MY GREAT GRANDFATHER MUST BE SPINNING IN HIS GRAVE...

.....but I am about to vote Labour! 

For the first time in years I’m going to vote for a Labour candidate in a local election; this time for the County Crime & Police Commissioner, something that has generally been a well-paid sinecure for wannabe/failed political party yes-men (alright, persons) looking for a non-job with a good paycheque courtesy of already overburdened local taxpayers. For several years I never even bothered to vote for the appointment.

The thee major U.K. parties - Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat, have just named their candidates and the Labour guy is streets ahead of the rest so far as I am concerned...a 30-year career copper who made Detective Chief Inspector with the Metropolitan Police, serving way back to the days when coppers were thief-takers and not woke social workers.

Plus, the feller has a P.HD so he obviously ain’t a thicko...and will also know a damn site more about real policing that the usual card-carrying party drone candidates.

And (for the benefit of those who think I’m a far-Right dyed—in-the-wool Middle class Caucasian), the chap’s Afro-Caribbean. And I wish him well.

Nothing to be ashamed about, Fred. Indeed, at our local council elections, I voted for our VERY good conservative councillor. He is super approachable, always answers emails promptly, tries to deal with any problems I raise, and is supportive of all the local things I care about.

Andy wrote:Nothing to be ashamed about, Fred. Indeed, at our local council elections, I voted for our VERY good conservative councillor. He is super approachable, always answers emails promptly, tries to deal with any problems I raise, and is supportive of all the local things I care about.

My local MP is a conservative. She is really, really good. She answers every email and in my two biggest dealings with her, (local issues) she has done some brilliant work. She has come through both times with flying colours.

That said, our Conservative MP is a weak, mealy mouthed Yes man.

Andy wrote:That said, our Conservative MP is a weak, mealy mouthed Yes man.

Unlucky for you then. I’m very fortunate and I’ll keep voting for my local MP in local elections.
The only time I’ve ever voted a Tory.

I remember when George W. Bush was leaving office and the presidential candidates were Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.

My sister and I, both hardcore Democrats, had a conversation where we agreed that things were definitely going to get better no matter who won, because we both respected McCain and knew he'd do a far better job than Bush had.

In politics, I think you have to start with your desired outcome (mine is the purposefully vague "make the country a better place to live") and then vote for the person (or party if you must) who you think is most likely to make that happen.

If one party comes up with a good idea, the opposition should go along with it or, better yet, try to improve on it. Not dig their heels in and refuse to support it because it came from the other side.

That's a big part of why I'm a Democrat -- Obama based his healthcare reform on a Republican idea that was popular in the state of Massachussetts and had been championed by Republicans right up until Obama agreed with it, at which point they branded it "socialism."

Whereas when Trump wanted to give Americans $2,000 stimulus payments, the Democrats were completely in support becauset they thought it was a good idea, regardless of how else they felt about Trump.

Andy wrote:Nothing to be ashamed about, Fred. Indeed, at our local council elections, I voted for our VERY good conservative councillor. He is super approachable, always answers emails promptly, tries to deal with any problems I raise, and is supportive of all the local things I care about.

Mind you, Andy, I once - in sheer desperation - voted for the Monster Raving Loony Party!
It was an election for the regional member of the European Parliament (a sick joke if ever there was one) and I could not, in a million years, have voted for the Tory candidate Edwina Currie. The Lib Dem was a certifiable idiot and the Labour candidate was the biggest dickhead imaginable, so I voted Monster Raving Loony. 
I can’t remember who the candidate was, except, like the rest of them, he was barking mad, but he finished the election with, er, a total of seventeen votes, one of which was mine.

Ps: Edwina Currie did, however, possess the most gorgeous pair of legs and had a penchant for black frilly knickers and stockings and suspenders.

Now, how would I know that? Ah, that really WOULD be telling.......

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

Andy wrote:Nothing to be ashamed about, Fred. Indeed, at our local council elections, I voted for our VERY good conservative councillor. He is super approachable, always answers emails promptly, tries to deal with any problems I raise, and is supportive of all the local things I care about.

Mind you, Andy, I once - in sheer desperation - voted for the Monster Raving Loony Party!
It was an election for the regional member of the European Parliament (a sick joke if ever there was one) and I could not, in a million years, have voted for the Tory candidate Edwina Currie. The Lib Dem was a certifiable idiot and the Labour candidate was the biggest dickhead imaginable, so I voted Monster Raving Loony. 
I can’t remember who the candidate was, except, like the rest of them, he was barking mad, but he finished the election with, er, a total of seventeen votes, one of which was mine.

Ps: Edwina Currie did, however, possess the most gorgeous pair of legs and had a penchant for black frilly knickers and stockings and suspenders.

Now, how would I know that? Ah, that really WOULD be telling.......

I always knew you were a little devil.

Andy wrote:Nothing to be ashamed about, Fred. Indeed, at our local council elections, I voted for our VERY good conservative councillor. He is super approachable, always answers emails promptly, tries to deal with any problems I raise, and is supportive of all the local things I care about.

