Parliamentary by-elections

Andrew Constantine · 05-05-2008, 05:32 AM

There should be two of these pending. What do our members and supporters think of our standing in them - or should we be saving our energies and resources for council elections?

They do give exposure to the party name and our policy of Independence from the UK of course.

Northumbrian · 05-05-2008, 10:45 AM

Should we check if the FEDs are standing?

There again, it's damned good beating them!

Richard the Lionheart · 05-05-2008, 12:08 PM

I would prefer to see us stick to council elections for now, but having said that, it could be a good bit of publicity especially in Henley.

eublues · 05-05-2008, 12:49 PM

Silly not to pick up what publicity there is from by-elections, even spending just the minimum.

arden forester · 05-05-2008, 10:48 PM

If the Free Englanders fight the EDP it will be a bit like the Richmond by-election where William Hague won. The SDP and the SLD as was fought it out. Owen's lot were ahead that time, but never again. If the SDP had won, think what might have happened? The mights are the tempting bits in politics!!

ANGLO-STAFFS · 05-05-2008, 11:06 PM

If FEP can afford it I think that a Parliamentary By-election would be very good for the Party's profile. Being only 4 months old a low vote is acceptable . IMHO a deal with the EDP should be sorted. I think that as an independence party Crewe & Nantwich would be a better bet than Henley. The people there are quite close the Wales and will be aware of the extra services the Welsh Assembly provide.

Congratulations on the election results and the FEP section on the Forum.

Richard the Lionheart · 06-05-2008, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ANGLO-STAFFS

If FEP can afford it I think that a Parliamentary By-election would be very good for the Party's profile. Being only 4 months old a low vote is acceptable . IMHO a deal with the EDP should be sorted. I think that as an independence party Crewe & Nantwich would be a better bet than Henley. The people there are quite close the Wales and will be aware of the extra services the Welsh Assembly provide.

Congratulations on the election results and the FEP section on the Forum.

Thank you for that, yes you're right, perhaps C&N might be a better bet.

cassie · 06-05-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ANGLO-STAFFS

If FEP can afford it I think that a Parliamentary By-election would be very good for the Party's profile. Being only 4 months old a low vote is acceptable . IMHO a deal with the EDP should be sorted. I think that as an independence party Crewe & Nantwich would be a better bet than Henley. The people there are quite close the Wales and will be aware of the extra services the Welsh Assembly provide.

Congratulations on the election results and the FEP section on the Forum.

On reflection, I'm inclined to agree about Crewe being a better bet. Labour is on the ropes and voters there will welcome an opportunity to wreak more revenge not only about the 10% tax rate, higher energy etc costs, but the huge extent to which Crewe in particular has been affected by the influx of thousands of Poles changing the character of the town.

The situation in Henley is almost a mirror opposite politically and, with the Conservatives triumphant after the London Mayor elections, the Tory vote can be expected to be on a high as yet another way of sending a 'shove off' message to Gordon Brown!

------------------------------------

Village Idiot · 06-05-2008, 03:15 PM

It depends on who's got a spare 500 quid floating about. By-elections come around two or three times a year. So they may be worth fighting for publicity & recruitment. I'd advise against general elections unless you have a target ward in mind where you can pool resources and where the terrain is good.

RTL is rigth to prioritise the locals - this, coupled with sustained campaigning in target wards will eventually end with FEP elected reps, which will be worth 100 times more than a bit in the paper at a parliamentary by-election.

Having said that, your GLA vote was impressive. Has it met with many enquiries?

Richard the Lionheart · 06-05-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Village Idiot

It depends on who's got a spare 500 quid floating about. By-elections come around two or three times a year. So they may be worth fighting for publicity & recruitment. I'd advise against general elections unless you have a target ward in mind where you can pool resources and where the terrain is good.

RTL is rigth to prioritise the locals - this, coupled with sustained campaigning in target wards will eventually end with FEP elected reps, which will be worth 100 times more than a bit in the paper at a parliamentary by-election.

Having said that, your GLA vote was impressive. Has it met with many enquiries?

Thanks, I believe Andrew has received a few enquiries in the area.

The plan is to work a ward, then work the county council area, then a constituency, in carefully selected areas. By working the council and county council areas, this can highlight possible good support at relatively cheap cost. If it proves successful, i.e. winning council seats, then it is worth standing in general elections. I don't believe it's worth the limited time and investment of any small party to try and take on elections to Westminster without doing the background work I mentioned. For me, it's a case of throwing good money away for very little return. Yes, I accept the publicity that comes on putting a name on a ballot paper, but it's no good if there aren't the resources to follow it up.

An interesting source of information to study is the local election results to see where support might lay. A good example is the London South West constituency, where between Free England, the NF and the ED's there was a total 5% support. If that support can be harnessed, then there is a likeliehood of gaining an elected member. This will only happen if the groundwork is put in. Yes, the NF are a far right party, but I believe that parties like them and the BNP attract the protest vote.

So my view is it's best to work "bottom up" which costs the least in finanical terms, and begins the real task of changing public opinion.

05-05-2008, 05:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
Andrew Constantine Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 818 Party: Free England Party	Parliamentary by-elections There should be two of these pending. What do our members and supporters think of our standing in them - or should we be saving our energies and resources for council elections? They do give exposure to the party name and our policy of Independence from the UK of course. __________________ Andrew Constantine Free England Party - Independence for England http://www.freeengland.com http://freeengland.blogspot.com Signatory to The English Claim of Right http://englishclaimofright.com

05-05-2008, 12:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
Richard the Lionheart Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 515 Party: Free England Party	I would prefer to see us stick to council elections for now, but having said that, it could be a good bit of publicity especially in Henley. __________________ The Free England Party - England's Premier Nationalist Party www.freeengland.com .....Serious about England

05-05-2008, 12:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
eublues Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,951	Silly not to pick up what publicity there is from by-elections, even spending just the minimum. Last edited by eublues; 05-05-2008 at 12:52 PM.

05-05-2008, 10:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
arden forester Uber Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Solihull, in The Forest of Arden, Warwickshire! Posts: 2,639 Party: None	If the Free Englanders fight the EDP it will be a bit like the Richmond by-election where William Hague won. The SDP and the SLD as was fought it out. Owen's lot were ahead that time, but never again. If the SDP had won, think what might have happened? The mights are the tempting bits in politics!! __________________ www.westminster-whispers.blogspot.com

06-05-2008, 03:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Village Idiot Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 23	It depends on who's got a spare 500 quid floating about. By-elections come around two or three times a year. So they may be worth fighting for publicity & recruitment. I'd advise against general elections unless you have a target ward in mind where you can pool resources and where the terrain is good. RTL is rigth to prioritise the locals - this, coupled with sustained campaigning in target wards will eventually end with FEP elected reps, which will be worth 100 times more than a bit in the paper at a parliamentary by-election. Having said that, your GLA vote was impressive. Has it met with many enquiries? __________________ Village Idiot's blog

05-05-2008, 10:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
Northumbrian Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England Posts: 836	Should we check if the FEDs are standing? There again, it's damned good beating them!

05-05-2008, 11:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
ANGLO-STAFFS Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 506	If FEP can afford it I think that a Parliamentary By-election would be very good for the Party's profile. Being only 4 months old a low vote is acceptable . IMHO a deal with the EDP should be sorted. I think that as an independence party Crewe & Nantwich would be a better bet than Henley. The people there are quite close the Wales and will be aware of the extra services the Welsh Assembly provide. Congratulations on the election results and the FEP section on the Forum.

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