In the news

Cardiff Central and Captain Beany feature in a David Baddiel opinion piece this week that is mostly about the Monster Raving Loony Party, A party not raving but drowning.

In Cardiff Central, which Labour won in 2001 with a majority of 659, another breakaway MRLP faction has been formed, called the New Millennium Bean Party. I phoned its candidate, Captain Beany (real name, changed by deed poll), a very sweet old Welsh bloke, who spends all his time in orange make-up and an orange superhero costume, and he told me that his party has 2,000 members. If they, or enough other Cardiff voters, decide to take Brian Sedgemore’s advice to give Tony Blair a bloody nose, and chose to do this by voting for a man claiming to be a baked bean from outer space, the Lib Dems will win. In this key seat, Wack and Zane hold the balance of power.

Out and about in Cardiff Central

Our Flickr pages have some pictures up now, finally. There are some snaps of Jeremy Vine's visit to the Union, posters up in windows and on buildings and the star of the collection (for sheer ingenuity, obviously not for any of the sentiments involved) is this shortlived protest...



Possibly nicked out of somebody's garden it adorned traffic lights on City Road on Saturday 23rd for not very long I shouldn't imagine. It certainly wasn't there later in the evening.

Gotz Mohindra publicity

Finally received Gotz Mohindra's election address, that's the last of the freeposts now.



He's wearing the same shirt in all of the pictures. Unless that's his lucky campaigning shirt methinks his out and about jaunt in Cardiff Central was restricted to one afternoon. Any more comments?

Spotted

Jenny Randerson AM chatting outside LibDem HQ on City Road, Roath, with lots of people inside furiously stuffing envelopes and talking on phones. Today, 4 o'clock-ish.

Publicity tally

At the most recent count...

Jenny Willott - 9 (2 not scanned)
Raja Gul Raiz - 2
Jon Owen Jones - 1
Labour - 1
Frank Hughes - 1
UKIP - 1
Captain Beany - 1
Richard Grigg - 1
Catherine Taylor-Dawson - 1
Anne Savoury - 1
Gotz Mohindra - 0 through the door, 1 from the street

Anyone else like to add their tally? Had anything more from the elusive Mr Mohindra?

Catherine Taylor-Dawson publicity

This is a hard one to decribe. It's like a piece of broadsheet newspaper (both in size and paper type) that is folded into quarters so that it comes as an A4 size. I've just scanned the front and back for the moment. If you're absolutely dying to read it all let me know.



Now this is all I've seen from Catherine Taylor-Dawson, what do we think?

Raja Gul Raiz publicity

Came with the post this morning. glossy A4 paper folded into three.



Anything to add?

Jenny Willott publicity

Got the following in the post today. Individually addressed envelopes (including for people not registered to vote, very thorough!) with a letter and a slip of paper.



Any thoughts?

In the news

Wales is the subject of a piece by the BBC's Welsh correspondent in Who can count on the Welsh vote? which includes some, if not criticism, then certainly highlighting of the fact that people can't seem to differentiate between Assembly and Westminster issues.

Although whether to introduce top-up fees for higher education in Wales will be a decision for the Welsh Assembly, it has become a major issue in the marginal Westminster constituency of Cardiff Central.

Here, the high student population means the sitting Labour MP, Jon Owen Jones, is staring down the barrel of a gun even though even if he was returned to Westminster there is little he could actually do about tuition fees in Welsh universities.

That subtlety seems to matter little to students like John Barnes, an English Literature undergraduate at Cardiff University.

"One of the major issues is student fees. It affects me directly and I'm strongly opposed to them."

And later today... Raja Gul Raiz, Jenny Willott and Catherine Taylor-Dawson electoral communication scans and pictures from out and about in Cardiff Central.

In the news

From icWales, Academics and students 'surging behind Lib Dems' which mentions Cardiff Central as a key Labour-held marginal for the Lib Dems.

The special Question Time had quite a lot about tuition fees, education, Iraq and all the lovely contentious issues. It was a great event and is the subject of lengthy discussion at Perfect.co.uk amongst other places. Tomorrow on BBC1 Wales there is another leaders special Question Time with Elfyn Llwyd, on at 9.30pm after Have I Got News For You that certain bloggers will be going to the recording of and will report back on the Question Time experience.

Frank Hughes publicity

Frank Hughes's electoral communication arrived in the post this morning. It's a glossy bit of A4 paper folded in half.

