Categories: durham, election-2010
Date: 01 May 2010 06:09:41
In the last 12 hours I have encountered all of the people I mention in my title, (oh and I've managed a couple of hours sleep).
Let me go in reverse order. Firstly the Bishop. It was the hustings lastnight and the bishop in question was Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, who was chairing the debate. A controversial figure I found him to be polite, gracious, sensible and generally lovely. That is not to say I agreed with all he put forward as "the Christian position", but he made his points well and one felt that he could respect those disagreeing aslong as they respected him.
The politicians were a group of people who also impressed me last night. Having sat through hustings before what came across was the quality of all the candidates in Durham (with the exception of the one who was missing).
Now some of what the UKIP guy said I found disturbing and a little insulting at times, but even he made some good and useful contributions and put them forward in a gentle spirit.
The Tory really impressed me....partly because he was ready to disagree with elements of the bishops New Right approach and speak up for single parents and say why he felt clause 28 had been wrong, and a mistake on the part of his party. He is only 20 and I hope he goes far in the party because he seems to be a sensible young man of substance.
Then we get to the main two contenders. Ms Woods and Ms Blackman-Woods. Firstly Carol Woods, the Lib Dem she gave some good answers, particularly in relation to family and relationships and I agreed with much of what she said. My main concern with her performance was her apparent nervousness and unease in saying things she knew wouldn't go down well with the audience. She seemed very uncomfortable at times. The only real points of disagreement I had with her related to her view on thinking religion and politics don't mix institutionally and that we should have a fully elected second chamber.
Roberta Blackman-Woods by contrast was quite comfortable and confident even when explaining why she believed in things that she knew were going to be unpopular with much of the audience. Whilst I know I would disagree with her on various aspects of New Labour policy which she agrees with on the areas discussed last night I have to say I was pretty much in agreement with her, apart from her being against the amendments drafted by the Lords on the equality and incitement to hatred laws.
On the basis of last night my decision for May 6th is now made. I am not voting for any party or leader. I can see elements of good in all 3, but generally they have all left me feeling betrayed and angry. However, I am voting for Roberta Blackman-Woods as a candidate. I believe she is a honest and hardworking constituency MP who will, in the areas not related to party policy represent my views. I also believe, most importantly, that should push come to shove she has the confidence to speak out well when saying something unpopular. That said I am aware of her humanity, having heard the tale told of how she was very rude and tried to pull rank with a poor steward at the Cathedral when they'd run out of service sheets. Still, that person has forgiven her for that.
The person I was proudest of last night though was TOH also known as Fermat's Margin, who I am sure will be along at some point to give her account. Situation was that a few minutes previous to "the incident" the bishop had encouraged people to express their support for points made by clapping and so forth. Well, when the Tory candidate made some excellent points about what had been wrong with clause 28 we clapped. (We being me and TOH and nobody else in a packed church). So anyway the bishop said seeing as we had clapped did we want to respond. TOH took the mic and responded briefly, appropriately, bravely and maturely. She explained she was both gay and Christian and the sense of isolation that gave her sometimes, and what the effects of clause 28 had been on her, and so why she had wanted to say she agreed with Nick, (the Tory bloke).
Oh and I managed to get a plug in for Street Lights at the end when the bishop was saying he didn't know if we had Street Pastors in Durham.
Anyway home for a few hours to sleep and then it was up and off for dawn by the river to watch a spot of morris being supported by some traditional folk music. This was the Durham Uni Folk Society Mayday thing. Have to say walking by the river hearing the river rush and the birds sing in the early morn really made me appreciate the artistic skill of the creator. Note here, I wasn't getting into pagan ritual. I enjoy spectacle and I also wanted to celebrate (i) alternative culture and (ii) International Workers Day. Also meant I could get into the library early, because it's currently open 24/7.