Slow start in Swindon to voting for new Police and Crime Commissioner

8:30am Thursday 15th November 2012 in News By David Wiles

Polling stations open for businesses across Wiltshire Polling stations open for businesses across Wiltshire

The polls got off to a slow start across Swindon this morning as Wiltshire gets set to elect the county’s first Police and Crime Commissioner.

Things were quiet at St Barnabas Church Hall, in Ferndale Road, where about 23 voters had passed through by about 9.40am.

Pamela Stone, 70, of Whiteman Street, said she would give her support to Labour’s police and crime commissioner candidate, Clare Moody, but felt turnout would be very low as she had not received any political literature from candidates.

She said: “Really they should be knocking on your door. I know nothing about the people whatsoever. Really they can’t expect you to vote for them if you don’t know anything about them.

“You have got to know them, you have got to know something about them to know they will do any good.

“I think there’s a female on there so that’s the one I will go for just because she’s female. I don’t know anything else about anybody, do you?”

Although party activists have been urging supporters to come out and vote they privately fear the people of the county are unmoved by the campaign echoing the slow start to voting.

One said: “It could be well under 15 per cent, we don’t think the polls will be very busy.”

The first job of the new commissioner will be to decide the future of temporary chief constable Pat Geenty, whose contract runs out early next year.

Joining Labour's Clare Moody as candidates are Conservative Angus Macpherson, Lib Dem Paul Batchelor, John Short for UKIP and independents Liam Silocks and Colin Skelton.

Over at Blunsdon Village Hall, voters could also cast their ballots in the Blunsdon and Highworth by-election.

Sharon Squires, of Blunsdon, said she voted in the police and crime commissioner election for Conservative Angus Macpherson as first choice and Lib Dem Paul Batchelor as second choice.

She said: “It was not particularly easy. I didn’t feel I really heard enough about it. It’s been on the news but I haven’t really heard in any detail about the candidates or the whole thing. I did have a quick look at the leaflets today and based it on that.

“I did vote for two. I don’t quite know why. I was surprised I had a first and a second choice because most elections you just get one. I did debate but then I went for two.”

In the by-election, she said she voted for the Conservative candidate, Steve Weisinger, because she supported the party’s national policies.

Voting for the county’s first Police and Crime Commissioner will be on two columns of the ballot paper – one for voters to mark their first choice and one in which to mark a second choice. Voters mark one X in each column, although they are not required to make a second choice.

All the first choices are then counted, and if a candidate has 50 per cent of the vote, plus at least one vote, they are elected.

If no candidate receives a majority, the top two continue to a second round and all other candidates are eliminated. The second-choice votes of everyone whose first choice has been eliminated are then counted.

Any votes for the remaining candidates are then added to their first-round totals. Whichever candidate has the most votes after these second-preferences have been allocated is declared the winner.

Counts will take place at five locations across the county, including the The Oasis in Swindon, The Olympiad in Chippenham, the Corn Exchange in Devizes and Trowbridge Civic Centre.

The result is not expected to be declared until the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Comments(50)

I 2 Could B says...
9:02am Thu 15 Nov 12

Voting for a Lib Dem or Labour police commissioner would be like voting for an arsonist to run the Fire Service.

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Synergie says...
9:06am Thu 15 Nov 12

IF you turn out to vote, be very careful when considering ANY of the political party candidates.
.
The independant candidates are the ONLY ones who have promised to stop Wiltshire Police Service from entering into a massively expensive custody suit PFI deal with private security companies. Possibly G4S or Reliance.

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c skelton says...
9:51am Thu 15 Nov 12

I'm urging everyone to get out and vote. Look at the manifesto's of the candidates and make an informed choice.

Sam Cahpman on his top of the Cops blog has written this today
http://topofthecops.
com/

I'm hoping people will vote against the politicisation of our police service and the 20% cuts agenda.

I'm offering a better alternative, more police, less crime, fewer victims.

Colin Skelton
Independent PCC candidate

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WoodsideLady says...
9:57am Thu 15 Nov 12

Pray tell where is all this happening? Not had ANY information about this at all other than a few mentions on tv that they expect turnout to be very low............ hardly surprising when we've not been given details!!!!! How do we make an informed choice who to vote for when we don't know who they are! Very poor campaign.

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c skelton says...
10:12am Thu 15 Nov 12

Have a look at my website Woodsidelady at

www.skelton4wiltspcc
.co.uk

You can vote at your local polling station with the voting card or some ID.

