It has realy started in earnest now. Before the election was called, we had booked halls for the meeting schedule which you have seen. One of these was Hellesdon High School this Friday, 10 July.
The school has now phoned to say the Governors have decided not to permit my meeting -despite Nick Clegg having already held a by-election meeting there.
This is not just unfair, it is illegal. The Electoral Commissions rules state:
6.1 Once an election is called, candidates are legally entitled to use publicly funded schools and other public meeting rooms for election meetings free of .charge…..
It is happening again exactly as it did in Blackburn, where I was never permitted my entitlement to public rooms. Exactly as in Blackburn, I have followed Electoral Commission guidance and complained to the Returning Officer, who has done nothing. Returning Officers, as with Colin Bland here, are usually the chief executive of the local authority, and as such are normally party loyalists of the governing party. In our current state of politics, I don’t trust them at all.
STOP PRESS
In fact the Returning Officer Colin Bland has now told the school they are not legally entitled to bar candidates, and the school have apologised for not being aware of the legal position. So we are back on. A small but pleasant victory.
It is also worth adding that, while maintaining my distrust of returning officers, particularly chief executives of Labour councils in Labour rotten boroughs, here Colin Bland appears to be doing the right thing so far.
I am also being excluded from candidates’ hustings. The first is a debate on the future of education. I am far more qualified on this than any other candidate. The debate is being organised by the Univerisities and Colleges Union (UCU). This time the excuse for banning me is that I did not score highly in a poll which was conducted before I was a candidate and in which my name was not mentioned!
Hi Craig,
Lisa tells me you are enquiring about our event this Thursday. I took the decision to invite only those candidates shown by our poll to have a chance of winning the seat.
It is nothing personal, or any reflection – either positive or negative – on your platform and I wish you all the best for your campaign.
Best
Matt
I have really had enough.
Matt,
That is not acceptable. Your poll was conducted before I declared my candidacy and as you know well, I was not included in your poll.
As you also know well, at every bookmakers I am currently on shorter odds than the Lib Dems, just behind the Greens and overhauling them in the odds day by day.
As you know, I am the Rector of the University of Dundee and I have a much higher profile on education issues than any of the other candidates in Norwich North. I am also an honorary fellow of the University of Lancaster.
I have played a leading role in anti-cuts campaigns in Scotland’s universities in close liaison with the UCU, and have defended UCU members in individual cases on University Court. For someone who has voluntarily given so much to UCU members, to be kicked in the teeth like this by the UCU over an education debate is completely outrageous.
I will take direct action to take my rightful place in your debate, and you will need to call the police physically to prevent me.
I think the UCU having one of their higher profile allies arrested should be a fascinating spectacle for all. It would be much better if you were prepared to speak to me. I am on 07979 691085.
Craig
They will also need to ask the police to act illegally in stopping me from speaking at Hellesdon High. I have taken enough of this.
P.S There’s a post up on the UCU website on the hustings, so they can’t all be on holiday.
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4012
I’ve emailed Alex Rossiter, their press officer – and his email address is
[email protected]
Their post mentions the dodgy poll and makes no mention of Craig
@andrew, I’ll bet if you ever met me you wouldn’t have a clue I support the British National Party. Being a professionally qualified accountant aged mid fifties, I’m as far removed from the brainwashed knuckle-dragger image of the average BNP member as you could get. And I’ve yet to meet the knuckle dragger neo-nazi skinhead at any meeting, I’m usually one of the younger ones. Most members are very concerned as to the direction this country is being dragged into by the real neo-nazis, those who strive towards an integrated Europe, those who launch illegal wars and invade other countries which have never attacked us (the supreme crime according to the Nuremburg judges)
But to smaller parties the mainstream media and the establishment just lies and ignores politics and policies, unless, of course, they are mainstream politics. Craig is only just seeing it, and I rather believe, reading between the lines of his blog, it has come as quite a shock to him.
the fact remains that the BNP has racist views which are simply unacceptable. And they have thugs too -whoever else they might have.
Grateful if other commenters could ignore the BNP angle and not led them hijack this thread into a discussion of the BNP. I am off campaigning again.
