Many thanks to everyone who supported me in the Edgware By Election

 The result of the Edgware By Election has just been announced. I was not surprised to learn that I had come last out of the four candidates. The results were pretty much in line with the 2018 Council election and although I had hoped to at least improve on this, in the circumstances, this wasn't really feasable. I would like to wish the victor Nick Mearing Smith the very best of luck in his role representing the people of Edgware. It is a big job and I hope he steps up to the plate.

For some perspective, here are the 2018 and 2021 results

Edgware 2021

Surname	Description	Results
ANDREA LESLEY BILBOW	Labour Party	1,456
NICK MEARING-SMITH	Conservative Party candidate	3,427 (elected)
SAM MURRAY	Green Party candidate	343
ROGER MARTIN TICHBORNE	Liberal Democrats	254

Turnout: 44.2%

Edgware 2018

Surname	First Name	Description	Votes
Barber	Stephen David	Liberal Democrat	273
Bilbow	Andrea Lesley	Labour Party	1311
Dhanani-Sumaria	Kunal	Green Party	407
Ferrero Tijera	Jose-Angel	Liberal Democrat	252
Freedman	Linda Margot	The Conservative Party Candidate (Elected)	3370
Gordon	Brian Colin	The Conservative Party Candidate (Elected)	3567
Khnifess	Amir	Labour Party	1077
Manalo	Maria	Liberal Democrat	268
Scammell	Jordan Caileigh	Labour Party	1019
Wardle	Sarah Jane	The Conservative Party Candidate (Elected)	3289

Firstly there are a few things to note. The Nick Mearing Smith vote was a hundred or so fewer votes than Brian Gordon, the leading Tory in 2018 received. The Labour candidate polled 150 higher. The Green Candidate polled around 50 less and I got 19 less than the leading Lib Dem last time. 

So why did I stand? When Brian Gordon sadly passed away, I was keen to stand for the Lib Dems. This was not because I expected to win the seat. When the leading party has polled over fifteen times more than you, that would require a miracle. I did however believe that it presented a wonderful opportunity to engage with people in Edgware, discuss local issues and engage them with the local concerns of neglect. Brian died last September. My expectation was that  a By Election would be called fairly quickly and that as the Pandemic seemed to be in full retreat, there would be the opportunity to mount a proper local campaign, concentration exclusively in Edgware. I had expectations that the Lib Dems could use the campaign as an excellent opportunity to build a proper network of supporters in Edgware and recruit a few new activists. I drew up a plan of action. But the by election was not called and the country descended into a lethal second and third wave. When it was announced that the by election would be held on the same day as the Mayoral elections, I knew any realisitic prospect of a good result had disappeared. I'd learned to my cost in 2010 that no one is interested in discussing local elections when there is a more important strategic election being held. 

On my recent visits to Edgware, when I introduced myself as a Lib Dem, I was met with a response "who do you think is better, Sadiq Khan or Sean Bailey?". Labour voters were reasonably hostile as they were worried that a good Lib Dem show might undermine Khan and the GLA campaign for Anne Clarke. Talking to local Conservatives, it is clear that most voted by post. By the time I was able to speak to them, they had already voted. Quite a few said that they'd have voted for me if they spoke to me before they'd cast their vote. They liked what I had to say, but the vote had been cast. I knew this would happen as the campaigning restrictions early in the campaign meant there was just not time to get a plan and get around enough houses. The Lib Dems locally also had other priorities, as they had to campaign for the GLA and Mayor in areas with a more solid support base.

Having said all of that, I am proud and pleased with what I achieved. One of the benefits of being a candidate is that it gives you a platform to raise issues. I had made a promise to friends that I would use that to the best of my ability to raise the profile of the causes I was highlighting. This I did. Talking to several staunch Conservatives, it became clear that the local Conservatives have made promises to sort out the mess that is the Railway Hotel. If nothing has happened by the time the Council elections next come around, they might find that they have some rather unhappy voters. 

I was also able to raise the scandal of the cladding campaign. This is something I've been following since the Grenfell fire. I am pleased to say that the Labour GLA Candidate Anne Clarke has realised that this is an important issue and has got involved and I will continue to talk about this in the coming weeks and months. 

Quite a few people have asked me "what is the point standing when there is little chance of winning?". My response is that if you don't buy a ticket, you have no chance at all. You have to raise the matters that are important to you.  An election where you cannot campaign at all at the start, where you can't go for a cup of tea or a beer after canvassing sessions, where you have to wear a mask and stand 2 metres from someone you are trying to talk to, is far from ideal. There are many things that are frustrating, but it is privelige to be given the opportunity and a delight to get out and meet people. I love talking to people, hearing their viewpoint. If all I wanted to do was get elected, I'd join Labour or the Tories, work hard and get offered a safe seat. Then I'd get elected, get a £10,000 a year allowance and end up putting my hand up to support things I didn't agree with or believe in. That isn't what I am all about. I'd much rather belong to a party aligned with my views, work my butt off and be myself. I firmly believe that sooner or later we will see a major realignment of UK politics. I do not believe that The Conservatives or Labour are fit for purpose, or that our electoral system delivers grown up government. I am not going to give up the fight. Are you?

