HartlepoolPost Forum

Politics => Local Issues and Matters => Topic started by: pensionater on May 10, 2014, 08: PM

Title: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: pensionater on May 10, 2014, 08: PM
Can someone who goes under the name of "tenerifejohn" really say he's putting Hartlepool first.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: no6bus on May 10, 2014, 09: PM
I happen to know that tenerife John was a user name he used a long time ago when he was involved in a weekly newspaper in tenerife and has simply kept. I actually drive number 7 buses but kept no6bus so as not to confuse some of the less gifted on here.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: mk1 on May 10, 2014, 09: PM
Quote from: no6bus on May 10, 2014, 09: PM
I actually drive number 7 buses but kept no6bus so as not to confuse some of the less gifted on here.

I remember when you worked for United and were called '227'
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: Inspector Knacker on May 10, 2014, 10: PM
Better an expat than the present cowpat.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: notenoughsaid on May 11, 2014, 02: PM
   Reply to Pensionater....what is in a name.?   Because a man decides  to use a pseudonym whilst working abroad on a local newspaper does that bar him from standing  in an election in his own town?   I feel it is all getting a bit desperate and petty.   I  know the guy from our school days (50 + years ago ) . Sorry John!!! and he seems to me quite a good selection on behalf of PHF.   Our paths have rarely crossed over the years although I remember reading about his activities in Tenerife and being rather proud of a son of Hartlepool being involved and carrying the flag for the Town.   He appeared in the local Mail and I thought it was an interesting article from a personal point of view.
   Not so long back he posted using his full name on this  site.  Whats the problem.? Good luck to him and his son. Change is long overdue.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: pensionater on May 11, 2014, 06: PM
The real question is what amount of time will he be able to give to his constituents.When Driddle announced that his father was standing he was out of the country at the time(apparently).So i assume he still spends quite a bit of time abroad,reasonable questions that need answering  i believe.Maybe he's out of the country now.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: Pwilson on May 11, 2014, 06: PM
If a councillor is in another country it still has to be better than being in the parallel universe inhabited by the Labour-Conservative group of Hartlepool. 
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: Lucy Lass-Tick on May 11, 2014, 06: PM
Quote from: Pwilson on May 11, 2014, 06: PM
If a councillor is in another country it still has to be better than being in the parallel universe inhabited by the Labour-Conservative group of Hartlepool.

:) Well said Pwilson! @ Pensionater - If you look at The Hartlepool Post Facebook site (see the link on the front page), you can read about where John Riddle is and what he has has been doing ......
Title: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: Inspector Knacker on May 11, 2014, 06: PM
A councillor resident in another solar system would be an improvement on this  Lab Con love in .
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: pensionater on May 11, 2014, 06: PM
So you don't think it matters,ok.Just he doesn't mention it on his face book page,anyway don't bother with pages you have to join /like before you can comment on them. 
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: DRiddle on May 11, 2014, 07: PM
I've seen some bizarre threads in my 2 or 3 years frequenting this forum, but this one is right up there with the most ridiculous.

The logic seems to be that because someone has the word 'Tenerife' in their e-mail handle, that means they can't be a good councillor.

I'm sure my father can speak for himself but here are the facts.

He's lived in Hartlepool all his life (I think he's 64), apart from about 2 years between about 2002/3 when he was fortunate enough to be able to take early retirement and he did indeed move to Tenerife for a while.

He decided to move back, I think in early 2004 ish and moved back to Hartlepool, where he's lived for around the last 10 years.

So aside from the 62 or so years of his life he's lived here, you think Pensionater, that a couple of years sunning it in Tenerife around 10 years ago should rule him out?

You are also a very  strange individual if you think the fact that he has a couple of weeks holiday in Tenerife a year should rule him out. Do you think OTHER  councillors don't holiday?

You argument is without doubt the most ill thought out, badly constructed 'reason' to imply not to vote for someone I think I've ever heard.

Only in Hartlepool...

Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: mk1 on May 11, 2014, 07: PM
Quote from: DRiddle on May 11, 2014, 07: PM

The logic seems to be that because someone has the word 'Tenerife' in their e-mail handle, that means they can't be a good councillor.


Much simpler. It is 'PHF' that draws the vultures. No matter how many of these  bogus issues are  dealt with the same posters will bounce back  with another  fabrication. In short they will never be placated. I say feck em all. Don't even try to be nice to them.  Treat them the way they treat you.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: pensionater on May 11, 2014, 07: PM
Back in your kennel Mk1,i can't recall asking nobody not to vote for him,just think people should ask questions about any candidates no matter which party they represent.Like i said before i don't vote for people just because they tell me there the best thing since sliced bread,that's one of the reasons the town's in the state it is.Just find it funny that you want to give some people  a medal for asking questions when others get lambasted
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: mk1 on May 11, 2014, 08: PM
Quote from: pensionater on May 11, 2014, 07: PM
Just find it funny that you want to give some people  a medal for asking questions when others get lambasted

I don't lambast you for asking questions. Ask away.  That way we can see  how you 'questions' seem to be fairly narrowly focused. .



I see Riddle as somewhate naive in his  belief the stalkers can be reasoned with or won over by a cogent reply. They can not. They are driven by deep psychological  problem that can only be alleviated by  strong medication.   I think he wastes too much time being nice to 'them'. I would just tell 'them'  to go forth and multiply. 


If anyone wants to attack me then Give it your best shot. Just be aware I am not one for turning the other cheek and you might not like my response.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: pensionater on May 11, 2014, 08: PM
I don't want to ask you questions you are of no interest to me whatever.You really should try talking to people face to face instead of just in the virtual world.I think you'll find they don't all have an hidden agenda.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: mk1 on May 11, 2014, 08: PM
Quote from: pensionater on May 11, 2014, 08: PM
.You really should try talking to people face to face instead of just in the virtual world.



Do you think everyone who criticises you is a sad lonely person with no friends and a coward who would not dare talk like  this to anyone face to face?

Thats a really original claim. I do not think I have ever seen it made before.....................
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: pensionater on May 11, 2014, 09: PM
Mk1 if you attacked everyone the same then fair enough.The thing is you are very selective when it comes  to people not quite telling it like it is.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: mk1 on May 11, 2014, 09: PM
Quote from: pensionater on May 11, 2014, 09: PM
Mk1 if you attacked everyone the same then fair enough.The thing is you are very selective when it comes  to people not quite telling it like it is.

I don't tell anything 'as it is'. You must be confusing me with a  local blogger who suffers from tourettes.
I have also 'attacked' just about everyone here. I say (and was saying long before you arrived) that all politician become corrupt and that the only solution is a fixed term in office. That applies to PHF. Obviously I was remiss in expecting people to undestand they (PHF) are included in then phrase 'all politicians'.
There are regulars here who have attacked PHF. Notably the UKIPers. I have not  'attacked' them for this. I expect them to do it. They are a rival party. Shane has attacked Riddle and PHF. I expect Shane to do this. He is a rival.

What I will not stand by and watch is a bunch of loud-mouthed bullies joining  here for no other reason than to gang up on Riddle and by association PHF.
They engage in mob handed  personal  attacks  on him and they can be seen gloating about it on a local downmarket blogs.

Those tits  belong to me. Riddle is far too nice to be able  deal with these jokers. If they want a fight then I am up for it.

As for who gets elected I really do not expect a PHF landslide. Nor a UKIP one. I dare say it will be the odd seat here and there gradualy over a few years but the Lab-Con group will  more likely disintergate over some finacial scandal than get voted out. My  take is a hierarachy of what I do not want. The last people I want in charge are the  incumbents. I would be happier with PHF in charge than UKIP but at a pinch I can live with UKIP.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: Pwilson on May 11, 2014, 09: PM
MK1, just picking up on a couple of points in your last post.

