Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
May 2014 election -- Lydia
What upsets me most about the Harringay elections is not that I lost (politics is not my career, so I haven’t lost what I never had) but that Harringay lost.
Specifically, Harringay lost Karen Alexander and David Schmitz. I hoped to win a seat but I also hoped to work with those two excellent, high-quality councillors and I consider that the refusal of some Harringay residents to vote for them based on anger with the national party was a terrible mistake. How many really believe that Gina will give as much serious consideration to your problems as Karen did? How many imagine that Emina will be researching the issues with the forensic precision of David? Most of us realise that the Labour Party will not be satisfied until the whole of the borough looks like Wood Green shopping city and yet for all that, this debacle happened.
As for Thursday, I could see which way the wind was blowing, both figuratively and physically, as I and the Labour and LibDem tellers cowered in the polling station porch while the rain lashed down and thunder and louring clouds rumbled overhead.
In between rainstorms, it was quite disturbing to see how many voters with a very basic or even completely non-existent grasp of English turned up at the station clutching the Labour knock-up slips in their hands. In their obvious ignorance both of voting procedure and practice, they handed these scraps of paper to us when we asked if we could see the numbers on their polling cards and it was quite clear that they believed these reminders were some sort of voting certificate.
It also appeared that the leaflets were taken to the polling station as reminders of the names to be chosen. I did notice that they were all Labour leaflets and not a single Libdem one amongst them. Did these voters regard the knock-up slips as assistance -- or orders?
I shall leave that question to the political theorists. As far as I am concerned it has been a great five-week ride and I found it deeply rewarding to have the opportunity to discuss issues with all the other correspondents on this site. I have to confess, though, that I particularly enjoyed the jousts with the small group of sour uber-socialists whose comically bad quality of argument made proper, serious discussion pointless. It was such good fun to let loose with them.
As always, I shall be around in Harringay. There will probably be a much wider choice of restaurants over the next few months but I still recommend Zev to them as asks.
Also anyone who wants to come up to the stables for a visit is very welcome.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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[technical issue; re-post]
Lydia, as a Councillor elect, I can also say that I am sorry that I won't have the opportunity to work on the Council with Karen and David who, as you rightly say, were excellent high-quality Councillors – and were fallout from national issues.
As one of the three LibDem candidates in Highgate Ward, I often bumped into our competition from Labour and the Conservative Parties. In the street at least, we were always were good natured and humoured toward one other. I suspect this recognition of being part of a pluralist society and the democratic process, may not have been shared in all other Wards. Tribalism has not served Haringey well.
Clive Carter
Highgate Councillor (elect)
Liberal Democrat Party
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Permalink Reply by Justin Hinchcliffe on
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As a Conservative, I am so pleased you won, Clive (this is not a Con-LD 'love in'). I like politicians who put their residents above the Party. Alan Stanton did that - but that only happened towards the end of his 12 years on the council. Clive is a good man. Like Lydia, I am also sad that David and Karen lost - what on earth has Harringey (indeed, Haringey) gone and done? Democracy is the main victim here. Yes, most people in other parties are, politics aside, good and decent people - I enjoy seeing them, swapping notes and sharing the odd joke (often at my own expense!). However, one person that cannot be be said for is Cllr Joe Goldberg. He is a deeply unpleasant individual; a real bully. If you don't take my word for it, go along to the next Full council meeting and study his behaviour towards oppoents. He is truly vile. I cannot say that for many people. But he is. Anyway, the people have spoken. The bastards! I wish all new councillors the very best. Justin
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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It was 16 years. No, Joe is a good bloke, he is just like one of those homophobes who is really a homosexual in that he hates Tories but is really a bit of one himself. I think Socialists need the odd Tory, but not too many.
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You certainly lit up (online anyway) a slightly boring campaign. I hope that now you are backing the Scottish independence movement, that's a boring argument too.
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Sooner Scotland goes, the better. I fear they know where their bread is buttered. Sharon, did you vote for me? Maybe you thought I'd be OK/decent as your local councillor but I suspect you didn't vote for me as you are tribal? Prove me wrong...
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Permalink Reply by Sharon on
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I'm tribal am I? what do you mean? Would you and lydia like to make any other assumptions about me? if so, maybe pm me. Lydia you have shown your true colours in all their glory in this post.
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Permalink Reply by Lesley G on
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Tut, tut, nasty foreign speakers voting? Whatever next?!
Oh the irony. You're berating voters for not voting for who you believe they should have, whilst simultaneously alleging that Labour gave 'orders' about who to vote for!
In a democracy, people can 'refuse' to vote for who they like.
What a nasty, whinging, sour post.
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Permalink Reply by Elena on
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"it was quite disturbing to see how many voters with a very basic or even completely non-existent grasp of English turned up at the station clutching the Labour knock-up slips in their hands"..."In their obvious ignorance both of voting procedure and practice".
I think I must be one of them. I am not British, my English could be seen as basic at times, and perhaps a bit ignorant when it comes to certain things.
But do you know what respect is Lydia? I do.
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Lydia, the Tory tradition is to play the race card BEFORE the election.....
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Hi Lydia,
Regarding your comment,"It also appeared that the leaflets were taken to the polling station as reminders of the names to be chosen. I did notice that they were all Labour leaflets and not a single Libdem one amongst them. Did these voters regard the knock-up slips as assistance -- or orders?"
If this was done by order, would that even be allowed?
If anyone can send me an extract of what is and what isn't allowed in political campaigning regarding what parties can and cannot do in terms of encouraging (or forcing) voters to vote for them that would be useful.
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Lydia, as a Councillor elect I can say that I am sorry that I also won't have the opportunity to work on the Council with Karen and David who, as you rightly said, were excellent high-quality Councillors – and who were fallout from national issues.
As one of the three LibDem candidates in Highgate Ward, I often bumped into our competition from the Labour and the Conservative Parties. In the street at least, we were always were good natured and humoured toward one other. I suspect that this recognition – of being part of a pluralist society and the democratic process – may not necessarily have been shared in all other Wards. Tribalism has not served Haringey well.
Clive Carter
Highgate Councillor (elect)
Liberal Democrat Party