Photo-blogging Cardiff Central

In anticipation of some photos going up here tomorrow (today, in fact) I have set up a Flickr account. This has a few functions:

Anyone can mail photos to the blog by regular email. Send pictures to were21wife((at))flickr.com. Use the subject to give the photo a title and the main body of the email to write a description, if you wish.

All the photos will be displayed here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cardiff-central/ and stored there for linkage from the blog.

Jon Owen Jones publicity

Jon Owen Jones's election communication also arrived today in the post, individually addressed. It's a rather lovely piece of A5 card.



Discuss...

Anne Savoury publicity

Got Anne Savoury's Election Communication in the post this morning. Anne Savoury is standing as an independent - Independent ProLife candidate. In 2001 she stood in Cardiff South and Penarth for the ProLife Alliance where she polled 1% of the vote.

The leaflet is glossy A4 folded paper. The scans I left quite large as its full of text on a coloured background. Click for big. They are big indeed and may take some loading, but look better.



Open to the floor for comments...

In the news

Okay, it's still a slow news day, but there's some old news just come to light.

There appears to have been a bit of a running battle in the papers between Jon Owen Jones and some constituents about student exemption from council tax...

Jon Owen Jones's letter explaining why students are exempt, Students are low earners. A reply, Subsidising drinking and cars. And a newer reply, Jon's words were rubbish.

Of which, some selections:

If, as has been admitted by many students, a considerable part of their money is being spent on drinking, socialising, taxis and running cars - pleasures many tax-payers cannot afford - I see no reason why they should not contribute towards council tax. The properties which many of them rent are of multiple occupancy, so if the council tax was shared among the occupants it would not cost them any more than the price of a pint or two of beer a week.

So they put the students' rent up, they can afford it.

Maybe they would not be able to go out every night, get drunk, buy takeaways and generally make a mess and noise in a residential area.

Why don't they have more student campuses for first, second and third year students built in one place and bring our community back as it was?

A slow news day today obviously, with just three paragraphs in one story, Wonderful reception for these Respect and SSP candidates from Socialist Worker online.

Jeremy Vine Show

The Jeremy Vine Show came to visit Cardiff Students Union this morning.

Distinctly separate small groups of students stood uneasily on the Union steps waiting. When Vine and two producer-types appeared on the other side of the road there were uncertain whispers. They came across and introduced themselves to the leaders of the groups (who had all had their party allegiances correctly guessed by myself). The groups nominated speakers and the producers introduced the idea and what they wanted from the piece. After one false start it went off well, everyone being quite polite and tame at first but things hotted up considerably - the producers literally wafting the flames in a bid to get people to cheer or boo and when a mini-fight broke out they were very pleased.

The show will be on at 12 today but you should be able to go to the site and 'Listen again' with RealPlayer. I'll report on it later when I've had a listen. Some pictures might make their way on to the blog as well.

BBC Coverage

The BBC battlebus will apparently be in Cardiff Central tomorrow. I'd managed to miss this as I'm usually not home in time for the 6pm bulletin. I (and everybody reading this who didn't know) has my mother to thank for this piece of information - she rung me in a state of excitement earlier this evening to ask if they'd be using me as a guest commentator on the programme, y'know, as mothers do.

Sadly I won't be appearing on the national news tomorrow (if there is a list of people they'd ring to offer expert opinion I'd imagine I'm just above Toy Mike Trevor, the imfamous street busker). I may, however, be putting in a brief appearance on BBC News 24, drinking beer.

No, this isn't the shameless Gary plug (to be honest I'll be happy if I'm edited out). News 24 were filming in the Students' Union pub, The Taf today, and soliciting opinions from assorted students on the general election. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time for somebody to offer me a free pint.

The package should be playing anytime from 3pm onwards. News 24 are also filming more students down in the Bay at 1pm.

Gotz Mohindra publicity

These were being handed out by a group of five supporters on City Road this afternoon. It's half an A4 sheet, roughly photocopied on to pale blue paper. More for gathering Tory support than soliciting votes.

Click on the thumbnails for the bigger picture.

Upcoming events

Wednesday 27th - BBC Radio Two's Jeremy Vine will be at the Union steps from 9.30am looking to talk to students about politics.

Wednesday 27th - Stop the War Election Hustings, 7pm, downstairs in the Law Building, Cardiff University. Cardiff Stop the War Coalition have organised a hustings for representatives from all the parties to talk about Iraq, Palestine, the War on terror, the attacks on civil liberties, terrorism, the racist backlash and answer questions.

