UPDATED: Is Tory Candidate Paul Holmes Really "Local"?

Tory Candidate Paul Holmes Pretending He is Local

UPDATED (14th June 2017): We have passed more information to the Police and are awaiting an update from their investigation.

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No, he isn't. He is pretending.

Paul Holmes got selected for the seat, and is now pretending that he has been here for years.

He hasn't.

We have been speaking of "The Cons" by "The Cons" Party and the terrible Theresa May.

The day before polling day, we now turn our attention to the Tory candidate for Southampton Test, Paul Holmes.

The previous candidate for the past two elections was Jeremy Moulton. He was overlooked in favour of Paul Holmes. Why was this?

Was it because Jeremy Moulton lost twice to Alan Whitehead, in 2010 and by a bigger margin in 2015?

Was it because Jeremy Moulton, also Leader of the Conservative Group on the City Council, failed to lead the Conservatives to control the Council, despite Labour being in disarray?

Perhaps it was.

Or was it because Jeremy Moulton was not enough of a "yes man" for the Conservatives, and that as a political careerist working for the Tory Party Chairman Patrick McLoughlin, Paul Holmes was suitably malleable to be a "yes man" for Theresa May, as shown on the leaflet above.

Perhaps we shall never know for sure, as these are Conservative Party decisions.

A political careerist is someone who has politics as their career, and has never had a job outside politics.

The Labour Party and Conservative Party are full of them.

It appears that Paul Holmes has all the hallmarks of a political careerist. Careerists will do anything for their political career.

For example, they will produce tens of thousands of letters like the one above, desperately trying to persuade local residents that they are local and understand the local issues.

But how can Paul Holmes claim this, when he has been living and working in London?

And what about the attempts by Paul Holmes and the Tory Party to show he is local and to get him elected as Theresa May's man in Southampton?

Is Mr Holmes trying to con the people of Southampton into thinking he lives at the below address in Southampton, and lived there before he was selected as the Tory Candidate?

The address below is taken from the "Statement of Persons Nominated" issued by Southampton City Council.

Southampton Independents understands that Paul Holmes lived and worked in London, for the Conservative Party including the Party Chairman McLoughlin, and not in Southampton.

Mr Holmes did stand for Parliament. But for a London constituency in 2015, not Southampton.

Mr Holmes has taken this opportunity to try to cleanse his image as a Sotonian. Except it doesn't appear that he grew up in Southampton.

Paul Holmes studied at Southampton University and was a councillor for four years, but then left Southampton, to further his political career. That is the decision of a political careerist.

It appears that he hasn't been a Sotonian for many years.

His political opponent Andrew Pope has tried to get him to answer questions, but Mr Holmes has repeatedly evaded answering them.

Is Paul Holmes emulating Paul Nuttall of UKIP in the Stoke Central by-election?

When did he start living at this address?

If you look at the electoral register for Romsey and Southampton North, you can see that he is a late addition to the register.

Whose address is it really?

We have confirmed that it is the address of a former Southampton City Councillor. It must be some kind of favour, to help Mr Holmes cleanse his image and continue the pretense that he had been living in Southampton, prior to his selection as candidate.

Has he lied on his nomination papers?

We will see. That is a matter for the Police.

We have contacted local journalists and we hope they will do their duty in the public interest.

We will be passing information to the Police and asking for them to investigate.

And we ask Southampton residents to ask the same questions, BEFORE they cast their vote on Thursday 8th June, or on their postal ballot papers beforehand.

Do you trust Paul Holmes? Do you trust the Conservatives? Do you trust Labour?

Labour or Tory - it's a choice between potential disaster and proven failure. And Alan Whitehead has been a failure as your MP for 20 years. People know it's time for him to go.

We ask you to consider voting for Andrew Pope Southampton Independents, because he lives in the community, we are genuine and we are about the local area.

Southampton residents say: "This General Election is One Big Tory Con"

Theresa May trying to tell you what the election is about

Andrew Pope, the Southampton Independents Candidate for Southampton Test, says:

Andrew Pope with one of our supporters' boards and posters in Coxford

"Do you share our annoyance at Theresa May trying to tell you 'What This Election is About'?

Do you agree that the people of our City decide what this election is about?

And that it should not be dictated to us by Theresa May from her party-political pulpit in Downing Street?

We think you will agree, because the people of Southampton are smart.

They know the real reasons Theresa May called the 2017 General Election, when she repeatedly said she wouldn't call one.

