A curious election result in Eastleigh

By TGRWorzel | Friday, May 06, 2011, 19:14

Media headlines today, across the board, have been about the kicking that the electorate have given the Lib Dems and Cleggy in particular.

So why then have the Lib Dems maintained their stranglehold over Eastleigh Borough Council..? It is entirely inconsistent with what is being seen elsewhere, across the rest of the UK. It is really very hard to understand at the moment.

One possible explanation is the questionable tactic used by the local Lib Dems, to maximise their return from postal voting. I'm not raising this after the event. I questioned it when it originally happened, as you can see at http://tgrworzels.blogspot.com/2011/03/doesnt-seem-right-to-me.html .

My argument is that if you get an application for a postal vote stuffed through your letterbox, pre-printed with your personal details, and accompanying that is some campaign material from the Lib Dems, the psychology of that tactic is such that;

i) you are inclined to return the official-looking application for a postal vote, which you might not have bothered about otherwise, or even wanted really...

ii) when the ballot papers arrive in the post, you subconsciously, or otherwise, think about the Lib Dems and if you have no particular affiliation or axe to grind, that's how you'll vote. All the campaign material that subsequently comes through your letterbox once you've cast that postal vote is absolutely pointless...

Another factor that may have helped the Lib Dems in Eastleigh is that our MP, Chris Huhne made the headlines this week, for having a bust-up with the Prime Minister in a Cabinet meeting. I certainly thought that was a good thing and thought favourably of him for doing so...

The other possibility of course, is that the opposition in Eastleigh is ineffective. Perhaps it is essential for all parties to get a decent newsletter through our letterboxes once every three months...?

Whatever the explanation for this freak result, I'll close with a thought for all the unsuccessful candidates, who I know have spent many hours trudging round the streets leafletting, only to be kicked in the teeth at 2am when the result is announced...

Politics is a cruel business sometimes, but at least they put themselves forward.

Thanks for doing so.

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Comments

Ditto to Mr Hall's comments above, especially thanks to those who voted Independent. Do hope you will stand next year Mr TGR - at least you live in Hedge End unlike several members of the new Town Council. Jenny Schwausch

By germanjen at 08:59 on 13/05/11
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I think that'll depend on whether I'm still driving vans or not ToryPaul. The bottom line (as I said to Godfrey) is that I'm not going to drive round Southampton for 9 hours a day, over 1000 miles a week, with my mind also on Council matters or thinking about my own campaign. That really wouldn't be a good idea. You've done the driving job too, periodically, and have commented how dangerous it is out there and how tiring it can be. One needs to be fully alert all the time. The job is really not as easy as it sounds. Considering all the hazards that we face out there and the level of concentration/stamina required, I'm surprised that it is regarded as a minimum wage job...!

So my long-term plan is to wait until I've progressed into something more compatible, before standing...

By TGRWorzel at 06:40 on 12/05/11
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Yes TGR you should stand! Yes you need a long term plan, gloves off in terms of hard work to get known, help people, and do the job without having the title. Not sure about a personal blog, it screams "look at me" rather than what can I do for you, If you can always remember it's all about making the rite decisions for the people and the area, you won't go far wrong, I pledged that I would not campaign negatively like the Lib Dem's saying Labour can't win here etc... And I have managed to keep that promise; I think people can see through it, see it for what it is. I have stood in Wildern for the last two years, in that time I have met some great people made some new friends and all of them have supported me on polling day, much work to do though in the next 12 months as I will need more support if I am to win. I would also like to thank all those that did place an "X" by my name last Thursday. Thank you for making the effort, nationally and locally 58% of the electorate couldn’t or didn’t get to vote for whatever reason, most probably still loss of faith in the lager political circles. Local issues are more important to me though, and we should all vote and be able to have our say by doing so. Will TGR run for election in 2012?

By torypaul2010 at 21:42 on 11/05/11
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Yes Paul. 89 people swinging from Lib Dem to Tory late last week would have made the difference in St Johns ward. Not sure that "gloves-off" is the best solution though, as (to my mind) that implies campaign tactics that we can do without in Hedge End. Building a worthwhile regular presence here on HedgeEnd People (writing stories as well as commenting), starting a personal blog, shoving regular newsletters through letterboxes and generally getting candidates better known might actually turn-around that important 89. To do that of course, it would help if the candidates are selected early, i.e. now rather than in February, so they've got a decent chance of doing this work...

Mind you, if I'm standing as an independent in St Johns next year, perhaps I shouldn't be telling you that...!

By TGRWorzel at 06:56 on 11/05/11
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Hi Jerry, It was so close in St. Johns! Hard to beleive we didn't win that seat, TGR reminded me that we only needed 89 more votes, I think it's got to be gloves off now?

By torypaul2010 at 22:47 on 10/05/11
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