Regards

Colin Skelton

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Robh says...
10:21am Thu 15 Nov 12

What is the point. Most Chief Constables want more police and less crime but doing this within government constraints is almost impossible. What difference will a PCC offer?

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I 2 Could B says...
10:36am Thu 15 Nov 12

WoodsideLady wrote:
Pray tell where is all this happening? Not had ANY information about this at all other than a few mentions on tv that they expect turnout to be very low............ hardly surprising when we've not been given details!!!!! How do we make an informed choice who to vote for when we don't know who they are! Very poor campaign.
I really don't understand this kind of comment... the entire election, plus endless information about the various candidates, has been in local press and on this website for at least the last five weeks.

I've also had leaflets from three of the candidates through my door in the last week.

Do people expect somebody to come round and give them a Powerpoint presentation on a Saturday after The X Factor or something?

BTW, voting is taking place, today, at the usual polling stations you use for local and general elections.

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c skelton says...
10:40am Thu 15 Nov 12

Robh

Have alook at my manifesto, it will make a difference.

Colin Skelton

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The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man says...
11:19am Thu 15 Nov 12

I 2 Could B wrote:
WoodsideLady wrote:
Pray tell where is all this happening? Not had ANY information about this at all other than a few mentions on tv that they expect turnout to be very low............ hardly surprising when we've not been given details!!!!! How do we make an informed choice who to vote for when we don't know who they are! Very poor campaign.
I really don't understand this kind of comment... the entire election, plus endless information about the various candidates, has been in local press and on this website for at least the last five weeks.

I've also had leaflets from three of the candidates through my door in the last week.

Do people expect somebody to come round and give them a Powerpoint presentation on a Saturday after The X Factor or something?

BTW, voting is taking place, today, at the usual polling stations you use for local and general elections.
Conversely, I've not had a single leaflet through the door from any of the candidates!

There is not 'endless' information about the candidates, there is the manifesto and there is the websites (some) candidates have. Nothing on any of these websites really gives any details about how all these grandiose plans will actually be paid for in the long term, or who will do the work currently done by existing staff lost through 'savings'. Example: replacing a civvie with a PC is pointless if the PC is doing all the work the civvie used to be doing!

Finally, none of them tell me how my life will be better because the PCC post exists, why we need them or how they will be providing value for money. Everything every single one of them has said on radio, tv, press, my opinion is that these are things that the chief constable is already being paid to do. As a chief constable gets paid £150,000 of our money every year you'd hope they would have some accountability and could have been doing some of this stuff already.

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swindon_mini says...
12:10pm Thu 15 Nov 12

c skelton wrote:
I'm urging everyone to get out and vote. Look at the manifesto's of the candidates and make an informed choice. Sam Cahpman on his top of the Cops blog has written this today http://topofthecops. com/ I'm hoping people will vote against the politicisation of our police service and the 20% cuts agenda. I'm offering a better alternative, more police, less crime, fewer victims. Colin Skelton Independent PCC candidate
Colin, I will be voting for you as my first preference as you are the only candidate that mentioned that you can prevent crime by teaching children that it is wrong to carry out criminal acts.

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Empty Car Park says...
12:56pm Thu 15 Nov 12

I 2 Could B wrote:
Voting for a Lib Dem or Labour police commissioner would be like voting for an arsonist to run the Fire Service.
What a pathetic implication.
Suggesting that anyone belonging to any political party othe than Conservative is akin to an arsonist.

Ridiculous even by your standards.

Not boasting about using your real name (this time) whilst making such a silly statement?

How would your conservative councillor wife feel if she knew you were spouting such nonsense?

Report this post »

Oldtownmum says...
12:57pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Maybe because apart from a polling card through the door, and one leaflet, there has been no publicity whatsoever!

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Empty Car Park says...
12:58pm Thu 15 Nov 12

I agree with C Skelton.
Voting for independant candidates and keeping the above political nonsense out of law and order is the best option

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Davey Gravey says...
1:06pm Thu 15 Nov 12

I can't even be bothered to go and spoil my vote.

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Meldrews Dad says...
1:17pm Thu 15 Nov 12

I voted for the independents - politics have no place in this rigged election.

Rigged by making sure only those with £5000 to risk could take part - 10 times the general election threshold.

