Here by request: Who's your MP?

[T_i_B]

The subject has come up in another thread so I thought it best to post this now. Please feel free to post info about your MP, their majority, their challengers, their voting record and the big issues in your constituency.

Mine is the MP for East Chelmsford and Maldon, John Whittingdale (Conservative) the shadow culture, media and sport Secretary

personal website (give us a shout if it doesn't work!)
http://www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk

voting record
http://publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?firstname=John&lastname=Whittingdale&constituency=Maldon+%26amp%3B+East+Chelmsford

BBC profile
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/277.stm

[Vladimir]

1. My MP is the much reviled Andrew Smith, Lab,

one time Work and Pensions secretary. We gave him hell over the war in Iraq...

voting record:

http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?firstname=Andrew&lastname=Smith&constituency=Oxford+East

BBC profile:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/343.stm

Guardian profile:

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,,-4827.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Sandra Gidley, Lib Dem, Romsey

took the seat in a by-election from the Tories (only seat to change hands in 1997-2001 parliament). Seems OK (she managed to vote against the "trial? We don't need no stinkin' trial" bill, for instance). Labour is nowhere in the constituency.

personal website
http://www.sandragidley.org/

blog
http://romseyredhead.blogspot.com/

voting record
http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?id=uk.org.publicwhip/member/912&showall=yes#divisions

BBC profile
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2163323.stm

Guardian profile
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-1920,00.html

[LeftishBrit]

3. Evan Harris

Lib. Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon

Personal website:
http://www.evanharris.org.uk/

Voting record:
http://publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?firstname=Evan&lastname=Harris&constituency=Oxford+West+%26amp%3B+Abingdon

BBC profile:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/344.stm


He's not too bad, in my opinion. Before him, we had the Tory MP John Patten, who was a terrible Education Secretary under Major.

[tjwmason]

4. As mentioned elsewhere Dominic Grieve

Shadow Attorney General. Beaconsfield Constituency.

http://www.dominicgrieve.org.uk/

In the words of a Conservative Party agent of my acquaintance 'the seat became vacant at the last minute and so the good candidates had been assigned, he was the best of a bad short-list'.

Voting record:
http://publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?firstname=Dominic&lastname=Grieve&constituency=Beaconsfield

B.B.C. Profile:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/22.stm

[non sociopath skin]

5. Denis Murphy, MP for Wansbeck, Northumberland

The New Statesman once described Denis as "New-ish Labour". His voting record has been so-so on most issues but he was pretty sound on Iraq, which is more than can be said about most of his Constituency Labour Party comrades.

He's a good constituency MP and, an ex-pit electrician himself, has been indefatiguable in challenging Bliar on the continued death-by-privatisation of the mining industry. He's had a high profile lately following the closure of the last pit in the North East, Ellington, in circumstances which looked like a stitch-up.

They WorkForYou profile
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/denis_murphy/wansbeck

Guardian Profile
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-3795,00.html

His principle opposition is:
Simon Reed
http://www.libdems.org.uk/party/people/person.html?id=434

Yeah, yeah, I know, why is the Skin always moaning ... either of these guys would be better than what we've got etc. etc. ...

The Skin

[Donald Ian Rankin]

6. It depends

Last time I voted it was in North Essex, and we got Bernard Jenkin, (a conservative, the shadow secretary of state for the regions), but next time it will probably be in Cambridge, where the incumbent is labour MP Anne Campbell.

[T_i_B]

7. UK General Election Kick

:kick:

Please feel free to describe the candidates in your constituency here, and you might even want to point out any constituencies worth watching. I'm in a safe Tory seat where there may not be much to report back on but there are other more interesting seats such as Bethnal Green & Bow (George Galloway v Oona King), Braintree & Witham (wafer thin Labour majority in what is normally a staunchly Tory part of Essex) and Brentwood & Ongar (Martin Bell stood here last time to protest about Peniel and Brentwood Council is at the centre of the debate over travellers sites).

[sweetheart]

8. John Thurso MP, Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross

John Thurso (lord thurso) is: LIBDEM SHADOW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT AND SCOTLAND

http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/libdems.cfm

Voting record
http://publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?constituency=Caithness%2C+Sutherland+%26amp%3B+Easter+Ross

His profile
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/609.stm

I've frankly no problem with lord thurso. I've met him at the supermarket checkout where he's got an old' brit's taste for bangers and mash. ;-)

I wish the libdems had more spine on cannabis legallization, but i have not written him on this point. Rather we've had correspondence regarding the turning of the highlands in to a wind-generation industrial site... something i'm against.

[Wat_Tyler]

9. My mum and dad's MP is Sir Robert Smith - LibDem, West Aberdeenshire.

Not sure what the gave him the knighthood for - services to the hairspray, pouting and lipstick industries, perhaps.

Smith's alright, though.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. He's a hereditary baronet

the baronetcy was given to his grandfather, who was also MP for the area (though a Tory).

