Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Multiple Breaches of Purdah Period as Labour get desperate

As more Government Ministers pile into the region in a desperate attempt to save the face of the Labour Party in a referendum which is looking more like a loser by the day, the Electoral Commission are conspicuous by their absence.

Why aren't they checking who is paying for Ministerial visits?

Why aren't they recording the statements made by Ministers?

Why aren't they advising local press and media to preface Ministers statements with "I am speaking as a Labour Party member and not a Minister..."?

Why aren't they pulling out more stops to get people to return their ballot papers? The response so far has been sluggish to say the least so come on Electoral Commission...get some of that £41m spent. Not sure whether they are aware of where the North East is yet, especially after all the other clangers they've dropped. They might be booking advertising space in the Manchester Evening News.

However, the No Campaign is very grateful for the visits of these Ministers and luminaries. Jack Mc Connell from Scotland today will simply highlight the great expense of the Scottish Parliament building.
Ken Livingstone's visit yesterday served to illustrate how council tax has risen in London. Gordon Brown's visit was another sign of desperation, but with no substance.
David Miliband's understatement" We are going to have to work hard to convince people of our case for an Assembly," is one of the best yet. Where have you been David?

As for the purdah period...it seems like there is no-one to even raise the issue...except the No Campaign. Today's and yesterday's breaches can be read below:

'London Will Back You' read about Ken Livingstone's visit here

'Brown's Visit Boosts Yes Vote Bid' read it here

'Labour Won't Screw Up This Time - Ken' can be read here

and 'Miliband Supports Yes Vote' here.

Chancellor Urges Yes Vote here

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

With just over a week to go the turnout is 12%. At this rate of return, it will struggle to reach 30%. The result will be close, I think. But the Don't Cares have it for now.

Anonymous said...

With all the Labour big wigs re-discovering The NE, there appears to be no sign or showing of any Tories.
Still looking up the maps I presume.
Michael JO

Anonymous said...

Why should elected Tories come to the region, whatever we think about that political party, or any other party, or the decision to appoint each official Yes and No group - it should be left to those groups to front the campaign, that's the rules whether we like it or not.

Rolling in politicians day after day is clearly against the rules, but Yes seem oblivious to rules, its win at any cost for them.

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