Did you vote?

[syd]

Hey all,

I voted green and we came in 2nd! The best result ever!! I knew we couldn’t win but a 12% rise and a reduced labour vote may make the bloated lazy incumbents pay attention. In fact green came 2nd in all Lewisham wards!!

This gives me hope.

[stuart]

Yes I was surprised the Greens have emerged from the others as the clear main contender in Lewisham West. Still a long way behind but a reminder to Ellie that the Labour Party's climate policies need to get stronger if she doesn't want the gap narrowed..

Also a reminder to our councillors that they need to up their game if they want to be safe with the much smaller (and more committed?) turnout in council elections.

[syd]

Yes I was surprised the Greens have emerged from the others as the clear main contender in Lewisham West. Still a long way behind but a reminder to Ellie that the Labour Party's climate policies need to get stronger if she doesn't want the gap narrowed..

Also a reminder to our councillors that they need to up their game if they want to be safe with the much smaller (and more committed?) turnout in council elections.

Indeed.

That Nando’s incident and the monstrosity have changed me
I’m looking forward to the local elections! I may even drop some leaflets

[Forester]

I don't think it's that

the Labour Party's climate policies need to get stronger

it's rather that the Green manifesto was a left-wing manifesto unlike Labour's. Greens can definitely win if they have deep understanding of and involvement in local issues. If there had been a hustings I would have asked Ellie Reeves - what are the three things you've done for your constituency which you're most proud of? Can anyone think of anything at all?

[broken_shaman]

I voted Green too. A safe Labour seat ATM, so freedom to lend my vote elsewhere and have no effect on the official outcome.

Plus, the Labour run council aren't a great advert for Labour, though I'd rather have Labour in charge of the country than the Tories. Not sure it makes a great deal of difference at local levels. I used to live in Tooting years ago and it was a conservative council. Had very low council tax and seemed to be well run. They had noise people who would actually come out in the middle of the night and at weekends. Labour MP though (Khan).

Hopefully the second place result here will mean the Greens invest more in campaigning in future elections. It would be great to see a real mix of parties and independents overseeing the council one day.

[stuart]

Well Ellie is now Minister of State in the Cabinet Office (Minister without Portfolio). A reward for her job with Pat Mcfadden in organising the Labour campaign. Rather flawless compared to Rishi's disaster-a-day effort.

I guess that means we will see less of her as a constituency MP. That does bring back the onus on our councillors to deliver on local issues. I will say again they need to up their game. The original St Neri ediface disaster was one they should have surfed instead of being apologists.

Maybe they need a refresh. Is there a Sydenham Green Party?

[Forester]

Well Ellie is now Minister of State in the Cabinet Office (Minister without Portfolio).

Sounds nice - ministerial salary without ministerial responsibility.

I guess that means we will see less of her as a constituency MP

Is that possible?

[stuart]

Well I've bumped into Ellie and her sister a number of times in the last year or so. Rather less in the next year or so methinks.

Must be the first time Sydenham or anywhere has had two sisters in numbers 10 & 11 concurrently. Something to celebrate as products of our local state schools?

Certainly a step forward from Ellie's predecessor though I will give him credit for his support in the Daniel Morgan scandal.

PS I am not a member of the Sydenham Labour Party who I find 'difficult'. Probably reciprocated

[alywin]

Well Ellie is now Minister of State in the Cabinet Office (Minister without Portfolio).

Sounds nice - ministerial salary without ministerial responsibility.

I guess that means we will see less of her as a constituency MP

Is that possible?

Would someone like to explain? She's no longer my MP, but I thought she used to be rather good.

[RJM]

Would someone like to explain? She's no longer my MP, but I thought she used to be rather good.

I like her and think she's quite good and reasonably active for the area not just her own career. I've seen her at community events for example, and she's always been responsive to issues I've raised with her. I actually think she's easier to get a response from than some of our local councillors!

[alywin]

That last, I would certainly agree with. I wrote an email to loads of local councillors a few years ago, and simply CC'd her in so she was aware of the situation. She was the only one who replied ...

[Bovine Juice]

She was my local MP till the boundary changes. She's superb. Friendly, bright, engaging and very visible. If Liam is half as good we will be pleased over in Penge

[Forester]

It's hard to take some posts here seriously, they sound like Labour Party press releases.

We are told that Ellie Reeves is

very visible

. What does that even mean?

[Just John]

It's hard to take some posts here seriously, they sound like Labour Party press releases.

We are told that Ellie Reeves is

very visible

. What does that even mean?

Hard to imagine. She is totally unseen in the constituency. She does not reply to constituent's letters. She is invariably absent for some excuse or other.

[stuart]

It's hard to take some posts here seriously, they sound like Labour Party press releases.

Can you explain that? As far as I can see nobody here voted for her - indeed the opposite. Green Party environmental policies maybe a more accurate target for you

[Bovine Juice]

I said she was very visible because she was. She frequently turned up to community events in Penge at the weekend and was always friendly and open to conversations. She lives in Clock House so we were on her doorstep and she would wander down, sometimes with her children. I can only comment on my own experience and where I live. Maybe the experience in Perry Vale or Forest Hill, etc was different.

[Just John]

I said she was very visible because she was. She frequently turned up to community events in Penge at the weekend and was always friendly and open to conversations. She lives in Clock House so we were on her doorstep and she would wander down, sometimes with her children. I can only comment on my own experience and where I live. Maybe the experience in Perry Vale or Forest Hill, etc was different.

wander down with her children?

She was on maternity leave forever... How can a self employed person be on maternity leave? (MPs are self-employed... What is called their pay is nothing of the sort. It is a fee!)

[stuart]

How can a self employed person be on maternity leave? (MPs are self-employed... What is called their pay is nothing of the sort. It is a fee!)

See here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63985745
Extended by Boris to include ministers: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55933388
Suella Bravaman is a lawyer so I think we can take that is the legal position. Pity about the abuse.

BTW Ellie was hiding out in Sydenham yesterday:
https://social.brainsys.com/@se26/112792231663310673

[Just John]

How can a self employed person be on maternity leave? (MPs are self-employed... What is called their pay is nothing of the sort. It is a fee!)

See here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63985745
Extended by Boris to include ministers: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55933388
Suella Bravaman is a lawyer so I think we can take that is the legal position. Pity about the abuse.

BTW Ellie was hiding out in Sydenham yesterday:
https://social.brainsys.com/@se26/112792231663310673

Shame she was not at her desk dealing with constituents' letters.

[stuart]

Shame she was not at her desk dealing with constituents' letters.

Yes taking a Sunday off to meet her constituents is pretty shocking. But I'm sure you will be delighted to hear Ellie is back slaving over a keyboard today. I got a very positive response at midday to an email I sent on 12/7. Probably needed a bit of research and the six week hiatus of the unexpected election campaign probably created a backlog.

Patience may bring reward. Or at least a polite reminder.