I assume (hope) that Mats’ comment above, in its reference to ‘muckraking’, meant the external link posted in these comments, rather to the page content above. If my piece had been an attempt at muckraking it would, I agree, have been a very poor one. But it wasn’t, it was a series of thoughts, from a personal point of view, on the campaign.

I’d been very interested to read an earlier article, some months back, in York Mix: http://www.yorkmix.com/news/opinion/class-integrity-and-carpetbagging-labours-mp-selection-in-york/ and I think Richard Bridge expresses clearly one of the things I was trying to articulate, the wish for “a working-class candidate who could cut through prevailing political apathy and regain the trust of many politically disenfranchised and disenchanted people within the city.”

Feelings about the LibDems and their recent record were clear in the above comments and in the election results. I have to say that I remember some troubling things happening when Labour were in power, that essentially I have no great faith in any political party, and on this occasion decided I’d vote for the person, based on what I heard them say, rather than the party.

Much more could be said, but perhaps another time. Thanks again for your comments.

I don’t doubt your sincerity but my other half is a senior mental health worker and within the bounds of confidentiality I hear enough about the real effect of the welfare changes to know what’s really happening.

Norman Lamb has made a lot of good noises about mental health but it’s meaningless if you don’t address the causes. My other half and her colleagues are having to ameliorate some profound social dislocation being based in one of the poorest estates in Leeds. It’s terrifying how we are losing even the most basic level of support for people in desperate conditions.

How can people expect to get better if their poverty isn’t addressed. Your party has supported some brutal attacks on poor people

I want to know whether you would support further cuts to the benefit system or whether you would try and finesse them away with warm words and rhetoric like your colleagues ?

You’ve made no firm promises.

I suspect you have not attended any or enough of the many York Central hustings to hear me speak on the NHS. You would have heard me disprove most if not all of your statements about me.

If you want to know about how the Lib Dems have punched above our weight in trying to get the very best for the NHS and the sincerity of our concern for its future you would do well to watch this very good NHS debate courtesy of The Guardian at which Norman Lamb was not vilified by NHS professionals but rather listened to with respect and praised for what he has tried to achieve.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVlSCtQQSA4

I wonder if Nick Love would have spoken up for those people ? He’s not said so far. Neither has he condemned the welfare changes that have resulted in countless desperate situations like this ;

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/04/20/benefits_disabled-man-nicholas-barker-welfare-reform_n_3121688.html

The UK suicide rate has risen year on year over the past five years. It’s not difficult to work out why. I notice that Nick Love makes a great play at some of his local campaigning work on mental health at the same time his party was demonising people too ill to work.

I wondered this time about voting Green. But a letter in today’s Guardian signed by a number of professors of Social Policy including Nick Ellison of the University Of York clarified things for me. I really, really fear what those extra 12bn of promised welfare cuts that another Tory/LibDem would mean. We’re losing our humanity and the Lib Dems provide the cover.

Attitude surveys over the past five years have shown a society that is growing less caring, less willing to share, less willing to want to help people who are struggling. Disability charities report more and more people being spat at, abused and told they’re skivers.

All due to the welfare changes that Nick Love’s party supported.

I’ve no illusions about the Labour Party but another five years of the current regime is chilling. I don’t care where Rachael Maskell is from, her gender or what union supports her. All I know is that she’d be extremely unlikely to support further attacks on the most vulnerable, including those in York (who we hear so little about). I’m not too sure about Nick Love.

So my quandary, do i vote Ken King local?
AND no idea for second vote had no info from Tories, so possibly Lib Dems

And its Tory/Lib Dem or UKIP….. just still undecided now :(

Bryan

Food Banks/Bedroom Tax/Private Railway
Subsidy/Electric,Gas, Water in
Wrong Hands/800 Unelected
Lords on £300/Day Benefit
MP Expenses/Fractured UK/
Unsavoury Banking/
privatising our stuff/
National Debt/
etc etc etc