Dr Julian Lewis MP - Conservative	Colonel Terry Scriven - Liberal Democrat

 

ELECTION RESULT - JULIAN LEWIS WINS WITH INCREASED MAJORITY

Consequently this page will be changed in the near future.  The following was written prior to May 6th.

In the New Forest East Constituency, the only serious battle is between the Conservatives and Liberals.  One of these candidates will be our new MP.

Let me first declare my position.  I do not support any political party.  I did join the Young Conservatives for a short while in the 1960's.  This was entirely due to the fact they had a brilliant social calendar and their members included a number of attractive girls!  Otherwise, over the years I have put my ballot box cross against candidates of all the major parties.  I vote for the Candidate and not for the Party.

As someone who is interested in politics but, as stated, does not support any political party, I have looked at the two candidates closely and make the following observations.

Julian Lewis is Shadow Defence Spokesman and has a history of being an expert in defence.  He attended Oxford University and took the path of a career politician, for the Conservative Party.  He has a PhD, being a Doctor in Philosophy and uses the title "Dr" in all public matters and in his political literature, although one might argue that this is usually a title in academic circles and not used by all who have achieved similar qualification, so as to avoid confusion with the medical profession.

He is paranoid about Terry Scriven using the title of "Colonel" and has accused him of breaking Army rules, saying that he should be referred to as "Colonel (Retired)".  He has also objected to "Colonel" being used on the ballot papers.  In common parlance, newspapers and television commentators have always referred to retired high ranking officers from the Armed Forces by their former titles and not inserted the "Retired" as a suffix.  I appreciate that Julian Lewis may not wish to lower himself to common parlance, but as Tory Defence Spokesman he should be aware that Debretts make it very clear any rank above Major is a rank for life.

Terry Scriven had a career in the Army, with real experience in the Armed Forces and was prepared to risk his life for Queen and Country.  From leaving school with no qualifications he attained the rank of Colonel and has since attained a Master of Science degree from Leicester University and a Diploma in Management Studies from Portsmouth Polytechnic.

In a post card leaflet to all in his constituency, Dr Lewis mocks the Military Police, by saying, "I'm pleased to say I never had to put my comrades on a charge".  This denigrates the role of the Military Police and as the Tory Defence Spokesman it is shameful for him to act in this way.  Perhaps he has forgotten that six Military Policemen died in Iraq in May 2003.  These were brave men, who do not deserve a potential Minister of Defence insulting their memory.

Julian Lewis strongly supports fox hunting, whereas Terry Scriven is against cruelty to all animals.

Recently Julian Lewis issued  and distributed a four page leaflet, which was a rant against Terry Scriven, Liberal Candidate, primarily attacking Mr Scriven for questioning various matters concerning him.  These included the questions raised against Julian Lewis appearing under a non-de-plume on the Voter's List and the legality of his registration.  Nothing in this leaflet gave any indication of any achievements or policies of Dr Lewis or the Conservative Party and was just an attempt to discredit his opponent.  He also devotes a large section of his website to discredit Terry Scriven and all of the "scurrilous" attacks Mr Scriven had made against him.

Julian Lewis, we must remember, claimed amongst other items, a trouser press, a tin of wax polish, bathroom mixer taps, light bulbs and a sweater tidy under the rules of MP's expenses and was eventually asked to repay £1,068.85 relating to an erroneous mortgage interest payment and an excessive claim for a washer dryer, after he had fought an expenses judgement.

Some of his claims are listed below:

2005/2006: £98 two rugs for bedrooms  £23 kitchen utensils  £11.25 light bulbs  £352.50 solicitor's fees  £45 shower curtain  £11 shoe tidy  £5 sweater tidy  (Total second home claim: £20,830) 2006/2007: £359 Bosch single oven  £499 Bosch electric hob  £429 Bosch dishwasher  £789 Bosch washer/dryer  £39.99 Brabantia laundry bin  £119 wall-mounted trouser press £4 wax polish  (Total second home claim: £21,984) 2007/2008:  £346 bathroom mixer taps  (Total second home claim: £21,604)

Julian Lewis claimed £119 on a trouser press.

Julian Lewis claims his record of expenses is way below most of his fellow MP's.  However, he is being selective with his figures. If you consider that many MP's have constituencies much greater distances from Westminster and consequently need to spend larger amounts keeping their constituents informed, plus higher travel bills, then perhaps his record is not so exemplary.  For 2007 / 2008 his total expenses claims were £131,141.  In my view, it is all about what the expenses were claimed for, rather than the total amount claimed.  Julian Lewis wants us to believe that the washer dryer purchase at £789, which he later repaid £239, was made to save money that would not have to be spent on kitchen fittings to house a cheaper model.

