Forum Topic

Where is Jon Ball?

Having just moved into the area and followed discussions on this website here's my first posting. I want to know whether anyone has spotted Jon Ball in Acton yet? It is slightly strange that someone who wants to represent Ealing and Acton has apparently done so little for Acton residents. One can only assume that he spends all his time in Ealing because he doesn't want to venture outside his comfort zone.

Thomas Edwards ● 5989d48 Comments

Nope no sign - though this is a target seat and the Standard at least says he could win it.

Sara Nathan ● 5989d

If you want to know what sort of MP he would make, I'll be happy to provide details of his performance as an Ealing Common Ward Councillor, as one of his luckless constituents. The man is sneaky, two-faced and untrustworthy as well as uncommunicative.And see my posting on the earlier 'Spot the Ball' thread on this forum (directly addressed to him  -  and characteristically no reply):-Well as one of your current Ealing Common Ward constituents, with solid and bitter experience of your performance and attitude towards us, I strongly advise voters NOT TO TOUCH YOU WITH A BARGEPOLE. I will be happy to amplify if anybody wants details.Not liking either of the other two main parties, I might have been inclined to give the Libdems a try at this general election, but with you as their candidate, NO WAY!!!I also note you are standing again as an Ealing Common Councillor as well as for the Westminster parliament. Are you hoping to emulate the despicable example of the current (till the recent dissolution of Parliament) Ealing Southall MP and pretend to do both jobs -  and get paid for both -  while performing neither properly?

Chris Veasey ● 5988d

But there's no evidence here...can't quite see what you accusing him of doing - or not doing - apart from not communicating - which we know.Why are you so cross with him?Shouldn't we - his potential electorate - know?

Sara Nathan ● 5988d

Ok here's what I told another forumer who contacted me following my previous posting:-1) I have never had a direct reply to anything I've written to him. That wouldn't be quite as bad if he nevertheless consistently supported our efforts to get the Council service we are entitled to and get problems redressed. However:-2) While in his early phase as a Councillor he did occasionally pay lip service by speaking in our support when I took matters to the Ealing Area Committee, since the abolition of the Area Committee and its replacement by Ward Forums a couple of years ago he has done a complete U turn and fobbed off our efforts to get our problems resolved, siding with the unresponsive and hostile Council officers who are stopping things getting done.3) A year ago, when I appeared at the Planning Committee to speak against a Council development which would cause us further problems he sat there as a member of that committee, said not a word in our support, and voted to steamroll the development through.That enough for you or do you want more? You'll also see from his little election address in the current Gagette that he's revealed himself to be a single-issue politician interested in only one topic.If you vote for Ball as your representative in parliament or anything else you're a turkey voting for xmas. You'll get no service, and indeed positive DISservice.

Chris Veasey ● 5988d

Not a peep from Jon Ball so far. Even got a leaflet from the UKIP this evening. I wonder if he realises Acton exists.

Tony Crumpton ● 5988d

Monday, April 26, 2010  "The Lib-Dems would win ... Ealing Central & Acton" - Evening Standard PollToday's Evening Standard reports a local YouGov poll predicting that I am set to win Ealing Central & Acton.Under the headline, "Cleggmania sweeps across London with Lib-Dems set to take seats from Labour" the Standard today reports that "if YouGov's figures are echoed in actual voting on May 6 then out will go Labour's Glenda Jackson at Hampstead & Kilburn and Emily Thornberry, defending Islington South. The Lib-Dems would win both constituencies, along with Labour-held Ealing Central & Acton."This backs up what we are finding on the ground: that there is a great groundswell of support right across Ealing and Acton backing the Lib Dem policies of fairness and our campaigning on local issues like the threat to close Ealing Hospital A & E. But to make this historic victory into a reality on May 6th, we need more volunteers delivering more leaflets and knocking on doors and more people display posters to show to voters throughout the constituency - including those areas that have not been as strong for the Lib Dems in the past - that this time there can be change that works for the people of Ealing and Acton. If you can help me win, you can email me directly on jon@ealinglibdems.org.uk, call my campaign office on  020 8752 1247  020 8752 1247  or DM me on twitter @jonball.# posted by Jon Ball @ 3:14 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Tony Crumpton ● 5988d

"fairness and our campaigning on local issues" eh? -  well that's not how he's behaved to his Ward constituents in my neighbourhood. I repeat: his demonstrable track record of untrustworthiness, unresponsiveness and DISservice as a ward councillor shows him to be exactly what we DON'T want as our 'representative' in the Westminster parliament. Whatever the vaunted policies of the Libdem party, 'Jon Ball MP' would be a DISASTER for the punters of Ealing and Acton.

