The secret of the Conservatives success in Mill Hill

Just over a year ago the Conservatives conclusively won Mill Hill ward. I know all about how, as I was standing for their main rivals in Mill Hill, the Lib Dems. The Lib Dems had been councillors for Mill Hill for the previous 16 years, since 1994. They originally won the ward, due to extreme laziness and complacency on the part of the local Conservative party and on the back of a huge split in the local Conservatives. The Lib Dems also gained a huge local following as a result of an active campaign against local overdevelopment of the green belt at Belmont Farm and Copthall. From 1994 until 2002, the Lib Dems and the Labour party were in power in Barnet. Many sensible policies were brought in and many local improvements were made. For the first three years of the Lib/Lab administration, they were hamstrung by having to deal with a totally inept central government.

In 1997, Tony Blair got in with a huge majority. Although many mistakes were made by the Blair government, there were two areas in which they were a massive improvement. Firstly they made huge sums available for school rebuilding. In Barnet, the Council started a much needed overhaul of local schools. Progressive central policies meant that schools in Barnet started to improve. In Mill Hill, perhaps the best example of this was the complete rebuilding of St Vincents RC school. This had been a ramshackle collection of worn out buildings and a highly dangerous play area on a steep slope. Other plans were put in place, but in 2002 the Tories retook the council, on the back of a national backlash against the Blair government. In Mill Hill, the Lib Dems were again successful, taking all three seats.

Initially, the local Tories under the sensible leadership of Victor Lyons (recently sadly departed) began a program of consolidation. By appointing Brian Coleman to run the Boroughs roads, Lyon started the decimation of the road safety measures the Lib/Lab administration had introduced. Road humps were ripped out and the Partingdale Lane ratrun reopened. From being a Borough who's road safety was improving relative to other Boroughs, the accident and death rate again saw Barnet as the worst London Borough this year. In education, the generosity of the local Labour government allowed the local Tories to claim credit for national policies and build on the good work done by Labour.

At the 2010 council elections, the Lib Dems in Mill Hill were faced with a local election on the same day as the national election. Hendon was a target constituency, so huge resources were poured in. A highly dishonest campaign was run by the local Conservatives. They ran this using two massive porkies. The first was that the local Lib Dems were planning a huge football stadium at Barnet Copthall for Kentish Town Football club (average attendance 30). When we first saw the leaflet, we were amazed. I'd never even heard of Kentish Town FC until someone challenged me. Having campaigned against overdevelopment at Copthall, the local Lib Dems were being called hypocrites by the Tories. Even though the whole story was a complete fabrication, locals faith in the Lib Dems was shaken. The second big porkie that they were spouting was that the local Lib Dems were anti semitic. This was based on the fact that one Lib Dem peer  - Jenny Tonge -  is a strident opponent of Israel. Whilst Tonge has many views with which I disagree on the subject, I don't want to live in a society where people cannot hold such views. What is rather ironic is that David Cameron had made some comments which went down rather badly as well on the subject of Israel. Strangely, local Jewish Conservative supporters didn't mention these when discussing these on the doorstep. Time and time again, Jewish voters told us they wouldn't vote Lib Dem whilst Tonge remained a member of the party. We discussed this many times. I was of the opinion that we should have grabbed the bull by the horns and put a leaflet out specifically addressing the issue, but the view that the less we said the better prevailed. For the record, I wanted us to publicly disassociate ourselves from her views, point out that she was a maverick and did not represent party policy on the subject. I also felt we should highlight certain other statements by promenent Tories.

Having said all of that, the most damaging leaflet of all in Mill Hill was not one put out by the Tories. It was one put out by the Labour party. This destroyed the base of labour voters who had lent their votes to the Lib Dems to keep out the Tories. It said "Don't vote Lib Dem, because they will form a coalition with the Tories". I was livid when I saw this leaflet. Given that the Lib Dems had run the council with the Labour group for eight years, I found it to be a total betrayal and a lie. I queried the local Labour group about it and they stated that it was part of Andrew Dismore's attempt to shore up the Labour vote and try and hold Hendon. They stated that local Labour supporters were sophisticated enough to know this. Rather sadly, my fears were correct. Labour voters dumped the Lib Dem councillors in their droves. Even more sadly, on the national scene, the leaflet was quite right. Many of the people who I'd spoken to on the doorstep, pointed out that the leaflet was right. All I could say was that it wouldn't have happened locally if I'd been elected.

Which brings me to 2011. I am still a member of the Barnet Lib Dems. People have started to ask me whether I will stand for Council again. Some people have suggested that I should rejoin the local Labour party and try and secure the nomination for Hale Ward, which I believe to be winnable. My own house was in Hale ward until a recent boundary change. I have huge affection and loyalty to the local Lib Dems, I believe that Wayne Casey and Jeremy Davies were the best councillors in Barnet, and that Jack Cohen is the most effective opponent of the Tories at present. I also think Lord Palmer did a fantastic job of the Audit of MetPro. I really believe that the Tories in Mill Hill deserve to be kicked out. They have done absolutely nothing for Mill Hill. They have said nothing about the real proposal for a monster stadium at Copthall for Saracens. They have said nothing about Etz Chaim school, when they should have been leading community efforts to bring the two parties together. They have done nothing to protect the Green belt. The conundrum I have is that I find it hard to accept that the party I belong to is in government with the likes of Cameron and Osborne.

