arden forester

They can't. They are an absolute shambles (as Alan Sugar would say). It was all very odd from the begnning. Suddenly Gary Bushell disappears and up pops O'Connor.

I think I get the drift as to why some left to form another party.

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www.ardenforester.blogspot.com
www.westminster-whispers.blogspot.com

Aardvark

There is no legal precedent for changing a candidate at this late stage. The ballot papers are printed, postal votes have been cast. The process is nearly complete. Kentishman, as an agent you already know that there will be an official opening of postal ballots and you will have nominated observers.

The nomination papers were completed for a named individual, not a party. Matt O'Connor is the candidate. That's the end of the matter.

Our democracy demands that nominations are completed in a set format and in a set timescale. There is a nomination period that applies to all candidates. There is a period for reflection and withdrawal. Once that point is passed a person stands nominated unless he dies. Under our law a death halts the process, those who have been nominated remain so, but might withdraw. There is then a fresh nomination period.

There will be no negotiations on Monday. The returning officer will give advice similar to what I have said. The election will not be cancelled for the EDP and nobody is going to pay for millions of ballot papers to be reprinted. The other parties will not tolerate any changes; they are in the last stages of their election campaign and have expended a fortune.

An election process is governed by law; the law will be followed.

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When in Woking do as the Wokes do.

"I do not wish to form my opinions by thoughtlessly quoting others; I wish others to support their opinions by sensibly quoting me." Paul Wesson (Aardvark) 13th April 2008

Bluemerle

A waste of time and effort. It is much too late to change anything.

Independent UKIP

Aardvark & others - I think Kentishman was just making light out of the disastrous situation the EDs have found themselves in by creating this topic. That is reflective of his posting style in my opinion. I will be truly amazed if I am wrong about that and he was being serious.

Independent UKIP

How about coming back and supporting UKIP, Bluemerle? If that is too much the Free England party seem a reasonable sort of bunch to support if you are happy for the end of the Union.

Northumbrian

So they've got to hope someone dies before Thursday? Well you never know...

Hartlepool

Or,Matt O'Connor turns up for the count and immediately resigns after it is announced who has won.

Seems like the obvious thing to do if he can be persuaded to hang in there.

It would perhaps be legal as well.

Populist Lee

EDP types are showing the typical [5] stages of Grief.

We are in the "Denial" stage at the moment.

I wonder how long it will take for them to finally reach "Acceptance"?

Johnny Hates Jazz

We've now recieved confirmation from the BBC that they too understand NOW that a Candidate cannot withdraw

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English Democrats SAY NO To European Union

English not British not European
- It's time to decide at the 2009 European Elections

Britannist

Kentishman - obviously the English Democrats (ED) will want voters to back their London Assembly candidates next week. But will the ED Party be advising electors to support a Mayoral candidate from another party in view of the fact that Mr. Matthew O'Connor has resigned as ED candidate for Mayor? Or will the ED Party recommend that people abstain in the Mayoral vote (while, of course, still asking people to vote for the ED Assembly candidates)?

Now that the ED Party does not have a candidate for Mayor (although Mr. O' Connor's name remains on the ballot paper) one possible scenario is that the ED Party could ask people to vote UKIP on the first round of voting in the Mayoral Election and for Conservative Boris Johnson MP on the second round?

Such a gesture of goodwill from the ED Party would be received warmly by UKIP who, I would hope, would start talks with the ED Party straight after the local elections of 1.5.2008 on a possible limited or full agreement that (to avoid vote-splitting) the two parties do not contest the same ward/seat.

The ED Party should use the resignation of the ED 2008 London Mayoral candidate to back the UKIP 2008 London Mayoral candidate and forge some sort of official or unofficial alliance between both parties which would continue after next week's London/local elections are over.

The resignation of the ED 2008 London Mayoral candidate is the perfect opportunity to do so by the ED Party calling on voters to back UKIP 2008 London Mayoral Election candidate Mr. Gerard Batten MEP.

Both the ED Party and UKIP are pro-England and both want out of the EU. As I have written before - the two parties should be working together as and where they can.

I understand Labour and the Greens in London allegedly have friendly relations with each other (at least during this London Mayoral and Assembly Elections campaign). If they can co-operate - so should UKIP and the ED Party.

London Mayoral Election 2008 candidates: Richard Barnbrook - British National Party, Gerard Batten - UK Independence Party, Siân Berry - Green Party, Alan Craig - Christian Peoples Alliance and Christian Party , Lindsey German - Left List, Boris Johnson - Conservative Party, Ken Livingstone - The Labour Party, Winston McKenzie - Independent, Matt O'Connor - English Democrats, Brian Paddick - Liberal Democrats.

Full details of the London Mayoral and Assembly candidates for the 1.5.2008 London Elections at:

London Elects - The candidates

and in posting number three at:

UKIP Gerard Batten London mayor Election Broadcast