Originally Posted by Danny:
Now just remind forum members and members of the public northumbrian.were you kicked out of EDP.were you pushed before you jumped.I heard you were expelled not surpraising that given your record.Then you pop up having thrown your toys out of the pram as an NEC member of a splinter grouping.The only fraud is you northumbrian you are nothing more than a cry baby.

You're an idiot who knows sweet FA.

I wasn't kicked out of the EDP. I made a decision to stand for the Free England Party in the local elections, which invalidated my membership of the EDP. We parted company on good terms.

Only a couple of weeks back I received a thank you letter from Robin Tilbrook for me sending back an EDP cheque book. He wouldn't have done that if I was thrown out, would he?

Sorry to disappoint you, I'm sure!
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Originally Posted by Northumbrian:
You're an idiot who knows sweet FA.

I wasn't kicked out of the EDP. I made a decision to stand for the Free England Party in the local elections, which invalidated my membership of the EDP. We parted company on good terms.

This account reflects my understanding of the situation. I still hold the record for being the only person unceremoniously booted out of the EDP.


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Originally Posted by cassie:
This account reflects my understanding of the situation. I still hold the record for being the only person unceremoniously booted out of the EDP.


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Ouch!......
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Originally Posted by Northumbrian:
Ouch!......

The upside is that, unlike those who chose to leave particular parties, I am more free in certain senses to comment on events. However, I have to beware of the 'he would say that' syndrome, if I become unreasonably and excessively critical of the EDP.

I have been accused by some [including a couple politically close to you Northumbrian] of 'buddying up' to the EDP. Others have said that the FEP are my 'new friends'. Both reinforce my belief that I've struck a balance.

Whilst I'll exercise the right to disagree with any individual member of the EDP or the FEP, I try to avoid attacking either party. As I've said before, both parties have the propensity to advance England's cause. Future events may contrive to bring both sides together.

A huge upsurge in support of England disengaging from Scotland may well cause the EDP to modify its position. On the other hand, a huge increase in support for an England Parliament within the framework of a UK replicated in electoral support might cause the FEP to review its position if its electoral support proves to be much less.

We live in interesting times! :-)

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Originally Posted by cassie:
I have been accused by some [including a couple politically close to you Northumbrian] of 'buddying up' to the EDP. Others have said that the FEP are my 'new friends'. Both reinforce my belief that I've struck a balance.

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Yes, I agree with that comment.
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Originally Posted by cassie:
The upside is that, unlike those who chose to leave particular parties, I am more free in certain senses to comment on events. However, I have to beware of the 'he would say that' syndrome, if I become unreasonably and excessively critical of the EDP.

I have been accused by some [including a couple politically close to you Northumbrian] of 'buddying up' to the EDP. Others have said that the FEP are my 'new friends'. Both reinforce my belief that I've struck a balance.

Whilst I'll exercise the right to disagree with any individual member of the EDP or the FEP, I try to avoid attacking either party. As I've said before, both parties have the propensity to advance England's cause. Future events may contrive to bring both sides together.

A huge upsurge in support of England disengaging from Scotland may well cause the EDP to modify its position. On the other hand, a huge increase in support for an England Parliament within the framework of a UK replicated in electoral support might cause the FEP to review its position if its electoral support proves to be much less.

We live in interesting times! :-)

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Just to clarify my own position, but I do not see a federal UK as an acceptable or even a possible compromise position.

There are various reasons for that viewpoint, but the main one is that the English if they wish to survive as a people must take control back of their country and of their political future.
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Originally Posted by Andrew Constantine:
Just to clarify my own position, but I do not see a federal UK as an acceptable or even a possible compromise position.

There are various reasons for that viewpoint, but the main one is that the English if they wish to survive as a people must take control back of their country and of their political future.

Permit me to clarify my position.

I am somewhat agnostic over the 'question' of the UK and regard the EDP's position as largely acceptable. However, I oppose the UK's continuance at the expense of democracy in England and discrimination against its people.

My stance is largely governed by my perception of mainstream opinion in England. I believe that, presently, support for an England Parliament within a UK framework is significantly greater than support for separation from Scotland. However, all this can be changed by events, as I've acknowledged above.

(Of course the first step of establishing an England Parliament does not preclude the taking of another step to separate from Scotland, just as it would not preclude mounting a referendum on the question of continued EU membership.)

Now that the FEP has been created, we have opportunity to have both political positions tested electorally.

So, the bottom line is that I do not oppose FEP policy per se, merely its adoption just now, and I believe that there ARE EDP members with a similar outlook. The only way in which the EDP and FEP need to oppose each other is via the ballot box in order to try to establish the will of England's voters.

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Originally Posted by cassie:
Permit me to clarify my position.

I am somewhat agnostic over the 'question' of the UK and regard the EDP's position as largely acceptable. However, I oppose the UK's continuance at the expense of democracy in England and discrimination against its people.

My stance is largely governed by my perception of mainstream opinion in England. I believe that, presently, support for an England Parliament within a UK framework is significantly greater than support for separation from Scotland. However, all this can be changed by events, as I've acknowledged above.

(Of course the first step of establishing an England Parliament does not preclude the taking of another step to separate from Scotland, just as it would not preclude mounting a referendum on the question of continued EU membership.)

Now that the FEP has been created, we have opportunity to have both political positions tested electorally.

So, the bottom line is that I do not oppose FEP policy per se, merely its adoption just now, and I believe that there ARE EDP members with a similar outlook. The only way in which the EDP and FEP need to oppose each other is via the ballot box in order to try to establish the will of England's voters.

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I am aware of only the one occasion when two competing English nationalist parties stood against each other, and that was when in standing for my home South West constituency in the 1 May 2008 London Assembly elections, I faced an old mate of mine, Roger Cooper of the EDs.

On that occasion, the people spoke mainly for the longstanding and instantly forgettable Assembly member, a Tory!

But when it came to the also-rans down the list of results, they clearly preferred my message of Hope and English Independence....
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Originally Posted by cassie:
My stance is largely governed by my perception of mainstream opinion in England. I believe that, presently, support for an England Parliament within a UK framework is significantly greater than support for separation from Scotland.
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The opinion polls always do show that, but in the context of winning votes at the ballot box I stopped believing in that being a reliable indicator.

I therefore went out to my local electorate, swapped this position for independence, and lo and behold - more people voted for me!
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Originally Posted by Andrew Constantine:
I am aware of only the one occasion when two competing English nationalist parties stood against each other, and that was when in standing for my home South West constituency in the 1 May 2008 London Assembly elections, I faced an old mate of mine, Roger Cooper of the EDs.

On that occasion, the people spoke mainly for the longstanding and instantly forgettable Assembly member, a Tory!

But when it came to the also-rans down the list of results, they clearly preferred my message of Hope and English Independence....

You cling firmly to that single event for comfort!

Be careful of making too much of it, because otherwise a reversal could be made all the more embarrassing! Witness John Redwood's clever remarks on his blog about the EDP candidate in the Haltemprice By-election. Not only was he incorrect in initially stating that she had lost her deposit [hastily amended without comment], but the Conservative candidate in Glasgow East had a lower proportion of the vote and fewer votes. Eng Dems gleefully threw his words back at him!

As in many activities, previous performance may not count for anything. It's future results which will count! :-)


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