Have Liberal Democrat attacks on Luciana Berger gone too far?
Hot on the heels of Liberal Democrat Colin Eldridge getting told off by Michael Shields family for using them on a leaflet, today the Daily Post's business editor Bill Gleeson gets stuck in.
In his letter from the editor on the opening page of the Daily Post's business magazine Gleeson gets into full flow.
Gleeson's foray into the political scene may be indicative that some of the wider public think that attacks on Luciana Berger have gone too far.
Has Eldridge's campaign gone too far? Gleeson certainly thinks so, here is the full piece:
I received a disturbing election leaflet from the Liberal Democrats last week.
Posted through my letter box, the Lib-Dems' "Liverpool Today" glossy publication included an article that attacked the Labour candidate for Wavertree, "London Luciana", for not being from around here.
Luciana Berger's London roots are mentioned 12 times in a single article. Examples include "educated in a London school", "controversial London candidate" and "was standing as a councillor in London."
Colin Eldridge's London-phobia contrasts with his article's numerous references to his own "local" connections. But I can't helping thinking he's stretching the point when he makes something of the fact that his partner, Laura Gilmore, was head girl at Bishop Eton primary school. Whoop, whoop.
The fact is, Mr Eldridge is thin on detail about his own origins. All that his leaflet reveals about himself is that he currently lives at 50 Rathbone Road.
The implication is that you should vote for Mr Eldridge because he has better local connections and you should send London Luciana packing back down south because . . . well, she's not from around here.
So does this parochialism mean only local people can stand for election in any given constituency? Such an approach would certainly have reshaped British political history.
Yorkshire-born Harold Wilson would not have represented Huyton and didn't Margaret Thatcher represent a north London constituency, even though she came from Lincolnshire?
Mr Eldridge's party leader, Nick Clegg, was born of Russian and Dutch stock in very leafy Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, yet he is MP for inner-city Sheffield Hallam. Not even Mr Clegg's wife, a Spaniard, has a Sheffield connection! The last Lib-Dem MP for the Wavertree area was "Essex David", or Lord Alton of Liverpool, as he styles himself these days. Should he have been driven back south?
If we are going to be prejudiced about outsiders, should Fernando Torres and Vasily Petrenko go home?
As for "local" Colin, he was, it turns out, born and educated at St Bartholomew's school in Newbury, Berkshire, and attended the University of the West of England, wherever that is, and was until a few years ago a councillor in Bristol.
A woolly back if ever there was one. If you want my vote, Colin, you should stop talking about your girlfriend's achievements when she was aged 11 and instead tell me what you're going to do about income tax, business taxes and the economy generally. Indeed, how are you and your party going to make inward investors, including those from London, feel welcome in this part of the world?
Or would you prefer that anybody not hitched to a former Bishop Eton headgirl took the hint and kept their investment cash, their jobs and their funny London ways to themselves?
Pots, kettles and the word black come to mind.
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When election campaigns get personal, both sides always try to stake out a moral high ground. But in reality no candidate will turn the other cheek when slurred by an opponent and will seek to give back a taste of the same medicine.
So lets start bringing out the pots and kettles...
Colin came to Liverpool a decade ago, and has been attacked by Labour for being "an outsider" on an almost daily basis for this.
The Labour myth that he is from Bristol proves the line that if you repeat a lie often enough people will eventually believe it.
The shameless bullying of Laura Gillmore, simply for being Colin's girlfriend, with her picture splashed across the front page of Labour leaflets across the city, with Joe Anderson claiming that (despite two degrees and vast experience) she wasn't qualified for a 6 month temping office job.
The same Labour leaflet claiming Laura was from Somerset, which came as a major surprise to both her parents in Allerton and her old school friends.
That's just for starters.
So it's perhaps no wonder that Colin would want to point out he is settled here with a local girl, against a Labour candidate who moved here 6 weeks ago, and who will return to London just as quickly if she doesn't win.
But perhaps Bill should have read a little less selectively, since the same magazine includes 4 pages that talk about education and tax policies, and to suggest otherwise is less than honest.