[Wat_Tyler]

12. I know - it was a poor attempt at humour.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

11. Derek Foster MP - Bishop Auckland (Labour)

http://publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?constituency=Bishop+Auckland

Here's standing down now, I have no idea yet who will be standing in his place.

He used to be Labour Chief Whip in opposition but he fell out with Tony Blair after he didn't get into the 1997 Cabinet.

[non sociopath skin]

14. You obviously weren't in the flight path of the Toad in the parachute, AS

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/thejournal/tm_objectid=15265546%26method=full%26siteid=50081-name_page.html

Not that Mo O'Toole would have been much better.

The Skin

[Anarcho-Socialist]

15. That's really pissed me off...

...that they parachuted a Blairite into here. I've done a search on the new candidate and she used to be a civil servant in 1997, and leaked a document to the press to embarrass the Tories. She's getting her 'reward' it seems.

[Michael_UK]

13. Valerie Davey - Bristol West Labour (labour)

She's my MP

http://www.valeriedavey.labour.co.uk/

http://publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Valerie_Davey&mpc=Bristol+West

She voted against the war, and she'll get my vote

[ikri]

16. Frank Cook (Labour), Stockton North

His voting record shows that he's something of a rebel so I should like the guy since he's obviously not a Blairite. Unless the Lib Dems put up a superb candidate here who stands for everything I believe in (unlikely) he'll get my vote.

BBC profile

[D-Notice]

17. Christine Russell, City of Chester

Voting record
http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Christine_Russell&mpc=Chester%2C+City+of&display=allvotes

In favour of ID cards, house arrest, etc

Basically your typical New Labour career politician.

As far as I can tell she only voted against the govt when it came to being opposed to a wholly-appointed House of Lords

[tjwmason]

19. I seem to remember a Tory in City of Chester pre-'97

What do you think are the chances of it falling back into Conservative hands this time round?

[non sociopath skin]

20. Gyles Brandreth, if I recollect aright...

http://www.gylesbrandreth.com/

Who's standing for the Tories this time? Paul Daniels?

The Skin

[D-Notice]

21. From Chester council

http://www.chester.gov.uk/main.asp?page=1617

Ed Abrams English Democrats
Kenneth Haigh Veritas
Mia Jones Liberal Democrat
Paul Offer Conservative
Christine Russell Labour
Alan Weddell UK Independence Party

Not sure what chance the Tories have - it seems to be close between them & Labour - either way I'm voting for the Lib Dems. Strange thing is, despite Lib Dems having a big chunk of the council seats, they're way behind in the MP stakes round here...

I've had quite a few leaflets off the Tories & Lib Dems, 1 from UKIP, but nothing from Labour, Veritas & Eng Dem. Going on the amount of publicity around here, the Tories might just squeeze it

[T_i_B]

23. Looking on the BBC website...

it appears that Labour have a majority of around 7,000 over the Tories, withn the Lib Dems 8,000 behind the Tories. Chester is Conservative target number 132.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/flash_map/html/map01.stm

[D-Notice]

24. Thing is

they're suggesting that everyone who voted for Labour last time will vote for them this time.

They're ignoring any LD voters who switched over for tactical reasons - it's unlikely they'll vote Labour this time which could have a big effect

[TyeDye75]

18. Labour's Dave Watts, St Helens North

He won a huge majority in 2001

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0,9338,-1325,00.html

Heres his voting record

http://publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpc=St+Helens+North

[Taxloss]

22. Mark Field, Conservative.

Cities of Westminster and London.

http://www.markfieldmp.com/

A dull Tory in a safe seat.

[T_i_B]

25. Last pre-election Kick

As it's your MP you will be voting for, not the party leaders.

:kick:

[Oggy]

26. Richard Ottaway ( Tory )

Lib Dems are the challengers, but we have 8,500 to overturn, but who knows. I hope he get's ousted, except for being Anti ID cards, he hasn't done much in Parliment that follows my view. He has got a good reputation for his Constituancy work ( particularly his work on the Tram extension), which might explain why there are so many "for sale" style posters up for him.

[mrfrapp]

27. John Pugh

John Pugh, Liberal Democrat. Mostly in line with the party.

Main contender is Conservative, Mark Bigley. Jumped the shark when he cynically exagerated the number of MRSA cases in the local infirmary, by a factor of four.

[communerd]

28. Sir Teddy Taylor- Conservative, retiring today

Nutty as a fruitcake and none too bright, but by Tory standards I would say he's a decent enough guy. He's always struck me as sincerely wanting to represent his constituents to the best of his abilities, and I personally have always appreciated his strong commitment to animal welfare, for one thing. He's extremely popular down here (Southend East and Rochford), and I've known more than a few people who say they hate the Tories but vote for him; he is something of a maverick, and was one of those temporarily stripped of the whip by John Major for their opposition to Europe. If Taylor had not been the candidate, I actually think Labour would have had a decent shot at winning here in '97. Never did or would vote for him, but I have a degree of respect for him.

