There is no shortage of material which Liberal Democrats, like 
Conservatives, can choose as campaign material. Only the Lib Dems are so short of ideas in York Outer, that they could only think of leafleting householders to let people know that Julian Sturdy lives three miles outside his constituency and, because of this, is not a local man.
I cannot believe they went to the time and expense to campaign on such a feeble “non-issue”. If this is their main concern, I would describe it as a major triumph for Julian.
He has actively been involved in local issues since being selected as the Conservative candidate for the new seat. Yesterday he took up the plight of rural post offices following a visit by Shadow Work and Pensions Minister Philip Hammond. Julian is keen to see David Cameron’s excellent idea implemented which would encourage more local council work to be channeled through post offices.
This has to be a winning solution all round and would retain post offices as a key focal point in rural areas. I don’t see any Lib Dem brainwaves on this subject, it’s obviously too tough a nut for them to crack.
I’ve never understood the LibDems.
Nationally they are weak, ineffectual and limp wristed. Guaranteed to put anyone to sleep.
Locally, they can fight vicious spiteful campaigns, and as a result have always done better than they should in town halls or bi-elections.
If all they can find to attack Julian Sturdy on is the point you raised, then Julian should do well in this seat.
In 2005 the Lib Dems kept hammering the non-local “issue” against Guildford’s Anne Milton. However, courtesy of Iain Dale’s blog back in May 2006, I came across this,
“Lib Dems do not believe it matters where a candidate lives but how committed they are to the area they wish to represent�
Well, that’s what Chester Lib Dems thought, anyway.
According to a local Lib Dem website, a Lib Dem living in West Surrey contested a parliamentary seat in…. Norfolk. Having said that, you must take anything you read from a Lib Dem website with a pinch of salt, so it probably isn’t true…
On an unrelated matter, is that UKIP report of yours “emailable”?
ContraTory, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” spings to mind here.
And yes, I will glady email you my UKIP report if you send me your details, I have just emailed it to John East.
I’ve seen those leaflets. What you don’t mention is that the biggest stick the York LibDems use to bash Julian (who I met last week and seems a genuinely excellent candidate) are the comments left by the moaning idiots on ConservativeHome.
Every single selection announced there has been met with a hail of bullets in the comments section. It’s embarassing and it is becoming a real liability.
Ellee, the Lib Dems have been campaigning on the post offices issue for years. The fact that the Tories have jumped on the bandwagon in the last month does not mean they have better policies on the issue. Go away and do some research before making such ill-informed comments.
Inamicus, What is the result of the Lib Dem campaign over the last few years? Has anything come of it? What support has there been to plans outlined by Norman Lamb? http://www.libdems.org.uk/conference/conferencedoc.html?id=7707&navPage=conference.html
The plans outlined by David Cameron will have much wider appeal and support because they are simple, they will be effective and workable and are receiving the backing from postmasters.
What do you expect from the Lib Dems. They are a party of non-issues. They have no meaning or relevence.
The best way to combat this is to quote the above as posted by Contratory.
Chris, Contratory made an excellent point. I expect much of the same from Lib Dems in the next election.
To all those who have responded to the Lib Dem attack on Julian Sturdy all I can say is that the Lib Dems are the most unpleasant campaigners in the country even I think as bad as BNP. They have more faces than Big Ben. To those who complain of the comments on Conservativehom.com I can only tell you that I believe these people are not genuine supporters.
As the person responsible for arranging the selection I can tell you all that Julian was selected fairly and openly and at no time since the selection has anyone expressed their dissatisfaction whith either the selection process or the final outcome. Julian has got the support of all our members who only want him to win and defeat a Lib Dem candidate who is a member of the most discredited and incompetant council that has ever befallen the City of York
[…] A day in York By Ellee I’m heading off to York today to meet up with Julian Sturdy and his team and discuss a communications strategy. He is contesting the new constituency of York Outer and stands an excellent chance of winning it. […]