If there is anything your group, club or society would like to publicise email us, cardiffcentral(at)hotmail.co.uk.

In the news

What today's poll findings mean from ITV predicts that Brian Sedgemore's defection to the Lib Dems might help swings in places such as... Cardiff Central. And from the Independent Majority want troops home by end of the year...

Labour's private polls show that the party has not won round many critics of the war among the top AB social group. There are fears at Labour headquarters that the "Iraq factor" may cost it a handful of seats on 5 May, including Cardiff Central, Cambridge and Hornsey and Wood Green.

As for Brian Sedgemore, check out this amazing speech and news on his defection from the BBC.

Richard Grigg publicity

Came with the post this morning. It's a glossy A4 sheet folded in half. Apologies for the horrible scans.



Grigg has to have the catchiest soundbite yet: "Blair lied, vote Plaid". Now regardless of your political persuasion that's got to count for something.

In short: there's a bio of Grigg, a brief passage on the defection of a Lib Dem Cathays councillor to Plaid, some policy promises and some digs at 'your New Labour MP'. Packing a lot in.

The complexities of the student vote

All this stuff in the media about 'high proportion of students' etc seems to be missing many important considerations. It's not a cut and dried issue. So let's take this slow.

In Cardiff Central there is a total of almost 61,000 voters (as shown here). There are 21,500 students at Cardiff University and according to the nice people at UWIC registry there are just over 10,000 students at UWIC. Plus there are students at other academic institutions and in further education such as 13,000 at Coleg Glan Hafren.

To start whittling down the potentially huge numbers we have to consider those students attending Cardiff Central institutions but not living in Cardiff Central - such as the UWIC halls in Llandaff. Figures from the DfES in this article show 21% of students living at home a few years ago, with that number rising. Many students commute from living at home in other areas of Cardiff and South Wales (although, also, some of these home-dwelling students might be at 'home' in Cardiff Central). Then there are the fairly large and increasing numbers of students from abroad not eligible to vote in UK elections. And in FE not everyone will be eligible to vote because of their age.

To begin to sum up this chap estimates 20,000 student voters in Cardiff Central. I have heard estimates of around 13,000. There don't seem to be any firm figures.

We begin to get to the crux of the issue. The 'home' versus 'term time' debate. The very fact that students who spend 9 months of the year in Cardiff and yet refer to somewhere else as 'home' shows the strong ties maintained with the family base.

Students are entitled to be registered at both their 'home' and 'term time' addresses, though can only vote at one or the other at any given time. I am tempted to speculate that more students are registered at 'home' only than at both 'home' and 'term'. I'm basing this on a few factors: 1) at 'home' your parents do it for you, 2) away at university people move house more and may not update their details.

So I would venture that we lose student numbers because of that. But then also the 'home' votes may get lost by people not applying for postal votes. Or by naughty things happening to the postal votes. Now we've got students living in Cardiff Central who are registered to vote there. But they are probably also registered to vote at 'home' if home is not Cardiff Central.

This needs a choice. Do you vote 'home' or 'term time'? This can be affected by a myriad of different issues that I shan't go in to here - because I want you to tell me in the comments.

If you choose Cardiff Central you've come through a whole bunch of hurdles to get here. It's nowhere near as simple as it seems people like to think it is. And don't even get me started on the assumption that students act as some sort of block vote, as though we aren't from as many different social backgrounds, communities, areas, age ranges, genders, minorities and other variations as 'normal' people.

So let's try and get a sample going. Calling students in Cardiff Central! Are you registered to vote here? Will you choose to vote here? Will you vote at all?

'Who do we vote for now?' meeting

'Who do we vote for now?' was a meeting held on Staurday in Splott, organised by the Cardiff Social Forum. This intrepid 'international observer' observed the following interesting things...

The atmosphere was informal with everyone sitting around in a circle, about 25 people made up of a few representatives from Left groups such as the Greens and various socialists as well as a number of people with no particular party allegiance. It started with a 15 minute introductory talk that covered some of the dominant institutions in Britain that are not democratically elected (the Justice system, House of Lords, army, big businesses etc) and how the electorate can influence politics other than once every 4 or 5 years. After the introduction the floor was open for comments.

