douglas denny

Why ever not???? Outrageous!! For anyone who shouts their mouth off about politics and is so keen to put forward their opinions, yet admits they won't get into the process itself .......Disgraceful !
I say: Put your money where your mouth is !

It is the simplest thing in the world of politics to put yourself up as a candidate or assist someone else to do it in a local election. If you are in any way interested in politics you should have a go at least once just for the experience. You will find it far more interesting than you might think. It can become addictive. I have heard of all kinds of excuses from people who really should, and could, get stuck-in but will not:-

1) The work involved? Canvassing? leafletting? etc.

Don't let that put you off - you don't have to do any of it to be on the ballot paper, and THAT is the important thing.

All the standard 'politiking' is a bonus of you want to do it better and get some exercise too. Actually it is quite fun knocking on doors and asking for support - it gives you a thick skin rapidly - rhinos have nothing on politicians.

2) Getting the ten signatures? No problem. I have done it literally dozens of times. Get the electoral role (it is supplied to the candidate), go to the area; start at the first door in a street, and say:

" Excuse me Mr./Mrs. XXX (get it from the electoral role, it always helps when you refer to them by their own name) ...sorry to disturb you, but I wonder if you can help me. I want to stand as a candidate in the local election and the law says I have to get ten signatures to stand. I wonder if you would sign my form so I can be part of the election. I'm not asking you to vote for me or anything like that - just to sign this legal form so I can stand - you can get your chance to vote for me if you like at the election when I get this form filled in."

Simple as that!
Now I can tell you that in all the years that I have done this there have only been a handful of people who have refused. I can guarantee that within half an hour I will have the form filled-in. Usually before I have finished the street. If not that street just go on to the next.

3) and this is the most astonishing excuse of all but is the most often heard:- "I might win and get in!"

Well that is the idea. I have thought about this bizarre reason given for a long time and I think I know why there is a problem with this:- What puts people off is the thought of having to stand on their hind legs and speak about things in front of others in a council chamber.

Well the answer to that is you don't have to say a word if you don't want to- you are there to listen and then vote according to what you think.

And ..... it is actually great fun: Like it or not they have to listen to you: you have the floor for your five minutes (or whatever) and can say what you like about the issue ..... and you can put your VOTE .. which is what it is all about. If you don't like the bin collection service you can agitate and vote against it ...and SAY SO in public. Its great fun for an egotist , and if you aren't one .. well you can soon learn to be one .... marvelous! go on! - be a Tony Bliar clone ...No! on second thoughts, you don't want to lie through your back teeth all the time do you? ... you can be different and tell the truth ...

There is no excuse Kernobble - so out you go and get stuck-in next time there is an election near you .............

DED.

douglas denny

True in Scotland of course .......

DED.
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Northumbrian

Good advice, DD.

I don't think it would be such a bad thing to be a councillor. At least you're doing your bit to help the local community.

blueblood1920

Based on the London results I would say terrible, locals were not that bad though.

prober

In the face of terrible London results, and flat lining in locals except for a few pockets, the worst thing the UKIP leadership can do is advocate "more of the same" and "just try harder"

The public see UKIP as a party as irelevant in locals, not a credible home for a protest vote on key domestics( like immigration) , and not even able to get public angry enough to vote UKIP as a protest on EU constitution referendum betrayal.

Face up to it. Face up to UKIP having no answer to those that see voting BNP and other small parties as being credible in fighting for them whilst UKIP aint. Ask why and how Greens & BNP are where they are now and UKIP aint.

The leadership must accept with humility that absolutely all its assumptions, everything UKIP does and has deliberately not done in message, strategy, policy, presentation, capability building, etc etc etc needs to be ruthlessly examined from scratch... in an open positive way not for recriminations.

Just having NF on the box every week aint going to work.

4 Years on from the 2004 fresh party of optimism, much of UKIP is now set in it's ways tired and stale . What did it set out to do in those 4 years in connecting with the public what it believes in and how that relates to public concerns? and what has really been achieved ?

prober

I would add that for those who say " 2009 will get voters flocking to give UKIP more MEPs" , in 4 years what has UKIP said to the public on what existing MEPs have done to fight for them, what has been achieved by them and how "lending" their vote to UKIP has delivered value ?

In 2004 UKIP had a niche to itself. In 2009 more Eurosceptic small parties are around. Will there be a game plan to prevent a brazen BNP sucking away UKIP's 2004 vote ? Instead of ignoring the threat, what does UKIP have to say to the public on why they shouldnt/dont need to vote for BNP ( or other small party) in 2009 ?

eublues

I was rather disappointed at UKIP's performance in the locals in my area, but on reflection we did OK in the context of people deciding to punish Brown.

Our vote increased across the area (in the 5-10% range) while votes for Labour and Lib Dems were slashed.

BASILDON BOY

The Stevenage UKIP seat wasn't being contested this year.

Elections - Results: Stevenage Borough Council

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Mike Nattrass MEP is HOT HOT HOT!!!

Mikeuk

Have you actually played on one of those machines, Harry.

I don't think they are built with the aim of letting the punter win.

Mikeuk

Anybody who thinks that was a good night for UKIP has a remarkable facility for self-delusion.

There was no UKIP candidate in my ward so I voted LibDem.