Funny that... I never usually try to contact any of my local representatives, but I emailed my constituency MP about 6 months ago about a quite important issue... And still no reply...


It is a labour MP...


And yes I am sure the email was sent correctly because i did get the automated reply confirming that the email had been received.

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

Andy wrote:Nothing to be ashamed about, Fred. Indeed, at our local council elections, I voted for our VERY good conservative councillor. He is super approachable, always answers emails promptly, tries to deal with any problems I raise, and is supportive of all the local things I care about.

Mind you, Andy, I once - in sheer desperation - voted for the Monster Raving Loony Party!
It was an election for the regional member of the European Parliament (a sick joke if ever there was one) and I could not, in a million years, have voted for the Tory candidate Edwina Currie. The Lib Dem was a certifiable idiot and the Labour candidate was the biggest dickhead imaginable, so I voted Monster Raving Loony. 
I can’t remember who the candidate was, except, like the rest of them, he was barking mad, but he finished the election with, er, a total of seventeen votes, one of which was mine.

Ps: Edwina Currie did, however, possess the most gorgeous pair of legs and had a penchant for black frilly knickers and stockings and suspenders.

Now, how would I know that? Ah, that really WOULD be telling.......

Was you speaking to john Major?.

I remember Screaming Lord Sutch standing for the MRLP.

I stood next to John Major in the next urinal at Sydenham cricket ground many years ago. After covertly looking down, it became very obvious what Edwina saw in him.
Hung like a donkey.

Andy wrote:I stood next to John Major in the next urinal at Sydenham cricket ground many years ago. After covertly looking down, it became very obvious what Edwina saw in him.
Hung like a donkey.

Edwina once said in an interview that she was often mistaken for Joan Collins.

Syl wrote:

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

Mind you, Andy, I once - in sheer desperation - voted for the Monster Raving Loony Party!
It was an election for the regional member of the European Parliament (a sick joke if ever there was one) and I could not, in a million years, have voted for the Tory candidate Edwina Currie. The Lib Dem was a certifiable idiot and the Labour candidate was the biggest dickhead imaginable, so I voted Monster Raving Loony. 
I can’t remember who the candidate was, except, like the rest of them, he was barking mad, but he finished the election with, er, a total of seventeen votes, one of which was mine.

Ps: Edwina Currie did, however, possess the most gorgeous pair of legs and had a penchant for black frilly knickers and stockings and suspenders.

Now, how would I know that? Ah, that really WOULD be telling.......

Was you speaking to john Major?.

I remember Screaming Lord Sutch standing for the MRLP.

I spoke to John Major on quite a few occasions, and have to say that I had a lot of time for him. But.....

...my knowledge of Edwina’s, er, physical attributes and penchant for sexy undies stems - I regret - from nothing more exciting than an episode of unintentional, though thoroughly enjoyable, voyeurism during a visit to a farm that I had arranged for her as PRO for a national agricultural organisation. 
I was directly behind her when she climbed delicately but revealingly over a steep stile between a couple of fields....

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

Syl wrote:

Was you speaking to john Major?.

I remember Screaming Lord Sutch standing for the MRLP.

I spoke to John Major on quite a few occasions, and have to say that I had a lot of time for him. But.....

...my knowledge of Edwina’s, er, physical attributes and penchant for sexy undies stems - I regret - from nothing more exciting than an episode of unintentional, though thoroughly enjoyable, voyeurism during a visit to a farm that I had arranged for her as PRO for a national agricultural organisation. 
I was directly behind her when she climbed delicately but revealingly over a steep stile between a couple of fields....

Fred, you are incorrigible.

Fred Moletrousers wrote:.....but I am about to vote Labour! 

For the first time in years I’m going to vote for a Labour candidate in a local election; this time for the County Crime & Police Commissioner, something that has generally been a well-paid sinecure for wannabe/failed political party yes-men (alright, persons) looking for a non-job with a good paycheque courtesy of already overburdened local taxpayers. For several years I never even bothered to vote for the appointment.

The thee major U.K. parties - Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat, have just named their candidates and the Labour guy is streets ahead of the rest so far as I am concerned...a 30-year career copper who made Detective Chief Inspector with the Metropolitan Police, serving way back to the days when coppers were thief-takers and not woke social workers.

Plus, the feller has a P.HD so he obviously ain’t a thicko...and will also know a damn site more about real policing that the usual card-carrying party drone candidates.

And (for the benefit of those who think I’m a far-Right dyed—in-the-wool Middle class Caucasian), the chap’s Afro-Caribbean. And I wish him well.

Good on you, Fred!        

I can see that you weren't joking when you said you were a broadminded sort.

If this socialist candidate wins, hope he makes decent fist of things and earns the respect & trust the locals put in him.

If he wins, but does not improve the lot of the people he serves, he will be swiftly ousted via the ballot box, and deservedly so.