Author Archives: slpadmin

Great Britain?

Leave a reply

Dear Chris, Since 1945 Britain has led the way in Europe in establishing the rule of law. We have used our influence to create the UN and the International Court of Human Rights. Now we are being led by people who are obsessed with their own view. They are mendacious and do not understand the value of compromise. 

Our neighbours in Europe and the USA are appalled by the reckless behaviour of our ‘so – called’ government.Several former prime ministers are also aghast. They can see that if they break international law over Northern Ireland, the peace we have enjoyed in Europe could be torn apart with war ships patrolling trade routes and fishing grounds as trade wars flare up again and sectarian violence returning to Ireland.Our neighbours in America, with so many Irish connections, will refuse to deal with us. 

We urge you to vote against these unlawful acts – and remember the values you learned  in school and at home as you were growing up. Our word is our bond. 

Best wishes, 
Rob and Linda Bygrave

Letter to Guardian – June 2020

Leave a reply

Below is a letter written by one of our members, Rob.

Dear Madam, 

Martin Kettle has an excellent article today, 12th June, about the reasons behind the erection of statues, which are so villified today by many of the Queen’s subjects. He wonders why they were erected at all? 

Some of their fellow subjects meanwhile argue that it is not democratic to take them down. However many of these statues were erected in the reign of Queen Victoria who was ‘Empress of India’ – a place she had never even visited. 

The statue of the notorious slaver,Colston was erected in 1895. At that time in our history forty percent of the male population did not have the vote .However there were no votes for women at all.  

Many of the  men returning  from The War in 1918 had no vote. Universal suffrage came and was finally granted in 1928, although Churchill was against giving the vote to women. 

Therefore, these memorials to our colonial days of ‘Empire’ and the cruel acts of inhumanity  that went with them have never had any democratic legitimacy.The inequality and racism that we now see in The UK  clearly grew out of this period, when ‘Britannia ruled the waves’- and a quarter of the world’s population. 

Is it any wonder that so many of our  present Queen’s subjects want to change our country for the better. 

Yours sincerely, 
Rob  Bygrave

Campaigning in Sherborne with Claudia

Leave a reply

The Sherborne Labour team were out with Claudia recently for leafleting, door knocking and some great campaigning in the town Centre. Thanks to Claudia, our amazing prospective MP for West Dorset for joining the team in Sherborne!

Some members of the team have also been out all over the town leafleting in their spare time in various parts of the town. Thanks to all who have helped out. Only a couple of days left till polling day!

Pot Noodle Prime Minister

Leave a reply

A letter from one of our Sheborne Labour members to the Guardian…

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Madam,

For the first time in The UK we now have a ‘Pot Noodle Prime Minister’. On his empathetic tour of South Yorkshire, he put aside his mop, and urged deluged locals,  to pour water on his ‘oven -ready ‘deal. What a good idea !?

To further demonstrate his expertise he told them to put his ‘dodgy-deal’  in the microwave at ‘gas mark five’. Maybe he got his advice from that other well-known clown  Donald, who is a fan of burgers and chlorinated chicken, or even Vladimir with his powers of   secret surveillance . Thank goodness  they have all got their fingers on the nuclear button to keep us safe !

The stolid Yorkshire folk told him to ‘ Bog-off Boris’ !   Let’s hope they say the same to ‘Lord’  (‘if -the-price-is-right’) ‘Falange’ of Brussels !

We can surely do better than this ?

Yours sincerely,

Rob Bygrave     West Dorset Labour

ROBERT JAMES BYGRAVE

Brexit Campaigning in Yeovil (Sat 12th Jan)

Leave a reply

A group of local Labour members went forth to the community of Yeovil to talk Brexit! A short summary is below…

The ‘Brexitometer’ pictures are on ‘Somerset Loves Europe’ facebook and twitter and have been emailed to Marcus Fysh.  Below is today’s and the one from 1st December for your interest.  They suggest a shift away from Brexit towards a People’s vote comparing December’s to today’s. The postcards that were left with us to post tallied up as:

People’s vote ticked 34 times
Leave – no deal    16
Leave – PM’s deal  8
Stay in the EU      51
Total of 83 cards but some had more than one option ticked.  We also gave out plenty more for people to post themselves. Thank you again to everyone for all of the hard work.

Letter to Mr J Corbyn

Leave a reply
Dear Jeremy et al,
I am sending on a message from one of our very active members in our branch in West Dorset. He knew my wife and I were coming to The Conference and wants you to get this message.
He is 98, infirm and a veteran of the 2nd World War.
He is a remainer like me. My question to you would be about the legality of treating an ‘advisory’ referendum, without a threshold, as if it were ‘mandatory’. Will any further referendum have a threshold ,so making it mandatory, or will a ‘one vote’ majority be sufficient to claim it is the ‘will of the people’ – as last time?
Best wishes,
Rob and Linda Bygrave
Sherborne Labour Party 

Yet another coffee shop in Sherborne… Yes!

Leave a reply

I know this is a bit late coming (the article I refer to is from October 2017), however it is something I have been meaning to write about for a while now.

Before we knew that the old Melson Wingate opticians was going to be Cafe Nero, the town [supposedly] was completely up in arms about the potential of yet ‘another’ coffee shop being introduced to Sherborne.  The article I refer to is one of many that was published:  https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/sherborne-yet-another-coffee-shop-636241

The main concern from current Sherborne town goers, was the abundance of coffee shops already available, apparently about 80 places to sip a Cafe Latte or relax with a tall Americano.

The way I see the addition of Cafe Nero is twofold.  Firstly, rather than a huge empty shop in the middle of the town (like many shops in the Quedam centre in Yeovil), we have filled an otherwise empty establishment, bringing people into the town and providing a hub for young, old and families to enjoy each other’s company with a cuppa or two.  Secondly, I rather like the idea that Sherborne is becoming a ‘coffee hub’ of Dorset – why not?  Its a very European cultural activity, and very en-trend with a many different age groups.  And surely, its better than everyone going to the pub?!  How times have changed, there used to be 15 or so pubs in the town!

I can only see positives for the additions of companies like Costa and Cafe Nero in the town.  Personally, I love to sit reading the paper with a coffee and slab of cake, in the very cool and sophisticated atmosphere of Cafe Nero.  Those who complain and suggest that this will only drive the older, more traditional coffee and tea shops out of town, need worry not.  The introduction of Costa only proved this – no coffee shop has closed or suffered as a result.

The Danish may say we were very Hygge for having so many coffee outlets, the French and Spanish would praise us for our Cafe culture.  Lets embrace it and not complaint about it!

Over and out.

Sherborne Labour Party Member.