Will Timmins

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/2704_poll.shtml

A poll carried out by ICM which was published in the “News of The World” states that the Conservative Party is on route for a massive victory at the next general election. The Poll states that the Conservatives would achieve a 9% swing giving The Tories a 64 seat majority, the largest gap since 1997  

The poll which was conducted in Labour marginal seat also states that:

Chancellor ALISTAIR DARLING (majority 7,242),

Home Secretary JACQUI SMITH (2,716),

Business Secretary JOHN HUTTON (6,037)

Transport Secretary RUTH KELLY (2,064) would all lose their seats.

A projected 9% swing from Labour to the Conservatives would theoretically give the Conservatives the seats of Bedford & Kempston, Luton North & Luton South. If you ask me I think Bedfordshire has always looked better blue!

On Thursday, the BNP are contesting 562, or 19.8% of available seats. This is a large increase on the 6.8% of seats they contested last year, although because fewer seats are up for election in numbers terms it is a drop from 717 to 562. Out of those 562 wards, the Conservatives aren’t contesting in 13 of them and Labour Party in 9.

The Liberal Democrats are not fighting the BNP in 126 of the wards.

I am in no way accusing the Liberals of being sympathetic to the BNP. I am accusing them of negligence and slipping up on their principals. “Nick Clegg-over” in his party conference speech stated that he was leading a party of principals. Mr Clegg - Actions speak louder then words!

Escalating fuel, mortgage and food costs will hit the lowest earners in our country. We are about to experience a summer of industrial unrest perpetuated by Gordon Brown’s abolition of the 10p tax rate. At a time of rising living costs, Mr Brown has kicked 5.3 million low income families when they are down, punishing them for working.

Gordon Brown giveth with his left hand and taketh with his right!

Road sweepers, sweep the road, they make our pavements clean and they keep our inner cities clean. It can’t be a pleasant job, and have a great deal of respect for them. If it wasn’t for hairdresser, I would look a constant mess. If it wasn’t for dental nurses and hospital porters our health service would be in tatters and if it wasn’t for Groundsmen, Lords, Twickenham, The Emirates Stadium and Goldington Road wouldn’t be such as enjoyable experience for sportsmen and sports lovers up and down the country. These people pay vital roles in our society, Mr Brown may take their money away but there is one thing he can’t take away their vote! I urge them to use their vote to punish this “disgraced” Prime Minister.

In was in attendance of the “Young People’s Question Time” at Biddenham Upper School. The panel comprised of;

·        A well tanned Patrick Hall MP (Labour, Bedford & Kempston)

·        Richard Fuller (Conservative PPC, Bedford & Kempston)

·        Linda Jack (Liberal Democrat – Wanna be MEP)

·        Peter Cole (United Kingdom Independence Party)

·        Marc Schiemann (Green Party – Wanna be MEP)

·        And a representative of the Bedfordshire Youth Parliament, and so I have been informed is a fan of Labour.

I crossed Patrick walking along Ashburnham Road; he looked tanned but wearisome. I was looking forward to putting forward my question about the abolition of the 10p-tax-rate. And of course I did! Earlier in the day the government made a complete U-turn on the 10p tax rate, as Gordon Brown announced he was giving subsides and compensation to those who will find their income tax doubling which in my mind would add further complication to tax-system.

He stood-up drearily to answer every question and after weaselling his way around my question, doing his usual routine and claiming the poor were better off under Labour. Patrick Hall looked me in the eye and told me the government were “wrong.” Which is why many Labour backbenchers were pushing for subsides and compensation to be made. If the measure was wrong then why carry it forward in the first place? Richard Fuller responded to the question saying that we need to seriously look and shake-up taxation in this country and spoke of exemption for some of the poorest in our society.

Linda Jack spoke passionately about Palestine and conveyed herself as a motherly figure. Don’t know if she gathered up any Lib-Dem supporters though? The Green candidate spoke passionately also but in a similar way to UKIP conveyed himself as a “one-trick pony.” I have always been an admirer of Nigel Farage however Peter Cole did UKIP no favours and conveyed to the audience that UKIP have no real coherent policy, other then pulling out of the EU. He was unable to profess any other principles or policy he or his party support. He spoke with no real conviction and related all questions to the back to the EU. Well…. “If you wanna be stitched-up like a kipper become a UKIP-er”

Happy St George’s Day to all! I have been celebrating in style this evening. My friend, Ben and I, had dinner, had some champagne and indulged in great conversation.

