Comments on: On the importance of by-elections (Bedford Mayor) http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2009/10/16/on-the-importance-of-by-elections-bedford-mayor/ “ferocity with a purpose” Sat, 03 Jul 2010 19:44:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Stephen Tall http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2009/10/16/on-the-importance-of-by-elections-bedford-mayor/comment-page-1/#comment-216491 Stephen Tall Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:17:57 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/?p=2795#comment-216491 I agree with all you say, James. However, it's also the case that the party (and wider membership) did not invest the same interest/effort in this by-election as would happen in a Parliamentary by-election. Partly this was the low campaign expenses limit - but I think it's also the perception of mystique which surrounds Westminster elections, coupled with a general contempt for local politics as somehow meaningless. I agree with all you say, James. However, it’s also the case that the party (and wider membership) did not invest the same interest/effort in this by-election as would happen in a Parliamentary by-election. Partly this was the low campaign expenses limit – but I think it’s also the perception of mystique which surrounds Westminster elections, coupled with a general contempt for local politics as somehow meaningless.

]]> By: Sean B http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2009/10/16/on-the-importance-of-by-elections-bedford-mayor/comment-page-1/#comment-216488 Sean B Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:46:48 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/?p=2795#comment-216488 I think the main lesson is that an open caucus risks deeply alienating the local party base, without engaging a new group of significant enough size to make up for it. The all-constituency ballots are looking very good, but even the tories can't actually afford them. Presumably they were hoping for similar results from a nice cost-effective process. They hoped wrong. I think the main lesson is that an open caucus risks deeply alienating the local party base, without engaging a new group of significant enough size to make up for it.

The all-constituency ballots are looking very good, but even the tories can’t actually afford them. Presumably they were hoping for similar results from a nice cost-effective process. They hoped wrong.

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