Letter to Editor: Trouble ahead for Harlow Conservatives?
Politics / Fri 20th Oct 2023 at 08:22am
DEAR Editor,
Labour won a by-election in Mid Bedfordshire last night, the first time in history Labour has taken that seat. Labour also won in Tamworth with a swing that, if repeated, would mean the Conservatives would be left with just 29 seats.
Of course by-elections allow for a protest vote and by-election swings are often bigger than those seen in a general election. However these results must be giving Harlow’s incumbent Conservatives sleepless nights.
It feels like voters are sick to the back teeth of Tory lies, Tory sleaze and Tory incompetence. Voters have seen a huge fall in living standards, most of which can be blamed on Conservative economic failures. The health service is on life support, school buildings are falling down and the Conservative response to the cost of living crisis is more of the same.
Labour, under Kier Starmer’s leadership, offers a credible alternative. Fully costed policies that will give Britain it’s future back. To me it feels like the tide has turned, Mr Halfon is on the way out as voters turn towards a fresh approach and a new MP. It won’t come as a surprise, I’ll be voting for Labour’s Chris Vince.
Mark Ingall
Kim Oconnor
2023-10-20 08:34:07
When I've asked Chris vince question s on here, he hasn't answered.
Hugo
2023-10-20 08:53:33
When I've asked RH a question on here, he hasn't answered either. Don't really expect them to. More schools have been added to this list with RAAC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-67158499.amp If only there was an MP in the Herts/Essex area that had strong connections to the DofE. If only there was an MP locally that was a minister for this department that could give answers and reassurance. Maybe they are all too busy banning the meat tax, not ordering 7 bins and not banning single occupants in cars.
Staff Reporter
2023-10-20 09:04:54
Here are Cllr Vince's contact details....https://moderngov.harlow.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=1394
James Leppard
2023-10-20 09:26:33
Mr Ingall is correct in his comments about low turnout in these two by-elections. In 2019, the turnout in Mid-Beds was 73.7% compared with 44% last night. It is interesting to note that Labour actually polled fewer votes at 13,872 compared with 14,028 in 2019. In Tamworth the turnout fell from 64.3% to a mere 34.9%. Labour's share increased by only 611 votes, seemingly from the LibDems. The message is that Tory voters are staying at home and not switching to Labour. One should not read to much into this. It is clear that the Government has win back its traditional supporters, who are still far from convinced regarding Starmer's offering.
Pedro
2023-10-20 09:31:02
The conservative party deserve to be soundly beaten at the next GE, they have inflicted the highest rate of taxation in generations, both direct and indirect, have willfully neglected to control the migrant crisis at the channel, have failed to get a grip of knife and gun crime, the problem is there is not a credible opposition at the moment.
Adam
2023-10-20 09:49:13
Mark, we do not need labour either you where rewarded for your destructive efforts to the town and its people in lockdown by losing your seat. The reality is all politicians and political parties have caused nothing but division, misery and destroyed the way of life for the UK, over the last 40 years. Look at the country under labour (illegal wars, massive house price inflation, destruction of pensions , end of boom and bust) or under cons (lockdown, lies, corruption, more illegal wars) the country is falling to bits while we pick and choose team red or blue both who lie to us and never deliver. You have sat to long for any good you have done, in the name of god go the lot of you!
James Leppard
2023-10-20 10:37:22
Good to see Adam alluding to Oliver Cromwell's speech to the Long Parliament and later used by Leo Amery to Neville Chamberlain in 1940.
Tomcat
2023-10-20 11:31:23
You truly have to be foolish to vote a Labour government in as if they get in power you will have 20mph zones, Pay per mile, and low traffic neighbourhoods galore1 you will also have massive immigration issues and all the younsters will not have a hope in hell of getting a home! People have short memories wasnt it Gordon Brown that left a not in his office saying sorry no money left in the kitty! I for sure would not vote Labour!
Whatever.
2023-10-20 11:43:12
Whilst I feel that we've mostly had a raw deal coming from every direction, without doubt we are due for much of the same. Latest money grabbing wheeze from the grabbers in London, is to tax vehicles using the Blackwall tunnel.
