On Monday Sky News' website will host a live online debate between the main parties' candidates for the Crewe and Nantwich by-election.

Tamsin Dunwoody (Labour), Elizabeth Shenton (Lib Dem) and Edward Timpson (Conservative) will join host Martin Stanford at 9am and you can watch the blog, as it happens, in real time.

We want this debate to be as interactive as possible so we've teamed up with the Crewe blog and are asking their readers, and Boulton & Co's readers, to submit questions.

We can't promise that every question will be put to the candidates - we'll only have them with us for half an hour or so - but we want all the questions to be generated by you.

Please let us know your questions and watch the debate live on the website from 9am on Monday.

Comments

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 20 May 2008 14:57:41]

Mr. Happy,
Having witnessed what happened when Gordon displayed his support for Ken Livingstone, I'm sure M/s Dunwoody is delighted that Brown is keeping well away from Crewe and Nantwich!

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 20 May 2008 10:54:37]

Victor
I agree Labour overkill, and all they will do is "kill" Tamsin's chance of a win, things are going well thanks to the PM's new PR people. Send the whole Labour party, they could hold a snap Labour sping conference while they are at it, and vote for a new leader.

[Victor, NW Kent 20 May 2008 10:03:38]

Mr Happy On Something

Brown has ordered 80 - yes 80 - of his Ministers to go and canvass in Crewe, so his candidate is not being "trusted to do her own thing" at all. He, himself, dare not go there at all as he will lose votes for Moyra Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey.

Just think what will be thought when 80 Labour Ministers canvass only to produce defeat.

Cameron is right to be there and he would justly claim some credit for victory.

[mr happy up north 20 May 2008 08:35:55]

perhaps mr brown hasn't been to crewe and nantwich because he trusts his candidate to do her own thing, whereas mr cameron is the one who is the real control freak.

the polling figures, would suggest that mr cameron could be at home with his family rather than walking the streets (or at least the few metres of the street needed for a photo opportunity)

why is mr cameron camped out in crewe and nantwich ?
to take the glory if they win, of course.

when he was seen on camera yesterday, the tory candidate stood a respectful two paces behind mr cameron. hardly a vote of confidence if you need practically the whole of conservative central office and the front bench to help you win on top of the millions of ££££ from lord ashcroft.

little bit of overkill. why make such a fuss? because if crewe and nantwich is won it will be mr cameron's win, but if it is lost, it will be edward timpon's failure.

[Clive, Crewe 19 May 2008 12:30:10]

Dear Candidate,

As you wander around Crewe looking for votes, please cast your eyes at all the boarded up shops the length and breadth of the town centre. You should also visit the Morrison's store, which was built on the former workplace of hundreds of highly-skilled workmen.

The town of Crewe has suffered under consecutive governments over the last twenty years. Large employers such as Bombardier and Rollermakers have reduced in size or completely closed leaving nothing but lowly paid warehouse or call centre jobs in their place.

Candidate, should you be elected, what would you do to bring prosperity back to Crewe?

[T.J. from Ireland 19 May 2008 09:21:00]

Posted by: neither/niether 17 May 2008 12:40:06

I'm sorry neither/neither, this can't be correct; sure, ‘Craig’ informed me that this type of thing doesn't happen; and that ALL crime statistics are collected and recorded, and are accurate. He even told me he knew better than me, so then, he must be right.

Oh excuse me, another pig has just flew passed my window, I’ll need to go look for my gun again, (What with the soaring price of bacon!! But then!! that’s another story!!)
ht

[Guido Fawkes 19 May 2008 08:56:18]

I would like to ask the Labour candidate if she has met Gordon Brown?

Does she speak to him about the campaign's progress?

Does she want him to come and campaign for her?

[Crewe 18 May 2008 11:27:28]

Gwyneth Dunwoody was an excellent representative for the Crewe and Nantwich Area. She fought cases for all, whatever their personal background, politics or class etc.
I could never imagine her allowing tactics like this for campaigning.
Can Tamsin deliver the same representation as her mother when her and her party are clearly classifying people by name calling. Would this make her approachable by ALL constituents should she win the by-election?

[G.Smith Fylde 17 May 2008 23:26:27]

Maureen 16 May 2008 13:47:52

I agree withe everything you say it is time that we have leaders that remain in office for two terms if voted in on the second term that is. I wouldn't go presidential as I think the Queen and some of her family do a fantastic job for this country and i would still have them at the helm.

Posted by: John Delaney 16 May 2008 14:30:27

So you agree it's time for Gordon & Labour to go? I was worried by your earlier postings you'd been blinded by his vision

[neither/niether 17 May 2008 12:40:06]

MADNURSE

Well point and politics left out and thats the way it should be on crime in particular.
there are times when any goverment have to be held to account, because of the ways they dont tell us the truth by spinning figures to their advantage. All partys are guilty of this when in power.

An example is onlt 2 days ago GB was telling the press that the goverment was being tough on anybody carrying weapons.

This contradicts the latest home office figures, they state that in 2006 there was 1,226 suspectects under 18 found guilty! of carrying deadly weapons.

Despite of promises of tough sentencing, only 72 were put behind bars. An average sentence was 3-4 months. Because of the early release system, a typicle offender spent just 8 weeks in prison.

