Merging Cultures Posted 20 February 2015 Posted 20 February 2015 Greens choose Tim Grayson to challenge Sir Peter Soulsby in Leicester mayoral race By danjmartin | Posted: February 20, 2015 Green mayoral candidate Tim Grayson Comments (0)The Greens have selected their candidate for Leicester’s mayoral race. The party has chosen Tim Grayson to stand against sitting Labour mayor Sir Peter Soulsby in May’s election. The 27-year-old, who lives in the city centre with his wife and young son, has joined other mayoral candidates in saying he would offer voters a chance to say whether they wanted the city council to be run by an elected mayor. In 2010, the city council’s ruling Labour group chose to make the transition to the mayoral system without offering voters a referendum, as has happened in other cities. Mr Grayson, who works for Leicester publishing house Tudor Rose, said: “Peter Soulsby seems to have got wrapped up in the idea that a referendum would be very expensive. “I would look at another way. “ I would introduce a 'direct action' digital polling app and website to enable councillors to regularly engage with the electorate as a means to listen to what's important to the residents of the city, such as whether we actually need a city mayor, and act accordingly. “This would make the local democratic process more transparent and bring more accountability to the decisions made by the elected councillors themselves.” Mr Grayson said: “This is new for me. I’ve been interested in politics before but I haven’t got involved. “I have had an awakening. I got fed up of politicians not standing up for regular people. “If a decision was made to keep the mayoral position, there are so many areas within the city which often get overlooked and need addressing, so I would turn my attention to helping the socially excluded, utilising empty council-owned premises for charities and co-operatives, attempting to improve the poor and expensive public transport, and encourage local businesses and co-operatives over the exploitative dominance of multinational corporations. “I would also like to start a discussion about taking steps to replace the current 'banded' system of council tax with an intelligent income-related tax, as a means to assist those living in the city on a lower income.” Sir Peter said: “The debate about whether there should be a city mayor is one from three or four years ago. “The debate has moved on. “The argument now is not whether there should be a city mayor but who the city mayor should be?” The Tories have chosen DMU academic and Harborough councillor Paul Bremner as their candidate and independent Barbara Potter has said she is standing on the TUSC ticket. Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Greens-choose-Tim-Grayson-challenge-Sir-Peter/story-26057777-detail/story.html#ixzz3SI6q1mdn Follow us: @Leicester_Merc on Twitter | leicestermercury on Facebook He looks like a smug know it all.
Guest MattP Posted 20 February 2015 Posted 20 February 2015 He looks like a smug know it all. Think that's a requirement for membership for the party. Good to see the Greens chucking up their token heterosexual though
Darkon84 Posted 20 February 2015 Posted 20 February 2015 He looks like a smug know it all. He does have one of those faces that you'd actually quite enjoy landing a fist on.
Bellend Sebastian Posted 20 February 2015 Posted 20 February 2015 He looks like a smug know it all. I just think he looks a bit tired. Don't like his scarf, if I'm honest. Change the scarf, Tim, and we can talk
purpleronnie Posted 20 February 2015 Posted 20 February 2015 I just think he looks a bit tired. Don't like his scarf, if I'm honest. Change the scarf, Tim, and we can talk You know nothing then, keep the scarf change the coat.
Bellend Sebastian Posted 20 February 2015 Posted 20 February 2015 You know nothing then, keep the scarf change the coat. But that's the sort of coat a hip young(ish) beat combo like Kasabian or Brotherhood of Man might wear. Admit it, you bought him the scarf, didn't you? That's not my problem
purpleronnie Posted 20 February 2015 Posted 20 February 2015 But that's the sort of coat a hip young(ish) beat combo like Kasabian or Brotherhood of Man might wear. Admit it, you bought him the scarf, didn't you? That's not my problem It sure is.
Babylon Posted 20 February 2015 Posted 20 February 2015 Christ if that's who he has to contend with we might as well not bother. Just start filling in every road in Leicester now to create bicycle lanes.
purpleronnie Posted 20 February 2015 Posted 20 February 2015 Christ if that who he has to contend with me might as well not bother. Just start filling in every road in Leicester now to create bicycle lanes.
Babylon Posted 20 February 2015 Posted 20 February 2015 Christ my English in that post was about as bad as that woman who wants to be mayor. ** Note to self: check spelling before pressing post.
