By Isle of Wight Observer
Triumphalism is ugly and often backfires.
I had the privilege of being at the count last Thursday, and, after the polls closed, there was no sign of Bob Seely. His hardworking party members were there, resigned to their fate. Ballot boxes arrived and the seals were broken. The contents were tipped out and thousands of voting slips tumbled onto rows of desks. Like airplane accidents, those black boxes contained the secrets of what had happened.
All eyes were glued on those precious voting slips. As each one was efficiently straightened out by sweetie-fuelled council staff, we did our best to squint at where you’d placed your hallowed X.
As ever, there was the occasional quickly-sketched phallus. A handful of electors always cheekily pass judgement on our politicians in this way, inadvertently causing mild amusement at the count.
As the night wore on, I hustled from desk to desk, looking at boxes from across the Island. Bob was evidently in trouble; Richard Quigley had the edge – I put him around 10 per cent ahead. Those Tory party volunteers saw it too, and some furtively chatted.
Graciously, they conceded defeat and didn’t suggest that the national picture or Reform was to blame for their disaster – after all, Joe Robertson seemed to be winning. The person they held responsible for their West Wight catastrophe was Bob Seely.
Amazingly, West Wight now has a Labour MP.
Despite the huge Labour swing, had Bob played his hand differently, had he listened, or been more present, he could’ve clung on.
Despite suffering a massive stroke, Andrew Turner held on to his seat. He ran an efficient office, replied to every communication, and was often seen around. He’ll be at the County Show this weekend; if you see him, he’ll happily chat. Bob struggled to engage with people in his local village shop.
The Conservatives were supposed to be the party of good management; Bob couldn’t even run his own career properly. His interests always lay further afield, and that lockdown Seaview barbeque was as damaging as the filthy sewage in our coastal waters. His late interest in ferries was unconvincing, and few believed his outlandish pre-election achievement claims. Islanders are not easily fooled.
Nationally, the Tories said one thing and did the exact opposite. Even their election campaign was incompetent. How can a Prime Minister with a non-dom wife ask the rest of us to pay the highest ever taxes? Most of us are still fascinated by World War II, so why leave a D-Day commemoration early? The electorate is never wrong, so they got their come-uppance.
At around 2am beleaguered Bob finally showed up. His body language said it all – he knew he’d blown it. During the campaign perhaps his most truthful answer was at the Newport hustings, when he said he’d like to have been shown more love as a child.
How sad. I wish he’d said more about that.
Bob claims not to read my column and that’s a pity, because acting on my justified criticisms might have saved him. I’ve heard he’s said he plans to stand for council and maybe become leader. I can’t see local Tories wanting that; they must realise that, having put the boot in on July 4, Island voters won’t forget quickly. If he’s still determined to do public service, he really should try something other than politics. His lack of empathy and entitled superior attitude make him totally unsuited to elected office here.
I don’t know Joe Robertson, but Richard Quigley is a likeable chap bringing much-needed hope to this wonderful Island of ours.
Congratulations to both men. We can’t be friends of course, because, on your behalf, I intend holding each of them to account.
Their re-election depends on the next 60 months’ work – that’s action not words!