tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22057922.post5228073706518834513..comments2023-10-30T14:03:37.394+00:00Comments on Lindylooz Muze: Simon Hughes Rules..........OK?Linda Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155438246679688058noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22057922.post-14189513274073760982007-12-16T10:16:00.000+00:002007-12-16T10:16:00.000+00:00I guess this comes back to the no endorsement rule...I guess this comes back to the no endorsement rule. To be honest, in the European elections the evidence is that despite having that rule the incumbent still has a vast advantage over everyone else because they are already "well connected". Within the leadership election which we are talking about now, the candidates HAVE to have declared support from parliamentarians. So, the argument boils down to, are some parliamentarians more influential than others and should therefore be forbidden from supporting any candidate? I think the influence isn't necessarily to do with position but more to do with the person and what they stand for. So, if I hadn't already come out in support of Nick, I would have been influenced by the likes of Steve Webb and Simon Hughes in making my decision and that had nothing to do with Simon being president. The logical conclusion of your argument is that noone should be allowed to endorse a candidate! My problem is as I said, I accept the need for rules but I do like them to have some basis of logic to them - this is probably why I didn't last too long in the army!<BR/><BR/>L<BR/>:-)Linda Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05155438246679688058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22057922.post-20152561314283178792007-12-15T23:46:00.000+00:002007-12-15T23:46:00.000+00:00Fair point - but essentially what is the point in ...Fair point - but essentially what is the point in spending thousands of pounds running a leadership election if a certain candidate happens to be lucky enough to have attracted a lot of influential officers from the party who are not politically restricted and can say what they want...this, surely you will agree, is bound to harm the other candidate/s?<BR/><BR/>And what that happens, it not only looks terrible from the outside in but also places the less well connected candidate in a very unfair starting point - a bit like being attacked by journos and not having fair coverage of all parties in a general election.<BR/><BR/>Also the less well connected candidate who is suffering comments from all these official people in Cowley St who carry a great deal of authority over your average member may as well give up if people like Chris Rennard, Simon Hughes and the senior press officer all come out over the airwaves and say how they are supporting the better connected candidate.<BR/><BR/>Again, it's the success by association psychology thing - the more successful officers who support a candidate the more successful the candidate will look.<BR/><BR/>It's hideously unfair to begin with...why make it so much more so that we may as well not run an election for our leader?!!<BR/><BR/>Anyone who has donated to the party in some form must surely care that there are rules in place so that thousands of pounds are not wasted on an unfair election?<BR/><BR/>:@))Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22057922.post-85981988213616848412007-12-15T13:36:00.000+00:002007-12-15T13:36:00.000+00:00JoI understand how for Cowley Street staff it may ...Jo<BR/><BR/>I understand how for Cowley Street staff it may be different. I am fundementally against politically restricted posts - far better to know where a person stands politically than them not say and still be influencing what happens politically. If everyone knows I am a Lib Dem for example they can judge whether or if I am abusing my position. If they don't know I can do it surrepticiously. I have always taken the view that it is far better to be absolutely clear where you stand. For me it was a matter of honour to ensure that my own political views did not bias my decision making, this being particularly important when I had responsibility for members of the Youth Parliament. They were of all political persuasions and none and you would not find one of them who did not feel totally supported and encouraged by me, even if it meant they were out delivering for a rival party! In the same way even if I was in Chris Huhne's shoes I would far rather Simon was honest and open about his views - at least everyone knows where they stand. But as I made the point, this is about the values that drive me, that I freely accept are not shared by everyone.Linda Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05155438246679688058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22057922.post-71613982531184896832007-12-15T13:30:00.000+00:002007-12-15T13:30:00.000+00:00I think it is more than a matter of choice of valu...I think it is more than a matter of choice of values...<BR/><BR/>The situation of the Party President is different to the situation of a candiate for an Euro nomination (for example)<BR/><BR/>The specific role of the President is to guard the integrity of the Party Consitution ensuring it is applied without partiality to all the activites of the Party. This is especially important in an election for Party Leader where the President is the ultimate guarantor for the integrity of the process. It is important that this not be compromised by the President making partisan statements. I am afraid Simon showed very poor judgement here.Edishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852931736127760026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22057922.post-21765801586809457322007-12-15T13:25:00.000+00:002007-12-15T13:25:00.000+00:00I don't see why restricting comments about a leade...I don't see why restricting comments about a leadership contest is linked to your example here...<BR/><BR/>I worked in Cowley Street in the last leadership election and thought it was a very good idea to resrict us politically - I felt it protected us from the candidates and their teams as well as vice versa. You cannot do your job well if you are being accused of favouritism every time you send an email or phone someone in the normal course of duty.<BR/><BR/>Everybody always thinks council officers are politically restricted in a similar way, but only a handful are in a council.<BR/><BR/>I am not politically restricted and therefore can comment freely. But then I have a job where it would be extremely obvious if I was being politically biased.<BR/><BR/>In Simon's case it wouldn't be so obvious as he has a more complicated post than me in life - hence the rules to establish where we all sit with each other...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22057922.post-28746221797486972382007-12-15T13:06:00.000+00:002007-12-15T13:06:00.000+00:00This sort of thing goes on in every aspect of life...This sort of thing goes on in every aspect of life. My mother and father had a British Gas man around to service their fire and boiler. He told them they needed work doing as their fire currently broke the law. Luckily I was there and asked what law? He then said it wasn't so much a law more of a British Gas recommendation. <BR/><BR/>CSBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com