Rigged by making the areas so big it is not possible to canvass them unless you have a party backing you.

Rigged by ensuring independent candidate cannot tell the public what they stand for in mailing shots which are free for 3 letters to each constituent in a general election.

I struggled as to which would be better, boycott a false "eelection" or vote to try to get independents to retain their deposit.

A rigged election to control a corrupt police force.

I will now await a police squad from Swindon to arrive and take off my glasses before spraying me with pepper spray and drag me through the poilce station by my hair.....

Both things happened to people in Wiltshire in recent months!

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house on the hill says...
1:22pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Good post Meldrews Dad, we need to keep policing and politics as far apart as possible, appoint some judges with a backbone and a degree in the real world not the silver spoon safe enviroment they live in and then we may get somewhere. Not holding breath.

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I 2 Could B says...
1:23pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Empty Car Park wrote:
I 2 Could B wrote: Voting for a Lib Dem or Labour police commissioner would be like voting for an arsonist to run the Fire Service.
What a pathetic implication. Suggesting that anyone belonging to any political party othe than Conservative is akin to an arsonist. Ridiculous even by your standards. Not boasting about using your real name (this time) whilst making such a silly statement? How would your conservative councillor wife feel if she knew you were spouting such nonsense?
Empty Car Park wrote: What a pathetic implication. Suggesting that anyone belonging to any political party othe than Conservative is akin to an arsonist.


Oh dear. You're really not the brightest, are you? Once you've learnt the basic principles of written English, try again.

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TreborMint says...
1:35pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Well whoever you vote for - make sure its not that Colin Skelton who shopped in the 80 year old disabled woman to the Police when her dog nibbled his finger.. Complete *********

http://www.swindonad
vertiser.co.uk/news/
crime_commissioner/1
0006589.Devizes_dog_
bit_me__says_police_
election_candidate/

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I 2 Could B says...
1:50pm Thu 15 Nov 12

TreborMint wrote:
Well whoever you vote for - make sure its not that Colin Skelton who shopped in the 80 year old disabled woman to the Police when her dog nibbled his finger.. Complete ********* http://www.swindonad vertiser.co.uk/news/ crime_commissioner/1 0006589.Devizes_dog_ bit_me__says_police_ election_candidate/
Mr Skelton's approach worries and concerns me greatly. He's seen something on the Net about police in Wales being nice to criminals and thinks that's the way to reduce crime.

The last 30 years of sentencing policy has clearly proven that is NOT the way to deal with criminals and reduce crime.

Voting for a police commissioner who has already publically stated his lenient views about criminals would be a disaster and would only lead to even higher crime rates than we already endure.

Report this post »

Oldswindonian says...
2:25pm Thu 15 Nov 12

I have also seen nothing and am not sure of the role of the new Commisioner post or why it has been brought in. That aside, I will not vote for any political candidate as the Police ought to be 100% non political.

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I 2 Could B says...
2:34pm Thu 15 Nov 12

The police are always political, whether we like it or not. It's just, now, we have a *little* bit of a say in what those politics are.

I've just been along to vote, if only to help keep the Labour trade union woman from getting anywhere near making life easier for criminals.

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TreborMint says...
2:40pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Ive also read that he conjured up a figure for an initiative another candidate was stating was unfunded to probably try and slur the other candidate and win votes. The Advertiser withdrew his comments from here.

I think all his figures are made up and note how everthing he says is divisible by 10, not real numbers.

I just hope people dont fall for it.

Who wants a PCC who shops in 80 year old disabled pensioner to the Police because her dog nibbled his finger when he put it in the post box to far. I bet she was in unimaginable state worrying about if her dog would get put down HER BEST FRIEND.

Im disgusted by what ive seen and read Colin Skelton, I really dont believe you are genuine.

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TreborMint says...
2:43pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Actually thats a really good point. The Swindon Advertiser withdrew comments Colin Skelton posted after he lied about another candidate and the SA are pretty easy going about comments normally.

Says it all to me ! No Vote for you.

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Empty Car Park says...
3:12pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Trebor is Robert spelt backwards :-)

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TreborMint says...
3:16pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Oh yea - but i am actually a lass ;) - so id get funny looks if i was a Robert. Roberta maybe ;0)

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I 2 Could B says...
3:44pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Empty Car Park wrote:
Trebor is Robert spelt backwards :-)
You really, really need to get your obsession looked into by a professional.