Tom said:
"Now watch all the Labour hacks run on to the board, criticise the journalist and attempt to change hearts and opinions through pure bullying".
That was the Lib Dem reaction to an earlier article on this site. Seems, considering the post above, they know their own tricks best. Eldridge's campaign has been reduced to petty personal politics.
Interesting piece.
Andrew does a very good job at levelling the playing field for those of us in Wavertree who don't see the political leaflets in other parts of the city.
There have always been personal attacks and jibes in politics - each side using anything they can to get an advantage over the opposition. However, when the election finally rears its ugly head, the good folk of Wavertree will have to decide (or not, for those who can't be bothered) who to vote for, and who is best able to represent their views in Parliament. I'm not saying that people from outside of Liverpool are unable to do this, but we need to ask ourselves who is *best* placed to do it, and who has the policies that best reflect that aim.
One fundamental question is this... who understands Liverpool and the needs of the citizens of Wavertree better? The person who lives here, works here, and already represents people here, or the person has lived here for six(?) weeks?
"Lib dems in massive Hypocrit shocker"
Have they actually said that they are going to agree to Mrs Shields requests that her picture is no longer used?
I wasnt aware that the council that Colin helps run actually SACKED her whilst she was going through that terrible ordeal with Michael.
How shameful.
As a wavertree resident who is a floating voter, Im still undecided who to vote for.
Im not fan of new Labour, but equally with Bill Gleeson that where someone is from is largely an irrelvenace.
I do find these personal attacks on the Labour candidate (and they are more than the normal rough and tumble associated with politics) paticulary vulgar and spiteful.
I certainly cant vote for a political party who try to make an issue out of who a candidates ex boyfriend is (or isnt) How disgusting and irrelvant.
And just when weâÂÂre talking about attacks going too far Mr. Bill Gleeson couldnâÂÂt miss his chance on doing it against Miss Laura Gilmore. Shame his lack of class proves that just as Luciana Berger showed during the Party People Debate last week, he has no idea what heâÂÂs talking about.
It is outrageous the way Mr. Gleeson is ranting on about an article that just wanted to show us a little bit more about the Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for Wavertree Colin Eldridge, not to mention the way heâÂÂs sarcastically attacking Miss Gilmore for what?âÂÅ Being from Liverpool or perhaps for being in a relationship with the Lib Dem Candidate?
It is also a shame how Bill completely forgot to mention (or perhaps he didnâÂÂt even read) the rest of what he calls an âÂÂelection leafletâ as IâÂÂm pretty sure it is actually a Magazine. Such includes articles about several issues on which Colin Eldridge has been working on. So, do you want to know what the Liberal Democrats are going to do regarding economy? Go to page 6. But not only that, you can also find articles about education (pages 2 and 3) and Nick CleggâÂÂs point of view and plans regarding tuition fees (page 8). In fact, I believe that the only thing that might be missing in this publication is an index, which I think might come in handy for you Mr. Gleeson.
The facts are as follows:
Colin Eldridge is proudly the Local Choice as heâÂÂs been living in Liverpool for nearly ten years and working for the Wavertree constituency for 7 years. He understands the people from the city and their needs as he simply and basically is one of them. Miss Luciana Berger is not.
Ok, letâÂÂs not make decisions based on peopleâÂÂs backgrounds but on their knowledge about the area itself (*we hear Luciana in the background shouting desperately âÂÂno, please letâÂÂs not!!!âÂÂ*) Luciana BergerâÂÂs campaign is falling apart and IâÂÂm sure her performance at several public events has been a key factor for this happening. She doesnâÂÂt understand the people from Liverpool and on top of all that sheâÂÂs been trying to fool them by lying in her own leaflets; using photos of people that donâÂÂt live in the constituency or that are not even from Merseyside. She has even insulted womenâÂÂs liking for football as according to her âÂÂgirls donâÂÂt know about itâ and now that weâÂÂre talking about sports letâÂÂs not get drastic and start thinking about sending Fernando âÂÂEl Niñoâ Torres back to Spain because even if he appears to be made out of glass sometimes, he does bring something good to the team as then again HE UNDERSTANDS IT and also because letâÂÂs be honestâÂÅ heâÂÂs fit.
