I hadn’t expected with 3 weeks still to go to the July 4^th 2024 General Election that I would writing this third blog giving my thoughts on the subject – but I am lol!

For the story so far as I see it, see my two posts on the subject:

1. (25/05/24) The 2024 UK General Election – a Southender, grumpy old man perspective” (see here)
2. (06/05/24) “Nigel Farage throws his hat into the ring” (see here)

I’m not going to go over the ground covered in these blogs but rather I want to reflect on some of the interesting developments that have recently come to light.

We now know the names of the ten candidates that will be contending the election to become the elected Member of Parliament for Southend West and Leigh (that happens to be, for the first time, my own constituency). I learned from yesterday onward the names of three of the candidates that I am able to put into the category of people I know or have met, and for different reasons I like, despite fundamentally disagreeing with at least some of their politics: Tilly Hogrebe (Green), Tom Darwood (Independent) and Jason Pilley (Psychedelic), who I want to discuss. But first I want though to focus on Reform UK.

That one act of Nigel Farage of throwing his hat into the ring has changed the 2024 lead up from being somewhat boring to something a good deal more interesting, and while immigration would not have been the issue I would put to the fore if I were running, the underlying concern of what it means to be British and the traditional values and concerns that would have once been considered quintessentially British means it is going to be a lot more than which of the two heads of the same snake to choose. I still know nothing about the Reform candidate (Peter Little) and while I still think it will be close thing between Labour and Conservative (in what was once a very safe Conservative seat), what the opinion polls are beginning to show in the light of the Nigel factor suggest Reform have an outside chance of replacing the Conservative candidate, unlike my two favoured candidates: James Miller – Confelicity and Lara Hurley – Heritage.  

So back to Tilly Hogrebe, who imho is an excellent choice by the Greens to be their candidate. I came across her a few years back when standing as a candidate to be a councillor in my ward and it was she who impressed me most. Sadly, while Greens are increasing their vote share given those more on the left are becoming disenchanted with Labour and LibDem, climate change and giving more power to government to achieve goals to avert a climate emergency that isn’t are low down in my list of priorities.

Today, I had a meet up over a coffee with my old friend, Tom Darwood (see here for his website), where we updated one another on what we have been up to since we last met. Our conversation inevitably progressed onto his candidature and his manifesto. While his “lead manifesto aspirations” are not ones I share, his concerns over the undermining of Britain’s heritage are and, interestingly enough, overlap with some of the concerns being raised by both Reform UK and the Heritage Party.

Which brings me to another od (Edit: od = old – a typo that one might find amusing for good reason) friend: Jason “youcannotbeserious” Pilley. After all, plugging Southend Cannabis Café is unlikely to appeal to most voters and would put off many. Checking out his election leaflet (the only one I have received from the candidates) reveals some serious concerns and good ideas.

While nationally it appeared initially as “Hobsons choice” with only one likely winner when it comes to who is going to form the next government, we are seeing demonstrated that there is a lot more at stake and of interest with no doubt surprises to come, especially when it comes to the make up of the opposition. So there you have it – my latest election update with one more (hopefully) to come.

Update 13/06/24: Regarding the other candidates. I have already posted concerning Anna Firth (Conservative) and have nothing to add other than my being aware that she and her supporters have been actively canvassing in the constituency. As for David Burton-Samson (Labour), I still know very little about him other than that he has been imposed on us by the party hierarchy ahead of, an imho, a more suitable and popular candidate – Aston Line. Of the two remaining not mentioned so far, Stephen Cummins (Lib Dem) and Robert Francis (Independent), I also know very little and have little I can say concerning their candidature.

I end with what the polls are telling us concerning the national picture (see above although not the latest and polls often get it wrong) it is Hobson’s choice. I wish the candidates well, especially those with honourable intentions, standing for the right reasons. I hope the electorate choose wisely (although I fear too many are not awake enough to do so), notwithstanding my feeling that the right choice may be other than one of the parties led by the two afore-mentioned heads of the same snake. Many now feel disillusioned and disenfranchised, but I hope more will attend hustings, study the respective manifestos, do their research, ask the right questions, and do their bit making “democratically” elected leaders accountable.