Today I was fortunate enough to attend the “Young People’s Question Time” at Biddenham Upper School. My comments on this shall be published tomorrow.

As a regular traveller to our nation’s capital, combined with the occasional visit to Brighton from Bedford Station. I like many commuters, day-trippers and travellers have had to endure the Bedford to Brighton line. This service is run by First Capital Connect, many of you will appreciate the splatter of pink paint across the stations this however does not detract from the appalling conditions of the stations which are dirty, as are the trains, which are also frequently late. A Standard day return from Bedford to Brighton costs £50.00. Travelling during peak hours, you may not even be able to stand. Where does your £50.00 go? Well it certainly isn’t to clean the train!

Reading the Bedfordshire on Sunday followed by his blog. I understand the Cllr Andrew McConnell has said “enough is enough” and has called for the immediate resignation of the MD of First Capital Connect Ms Elaine Holt. Security staff at her station watched a passenger on CCTV cameras clearly injure himself at a station; they then filmed the incident and posted it on “youtube”. No disciplinary action has been taken against the staff responsible. How safe are we at her stations?

I am in despair! I rarely get on a FCC train as I prefer to use the East Midlands service, where I have a cup of tea, a sit, a clean and safe environment and I am able to witness staff at work clearing up the train. On the occasions I am on a FFC train, which are slow, late and dirty. I sit back put my ipod in my ears and ask myself… If Alexander the Great can take a army across the Himalayas in 327BC then surely Elaine Holt can take me from Bedford to Brighton in 2008? (On time and every time!)

Today Labour launched their local election broadcast. I have to say I found it pretty dull. (Just like Gordon!) It wasn’t as aesthetically pleasing as I had thought that it might have been (Just like Gordon!) But I think you should make up your own mind. (I am sure you have already made up your own mind about him!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC4wr6HRcUs

Friday, I certainly felt that a new leader of Bedfordshire County Council would be a welcome and refreshing change. Beds C.C had lost the judicial review earlier in the week and I believed change was imminent. I had even suggested to my county councillor that he either backs Cllr Hand or abstains as to not endorse Madeline’s erosion of Bedfordshire’s purse strings. I knew that voting was taking place on Saturday.

However I knew that I wouldn’t find out till later on in the day as I was helping Luton’s Conservative PC’s Jeremy Brier and Nigel Huddleston delivering leaflets. I was given a map, a bag full of leaflets and was sent on my way. The ipod went in the ears and I was fairly content in delivering leaflets. I have a fairly diverse taste in music, so I put my ipod on shuffle and left the ipod to its own devices.

I arrived to deliver leaflets to one door; I approached the door, lifted the letter-box, and slide the leaflet through the door. Unbeknown to me this house was being occupied by a rather large dog, which saw my hand and went for it. I pulled my hand out of the letterbox fairly sharply, to see an incredible amount of blood. I wrapped my hand up in my handkerchief.

Fortunately my leafleting partner was able to drive me to Luton & Dunstable Hospital where I was cleaned up, given a tetanus injection, and sent on my way. I have taken a few painkillers since, and the bruising in the fingers is beginning to come out. I had to cancel meeting my friend, Tom, for drinks in London. I explained why and he seemed very sympathetic. I returned home and to my horror discovered Madeline had retained her perks and privileges.

I am worried that I seem to be running dry on the blog front. It has actually quite concerned me, then….. I was out campaigning in Brickhill with Cllr Andrew McConnell and Cllr Peter Hand. Saving the post office was top of our priority that morning.

Wearisome Labour MP Patrick Hall has supported the post office closure and I feel that all efforts must be made to keep them open. The Post Office in Brickhill feels close to my heart as it is frequently used by my elderly relatives who use the post office for banking, bill paying, sending letters etc. They are likely to find things extremely difficult should it be closed down.  

Outside the Brickhill Drive Post Office we bumped into Former Liberal Democrat Cllr - Cheryl Green who was acting rather suspiciously. I asked her what she was doing, and she refused to tell me, as she continued to accost shoppers. She then turned and spoke to Peter and Andrew. Then unprompted turned to me and said “I eat little boys like you.” Andrew asked her “What’s wrong with Will.” She replied “Oh I just eat boys like him.” I didn’t want to push the subject.

A friend of mine sent me these links. I think they are fantastic and certainly are worth a look.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20313445299 - Facebook group, all members should join.

http://www.derbyliberaldemocrats.org.uk/ - Really funny and very acurate.