The discussion centred around common themes such as the political influence of consumerism, the (debated) importance of single-issue and pressure groups, power of the labour force through industrial action, the divisions amongst the small parties of the left and how they could perhaps move towards a workable inclusive umbrella 'Workers Party' despite many failed attempts, trade union representation and influence in party politics, the advantages and disadvantages of tactical voting, the challenging and difficult electoral process, negative campaigning, spoiling ballot papers and electoral reform.

Much of the discussion was motivated from a "I would (or used to) vote Labour but don't feel I can because of... Iraq / big businesses / tuition fees / etc". There was some discussion of Cardiff Central as a marginal constituency and the challenges that presented.

Someone brought this up at the meeting that the name bore a resemblance to the book "So Now Who Do We Vote For?" - the website for which you can find to the right in the links, along with lots of other sites that concern many of the issues raised here.

Apologies for not attributing any of these ideas to people. If you were there and would like to comment please do!

Anne Savoury

Given the number of Independent candidates standing in this election, I was intrigued and curious to see that Cardiff Central had one running - Anne Savoury - so I did a quick Google which revealed she previously stood against Alun Michael under the banner of the pro-life alliance (I'm going to assume it's the same person - seems a bit too much of a co-incidence for me). She's also stood for the Pro-Life Alliance in the 2003 Welsh Assembly elections. This has got me even more curious as to why she's dropped the Pro-Life banner, although not curious enough to make any kind of effort to find out. Sorry.

In the news

Hot off the presses from Wales On Sunday, Key Battles: Cardiff Central has a few interesting things to say.

With a sizeable Muslim community and huge student vote, it is the Lib Dems' key Welsh target, with candidate Jenny Willott, 31, hoping to cash in on anger about the Iraq war and university top-up fees.

JW and JOJ are getting more exciting by the day...

Rebellious Labour MP Jon Owen Jones - who voted and spoke against both bills - held onto the seat in 2001 with a tiny 659 majority.

Now Willott, with a large team of 20-somethings around her, is pushing hard by urging voters to ignore Jones' voting record and insisting a vote for him is "a vote for Blair".

This is obviously a big concern. The Lib Dems are going to make Iraq a big issue for the coming week and the anti-Blair Backing Blair are also pushing Iraq to the top of the agenda (plus more from perfect.co.uk).

JOJ hits back...

But defiant Jones is taking his yellow "attack book" of Lib Dem policies to homes, saying people don't know what they're voting for.

"We didn't start it, they did," he said. "They started negative campaigning, we're just responding to it.

"I don't honestly believe more than a tiny fraction of the constituency would vote Liberal if they knew their crime policies."

And there is little love for the other candidates...

The Tories and Plaid Cymru, neither of whom have a hope of winning the seat, field Gotz Mohindra and Richard Grigg respectively.

Frank Hughes is standing for UKIP and Raja Raiz is running for the anti-war Respect party.

New Millennium Bean Party candidate Captain Beany's views on the war are unknown, but he was once named "fourth most eccentric man in Britain".

Any comments? Leave them below.

Postal voting

There has been much in the news about postal votes and all the associated problems. Parties are getting in to trouble for sending out postal vote application forms and asking you to return them to party addresses. To be fair the Cardiff Central Lib Dems are directing you to the right place for returning your application, which is:

Electoral Registration Officer
Cardiff County Council
County Hall
Atlantic Wharf
Cardiff
CF10 4UW

There's a blog all about postal voting and also see About My Vote. You until 26th April to return your forms. Students can be registered at both their home and term time address but can only vote in one. So there's a few options and combinations of locations and voting methods to sort out.

In the news

There's a fair bit of coverage of Charles Kennedy's visit to Cardiff Central were he and Jenny Willott read a book to schoolchildren. The articles then go on to cover Lib Dem education policy. Try Kennedy sticks his neck out for children (icWales) and Kennedy eyes Welsh breakthrough (ePolitix).

What the Lib Dems weren't doing yesterday was getting up to their armpits in trouble discussing immigration, Lib Dems stay out of immigration row (icWales)

He also visited Cardiff Central - the Liberal Democrats' fourth target seat -where they hope to unseat Labour's Jon Owen Jones.

The most marginal Labour/Lib Dem seat in the country, it saw a huge swing at in the 2001 election when Liberal Democrats slashed Labour's majority from almost 8,000 down to 659.

More on that broadband story from The Register in Cardiff tops broadband electoral poll which says that Cardiff Central has the best uptake of broadband of all constituencies with 37%. It also looks at how this breaks down by political allegiance in constituencies across Britain.

