A LEAFLETING “war” between Labour and the Liberal Democrats involved in the Poulton North by election at Warrington is reaching a climax in the countdown to the poll on Thursday.
Labour has criticised the Lib Dems for “wasting public money” by calling a by-election so soon after the May elections.
The Lib Dems have accused Labour of “deceit” in leaflets – and criticised their candidate for going on holiday during the election campaign.
In the latest salvo, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Bob Barr (pictured) says the Warrington North Labour Party appears to have become “amazingly arrogant” by putting forward an inexperienced student, studying in Leeds, as a candidate in the election.
He says Labour have issued deceitful leaflets implying that Liberal Democrat councillors were involved in secret talks to build houses on land at Peel Hall.
Yet at the same time, he says, Warrington North MP Helen Jones has issued a press release in which she admits councillors were unaware of the talks going on between council officers and potential developers.
Said Cllr Barr: “The claims in the leaflets are deceitful and contradict what their own MP is saying.”
He added that Labour had issued a statement calling for local people to support local businesses but had had their glossy election leaflets printed in Manchester.
The Liberal Democrat candidate in Poulton North, Colin Oliver had served the ward as a councillor for seven years, he added.
” His commitment to the ward is absolute and he fights for his community, even when it means going against his group. He is a tireless champion for residents who need to have problems resolved.”
The by-election is caused by the resignation of Lib Dem councillor Sharon Wilson, who says she was forced to quit because of work commitments.
Labour claim the Lib Dems knew about Mrs Wilson’s situation before May and that the poll could have been held at the same time as the council elections – saving £14,000 of public money.
Cllr Terry O’Neill, Labour leader of the council, said the Lib Dems expected to do badly in the May elections because of the party’s unpopularity nationally.
“Clearly the Lib Dems think that the taxpayer footing a £14,000 bill to stage this by-election is a price worth paying to minimised their chances of yet another failure.”
The Lib Dems lost a seat in Poulton North in May – that of Colin Oliver.
The line-up for Thursday is: Colin Oliver (Liberal Democrat), Ashley Pemberton (Labour), Mark Chapman (Conservative), James Ashington (UKIP).
Leaflet war as poll draws near
2222 Comments
Share.
About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
22 Comments
Children, there comes a time when you have to act like adults and NOT inflict this petty bickering on the public.
Absolutely unbelievable!!! BOB BARR accusing others of being “amazingly arrogant”!! Totally laughable!!! BOB BARR accusing others of “deceit”! Was not making very public promises that no further action would be taken to further the sell off / give away of Walton Hall and Gardens, yet just minutes later voting to progress as planned not deceitful? Was not the lack of resignations / apologies a clear sign of arrogance? I don’t think displays of Lib Dem hypocrisy like this will do much to help Colin Oliver’s chances in the forthcoming election. But then, one might ask why Mr Oliver, who has previously said he doesn’t agree with some of the main Lib Dem policies, is running as a Lib Dem candidate. If his intention is merely to serve the people of Poulton North why does he not run as an independent? Then people wouldn’t have to wonder which way he will swing when conflicts of interest arise.
A very good point regarding standing as an independent. Although I don’t believe that Warrington has a track record of electing independents, so maybe that is why candidates fly a party flag. Given that a councillor resigned, wouldn’t this have been an ideal opportunity to reduce the number of councillors for this Ward from three to two, or is that just a bit too radical.
The way things stand at the moment, it might be an idea to reduce the numbers of councillors to zero to try to do something about the Banana Republic this town is turning into with its dubious officials, overpaid and out of touch executives, destruction of records, made up accounts, questionable relationships with developers, lack of consultation, destruction of greenbelt and parks and feuding politicians.
Times change, people may have preferred party candidates to independents in the past believing party members to be more effective, due to ‘strength in numbers’ but then they’d never experienced before such a depth of in party conflict as they have with the previous Lib /Con alliance. It was an alliance made in hell, trying to combine two such opposing ideologies could never work. It was done merely to satisfy the lust for power of a handful of egocentrics who cared not that they were compromising their own councillors and party members. Colin Oliver was certainly not the only councillor to profess to be against his own party’s policies – but at the end of the day these councillors weren’t strong enough personalities to do anything other than ‘toe the party line’ and do whatsoever the dictatorial Exec told them to.
These days a strong independent candidate might be a more attractive and indeed effective prospect as he/she could work with councillors of similar sympathies regardless of any party political allegiance. And even if other councillors, who might personally support the people’s views, weren’t strong enough to challenge the Exec and swing a vote, an independent could give what it is we all really want,- honest, open and full information. Because with that we can use people power to either swing the vote or swing the axe!
If the ex cllr is as good as he sounds then people would vote for him if he was independant .. maybe he would have more chance that way as Libs are again making fools of themselves with tittle tattle and childish coments like those above!
I have received several leaflets from all political groups. What amases me is that tory, lib dems and others are speaking with the same voice and nearly same things. Only thing that is different is Labours aproach to this all. I think that Labour “truths” about my area that I live in is not acurate. Colin Oliver was the only person that did something about the graffity that were publisised in Labour literature. Labour just talks to much and does very little or nothing. My support will go to people that do their part for my community and that is Mr Colin Oliver. You all should learn from him how to be a good one.
What a load of tittle tattle! Who says that CO was a good representative. There are many occasions when he was asked to do things for the good of the electorate and he never even replied! The money wasted in Poulton North when he represented it and the LibDems had control at the Town Hall is to be seen to be believed. What public consultation has ever taken place in Poulton North let alone Town-wide? We need someone who is going to listen to what people prefer and that certainly, in my view is not CO. We need someone who is going to take seriously the fact that the Town is bust and rein in the spending at WBC. We will see what happens on Thursday. Good luck to all concerned.