Chris Veasey ● 5988d

It's a bit late for the Lib Dems to try and drum up help in Acton now! Why on earth haven't they given us any attention before?

Thomas Edwards ● 5987d

Cos we are too tory?Acton Central I think has been resolutely conservative for years. Maybe it's not seen as worth his while.Bizarre, I agree.

Sara Nathan ● 5987d

Even more bizarre, since:-a) Two Council elections ago it was him that broke the historic Tory stranglehold on previously unshakeably 'True-Blue' Ealing Common Ward; BUTb) He has now effectively turned Tory by teaming up with his fellow Ealing Common councillor - the equally sneaky, two-faced and untrustworthy Joanna Dabrowska - to stop my neighbourhood getting the service and remedial action we had been campaigning for for years, had previously been promised, AND which they had both previously voted in favour of at the Ealing Area Committee.Really, believe me, you can't trust Jon Ball as far as you could throw him -  DON'T TOUCH HIM WITH A BARGEPOLE!!!!

Chris Veasey ● 5987d

Well that's your opinion but I have met Jon and he's a really nice guy! And yes I will be voting Liberal democrats.

Shao-Ying Ben-Nathan ● 5987d

No it's not just my opinion, it's based on solid experience of his performance as a ward councillor. I can only hope that others will vote on a more intelligent basis than you. If he gets elected as a MP, we can whistle for any effective representation and service.

Chris Veasey ● 5987d

ouch! That is a little personal, don't you think? I am allowed to vote as I please, I appreciate that you would rather I voted for a different party but there is no need to throw insults! Manners cost nothing!Peace, love and harmony to all!

Shao-Ying Ben-Nathan ● 5987d

I am surprised he has not been canvessing in South Acton I am sure we are not Tory land here!!

Tony Crumpton ● 5987d

More jolly bumph from the tories today...still not so much as an orange leaflet from Mr Ball.

Sara Nathan ● 5987d

"Acton Central I think has been resolutely conservative for years." Not so, Sara! Until 2006, the ward and its immediate precessor, Springfield, had been Labour for twenty years. I know it to be true, 'cos I was one of the councillors for part of that period.In my more psephological moments, I'd call it a 'swing' ward. It's certainly never been Liberal, mind you...

Steve Donnelly ● 5987d

Nothing personal about it  -  that IS my firm opinion of such a silly reason for voting for any candidate to represent us in parliament. I'm not saying you are not intelligent  -  I would not be in a position to pass any judgement on that, never even having met you as far as I know  -  but to vote for somebody because (IYHO) 'he's a nice bloke', particularly in the face of his demonstrably abject track record as a local politician, IS NOT an intelligent reason for doing so.You are of course entitled to vote for who you wish. I can only hope for all our sakes you're in a minority in respect of your choice of candidate and your reason for that choice.And particularly as a Northerner, it's my right  -  even duty  -  to express my opinions honestly and staightforwardly  -  which I have on this topic.To repeat: my experience of Jon Ball as a Councillor meant to represent my neighbourhood  -  and you CAN'T say you have had that experience of him -  is that he's sneaky, two-faced, untrustworthy and uncommunicative. Do you really want the likes of that as our MP?

Chris Veasey ● 5986d

Golly what it is to have memory failure. I think it's the presence of the Conservative building in Shakespeare Road and that we use dto have the bicycling baronet as our MP has misled me.Have had my first phone canvassing call - a tory one who has promised to stop Eric Pickles et al from emailing me!

Sara Nathan ● 5986d

LOL, you are making me laugh heartily. I never said the reason I was voting for him was because he was a nice bloke that is your assumption. But I will say once again that he is a nice bloke and that is my opinion. And thanks for the apology!!!

Shao-Ying Ben-Nathan ● 5986d

The clear implication of what you wrote was that his being IYHO 'a nice guy' was the primary if not only reason for your voting choice. Had you given any other reason(s) -  which you did not -  that would have avoided or dispelled such an impression.And let me remind you (or point out if you haven't seen it) that in my first posting on the Ball topic on this forum I said that I too might have been inclined to give the Libdems a try this general election, but NO WAY with Jon Ball as their candidate. I know too much about how he performs.

