Office to rent in Lewes

Lewes Forum thread

Go on, tell 'em what you think

Lewes Forum New message

Norman Baker's Defeat

On 17 May 2015 at 9:26pm Phfellow2004 wrote:

Quite astonishing that the Sussex Express this weekend has devoted headlines and pages of tears to the defeat of Baker on 7 May, sparing little space for the fresh new MP and local servant who will be representing the Constituency for the next 5 years. The Sussex Express has been a keen supporter of Norman Baker for years and I for one have complained bitterly to its Editor and the Press Complaints Commission because of its bias. The Sussex Express must speak and report news and opinion across the whole county and this it usually does fairly except when it comes to matters of political slant. Now it must be more politically reflective of the whole electorate rather than being somewhat LD/Lab/Green leaning because the majority in the Constituency are not!

On 17 May 2015 at 9:54pm Fred wrote:

Be careful about making assumptions about what the people think. They do and you might not have on this issue.....

On 17 May 2015 at 10:02pm Paul Newman wrote:

I have noticed that the Sussex Express is biased against the Conservative Party and slavishly devoted to Norman Baker . This was a fantastic triumph from an exceptional candidate I expect to be in the cabinet at some point.

On 17 May 2015 at 10:37pm A balanced press!!? wrote:

Surely not!
You are having a laugh, PHfellow. How balanced are The Times and The Mail.

On 17 May 2015 at 11:59pm Puzzled wrote:

The paper paid tribute to a very good MP, he was a caring representative for our area and we should thank him no matter what our political allegiance is. Maria has the next 5 years to prove she's worthy of the front page.

On 18 May 2015 at 1:07am Fairmeadow wrote:

The Sussex Express was established as the local Conservative paper, in competition with the Whig/Liberal Sussex Advertiser. Fact. It has generally supported the constituency's MPs, the great majority of whom (including all from 1876-1997) have been Conservative.
These days its journalistic qualities are not what they were, and it mainly publishes press releases. Norman and the LibDems (and Ruth O'Keeffe) are far more assiduous than other parties in providing it with such copy, and in consequence they get much more coverage. They don't publish all they are sent by any party or other local group - just what best fills the pages. To be effective you have to understand their schedule and the pressures on it, and provide your material at the right time. If Maria wants more coverage, she or her acolytes have to work harder and smarter.

On 18 May 2015 at 6:46am The Old Mayor wrote:

Most of the readers have been around since the first copy !!

On 18 May 2015 at 7:15am skeptical green wrote:

The express has no duty whatsoever to be unbiased. It is privately owned. Only TV and Radio in the UK are subject to regulation on Political balance which is why the Tories want to change them, especially the public service ones such as the BBC. They will continue to adopt Murdoch's specious arguments about unfair competition. The press to paraphrase an old saying is "free to anyone with enough money to own one"

On 18 May 2015 at 7:30am Bored wrote:

Norman Baker was a fantastic MP for Lewes, well liked and Lewes based, i think his defeat at this election was purely because people were so worried about a Labour government they feared a lib dem vote was a waste or could somehow aide a labour victory. Unfortunately, these days people vote for the man at the top rather then the local party/needs.

On 18 May 2015 at 9:13am NotReally wrote:

"Now it must be more politically reflective of the whole electorate rather than being somewhat LD/Lab/Green leaning because the majority in the Constituency are not"
Sorry old chap, but that is utter tosh.
Conservative Vote - 38% of the total
Combined Lab/Lib/Green vote - 51%
Clearly, the majority in the constituency ARE Lab/Lib/Green leaning.

On 18 May 2015 at 9:31am red ken wrote:

Why devote space to the new mp? As yet she has done f*** all. I don't expect that situation to change in the next 5 years either.
Baker actually did a bit for Lewes and a farewell piece in the paper is not out of place.

On 18 May 2015 at 11:38am Paul wrote:

Didn't even cover the town council elections despite fact thousands voted in it - I am afraid the paper is looking very out of date but to be fair is catering to its mainly older (60+) readership. I think the MP of 17 years losing was a big story but a bit odd there wasn't a picture of the new MP very prominent.

On 18 May 2015 at 1:48pm Clifford wrote:

Phfellow2004 wrote: 'The Sussex Express has been a keen supporter of Norman Baker for years and I for one have complained bitterly to its Editor and the Press Complaints Commission because of its bias.'
Bias? Did you complain to the editors of the Sun, the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail about their constant support for the Tories, and to the PCC. And what about the Daily Mirror? Always supports the Labour party. I hope you've complained about that. And the Guardian, which supported the Lib Dems in 2010 and Labour in 2015. I trust your complaints were made. And then there is the Daily Express, which supported Ukip this year. You must be very busy having to make all these complaints.

