Simon Hughes - the straight choice
Remember the 1983 by-election in Bermondsey? The one where “practising homosexual” Peter Tatchell, the Labour candidate, was defeated by homophobia, to the benefit of the lovely Simon Hughes? Of course, Simon has always protested his innocence of any of the dastardly tricks, but Guido has evidence to the contrary…
(Yes, yes, Labour wasn’t untainted by homophobia in that election either, I know)
I didn’t see smilies, but then it is a Guido story…
The only thing that Hughes leaflet tells us is that the Tories had no chance of winning Southwark (North) and Bermondsey in 1983, just as they haven’t had a sniff of winning that seat, in its various incarnations, since probably 1931.
I think a bit more digging would be required to find an angle against Hughes there.
Hi Andrew - maybe my reverse-gaydar is over-sensitive, but don’t you think “This election is a STRAIGHT choice” is leading?
Let us not also forget the male Liberal canvassers’ “I’ve been kissed by Peter Tatchell” badges…
Wikipedia has an article on this election which discusses some of the disturbing things which occurred during that election. If Hughes wins he could find this all coming back to haunt him. I saw Hughes on the Politics Show today and one of the presenters was reading out e-mails and the only one I heard was a question on the Lib Dems being vicious at local elections and bi-elections. He said something along the lines that things get heated but if anyone feels that there was any malpractice then he would be happy to deal with it.
I suppose instead of “straight choice” they could have said “two-way battle”, or “two-horse race”, or even “simple choice”, but to be honest the wording they picked probably comes across best (but no highly distorted bar chart, I notice!), given what they talk about afterwards. And as other people have rightly said, Tatchell had to put up with a hell of a lot more overt bigotry.
Ultimately, though, the old Labour Right was doomed…
Back in the early 1980s production and printing facilities were not as advanced so much - from the scan that leaflet looks like it was designed by letraset. So distorted bar charts would have been harder to produce.
The Wikipedia article often gets edits on the issue of Liberal tactics, especially the badges. But as for other dirty tricks, has anyone ever taken them to task for starting by-election campaigns when the MP goes into hospital?
Sod that - I’ve just looked at this and found literature with a bar chart on rents and rates.
You’re dredging that up? It’s silly tittle tattle and mischief. And little substance to it in this case. And it was 23 years ago. You’re fighting old battles, Antonia. Both Simon and Peter have moved on.
Guido Fawkes is good at this stuff, but his blog is gossip and mischief, and as a “plague against all parties” right wing libertarian, he has his own reasons. As do you in attacking Simon, no doubt.
I saw Hughes on the Politics Show today and one of the presenters was reading out e-mails and the only one I heard was a question on the Lib Dems being vicious at local elections and bi-elections
It’s not just a bi-election, it’s for gays and straights as well.
Sorry. Write it out 1000 times, Little Britain isn’t funny any more.
That poster has been taken out of context. I have met Mr. Hughes on two ocassions and he made the best impression on me out any politician to date. He’s a good man and shouldn’t have his slurred because of the actions of others.