I got my Ron Bell election flyer earlier today, and I thought I would muse a little about it.
Ron plays heavily on the fact that he’s from Blackpool, and why shouldn’t he? In what sounds remarkably similar to his Youtube exploits, Ron opens with the following;
I was born here, but more importantly I actually live and work here as do my family, so what happens in Blackpool genuinely affects me and those closest to me.
He then goes off on a bizarre tangent, talking about how his successes are the Chepstow Gardens Project and the launch of two theatre schools for children. I’ve never even heard of the Chepstow Gardens Project, and call me selfish but I don’t really rate the opening of a couple of drama schools as big achievements that are worthy of a general election X.
Ron then tells us that he believes the closure of post offices (or as Ron calls them, Post Offices) to be a “crime against our society”. What this has to do specifically with Blackpool I do not know, but it seems to be the main point of this leaflet. Perhaps there will be other Ron Bell leaflets with more than just depressing irrelevant rhetoric.
The monologue ends with Ron reiterating his local roots as the main reason that you should give him your vote.
On the right hand side of the leaflet, in green lettering, there are four bullet points, giving more reasons for voting for Mr Bell.
- Keeping Blackpool green, by campaigning for building on Brownfield sites, not areas like the Moss.
- Labours short-sighted cuts and closures are damaging the NHS – we must stop them.
- Changing the face of Blackpool, by campaigning for stronger enforcement to reduce the number of HMO’s and bedsits in the town.
- Greater and more meaningful consultation with residents about developments that affect their neighbourhood.
Now, I don’t know about you, but two of those bullets are screaming Kensington! at me, one appeals to a pretty small demographic and the other is generic political rhetoric, getting as many scare words in as possible.
On the back of the leaflet is more rhetoric from David Cameron, most of which we’ve heard a million times already. He is right on one thing though: to get change in Blackpool South, the only way to get it is to vote for Ron Bell.
I should add that to my further amusement, Ron’s signature on the leaflet looks more like Ron BS.
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http://ipad.io/IDJ
I have just uploaded a feature regarding Blackpool South that I hope you all find of interest.
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Another fantastic broadcast, quite interesting stories about Dr Tun. I will still give him a chance, despite his switching of parties I feel he would be an MP who would actually represent Blackpool, Hamish certainly wouldn’t and Marsden has proven he doesn’t give a toss about Blackpool. I await to hear what Dr Tun plans to offer to the people of Blackpool South.
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The LA already have the power to go after the dodgy landlords but choose not to use them!!
What does that say about the erstwhile Mr Bell?
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Ron Bell is a joke and hes failed the people of Blackpool south before he even stood for election.Goodbye Ron.
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How the hell can Ron Bell say he is campaigning against building on the moss when it him that asked Kensington for the donations then brokered a meeting between Kensington, Weaver and Callow???
Geezer is right, the local authority, the police and the judiciary now have massive powers to deal with anti social behaviour.
The one which screams to mind but Blackpool have avoided using yet is Closure Orders. These are dead straight forward and have been used by many LA’s to great effect. One has to ask why some of the tools that are available are not being used in Blackpool.
That phrase uttered by Weaver all those years ago keeps echoing back:
Managed Decline!
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I was at the meeting a fortnight ago where Mr Bell addressed accommodation providers with a view to discussing the Councils plan to alter the existing holiday areas.
There was also a representative from Kenricks who suggested that the plan was already blighting property values causing sales to fall through. The same representative also mentioned that Blackpool has probably the highest concentration of housing benefit claimants in the UK and that the council had allowed this to happen due to their mismanagement of HMO policy.
He asserted to a round of applause from the 200 odd people there that the LA should have acted more robustly a lot sooner.
Bell’s only reply was the powers were not available to them to act??
Great we have a prospective MP that does not understand the reasons behind the Houses of Multiple Occupation Act!!
I know you read these pages Mr Bell perhaps you can comment in detail why the LA have not acted?
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If you look on Ron Bells website there is a bit in which he is trying to raise £2,000 it says thanks to the latest donation from Lee Dribben. Is this the same Lee Dribben that makes his money by renting out hundreds of rooms in Blackpool, mainly to people claiming housing benefit?????
Its a bit like peeling an onion isn’t it but with layers of sleaze!
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Jesus wept when he read this. I know I did!
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Ron Bell reads this? You’re having a laugh, lol. Read?
Let me take a pot shot at why the LA failed to act.
Could it be because the landlords have mates within the high echelons of the LA?
Could it be because the landlords have mates within the elected council?
Could it be because the landlords have promised or made donations to controlling political parties?
Could it be masonic influences? After all, it seems anyone who’s anyone is part of that secret boys’ club, including Ron Bell.
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lets not even get started with the Oyston connection……………………
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Bloody great in–it to get Marsden out we have to vote for Bell!!!!!
What a choice!!!!!!
Is it his strategy to win by default in that no matter how bad he is he cannot be worse than the other main contender!!
Still plenty of time to discuss the faces on the ballot papers…..
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Why not vote for Doreen Holt?
