Can site regular Mark win where John Prescott hit out?
February 28th, 2005Frequent site contributor, Mark Jones - we know him a CymruMark - has asked if he can announce his canditature for Plaid Cymru in the Vale of Clwyd on Politicalbetting.
Rhyl, in the constituency, came to prominence last time because it was there that John Prescott got involved in his famous punch up.
Mark said: I chose to launch on political betting .com because it has become the key site on the internet to discuss possible outcomes for the general election. It attracts many top political commentators, and academics, as well as MPs. It has a huge amount of traffic and as I wanted to ensure Wales is at the centre of the general election debate I thought it the best place to make the public announcement of my candidacy
Mark David Jones - a 40 year old local government officer has a colourful political history having been first a Liberal and then Liberal Democrat activist in his native Leicester.He now lives in Llandudno.
He fought two general election campaigns as a Lib Dem candidate, Wyre Forest in 1992 and Leicester West in 1997.
Betting odds. Plaid Cymru Seats.
0 - 3 : 4/1 4: 5/45 +: 11/10
NOTE: there will be a limited service on the site until next Monday because I am on holiday,
Mike Smithson
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Good luck Mark. After Saturday’s win you couldn’t have timed it better!
Hi Mark; Good luck!
Congrtaulations on your selection Mark. Looks like a pretty vast swing is needed for victory!
All the best from a crisp Rutland
cheers guys……perhaps I can win in the last minute after being behind! According to the evening standard the seat is one Labour are worried about so maybe I have them on the run
Good luck!
Good luck Mark, keep us up to date when you can.
Good luck fella
This is a toughie… hmmm… best of luck for a very strong showing, but I’m to tribal to hope you win
, most of all enjoy your self.
ATB Mark. Hopefully we can have a celebratory drink sometime!
This site’s guv’nor likes us to make ‘informed’ forecasts. I’ll make one I haven’t seen here before.
Candidates–PPCs– who are regular contributors to this site will do better than their parties’ overall performance. Actually, just regularly logging on should be sufficient, but most candidates like to have their say….
One of the daftest criticisms I’ve read on pb.c is about our friendly Socialist mp Nick Palmer. Somebody thought he should be ‘out meeting his constituents instead of posting on this site’. Where will he learn more–on here, or in a pub? There is good range of views on this site; there is certainly a more balanced view here than the BBC or any single newspaper. (Too few UKIP opinions, but whose fault is that?).
I think that cymrumark will do better than most of his party.
Have fun, Mark!
Nick
I go fishing off Rhos on Sea with a group from the Unicorn - a pub in South Leicestershire. Is Rhos in the consituency? - Not sure a Plaid candidate will do very well - every one I meet seems to be from Liverpool!!
Icarus - Rhos is in Clwyd West. My parents live there, and they’re most definitely NOT from Liverpool (from Manchester);)
10 - I certainly hope that that is true!
14 - There are exceptions to every rule
Good luck, your going to need it looking at the figures!
Well done, Mark, and I’m sure you’ll follow Nick Palmer’s wise suggestion
Have I missed something, or are the Lib Dems the only major party not to have a PPC as a regular contributor here?
17 - we don’t have a Labour PPC (unless Ben isn’t telling us something) or an SNP one AFAIK.
Perhaps the Lib Dem ones don’t want to join the “love in”
(TM Vote-2005)
Nick Palmer is standing again (I’m not sure if that makes him a PPC in the strict sense, or an Incumbent Parliamentary Candidate or something).
Good luck Mark. Great result on Saturday
- I hope it is an omen.
Apparently the Conservative candidate in Ayr is also called Mark Jones.
10 David…..interesting point…..having been a candidate before I am very concious how lost in your own bubble you can become….dipping in and out of this site will allow candidates to see how other people are thinking…so will be useful….
Tabman [18] - I was rather counting Nick as the Labour PPC, as he’s be re-adopted, and don’t Plaid have “fraternal relations” with the SNP?
IA - fair point! Although doesn’t he become PPC only once the election is called?
My understanding of electoral law is that “prospective” is a device to prevent leaflets being delivered now from counting against election exprenses, so Nick is a PPC just as Iain, Rik and Mark are. Mind you, I haven’t been an agent since 1982 (and then - obviously - only in a local election) so I expect I’m well out of date…
Re 24 - Prospective is now history - if you see my website (www.suttoncheamconservatives.com) I just call myself candidate as this no longer incurs election expenses!
Good luck!
Talking of election law: my tip is to go straight down to the police station without hesitation as soon as any other candidates say anything at all about you in their campaign material that is untrue during the campaign (which as you know is quite likely) and make a complaint under Section 106 of the 1983 Representation of the People Act. That will start a police investigation and create negative publicity and friction for your opponents.
RE: 17 I’m a Labour PPC who has posted here a few times.
In wales or england?
I am fairly sure there is nothing in the Lib Dem Campaign Manual that encourages PPCs to spend time on sites like this. Surely that is what agents are for;-)
Tabman - I’m fairly sure there’s a current Lib Dem PPC who contributes, but who is not self obsessed enough to declare
30 - Andy, at 29 perhaps?
Are we absolutely sure that we don’t have any Loonies?
Robert @ 32. My house is directly opposite the Golden Lion in Ashburton in Devon - what was for many years the Monster Raving Loony Party HQ - its now a house and flats. But maybe that’s a clue…
32 We may do, but the majority have colonised the Other Place
A turncoat, lovely.