Chris Veasey ● 5986d

ha, ha, I am happy just to agree to disagree with you, partly because I am too scared not too! Part of me hopes he doesn't win as I dread to think what your reaction will be! Perhaps I will vote Green instead because Green is such a nice colour, don't you think? ;)

Shao-Ying Ben-Nathan ● 5986d

Scared? of me? - I really am 'Mr Excruciatingly Nice Guy' - I can provide numerous references if required.Can't say I feel very enthusiastic about any of the candidates, so it may well be the 'None of the Above' option for me-  the Greens I don't trust because (among other things) of their long and persistent track-record at local and GLA level of support for the crackpot Uxbridge Road tram scheme and their irrational opposition to the sensible trolleybus alternative. A Green MP would be very likely to carry that sort of arrogant disdain for reasoned argument and local opinion into parliament  -  that institution tending to further such tendencies anyway. -  we once had a UKIP member for this part of London on the GLA who proved (again among other things) an excellent, articulate and reasonable tram opponent and trolleybus advocate, though he soon left UKIP and seems to have disappeared off the scene altogether now. And although UKIP aren't by any means the bunch of right-wing fascist nutters most of the meeja have misrepresented them as, can they be trusted? - and I have grave doubts about that 'Independent' candidate.-  as for the 'Christian' party, is that like the self-styled Christian Democrat (ie right-wing conservative, ie neither christian nor democratic) parties so prevalent in continental Europe?All in all, a pretty unappealing bunch to choose from.

Chris Veasey ● 5986d

I will be voting for him to try and get another LibDem MP in Westminster. However I an disgusted that not so much as a leaflet has come through my letterbox and I fear he is more interested in his other job just wants the £64K pocket money

Robert Murray ● 5986d

That, I'm afraid, is precisely the sort of voter mentality and behaviour which enables the major parties to retain their stranglehold on us and get away with foisting any old rubbish candidate on us. I too would live to see the two-party state dismantled but if that means being saddled with an MP who I KNOW will not do the job of responding to his constituents and representing their interests, that I'm afraid is a price too high.By all means enjoy the short-lived thrill of getting another Libdem MP into parliament, but you'll repent at leisure the disservice that MP will give us in Ealing and Acton. Remember the similar thrill in 1997 at finally seeing Blair and Nulabour put an end to the long night of Thatherism/Neothatcherism? But boy didn't we pay for that in the long run, and indded the not so long run?!

Chris Veasey ● 5986d

Ha, ha, perhaps you should stand as a candidate yourself next time and if you really are 'Mr Excruciatingly Nice Guy' then I might vote for you ;)

Shao-Ying Ben-Nathan ● 5986d

Still very much a floating voter here.For some reason,unless i'm missing something, i don't see Jon Ball nominated for election. I just get these Lib Dem candidates :LONDON BOROUGH OF EALING ELECTION OF BOROUGH COUNCILLORSThe following is a statement as to persons nominated for Election as Councillors for theSOUTH ACTON WARD STATEMENT AS TO PERSONS NOMINATEDDate of Election : 6th May 2010PARKINSON Tom8 Twyford Crescent Acton W3 9PPLiberal Democrat Focus TeamMichael O'Connor (*) Nicholas J. Winkfield Catherine M. Royce Tanya Maynard Robert A.C. MaynardJill Fairbairns (**)Shao-Ying Ben-Nathan Charles Ben-NathanJill M. Argyropoulos Stavros ArgyropoulosSHEEHAN Emmanuel EleniStafford Court 449 Copley Close Hanwell W7 1QJLiberal Democrat Focus TeamMichael O'Connor (*) Nicholas J. Winkfield Catherine M. Royce Thomas T. Parkinson Tanya MaynardJill Fairbairns (**)Robert A.C. Maynard Shao-Ying Ben-Nathan Charles Ben-NathanJill M. ArgyropoulosZERDINDavid Leslie12 Wolverton Gardens London W5 3LJLiberal Democrat Focus TeamMichael O'Connor (*) Nicholas J. Winkfield Catherine M. Royce Thomas T. Parkinson Tanya MaynardJill Fairbairns (**)Robert A.C. Maynard Shao-Ying Ben-Nathan Charles Ben-NathanJill M. ArgyropoulosThe persons above, where no entry is made in the last column, have been and stand validly nominated.Dated : 12th April 2010

Ellie Rose ● 5986d

Sorry but no way would I expend any of my limited stock of time and energy seeking to become a politician - local, regional or national - down here. I just do what little I can to try to get the authorities and politicians to do their duty by the community I happen to be stuck serving a life sentence in. I've got whole shoals of other fish to fry.

Chris Veasey ● 5986d

Yes you are missing something, undrstandably: Jon Ball is standing again for re-election as an EALING COMMON Ward councillor as well as standing to become MP for Ealing Central and Acton parliamentary constituency.

