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Message From Nigel Farage

"Dear Brexiteer, Today in Hartlepool, I made clear The Brexit Party’s strategy for the General Election. I always said that I would put country before party – and I meant it. We want to stop the Remainers winning enough seats to introduce a second referendum, offering us a false choice between Remain and Remain. That’s why we are not going to contest the 317 seats that the Conservatives won in 2017. For months, I have argued for a Leave alliance. Now we have launched it unilaterally. This will ensure that there will not be a second referendum and that Brexit can finally be delivered.We will though contest every seat held by Corbyn’s Remainer Labour Party, which has openly betrayed five million Labour Leave voters. And we will stand in all seats held by the other Remainer parties. Let me explain how we came to this difficult decision. When Boris Johnson came back with his new EU Treaty, I made no secret of my concerns. Two aspects in particular stood out. First, it did not ‘get Brexit done’ – it would mean at least another three years of agonising negotiations in which EU negotiator Monsieur Barnier would have the upper hand. And second, the Treaty meant we were committing ourselves to regulatory and political alignment with EU rules on everything from our fishing to our financial services.That’s why last week we signed 600 Brexit Party candidate nomination forms, because I felt that in a democracy everybody deserves a genuine choice.Last night, however, I heard something from Boris Johnson that at last made me feel more optimistic. In a video the Prime Minister said that he would not extend the Transition Period beyond the end of 2020 – a huge challenge to Barnier and Juncker.Even more importantly, Boris said that he would seek a ‘super Canada-plus’ free trade deal with the EU, with no political alignment. That is a significant step in the right direction. It starts to look more like the Brexit that 17.4m of us voted for.So, we have decided to give Boris half a chance, and focus on taking the fight to Labour in their Brexit heartlands. It was The Brexit Party that beat Labour here in the May European elections – and we can, with your help, do it again. There are millions of traditional Labour voters waiting for a party that is on their side, that believes in bringing more money and jobs back to the regions, that says we need sensible immigration controls. These are messages that will resonate hard in those Labour Leave areas.How do we hold Boris to his promises? We have to start winning some of those Labour seats, by making Corbyn’s Labour pay for their betrayal of Brexit. Getting MPs into Parliament is the way we can hold Mr Johnson to account. We cannot win those seats without your help. I have no great love for the Conservative Party. But I see stopping the Remainers and their rigged second referendum as the biggest issue facing our country. Our actions today have stopped the Remain alliance in is tracks.The question of trust is key. There can be no real Brexit without The Brexit Party in Parliament to keep Boris honest. And we cannot get there without your help.Thanks for your support. Together we can beat the Remainer alliance and change politics for good. Nigel Farage — Leader of The Brexit Party"

Sue Hammond ● 2558d13 Comments ● 2556d

Will Sweet - Conservative Candidate

A little bit more about Will Sweet here below, some of you might have met him today outside Putney train station -A General Election has been called and I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I’m Will Sweet and I am the Conservative candidate for Putney, Southfields and Roehampton.I want to champion Putney, Southfields and Roehampton to give opportunity to everyone.Wandsworth is my home. This is where I grew up, went to school, got my first job, bought my first home and met my partner.Introducing Will SweetI have a track record of delivery for Putney, Southfields and Roehampton as a Wandsworth Councillor since 2014. I’d use my experience working for the Foreign Office to help us in Parliament. As Wandsworth Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, I’m listening to our schools and families. I’m boosting funding by 4% next year, continuing years of real terms budget increases. We have one of the highest levels of Outstanding schools in the country and I’ll keep it that way. I’m passionate about saving the planet, starting in Putney, Southfields and Roehampton. I’m a cyclist and runner and I’m improving air quality and protecting our nature. I’ve approved plans to make our area carbon neutral by 2030. It’s time transport worked for local commuters. I’ve been dealing with TfL and SWR. We need a second entrance and more trains for Putney, a Hammersmith Bridge solution and less congestion. We need lifts at East Putney, a better District Line and new transport for Roehampton. I know what it’s like to rent and struggle to get on the housing ladder in Wandsworth, so when I was Planning Chairman we had the highest number of new homes in London. I’ll stand up for renters and protect streets from ugly development. I have fond memories of our high streets from when my parents used to take my younger brother and me out. I’m behind plans to make Southfields village and Putney High Street more vibrant through the Future High Streets Fund. If you get woken up by planes, I know how you feel. I’m part of the legal campaign against Heathrow expansion, noise, pollution and the third runway. I’m pressing for more police to protect our local residents and children, especially from knife crime. I’ll keep working compassionately alongside local communities to tackle the causes of crime. I’m looking forward to listening to as many residents as possible over the next few weeks.