The rest escaped with a fine,community sentence and 113 cases an absolute discharge or conditional disdharge.
Police say that the figures are even worse now, as hundreds of under 18s are not brought before the courts.

This is an example of politians not being honest and straight with us. If they told the truth, they would get more help from the public.

[ChrisD 17 May 2008 02:58:28]

"One idea I had (and for those who already know this, please forgive me) was that the taxpayer should own the second constituency home of each MP. MP's would therefore not need to claim for a mortgage (as there wouldn't be one) and we would not be fleeced for bathrooms, kitchens etc, if they had been refurbished recently, or within the last, say, 5 years."

Liz, that is an excellent idea and would save a vast amount of money in the long term. Its what we do with the grace and favour homes enjoyed by the Cabinet.
Basically we are at present paying through the nose for hundreds of MP's to increase their property portfolio at our expense. A maintenance/refurbishment programme of these homes could be set at 10 yearly intervals as well.
I doubt that sitting MP's would accept the same standard of accommodation that council tenants and the armed forces are expected to put up with though.

[Pete, Scotland 16 May 2008 20:29:01]

Lots of postings here reflect something lacking in New Labour.

Good old fashioned common sense.

It has been replaced by a constant stream of stupid, petty legislation with just about everything being banned!

Can we have a Government back that makes life simple and enjoyable again?

Which of the candidates think their party could do this?

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 16 May 2008 18:25:08]

Madnurse
So many "truths" in your posting it is frightening!
Britain today can be very scary.
Growing up in the 50's and 60's was tough, but we knew what was right and true, no nonsense. Nu Labour have started something which is going to be very hard to control.
Where are the values which people respected back then? hopefully the Conservatives can restore some values to Britain which are sorely missed.

[Victor, NW Kent 16 May 2008 17:06:22]

Dear Madnurse

I agree with every word you have written there.

Especially I like the focus on the actions and morals of elected representatives.

[Liz, Suffolk 16 May 2008 16:26:08]

Madnurse.

Getting value for money in the NHS is virtually impossible. My daughter-in-law is a nurse and she says that most of the drugs which are used in the hospital are purchased at the "going rate". You would think that with the number of hospitals that are presently in the NHS, a good discount could be negotiated somewhere along the line.

[Madnurse 16 May 2008 15:44:48]

How to fix the country.

It all needs to start in the home and schools. Last night on QT a texter said that "Parents want discipline in schools as long as it is not applied to their children" very true I thought.
We need parents to parent and teachers to be teachers. Neither should either group set out to be the children's peers or their best friend.
We need governments to let teachers teach and to stop interfering in education.

We need to restate the value of the family and to stop encouraging young kids to have kids without any means of supporting those kids.
Let's see a return to the days when, being a single teenage pregnant girl was considered socially wrong.

Let's prosecute those people underage that have sex instead of rewarding them with hand outs and housing.

Let's make parents responsible for the actions of their children again.

We need to get away from the fine culture for petty offences and de-politicise our police to get them chasing real criminals. The fine 'em culture is just a way of using the criminal justice system as a tax collector.

We need to cut down on red tape, pointless quangos and petty legislation that costs our country a fortune and makes our buisness's uncompetitive in the world markets.

We need to cut down on administration in all public services, especially the NHS and use the money saved on front line services. Tax cuts would also help to restart the economy. We can improve services and cut spending by getting value for money.

We need to look at how the money is spent especially in terms of value for money and move away from the idea, more money spent means better service.

We need to stop giving so much of our money away to other countries.

We need to look again at the rise of the EU and work to get it back to a trading block as originally sold to us, rather than a EUSSR unelected superstate dictatorship.

We need more honesty amongst politicians and straight answers to straight questions.

We need to deal with crime by putting the fear back into offenders rather than into the general population and victims.

Just my thoughts.

[Stevie, Folkestone 16 May 2008 15:10:43]

Good point and well presented Maureen, perhaps I could go one further.

Should a party need to elect a new leader, perhaps that party should be obliged to have a general election so that the country can decide if they agree, then a lot of this tiresome infighting and incompetence could be avoided.

Even in a by-election where the existing member has passed on, there has to be an election, how did party leaderships get so out of hand.

Call an election Mr Brown you and your party are way off course.

[Liz, Suffolk 16 May 2008 15:05:59]

Note please that Brown is preparing to reannounce bin taxes immediately after the bye-election.

Posted by: Victor, NW Kent 16 May 2008 14:42:35

I'm not at all surprised - Gordon's got to claw back the money he's just given us somehow.

[Victor, NW Kent 16 May 2008 14:42:35]

Tamsin may not need to worry about the 42-day Bill. She may not get elected and the Bill is being watered down to become a purposeless compromise. Interestingly, great play is made of the fact that the Home Secretary must bring all such cases before the House. Does that mean that whilst the House is in its lengthy recesses no such orders can be processed? Or, during the 84 day Summer recess will the Home Secretary do as she pleases? The provisos are preposterously illogical.

Note please that Brown is preparing to reannounce bin taxes immediately after the bye-election.

[John Delaney 16 May 2008 14:30:27]

Maureen 16 May 2008 13:47:52

I agree withe everything you say it is time that we have leaders that remain in office for two terms if voted in on the second term that is. I wouldn't go presidential as I think the Queen and some of her family do a fantastic job for this country and i would still have them at the helm.