I think councillors shouldn't be secure in a seat for life as some Labour stalwarts seem to have found themselves with.

Maybe there should be system (don't ask how it would work really) where councillors can only take any reward or stand for re-election of they can prove a series of successes in their ward & in their area of responsibility if they are portfolio holders or committee members.

Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: mk1 on May 11, 2014, 09: PM
It would be much simpler if there was  a 5 year time limit for any councillor.

Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: Pwilson on May 11, 2014, 09: PM
Wouldn't that just mean they were less likely to back big/long term projects?
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: mk1 on May 11, 2014, 09: PM
So  you think  only those with 'vision' would surround Seaton with the biggest landfill site in the UK?
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: steveL on May 11, 2014, 10: PM
Sadly, I don't think that there are that many people willing to step up to the plate, so to speak, to sustain limits on length of term. When we can't get people to vote, think how hard it is to get people to stand.

It's a sorry state of affairs but there you go.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: mk1 on May 11, 2014, 10: PM
It is only'hard' to get people to stand if they are a party choice. Open it so anyone can stand without all the hoops designed to keep out  'undesirables' and you will be trampled in the stampede.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: Pwilson on May 11, 2014, 10: PM
Quote from: mk1 on May 11, 2014, 09: PM
So  you think  only those with 'vision' would surround Seaton with the biggest landfill site in the UK?

I figured it was part of a longer term plan to turn Seaton into a medieval style fort themed resort with massive walls made of litter around it.

I think Steve is right about the limited number of people willing to step up to the plate, but maybe that would change if local politics was filled with people focused on local issues not the whim of a national party.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: steveL on May 11, 2014, 10: PM
Quote from: mk1 on May 11, 2014, 10: PM
It is only'hard' to get people to stand if they are a party choice. Open it so anyone can stand without all the hoops designed to keep out  'undesirables' and you will be trampled in the stampede.

Not sure if I follow that. Anyone can stand as a councillor, they don't have to align themselves with a party and if enough people support them they get elected.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: fred c on May 12, 2014, 07: AM
Why would anyone in their right mind want to stand as a councilor ?

Look at the vitriol the likes of Driddle has had to put up with both on here & on the Mails website, even his father has come in for a torrent of abuse from several of the moronic a****oles that have posted on here.

The one constant in the decline of Hartlepool as a town is A Labour MP & Council, that decline has become even more obvious under "The Deary Me Leader & His Mob".

I would be willing to give anybody & I mean anybody a chance to improve things, but I also recognise that things have become so bad that it would be an almost impossible task to reverse the damage caused by the inept governance by Labour.
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: pensionater on May 12, 2014, 05: PM
If you honestly believe Mk1 that all politicians in the end become corrupt,(and actually for once i don't disagree)then maybe the "don't vote"campaigners are right.What's the use  of voting if you get the same same old? .
Title: Re: will an expat make a good councillor?.
Post by: mk1 on May 12, 2014, 05: PM
It is not that they are evil people but after a while we all get delusions about our own importance. The  time-line is something like this:

I am new and thus will  make sure I am completely open and transparent.

I can not tell those people that 'X' is going to happen on them so for the good of the majority I will keep quiete on what is going to happen.

I can not let anyone else  get my seat. They will ruin all my good work. I know my party has member Y who is an out and out crook but  in order to keep the party in power this must be covered up. It is a price worth paying.


No one else can replace me. I am vital to my area's prosperity. No  dirty trick  is to be left unused in order to keep me in power.



I say it is the height of arrogance to believe  one is irreplacable and  there are 1000's of people in the town who could, at random, replace those in charge and there would not be the slightest difference in performance.

Everyone dies eventualy and as far as I am aware the world has never imploded because any one invdidual  was unable to continue in post.   

If you vote you keep the buggers on their toes and an eventual turfing out after a set period lessons the chance of building youself a nice fat pension via planning applications granted to  those who contribute most  to your favourite charideee