From: "Matthew Wright", [EMAIL PROTECTED]
I agree with Steve that voting for UKIP is not the best option (although I
don't share any love of the EU). I think it will only split the opposition
vote and risk letting Labour in again with a big majority. This whole voting
thing needs proper analysis. Normally it would simply be a matter of voting
for any
candidate that supports shooting. Well generally yes but in practise I have
been looking into this and sadly it does not appear that simple. Without
launching into an enormous paper, suffice it to say we have to get smart
both strategically and tactically. At the moment we have a party in power
with an enormous majority, that could pass almost any silly law (and is).
Also most of the Labour PPC's are instinctively or explicitly against us and
over time Labour party agenda can only go one way. We are seeing already how
they
resort to type. Unless your Labour PPC is the type to
get up in parliament and speak out clearly for you, as did Kate Hoey
(BUT remember only 5 other Labour MP's did this when the chips were down! ),
then it
seems to me that any viable opposition vote (so long as he/she is not a
raving anti) scores most highly, as does tactical voting on various issues
depending on the local chances of given PPC's and complementary tactics to
other opposition parties. Also in the wider sense this Govts attitude to our
liberties, its cynicism and hypocrisy should not go unchecked electorally.
The
recent leaked memo is very revealing.
If you are not
already a member of a local constituency party, join, it is easy, you will
find people delighted to have fresh blood and now is the time they are
forming policies or even finalising choice of PPC's in some cases. A typical
constituency meeting will have between 6 and 12 people usually the lower, so
get involved now and use the democracy. As Steve says some parties cannot
take votes for granted but the way to express this is definately at
constituency party meetings and by helping them not slagging them off as
non-members. While I'm on this matter could I request some info (perhaps
responses channelled through yourself Steve?) as follows - do any
subscribers know of someone who has successfully stood in local govt
elections where they were inspired to become political by
shooting/fieldsports/countryside issues. I recall at least one person
mailing this list to say he had become a councillor, or he may have written
to the Shooting Times on the matter. I also recollect at least one other
person who was reported to have become a councillor as a result of these
issues. In both cases I think they stood as independants. I would like to
gauge their experiences. Perhaps if anyone knows anything about this they
could mail me or via Steve if they prefer.
Matthew Wright
--
I think you misunderstood - I don't think voting for the UKIP is
a bad idea if they can actually win the seat and are pro-gun. Very
unlikely that will happen with the exception of a few constituencies
in the SE and SW though.
Steve.
Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org
List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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