Mayoral Election April 2, 2005
Posted by in : News , comments closedThe Hartlepool Liberal Democrats have decided not to field a candidate for the forthcoming election.
The experience of the present Mayor is a clear recognition that the system does not work. Local councillors are reduced to a bit part role and have no power.
The Liberal Democrats believe that we should revert back to the old system and we will be pressing for a referendum in 2006 to remove the elected Mayor.
The Liberal Democrats in Hartlepool will concentrate all of their efforts into Jody Dunn winning the parliamentary seat. This is a very achievable objective and we also believe that it sends a clear message to the voters of Hartlepool that with their votes we can win and give back Hartlepool its voice.
Jody Dunn re-appointed as Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokeperson for Hartlepool November 1, 2004
Posted by in : News , comments closedLocal campaigner, Jody Dunn was re-selected as the Parliamentary Spokesperson for Hartlepool at a special meeting of Hartlepool Liberal Democrats.
The re-selection follows on from the amazing result that Jody Dunn and the Liberal Democrats gained at the recent by-Election in September this year, reducing the Labour candidates majority to only 2,033 votes and putting the Conservatives in fourth place.
After her re-selection, local Hartlepool campaigner Jody Dunn said:
“It is an absolute privilege to be re-selected as the Parliamentary Spokesperson for Hartlepool Liberal Democrats. The local campaign issues, such as the hospital, toxic waste and anti-social behaviour, that we highlighted during the by-election have not been forgotten. I will continue to campaign fiercely on these issues, on behalf of the people of Hartlepool.
“I am overwhelmed by the warmth and encouragement I have received from the people of Hartlepool since the by-election. I really believe that with some hard work we can do it at the General Election!”
Anger as ward at Hartlepool Hospital closes October 19, 2004
Posted by in : News , comments closedResponding to the news that Hartlepool Hospital Gynaecology Unit is to be closed just 15 days after the by-election, Jody Dunn says:
“This closure announcement will be seen as the people of Hartlepool as disgraceful and highly cynical.
“It is now widely accepted that this Government will say and do anything to win elections. After all that Tony Blair and John Reid promised, we now have this announcement of ward closure.
“The Lib Dems had real foundation for concerns about the hospital – we are sad to be proved right in this way.
“I will be looking for an early meeting with the hospital authorities.”
Gynaecology patients admitted to the hospital were previously treated in the ward, but will now be cared for in a female surgical ward. The move has been rapped by Dave Armstrong, regional officer for UNISON, who says the decision is a downgrade of services.
He criticised Hartlepool’s new MP Iain Wright, who pledged there would be no downgrading of services in last month’s by-election. Mr Armstrong said: “It’s disappointing considering the guarantees that were being given during the by-election campaign.
“If you’re going to improve services, you make services in addition to existing ones, you don’t replace them. It doesn’t sound to me like it’s an improvement, it sounds like it’s a re-jig of resources.”
The Tory view on Hartlepool: “a f****** awful result” October 2, 2004
Posted by in : News , comments closedA mood of gloom is hanging over the Tory Party on the eve of their Party conference following their slump into 4th place in the Hartlepool by-election.
Hartlepool was the first time since the middle of the last century that the main opposition party had sunk to fourth place in an English parliamentary election.
Conservative Defence Spokesman Nicolas Soames was the most blunt in his analysis, describing the Conservative performance as “a f****** awful result”.
David Willetts, Conservative work and pensions spokesman, said: “This is very disappointing. There is no point in pretending otherwise.” This was echoed by Tory Party co-chairman Liam Fox tried to play down the poor showing. He said:
“This is a disappointing result for us. But this is a story about Labour. This is a disastrous result for them. It demonstrates a complete collapse in trust for Tony Blair.”
Boris Johnson, Conservative arts minister, last night described the result as a “bummer”.
Hughes: Three party politics is here to stay October 2, 2004
Posted by in : News , comments closedCommenting on the Hartlepool by-election result, Simon Hughes MP, Liberal Democrat Party President, said:
“This is another excellent result for the Liberal Democrats, maintaining our momentum.
“Across the length and breadth of England two party politics is over and three party politics is here to stay.
“This has been totally disastrous for the Conservatives who have been humiliated into fourth place. What it underlines is that the Liberal Democrats are the real opposition in British politics.”
Jody Slashes Labour Majority – Tories Plummet to Fourth October 1, 2004
Posted by in : News , comments closedJody Dunn took the Liberal Democrats from third place to second in Hartlepool cutting the majority of 17,000 to 2,000 with a swing of 19%. The Tories were pushed from second into fourth place by the Lib Dems and the UK Independence Party.