[Phil, Crewe 16 May 2008 13:55:54]

Why does Tamsin think it's ok to say "ask me after the election" every time she's asked for her view? How will she vote on 42 days?

[Maureen 16 May 2008 13:47:52]

My view is,

For the country to be healty and properous, the political pendulum has to remain somewhere near the middle, if it swings too far either way for any length of time, as was seen at the end of the last conservative government and as can be seen again now, it all goes to hell.

Gordon and co need to go and we need to stop voting in governments for third terms if we want to avoid this sort of thing happening every ten or so years.

If you leave a party in power too long, their leaders become impotent and loose authority. So it's time the electorate took charge again and reminded them who's the boss and dump these arogant, self righteous, incompetant, out of touch dinosaurs when they stop performing.

[T.J. from Ireland 16 May 2008 13:38:35]

I've read the postings of many people on the blogs for some time, and can usually get a picture of people’s personalities through their postings.
I think that both Craig & Mike Simpson and Morning Mail are secretly Conservative supporters, with great senses of humour!!
Of course I might be wrong!!!!

[Liz, Suffolk 16 May 2008 13:25:58]

Madnurse

I agree with everything you say and we need ideas to save the country money.

One idea I had (and for those who already know this, please forgive me) was that the taxpayer should own the second constituency home of each MP. MP's would therefore not need to claim for a mortgage (as there wouldn't be one) and we would not be fleeced for bathrooms, kitchens etc, if they had been refurbished recently, or within the last, say, 5 years.

Another idea I had - and this might not be so popular - was to charge youngsters who regularly get drunk when they call out an ambulance, and the police to sort out fights etc. I do not see why the taxpayer should foot the bill for this, especially when it's self-inflicted. Perhaps they'll think twice before getting drunk and calling out an ambulance in future.

I also think people should be fined heavily for assaulting hospital staff.

People - these are only ideas and the practicalities may well be impossible.

[frosty manchester 16 May 2008 13:14:39]

You are quite right madnurse
exactly my sentiments
I do try to put my point of view over, but I got insulted

But go back to the end of the Falklands all you bloggers did you not feel proud of your tiny little country not rolling on its belly and not giving in.
I think the people living on the Island will be eternally grateful too.
Wonder what would happen if it was today.

[Liz, Suffolk 16 May 2008 12:59:41]

Mike

I can easily have the nerve to say that. It's a fact. Gordon doesn't honour our war dead by going to their funerals, or worse, he doesn't even meet their bodies off the planes. If you can tell me when he has actually attended a funeral, we would all like to hear it!

[Madnurse 16 May 2008 12:44:56]

People:

We really need to stop living in the past.
Are you Labour supporters saying that if the Conservatives did something bad many years ago, it therefore makes mistakes by Labour all right?

Are you saying because one or more Conservatives have had a fiddle or two or taken dodgy donations then that means it is OK for Labour to do the same?

I hold in contempt all dishonest politicians of all parties. Shouldn't all decent honest people do the same? Should we not demand better standards in public life from all politicians. from all parties? Is a dishonest Conservative just as bad as a dishonest Labourite or LibDem in my view yes, they are all as bad as each other? I may be a Conservative but, I would not hesitate to condem a dishonest Conservative MP and I certainly would not try to defend them out of party loyalty.

You see, this blog is starting to get a bit tedious. Since many of the Labour supporters that could argue their case through facts and original thoughts have gone, many threads have gone down to the level of the playground. My party is better than your party, your party is less honest than my party etc etc. In many ways, this once intelligent blog for mature political debate has decended to the level of the Sky Discussions Forum.

As you know I am a Conservative supporter.

I think most people would say that the objectives that Labour set out were desirable, where we differ is how those ends are reached.
I am a Conservative with both a heart and a conscience as are most Conservatives I know.
I want to see the poor better off. I want to see the sick treated, I want every child to have a high quality education etc etc.

All parties at times in their history have made mistakes and I am sure all parties will make further mistakes in the future.

All that bothers people now is what is happening now.
I don't care what happened ten years ago, twenty years ago or fifty years ago. How are we going to solve the problems of today? How can we reverse the down turn?

What action does the government need to take to turn around its unpopularity?

Where has all the money gone?

Whilst it is admirable to be loyal to a party, sometimes it is necessary to question it's policies and it's direction.
Blindly supporting a party out of misplaced class loyalty or burying ones head in the sand helps no one.

Let's have a bit more honesty on here and see if we can come up with objective ways to put right the mess we find our country in.

[Peter, Fife 16 May 2008 12:34:05]

“...we must not return to the days of the mid 1990s when we had 15% interest rates, 10% inflation and when between 1990 and 1993 a quarter of a million properties were repossessed and 1.5 million homeowners suffered negative equity...”

[frosty manchester 16 May 2008 12:26:39]

John Delaney
Getting a bit personal are we. hitting the right spot am I!
By the way I am a lady pensioner.
But its good to know I rattled your cage.

[John Delaney 16 May 2008 12:20:20]

What more proof do John Delaney and his comrades need to tell tham that in the cold light of day, Gordon cares not a jot for anyone other then himself.