On 18 May 2015 at 2:28pm Old Bloke wrote:

@NotReally - doesn't the UKIP vote count?
Would that be because it might make your reasoning add up rather less well.
Strikes me the majority vote as our system dictates elected a Conservative so you really need to stop looking for excuses

On 18 May 2015 at 2:42pm NotReally wrote:

OldBloke - if we add the UKIP vote it comes to 49%
So still a narrow majority for the Lib/Lab/Greens, I'm afraid.
You wouldn't need to look at UKIP anyway, 51% is always a majority; perhaps you should look at improving your maths.

On 18 May 2015 at 3:10pm Old Bloke wrote:

@NotReally - do you have a problem getting your head through the door.
Nothing wrong with my maths I'm simply not such a saddo I need to work out pointless percentages to prove a non point
Last time I looked Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Greens were all different parties and subject to the same rules of our democracy as all the rest. So they could hardly be a majority
Why not try and work out the theory of light and use it to illuminate a pathway down from your own backside

On 18 May 2015 at 3:55pm Sussex Jim wrote:

Most MPs. have other jobs or occupations, in addition to representing their constituents in Parliament. Our member, Maria Caulfield, is not only a nurse, but a team leader at the Royal Marsden Hospital.
The way to contact your MP if you have an issue is to write or email them at the House of Commons- or visit one of their local "surgeries" which are held at various locations. Usually advertised in the local press. These are quite often held in the evenings, in the members' spare time. However: you should first have gone through the normal channels first with your problem; Parish,District or County Council, or trade organisation.
Norman Baker was an exception. Having no real job to do, he latched on to any problem; however minor. And then took the credit- complete with picture in the Sussex Express- when somebody else sorted it.
I am sure that if next doors' cat had farted, he would be round to investigate. The headline in the following week's Express:
"Norman solves local feline problem"
And in the flyers through the doors- "Liberal action works!"

On 18 May 2015 at 4:30pm Next doors cat wrote:

It's true Sussex Jim. I farted and Norman was at the door asking if there was anything he could do to help and was it okay if he wrote about it in Viva Lewes. I'm going to miss him.

On 18 May 2015 at 5:30pm Tom from up the road wrote:

If I get hold of you, female cat it'll make more than Viva Lewes. MeeOwulol

On 18 May 2015 at 5:41pm Old Bloke wrote:

Sussex Jim said (and quite rightly) "Maria Caulfield, is not only a nurse, but a team leader at the Royal Marsden Hospital"
Wonder how that will fit all the lefties with their "Evil Tories" and "Troy Scum" battle cries
Didn't vote for Maria but I'm sure she'll do a fine job and give her best for the country and Lewes
Shame the spiteful left (grotesque parody of a Labour Party that it is) see fit to do her down before she's even started

On 18 May 2015 at 6:10pm U Dimbo wrote:

SussexJIm "Most MPs. have other jobs or occupations, in addition to representing their constituents in Parliament." ... "Norman Baker was an exception."
What century are you living in? MP are paid �67,060 plus expenses to do a full time job for for many this is the sum of their income. Some find this income insufficient for their lifestyles and earn money from other jobs and therefore little time doing the job that taxpayers are paying them for. The the days of the "Gentleman Member of Parliament" are long gone.
Do you really think Maria Caulfield is going to continue to be a nurse? She has already resigned from her job at the Royal Marsden.

On 18 May 2015 at 6:51pm Old Bloke wrote:

@U Dimbo - do you really think he meant she was intending to carry on a full time nursing career?
If so perhaps you should think twice before suggesting others are dim

On 18 May 2015 at 7:18pm Mavis wrote:

Keep up U Dimbo ! They've had a rise this year the new salary is �74,000 + expenses. Who said she's probably gone shopping ?

On 18 May 2015 at 7:53pm NotReally wrote:

Oldbloke, I wasnt arguing with the fact that Maria caulfield is our mp. Or the first past the post system. nor was I the one to lump together the three parties - it was the first poster. I was just arguing with his last sentence, the crux of his argument: "Now it must be more politically reflective of the whole electorate rather than being somewhat LD/Lab/Green leaning because the majority in the Constituency are not!" now that's clearly not true.

On 18 May 2015 at 8:10pm U Dimbo wrote:

OldBloke - So you're suggesting the SussexJim reckons she's going to take on another job then, otherwise she would be, like Norman Baker, "an exception" with no real job to do. Wouldn't she?
He said : "Our member, Maria Caulfield, is not only a nurse, but a team leader at the Royal Marsden Hospital." - No she isn't. She;s already resigned.