Blimey! You must be the one person that he actually did anything for! All hot air, neverfollows through and actually delivers anything
My legal advisor has advised me to say nothing at the moment about the latest charges against me so I can’t reply to Bob’s words.
I find myself being before the Standards Committee for the second time facing charges brought about by the Lib Dems – last time it was their Parliamentary Candidate. The charges then were dealt with and dismissed without me even hearing about them. I received a letter after the facts had been considered. One of them related to posting on this site.
As for graffiti – I have a new set of friends who have been clearing it up and doing a wonderful job – you only have to travel along Hilden road and look at the clean often newly painted boxes along the route. I have lost count of how many they have done and in addition they have used wipes to clean graffiti off lam posts.
In fact it was only this afternoon that they repainted a green box on the opposite side of the road to the SPAR shop near the Bus Shelter (not the one that was smashed on Friday). The sun was baking down when I went into the shop for a bottle of water – I came out with 3 iced lollies, one for me and one each for my new friends – thanks lads you know who you are.
Hopefully posting this will not add to my misdemeanours, may be I’ll be eating porridge next week?
Oh and I should apologise to Uncle Bob for taking my holiday’s during the by-election – NOT.
If I had known early enough I might have changed the date of my week in St Ives – it was at the start of the campaign.
BUT I ask myself why didn’t I or our candidate know the day of the by-election earlier – oh it was a snap by-election called by the Lib Dems at their convenience – so as they could get an edge and not ruin their own HOLIDAY plans around the by-election. Just what was the urgency – can anyone think of a good reason?
As for being against the young – what is it that the Lib Dems dislike about Warrington Young People – you only had to be in the chamber on that night when they heckled young Tom – they could have helped him out but NO they didn’t.
Our candidate was born and raised in Warrington – he is Warrington threw and threw, he is well like and well known through out Poulton North – he went to school here and as it is a small community lots of people know him.
Assuming that this by-election ends up being a straight fight between the L/D and Labour candidate, then if Mr Oliver wins it would be a personal vote for him rather than his party, and if Mr Pemberton wins it will be a vote for his party rather than him personally. Of course, with these two parties squabbling, the voters might decide to elect the Tory or the UKIP candidate. Anyway whatever the outcome they can fight the battle all over again next May.
Good grief this is getting sillier by the minute. Legal advisors, charges and the like ?? Cllr Barr and the Libs would do well to look back on some of their own election literature over the years too including their many photo shoots showing what they had apparently done (when infact they hadn’t at all). In all fairness though some of these did at least bring some humour into the election campaigns leaflet reading especially the one of Cllr CJ and the lovely photo in the flyer showing her painting the mile stone in Stockton Heath…. So many people had a giggle about that one as a elderly gent had actually painted it the day before but not to worry eh as it looked good on the flyer ha ha) and then of course there were the many scaremongering stories they included along with many a false but timely commitment (which they then never actually committed to), many a meaningless word and indeed many a blatant lie….. just to hopefully gain votes. So if it’s catching on then they they should give themselves a huge pat on the back for being good teachers !! How I wish politics could be wiped out of local elections all together but then again it wouldn’t give us all such a laught when we read their bickering comments and childless rant and especially when they are caught out.
I seem to remember a former Labour leader went as an independant and got less votes than that old bloke doing the dancing on Britains Got Talent!
You are only in bother if you charged the lollies to expenses.
Sha – that is not correct. The vote in Exec was to put the Contessa scheme out to a public consultation. Instead the Labour call in, and the poorly informed protest never gave the scheme a chance and Contessa withdrew. There was never going to be a deal without public support. Labour must now make good on their promises to secure investment in Walton to make it and keep it the park so many people love.
Good Grief! Barr & Co reporting someone to the Standards Committee!!! Well that just really takes the biscuit! What pray would they, with their devious, behind closed doors decision making know about standards? One of the first things they did on taking power at the Town Hall was to overturn the democratic decision made by the previous development control committee re Stockton Heath Primary. Their actions at this time were described as wholly undemocratic and going against natural justice. Their total refusal to pay regard to the views of the people together with ‘iffy’ consultation exercises became the norm throughout the town as their trademark way of forcing their unpopular projects forward. They carried on regardless of public opinion re Longbarn Primary, Woolston High etc. They have hardly been open and transparent in their dealings re Bewsey Old Hall and Sankey Valley Park, and with regard to Walton Hall were dishonest and deceitful. With their track record, criticising anyone else’s standards seems unbelievably hypocritical!
I know Bob Barr was in charge while the story of the destruction of planning records was unfolding. Was he also involved in the decision to publish dubious accounts for Walton Hall while trying to give it away to developers?
Wasn’t the withdrawal rather more to do with the local campaign and people discovering the bizarre new set of accounts that formed the ‘business case’ for giving it away to the developers? I think the protest was very well informed. But maybe you’re right. So perhaps you could inform us where the sudden dramatic increases in costs came from that coincided with your plan to give the Hall away. Maybe also tell us why there was no public consultation other than the one the public decided to run themselves on Facebook. Put the record straight Bob.
Come on Bob. If nothing else explain how the energy costs at Walton Hall went up by 500% and transport costs 1000% in the space of a year just as you were drawing up a business plan to convince the electorate it had to be given away to a developer.
He really does take the biscuit! He has even attacked the young lad in Poulton North for only having one suit – what the hell is that all about? Just how many suits should young lads have? He is a desperate and downright nasty politician
No answer? Would it be safe to assume that certain people in the council were so enthusiastic for this scheme to go ahead they decided to stretch things then?