Posted by: Liz, Suffolk 16 May 2008 11:34:34

Liz how can you have the nerve to say that when you had leaders like thatcher and major and now this power hungry clown pot and kettle

[Michael 16 May 2008 12:14:00]

One thing Brown always fails to mention, is the world wide recessions that affected the Conservatives back in the 80's and 90's, it's fine for him to blame global pressures for his current governments failures, but he's quite keen to conveniently forget about global difficulties when he's running scared and repetatively criticising the opposition parties.

As has been said already, although Browns pet figures are low in comparison, the amount of 'actual' taxation was much lower before this current government took over and those that were still working had money to spend. Browns government is crippling everyone.

Sauce for the goose Mr Brown, sauce for the goose, you've been rumbled mate.

Hasta la vista ...Gordy

[Stephen Williams 16 May 2008 11:58:23]

Nobody ever seems to mention the fact that although interest rates were 15% back in 1992 & whilst they were obviously painful to a lot of people at the time, the overall level of taxation then was much lower as people still had much more disposable income left at the end of the month because direct tax, in-direct tax & stealth taxes such as poll tax, fags, drink, car tax, car license etc, etc were all much lower so people had more money left to spend even though wages were lower then they are now.

It didn’t stop the working classes buying the latest cars back then or having nice holidays & people certainly didn’t live off credit as much then as they do now so you had to spend your own money which there was more of after stoppages.

[John Delaney 16 May 2008 11:43:49]

frosty manchester 16 May 2008 10:57:25

Frosty you best watch you don't melt,my dear chap speaking to a Major this morning about the falkland he agrees that this was a war that should never have been like Iraq and the others,and also on your other points the torys fixed unemployment figures for years and years so you need to get your facts right.Thats all Im saying on the subject you get back in the freezer now frosty youve been out to long

[Liz, Suffolk 16 May 2008 11:34:34]

Our "leader" doesn't even make the time to attend the funerals of our war dead.

What more proof do John Delaney and his comrades need to tell tham that in the cold light of day, Gordon cares not a jot for anyone other then himself.

[Liz, Suffolk 16 May 2008 11:18:45]

The best thing Gordon ever did for us was to hand back control to The Bank of England.

Everything else is like grains of sand in the desert of his incompetence.

[frosty manchester 16 May 2008 10:57:25]

John Delaney spouts figures re:unemployment etc:
The real reason unemployment
is down is because the figures are fiddled to keep them that way, as people are not put onto jobseekers allowance they go onto Benifits,figures are kept down artificially,this also applies to Inflation, immigrants,everything this lot tell you take with a pinch of salt I dont beleive a word they say.
The Falklands war was a different kettle of fish THE INVASION OF THE fALKLANDS BY ANOTHER COUNTRY
Margaret Thatcher did a wonderful job on that count and I was proud to be English the day the war finished.
The war was swift and she never forgot her men on the front fighting unlike our now leader who never speaks of them as though they have forgotton we have our young men dying for what!

[John Delaney 16 May 2008 10:32:29]

Roger, 16 May 2008 09:42:40

maybe you dont get the picture but i do

[Bill, Middle England 16 May 2008 10:02:13]

John Delaney

What about the 70s and the mess created by the last Lab Govt? The winter of discontent and our place as the "sick man of europe".

Mrs T spent much of the 80s getting us out of that. She succeeded and that meant real political and economic vision.

Gordon inherited the complete oopposite. The best global conditions ever and an economy capable of taking advantage, due to measures opposed by Gordon and Lab throughout the 80s and 90s.

The 15% interest rates to which you refer would have happened under Gordon. He supported entry into the euro zone at an unsustainable exchange rate of entry and he too would have had to raise interest rates sharply to keep Sterling within its range.

The Major policy failed because, as Mrs T used to say, you cannot buck the markets. She was right about that, too.

It's a lesson dear Gordon has failed to learn. One of the many reasons why his record as Chancellor is now being seen for what it really is.

[Victor, NW Kent 16 May 2008 10:01:57]

LabourHome has just had a poll on the performance of Cabinet Ministers and David Milliband is in first place. No, Brown did not finish last. He is second fron the bottom, beaten by Alistair Darling.

[Steve, London 16 May 2008 09:44:53]

frosty in manchester; if you're frightened about Gordon Brown's state of mind, you'll be downright terrified when you think about the words he used during the press conference yesterday when he boasted with his snide grin: "I was elected unopposed"

If that's not enough to chill you to the bone given that he also wants to lock people up for 42 days without charge, I don't know what is.

Our prime minister basically boasted to the world's media that his democratic abuses are even worse than mugabe (ie at least mugabe had an opponent) - did sky news not find that snide boast worthy of a headline? I thought it was the scariest thing I've seen on tv for a long time.

[Roger, 16 May 2008 09:42:40]

John Delaney, your comments are obviously from someone who's under some kind of delusion that there's anyone left in the U.K. who hasn't been damaged by this Labour Government. You simply can't compare the Falklands with Iraq because the Iraqi's didn't invade British territory like the Argentinians did.

I really don't think people like you are capable of getting the big picture and the underlying hatred and resentment toward this incompetant government and their unelected leader.

This is no storm in a tea cup, this is a decade of bad policy decisions all coming home to roost at once. Labour has devastated this country and now amount of U-Turns or back peddling can save them. All we can hope, is that there's something left to salvage now the electorate have woken up, smelt the coffee, seen what we're left with now the spinmasters can't hoodwink us anymore and can at last get this blatantly absurd government out of power.

