Online Business Development

At the February (17th February 2010) Exeter Chamber networking lunch we had the Labour, Liberal Democrats and Conservative party Candidates to a ‘Question Time’ type debate.

The panel included:
Ben Bradshaw – Labour
Graham Oakes – Liberal Democrats
Hannah Foster – Conservative

I was present and this is my twitter feed from the lunch, the three panellists were asked pre prepared questions from the business community on the floor. Within the feed I had 140 characters and a seriously week connection! I hope you can read and make your own opinion known in the comments, in time for May 6th….

• Hannah foster, graham Oakes and Ben Bradshaw getting ready answer questions
• graham oakes gets low blow against Hannah in first
• Lots of discussion on unitary status for exeter, ben for graham against not sure on hannah
• Hannah foster #conservative putting strong case for Exeter and honesty, r u listening ben?
• Graham oaks #libdem putting case for waste of money, over 1 million pounds ‘wasted’ – ben bradshaw with great riposte
• Now onto the recession, hf #conservative talking about confidence and a proper plan
• #conservative emergency budget within 50 days
• Onto bb #labour having a go at hf #conservative shame he isn’t talking about his policy yet!
• No real answers from bb #labour
• Go #libdem again having ago at hf #conservative we need policy graham bit like bb NO Policy
• Hf #conservative we need a credible plan for deficit reduction
• Bb #labour of onto skills training he does spout a lot of #spin hf #conservative comes across very well she actually answers questions
• Hf #conservative again giving facts and figures – currently way in lead #opinion
• Graham oakes #libdem talking about tax vs benefits
• Bb #labour explaining difference between 2 main parties – don’t cut to drastically or to early
• Graham oakes #libdem having ago again at #conservatives #nopolicies
• Hf fighting back #conservatives lots of facts and figures again, she comes across very well
• Well what do you know go #libdem owns a care home and it shows #nopolicies
• Now onto the swrda, chamber now supports them, hf #conservatives wants westcountry NOT swrda
• Ben bradshaw #labour uk number 1 worldwide in creative industry but r you coming to #likeminds?
• Now onto exeter transport policy, go #libdem we r being shortchanged on bus money and need new roads and a bridge
• Ben bradshaw #labour says unitary status would work just for exeter transport, no easy answers need joined up approach
• Now onto hf #conservatives #fgw trains real issue, buses and bus station – lets look at this, school bus service maybe?

Final Summary was why should we vote for you?

• Hannah Foster #conservatives husband is serving royal naval officer
• Graham Oakes #libdem is normal and most of mp not normal – Westcountry boy
• Ben Bradshaw #labour vote for me on my record of 13 years

• Well that’s is folks, so my summary graham oakes #libdem needs to go on mock the week
• Hannah foster #conservatives came across very well all facts and figures
• Ben Bradshaw #labour clearly very experienced he knows his stuff #smoothoperator

Contact Details

Hannah Foster – http://www.hannahfoster.org – @hannahfoster4x
Ben Bradshaw – http://www.benbradshaw.co.uk – @BenPBradshaw
Graham Oakes – http://exeterlibdems.org.uk – @GrahamJohnOakes

In 2010 there are 5 candidates standing for election in Exeter, these are;

• Paula Black, Green Party
• Ben Bradshaw, Labour
• William Dartmouth, UK Independence Party
• Hannah Foster, Conservative
• Graham Oakes, Liberal Democrat

Some Exeter Election facts;

In the 2005 Election, Ben Bradshaw won with a 7,665 majority and the results were

Labour 22,619 41.1%
Conservative 14,954 27.2%
Liberal Democrat 11,340 20.6%

The last time the Conservatives won the seat was in 1992 with George Hannam with 42.1% and a majority of 4,045 over Labour.

See here for the previous post with the list of Exeter 2010 Election Candidates.

Technorati Tags: #ge2010, Exeter, Networking