Richard Hawley

Well, you knew I would have to be the first to mention it...

What there's an upcoming General Election?

Well if the turn out amongst the under 40's exceeds that for those over 50 we may see some change - otherwise it will be 'same old, same old'.

Good luck with it - I have applied for a postal vote - which will keep the local Tory majority to about 12K - a pig with three legs would win round here so long as they wore a Tory rosette.

Have always been a fan of some kind of proportional representation - but that boat sailed in 2011 - was just looking at the Wikipedia page re the AV Referendum - and was dismayed that turnout was 42% overall and locally nearer 20%

Would be happy to see an increased turnout due to younger folks casting their votes in droves - as these folks have the power but don't realise it.

Ramble over...

For the next seven weeks, I will be on my soapbox. You have proper warning...

A man free to say what he believes.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/jeremy-corbyns-speech-launching-labours-10261497

I fear a dirtier than usual campaign, with Blair blinkered Labour MPs shitting in their own nest. I see Blair has decided May's Brexit agenda is all that matters when the issues that need addressing in or out of Europe are what Corbyn is trying to address. The bias is already pouring out of the media and its master Twitter. Nick Robinson is the epitome of smug commentators asking for detail from Corbyn but allowing May to waffle at will about stability and the main detail we have so far is a chancellor whose central initiative in the budget had to be scrapped and we still have a massive hole and a crumbling structure in our care provision.

I am loving the policy blitz, the Brexit announcement today and the general tone of Corbyn's campaign. The thing is, people have a stark choice. Listen to the bullshit about Corbyn and vote Tory/Lib Dem/anyone else and kiss goodbye to public services. Or be a bit intelligent, look behind what's being said and who's saying it, and save the NHS and education in this country.

I'm not patronising or insulting working class people who are turning away from Labour because they are sick of the Labour establishment in areas that have right wing councils making cuts and doing stupid things (trees and Sheffield spring to mind). I am working class – my dad drove a bus all his working life and my mum worked in a supermarket – but that doesn't make my family stupid.

Working people struggling to get by, who need the NHS because they can't afford private health care, and children who need the best education possible because their kids aren't the brainiest ever or who can't afford a private school, should never vote Tory. Or the Lib-Dems, whose leader has said they'd go back in to coalition with the Tories and is a homophobe. It's like turkeys voting for Christmas.

I'm less worried about the X-Factor, Big Brother and people watching animals being born on live TV than people behaving like fuckwits in the ballot box.

Don't believe the hype and vote to save our NHS.

Tuesday broadcast over. xxx

https://www.facebook.com/JeremyCorbynMP ... nref=story

We can talk to each other, lads. Has everyone else gone to the moon?

to the barricades folks !

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bring back the free trade hall

Am campaigning over school cuts. Do people know that the government plans to cut £3bn from education between now and 2020? Go to schoolcutsorg.uk and type in the name of your local school and it will tell you how much they will lose per pupil and the equivalent number of teachers.

Then go out and tell your family, friends and neighbours.

A vote for anyone but Labour will mean the end of public services as we know it. Fact. x

One of my former students, Sam Hale, is standing as the Labour candidate in Stone, Staffordshire (Sadly a strong Tory area). He's exactly what we need in government - young, enthusiastic, hard working and a committed socialist. I taught him from when he was 12 and he's never been any different. Good luck to the lad. I would love to see him take Bill Cash down several pegs.

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http://www.nickbarberphotography.co.uk

Wow! Good for him! Have a few friends standing and, even though the seats might not be winnable, it's important for Labour supporters to have someone good standing up for them. My MP is IDS so I know that more than most.

Hope all you people with local elections today will do the right thing and vote Labour. x

How much does every man I know love Maxine Peake...

https://youtu.be/Dz--_LkzbII

I have to say, it's great to see all the famous types supporting Corbyn, although I haven't watched Corrie since Elsie Tanner left so that shows you how much I know... xx

No surprise that the issue of illegal campaign expenses by the Tories has been swept under the carpet. Anyone who believes the police are politically neutral needs to have a serious rethink.

Saw Angela Rayner on TV this morning and think she has improved massively. and presented Labour's strong education policies well.

If only Jeremy would talk about making tea and putting the bins out. . .

What a pile of fawning bollocks that was? Made me sick in my mouth. This is what passes as politics on the BBC. Fucking shameful.

And I like Rebecca Long Bailey as well. Great to see working class women fronting up some of Labour's top jobs. xxx

Labour manifesto, leaked or not, is a thing of beauty. I've been waiting a lifetime for a Labour Party that believes in free education, reversing privatisation in the NHS, funding state education, renationalising railways and taking on private utility companies.

And what some might see as the little stuff, making hospital car parking free, giving women in Northern Ireland equal abortion rights and supporting community pubs to tackle loneliness, just shows to me that at last we have some people in Labour that understand working people.

Don't want to exist in my own echo chamber (not that I accept that term or actually want to live/listen to/put up with Tory c****) but the forum is very quiet about the election. Is no-one else excited about what possibilities there could be? Or am I just a freak?x