This was part of a number of Bosch appliances he claimed on expenses and we, the taxpayers, provided for him.  In 2006 / 2007, he claimed for the following:

£359 Bosch single oven
£499 Bosch electric hob
£429 Bosch dishwasher
£789 Bosch washer/dryer

These total £2,076.  There does not appear to be any question of him being prudent, to avoid fittings for a cheaper washer/dryer.  I suggest that doing so did not even occur to him at the time, but this was a lame excuse invented later, to justify his claims.

As Basil Fawlty might have said, "Don't mention the floor!"   This was the enquiry Julian Lewis made to the Fees Office for a replacement wooden floor at his second home, at a quoted cost of £6,000.  The Fees Office rejected the suggestion and Dr Lewis immediately accepted the ruling, but this was clearly an attempt to test the water, as to whether or not he could make yet another claim.

From 1998 to May 2004 Julian Lewis's main residence was in London. In addition he received rent from a London flat, declared as formerly his family home.  His house in the New Forest East constituency was declared as his second home for which he claimed Parliamentary allowances at taxpayers' expense. In the summer of 2004, having claimed around £50,000 on his second home - the one in the constituency - the mortgage was paid off and the designation was switched so it became his main residence.  The two properties in London were sold off and he purchased another flat in London. This was now designated his second home. The taxpayer picked up the processing fees of this flat to the tune of around £15,000.  To date he has claimed around £100,000 of expenses on the London flat.

But don't just take my word for it.  Even the Tory Daily Telegraph article on 23rd April 2010 does not seem to think much of Julian Lewis.

Julian Lewis was elected as our MP in 1997 and in that time I have no knowledge of him personally calling at my house to show any interest in my vote.  Apart from Dibden Bay campaigns, I cannot think of anything else he has done in the interests of his constituents, over the past 13 years.

In contrast, Terry Scriven visited my area on a Sunday in March 2010, a day with pouring rain.  His team canvassed the housing estate and he was personally on hand to invite householders' views and discuss his policies.  He apparently did this with interest, charm and courtesy.

To get a surgery meeting with Julian Lewis is about as easy as achieving an audience with the Pope!  One of my relatives phoned his constituency office over a matter and was asked to put details in writing, so he could consider the matter before seeing her.  She did not bother. 

I understand that, if elected, Terry Scriven intends to have regular mobile surgeries, so people can see him in each main area.  He expects that these would be in Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, Totton, Hythe, Marchwood and Fawley areas.

Should you wish to contact either candidate by e-mail, I have found it impossible to establish an e-mail address for Julian Lewis.  He is one of the few MP's who does not have an e-mail address on www.parliament.uk, nor on his own website.  Presumably, he does not want to be bothered by voters contacting him in this manner.  It would seem his position as Tory Defence Spokesman takes up much of this time, to the detriment of attending Parliament and working in his constituency.  His voting record since 1997 is around 64%, which is below the average of his fellow MP's.

Terry Scriven wants to serve the people of New Forest East, to safeguard and promote their interests and those of the constituency.  He wants to work at reforming Parliament, so it is accountable in what it does.  He is not a professional politician, but has extensive experience and ability outside of politics, which can be used to great effect on our behalf.  You can contact Terry Scriven via e-mail by going onto his personal website, easily found on Google.  I had previously sent an e-mail to the local Liberal Party, with various questions regarding their policy, on matters that were of interest to me.  This was written on a Saturday and I was amazed to receive a personal reply from Terry Scriven on the Sunday.  His answers were complete, direct and non-evasive.  Although I may not have agreed with every point, the fact that a politician had bothered to answer so quickly and truthfully gained my respect for the man. 

I know who I shall vote for on May 6th.

If you are a Labour voter, consider the following facts. 

Last year's County Council election results in the Constituency  last year produced the following:

Liberal Democrats 47%, Conservatives 48% and Labour 5%.
(This includes a slight change in boundaries from the last General Election, with Sway now switched from New Forest West to East.)

Had the Labour vote gone to the Liberal Democrats, they would have won.  So do not waste your vote this time!

You may be interested in the following entry in Wikipedia:

 "In 1976, with secret funding from the Freedom Association, he (Julian Lewis) posed as a Labour Party moderate and briefly won control of Newham North East Constituency Labour Party, in an unsuccessful attempt to reverse the deselection of the local MP, Reg Prentice. Prentice himself eventually joined the Conservatives."

It would make sense that, in this Election, you vote tactically and vote Liberal Democrat, to ensure that Julian Lewis is ousted from his position as MP.  Similarly, UK Independence supporters can also help by "doing the right thing".

Please join me in voting for Terry Scriven on May 6th.

One final note.  It has been suggested that I am a LibDem supporter.   I am not.  I would like to have the time and money to stand myself against Julian Lewis as an Independant.  However, this is not realistic and I would be most unlikely to get elected.  Therefore my support is completely for Terry Scriven.  As a high calibre candidate, with much to offer the voters of New Forest East, I see him as the only possible chance of getting rid of Julian Lewis.