1. As Home Secretary for SIX YEARS, Theresa May failed to deliver anything but cuts when Home Secretary. For example, to the Police whose numbers were reduced by around 20,000.
2. Theresa May is weak. She is anything but "strong and stable". As one resident said, when challenged Theresa May is "shrill and squeamish." That is why the Tories are spending so much time and money trying to persuade the British people that she is strong. 
3. On the above leaflet, Theresa May claimed "What This Election Is About" is the national interest. It is not, this Election has been called in the party political interest of the Conservative Party, and the personal political career of Theresa May.
4. Theresa May saw an opportunity to get her way with a massive opinion poll lead over Jeremy Corbyn's Labour. But Theresa May cannot control her own MPs or members of her own Cabinet like Boris Johnson who want to see her fail in order to become Prime Minister himself.

Theresa May thought she could deal with those Tory MPs who are out to get her, and who are out to block what she wants to do. She has tried to replace those former MPs and candidates for Parliament with "yes men" (and in the Tory Party, some "yes women").

This includes the Southampton Test Tory Candidate, Paul Holmes, who is a political careerist and is willing to be a puppet for Theresa May. We will be publishing more on him shortly.

All the while, Theresa May has been trying to blame the Opposition. This itself is laughable because Corbyn's Labour is in disarray - just look at Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott's mistakes and Corbyn's failure to convince the British people that he can protect us.

Theresa May has failed as Prime Minister over the last year. She has also squandered a massive 20-point opinion poll lead over Labour. That is a spectacular failure of leadership.

This is why we predict that if she becomes Prime Minister again, Theresa May will fail to get a good Brexit that works for everyone.

And then we could well have another General Election, when the EU Brexit deal doesn't meet what the people of Southampton voted for.

Why vote Labour or Tory, and get the same old story?

This General Election is One Big Tory Con.

Stop wasting your vote on Labour and the Tories, and Vote Southampton Independents!"

Andrew Pope Listens to You and Stands Up for You

Southampton Independents are about properly listening to you, your family and your area - not the same old story with Labour or Tory.

That's why Andrew Pope is standing to be your Southampton Independents MP for Southampton Test (West of the City).

As Southampton residents Mr and Mrs Taylor say on our leaflet:

"Andrew listens to YOU. Andrew works for YOU. Andrew stands up for YOU.

Vote for Andrew Pope Southampton Independents for Southampton Test in the 2017 General Election."

Clare from Coxford (pictured above) says:

"If you want an MP that gets things done, vote for Andrew Pope to be the next MP for Southampton Test."

Kirsty from Redbridge, who doesn't normally vote, says:

"Andrew sorted out the issues we had and has kept in touch making sure things are still going how they should do. 

He managed to do what Southampton city council failed to do in 18 months.  

He also helped my disabled neighbour finally get a move into a more suitable place for her needs.  

Every issue myself and others have raised regrading our area Andrew has looked into and taken higher to get the answers people in the area need.  

100% he is getting my vote as unlike some he will do as much if elected as he does now and not lose the effort because he has his feet under the table."

Denise Wyatt, Southampton Independents campaigner, says:

"Why do local residents have so many of our pink 'Vote Andrew Pope Southampton Independents' boards and posters up around Southampton? 

Because we work hard for people all year round, not just at election time. 

Soton Indies live in the community. We are part of the community. 

People tell us that Labour and Tories only come round at election time to get your votes. 

People know that we are working with them all year round. 

Please vote Andrew Pope Southampton Independents to be your next MP."

Labour Council Cuts Bins and Charges You More!

Council bins will fill and weeds are uncut

Next week, Labour-run Southampton City Council will be changing to fortnightly bin collections.

Your main waste bin will not be collected every week. It will be every fortnight. The recycling collection will be every fortnight.

Andrew Pope, our Candidate in the General Election to be the next MP for Southampton Test (West), is a Councillor for Redbridge ward on Southampton City Council.

Councillor Pope stood up for you against the Labour Council and voted against the fortnightly bins.

Andrew Pope

Andrew says:

"Labour councillors' leaflets said that they would 'keep weekly bin collections'. 

But in February 2017, ALL Labour councillors VOTED FOR FORTNIGHTLY BINS. They've broken another promise to add to all of the other promises they've broken. 

And worse, they've put up your Council Tax when giving you a poorer service. 

I listened to residents' views and voted against fortnightly bin collections. Already, we are receiving a huge number of complaints about these changes. People don't want it.

Your Labour MP for 20 years, Alan Whitehead, stayed silent despite his Labour colleagues breaking their promises. This week, he has stated on BBC Radio Solent that he supports the fortnightly bin collections. He puts the Labour Party before the people.