Finnegan Posted 20 February 2015 Posted 20 February 2015 Barbara Potter is an absolute fruitloop. Er, allegedly. This opinion in no way represents the opinions of foxes talks owners or my employers. Probably. Don't sue. She's ****ing nuts.
ADK Posted 20 February 2015 Posted 20 February 2015 Barbara Potter is an absolute fruitloop. Er, allegedly. This opinion in no way represents the opinions of foxes talks owners or my employers. Probably. Don't sue. She's ****ing nuts. I thought it was Catherine Tait at first. Labour actually have probably the best candidate which says it all really.
reynard Posted 21 February 2015 Posted 21 February 2015 I think if a credible independent candidate came along, they would absolutely piss it. You have to be joking even a three legged dachsund wearing a red rosette would win.
separator Posted 21 February 2015 Posted 21 February 2015 Why does Soulsby get such bad press? I don't think he's done such a bad job.
Strokes Posted 22 February 2015 Posted 22 February 2015 You have to be joking even a three legged dachsund wearing a red rosette would win.That would be an upgrade on soulsby.
Voll Blau Posted 23 February 2015 Posted 23 February 2015 A Leicester Labour candidate is alleged to have posted a comment on Facebook saying she would vote for the British National Party, it has emerged. Teresa Aldred has been selected by Labour to contest the Thurncourt ward in May’s city council election. The ward’s two seats are currently held by Labour’s Robert Wann, who is not seeking re-election, and Luis Fonseca, who is a candidate in the new North Evington ward. Advertisement Ms Aldred has therefore been chosen to stand in Thurncourt by party officials. However, a Labour member in the city contacted the Mercury about a comment attributed to a Facebook profile in the name of “Teresa Aldred” on the social networking site on April 6, 2013, appearing to criticise the party she now represents. The posting, added to a strand of comments, read: “UKIP are just labour hiding under a different name still want the same thing I will vote BNP let’s change this country.” The Mercury contacted Ms Aldred about the posting but she did not respond. Instead, the office of Labour Leicester East MP Keith Vaz responded to say she did not wish to comment. Mr Vaz’s office referred the Mercury to the Leicester East Constituency Labour Party secretary Rashmi Joshi, but he was also unavailable for comment. Leicester East constituency party chairman Councillor John Thomas declined to comment, other than to say: “I am backing her completely. “I haven’t got a problem with her as a candidate.” Ms Aldred, who has been involved in organising community events in Thurnby Lodge such as a Lapland Experience for youngsters at Christmas, was selected earlier this year. During the selection process, candidates are asked to disclose anything that might affect their suitability to stand. Chairman of the ruling Leicester City Council Labour group Councillor Patrick Kitterick said: “The Labour Party has not got the resources to do deep background checks on individuals. “There is a general duty for the candidate to disclose anything which may affect them being a Labour candidate. “Ultimately the endorsement of the candidate lies with the local campaign forum (LCF). “If matters come to light after selection they can withdraw that endorsement aster asking the person for an explanation.” An East Midlands Labour Party spokesperson said: “This is a matter for the LCF which oversees the selection of candidates for the Leicester City Council. They are currently looking at any concerns raised and we will await the outcome of their inquiries.” Tory Leicester East prospective parliamentary candidate Kishan Devani said: “I urge Labour to deal with this and investigate it further.” Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-Labour-council-candidate-s-alleged-ll/story-26070891-detail/story.html#ixzz3Sbo51mkp Follow us: @Leicester_Merc on Twitter | leicestermercury on Facebook Do parties not vet their candidates? Seems pretty basic to spend 10 minutes checking their Facebook.
Guest MattP Posted 24 February 2015 Posted 24 February 2015 She'd have made the front pages of the nationals and had a TV show dedicated to her had she been a UKIP councillor.
davieG Posted 1 March 2015 Author Posted 1 March 2015 Well we're getting bus lanes on the A50. through Glenfield.
