Topic: Has Bob (UKIP) stood down as PPC for Swindon, South

[Jenni Miles]

I noticed this yesterday:http://ukipswindonsouth.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-swan-song.html. I know Bob stood down as Chair of Swindon UKIP a while ago, but has he withdrawn as PPC for Swindon, South too? He had been selected - when filling in my pledges his name has often been there as a candidate and that must have come from UKIP HQ. Has he just quit? If so, and it's because of abuse and hate mail that's awful. I disagree with Bob on a lot but I did always admire the time and effort he put into standing. He had his views and he voiced them, I respect that - a lot. I would hate to think he was bullied out of standing. Does anybody know more?

[komadori]

I'm fairly certain he announced he would not be PPC for South Swindon at the same time as he stood down as UKIP local chair. But from his interactions on this forum, until he abandoned it, some - tho' by no means all - of what he described as 'bullying' and 'abuse' many others would regard as normal discussion.

[Jenni Miles]

I thought he had resigned as PPC as well, but then kept seeing his name up as a candidate. Maybe the pledge forms are just all outdated then.

I still don't understand his blog though, this was only dated 1st Feb. Is he just not going to post on the Adver site and write letters to them any more?

I notice that UKIP were electing their new committee and making the "final selection" of their two Prospective Parliamentary Candidates on 18th Jan but there isn't a candidate for Swindon, South on their website (though, we haven't put our candidate for Swindon North up yet either and he was selected on 30th Jan  :emb:). 

I take on board what you mean about bullying et al being subjective but hate mails not on, ever!

[komadori]

I've just found the Adver article from September last year which says he stood down as both. I recall his blog post (or something very similar) being posted at that time. I presume he must have updated and republished it recently. He certainly remains active in the Adver comments sections.

[Justin Tomlinson]

I have a lot of time for Bob - plus he is a very good landlord.

If I remember rightly Bob had to stand down due to health reasons and to allow him to focus on his business, that said he remains an active supporter of UKIP for which I am sure they are very grateful as he is very dedicated.

[Jenni Miles]

That clears that up then. Just out dated forms. A bit werid to just put that on his blog now still, but hey mine's not up to date either  :emb:.

With that out of the way,are UKIP standing in Swindon South or just North? Anyone know who it is?

[Richard Shaw]

I have a lot of time for Bob - plus he is a very good landlord.

If I remember rightly Bob had to stand down due to health reasons and to allow him to focus on his business, that said he remains an active supporter of UKIP for which I am sure they are very grateful as he is very dedicated.

Justin,

It has been suggested elsehwere that you are so close he has become your agent?

It would be a pity if Bob didn't join this debate because I believe that his position on Europe is more pertinent than ever.

Going to promise us a referendum Justin, no Conservative Central Office bollocks please, a plain yes or no will do.

[Steve Wakefield]

It was David Cameron that gave the cast iron guarantee on Europe so a tad unfair to pop at JT 

[Geoff Reid]

Yes, camerons infamous 'Chocolate Teapot Guarantee'

[Jenni Miles]

O.K. from what I understand...

They had selected for both seats years ago. Bob resigned (on health grounds). They were going to "finalise" selection on both seats at the AGM in January, which seems to have caused a bit of a disagreement: http://bloggers4ukip.blogspot.com/2010/01/ukip-swindon-agm.html. I'm not sure if this lead to Bob's blog post or if that is unrelated.

Their main website http://www.ukip-swindon.co.uk/5.html seems to suggest that the AGM is now going to be held on 15 Feb so I guess we'll know after that unless anyone knows anything more.

I actually would be sad to see Bob leave politics completely. He was very genuine - it takes a lot of guts to just say what you feel. He's worked very hard at this for years.

[Justin Tomlinson]

I have a lot of time for Bob - plus he is a very good landlord.

If I remember rightly Bob had to stand down due to health reasons and to allow him to focus on his business, that said he remains an active supporter of UKIP for which I am sure they are very grateful as he is very dedicated.

Justin,

It has been suggested elsehwere that you are so close he has become your agent?

It would be a pity if Bob didn't join this debate because I believe that his position on Europe is more pertinent than ever.

Going to promise us a referendum Justin, no Conservative Central Office bollocks please, a plain yes or no will do.

Ha ha, no Bob isn't my agent.  If Bob ever left UKIP I would certainly welcome him.  Whilst I don't agree with all his views (like he doesn't agree with all mine) I do admire him and his efforts to fight for what he is passionate about.  (I have to say, I think the same of Jenni Miles).

