Forum Topic

Mary Macleod's Career?

Just googling Mary Macleod and came across this, it dates from 2008. Is this the career of the Tory candidate. Has she really been trying to get a seat since 1995.Candidate The Conservative Party1996 — 2008 (12 years ) Senior Manager AccentureAugust 1990 — October 2001 (11 years 3 months) Research and Policy Officer Buckingham Palace - The Royal Household1998 — 1999 (1 year ) Parliamentary Candidate Scottish Conservative and Unionist Central Office1995 — 1997 (2 years )

Neil Chippendale ● 5860d22 Comments

She's about as local as volcanic ash.  I'm not from here but I wouldn't dream of voting for anyone who isn't all about localism and isn't firmly rooted here.Mary's a career politician. She'd have taken any seat offered to her.

Conal Stewart ● 5857d

That's precisely my point David, if the Conservatives dug up Idi Amin or Jean-Bedel Bokassa and put either forward as a candidate for this constituency you would be singing their praises and trying to persuade us all to vote for the Conservative candidate, just like Robin would do the same if either of the same individuals was the Labour candidate.

Adam Beamish ● 5857d

Touching

Ian Silver ● 5857d

Adam,Maybe you are better than Mary Macleod but I don't know you and so far as I know you are not a candidate in this election.I hate to tell you but I prefer Guinness to Beamish ! And I have lived in the borough for over 30 years and played an active part in community life for most of them.

David Giles ● 5857d

'In contrast, Mary Macleod has been inviolved in all spects of local life in Hounslow since being selected as a PPC.She has lived in Chiswick for over 9 years and knows the area well. She has worked closely with the Council and a wide variety of local groups throughout the borough and not just in Brentford.She has considerable experience of life outside politics and in business and is fully in the mainstream of the modern Conservative Party.'Adam Beamish has lived in the Borough for almost 8 years, has lived in London for almost 12 years and knows the area well.  During a 9 year career in the public sector, he worked at both Hounslow Council at managerial level and three other Greater London Councils at the same level.  For the last 3 years he has worked for one of Britain's biggest housebuilders as their Planning Manager for the entire London region and now works for a London based consultancy representing private individuals, small business and major internal companies all over the UK.  Politics and working with, and sometimes against, the local community and large businesses, have always played a key part of his professional life.So tell me how your beloved Mary is 'better' than me David ;-)

Adam Beamish ● 5857d

I think Andrew is a Nice Guy,i asked him to come to mine to Meet with my wife, Mother in law, Mum and I tonight (unfortunately) mum couldnt make it.We sat down and he was very Honest when i asked him several questions.We were Very impressed with him.I just want To thank him for coming around and to say he has all our Votes.

Simon Anderson ● 5857d

Well John- why don't you stand and offer us some red meat ?

David Giles ● 5857d

James,There are 60 councillors who have served at least 4 years on Hounslow council- just like Andrew Dakers. There are many councillors who have served many more years than that.Andrew Dakers has never  held an executive position on the Council. He has never chaired a committee or been mayor. He has been leader of the Lib Dem group but that comprises only two or three now that some of those elected in 2006 have chosen to leave the Lib Dems. Why has the Lib Dem group decreased in size under his leadership ?What impact has he made on the activities of the Council as a whole ?What is Andrew Dakers' experience outside politics ?What are his qualifications to be an MP ?What are his views on national issues ?Does he support all the loony left Lib Dem policies or just a few of them ?What does he do for a living ?In contrast, Mary Macleod has been inviolved in all spects of local life in Hounslow since being selected as a PPC.She has lived in Chiswick for over 9 years and knows the area well. She has worked closely with the Council and a wide variety of local groups throughout the borough and not just in Brentford.She has considerable experience of life outside politics and in business and is fully in the mainstream of the modern Conservative Party.

David Giles ● 5857d

James,There are 60 councillors who have served at least 4 years on Hounslow council- just like Andrew Dakers. There are many councillors who have served many more years than that.Andrew Dakers has never  held an executive position on the Council. He has never chaired a committee or been mayor. He has been leader of the Lib Dem group but that comprises only two or three now that some of those elected in 2006 have chosen to leave the Lib Dems. Why has the Lib Dem group decreased in size under his leadership ?What impact has he made on the activities of the Council as a whole ?What is Andrew Dakers' experience outside politics ?What are his qualifications to be an MP ?What are his views on national issues ?Does he support all the loony left Lib Dem policies or just a few of them ?What does he do for a living ?In contrast, Mary Macleod has been inviolved in all spects of local life in Hounslow since being selected as a PPC.She has lived in Chiswick for over 9 years and knows the area well. She has worked closely with the Council and a wide variety of local groups throughout the borough and not just in Brentford.She has considerable experience of life outside politics and in business and is fully in the mainstream of the modern Conservative Party.