davieG Posted 25 March 2015 Author Posted 25 March 2015 Lib Dems select barrister to take on Peter Soulsby in Leicester's mayoral contest By danjmartin | Posted: March 25, 2015 Adrian Barnes Comments (0)The Liberal Democrats have entered Leicester's mayoral election race with six weeks to polling day. The party has selected Adrian Barnes as its candidate to try to unseat Labour's Sir Peter Soulsby. Mr Barnes, who lives in Leicester, is a barrister specialising in employment law and as previously worked in business and in education. He said: "I'm not a career politician, but I care about this city and can make a difference. "I am pleased to be selected as Liberal Democrat candidate for mayor." Chairman of Leicester City Liberal Democrats Alan Fox said: "We are proud to announce Adrian as our candidate. He has the experience and common sense to get things done." Sir Peter will defend a large majority, having got nearly 47,000 votes in May 2011, 37,000 more than his nearest rival. Mr Barnes also faces TUSC candidate councillor Barbara Potter, Tory hopeful councillor Paul Bremner and the Green Party's Tim Grayson. Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Lib-Dems-select-employment-law-barrister-Peter/story-26228388-detail/story.html#ixzz3VOKQi6RA Follow us: @Leicester_Merc on Twitter | leicestermercury on Facebook
davieG Posted 15 April 2015 Author Posted 15 April 2015 UKIP's Leicester mayoral candidate Dutch Veldhuizen would scrap the city's bus lanes By danjmartin | Posted: April 15, 2015 UKIP mayoral candidate Dutch Veldhuizen Comments (1)UKIP's mayoral candidate says he would get rid of all Leicester's bus lanes if elected. Dutch Veldhuizen has been chosen to take on current Labour mayor Sir Peter Soulsby on May 7. The 44-year-old self-employed investment analyst says the bus lanes on many of the city's arterial routes are just not working. He said: "I am pretty sure they don't work and I would confront that issue and get rid of them. RELATED CONTENT Ed Miliband visits Leicestershire Leicester Green Party launches election manifesto Melton Tories win 10 borough council seats before a single vote is cast Labour leader Ed Miliband in Leicester to launch party's Black Asian and Ethnic Minority manifesto "They create congestion and pollution and that is bad for businesses in the city "Anecdotally I hear of firms looking to quit the city because of the congestion. "We have 17 per cent to 20 per cent of shops empty in the city centre because the Labour mayor's transport policy put off shoppers." February figures from the Local Data Company put Leicester's shop vacancy rate at 17.8 per cent but the city council says 14.2 per cent is more accurate. Mr Veldhuizen, from Knighton, said: "Labour and the Greens are obsessed with bus lanes and cycle lanes so there is a lot of clear blue water between them and us on that. "They are clearly not seeing the same thing that I am seeing. They are harming businesses." The UKIP candidate said he would also offer an unspecific amount of free parking in the city at the weekends. He accepted that would mean the loss parking revenue but added: "You have to weigh that against the benefit we would see for the city centre businesses." Mr Veldhuizen says as a UKIP mayor he would be prepared to discuss the issues "that everyone wants to avoid" such as the impact of immigration. He said: "As mayor I couldn't do anything about immigration but I can point out the obvious problems that it is causing in this city and the pressure it is putting on housing and education." He was also frank about the chances of any of the 52 city council UKIP candidates winning on May 7. He said: "We could end up with 54 Labour councillors which would create a very unhealthy one party state in the city. "Realistically we are looking for some good seconds, to find out where we poll well and to use that to build for the future." He also questioned Sir Peter's spending priorities adding: "He spent £4 million on building a new square when Victoria Park Road is full of potholes." Sir Peter said: "It strikes me the UKIP candidate is struggling to find a few bright ideas without having any real understanding of the needs of the city." Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/UKIP-s-Leicester-mayoral-candidate-Dutch/story-26337992-detail/story.html#ixzz3XOLzJvUN Follow us: @Leicester_Merc on Twitter | leicestermercury on Facebook
lgfualol Posted 15 April 2015 Posted 15 April 2015 Adrian Barnes looks the least like an arsehole so I hope he gets the job.
Stadt Posted 15 April 2015 Posted 15 April 2015 Sir Peter said: "It strikes me the UKIP candidate is struggling to find a few bright ideas without having any real understanding of the needs of the city."
davieG Posted 2 May 2015 Author Posted 2 May 2015 Mayoral Election Blogs http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/blogs
srbfox Posted 7 May 2015 Posted 7 May 2015 New gazza film New who film New Winehouse film New Kray film All are gonna be top notch viewing wrong thread
separator Posted 7 May 2015 Posted 7 May 2015 Adrian Barnes looks the least like an arsehole so I hope he gets the job. Just realised I live on the same street as him, I was wondering why his house and garden was full of posters of him. Didn't vote for him though, Soulsby got my vote as I don't think he's done too bad a job so far. So thats me voting Tory in the GE and Labour in the Mayoral vote. Like to cover all bases.
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