Monday 26 April 2010

Vauxhall hustings tomorrow night in Kennington

Tomorrow night one of the largest hustings taking place in the Vauxhall constituency will be held in Kennington. I have already met my Labour, Lib Dem and Tory opponents at the housing hustings held last month and also at the pensioners and Lambeth Disablity Forum hustings last week. This will probably be the last and largest setpiece hustings for Vauxhall constituency in which I participate.

I certainly hope that the Lib Dems will be questioned in more detail about their environmental policies announced yesterday and also about Clegg's apparent willingness to enter into a coalition with the Tories, which is really concerning for this country and the possible impact on cuts in public services and the transfer of wealth to the already rich. It would also run directly contrary to the Green Party policy of creating a million new green jobs from public investment. The side of the church has a series of plaques commemorating the history of the church and the area. It was on the opposite side of the road in Kennington Park that the Chartists held one of their largest demonstrations in 1849 organised by the Black Briton, William Cuffay, who was subsequently transported to Tasmania for sedition. This area and constituency has a long and radical tradition and I certainly hope that it maintains it. This is a vital and historical election which is a turning point in British politics much as those of 1979 and 1945 were. I was accused by Kate Hoey, the sitting MP, of trying to 'out radical' her and the Lib Dem candidate last week at the hustings, but I am proud to wear that badge which has a long and noble tradition in this constituency.

19:30 - Parliamentary Hustings for Vauxhall constituency.

Organised by St Mark's Church and held at St Mark's Church (opposite Oval tube).
 
 
 

2 comments:

  1. I don’t know what passes for democracy in the Green Parties, but in the Lib Dems it isn’t in the Leader’s gift to do a deal with the Tories – the Lib Dems have a ‘triple lock’ MPs and Federal Committee and a special conference .

    Time the Lib Dems started telling people about the cuts in public service in Ireland courtesy of the Irish Greens in coalition with FF in Ireland – also standing for parliament in this election in three seats in Northern Ireland.

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  2. Last night I was there and what a great event it was. Six of the seven panelists spent the whole evening displaying what caring sympathetic souls they were, on several occasions during their contributions when we were assured that they would, if on being given the great honour of being elected, toil ceaselessly on behalf of their constituents,(and foxes) I could feel myself choking up. Or was I just feeling sick, only one of those on the panel, the bloke from The Socialist party sought to expose the root of the social problems that plague us and offer an alternative to this inhuman morass we have to endure. The low point of the whole affair came early when "our Jeremy" referred to William Morris to lend his spiel some substance.
    If William Morris could have heard J Healy wittering on last and abusing his reputation, he would have turned away in disgust.

    If you are interested, W Morris writing on socialism is a great read, look him up.

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