Guest 1266- Registered: 8 May 2014
- Posts: 381
"debate lacked quality responses to reasoned, intelligent points raised by Sarah Smith & Clair Hawkins"
Jack of Hearts
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,876
Jack, please can we have a link to the quote, it would be interesting to know what the rest of the report says..
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
That should cheer a lot of people up.
Roger
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
He will probably talk it down.
Guest 943- Registered: 15 May 2013
- Posts: 449
Reference post 41.Jack must had been to a different hustings .Sarah Smith was articulate with reasonable suggestions. Clair Hawkins did a lot of blaming the Tories which is her remit as Labour Candidate but no solutions. In fact she said a future Labour government would freeze energy prices/rents etc.In fact every item on the agenda at the hustings, she said the word Freeze.The compere Ian Collins teased her that she kept saying the word Freeze.She also said that Operation Stack was caused by lack of Police due to Tory cuts.Cllr Watkins was abrasive and bad tempered in his answers. Jolyon of the Greens wants a Tram system in Dover,that was his solution to Operation Stack.Some of his answers were strange. David Little UKIP gave fair and reasonable answers. He had a good idea that the money £24 million of the Truck levy should be used in Dover and for truck stops starting near the M25 ,so that truck traffic is staggered and held if there was a Operation Stack instead of Townwall Street being jammed and Aycliffe blocked off.The broadcast will be on Radio Kent tomorrow morning and in the Dover Express next week.At the start of debate,a poll was taken of the audience.The Tories led the poll and Labour were with UKIP at 12%.At the end of the debate.A poll was taken David Little UKIP won with 44%.Clair Hawkins second. Cllr Watkins third.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Thanks for the in depth report Peter but the last three lines let it down. Everyone knows that the hustings are loaded up with UKIP sympathisers, not surprising as it is novel for them. They are primed to say that they are supporters of other parties at the beginning then come out of the closet at the end giving the impression that the UKIP candidate has made them see the light.
A very old trick used in many third world countries.
Guest 943- Registered: 15 May 2013
- Posts: 449
Howard. Were you there?Please note I said at the start of debate ,a poll was taken and the Tories topped the poll. I kindly suggest that you leave your keyboard and go to the hustings. Did you go to St Marys,DWC or Dover Marina??
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
a little biased peter.
Guest 943- Registered: 15 May 2013
- Posts: 449
Good Morning Brian.Were you at the hustings?At the start of the post I said that Sarah Smith was articulate with reasonable suggestions. I like Clair but she came across without any solutions .It is fair enough to blame the Tory Coalition but I think it reasonable to expect Candidates to say how they will solve the problems caused by the Tory Coalition. The audience at the hustings were mainly small business people. I am sorry if you think my post was biased but I kindly suggest that you and Howard go to the local hustings and give support to Clair,Sarah,David,Jolyon,Charlie. It will be broadcast on Radio Kent this morning and 7pm this evening.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,876
Thank you Peter.
What a shame that Jack has yet to post a link.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
A report from Keef on the Dover Mercury Facebook page.
Hustings meeting Tonight at St Mary's
I attended tonights meeting with a number of other posters who im sure will be able to give there version of the meeting;
The meeting was chaired by the Bishop Of Dover whom I felt kept the candidates in check, for most of the meeting.
A number of subjects raised including
SOUP KITCHENS, FOOD BANKS, 0.7% OVERSEAS AID, FUTURE OF NHS, VOTE ON EU IN OR OUT, SOCIAL HOUSING ISSUES, HOW TO GET INVESTMENT INTO KENT, PROBLEMS OF INEQUALITY, and BISHOPS FINAL QUESTION TO THE PANEL, WHAT DO THEY THINK IS MOST CRITICAL ISSUE.
The debate got under way with a packed hall, attended by on the panel; Charlie, (con)Claire(lab), David(UKIP), Sarah(lib dem)and sarah (green)
The first question on food banks/soup kitchens was answered by Sarah Smith in my opinion it appears Sarah had rushed from somewhere else as took a fair while to get past stumbling her words. The best way maybe is look at many a few positives and a few negatives on each candidate.
Charlie; POSITIVES; Passionate, and knew his subjects and very able as a speaker, came across quite well was able to answer all the questions put forward and those from the floor, unlike the last meeting where his deputy really didn't do Charlie any justice at all.
Charlie; NEGATIVES; Maybe still not in the real world, did keep on about how unemployment was down and employees better protected, this is not the same as I hear day in day out where if people are not unemployed, they are working on the minimum wage and little job satisfaction.
Claire; POSITIVES; Claire without doubt is passionate and had answers to all the questions comes off as a friendly face that wants to help and how
Claire NEGATIVES; slides sometimes into anti tory speech, or when others speaking pulling faces.
Sarah(lib dem) Positives; passionate, has ideas that differ from others but quite able to answer all the questions
Negatives; Appeared not to be ready at the start and rambled a little, but once the meeting got under way recovered.
David; Positives; I think David did himself a lot of justice tonight in the main not sounding arrogant, and also explanations on the EU and how UKIP would re direct the money, also showed he had a passion for the seat, and the people of the District.
David; Negatives; David was correct in his assumption that projects such as the DITZ have taken to long, but then to take on the same people as candidates will be difficult for people to understand.
Sarah(greens) Positives; sarah didn't know she was on top table and really when you listened to her views, she put a far better case forward on behalf of the greens than the actual candidate.
Sarah; Negatives; Sarah was passionate, but sometimes the passion was taken over by rambling that wasn't really going anywhere.
So all in all I think at times the two main parties hid behind there national party, although it was nice to hear Claire disagreed with some past Labour party policy.
I think the seat will be very marginal, but quite as some feel it might go.
Iv predicted before but will again that the result will be be;
CLAIRE(Elected) then Charlie very close behind, then David, then Sarah(lib dem,) then green a long way behind.
keith
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
Pity Keith does not still post on here.
Audere est facere.
Guest 943- Registered: 15 May 2013
- Posts: 449
Thats a good report by Keith. Don't tell him I said that LOL. I believe the election will be very close in this area. Hopefully people will go out and vote for whoever candidate.
Guest 943- Registered: 15 May 2013
- Posts: 449
I believe the best Candidate is David Little. Yes Brian I would say that.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Keith has seen your comments Peter and asked me to pass on his thanks.
Guest 725- Registered: 7 Oct 2011
- Posts: 1,418
If these local debates change one person's mind as to who they eventually vote for, come polling day, I would be very, very surprised.
They amount to little more than political grandstanding and are, therefore, utterly pointless.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,876
I agree Philip, those voters who are not really interested in 'heavy' politics do not usually go to these gatherings but the pundits love them even if they do not attend.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
Indeed Jan ,as has happened in previous elections. two substantive meetings is far better.