Nothing much election related happened in Belvedere, 14
candidates and two leaflets. Thanks to an appallingly poor effort by Bexley
Council’s electoral team, there is
no indication of the turnout on their
website; suffice to say I even had candidates asking if I could find the results
for them.
I found the Blackfen & Lamorbey ward far more interesting; by chance I knew
three of the candidates reasonably well and exchanged messages with all of them
during the campaign.
Obviously I was hoping that Peter Craske would be defeated but perhaps it is
just as well that he wasn’t as I had promised far too many people a beer if he
was thrown out.
One
candidate who it was good to see defeated was Graham Holland standing for Reform
UK. He is a representative from the distant past, a former Conservative kicked out
of the party for missing a couple of Council Tax payments.
The offence was minor but it led to deselection by the party branch Chairman and a row with the
Council Leader which Mr. Holland reported to the police. He felt
threatened. Oh dear! Petty or what?
The Leader was the late Mike Slaughter. Holland
reported him to the police. Mike said it was “complete nonsense” but was warned over his
behaviour.
Mike Slaughter, on brief acquaintance, was always civil and friendly in my
experience but Graham Holland may not be so gentlemanly. Does he not know that his Conservative
rival Councillor Brian Bishop was preoccupied with Reform UK in Council,
dropping the word into conversation whenever he could and that
Councillor Craske is a master blogger?
Councillor Frazer Brooks is however one of Bexley Council’s good guys, always ready to extend a helping hand
and thankfully beat Reform by the narrowest of margins. Two votes.
@kentishfenman on X was quite right to suggest that Holland’s comments are no way to
win over floating voters and should ring alarm bells for everyone else.