We Don’t Do Politics at Palmer’s….
It was about a year ago, just before we were about to interview the Principal of Palmer’s College Mark Vinall that he said: “We don’t do politics here.” So it was something of a surprise that Tory leader David Cameron chose the college as his rallypoint for the final twelve days of the election campaign. Indeed Mark was there to meet him at the gates!
I don’t think one should draw too many conclusions but we do wonder what Dave thought of the picture of Che Guvera on the Principal’s wall!
It was a beautiful day as Mr Cameron, accompanied by Jackie Doyle-Price and Stephen Metcalfe and a horde of tyro Tories strode down the tree lined avenue at Palmer’s to join the local Tory faithful, an invited audience of veteran supporters and the world’s press.
It is always interesting to see the massed media in town. The event was beamed live on Sky, the BBC had run an interview with Jeremy Paxman last night. The journalists hovered. Andrew Rawnsley stood at the back smoking Havana cigars and watching proceedings with interest. His take is that the Tories are desperately worried that a Lib/Lab pact could see PR on the table and cast the Tories out into the wilderness but also a nagging feeling that history is littered with by-elections from Orpington in 1962 to give the Lab/Tories a political bloody nose. Could it be that people will use the General Election of 2010 to do the same?
The visit really buoyed Jackie Doyle-Price’s campaign. Jackie has always said that it is all about timing and with Eric Pickles, Baroness Warsi and David Cameron visiting the borough, she clearly believes she can overturn the 6,375 majority. It is all about whether she can maintain loyalty in Chafford Hundred and convert the undecided’s in Stifford, Ockendon and Little Thurrock.
One would still worry about Mr Cameron’s statement that: “We weren’t targeting Thurrock but we are now” twelve days before polling day is a tad too late.
Whatever Happened to the Aveley Three?
If you chat to Wendy Herd or John Cowell, you would never guess there was an election going on. Fair play to them, they are continuing to work for the residents but seem to have decided that the game is up for the ward which has become a two horse race between Independent Colin Churchman and UKIP Tim Aker.
What is of concern is that Cowell, Herd and Wilton didn’t turn up for the launch of Jackie Doyle-Price’s campaign which actually took place in Henry’s in Aveley and they were nowhere to be seen yesterday at David Cameron’s rally.
We are sure that we will see them later on this afternoon at the St George’s Day Fete in Aveley but the Tories need to remember: the constituency of Thurrock will not be won on the front lawn of Palmer’s College but on the High Street of Aveley.
What Time Did You Get Up On Saturday?
There are some lines that the world’s media will ignore but the local media will pick up on. There were a few people who winced when David Cameron said:
“Very pleased that everybody here in Essex gets out of bed so early on a saturday morning”
Some may say “what’s wrong with that” Others will say it implied that Essex people don’t get up early.
As one person said: “He wouldn’t have made that crack in Lincolnshire or Berkshire. Why did he have to say the Essex bit?
