General Election 2010: Ask Your Candidates

[Stevenj214]

I thought it would be an interesting exercise if I sent the following email to all candidates with an easily found email address who are standing in my constituency (Glasgow South):

Email said:

Good Evening,

With the 2010 General Election approaching, could you tell me why I should vote for your party and for you personally?

Thank you,

Steven

It has been sent to:

Marie Campbell (Green)
Mike Coyle (British National Party)
Malcolm Fleming (Scottish National Party)
Tom Harris (Labour)
Shabnum Mustapha (Liberal Democrat)
Davena Rankin (Conservative)

I couldn't easily find an address for:

Brian Smith (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)

I'm hoping the replies may be interesting and I'll post them here as I recieve them. Would anyone else like to do the same in their own constituency?

[MX7]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Election 2010 Manifesto Wiki

I think these might be worth a read.

[Tsippy]

How do you find information on who is running in your local election? I'm struggling to find it

[esselte]

Tsippy said:

How do you find information on who is running in your local election? I'm struggling to find it

Will this help? clicky

[Tsippy]

Cheers

[Stevenj214]

Tsippy said:

How do you find information on who is running in your local election? I'm struggling to find it

This site also gives a good bit of contact information for them. It only missed BNP and Trade Unionists for me.

[Stevenj214]

Day 1 Update

No replies

[Pesty]

Stevenj214 said:

Tsippy said:

How do you find information on who is running in your local election? I'm struggling to find it

This site also gives a good bit of contact information for them. It only missed BNP and Trade Unionists for me.

acording to that I only have the main three and Lawrence Parramore English democrats to vote for.

I think Lawrence will do well

[Stevenj214]

Pesty said:

Stevenj214 said:

Tsippy said:

How do you find information on who is running in your local election? I'm struggling to find it

This site also gives a good bit of contact information for them. It only missed BNP and Trade Unionists for me.

acording to that I only have the main three and Lawrence Parramore English democrats to vote for.

I think Lawrence will do well

That site is user populated, so can quite easily miss some. Use the BBC link above for an accurate candidate listing.

[Stevenj214]

After 15 days, I have my first reply!

Malcolm Fleming - SNP said:

Dear Mr Stevenj214

Many thanks for your email.

Although I believe that there are many reasons why the SNP merits your
support I would like to focus on three main reasons.

1. If elected as your MP I would be a local champion for our area. I live
in the constituency, (in Tantallon Road in Shawlands) and having been the
SNP candidate for the last two and a half years now know the whole
constituency well.

Having a hardworking and proactive local MP can make a real difference,
and its something I think we have lacked in this area of late. I would
also open a street front local office so I am easily contactable for all
constituents.

2. As your SNP MP I would be a national champion for Scotland, always
standing up for Scotland's interests at Westminster. This is particularly
important given that the three main London parties are all threatening
huge public spending cuts for Scotland. With a large group of SNP MPs in
the House of Commons, especially it if is a hung Parliament, we will be
able to apply the maximum leverage on Scotland's behalf.

3. Reform of Parliament. I am sure that, like myself, you will be angry
about the expenses scandals and cronyism culture of the last Parliament.
Unlike like my Labour opponent I am a strong advocate of reform and will
champion reform of Parliament if elected.

I hope that answers your query, however if you have any other questions do
not hesitate to get back in touch.

With best wishes

Your sincerely

Malcolm

Malcolm Fleming
SNP Candidate for Glasgow South

Edited by Stevenj214 on Wednesday 28th April 16:40

[Stevenj214]

After 3 weeks, I receive my second reply:

Marie Campbell - Scottish Greens said:

Dear Stevenj214,



Thanks for your email. Please accept my apologies for the delayed reply.

The Scottish Green Party wants to radically re-organise our society to tackle the problems that currently

afflict it - poverty and inequality, climate change, environmental degradation and an economic model that requires perpetual growth from a planet of finite resources.



You can learn more about our specific policies in our manifesto available at www.scottishgreens.org.uk.



If you agree with our analysis of the challenges we face and the ideas we have to tackle them, I hope you'll consider voting for me on May 6th.



In terms of myself as an individual candidate, I believe I would make a very good MP - open-minded, non-dogmatic, hard-working and always ready to listen and to learn.

Thanks for getting in touch and please let me know if I can be of further assistance.



Kind regards,


Marie Campbell

Scottish Green Party candidate for Glasgow South

Find out more about the Scottish Greens -
http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk

[Pesty]

green party member, MMGW believer not dogmatic

[Diderot]

have a for the '... always willing to listen and learn...'

[Jasandjules]

I already posted my vote, so it wouldn't matter too much what they say! AT the end of the day they all talk s***e anyway.

[Stevenj214]

What I find most amazing is that none of the main parties have even bothered to acknowledge my email!