Jim Dowd: a man with his finger on the pulse.

[leenewham]

It appears a poor call by his brand of party that they didn't ditch him, or replace him for someone effective at representing his constituency.

His job is to represent the people who voted for him, the bosses should keep an eye on their mp's to make sure they are doing an effective job. It's not enough to just go with the 'mandate of the people' when they know full well that the voters would vote for a anyone wearing a red rosette here, irrespective of how good they are at their job.

It's interesting that not one person has jumped to defend Mr Dowd. This is a good chance to put the case for our local MP. Anyone have any good dealings with him? It's not often politicians get the chance for praise, but here it is:

I think the Rt Hon Mr Dowd MP is a good because…

[Robin Orton]

I've talked to him once or twice. He seems an affable sort of chap.

I seem to remember picking up a rumour some time ago that it was not impossible that he would be deselected by the constituency Labour party for the 2015 election. But, even if my memory is correct and this was indeed being considered at some stage, it may well not have come to anything.

[Tim Lund]

On a previous thread, Rod Taylor linked to the page for Lewisham West and Penge on "UK Polling Report", which feels to me, especially from the comments, to have some insights into what is going on here.

The first comment was

Jim Dowd is to stand down at the next election due to ill health. Question is will it be an all women shortlist? That’ll be all three Lewisham seats as AWS!

immediately followed by

If so, long-serving Sydenham councillor Chris Best might be a favourite.

According to the BBC, Lewisham now has the highest crime rate in England, showing how far the area has gone downhill in the past 20 years. Broadland in Norfolk was the lowest.

If it’s Open, who are the local male names likely to be in contention?

It’s too early to say, but looking at male Lewisham Cllrs, the following seems the kind of people who have parliamentary aspirations:

Kevin Bonavia (he stood in Rochford and Southend East: in 2010)
Dan Whittle (director of Unions21)
Damien Egan (stood in Beckenham in 2010 GE and in Weston in 2005)

Liam Curran stood in Beckenham in 2005, I don’t know if he still holds parliamentary ambitions. The other 3 seem younger (looking at their pictures).

This was April 2013. Then in September

Jim Dowd will stay on for another term. It will be an open selection given the other two Lewisham seats were AWS.

September 23rd, 2013 at 12:01 pm

Is that a statement of fact or opinion?

I thought he said he was standing down.

Dowd is quite low profile but respected locally as a good constituency MP.

September 23rd, 2013 at 12:06 pm

I have it on very good authority. Can’t say where. Of course he hasn’t announced anything yet so could still change his mind. But that is his current thinking apparently.

I’ve heard he wants to do one more term so that he can lay the groundwork for his son-in-law (who currenlty works for the Labour Party) to get the nomination.

September 23rd, 2013 at 12:10 pm

Fair enough.

Presuming his son in law is a white male, that will be quite a lot of groundwork he will have to do.

If it isn’t AWS, a black candidate must surely be highly likely to succeed here. Not just because of the very high black population in the seat, but to balance out East and Deptford. It’s a bit of an anomaly that Lewisham hasn’t yet had a BEM MP, given its demographic profile.

Basically, this is a safe seat, like the others in LB Lewisham, and is seen by the Labour Party insiders as an asset to be fought over. Obviously being a plausible constituency MP will be a plus, but it's not essential, and if there was a candidate who the party's national leadership supported, Lewisham West & Penge post Jim Dowd is somewhere they would have on their radar. One way for such candidates to get into position is to become local councillors, which I think is why in Lewisham we have some young, dynamic councillors who soon get appointed to the LB Lewisham cabinet. The most obvious current example is Joe Dromey, son of Jack & Harriet, who only got elected - in New Cross - this year, and here in Sydenham Rachel Onikosi.

Which makes me suspect the reason Jim Dowd is hanging on is because the Labour Party nationally aren't interested in letting long standing local councillors such as Chris Best and Liam Curran finish off their careers with the glory of having "MP" after their name; that privilege has now passed to a younger generation of former LB Lewisham Cabinet members such as Heidi Alexander, MP, and Vicky Foxcroft, designated successor for Joan Ruddock in Deptford.