Unfortunately, the evidence of 2001 seems to suggest that Essex has seen a bigger swing back to the Conservatives than elsewhere, and this constituency now seems pretty certain to stay Tory. It's a real shame, because whereas the new Conservative candidate is a classic slimy Tory career-boy with none of Taylor's likeability, both the other main parties are running really good candidates. The Labour candidate is young, very smart and likeable, and I wouldn't mind betting that once he pays his dues here he'll end up as a candidate in safe Labour seat in East London next time around. The Lib Dem candidate is a former leader of the town council (when it was run by a Lib-Lab coalition), and his administration brought real improvement to the town, unlike the current monstrously incompetent and self-serving Tory regime which has virtually bankrupted it.

[T_i_B]

29. Your New MP is a Tory called James Duddridge.

I'll leave you to say what he's like.

It gives you an idea of how Tory the area is when the local brewer in Rochford (Blanchfields) comes out with a beer called "Tory Tipple".

Hello from Chelmsford BTW! :hi:

[communerd]

30. Yep, the slimy Tory got in- but the Tory vote fell by about 10%!

I take considerable consolation from that- it shows just how important Taylor's individual presence was. I hold out no hope whatsoever for Duddridge; needless to say he stuck pictures of himself with Taylor all over his campaign literature, but he doesn't appear to share any of Sir Teddy's redeeming qualities. Still, it could be worse- I could live in Southend West and have David Amess as my MP :puke:

Funnily enough, the actual town of Rochford is somewhere Labour normally do fairly well, and indeed it currently staffs Rochford District Council with its sole Labour councillor. The District of Rochford as a whole is extremely conservative, but most of it is now part of the Rayleigh constituency where the Tory majority now stands at about 14,000- making it one of their safest in the country. I remember reading about that Tory tipple- a very unusual beer i'll wager, in that just one drop is probably enough to make most right-thinking people vomit...

It was sad but not surprising to see Braintree and Harwich go Tory last night- but at least we still have one decent MP down here in Essex in Andrew Mackinlay (even if he did vote for the war in the end :spank:).

:hi:

[Kipling]

31. My MP is John "Wierd Name" Grogan.

He's not bad, actually. Especially compared to the Tory scum we had here before.

[...of J.Temperance]

32. Unfortunately mine's

George Osborne:

http://www.georgeosborne.co.uk/record.jsp?type=page&ID=5

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/454.stm

What a come down, my MP a few years ago was George Galloway (Glasgow Kelvin) He was a really good local MP to have.

[LeftishBrit]

34. A come-down for the constituency too, isn't he?

Isn't Tatton where Martin Bell famously defeated Neil Hamilton?

[...of J.Temperance]

35. Yeah

Martin Bell was a TOP bloke, it's a shame he didn't stand again. Now we're stuck with the TOP arsehole Osborne.

[T_i_B]

38. Martin Bell stood here in Essex in 2001

but failed to topple the sitting Conservative Eric Pickles in Brentwood & Ongar (the constituency I happen to work in) over the alleged infiltration of members of Peniel Church into the local Conservative association.

He also stood as an independent in the Euro Elections but this year he didn't run for office but publicly endorsed a few candidates such as the Lib Dem running in the aforementioned Brentwood & Ongar.

[...of J.Temperance]

40. Is Eric Pickles

That big fat Tory that looks like a pig in a suit? Yuk, he's GROTESQUE!

[Kicked in the Taco]

41. Yes, he is

[...of J.Temperance]

42. Uh!

Eric Pickles is :puke:

[Kicked in the Taco]

43. ...

[...of J.Temperance]

44. You've

Posted that REPULSION on purpose haven't you? :)

Yuk...I HOPE he doesn't have kids, because THAT means that an adult woman has shagged him :puke: :scared:

[T_i_B]

45. He's actually not quite as ugly in real life

I've seen him in Brentwood on quite a few occasions, most often during the General election. he's shorter then I expected but the thing I always remember about him is that the first time I passed him in the street he seemed to be quite shocked at my Sheffield Wednesday beanie hat!

[...of J.Temperance]

36. What's

Weird about the name Grogan? WHAT about Clare Grogan of Altered Images and 'Gregory's Girl' fame?

[Kicked in the Taco]

33. Mark Francois- Conservative

:(

[T_i_B]

37. Dang! That's a even safter Tory seat then where I am...

...just to the north of you in Maldon & East Chelmsford!

That said, I hardly ever hear about what Mark Francois is up to. I'd be interested to know if he's got a good reputation or not.

[Kicked in the Taco]

39. He currently holds the astoundingly prestigious title of

Shadow economic secretary to the Treasury. Which I suppose is a step up in terms of visibility from his predecessor Michael "Who? What? We actually have an MP?" Clarke. Although I rarely hear of Francois doing anything much either (and I've heard rumblings that he's pretty lazy responding to letters and emails) he does seem to have already won a good deal of popularity with the hang 'em-flog 'em-and-toss 'em into the sea with all the immigrants, gypsies and eurocrats brigade- a not uncommon breed in this constituency, as you probably know!