Does Richard Caborn's decision to quit (http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Caborn-to-quit-Commons.3201927.jp) The Commons have anything to do with thoughts that he may have had a fight on his hands (http://www.paulscriven.org.uk/)?

Since he doesn't have a fight on his hands, and never will do ... probably not.

They could stand a filing cabinet with a red rosette in Sheffield Central, and people would vote it in. Come to think of it, the filing cabinet might do a better job too.

yes, wasent it a lovely do
pie and peas and the red flag to
i bet big john had 2 helpings
has clive betts got any plans

Does Richard Caborn's decision to quit (http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Caborn-to-quit-Commons.3201927.jp) The Commons have anything to do with thoughts that he may have had a fight on his hands (http://www.paulscriven.org.uk/)?

Good question.
Fair play to Mr Caborn. He was a bit of a plonker but was a good M.P for the city and his heart was in the right place.
I know that his majority was decreased substantially at the last election but I still cannot see the Libs taking the seat.

At the last election the Libs really used and abused the anti-war vote with the large Asian populations in the area- that was where their vote came from. I do not think that this will be an issue at the next election.

I am not keen on Paul Scriven. He does not come across at all well in the press. A bit of a Victor Meldrew with no substance. He has also failed to take the council seats he needed to turf out Labour on the council despite both the local and national Labour Party's unpopularity.

The thing I do not understand is how Scriven can stand for parliament and leader of the council at the same time.

Surely he should stand down as leader to fight the seat if he is serious about it. Just like Chadwick (a former Sheffield Lib leader did when he was contesting Hillsborough a few years ago). I think that the fact he has not stood down as leader perhaps indicates it is not a serious challenge.

The thing about all this that really interests me is the timing of the next general election. Clearly Caborn's retirement (with a cushy job) indicates that an election is not far away. But when?

If it is held in the next month or so fine. But I cannot see it. I know a lot of press are speculating about it being the same day as the locals next year because the Labour Party are short on workers and they could double up. If this happens, what about people who are standing for election to both a local council and parliament. ie Paul Scriven.

I believe he is up for re-election in his Broomhill ward (in fairness part of the constituency he is standing for too). The thing is he has a real fight on his hands defending it from the Greens. (here I show my bias a little bit - I would love the Greens to win Broomhill - ). This would be on the same day as he was fighting a general election seat, supposedly seriously.

This would surely be confusing to a voter. Would they vote for him twice? Why bother voting for a local councillor if he really wants to be an M.P. Is his heart in it anymore?

Which is another significant point. Mr Scriven is the leader of the Libs in Sheffield, who are making noises about taking over control of the council. How can this be taken as a serious challenge if the Lib leader is looking for another job before they have even started ?

Richard was an excellent MP for Sheffield Central, he'll be sorely missed.

John Reid stepping down too - an October election? :huh:

A nice fat pension and a sinecure job to keep him in the style to which he has become accustomed :)

Caborn's majority significantly decreased, but perhaps the most significant thing is that Sheffield Central will be a NEW seat. It will lose Burngreave and gain Broomhill - therefore making it a key marginal for the next election.

Caborn's majority significantly decreased, but perhaps the most significant thing is that Sheffield Central will be a NEW seat. It will lose Burngreave and gain Broomhill - therefore making it a key marginal for the next election.

I am not sure about key marginal - there are a lot of other seats further up the list. However, I am sure it will be more interseting than normal.

Who will be the new candidate for Labour?

I have seen Tim Rippon in the papers a lot and he seems like a nice chap and has the cabinet portfolio for development or something like that, which I suppose is veryu city centre based. He is also quite young so would fit the bill.

Then again I have no involvement with Labour so I am just speculating. Anyone any ideas?

Then again I have no involvement with Labour so I am just speculating. Anyone any ideas?

........ and Tim has no involvement with his constituents, so I suppose that's about right!

........ and Tim has no involvement with his constituents, so I suppose that's about right!

OOOOhh!
Naughty!
I did not have you down as a Lib cgksheff!
Apologies if I have been rude!
Why is Tim so bad. He represents Norflok Park I think.

I do not know of anyone else in the Labour Party with any kind of prescence. Tim was the first person who came to mind.

I am not a Labour supporter. But would prefer him to Scriven!

Mind you someone like Rob Cole or Gillian Creasy from the Greens would be better!

But I do not think that is likely!

I did not have you down as a Lib cgksheff!
Apologies if I have been rude!


No need, blusky.

When it comes to Local Councillors, I would rather have a worker/fighter regardless of rosette colour.
If you were to take a random survey of his ward constituents (although many may be unable to name any councillor at all), I would be surprised if his name were recalled.

Something odd also went on a year or so ago when he appeared to fall from grace and lost his Cabinet position.

No need, blusky.

