Dirty campaign
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-05-20 18:27.I found it a huge relief that the Lib Dems came third here. It showed that the electorate didn't like their dirty campaign.
The above article only hints at the cynical targeting and spinning that they engaged in. For example, Fordham admitted keeping a separate list of Jewish voters, and targeting them with flyers showing him on holiday in Israel, implying (but never specifying) support for that country, despite the party and its leader having very anti-Israel policies. Of course their leaflets in other parts of London told a different story on the same issue, if they felt it'd help them get elected (see http://is.gd/c7wKc).
Among the reasons the Liberals moved Sarah Teather to the other constituency when the new boundaries were created must have been the small but significant Jewish population here in Hampstead and Kilburn. Teather had made no secret of her animosity towards Israel, even yelling about it in Trafalgar Square.
This might explain Ed Fordham's particular efforts to woo the Jews in Hampstead and Kilburn. He even implied support from members of the Israeli government in his leaflets, and mis-captioned them to imply a greater connection to London Jewry.
Dirty campaign? Absolutely. Lucky Hampstead and Kilburn put them third. So much for 474 votes to win!
Chris Philp, however, ran an honest and straightforward campaign, rather than trying to be all things for all people. For that he was rewarded with a good share of the vote. Sadly not enough to beat Glenda, but pretty close.