The Stirrer

thanks hacked off

checked for Sally Benton (sure I have heard of the name) and came back with a policy advisor on the MPA the police body for London

or a producer for radio 4 programmes,

Short list is very poor, one local candidate who will never get elected and one obvious candidate ...

Correct

what is ??

had the first two leaflets today, considering that the short list was only done Monday these were posted Tuesday at least two were confident of being selected.

What's correct? The list of runners and riders is. Here's my assessment http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/March_10/wa ... 40310.html

It's bad enough having him in Hodge Hill without these repeated attempts to position himself as some sort of kingmaker across the region.

I have written a scathing blog entry on this, IMHO a shoe in for Neena, just shows how undemocratic the main parties are

In my view the reason Yvonne was not selected for either Erdington nor Walsall South is that she would have been a serious local candidate, it is clear she is not happy at all.

runners and riders, just Sandra's literature to come and first impressions

Sally Benton - born and bred in Walsall, local candidate, however still young and been in Westminister village for a while as an 'advisor'

Neena Gill - experienced politican, lives n Birmingham - the party choice I suspect

Sue Hayman - lives in the West Midlands, seems a very able politican

Valerie Vaz - only outsider, experience in local politics,

So with only Sandra's to come looks actually a decent choice but literature is too bland to decide on policy, so down to the hustings next Friday

Hustings all over, quite good really would have liked a combined Q&A with all the candidates

instead we had a 10 minute speech followed by 20 mins of questions

won;t say at this moment who I favour we have a preferential vote

but as stated before three clear favourites and one of the outsiders for me really was impressive

you could tell the respect for Bruce and the candidate who will get my vote is the one I feel will make the best MP for the constituents and not the party

tough choice between two

The count is today. It's come down to a three horse race and second preferences could be the decider.

believe the result is due any time now

which riders then ?

Hayman, Gill I would guess and ?

Valerie Vaz

of course,

this was published on labour list a couple of days ago

http://www.labourlist.org/the-problems- ... on-process

when the results have been announced I will expand further on my thoughts with who I voted for, for me there was a clear favourite.

And the winner is ....Valerie Vaz!!!

I am surprised to be honest

any order of the results ?

none at the momment

Shoudl I be shocked at this ?

my feeling was that Sue Hayman was the favourite

Frankly got to say Valerie was good, she was my third preference, Neena Gill was just too professional a politican sounded like a plant, she will struggle to get a seat.

My first preference was for Sally Benton, but I knew she would not win, too young really, followed by Sue Hayman.

Valerie Vaz confirmed.

results went to final round of voting, in reverse order

Sandra Samuels
Sally Benton
Neena Gil
Sue Hayman
Valerie Vaz

Valerie won with around 60% of the final vote

BTW the official Unite candidate lost and as far as we know there was no factional voting

Really?

This seems perverse folks.

A quick check of my previous posts will show you that I despise the Labour Party with a passion, but as Sandra Samuels used to be my Councillor (Park Ward, Wolverhampton, early in the millenium) for a few years I honestly don't get how she would finish in last place.

We all know that she has the cloud of a criminal investigation hanging over her but she is nonetheless an excellent public speaker and a soaring intellect widely regarded as a darling of the Labour Party. How on earth could Keith Vaz's sister (what a curse!) and failed MEP Neena Gill score above Ms Samuels???

I've never heard of Sue or Sally so would not wish to cast an opinion but could all 4 of these really be better than Sandra? This seems a truly bizarre result IMO and I would really welcome an insiders view, as I'm sure Sandra would, so she could work out where she went wrong!