action in the more clear-cut examples of such campaigning. It could do wonders to be able to quote the outcome of such action at the following election! Worth bearing in mind, I feel...