Archive for November, 2009

17th May 2010. 

We re-publish this posting from last November as an interesting indication of how badly Wallasey’s Tory Party strategists misread the popular mood.  It is worth reading again as our prediction that misleading Tory propaganda, and throwing huge amounts of money into glossy publications would do them no good.  The writing was indeed on the wall – yet even in the most (theoretically) favourable conditions, when Tories in other parts of the country did not do nearly as badly, here in Wallasey the population were simply not taken in.    And they orchestrated the loss of their most prized Council seat – Liscard –  whilst Labour also regained New Brighton and held other seats the Tories imagined were in the bag.  As for their constant boast that they had become really popular in Seacombe, with a Labour defector peddling their propaganda leaflet for them, they had the rudest awakening of all with Labour not only trouncing their hopes but taking almost 63% of the vote. 

 27th November 2009 - revisited

In Thursday’s by-election the Tories retained Moreton & Saughall Massie.  

They will put on a brave face and ‘spin’ it as a ‘great victory’.  But in one of their ‘safest’ seats, ever since the ward’s creation in 2004, it must be a bitter disappointment.  Even after a year of negative campaigning, in the most virulent propaganda campaign they have ever conducted, their percentage of the vote stagnated (in fact dropping slightly).  Labour’s percentage rose healthily. 

We are told the Tories are spinning a tale that they won ‘This former Labour Ward’.    Moreton and Saughall Massie was never a Labour Ward.  It has been among Wirral’s ’safest’ Tory strongholds since its creation.  Perhaps the ‘spin’ is a smoke screen to cover up immense frustration at their poor showing.  

In the wake of a relentless, and we assume enormously expensive,  propaganda assault during the past year (vicariously aided by strange bedfellows from other camps) on a reduced poll the Tories dropped 681 votes and were also down in their percentage of votes.   Labour’s Andrew Hollingworth, pictured left, comfortably increased the Labour percentage share of the votes cast – even with an ’Independent’ dividing the popular anti Tory vote.  In one of Wirral’s strongest Tory Wards, that is heartening indeed for Labour.   Replicated across Wirral it would produce an excellent outcome in the coming Parliamentary and Council elections.  

These are the results:

 26.11.2009

Wallasey Tories continue to publish distortions wrapped up in tired, entirely fictitious, claims of   “secret” plans.  They must think the general public in Wallasey are truly gullible if they want them to believe that sort of vulgar scaremongering. 

Sadly we are used to it, so once more we must set out what the truth is.  But aren’t the Wallasey Tories utterly silly with their propaganda to keep on giving us opportunities to expose their distortions?  It can’t do their credibility any favours to keep on being publicly corrected.

So, contrary to the Tory propaganda claims, here’s the truth:

• There are no plans, secret or otherwise, to cut Sure Start funding.  The Tories know that as well as anyone. 
• No Sure Start Centre has had any funding reduced.
• No future plans are threatened in any way – at least not as long as there is a strong Labour voice to prevent it.
•  The LABOUR government created Sure Start.  It provided full year funding for the second phase of new Children Centres.
• Any funding left over in that year because the agreed timescale meant new buildings were completed part way through the year, or the full complement of staff were only appointed part way through the year, has been used to fund other activities for under 5s.
• These other activities for under 5s are also eligible for Sure Start grant – as the Tories know very well – even while they are peddling their distortions.
• The saving occurs because the Council has been able to use outstanding Sure Start grant in that year for activities for which it would otherwise have had to find additional funding for from within its own budget.

Contrast this prudent and well planned support for Sure Start on Wirral with the national Conservative position – where Sure Start has been deliberately targeted for cuts and where Tory plans could mean almost one in five Sure Start centres across the country closing.

If a Conservative government were elected nationally then for Wirral it could mean the closure of up to 4 Sure Start Centres.

Can you ever believe a word the Tories say?

26.11.2009 

Are we witnessing a deepening Wirral east/west ‘Blues-news’ tiff?

The Council’s attendance at Expo 2010 in Shanghai seems to be causing differences between the different ‘Tory Tendencies’ on Wirral.  It has the ‘broad’ support of Wirral Blue leader Jeff Green, according to this week’s Wirral News, but he doesn’t seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet as Wallasey’s Top-Tory, Cllr Blakeley. For more information about their differences log onto  Wirral News website. 

Cllr Blakeley argues that the cost of sending the Council’s officers to bring in overseas investment should fall to a private construction/investment company; but his ‘all Wirral’ Tory Group Leader Cllr Jeff Green is reported to be broadly in support of the Borough acting directly to drum up the much needed investment; investment that could transform the area, bringing in thousands of jobs.  

Whoever leads the Wirral Tory Group next year let’s hope it’s somebody who can manage a smile, but they seem a bit short in supply just now. If they can’t manage a smile, could they manage a municipal administration?