The silly season is almost over and those of us involved in politics are now looking forward to the party conference season. This year's conferences will be the last before a general election. Although the main fights across the country will be between Labour and the Conservatives, there is an interesting fight going on in Hull between Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
There are three parliamentary seats in the city: Hull East, Hull West and Hessle, and Hull North. The first two will undoubtedly return Labour MPs. Hull East is John Prescott's seat and his replacement was picked last year. He is Karl Turner, a local lawyer, with whom I have met briefly. He is an amiable chap who hit the jackpot and won the nomination for one of the safest Labour seats in the country. Osama bin-Laden could wear a red rosette in this constituency and get elected.
Hull West and Hessle is Alan Johnson's seat. He seems a popular MP locally and his seat is completely safe. The same, however , cannot be said of Hull North, the constituency where I reside. The MP is Diana Johnson, who can only be described as a complete waste of space. She has been representing the constituency (if that's what you want to call it) since 2005. The previous incumbent was Kevin McNamara who won the seat in a by-election in the 1960s. It was during this by-election Barbara Castle gave the voters a bribe by promising to build the Humber Bridge.
Back to Ms Johnson. She campaigned recently to save post offices in her constituency. When the Royal Mail decided to close them anyway, she then voted in favour of closing post offices in other parts of Hull and the East Riding. Why? Because it didn't effect her constituency. In other words, she only campaigned in the first place to save face with her constituents. She certainly doesn't believe local post offices are a vital part of community life. She got her reward though and she is now an education minister.
The Liberal Democrats in Hull are salivating at the prospect of unseating her. On paper, it looks virtually impossible and I would have said at the beginning of this year it was too steep a hill to climb. Now I am not so sure. She didn't come out the expenses debacle very well and if Conservatives decide to vote tactically, the Lib Dems get more votes from those who stayed at home four years ago and the core Labour vote that comes out of the woodwork at GE times, decides to abstain, we could be in for an interesting result. I also feel almost anything is possible at the next general election. Brown is unpopular and lackeys and toadies such as Ms Johnson will also bear the brunt of the voters wrath.
There is one thing for certain, Diana Johnson will not be taking her seat for granted in the same way she did in 2005. This time, she'll have to put in some work if she wants to continue as an MP.
2 comments:
A very honest non partisan piece. Thanks for this.
I have fond memories of the support I received from Kevin McNamara whilst in Hull Prison.
I voted for Diana Johnson, however, I told her I had reservations about our involvement in Iraq.
In her maiden speech she referred to me.
Her office let me know that she was not amused by my media appearances, pointing out that paedophiles lived next door but one to a primary school. This was after John Reid promised none were located near primary schools.
Walking past her house one day, Rocky decided to squat and do a number 2. I dutifully scooped it up in a plastic carrier bag. But as there were no council bins to drop it in within sight, I left the message on her gate and I hope she passed it on to the council!
My vote is up for grabs
Post a Comment