And finally the Education Guardian is running a series of diaries by student political activists, Campaign diary: the student canvassers, one from each party with the Lib Dem rep from Cardiff Uni. It's a good read...

Nobody cares about politics, right? Wrong. Students are pounding the streets this very minute to win your vote. Read their campaign diaries every week in Guardian Student in the run-up to the election. This week, meet Lucy, Katie and Elliot, all campaigning in tough marginal seats where student votes could matter . . .

Spotted

Low tech journalist with notebook talking to passers-by on Crwys Road, Friday, 1.30pm.

Publicity tally thus far

So far I have received the following campaigning leaflets through my letterbox:

About 8 Lib Dem leaflets
1 Labour leaflet
1 UKIP leaflet
1 Captain Beany card
0 leaflets from Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives or Respect.

In addition I've had one visit from the Lib Dems and one phone call from Labour.

Publicity material that I see when walking to and from work:
Labour: 2
Respect: 1 (given that the house this is in is literally around the corner from mine, it makes the lack of Respect leaflets through the letterbox even more baffling)
Lib Dems: Actually, no, I've given up trying to count the number of posters, placards, etc, I've seen for the Lib Dems. I'll just use that wonderfully unscientific term of 'lots'.

This is just for an average house in the backstreets of Roath containing 2 students and 1 graduate.

Anybody else want to stick up their own publicity stats? I'll be interested to see what has been arriving on everybody else's doormats

Upcoming events

Don't forget these two election events, one today and one tomorrow.

Friday 22nd, 7.30pm - An election candidates hustings at the Temple of Peace (in the Civic Centre). View map.

Saturday 23rd, 2.30 - 4.30pm - 'Who Do We Vote For Now? A Forum on the General Election and Elections in general' at Splott Community Centre (aka East Moors Community Centre?) on Sanquahar Street. View map. Everyone of all political persuasions welcome for informal debate.

If there is anything your group, club or society would like to publicise feel free to email us, cardiffcentral(at)hotmail.co.uk.

In the news

Cardiff University researchers have found Booze-fuelled violence 'decreasing' says the Western Mail.

Lib Dems look to boost female support from Epolitix has some information on scrapping top-up and tuition fees. Two Lib Dems mentioned, Sandra Gidley and Sarah Teather, are 'proxy-blogged' so you can have a look around. Plus Sandra Gidley has her own blog and the guy who writes about Sarah Teather has a Brent East constituency campaign blog as well. Just a few plugs for fellow bloggers.

And there's a goodun in the Western Mail - Charles Kennedy is coming to Cardiff today, Lib-Dem leader hardly venturing into lion's den. He will be at St Monica's school. You should read the entire article, there's far too much to pick out here. It sort of turns in to a Jon Owen Jones article and there is a lot of quotage from the man himself, but also a lot of damning writing on his prospects such as 'secretly he must know that the writing is on the wall'. I'll leave you with this extract on students:

One his Achille's heels is the issue of student top-up fees. Although he voted against them, they are now in place thanks to a Labour Government, and the high number of students in Cardiff Central are likely to punish him for that.

Update: Peter Black AM has a few things to say about JOJ's 'rant' in the above article.

Polling quizzes

If you're feeling doubtful about who deserves your vote or just bored have a play around with the masses of political quizzes. Here are some of the well known ones, leave a comment if you like any others.

Public Whip's How They Voted 2005. This uses just 7 responses from you on key issues to see how closely your local MP corresponds with your views based on their voting record and which party voted according to your views.

Political Survey 2005 is longer and more detailed. It doesn't tell you which party to vote for but which party's supporters you fit in best with based on the data of people taking the test.

Who Should You Vote For takes your views on political and social issues and can contrast your answers with who you think you will be most closely aligned with and with the parties' policy statements. Doesn't have a Plaid Cymru option.

Obviously they are not meant to be taken entirely seriously but they might provoke some thoughts.

Cardiff Central candidates

The full list of Cardiff Central candidates, from the BBC constituency page.

Captain Beany - New Millenium Bean Party

Richard Grigg - Plaid Cymru

Raja Gul Raiz - Respect Unity Coalition

Frank Hughes - UKIP

Jon Owen Jones - Labour

Gotz Mohindra - Conservative

Anne Savoury - Independent

Catherine Taylor-Dawson - Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket

Jenny Willott - Liberal Democrat

Any thoughts on the line up? We'll try and get details on everyone soon.

