Hello Mike, and thanks for enlarging the discussion — dialogue is important. I’m pleased to hear that Philip Mills was chosen by local members. I must admit, though, that mention of a short list gives me pause: that’s the age-old device often used to steer local members’ choices. I’ve seen and heard about that sort of thing for years. Who knows, perhaps someone will drop me a line to give me the full picture. I guess the main point about my interest in Moseley is how most of the candidates are from outside of the Ward - Philip Mills gets the attention of course because surely he is the favourite?
Ha, Mike, I can't help you with the 'full picture'. My info actually came from Radley. I believe he was there, I wasn't! I suspect the short list was the long list too, but I don't know because I'm a Yardley member
Again, thanks Mike. I’m getting info from several sources in private, and it’s proving very interesting.
If it turns out to be worthwhile, I may well go on about it again, or maybe not. But I do always try to be fair and balanced, even if some don’t always see it that way.
Always a delight to exchange thoughts. And to hear from my Lib Dem chums? 🤗
Mike, you complain rightly about the lack of democracy in the Labour Party and the imposition of local candidates, but you then take aim at LibDems when members select democratically Philip Mills. You cannot have it both ways!
Thanks Paul - Democracy is a very clever device in the hands of political parties. They often manipulate the levers to make it appear, to the casual observer, clean, free, and fair. The Labour Party used to filter its candidates to ensure they were “suitable” before adding them to an approved list — all highly subjective, and I would say not remotely fair.
In the recent selection process for 2026, they scrapped even that and instead allowed a few trusted individuals to make all the selections. Unsurprisingly, it’s now going horribly wrong.
As for the Lib Dems in Moseley, I’d be fascinated to know what actually happened to Radley Russell. He’s not saying, but I strongly suspect he was prevented from standing. There are, as we all know, many ways to skin a cat — unpleasant phrase though it is.
Mr Olley, you go on (and on) about Philip Mills being 'parachuted' into Moseley as if he had been imposed from London. Philip was chosen by the local party from, I understand, a short list of four. Time will tell whether he was a good choice, but be assured he was chosen by local Party members.
Hello Mike, and thanks for enlarging the discussion — dialogue is important. I’m pleased to hear that Philip Mills was chosen by local members. I must admit, though, that mention of a short list gives me pause: that’s the age-old device often used to steer local members’ choices. I’ve seen and heard about that sort of thing for years. Who knows, perhaps someone will drop me a line to give me the full picture. I guess the main point about my interest in Moseley is how most of the candidates are from outside of the Ward - Philip Mills gets the attention of course because surely he is the favourite?
Ha, Mike, I can't help you with the 'full picture'. My info actually came from Radley. I believe he was there, I wasn't! I suspect the short list was the long list too, but I don't know because I'm a Yardley member
Again, thanks Mike. I’m getting info from several sources in private, and it’s proving very interesting.
If it turns out to be worthwhile, I may well go on about it again, or maybe not. But I do always try to be fair and balanced, even if some don’t always see it that way.
Always a delight to exchange thoughts. And to hear from my Lib Dem chums? 🤗
Mike, you complain rightly about the lack of democracy in the Labour Party and the imposition of local candidates, but you then take aim at LibDems when members select democratically Philip Mills. You cannot have it both ways!
Thanks Paul - Democracy is a very clever device in the hands of political parties. They often manipulate the levers to make it appear, to the casual observer, clean, free, and fair. The Labour Party used to filter its candidates to ensure they were “suitable” before adding them to an approved list — all highly subjective, and I would say not remotely fair.
In the recent selection process for 2026, they scrapped even that and instead allowed a few trusted individuals to make all the selections. Unsurprisingly, it’s now going horribly wrong.
As for the Lib Dems in Moseley, I’d be fascinated to know what actually happened to Radley Russell. He’s not saying, but I strongly suspect he was prevented from standing. There are, as we all know, many ways to skin a cat — unpleasant phrase though it is.
I was an open selection. 1 member 1 vote, no selection by the Soviet.
Mr Olley, you go on (and on) about Philip Mills being 'parachuted' into Moseley as if he had been imposed from London. Philip was chosen by the local party from, I understand, a short list of four. Time will tell whether he was a good choice, but be assured he was chosen by local Party members.