The result for the Conservatives was worse even than the third places they achieved in the previous three parliamentary by-elections in Brent East, Leicester South and Birmingham Hodge Hill. Lib Dem party president Simon Hughes said:
“The Tories have not just been overtaken, they have been left in the lay-by and overtaken by UKIP.
“It is the only time the Tories have gone from second to fourth since the Tory Party was formed.”
Lord Rennard, the Liberal Democrat campaign chief said:
“This has been a solid Labour town for 40 years. We are now seeing a pattern in which the Tories start in second place and end up third, and now fourth”.
“Exciting photo finish is in prospect” – Charles Kennedy September 28, 2004
Posted by in : News , comments closedSpeaking to Lib Dem supporters at their Hartlepool by-election headquarters, Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy predicted a close result.
He said:
“There will be a very close finish between Labour and the Lib Dems here on Thursday night. A really exciting photo-finish is in prospect.
“If everyone who doesn’t want Labour to take Hartlepool for granted now unites behind Jody Dunn, then she will win.
“Labour have had it all their own way for far too long. After representing the seat for forty years and being in Government for seven years they have had nothing positive to say.
“Jody Dunn and the Liberal Democrats offer a positive alternative based on guaranteeing Hartlepool Hospital’s long term future, getting a better deal for pensioners and scrapping the unfair Council Tax.
“Labour’s by-election campaign has been highly misleading, negative and personally abusive. They have distorted totally Jody Dunn’s remarks about a very small number of Hartlepool residents. Labour are clearly running scared.
“Labour have now failed to re-assure people about the long term future of the hospital. It is only the fear of losing the seat to Jody Dunn that has forced them to offer any re-assurances.
“It is clear that Hartlepool people do not trust Labour on this issue. They want to use this by-election to help keep crucial services at Hartlepool’s hospital.
“The best way to guarantee the hospital’s future is to elect Jody Dunn as Hartlepool’s MP.”
Jody Dunn appointed to top crime-busting board September 28, 2004
Posted by in : News , comments closedJody Dunn has been appointed by the Government to a top crime-busting board – the Courts Board – that includes Hartlepool.
“I am really delighted,” says Jody. “This is a senior post and a sign of how I am regarded as being a strong and effective voice on issues of crime, law and order and know about the administration of the courts.
“The Courts Board are looking for motivated people who can work effectively to consider issues about the administration of the courts. Clearly my experience in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough Courts stand me in good stead.
“This will of course make Labour’s claim that I am soft on criminals all a bit daft when their own Government have made this appointment.”
Jody Dunn is a family law barrister working at Amicus Chambers operating principally out of Hartlepool and Middlesbrough Court.
Dirty tricks reach new low as fire brigade and police called to Lib Dem HQ September 28, 2004
Posted by in : News , comments closedThe dirty tricks that have marred the campaign to become the next Member of Parliament for Hartlepool reached a new low when the police and fire brigade had to be called in the early hours of the morning.
Expanding polystyrene was sprayed down the length of the front doors and the double doors then chained shut making exit from inside impossible – although staff were still working at the time (approximately 3am).
Agent Richard Pinnock said: “This was an extremely stupid and dangerous stunt. I still had staff working in the back offices when this took place. Had there been a serious incident they would not have been able to made an exit via the front doors.
“We are grateful for the police and fire brigade but regret that they have to be called out because of stupidity and vandalism like this. Obviously this attack was politically motivated – I just hope that this is the last of these silly stunts.
“The people of Hartlepool are bored and fed up with this sort of thing – people want an honest debate about the issues.”
With just a week to go, Hartlepool by-election is looking to be a close call September 26, 2004
Posted by in : News , comments closedJust one vote may separate Lib Dem Jody Dunn from Labour on Thursday: Labour themselves have admitted that one vote could make the difference.
Labour remain hopeful that local people will want a loyal servant for Tony Blair at Westminster.
But the future of Hartlepool’s hospital has dominated the campaign. Doubts about Labour’s commitment to the hospital have been confirmed.
Labour candidate, Iain Wright, lost support when he couldn’t remember if he had signed the “Save our Hospital” petition. According to the Sunday Times (26 September), “Labour nerves rattled … Labour’s campaign to retain Peter Mandelson’s seat in Hartlepool is showing increasing signs of nervousness.”
Meanwhile, Hartlepool’s Conservative Leader, George Morris, won praise for his honest admission that the Conservatives could not win.
Conservative and UKIP voters are switching to the Lib Dems. That could tip the balance Jody Dunn’s way.
Today, the Conservative co-chairman even told the News of the World that, “The Liberal Democrats are destroying Labour”. He was commenting on a Populus opinion poll for the paper which saw the Liberal Democrats’ support soar by seven points, while Labour dropped by eight.
