My old running mate from the 2001 General Election Shailesh Vara seems to be finding his feet in Westminster and recently he exposed the reality behind the Lib Dems political negative campaigning techniques.
In a debate in the Commons initiated by the Lib Dems,a motion urged the government to "restore the trust of the British public ... in politics as a profession
The Lib Dems are famous for their negative campaigning as witnessed in Northampton recently in the New Duston by-election, and Vara explained why:
"Let us consider the idea of the Lib Dems talking about trust in British politics. On page 21 of their campaign document, Effective Opposition, produced by the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors, it says:
"Be wicked, act shamelessly, stir endlessly."
On page 23, it says:
"Don't be afraid to exaggerate. For example, responses to surveys and petitions are always 'massive'. If a council is doing something badly public expressions are always of 'outrage'."
And on page 4, it states:
"Positive campaigning will NOT be enough to win control of the council."
On page 6, it says that "you can secure support from voters who normally vote Tory by being effectively anti-Labour and similarly in a Tory area secure Labour votes by being anti-Tory."
It goes on to say:
"Oppose all service cuts ... No cut is going to be popular and why court the unpopularity that goes with the responsibility of power?"
Finally, the document – [interruption] I see that my reminder to the Lib Dems of their campaigning tactics is too much for the honorable member for Somerton and Frome [David Heath], who moved the motion, because he has had to leave the chamber. It is a pity. I presume that he knows it already, and that was why he felt it necessary to leave.
On page 33 – I am coming to the end of my quotations from this document – it states:
"You are NOT running the council. It's NOT your problem."
Of course here in Northampton there are running the council and it is their problem, but it seems their campaigning techniques are as nasty as they ever were as Simon the son of the late Liz Taverner points out in an emailed comment to the Guardian which read as follows:
" I have seen this sort of tactic in operation.
My mother was a councillor in Northampton up to her death in November.
The by-election a fortnight ago was dominated by the LibDem leaflet attacking her for having done nothing for her community.
Not only did this upset the family - but a lot of those people who had seen her work tirelessly for many years for all in her area and beyond expressed their distaste for the tone and content of the leaftlet.
Did the LDs make a public apology? No.
Did they withdraw the leaflet? No.
Did they win the seat? No.
They came fourth.
Being wicked and shameless did them no favours.
The LDs currently run Northampton Borough Council and in two years have become one of the most hated groups ever to have run the town. From voting themselves massive (40-60%) pay increases to refusing to meet those who oppose their plans - they have rapidly become the object of scorn and derision.
When the leader of your town council suggests that you abandon your local shops to travel over 20 miles to another city, you look on in disbelief. Yet that is what Cllr Woods said to the people of Northampton.
If you want to see stirring, wickedness and shameless behaviour in action - look at Northampton and the LibDems there."
And to think they accuse others of being negative towards their own record on Council?
In a debate in the Commons initiated by the Lib Dems,a motion urged the government to "restore the trust of the British public ... in politics as a profession
The Lib Dems are famous for their negative campaigning as witnessed in Northampton recently in the New Duston by-election, and Vara explained why:
"Let us consider the idea of the Lib Dems talking about trust in British politics. On page 21 of their campaign document, Effective Opposition, produced by the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors, it says:"Be wicked, act shamelessly, stir endlessly."
On page 23, it says:
"Don't be afraid to exaggerate. For example, responses to surveys and petitions are always 'massive'. If a council is doing something badly public expressions are always of 'outrage'."
And on page 4, it states:
"Positive campaigning will NOT be enough to win control of the council."
On page 6, it says that "you can secure support from voters who normally vote Tory by being effectively anti-Labour and similarly in a Tory area secure Labour votes by being anti-Tory."
It goes on to say:
"Oppose all service cuts ... No cut is going to be popular and why court the unpopularity that goes with the responsibility of power?"
Finally, the document – [interruption] I see that my reminder to the Lib Dems of their campaigning tactics is too much for the honorable member for Somerton and Frome [David Heath], who moved the motion, because he has had to leave the chamber. It is a pity. I presume that he knows it already, and that was why he felt it necessary to leave.
On page 33 – I am coming to the end of my quotations from this document – it states:
"You are NOT running the council. It's NOT your problem."
Of course here in Northampton there are running the council and it is their problem, but it seems their campaigning techniques are as nasty as they ever were as Simon the son of the late Liz Taverner points out in an emailed comment to the Guardian which read as follows:
" I have seen this sort of tactic in operation.
My mother was a councillor in Northampton up to her death in November.
The by-election a fortnight ago was dominated by the LibDem leaflet attacking her for having done nothing for her community.
Not only did this upset the family - but a lot of those people who had seen her work tirelessly for many years for all in her area and beyond expressed their distaste for the tone and content of the leaftlet.
Did the LDs make a public apology? No.
Did they withdraw the leaflet? No.
Did they win the seat? No.
They came fourth.
Being wicked and shameless did them no favours.
The LDs currently run Northampton Borough Council and in two years have become one of the most hated groups ever to have run the town. From voting themselves massive (40-60%) pay increases to refusing to meet those who oppose their plans - they have rapidly become the object of scorn and derision.
When the leader of your town council suggests that you abandon your local shops to travel over 20 miles to another city, you look on in disbelief. Yet that is what Cllr Woods said to the people of Northampton.
If you want to see stirring, wickedness and shameless behaviour in action - look at Northampton and the LibDems there."
And to think they accuse others of being negative towards their own record on Council?
the lib dems have shown they are not fit to run our town. as soon as we see the back of tony woods the better.
ReplyDeletetheir stance on sixfields is a disgrace.
Their stance on everything is a disgrace Alan.
ReplyDeleteThey have shown no regard to what the people they were elected to serve want, nor do I think they ever will... unless it is an election year and what have you.
They seemingly want to kill off the town and everything good about it, I am ashamed to tell people where I live! And even worse, insulted when people ask me if it is anything like Milton Keynes!!
Don't get me wrong MK is a great "new Town" but does not have the history to look back on. It does not have an 800 year old market square, or an once vibrant fish market...
And don't get me started on the football side of things!
You know Tony, my folks reckon I will end up campaigning for you at this rate!!! Scary thought hey...