David Giles ● 5857d

With apologies to vegetarians, the consensus on this thread re parliamentary candidates seems to be "we want steak but all we are being offered is mince". It's the same in Feltham and Heston.

John Connelly ● 5857d

John will no doubt correct me given his personal experience of being a Councillor, but I've always thought that being a Councillor is a hard 'job' because you are very 'visible' within the local community, you make decisions in public on matters which whilst not on a national magnitude are matters which have a much more direct effect on people's day to day lives, like planning applications, spending budgets on local highway improvements, where to spend S106 contributions, dealing with residents complaints about the Council etc - usually the first port of call before someone goes to their MP.If I was a Local Councillor I'd feel far more subject to the scrutiny of residents than if I was an MP - my point being I don't think really Andrew's lack of experience counts against him given he's been a Councillor for several years.

Adam Beamish ● 5857d

What experience has Macleod had apart from running around the country in search of a seat and doing research for the Queen. Don't think being a banker is a good grounding for politics.

Neil Chippendale ● 5857d

I've served on numerous committees. Am I a suitable PPC? Andrew is a political romantic whose so called leadership has led to the total collapse of his LBH Lib- Dem Cllr Group. All have left. Everyone.  Always organising stunts and petititions that go nowhere. Spending others money. His LBH budget suggestions were laughed out of Council.More seriously look at the Lib Dem Manifesto. Releasing 60,000 prisoners, ending Childrens Trusts  outrageous Mansion Tax etc. Speculative financial projections.Look at then Lib -Dems contemporary record in running Councils-appalling!A Lib Dem vote is a wasted vote.I won't mention Nick Clegg's HUGE parliamentary expenses exposed yesterday. Two or three kitchen upgrades in 6 months. Wrong colour doors Nick?

John Todd ● 5858d

"The very inexperienced Councillor Dakers"David, Councillor Dakers has been an elected member of the London Borough of Hounslow for four years and the leader of a political group on the council, albeit a small one, for all of that time.  He has served on scrutiny and his local area committee.  Can you please advise us what experience Mary Macleod has in Hounslow politics that exceeds that of Councillor Dakers?

James Dash ● 5858d

Ann Keen has been fleecing us.Are you wide asleep?

Ian Silver ● 5858d

"They (the Lib Dems) have accepted and not returned a major donation from a fraudster."True, but then your party's candidate has accepted and not returned donations from at least two billionaire tax exiles. I'm not sure that's any better.In terms of donations, Ann Keen is the only one of the three main candidates to have a clean pair of hands.

Robin Taylor ● 5858d

Mary's career is hardly 'awe inspiring' is it David ? - looks pretty standard to me and I don't see how it withstands comparison with those of her opponents, or indeed a great many of the constituents.  Nor do any of her opponents have three unsuccessful attempts to get elected elsewhere - which undoubtedly damages her credibility.I accept she may have lived in the constituency in the past so I stand corrected but it doesn't carry much/any weight either way with me - I've lived in the constituency since 2002 and worked here since 2001 but it doesn't mean I love the constitutency or want to represent all its constitutents.

Adam Beamish ● 5858d

AdamMary Maclerd's career withstands any serious comparision with those of her oponents- the very limited former nurse and full-time politican Ann Keen and the very inexperienced Andrew Dakers.Mary Macleod does in fact live in the constituency so she has honoured that pledge already.She has previously lived in the constituency in the past and has lived in Chiswick on and off for a total of 9 years.Andrew Dakers' extravagant claims are typical of the extravagant claims we have come to expect from the Lib Dems over the years.Rember when David Steel urged delegates at the Liberal Party Conference to "go home and prepare for Government " ?The Lib Dems try to be all things to all people. They are Left-wing in the North when fighting Labour , Scottish in Scotland and Right-wing in the West Country when fighting the Conservatives. They are in favour of Eurofederalism and the euro. They have accepted and not returned a major donation from a fraudster.They say they are against Labour now but would only be too delighted to be a junior partner in a Labour/Lib Dem coalition. After nearly a 100 years out of power, the Lib Dems will be happen to gather whatever crumbs fall from Labour's broke and broken table.Ann Keen simply does not deserve to remain as an MP. Gordon Brown simply cannot remain  as Prime Minister.Therefore a vote for Mary Macleod and the Conservatives is the only way we can change things for the better.

