Labour Not Taking the Web Seriously?
Whilst dabbling with Facebook and Twitter is all well and good, I was disappointed with Toby Perkins’ website, to say the least!
Firstly, it doesn’t work on my brand new Apple Macbook - see screen-grab here
So I switched to a PC and was highly amused by his use of capital letters in the first paragraph - ie Mother Teresa Perkins 
I also read on the Sheffield Star website that:
“a complaint has been made against Chesterfield MP Paul Holmes to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over allegedly using official letters for campaigning purposes.”
“Lib Dem Mr Holmes was reported by his Labour opponent Toby Perkins.”
No details on his website - and nothing on Twitter…
Come on Toby! Get with the program - communication is everything.
TOO BUSY DOING THE REAL THING?…..
I was most surprised to see Toby Perkins, standing on a beer crate, engaging with potential voters in an up front, honest and frankly good old fashioned manner in Vicar Lane yesterday. I must admit I haven’t seen anything like this around here since the 1970’s and good luck to the lad, for having the guts to do it - he certainly looked and sounded the part. I’m all for Twitter but it pales into insignificance compared with the real thing!
(PS. Can’t find our other Chesterfield candidates on Twitter - Does anyone know if they are?)
I can’t find either of the other two on Twitter - luddites!
I agree you can’t beat face to face, but in the 21st century it’s good to keep up with what’s happening on the web. They say young people aren’t interested in politics these days but spend all their time on Twitter and Facebook…
Worth thinking about - every vote counts.
I’ve just visited Toby Perkin’s website - yes probably a bit of room for improvement…I’m on a PC and it opened up straight away…but it’s no good if you can’t get on to it from a laptop is it! I did like the bold Crooked Spire on one side and Big Ben on the other though and thought it was easy to navigate. I’ve noticed that this isn’t an offshoot of the official labour party site, so he’s probably just put it together himself and I’m not quite sure how much Parliamentary candidates are paid or how much help they get?
Paul Holmes is a generic lib dem site and being our MP, he will get a communications allowance to fund it - I’ve only took a quick look, but first impressions are that it could do with a bit of a revamp!
Can’t find Carolyn Abbotts’. Has anyone got a link to it? Anyway from looking on Toby’s site I can see he’s been strutting his stuff with the freshers at Chesterfield Tech but I do agree to get to the young un’s more Tweets would help. I will look on Facebook later to see if I can find any of them on there as well.
Thanks for the feedback, Sam is right to raise the question of funding. As a parliamentary candidate you get paid zilch and your taxpayer funded communications are zilch, so the website has been done by volunteers, and alongside the other demands on my time as a councillor and small business owner (and young family).
Nonetheless, appearance is key, so I will look into the issue you raise with the Mac and try and put it right.
I hadn’t put the latest Paul Holmes expenses business on my website yet, because I didn’t want too much of the site to be dedicated to his failings but to be focused more positively on what I am doing and want to do.
Glad that Sam liked the soapbox (beer crate) approach, certainly got a favourable response, I will be doing more of that. I have also had a public meeting in Hollingwood tonight to give people the opportunity to quiz me and have their say and listen to what I am standing for.
Alongside twitter and the website, there is doorstep canvassing, telephoning voters, town centre speeches and public meetings - they are all useful modes of communication, and I try to split myself between them all to be honest, to show people who I am and what I stand for.
Thanks for taking the interest.
Thank you for replying
I was interested to see what Labour proposed to help Chesterfield but was disappointed to find nothing of any use.
One thing I did discover, and correct me if I am wrong,But Mr Perkins runs a rugby product business called club rugby. ( Wikipedia)
I think that with all the furor over second jobs etc. I would like my MP to be a full time MP.
Hi Haldron,
I run a rugby business, because I have to put food on the table and I dont get paid for being a parliamentary candidate.
I think the fact that I live in the real world and haven’t spent my whole life or indeed any of it in the westminster bubble is a good thing, but I agree with you that being an MP is a full time job and would dispose of my interest in the business as soon as practically possible in the event of being successful.
I would also discuss with colleagues in both parties and my constituents in Rother the situation of my being a Councillor for a further year if elected as MP and if there was a feeling that the £20K cost of a by election was a reasonable use of public money then I would be happy to stand down as a councillor too.
Hope this answers your question, let me know if you have any more.
Mr Perkins
Thankyou for the coutesy of your reply.
Gordon did say that MPs should not have second jobs and your comments have been duly noted.
He also said that this is no time for amateurs. How do you feel you satisfy this criteria.
One point I would make is that in Chesterfield there numerous derelict structures such as the old post office car park, former B&Q and former MFI warehouses and soon to be former CFC football ground. Why is this? and what can you do to ensure buildings have a new life and not just focus on new developments.
Oh yes and of course the old court house.
The old post office car park is unsafe I believe and will be demolished. The B&Q and former MFI warehouses are just like any commercial premises that the business has vacated - awaiting new owners/tennants. The old football ground is just an old football ground - it wants levelling. What would you suggest to give it a new lease of life?
The old courthouse has been turned into offices and let out to business as far as I am aware.
The old court house offers 27,000ft of space and is up for sale currently at £1.8 million.
The old post office car park is it seems too expensive to demolish and the post office I understand wont discuss its future. It is however in a very useful place for the towns centreas is the former B&Q store.
Personally I would return the old football ground to a park but it wont happen. Green spaces dont make money.
I personally think that we need to take stock over what is no longer in use.
>> Personally I would return the old football ground to a park but it wont happen. Green spaces dont make money.
I think the football club have to sell the land for as much as they can to put towards the new stadium
Going back to the General election. I wonder what Mr Perkins view is on Mr Browns outrageous comments calling an elderly lady bigoted for daring to mention the I word.
I wonder also how any trust can be put in labour given the appalling state of the countries finances and that 8 million people are economically inactive.
Why also isn’t housing benefit being capped to a lower level of £1100 a week till 2011 ( yes £4,400 a month).
I wonder what Mr Perkins would say about the:
North West Norfolk candidate for Labour
Mr Sood who said he believes the increase in immigration is making the country “bigger and messier”, and some aspects of government are “corrupt”.
He also says that Gordon Brown is the worse Prime Minister Britain has ever had.
I could agree with him more but I would be keen to know Mr Perkins views are along with the other question I have raised regarding Mr Browns thoughts.
Thanks for posting, but I’m guessing that Mr Perkins will be out and about canvassing and probably won’t be spending much time on the web. But hopefully he will look in and answer your questions.