Today I attended the Bethnal Green and Bow husting held at Christ Church Spitalfields.
Firstly, I was disappointed that the candidates from Respect, Conservatives and BNP didn’t bother to turn up. The Respect are the incumbent party in the constituency – however attendance and participation is not one of their strong points. Zakir Khan had sent along someone else to stand in for him.
Here are my notes on the debate:
- Labour Rushanara Ali
- Was the most attacked candidate (probably because Respect wasn’t in attendance).
- Got a good feeling for her background and experience – which she clearly has lots of. Also very articulate and straight talking.
- Her ending sound bite was a plead to not protest vote Labour in this seat as the margin is so slim. The risk is another year of Respect.
- 7/10
- Green Farid Bakht
- I was surprised by this candidate. He’s articulate and switched on.
- Gave a very good response to a challenge about Green credentials from van Terheyden.
- From his final sound bite – he’s clearly not expecting to win however encouraged a protest vote to send a message.
- 7/10
- United Voice Hasib Hikmat
- Scary! Zero tolerance policing, same sex schools, anti-gay according to his education policies.
- Effectively became the pseudo-BNP for the night.
- 2/10
- Liberal Democrat Ajmal Masroor
- A good orator but quite populist too.
- Basically echoed the standard Lib Dem policies to date.
- I just feel he’s too popular (and sometimes comical!) and not a true statesman.
- 6/10
- Pirate Alexander van Terheyden
- Aside from Pirate’s policies on copyright and surveillance reform, I didn’t pick up much in terms of policy from Alex.
- Mostly talked to the gallery on populist issues and baited other candidates.
- Didn’t really talk about what he’d do in office except keep Brick Lane police station open 24/7.
- 4/10
Questions were submitted 30 mins before a one-hour panel discussion. I felt that this limited participation and it wasn’t clear how questions were selected. I wished that I’d contacted the organisers a few weeks ago and suggested that we use something like Google Moderator. The debates were very well managed though – full credit to the chairman for his firm control of candidates.
May 03, 2010 @ 14:08:01
I disagree with you about the man from the United Voice. I think he is the only one who is brave enough to speak about the things alot of people in this community real want addressed. He has my vote.
May 03, 2010 @ 14:52:43
The Pirate was baggage for the evening; too much time attacking other candidates (some personal attacks too!) and no time at all spent articulating his parties policies.
Others came across well, esp the Conservative (stand in) and Labour candidate.
Regardless, folks should check out the vast web site at
http://www.towerhamletscouncillorscompensation.info/
which details at the LBTH level the costs of each party and what they’ve offered / done (surgeries, motions advanced, etc).
They’ve even got councillors attendance records posted.
if the link doesn’t show google for
Tower Hamlets Councillors Compensation
May 03, 2010 @ 15:08:22
I thought Hasib Hikmat (United Voice) presented his views best which should be no surprise considering his background. I expected a lot better from Ajmal Masroor. Don’t remember anything he said. Rushanara came across as nervous, a so so. She did not get enough time to give us a good feeling of her background and experience other than we already know from her website although I had not heard her twist on the immigration issue (that immigration policies should be stricter in times of recession). I agree with you on Farid Bakht, pleasant surprise and the Pirate. There is no point in criticizing if you do not have alternative.
May 04, 2010 @ 08:16:01
The Pirate Party has 3 main policies outside this we believe in highlighting through criticism the failings of others. While this may not be a good thing in life – it is extremly important in life to point out the failings of the other politico’s. As they have failed us for decades.
Our manifesto covers 3 main areas: copyright and patent law; privacy law; and freedom of speech.
I would disagree with you on Hasib – United Voice – He put a solid performance in and speaks from the heart rather than from his ego.
Alexander van Terheyden – Pirate Party
May 04, 2010 @ 08:59:54
Alexander – Cannot agree with you more on the failure of current politics, also on a local level in BGB. The place is in a dreadful state. Still it is too generalising. While we do well to analyse mismanagement by government it may not give the full answer. Take for instance the subject of housing. There is no way the government can win on this issue. The place is just too diverse and almost everyone is poor. What incentive does the City have to put money in the place if they have to house at least 50% people who have trouble paying their rent?? They will say can’t those people live somewhere else?? So if you try to move those people on you get protests on the street and all kind of drama.
So maybe we should focus on a particular subject, lots to choose from here and start analysing first before criticising. Comes over as rather silly.
BTW you were the main attraction for me attending the hustings