Thank you for contacting News at Broadland Council. This is an automated message to let you know that your message has been received and will be passed to the appropriate person in the Council.
—–Original Message—–
From: ****
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 8:25 AM
To: “[email protected]”
Subject: Mr Craig Murray
For the attention of Mr Colin Bland, Chief Executive, Broadland District Council
Norwich North By Election
Dear Mr Bland
I read this morning that at a very late stage Mr Murray Independent is being denied the use of Hellesdon High School for an election meeting on Friday 10 July. As the Returning Officer in this By Election could you please tell me why Mr Murray is being denied such access as I understand that item 6.1 of the Electoral Commission’s guidance states
6.1 Once an election is called, candidates are legally entitled to use publicly funded schools and other public meeting rooms for election meetings free of charge…..
I would also like to know why he is being discrimated against. We still live in a democracy although it seems to be illusory.
Yours sincerely
Ah Craig, I see that you are already turning into a modern day UK politician. Debate stifled, no right of reply, if you don’t like what is being heard then use slander, and if all else fails, just shut up everyone who dissents.
Keep it up, I’m sure that Mugabe would be proud of our ‘Mother of all Democracy’.
The names and e-mail’s of local UCU activists and regional officials, I’ve written ‘dot’ and ‘at’ instead of . and @
Please use them responsibly.
Norwich City College Branch Contact: mhughes at ccn dot ac dot uk
Norwich University College of the Arts Branch Contact: g dot maclennan at nuca dot ac dot uk
Eastern Region Regional Area Secretary: jweekes at dunstable dot ac dot uk
FE Eastern Region Support Officer: uobrien at ucu dot org dot uk
HE Regional Office: eastern at ucu dot org dot uk
Various Broadland District Council contacts are listed here:
http://www.broadland.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/1666.asp
Is there a URL for the Electoral Commission rules?
For what it is worth, I am a UCU member and I’ve sent an email too.
Thanks Peter, that is exactly the help we need – as a member, it’s *your* union. Its officers are there to serve you.
The rest of us just fondly imagine that the University & College Union, of all the organisations in the country, would cherish and nurture free speech and open debate.
To: [email protected]
7 July 2009
Sir.
Your reason for excluding Mr. Craig Murray from the debate by the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) is as miserable as it is outrageous.
You have brought your position into disrepute in a number of ways, not least by failing to ensure perhaps the best qualified debater, Mr. Craig Murray takes part. You are also (perhaps unwittingly) displaying political bias.
Please show good sense by quickly and formally allowing Mr. Murray to take part.
Best
This is where the saying ‘don’t let the bastards grind you down’ comes in.
They want to stress you out to the max.
And to the bnp troll who thinks he’ll get a meddle for “Being a professionally qualified accountant aged mid fifties”. So you’re a knuckle-dragging accountant in your mid fifties – and? Fascist scumbags historically come from the middle-classes anyway so I’m not quite sure what your point is.
Craig Murray is somewhat more sophisticated than to fall for ‘the bnp are nice fluffy sweethearts like me really’.
Craig – sending a complaint to UCU now.
I’ve emailed Alex Rossiter and I shall do a wee post on my blog ensuring Mr Waddup’s imagine is prominent.
A shocking state of affairs which must be corrected.
@merlin cox
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/electoral_commission_pdf_file/0015/14154/Guidance-for-candidates-and-agents-ByElec-V02.pdf
Separate ones for administrators and returning officers.
3.14 on rights to use public buildings FOC
What an horrible little shithouse this country has become.
And,of course,it’s the self-appointed guardians of faith,whilst claiming to be at the coalface of shiny new 21st century Britian who are inflicting the most damage,predictably enuff.I’m not surprised though.
We need to get the money-lenders out of the temple,pronto,or we’re truly fucked.
Keep going Craig-it’s more important than ever.
I have emailed Public Interest Lawyers.
Don’t know whether this is still relevant –
Name:Mr Matt Waddup
Job Title:National Head of Campaigns and Organising
Address:University and College Union
Carlow Street
London
NW1 7LH
United Kingdom
Email:[email protected]|
Tel:020 7756 2582
Fax:020 7756 2501
Sent this to Matt Waddup:
Can you explain why UCU is excluding Craig Murray from its hustings? You give the reason that he does not stand a chance of winning. Even if this were true, how does the UCU justify silencing a candidate standing on such a principled platform? Someone so well known through his tireless campaigns against war and torture and cuts in public services?