Today is your chance to reshape London (and Edgware)!

Todayif you live in London, you have three votes (four if you live in Edgware or East Barnet). The one everyone seems to be aware of is the vote for the Mayor of London.  The odds on favourite is Sadiq Khan, the Labour candidate. It would be a huge shock if Khan was to lose. Given that I can't find anyone apart from Labour activists who are happy with him, I find this a bit odd on the face of it, but then none of them seem to have a clue who Shaun Bailey, the Conservative candidate is. In the history of the Mayor of London, there has never been a candidate with a lower profile for the Conservatives. I find it troubling that race seems to be playing a factor here. Despite all of the nasty things Mayor Khan has said about Bailey, I suspect that he's a more decent, honest, hard working person than the previous Conservative Mayor, a certain Mr Boris Johnson. I have a suspicion that he's spent too long with other Conservative politicans and activists and not long enough with ordinary people and so has become a candidate that doesn't really know who he is or what he wants. 

Personally, I would be far happier if both lost. Of course, I would say that. I am Lib Dem. I can put my hand on my heart and say that I am not giving either a first or second preference. When Sadiq Khan passed the NIMR development in Mill Hill, which has caused irrepairable damage to the green belt in Mill Hill, and planted a huge eyesore on the Green Belt, I said I would never vote for Mr Khan. I did in 2016. At the time I was not a member of any party. I have never felt so let down by any candidate. I realised that Mayor Khan is not in the least bit interested in anything or anyone other than has core support base. The Borough of Barnet is his sworn enemy, as the local Conservatives passed a motion in Council labelling him an enemy of the people. Whilst I understand Khan's antipathy for the Barnet Tories, taking it out on everyone in the Borough by passing deeply unpopular and massive developments is completely out of order.

I will be giving my first preference to the excellent Lib Dem candidate Luisa Porritt and my second preference to the Green candidate, Sian Berry who is also excellent. I believe that it is vital that both make as strong a showing as possible. I urge you to do the same. 

The second important vote is the GLA list. Again I urge you to vote for the Lib Dems here. The GLA is the authority that oversees the Mayor and the Lib Dem contingent, especially Caroline Pidgeon has been very effective at holding Khan to account. Caroline has been the most effective opponent of Khan in my opinion and has also been a champion of those affected by the cladding scandal. Here is her latest tweet. We need as strong an independent voice as possible. A vote for Sadiq Khan on the list is simply a vote for rubber stamping everything Sadiq Khan says. I don't believe that this will be good for London.

The list are not associated with constituencies, so they have no one to answer to apart from the party. 

This Tory Govt needs to act on the #BuildingSafetyCrisis but there are things that local & regional govt can do. @LuisaPorritt & the @LondonLibDems are clear on actions we would take 👇 #EndOurCladdingScandal #NotJustCladding

Full details here (p17) - https://t.co/ab0yvTAF9i pic.twitter.com/KDGHGpEsOn

— Caroline Pidgeon 🔶 (@CarolinePidgeon) May 4, 2021

The third vote is for the Barnet and Camden GLA representative. This was held by former Hendon MP Andrew Dismore. Labour have put Anne Clark up against the Tories Robert Weedon-Sanz. The Lib Dems have put Marisha Ray up against these two. I urge you to check out what Marisha has to say before you cast your vote. Marisha has been working her socks off to make the case for the Lib Dems in Barnet and Camden. 

And finally.....

In Edgware ward, it is a straight race between me and the Tory Nick Mearing-Smith. If you want to know my views on just about any subject, just search this blog. There are over eight and a half million words, writen about our locality since October 2008. If you want to know what Mr Mearing-Smith has to say, you can check out his Twitter account here. It is very interesting. 

Campaigning in a pandemic is not easy. I am disappointed at the limited time and opportunity I've had to do this effectively. When I've spoken to people in Edgware, they have got what I have to say. I have spoken to several Conservative supporters who have been disappointed at the way their councillors are invisible. Will this tranfer into votes? I genuinely don't know, but a mantra I've heard time and time again is that "We will certainly consider seriously voting for you". I've been there before in local elections and I know many people change their mind at the ballot box. What I can guarantee is that if I win, and I seriously believe I have a chance, is that Edgware will have the hardest working Councillor in Barnet. How can I say this? Well read this blog. Look at my business. Whatever you may think of me, you can't say I don't work hard. No one else has written 8.5 million words about our locality ever. I will sort problems out because I do not give up. I keep going, I talk to people and I find out how to get things done. You know that if you elect Mr Mearing Smith, you will not see him again until the next election. If you elect me, you will see an update every week on this blog saying what I am doing and I will meet you before the next election campaign starts. 