This is another reason why Southampton residents need to vote Mr Whitehead out and replace him with someone who stands up for Southampton residents - me!"

The General Election is on 8th June. Please Vote Andrew Pope Southampton Independents.

Andrew with one of our supporters' boards

Theresa May Has Been Exposed

Reacting to the news that Theresa May has changed the Conservatives' plans for social care, within days of releasing them in their General Election Manifesto, Andrew Pope, our Candidate to be the next MP for Southampton Test, says:

"If you saw how badly Theresa May deals with reasonable questions from journalists on Monday, you can see how weak she is.

You can also see how incompetent she is, by changing a policy that had only just been released.

On their doorsteps and in Southampton's streets, we have asked many Southampton residents whether they can name a single thing Theresa May has achieved in seven years of Government.

Nobody could name a single thing.

That's because she hasn't achieved anything to benefit our Country.

One thing she has done is cut the Police, including the Armed Police that our Country needs to deal with terrorists.

And she has failed to deal with the mass immigration that Labour started.

And she has failed to deal with our country's deficit and the growing levels of Government debt.

Theresa May is not strong and stable.

She cannot handle being held to account. That is why her visit to Southampton was so quick and so carefully managed by the Conservative Party.

But Labour's Jeremy Corbyn is also too weak and incompetent to hold her to account.

Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn are BOTH weak and wobbly. What a Hobson's Choice!

People know whether it's Labour or Tory, they get the same old story.

They should vote for the person who would best represent them at Westminster.

That is why Southampton Test needs an Independent voice at Westminster, and why I ask them to please vote for me, their Southampton Independents Candidate, at the 8th June General Election."

My Pledge: BREXIT Working for You

Andrew Pope, the Southampton Independents Candidate to be the next MP for Southampton Test (West), is the ONLY candidate that campaigned in Southampton for Brexit.

He listened to the people of Southampton who wanted Brexit.

He worked for the people of Southampton to secure Brexit.

He stood up for the people of Southampton to win Brexit, in the face of abuse from Labour MPs like Diane Abbott and Southampton Labour councillors.

Southampton Independents listen to what the people of Southampton want, and work with them to secure it.

So if you wanted Brexit, please consider voting for Andrew Pope, Southampton Independents.

Even if you did not want Brexit, please consider voting for Andrew Pope, because he will work for a Brexit that works for you, your family and your area. 

Andrew is the ONLY Southampton councillor of 48 who stood up for you, against Labour and Tories wasting more millions on "Arts" when the City's roads remain a mess.

Andrew is the ONLY councillor of 48 who stood up for you to have a referendum against Labour and Tories wanting to join Southampton and Portsmouth together in a disastrous "Solent Devolution Deal".

Don't forget that Alan Whitehead, who has been the MP for 20 years, ignored the views of the majority of people in England, and of the majority of people whose views he was paid to represent - Southampton people. He voted in Parliament, as your MP, AGAINST triggering Article 50 to start Brexit.

Local residents are rightly outraged that Alan Whitehead did so.

So that the people of Southampton can be sure that their next MP will properly represent their views, Andrew Pope now makes the following pledge:

"I pledge that:

In the light of the facts that:

1. The majority of people in England voted to leave the EU.

2. The majority of people in the Southampton Test Constituency voted to leave the EU.

That I campaigned for Leave in the EU Referendum campaign, because I listened to the views of the people of Southampton.

That I will work for the English people to ensure that Brexit delivers what English people in Southampton Test voted for, as proved by polls conducted by Lord Ashcroft, namely:

A. That mass immigration has to end and Southampton people want control back over our borders and our public services

B. That English people have the say over their future, rather than Brussels bureaucrats and out-of-touch MEPs

C. That I will vote for the repeal of the European Communities Act 1972 and the repeal of any other acts to enable Brexit

D. That I will vote for any other new acts of Parliament to enable Brexit

Signed,

Andrew Pope

Southampton Independents"

VOTE Andrew Pope Southampton Independents at the 8th June 2017 General Election, or using your postal vote before then.

An NHS - Ah, That's Better!

Andrew Pope

Many people have asked our Parliamentary Candidate for Southampton Test, Andrew Pope, what he would do about the NHS, if elected?

This is a very open-ended question. Andrew will attempt to answer it. Please get in touch if you have further comments or questions:

"I have substantial practical experience of challenging the NHS and care providers to be better. At Southampton University in 2010, having written my Masters in Global Politics thesis on 'How Democratic Are NHS Foundation Trusts?', I have studied how the complex NHS works, or sometimes, doesn't work.

Local experience with Southern Health has shown that Labour and the Tories prefer to cover-up, rather than clean up, the NHS.