Of course it might be what "H.Hemmelig" wrote about a son-in-law, but I've no idea who that is.

[Eagle]

Very sad but true.

One would have thought the local MP chosen by the electorate. But in this case chosen by the Party Bosses , rather like North Korea.

Very sad.

[Tim Lund]

It's not that bad. Most people today have a much stronger national than local identity, and we would be worse off if we didn't have national parties which can find places for politicians who reflect this.

[Eagle]

Tim

My point , not well explained , that everyone believes the Labour Party are ordained to win the seat whatever the situation or whoever they put up.

No wonder good old Jim cannot be bothered , why should he . I did used to see him at The Catford Beer Festival , but has not happened recently.

[Manwithaview1]

Tim

My point , not well explained , that everyone believes the Labour Party are ordained to win the seat whatever the situation or whoever they put up.

No wonder good old Jim cannot be bothered , why should he . I did used to see him at The Catford Beer Festival , but has not happened recently.

Same could be said for many other candidates of three main parties. When Cameron is sacked he'll vanish to the back benchers like Major did whilst making millions from the after dinner speaking tours of the US, which made various previous PMs tens of millions.

[Tim Lund]

When Cameron is sacked he'll vanish to the back benchers like Major did whilst making millions from the after dinner speaking tours of the US, which made various previous PMs tens of millions.

I can't say making money from after dinner speaking tours bothers me too much; peddling influence and access to decision makers matters far more.

Our problem - but it's hardly just a UK problem - is that we expect too much to be done as a result of political judgements. It would be better if decisions were made in line with previously agreed policies, which may adapt over time, but not every time following such policies results in an immediate outcome politicians regret, perhaps because they are getting in the neck from some lobby group. So the 'we' who expect too much of politicians are all of us who lobby them with some special pleading for our particular enthusiasm. A recent example of this sort of thought was here

Tim - I'm not misguided, I'm passionate about pubs. Imagine if someone decided to turn your allotments into houses?

I wouldn't be caught special pleading, or trying to get the local authority to change planning rules for my benefit.

It's much better to have rules which in normal times are applied fairly, consistently and transparently. However, it means there's less point in having as many politicians. As I've written previously on this thread, I think we have an over supply of politicians, and our tendency to lobby them for special consideration on everything under the sun, and seeing every such victory we win as a triumph for democracy, makes think we want more politicians, when in fact, if we step back to see the bigger picture, it's the reverse.

[Tubby]

Hi all. Forgive my blundering into this thread with a large lack of knowledge, but in the last month or so I have become aware that Jim Dowd is brothers with Gerry Dowd, who is one of the directors of Purelake.
Is there something that is not known to the public about the Greyhound being demolished and Purelake kicking their heels in rebuilding it?
Was there ever a statement from Jim Dowd about it? What is the official story?
Just clearly something amiss, has it been investigated legally?

[Eagle]

Tubby
There have been numerous comments about Purelake but not sure any illegality raised.

As one has to be careful in legal matters , perhaps best nothing further be said.

[Tubby]

Yes, I suppose no sense stirring if it looks like we might be reaching a conclusion.
Just I was enthusiastic about putting some of my artwork on the hoardings until I realised it might make Purelake appear to have some sort of affinity with the local community.

[Eagle]

Your are optimistic Tubby.

Reaching a conclusion.

I hear paddy power has evens on being finished by 2020.

[catfordlad]

Just become a Labour candidate and it's guaranteed, irrespective of your performance as our local MP.

Why on EARTH didn't we vote for PR? I wonder if the poll was taken now if people would vote for it?

Anyone who votes for Jim Dowd at next year's election is simply crazy on the basis that he is a completely absent sitting MP.

Could anyone in the know please itemize Mr Dowd's achievements since he was re-elected in 2010 with a majority of 12%?

For me this is not about the party he represents but the character of the man himself.

I agree.

Jim Dowd is my MP. He ignores emails and letters. His Constituency Office in Forest Hill is always closed. The landline number is never answered. He has reduced his surgeries from three to one a month. I could go on but the man is totally useless and should not be standing next year.

[Eagle]

He has no incentive to give a service. If he stands yet again everyone agrees he will be elected. Sad indictment of the local voters I am afraid.