Here's a little film I made  in Edgwarebury park. Generally I hate political videos, but this has some great footage of the park, an excellent theme tune recorded by my band and some great shots filmed by a couple of wonderful young people who's Dad will be voting Conservative, but who was most happy to let them help me. They told me that they will deffo be voting Lib Dem when they are old enough (their Dad said his mum would disinherit him if he didn't vote Tory but he agreed with me!). I have a confession to make, their Dad is a customer of the studio and a very nice chap. I just hope I get the chance to represent his Mum, as I reckon I'd do a better job than the bloke she's going to vote for, but hey ho, you just can't win them all. 

The bottom line is that you have a chance to make London and Edgware a much better place today when you vote. It is now over to you. I have the courage of my convictions. Do you?

,,

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Roger Tichborne is the Liberal Democrat Candidate for Edgware Ward in the May 6th By Election. Roger has run Mill Hill Music Complex sudios since 1979. He attended Orange Hill School and as a teenager lived in Warwick Avenue, in Broadfields.

This article was published and promoted by Roger Tichborne on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, 29 Millway, London, NW7 3QR

An insight into Edgware and the difficult underside of its politics

 As I've now been adopted as the official candidate for the by election in Edgware, I thought I'd give some background regarding my decision. Up until the Council election in 2018, I would not have taken this decision. Between 2014-18, Edgware was represented by three Conservative councillors. Joan Scannell MBE, Helena Hart and Brian Gordon. Joan is a personal friend of mine and a member of the Mill Hill Music Festival committee. Although she has a rather different take on politics to myself, she was a solid local councillor. She was hard working and locally highly respected. Often, when there were contentious local issues, we'd have off the record conversations. These wouldn't be "dishing the dirt" sessions on colleagues, just sensible grown up discussions on matters that affected residents. For example Joan was aware of my concerns regarding the Railway Hotel and kept me informed of her efforts. 

Sadly, in the run up to the 2018 elections, a whole swathe of good, solid, old school Conservative councillors were unceremoniously given the boot by the local Tories. They were replaced with ones more to the liking of Councillor Daniel Thomas, who was then working to oust the then Leader Richard Cornelius. Joan was very upset at her treatment in the selection process. Edgware is considered an ultra safe seat for the Conservatives. Along side Joan, another veteran and highly respected Edgware councillor Helena Hart also stood down. Both were strong councillors, with a good knowledge of Edgware and of Barnet politics. They were replaced by Sarah Wardle and Linda Freedman. As expected, they won easily in the Council election. Whilst it is good to get fresh bood into the Council, having two new, inexperienced councillors in a ward, with limited associations with the area, is not always the best way to start.

Within a few months of being elected, Linda Freedman was suspended from the Conservative group, when several tweets were uncovered that appeared to be of an Islamaphobic nature, as reported by The Independent. I stated my objection to her comments at the time. Interestingly, the Local Conservatives did initially take the complaint seriously. Councillor Gabriel Rozenberg recognised the divisive nature of the tweets and raised the matter. Interestingly it is Councillor Rozenberg, not Councillor Freedman who is no longer a member of the Conservative group. Councillor Freedman quietly had the whip reinstated, without any explanation of the decision, as reported by the Jewish News. The Muslim news also reported on the story. 

As someone who totally rejects racism in all its forms, I can only say that I was horrified that there was no explanation, not even a public apology or explanation. I know several members of the local Muslim communuty who live in Edgware and were horrified. They include local business owners and the chair of a Mosque. All of them have worked to improve community relations and all previoulsy voted Conservative, believing the Conservatives to be the best party for hard working, aspirational businessmen. When the by election was announced, all asked me to stand and to raise the issue of Islamaphobia in the local Conservative party. Whilst the candidate standing against me is a sensible and decent chap, who I think would find such behaviour abhorrent, he is the official candidate of a party that has turned a blind eye to this issue locally. 

Whilst the local Conservative party are keen to bury this issue, many local people cannot believe that nothing at all was done about it. I have an excellent relationship with people across the spectrum. I have supported and assisted many events organised by the Mill Hill Synagogue and are proud to be associated with them. I have nothing but praise for the work of Rabbi and his team. The Mill Hill Music Festival are proud to feature a Klezmer night as part of our programme of events. I also have worked closely with local Mosques, including installing a sound system for the Horn of West Africa Mosque in Colindale. In 2018, as part of my work for the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Parish council, I helped to organise a multi faith service of recollection for Mr Vijay Patel, a local shopkeeper who was tragically killed in an incident in his Mill Hill shop. I believe that it is of paramount importance for councillors to be able to reach out to all parts of the communty, but while such issues as Islamaphobia are swept under the carpet, how can communities trust them. I do not believe that the residents of Edware would feel comfortable with elected representatives, who get large allowances, but hold views than the vast majority of people would find abhorrent.

I passionately believe that we cannot turn a blind eye to these issues. That is why I joined Rock Against Racism back at Orange Hill School in 1978. It is why the Mill Hill Music Festival programme I help put together has included Klezmer, Dhol Drummers (Traditional Indian music), Reggae, Irish music. We need to build communities, appreciate and share in the good things of each others community. It is hard to do that when a section of the community seems to be viewed with suspicion by it's elected councillors.  There is never an excuse for such things.