{"id":1874,"date":"2019-11-28T12:21:42","date_gmt":"2019-11-28T12:21:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/?p=1874"},"modified":"2019-11-28T15:40:22","modified_gmt":"2019-11-28T15:40:22","slug":"general-election-hustings-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/?p=1874","title":{"rendered":"General Election Hustings – 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/background_brain_bw.jpg” custom_padding=”0|0px|54px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0|0px|40px|6px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ background_color=”#efefef” custom_margin=”10px||||false|” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding=”10px|20px|10px|20px|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.6″ background_color=”#efefef” custom_margin=”|||0px” custom_padding=”0px|20px|20px|20px||”]<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>For an election that nobody wants these hustings turned out to be strangely popular. The Labour Party, dumping Roger as our MP, and his decision to run as an independent candidate, had obviously got a lot of people convinced that this was going to be a lot more interesting than it actually was.<\/p>\n

With 130 people inside and anywhere between 50 and 100 people (depending on the range of text messages I received) stuck outside, people were expecting a lot. Think about that. Possibly 100 people couldn\u2019t get into a hustings in an ostensibly safe seat. That means a lot of people had vastly underestimated quite how lazy Roger is.<\/p>\n

Roger didn\u2019t turn up.<\/p>\n

We did get five candidates. The evening was once again Chaired by Achim Jung. He ably does a job of work; he knows what order he wants the questions answered in and got us all out of the room half an hour earlier than I expected.<\/p>\n

Each candidate gave their customary two-minute pitch for the job: –<\/p>\n

Penny-Anne O\u2019Donnell (Conservative)<\/strong> \u2013 Penny-Anne is a speech therapist and a voice for the voiceless. Which is ironic as she started her speech with \u201cCan you hear me now?\u201d She is hard working, has an auntie that works in Hall Green and although she voted remain in the referendum she wants to get the deal done. She knows that nobody wants the election. A concept possibly lost on the 100 people standing outside.<\/p>\n

Izzy Knowles (Lib Dem)<\/strong> \u2013 Izzy worked for the police until she retired. Since then she has worked with groups supporting homeless people and has either started up or is a member of just about every local group you can think of. That\u2019s not a joke, she runs pretty well everything. She didn\u2019t expect to ever get involved in politics but was galvanised by the referendum. If these things were judged on applause Izzy would be talking to estate agents in Westminster now.<\/p>\n

Patrick Cox (Greens)<\/strong> \u2013 Patrick is a long-standing candidate and is clearly the most coherent in talking at a hustings. He came to Birmingham in 2004 and recognises the many challenges we have in Hall Green, particularly the number of people that are obviously homeless. This election is the last chance to stop the climate crisis.<\/p>\n

Rosie Cuckston (Brexit Party)<\/strong> \u2013 Rosie has lived here since 1987. She is a global HR manager and spent 20 years in an indie band. For the nosey that band was Pram<\/a>. This election is about Parliament vs the People. The Brexit Party want to make contracts with the public to abolish the House of Lords and allow anyone, who can get the support of 5 million people, to have a referendum on anything. Which got a laugh.<\/p>\n

[EDIT] Probably worth stressing that Rosie left Pram 12 years ago. A point validly being made by the current members of Pram that don’t share Rosie’s views.[\/EDIT]<\/p>\n

Tahir Ali (Labour)<\/strong> \u2013 Tahir has a bit of a sore throat and four children. He lives in Alum Rock. He gave us his entire educational history which I didn\u2019t write down. He has been a Councillor since 1999. He promises that if we elect him, he won\u2019t spread hate and will get an office in the constituency. I\u2019d taken the \u201cnot spreading hate\u201d bit as a given but I\u2019m glad he committed to it publicly.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.6″ background_color=”#efefef” custom_margin=”|||0px” custom_padding=”0px|20px|20px|20px||”]<\/p>\n

We had questions, many questions. This year they were submitted on paper first, so I assume some quality check took place. I\u2019ve not included all of them because this is already too long.<\/p>\n

Pete asked if Mr Ali could clarify his position on the demonstrations at Anderton Park Road School and his position on anti-Semitism and islamophobia?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s two questions Pete, possibly even three questions. It was agreed that everyone should get to answer both questions, which seemed fair as they had all bothered to turn up.<\/p>\n

Izzy<\/strong> had been to the school to talk to the teachers and witnessed the protests first-hand. She had made the effort to buy the books, that were the claimed cause of parental anger, and had brought copies of them for Roger. Possibly Roger would have turned up if knew there were free books. Izzy also gave evidence at the recent court hearing.<\/p>\n

Patrick<\/strong> believes the whole case has illustrated the need for the Equalities Act and that it should have been the role of the MP to bring communities together. Which was almost certainly a dig at Roger. We all chuckled.<\/p>\n

Rosie<\/strong> had sympathy with the parent\u2019s concerns and thinks that a prescribed approach to relationship education is symptomatic of a lack of trust in humanity. She believes most parents raise children to have respectful relationships and people are disconnected from the political system.<\/p>\n

Tahir<\/strong> welcomed the court ruling and said that he had put out a statement the day before setting out his support. He noted that the same people doing the demonstrating had been telling lies about him. He believes all of the nine protected characteristics are equally valid and there is no difference between those driving the protests and the BNP or National Front.<\/p>\n