The tories are the only ones likely of taking Vale of Clywd and even thats an outside chance, but good luck to mark, hopefully he will increase the Plaid vote share at the expense of labour!!
Good Luck Mark Lets hope you turn Rhyl round just as we turned the French round on Saturday!
ICM opinion poll on http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales shows some interesting results. Most people want the assembly to have most say over what happens in Wales…..the top issues for people in Wales at the general election is the health Service…with issues such as council tax and housing showing up as the key issue for a small number of people…people were asked …regardless of who you plan to vote for which party’s polices are closest to you:
Lab 30%
Plaid 12%
Con 10%
LD 9%
DK 33%
so a massive victory for the dont know party…..
All the best Mark. I was a member of the Leeds North East Team when you applied to be PPC for the 1992 election. We selected Chris Walmsley (late husband of the impressive Baroness Joan Walmsley)
We probably did you a favour. You could have ended up in north Leeds rather than enjoying the delights of North Wales.
Not really Graham - most people will give some thought to their first or second choice. Give them 5 or 6 and you end up having people elected because they’ve got a nice name, or because they have an interest in birdwatching or whatever. It happens all the time in university student union elections - where people who are at the top of the list, providing they provide a moderate manifesto, usually have a serious advantage.
Oops wrong place
I’m feeling guilty, I think I’d best come out of the closet as a LibDem PPC
I thought it might be you when it was mentioned yesterday. Best of luck!
Bullseye - you dark horse. Is that the case in your seat? Or are you keeping that much secret.
Not too dark a horse I hope! I’m the LD PPC in Vauxhall, standing against “Tally Ho Kate” Hoey, the best Ulster Unionist in the House
The next constituency along from me… though I like Kate Hoey, hope you win!
Well thanks BV, if you are feeling left out of campaigning feel free to come along and help on my regular campaign days.
So that makes you Charles does it? I can’t believe it you’re the same age as me and you want to do a proper job!
Well best of luck is all I can say!
Is your website supposed to work, bullseye?
Lol,its a fair cop - its being rebuilt for the election - try my local party one instead http://www.vauxhall-libdems.org.uk
I did see your page on the main Lib Dem site, and even non-LD contributors here must warm to someone with a declared interest in electoral history
I see, PPC is out - “Parliamentary spokesperson” is in… but surely Parliament is the one place you can’t speak yet!
Charles - have you ever been on newsnight?
BV, Non Lib Dems like myself are more concerned at Bullseye’s interest in “mixed martial arts”…..
55 - better that than “mixed marital arts”
Steve, Well, if you say so…
Perhaps we ought to have a special icon next to PPCs’ names so we can spot ‘em. Although I actually mean ‘they can spot us’, as I’ve just been selected for the LibDems in East Worthing & Shoreham
Perhaps we just need the one non-PPC to identify themselves…
I hereby declare you are James Doyle and claim my £5
well done and good luck JamesD…
IIRC this now makes 2 PPCs (including Nick Palmer)each from LibDems, Labour and Conservatives and one from PC who are regulars on this site. Hmmm, still don’t support STV though.
Who’s the other Labour PPC? (Duh …)
pregethwr came out yesterday IIRC.
Steve, See pregethwr’s posting @28 on this thread.
Told you Duh would be required!!! it’s been a long day …
…And the prospect of an evening of mixed marital arts (you doing the cooking?)must be enticing.
John I ALWAYS do the cooking …
8 Like Ben, I’m too tribal to hope Mrk wins but as a previous PPC, my besta dvice would be to treat it like your wedding day
In other words, whatever happens, try and enjoy every single second 
17 Perhaps the LDs haven’t got a contributor who have declared themselves as a PPC ?. My LD friends sdeem to like the exotic names
I come fairly close as a PPC in 1997 and 2001 but haven’t been selected anywhere yet - but then some safe Tory or Labour seat don’t need a LD PPC with one day to go befor close of nominations
PS Mike - Saw other post on previous thread. Looking good on house. Fitz says people you are buying it off are certainly LD locally ! BTW Posterboard policy has always been put it in without asking any permission at any time
law on “prospective candidate” has recently changed - seems sensible. Basically you can be called the candidate or call yourself the candidate without incurring expenses but as soon as the election isc alled, you automatically start doing so. Great if a short campaign, not so great if a long one
26 History has been made. Rik and me agree on summat
but then its at the political anorak level 
43 I hope I didn’t out you…
Vauxhall is the one constituency in the country that if we had STV I’d be voting Tory third
Good luck to both Bullseye (especially as I am not a fan of Kate Hoey) and Mark!
Good luck, Mark !
(I’m an ex-PPC - just missed Paisley North by 20,000 votes in 1997)
Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales can and often do win in predominantly non welsh speaking areas of Wales. If anyone can de-Labour this seat, my money’s on you Mark. It’s a long time since I’ve come across such a dedicated, hard working & capable candidate. Pob lwc (Best of luck )
Tabman @ 54 - yes, that was me - sadly I’m still waiting to be invited back.
76 - well I was impressed! I can’t recall who the presenter was, Kirsty (swoon) or Paxo (we’re not worthy)?
If it was Kirsty, I can’t imagine you’d have registered the presence of the guest enough to recognise him again
Mark well done on your wonderfull speech in Denbigh tonight
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