seems to me that asking who Id vote for JC or BJ is like asking which testicle Id like to get kicked in. The thought of either is far from palatable (ooh and don't get me started on Jo Swinson)
What happened with Labour.
It is indeed true that I stood to be Labours Parliamentary candidate in 2014. I think I came second in the end to that chap Steve Parry Hearn. It was all a little controversial at the time as he was a drop in really , a professional politician in the same mould as the sitting MP whom we so wanted to oust. It was felt that many of the higher circle inside the local Labour Party did what they could to ensure that Steve won our particular battle by hook or by crook. He was seen as a safe pair of hands where I was perhaps the popular local choice, I had a firm belief even then that my first duty was to the people that voted for me and to the Forest rather than to the party and I don't suppose that did me many favours among that higher echelon . I only just lost out and it all got rather nasty and acrimonious. Still , that wasn't the reason for my leaving Labour and how did the other fella do in that General Election anyway ?.
so why did I go ?
“I have seen things that leave me cold, we need to address them now or Im off”
I recall saying the above to the campaign manager and party chairman in the run up to the county council elections. My stature had grown somewhat within the party following the fall out of a disastrous general election campaign and I think its fair to say I was seen as next in line. Out with the old and in with the new and all that. Corbyn had just won the leadership contest and the local party was being over run with new old faces, Faces who upon their arrival at meetings would bring a shiver to many of the older members. Militant was being banded about, Socialist worker was being sold at party meetings. Following the local party agm some of these new old faces were elected to key positions in the party, key roles that held responsibility. You would then be befriended by them on social media and you could then see what they too had posted. Jokes and cartoons that they may have seen as funny but were clearly following a Jew, Israel , Zionists theme. Support offered for Ken Livingstone, and the anti Blair tirades, the Blairites insults and a swing to the left that went so far I could not see how it was even remotely electable. It was all just so unnecessary, just stuff we didnt need to even get involved in So in two phone conversations I made my views clear and said what I said ( the header of this piece) . We were firmly told by the inner circle and Momentum that if we didn't like it we should go. I wasn't alone, three other moderate and some long serving Cllrs felt the same so four of us left to form Forest First. Two months later a general election was called and one of those inner circle took great pleasure in taking to the press to announce my "political suicide " . A fair dig , but one that would come back to haunt him or at least to punch him in the face outside a pub at a later date. By now my fellow leavers and I had been convinced by the need to concentrate on local matters anyway. I know I've never regretted leaving and I don't suppose the local Labour party or indeed JC himself have lost any sleep on my absence.
And Now?
Clearly I am a socialist at heart. But my kind of socialism doesn't need renationalisation or free broadband for all to be effective . I also should add that year after year of damaging cuts under the name of austerity, where the very poorest and those in need are those that suffer the most and where food banks have become the norm is not the way forward either. Surely we can live in a place where people can get ahead, can earn a pound and can be the entrepreneurs of the future. This place can also be a place where we look after those in need. A place where someone can become a millionaire through their hard work but also where the elderly are looked after, where our young have hope. It does not have to be one or the other.
My thoughts on "them"
“the worst ,most damaging government in living memory.”
With the polls putting Old BJ anything between 7 and 17 points ahead its theirs to lose Id say, I know Labour will say the closed the polls right up in 2017 but people were still unsure of JC then , by now most folk have made their mind up about his credentials to be PM and that's Labours problem. People will vote for or against him and his team and if you don't like them you wont vote Labour, so I'm afraid unless Tories mess it right up Id say its done.
Labour have spent the last three years making it all about JC, you cant now ask people to think locally because they don't like or trust JC, can you ?
Momentum , the driving out of moderate labour ( Blairites is the term used) was all about setting up Corbyn as some socialist messiah, .Some believe it faithfully and some despise the concept. That very Labour Party that those people wanted , is the one you have, and it will fail I believe because of Momentum because of Corbyn etc.
This is the worst most damaging government in my living memory , even worse than Thatchers in many ways , and yet they are likely to win , because of the reasons I've said. And people like Watson and the moderate MPs were just as culpable , because they should have walked away and formed a moderate Labour party but didn't have the nerve. Shame on all of them for allowing Johnson to survive and the next 4 to 5 years will be every bit the fault of those who have placed Corbyn on this pedestal as the very Tory govt they will have created in my view it is bound to bring. sorry just my view.
Get local
I know three of the candidates in this election , two of them are on my cabinet when they are not standing for parliament. I think Chris will suffer from his broken leg (politically) and not being able to get around. The Greens should have worked with the independents and stood down in my view. A fit Chris would struggle ,an invisible one will really struggle.
I think Di will struggle to free herself of the Corbyn shackles. he is such a marmite character, people either follow in blind faith or they despise him.
Ive been a bit disappointed by the local campaign, its all been a bit dull , relying on central offices Gifs and memes
.Id say there was loads to get stuck in on
Is there a Hustings ?
By the way , I asked all parties and groups to play a role on my cabinet, two groups refused.
And also by the way this is written as Tim Gwilliam not in any Council capacity and in the interest of fairness these are all the candidates up for election in the Forest of Dean :
BURRETT Julian Marcus Pentire Reddings Lane Staunton Coleford GL16 8NZ
Independent
HARPER Mark James The Old Shop Newham Bottom Ruardean Glos GL17 9UB
The Conservative Party Candidate
MARTIN Di Beech House Plump Hill Glencoe Lane Mitcheldean GL17 0EU
Labour and Cooperative Party
MCFARLING Chris Lorien Cottage St Briavels Common Lydney Glos GL15 6SE
The Green Party
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