Not everyone here, other than you, uses 8 different login accounts.

Report this post »

c skelton says...
3:55pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Dear Trebor mint (my lib dem polo)

Thanks for the comments. I'm the ONLY candidate to have produced a manifesto and a budget. You may disagree with my policies and budget but you have not entered into a sensible discussion about them. As others have done.

I've also blogged at length on issues such as domestic abuse, situational crime reduction and clearly demonstrated that the crime prediction software would reduce burgalary by 27% (www.predpol.com). I can do no more.

I am the only candidate who has put forward a clear and focussed agenda to benefit our community. And if you don't thnk this is true, please look up the manifestos of the other candidates. Apart from a bland, non commital treatise from the Conservative, no candidate has even bothered. Now that speaks volumes.

Colin Skelton
Independent Candidate for PCC

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pablo777 says...
3:59pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Not one leaflet so why bother if they cant be bothered to at least try and get you vote. For the cost of this post you could have at least two full time police officers what a total waste of money , nothing will change

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Grimly Feendish says...
4:15pm Thu 15 Nov 12

I went to vote today but I haven't seen one of the people on my ballot paper on ITV in the Jungle. What's going on?

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Hmmmf says...
4:24pm Thu 15 Nov 12

It's not the police who are the problem. They do the best they can, in spite of dwindling public support, reduced numbers and resources, and the shackles of bleeding-heart liberalism and eurocourts which hold the rights of criminals above the rights of victims and their families.

Since the role of PCC can do nothing to prevent Swindon Crown Court continuing to be "Yet Another Last Chance Saloon," the role of PCC is really nothing more than a 4-year meal-ticket for the winner. Law is not a deterrent to crime, police are not a deterrent, a PCC certainly isn't; it's fear of the consequences of getting caught that serves as a deterrent, and those consequences can only come from the Courts.

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TreborMint says...
4:25pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Colin your a fool. Im a Politics Student and actually vote independent when I can but I have seen through you.

Your budget and manifesto are just numbers and words. Its about what the people want not what you have already decided, it shows a complete lack of being in touch with the people.

So answer this.
Why did you make up and publish a made up figure for another candidates idea that he stated would cost nothing.
Why did you shop in an 80 year old disabled pensioner because you put your hand too far in the door and the dog had you.
Why have you been harping on about 300 new police officers and never answered how you were going to fund them in, even your budget was to vague.
And why did you then say that you would use the money ring fenced for a PFI (Private Finance Initiative) and use that to fund your 300 new officers when you only found out about that PFI deal last week. How were you going to fund them before.

Its all waffle Colin. I think youve been saying anything to get the votes.

You really are making it up and as politicians go, I think your the worst of the bunch.

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c skelton says...
4:38pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Dear Liam Silcocks hiding behind Trebor mint (I very strongly suspect)

I refer you to the answer I gave above. But in addition, the scientific research (and I can quote references and did so a few days ago in a SW forum) proves that recruiting Police Officers drives down crime. It's also the number one thing people want when asked about Policing.

It is affordable, I'm still awaiting a sensible argument against my budget from you or any other candidate.

regards

Colin Skelton
Independent PCC candidate

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MissO says...
4:43pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Well I was going to vote for you Colin as support the IFAW manifesto (wild life crime) but after reading about the dog bite I've changed my mind. What was your hand doing in the letter box? End of the day the dog was protecting its property. I bet it hurt but if it were me i'd have blamed myself - if he was vicious he wouldn't have got to the age of 11! The photo in the adver said it all to me!

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silvergran says...
4:47pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Where I live there has been no information on the candidates at all - I would at least expect a leaflet about their respective ideas and what they propose to bring to the job. My daily paper did have an insert yesterday giving such information on the various areas in the south west but that's all I've seen. I think this position should be filled by someone independent from the political parties. It'll be interesting to see the outcome.

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c skelton says...
5:04pm Thu 15 Nov 12

I'm sorry to hear that Miss O. I did blame myself and the reporting stitched me up good and proper.

I did sign up to IFAW and the League against Cruel Sports and the wildlife consortium, I think the only candidate to do so for all.