When it comes to Local Councillors, I would rather have a worker/fighter regardless of rosette colour.
If you were to take a random survey of his ward constituents (although many may be unable to name any councillor at all), I would be surprised if his name were recalled.

Something odd also went on a year or so ago when he appeared to fall from grace and lost his Cabinet position.

Fair enough.
I do remember his fall from grace. It was a bit odd, especially as he is back in the same position now.

Conspiracy theories eh!

Are you one of his constiuents?

To be fair if you asked anyone about their local councillor, regardless of colour I think they would struggle. It does not denote a good/bad councillor. Some people are just not bothered.

It is just us boring forummers who speculate!

Does Richard Caborn's decision to quit (http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Caborn-to-quit-Commons.3201927.jp) The Commons have anything to do with thoughts that he may have had a fight on his hands (http://www.paulscriven.org.uk/)?

Far more likely to do with the fact that he's 63?

Can't imagine Paul Scriven scaring anybody to be quite honest.

An interesting topic that follows on from an earlier thread:

Boundary changes: will Richard Caborn be going to the Olympics as an MP? (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=200845) The answer to the question was 3 in 4 people thought that he wouldn't.

An interesting topic that follows on from an earlier thread:

Boundary changes: will Richard Caborn be going to the Olympics as an MP? (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=200845) The answer to the question was 3 in 4 people thought that he wouldn't.

I'd still go for the fact that he's 63.

I think we are likely to see fewer and fewer MP's serving for as long as MP's often used to - perhaps due to the virtual non - stop 24/7, 7 days a week media coverage which wants 24/7, 7 day a week sensation / crises - and will happily label things that way even if they're not.

Richard was an excellent MP for Sheffield Central, he'll be sorely missed.

cant go quickly enough and as far as I'm concernd, it's good riddance to bad rubbish and he can take his snot-nosed PA with him as well.

cant go quickly enough and as far as I'm concernd, it's good riddance to bad rubbish and he can take his snot-nosed PA with him as well.

I am not a labour man but I think this is a bit harsh.
He did a job, for a long time, and now he is retiring. That is it really. Like anyone, when you do a job for that long you are not going to please everybody and you will make a few mistaakes along the line. That is life. Politicians are only human after all.

I am not a labour man but I think this is a bit harsh.
He did a job, for a long time, and now he is retiring. That is it really. Like anyone, when you do a job for that long you are not going to please everybody and you will make a few mistaakes along the line. That is life. Politicians are only human after all.

Some of the people I know would think I was being quite generous. :)

Some of the people I know would think I was being quite generous. :)

Fair enough. I agree he was perhaps, erm, not the most intelligent M.P. I also giggled when I heard him on Radio Sheffield with Toby Foster saying that everyone in the media were gits for having a go.

The Sheffield Star have been his biographer over the years!
What comes around goes around.
I still think he was not all that bad.
I used to be a constiuent of his.
What has he done that has been so bad?

What comes around goes around.


If I had a penny for everytime everyone has ever said that to me over the past 10 years, I'd be propping up the Northern Rock Building Society :)

cant go quickly enough and as far as I'm concernd, it's good riddance to bad rubbish and he can take his snot-nosed PA with him as well.

Dead easy to knock people isn't it. Can you give a specific example where Caborn let down his constituents.

Most Politicians (and most organisations in my experience) can only deal in the art of what is generally possible for most people and not pull up trees for an individual.

Dead easy to knock people isn't it. Can you give a specific example where Caborn let down his constituents.

Hmm, how about voting in favour of illegally invading Iraq?

Hmm, how about voting in favour of illegally invading Iraq?

Or banning smoking in public places!
(cough, splutter, cough- its a bit chilly):hihi:

Dead easy to knock people isn't it. Can you give a specific example where Caborn let down his constituents.

Most Politicians (and most organisations in my experience) can only deal in the art of what is generally possible for most people and not pull up trees for an individual.

Something that may not be common knowledge is that as a Cabinet Minister, Caborn can not take any action which could cause him to come in to conflict with Government Policy etc. Furthermore it was very interesting to see how quickly he divested himself of his various political associations on being appointment a Cabinet Minister.

This will make you all giggle. Or perhaps I have missed something.

The Star today has printed a little article about Scriven/Caborn.

It is on page 12; headline Caborn praise for Lib Dem.

It is in the city edition; do the Sar still do a late edition. I am not sure.

Anyway, they call Scriven the DEPUTY leader of the Libs in Sheffield.

Is this correct? Has Scriven stepped down from leader. I did not realise. Or perhaps it is a major mistake by the Star, who are of course, known for their unbiased and correct reporting! Either I missed Scriven's resignation, or the Star have some grovelling to do!

Naughty.

Scriven has praised Caborn but pointed out it is a key battleground.