In 2000 Susan Kramer (not an MP at the time) was crushed by Ken Livingstone. 2004 saw Simon Hughes MP receive the same treatment.
The latest Lib Dem Voice poll asks whether the party should front one of its growing band of London area MPs (Susan Kramer, Simon Hughes, Ed Davey, Paul Burstow, Tom Brake, Lynne Featherstone, Sarah Teather, Vince Cable) or use the opportunity to promote a grass-roots campaigner / peer / councillor / random other.
Please vote, and if you feel so inclined, do give your reason in the comments box below.
Mark Oaten poll
In our last poll we asked: “Should Mark Oaten continue to discuss his personal life in public?”
You said: Yes: 27% (53) No: 73% (144)
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7 Comments
Presuming that it’s a case of any publicity is better than no publicity, it would be an excellent opportunity to promote someone who has been selected as PPC in a marginal or “moving forward” seat. This will then hopefully add to our list of London MPs.
Rob
I’m sure a lot of people will come down on me for saying it but I’m afraid the truth is whoever we put up in 2008 will be crushed by KL.
Much of the reason for that is the lack of campaiging time which will be available. This is why I keep saying we need to think ahead when it comes to Assembly candidates.
We need a known name, who is not too busy being an MP.
How about a Lord: Eric Lubbock, Shirley Williams, Bill Rogers…
Why on earth would a Peer appeal to the masses of Londoners who already feel politicians are distanced from the real world?
And I’m not sure 2 of your examples really are known names…
The sort of names that are coming into my mind are people like Steve Hitchens and Chris Maines.
On the subject of Mark Oaten, the best thing we can do with this ludicrous self-publicist is fix a piece of sticking plaster firmly to his mouth and give him a one-way ticket to Bogota. (Who thought up the wheeze of sending him to Thailand during Conference?)
You know, some of us live in constant fear. In the newsagent, the petrol-station queue, even walking the dog, we might be confronted by Oaten’s smirking mug.
What comes next? Oaten’s life story serialised on TV? Fly-on-the wall documentary about Mark and Belinda’s marriage?
How about “Mark Oaten – The Opera”? Just think of the songs: “Hampshire Eyes are Smiling” “Once in Royal Alfred’s City” “Coprophilia Can be Fun”.
It’s no good just being tough on Oaten and tough on the causes of Oaten, we also need to deal with the fear of Oaten which can be just as debilitating.
Is that tough liberalism?
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