Nick Palmer MP

[Yahoorsur]

Sorry, Henry, while your piece will be music to the eyes of many here, you’re generalising from your own circle in a way that simply doesn’t match my experience or, more important, the experience of other MPs in marginal seats who I’ve talked to. Remember that I plan at present to oppose the scheme myself, though I can see a perfectly reasonable case for outside investment and expertise. Points to balance yours:

- MPs were struck by how small the union lobby was. I went to the Midlands section, where MPs present almost outnumbered the people who’d come to lobby us. My union, UNITE, is formally in favour of the campaign against, and UNITE is my union. They’re always urging MPs to do this and that. They’ve not bothered on this one - every communicaiton is about Lindsay Hoyle’s improved redundancy Bill. Signing the EDM is an easy way to indicate concern, but it’s a restful option as we know the Bill’s not coming up for months, and there will be concessions by then.

- The UCW has organised a postcard campaign against. I actually have more cards than anyone else I’ve talked to - around 40. Most MPs report getting single figures.

- We’ve just contacted 3000 people (out of 5000) in a by-election. where we had a swing to Labour. Numerous national issues came up (both Tories and BNP fought almost exclusively on national issues, to their cost) - so far as I know, only one mentioned this, and he wasn’t making it a key issue (he said, “I’ll vote Labour, but I hope you’ll personally oppose post office privatisation” - I said “probably” and he said “good”).

- Activism in the Nottingham area is at its highest for at least five years. We had over 50 helpers on by-election day, and today I’ve just got back from a sally with 25 others to help out in South Derbyshire (hello, woody - don’t suppose you live in Swadlincote?).

How to explain the discrepancy? Partly I understand you to say you haven’t actually been ringing round and found the response awful, you just think it will be? Also, in our area the Labour base is Guardian+ethnic with very little union involvement (I don’t think Broxtowe CLP has any active union affiliates at all, though UNITE gives them some money) - I get the impression the union wing is much more significant in your area?

I’d have agreed with a milder point - I don’t think it’s wise to pick this particular fight and to pick it now, and both MPs and members are concerned. But IMO it’s not the enormous deal-breaker that you reckon.

A final point that nobody seems to have picked up: if you read the proposal it doesn’t actually opt for part-sale of shares. It lists it as one of three options - with a nebulous ’strategic partnership’ as the main alternative. Plenty of wriggle room if needed.

by Nick Palmer MP March 1st, 2009 at 3:26 pm



Got this off a site i use now and again,'Political Betting.com,this post by Nick Palmer is very interesting,and would seem to contrdict,the impression that I was given in Cowdenbeath on Saturday,according to Nick Palmer ,the sell off is'nt an issue,any of Nick's constituents on here,would you like to comment?
he does make a point that there may be concessions in the next few months,(I dont)

[rockytony67]

- The UCW has organised a postcard campaign against. I actually have more cards than anyone else I’ve talked to - around 40. Most MPs report getting single figures.

The dope doesn't even know the name of the union, or at least have the decency to get it right after receiving 40 postcards, tells you all you need to know

[norbert]

- The UCW has organised a postcard campaign against. I actually have more cards than anyone else I’ve talked to - around 40. Most MPs report getting single figures.

The dope doesn't even know the name of the union, or at least have the decency to get it right after receiving 40 postcards, tells you all you need to know

the ironic thing is that the middle class Guardianista type with his or her professional busy body non - job in the public sector used to form the hard core of Brown's support - sorry but I see right through that MP - it's all don't rock the boat boys ?

UCW !