Dines' Days : Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

WHEN the fat lady sings, it's time to exit stage left.

Tony Blair's time in Downing Street is being counted down after an unlikely revolution led by normally ultra loyal supporters, including Ipswich's very own Chris Mole.

Who would have thought it. Chris Mole, the very essence of a Blairite, signed a "Dear Tony" letter urging the PM to name the day of his departure.

Mr Blair, like a wounded tiger, lashed out at these MPs, and one of them, junior defence minister Tom Watson, resigned before being pushed.

It's all music to the ears of Mr Mole's oppponents in Ipswich. None more so than the son of his predecessor Jamie Cann, whose death in November 2001 led to the by-election which put Mr Mole into Westminster. Young Andrew Cann is now a model Liberal Democrat and likely to be the Lib Dem candidate in Ipswich next time.

He accused Chris Mole of "desperation" in turning on the MP in an attempt to save his seat.

As Andrew says, the next election will be very interesting in a town David Cameron's Tories must win if they are to have any chance of winning power.

posted on 06 September 2006 13:46 by Graham Dines

Comments

06 September 2006 15:30 by Angus Danton Green

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

Christopher Mole.
Had to rack the old brain to remember who he was.
What, a laugh he is.
Still, learning the ropes.
Bye
ADG.

06 September 2006 15:37 by Angus Danton Green

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

Some of the lads are not thinking things through before putting finger to keyboard followes by print.
My old head at Harrow, said think, think and think again and then stand firm on what you have written or said.
Might see a bit of spin coming later from CM.
Time for Tea Cakes and listen.
Bye
ADG

06 September 2006 17:52 by Hadrian Wall

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

I would never vote for Mole but he's done the right thing. The downside is that grumpy Gordon will become PM - still anyone's better than Flash Tony, king of the freeby holidays

07 September 2006 10:48 by Graham Dines

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

When Gordon Brown enters stage left, prepare to see Chris Mole back in a minor role. Health would be good.

07 September 2006 17:46 by si

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

I love the way Chris Mole was described as an unquestioning Blairite apparachik until he breaks ranks then he's accused by Andrew Cann of just doing it to save his seat! It's the Tories not the Liberals who are a threat to his seat, so maybe Mr Cann can explain why this is helpful for his electoral chances. As with most the Ipswich Liberals I've met, I suspect Andrew Cann can't.

08 September 2006 09:34 by Andrew C

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

Re: Moles chances

In recent times Labour got as many as 25,000 votes in Ipswich. At the last election 18,000 albeit on a lower turnout. Some of these ex-labour voters have switched over to the Lib Dems and the remainder have stayed at home. There is little evidence of switching elsewhere in any real numbers. These former Labour voters are disillusioned about Iraq and Blair mainly. If Mr Mole is panicking his surest way to secure his position is to help to get rid of TB and hope the Iraq War finishes some time soon. If he can stop the haemorraghing of his own support he may survive. In summary If Mole can get most of those old 25,000 to turnout for him he'll win -regardless of who the challenger is.

Whilst I have described his strategy it doesn't necessarily mean I think it will work. He's gone both ways on Iraq - bizarrely against and then for and now on Blair. He doesn't look solid.

Of course he could get re-elected by actually doing the job his constituents elected him to do and fight for our local NHS for example. Can someone let me know when he starts?

08 September 2006 14:43 by Graham Dines

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

Si

The Lib Dems are trying to talk up their chances in a seat where they can havew no realistic ambitions.
Their only chance of success is if the Tory vote is flaky and if Labour electors are smitten by the Lib Dem's obvious campaigning line:
Send Jamie's son to Westminster.
Much of the Lib Dems' success in Ipswich has been in wards which are in the adjoining Suffolk Central & Ipswich North seat.

Graham

08 September 2006 20:54 by Margie

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

I do hope Chris Hole becomes a health minister. He can then explain to me any fellow low paid workers at Ipswich Hospital just while we're going to lose our jobs because of a spending crisis. I totally pipped off.

08 September 2006 21:05 by Edna Welthorpe

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

*** Up Your Ears Chris and listen - Blair's on his way out, you'll soon be history too. Can't wait for Dave Cameron to get into Downing Street.

09 September 2006 11:37 by Dianne Hosking

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

Yes, who would have thought it, Chris Moles signing a letter like this. Well unfortunately for Chris Moles, he never dreamt in a million years that it would be put on the public domain. Then to face the fury of the Chief Whip, regarding his disloyalty, he had to resign his position. It was obviously a case of 'self preservation' which made him do this. Was this discussed with the Labour Party in Ipswich, I wonder? I doubt it. He was extremely misguided in his actions.

As for Andrew Cann, to keep sniping away at a party that his father Jamie stood for and believed in, I don't think this is a way to make friends,more like enemies here in Ipswich. Andrew is carrying to much personal baggage, especially against the Ipswich labour party, and his spite against them is overwhelming him.

11 September 2006 15:41 by Andrew C

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

Diane

I suppose the price of seeking elected office is that people get to suggest all sorts of motives for my actions based upon what they want to believe. Sticks and stones....

Nowithstanding this it seems you and I reached the same conclusion about Mr Moles motives. What will we agree on next? Iraq?

Best wishes

Andrew C

11 September 2006 16:30 by Robin Whitmore

# Much of the Lib Dems success....

Only Whitehouse and Westgate are in Central Suffolk & Ipswich North Graham!!!!

Alexandra,St.Margarets,Holywells,St.Johns, Rushmere and others are all in the Ipswich parliamentary seat.

If the Tories can't win here then they have little chance of having an overall majority in parliament.

Andrew Cann, if selected, would make it into Westminster on his own merits as a campaigner on the local issues that matter and certainly not through being a Blairite full of spin

12 September 2006 09:32 by Graham Dines

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

Your new job in Colchester seems to have got you confused, Robin. Since when did Rushmere and Holywells elect Lib Dem councillors? The six councillors in these wards are all Tories.

12 September 2006 19:10 by Tim E

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

Graham

I see the Lib Dems are trying to pretend Ipswich is a Lab-Lib Dem mrginal. What a joke. If any party is to defeated Mole the Knife, it'll be the Conservatives, especially if they choose a woman.

Tim E

12 September 2006 19:13 by Tim E

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

Graham

Mole the Knife must have had a rush of blood to the head when he plunged it into poor Tony. Now we can see justwhat a rabble New Labour really is.

"The People's Flag is deepest red" thanks to Mole's blood encrusted knife.

Tim E

12 September 2006 19:34 by Waveney Walker

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

I'll do everything I can to help David Cameron's candidate beat Labour in Waveney. Thanks to Chris Mole, that goal is in sight. Thanks Chris.

25 September 2006 16:52 by Robin Whitmore

# re: Mole - the fat lady of East Anglia

I didn't say that we had elected anybody in Rushmere or Holywells , but the results were certainly good for us.