âÂÂAll that his leaflet reveals about himself is that he currently lives at 50 Rathbone Roadâ Well, I think thatâÂÂs better than not living in the constituency at all or staying in Jane KennedyâÂÂs house until getting selected as the official Labour Candidate for the Wavertree seat; thatâÂÂs exactly what Miss Berger did. I recall getting one of her leaflets through my door in which she claimed sheâÂÂd be moving to the area once sheâÂÂs elected as MP; does that mean that if she doesnâÂÂt win sheâÂÂll be going back to London? ThatâÂÂs what I call dedication.
True, maybe the fact of where ColinâÂÂs girlfriend was brought up is not relevant at all and shouldnâÂÂt have any effect on people when they decide who to vote for when the time comes, but this publication is just an example of someone that has nothing to hide. In this magazine Eldridge is showing us more about himself than just the politicianâÂÂs face weâÂÂre so used to knowing about, I wonder if Luciana would dare to do such a thingâÂÅ IâÂÂve heard her partner is quite a piece of work.
There must be steam coming off the internet at "the Garmoyle" today!
chuckle chuckle what fun elections are.
Has anyone listened to Roger Phillips today?
There surely must of been some stooges on talking about how wonderful Colin is?
no doubt they will be "ex labour" voters too!
Sue, a chief criticism of the Labour candidate is that she appears to have been parachuted in, not because she particularly cares about Liverpool, or for her political ability (which she has so far been found lacking) but for her high powered connections which include The Blair family, Jane Kennedy, Labour Friends of Israel, and her boyfriend who is a Government Minister! These are not Lib Dem accusations, they come from within the Labour Party, particularly from Peter Kilfoyle, and been widely reported in the national press.
In that context it becomes relevant, and any political party would naturally make a point of reminding voters that their opponent is embroiled in civil war.
By way of contrast, a good example of what is vulgar and disgusting campaigning is given to us by Luciana's current boyfriend Sion Simon MP with his infamous internet video inviting people to sleep with David Cameron's wife and take his children away.
Dear Bill:
If you consider that Colin Eldridge's lealflet lacks of information about his plans regarding economy I invite you to check out Luciana's publications. You might suffer a heart attack.
Why don't you go and tell HER that 'if she wants your vote she should stop using fake photos and start getting informed about what her policies are'? Every single time she makes a public appearance she seems to be a bit confused about what's happening with not only the Labour Party but her own campaign.
I really don't understand what this whole fuzz about being an 'outsider' is about.
I'm Mexican and while I lived in Liverpool that used to be my nickname 'The Mexican'. It never bothered me and I never got offended.
Mind you... I do know who Bill Shankly was :)
Yepa, yepa, yepa!
x
You don't need to understand, you can't vote here!
neither could Luciana until a couple of weeks ago
The revisionism of the Lib Dems knows no bounds. They would regularly have us believe that Colin has been here since he was virtually a lad. Ten years a poster above says. Truth is that ten years ago Colin was still a councillor for Cotham ward in Bristol. In 2002 he was still listed on his website as the PPC for Woodspring.
He turned up in Liverpool seemingly out of the blue and all of a sudden we heard he was standing in Wavertree, and was elected onto the Council. Very strange. Anyone could be forgiven for thinking he was parachuted in to stand in Wavertree (in order to satisfy his ambition to be an MP by the time he was 30). Surely not!?
The internet deletes nothing.
Look at Colin's hair!!
http://web.archive.org/web/20011215145349/http://www.colineldridge.org.uk/
North Somerset Lib Dem news from 2002. 10 years..pull the other one fibbers!
:)
Lib Dems play a dirty game.
Luciana gets my vote.
The Mexican should go home.
Kaboom.
Does Elena want to clarify what she means by "go home"?
I dont think anyone has said 10 years.. they have said nearly ten years surely?
if...
Lib Dems play a dirty game.
Luciana gets my vote.
The Mexican should go home.
then...
elena shows how much of politics she knows
I have a fair understanding of politics and I think the Lib Dems should be ashamed of how they campaign, it is dirty and unnecessary. Maybe more focus on what they are standing for could get them a few more votes, oh wait, they don't know do they????
