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The old Dame decided to keep her head down during the election but congratulations are now due to Victoria Borwick upon her success.
Victoria has, over the years, worked hard for residents
Doubtless, in her new capacity, she will maintain that reputation.
Rod Abouharb proved a ferociously hard worker improving share of the vote by 6%. We will doubtless hear more of Rod in the years to come.
Robin McGhee, for his first attempt, did very well.... considered against the national background.
As for the other candidates?
Well, none took the trouble to get in touch with the Dame so it would be unfair to comment upon them.
Presumably, they all thought themselves far too grand to have a cuppa with the Dame!
McGhee was an unfortunate candidate who openly admitted that he knew nothing about Kensington. Coming from Cambridge, all he did at hustings was to refer to the Lib Dems national manifesto, thus not endearing himself to the local electorate. Abouharb did brilliantly and should go far.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the new MP should have been the former councillor Cockell, but unfortunately he had just accepted his peerage when Rifkind was forced to resign, leaving him impotently on the side lines as a woman whose qualities he had consistently ignored sailed through to become a much respected member of parliament. Cockell is said to be rather miserable.
It showed in his result. 14% negative swing, mainly picked up by Abouharb
DeleteSurely this story of a Peerage for Cockell cannot be true. Would David Cameron be so insensitive and stupid? Cockell's record in Office has been exposed by The Hornet and the local and national press. It is outrageous that a Peerage is even talked about. For what? Taxpayer funded jollies in New York???
DeleteThe only way to clean up public life is to send out signals that troughing is not acceptable. The Essex guy (Hanningfield) went to jail. Cockell needs to be hung out to dry.
Cameron needs to watch it. The Official Tory Party photo of the post election intake shows the trio of Boris Johnson, Victoria Borwick (ex Deputy Mayor for the GLA) and Kit Malthouse (ex Deputy Mayor for the GLA) in the centre of the pack. Just behind Cameron
DeleteBoris is already building his team. This photo is a blatant show of intention. The three of them huddled together.
DeleteThe more miserable the sponger Cockell is the more intensely happy I feel
ReplyDeleteOur old friend "circumstance" created the opportunity for a first class candidate to seize the moment and win the Conservative Party endorsement before the others had time to wake up and get moving. Well done Victoria! You are going to be a fantastic Constituency Member of Parliament.
DeleteWhat has gone wrong with disgraced ex Cllr Phelps? He always said that he only supported disgraced ex Leader Cockle because he wanted to take tea with her in the House of Lords.
DeleteThe Dame spotted Victoria Borwick years ago languishing on the backbenches of Hornton Street, held back by an insecure and rubbish Tory Leader, the disgraced Cockle. The old Dame became an instant supporter and has been steadfast in her encouragement. Support that blossomed into a stellar career at the GLA and now an opportunity on the national stage.
Deletewell, ex Cllr Cockell might get bit sweaty when completing the Register of his interests...Would he, for example, be prepared to submit his accounts to public or Daily Mail scrutiny? I think not.....
DeleteThe 57% turnout is moving in the right direction for Kensington. Still way behind the national average because too many lazy Tories in the Borough take our monopoly for granted. But this time Labour fielded an outstanding candidate and his 11k votes is a wake up call. Well done Rod Abouharb - you stirred the paddles of democracy in this nearly brain dead Constituency
ReplyDeleteVictoria Borwick, MP, held "open house" the day after the General Election at her home in Abingdon Ward. A "thank you" for helpers and supporters during her campaign. About 200 constituents of all ages, sizes and persuasions showed up and the warmth and affection of those present was plain for all to see. The evening ended with a speech of thanks and congratulation from Lady Hanham (some things never change). But overall, what a breath of fresh air. What a change from the past! Victoria is going to start attracting all of those young, able, disillusioned and fed up Tories back into the fold. That sizable army of talent that has been camping in the woods for too long.
ReplyDeleteScribe is spot on. Victoria's warmth and empathy and Cllr Mills no nonsense occupation of the Party Chairmanship in Kensington and Chelsea can only be a force for good. Cllr Mills is already kicking arse and upsetting loads of the brain dead - go for it girl!
DeleteThe current Kensington and Chelsea Post picks up the message perfectly about our new MP. Victoria Borwick says that she intends to be "the peoples' Member of Parliament".
ReplyDeleteExactly as it should be.
Let's hope Ms Borwick will hold the customary surgeries, to hear the every-day problems encountered by the plebs of RBKC. Sir Malcolm never extended this opportunity to us.... no dosh it that, I guess....
ReplyDeleteKensington deserves a better service from its MP than the disgraceful days of Rifkind.
DeleteCockell is seething - he has just lost his birthright.
ReplyDeletepoor sod... let's be sympathetic...:-)
DeleteI think that there are not many Council personas who become MPs, simply because they are generally doing rather well, thank you very much, without all the scrutiny... How many of the candidates would be readily prepared to fully disclose their interests and allow scrutiny of their assets? Not many, I guess...
ReplyDeleteDear Dame, I am not in the least bit too grand. Indeed had I known there was an invitation to accept I would have taken it with both hands. Congratulations to Ms. Borwick: having spoken briefly to her on a couple of occasions she strikes me as a person of good intent.
ReplyDeleteAt least we were the best of the micro parties...
Warm regards,
Tony Auguste, CISTA.
Indeed you were, Tony, you were wonderful!
ReplyDeleteUKIP Kensington candidate Jack Bovill appears to be a decent cove and supports saving Earl's Court Exhibition Centre unlike conservative Kensington MP Borwick who worked for P&O at Earl's Court.
ReplyDeleteBovill said on Earls Court "I opposed the destruction of the ECECentre and with Linda Wade opposed this Tory slush fund".
Sign petition here to help save Earl's Court
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/petition-for-an-independent-health-review-of-the-earls-court-redevelopment
Dear Dame
ReplyDeleteFor those of us in the smaller parties with neither substantial organisation nor finance behind us, running for the election took a lot of time and hardwork. Being closely involved with the Westway campaign, producing my own leaflet etc, like Tony Auguste the hornet was simply not my centre of gravity during the campaign.
Had a cuppa been offered (my contact details were readily available) the refreshment would indeed have been welcome.
Robina Rose (Green Party Candidate)
Robina
DeleteThe Hornet does get 1200/1400 daily page views so to suggest that it wasn't your 'centre of gravity' seems somewhat offhand...
As for the cuppa...Victoria, Rod and Robin took the trouble to email the old thing and demand she share a pot of Earl Gray with them.
The Dame loves meeting politico's(except for the frightful Cockell)
The big story is that the Dame has once again hastened a clean up of the Royal Borough. Two big scalps, Cockell and Rifkind, head the list. Long may she continue her campaign to sweep away corrupt practice, crooked people and public greed.
ReplyDeleteFielding-Mellen, and Warwick are names that are in focus. Stallwood is a question mark.