Nick Gulliford ● 2564d20 Comments ● 2559d

Dog Thiefs Beware (Followed yesterday while walking dog)

This is a message to any dog walkers in the area, be aware of who is around while walking your dog! Yesterday at around 4pm (just as it was getting dark outside) I was walking my dog nearby Putney Common. As I got to the Spencer Arms Pub, I noticed 2 men just standing around, one on either side of the road. The one I walked past clearly watched me and my dog to the point of staring, then changed his direction and began walking behind me. The man on the other side of the street joined him. I turned down Sefton Street and I noticed them both cross the road and follow behind me together. I sped up a little and so did they, so I turned into another road and pretended to walk into someone's front garden as if to be going home. They walked past me checking out my dog again, but slowed down and began looking over their shoulders. I got my keys out to be more convincing, at which point they walked off.Some may take it as me being over the top, but human instinct tells you when you're being followed. They clearly had an interest in my dog; their body language and the fact they both watched him as I walked past them was disconcerting to say the least. For reference they were both average build, and sounded Eastern European when I heard them speak. We shouldn't have to feel threatened when walking our dogs, but as it's getting darker and Christmas is around the corner, I guess some people are looking for a quick present. Be vigilant.

James Green ● 2562d2 Comments ● 2560d

Missing Bercow now

“Brexit is the biggest mistake of this country after the war. I respect [the] prime minister, [Boris] Johnson, but Brexit doesn’t help us. It’s better to be part of the [EU] power bloc,” Bercow said”.https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/06/john-bercow-brexit-is-uks-biggest-mistake-since-second-world-warBercow’s view on Corbyn [transcribed from the video]: "I think that racism is a challenge across society and after decades in which huge advances were made I think there is a real danger of regression now. Now I know you didn't ask more widely about racism, but that's my answer on racism. You asked about antisemitism. I think it is a big challenge - I don't want to intrude on the grief of a particular political party. All I would say is that: yes, it's an issue and needs to be addressed. But I myself have never experienced antisemitism from a member of the Labour Party. Point one. Point two, though there is a big issue and it needs to be addressed, I do not myself believe JC is antisemitic. That is my honest view. You haven't asked me explicitly, but you've nevertheless drawn me and I want to make that point. I am not saying he doesn't have a challenge in his party, I am not saying that. It is an issue and it does need to be addressed. I respect those who are very concerned about it. But I don't believe JC is antisemitic. I've known him for the 22 years that I've been in parliament - even actually when I was a right-winger we got on pretty well... I've never detected even a whiff of antisemitism... But I think people should be very careful about casting aspersions on other political parties. There are challenges of racism - across society - and that does affect political parties and each party has to deal with it. I have never experienced racism from BJ, TM or DC."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVcWo-W60lU

David Ainsworth ● 2561d9 Comments ● 2561d

Enjoyable article by John Crace on Johnson and lying

"Even Dominic Cummings had to admit that the Tory election campaign hadn’t got off to the best of starts. The Art of War was all very well, but you could take “doing what your opponents least expect” too far. Jacob Rees-Mogg saying the Grenfell residents lacked the common sense to save their own lives had been a masterstroke. As had Sajid Javid being prevented from publishing costings of Labour promises on the grounds the Tories hadn’t a clue how to cost their own.Classic Dom could also just about live with James “Amateur Hour” Cleverly failing the nominative determinism test by crashing and burning during a series of media interviews about the misleadingly edited Keir Starmer video. But even he had had to concede that Welsh secretary, Alun Cairns, who had been lined up as point man for the Tory campaign in Wales, having to resign over allegations that he had known a former aide had deliberately sabotaged a rape trial, was not a great look. At the current rate of ministerial attrition, the Conservatives would have to wheel out Chris Grayling by the end of the week. Or possibly even Priti Patel.“We need to get back on the front foot,” Dom Tzu barked, angrily drumming his fingers on the prime minister’s desk.“What shall we do?” asked Boris Johnson, looking on helplessly.“There’s only one thing for it. I know we’ve been trying to keep you under wraps because no one much likes you, but it’s now shit or bust. We’re going to have to wheel you out and try and play to your strengths. What’s the one thing everyone can rely on you to be?”“Completely untrustworthy?” Boris offered tentatively.“Precisely!” Dom snapped. “So after a quick warm-up lying to the Queen again at Buckingham Palace – just do your prorogation shtick again – you’re going to give a five-minute TV clip in which your one goal is to tell as many lies as possible. The punters will go mad for it. There’s nothing they like more than being taken for fools.”https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/06/dom-tzu-can-relax-as-johnson-redeploys-the-art-of-lying

David Ainsworth ● 2562d3 Comments ● 2561d