David Giles ● 5858d

Agreed.  Whilst I don't intend to vote I actually found myself briefly thinking yesterday about the prospective candidates for this constituency.It says much about this constituency that Mary has tried to make a big thing of her pledge to live in the constituency.  I briefly read (before it went in the bin with all the others) some propaganda from her which started off with her trying to 'big up' her ties with the Borough...a place she'd probably never been to before she decided to try to win this constituency having failed at three others.I like Andrew Dakers, but not the party he represents, and also feel Andrew loses his grip on reality sometimes.  Before it went in the bin I read the latest Lib Dem propaganda to be circulated yesterday and was rather amused by Andrew's reference to 'world class design/development/architecture' on the land south of the High Street.  Lets be realistic - world class design costs money, no-one with lots of money is going to want to splash out on an expensive building, for commercial or residential use, for an individual or an organisation, on that site.  And why does that site deserve 'world class' ? - it's not a Conservation Area etc, etc, it's merely your typical town centre location.  I accept Kew Gardens is on the other side of the river and given its world status the design should be 'high quality', but no different to Ferry Quays etc - it is pie in the sky to expect 'world class' design on this site, and suggests Andrew is completely out of touch with reality (which he isn't, but the use of world class to try to get residents on board his cause shoots himself in the foot in my view).Green Party manifesto is the loony left gone bonkers, no-one would ever be able to afford to drive again and those who could afford to wouldn't be able to go faster than 20mph.  As for their international policies, if any country declared war on us Britain would be wiped off the map within a week.  Funniest manifesto I've seen though, so at least it's entertaining.Against this backdrop, and as I've expressed before, I still think Ann Keen will stay as MP.  I don't even think a no-show on Thursday will do her any harm, my own perception is that the only people who turn up at such things aren't the 'undecided majority' but rather the 'strongly anti-Keen brigade' who'd just try to turn it into an anti-Keen rally.

Adam Beamish ● 5858d

Not really the sort of candidate for this sort of constituency.Too many of these wannabee types who think being educated in politics and hob nobbing around building contacts in powerful places is a dead cert to a seat.Westminster is full of these types, youthful flunkies, you see them on the TV all the time, full of self importance, fawning over their alloted MP. Makes me cringe. They are all posh types with a posh education pretending to be right on. A bit like Rosie Boycott.But just like the Tory candidate, they know nothing of life, nothing about people, mix solely with like minded and cannot communicate outside of their clique.This is the same with all the parties and why I suspect so few good local councillors with several terms of experience and service get to move up and get a chance to stand in a seat in their home district.Hardly what is needed.When the existing MP started out she was at least in a job outside of politics but given her sister is also an MP clearly came through a similar route.But too many years in the house has tainted them and removed them too far from their roots.Mrs. Keen seems very complacent in her campaign, choosing only to cosy up to ethnic groups (Who love a photo opportunity and a dignitary but are far more canny than to simply vote Labour. It's a bit crass and naff these days)It's a shame she is not prepared to address the real issues, incuding her own failings and not so impressive record compared with several surrounding local Labour MPs.Really, a new broom is needed all round.

Anthony Waller ● 5858d

So it's fourth time lucky, I hope not.

Neil Chippendale ● 5859d

Neil,You've missed out a few things.As well as being a Tory candidate in the Highlands in 1997, she was rejected as a parliamentary candidate by the Tory selection committee of the Kensington & Chelsea constituency (1999); and she was also rejected as a parliamentary candidate by the Tory selection committee of the Bromley & Chislehurst constituency (2006).Btw., when she applied for Bromley & Chislehurst, her occupation was given as "Merchant Banker".Surprisingly, since the banking bonuses scandal, all references to her being a "Merchant Banker" have been dropped.With her party now heading south in the polls, perhaps someone would like to start a sweepstake as to which constituency she will apply for next?

Robin Taylor ● 5859d