If Neil Masterson has succeeded on 29th August 2014, then would the Bradford West by-election have been uncontested at least by all other parties that were in the House of Commons at the time? Would Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and UKIP, which had acquired its first MP the day before that attack, all have stood aside both for, and out of, Respect?
Incumbency confers a huge electoral advantage, and the winner of the Southend West by-election will be the incumbent at the next General Election. Who is the Conservative candidate, to be so wonderful as to deserve a clear run, a free pass? That it would be a safe Conservative seat even under normal circumstances only reinforces the point.
Online anonymity had absolutely nothing to do with the murder of Sir David Amess. Are the politicians who are on the bandwagon for it to be somehow "banned" going to stop giving anonymous briefings, and are the media types going to stop being so briefed?
If the Tory isn't pro-life, someone from pro-life should put up as an Independent.
ReplyDeleteOne to watch, although not, alas, with too much hope.
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