My experience as the Chair of the Southampton Health Overview Scrutiny Panel, my experience exposing the failures of Labour and Tory Southampton City councils on children's care and safeguarding, plus my experience campaigning against the failures Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, have all shown this.

To Labour MPs on the NHS, whatever the diagnosis, their prescription is more billions to add to the already massive NHS budget. The latest example is the NHS ransomware cyber attack. Instead of holding the failing trusts to account, and praising the majority of trusts that had protected themselves against such attacks, Labour MPs prefer to pile more money in their direction. No wonder Labour has bankrupted our economy multiple times, the most recent being in 2008.

To Conservative MPs, to use Theresa May's slogan, they seem to want an NHS that is just managing. Perhaps they prefer private health insurance, because that is what they are used to, or because they have connections with those firms? And Jeremy Hunt's response to the NHS ransomware is typically weak, letting failing NHS trusts get away with their failures. His job is to hold them to account. But he doesn't do that with any vigour.

The NHS saves many lives every day. It is a fantastic institution with dedicated staff that is admired by British people and the world over. The founders of the NHS are rightly praised.

There are problems, just as they are in any large organisation. Those problems must be properly diagnosed and treated.

But the NHS is another case of Labour or Tory, same old story.

Labour and the Tories use the NHS as a political football, repeatedly "reforming" it, without substantially improving patient care. Tories cut, Labour spends. It's a repeating cycle of failure.

In fact, there is plenty of evidence that both parties' constant meddling and bickering between them actually impacts badly on patients and their families.

As I have shown in exposing Labour and Tory NHS and care cuts, cover-ups and failures in Southampton, my approach to the NHS is to properly diagnose the problems, and provide appropriate prescriptions.

Yes, sometimes the prescription is more money. But that must be carefully chosen, not used to solved every perceived problem.

If elected, I will hold failing trusts and care providers to account, as I have already done in Southampton. That is how you improve the NHS - not with constant restructures and so-called "reforms".

And it is incumbent on all MPs to hold their local trusts to account. If they don't, it is up to other MPs to hold them to account, and to expose their failings as MPs. MPs must also properly hold the Secretary of State to account. The Opposition is so weak and divided that it is not doing this.

On 8th June, please vote for me to go to Westminster for you, and give the Establishment of Labour and Tory MPs the jolt they need, to give a better NHS and care."

If you have further questions to Andrew on the NHS or anything else, please send them to sotonindies [at] gmail.com.

UPDATED: Councillor Andrew Pope Announces General Election Candidacy

Councillor Andrew Pope speaking up for Southampton residents
on local BBC South Today

Southampton Independents Councillor Andrew Pope has announced his candidacy for the forthcoming General Election on 8th June 2017.

Andrew Pope YOUR Southampton Independents Candidate for the 2017 General Election works for YOU. 

Andrew has helped thousands of people all over Southampton as a campaigner. He has been a Southampton City Councillor for 6 years. Andrew has worked in industry, government, defence technology, retail and insurance in the UK and in Australia, so knows how to get things done. He co-owns a small business. Andrew has two degrees in Computer Science and International Politics and a college diploma in IT so has learnt practical skills and how to solve many different problems in a wide range of scenarios.

How can Andrew help you, your family and your area?

On the day before Parliament voted to have the General Election on 8th June 2017, Andrew said:

"If there is a general election agreed by Parliament tomorrow, I am announcing today that I will be standing for Parliament in Southampton Test, for Southampton Independents, a new local party registered this year that is about Southampton for the people of Southampton.

Local residents deserve better than their current Labour MP Alan Whitehead, who doesn't want Brexit and did NOT vote to trigger Article 50, despite Southampton voting by majority to leave the EU.

We in Southampton Independents hear so much criticism of him on the doorsteps in conversations with local residents. Residents say that Mr Whitehead should retire.

People have had enough of party politicians like Mr Whitehead, and past opponents like Tory councillor Jeremy Moulton who put their party and their own personal views ahead of the views of local people.

But the other Westminster parties are no better. Theresa May knows that she faces opposition to her version of Brexit from Labour, the Liberal Democrats who let's not forget betrayed the country in the Coalition with the Tories, and UKIP, who are competing with Labour for the most incompetent national party.

And Mrs May knows that she faces opposition from MPs and councillors in her own party who want to block Brexit.

Southampton Independents listen to local people and fight for them on the issues that matter to them - not jumping to party political instruction from Jeremy Corbyn, Theresa May, Tim Farron or Paul Nuttall."

Councillor Pope (without a beard!)