Yesterday, and if we are being totally honest, my campaign manager Clive Balchin created a page and a rant about Hazel Harding and Alyson Barnes. When Clive posted he was already beginning to regret writing as he loathes Yaa- Boo politics.

This morning we received an e-mail from someone who Clive has high respect of their opinion (See e-mail below).

Clive was wrong to post that page, not because of the contents, but because we sank to a level we have traditionally avoided.

Clive is well known for positive campaigning and you will note from our campaign literature there is nothing negative in it

Clive is really mad with him self for letting his anger get the better of him and apologises to all readers of this site (who we know are quite numerous judging by hits info we are receiving).

Please do not let Clive's silly rant affect your decision to support me.

Start e-mail

I believe that you will be a very active County Councillor and will fight effectively for Rossendale. Therefore, I intend to vote for you tomorrow.

However, one of my irritations in life is seeing politicians resorting to playground criticisms of their opponents. I often muse that if our elected representatives spent as much time working towards the betterment of everyone's lives as they do in playing "team" politics, then that energy would be put to go use. Your blog piece "How Peevish and Petty is Hazel Harding and her gang" will I fear reinforce some people's views that "they are all the same - calling each other names".

( One of the most respected of the current politicians in the UK is Vince Cable and that is in no small part due to the fact that he is a former professional economist and has proved to have some very sound ideas in relation to the current economic crisis. However in addition to his knowledge of all matters financial, I have never seen or heard him resort to personal name calling whenever he is interviewed. He just sticks to the subject and often beats most of his opponents with pure knowledge and respectful presentation of his views).

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It really is a funny old world. We have people ringing to say they would like to see Clives original rant. So here it is below. Clives not proud of it but does believe every word of it.

Clives Late Night Rant




How Peevish and Petty are Hazel Harding and her gang

Today my campaign manager Clive Balchin received a telephone call from Joanne Smith who is the election officer for Rossendale Borough Council. Joanne said she had received a complaint regarding one of our A3 confused posters we had taped to the side of a traffic light box at the bottom of Newchurch road. Without doubt the complaint had been made by Hazel Harding and her appartich's.

It is clear that they don't like and indeed fear, the lively energetic campaign we are running based on the confused theme. People are confused and don't understand politicians like Hazel Harding, who are merely part of the Labour machine and don't really care that much about the people they represent. All Hazel can do is talk "politician speak" and go through the motions, she no longer has any passion. Hazel is past her sale by date.

We must not forget, if Hazel loses the election, she also loses the £48,000 per annum she gets for doing the job. Plus all the lavish trips/hospitality she seems so keen on.

They are getting all revved up about one A3 poster that would be removed at 10pm Thursday night, all very pathetic.

What makes me madder is that the county council, under Hazel Harding, take no notice of fly posting until now. Additionally the council had men on site trying to remove our poster within an hour. Absolutely amazing as usually it takes weeks to get any action out of the Council. Strange that Labour make one call to Joanne Smith and she is leaping about trying to get our boards removed. Makes me think Hmmmmmmmmmmmm!!

Anyway it has spurred us into action we now have a plan B to get even more flyers up in all sorts of locations. Some legal and others a little grey.

We are very responsible people, who loath fly posters with a vengeance. Does Hazel seriously think we would put posters up and then leave them there. Our plan is quite clear, we intend to remove all posters by Friday morning at the latest. If Joanne Smith wants to prosecute us so be it we will put up a vigorous defence.

In the unlikely event that Hazel Harding is still Leader of Lancashire County Council we are prepared to take her on regarding fly posting. She will live to regret she was so petty and peevish to complain. Why did she not create her own posters etc instead of the weary turgid negative election tripe she has put out with her equally weary mates.

Until now we have played with a straight bat and have run a very positive campaign. But if Hazel wants to fight dirty so will we . And whilst it will be hard to get as low and dirty as Hazel we will give it our best shot.
Hazel grow up and do something original instead of petty bickering and whining which typifies your type of politician.