[Dave, Wirral 16 May 2008 09:34:26]

TMM

This would be the same periodical that had as it's headline on the front page less than 48 hours ago

"The Bribe Minister"

Hardly a shining endorsement is it?

[John Delaney 16 May 2008 09:00:35]

Annie, Durham 15 May 2008 17:42:13
Annie may be you need to read the post I was not talking about the armed forces,Intrest rate under the tories 15% unemployment over 3 million,record repossessions. and coming from a forces background I won't need you to preach to me when my family were prisioners of war and as for war look were Mrs t sent them you.

[frosty Manchester 16 May 2008 08:39:46]

Watching Brown on TV repeating himself continually was quite frightening,
He is becoming quite unstable what worries me is that this man is in charge of my counrty.
As for the Crewe/Nantwich debate can you imagine a Tory government doing the said same thing as to Bribe the electorate like this Government has done they (nulab) would be screaming blue murder and heads would roll
but not this sleazy load.

I have seen a lot of Government come and go I am 62
always been interested in Politics
But this lot is the worst ever!!
He (Brown) remindS me of AYHAB in Mobey Dick he went CRACKERS too

frosty

[Ricky, Crewe 15 May 2008 21:03:32]

(1) Crewe and Nantwich used to have the lowest rates in Cheshire, following the split of Cheshire we can look forward to massive tax increases – far exceeding the costs of the loss of the 10p tax band - without any increased level of services. Given that the split has produced two Conservative unitary authorities is it time for a U turn or a further government handout to influence the election?

(2) Empty Industrial buildings have been demolished all over Crewe since the new rates regime was implemented in April, for example parts of the historic Crewe Works have disappeared forever. Do you think the increased business rates burden will ever offset the loss of employment facilities caused by Chancellor Brown’s policy?

(3) Can you offer any support to the 600 Royal Mail staff likely to lose their jobs with the closure of the Crewe Sorting Office? It was only a few years ago that you could post letters their up to midnight for next day delivery within the UK, now post is rarely delivered before lunchtime, costs a fortune for stamps, local roads are clogged with Royal Mail lorries and the Post Office Pension has run out of money. What do you think can be done to improve the service and management of the Royal Mail in Crewe and elsewhere?

[Mark, Crewe 15 May 2008 20:20:22]

To Tamsin Dunwoody,

Is Gordon Brown an asset or a liability?

[Sally C 15 May 2008 20:08:30]

Mike Simson. Just whose elite background are you refering?

Tamsin,
Do you think it is hypocritical to accuse a candidate of having help in the form of their background when your mother was the grandaughter of the Secretary General of the TUC and a member of the House of Lords who now wants to inherit her mothers seat?

[Victor, NW Kent 15 May 2008 19:55:58]

To the Labour candidate - Do you agree with the clumsy attempt to put right the bad 10P tax decision in the light of the fact that it involves borrowing £2.7 billion and that it benefits almost 17-million people who were never harmed in the first place?

[Praguetory 15 May 2008 19:28:13]

Bearing in mind that it would be illegal to discriminate against fellow EU citizens, how many Crewe & Nantwich residents would be affected by your proposals to make foreigners carry ID cards? What do you think about your mother's voting record of opposing ID cards?

[The Morning Mail 15 May 2008 18:02:41]

GORDON Brown said he cancelled last autumn’s election because he wanted to set out his vision for Britain.

Yesterday we saw it. And there was much to welcome.

If Mr Brown can deliver, the country could be a better place.

Hospitals must satisfy patients or lose their funds.

Sick benefit claimants must see a GP and the jobless take skill tests.

Bad schools will face closure. Immigrants must learn English.

Drunken yobbery will be tackled.

First-time buyers will be helped and bank savers protected.

All things The Sun agrees with, even if we have heard them before.

The Tories claim Mr Brown has cheekily pinched some of their ideas, like an NHS Constitution and an independent exams regulator.

But Mr Brown’s camp say he is pressing ahead with Tony Blair’s agenda to let us have more power over schools, hospitals and police.

After the 10p tax shambles, Mr Brown will be hoping this solid package will mark his fightback.

Voters at next week’s Crewe by-election will let him know how he is getting on.

The views of 'The Sun' which seems to be shining on Gord at the moment. I sense a turning point in the Governments fortunes. Wonder if Cammers will do a disappearing act this year to Rwanda?

[Bill, Middle England 15 May 2008 17:59:09]

To the New Lab candidate

Do you agree with the tax cut for 22 million citizens at the expense of 1.1 million of the poorest workers?

If you do, how does it help to make Britain a fairer society and to reduce poverty by taxing the poor for the benefit of the richer?

[keith incroydon 15 May 2008 17:56:19]

my question to tamsin is,if you win gordon will keep his job and labour will be wiped out in 2 years,how does that make you feel?

[Annie, Durham 15 May 2008 17:42:13]

Annie its like all you tories you never answer the questions but the if I was you I would be careful what I say look at the 80's and earl 90's under the tories.

Posted by: John Delaney 15 May 2008 17:14:52

John, thank you I did look and it was a very good place to be. My husband was serving in the armed forces at the time and we were at least treated to a great deal more respect than they are now. Labour have always treated the armed services with contempt. They love sending them to wherever but hate giving them a decent living wage. Not one person anywhere in the labour party has served in our armed services, I think that tells you all.