Regards

Colin Skelton

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I 2 Could B says...
5:04pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Hmmmf wrote:
It's not the police who are the problem. They do the best they can, in spite of dwindling public support, reduced numbers and resources, and the shackles of bleeding-heart liberalism and eurocourts which hold the rights of criminals above the rights of victims and their families. Since the role of PCC can do nothing to prevent Swindon Crown Court continuing to be "Yet Another Last Chance Saloon," the role of PCC is really nothing more than a 4-year meal-ticket for the winner. Law is not a deterrent to crime, police are not a deterrent, a PCC certainly isn't; it's fear of the consequences of getting caught that serves as a deterrent, and those consequences can only come from the Courts.
Well said. Spot on.

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LordAshOfTheBrake says...
5:17pm Thu 15 Nov 12

I just read the dog bite story and well its the best laugh I've had all day. Another lost vote for Mr Skelton.

@Hmmmf

Agreed.

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Grimly Feendish says...
5:22pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Due to smudged polling card I think I've just voted for a Tellytubby,
Po, Ice Cream commissioner

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fatman says...
5:27pm Thu 15 Nov 12

There is only one candidate worth voting for and that is John Short ,anyone who knows this man is inspired by his honesty and integrity and I M H O he would deliver what is needed Good Luck Sir

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fatman says...
5:27pm Thu 15 Nov 12

There is only one candidate worth voting for and that is John Short ,anyone who knows this man is inspired by his honesty and integrity and I M H O he would deliver what is needed Good Luck Sir

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TreborMint says...
6:28pm Thu 15 Nov 12

O M G first im a Lib Dem candidate and now im an Independent candidate. Mr Skelton I have read much around Wiltshire & Dorsets elections living between both counties.

I am merely asking the questions that I have seen asked before that you have not answered.

Why wont you answer any of them?

Report this post »

Empty Car Park says...
10:33pm Thu 15 Nov 12

I 2 Could B wrote:
Empty Car Park wrote:
Trebor is Robert spelt backwards :-)
You really, really need to get your obsession looked into by a professional.

Not everyone here, other than you, uses 8 different login accounts.
Just you then

Report this post »

Pompey-Bound says...
12:45am Fri 16 Nov 12

TreborMint wrote:
O M G first im a Lib Dem candidate and now im an Independent candidate. Mr Skelton I have read much around Wiltshire & Dorsets elections living between both counties.

I am merely asking the questions that I have seen asked before that you have not answered.

Why wont you answer any of them?
Hello Robert, how is life in Portsmouth ;-)

Report this post »

I 2 Could B says...
8:34am Fri 16 Nov 12

Empty Car Park wrote:
I 2 Could B wrote:
Empty Car Park wrote: Trebor is Robert spelt backwards :-)
You really, really need to get your obsession looked into by a professional. Not everyone here, other than you, uses 8 different login accounts.
Just you then
As if ever we needed proof that you are I Too - your usual tactic of simply repeating that which has been said about you.

Still, must be a very bad day for you, your Labour lady trounced in the police commissioner election and Highworth's Labour candidate smashed into the tall grass by the Tory boy.

Your local Labour group really must be having a bit of a crisis of confidence this morning.

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Empty Car Park says...
9:52am Fri 16 Nov 12

LOL

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I 2 Could B says...
10:01am Fri 16 Nov 12

Empty Car Park wrote:
LOL
I'll take that as a 'yes', then.

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Empty Car Park says...
12:36pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Yes I really laughed out loud

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Empty Car Park says...
6:05pm Fri 16 Nov 12

No

Report this post »

Pompey-Bound says...
10:37pm Fri 16 Nov 12

I 2 Could B wrote:
Empty Car Park wrote:
I 2 Could B wrote:
Empty Car Park wrote: Trebor is Robert spelt backwards :-)
You really, really need to get your obsession looked into by a professional. Not everyone here, other than you, uses 8 different login accounts.
Just you then
As if ever we needed proof that you are I Too - your usual tactic of simply repeating that which has been said about you.

Still, must be a very bad day for you, your Labour lady trounced in the police commissioner election and Highworth's Labour candidate smashed into the tall grass by the Tory boy.

Your local Labour group really must be having a bit of a crisis of confidence this morning.
I well deserved beating for the vile socialists I would say!

Report this post »

Empty Car Park says...
11:02am Sun 18 Nov 12

Yes I reckon so.
Still shameful that the whole wasteful process was carried out though.

Very amusing that Oliver still insists that I'm a member of the Labour party just because I occasionally comment on talkswindon.org

I guess that's the demented mindset of many blinkered failed wannabe politicians

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