Shane to run for MP...

[DRiddle]

I don't think anyone (including me) have claimed that i'd be an outstanding candidate. Also, would you care to elaborate on the last line of your post?

[pensionater]

I did mention two names in the post,but if the cap fits.

[DRiddle]

Hence why I asked which one you meant...

[The Great Dictator]

Don't be drawn on the subject DRiddle, it's the usual nonsense.

Labour will win whoever stands, the also rans will end up with bills for failure of £5000-£15,000.

Your friends and relatives will vote for you but you will still end up with a bloody nose and 943 votes.

Forget about it, stay where you are, you will never satisfy this load of moaning gits in a million years.

[DRiddle]

As I say, i've never even considered it. I'm not arrogant enough to think I could pull it off, I don't have the political experience to be confident I'd do a good job for the town, and it doesn't really interest me.

Maybe I could add something at local level, but then again, is it worth the time and trouble?

[steveL]

"Don't be drawn on the subject DRiddle, it's the usual nonsense.

Labour will win whoever stands, the also rans will end up with bills for failure of £5000-£15,000."

This is precisely the attitude that does indeed always lead to a Labour win.

I'm quite convinced that if Brash stood as an Independent then he would win. It's really a question of what he would do next.

Personally, I think he'd be quickly wooed back into the Labour fold; the carrot being a free-hand to sort out the local party as he saw fit. The chance to settle a few scores would be irresistible.

[Private Fraser]

Well done Shane, the alternative could have been a parachuted in, chinless pranny using it as a learning curve to be blooded or young Wells! Out of those three options, you'd get my vote.

[The Great Dictator]

Dead right Steve, Brash would finish nowhere. The Labour machine will force the plebs away from watching the Jeremy Kyle show when it matters and they love a free pastie from Mr. Wright.

[SRMoore]

Thank for some of the kind words.

I have to agree with SteveL (much to his dismay) that you really shouldn't write the Tories off for the same reasons Steve gives.

I'm not going to stand here and pretend that I am the perfect man for the job, nor will I pretend I have all of the answers to our towns woes. What I will do is clearly state that I hope that if the other political groups in Hartlepool honestly want to see a change then they back my bid. I'll happy to meet with all of them on a regular basis and make sure every concern they have is heard and addressed.

As far as I am concerned, the next General Election (in Hartlepool) is not based on who you want as Prime Minister, but who you want to represent you in parliament. Do you want an MP who has a long track record of basing their decisions on what they believe will please their party elite and allow them to climb the greasy pole or one who will fight tooth and nail for the betterment of this town, regardless of what party big wigs think?

I know which I'd prefer and I hope that even the likes of honest socialists like Stig can bring themselves to give me, Shane Moore - not the Conservatives, their support so that the town we live in can get what it deserves.

[Alec]

What this Town needs is a true independent MP who is elected to do the best he/she can for the residents, businesses and visitors to Hartlepool. Unfortunately Shane would come under the Tory whip and be told how to vote. I believe that Cllr Brash would love to be the  MP for Hartlepool, but also believe that he would be welcomed back into the Labour fold and would quickly forget about Hartlepool and its residents. So as I stated earlier what Hartlepool needs a truly independent MP but we wont find one who belongs to any of the established political party's. 

[brassed off monkey]

So WHO then Alec?

I think we should aim high............ well higher than the 4`11" encumbent we have at the moment.

[Alec]

Like I said we need a true independent to represent Hartlepool. All I can say is that at the next election I will not be voting Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, UKIP or BNP. I would rather spoil my ballot paper then vote for any of the above. Maybe Putting Hartlepool First could put forward a candidate. Lets face it they would not be any worse then our current MP.

So what would you suggest Perseus?

[The Great Dictator]

A Save our Hospital candidate would be the obvious choice to challenge Labour, if they had £50,000 to spend on the election campaign it might just do it. PHF is already tarnished so shouldn't bother and couldn't raise the money. A SoH wealthy backer could break the mould if it had the right candidate, just to remind you, when Tory Jeremy Middleton battled Iain Wright 7 years ago for Mandelson's seat they spent £95,000 on the failed campaign !

[grim reaper]

£95,000!!!!!!  That's a big ask for a little town. 
In a perverse way, it just shows the amount of money that can be made once you're in the 'inner circle' of politics.

There so many people on here expounding views on how the town should be run and to get rid of the dross that permeate throughout the council (and the upper echelons of the officers!).
Well, if it takes so much money to become an MP, why don't we have an account that we can deposit money for a candidate to take on the shysters?
I don't believe it would take anywhere near £95k now;
the people of this town MUST now see that the people they have put their trust in for so many years have now been seen in their true colours...self-serving and totally untrustworthy. 
Open the bank account, select a true Hartlepudlian and let's start the renewal of our great little town.

[for fawkes sake]

A Save our Hospital candidate would be the obvious choice to challenge Labour, if they had £50,000 to spend on the election campaign it might just do it. PHF is already tarnished so shouldn't bother and couldn't raise the money. A SoH wealthy backer could break the mould if it had the right candidate, just to remind you, when Tory Jeremy Middleton battled Iain Wright 7 years ago for Mandelson's seat they spent £95,000 on the failed campaign !

I'm interested to know why you think PHF is 'already tarnished'. My understanding from a previous post on here that it was PHF that instigated the on-going public inquiry and that they have been the only ones putting the pressure on over Manor Residents. It certainly hasn't been Labour or the three stooges.