[The Morning Mail 15 May 2008 17:21:46]

To the Tory Candidate, do you agree with the tax cut which has benefited 22 million people. Yes or No?

[John Delaney 15 May 2008 17:14:52]

It looks to me like John Delaney would like to go back to 1974 when his glorious labour party really knew how to run the country. (into the ground)

Posted by: Annie, Durham 15 May 2008 16:50:33

Annie its like all you tories you never answer the questions but the if I was you I would be careful what I say look at the 80's and earl 90's under the tories.

[Alex R 15 May 2008 17:01:06]

To Tamsin,

Is Gordon Brown an asset or a liability?

[Harold Scotland 15 May 2008 16:56:52]

I cannot understand why David Cameron doesn't come out and say what most of us want to hear ie., Stop taxing motorists out of their trousers. Stop illegal immigration. Repeal the Human Rights Laws. Do something about "Rip-Off" Britain and make a start to build enough prisons to house the thousands of criminals that escape justice because of prison shortages. On the subject of "Rip-Off" Britain, could someone tell me why a Citzen watch costs £299 here and the same watch is $260 in the USA...That's equivelent to approxomately £130.

[Annie, Durham 15 May 2008 16:50:33]

It looks to me like John Delaney would like to go back to 1974 when his glorious labour party really knew how to run the country. (into the ground)

[Annie, Durham 15 May 2008 16:36:39]

Tamsin..
which private girls school did you attend in London?

[John Delaney 15 May 2008 16:19:44]

Dave, Wirral 15 May 2008 15:04:45

Dave

you waffle but never answer the question that your leader couldn't answer will he reinstate the 10p yes or no thats wat he was asked,and as for the finances your party will stick to labour spending so how do you get out of that with waffle.and as for the byelection now cameron will know what it feels like when he shouts his gob of in the commons and as for the hired help you need to get out your wirral a bit more and stop reading the tory rags that are full of rubbish.

[Stephen Williams 15 May 2008 16:03:26]

Well said Dave, Wirral!

I put the very same point to Carol-ann about making promises before seeing the state of the nation’s finances on a blog a while back. David Cameron has got far too much experience as party leader after 2 ½ years now to trip himself up. Labour would just love to beat their chests on any public promises by any Tory to back up their lies about Tory un-funded tax promises.

[Stevie 15 May 2008 15:35:46]

It's been interesting watching the Gordon Brown interview with Adam on a loop this afternoon.

The more times you watch it the more obvious it becomes that there is something actually wrong with him.

As we're all aware, he's completly incapable of answering any question put to him on anything other than his terms (that isn't exactly news) but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he suffers from OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) because he seems to genuinely believe handing out 2.7billion of borrowed money to fix his cock up is benefitting everyone as they are in America and is some kind of compensation to the prices we see in the supermarkets, high streets or at the petrol pump.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they lose Crewe and Nantwich (which is looking more and more likely) that there isn't some kind of personal breakdown if his party turn on him again, because he's clearly not cut out to be Prime Minister, but I do think the Labour party are going to have to drag him out of No 10 amidst scenes that would make Maggies tearful departure look pretty ordinary.

[purps, chelmsford 15 May 2008 15:18:13]

To the Labour candidate, do you feel it was correct to hold this by-election so soon and not a little cynical to have you represent the labour party.

Did Gordon attend your mothers funeral, as he certainly does not attend the funerals of the service men and woman who die for teh country.

[Dave, Wirral 15 May 2008 15:04:45]

John Delaney

Of course Cameron couldn't answer the question, as who knows what the Labour party will have done to the finances in two years time, could be worse ( extremely likely ) or be the same or better ( extremely un-likely ) What I find exceptionally funny with not a touch of irony, is that had Mr Cameron stood there and said "Of course we'll re-introduce it with haste once in power" then you'd be on here bleating about "unfunded tory tax cuts" etc, yet when your glorious leader takes a blunderbuss to the problem, spraying money all over the shop to fix a problem that could have been fixed with a rifle shot to the heart of it by BORROWING £2,700,000,000 to fix a problem £700million would have fixed you say nothing at all except that it was a marvellous decision by our glorious leader.

Believe that if you like, but that money has had to come from somewhere to be re-payed to the creditor and is merely sticking a plaster over the gangrenous wound with out addressing the infection festering underneath that is due to resurface next year.

Oh and as to the by-election, I can't quite remember the occasion where the Conservative party felt it necessary to hire out a rent-a-mob of around ten people ( from the dole office I presume )to dress in hoodies and chase one of your candidates about the town, in what could easily constitute harrasment, shouting "giz a hug dave" whilst running at him like their backside was on fire.

I can't quite remember that happening, but it must be my mistake.

[Liz, Suffolk 15 May 2008 15:03:24]

There are a number of people contributing to this site. Reading what people have written, I imagine quite a few of them voted Labour at the last election.

Given the tone of most of the comments, it just goes to show how unpopular the general public (whatever they voted) now think Gordon and his government are.

[James, Kemsing 15 May 2008 14:46:39]

To those younger bloggers on here, I'm old enough to remember the Governments before the last conservative government.

Labour have not changed and the conservatives have not changed, instead of this ridiculous football team mentality I see in these blogs, can we as the electorate grow up a bit and view these politicians as wether or not they're capable of doing their jobs or not.