To clarify my comment on 'The Mexican' going home - Not Bristish, can't vote, irrelevent comment and Mice are vermin!!
Ele
I enjoyed reading Bill Gleeson's letter in the Daily Post Business magazine. I, too, got the astonishingly patronising Eldridge leaflet.
After a little research of my own I can share the following 10 things not generally known about Colin:-
1 He was born in London.
2 He was brought up in Newbury and studied in Bristol.
3 He was elected as a councillor to Bristol City Council in 1998.
4 He stood for Parliament in 2001 in the Bristol constituency of Woodspring and was regected by the voters, the Lib/Dems dropping from second to third place.
5 In January 2000 he said "I have made Bristol my home. I fell in love with the city when I came to study and it will be here I stay."
6 He declared his support for Bristol City Football Club "through thin and thin".
7 In 2001 he declared himself "the local candidate standing up for Woodspring".
8 In 2001 he said "I once said I wanted to be an MP by the time I was 30, party leader at 40 and Prime Minister by the time I was 50 - I still hold that ambition."
9 In 2001 he said "the Lib/Dems are set to win", "It's a two horse race" and came third.
10 He came to Liverpool to stand for Parliament in 2005, called himself the local man and was again rejected by the voters.
Sound familiar?
Ellie Gellard can't vote here either.
I know Labour like to play up to the daily mail these days, but going round calling foreign posters "vermin" and telling them to "go home" is childish and unnecessary.
I'm sure most decent Labour supporters would be ashamed of you.
I'm not going to comment on this post after this one more comment.
I would personally like the Labour Campaign team to publically distance themselves from Elena's comments about "the Mexican".
I'm all for the banter and all for the political battles. But when terms such as "vermin" and "go home" are used I think this is not on.
You're the Labour Party for crying out loud, not the BNP. According to your party creed you are championing social equality and fairness.. the above post literally wipes all that out.
Thanks Elena, you have just inspired the campaign team in the Garmoyle to work even harder.
Well if he call himself a mouse...
Labour will get my vote because I favour MOST but not all of their policies.We can't have everything now can we? I agree with the BNP about immigration and it riles me that someone who can't even vote in my country feels they have a right to pass comment.
Labour can be ashamed but at the end of the day they are still going to count my vote :)
Elena
"it riles me that someone who can't even vote in my country feels they have a right to pass comment."
...unless they are supporting the Labour Party, which is why you have been happy to allow American/Canadian/Australian moguls to own British newspapers and tv stations. Not just passing comment but telling British people how to vote.
What a coincidence that you only started objecting when they switched back to the Tories?
As for agreeing with the BNP on immigration, it just shows what an idiot you are Ms Gellard
the Distinguished independent Labour MP Chris Mullin spoke his final ever words in parliament yesterday
"The great thing about democracy is that, although harsh things are sometimes said, we are not actually trying to kill each other. Differences are ultimately resolved at the ballot box. One side wins; one side loses; and the loser lives to fight another day. Mr. Speaker, those are the last words that I shall speak in this place"
What a fine sentiment and one both parties in Liverpool would do well to live by in coming weeks. The Lib Dems and Labour are as bad as each other and have turned this blog into bickering nonsense. what must "normal" people thing who may read it.
3 cheers for Chris Mullin
Please, stop with the mock outrage and grow up Tom. "Elena" for all anyone knows could be a figment of the Lib Dem's imagination.
Think about what you are asking and then realise just how incredibly naive it makes you sound.
I think Heavens above needs to read a few posts.. We all enjoy satire but the above from whatsherface is actually disgusting.
"realise just how incredibly naive it makes you sound." Actually I applaude Tom for taking such a stand. If Elena was being sarcastic I suggest she acts with more class and use other mediums for comedy.
Racism isn't funny.
You should perhaps re-read them yourself. Tom is suggesting the Labour Party apologises for what some random person (who for all we know could just be a Lib Dem with a pseudonym) says.
If we followed that path, all parties wouldn't be able to function - having to apologise for everything anyone said. His suggestion therefore, is naïve.
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