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I would prefer to vote for her.
The trouble is, it just makes it easier for Mr Marsden to reaffirm his position.
There isn’t really a campaign going to rouse support for Doreen, and I have seen nothing in the press about things she’s doing.
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I am in the same position Phil, while Lib Dems are not normally my sort of party I would vote for either Mrs Holt or Dr Tun but as you rightly say Phil, a protest vote will just make it easier for Marsden to cling on.
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If you don’t like Gordon Marsden, it’s pointless to vote for anyone other than Ron Bell.
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You’re right that’s about the only choice. Marsden has to go, Blackpool deserves better, as I have said before I am prepared to opt for a tactical vote to get rid of Marsden and I don’t want Hamish getting a look in (not that he will!!!) no true UKIP voters take him seriously anyway, he’s a paper candidate.
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i do understand but is marsden that bad that you could vote for someone who has shown his true colours before he even gets to parliament!!!! Doreen Holt is unlikely to win but if the Lib Dems get enough support, they may be able to break through at the next election. (which may not be that far off!)
Lets be perfectly honest though, Marsden will piss this election!
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Yes Marsden is that bad, he doesn’t even live in Blackpool and never has done, he only ever even comes here for photo ops or to get his name in the pro-Labour Gasjet. He has proven time and time again his lack of committment to our town and he is not willing to fight Blackpool’s corner. Also from my point of view, he is Labour. MARSDEN OUT 2010!!!
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At least Marsden isnt BENT like Ron, lol lol lol………….(double entendre meant!)
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Lmao, that’s brilliant Harold.
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I thought you would appreciate it TB, lol,tell you what I am no longer watching the news for all the excrement that will be coming out due to the elections, so its one massive piss take all the way to May the 6th.
Believe me, whoever gets in; we will need a sense of humour lol
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I know what you mean Harold about the excrement; in today’s Times, Brown the clown is at it again claiming he is an ‘ordinary man’ from an ‘ordinary background’ representing the many and not the few all the usual bollocks. This is just months after his ‘I am proud to be middle class’ faux pas.
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Brown is a comedian’s paradox, he so crap at being funny, he is funny, lol
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Hows this for the first one goal of the campaign?
http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2010/04/prominent-uk-politician-encourages-google-click-fraud.html
Prescott encourages click fraud which is no doubt in contravention of that piece of excrement called the Digital Information Bill on the way to statute….
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nice one Geezer,a real gem!
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Anyone got the figures from the last General Election? Maybe way back to before it was a Labour seat. What sort of swing are we looking at for the Tories to win and or the Lib Dems to get in?
I did vote Lib Dem once many years ago when I lived in Folkestone!! But then Michael Howard was standing for the Conservatives, so fair play. If the lady has a chance I can be convinced to do it again.
I get the feeling if it comes to a tactical vote it will have to be for the least worst scenario!!!
Can we trust Bell when/if he gets to Westminster to keep his hands in his pockets?
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I don’t know where you can get figures but I do know prior to 1997 Blackpool South and North have always been solid Conservative seats. Blackpool is NOT a ‘good solid Labour area’ as davie@layton very wrongly claimed. I will try googling it to see what I can find.
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Bells Biog page says he is into property and investment!!
Surprising then he doesn’t understand the powers behind the HMO acts!!!
Could he be labelled a vested interest as far as HMO’s go?
It would appear there may be a smoking gun with this chap Dribden who is clearly involved with a Landlords organisation….
Check out the Gumtree forum and Times news report page on this SERP from google on his name…
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Lee+Dribben&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1GGGL_en-GB___GB345
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Election figures here:
http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/blackpoolsouth
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Nope!
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Ron Bell isnt fit for pubic office, hes a Kensington stooge, lol
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Live in Blackpool has done an interview of sorts with Ronald, and he gives a little bit more background to himself and a couple of local issues, such as Blackpool South station.
He says he opposes its closure just as he now says he opposes building on the Moss despite his best efforts to make it happen and profit from it!
http://liveinblackpool.co.uk/magazine/2010/04/06/live-in-blackpool-interviews-ron-bell-conservative-candidate-for-blackpool-south/
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Cheers Phil, it’s good to see he is opposed to Blackpool South Station closing.
I’m just waiting for the Lib Dem and Labour candidates to come back to me and I will ask them the same questions. For once I’m being neutral on this one.
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Don’t know much about Dr Tun except what I heard on the community radio but from that I think you can say two things.
1. The constant changing of parties means that he seems to have no political leanings whatsoever. I mean pre Europe party like LIB DEMs to the anti Europe party of UK where is the integrity there?
2. He is a GP who wishes to run his practice his way without interference, much like Shipman, these single practices waste large amounts of NHS money and are inefficient.
So no reasons to vote for him yet then.
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lol lol dig the Shipman comment John!!!
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Coincidentally I’ve just changed doctors from a one man practice (because he was totally useless and inefficient) so I’d have to agree with point 2 John.