Gordon clearly can't and Dave is the lesser of two evils at this time, thats it, nothing else, nothing clever, sack Gordon and either pick a new one Labour or give Dave a go, they're both rubbish but to stick to Brown simply because he's not conservative is stupid.

[John (Northumberland) 15 May 2008 14:14:21]

Posted by: John Delaney 15 May 2008 13:23:59

I'm sorry John but I don't understand what you have written here.

Like Wirral Dave, I think this is a cynical attempt to use a sympathy vote to hold the seat. I think it is wrong and hope the electorate agree.

There must be some local Party workers who thought that they might be in with a shout.

As a Labour Party member (Newcastle West) back in the mid-'80's I saw this myself. The best candidate was a North Tyneside councillor called Stephen Byers. However, the GMB Union sponsored (or 'owned') the seat and created loads of new Party members to vote in their man - Doug Henderson from Scotland.

This blatant disregard for democracy caused me to leave the Party.

Different issue but something still smells...

[Pete, Scotland 15 May 2008 14:08:00]

To all,

What charitable work, not donations, have you been involved in and in what capacity?

[David Bruce, Newquay, cornwall 15 May 2008 14:00:32]

question for Tamsin Dunwoody,
DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT BORROWING £2,700,000,000, TO BUY THE Crewe and Nantwich SEAT?

[Victor, NW Kent 15 May 2008 13:46:32]

Mike Simpson

I feel that the specialized nature of Edward Timpson's legal practice makes him much better able to understand the problems of real people as opposed to a critic who views politics against the framework of his own new car, nice house and frequent overseas holidays.

I doubt whether there is any merit in the idea that the only suitable MPs should come from deprived backgrounds. If that were the criterion the I am afraid that Tamsin Dunwoody would be excluded as she is just a little bit "posh".

I never heard you protest about Lord Sainsbury being Blair's Science Minister.

Your idea that Mr Timpson is disqualified because he is wealthy is the very one that has been so heavily criticised on LabourHome - a site that I have referred you to before.

The man widely regarded as the greatest ever British PM is Winston Churchill, perhaps our greatest poet was Byron and our finest ever all-round athlete was C.B. Fry. That might indicate that a good education does not necessarily make one unfit to benefit society. If you have a spare moment please read up on Byron and Fry.

[mr happy up north 15 May 2008 13:30:56]

listening to journalists you would have to conclude that whatever gordon brown does they will never be happy.

it seems they don't like him because they cannot beat him in an argument.
they seem to prefer mr cameron's largesse and lad mag humour. in other words they have been seduced by a con-man with few scruples and who thinks it is ok to say one thing one week and the opposite the next week.

if cameron changes and flip flops, it is left to members of the public to challenge him because the media can't be bothered.
the media seem to have been stunned into inertia when it comes to challenging cameron.
gordon is exhorted by sections of the media to listen, then he does and acts on people's concerns and then he is accused of making a U-turn,buying votes.
pot calling kettle black when cameron has had access to a huge chunk of lord ashcrofts billions plus his private jet and helicopter and was buying votes before the local elections and mayor elections

lord ashcroft was pouring in millions of pounds and bombarding many target wards with an army of young conservatives looking like a Mormon army. journalists seem to be stuck in the westminister bubble and only send out a few of their number when there are by elections and this year with greater coverage of the local elections.
such bias and partisanship by the media is a very worrying trend.

[David, Kent 15 May 2008 13:24:44]

Can you ask the Labour candidate whether she personally endorses the scurrilous "toff" campaign tactics used against the Conservative candidate. Is this the emergence of the new "nasty party"?

[John Delaney 15 May 2008 13:23:59]

(4) Does one believe that playing on the memory of your very recently deceased mother in order to gain a position of authority is morally acceptable?

wirral dave
what are you on that has never been the case you are a one strange person and deluded.

[Stephen Williams 15 May 2008 13:22:58]

Tamsin,

How can you possibly begin to understand local issues & concerns whilst living 175 miles away compared to Edward Timpson who does actually reside in Cheshire?

Edward Timpson was born & raised in Cheshire, he has lived there all his life & has raised his children there as well, this is one of the most important reason as to why Edward will be more in tune with local people’s fears & concerns & he will in-turn represent the Crewe and Nantwich constituents far better than you ever could.

[John Delaney 15 May 2008 13:22:01]

Dave, Wirral 15 May 2008 11:42:59

dave this is a byelection not a beauty contest,and the tories have never done this sort of thing do us a favour please,your party has lost out on the battle of the 10p now you cry fowl your leader could not even answer the question last week when the guy asked him about brining the 10p back.

[Graham Doll 15 May 2008 13:21:15]

For Ms. Dunwoody: 'Can you explain why you thrice refused to say that Gordon Brown was an asset to your party? If you do not think he is an asset, what is he?'

[Jon, Crewe 15 May 2008 13:20:40]

To Edward Timpson, do you feel that you both understand and would be able to represent me, a 20-something factory worker earning under £20k/year, when you have spent your entire life in such excessive privilege, had an education that costs more than my yearly salary and currently have more money than I have ever been able to comprehend?

Do you know what it's like to live virtually hand-to-mouth, struggling to do what's right by your son, finding it incredibly hard to run a car let alone a million-pound country mansion?

