I was delighted to hear last night that Simon Wright has been selected as Parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Norwich South.Norwich South, as many people will know, is a top target for the Lib Dems and is also the seat of former Home Secretary and Labour MP Charles Clarke. At the last general election, the Lib Dems leapfrogged the Tories to go in to a strong second place whilst the Tories fell back to third place, meaning this seat is a real two way contest, a two horse race as Lib Dems like to say.
I am a friend of Simon's, and he is also my ward colleague in Fakenham where we are both councillors until next May, so I am somewhat biased. However, he is an absolutely star at everything he does, be it his council work, speaking at council, his work for Norman Lamb (whose winning 2005 campaign in North Norfolk was masterminded by Simon leading to him winning the Lib Dem agent of the year award for 2005), to his general all round manner. Never one to go negative, concentrating on the positive, he is a formidable and honest campaigner for ordinary people and ordinary values. Born and bred in Norfolk, he appeal to many people.
There has been an enormous amount of vitriole, and a lies, coming from Tories in Norwich, aimed at Simon in recent weeks, and in my political experience, this is usually a sign that Simon is a real threat.
This is just the shot in the arm the Lib Dems in Norwich need after poorer sets of local elections recently. However, the signs are positive, a recent by-election hold against the odds in the city (yes, in Norwich North and not Norwich South, but it indicates a trend), the Lib Dems still topped the poll in the 2006 local elections across Norwich South, and a new candidate in Simon Wright with a proven campaigning track record who lives firmly in the city (which was always a handicap to the previous Lib Dem candidate who lived in Suffolk).
Go for it Simon !!!!
13 comments:
Hear hear. Simon did a great job for Norman and for LDYS when he was Vice-Chair Campaigns; I'm sure he'd be an excellent MP.
I can't disagree with a word of what you say.
He should do well in Norwich. We need some proper opposition. The Green Party are just 'Green Labour' and the Tories are not even on the agenda. Good luck to him, especially if he can beat Clarke.
I was delighted to hear this. With Simon, April Pond in the new Broadland seat and Norman in North Norfolk we have the opportunity to make a further substantial step forward in Norfolk next time.
I am really looking forward to supporting Simon and the campaign.
Simon will be a good candidate for this area. I am fed up with some of the negativity and abuse he has suffered in recent weeks in other local political blogs. I agree with Nick that I think some people locally are rather scared of him.
Some nice comments here about Simon. i know he reads this blog so I'm sure he'll be pleased.
Will he be resigning as Councillor then? I'm afraid you cannot dismiss opposition as people being afriad - why doesn't Simon tackle the points head on and show them to be wrong? Or is he afraid of the opposition?
The Tories are on the agenda in Norwich ... just read the local rag!
Jack, you sound almost exactly like a Tory Councillor who stalks this blog. Come one, own up !
Oh, and why should he resign his council seat. He comes off the council in 6 months, the six month rule will apply soon anyway and he continues to work in North Norfolk, so why can't he do both.
Good point about the council seat - I suppose the by-election would be next May anyway now? I'd still prefer Simon to take these charges head on.
p.s. I ain't no Tory Councilllor!
Maybe Simon will publish the fact that he has moved and stop giving a North Walsham Contact.
That's what the previous Lib-Dem candidate did all the time - kept pretending to live in Hotblack Road - cheated on his ward voters
Ah, a similar line of argument to one constantly made by a rather vitriolic local Tory blogger who has an axe to grind. Come on, own up. Own up, don't hide in your ivory towers. Nuff said !
I was going to make a comment about being a clever Trevor, but that was far too obvious !
Thanks for looking in though.
I will enjoy my holidays, although you are welcome to deliver some leaflets with me if you wish ?
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