Raja Gul Raiz publicity

Today a Raja Gul Raiz leaflet officially popped through the door. I've already blogged it here, one that I found on the floor. There has still been no Plaid Cymru or Conservative leaflets. Labour, Respect and UKIP are on one each, with the Lib Dems steaming ahead at 7, some of which is yet to be blogged. If you've got anything we don't you could always send it in.

In the news

More news. First off a subscription site that wants paying for, but the Google description yields up this interesting fact:

More than 37 percent of the homes in the Cardiff Central parliamentary constituency have broadband, making it the country’s peak broadband area, according to...

ePolitix.com in Parties woo Welsh voters covers progress being made in Wales by all the parties, the Lib Dem's Lembit Opik with the following:

"Ceredigion is the missing piece of the geographical jigsaw. With Cardiff Central, the Lib Dems are set to become the second party of Wales."

In the news

An interesting look at the candidates for the election acrosds the whole of Britain has the following free publicity for Captain Beany here in Cardiff Central in Terror suspect appeals to ballot box, though the title is not referring to Mr Beany obviously.

Among the surge of single issue parties, there is the Build Duddon and Morecambe Bridges candidate in Barrow, the New Millennium Bean in Cardiff Central and the Jam Wrestling candidate seeking to improve on the 0.3% share of the vote he won last time in Kensington and Chelsea.

Meanwhile the Financial Times put Cardiff Central as potentially for the Lib Dems with a large number of Muslim voters in Blair faces Muslim backlash over Iraq war...

The Lib Dems believe their newly established appeal among Muslim voters will help them take the marginal seats of Birmingham Hodge Hill, Birmingham Yardley, Rochdale and Oldham East and Saddleworth, Cardiff Central and Luton South.

Captain Beany publicity

A captain Beany flyer arrived this morning, possibly with the regular post. On the leaflet is printed: 'Election Comunication [sic] Cardiff Central Constituency on behalf of Captain Beany' which further makes me suspect that this is his free post.

Richard Grigg

Richard Grigg, Plaid Cymru's candidate has been in touch with a press release...

Brought up in the constituency, Richard is a 37-year-old lawyer who lives in Penylan with his wife and two children. He is Plaid Cymru’s Director of Finance and a member of the party’s National Executive. He was Plaid Cymru’s candidate in 2001, when Plaid gained their highest ever General Election vote in the constituency.

“I am proud to have been re-selected to fight this seat,” Richard said. “There is no doubt that Cardiff Central will attract a great deal of media attention during the coming months, and I look forward to representing the only party which has the interests of Wales at the heart of all its policies.”

In the news

Plaid Cymru's new angle, discussed in Lend us your vote, Plaid tells war protesters from the Guardian might be helpful for Cardiff Central people who feel caught up in a two-horse race.

Plaid Cymru yesterday claimed Labour supporters would be "lending" it their votes to express disillusionment with Tony Blair over the Iraq war.

The Welsh nationalist party believes it can retain a key seat in south Wales and wrest one back from Labour in the north by focusing on disenchantment with the prime minister.

Launching its manifesto, the party hinted that it was hoping to play a long game, aiming for dramatic gains at the Welsh assembly elections in two years' time, rather than spectacular results on May 5.

And a scrap has broken out between those two horses over Lib Dem plans to replace council tax with a local income tax: Labour hits out at Lib Dems' tax plan, from the Western Mail.

Upcoming events

Two dates for your diary:

Friday 22nd, 7.30pm - An election candidates hustings at the Temple of Peace (in the Civic Centre). View map.

Saturday 23rd, 2.30 - 4.30pm - 'Who Do We Vote For Now? A Forum on the General Election and Elections in general' at Splott Community Centre (aka East Moors Community Centre?) on Sanquahar Street. View map. Everyone of all political persuasions welcome for informal debate.

If there is anything your group, club or society would like to publicise feel free to email us, cardiffcentral(at)hotmail.co.uk.

Jenny Willott publicity

Got a personally addressed, unsolicited hand delivery on Satursay on Jenny Willott. A covering letter mostly about pensions with a survey: Our Future - Your Views.

Scans available:
http://www.jacuzzipixie.com/ccwatch/jw1904_15.jpg
http://www.jacuzzipixie.com/ccwatch/jw1904_16.jpg
http://www.jacuzzipixie.com/ccwatch/jw1904_17.jpg

In the news

In todays Guardian, Remapping the borders by Jonathan Freedland looks at the differences between Wales and Scotland compared to England in terms of parties, policies, and general left-leaningness (or so he sees).