[Mike Simpson 15 May 2008 13:16:17]

Can you ask Tamsin her opinion of why a candidate with an elitist and privileged family background would make the best choice in a largely working class/middle-class constituency bearing in mind that they don't have any real understanding of the ordinary 'bread and butter' issues facing the vast majority of hard-working people and families in Crewe & Nantwich, who have benefited greatly from a Labour Government and will continue to do so in the future.

[John Delaney 15 May 2008 13:14:59]

Posted by: Victor, NW Kent 15 May 2008 12:06:41

The trouble with you victor is that any journo writing good things about the tories makes you happy

thats sad because your party for many many years was and still is the nasty party when cameron gets found out,and he will,and all this talk of helping the poor and lifting people out of poverty he could not careless all he wants is to sit in no 10.

[Pete, Scotland 15 May 2008 13:01:37]

Do you think we should have a Referendum on the EU Constitution, otherwise known as the Lisbon Treaty, as promised at the last election?

[Sally C 15 May 2008 12:57:23]

Lib Dem candidate.
How does she feel about the previous candidate who has now resigned from the party having been dumped to allow her to come in, having hard in worked the constituey?

If she says everyone knows this is what happens, how come some candidates came on Lib Dem voice to say they didn't realise the party could do that!

[Sally C 15 May 2008 12:50:31]

I would like an anwswer to Dave Wells excellent question aswell.

[Sally C 15 May 2008 12:48:40]

Tamsin Dunwoody.
The left wing commentator John Harris in The Guardian has highlighted your campaigns attempts to play on the fear of immigration in a town where it is estimated about 1 in ten are Polish.
LabourHome have been very angry saying the it was reiminisent of the BNP and they would rather lose than restort to such tactics.

How can this be reconciled with you being 'like your mother'?

[John (Northumberland) 15 May 2008 12:44:44]

1. Is there a risk that Tamsin's standing could be seen as cynical and shameful - that is importing a non-local offspring simply to motivate a sympathy vote?

2. Tamsin: Mervyn King says the 'nice decade' is over and we have a real risk of stagflation.
Given that we have had 15 years of growth and have the highest tax take in our history, do you think Gordon Brown used this period of benign global economics wisely? How come we are borrowing over 40 Billion this year?

[JC, Deep South 15 May 2008 12:26:34]

Can you ask Timpson his opinion of the Labour campaign against him being based primarily on his privileged family background, and can you ask Dunwoody who else was interviewed by the Crewe & Nantwich Labour party before she was selected as their candidate?

[Pete, Scotland 15 May 2008 12:14:45]

To Tamsin,

Do you agree with Labours election tactics and literature for this by-election? (Y/N)

If No, what don't you agree with?

[Victor, NW Kent 15 May 2008 12:06:41]

The Guardian today has an article by John Harris about this bye-election.

It makes the most extraordinary reading and is the most critical attack on Labour policies that the journal has ever published, I believe.

I would urge all bloggers here, of whatever party, to read and digest this.

[Pete, Scotland 15 May 2008 11:46:30]

Do you agree with this Governments policies on 42 day detention and ID cards?

[Dave, Wirral 15 May 2008 11:42:59]

Dear Tamsin,

(1) Would it not have been cheaper to merely buy a few helicopters and then liberally throw sackfulls of £5 notes out of it with notes attatched saying "Vote Labour" on them over the Crewe and Nantwich area in order to bribe the electorate than borrow £2,700,000,000 to be repayed with interest for the whole nation in order to secure a days headlines that will be chip-paper tomorrow?

(2) Does Gordons lack of appearance and refusal to do so in PMQ's demonstrate that he is viewed as an electoral liability up in Crewe and Nantwich?

(3)Does one not find it slightly ironic that you are a Labour candidate and cnstantly bleat about how Mr Timpson is a "Toff" yet come from a lineage that includes a Baroness, Secretary General of the Labour party, a Dr. and an MP, remind me again as to why you are qualified to be a representative of the working classes?

(4) Does one believe that playing on the memory of your very recently deceased mother in order to gain a position of authority is morally acceptable?

And finally

(5)Can you explain why it is perfectly acceptable to distribute photographs of other candidates houses on leaflets as well as justifying the "Do you oppose foreign nationals carrying an ID card - tick" leaflet that looks like something from the BNP, these childish and amateurish tactics makes one look desperate does it not?

[Khalid 15 May 2008 11:28:30]

As Edward & Mrs Simpson set [The Alarm] for a [New South Wales], does the panel think that voters should be bought for a megre £600 one of allowance considering that Oyster is neither here nor there when it comes to voter apathy notwithstanding our beloved departed whose council has taxed the nation higher than the hills upon which the sheep graze?

[Dave Wells 15 May 2008 11:19:26]

My question for Tamsin Dunwoody would be:

Do you condone the Labour party's decision to use a commemorative website & condolence book for your mother as a data-mining exercise?

[Liz, Suffolk 15 May 2008 11:12:52]

Well said, Steve!

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 15 May 2008 11:10:50]

Question for Tamsin...if you are looking for a long career in politics don't you think that you should be running as an independant judging by the state of the Labour party at present.

[Steve, London 15 May 2008 10:47:25]

My question to the labour candidate is:
Do you think that nepotism is an idea that labour voters should agree with?