Election chaos

Along with many other candidates, I have been contacted by voters who have applied for postal votes which have yet to arrive.

This includes people who will be out of Cornwall next week on holiday. The paperwork should have been sent out on 22 May, but for many people the ballots had not arrived when they had to leave for their holidays.

And then there is the scandal about certain postal ballots - that did arrive - not including all the candidates’ names.

The whole thing is a disgrace and democracy in Cornwall has been even further damaged as a consequence. A full inquiry is needed.

Thank you to Radio Cornwall

It was good to take part in a Radio Cornwall debate on Thursday, alongside representatives of the three main London Parties (Gerald Chin-Quee – Labour; Jim Currie – Conservative; Ann Kerridge – Liberal Democrat) and an Independent candidate (Mike Waters). I certainly hope I did MK justice.

We were not originally invited to attend. In excluding us, the BBC had failed to take into account our success in recent district council elections. Following a discussion on election statistics, they quickly relented however.

I would like to thank Radio Cornwall for that and I hope they are equally inclusive when we get to the General Election.

Election update

I am in sitting at my computer looking at the dreadful wet weather outside. It feels to me that I always need to be outside when it is raining and yet, when it is beautiful and sunny, there always seems to be so much going on that keeps me off the campaign trail.

That said, in my unitary election campaign, my main leaflet has been delivered to over 95% of the division and the response has been very positive. Later today, I hope to be out in some of the more rural parts of St Enoder Parish visiting a number of farms and hamlets.

I have not seen much of more election opponents, neither of whom live in the division – the Conservative is from Newquay and the Lib Dem comes from St Stephen.

For the European election, 272,200 election communications have been delivered throughout Cornwall by the Royal Mail. I remain very proud that the people of Cornwall will have the opportunity to vote for Cornwall on June 4th.

I have also been extremely busy trying to generate publicity forthis campaign. I have done interviews for Radio Gloucester, Radio Solent and Radio Cornwall, as well as BBC Spotlight, who I have been in discussions for a number of days in an attempt to get fair coverage for our campaign. Sadly, it is likely that our TV airtime will be negligible but, at least, we will be represented on a Radio Cornwall debate for the local elections tomorrow.

Radio 4 also interviewed me for a programme about the South West Euro-seat, but I had to travel all the way to Taunton for the interview. I just hope it will have been worth it.

More election updates soon.

MK council candidates

The unitary council nominations are in and I can report that MK has 33 candidates. This is the largest number of candidates that we have ever fielded in a single round of elections to a principal councils or councils.

In my ward, I am opposed by a Conservative from Newquay and a Liberal Democrat from St Stephen. I understand they could not find candidates from within St Enoder Parish to take me on.

The full list is as below. Why not see if there is a candidate near to you, who you could help.

Bude South - Jaqi Heard
Bugle - Alli Mills
Callington - Andrew Long
Camborne Central - Zoe Fox
Camborne North - John Rowe
Camborne South - Stuart Cullimore
Camborne West - Mike Champion
Falmouth Arwenack - Pete Dudley
Falmouth Gyllyngvase - Kat Boijer
Feock & Kea – Lance Dyer
Gulval and Heamoor - Phil Rendle
Kelly Bray - Glenn Renshaw
Ladock, St Clement & St Erme - Annie Ostapenko-Denton
Liskeard North - Roger Holmes
Lostwithiel - Julie Tamblin
Mabe - Jacqui Davey
Mount Hawke & Portreath - Ray Chubb
Newlyn and Mousehole - Simon Reed
Padstow - Ron Brown
Penryn East and Mylor - Duane Glasby
Penwithick - Matt Luke
Poundstock - Paul Sousek
Probus - Alan January
Rame - Jeremy Evans
Redruth Central - Mike Hall
St Austell Bethel - Peter Morton Nance
St Enoder - Dick Cole
Threemilestone & Gloweth - Kevin Ostapenko-Denton
Troon & Beacon -Alan Sanders
Truro Moresk - Conan Jenkin
Truro Boscawen - Joanie Willett
Truro Tregolls - Loic Rich
Wendron - Loveday Jenkin

A new future

It has been a busy few weeks and, as a result, I sadly neglected this blog for the last month or so.

To bring everyone back up-to-date, I have officially resigned my job as an archaeologist with Cornwall Council in order to stand for election to the Council. I have worked for Cornwall County Council for 14 years, but it is not permitted for employees of Councils to stand for election to the same Council that they work for.

It means a large drop in my income, but I felt I had no other option as we need MK councillors on the new Council who will speak up for Cornwall.

My colleagues at work were very kind and organised a wonderful send-off with gifts which included a wheelbarrow, a teddy bear (see right), a painting, an aerial photograph of some local china clay works and more. Their kind works were also much appreciated.

I have also agreed to become MK’s lead candidate in the Euro-elections, so that the people of Cornwall have the chance to vote for a political party 100% committed to Cornwall.

It is my promise that I will use my blog to give a regular commentary of the election campaign over the next 4 weeks.