David Miliband backs Labour candidate Andrew Dismore and berates Conservative Barnet GLA member Brian Coleman

David Miliband was speaking while visiting Hendon this morning to back his own party’s GLA candidate Andrew Dismore David Miliband was speaking while visiting Hendon this morning to back his own party’s GLA candidate Andrew Dismore

Senior Labour MP David Miliband believes Barnet's London Assembly member Brian Coleman has gone “out of his way” to anger voters.

The politician was speaking while visiting Hendon this morning to back his own party’s GLA candidate Andrew Dismore in the run up to the elections on May 3.

During a meeting at Mero Café in Queens Parade, Mr Miliband said the incumbent Conservative member was driving voters towards Labour.

The former foreign secretary also defended Mr Dismore from comments made by the Barnet cabinet member last week, when he accused the former Hendon MP of running a “nasty, sleazy campaign”.

Mr Miliband, brother of Labour leader Ed, told the Times Series: “Andrew is a lawyer - he can’t afford to run a sleazy campaign. He’s gone on facts and on record and nothing more.

“The assembly matters and he has got experience and ideas, while the incumbent member Brian Coleman has gone out of his way to annoy people.

“We think that anyone who has paid attention to the Dismore/Coleman campaign is going to do nothing but add votes to Labour.”

Mr Dismore lost out to current Hendon MP Matthew Offord at the last general election but Mr Miliband, who lives in Primrose Hill, believes voters want to see the Labour candidate back in politics.

He added: “There is a bit of buyer’s remorse for the new Tory MP and people are beginning to wonder why they voted him in – this is going to be a very important area.

“Barnet is a battle ground - how Barnet votes is how London votes and how London goes is often how the country goes.”

The Labour members, along with Barnet’s group leader Councillor Alison Moore, chatted with staff at the coffee shop before leaving for campaign duties at the party’s Finchley headquarters.

Mr Dismore said: “David’s opinions are so important and valuable – it is great to have him along. It gives us a real boost.

“Some people have suggested I just need to go around wearing a T-shirt saying ‘I’m not Brian Coleman’ but that is a bit negative and we have a lot of positives to offer. I have demonstrated that I have done the things people want to see.”

Comments(16)

nlygo says...
12:58pm Tue 24 Apr 12

oh David Milibrother, I really thought more of you than to campaign with the ex-MP....

harvey_uk says...
1:31pm Tue 24 Apr 12

David Miliband talking to 2 people who are not even UK passport holders, and aren't even entitled to vote! Well done at least for recognising Coleman's charm as a peoples person. UKIP or 'fresh choice for London' is the only sensible way to vote.

Mike NW7 says...
1:46pm Tue 24 Apr 12

Well as an alternative view to dumb and dumber in the comments it's obvious Coleman will lose and the UKIPs will lose their deposit...

Don't Call Me Dave says...
6:24pm Tue 24 Apr 12

With Red Ed supporting Andrew Dismore, Brian Coleman is bound to win!

Mr Worried says...
6:47pm Tue 24 Apr 12

Red Ed? Oh you mean David's brother. Why, was he there too...? Ah, no, I thought not.

Don't Call Me Dave says...
7:13pm Tue 24 Apr 12

I stand corrected!

Grumblepop says...
7:15pm Tue 24 Apr 12

From: The Brain of Barnet
harvey_uk says...
1:31pm Tue 24 Apr 12

"talking to 2 people who are not even UK passport holders, and aren't even entitled to vote!"

18 years of age or over on polling day
Resident in the UK
On the electoral register
Not subject to any legal incapacity to vote
A British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland

Are you an EU citizen?
If you are a European Union citizen and not a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen, you can vote in the Local and Mayoral Elections.

You are absolutely right about how your voting system works.You better check that you are 'not subject to any legal incapacity to vote'

Presumably Dissy and middleband also have no idea

Grumblepop says...
7:35pm Tue 24 Apr 12

@harvey uk
"talking to 2 people who are not even UK passport holders, and aren't even entitled to vote!"

True Brain of Britain you are and an embarassment for the free education you (DID NOT) receive everytime you have a comment.
Everyone who votes must be:

18 years of age or over on polling day
Resident in the UK
On the electoral register
Not subject to any legal incapacity to vote
A British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland

If you are a European Union citizen and not a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen, you can vote in the Local and Mayoral Elections

Your right! old Dizzy and his Middleband who know a thing or two about Constitution and voting rights needed your reminder. .... and YOU HAVE THE VOTE???

harvey_uk says...
11:41pm Wed 25 Apr 12

Grumbleplop. So non-UK passport holders can decide how our country is run. Surely you can see thats wrong. Vote UKIP, who are in the lead over LIBDEMS, Labour will never win considering their own party choose the underdog brother to be in charge. Time for change, time for a fresh choice for London, vote UKIP if you want to get this country back under control.

Grumblepop says...
12:58am Fri 27 Apr 12

@harvey_uk says...

You still UKIP as long as you like but when you wake up from your kip. Please read again and note the distinction

Are you an EU citizen?
If you are a European Union citizen and NOT a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen, you can vote in the Local and Mayoral Elections.
*****
YOU CANNOT VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.....

I vote for Harvey... the invisible one with big ears

jimbobNW7 says...
8:46am Fri 27 Apr 12

@ Harvey_UK

I would love to know how you can tell from a photograph that the two men in the cafe are not UK passport holders? It would seem that you have based this purely on their appearance as I can see nothing else in this article which would suggest their citizenship.

Are you a racist? That was a question not a statement.

harvey_uk says...
4:23pm Mon 30 Apr 12

Racist, certainly not, but a realist nationalist YES. Only UK nationals should be allowed to vote in our country, if some emigrated they should have no right as they left the UK. I'd put money on these 2 'members' of the public never have or will vote. What makes you all so sure they did vote or will vote, or even have the right to vote.

Grumblepop says...
5:48pm Mon 30 Apr 12

@harvey_uk says...
"but a realist nationalist YES"

Is that like "National Socialist"
or like British/UK Nationalist (but not a racist!??). You're voting for the wrong party!

Seen their polling cards and British Passports! Why don't you go down to the Mero cafe and ask to take a look for yourself?

jimbobNW7 says...
6:25pm Mon 30 Apr 12

@harvey_UK

can you define "UK Nationals" for me please?

Mrs Angry, Broken Barnet blog says...
9:55am Tue 1 May 12

What a ridiculous argument: like jimbob I am amazed that someone decides to judge from a photo that two men are a. not British citizens or entitled to vote ... but you are all missing the point, which is that this election gives us the opportunity - and duty to vote out Brian Coleman, no matter what political views you hold, this is an issue we can all agree on, I think. If you need any reasons why this is a good idea, take a look at http://101reasonstos

ackbriancoleman.tumb

lr.com/

exiledgeordie says...
10:25am Tue 1 May 12

Get rid of Coleman or you will suffer.

click2find

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