Comments on: Rochester and Strood

By: Joe James B

Joe James B — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:07:38 +0000

Hi Pete,

Would you be able to reconstruct how the old
Rochester and Chatham seat (1979) voted in 2010?

(also, a long shot,
how it voted in 1983?)

Thanks

Joe

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:49:13 +0000

1997-2010 MP Bob Marshall Andrews has just published a book titled “Off Message” about his “rebellious” parliamentary experience.

By: Andy JS

Andy JS — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:40:37 +0000

The English Democrats had a respectable result in the general election polling 2,182 votes or 4.5%. The absence of UKIP and BNP must have helped them a bit.

By: John D

John D — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:44:19 +0000

“The Tories must wonder what they’ve got – suspect Labour are pretty pleased with the last election here”

I doubt the Conservative leadership would prefer a Labour MP here to Mark Reckless, even if he does rebel.

And let”s be honest, he won’t be the only MP who gets sloshed in Parliament. The surprising thing is that he actually admitted it.

“Mark Reckless has certainly not done himself any favours so far if he wants to climb the greasy career pole within the Commons”

He may not want to climb the ministerial pole. There are a few new Tory MPs who don’t seem too fussed about promotion to the frontbench. Although a degree of independence may help him get elected to the 1922 Executive Committee in future (he unsuccessfully ran for election to the Executive a few weeks after the GE).

A degree of independence probably isn’t a great hindrance if you want to be select committee chairman either.

By: Joe James B

Joe James B — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:30:52 +0000

Even if the Lib Dem vote halved and went to Labour, the Tories would be home and dry.
Their share of the vote here last time would be about the same as in 1983, but not as high as 1987 or 1992.

By: Frederic Stansfield

Frederic Stansfield — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 18:33:56 +0000

Mark Reckless has certainly not done himself any favours so far if he wants to climb the greasy career pole within the Commons. But I don’t think a bit of misbehaviour of the sort he has engaged in will hurt him locally. Labour hung on in a couple of seats in Kent in 2005 with high profile backbenchers, including the rebellious lawyer Bob Marshall-Andrews.

That said, if Reckless has more alcohol trouble it ought to be, and might be, a different story. On this site I have gone out on a limbin the past making observations about MPs who make themselves unfit through drink.

MPs should remember that ordinary people do not drink at working or, usually, whilst working. Even if there is plenty of temptation in the Commons, personally I would expect MPs to discipline themsleves not to use alcohol whilst performing their duties.

The Medway towns, particularly Chatham, used to have a dreadful reputation in relation to drink when there was a naval base here, from which I suspect at least some of the electorate will wish the area to continue to distance itself.

By: wolf

wolf — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 16:40:10 +0000

Rebelled on the student vote. Apparently his grandfather was a Fianna Foil MP in the Dail. Drunk on duty. The Tories must wonder what they’ve got – suspect Labour are pretty pleased with the last election here.

By: Votedave

Votedave — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:34:41 +0000

The MP she defeated in 1970 was Anne Kerr (wife of Russell Kerr – also an MP), who tragically died at the age of 48 three years later.

By: Joe James B

Joe James B — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:35:31 +0000

Quite a battle axe I seem to remember.
(I wonder whether she ever worked in her parents’ pub).
A little bit like a Tory Gwyneth Dunwoody.

Used to be Prices Minister under Ted Heath,
and an Agriculture Minister under Thatcher.

By: Votedave

Votedave — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 05:27:45 +0000

In theory, yes. Trouble was, Dame Peggy was already 78 at the 2001 election. Plus she would have needed a 6% swing to regain Medway then, which was very difficult to achieve at the time.
Apparently she is now the oldest living woman in the UK to have served as an MP. She’s 88 on 12th November.