Chris Veasey ● 5986d

Thank you Chris.Seems i was looking in all the wrong places. I understand now. Google threw up Ealing Central AND Acton and took me to the LBE website where i got that list from.Ok. Back to voting decision homework........Tis a hard one this time around....

Ellie Rose ● 5986d

Certainly is!! Must admit I'm starting to warm to the 'Independent' geezer (for the Westmonster election) but I'll need a bit more convincing yet. Check out his postings on the Ealing forum.

Chris Veasey ● 5986d

Jon Ball / Liberal Democrat election leaflet dropped in my letterbox today!Looks expensive too - very "busy" with lots of text, pictures & colour. And the usual promises that can be taken with a pinch of salt.Interesting point, and I quote:-"It's a straight choice locally between Jon Ball and the Tory"

Rosco White ● 5986d

And where's the BNP in all of this?Seems they may have have given up on West London, which is a shame because they can always be relied upon for a bit of entertainment!

Rosco White ● 5986d

Very orange and cluttered - maybe trying to get as much in as the others have in many drops.Haven't read it yet - am ekeing it out in case it's all there is.

Sara Nathan ● 5985d

Got my leaflet at last. Very intresting to see the graph on the back which shows the Tories and Lib Dems neck and neck. Will have some thniking to do now until Polling Day.

Tony Crumpton ● 5985d

Jon Ball has been heard he is the next Ealing MP. he does not mention acton. Also, don't we have a say in all this? Or has he unileterally decided to become the MP for Ealing.

Jenny Robertson ● 5985d

The graph is certainly interesting. It's not based on any actual election result or even an opinion poll, it's just the standard completely made up graph the Lib Dems always put in their election leaflets in the hope that some naive voters can be led to believe they have a serious chance of winning. I am sure that more discerning electors can form their own opinion based on actual evidence of activity by the candidate and his campaign team.

Phil Conran ● 5985d

Noticed quite a few billboards in Acton Lane today supporting Jon Ball.

Tony Crumpton ● 5984d

He was in Acton High Street in front of the flower shop Acton Impulse, close to Morrisons, the windows of which have about three Lib Dem posters.

Alice Jones ● 5984d

The Observer have him as a top Libdem winnable - in fact on one table actually the most likely with a 3 percent swing.Couldn't find Hampstead and Kilburn which I would have thought much more so but there were lots of confusing charts so maybe I missed it.

Sara Nathan ● 5984d

I wonder if the momentum is now building up for the Lib Dems in Acton? It's going to quite interesting seeing the results come on on Thursday night.

Tony Crumpton ● 5984d

The move of the young to the Libdems is extraordinary - i wonder if it will translate into votes seeing as they are notoriously lax about voting at all.Was not particularly taken by Cameron with Andy Marr this morning. Didn't really look like a Prime Minister in waiting.

Sara Nathan ● 5984d

I saw him in Ealing Broadway yesterday (Sat) just before noon.  Meeting & greeting.  Someone should plot sightings on a map.

Kim Bobsin ● 5984d

Not a bad idea.  He is very tall so he is easy to spot.

Alice Jones ● 5983d

It would show the power of national campaign over the local one if he were to come anywhere near winning.I suppose that's always more likely when there is no sitting MP but Angie seems to have put in so much more work - at least round here. Maybe there's a ward that could say that about Jon Ball - though previous postings make that seem unlikely.

Sara Nathan ● 5983d

Perhaps one should study their policies in detail before casting a vote on Thursday! This election seems to have been more about personalities of the leaders (since we had the TV debates) rather than what they actually stand for!It was rather like 'The X Factor' - not 'Britains Got Talent' and more audience participation would have livened things up rather than not permitting them to applaud etc.Today I noticed about a dozen canvassers for NuLabour in our street, plus cameraman in tow! Strange that they didn't actually put leaflets in every letterbox!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5982d

Don't you think the policies have been more examined than most years? I do rather.And, apart from bigot-gate, not much to distract. Do you remember the "war of Jennifer's ear"? That swamped all coverage for over a week one election. 1992 Maybe.And at least "the worm" has been a dismal failure. In the states they take it seriously whereas we seem to have managed not to.

Sara Nathan ● 5982d

Latest best prices with bookmakers for Acton constituency:Con:  8/15 (Paddy Power, Corals)LibD:  7/4  (Paddy Power)Lab:  25/1 (Bwin)Green: 100/1 (Stan James)

Patrick Green ● 5982d

Interesting it could actually be between Tories and Lib Dems. Could be worth a little flutter at the bookies.

Tony Crumpton ● 5982d