Peter Henegan
2023-10-20 13:04:56
I will choose who to vote for on the day of the General Election, once I have understood what all of the candidates and their parties stand for. Not much point in deciding before. Mind you, it will be difficult, last time round Robert Halfon promised tax cuts and annual triple lock pension increases, both promises were not kept. Would I vote for a party that wants to increase the speed limit past my house, a road with regular to school children and adults? Would you Tomcat? Last time, also, Laura campaigned on improving bus services, a ticket Robert has also bought recently. So people, let's wait and see
Mark Gough
2023-10-20 14:21:42
Good to know you Labour teachers have nothing better to do than write letters patting yourselves on the back to the press a mere five hours after the results are announced eh Mark! In May your lot managed to actually lose a seat here in Harlow, and you were so short of candidates you had to drag two out of retirement. Don't remember you being on a ballot paper either! Interesting times though I agree - especially when the Electorate are looking for change and don't like any of the big three Parties very much. If only a Party with some Reformative ideas was around.....Mark Gough - Reform UK
Seamus
2023-10-20 19:47:39
I do wish when we have such letters, that the person writing them, be identified. I saw a letter written by a Mark Ingall. What I should have seen was Mark Ingall, ex Labour leader of Harlow council. It gives you a understanding of where the letters direction has come from. Firstly on the two recent election results. The 2019 selection of those tory seats were in the high 60, edging 70 percent of the electorate, this time only around 40% turn out. Labour won because the tory vote stayed away so I wouldn't be counting your chickens yet. Don't forget for 13 years the labour party was unelectable, that doesn't dissapear with two new mp's. Also don't forget the shambles of a labour council we have had to live with for the last 11 years. In truth these ping pong games labour and tories play, ensure only labour and tories get to make decisions which effect us and the rest of the 4 years, neither party really cares about us plebs. Just for once, I'd like to see "none of the above" on a polling card to show all political parties just how out of touch they are with the people they claim to understand and represent.
Adam
2023-10-20 22:54:29
Seamus - at the all up election next year we need to find 30+ independents in Harlow to stand. We need across of society, from business people, to teachers, mothers and fathers, students, career breaks, police officers, etc. people who care about this town and not party politics. Just look at what politicians have done to the this town and country, they take us for fools, they snipe and spin, steal more in taxes for fewer services while the people with connections get rich. Mean while the country declines
Luke Burton
2023-10-22 10:04:02
Seems like the author cannot spell his own party leader's name. Still agree with the contents of the letter, though.
Mark Gough
2023-10-24 13:44:37
Seamus is bang on right. If you look at the number of votes Labour gained about 200 in Tamworth and lost about 800 in Mid Beds in comparison to 2019. About 20,000 Tories stayed at home in each case!
Dan Long
2023-10-24 21:12:32
In my opinion, you are all self mind and selfish. No of the councillors here in Harlow and yes that is the Tory administration party councillors and the Labour opposition part councillors.none of them are willing to put the number one priority of Harlow first and that's the residents of Harlow and yes Harlow not those from outside of Harlow.you are all in it for yourselves and are all corrupt too. I don't Trust any of you when it comes to listening to Harlow residents worries and concerns.we pay for a service through our council tax but none of the two main parties of Harlow have delivered us with a good service which us council tax payers deserve. So, NO thanks, none of you will be getting my vote next year. Kind Regards, from Dan Long
Pedro
2023-10-26 06:00:58
"Trouble ahead for the Conservatives" reads the headline, maybe so but even greater troubles for Starmer's Labour Party as it rips its self apart over the terrorist organisation Hama's, local councillors resigning, frontbenchers up in arms, I suspect greater troubles ahead for Labour.
David Forman
2023-10-26 11:09:48
Mark Ingall was Labour leader of the only council in Essex that failed to cut the grass during lockdown. Harlow Labour's parliamentary candidate Chris Vince has failed to comment on Palestine/Israel conflict. So Chris Vince has no problem with Starmer's vocal support on LBC radio for the war crimes of cutting off water, food, fuel and medical supplies to 2 million people in Gaza and their forcible expulsion under threat of death. Starmer later tried to wriggle out of this when the inevitable backlash occurred. See Starmer's lies on Guardian journalist Owen Jones channel at https://youtu.be/FEB1lDAXTMo?si=BkMXnHUroLEr6nDT
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