Penny-Anne<\/strong> had been relieved by the judgement and agrees that education should be inclusive. She then asked us if it was 2019. It seems a bit late in the year to be seeking that sort of clarification.<\/p>\n

Moving onto Pete\u2019s sneaky second question.<\/p>\n

Patrick<\/strong> claimed that no party has a monopoly on virtue and there are problems, with anti-Semitism and islamophobia, throughout society. He made the point that we need to start believing the people that feel attacked.<\/p>\n

Rosie<\/strong> said that Labour\u2019s problem with anti-Semitism were systemic and rooted in its opposition to capitalism whereas islamophobia is a matter of individual expression. That didn\u2019t go down well with the audience, so Rosie closed the matter by yelling \u201cLABOUR BOMBED IRAQ\u201d. For some reason.<\/p>\n

Tahir<\/strong> had a quick list of other parties that had recently thrown out candidates for anti-Semitism and claimed you won\u2019t read about them in the press run by the Lehman Brothers. Those pesky bankrupt bankers hiding the truth from us yet again. He then told us to look beyond the Daily Mail and this was all about stopping Corbyn.<\/p>\n

[EDIT] Just to clarify this, as so many people have asked, I don’t think Tahir was answering this with an anti-Semitic trope. I think he really was just being incoherent. He clearly said Lehman Brothers by accident. By the time he got to the Daily Mail bit he was more just saying random words rather than making a point. [\/EDIT]<\/p>\n

Penny-Anne<\/strong> told us Boris had ordered an investigation into all aspects of racism. He is also redefining Islamophobia. Honestly, he wouldn\u2019t have been my first choice.<\/p>\n

Izzy<\/strong> told us racism shouldn\u2019t be part of politics. She also made the point that as so few electoral seats have an impact on elections, we end up with poor candidates. A sentiment we can all get behind.<\/p>\n

Noting Pete\u2019s previous success in getting two questions into one, Chris asked the candidates if they would commit to always making votes on the climate crisis the biggest priority and would they cancel the plan to widen the Moseley Road?<\/p>\n

Tahir<\/strong> informed us that Jeremy Corbyn says the stakes couldn\u2019t be higher as we only have 12 years to save the planet. The Labour manifesto has a chapter on their proposed Green Deal. Tahir doesn\u2019t know the detail on the Moseley Road but if he is elected, he will look into it. Fair play Tahir, you don\u2019t want to waste an hour on Google unless you\u2019re getting paid.<\/p>\n

Penny-Anne<\/strong> would make the climate \u201ca\u201d priority and notes that Stratford, where she lives and is a Councillor, are already doing a lot to tackle it. Stratford sounds nice.<\/p>\n

Izzy<\/strong> would make the climate a priority and opposes the plan to widen the road. She made the point that the Council hadn\u2019t consulted any local groups to explain why cutting trees down is a good way to promote bus use. At this point, as a member of the Council, Tahir looked like a man who was committed to keeping his head down.<\/p>\n

Patrick<\/strong> would, obviously, commit to addressing the climate crisis as it is an extinction event. He also opposes widening the road. He made the fair point that if you prioritise the issue of climate change then you really should go to the Party that has been banging on about it for years (I paraphrase).<\/p>\n

Rosie<\/strong> thinks the hysterical term \u201cClimate Emergency\u201d has caused problems such as the EU cutting down trees in Eastern Europe. Instead we should focus on honouring the 2016 referendum. Which is about as great a leap as anyone made all night.<\/p>\n

The final question asked the candidates what they would do for the people of Kashmir.<\/p>\n

Izzy<\/strong> has been to some of the local protests but would like to know more about it.<\/p>\n

Patrick<\/strong> told us he sees it as an unfolding tragedy and that the Government should stand up and do something.<\/p>\n

Rosie<\/strong> said that she would learn more about it if she was elected. She acknowledged that India was a large democracy and that if we wanted to make points about democracy, we first should\u2026\u2026\u2026 you all know where that was going.<\/p>\n

Tahir<\/strong> said that as a Kashmiri man he was best placed to be a voice for Kashmir. Which seems reasonable. He would also be a voice for Palestine, and he has done lots of work to get people from Kashmir recognised as a distinct ethnic group. Tahir knows a lot about Kashmir, and his points seemed sound, but he did become incoherent as he pretended to not notice his time was up.<\/p>\n

Penny-Anne<\/strong> doesn\u2019t think it\u2019s our job to mediate. Conservative international isolationism in a sentence.<\/p>\n

That was it.<\/p>\n

The Hall Green election will almost certainly be won on the back of Kashmir and it\u2019s disappointing that most candidates hadn\u2019t prepared for that.<\/p>\n

See you next year once whichever mess of a Government we elect inevitably collapses.<\/p>\n

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For an election that nobody wants these hustings turned out to be strangely popular. The Labour Party, dumping Roger as our MP, and his decision to run as an independent candidate, had obviously got a lot of people convinced that this was going to be a lot more interesting than it actually was. With 130 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[143],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hustings_GE_2019.jpg?fit=350%2C167&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2okCM-ue","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1874"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1874\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1887,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1874\/revisions\/1887"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eyeonmoseley.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}