There is this little snippet about Cardiff Central, but the whole article is worth a read.

In Wales, Lib Dems are set to win the Cardiff Central seat (thanks to a combination of students and what Labour officials call "Guardian readers" angry over the war).

Jenny Willott spotted

Jenny Willott and a bunch of students and Lib Demers in the Students Union building on their way up the stairs at about eight to quarter past this evening.

The correspondent bade the group hello and wished them good luck. The group responded to the correspondent with blank stares, imply some sort of madness on the part of the correspondent.

Lib Dem student manifesto

Lib Dems unveil 'manifesto' for students says icWales. The Lib Dem website does contain a number of 'mini-manifestos' that students might find interesting, including the environment, young people, education, LGBT as well as many other issues and country-specific versions. They are all available to download from here at the Lib Dem site. There is not one called 'Students', but maybe they just need a bit of time to get it up there.

Here's a taste of Jenny Willott for you:

Cardiff Central candidate Jenny Willott said: "Ask students in Ceredigion, Cardiff Central or Swansea West if they agree with the war in Iraq. If they're in favour of top-up fees and tuition fees. If they agree with compulsory ID cards. If they think that Wales and Britain is setting a good example on the environment.

"When asked these questions I've found that their sympathies are with us, the Welsh Liberal Democrats."

The party would pay for its policies through a new 50% top rate of income tax for those earning more than £100,000, and the "Barnett consequentials" - the money that comes to Wales from Westminster policies - of plans such as scrapping ID cards.

Labour publicity

Came through the post, not candidate-specific. Obviously not aimed at students - talk about mortgage repayments and homes being at risk under the Tories is a little moot for us students, who will need a recession in order to ever be able to buy a house.

Scans:
http://www.jacuzzipixie.com/ccwatch/lab1604_1.jpg
http://www.jacuzzipixie.com/ccwatch/lab1604_2.jpg

Jenny Willott publicity

Some new stuff scanned from Jenny Willott's Lib Dem materials, click for bigger picture.



There's a lso a 'student survey' that will probably help you emerge realising you support the Lib Dems...



More later.

In the news

Jon Owen Jones and Jenny Willott fight it out over a potential supercasino by the Stadium, Millenium Stadium could be supercasino, Western Mail, 16th April. As there's no real reason to believe this might ever come to fruition all you need to know is that JOJ would be against the idea and JW is in favour...

Jon Owen Jones, who hopes to be re-elected MP for the marginal Cardiff Central seat, the constituency where the Millennium Stadium is situated, said, "I am opposed to the idea of supercasinos. I am not aware of any loophole in the Bill and it sounds to me that somebody is flying a kite or trying to cause mischief.

"Given that the Liberal leader of the council has swanned off to Los Angeles, all expenses paid, to look at casinos I'm sure he would be delighted. But as far as I'm aware there is no loophole and if I am re-elected I will make sure there isn't one."

Jenny Willott, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Cardiff Central said, "The funds a supercasino will bring into Cardiff will pay for the leisure facilities in the area, such as a new ice rink and swimming pool. Hopefully the council would be able to use the funds for local services as well.

"It is Jon Owen Jones's party pushing this Bill through at national level, so it is slightly bizarre for him to be condemning it here in the heart of Wales."

Parties seek support of Welsh voters (epolitix.com) covers the Lib dem and Tory plans for Wales, though not in much detail and icWales have more details in Lib Dems launch Welsh manifesto, 15th April.

UKIP leaflet

A UKIP leaflet, delivered 14th April. Not candidate-specific.

Scans, click to enlarge:


Still trawling through backlog of Lib Dem stuff. More soon.

Raja Gul Raiz leaflet

Got ourselves a Raja Gul Raiz (Respect) leaflet picked up off the pavement near City Road.

(Bad) Scans, click to enlarge:

Jenny Randerson and Jenny Willott

Another bit of Jenny Willott publicity on the way. Also watch out for Respect and UKIP stuff coming soon.