I don’t think point 1 is necessarily valid (though I’m not committing to anything on that yet) as it’s possible to have general Lib Dem views but think that Europe is an overblown monster that we need to get out of at the same time. I suppose moving parties means he has more integrity in refusing to bend his beliefs to a political whip?
But Shipman was not known for being inefficient. I worked with one of his patients for years in Manchester (who had also looked after her elderly mother) and he had a reputation of being very caring and nice. They were all very much shocked by what had been going on rather than the “I always thought he was dodgy” viewpoint.
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Frustrated I can see how someone would leave a party if they where trying to stop them expressing their true view. Was that the reason he left the Lib Dems (or was it because he wasn’t selected as PPC) was this the same reason he is not standing for UKIP (or was it because he wasn’t selected)? Don’t you just get the feeling he was going from party to party until he did get selected to be PPC. Perhaps I am doing him a disservice but I do have little else to go on and this close to the election how is anyone going to find out much about the guy?
My second point perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned Shipman but I was only trying to put in context how bad stand alone practices can be. Shipman got away with massive drug errors, procedural errors and record keeping errors because he was a stand alone practice to monitor these practice as well as they should be would cost a fortune and they should be closed.
I mention the standalone practice for two reasons.
1 The community radio suggests this is the reason he could be running for MP status.
2 It has been suggested because he is a GP he would have strong and VALID views on the NHS. He may well have strong views but I would very much question the validity.
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As far as I am aware Dr Tun actually was nearly the UKIP candidate for Blackpool South and was backed by the members until Hamish was forced upon the unwilling members so Dr Tun switched to Integrity as a protest.
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So has Dr Tun decided not to stand for Respect then? I don’t know the man but trying to stand for four parties this man principals must be higher then Jesus.
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I’m certainly glad he isn’t too, I can’t stand George Galloway.
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lol lol lol, lets hope he doesnt end up like him crucified.
i have to say John, you are on form today keep up the good work sir, we all need cheering up with these hideous elections lol.
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I concur!
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Dr Tun certainly has much more valid views than Hamish though. If you posed a difficult political question to Hamish about policy he would crack unless his pro-smoking friend Fred McGlade has given him some well-rehearsed answers.
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You might be right TB Dr Tun may well be a better debater then Hamish but what has that got to do with anything? Marsden could be able to out debate Tun does this make Marsden the one to vote for? How do you know what Tun policy is/are or what they maybe tomorrow? How can anyone vote for someone who you don’t know anything about when the sole reason to vote for him is himself?
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Having met Dr Tun on numerous occasions I can assure you he won’t be winning any debating contests!
But he is a nice bloke.
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Fair point, I do agree Marsden is probably the best speaker/debater because he is an experienced MP. I have not yet made my final decision because strangely I have not had a single campaign leaflet despite the election only being weeks away. I will certainly not be voting for Marsden because he has proven to be a terrible MP after 13 years and I am not backing Hamish for obvious reasons. But all the other candidates are in the running as far as I am concerned. Although I maybe tempted to consider a tactical vote because I want rid of Marsden so much.
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The only leaflets I have had is by the BNP! (first), Consevative 2nd.
what does that say for mainstream politics???
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lol cant Harold Shipman be the new SPIN Doctor for Gordon Brown, one and only one consultation needed?lol
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You’ll note I said “not necessarily valid” – I certainly didn’t conclude you were wrong, just that you might be. One of my ward councillors was a “Fylde Ratepayer” candidate in the next ward, didn’t get in and so switched to the Conservatives in the next ward. Some people want power – but what power they get when they have to follow a whip all the time I’m not sure. PPC I suppose you can say money is involved – but councillors not really as they don’t get paid much for all the work they have to put in.
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Sorry Frustrated I was just trying to underline my point of view. Dr Tun could be the best MP blackpool would ever have but there is just know way of knowing.
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Tend to agree with you John. I had a bit of interest in Dr Tun until it came out that he flipped his affiliation more than Hazel Blears flipped second homes.
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But technically speaking he has only flipped once. He was originally going to stand for the Lib Dems. But then switched to UKIP and was a potential Blackpool S candidate until Hamish got forced on the party so he joined Integrity as a protest. If it wasn’t for that stupid Hamish, Dr Tun would be the UKIP PPC and I would actually consider UKIP. BTW I love the Hazel Blears comment, classic.
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Well 2 flips lib-dems (1 flip) to UKIP , UKIP (2 Flip) to respec/interity(or anyone who would put him up).
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He was certainly efficient..
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Sorry a bit fed up is John I am on my brothers Lap Top.
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keep those shipman comments coming!
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I’m very reluctant to slag off Dr Tun because he seems to me to be a reasonable, decent man.
However, now he has thrown his hat into the ring he must come under some scrutiny.
As far as I know, the community radio report is 100% accurate. Dr Tun is a nice man with reasonable views but no distinct policies. He wants to be an MP. End of.
So if you are looking for a protest vote against the big three but can’t quite bring yourself to vote for UKIP or the BNP then Dr Tun is your man.
My own advice though is that you should vote for the best person to represent you in Parliament.
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