Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Lydia taking the leap--I'm a Tory now!

Hello Harringay,

A few weeks ago a good friend in the Conservatives asked me to run under their banner in the local elections and I didn't laugh right in his face.

My original excursion into politics was in 2001, when I joined the Conservatives because I was so angry about the Victoria Climbie thing but then I left them in 2005 because:

a) I got fed up of politics and

b) I got fed up of the Conservatives (mind you I was just as fed up of the other lot).

When, a few weeks ago, I was invited back to the treadmill, I wasn't any better disposed to the political life but there is so much sh*t going on in this borough that I decided I couldn't ignore it any more. I don't fit that well into a Party mold but seeing as the Conservatives are the only group really serious about opposition in this borough and seeing as I am an Angry Old Woman, I decided that *someone* has to do something. Don't talk to me about the LibDems. The place for nodding dogs is in the back of the car, not in the Council chamber.

*If you want to follow me on Twitter, the address is <@LoveHarringay>

*If you want to get in touch with me by phone, leave a message with Tottenham Conservatives on 020 8374 6305. I'll get back to you. Or email loveharringay@gmail.com.

*If you want to discuss political theory, ring the LSE.

And from now on, you can be as suspicious as you want about anything I say.

btw:

I and my two running-mates, Sean Rivers and Massimo Rossini (NB--Rivers, Rivlin & Rossini make The Three Rs, which all good Conservatives support) will be putting out a leaflet soon.

The local party have agreed to let us write up our own stuff, so we are actually going to be working hard on it, ourselves. At least take a look when it lands on your doormat.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on March 26, 2014 at 12:41

Lydia, sorry to come in late on a couple of points. Apologies also if they are covered somewhere in this thread.

But I vaguely remember you standing in the Seven Sisters by-election. So I looked it up and saw you were an independent. So presumably you stood against the Tory candidates? How did that work? Because in the Labour Party, standing against the party's candidate - or even nominating an opposing candidate - automatically ends your party membership. You then have to hang about outside for a while before you can reapply to be let back in. Is that what's happened?

Also, in the Labour Party - although the rules were flagrantly broken in St Ann's ward - there is a basic democratic process. Candidates are screened centrally; but have appeal rights if turned down. There are votes at each stage. It's a long way from ideal. But at least members get notice of shortlisting and selection meeting and can go along and take part in a secret ballot.

It seems from your description that a friend of yours - presumably Justin Hinchcliffe - simply invited you to be the Harringay ward candidate. What happened?

Did he take you to tea and sing you a serenade? "Lydia oh Lydia, we shouldn'ta got ridda ya". Or perhaps:

Justin: "I'm moving to a flat in Norfolk.

Lydia: Very flat, Norfolk.

Justin: There's no need to be unpleasant. Especially as I've decided to annoint you my chosen successor as chair of Tottenham Tories. Please accept this silver spoon of office."

Lydia: Oh, dear. I've used it to stir my tea and the silver seems to have dissolved.

(Tottenham Hale ward councillor. Plagiarising a bit of Noel Coward)

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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on March 26, 2014 at 12:45

Oh how very droll Alan. The reason I am so hot on the St Ann's issue is that in a safe Labour ward the selection IS the election. Justin can "appoint" who he likes they are in no way guaranteed to get in.

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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on March 26, 2014 at 12:50

Absolutely true, John. But consider a political party running a Council, where the Dear Leader can just take people to tea, check them for loyalty, and then appoint who they fancy to fill an important post - one which carries an extra salary - serving the people of Haringey.

I mean, c'mon. Surely Justin doesn't think he's Claire Kober?

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Permalink Reply by Justin Hinchcliffe on March 26, 2014 at 19:38

I didn't appoint anyone. I asked Lydia, a dear friend of many years, to 'come home'. The Conservative Party is a 'big tent'. Lydia has made it quite clear that she's a libertarian (not of the US kind, mind you). The main reason we asked Lydia to stand was she is, well, quite brilliant. Surely any political party would be fortunate to have her? I can't pin her down. She's unpredictable. If she wins, there are NO guarantees that she would toe the party line. We can live with that; we're not total control freaks. Her sharp mind, independence and unpredictable approach to things makes her stand out. I'm happy with her, so should you be.

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Permalink Reply by Lydia R on March 26, 2014 at 17:15

I was indeed an Independent, and annoyed Justin very much. However--as I keep saying to another Labour window-watcher who contributes to this page--I considered my life in party politics to be completely over and didn't care very much what the Conservatives or anyone else thought of me.

My primary reason for running was the memory of Peter Connolly. I haven't forgotten him and when I get into the Council I shall make sure no-one else does, either.

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Permalink Reply by Lydia R on March 26, 2014 at 17:32

You have spent too much time with the fragrant Ms Peacock, Alan. Every time I appeared on the scene, she used to start humming the old Groucho Marx song that you are now quoting.

I think the lady must have believed that she was scoring some sort of a point but I was always amused by her antics, considering that the song was sung by a badly dressed buffoon talking nonsense in a silly voice, who hung around with a bunch of clowns.

btw. I never considered you one of the clowns, I must add.