Something is odd in this latest bit flyer, which might be their freepost. Jenny Randerson is in all five photos on the inside. Out of the total of 8 Randerson is in 6, with Charles Kennedy appearing in two and George Bush and Tony Blair in the eighth. Randerson is mentioned constantly. Jenny Willott's website, though directed through www.jennywillott.com is actually located on Randerson's site, the full address being http://www.jennyranderson.com/jennywillott/default.asp. Willott seems to be going piggy back, which reminds me of allegations made last year at the Euro elections... Labour MP sees red over leaflet - Western Mail, 3rd June 2004. Willott was selected to fight this election an unprecedented two months after losing in 2001. Making the most of Randerson's popularity and good results is easy.

Jenny Willott publicity

Jenny Willott, the Lib Dem candidate has had by far the most amount of publicity landing on the doorstep.

Postal vote application

Three things to remember about this election

1. Only the Liberal Democrats can beat Tony Blair's Labour candidate here. The Conservatives and Plaid Cymru cannot win.

2. Liberal Democrat candidate Jenny Willott lives locally and is being backed by Jenny Randerson AM and Charles Kennedy MP.

3. Only Jenny Willott, Jenny Randerson and the Liberal Democrats have a strong record of local action. They are campaigning against Labour's tax re-banding and Post Office closures, as well as fighting for more health facilities on the Cardiff Royal Infirmary site.

The Conservatives Cannot Win Here

Scan: http://www.jacuzzipixie.com/ccwatch/jw1604_8.jpg

Then there's notes on how to complete the postal vote form.

Jenny Willott and Jenny Randerson AM

This little slip is of a pale yellow hue.

Scans: http://www.jacuzzipixie.com/ccwatch/jw1604_6.jpg
http://www.jacuzzipixie.com/ccwatch/jw1604_7.jpg

Jenny Willott and Jenny Randerson AM

Working together to stand up for our area

Many families in our area were hit hard by the collapse of the Aliied Steel and Wire Pension Fund.

Last month, Jenny Willott and Jenny Randerson marched in support of these families, demanding action, not words from the Labour Government.

People across our local area want to keep local Post Offices open, as the focal point of many communites.

Jenny Willott and Jenny randerson took the Liberal Democrat campaign to save our Post Offices right to the top.

Jenny Willott: The best choice to stand up for our area in Parliament

That about the PO said next to a picture of them outside number 10, of Downing Street I presume. And over on the other side...

Standing up for our area

1 Jenny has led the campaign for more health facilities on the Cardiff Royal Infirmary site.

2 She is fighting to scrap the unfair Council Tax, and is campaigning against Labour's re-banding.

3 She has fought Labour's plans to close local Post Office branches across Cardiff.

4 She opposed Labour's decision to back George Bush's illegal war in Iraq.

Then there's the obligatory graph showing the 659 votes in it and how it's a 'two horse race between Labour and the Lib Dems' while the Conservatives can't win.

Slightly older news

Cardiff Central: The price tag of regeneration and renewal - Politics.co.uk

On the wristband wagon - Guardian - students, NUS, fees and voting:

In the Lib Dems' sights is Cardiff Central, with a precarious Labour majority of 659 and a large student presence in the Cathays district of the city (though tuition fees in Cardiff will not, in fact, be set by Westminister but by the Welsh assembly in 2007).

The student swing - Guardian - The bright young things of the marginal Cardiff seat of Cathays have found themselves to be a valuable political commodity, writes Sam Friedman:

Students are a key target again in this campaign, especially for Ms Willott, who wants to capitalise on opposition to tuition and top-up fees.

But whether students vote at all, not whom they vote for, could prove the most pressing issue. "Apathy is still pretty rife", says Gary Rees, the president of the Cardiff University student union. He says the union must run a "high visibility campaign" if it is to attract students to the polls.

"We realised, after the top-up fees demonstration last January, that to try and get students interested we must attempt a 'politics is sexy' approach, combining traditional methods with some stunts - perhaps using some scantily clad ladies or something," he says.

The whole article is worth a read.

Lib Dems invest £100,000 in student power - Telegraph - polling students on voting intentions.

Everyone's watching us. What shall we show them?

In the news

Cardiff Central and its student population:

Marginal seats vulnerable to the Iraq factor include several in middle class suburbs and those with a high number of younger voters. In Cardiff Central, Labour's Jon Owen Jones is defending a majority of 659 in a constituency with more students per head than any other - a group that tends to be anti-war.

From the Guardian, Labour plea to anti-war voters, which outlines their attempts to reconcile voters upset about Iraq with manifesto pledges on aid, tackling HIV/AIDS, dealiing with the arms trade etc.