I would not consider voting for Mr Drew for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, I disagree with his strong stance on the right to die - be it
assisted suicide or the withdrawal of treatment. I've got some
experience of withdrawing treatment from my daughter to allow her to
die a natural death rather than prolonging suffering. David is very
much against this on religious grounds.
Secondly his stance over the Roger Lock (former Headteacher of
Marling) case.
He supported Mr Lock, a friend of his, without seeking to see if there
was any substance behind the issues. I know of several Labour members
who will not be voting for him, as they felt very, very let down. They
wanted David's support against the bulling they, and colleagues, had
suffered over many years. The former Chair of Governors was the
person who had appointed Roger Lock, and was very in favour of him,
hence would hear nothing anything against him, so the staff (and as it
turned out, a governor and the acting head of Stroud High) had nowhere
to turn.
I suspect that David was trying to gain political capital against one
of the people imposed as extra governors by the LEA, one Neil
Carmichael, the Conservative candidate. The local press seemed to
have a lot of 'leaks' about the case - but all from Mr Locks side - as
Neil stuck strictly within the law in everything he did. David even
raised it in Parliament, saying how disgusting it was that a head
could be treated in such a bad way. Yet after the Industrial
Tribunal found that Mr Lock had indeed been a serial bully, there was
very little in the press, and no hint of an apology to - if not
Carmichael, then at least the staff involved - from David. If the
Tribunal had found for Mr Lock, I am without doubt that David would
have made sure that there was a lot to be said against Neil.
I wonder if David would have supported Roger Lock had the accusations
been of physical violence rather than mental violence? Is mental
violence much lesser thing than physical violence? Every time I see a
Vote Drew poster, I want to write 'Supports Bullies' over it in big
writing! Sorry - I just couldn't vote for someone who supports a
bullying manager over bullied workers, no matter how good his record
for opening fetes, being at product launches and touring local
churches.
All four main candidates have some quite sound personal policies (even
Mr Carmichael), and I think that the Dennis Andrewarthur, Neil
Carmichael and Martin Whiteside would all make equally as good
constituency MP's as David, irrespective of party allegiances. I'm
not so sure about the UKIP or the former UKIP, now BNP chap standing
as an independent.
Me, I'll be voting with my mind and heart - for Martin. The more
votes he gets, the more notice his opponents will take of Green
policies, and even if he doesn't get elected, at least he will be
influencing their policies!
Mark Rogers
Fi Macmillan - 14 years ago
David's a good guy working hard locally. However he is a Labour candidate and I can't vote for a party who have sat by while the bankers have pillaged the people of this country and changed the public agenda for the next few decades while we pay off that debt. If voters are concerned about the effect of Tories on the local agenda, they might consider getting involved in local politics which are so strongly dominated by the Conservative party at the District and County Council. The Green party have shown what is possible national through their work on the District Council where scrutinise and influence the agenda more effectively than Labour.
Ben Jarlett - 14 years ago
I'm still not sure... I like this site, and really appreciate this information about david drew. I thought there was supposed to be a place to register still not sure.. or did I miss that?
Josie - 14 years ago
This is not a decision I have taken lightly but I feel that having a trustworthy MP who is prepared to stand up for Green issues in parliament is really important.
David Drew has proved himself to be a man who will listen to his constituents and genuinely wants to represent us. I really respect and believe in what the Green party are doing here in Stroud and trust that David Drew and the Green Party will work together for the greater good both locally and nationally in the future.
Hi,
I would not consider voting for Mr Drew for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, I disagree with his strong stance on the right to die - be it
assisted suicide or the withdrawal of treatment. I've got some
experience of withdrawing treatment from my daughter to allow her to
die a natural death rather than prolonging suffering. David is very
much against this on religious grounds.
Secondly his stance over the Roger Lock (former Headteacher of
Marling) case.
He supported Mr Lock, a friend of his, without seeking to see if there
was any substance behind the issues. I know of several Labour members
who will not be voting for him, as they felt very, very let down. They
wanted David's support against the bulling they, and colleagues, had
suffered over many years. The former Chair of Governors was the
person who had appointed Roger Lock, and was very in favour of him,
hence would hear nothing anything against him, so the staff (and as it
turned out, a governor and the acting head of Stroud High) had nowhere
to turn.
I suspect that David was trying to gain political capital against one
of the people imposed as extra governors by the LEA, one Neil
Carmichael, the Conservative candidate. The local press seemed to
have a lot of 'leaks' about the case - but all from Mr Locks side - as
Neil stuck strictly within the law in everything he did. David even
raised it in Parliament, saying how disgusting it was that a head
could be treated in such a bad way. Yet after the Industrial
Tribunal found that Mr Lock had indeed been a serial bully, there was
very little in the press, and no hint of an apology to - if not
Carmichael, then at least the staff involved - from David. If the
Tribunal had found for Mr Lock, I am without doubt that David would
have made sure that there was a lot to be said against Neil.
I wonder if David would have supported Roger Lock had the accusations
been of physical violence rather than mental violence? Is mental
violence much lesser thing than physical violence? Every time I see a
Vote Drew poster, I want to write 'Supports Bullies' over it in big
writing! Sorry - I just couldn't vote for someone who supports a
bullying manager over bullied workers, no matter how good his record
for opening fetes, being at product launches and touring local
churches.
All four main candidates have some quite sound personal policies (even
Mr Carmichael), and I think that the Dennis Andrewarthur, Neil
Carmichael and Martin Whiteside would all make equally as good
constituency MP's as David, irrespective of party allegiances. I'm
not so sure about the UKIP or the former UKIP, now BNP chap standing
as an independent.
Me, I'll be voting with my mind and heart - for Martin. The more
votes he gets, the more notice his opponents will take of Green
policies, and even if he doesn't get elected, at least he will be
influencing their policies!
Mark Rogers
David's a good guy working hard locally. However he is a Labour candidate and I can't vote for a party who have sat by while the bankers have pillaged the people of this country and changed the public agenda for the next few decades while we pay off that debt. If voters are concerned about the effect of Tories on the local agenda, they might consider getting involved in local politics which are so strongly dominated by the Conservative party at the District and County Council. The Green party have shown what is possible national through their work on the District Council where scrutinise and influence the agenda more effectively than Labour.
I'm still not sure... I like this site, and really appreciate this information about david drew. I thought there was supposed to be a place to register still not sure.. or did I miss that?
This is not a decision I have taken lightly but I feel that having a trustworthy MP who is prepared to stand up for Green issues in parliament is really important.
David Drew has proved himself to be a man who will listen to his constituents and genuinely wants to represent us. I really respect and believe in what the Green party are doing here in Stroud and trust that David Drew and the Green Party will work together for the greater good both locally and nationally in the future.