From where I am sat in Devon I think the change is far more subtle, the big media teams like the politicians themselves sit in this bubble and fill themselves with their own self importance which in my humble opinion is a parallel universe to where you and I are.

The televised debates are for me a classic example of this, last week the Sky debate had afterwards David Milliband gloating so much he was almost slug like, the self satisfaction as to what he saw and thinks we all saw was amazing as though his ‘spin’ would in some way convince everyone else as to what we saw and witnessed for ourselves. Kaye Burley was doing the rounds between all the three parties asking them to be honest but guess what they all thought there man was the best because ___ (you fill in the blank with anything!)

What for me has changed is those very politicians now look nothing more than pathetic, they are telling us how the debate we have just seen with our own eyes went as if we are incapable of forming our own opinion. And I for one was watching it along side all my twitter friends (1500 and counting) and contributing throughout this televised debate and afterwards when Kaye was doing her bit. Samples of my tweets to and fro are below;

• RT @jamesmb: As someone who pushed for a televised #leadersdebate, I feel I should apologise. – here here James… #dull #dull #dull
• @jamesmb just how old is David Milliband? he looks/sounds/acts about 12, have you just seen him on Sky? #leadersdebate
• @jamesmb Cameron won from YouGov poll #leadersdebate just heard it on Sky – wake up everyone!
• Right back to more important stuff Europa League – Fulham 0-0 and Liverpool 1 down…… sounds like even Fulham would have been more fun?
• RT @Bluegrass_IT: @jamesmb @alpenwest shouldn’t he be in bed now, after all he’s got school tomorrow Gordon will read him a story soon!
• @jamesmb have you heard him on Sky, and he is foreign secretary – do you think he takes his geography book with him – OMG!

For me this has seen the TV debates almost comical as they proceed seemingly in total ignorance as to the old media vs new media landscape has changed, the politicians sound almost ‘desperate’ or if you are the Foreign Secretary about 12!

The whole point of the TV debates is to let us decide for ourselves we do not need spin more spin and even more spin, a kind of mock the debate! Then the following day we have newspapers with their own take on events, again fitting the papers predefined script well.

I guess I am finding like many others that the traditional election coverage patronising and poor; it is in true old media ways pushed out through very narrow channels at a time and place and message that suits the ‘pushers’ with very little value added. This is in contrary to the value with new media which quickly sees through all the political guff very quickly, effectively and creates and stimulates conversation that the parties and old media, don’t control, by and large don’t contribute too and currently ignore.

Roll on May 6th.

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.

In Exeter the sitting MP Ben Bradshaw has a stiff challenge from the Conservative challenger Hannah Foster, a 9% swing would see a Conservative elected for the first time since 1992.

So you can keep upto date with the 5 Prospective Parlimentary Candidates for Exeter, I have all the contact details for you below;

Labour
Ben Bradshaw – website - twitter -@BenPBradshaw
Conservative
Hannah Foster – website - twitter – @hannahfoster4x
Liberal Democrat
Graham Oakes – website – twitter – @GrahamJohnOakes
Green Party
Paula Black – Paula’s Blog
UK Independence Party
William Dartmouth – website
British National Party
Robert Farmer – website
Liberal Party
Chris Gale - website
Monster Raving Loony Party
Ariadne Rox – website

These are as modern and uptodate as i can find and do take care as their are lots of nearlies out there for example, @hannahfoster is a woman in Ontario and @BenBradshaw IS NOT the MP…!

Why not check my other post of Ben Bradshaw, Hannah Foster and Graham Oakes at the February Exeter Chamber of Commerce here.