Media just as much to blame for the Brexshit we're in.

Brexiters who are in the media or national politics are either stupid or pandering to their audience. So say I! Those who are radio presenters are essentially audio journalists, much like a reporter for the Daily Express. The readership of the Daily Express expects an anti-immigration slant OR pro-Brexit twist so the reporter writes a story to fit.

The same HAS to apply for radio presenters. They are in the numbers business. A commercial radio station is almost entirely interested in listening figures. No listeners = no advertising revenue.

I remember Iain Dale back in June 2016 maintaining a position of 'undecided' on the IN/OUT question. He finally backed Leave - at least publicly. At the time I thought this wasn't an action based on sound logic, unless one has calculated that for commercial reasons it would be better not to lose your audience.

So, when Danny Dyer famously blasted David Cameron I scanned the debate with interest, especially when Iain Dale tried to make capital out of it. I might be wrong about Dale in my assertion but I doubt it. In he full exchange he tries add weight to 'idiotic tweet' jibe at me.

Take a look at @IainDale's Tweet: https://twitter.com/IainDale/status/1012685399666429953?s=09


------------------------------------------------ Tags croydon, greenparty

Election results from 2018

Private Eye

The result in Beddington North was quite a surprise to many observers. Councillor Nick Mattey, formerly a Liberal Democrat, latterly a Green managed to get re-elected as an Independent with two other councillors. This news also managed to get into Private Eye magazine (above).

I chatted to Nick Mattey (his graphic above - poor spelling of my name) throughout the campaign. Our involvement in the Stop The Incinerator campaign has resulted in a friendship.

Independents getting elected in London is an amazing phenomenon. However, the election of these three in Beddington North was not a complete surprise:

1) Nick Mattey has been an active councillor in Beddington North. People know him. He has fully canvassed the households in the ward. If he wasn't a sitting councillor it would have been almost impossible to achieve success.

2) The Lib Dems in Sutton are serial leafleters around election time. Nick managed to orchastrate a campaign which exceeded the Lib Dems in terms of sheer volume and cost. I know he spoke to the Electoral Commission to work out how he could spend his way to success.

3) Voters are cynical about politicians more than ever before. Voters are learning that voting for a political party doesn't mean 'X'. It could mean 'Y'. For example, if you are a BREXIT voter, which political party represents your voice? The people of Beddington North have experienced deceit on an unprecedented scale. It was logical to turn to three residents who, total combined, have lived in the ward for many decades.

The 1.96 per cent votes I polled was to be expected given Green votes were probably going to the three Independents. This coupled with the fact that I don't actually live in the borough and both Labour and the Conservatives threw everything at the ward to win these three vulnerable Lib Dem seats suggests the result was fair.  On average Green candidates polled between 2 and 3 per cent in Sutton.

Election count at Westcroft Leisure Centre

I took the above picture at the Count. Nick Mattey is in the foreground. You can see the other tables have finished counting but because of the Independents - bundled in with the split votes - the counting continued long after other wards had declared.

Meanwhile,

CHIPSTEAD, HOOLEY AND WOODMANSTERNE

TIM ARCHER - CONSERVATIVE - 1357

PETER PARROTT - LABOUR - 276

CHRIS HOWELL - LIB DEM - 196

SHASHA KHAN - GREEN - 183

JAMES CLACK - UKIP - 122

The result in Chipstead, Hooley and Woodmansterne was completely expected. The Tory won by landslide. Interestingly less than 100 votes separated the other candidates.

Scoring a similar margin of victory to the Conservative was the irrepressible Jonathan Essex in Redhill East ward. He is one of the legends in the UK Green party. More good news was the election of Hal Brown in Earlswood and Whitebushes. Full details here.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Beddington North AND Chipstead Hooley and Woodmansterne

Full list of candidates for Beddington North

I've been leafleting with colleagues in Beddington North ward in London borough of Sutton. As usual the Lib Dems are manically leafleting the ward to hold onto their three councillors. The result this time is uncertain. My logic is that if people are concerned with the incinerator, which is located in the ward, they shouldn't look further than someone who has fought 10 years to to stop it. The above newspaper article is from 2009 and I am using it at a basis for the final leaflet. Labour and the Tories also think they will win this ward. Basically, everyone standing genuinely thinks they can win and this will lower the threshold to finish in the top three.

Anti-incinerator campaigner Nick Mattey is standing as an independent with two others and he is throwing everything into the campaign. Nick is bit like Marmite, not everyone's favourite yeast base spread.

I bumped into him when leafleting and it was good that we still have good respect for each other even though we in a battle to win the seat.

Me and Nick Mattey

I am also standing in Reigate and Banstead council elections in my home ward.

Tags croydon, greenparty

Incinerator burns

Photo credit: Peter Alfrey

I can't begin to explain how sad this image makes me feel.

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Tags croydon, greenparty