And the fact of the matter is that he has now been given better odds than the Liberal Democrats and the Greens, so your stated reason simply does not stand up.
To Craig Murray’s many supporters, this sounds like a typical example of censorship – perhaps someone has applied pressure on your union to exclude Craig Murray.
Shocking, disgraceful and shameful behaviour from an education union. We demand that you invite him and refrain from such blatant censorship.
Dear Mr. Waddup (and others),
Having recently joined UCU, I was shocked to see reports that the union has excluded Craig Murray from a UCU-sponsored debate as part of the Norwich North by-election. The idea that an activist who has supported UCU policies, not to mention a former Ambassador for this country, should be prevented from speaking on a public platform during an election in which he is running verges on the unbelievable. It is even more shocking when one considers that Craig Murray is the Rector of the University of Dundee and that the debate is on education!
Please reverse your decision as a matter of urgency.
Best,
Have just e-mailed this Waddup hoon in no uncertain terms to register my disgust.
You know it makes sense…
Craig, isn’t it a little overblown to claim “…on the future of education. I am far more qualified on this than any other candidate.”? Dr Rupert Read, is after all, an academic at UEA, and has been for quite a few years.
But on the subject of your complaint, I will, as a member of my local UCU branch committee, email Matt Waddup to ask him to think again.
In reply to tony_opmoc at July 7, 2009 1:14 AM, my experience is most academics are at work at the moment. I personally am busy catching up on research student supervision, my own research and on admin, all of which were put on hold to some extent while undergraduates took up my time. There is a lot more to universities than teaching undergrads. (And yes, I do know it is ‘working hours’ now, but then I was working at 21.30 on Sunday…)
There are most certainly none of the media organisations that are upholders of democracy today. As for us being run by FASCISTS, that is most certainly correct. I have the evidence to prove it from the government itself. This explains them all thinking that fiddling expenses is not theft.
There is simply no way of challenging the filth that has taken over the country.
I wonder if they have thought what might happen if you get elected.
Best of luck to you Craig,
the fact they’re trying to stop you shows you are doing something right!
Thanks Concerned UCU Member – I will send an email just now to Matt, cc a few of his UCU comrades. Hopefully we’ll get some open, internal support within the union.
The electoral law you quote refers to the fact that schools cannot charge candidates for their use. It does not mean they are legally required to let you in. I’ve been a school governor myself – opening up in the evening costs money and means staff need to be on hand to look after things: the building may be paid for by taxes, but expecting caretakers, cleaners and teachers to be on hand is a bit much.
Accusing the UCU of “political bias” is a bit rich – they’re a bloody union, affiliated to Labour. It’s up to them who to invite and who not to. They are not required to abide by any sort of equal right of access.
“They will also need to ask the police to act illegally in stopping me from speaking at Hellesdon High.”
As “X” said above, you’re misinterpreting the law here. If you try to gain entry to any public space without the consent of the people in charge you’ll be trespassing. As said above, the law doesn’t give you a right to use schools etc for hustings, only a right not to be charged.
“UCU member” – surely you’re not comfortable with this bias? If the Labour candidate is intending to win on their own strengths then they should be inviting all qualified speakers who are willing to speak.
As for the comments from “X” – there would indeed be costs incurred if they were opening up just for Craig. But the point is that a hustings event is happening two days from now, and that Craig has been denied access but the invited candidates have not. If Craig turns up he will not be incurring any extra staff/heating costs, since they’ll be expended anyway.
“Concerned UCU member” – one of the addresses you’ve supplied appears to be bouncing:
mhughes at ccn dot ac dot uk
“User unknown”
x and James D,
You are both talking total nonsense. The law states that “candidates are legally entitled to use publicly funded schools and other public meeting rooms for election meetings”. It also says that the returning officer must keep a register of candidates’ rooms for public use.
In fact the local authority have just accepted that I have a right to use the room, and the meeting is back on.