Mill Hill desperately needs an effective campaign against the local Conservatives and the damage they are doing. I have no great desire to be a councillor or have a political career. I have a huge desire to see the Barnet Tories kicked out of power. I believe that the local opposition to the Bonkers Barnet Tories needs to get organised. My call to everyone who wants to see the reckless damage caused by the Tories stopped is to get out, get campaigning and get organised. We've all sat on our backsides for too long. I suspect that there will be a by-election in Mill Hill in the not too distant future. I sincerely hope Jeremy Davies stands for the Lib Dems. I will be on his campaign team and it will give us a chance to show the Tories that their policies of deception, sloth and ineptitude have been tumbled.

Next year we have the GLA election. Brian Coleman, the man who wrecked the road safety of Barnet stands against Andrew Dismore (and an as yet unnamed Lib Dem). That will certainly be an interesting contest. You can be assured of one thing, this blog will be reminding everyone of Coleman and his shenanigans

Brian Coleman finally defeats Rog T

I admit it. After 6 years of trying, Councillor Brian Coleman, Barnet's very own Jabba The Hut has finally got the better of me. For years, I've been able to trump everyone I know, because I used to have "The Worst Job in the World" when I was a youngster. Many have tried to make claim to this, many have failed. I now must hand the crown over. In my blog yesterday, I revealed a communication from the offices of Brian Coleman at the GLA. Brian has beaten me. I must hand over my crown to :-

Juliet Donnelly

PA to Cllr Brian Coleman AM FRSA

I can think of no job I'd less rather do. I just hope that Juliet has a different view of Mr Coleman and the prospect of working for him than I do. well done to Brian for finally trumping me by creating this post.

Brian Clough

Not an easy day for me. So I'll talk about the best bit !
I've been looking forward to the ITV documentary all week about Brian Clough. For those of you that don't know of Mr Clough, he was the greatest football manager ever. Now I know that supporters of certain other outfits may disagree, but what Clough did with Derby & Nottingham Forest is unlikely ever to be surpassed. I was at the age where football was 1st last and everything when Clough was in his pomp. Forget the later years, I started being interested in Football around 1968. Clough was then a young manager out to make a name for himself. Celtic won the Europea Cup in 1967, the first British club to do so. I don't really remember much apart from my older brother Frank being rather impressed. As 1968 rolled on, Frank got more excited as his team, league champions, rolled towards the European final. One balmy spring day, my brother asked me which team I supported. I said I didn't know. I asked him who I should support. Now I used to think the world of my big brother, I still do. He replied "Manchester United, they are the champions and they are playing Man City today. If they win, they'll be champions again and then win the European cup". I said "great, I'm a Man United fan". The following day I asked him the result. "City won 3-1" he replied glumly. I was outraged "You told me United were the best. You said they'd win the league" I ranted. I asked who will win the league now? Frank replied "Probably City". I triumphantly proclaimed "Then I'm a City fan". So much for glory hunting ! I'm still a City fan, Frank is still a United fan and we still love each other.

Now I said this so that you all know my colours. I know old red nose (Sir Alex) has one or two trophies in his cupboard. He's not done too badly at the worlds richest club. The point is Cloughie had nothing. No money, no infrastructure, just talent. He won because he was good. These days the realistic aim of a club half way up the championship is survival in the Premiership. Clough won the league at Derby, did the same at Forest, then won the european cup, retaining it the year after. A red said to me "Oh, it was easier then". Well then you had to win the league. Finishing 4th got you into the UEFA cup.

Watching the documentary reminded me how lucky I was to live through the 60's & 70's. I still remember sitting in Linda Finlay (my sisters best friend) kitchen, waiting to hear Penny Lane by the Beatles have it's first radio play. Can you imagine two teenage girls listening in silence for three minutes in this day and age to the radio.

Muhammed Ali was also on the Clough documentary. I remember when the whole country had their sleep pattern changed to watch Ali fight. My Dad would give a running commentary. My dad loved Ali. He recoginised a boxing genius. He'd tell me that I must savour Ali as I'd never see the like again. He was right. I once asked him why Ali went to jail. He replied "Same reason as Jesus. He believed". My Dad was a redneck Aussie in many ways, but he understood respect and courage.

Watching Cloughie was great. I just feel lucky to have been around when he was at the top of his game. I remember cheering when Francis scored against Malmo. I remember the following year, walking round to my friend David Clancy's to watch the final. Mill Hill broadway was flooded so I had to walk around Bunns Lane and missed the first 10 minutes. Thanks Brian, wherever you are !