Europe - the law needs to be changed so that never again would a government (of any political colour) be able to agree to a Treaty that hands over areas of power from Britain to the EU without a referendum.  Set it in law so there can be no fudges, broken promises or plain hiding from the electorate.  Labour bottled the referendum because they knew they would lose, shame on them.

[Steve Wakefield]

Justin

I am so pleased to see you have a nice word for your fellow candiddates, and I like Bob too he is no dinosaur, as some would have you believe.  I always think of Bob as an old time copper and remember the song my old man, the line is you can't trust a special like an old time copper and that is very much Bob 

[Geoff Reid]

 
Oh come on....all this 'I love Bob' is cobblers and you all know it, it would suit some of the other parties to have Bob potentially splitting the Labour/Tory vote.

Yes, Bob is enthusiastic, bob is keen as mustard, bob is informed etc, etc, but Bob also scarpers under fire, and for that reason I've put him him in the same mental pidgeonhole as Michael Dickinson who, quite spectacularly, has managed to do the political equivalent of wetting the bed. 

When the going gets tough, the tough-looking scarper....or freeze and wet themselves.

[Steve Wakefield]

Oh come on....all this 'I love Bob' is cobblers and you all know it, it would suit some of the other parties to have Bob potentially splitting the Labour/Tory vote.

Yes, Bob is enthusiastic, bob is keen as mustard, bob is informed etc, etc, but Bob also scarpers under fire, and for that reason I've put him him in the same mental pidgeonhole as Michael Dickinson who, quite spectacularly, has managed to do the political equivalent of wetting the bed. 

When the going gets tough, the tough-looking scarper....or freeze and wet themselves.

Be careful Geoff "Love Bombing" is the new political way, what next speaking ill of the dead? Whatever happened to the old conviction politics?

[Mart]

Whatever happened to the old conviction politics?

Mmmmmm, convicted politicians, what an intriguing thought.

Let's hear it for The Westminster Three who could shortly become the only politicians who can truly be said to hold clear convictions.

Or not, do we reckon they will get off?

[Piston Broke]

Yes they have a get out of jail card. Something called parliamentary priviledge 

[Geoff Reid]

Or not, do we reckon they will get off?

I reckon they'll get off.

Ravey Dave says he's going to bring in:  http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2010/02/Rebuilding_trust_in_politics.aspx

A new Parliamentary Privilege Act to clarify the rules of parliamentary privilege to make clear that they cannot be used by MPs to evade justice.

But it will obviously be too late to prevent the worst 4 troughers getting off....

[Tobes]

I'm with Geoff regards Bob. Unfortunately, Bob seems far happier with non engagement than debate. Its a shame he left TS where the exchanges are of a more cerebral quality and seems to prefer spending his time shouting at the Trolls on the Adver comments pages - it benefits no one, least of all Bob. I got the feeling he didn't like being cross-examined here.

I think Bob's passionate, and well meaning but I can't help thinking that he's too naive to make a serious contender. The way people manipulate and wind him up on the Adver pages used to be quite amusing but now looks rather sad, as its a complete waste of his time and effort and he appears to have no idea as to the damage its doing to him or his credibility.

I think people like Mart and I were probably potential voters for Bob (that'll leave Mart reeling, no doubt  )

Arguing the toss with someone like 'Wurzzley' and co. on the Adver isn't going to advance the cause of anything except the sale of paracetamol.

[Mart]

I have voted UKIP, I'm not reeling.

I think Labour are shite and deserve to be punished for the fecking mess they have made.

I am increasingly convinced that the Tories are going to fill the vaccuum with, erm, not much. The tasty morsels that caught my attention have melted away as Davey boy starts picking the curtains for No 10, entirely too wishywashy.

Lib Dems, well, no.

If ever an election invited you to vote for least worst this promises to be a cracking example.

And we will still be in the shit and 'they' will still be banging in claims for stuff we buy from wages and toeing the party line when it comes to the pinch.

Pensioners will still be struggling, squaddies will still be walking, kids will still be pissed, welfare dependents with no inclination to work will remain untroubled, Brussels will still call the shots,, NHS queues will be manipulated, public transport will be impractical and the Green Tax Crusade will continue.

Oh, and Toyoya Prius will travel more quickly than anticipated.

[moley]

Oh, and Toyoya Prius will travel more quickly than anticipated.

Perhaps the only reason the car in front is a Toyota is because it wasn't actually able to get stopped...